Patent Publication Number: US-2016230877-A1

Title: Shift device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-21133 filed on Feb. 5, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a shift device in which a shift body is moved to change a shift position of the shift body. 
     2. Related Art 
     In a shift lever device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2010-234950, a sensor switch is provided at housing and a magnet is provided at a shift lever, the sensor switch detects the magnet, and a shift position of the shift lever is thereby detected. 
     In this shift lever device, if separation between the sensor switch (respective detection sensors) and the magnet could be suppressed when the shift lever is pivoted, the detection accuracy of the shift position of the shift lever could be improved. 
     SUMMARY 
     In consideration of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to obtain a shift device capable of improving the detection accuracy of a shift position of a shift body. 
     A shift device of a first aspect of the present invention includes a supporting body that is provided at a vehicle body side, a shift body that is supported by the supporting body and that is moved in a specific direction to change a shift position, a detection section that is provided at one of the supporting body or the shift body, a detection means that is provided at the other of the supporting body or the shift body and that detects the detection section so as to detect a shift position of the shift body, and a biasing means that, when the shift body is moved in the specific direction, biases the shift body to suppress separation between the detection section and the detection means. 
     In the shift device of the first aspect of the present invention, the supporting body is provided at the vehicle body side, the shift body is supported by the supporting body, and the shift body is moved in the specific direction to change a shift position of the shift body. The detection section is provided at one of the supporting body or the shift body, the detection means is provided at the other of the supporting body or the shift body, and the detection means detects the detection section to detect a shift position of the shift body. 
     Note that, when the shift body is moved in the specific direction, the biasing means biases the shift body to suppress separation between the detection section and the detection means. This enables the detection accuracy of the shift position of the shift body to be improved. 
     A shift device of a second aspect of the present invention is the shift device of the first aspect of the present invention, further including a restricting means that restricts at least one of approach or separation between of the detection section and the detection means. 
     In the shift device of the second aspect of the present invention, the restricting means restricts at least one of approach or separation between the detection section and the detection means. Thus, even when a high load force acts on the shift body, at least one of approach or separation between the detection section and the detection means can be restricted. 
     A shift device of a third aspect of the present invention is the shift device of the first aspect or the second aspect of the present invention, wherein support of the shift body by the supporting body is released by the supporting body being divided. 
     In the shift device of the third aspect of the present invention, the support of the shift body by the supporting body is released by the supporting body being divided. This enables the shift body to be supported by the supporting body by assembling divided portions of the supporting body, and enables the shift body to be easily assembled to the supporting body. 
     A shift device of a fourth aspect of the present invention is the shift device of any one of the first aspect to the third aspect of the present invention, wherein the biasing means biases the shift body toward a shift position side. 
     In the shift device of the fourth aspect of the present invention, the biasing means biases the shift body toward a shift position side. This enables the shift body to be moved to a shift position side by the biasing means. 
     A shift device of a fifth aspect of the present invention is the shift device of any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein the detection section or the detection means is disposed laterally with respect to the specific direction of the shift body. 
     In the shift device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the detection section or the detection means is disposed laterally with respect to the specific direction of the shift body. This enables a large separation between the detection section and the detection means according to the movement position of the shift body in the specific direction to be suppressed, and enables the detection accuracy of the shift position of the shift body to be effectively improved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a shift lever device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, viewed diagonally from the rear left; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating a shift lever device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the left; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-section (a cross-section along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ) illustrating a shift lever device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the rear; and 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-section illustrating a relevant portion (the portion in region A in  FIG. 3 ) of a shift lever device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the rear. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view illustrating a shift lever device  10 , serving as a shift device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, viewed diagonally from the rear left, and  FIG. 2  is a side view illustrating the shift lever device  10  viewed from the left.  FIG. 3  is a cross-section (a cross-section along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ) illustrating the shift lever device  10  viewed from the rear. Note that in the drawings, the arrow FR indicates the front of the shift lever device  10 , the arrow LH indicates the left of the shift lever device  10 , and the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the shift lever device  10 . 
     The shift lever device  10  according to the present exemplary embodiment is what is referred to a straight type and a shift-by-wire type shift device. The shift lever device  10  is a floor-mounted type device installed at a floor section (vehicle body side) of a vehicle cabin at the vehicle width direction inside of a driver seat (not illustrated in the drawings) of a vehicle (automobile). The front, left, and upper side of the shift lever device  10  respectively face the front, left, and upper side of the vehicle. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , substantially rectangular box shaped housing  12 , serving as a supporting body made of resin, is provided at the shift lever device  10 , and the housing  12  is fixed to the floor section of the vehicle cabin. 
     A bottomed, substantially rectangular tube shaped first plate  12 A, serving as a first dividing member, is provided at the housing  12 , and the inside of the first plate  12 A is open toward the left side. A circular shaped first support hole  14  is formed in an upper end portion of the first plate  12 A, and the first support hole  14  is open toward the right side. A rectangular shaped through-hole  16  is formed piercing through a right wall of the first plate  12 A. 
     A substantially rectangular box shaped second plate  12 B, serving as a second dividing member, is provided at the housing  12  at the right side of the first plate  12 A, and the inside of the second plate  12 B is open toward the left side and the upper side. The second plate  12 B is assembled to the first plate  12 A, and the left side inside the second plate  12 B is closed off by the first plate  12 A. A circular shaped second support hole  18  is formed piercing through an upper end portion of a right wall of the second plate  12 B, and the second support hole  18  is disposed coaxially to the first support hole  14  of the first plate  12 A. An elongated rectangular shaped restricting hole  20 , configuring a restricting means, is formed piercing through a left end of a lower wall of the second plate  12 B. The restricting hole  20  extends along the front-rear direction, and the left side thereof is closed off by a lower wall of the first plate  12 A (see  FIG. 4 ). 
     A substantially rectangular plate shaped cover  12 C, serving as a third dividing member, is provided at the housing  12  at the left side of the first plate  12 A. The cover  12 C is assembled to the first plate  12 A, and closes off the left side inside the first plate  12 A. 
     An elongated rod shaped lever  22 , serving as a shift body made of resin, is provided at the shift lever device  10 . A pair of circular tube shaped support shafts  22 A are integrally provided at an up-down direction intermediate portion of the lever  22 , and the support shafts  22 A project out coaxially at the left side and the right side of the lever  22 . The left side and right side support shafts  22 A are respectively fitted into the first support hole  14  of the first plate  12 A and the second support hole  18  of the second plate  12 B. The lever  22  is supported at the pair of support shafts  22 A by the first plate  12 A (first support hole  14 ) and the second plate  12 B (second support hole  18 ), and is capable of pivoting (moving) in the front-rear direction (a specific direction) with the pair of support shafts  22 A as the center axis. Movement of the lever  22  in the pivot radial direction is substantially limited at the pair of support shafts  22 A by the first plate  12 A (first support hole  14 ) and the second plate  12 B (second support hole  18 ), and movement of the lever  22  in the pivot axial direction (left-right direction) is substantially limited by the first plate  12 A (right wall) and the second plate  12 B (right wall). 
     An upper side portion of the lever  22  extends out toward the upper side of the housing  12 , and an upper end portion of the lever  22  is capable of being pivot-operated in the front-rear direction by an occupant of the vehicle (particularly the driver). The lever  22  is accordingly capable of being pivot-operated to an “R” position (reverse position), an “N” position (neutral position), an “H” position (home position), an “N” position (neutral position), and a “D” position (drive position), serving as shift positions on progression from the front side toward the rear side. 
     A rectangular column shaped restricting protrusion  24  (see  FIG. 4 ), configuring a restricting means, is integrally provided at a lower face of a left side portion of the lever  22 , and the restricting protrusion  24  is elongated along the front-rear direction. The restricting protrusion  24  projects out toward the lower side, and the restricting protrusion  24  is inserted into the restricting hole  20  between the first plate  12 A and the second plate  12 B. The restricting protrusion  24  has a slightly smaller left-right direction dimension than the restricting hole  20 , and the restricting protrusion  24  is slightly separated from both left and right direction sides of a peripheral face of the restricting hole  20 . 
     A lower end portion of the lever  22  projects out toward the left side, and pierces through the through-hole  16  of the first plate  12 A. A circular shaped insertion hole  26  is formed in a right side and lower side portion of the lever  22 . The insertion hole  26  extends in a downward direction on progression toward the right, and is open toward the lower side. 
     An indexing mechanism  28 , serving as a biasing means, is provided at the shift lever device  10 . 
     A substantially circular column shaped detent pin  30 , serving as a moving member, is provided at the indexing mechanism  28 , and the detent pin  30  is inserted (fitted) coaxially into the insertion hole  26  of the lever  22 . The detent pin  30  is incapable of moving in the radial direction, but is capable of moving in the axial direction with respect to the lever  22  (insertion hole  26 ). A lower side portion of the detent pin  30  projects out from the insertion hole  26  toward the lower side, and a lower side face of the detent pin  30  projects out in a semispherical shape. 
     A compression coil spring  32 , serving as a biasing member, spans across between the detent pin  30  and a bottom face (upper side face) of the insertion hole  26 , and the compression coil spring  32  biases the detent pin  30  toward the lower side. 
     A block shaped detent slope  34 , serving as an indexing member, is provided at the indexing mechanism  28 , and the detent slope  34  is fixed to a right side and lower side corner portion inside the second plate  12 B. The detent slope  34  is elongated along the front-rear direction, and a lower side face of the detent pin  30  abuts an upper side face of the detent slope  34  due to the biasing force of the compression coil spring  32 . Plural protruding portions  34 A, each with a substantially triangular shaped cross-section, are formed to the upper side face of the detent slope  34  at spacings along the length direction thereof. The lower side face of the detent pin  30  abuts a sloped face of the protruding portions  34 A, such that the lever  22  is biased toward a shift position side by the compression coil spring  32 , and is capable of moving toward the shift position side. When the lever  22  is pivot-operated in the front-rear direction, the detent pin  30  rides over the protruding portion  34 A between shift positions in a state of being biased by the compression coil spring  32 , thereby imparting an indexing sensation to the pivot-operation of the lever  22 . The upper side face of the detent slope  34  (including the protruding portions  34 A) is sloped in a direction toward the lower side on progression toward the left side, and a lower side portion of the lever  22  is biased toward the left side by the compression coil spring  32 . 
     A detection mechanism  36  is provided at the shift lever device  10 . 
     A substantially rectangular plate shaped printed wiring board  38 , serving as detection means, is provided at the detection mechanism  36 . The printed wiring board  38  is fixed inside the first plate  12 A, and is disposed perpendicularly to the left-right direction. The left side of the printed wiring board  38  is covered by the cover  12 C. 
     A substantially rectangular shaped magnet  40 , serving as a detection section, is fixed by insert molding to a lower end portion of the left side portion of the lever  22 . The magnet  40  is exposed at the left side inside the first plate  12 A. A left face of the magnet  40  is disposed perpendicularly to the left-right direction and faces the printed wiring board  38  in the left-right direction. The printed wiring board  38  is capable of detecting a magnetic force generated by the magnet  40  to detect the shift position of the lever  22 . 
     Explanation follows regarding operation of the present exemplary embodiment. 
     In the shift lever device  10  with the above configuration, the lever  22  is pivoted in the front-rear direction to change the shift position of the lever  22 . In the detection mechanism  36 , the printed wiring board  38  detects the magnetic force generated by the magnet  40  of the lever  22  to detect the shift position of the lever  22 . In the indexing mechanism  28 , when the lever  22  is pivot-operated in the front-rear direction, the detent pin  30  of the lever  22  runs over the protruding portion  34 A that is between shift positions on the upper side face of the detent slope  34  while in a state of being biased by the compression coil spring  32 , such that an indexing sensation is imparted to the pivot-operation of the lever  22 . 
     Note that the upper side face of the detent slope  34  is sloped in a direction toward the lower side on progression toward the left side, such that the lower side portion of the lever  22  is biased toward the left side, and the magnet  40  is biased toward the printed wiring board  38  side, by the compression coil spring  32 . 
     Thus, when the lever  22  is pivoted in the front-rear direction, separation between the magnet  40  and the printed wiring board  38  are suppressed by the compression coil spring  32 . Thus even supposing cases in which an error (including an assembly error) has occurred in at least one of the lever  22  (particularly the support shafts  22 A), or the first plate  12 A (particularly the first support hole  14 ) or the second plate  12 B (particularly the second support hole  18 ) of the housing  12 , separation between the magnet  40  and the printed wiring board  38  can be suppressed, enabling excellent detection of the magnetic force of the magnet  40  by the printed wiring board  38 , enabling the detection accuracy of the shift position of the lever  22  by the detection mechanism  36  to be improved, and enabling the pivot angle (pivot stroke) between the shift positions of the lever  22  to be reduced. 
     The printed wiring board  38  is disposed at the left side (laterally with respect to the front-rear direction, this being the pivot direction) of the lever  22  (magnet  40 ). Thus, in contrast to cases in which the printed wiring board  38  is disposed at the upper side or lower side of the lever  22  (magnet  40 ), a large separation can be suppressed from occurring between the magnet  40  and the printed wiring board  38  depending on the pivot position of the lever  22  in the front-rear direction, and the detection accuracy of the shift position of the lever  22  by the detection mechanism  36  can be effectively improved. Moreover, in contrast to cases in which the printed wiring board  38  is disposed at the upper side or lower side of the lever  22  (magnet  40 ), the lever  22  (magnet  40 ) can be easily biased toward the printed wiring board  38  side, and separation between the magnet  40  and the printed wiring board  38  can be suppressed. 
     The printed wiring board  38  is fixed to and installed in to the housing  12  (first plate  12 A). There is accordingly no need to provide separate components in order to install the printed wiring board  38 , such that the number of components can be reduced, error can be suppressed from occurring in the installation position of the printed wiring board  38 , and the detection accuracy of the shift position of the lever  22  by the detection mechanism  36  can be effectively improved. 
     The magnet  40  is fixed to the lever  22  by insert molding. Thus the lever  22  and the magnet  40  can be configured as an integral component, the number of components can be reduced, error in the position of the magnet  40  with respect to the lever  22  can be suppressed from occurring, and the detection accuracy of the shift position of the lever  22  by the detection mechanism  36  can be effectively improved. 
     Supposing that an excessive load (a higher load force than a normal pivot-operation force) has acted on the lever  22 , the restricting protrusion  24  of the lever  22  abuts the peripheral face of the restricting hole  20  between the first plate  12 A and the second plate  12 B, and pivoting of the lever  22  toward the left side and the right side is restricted. This enables the lower side portion of the lever  22  to be restricted from pivoting toward the left side and the magnet  40  to be restricted from abutting the printed wiring board  38 , thereby enabling damage to the printed wiring board  38  (particularly the elements) by the magnet  40  to be suppressed. This also enables the lower side portion of the lever  22  to be restricted from pivoting toward the right side and the magnet  40  to be restricted from separating from the printed wiring board  38 , thereby enabling the printed wiring board  38  to be suppressed from becoming unable to detect the magnetic force generated by the magnet  40 , and from becoming unable to detect the shift position of the lever  22 . 
     Separation between the magnet  40  and the printed wiring board  38  are also suppressed by the indexing mechanism  28 . There is accordingly no need to provide a separate mechanism in order to suppress separation between the magnet  40  and the printed wiring board  38 , enabling the configuration to be simplified. 
     Support of the lever  22  (support shafts  22 A) by the first plate  12 A (first support hole  14 ) and the second plate  12 B (second support hole  18 ) is released by the first plate  12 A and the second plate  12 B of the housing  12  being disassembled (divided). This enables the lever  22  (support shafts  22 A) to be supported by the first plate  12 A (first support hole  14 ) and the second plate  12 B (second support hole  18 ) by assembling the first plate  12 A and the second plate  12 B together, and enables the lever  22  to be easily assembled to the first plate  12 A and the second plate  12 B. 
     Note that in the present exemplary embodiment, biasing the magnet  40  toward the printed wiring board  38  side suppresses separation between the magnet  40  and the printed wiring board  38  when the lever  22  is pivoted in the front-rear direction. However, it is sufficient that separation between the magnet  40  and the printed wiring board  38  can be suppressed when the lever  22  is pivoted in the front-rear direction, and the magnet  40  may be biased toward the opposite side to the printed wiring board  38 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the magnet  40  is fixed to the lever  22  by insert molding, and the lever  22  and the magnet  40  configure an integral component. However, the magnet  40  may be fixed to the lever  22  as a separate component. 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the printed wiring board  38  is provided at the housing  12 , and the magnet  40  is provided at the lever  22 . However, the magnet  40  may be provided at the housing  12 , and the printed wiring board  38  may be provided at the lever  22 . 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the shift lever device  10  is a shift-by-wire type shift device. However, the shift lever device  10  may be a shift device other than a shift-by-wire type (such as a mechanical cable type). 
     In the present exemplary embodiment, the shift lever device  10  is a floor-mounted type shift device, and is installed at the floor section of the vehicle cabin. However, the shift lever device  10  may be installed to a steering column cover or an instrument panel in the vehicle cabin.