EP0000046A1 - Lever operated device for a vehicle's climatisation. - Google Patents

Abstract

A single operating lever 1 is articulated on a plate 2 between two rods 3,6 for the attachment of the control cables. Each link is articulated on the plate by a fixed axis 9, 10 serving successively as pivot X, Y to the lever during its movement and on the lever by a movable axis 7, 8 made provisionally fixed when the driven link reaches the stop 12 , 13 against the plate. In abutment, the movable axis of a link is superimposed on the fixed axis of the other link to constitute the new pivot. Application in particular to the control by cables of the air conditioning members of a motor vehicle.

Description

The present invention, due to the collaboration of Mr. Pascal HA-PHAM, relates to a lever control device for regulating the heating and air conditioning of motor vehicles and in particular to a multiple control mechanism actuated on the dashboard from of a single lever.

Remote control devices are known by single lever which can actuate successively several heating members by means of cables.

These are generally mechanical controls made from the main lever, the movement of which is transformed by a series of cam-shaped grooves in which the nipples feel guided. Cams and pins are carried alternately by the main lever, by articulated intermediate links or directly by the support plate of the mechanism.

More specifically, a known device consists of a support plate provided with two fixed pins around which a single lever pierced by two curved lights facing each other, is articulated successively on each pin while the other pin slides in its respective light .

This device, more particularly suitable for the symmetrical control of two cables hung on the lever, does not make it possible to obtain a constant operating torque in the event of an imbalance of the forces required by each of the cables or even when it is necessary to order more two cables ..

On the other hand, the geometry of the lever-lever assembly and the configuration of the lights or the cams rigorously determine the trajectory of each point of the lever and therefore the orientation of the departure of the cables, which it is practically impossible to modify to adapt to different types of vehicles.

Another drawback lies in the fact that the guide lights create friction which leads to a hardening of the maneuvers and the risks of jamming, especially in the case of economic mass production with high tolerances.

• - d'obtenir une orientation du départ des câbles dans toutes les directions, c'est-à-dire la possibilité de débattements variables en amplitude et en orientation, des divers points d'accrochage.
• - de pouvoir commander successivement, au moins deux organes de climatisation demandant des efforts de traction inégaux, tout en conservant une régularité des efforts de manoeuvre sur toute la longueur de la course du levier.
• - d'éliminer les pertes de rendement mécanique dues aux frottements ainsi que tout risque de coincement lors d'une fabrication en série.

The object of the invention is to avoid the above-mentioned drawbacks and to produce a single lever control device, successively pivoting around two articulation axes and allowing:

• - Obtain an orientation of the departure of the cables in all directions, that is to say the possibility of variable deflections in amplitude and orientation, of the various attachment points.
• - to be able to control successively, at least two air conditioning units requiring unequal traction forces, while maintaining regularity of the operating forces over the entire length of the lever stroke.
• - Eliminate losses in mechanical efficiency due to friction as well as any risk of jamming during mass production.

To this end, the device which is the subject of the invention is essentially characterized by a fixed plate and an operating lever articulated on this plate by means of at least one link. The link is articulated on the plate by a fixed axis while the lever is articulated on the link by an axis movable relative to the plate and offset from the fixed axis.

In this way, after the lever-link assembly has pivoted about the fixed axis, the link comes to bear against a stop of the plate so that the movable axis becomes fixed in turn and the lever continues its stroke by pivoting around this axis.

The shape of the link can be any and have various. extensions used for hanging cables in a predetermined direction.

The use of joints at the same time eliminates friction losses and the risk of jamming.

According to the invention, the lever is preferably articulated by means of two movable axes between two upper and lower links respectively, so that the movable articulation axis of the lever with a link strictly overlaps the axis of fixed articulation of the other link with the plate, when said links are in abutment simultaneously on the plate.

Each link can be of any shape and have a or several extensions on either side of the centreline for hanging one or more cables.

From the position in simultaneous abutment of the rods, called the rest position, the lever can pivot selectively around its first movable axis made fixed by the rod in abutment by driving the other articulated rod on its second movable axis.

The shape of the operating lever is such that its rest position does not necessarily correspond to the middle of its travel on the front, but is on the contrary off-center and adapted to the forces required by each command, to maintain a certain regularity of the forces over the entire length of the race.

This is how the clearance on the front will be greater when a link will carry two cables simultaneously, or even a single cable whose operation will be harder than that carried by the other link.

• - la figure 1 représente en perspective, le dispositif de commande par levier selon l'invention, dans sa position de repos;
• - la figure 2 est une vue en coupe dans un plan II passant par les axes d'articulation de la figure 1;
• - les figures 3 et 4 montrent les deux positions extrêmes du levier pour lesquelles il pivote successivement autour de ses deux axes d'articulation, et
• - la figure 5 représente une variante de réalisation dans laquelle la forme des biellettes permet une autre orientation du départ des câbles.

Other advantages and particularities of the invention will emerge from the following description of an embodiment given by way of example with reference to the appended drawing in which:

• - Figure 1 shows in perspective, the lever control device according to the invention, in its rest position;
• - Figure 2 is a sectional view in a plane II passing through the hinge axes of Figure 1;
• FIGS. 3 and 4 show the two extreme positions of the lever for which it successively pivots around its two axes of articulation, and
• - Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment in which the shape of the rods allows another orientation of the departure of the cables.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the control device according to the invention essentially consists of a main or operating lever 1, pivotally mounted on a support plate 2 by means of at least one return link rod 3 of the movement on which are hung one or more cables 4 intended for the remote control of the vehicle air conditioning units.

Preferably, the operating lever 1 is articulated by a branch 5 between two parallel rods respectively upper 6 and lower 3 by means of two axes 7, 8 movable relative to the plate, offset and-mounted in opposite directions, while said links are articulated on plate 2 by means of two axes fixed 9, 10, the upper link 6 being mounted on a bridge 11 secured to the plate 2.

As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 2, the centers of axes D of the links and of the lever are equal and the articulation axes 8, 9 and 7, 10 overlap on the pivots X, Y when the lever and the rods occupy the position of Figure 1, called rest.

In this position, each link 3, 6 is in abutment against a stop 12, 13 of appropriate height, secured to the edge of the plate 2, opposite to the facade 14. The other branch 15 of the lever 1, substantially square with the first 5, projects from the front 14 of the plate and ends with an operating button 16 which is accessible on the dashboard (not shown) of the vehicle.

In the rest position of FIG. 1, the button 16 is off-center with respect to the middle M of the front panel, leaving an unequaled travel of the lever on either side of this position, for a reason which will appear later.

Apart from the precise positioning of the different axes of articulation, the shapes of the lever 1 and of the end parts of the links 3, 6 serving respectively for the operation and for the hanging of the cables, can be any

In the embodiment shown, the lower link 3 has a bent end portion 17 carrying a lug 18 for attachment and the upper link 6 a slight recess 19 followed by a more flared surface 20 simultaneously carrying two lugs 21, 22 for attachment two separate cables 23, 24.

The entire device is an assembly of parts preferably made of molded plastic. The articulation axes can either be attached and clipped into suitable bores, or come from molding with one part and then be clipped onto the other part of the articulation. Thus, in Figure 2, the operating lever 1 interposed between the two rods 3, .6 comprises two axes 7, 8 from molding, clipped into the corresponding bores of .each rod. The latter also each comprise an axis 9, 10 coming from molding, clipped into the corresponding bore of the plate 2, 11. For a question of ease of assembly, it is however preferable to bring back the articulation axis 9 of the upper lever 6.on the trigger guard 11.

The operation of the device is as follows, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

To move from the rest position (Figure 1) to that of FIG. 3, the operating button 16 of the lever 1 is moved parallel to the front panel 14 of. the plate, towards the end corresponding to the most small stroke.

The lever, guided along the front of the plate, drives the lower link 3 which is integral with it by the movable axis 8, by pivoting it around its fixed axis 10 (not visible).

Given the shape of the lever 1 and its simultaneous articulation with the upper link 6 pressing against its stop 13, the other movable axis 7 of the lever is made temporarily fixed and merges with the fixed axis 10 of the lower link.

Therefore, the lower link 3 and the lever 1 remain parallel and pivot around the common pivot Y.

When the button 16 performs a round trip along the arrow F1, the end of the lower link 3 'traverses the travel. angular represented by the double arrow F2, thus determining the orientation and the stroke of the control cable (represented by the stud 18).

Passing from FIG. 3 to FIG. 4 via the rest position (FIG. 1), the lower link 3 bears against its stop 12. As a result, the hinge pin 8 with the lever, initially mobile, becomes fixed, while the hinge pin 7 with the upper link 6 becomes mobile.

Thus, during its total displacement, the lever 1 changes pivot Y to X by the successive immobilization of each of its two movable axes 7, 8.

The upper link 6 is then driven by the lever 1, the branch 5 of which remains parallel to it (between the two axes) and in turn pivots around its fixed axis 9 mounted on the bridge 11 of the plate and merged with the new pivot.

As previously described, when the button 16 goes back and forth along the arrow F3, the movable axis 7 of the lever struggles along F4, which causes the end 20 of the upper link 6 according to the angular movement represented by the double arrow F5 by determining the orientation and the stroke of the two control cables represented by the pads 21 and 22.

The travel of each link is linked to its geometry and to that of the operating lever. In the embodiment shown, the greatest stroke of the lever 1, from its rest position corresponds to the drive of the rod 6 provided with two studs attachment, that is to say the one where the effort to provide is the greatest.

This reduction in the mechanism therefore tends to obtain, in the event of an imbalance in the air traction forces, each of the links, a regularity of the forces and a smooth maneuvering over the entire stroke of the lever.

Whatever the number of rods used, the mechanism only involves simple parts and articulation axes, which has the advantages of almost completely eliminating mechanical losses by friction and, moreover, of simplifying the manufacture of the device in order to obtain economic series.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the end attachment portions of the upper 6 and lower 3 links have other shapes. Thus, the lower link 3 is extended at 26 at its other end relative to the corresponding link in FIGS. 1 to 4 while the upper link 6 has a reference to the square 25 and a single stud 27 for attachment. of cable. The parallel and superimposed branches of the lever and the rods, corresponding to the centers, must be kept for identical operation.

As can be seen, the operation of the button 16 according to the arrows F6 or F7 _. has the effect of actuating respectively the lower links in F8 and upper in F9 and to give the studs 28, 27 different angular deflections from their counterparts in FIGS. 3 and 4, which authorizes cable feeds in other predetermined directions , modifiable at will by adapting the end of the links 3, 6.

Relative to the rest position of the lever 1, the greatest travel on the front F7 is still reserved for the travel of the upper lever 6, which, in the case of a single control cable, makes it possible to actuate an air conditioning unit requiring a greater effort than the other.

By modifying the shape of the main lever 1 bringing the button 16 back to the middle of the front panel 14 in the rest position, a balanced distribution of the forces is naturally obtained on each link.

Claims (5)

1. Multiple control device for the adjustment by cables of the air conditioning members of a motor vehicle, comprising a single operating lever articulated on a fixed plate successively around two axes, characterized in that the operating lever is articulated on the fixed plate by means of at least one link on which is hung at least one control cable, said link being articulated on the one hand on the plate by a fixed axis serving as a pivot for the operating lever for part of its stroke and on the other hand on said lever by an axis movable relative to the plate and offset relative to the above-mentioned fixed axis and in that the fixed plate comprises a stop on which the rod can bear during the movement of the operating lever so that the movable axis is momentarily fixed and becomes the new pivot of the operating lever for its remaining travel. 2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the lever (1) is articulated between two connecting rods (3,6) for hooking the cables, respectively upper (6) and lower (8) in that each connecting rod is articulated on the plate by a fixed axis (9,10) serving successively as a pivot (X, Y) to the lever and on the lever (1) by a movable axis (7,8) relative to the plate (2) and offset ( D) relative to the fixed axis and in that each movable axis of a link is momentarily fixed and is superimposed on the fixed axis of the other link when the first link comes to bear against its respeetive stop (13 , 12) secured to the plate. 3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the lever (1) has a square shape, one branch (15) of which projects from the front (14) of the plate (2) to operate the lever. by means of a button (16) and the other branch (5) of which carries at its two ends the mobile axes (7,8) of articulation with the links (6,3). 4. Device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that, when the two links (3,6) are in abutment simultaneously, the operating button (16) of the projecting branch (15) of. lever occupies an off-center position relative to the middle (M) of the front (14) of the plate. 5. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper link (6) is articulated on the plate (2) via a trigger guard (11).

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