JP4139992B2 - Door coupling device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a door connecting device for connecting doors for a vehicle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a conventional door connecting device of this type, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-147090 is known. This device is provided on a swing door disposed on the side of the vehicle, a slide door coupled to the vehicle rear position of the swing door, a receiving seat disposed on the slide door, and the swing door. The two lock tongues that become the pliers that can be tightened to the receiving seat and the two lock tongues are arranged, and the two lock tongues are tightened by sliding against the two lock tongues. And a slider to let it go.
[0003]
In this device, when one of the swing door or the slide door is in the closed state with respect to the vehicle and the other is in the open state, when the other moves from the open state to the closed state, the slider engages with the receiving seat and receives the receiving seat. It is pressed in one direction by the seat. Then, the slider slides with this pressing force, thereby causing the two locking tongues to be tightened. At this time, since the receiving seat is located between the two lock tongues, the receiving seat is tightened between the two lock tongues. Thereby, a swing door and a slide door are connected in a closed state.
[0004]
In this device, when the slider is engaged with the receiving seat and pressed, the two locking tongues are tightened, that is, the connecting operation between both doors is performed. Therefore, the relative positional accuracy between the slider and the receiving seat is inevitably increased. It becomes important. However, since the slider and the receiving seat are provided on different doors, it is understood that it is difficult to accurately arrange the relative positions of both members in consideration of the door assembly accuracy. Furthermore, in this apparatus, in order that the closing order of the swing door and the slide door does not matter, the slider is provided with two places that engage with the receiving seat. The two places are set to be engaged when the sliding door is closed and the swing door is closed, and to be engaged when the swing door is closed and the slide door is closed. As described above, since the structure of the connecting device for the swing door and the slide door is complicated, the assembly position accuracy of the device is required to be higher. Therefore, there is a problem that the assembly is difficult.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
This invention makes it a technical subject to make the structure of the connection device which connects between doors simple.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Technical means are taken in the present invention, while being disposed in swing door disposed on the vehicle side, the vehicle front or vehicle rear position of the swing door by turning in order to solve the above problems the striker and engaging disengaging latch disposed in the sliding door being arranged on a pivotable latch operating means said latch in a direction to be engaged with the striker, with respect to the vehicle of the slide door and the swing door An opening / closing state detecting means for detecting an opening / closing state includes a control means for actuating the latch operating means based on a signal detecting a closed state of the swing door and the sliding door, wherein the latch operating means but the main operation unit, and an output lever which rotates in one direction by the actuating force of the main operating unit, and the one direction or the opposite direction, before By the swinging door and the sliding door and a biasing member for biasing the output lever in the direction to be decoupled state, it has a structure and a connecting member connecting the latch side and said output lever side is there.
[0007]
In this configuration, when the open / close state detection means detects the closed state of the swing door and the slide door, the latch operation means rotates the latch and engages the latch with the striker, thereby connecting the two doors. That is, for example, the latch and the striker disposed on each door are engaged, and the striker is not configured to connect the doors (swing door and sliding door) by rotating the latch. There is no need to ensure relative positional accuracy higher than necessary. That is, the configuration of the connecting device is simple, and its assembling property is also easy. In addition, in this structure, it is also a structure which does not ask | require the opening / closing order of both doors by using an opening / closing state detection means.
[0008]
Further, the latch operating means is configured such that the main operating portion rotates the output lever in one direction by the operating force, and the urging member rotates the output lever in the reverse direction. That is, when the control means finishes the operation of the main operating part or cancels the operation halfway, the output lever is returned to the initial position by the urging force. Therefore, the control of the control means is simple, and the initial position return operation is established with a simple configuration of biasing means.
[0009]
Preferably, the connecting member is a rod.
[0010]
In this configuration, since a rod is used as the connecting member, for example, it is less expensive than a case where a cable or the like is used.
[0011]
Preferably, the urging member is a torsion spring, and the torsion spring is supported by the engagement to the output lever side at one end and the engagement to the main operating portion side at the other end.
[0012]
In this configuration, the torsion spring is supported at both ends thereof, and the support member or the like is not engaged with the torsion portion. Therefore, the torsion spring is smoothly deformed.
[0013]
Preferably, one end and the other end of the torsion spring are locked to the output lever side and the main operating portion side by a loop shape.
[0014]
Since this structure is locked by the loop shape, the torsion spring is stably supported.
[0015]
Preferably, one end of the torsion spring is locked to the rod.
[0016]
In this configuration, the rod has a function of connecting the latch operation means side to the latch side and a function of locking the torsion spring. That is, the number of parts is small and the configuration is simple compared to the case of separately providing a member for locking the torsion spring.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of a door connecting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the figure, the arrow FR indicates the vehicle front direction, the arrow UP indicates the vehicle upward direction, and the arrow IN indicates the vehicle width inside direction.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 is a so-called center pillar-less vehicle having no center pillar. That is, a swing opening / closing type swing door 12 is disposed on the front side of the side portion of the vehicle 10, and a slide opening / closing type slide door 14 is disposed on the rear side so as to be connected to the swing door 12. Has been.
[0019]
The swing door 12 has a front end 12 a attached to the front pillar 18 by a pair of upper and lower hinges 15 and 16. The swing door 12 can swing with respect to the front pillar 18 around the hinges 15 and 16. In other words, when the swing door 12 is opened from the closed position shown in FIG. 2, the swing door 12 rotates around the hinges 15 and 16 outward in the vehicle width direction (in the direction of arrow R in FIG. 2).
[0020]
The swing door 12 includes an upper lock 20 and a lower lock 26. And by both locks, the swing door 12 is held closed with respect to the vehicle body 10a. The upper lock 20 is disposed in the vicinity of the vehicle rear side upper end portion of the swing door 12, and the lower lock 26 is disposed in the vicinity of the vehicle rear side lower end portion of the swing door 12. And the striker (not shown) connected with each lock | rock 20 and 26 is arrange | positioned by the door frame part facing each lock | rock 20 and 26 of the vehicle body 10a.
[0021]
The upper lock 20 and the lower lock 26 are respectively connected to a front outside handle 27 disposed on the outside of the vehicle compartment of the swing door 12 and a front inside handle disposed on the indoor side via a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as remote controller) 24. (Not shown). The remote controller 24 is composed of a plurality of levers and links, and transmits the operating force of the front outside handle 27 and the like to the upper lock 20 and the lower lock 26 and the like mechanically. In addition, the remote controller 24 includes a lock mechanism that switches between a locked state and an unlocked state by a lever or the like. This locking mechanism is switched to each state by a lock knob (not shown) of the swing door 12 or the like. In the unlocked state, the upper lock 20 or the like can be operated by operating the front outside door handle 27 or the like, but it is not activated in the locked state.
[0022]
The slide door 14 is provided with a roller (not shown) as a known slide mechanism. These rollers and a rail (not shown) as a known slide mechanism disposed on the vehicle body 10a side can slide in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle body 10a. When the sliding door 14 is opened from the closed position shown in FIG. 2, first, the sliding door 14 is configured to move diagonally rearward and outward (in the direction of arrow S).
[0023]
The slide door 14 includes a rear lock 28, and the slide door 14 is held closed with respect to the vehicle body 10 via the rear lock 28. The rear lock 28 is disposed in the vicinity of the vehicle rear end portion of the slide door 14. A striker (not shown) connected to the rear lock 28 is disposed on the door frame portion facing the rear lock 28 of the vehicle body 10a.
[0024]
The rear lock 28 is connected to a rear outside handle 32 disposed outside the vehicle compartment of the slide door 14 and a rear inside handle (not shown) disposed indoors via a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as remote controller) 30. It is linked. Similarly to the remote control 24, the remote control 30 is also composed of a plurality of levers and links, and mechanically transmits the operating force of the rear outside handle 32 and the like to the rear lock 28 and the like. The remote controller 30 also includes a lock mechanism that switches between a locked state and an unlocked state by a lever or the like. The lock mechanism is switched to each state by a lock knob (not shown) of the slide door 14 or the like. In the unlocked state, the rear lock 28 and the like can be operated by operating the rear outside door handle 32 and the like, but in the locked state, the rear lock 28 is not activated.
[0025]
Next, the center lock 40 (door connecting device) for connecting the swing door 12 and the slide door 14 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the center lock 40 is disposed on the swing door 12. First, the latch mechanism of the center lock 40 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 2, a base plate 43 is fixed to the vehicle rear side end of the swing door 12. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the base plate 43 is provided with a latch 41 (latch) and a pole 42 (pole) which are latch mechanisms of the center lock 40. An opening 43a is formed in the base plate 43 along the vehicle width direction. And as shown in FIG. 3, the striker 44 (striker) currently fixed to the slide door 14 can penetrate | invade into the opening part 43a.
[0027]
On the lower side of the opening 43a of the base plate 43 as shown in FIG. When the swing door 12 and the slide door 14 are not connected, the latch 41 is located at the position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. This state is called an unlatched state. When the swing door 12 and the slide door 14 are connected, the latch 41 is located at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3 rotated about a shaft 45 by a predetermined amount in the X direction. At this position, the latch 41 is in a latch state in which the striker 44 is locked. That is, the latch 41 is engaged with and disengaged from the striker 44 by rotating about the shaft 45. On the other hand, on the upper side of the opening 43a of the base plate 43 shown in FIG. In the latched state, the contact portion 42a of the pole 42 contacts the latch 41, thereby restricting the rotation of the latch 41 in the Y direction shown in the figure. The latch 41 is urged in the Y direction in the drawing by a spring 47 (shown in FIG. 3). That is, the spring 47 is disposed in the case, and one end 47a thereof is fixed to the stopper of the case. The other end 47 b is engaged with a connecting pin 56 that is connected to the latch 41. When the connecting pin 56 and the latch 41 are rotated in the X direction, the spring 47 is compressed. That is, as described above, the spring 47 integrally biases the connecting pin 56 and the latch 41 in the Y direction in the drawing. With the above configuration, in the latched state, when the pole 42 rotates by a predetermined amount about the shaft 46 in the Y direction shown in the figure, the latch 41 and the contact portion 42a come out of contact, and the latch 41 moves in the Y direction shown in the figure. (Turns to an unlatched state).
[0028]
Next, the closer mechanism of the center lock 40 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 4, the center lock 40 includes a close actuator 50 (latch operation means). The close actuator 50 includes an actuator unit 62 (main operating portion) including a motor (not shown) and a speed reduction mechanism (not shown), an output lever 51 (output lever), and the like. The output lever 51 rotates in the T direction (one direction) shown in FIG. 4 around the pin 52 by the operation of the actuator unit 62. The output lever 51 is provided with a spring 53 (biasing member / torsion spring). The spring 53 biases the output lever 51 in the U direction (reverse direction) in FIG. is doing.
[0030]
Here, the arrangement structure of the spring 53 will be described with reference to FIG. The spring 53 is supported by having one end 53a (one end) locked to the output lever 51 side and the other end 53b (other end) locked to the actuator unit 62 side. Specifically, the output lever 51 is connected to a rod 54 (a connecting member / rod), which will be described later, via a fixing member. One end 53a of the spring 53 is locked to the rod 54 by a loop shape. The actuator unit 62 is provided with a bracket 62a and a screw 62b. The other end 53b of the spring 53 is locked to the screw 62b and the bracket 62a by a loop shape. In this configuration, both the one end 53a and the other end 53b are in a loop shape, so that their locking is stable. That is, the spring 53 is stably supported by the close actuator 50. Further, when the output lever 51 rotates, the spring 53 is flexibly deformed. At this time, the torsion part 53c portion of the spring 53 is deformed so as to be tightened. However, the torsion part 53c of this configuration does not have a member for locking that part. Accordingly, when the torsion part 53c is deformed, the torsion part 53c does not interfere with other members, and the deformation is smooth. In the present embodiment, the other end 53b is locked to the screw 62b or the like. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any protruding shape that can lock the loop shape may be used. .
[0031]
The close actuator 50 is electrically connected to an ECU 33 (shown in FIG. 1) (control means) disposed in the instrument panel of the vehicle. Further, the ECU 33 includes a courtesy switch 19 (open / closed state detecting means) (shown in FIG. 1) disposed on the door frame of the swing door 12 and a courtesy switch disposed on the door frame of the slide door 14 of the vehicle body 10a. 29 (open / closed state detecting means) (shown in FIG. 1) is also electrically connected. When the courtesy switches 19 and 29 detect the closed state of the swing door 12 and the slide door 14, the ECU 33 receives the signal and energizes the close actuator 50. As a result, the output lever 51 operates.
[0032]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rod 54 is connected to the tip of the output lever 51 via a fixing member. Further, the end of the rod 54 opposite to the output lever 51 side is connected to the rod 54. A latch lever 55 (latch lever) is connected through a fixing member. That is, the rod 54 connects the output lever 51 side and the latch 41 side, and transmits torque. Further, as described above, the rod 54 also has a function of locking the one end 53a of the spring 53. Therefore, the rod 54 has a smaller number of parts than a structure in which a member for separately locking is provided. It has become.
[0033]
The latch lever 55 is pivotally supported on a shaft 45 that is a pivot center axis of the latch 41, and transmits a rotation torque to the latch 41 via a connecting pin 56 (shown in FIG. 2). Yes. On the other hand, a latch switch 57 is disposed on the shaft 45. The latch switch 57 detects the rotational position of the latch 41, and this detection signal is transmitted to the ECU 33.
[0034]
Next, the opener mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, a lift lever 58 is disposed at the end of a shaft 46 on which the pole 42 is pivotally supported. The center lock 40 includes a release actuator 59. The release actuator 59 includes a motor (not shown), a speed reduction mechanism (not shown), an output arm 60, and the like. The output arm 60 is pivotally supported by the pin 61, and one end 60 a of the output arm 60 is located in the vicinity of the lift lever 58. The release actuator 59 is also electrically connected to the ECU 33 (shown in FIG. 1). The ECU 33 is also electrically connected to a handle switch 34 (shown in FIG. 1) disposed on the remote controller 30. The handle switch 34 is turned on by operation of a lever in the remote control 30 in accordance with the operation of the rear outside door handle 32. The ECU 33 is configured to energize the release actuator 59 in response to an ON signal of the handle switch 34.
[0035]
Further, the other end 60 b of the output arm 60 is linked to the front outside handle 27 of the swing door 12 via a rod and the remote controller 24 described above. When the front outside handle 27 is operated, the operating force is mechanically transmitted to the output arm 60.
[0036]
Here, the operation of the center lock 40 will be briefly described. When the swing door 12 or the slide door 14 is open with respect to the vehicle body 10a, when the doors 12 and 14 are closed with respect to the vehicle body 10a, the courtesy switches 19 and 29 are closed. Is detected and a signal is transmitted to the ECU 33. In response to the signal, the ECU 33 energizes the close actuator 50. As a result, the output lever 51 rotates in the T direction shown in FIG. By this rotation, the rod 54 is pulled downward in FIG. As a result, the latch lever 55 and the latch 41 are integrally rotated in the X direction shown in the drawing. In this case, when the latch switch 57 detects that the latch 41 has rotated to a predetermined position, the ECU 33 stops energizing the close actuator 50 in response to the detection signal. With the above operation, the latch 41 is locked to the striker 44, and the swing door 12 and the slide door 14 are in a connected (latched) state. For this reason, even if the vehicle 10 collides sideways, the swing door 12 and the slide door 14 are hard to separate, and the connection performance at the time of a side collision is high.
[0037]
In the above operation, when the ECU 33 stops energizing the close actuator 50, the output lever 51 is rotated in the U direction shown in FIG. 4 by the urging force of the spring 53 and returned to the initial position. Therefore, the control method of the ECU 33 and the drive structure of the close actuator 50 are simpler than the configuration in which the motor is reversely rotated and returned to the initial position. Further, the ECU 33 stops energizing the close actuator 50 based on signals from the handle switch 34 and a switch (not shown) in the remote control 24 on the swing door 12 side. That is, when the rear outside handle 32 or the like is operated during the operation of the close actuator 50, the operation is canceled. Then, the output lever 51 is returned to the initial position by the spring 53, and the latch 41 is returned to the unlatched state by the spring 47. In the present embodiment, such a canceling operation is also realized by the spring 53 or the like, which is simpler than a case where a known mechanical canceling mechanism or the like is separately provided.
[0038]
Further, the center lock 40 of the present embodiment is not configured to rotate the latch 41 by directly engaging the latch 41 and the striker 44, and therefore the relative positional accuracy between the latch 41 and the striker 44 is required. It is not required to be higher than that. That is, the ease of assembly is facilitated by a simple configuration in which the latch 41 is rotated based on the signals of the courtesy switches 19 and 29.
[0039]
When the rear outside handle 32 or the like is operated in a state where the swing door 12 and the slide door 14 are connected, the handle switch 34 in the remote controller 30 is turned on, and an on signal is transmitted to the ECU 33. In response to this signal, the ECU 33 energizes the release actuator 59 and the output arm 60 operates. Then, one end 60a of the output arm 60 engages with the lift lever 58, and the lift lever 58 rotates about the shaft 46 in the Y direction shown in FIG. As a result, the pole 42 is also rotated in the Y direction shown in FIG. 4 and the contact between the pole 42 and the latch 41 is released. Then, the latch 41 is rotated in the Y direction shown in FIG. 4 by the urging force of the spring 47. With the above operation, the swing door 12 and the slide door 14 are in a disconnected state (unlatched state).
[0040]
Further, when the front outside handle 27 or the like is operated while the swing door 12 and the slide door 14 are connected, the operation torque is mechanically transmitted to the output arm 60 via the remote control 24 or the like. Then, the output arm 60 is actuated. As a result, the latch 41 is rotated in the Y direction shown in FIG. 4 by the same operation as described above, and the swing door 12 and the slide door 14 are in the disconnected state (unlatched state).
[0041]
In the present embodiment, the operation of releasing the engagement of the latch 41 with the striker 44 by the swing door 12 is performed by a mechanical method, so that it can be released even if the electrical system fails.
[0042]
Further, in the present embodiment, the output lever 51 side and the latch 41 side are connected using the rod 54, so that it is cheaper than the case where cables and the like are arranged. The rod 54 can be used depending on the configuration of the present closer mechanism. That is, in this embodiment, as described above, when the courtesy switch 19 or the like detects the closed state of the swing door 12 or the like, the close actuator 50 rotates the latch 41. Similarly, since the latch 41 does not retract the striker 44 and close the door by the rotation of the latch 41, the operation force for the closing actuator 50 to rotate the latch 41 is smaller. Therefore, a great amount of stress is not applied to the rod 54 portion. Therefore, a rod having a relatively weak tensile strength can also be used.
[0043]
In the present embodiment, the front door of the vehicle 10 is a swing type and the rear door is a slide type, but the front door may be a slide type and the rear door may be a swing type.
[0044]
The handle switch 34 may be operated regardless of whether the slide door 14 is locked or unlocked, or may be operated only when the slide door 14 is unlocked.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, when the open / close state detection means detects the closed state of the swing door and the slide door, the latch operation means rotates the latch and engages the latch with the striker, thereby connecting the doors. That is, for example, the latch and the striker disposed on each door are engaged, and the striker is not configured to connect the doors (swing door and sliding door) by rotating the latch. There is no need to ensure relative positional accuracy higher than necessary. That is, the configuration of the connecting device is simple, and its assembling property is also easy.
[0046]
In the latch operation means of the present invention, the main operating portion rotates the output lever in one direction by the operating force, and the biasing member rotates the output lever in the reverse direction. That is, when the control means finishes the operation of the main operating part or cancels the operation halfway, the output lever is returned to the initial position by the urging force. Therefore, the control of the control means is simple, and the initial position return operation is established with a simple configuration of biasing means.
[0047]
Since the present invention uses a rod as the connecting member, it is cheaper than the case where a cable or the like is used.
[0048]
In the present invention, the torsion spring is supported at both ends thereof, and the support member or the like is not engaged with the torsion portion, so that the torsion spring is smoothly deformed.
[0049]
In the present invention, since the torsion spring is locked by the loop shape, the torsion spring is stably supported.
[0050]
In the present invention, the rod has a function of connecting the latch operation means side to the latch side and a function of locking the torsion spring. That is, the number of parts is small and the configuration is simple compared to the case of separately providing a member for locking the torsion spring.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a vehicle to which a door coupling device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating a latch mechanism of the door coupling device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a door connecting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a close actuator structure of the door coupling device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle 12 Swing door 14 Sliding door 19 Courtesy switch (opening-closing state detection means)
29 Courtesy switch (open / closed state detection means)
33 ECU (control means)
40 Center lock (door connecting device)
41 latch 42 pole 44 striker 50 close actuator (latch operation means)
53 Spring (biasing member / torsion spring)
53a One end 53b The other end 54 Rod (rod, connecting member)
62 Actuator unit (Main actuator)

Claims (5)

While it is disposed in swing door disposed on the vehicle side, the striker and engaging disengaging latch disposed in the sliding door which is arranged at the vehicle front or vehicle rear position of the swing door by rotating When,
Latch operating means capable of rotating the latch in a direction to engage the striker;
A door comprising: an opening / closing state detecting means for detecting an opening / closing state of the swing door and the sliding door with respect to the vehicle; and a control means for actuating the latch operating means based on a signal detecting the closed state of the swing door and the sliding door. A coupling device,
The latch operating means includes a main operating portion, an output lever that rotates in one direction by the operating force of the main operating portion, and a direction opposite to the one direction , wherein the swing door and the slide door are connected to each other. A biasing member that biases the output lever in a direction to be in a released state ,
A door connecting device comprising a connecting member for connecting the output lever side and the latch side.   The door connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting member is a rod.   The urging member is a torsion spring, and the torsion spring is supported by engagement with the output lever side at one end and engagement with the main operation unit side at the other end. The door coupling device according to claim 1 or claim 2.   4. The door coupling device according to claim 3, wherein one end and the other end of the torsion spring are locked to the output lever side and the main operating portion side by a loop shape. 5.   5. The door coupling device according to claim 3, wherein one end of the torsion spring is locked to the rod.

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