Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Special application – Turn indicator type switches
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-26
2002-10-15
Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Special application
Turn indicator type switches
C200S061270
Reexamination Certificate
active
06465751
ABSTRACT:
This application claims Paris Convention priority of DE 100 37 586.3 filed Aug. 2, 2000 the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a canceling device for a blinker switch in motor vehicles which effects automatic canceling of the blinker switch from one of the two switched positions into the neutral central position, comprising a casing with at least one catch profile, and having a movable pretensioned trigger finger which is disposed in the switched positions such that it can be actuated by a cam connected to a steering shaft, and comprising a switching piece which is pivotable and equipped with at least one pretensioned catch element engaging in the catch profile.
A canceling device of this type has been commercially available. When the blinker switch is switched on, the switching piece releases the trigger finger which is caused, due to its pretension, to move radially inward towards the steering shaft and projects into a circular path of the cam connected to the steering shaft. The switching piece is held in the switched position by a pretensioned catch element engaging in a depression of the catch profile.
When, during a corresponding turning motion of the steering wheel, the cam connected to the steering shaft is moved past the trigger finger, the trigger finger is pivoted sidewardly. Carrier surfaces provided on the trigger finger thereby engage a shoulder of the catch element to pull same, in opposition to its direction of pretension, out of the depression in the catch profile. The switching piece together with the blinker switch can thereby snap back into their neutral central positions.
The forces required for actuating the trigger finger in the known canceling device are relatively large. This does not provide a problem for the user turning the steering wheel, who cannot feel this force due to the very favorable lever conditions. The large forces which occur during actuation cause, however, different problems: In many modern vehicles, a steering angle sensor is also disposed in the region of the canceling device which is used for electronic determination of the steering angle. The signals provided by the steering angle sensor are used e.g. by an electronic stabilization device for the vehicle. The reliability of the signals provided by the steering angle sensor is therefore very important. To reduce the amount of space needed and the number of required parts, the canceling device for the blinker switch and the steering angle sensor are often mounted to a common support.
The large forces which occur at the canceling device during its actuation can deform the support to which the canceling device and the steering angle sensor are mounted. These deformations falsify the signals provided by the steering angle sensor.
It is therefore the underlying purpose of the present invention to further develop a canceling device of the above-mentioned type such that the forces produced during actuation of the trigger finger are reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This object is achieved in a canceling device of the above-mentioned type in that the catch profile has at least one movable locking section and the trigger finger is connected to the movable locking section such that the locking section releases the catch element when the trigger finger is actuated.
In accordance with the invention, for automatic canceling of the blinker switch, the catch element is not returned in opposition to the pretensioning force but rather the path which the catch element must follow between the switched position to the neutral central position “is cleared”. The forces which are required for moving the locking section are much smaller than those of prior art which were required to move the catch element in opposition to the spring force. In theory, only the frictional force between the locking section and the catch element must be overcome. For this reason, the deformations to which the canceling device and the carrier connected therewith are subjected during actuation from one of the two switched positions into the neutral central position are very small which considerably improves the measuring accuracy of a steering angle sensor disposed on the same carrier.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.
A locking section which is easy to realize is formed in a further development of the invention on a part which can be pivoted like a door. Alternatively, the locking section can also be formed on a linearly displaceable part.
A deflecting element can preferably be provided to transfer the actuating motion of the trigger finger to the locking section. A deflecting element of this type can convert the direction of motion of the trigger finger in a simple fashion such that the locking section can be moved in any direction required e.g. by installation considerations. In addition, such a deflecting element permits realization of various lever arms for changing forces or stroke lengths.
In a preferred further development of the inventive canceling device, the deflecting element comprises a slot in the region facing the locking section whose longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle with respect to the direction of motion of the locking section, wherein the locking section is connected to a pin which engages the slot. The movement of such a deflecting element can be transformed into a motion of the locking section in a simple fashion.
A further development is particularly preferred wherein the locking section is kinematically locked in its locked position. This type of kinematic locking can be effected without a spring element, the load of which would have to be overcome during motion of the locking section. With such a restoring device, the movement of the locking section into a position in which the catch element is released requires very little force.
An example of such kinematic locking of the locking section is effected when the longitudinal axis of the slot is bent and the longitudinal axis of that region of the slot containing the pin of the locking section in the neutral central position is substantially at right angles with respect to a radius line intersecting the axis of rotation of the deflecting element and that region.
When the blinker switch is in the neutral central position, the locking section is in a position in which the catch element is arrested in its central position. In this neutral central position, the described geometrical arrangement allows the locking section to only transfer forces to the deflecting element whose line of action passes through the axis of rotation of the deflecting element. The corresponding lever arm is equal to zero such that loading of the locking section does not move the deflecting element and the locking section remains locked. Only a motion of the deflecting element moves the pin of the locking section into the other region of the slot in which the mechanism is unlocked.
An alternative to the angled slot is given in a further development, wherein the deflecting element comprises a stepped slot in its section facing the locking section into which a pin, connected to the locking section, engages. Such an embodiment is particularly preferred when the locking section is formed on a linearly displaceable part.
The inventive canceling device can comprise at least one tensioning element which loads the deflecting element into its neutral central position. In connection with a purely kinematic locking of the locking section, the force required for actuating the trigger finger is substantially given by the tensioning force of this tensioning element. Since this can be very small, the required actuating force is also correspondingly small.
The tensioning element can thereby comprise a helical pressure spring whose one end is received in a sleeve having a closed end which is rounded or semi-spherical, wherein the closed end of the sleeve is preferably received in a corresponding depression in the casing. In this further development, the helical press
Hecht Walter
Machalitzky Otto
Papenfuss Jürgen
Friedhofer Michael
Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
Vincent Paul
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