JPH08156690A - Step device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve outward appearance at the housed time and aerodynamic performance in a two-stage housed type step device. CONSTITUTION: An upper stage step 6 and a lower stage step 5 are supported below the door 3 of a vehicle in such a way as to be vertically rotatable between the service position of projecting in stair shape to the outside of the vehicle and the housed position of standing up in a longitudinal row along the side face of the vehicle above the service position. The upper stage step 6 and the lower stage step 5 are connected to each other by a link 40. A fixed step 4 is provided at the vehicle side face covered with the upper stage step 6 in the housed position. A cover for covering the vehicle side face in the housed position is fitted to the back face of the lower stage step 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a step device for a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to improve the ease of getting on and off a large vehicle such as a truck, there are provided two movable steps below the cab (driver's cab), which are normally stored small on the vehicle body side and are placed outside the vehicle when getting on and off the cab. There is one that is made to project like a step (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-115044). In addition, as a technique for improving the steps, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 59-102551, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 62-22437 and Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-614
The one described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 52 is known.

[0003]

However, since the two-step movable step stands up so that the lower step overlaps with the outer step of the upper step that stands up to the vehicle body side during storage,
It was difficult to fit a small layout in the vehicle width direction, and the back of the step was exposed to the side of the cab, which was a visually unpleasant appearance.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to realize an appearance at the time of storage and an improvement in aerodynamic performance in a two-step movable step.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an upper step and a lower step are located below a door of a vehicle in a use position in which these steps are projected to the outside of the vehicle in a stepwise manner, and a standing position is provided above the vehicle in a column along a side surface of the vehicle. An actuator that supports the upper step and the lower step with a link while freely rotating in the up and down direction between the upper step and the lower step, and applies at least one of the upper step and the lower step to rotational force to the use position. And a return spring for urging one of the upper step and the lower step to the storage position.

In the second aspect of the invention, the fixing step is provided on the side surface of the vehicle covered by the upper step of the storage position.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a cover is provided on the rear surface of the upper step and the lower step to cover the side surface of the vehicle at the storage position.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the upper step and the lower step stand upright in a column along the side surface of the vehicle at the storage position and project in a stepwise manner to the outside of the vehicle at the use position. These steps are linked by a link, and when the actuator operates, the driving force rotates synchronously to the use position, and even if the actuator becomes free, the biasing force of the return spring synchronously rotates to the storage position. Move. In this case, the upper step and the lower step do not overlap in the vehicle width direction at the storage position,
Since the columns stand upright along the side of the vehicle, the layout in the vehicle width direction can be reduced. As a result, the back surfaces of the steps are arranged in a row and the protrusions to the side of the vehicle are reduced, so that the appearance at the time of storage and the aerodynamic performance can be effectively improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when used, a step-like three-step step is formed in the fixed step. Since the upper step covers the fixed step during storage, good appearance and aerodynamic performance can be obtained, and snow and mud can be prevented from accumulating on the fixed step.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the back surface of the step is not exposed during storage and the cover that covers the back surface is exposed on the outer surface of the vehicle body, a continuous feeling of vehicle body shaping can be given to the appearance below the door.
That is, the appearance and aerodynamic performance can be significantly improved.

[0011]

1 and 2, a fixed step 4 is formed below a door 3 of a cab 2, and a step unit 1 having a first movable step 5 and a second movable step 6 is provided below the fixed step 4. The step unit 1 is shown in FIGS.
Like a pair of parallel vertical frames 7, 8
Is formed and attached to the side surface of the cab 2 via the base 13.

The first movable step 5 is a step panel 9
And a frame 10 for reinforcement on its back surface,
Arms 11 and 12 which stand up from one side edge at a predetermined inclination angle are formed at the central portion and the front end portion of 0. Then, the hinge brackets 1 extending diagonally downward at both lower ends of the base 13
By connecting the arms 11 and 12 to the shafts 4 and 15 via the shaft 16, the first movable step 5 has a use position in which the first movable step 5 horizontally projects to the side of the cab 2, and the step surface is the cab 2.
It is rotatably supported in the vertical direction between the storage position along the side surface.

The arm 12 is extended in a dogleg shape, and a stopper rubber 18 is attached to the tip of the arm 12 for abutting against a central rear surface of a stopper bracket 17 described later at a use position. A pipe 19 forming an axial hole of the shaft 16 is connected between the arms 11 and 12, and the shaft 16 is coupled to the hinge brackets 14 and 15 at both end portions passing through the pipe 19. Air cylinder 20 and return spring 21
In order to attach the clevis, a clevis 22 and a lever 23 are formed at the center of the outer circumference of the pipe 19, respectively.

The second movable step 6 is provided with a step panel 30 and a reinforcing frame body 31 on the back surface thereof similarly to the first movable step 5, and both ends of the frame body 31 have a predetermined inclination angle from one side edge. Arms 32 and 33 that stand upright are formed, and by using the shafts 36 to connect the arms 32 and 33 to hinge brackets 34a and 34b projecting to the side of the cab 2 at an intermediate portion of the base 13, a horizontal step surface can be used. It is rotatably supported in the vertical direction between the position and the standing storage position.

A stopper rubber 3 which abuts both end surfaces of the stopper bracket 17 at the use position of the arms 32 and 33.
5a and 35b are attached, and as shown in FIG. 9, a stopper function for restricting the first movable step 5 to the storage position is also added to these rubbers 35a and 35b. The first
When the movable step 5 comes into contact with the stopper rubbers 35a and 35b, the second movable step 6 is also restricted to the storage position via a link 40 described later. Reference numeral 38 is a pipe that forms a shaft hole of the shaft 36 in the hinge brackets 34 and 35, and the shaft 36 is connected to the arms 32 and 33 at both end portions passing through the pipe 38.

In order to rotate the first movable step 5 and the second movable step 6 synchronously, a link 40 connecting them is provided. Then, when the movable steps 5 and 6 rotate the first movable step 5 upward, the second movable step 6 follows the same and rotates upward, and the second movable step 6 moves to the cab 2. When the first movable step 5 stands upright in a column along the side surface of the cab 2 and the second movable step 6 in the storage position that covers the fixed step 4, the first movable step 5 is rotated downward to make the second movable step. The step 6 follows this and rotates downward, and the second movable step 6 moves to the first movable step 5 at the use position where the second movable step 6 overhangs horizontally.
Is larger than the second movable step 6 and protrudes in a staircase shape.

The link 40 is connected to the outer edges away from the shafts 16 and 36 by the shafts 41 and 42 at both ends at the front ends of the steps 5 and 6 which do not interfere with getting in and out of the vehicle. It is stored so as to overlap these front end faces. Covers 45 and 46, which form a part of the vehicle body shaping, are attached to the back surfaces of the first movable step 5 and the second movable step 6 at the retracted position, respectively. The link 47 is also provided with a cover 47 for providing a sense of continuity in vehicle body shaping.

The stopper bracket 17 is formed of a substantially U-shaped member having flanges at both ends, and is joined to the base 13 at a predetermined position by the flanges. When the passenger gets on or off the cab 2, the stopper brackets 18, 35a, 35b are used to form the first stopper bracket. The load received by the movable step 5 and the second movable step 6 is supported. In this case, since the load is applied to the central rear surface and both end surfaces of the stopper bracket 17, the strength is more advantageous than the case where the load is always applied to only one side surface.

In order to mount the air cylinder 20 inside the base 13, the vertical frames 7 and 8 have brackets 49a,
A shaft 50 that rotatably supports the clevis 60 at the base end of the cylinder is attached via 49b. Since the return spring 21 is attached inside the base 13,
The vertical frame 8 is provided with a screw portion 53 that supports the screw rod 52 so as to be capable of advancing and retracting toward the pipe 19 on the step 5 side via the bracket 51, and a hook 52a is formed at the tip end portion of the screw rod 52.

The air cylinder 20 drives the steps 5 and 6 to rotate. The base end of the cylinder and the tip of the rod pin the shaft 50 on the base side and the clevis 22 on the step 5 side so as to freely rotate in the vertical direction. Be combined. The return spring 21 is engaged at both ends with a screw rod 52 on the base 13 side and a lever 23 on the step 5 side to urge the steps 5 and 6 to the retracted position.

By assembling the air cylinder 20 and the return spring 21 inside the base 13, these are hidden from the outside, so that the appearance can be improved and the size of the apparatus can be advantageously reduced (see FIG. 10). With respect to the air cylinder 21, since the steps 5 and 6 are rotated to the retracted position by the contraction operation of the rod as described later, the rod is not contaminated due to splashing of mud during traveling.

Then, the first movable step 5 and the second movable step
The movable step 6 of the air cylinder 20 is
When the air cylinder 20 extends, it horizontally projects to the outside of the cab 2 to form a stepwise three-step step including the fixing step 4 of the cab 2, while when the air cylinder 20 contracts, the cab 2 is stored in columns as shown in FIG. The covers 45 to 47 form a vehicle body below the door 3. Therefore, the ability to get on and off the cab 2 is improved, and the appearance and aerodynamic performance when the step is stored can be improved.

Since steps 5 and 6 do not overlap each other in the vehicle width direction when stored, but stand upright in a column along the side surface of the cab 2, the layout in the vehicle width direction can be made small. Since the second movable step 6 covers the fixed step 4 of the cab 2 at the storage position, snow, mud, etc. do not adhere to the fixed step 4 during traveling. When the door 3 is opened, the second movable step 6 covering the side edge of the fixed step 4 can be seen from inside the cab 2, so that it can be easily confirmed whether or not the steps 5 and 6 are in the use position. In FIG. 3, 55 is a valve unit that controls the drive of the air cylinder 20, and is attached to the base 13 via a bracket 56.

FIG. 12 shows a circuit configuration of the air cylinder 20. Reference numeral 65 is a piston which divides the inside of the cylinder into two chambers 66 and 67. These chambers 66 and 67 are throttle valves 68 and 69 and a magnet valve, respectively. It is connected to the air tank 72 via 70 and 71. Magnet valve 70,
The supply position 71 and the exhaust position 71 are provided in an inverse relationship with each other, and are wired to the power source through one switch 74. When the magnet valve 71 is switched to the exhaust position and the magnet valve 70 is switched to the supply position when the switch 74 is turned off, the piston 65 operates toward the rod contraction side while receiving the air from the air tank 72 to the chamber 66 and discharging the air from the chamber 67. On the other hand, when the magnet valve 71 is switched to the supply position and the magnet valve 70 is switched to the exhaust position by turning on the switch 74, the supply of air and the exhaust are reversed, so that the piston 65 operates toward the rod extension side. There is.

When an air failure occurs in the drive circuit of the air cylinder 20, the pressure in the air tank 72 is released. Therefore, as a means for preventing it, the pressure in the air tank 72 is kept above a predetermined value. A protection valve 73 for controlling the above is provided. Moreover, even if a failure occurs in which the magnet valve 71 is fixed in the supply position, the chamber 6 can be stored so that steps 5 and 6 can be stored.
A manual valve 74 for discharging the air of No. 7 is added.

A control unit 80 as shown in FIG. 13 is provided to control the operation of the air cylinder 20 (switch on / off). In this case, in addition to the ignition switch 81 of the engine, the neutral switch 82 of the transmission, the tilt stopper switch 83 and the tilt lock switch 84 of the cab, and the door as conditions for permitting the rotation to the use position in steps 5 and 6. Door switch 85 for detecting opening / closing of 3 (turning on / off the room lamp in conjunction with opening / closing of door 3), and step switch 86 for confirming storage of steps 5 and 6
(See FIG. 11), a door opening switch 87 is provided which is activated when the door 3 is opened more than the angular position corresponding to the outermost step of the use position.

The control unit 80 includes an IGN system determination unit 88 and a CAB system determination unit 89, a determination unit 90 that determines whether or not a stopper opening condition is satisfied by adding door side conditions to them.
Based on the result, a control signal output section 91 for turning on / off the step solenoid 96 (which constitutes a switch relay of the magnet valves 70, 71) and an alarm determination section 9
4 and an output unit 95, an output unit 93 for controlling the cabult and a judgment unit 92 which also has a control function thereof. In addition, 99 is a power supply part of the control unit 80, 97 is a buzzer for warning the storage failure of steps 5 and 6, and 98 is a stroke switch of the tilt cylinder.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart for explaining the control contents of the control unit 80. The cab mount is locked and the door switch 85 is turned on by the signals of the tilt stopper switch 83 and the tilt lock switch 84.
When the door opening switch 87 is on, the conditions of the ignition switch 81 and the neutral switch 82 are satisfied (when the ignition switch 81 is off or an accessory, it is not related to the neutral switch 82, but the ignition switch 81 is on. In this case, when the neutral switch 82 is turned on to determine whether the condition is satisfied), a control signal for rotating steps 5 and 6 to the use position is output (process numbers 1 to 6). If any one of these conditions is not satisfied, a control signal for returning steps 5 and 6 to the storage position is output, the storage is checked by the step switch 86, and the buzzer 9 is returned if steps 5 and 6 do not return.
7 is activated (process number 8 to 10).

According to this, when the engine is stopped or the transmission is neutrally set while the cab 2 is tilt-locked, the doors 3 are opened and closed, and steps 5 and 6 automatically move between the use position and the storage position. Open and close (rotate). When the door 3 is opened, the steps 5 and 6 of turning to the use position may hit an external obstacle (wall, fence, etc.), but the addition of the door opening switch 87 causes the step 5 to the outermost position of the use position. If the door is not opened wider than the corresponding angular position, steps 5 and 6 do not project to the use position, and therefore safety against obstacles outside the door can be secured. Even if the door open / close switch 87 fails, steps 5 and 6 are stored when the door 3 is closed and the door switch 85 is turned off.

As for the door opening switch 87, the same inexpensive push-pull switch as the door switch 85 is adopted, and the switch trigger 100 is extended as shown in FIGS.
In combination with the door hinge 106, the door hinge 106 is arranged near the rotation center 101 (hinge center). Reference numeral 102 denotes a bracket to which the switch 87 is replaceably mounted on the cab 2 side, and a trigger lever 103 is supported by a base end portion of a front surface of the bracket 102 facing the tip of the switch 87 so as to be freely rotatable in the opening / closing direction of the door 3. In addition, the trigger lever 1 is attached to the door panel 3a.
When the trigger protrusion 104 hanging on the front end side of 03 is adjustably attached through the long hole, the trigger lever 103 is pushed within the predetermined opening of the door 3 to turn off the switch 87, and the door 3 opens more than the predetermined opening. The switch 87 is opened (turned on). In addition, the spring 1 for urging the trigger lever 103 to the bracket 102 in the opening direction of the door 3
05 is assembled.

[0031]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the upper step and the lower step are located below the door of the vehicle in a use position in which these steps project to the outside of the vehicle in a staircase manner, and the storage above which is erected in a column along the side surface of the vehicle. An actuator that rotatably supports each up and down direction between the positions and connects the upper step and the lower step with a link, while applying an actuating force to at least one of the upper step and the lower step to the use position, Since a return spring for urging either one of the upper step and the lower step to the storage position is provided, the upper step and the lower step do not overlap in the vehicle width direction at the storage position, but stand up in a column along the side surface of the vehicle. The layout in the vehicle width direction can be reduced. That is, since the back surfaces of the steps are arranged in a row and the protrusions to the side of the vehicle are reduced, the appearance at the time of storage and the aerodynamic performance can be effectively improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the fixed step is provided on the side surface of the vehicle covered by the upper step of the storage position,
Since the fixing step forms the third step having a step shape, it is possible to improve the ease of getting on and off the vehicle. In addition, since the upper step covers the fixed step during storage, good appearance and aerodynamic performance can be obtained, and snow and mud can be prevented from accumulating on the fixed step.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the covers for covering the vehicle side surface at the storage position are provided on the back surfaces of the upper step and the lower step, the back surface of the step is not exposed at the time of storage and the cover for covering the step back surface appears on the outer surface of the vehicle body. Therefore, a continuous feeling of car body molding can be provided below the door. That is, the appearance and aerodynamic performance can be significantly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a step used state.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a step retracted state.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a step unit.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a first movable step.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second movable step.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a link and a cover.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram including an operation state description of a step unit.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a step unit.

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory diagram of steps.

FIG. 10 is a layout explanatory view of an air cylinder and the like.

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram of steps.

FIG. 12 is a drive circuit diagram of an air cylinder.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of a step control system.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating the control content of the control unit.

FIG. 15 is an assembly state diagram of a door opening switch.

FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory view of a switch trigger.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 step unit 2 cab 3 door 4 fixed step 5 first movable step 6 second movable step 11, 12 first movable step arm 14, 15 first movable step hinge bracket 16 first movable step Shaft 17 Stopper bracket 18 First movable step stopper rubber 20 Air cylinder 21 Return spring 22 Air cylinder connecting clevis 23 Return spring locking lever 32, 33 Second movable step arm 34a, 34b Second Movable step hinge brackets 35a, 35b Second movable step stopper rubber 36 Second movable step shaft 40 Link 41, 42 Link shaft 45, 46 Step cover 47 Link cover 50 Air cylinder supporting shaft 52 Return Spring locking screw rod 55 Valve unit 70,71 Magnet valve 73 Protection valve 80 Control unit 81 Ignition switch 82 Neutral switch 83 Tilt stopper switch 84 Tilt lock switch 85 Door switch 86 Step step 87 Door opening switch 96 Step solenoid 97 Alarm buzzer 100 switch trigger

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A vertical direction between a use position in which upper and lower steps are extended below the door of a vehicle in a stepwise manner to the outside of the vehicle, and a storage position above which the vertical steps are erected in a column along the side surface of the vehicle. The upper step and the lower step are connected by a link, while the upper step and the lower step are connected to each other by an actuator that gives a turning force to at least the use position, and either the upper step or the lower step. A step device for a vehicle, comprising a return spring for urging one of the steps to a retracted position. 2. The fixing step is provided on the side surface of the vehicle covered by the upper step of the storage position.
Step device described in. 3. The step device according to claim 1, further comprising a cover provided on a rear surface of the upper step and the lower step to cover a side surface of the vehicle at a storage position.