Mobile member position detection apparatus

• US 5,823,905 A
• Filed: 01/11/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ASMO Company Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ASMO Company Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Torii, Katsuhiko, Yamamura, Kengo, Ikeya, Mitsuhiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KWON, TAI CHOON
• Application Number:
  US08/584,083
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 475/149-153, 475/158, 475/254, 192/143, 296/223, 296/216
• US Class Current: 475/149
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/40 Safety devices, e.g. detection of obstructions or end positions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/697 Motor units therefor, e.g. geared motors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2201/72 Planetary gearing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/324 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/326 of the angular type
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/55 Windows
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/25 Selecting one or more conductors or channels from a plurality of conductors or channels, e.g. by closing contacts

Abstract

There is provided a mobile member position detection apparatus in which not only high-accuracy detection of a window glass or the like of a power window apparatus but also setting of an initial position being free from cumbersome adjustment can be realized with a simple structure at low cost. In a position detection apparatus, a ring gear is rotated together with a motor output shaft, and a predetermined rotational position is detected by a mobile contact and a fixed contact. In this case, since a projecting portion of a gear base is brought into contact with a contact surface of a base plate to hold the gear base, a difference between loss torque of the gear base and loss torque of the ring gear increases, and a planetary gear is not unnecessarily revolved. Thereafter, when the output shaft is rotated, holding of the carrier by a wave washer is released, and rotation of the output shaft is not transmitted to the ring gear. Therefore, when the output shaft is sufficiently rotated in an incorporating operation, an initial state can be automatically set.

Claims

1. A mobile member position detection apparatus for detecting a predetermined moving position of a mobile member moving in a forward/backward direction, comprising:

a switch unit for detecting the predetermined moving position of said mobile member on the basis of an ON/OFF-operation of a contact;

a planetary gear combination, having a ring gear and a planetary gear and moved together with said mobile member by moving force transmitted from said mobile member, for causing said ring gear to operate said switch unit at the predetermined moving position of said mobile member;

a clutch mechanism for transmitting the moving force of said rotational drive source from said planetary gear to said ring gear by preventing revolution of said planetary gear in a normal state to rotate said ring gear, and further for allowing revolving movement of said planetary, thereby interrupting transmission of forward torque from said mobile member to said ring gear after said switch unit operates, when said ring gear is rotated in the forward direction by a predetermined amount; and

a torque increasing mechanism, arranged in the planetary gear combination, for increasing force for preventing revolution of said planetary gear by said clutch mechanism, whereby torque which can be transmitted from said mobile member to said ring gear is increased.

2. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said ring gear of said planetary gear combination further has a stopper portion formed thereon, and said stopper portion is brought into contact with a projection formed at a position where said ring gear is rotated from an arrangement position of said switch unit by a predetermined amount in the forward direction to make it possible to revolute said planetary gear, thereby interrupting the transmission of the forward torque from said mobile member to said ring gear.

3. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an operating position of said stopper portion formed on said ring gear of said planetary gear combination is selectively changeable so as to change a timing at which the transmission of the forward torque from said mobile member to said ring gear is interrupted.

4. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said switch unit is constituted by a fixed contact provided independently of said planetary gear combination and a mobile contact integrally provided with said ring gear of said planetary gear combination, and said switch unit is operated such that said fixed contact and said mobile contact are brought into contact with each other at the predetermined moving position of said mobile member.

5. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said switch unit is provided independently of said planetary gear combination, a cam portion which can be engaged with said switch unit is integrally provided with said ring gear of said planetary gear combination, and said switch unit is operated such that said cam portion is engaged with said switch unit at the predetermined moving position of said mobile member.

6. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said clutch mechanism includes a wave washer.

7. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mobile member is an output shaft connected to a rotational drive source.

23. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said torque increasing mechanism is formed at a supporting member of said planetary gear.

8. A mobile member position detection apparatus for detecting a predetermined moving position of a mobile member moved between a first position and a second position by drive force from a rotational drive source rotated in a forward/backward direction, comprising:

a switch unit for detecting the predetermined moving position of said mobile member on the basis of an ON/OFF-operation of a contact;

a planetary gear combination, having a ring gear and a planetary gear and moved together with said mobile member by torque transmitted from said rotational drive source, for causing said ring gear to operate said switch unit at the predetermined moving position of said mobile member, said planetary gear combination further for transmitting the torque of said rotational drive source from said planetary gear to said ring gear in a normal state by preventing revolution of said planetary gear, and for interrupting the transmission of the forward torque from said rotational drive source to said ring gear by said planetary gear revolving to thereby stop rotation of said ring gear, when said ring gear is rotated by a predetermined amount in the forward direction, after said switch unit operates, wherein said rotational drive source is rotated in the forward direction to move said mobile member to the first position in the forward direction, thereby causing the stop position of the rotation of said ring gear to correspond to the first position of said mobile member; and

a torque increasing mechanism, arranged in the planetary gear combination, for increasing force for preventing revolution of said planetary gear by a clutch mechanism, whereby torque which can be transmitted from said mobile member to said ring gear is increased.

9. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said ring gear of said planetary gear combination further has a stopper portion formed thereon, and said stopper portion is brought into contact with a projection formed at a position where said ring gear is rotated from an arrangement position of said switch unit by a predetermined amount in the forward direction to make it possible to revolute said planetary gear, thereby interrupting transmission of forward torque from said rotational drive source to said ring gear.

10. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an operating position of said stopper portion formed on said ring gear of said planetary gear combination is selectively changeable so as to change a timing at which the transmission of the forward torque from said rotational drive source to said ring gear is interrupted.

11. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said switch unit is constituted by a fixed contact provided independently of said planetary gear combination and a mobile contact integrally provided with said ring gear of said planetary gear combination, and said switch unit is operated such that said fixed contact and said mobile contact are brought into contact with each other at the predetermined moving position of said mobile member.

12. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said switch unit is provided independently of said planetary gear combination, a cam portion which can be engaged with said switch unit is integrally provided with said ring gear of said planetary gear combination, and said switch unit is operated such that said cam portion is engaged with said switch unit at the predetermined moving position of said mobile member.

13. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said planetary gear combination further comprises a gear base for pivotally supporting said planetary gear, and said torque increasing mechanism is a clutch unit arranged in said gear base.

14. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said mobile member is a window glass, and the first position is a close position of said window glass, and the second position is an open position of said window glass.

15. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a predetermined amount of rotation of said ring gear corresponds to a 4-mm moving distance of said window glass.

16. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said mobile member is a sunroof of a vehicle, the first position is a close position said sunroof, and the second position is an open position of said sunroof.

24. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said torque increasing mechanism is formed at a supporting member of said planetary gear.

17. A mobile member position detection apparatus for detecting a predetermined moving position of a mobile member moved between a first position and a second position by drive force from a rotational drive source rotated in a forward/backward direction, comprising:

a switch unit which can detect the predetermined moving position of said mobile member on the basis of an ON/OFF-operation of a contact;

a planetary gear combination, having a ring gear and a planetary gear and moved together with said mobile member by torque transmitted from said rotational drive source, for causing said ring gear to operate said switch unit at the predetermined moving position of said mobile member, said planetary gear combination for transmitting the torque of said rotational drive source from said planetary gear to said ring gear in a normal state by preventing revolution of said planetary gear, and for interrupting the transmission of the forward torque from said rotational drive source to said ring gear by making it possible to revolute said planetary gear to stop rotation of said ring gear, when said ring gear is rotated by a predetermined amount in the forward direction, after said switch unit operates, in the case that said rotational drive source is rotated in the forward direction to move said mobile member to the first position in the forward direction, thereby causing the stop position of the rotation of said ring gear to correspond to the first position of said mobile member; and

a torque increasing mechanism, arranged in said planetary gear combination, for increasing force for preventing revolution of said planetary gear to increase torque which can be transmitted from said rotational drive source to said ring gear.

18. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said planetary gear combination further comprises a gear base for pivotally supporting said planetary gear, and said torque increasing mechanism is a clutch unit arranged in said gear base.

19. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said ring gear of said planetary gear combination further has a stopper portion formed thereon, and said stopper portion is brought into contact with a projection formed at a position where said ring gear is rotated from an arrangement position of said switch unit by a predetermined amount in the forward direction to make it possible to revolute said planetary gear, thereby interrupting transmission of forward torque from said rotational drive source to said ring gear.

20. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 18, an operating position of said stopper portion formed on said ring gear of said planetary gear combination is selectively changeable so as to change a timing at which the transmission of the forward torque from said rotational drive source to said ring gear is interrupted.

21. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said mobile member is a window glass, and the first position is a close position of said window glass, and the second position is an open position of said window glass.

22. A mobile member position detection apparatus for detecting a predetermined moving position of a mobile member that moves between a first position and a second position by drive force from a rotational drive source that rotates in forward and backward directions, comprising:

switch means for detecting the predetermined moving position of the mobile member based on ON/OFF-operation of a contact;

a planetary gear combination, having a ring gear and a planetary gear and moved together with the rotational drive source through rotating force transmitted from the rotational drive source, for causing the ring gear to operate said switch means at the predetermined moving position of said mobile member; and

clutch means for transmitting the rotating force of the rotational drive source from the planetary gear to the ring gear by preventing the planetary gear from revolving in a normal state thereby rotating the ring gear, the clutch means including a torque increasing mechanism for increasing force to prevent the planetary gear from revolving, wherein

when the rotational drive source is rotated in the forward direction so that the mobile member moves in the forward direction by operation of said clutch means to the first position, after said switch means is operated, when the ring gear is rotated in the forward direction by a predetermined amount, revolution of the planetary gear is allowed and the transmission of forward torque from the rotational drive source to the ring gear is interrupted so as to stop the rotation of the ring gear, thereby causing the stop position of the rotation of the ring gear to correspond to the first position of the mobile member, and adjusting the relative positions of said switch means and the mobile member that moves together with the rotational drive source.

25. A mobile member position detection apparatus according to claim 22, wherein said torque increasing mechanism is formed at a supporting member of said planetary gear.