CN118997600A - Rotary damper and locking device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a rotary damper and a locking device capable of maintaining restoring force of a spring. The rotary damper (10) has: a housing (11) having an annular filling portion (11A) filled with a viscous fluid, and a shaft support portion (11B) disposed in the filling portion (11A); a rotating body (10R) which is rotatably supported by the shaft support (11B) along the circumferential direction of the shaft support (11B) and transmits the braking force generated by the viscous fluid to the engagement object; and a spring (12) which is disposed outside the filling portion (11A) and transmits a circumferential loading force to the rotating body (10R). The case (11) and the rotating body (10R) have a regulating portion for stopping the rotating body (10R) rotated by the loading force at a predetermined position by the contact of the case (11) and the rotating body (10R).

Description

Rotary damper and locking device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a rotary damper and a locking device.

Background

The rotary damper has a housing, a rotary shaft positioned on the housing, a coil spring positioned in the housing, a cover engaged with the housing, and a gear fixed to a shaft portion of the rotary shaft protruding outside the cover. The coil spring has an outer peripheral end and an inner peripheral end. The outer peripheral end is fixed to the housing, and the inner peripheral end is fixed to the rotary shaft. A container formed of a case and a cover is filled with a viscous fluid. The rotary damper is also provided with a buckle. In order to obtain a predetermined restoring force by rotating the damper, the gear is rotated to wind up the coil spring, and the buckle is covered on the cover, thereby restricting the rotation of the gear (for example, refer to patent document 1).

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: JP-A-5-321527.

The above-described rotary damper keeps the catch restricting the rotation of the gear in the restoring force of the coil spring. On the other hand, in a case where the catch is removed, for example, in a case where the rotary damper is assembled to the lever, the restoring force of the coil spring is difficult to be maintained.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a rotary damper and a locking device capable of maintaining the restoring force of a spring.

In order to solve the above problems, a rotary damper includes: a housing having an annular filling portion filled with a viscous fluid and a shaft support portion disposed in the filling portion; a rotating body that is rotatably supported by the shaft support portion along a circumferential direction of the shaft support portion and transmits a braking force generated by the viscous fluid to an engagement object; and a spring disposed outside the filling portion and transmitting the circumferential loading force to the rotating body. The case and the rotating body have a regulating portion that stops the rotating body rotated by the urging force at a predetermined position by abutment of the case with the rotating body.

The locking device for solving the above problem comprises a rod and the above rotary damper engaged with the rod.

According to the rotation damper and the locking device, the position of the rotating body rotated by the urging force of the restoring force of the spring is stopped at the predetermined position by the regulating portion. The rotator stopped at the predetermined position can maintain the restoring force of the spring.

In the above rotary damper, the rotary body may include: a rotor that is axially supported by the shaft support portion so as to be rotatable in a circumferential direction of the shaft support portion; and an engaging member which is non-rotatably coupled to the rotor and engages with the engaging object.

According to the rotary damper described above, since the rotary body has the rotary body and the engaging member, respectively, the position of the engaging member can be adjusted independently of the position of the rotary body.

In the above-described rotary damper, either one of the housing and the rotary body may be a first regulating member, and the housing and the rotary body may be a second regulating member other than the first regulating member, and the regulating portion may include: a protrusion provided on the first restriction member; and a groove provided in the second regulating member and fitted to the protrusion.

According to the rotary damper described above, since the restricting portion has the projection and the groove in which the projection is fitted, the engagement between the first restricting member and the second restricting member is less likely to be released than in the case where only the first restricting member and the second restricting member are in contact with each other. Therefore, the first restriction member can be stably engaged with the second restriction member.

In the above rotary damper, the restricting portion may include: a stopper covered by the rotating body among the cases; and an abutting portion which is located on a lower surface of the rotating body facing the housing and abuts against the stopper to stop the rotating body at a predetermined position.

According to the rotary damper described above, since the restricting portion is not exposed to the outside of the rotary damper, damage of the restricting portion due to contact with an engaging object or the like is suppressed.

In the above rotary damper, the rotary damper may have a plurality of the restricting portions arranged in the circumferential direction.

In the rotary damper, compared with a case where the rotary damper has only one restriction portion, the position of the rotary body in the circumferential direction can be stabilized.

In the above-described rotary damper, the regulating portions may be configured to have a first portion of the rotary body and a second portion that engages with the first portion in the case, and the first portion of each regulating portion may be engaged with the second portion of the other regulating portion by changing the winding-in of the spring.

According to the above rotary damper, the rotational torque is changed by changing the coil-in of the spring. Therefore, a plurality of mutually different rotational torques can be provided for the rotational damper, and the restoring force can be maintained at each rotational torque.

In the above rotary damper, the spring may have a coil portion wound in a spiral shape along the circumferential direction, the coil portion may be sandwiched between a base surface of the housing and a top surface of the rotating body, and the base surface and the top surface may have spiral surfaces corresponding to an outer shape of the coil portion.

According to the above rotary damper, the shape of the coil portion accommodated between the housing and the rotary body is less likely to deform and lose shape.

According to the present invention, the restoring force of the spring can be maintained.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the construction of a locking device provided with a rotary damper.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the construction of the rotary damper shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the construction of the rotary damper shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a spring is assembled in the housing shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the gear shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a spring is assembled to the gear shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view for explaining an assembling method of the rotary damper shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view for explaining an assembling method of the rotary damper shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the rotary damper shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the rotary damper shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the rotary damper shown in fig. 2.

Description of the reference numerals

10 Rotary damper

10R rotator

11 Shell body

11A filling part

11B shaft support

11F restricting projection

12 Spring

12A coil part

13 Rotor

13A shaft portion

14 Sealing member

15 Cover body

16 Gear

16A clamping part

16C1 limiting groove

100 Locking device

101 First rod

102 Second rod

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1 to 11, an embodiment of a rotary damper and a locking device will be described.

[ Locking device ]

The locking device is described with reference to fig. 1.

As shown in fig. 1, the locking device 100 has a first lever 101, a second lever 102, a base 103, and a rotary damper 10. The base 103 is mounted on the lock object. The lock object is an object that is maintained in a locked state by the lock device 100 in a state where the lock device 100 can release the lock (lock). The locking object may be, for example, a cover of a storage box disposed on a vehicle.

The substrate 103 has a first face 103F1. The base 103 includes a first support piece 103A, a second support piece 103B, a first fitting piece 103C, and a second fitting piece 103D. The first support piece 103A and the second support piece 103B are aligned along the X direction on the first face 103F1. The first support piece 103A protrudes from the first surface 103F1, and is bent in the X direction toward the second support piece 103B at the front end portion. The second support piece 103B protrudes from the first surface 103F1, and is bent in the X direction toward the first support piece 103A at the front end portion.

The first fitting piece 103C and the second fitting piece 103D are arranged along the Y direction on the first surface 103F 1. The Y direction is a direction perpendicular to the X direction. In the X direction, the first fitting piece 103C and the second fitting piece 103D are located between the first support piece 103A and the second support piece 103B. In the Y direction, the first support piece 103A and the second support piece 103B are located between the first fitting piece 103C and the second fitting piece 103D.

The first fitting piece 103C protrudes from the first surface 103F1, and has a fitting hole penetrating the first fitting piece 103C in the Y direction. The second fitting piece 103D protrudes from the first surface 103F1, and has a through hole penetrating the second fitting piece 103D in the Y direction.

The first lever 101 has a shape extending along the Y direction. The second lever 102 has a shape extending along the Y direction. The first rod 101 and the second rod 102 are aligned along the X direction. The side surface of the first lever 101 facing the second lever 102 in the X direction has a first engaging portion 101A. The first engagement portion 101A is located at the base end of the first lever 101 in the Y direction. The first engagement portion 101A has a plurality of teeth arranged along the Y direction. The second lever 102 has a second engaging portion 102A on a side surface facing the first lever 101 in the X direction. The second engagement portion 102A is located at the base end of the second lever 102 in the Y direction. The second engagement portion 102A has a plurality of teeth arranged along the Y direction.

The rotary damper 10 is located between the first lever 101 and the second lever 102 in the X direction. The rotary damper 10 has a housing 11 and a gear 16. The gear 16 is an example of an engagement member. The housing 11 has a shape extending along the Y direction. The housing 11 has a first fitting claw 11D1 (see fig. 2 and 3) at a first end in the Y direction, and a second fitting claw 11D1 (see fig. 2 and 3) at a second end in the Y direction. The gear 16 has a bottomed cylindrical shape. The gear 16 has an engagement cylinder 16A. The engagement tube 16A includes an engagement portion 16A1 (see fig. 2) having a plurality of teeth on an outer peripheral surface thereof. The engagement portion 16A1 is configured to be engageable with the first engagement portion 101A and the second engagement portion 102A. That is, the rotary damper 10 is configured to be engageable with the engagement portions 101A, 102A of the levers 101, 102 by the engagement portion 16A1 of the gear 16 provided in the rotary damper 10.

In the locking device 100, the first lever 101 is supported between the first support piece 103A and a portion of the first face 103F1, and the second lever 102 is supported between the second support piece 103B and a portion of the first face 103F 1. The first fitting claw 11D1 of the rotary damper 10 is fitted into the fitting hole of the first fitting piece 103C, and the second fitting claw 11D1 is fitted into the fitting hole of the second fitting piece 103D. Thereby, the engaging portion 16A1 of the rotary damper 10 is engaged with the first engaging portion 101A of the first lever 101, and the engaging portion 16A1 is engaged with the second engaging portion 102A of the second lever 102.

Thus, the linear motion of each rod 101, 102 along the Y direction is converted into the rotational motion of the rotary damper 10. That is, in the Y direction, the first lever 101 moves linearly in the direction from the first fitting piece 103C toward the second fitting piece 103D, and the second lever 102 moves linearly in the direction from the second fitting piece 103D toward the first fitting piece 103C. Thereby, the rotary damper 10 rotates in a direction from the first support piece 103A toward the second support piece 103B via the second fitting piece 103D.

As shown in fig. 1, when the ends in the Y direction of the engagement portions 101A, 102A of the levers 101, 102 are engaged with the engagement portion 16A1 of the gear 16, the lock device 100 is maintained in a locked state. In contrast, when one of the first lever 101 and the second lever 102 is pushed in the Y direction in a direction from the base end toward the tip end, the lock device 100 releases the locked state of the lock object.

[ Rotary damper ]

The structure of the rotary damper will be described with reference to fig. 2 to 6.

As shown in fig. 2, the rotary damper 10 has a housing 11, a rotary body 10R, and a spring 12. The case 11 is a resin molded product. The housing 11 has a filling portion 11A and a shaft supporting portion 11B. The filling portion 11A is filled with a viscous fluid. The viscous fluid may be, for example, silicone oil. The filling portion 11A has a ring shape. In the example shown in fig. 2, the filling portion 11A has a circular ring shape having a peripheral wall extending in the Z direction. The Z direction is a direction perpendicular to a two-dimensional plane defined by the X direction and the Y direction. The shaft support portion 11B is disposed in the filling portion 11A. In the example shown in fig. 2, the shaft support portion 11B is located at the center of the filling portion 11A in a plan view facing the XY plane, and has a cylindrical shape extending in the Z direction.

The housing 11 has a base 11C and the base 11C has a shape extending in the Y direction. The filling portion 11A and the shaft support portion 11B extend from the base portion 11C in the Z direction. The base 11C includes an elastic support portion 11CS having a ring shape surrounding the filling portion 11A. The elastic support portion 11CS has a straight portion 11CS1 and a spiral portion 11CS2 connected to the straight portion 11CS 1. The straight portion 11CS1 has a shape extending in the tangential direction of the filling portion 11A and extending in the Y direction. The spiral portion 11CS2 has a circular shape along the outer peripheral surface of the filling portion 11A. The spiral portion 11CS2 has a base surface CS2F on which the spring 12 is disposed. The base surface CS2F has a spiral surface shape such that the distance from the linear portion 11CS1 in the Z direction increases as the distance from the connection portion with the linear portion 11CS1 increases. That is, the base surface CS2F of the housing 11 has a spiral surface shape corresponding to the outer shape of the coil portion 12A (that is, corresponding to the outer shape of the coil portion 12A) of the spring 12, which will be described later.

The housing 11 has a pair of fitting pieces 11D that sandwich the filling portion 11A in the Y direction. Each fitting piece 11D has a shape extending from the base 11C in the Z direction. Each fitting piece 11D has a fitting claw 11D1 in the middle extending in the Z direction. In each fitting piece 11D, a fitting claw 11D1 protrudes from a surface of the fitting piece 11D including the fitting claw 11D1 opposite to a surface facing the other fitting piece 11D.

The case 11 has a plurality of cut pieces 11E located in the filling portion 11A. In the example shown in fig. 2, four cut pieces 11E are provided. The plurality of cut pieces 11E are located between the filling portion 11A and the shaft support portion 11B in the diameter direction of the filling portion 11A as viewed from a viewpoint opposite to the XY plane. The plurality of cut pieces 11E are equally arranged on a circle concentric with the filling portion 11A as viewed from a viewpoint facing the XY plane, and each cut piece 11E has an arc shape along the circle.

The spring 12 is disposed outside the filling portion 11A. The spring 12 is configured to transmit a loading force in the circumferential direction of the shaft support portion 11B to the rotating body 10R. The spring 12 has a coil portion 12A, a base end portion 12B, and a distal end portion 12C. The coil portion 12A has a spiral shape wound in the circumferential direction of the shaft support portion 11B. The base end portion 12B is connected to the first end portion of the coil portion 12A, and has a straight line shape extending in the tangential direction of the coil portion 12A. The distal end portion 12C is connected to the second end portion of the coil portion 12A. The distal end portion 12C is bent in a U-shape so as to be included in the YZ plane.

The rotating body 10R is supported by the shaft support portion 11B so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of the shaft support portion 11B. The rotating body 10R transmits a braking force generated by the viscous fluid to the engagement object. In the present embodiment, the first lever 101 and the second lever 102 included in the lock device 100 are one example of the engagement object. The rotary body 10R includes a rotary body 13, a seal member 14, a cover 15, and a gear 16.

The rotor 13 is a resin molded product. The rotor 13 has a shaft portion 13A and a cut portion 13B connected to the shaft portion 13A in the Z direction. The shaft portion 13A has a cylindrical shape extending in the Z direction. The shaft portion 13A has a first portion 13A1 and a second portion 13A2. In the Z direction, the first portion 13A1 is connected to the second portion 13A2. The first portion 13A1 is inserted into the gear 16, and on the other hand, the second portion 13A2 is inserted into the cover 15. In the first portion 13A1, the rectangular outer shape along the XY plane is continuous along the Z direction. In the second portion 13A2, the circular shape along the XY plane is continuous along the Z direction. When the rotary damper 10 is assembled, the shaft portion 13A covers the shaft support portion 11B of the housing 11. That is, the rotor 13 is supported by the shaft support portion 11B via the shaft portion 13A so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction of the shaft support portion 11B.

The cutting portion 13B has a larger diameter than the shaft portion 13A and a bottomed cylindrical shape concentric with the shaft portion 13A. The cutting portion 13B includes a plurality of outer cutting pieces 13B1 and a plurality of inner cutting pieces 13B2. In the example shown in fig. 2, the cutting portion 13B has three outer cutting pieces 13B1 and three inner cutting pieces 13B2. Each of the outer cut pieces 13B1 is located on a circle concentric with the shaft portion 13A as viewed from a viewpoint opposite to the XY plane, and has an arc shape along the circle. Each inner cut piece 13B2 is located on a circle concentric with the shaft portion 13A as viewed from a viewpoint opposite to the XY plane, and has an arc shape along the circle. The inner cut piece 13B2 is located inside the outer cut piece 13B1 in the diameter direction of the shaft portion 13A. One outer cut piece 13B1 and one inner cut piece 13B2 are arranged at a spacing in the diameter direction of the shaft portion 13A as viewed from a viewpoint opposite to the XY plane.

The seal member 14 has a ring shape. The sealing member 14 may be formed of an elastic material such as an elastomer. The seal member 14 is configured such that the shaft portion 13A can be inserted into a hole defined by the seal member 14.

The cover 15 is a resin molded product. The cover 15 has a disk shape. The cover 15 has an insertion hole 15A penetrating the cover 15 in the Z direction. The insertion hole 15A is a circular hole. When the rotary damper 10 is assembled, the shaft portion 13A of the rotor 13 is inserted into the insertion hole 15A.

The gear 16 is a resin molded product. The gear 16 is coupled to the rotor 13 so as not to rotate relative to the rotor 13, and is configured to be engageable with the first lever 101 and the second lever 102. Since the rotary body 10R has the rotary body 13 and the gear 16, respectively, the position of the gear 16 can be adjusted independently of the position of the rotary body 13.

As described above, the gear 16 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and the engaging cylinder 16A has the engaging portion 16A1 on the outer peripheral surface. The engagement portion 16A1 of the gear 16 engages with the engagement portions 101A, 102A of the respective levers 101, 102. The gear 16 has an insertion hole 16B penetrating the gear 16 in the Z direction. The insertion hole 16B is a rectangular hole. When the rotary damper 10 is assembled, the shaft portion 13A of the rotor 13 is inserted into the insertion hole 16B in a state in which the gear 16 is not rotatable with respect to the rotor 13. That is, the gear 16 is fixed to the rotor 13 through the insertion hole 16B.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional configuration of the rotary damper 10 along a plane that is a YZ plane and that passes through the shaft support portion 11B of the housing 11.

As shown in fig. 3, the shaft portion 13A of the rotor 13 has an insertion groove 13C extending in the Z direction toward the opposite side of the cut pieces 13B1, 13B 2. When the rotor 13 is attached to the housing 11, the shaft support portion 11B of the housing 11 is inserted into the insertion groove 13C, whereby the rotor 13 is supported by the housing 11 in a rotatable state with respect to the housing 11. The outer cut piece 13B1 and the inner cut piece 13B2 of the rotor 13 are disposed in the filling portion 11A such that the cut piece 11E of the housing 11 is located between the inner cut piece 13B2 and the outer cut piece 13B1 in the diameter direction of the shaft support portion 11B. Thus, when the rotor 13 rotates relative to the housing 11, the viscous fluid filled in the filling portion 11A is cut by the cut pieces 11E of the housing 11 and the cut pieces 13B1, 13B2 of the rotor 13 rotating relative to the cut pieces 11E of the housing 11. Thereby, a braking torque is generated in the rotor 13.

The cover 15 has a fixing groove 15B on a surface facing the housing 11 in the Z direction, in addition to the insertion hole 15A. The fixing groove 15B has a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the shaft portion 13A as viewed from a viewpoint opposite to the XY plane. The insertion hole 15A includes a seal groove 15A1. The seal groove 15A1 opens on a surface facing the housing 11 in the Z direction. The seal groove 15A1 has a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the shaft portion 13A as viewed from a viewpoint opposed to the XY plane.

The rotor 13 is mounted on the housing 11 before the cover 15 is mounted on the housing 11. Next, the viscous fluid is filled in the filling portion 11A, and in a state where the seal member 14 is fitted into the seal groove 15A1, the tip of the filling portion 11A is fitted into the fixing groove 15B of the lid body 15, and the shaft portion 13A of the rotor 13 is inserted into the insertion hole 15A of the lid body 15. Thereby, the space between the rotor 13 and the cover 15 is sealed by the sealing member 14, and the rotor 13 and the cover 15 are attached to the housing 11 in a state where the rotor 13 is rotatable with respect to the cover 15.

The gear 16 is attached to the rotor 13 in a state of being unable to rotate relative to the rotor 13 by inserting the shaft portion 13A into the insertion hole 16B. As described above, the first portion 13A1 inserted through the gear 16 in the shaft portion 13A has a rectangular cross section connected in the Z direction, and the insertion hole 16B is a rectangular hole. Therefore, the gear 16 attached to the shaft portion 13A cannot rotate with respect to the rotor 13. That is, the rotor 13 rotates together with the gear 16 as the gear 16 rotates.

Fig. 4 shows a state in which the spring 12 is assembled to the housing 11.

As shown in fig. 4, the coil portion 12A of the spring 12 is located at the spiral portion 11CS2 of the elastic support portion 11CS of the housing 11, and the base end portion 12B is located at the straight portion 11CS1. As described above, since the spiral portion 11CS2 has the base surface CS2F and the base surface CS2F has a shape corresponding to the outer shape of the coil portion 12A, the portion of the coil portion 12A that contacts the base surface CS2F is located on the base surface CS2F so as to follow the shape of the base surface CS 2F.

In the rotary damper 10 of the present invention, the housing 11 and the rotary body 10R have a regulating portion that stops the rotary body 10R rotated by the urging force of the spring 12 at a predetermined position by the abutment of the housing 11 and the rotary body 10R. Either one of the housing 11 and the rotating body 10R is a first regulating member, and the housing 11 and the rotating body 10R are second regulating members other than the first regulating member. The restricting portion may have a projection provided at the first restricting member and a groove provided at the second restricting member and fitted by the projection.

Since the restricting portion has the projection and the groove fitted by the projection, the engagement between the first restricting member and the second restricting member is difficult to be released as compared with the case where only the first restricting member is abutted against the second restricting member. Therefore, the first restriction member can be stably engaged with the second restriction member.

In the rotary damper 10 of the present embodiment, the housing 11 is one example of a first restriction member, and the rotary body 10R is one example of a second restriction member. That is, the housing 11 has the regulating projection 11F included in the regulating portion. The restricting projection 11F protrudes from the base 11C in the Z direction. In the example shown in fig. 4, the housing 11 has two restricting projections 11F. Each of the regulating projections 11F is a different regulating portion. The two restricting protrusions 11F are located outside the filling portion 11A and are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the shaft supporting portion 11B. That is, the housing 11 may have a plurality of restricting portions arranged in the circumferential direction of the shaft support portion 11B. Compared with the case where the rotation damper has only one restriction portion, the position of the rotary body 10R in the circumferential direction can be stabilized.

The restricting projection 11F is a portion of the housing 11 that is covered with the rotary body 10R when the rotary damper 10 is assembled. The restricting projection 11F is also an example of a stopper.

Each restricting projection 11F has an abutted surface 11FF along the YZ plane. The abutted surface 11FF is a surface abutted against the groove provided in the second regulating member. In the example shown in fig. 4, the abutted surface 11FF is a flat surface along the YZ plane.

Fig. 5 and 6 show the structure of the gear 16 when the gear 16 is viewed from the direction from the housing 11 toward the gear 16. In addition, fig. 6 also shows the construction of the spring 12 together with the construction of the gear 16.

As shown in fig. 5, the gear 16 includes an engagement tube 16A and an annular portion 16C. In the Z direction, the annular portion 16C is connected to the engagement cylinder 16A. The engaging cylinder 16A has a bottomed tubular shape, and includes an engaging portion 16A1 including a plurality of teeth on an outer peripheral surface. The insertion hole 16B penetrates the bottom of the engagement tube 16A in the Z direction. The engagement tube 16A has a spring contact portion 16A2 on the inner peripheral surface. The spring contact portion 16A2 includes a top surface 16A2F that is a surface that contacts the coil portion 12A of the spring 12 when the rotary damper 10 is assembled. The top surface 16A2F has a spiral surface shape corresponding to the outer shape of the coil portion 12A. In the rotary damper 10, the top surface 16A2F sandwiches the coil portion 12A in the Z direction together with the base surface CS2F of the housing 11.

The engagement cylinder 16A has an engagement hole 16A3 penetrating the engagement cylinder 16A in the Z direction. The engagement hole 16A3 is sandwiched by the first end and the second end of the spring contact portion 16A2 in the circumferential direction of the shaft support portion 11B. When the rotary damper 10 is assembled, the tip end portion 12C of the spring 12 is inserted into the engagement hole 16A3, and engaged with a wall portion defining the engagement hole 16A3. The wall portion is a part of the engagement cylinder 16A.

The annular portion 16C has a restricting groove 16C1 on a surface facing the housing 11. In the annular portion 16C, a surface facing the housing 11 is an example of a lower surface of the rotary body 10R facing the housing 11. The restricting groove 16C1 is an example of an abutting portion located on the lower surface. Since the restricting portion is not exposed to the outside of the rotary damper, damage of the restricting portion due to contact with an engagement object or the like can be suppressed.

In the example of fig. 5, the annular portion 16C has two restricting grooves 16C1. The two restricting grooves 16C1 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the shaft support portion 11B. Each of the restricting grooves 16C1 has an arc shape along the circumferential direction of the shaft support portion 11B as viewed from a viewpoint opposed to the XY plane. The restricting groove 16C1 includes a first end portion and a second end portion in the circumferential direction. The restricting groove 16C1 includes an abutment surface 16C1F along the YZ plane at the first end. The abutment surface 16C1F is a flat surface along the XZ plane.

The annular portion 16C has a plurality of abutment projections 16C2 on the inner peripheral surface. Each of the abutment projections 16C2 extends along the Z direction, and the plurality of abutment projections 16C2 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction of the shaft support portion 11B. When the rotary damper 10 is assembled, the abutment projections 16C2 may abut against the coil portion 12A of the spring 12.

As shown in fig. 6, when the rotary damper 10 is assembled, the coil portion 12A of the spring 12 is abutted against the top surface 16A2F of the spring abutment portion 16A2 so as to follow the top surface 16 A2F. Accordingly, the coil portion 12A of the spring 12 is sandwiched between the base surface CS2F and the top surface 16A2F, and therefore the shape of the coil portion 12A accommodated between the case 11 and the rotating body 10R is less likely to deform and lose shape.

In addition, in the spring 12, the tip end portion 12C is engaged with a wall portion defining the engagement hole 16A3, and is exposed from the engagement hole 16A3 to the outside of the gear 16. The base end portion 12B extends in the tangential direction of the coil portion 12A, whereby the tip end portion 12C is exposed from the gear 16.

[ Assembling method ]

Referring to fig. 7 and 8, a method of assembling the rotary damper 10 will be described. In fig. 7 and 8, for convenience of explanation, a cross section including the first restriction protrusion 11F and the first restriction groove 16C1 and a cross section including the second restriction protrusion 11F and the second restriction groove 16C1 are combined.

As shown in fig. 7, when assembling the rotary damper 10, first, the shaft support portion 11B of the housing 11 is mounted on the shaft portion 13A of the rotor 13. Thus, the outer cut piece 13B1 and the inner cut piece 13B2 of the rotor 13 are positioned in the filling portion 11A. Next, the viscous fluid is filled in the filling portion 11A. Next, the sealing member 14 is attached to the rotor 13 and the cover 15 is attached to the housing 11 so that the sealing member 14 is sandwiched between the rotor 13 and the cover 15. Next, the spring 12 is attached to the housing 11 so as to surround the filling portion 11A. At this time, the coil portion 12A of the spring 12 is in an extended state.

As shown in fig. 8, the first portion 13A1 of the shaft portion 13A is fitted into the insertion hole 16B of the gear 16 while the coil portion 12A of the spring 12 is compressed toward the base portion 11C of the housing 11 by the top surface 16A2F (see fig. 5) of the gear 16. As a result, the abutted surface 11FF (see fig. 4) of the first regulating projection 11F is abutted against the abutted surface 16C1F (see fig. 5) of the first regulating groove 16C1, and the abutted surface 11FF (see fig. 4) of the second regulating projection 11F is abutted against the abutted surface 16C1F (see fig. 5) of the second regulating groove 16C 1. In the rotary damper 10 of the present embodiment, the first restriction portion is constituted by the first restriction protrusion 11F and the first restriction groove 16C1, and the second restriction portion is constituted by the second restriction protrusion 11F and the second restriction groove 16C 1.

As described above, the rotary damper 10 of the present embodiment has the first restriction portion and the second restriction portion arranged along the circumferential direction of the shaft support portion 11B. Each regulating portion includes a regulating groove 16C1 included in the rotary body 10R and a regulating projection 11F engaged with the regulating groove 16C1 in the housing 11. The restricting groove 16C1 is a first portion, and the restricting projection 11F is a second portion.

As described above, the first regulating groove 16C1 of the first regulating portion is configured to be engageable with the first regulating projection 11F of the first regulating portion. On the other hand, the regulating groove 16C1 of the first regulating portion is configured to be engageable with the regulating projection 11F of the second regulating portion by changing the winding-in of the spring 12. Similarly, the regulating groove 16C1 of the second regulating portion is configured to be engageable with the regulating projection 11F of the first regulating portion by changing the winding-in of the spring 12.

That is, since the rotary damper 10 has the two regulating projections 11F equally arranged in the circumferential direction, the position of the gear 16 in the circumferential direction with respect to the housing 11 can be changed by 180 ° each time. Therefore, the torque of the spring 12 can be changed by 180 ° each time.

According to the rotary damper 10 of the present embodiment, the rotational torque is changed by changing the coil-in of the spring 12. Therefore, a plurality of different rotational torques can be set for the rotational damper 10, and the restoring force can be maintained at each rotational torque.

[ Effect ]

The function of the rotary damper 10 will be described with reference to fig. 9 to 11. In fig. 9 to 11, for convenience of explanation of the position of the regulating groove 16C1 with respect to each regulating projection 11F, a cross section along the XY plane and passing through the annular portion 16C of the gear 16 is shown.

Fig. 9 shows the initial position of the restricting groove 16C1 with respect to the restricting projection 11F.

As shown in fig. 9, in the state where the rotary damper 10 is assembled, the abutted surface 11FF of each restricting projection 11F abuts against the abutting surface 16C1F of the restricting groove 16C1 where the restricting projection 11F is located. Thereby, the position of the rotating body 10R is stopped at the position where the regulating groove 16C1 collides with the regulating projection 11F. As a result, the rotator 10R maintains the restoring force of the spring 12.

As described above, the abutment surface 16C1F of the regulating groove 16C1 and the abutted surface 11FF of the regulating projection 11F are both flat surfaces. Therefore, the abutment surface 16C1F and the abutted surface 11FF can be brought into surface contact with each other, as compared with the case where either one of the abutment surface 16C1F and the abutted surface 11FF is a curved surface.

As shown in fig. 10, when either one of the first lever 101 and the second lever 102 is pressed in the Y direction, a force against the loading force acts on the gear 16. Thereby, for example, the rotating body 10R rotates so that the regulating projection 11F is located at the center of the regulating groove 16C1 in the circumferential direction. When the force acting on the gear 16 is released by releasing the force pushing the first lever 101 and the second lever 102, the rotary body 10R rotates until the abutted surface 11FF of the restricting projection 11F abuts on the abutting surface 16C1F of the restricting groove 16C1 by the restoring force of the spring 12.

At this time, the viscous fluid in the filling portion 11A is cut off by the rotor 13, and the linear motion of the rods 101 and 102 is damped by the braking torque generated in the rotor 13. As a result, the sound or rattling caused by the engagement of the engagement portion 16A1 of the gear 16 with the engagement portions 101A, 102A of the respective levers 101, 102 is suppressed.

In addition, as shown in fig. 11, for example, the rotary body 10R rotates such that the regulating projection 11F is located at an end portion of the regulating groove 16C1 on the opposite side of the abutment surface 16C1F in the circumferential direction. In this case as well, when the force acting on the gear 16 is released, the rotary body 10R rotates until the abutted surface 11FF of the regulating projection 11F abuts against the abutting surface 16C1F of the regulating groove 16C1 by the restoring force of the spring 12. At this time, the occurrence of sound or rattling due to the engagement of the engagement portion 16A1 of the gear 16 with the engagement portions 101A, 102A of the respective levers 101, 102 is also suppressed.

In addition, according to the rotary damper 10 of the present embodiment, as described above, the operational sound of the member engaged with the rotary damper 10 or the rattling during operation is suppressed. As a result, the operability of the article having the rotary damper 10 can be improved, and as a result, the comfort of the environment in which the article is disposed can also be improved.

As described above, according to one embodiment of the rotary damper and the locking device, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The position of the rotary body 10R rotated by the loading force based on the restoring force is stopped at a predetermined position by the regulating portion. The rotator 10R stopped at the predetermined position can maintain the restoring force of the spring 12.

(2) Since the rotary body 10R has the rotary body 13 and the gear 16, respectively, the position of the gear 16 can be adjusted independently of the position of the rotary body 13.

(3) Since the regulating portion has the regulating projection 11F and the regulating groove 16C1 in which the regulating projection 11F is fitted, the engagement between the first regulating member and the second regulating member is difficult to be released as compared with the case where only the first regulating member is abutted against the second regulating member. Therefore, the first restriction member can be stably engaged with the second restriction member.

(4) Since the restricting portion is not exposed to the outside of the rotary damper 10, damage of the restricting portion due to contact with an engagement object or the like is suppressed.

(5) Compared with the case where the rotary damper 10 has only one restriction portion, the position of the rotary body 10R in the circumferential direction can be stabilized.

(6) Since the coil portion 12A of the spring 12 is sandwiched between the base surface CS2F and the top surface 16A2F, the shape of the coil portion 12A accommodated between the case 11 and the rotating body 10R is less likely to deform and lose shape.

(7) The rotational torque is changed by changing the wind-up of the spring 12. Therefore, a plurality of different rotational torques can be set for the rotational damper 10, and the restoring force can be maintained at each rotational torque.

The above-described embodiments can be modified as follows.

[ Restriction portion ]

The rotation damper 10 may be provided with only one restriction portion. Alternatively, three or more restricting portions may be provided in the rotary damper 10. For example, in a case where the rotary damper 10 has three restriction portions, and the three restriction portions are equally arranged in the circumferential direction of the shaft support portion 11B, the position of the gear 16 in the circumferential direction with respect to the housing 11 can be changed by 120 ° each time. Therefore, the torque of the spring 12 can be changed by 120 ° each time.

The stopper provided in the restricting portion may be located at a portion of the housing that is not covered by the rotating body 10R. In this case, the contact portion that contacts the stopper is located on the side surface of the rotating body 10R, for example, and can contact the stopper exposed to the outside of the rotating body 10R.

The case 11 and the rotating body 10R may be configured so that the portion to be abutted of the case 11 can abut against the abutting portion of the rotating body 10R, thereby stopping the rotating body 10R at a predetermined position. Therefore, for example, the abutted portion of the housing 11 and the abutted portion of the rotating body 10R may be a stepped portion configured to be abutted against each other. Alternatively, both the abutted portion of the case 11 and the abutted portion of the rotary body 10R may be convex portions configured to be abutted against each other. Alternatively, any one of the abutted portion of the housing 11 and the abutted portion of the rotary body 10R may be a convex portion, and the abutted portion may be a wall portion configured so that the convex portion can be abutted against other than the convex portion.

[ Base surface and top surface ]

At least one of the base surface CS2F and the top surface 16A2F may not have a spiral surface shape. For example, at least one of the base surface CS2F and the top surface 16A2F may be a flat surface.

Claims (8)

1. A rotary damper having: a housing having an annular filling portion filled with a viscous fluid and a shaft support portion arranged in the filling portion; a rotating body axially supported by the shaft support portion in a manner rotatable along the circumferential direction of the shaft support portion, and transmitting a braking force generated by the viscous fluid to an engaging object; a spring, which is arranged outside the filling portion and transmits the circumferential loading force to the rotating body; The housing and the rotating body include a restriction portion, and the restriction portion stops the rotating body rotated by the biasing force at a predetermined position due to the contact between the housing and the rotating body. 2. The rotary damper according to claim 1, wherein: The rotating body has: a rotating body axially supported by the shaft support portion in a manner rotatable along a circumferential direction of the shaft support portion; The engaging member is connected to the rotating body in a non-rotatable manner and engages with the engaging object. 3. The rotary damper according to claim 1, wherein: Either one of the housing and the rotating body is a first limiting member, The housing and the rotating body include a second limiting member in addition to the first limiting member. The limiting portion has: a protrusion disposed on the first limiting member; A groove is provided on the second restricting member and is engaged with the protrusion. 4. The rotary damper according to claim 1, wherein: The limiting portion has: a stopper covered by the rotating body in the housing; The abutment portion is located on a lower surface of the rotating body facing the housing and abuts against the stopper to stop the rotating body at a predetermined position. The rotary damper according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of the restricting portions arranged in the circumferential direction. 6. The rotary damper according to claim 5, wherein: The restricting portion includes a first portion of the rotating body and a second portion in the housing that engages with the first portion. The first portion of each restriction portion is configured to be engageable with the second portion of another restriction portion by changing the winding of the spring. 7. The rotary damper according to claim 1, wherein: The spring has a spiral coil portion wound along the circumferential direction, The coil portion is sandwiched between a base surface of the housing and a top surface of the rotating body, and the base surface and the top surface have a helical surface shape corresponding to the outer shape of the coil portion. 8 . A locking device comprising: a rod; and the rotation damper according to claim 1 engaged with the rod.