WO2025158835A1 - Shift apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

This shift apparatus comprises: a motor which includes an input shaft that is rotated about an input axis; a rotary body; a slewing part; and a driven lever which includes an output shaft for outputting the drive force of the motor to a shift switching mechanism and a guide part for guiding the slewing part, and which rotates about an output axis by being pressed by the slewing part while being guided by the guide part, wherein the guide part of the driven lever is a cam groove that contacts the slewing part, and the cam groove includes a stop end that stops the driven lever by contacting the slewing part.

Description

Shift device

The present invention relates to a shift device.

Conventionally, shift devices that use the driving force of a motor to change gears are known. Such a shift device is described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 11,346,444.

The above-mentioned US Patent No. 11,346,444 discloses a shift device that switches between a parking state and a parking release state and is equipped with a motor, a lever to which an output shaft that serves as the center of rotation is fixed, and a rotor that transmits the driving force of the motor to the lever. The lever has a cam groove. The rotor has a drive pin (pivoting part) that engages with the cam groove. The drive pin (pivoting part) of the rotor moves within the cam groove as the rotor is rotated by the motor, thereby pressing against the lever and causing it to rotate around the output shaft. The lever and rotor are formed as flat plates adjacent to each other.

In addition to the drive pin (swivel), the rotor has a lock pin to stop the rotor's rotation. The lock pin protrudes from the rotor's surface toward the lever, and is configured to abut against the outer edge of the lever to stop the rotor's rotation when the rotor is switched between the parking state and the parking release state.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,346,444

However, in the shift device of U.S. Patent No. 11,346,444, the rotor with the lock pin must be made relatively large relative to the lever in order to prevent the lock pin from coming into contact with the outer edge of the lever when rotating the rotor with the lock pin to switch between the parking state and the parking release state, which increases the size of the device. For this reason, there has been a demand for reducing the size of devices.

This invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one object of this invention is to provide a shift device that can prevent the device from becoming too large.

In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention provides a shift device comprising: a motor including an input shaft that rotates about the input axis; a rotated body that includes a central axis parallel to the input axis and is rotated about the central axis by the input shaft; a pivoting portion that is provided on the rotated body and pivots about the central axis as the rotated body rotates; an output shaft that has an output axis parallel to the input axis and outputs the driving force of the motor to a shift switching mechanism that switches between a parking state and a parking release state; and a driven lever that includes a guide portion that guides the pivoting portion and is pressed against the pivoting portion while being guided by the guide portion, thereby rotating about the output axis; the guide portion of the driven lever is a cam groove that contacts the pivoting portion to guide movement of the pivoting portion, and the cam groove is located on the output shaft side of the cam groove and includes a stop end that abuts against the pivoting portion when the shifter is switched between the parking state and the parking release state, thereby stopping the driven lever.

In one aspect of the shift device of this invention, as described above, the guide portion of the driven lever is a cam groove that contacts a pivoting portion provided on the rotated body while guiding the movement of the pivoting portion. The cam groove is located on the output shaft side of the cam groove and includes a stop end that stops the driven lever by abutting the pivoting portion when the shift device is switched between the parking state and the parking release state. This allows the rotated body to be stopped by abutting the pivoting portion located in the cam groove of the driven lever against the stop end of the cam groove. In other words, the rotated body can be stopped using only the cam mechanism formed by the cam groove including the stop end and the pivoting portion. This eliminates the need for a lock pin that protrudes from the surface of the rotated body toward the driven lever to stop the rotated body, as in the conventional method. This eliminates the need to consider preventing the lock pin from abutting the driven lever while the rotated body is rotating, as in the conventional method. As a result, the rotated body can be kept small, and the device can be kept small.

In the shift device according to the above aspect, the rotated body is preferably configured to be within the range of the movement trajectory of the outer edge of the driven lever when viewed from a direction along the input axis.

With this configuration, the rotated body can be made relatively small so that it fits within the range of the movement trajectory of the outer edge of the driven lever. As a result, the device can be kept from becoming too large.

In the shift device of the above aspect, preferably, when the turning unit is in a transitional state in the middle of turning and transitioning from one of the parking state and the parking release state to the other, the shift device is configured to alternately switch from the transitional state to one of the parking state and the parking release state when the turning unit passes the orthogonal position where a first line passing through the turning axis and the output axis intersects with a second line passing through the turning axis and the central axis as viewed from the direction along the input axis.

With this configuration, if a reverse input that rotates the driven lever is applied from the shift switching mechanism side due to an external force via the output shaft or vibration of the driven lever while the motor is stopped, the reverse input torque that causes the driven lever to press the rotating part can be applied in a direction that maintains the parking state or the parking release state, rather than in a direction that switches from the parking state or the parking release state to an intermediate state. As a result, the parking state and the parking release state can be stably maintained against a reverse input from the shift switching mechanism side, etc.

In this case, preferably, the pivoting part is configured to move back and forth from one end, which is the stopping end of the cam groove, to the other end and then back to the one end while switching from one of the parking state and the parking release state to the other, and the cam groove has a pressing surface that presses the pivoting part toward the stopping end when the pivoting part located at the stopping end receives torque from the driven lever.

With this configuration, if a reverse input is applied from the output shaft side to rotate the driven lever while the motor is stopped, the torque of the reverse input presses the rotating part against the pressing surface, pressing the rotating part toward the one end, which is the stopping end. Therefore, the pressing surface can apply the reverse input torque in a direction that maintains the parking state and the parking release state. As a result, the parking state and the parking release state can be maintained more stably against a reverse input from the shift switching mechanism side, etc.

In a configuration in which the cam groove has a pressing surface that presses the pivoting portion toward the stop end, preferably, the cam groove is formed in an elongated shape along a first straight line passing through the pivot axis and the output axis when viewed from the direction along the input axis, and the stop end side of the cam groove is provided with a wide portion that is formed so that its width in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first straight line when viewed from the direction along the input axis is wider than the width in the orthogonal direction of the other end portion of the cam groove opposite the stop end, and the pressing surface is formed on the part of the wide portion that is connected to the other end portion.

With this configuration, the wide portion allows the rotating portion to be positioned closer to the stopping end of the cam groove than the pressing surface, which is part of the wide portion, when the rotating portion is positioned in the wide portion of the cam groove. This makes it easier for the pressing surface to generate a force that presses the rotating portion toward the stopping end. As a result, the parking state and the parking release state can be maintained even more stably against reverse input from the shift switching mechanism, etc.

In a configuration in which a wide portion is provided on the stopping end side of the cam groove, the wide portion is preferably formed in an arc shape larger than a semicircle when viewed from the direction along the input axis, and a pair of pressing surfaces are provided at both ends of the arc-shaped wide portion.

With this configuration, the arc-shaped pressing surface of the wide portion can stably press against the rotating portion while aligning with the rotating portion.

In the shift device according to one aspect above, the input shaft preferably has a motor gear portion that contacts the rotated body to transmit driving force, and a non-motor gear portion that is arranged between the motor gear portion and the motor body that rotatably supports the input shaft in a direction along the input axis, and the driven lever includes a through hole through which the input shaft is inserted and into which the non-motor gear portion is arranged, and is arranged between the motor body and the rotated body with the input shaft inserted into the through hole.

With this configuration, the driven lever can be positioned in the non-motor gear area, which is a portion of the input shaft that cannot be used as a gear structure, making it possible to effectively utilize the non-motor gear area. As a result, the device does not need to be large in the axial direction of the input shaft.

In the shift device according to the above aspect, it is preferable that the shift device further includes a housing that houses the motor, the rotated body, the rotating part, and the driven lever, and the tip of the input shaft, located on the opposite side from the motor body that rotatably supports the input shaft, is rotatably supported by the housing.

With this configuration, the tip of the input shaft can also be rotatably supported by the housing, compared to when the input shaft is rotatably supported only by the motor body (rotor), allowing the input shaft to rotate more stably.

In the shift device according to the above aspect, the range in which the output shaft is provided and the range in which the rotated body is provided preferably overlap in the direction along the input axis.

This configuration allows the device to be made smaller in size along the input axis compared to when the range in which the output shaft is located and the range in which the rotated body is located do not overlap in the direction along the input axis.

In addition, the following configuration is also possible for the shift device according to the above aspect.

(Additional note 1)
In a configuration in which the transitional state alternates between a parking state and a parking release state when the rotating part passes the orthogonal position, preferably, the guide part of the driven lever is a cam groove that contacts the rotating part and guides the movement of the rotating part, and the rotating part is configured to move back and forth from one end of the cam groove to the other end and back to the one end again while switching from one of the parking state and the parking release state to the other, and the cam groove is formed in a straight line along the first straight line when viewed from the direction along the input axis.

This configuration allows for a simpler shape for the cam groove, which serves as the guide, and simplifies the device configuration.

(Additional note 2)
In a configuration in which the transitional state alternates between the parking state and the released parking state when the swivel unit passes the orthogonal position, the swivel unit in the transitional state is preferably configured to rotate at a position farther from the output shaft than the position of the swivel unit in the parking state and the position of the swivel unit in the released parking state.

This configuration allows for a relatively large distance to be maintained between the turning portion and the output shaft during turning, thereby enabling a relatively large torque to be output from the output shaft.

(Additional note 3)
In the above shift device, the input shaft preferably has a motor gear portion that contacts the rotated body to transmit driving force, and the rotated body is a circular gear member that has external teeth that mesh with the motor gear portion.

With this configuration, the torque from the motor gear portion of the input shaft can be easily transmitted to the output shaft using a circular gear member with external teeth.

(Additional note 4)
In this case, the rotating portion provided on the rotated body, which is a gear member, is preferably configured to rotate at a position on the inner circumferential side of the external teeth of the gear member.

With this configuration, the distances of the external teeth and the orbiting portion from the central axis of the rotated body can be made different, allowing the torque from the input shaft to be decelerated in the orbiting portion and the rotated body.

(Additional note 5)
In the above shift device, the pivoting portion is preferably configured to pivot about the central axis while rotating when guided by the guide portion.

This configuration reduces friction between the swivel portion and the guide portion due to rotation, allowing the swivel portion to rotate smoothly along the guide portion.

The present invention can prevent the device from becoming too large in the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the rotated body.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the actuator of the shift device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an actuator of a shift device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an output shaft of an actuator and a shift switching mechanism of the shift device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an input shaft, a rotated body, a rotating portion, and a driven lever of the actuator of the shift device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an input shaft, a rotated body, a turning portion, and a driven lever of an actuator of the shift device according to the embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining the relationship between a rotated body of a shift device and the range of a movement locus of an outer edge of a driven lever according to an embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining the switching operation between the parking state and the parking release state of the shift device according to the embodiment, in which (A) shows the position of the turning unit in the parking state, (B) shows the position of the turning unit in the state where the parking state switches to the transition state, (C) shows the position of the turning unit in the transition state, (D) shows the position of the turning unit in the state where the parking release state switches to the transition state, and (E) shows the position of the turning unit in the parking release state, and the parking state is maintained when the turning unit is positioned within the angle (θ2) range that is the section from (A) to (B), and the parking release state is maintained when the turning unit is positioned within the angle (θ1) range that is the section from (D) to (E). FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a pivoting portion of an actuator of a shift device according to a first modified example and a driven lever having a pressing surface. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a pivoting portion of an actuator of a shift device according to a second modified example and a driven lever having a pressing surface. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a pivoting portion of an actuator of a shift device according to a third modified example and a driven lever having a pressing surface. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of an actuator of a shift device according to a fourth modified example. 12A and 12B are diagrams for explaining the shape, in a plan view, of a convex portion that restricts axial movement of the turning center shaft shown in FIG. 11 in a shift device according to a fourth modified example.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment)
The configuration of a shift device 100 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. The shift device 100 is a device mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle.

In a vehicle equipped with the shift device 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2, when the occupant (driver) performs a shift operation via an operating unit such as a shift lever (or shift switch), electrical shift control is performed on the transmission mechanism. That is, the position of the shift lever is input to the shift device 100 via a shift sensor provided in the operating unit. Then, based on a control signal sent from a dedicated control board 2 provided in the shift device 100, the transmission mechanism is switched to one of the shift positions P (parking), R (reverse), N (neutral), or D (drive), corresponding to the occupant's shift operation. This type of shift control is called shift-by-wire.

The shift device 100 includes an actuator 101 and a shift switching mechanism 102 (see Figure 3) that includes a parking gear 73 and a parking rod 72. The actuator 101 is a drive device that drives the shift switching mechanism 102 based on a shift switching operation by the occupant (driver). The shift switching mechanism 102 is driven by the actuator 101 to switch between a parking state in which the parking rod 72 meshes with the parking gear 73, and a parking release state in which the parking rod 72 is no longer meshed with the parking gear 73. The parking state is a state in which the parking rod 72 restricts rotation of the parking gear 73 so that the parking gear 73 does not rotate. The parking release state is a state in which the restriction on rotation of the parking gear 73 by the parking rod 72 is released.

In each figure, the axial direction of the input shaft 32 (motor shaft) of the actuator 101, which will be described later, is indicated as the Z direction. Furthermore, within the Z direction, the direction facing from the shift switching mechanism 102 side toward the actuator 101 side is indicated as the Z1 direction, and the opposite direction is indicated as the Z2 direction.

In addition, in each figure, the rotation direction of the rotating unit 5 around the central axis C2 is indicated by the R direction. One of the R directions is indicated by the R1 direction, and the other is indicated by the R2 direction. When the rotating unit 5 rotates in the R1 direction, the shift switching mechanism 102 switches from the parking state to the parking release state, and when the rotating unit 5 rotates in the R2 direction, the shift switching mechanism 102 switches from the parking release state to the parking state.

In addition, in each figure, the rotation direction of the output shaft 61 (follower lever 6) around the output axis C3 is indicated by the r direction. Within the r direction, the direction along the R1 direction is indicated by the r1 direction, and the direction along the R2 direction is indicated by the r2 direction. When the swivel unit 5 is in the transitional state of transitioning from the parking state to the parking release state by rotating in the R1 direction, the follower lever 6 rotates in the r1 direction. When the swivel unit 5 is in the transitional state of transitioning from the parking release state to the parking state by rotating in the R2 direction, the follower lever 6 rotates in the r2 direction.

In addition, in each figure, the direction along the first straight line L1 is indicated as direction A. Within direction A, the direction from the rotation axis C4 side of the rotating unit 5 toward the output axis C3 side of the output shaft 61 is indicated as direction A2, and the opposite direction is indicated as direction A1. Direction A is the direction that coincides with the longitudinal direction of the guide unit 62 (cam groove), and is also the direction that changes as the rotating unit 5 moves.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the actuator 101 comprises an upper housing 10 (lid member), a lower housing 11, a support housing 12, a control board 2, a motor 3 including an input shaft 32, a rotated body 4 including a central shaft 40, a swiveling unit 5, and a driven lever 6 including an output shaft 61. The upper housing 10 (lid member), the lower housing 11, and the support housing 12 form a housing 10a that houses the motor 3, rotated body 4, swiveling unit 5, and driven lever 6 inside.

The rotated body 4, swivel unit 5, and driven lever 6 are configured to decelerate the driving force of the motor 3 and generate a relatively large torque. This torque moves the parking rod 72. The driving force of the motor 3 is transmitted in the following order: input shaft 32 of the motor 3, rotated body 4, swivel unit 5, driven lever 6 (output shaft 61), and shift switching mechanism 102 (parking rod 72).

The input shaft 32 of the motor 3 extends in the Z direction along the input axis C1 located at the center of the input shaft 32. The central axis 40 of the rotated body 4 extends in the Z direction along the central axis C2 located at the center of the rotated body 4. The output shaft 61 of the driven lever 6 extends in the Z direction along the output axis C3 located at the center of the driven lever 6. The rotating part 5 is formed in a circular shape with a rotation axis C4 extending in the Z direction at its center. In other words, the input axis C1 is parallel to each of the central axis C2, output axis C3, and rotation axis C4.

Furthermore, the input axis C1, central axis C2, and output axis C3 are axes that do not move when viewed in the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction). On the other hand, the pivot axis C4 is an axis that revolves (revolves) around the central axis C2 as the pivot unit 5 pivots. Furthermore, when viewed in the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction), the input axis C1 is positioned at a position offset from the straight line connecting the central axis C2 and the output axis C3. This arrangement makes it possible to reduce the size of the driven lever 6 in the direction perpendicular to the input axis C1, compared to when the input axis, central axis, and output axis are all positioned on the same straight line.

(Configuration of upper housing, lower housing and support housing)
1 and 2 are assembled together with the support housing 12 disposed between the upper housing 10 and the lower housing 11. The upper housing 10, the lower housing 11, and the support housing 12 house the above-mentioned components of the actuator 101 (the support housing 12, the control board 2, the motor 3, the rotated body 4, the swivel unit 5, and the driven lever 6) inside.

The support housing 12 is open on the Z1 side, with the open portion being blocked by the upper housing 10. The lower housing 11 is open on the Z1 side, with the open portion being blocked by the support housing 12. The lower housing 11 is provided with a through-hole 11a through which the output shaft 61 of the driven lever 6 is inserted. The through-hole 11a passes through the lower housing 11 in the Z direction. The output shaft 61 inserted into the through-hole 11a protrudes from the lower housing 11 in the Z2 direction. The output shaft 61 abuts against the support housing 12 from the Z2 side, positioning the output shaft 61 in the axial direction.

The support housing 12 rotatably supports the input shaft 32 of the motor 3. More specifically, the support housing 12 is provided with a motor bearing 3a that rotatably supports the input shaft 32. The motor bearing 3a is installed on the support housing 12 from the Z2 direction side of the support housing 12. The stator 31 of the motor 3 is also fixed to the support housing 12 from the Z1 direction side of the support housing 12 (see Figure 4). A space 12a (see Figure 1) that houses the control board 2 is provided on the Z1 direction side of the support housing 12, and a space 12b (see Figure 1) that houses the rotated body 4, swiveling part 5, and driven lever 6 is provided on the Z2 direction side of the support housing 12.

(Configuration of control board)
The control board 2 shown in Fig. 1 is configured to control the driving of the motor 3. The control board 2 is a board component on which electronic components are mounted. The control board 2 is a board whose thickness direction is in the Z direction, and is fixed to the support housing 12 by fastening members. The control board 2 covers the motor 3 from the Z1 direction side.

(Motor configuration)
As an example, the motor 3 is an IPM (Interior Permanent Magnet) brushless three-phase motor. The motor 3 is fixed to the support housing 12 by fastening members. The motor 3 includes a rotor 30, a stator 31, and an input shaft 32. The rotor 30 and the stator 31 form a motor body 30a that rotatably supports the input shaft 32.

North-pole and south-pole magnets serving as permanent magnets are embedded alternately at equal angular intervals within the rotor 30 around the input axis C1 of the input shaft 32. The stator 31 has excitation coils with multiple phases (U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase) that generate magnetic force when current is passed through them. The input shaft 32 is configured to rotate around the input axis C1 together with the rotor 30. The input shaft 32 is rotatably supported by a motor bearing 3a installed in the support housing 12.

The input shaft 32 passes through the driven lever 6. More specifically, the input shaft 32 is inserted into a through-hole 60 (described later) of the driven lever 6. The input shaft 32 has a flange portion 33 that abuts against the motor bearing 3a from the Z2 direction side, a motor gear portion 34, and a non-motor gear portion 35. The motor gear portion 34 is configured to contact the rotated body 4 and transmit driving force to the rotated body 4. In the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction), the non-motor gear portion 35 is disposed between the flange portion 33 (motor main body 30a) and the motor gear portion 34. The non-motor gear portion 35 is directly connected to the flange portion 33 from the Z2 direction side.

The non-motor gear portion 35 is a portion that cannot be used as part of the gear configuration that transitions from the flange portion 33 to the gear shape of the motor gear portion 34. In other words, the motor gear portion 34 cannot be formed so as to be directly connected to the flange portion 33. The non-motor gear portion 35 is disposed between the motor gear portion 34 and the support housing 12 in the axial direction (Z direction) of the input shaft 32. The motor gear portion 34 is disposed near the end of the input shaft 32 in the Z2 direction. The tip 32a of the input shaft 32, located on the opposite side (Z2 direction) from the motor main body 30a, is rotatably supported by the housing 10a. More specifically, the lower housing 11 of the housing 10a has a bearing 36. The tip 32a of the input shaft 32 in the Z2 direction is rotatably supported by the bearing 36.

As shown in FIG. 5, the input shaft 32 of this embodiment is disposed between the rotated body 4, which is directly rotated by the input shaft 32, and the output shaft 61 of the driven lever 6, when viewed from the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction). Furthermore, if the line passing through the rotation axis C4 and the output axis C3 is defined as the first line L1 when viewed from the direction along the input axis C1, the first line L1 is configured to intersect with the input axis C1, which is the center line of the motor 3, while the rotating part 5 is rotating.

The above phrase "disposed between the rotated body 4 and the output shaft 61 of the driven lever 6" includes not only the case where the entire input shaft 32 is disposed in the space 7 between the rotated body 4 and the output shaft 61 of the driven lever 6, but also the case where only a portion of the input shaft 32 is disposed in the space 7 between the rotated body 4 and the output shaft 61 of the driven lever 6.

Furthermore, the above-mentioned "space 7 between the rotated body 4 and the output shaft 61 of the driven lever 6" refers to the space surrounded by the rotated body 4 and the output shaft 61 (the area surrounded by the two-dot chain line in Figure 5), as well as two tangent lines 7a and 7b that touch both the circular rotated body 4 and the circular output shaft 61 when viewed from the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction). The two tangent lines 7a and 7b are so-called common external tangent lines.

(Configuration of the rotated body)
The rotated body 4 shown in FIG. 5 is a circular gear member having external teeth 4a that mesh with the motor gear portion 34 of the input shaft 32. In other words, the rotated body 4 is a spur gear. The diameter of the rotated body 4 is larger than the diameter of the input shaft 32. The rotated body 4 includes a central shaft 40 having a central axis C2 parallel to the input axis C1, and is configured to be rotated about the central axis C2 by the input shaft 32. The central shaft 40 is configured as a cantilever shaft with its end in the Z2 direction fixed to the lower housing 11. A bearing 41 is provided on the central shaft 40 to rotatably support a gear component having the external teeth 4a of the rotated body 4.

As shown in Figure 6, when viewed in the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction), the rotated body 4 is configured to fit within the range RG3 of the movement trajectory of the outer edge 6a of the driven lever 6. In other words, when viewed in the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction), the distance D1 between the output axis C3 and the position P10 of the driven lever 6 that is farthest from the output axis C3 is greater than the distance D2 between the output axis C3 and the position P11 of the rotated body 4 that is farthest from the output axis C3 (D1 > D2).

(Configuration of the rotating part)
The swivel unit 5 shown in FIG. 5 is provided on the rotated body 4 and is configured to revolve (revolve) around the central axis C2 as the rotated body 4 rotates. As an example, the swivel angle range of the swivel unit 5 is greater than 180 degrees and less than 360 degrees. When viewed from a direction along the input axis C1, the swivel unit 5 is formed in a circular shape with a swivel axis C4 parallel to the input axis C1 at its center. The swivel unit 5 is provided with a swivel central shaft 50 whose Z2-direction end is fixed to the rotated body 4. The swivel unit 5 is supported by the swivel central shaft 50 that protrudes from the rotated body 4 in the Z1 direction. The swivel central shaft 50 extends in the Z direction and is located at the center of the swivel unit 5. The swivel unit 5 and the swivel central shaft 50 are spaced apart from the support housing 12 and the lower housing 11 so as not to come into contact with the support housing 12 and the lower housing 11.

The rotating part 5 provided on the rotated body 4, which is a gear member, is configured to rotate at a position on the inner periphery side of the gear member's external teeth 4a. In other words, the distance from the central axis C2 to the rotating axis C4, which is the rotation radius of the rotating part 5, is smaller than the distance from the central axis C2 to the external teeth 4a, which is the radius of the rotated body 4.

When rotating, the swivel unit 5 rotates while being guided by the guide unit 62 (cam groove) of the driven lever 6, which will be described later. The swivel unit 5 is configured to rotate around the central axis C2 while being guided by the guide unit 62. In detail, the swivel unit 5 has a bearing structure with multiple spherical rollers 5a (see Figure 1) to reduce friction that occurs between the swivel unit 5 and the guide unit 62, which it comes into contact with, when it is guided by the guide unit 62.

The distance between the position of the swivel unit 5 (swivel axis C4) in the parking state and the output axis C3 is approximately equal to the distance between the position of the swivel unit 5 (swivel axis C4) in the parking release state and the output axis C3. The swivel unit 5 in the transition state, which is in the process of transitioning from one of the parking state and the parking release state to the other, is configured to rotate at a position farther from the output shaft 61 than the position of the swivel unit 5 in the parking state and the position of the swivel unit 5 in the parking release state.

In other words, the distance between the rotation axis C4 and the output axis C3 of the rotating unit 5 in the transitional state is greater than the distance between the rotation axis C4 and the output axis C3. In other words, when the rotating unit 5 is in the transitional state, in which it is switching between the parking state and the parking release state, it does not move in an inward direction via the side closer to the output shaft 61 than the central axis 40, but rather moves outward via the side farther from the output shaft 61 than the central axis 40.

The swivel unit 5 is configured to move back and forth from one end of the cam groove, the guide unit 62, at a stop end 62a (described below), to the other end 62b, and then back to the stop end 62a, while switching from the parking state to the other, or the parking release state. Details will be provided in the explanation of the switching operation between the parking state and the parking release state (described below).

(Configuration of driven lever)
1 is a relatively thin plate member whose thickness direction is in the Z direction. The thickness of the driven lever 6 is smaller than the thickness of the rotated body 4. In the Z direction, the center position of the driven lever 6 substantially coincides with the center position of the swivel part 5.

The driven lever 6 includes a through hole 60, an output shaft 61, and a guide portion 62. In the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction), the range RG1 in which the output shaft 61 is provided and the range RG2 in which the rotated body 4 is provided overlap. More specifically, in the Z direction, the entire range RG2 in which the rotated body 4 is provided is included in the range RG1 in which the output shaft 61 is provided. The driven lever 6 and output shaft 61 are supported by the lower housing 11 via an L-shaped bushing 110.

The input shaft 32 is inserted into the through-hole 60, with the non-motor gear portion 35 located inside. The driven lever 6 is positioned between the support housing 12 (motor main body 30a) and the rotated body 4, with the input shaft 32 inserted into the through-hole 60. When viewed from the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction), the through-hole 60 is formed in an arc shape centered on the output axis C3. The through-hole 60 is formed slightly larger than the input shaft 32 so that it does not interfere with the inserted input shaft 32 when the driven lever 6 rotates. In short, the through-hole 60 is a so-called relief hole.

The output shaft 61 has an output axis C3 parallel to the input axis C1, and is configured to output the driving force of the motor 3 to a shift switching mechanism 102 (see Figure 3) that switches between a parking state and a parking release state. The output shaft 61 is fixed to the plate portion of the driven lever 6. The guide portion 62 is configured to guide the rotating rotating portion 5. The driven lever 6 rotates around the output axis C3 by being pressed by the rotating portion 5 that rotates in a circular shape while being guided by the guide portion 62. The output shaft 61 is configured from a single member.

As shown in FIG. 5, the guide portion 62 of the driven lever 6 is a cam groove that contacts the pivoting portion 5 and guides the movement of the pivoting portion 5. The cam groove, which is the guide portion 62, is formed in a straight line along the first straight line L1 when viewed from the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction). Specifically, the cam groove, which is the guide portion 62, is formed by two straight line portions SL extending parallel to the first straight line L1 when viewed from the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction), one arc portion AR connecting the ends of the two straight lines, and a wide portion 90 (described later), and has a generally oval shape. The cam groove, which is the guide portion 62, includes a stop end 62a located at one end of the cam groove on the output shaft 61 side. The stop end 62a is configured to stop the driven lever 6 by abutting against the pivoting portion 5 when the driven lever 6 is switched between the parking state and the parking release state. Therefore, when in the parking state or the parking release state, the swivel unit 5 is positioned at the stop end 62a (described below), which is one end of the linear cam groove that forms the guide unit 62.

The swivel unit 5 is configured to move back and forth from one end, the stop end 62a of the cam groove (guide unit 62), to the other end 62b and then back to the one end (stop end 62a) as it switches from the parking state to the other, or the released parking state. The cam groove (guide unit 62) has a pressing surface 90a that presses the swivel unit 5 toward the stop end 62a when the swivel unit 5 located at the stop end 62a receives torque from the driven lever 6.

When viewed from the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction), the cam groove (guide portion 62) is formed in an elongated shape along a first straight line L1 passing through the rotation axis C4 and the output axis C3. A wide portion 90 is provided on the stop end 62a side of the cam groove (guide portion 62). The wide portion 90 is provided with a stop end 62a. When viewed from the direction along the input axis C1, the width W1 of the wide portion 90 in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first straight line L1 is wider than the width W2 of the other end portion 91 of the cam groove opposite the stop end 62a (W1 > W2). The pressing surface 90a is formed on the portion of the wide portion 90 that connects to the other end portion 91 (A1 direction side). When viewed from the direction along the input axis C1, the wide portion 90 is formed in an arc shape larger than a semicircle. A pair of pressing surfaces 90a is provided at both ends of the arc-shaped wide portion 90.

(Configuration of shift switching mechanism)
As shown in FIG. 3, the shift switching mechanism 102 includes an arm portion 70 having one end fixed to the output shaft 61, a rod-shaped torque transmission member 71 connected to the other end of the arm portion 70, a parking rod 72 moved by the torque transmission member 71, and a parking gear 73.

The arm portion 70 is configured to rotate in the r1 and r2 directions together with the output shaft 61 (driven lever 6). The torque transmission member 71 has a cam portion 71a at its tip. The cam portion 71a is configured to move toward and away from the parking rod 72 as the arm portion 70 rotates. A guide member 71b is provided in front of the cam portion 71a in the direction of movement, guiding the cam portion 71a toward the parking rod 72 and pressing it against the parking rod 72. The parking rod 72 is provided with a spring member 72a that constantly biases the parking rod 72 toward the guide member 71b. When the cam portion 71a enters between the guide member 71b and the parking rod 72, the parking rod 72 moves toward the parking gear 73 against the biasing force of the spring member 72a, and the parking rod 72 engages with the parking gear 73, changing from the parking release state to the parking state.

(Switching operation between parking state and parking release state by shift device)
Referring to FIG. 7, the switching operation between the parking state and the parking release state by the shift device 100 will be described.

(Switching from parking state to parking release state)
The switching operation from the parking state shown in FIG. 7A to the parking release state shown in FIG. 7E will be described.

7A, the rotating part 5 is positioned near the stop end 62a, which is one end of the cam groove that is the guide part 62. Near the stop end 62a is a concept that includes not only a position of the rotating part 5 where the rotating part 5 is slightly separated from the stop end 62a, but also a position of the rotating part 5 where the rotating part 5 is in contact with the stop end 62a. In this state, torque that rotates the rotating part 5 in the R1 direction is input from the input shaft 32 of the motor 3 via the rotated body 4. In this case, the rotating part 5 moves in the A1 direction along the guide part 62 so as to move away from the output shaft 61, and the driven lever 6 hardly rotates at all. As a result, the rotating part 5 (point of force) moves away from the input shaft 32 (fulcrum), and the torque that the rotating part 5 presses against the driven lever 6 to rotate it increases. In other words, a relatively large distance can be secured between the rotation axis C4 and the output axis C3, so a relatively small load on the motor 3 can generate a relatively large torque that rotates the output shaft 61.

The shift device 100 then switches from the parking state to the transition state at the orthogonal position P1 (position of the turning unit 5) where the first straight line L1 and the second straight line L2 passing through the turning axis C4 and the center axis C2 shown in Figure 7(B) intersect at right angles. In detail, when in the parking state, the shift device 100 is configured to switch from the parking state to the transition state when the turning unit 5 passes in the R1 direction, as viewed from the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction), past the orthogonal position P1 where the first straight line L1 and the second straight line L2 intersect at right angles.

Then, as shown in Figure 7(C), the swivel unit 5 rotates in the R1 direction by moving outward. Figure 7(C) shows the state during the transition, where the first straight line L1 and the second straight line L2 are aligned, and the swivel unit 5 has reached the other end 62b of the cam groove, which is the guide unit 62.

Then, at orthogonal position P2 (position of the turning unit 5) where the first line L1 and the second line L2 shown in Figure 7 (D) intersect at right angles, the shift device 100 switches from the mid-transition state to the parking release state. In detail, when the shift device 100 is in the mid-transition state, the shift device 100 is configured to switch from the mid-transition state to the parking release state when the turning unit 5 passes, in the R1 direction, the orthogonal position P2 where the first line L1 and the second line L2 intersect at right angles, as viewed from the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction). Here, in Figure 7, of the second line L2 whose orientation changes as the turning unit 5 turns, the second line L2 at the orthogonal position P2 is indicated by "L20".

In the parking release state shown in Figure 7(E), the swivel part 5 is again positioned at the stop end 62a, which is one end of the cam groove that is the guide part 62. The swivel part 5, which is positioned at the stop end 62a, which is one end shown in Figure 7(E), has further rotated in the R1 direction by an angle θ1 from the orthogonal position P2 shown in Figure 7(D). When the swivel part 5 is positioned within this angle θ1 range, the shift device 100 can prevent the swivel part 5 from passing the orthogonal position P2 in the R2 direction and switching from the parking release state to the transitional state, even if there is a reverse input from the shift switching mechanism 102 side or the like that rotates the driven lever 6.

In more detail, if a reverse input is applied in the state shown in Figure 7(E) to rotate the driven lever 6 in the r2 direction, the driven lever 6 will press the rotating part 5 in the R1 direction toward the stop end 62a, which is one end. However, the rotating part 5 will abut against the stop end 62a, which is one end, and will not rotate any further, and will not move from the position shown in Figure 7(E) toward the orthogonal position P2. Also, if a reverse input is applied in the state shown in Figure 7(E) to rotate the driven lever 6 in the r1 direction, the rotating part 5 may rotate up to just before the orthogonal position P2. However, at a position just before the orthogonal position P2, which is within the range of angle θ1, no force is applied from the driven lever 6 to the other end 62b of the cam groove, which is the guide part 62, on the rotating part 5. Therefore, the rotating part 5 will not rotate beyond the orthogonal position P2 shown in Figure 7(D). Therefore, unless torque is input from the input shaft 32 of the motor 3, the position of the rotating part 5 will be maintained within the range of angle θ1 shown in Figure 7(E). In other words, the angle of the turning unit 5 that enters the parking release state is an angle range with a predetermined width (angle θ1). In other words, the parking release state is maintained unless torque is input from the input shaft 32 of the motor 3. A reverse input does not cause the state shown in FIG. 7(E) to switch to the state shown in FIG. 7(C) via the state shown in FIG. 7(D). Note that the position of the turning unit 5 when the turning center axis 50 is located on the second straight line L20 shown in FIG. 7(D) is the position of the turning unit 5 at the timing when the parking release state switches to the transitional state. Therefore, the position of the turning unit 5 when the turning center axis 50 is located on the second straight line L20 is not included in the position of the turning unit 5 in the parking release state.

(Switching from the parking release state to the parking state)
Next, the switching operation from the parking release state shown in FIG. 7(E) to the parking state shown in FIG. 7(A) will be described.

First, in the parking release state of Figure 7 (E), the swivel unit 5 is positioned near the stop end 62a, which is one end of the cam groove that is the guide unit 62. In this state, torque that rotates the swivel unit 5 in the R2 direction is input from the input shaft 32 of the motor 3 via the rotated body 4. In this case, the swivel unit 5 moves in the A1 direction along the guide unit 62 so as to move away from the output shaft 61, and the driven lever 6 hardly rotates at all.

The shift device 100 then switches from the parking release state to the transitional state at the orthogonal position P2 where the first straight line L1 and the second straight line L2 passing through the turning axis C4 and the center axis C2, as shown in FIG. 7(D), intersect at right angles. In detail, when in the parking release state, the shift device 100 is configured to switch from the parking release state to the transitional state when the turning unit 5 passes, in the R2 direction, the orthogonal position P2 where the first straight line L1 and the second straight line L2 intersect at right angles, as viewed from the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction).

Then, as shown in Figure 7(C), the swivel unit 5 rotates in the R2 direction by moving outward. Figure 7(C) shows the state during the transition, where the first straight line L1 and the second straight line L2 are aligned, and the swivel unit 5 has reached the other end 62b of the cam groove, which is the guide unit 62.

Then, the shift device 100 switches from the mid-transition state to the parking state at the orthogonal position P1 where the first line L1 and the second line L2 shown in Figure 7 (B) intersect at right angles. Specifically, when the shift device 100 is in the mid-transition state, it is configured to switch from the mid-transition state to the parking state when the turning unit 5 passes the orthogonal position P1, where the first line L1 and the second line L2 intersect at right angles, toward the R2 direction when viewed from the direction along the input axis C1 (Z direction). Here, in Figure 7, of the second line L2 whose orientation changes as the turning unit 5 turns, the second line L2 at the orthogonal position P1 is indicated by "L21".

In the parking state shown in Figure 7(A), the swivel part 5 is located at the stop end 62a, which is one end of the cam groove that is the guide part 62. The swivel part 5, which is located at the stop end 62a, which is one end shown in Figure 7(A), has further rotated in the R2 direction by an angle θ2 from the orthogonal position P1 shown in Figure 7(B). When the swivel part 5 is located within this angle θ2 range, the shift device 100 can prevent the swivel part 5 from passing the orthogonal position P1 in the R1 direction and switching from the parking state to the transition state, even if there is a reverse input from the shift switching mechanism 102 side or the like that rotates the driven lever 6.

In more detail, in the state shown in FIG. 7(A), if a reverse input is applied that rotates the driven lever 6 in the r1 direction, the driven lever 6 will press the pivoting portion 5 in the R2 direction toward the stop end 62a, which is one end. However, the pivoting portion 5 will abut against the stop end 62a, preventing it from pivoting any further, and will not move from the position shown in FIG. 7(A) toward the orthogonal position P1. Also, in the state shown in FIG. 7(A), if a reverse input is applied that rotates the driven lever 6 in the r2 direction, the pivoting portion 5 may pivot up to just before the orthogonal position P1. However, at a position just before the orthogonal position P1, which is within the range of angle θ2, no force is applied from the driven lever 6 toward the other end 62b of the cam groove, which is the guide portion 62, to the pivoting portion 5. Therefore, the position of the pivoting portion 5 will be maintained within the range of angle θ2 shown in FIG. 7(B). Therefore, unless torque is input from the input shaft 32 of the motor 3, the position of the pivoting portion 5 will be maintained within the range of angle θ2 shown in FIG. 7(A). In other words, the angle of the swivel unit 5 that is in the parking state is an angle range with a predetermined width (angle θ2). In other words, the parking state is maintained as long as there is no torque input from the input shaft 32 of the motor 3. A reverse input does not cause the state shown in FIG. 7(A) to switch to the state shown in FIG. 7(C) via the state shown in FIG. 7(B). Note that the position of the swivel unit 5 when the swivel center axis 50 is located on the second straight line L21 shown in FIG. 7(B) is the position of the swivel unit 5 at the timing when the parking state switches to the transitional state. Therefore, the position of the swivel unit 5 when the swivel center axis 50 is located on the second straight line L21 is not included in the position of the swivel unit 5 in the parking state.

(Effects of the embodiment)
In this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

In this embodiment, as described above, the guide portion 62 of the driven lever 6 is a cam groove that contacts the pivoting portion 5 provided on the rotated body 4 while guiding the movement of the pivoting portion 5. The cam groove is located on the output shaft 61 side of the cam groove and includes a stop end 62a that stops the driven lever 6 by abutting against the pivoting portion 5 when the rotated body is switched between the parking state and the parking release state. This allows the pivoting portion 5, located in the cam groove of the driven lever 6, to abut against the stop end 62a of the cam groove, thereby stopping the rotated body 4. In other words, the rotated body 4 can be stopped solely by the cam mechanism formed by the cam groove including the stop end 62a and the pivoting portion 5. This eliminates the need for a lock pin that protrudes from the surface of the rotated body toward the driven lever to stop the rotated body, as in the conventional system. This eliminates the need to consider preventing the lock pin from abutting against the driven lever while the rotated body is rotating, as in the conventional system. As a result, the rotated body 4 can be kept small, and the device can be kept small.

In this embodiment, as described above, the rotated body 4 is configured to fit within the range RG3 of the movement locus of the outer edge 6a of the driven lever 6 when viewed from the direction along the input axis C1. This allows the rotated body 4 to be formed relatively small so that it fits within the range RG3 of the movement locus of the outer edge 6a of the driven lever 6. As a result, the device can be further prevented from becoming larger.

In this embodiment, as described above, when the swivel unit 5 is in a transitional state in which it is in the middle of turning and transitioning from one of the parking state and the parking release state to the other, the transitional state is alternately switched from the transitional state to either the parking state or the parking release state when the swivel unit 5 passes through the orthogonal positions P1 and P2 where the first line L1 passing through the turning axis C4 and the output axis C3 and the second line L2 passing through the turning axis C4 and the central axis C2 are perpendicular as viewed from the direction along the input axis C1. As a result, when a reverse input that rotates the driven lever 6 is applied from the shift switching mechanism 102 side due to an external force via the output shaft 61 or vibration of the driven lever 6 while the motor 3 is stopped, the reverse input torque that causes the driven lever 6 to press the swivel unit 5 can be applied in a direction that maintains the parking state or the parking release state, rather than in a direction that switches from the parking state or the parking release state to the transitional state. As a result, the parking state and the parking release state can be stably maintained even when a reverse input is applied from the shift switching mechanism 102 side or the like.

In this embodiment, as described above, the swivel unit 5 is configured to reciprocate from one end, which is the stop end 62a of the cam groove (guide unit 62), to the other end 62b and then back to the one end while switching from one state to the other, between the parking state and the parking release state. The cam groove has a pressing surface 90a that presses the swivel unit 5 toward the stop end 62a when the swivel unit 5 located at the stop end 62a receives torque from the driven lever 6. As a result, when a reverse input that rotates the driven lever 6 is applied from the output shaft 61 while the motor 3 is stopped, the reverse input torque presses the swivel unit 5 against the pressing surface 90a, thereby pressing the swivel unit 5 toward the one end, which is the stop end 62a. Therefore, the pressing surface 90a allows the reverse input torque to act in a direction that maintains the parking state and the parking release state. As a result, the parking state and the parking release state can be more stably maintained against a reverse input from the shift switching mechanism 102 or the like.

In this embodiment, as described above, the cam groove is formed in an elongated shape along the first straight line L1 passing through the pivot axis C4 and the output axis C3 when viewed along the input axis C1, and a wide portion 90 is provided on the stop end 62a side of the cam groove such that the width W1 in the orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first straight line L1 when viewed along the input axis C1 is wider than the width W2 in the orthogonal direction of the other end portion 91 of the cam groove opposite the stop end 62a, and the pressing surface 90a is formed on the part of the wide portion 90 that is connected to the other end portion 91. As a result, when the swivel unit 5 is positioned in the wide portion 90 of the cam groove, the wide portion 90 allows the swivel unit 5 to be positioned closer to the stop end 62a of the cam groove than the pressing surface 90a, which is part of the wide portion 90. This makes it easier to generate a force by the pressing surface 90a to press the swivel unit 5 towards the stop end 62a. As a result, the parking state and the parking release state can be maintained more stably against reverse input from the shift switching mechanism 102 side, etc.

In this embodiment, as described above, the wide portion 90 is formed in an arc shape larger than a semicircle when viewed from the direction along the input axis C1, and a pair of pressing surfaces 90a are provided at both ends of the arc-shaped wide portion 90. This allows the pressing surfaces 90a of the arc-shaped wide portion 90 to stably press against the rotating portion 5 while aligning with the rotating portion 5.

In this embodiment, as described above, the input shaft 32 has a motor gear portion 34 that contacts the rotated body 4 to transmit driving force, and a non-motor gear portion 35 that is arranged between the motor gear portion 34 and the motor main body 30a that rotatably supports the input shaft 32 in the direction along the input axis C1. The driven lever 6 includes a through hole 60 through which the input shaft 32 is inserted and on which the non-motor gear portion 35 is arranged, and is arranged between the motor main body 30a and the rotated body 4 with the input shaft 32 inserted through the through hole 60. This allows the driven lever 6 to be arranged within the range of the non-motor gear portion 35, a portion of the input shaft 32 that cannot be used as a gear structure, in the axial direction, making it possible to effectively utilize the range of the non-motor gear portion 35. As a result, it is possible to prevent the device from becoming too large in the axial direction of the input shaft 32.

As described above, this embodiment further includes a housing that houses the motor 3, rotated body 4, swivel unit 5, and driven lever 6 inside, and the tip 32a of the input shaft 32, located on the opposite side of the motor body 30a that rotatably supports the input shaft 32, is rotatably supported by the housing. As a result, compared to when the input shaft is rotatably supported only by the motor body (rotor), the tip 32a of the input shaft 32 can also be rotatably supported by the housing, allowing the input shaft 32 to rotate stably.

In this embodiment, as described above, the range RG1 in which the output shaft 61 is provided and the range RG2 in which the rotated body 4 is provided overlap in the direction along the input axis C1. This allows the device to be made more compact in the direction along the input axis C1 compared to when the range in which the output shaft is provided and the range in which the rotated body is provided do not overlap in the direction along the input axis C1.

In this embodiment, as described above, the guide portion 62 of the driven lever 6 is a cam groove that contacts the swivel portion 5 and guides the movement of the swivel portion 5, and the swivel portion 5 is configured to move back and forth from one end (stop end 62a) of the cam groove to the other end 62b and back again as it switches from one of the parking state and the parking release state to the other, and the cam groove is formed in a straight line that follows the first straight line L1 when viewed from the direction along the input axis C1. This allows for a simpler shape for the cam groove that is the guide portion 62, simplifying the device configuration.

In this embodiment, as described above, the swivel unit 5 in the transition state is configured to rotate at a position farther from the output shaft 61 than the position of the swivel unit 5 in the parking state and the position of the swivel unit 5 in the released parking state. This ensures a relatively large distance between the swivel unit 5 in the middle of turning and the output shaft 61, allowing for a relatively large torque to be output from the output shaft 61.

In this embodiment, as described above, the input shaft 32 has a motor gear portion 34 that contacts the rotated body 4 to transmit driving force, and the rotated body 4 is a circular gear member with external teeth that meshes with the motor gear portion 34. As a result, the torque from the motor gear portion 34 of the input shaft 32 can be easily transmitted to the output shaft 61 side by the circular gear member with external teeth.

In this embodiment, as described above, the swivel portion 5 provided on the rotated body 4, which is a gear member, is configured to swivel at a position more inward than the outer teeth of the gear member. This allows the distances of the outer teeth and the swivel portion 5 from the central axis C2 of the rotated body 4 to differ, so the torque from the input shaft 32 can be reduced in the swivel portion 5 and the rotated body 4.

In this embodiment, as described above, the swivel unit 5 is configured to rotate around the central axis C2 while being guided by the guide unit 62. This reduces friction between the swivel unit 5 and the guide unit 62 due to the rotation, allowing the swivel unit 5 to rotate smoothly along the guide unit 62.

[Modification]
The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the description of the above embodiments, and includes all modifications (variations) within the meaning and scope of the claims.

For example, while the above embodiment shows an example in which the pressing surface is formed by part of a circular arc shape, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, as with the guide portion 462 of the shift device 400 of the first modified example shown in Figure 8, the entire surface of each of the r1 direction and r2 direction sides of the swivel portion 5 may be inclined by a predetermined angle θ3 with respect to the center line of the guide portion 462 in the r direction to form a pair of pressing surfaces 490a. The width between the pair of pressing surfaces 490a increases as they approach the stop end portion 62a, which is one end of the pair of pressing surfaces 490a.

Furthermore, as in the guide portion 562 of the shift device 500 of the second modified example shown in Figure 9, only a portion of the stop end portion 62a, which is one end of each of the r1 and r2 directions of the swivel portion 5, may be inclined by a predetermined angle θ4 with respect to the center of the guide portion 562 in the r direction, to form a pair of pressing surfaces 590a. The closer the pair of pressing surfaces 590a are to the stop end portion 62a, the wider the width between the pair of pressing surfaces 590a.

Furthermore, as in the guide portion 662 of the shift device 600 of the third modified example shown in Figure 10, a pair of protrusions 601 that protrude inward (toward the rotating portion 5) of the guide portion 662 may be provided on each of the surfaces on the r1 and r2 directions of the rotating portion 5, and one end of the protrusions 601 on the stopping end portion 62a side may serve as a pair of pressing surfaces 690a. The closer the pair of pressing surfaces 690a are to the stopping end portion 62a, the wider the width between the pair of pressing surfaces 690a.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the swivel portion was a bearing having multiple spherical rollers, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the swivel portion 705 may be a needle bearing having multiple cylindrical (needle-shaped) rollers 705a, as in the shift device 700 of the fourth modified example shown in Figure 11.

In addition, while the above embodiment shows an example in which the output shaft 61 is configured from a single member, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, as in the shift device 700 of the fourth modified example shown in Figure 11, the output shaft 761 may be configured from multiple members: a first member 61a (hollow shaft) having a concave groove for spline engagement, and a second member 61b fixed to the first member 61a by spline engagement.

Furthermore, unlike the above embodiment, as in a fourth modified shift device 700 shown in Figures 11 and 12, the support housing 12 may have a convex portion 12c that abuts against the end face of the pivot shaft 50 and restricts movement of the pivot shaft 50 in the Z1 direction. The convex portion 12c protrudes in the Z2 direction toward the end face of the pivot shaft 50. The convex portion 12c extends in an arc in a direction perpendicular to the Z direction, along the movement trajectory of the pivot shaft 50 (rotating portion 705). Therefore, the convex portion 12c is always located directly above the Z1 side of the pivot shaft 50.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the parking state was switched to the parking release state when the turning unit turned in the R1 direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the parking state may be switched to the parking release state when the turning unit turned in the R2 direction. In other words, the position of the turning unit in each of the parking state and the parking release state may be opposite to the position of the turning unit in the above embodiment.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which the shift device was equipped with a shift switching member, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the shift device does not necessarily have to be equipped with a shift switching member.

In the above embodiment, referring to Figure 5, an example was shown in which the entire input shaft 32, which is located between the rotated body 4 and the output shaft 61, is located between the two tangent lines 7a and 7b when viewed along the input axis C1, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, only a portion of the input shaft, which is located between the rotated body and the output shaft, may be located between the two tangent lines 7a and 7b (see Figure 5) when viewed along the input axis. In other words, the input shaft may be located at a position that intersects with either one of the two tangent lines 7a and 7b (see Figure 5) when viewed along the input axis.

3: Motor 4: Rotated body 5, 705: Swivel portion 6: Driven lever 6a: Outer edge 10a: Housing 30a: Motor body 32: Input shaft 32a: (Input shaft) Tip 34: Motor gear portion 35: Non-motor gear portion 40: Central shaft 60: (Driven lever) Through hole 61, 761: Output shaft 62, 462, 562, 662: Guide portion 62a: Stop end portion
62b: other end 100, 400, 500, 600, 700: shift device 90: wide portion 90a, 490a, 590a, 690a: pressing surface 91: other end portion 102: shift switching mechanism C1: input axis C2: central axis C3: output axis C4: turning axis W1: width W2 in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first straight line of the wide portion as viewed from the direction along the input axis: width L1 in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first straight line of the other end portion as viewed from the direction along the input axis: first straight line L2: second straight lines P1, P2: orthogonal position RG1: range in which the output shaft is provided RG2: range in which the rotated body is provided RG3: range of movement locus of the outer edge of the driven lever

Claims (9)

a motor including an input shaft that rotates about an input axis;
a rotated body including a central shaft having a central axis parallel to the input axis, the rotated body being rotated about the central axis by the input shaft;
a rotating part provided on the rotated body and rotating around the central axis as the rotated body rotates;
an output shaft having an output axis parallel to the input axis and outputting the driving force of the motor to a shift switching mechanism that switches between a parking state and a parking release state; and a driven lever including a guide portion that guides the turning portion, and being pressed against the turning portion while being guided by the guide portion, so as to turn about the output axis,
the guide portion of the driven lever is a cam groove that contacts the pivot portion and guides the movement of the pivot portion,
The cam groove is disposed on the output shaft side of the cam groove and includes a stop end portion that stops the driven lever by abutting against the rotating portion when the shift device is switched between the parking state and the parking release state. The shift device of claim 1, wherein the rotated body is configured to fit within the range of the movement trajectory of the outer edge of the driven lever when viewed from a direction along the input axis. The shift device of claim 1, wherein when the turning unit is in a transitional state in the middle of turning and transitioning from one of the parking state and the parking release state to the other, the transitional state alternates between the parking state and the parking release state when the turning unit passes an orthogonal position where a first line passing through the turning axis and the output axis intersects with a second line passing through the turning axis and the central axis as viewed from a direction along the input axis. the pivoting portion is configured to reciprocate from one end, which is the stop end of the cam groove, to the other end and then return to the one end during switching from one of the parking state and the parking release state to the other,
4. The shift device according to claim 3, wherein the cam groove has a pressing surface that presses the rotating portion toward the stop end when the rotating portion located at the stop end receives torque from the driven lever. the cam groove is formed in an elongated shape along a first straight line passing through the pivot axis and the output axis when viewed from a direction along the input axis,
a wide portion is provided on the stop end side of the cam groove so that the width in an orthogonal direction perpendicular to the first straight line, as viewed from a direction along the input axis, is wider than the width in the orthogonal direction of the other end side portion of the cam groove on the opposite side to the stop end,
The shift device according to claim 4 , wherein the pressing surface is formed on a portion of the wide portion that is connected to the other end portion. The wide portion is formed in an arc shape larger than a semicircle when viewed in a direction along the input axis,
The shift device according to claim 5 , wherein a pair of the pressing surfaces are provided at both ends of the arc-shaped wide portion. the input shaft has a motor gear portion that contacts the rotated body to transmit a driving force, and a non-motor gear portion that is disposed between the motor gear portion and a motor body that rotatably supports the input shaft in a direction along the input axis,
2. The shift device according to claim 1, wherein the driven lever includes a through hole through which the input shaft is inserted and the non-motor gear portion is disposed inside, and the driven lever is disposed between the motor body and the rotated body with the input shaft inserted into the through hole. a housing that houses the motor, the rotated body, the rotating part, and the driven lever therein;
The shift device according to claim 1 , wherein a tip of the input shaft located on the opposite side to a motor body that rotatably supports the input shaft is rotatably supported by the housing. The shift device of claim 1, wherein the range in which the output shaft is provided and the range in which the rotated body is provided overlap in the direction along the input axis.