JP2000016303A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To heighten vibration rigidity in a connection part which is movable in the column axial direction and also tiltable, and at the same time reduce the backlash feeling in a steering wheel, by eliminating a backlash in the connection part. SOLUTION: A steering device is equipped with a connecting means 80 which, movably in a column axial direction and also tiltably, connects a column side bracket 73 to a car body side bracket 72. The connecting means 80 is equipped with a connecting shaft (a bolt 81 and a collar 82) integrally attached to the car body side bracket 72, and bushings 83, 84 made of elastic materials such as resin. The bushings 83, 84 include, at inner peripheries of tips 83a, 84a, inner projections 83c, 84c which expansively opens the tips 83a, 84a by engaging with the connecting shaft, and also, extending in the axial direction of the connecting shaft and opening at the tip, a slit which is on a connecting part slidably engaged with elongate holes 73a, 73b provided on the column side bracket 73 integrally attached to the outer periphery of the connecting shaft.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a steering device mounted on a vehicle such as a truck.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of steering devices mounted on a vehicle such as a truck, an upper support mechanism for supporting an upper portion of a steering column movably in front and rear and up and down directions, and moving a lower portion of the steering column in a column axial direction. The steering column is supported on the vehicle body at a steep slope by a lower support mechanism that supports the vehicle in a tiltable manner, and the lower support mechanism is fixed to the vehicle body-side bracket fixed to the vehicle body and the steering column. And a connecting means for connecting the column side bracket to the vehicle body side bracket so as to be movable and tiltable in the column axial direction. It is indicated in the gazette.

[0003]

In the steering apparatus disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, the column-side bracket is provided with an elongated hole in the column axial direction, and is connected to the vehicle-side bracket by connecting means integrally attached to the vehicle-side bracket. The column side bracket is connected so that it can move and tilt in the column axis direction. However, the configuration to eliminate the backlash (gap between each component) generated at the connecting portion is not shown. May not be able to provide sufficient support rigidity,
Vibration stiffness (vibration characteristics) may be reduced, and the backlash may occur.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has an upper support mechanism for supporting an upper portion of a steering column so as to be movable in the front-rear and up-down directions. A lower support mechanism that supports the lower part so as to be movable and tiltable in the column axis direction, the steering column is supported on the vehicle body at a steep slope, and the lower support mechanism is a vehicle-side bracket fixed to the vehicle body; A steering apparatus comprising: a column-side bracket fixed to the steering column; and connecting means for connecting the column-side bracket to the vehicle body-side bracket so as to be movable and tiltable in a column axial direction. A connecting shaft integrally attached to one of the brackets; A slit extending in the axial direction of the coupling shaft and opening at the distal end at a coupling portion slidably fitted to the long hole provided on the other of the two brackets and being integrated with The present invention is characterized in that a bush made of an elastic material such as a resin having an inner protrusion for expanding a front end portion by engagement with the connection shaft is provided around the circumference.

In this case, the two brackets have a pair of left and right connecting parts, and the connecting shaft is fitted to a bolt penetrating the two connecting parts and defines a separation distance between the two connecting parts. It is preferable that the bushing is fitted to both ends of the collar with the leading ends thereof being closely opposed to each other, and the base end has an outward flange interposed between the two brackets. .

[0006] Further, an outer projection is provided on the outer periphery of the end of the bush, and the outer shape of a connecting portion slidably fitted in the elongated hole of the bush is formed in a square shape, and the slit is provided in each corner thereof. It is preferable that a resin sheet is integrally attached to a long hole provided in the other of the two brackets, and the resin sheet is interposed between the bush and the long hole.

[0007]

In the steering apparatus according to the present invention, the bush is fitted in the elongated hole provided in the other of the two brackets in advance, and the connecting shaft is fitted in the bush in a temporarily assembled state. After that, the connecting shaft is integrally attached to one of the two brackets, so that the two brackets are connected via the connecting shaft and the bush, so that the column side bracket can move in the column axis direction and tilt with respect to the vehicle body side bracket. Linked as possible.

By the way, when the connecting shaft is fitted to the bush in the temporarily assembled state, the leading end of the bush is expanded by the cooperative action of the slit of the bush and the inner projection. The column bracket can be moved and tilted in the column axis direction with respect to the vehicle body bracket when there is no backlash in the connection shaft radial direction between the connection shaft attached to the bracket and the long hole provided on the other of the two brackets The connecting portions of the two brackets can be connected to each other, so that a sufficient supporting rigidity can be obtained at the connecting portion between the two brackets, whereby the vibration rigidity (vibration characteristics) can be increased, and the feeling of handle rattling can be reduced.

Further, in practicing the present invention, both brackets have a pair of left and right connecting portions, and a connecting shaft is engaged with a bolt passing through the left and right connecting portions of both brackets to form a connection between the two connecting portions. A case in which the bushing is formed by a collar that defines a separation distance, and a bush is fitted at both ends of the collar with the distal end thereof closely approaching and a base end is provided with an outward flange interposed between the two brackets. In addition, the support rigidity of the column tube with respect to the vehicle body can be increased by making the connecting portions of the two brackets a pair of left and right, and the vibration rigidity (vibration characteristics) can be further increased.
Handle rattling can be further reduced. In this case, when an outer protrusion is provided on the outer periphery of the leading end of the bush, the bracket is provided between the outward flange and the outer protrusion of the bush (bracket provided with a long hole) due to the warping due to the expansion of the leading end of the bush. The play in the connection shaft axis direction between the shaft and the bush can be eliminated together with the play in the connection shaft radial direction, and the vibration rigidity (vibration characteristics) can be accurately increased, and the feeling of handle backlash can be accurately reduced. .

Further, when the present invention is carried out, when the outer shape of the connecting portion which is slidably fitted into the elongated hole of the bush is formed in a rectangular shape, and a slit is provided at each corner, the bush and the elongated hole are formed. The amount of engagement can be sufficiently ensured without being hindered by the slit, and vibration is achieved while achieving both the movement characteristics of the steering column in the column axial direction with respect to the vehicle body (sliding characteristics with respect to the elongated hole of the bush) and the support characteristics. It is possible to improve the rigidity (vibration characteristics) and reduce the feeling of handle rattling.

Further, when the present invention is practiced, a resin sheet is integrally attached to a long hole provided in the other of the two brackets so that the resin sheet is interposed between the bush and the long hole. A long hole provided in the other of the two brackets (usually formed of an iron plate) is formed by punching of a press to reduce the processing cost, while suppressing damage caused by the long hole of the bush. Durability (function maintenance) can be improved.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the steering apparatus according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the steering column 12 that rotatably supports the steering shaft 11 is steeply inclined by the upper support mechanism A and the lower support mechanism B to the vehicle body (instrument reinforcing member) 20. It is supported to be tiltable and telescopic. Note that a steering wheel 13 is attached to the upper end of the steering shaft 11 so as to be integrally rotatable. Further, the steering shaft 11 is connected at its lower end to an intermediate shaft (not shown) capable of transmitting and receiving torque through a universal joint (not shown). It is connected to a steering gear box (not shown) via a not-shown illustration.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper support mechanism A supports the upper portion of the steering column 12 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction (specifically, in the column axis direction and the coaxial perpendicular direction). A vehicle body-side bracket 32 fixed to the vehicle body 20 by bolts 31 and a vehicle body-side bracket 32 fixed to the steering column 12 by welding so as to be adjustable in position in the front-rear and vertical directions between the two vertical plates 32a and 32b. Column side bracket 33 attached
And the column side bracket 33 is connected to the vehicle body side bracket 3
Engaging / disengaging means 40 for fixing or releasing the two vertical plates 32a, 32b by frictional engagement, an operating lever 50 for operating the engaging / disengaging means 40, and relative movement of the brackets 32, 33 over a set value or more. There are a pair of left and right shock absorbing plates 61 and 62 which sometimes undergo plastic deformation to absorb shock energy.

As shown in FIG. 2, the engaging / disengaging means 40 includes long holes 32a1 and 32b1 formed in both vertical plates 32a and 32b of the vehicle body side bracket 32 and both long holes 33a and 33b formed in the column side bracket 33. And a lock bolt 41 having a rotation restricting portion 41a that slidably penetrates the right vertical plate 32b and fits into the long hole 32b1 of the right vertical plate 32b.
The lock lever 41 includes a washer 42 and a collar 43 fitted to the lock bolt 41 between the base 2 a and the base of the operation lever 50, and a nut 44 screwed to the screw portion 41 b of the lock bolt 41 and rotated by the operation lever 50. When the operation lever 50 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1, the nut 44 is fastened to the lock bolt 41, so that the left vertical plate 32 a and the washer 4
Step portion 4 between the two vertical plates 32b and the right side of the lock bolt 41
The nut 44 is loosened by rotating the operation lever 50 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 so that the predetermined frictional engagement is obtained between 1c, respectively, and the above-mentioned frictional engagements are released. It has become.

An operation lever 50 is fitted to a lock body 41 so as to be rotatable on a lock bolt 41, and is fitted to a nut 44 so as to be able to transmit torque.
By rotating the lever body 51, the wrench 53 is integrally rotated and the nut 44 is integrally rotated.

Each of the shock absorbing plates 61 and 62 has a narrow width for plastically deforming and absorbing shock energy when the two brackets 32 and 33 move relative to each other at a set value or more, which may occur in a secondary collision during a frontal collision of the vehicle. A column-side bracket 33 which is detachably attached to the vehicle body-side bracket 32 at one end 61a, 62a using bolts 63, 64.
The guides 65 and 66 that move integrally with the guide portions 61b and 62b can be plastically deformed from the intermediate portions 61b and 62b formed in the U shape to the tip portions 61c and 62c formed in the L shape. I have.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lower support mechanism B always supports the lower portion of the steering column 12 so as to be movable and tiltable in the axial direction of the column, and is fixed to the vehicle body 20 by bolts 71. And a body-side bracket 7 made of an iron plate and having a pair of left and right mounting holes 72a, 72b.
2, a steel plate side bracket 73 fixed to the outer periphery of the lower portion of the steering column 12 by welding and having elongated holes 73a and 73b in the column axial direction, and the column side bracket 73 with respect to the vehicle body side bracket 72 in the column axial direction. It is constituted by connecting means 80 that is connected so as to be movable and tiltable. Each of the long holes 73a and 73b is formed in the column-side bracket 73 by stamping with a press.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the connecting means 80 includes a bolt 81, a collar 82 and a pair of right and left bushes 8 which are integrally mounted on the vehicle body side bracket 72.
3,84. The bolt 81 is attached to the mounting holes 72 a and 72 b of the vehicle body side bracket 72 and the column side bracket 7.
3 and is assembled through the long holes 73a and 73b,
At the time of assembly, a flat washer 85, a spring washer 86 and a nut 87 are used. The color 82 is
This is for defining the distance between the mounting holes 72a and 72b of the vehicle body side bracket 72, and is made of iron. When the bolt is fitted to the bolt 81 as shown in FIG. 73b.

Each of the bushes 83 and 84 is made of an elastic material such as a resin, and is fitted to both ends of the collar 82 with the tips 83a and 84a being opposed to each other as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the outer shape of the connection portion fitted into the elongated holes 73a and 73b is rectangular, and extends at each corner in the axial direction of the bolt 81 and the collar 82 at the tip. Open slits 83b, 8
4b, the inner projection 83 having a front end portion 83a, 84a which is expanded by engagement with a collar 82 on the inner periphery of the front end portion.
c, 84c. In addition, each bush 83, 84
The outer flanges 9 of the resin sheets 91, 92 interposed between the brackets 72, 73 and integrally attached to the elongated holes 73a, 73b of the column-side bracket 73
Annular outward flanges 83d and 84d are formed to slidably engage with 1a and 92a.

Each of the resin sheets 91 and 92 has a corresponding one of the long holes 73.
a, 73b, and has rectangular outward flanges 91a, 92a, and is integrally attached to the long holes 73a, 73b of the column side bracket 73 by fitting. Each bush 83, 84
And each bush 83,
84 does not directly engage with each of the long holes 73a and 73b.

In this embodiment constructed as described above, if the operation lever 50 is operated in the upper support mechanism A to release the fixation by the engagement / disengagement means 40, the steering column 12 becomes the long hole 32a1 of the vehicle body side bracket 32. , 32
b1 and a predetermined amount of movement along the long holes 33a and 33b of the column-side bracket 33. In addition, the column-side bracket 73 in the lower support mechanism B moves relative to the body-side bracket 72. Therefore, the steering column 12 can always be moved and tilted, so that the steering column 12 can be moved within the movable range and the position of the steering wheel 13 can be appropriately tilted and telescopically adjusted. The operation at the time of a secondary collision at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle is not directly related to the present invention, and therefore the description is omitted.

In the present embodiment, the column-side bracket 7 in which the resin sheets 91 and 92 have been assembled in advance.
In a state where the bushes 83 and 84 are previously fitted and temporarily assembled to the respective long holes 73a and 73b, a collar 82 is fitted to the bushes 83 and 84, and the collar 82 and the vehicle body side bracket 72 The mounting holes 72a and 72b are made to coincide with each other to fit the bolt 81 in which the flat washer 85 has been previously assembled, and then the bolt 81 is integrally assembled to the vehicle body side bracket 72 using the spring washer 86 and the nut 87. The two brackets 72, 73 are connected via a bolt 81, a collar 82, and bushes 83, 84, and the column side bracket 73 is connected to the vehicle body side bracket 72 so as to be movable and tiltable in the column axial direction.

When the collar 82 is fitted to the temporarily assembled bushings 83, 84, the slits 83b, 84b of the bushes 83, 84 and the inner projections 83c, 84c cooperate as shown in FIGS. Same bush 8
The bolts 81 and the collar 82 integrally attached to the vehicle body-side bracket 72 and the elongated holes 73 provided in the column-side bracket 73 because the front end portions 83a and 84a of the third and 84 are expanded.
The column-side bracket 73 can be connected to the vehicle-side bracket 72 so as to be movable and tiltable in the column axial direction with no play in the radial direction of the bolt 81 and the collar 82 between the a and 73b. Both brackets 72, 73
Can provide sufficient support stiffness at the connecting portion, whereby the vibration stiffness (vibration characteristics) can be increased and the feeling of handle rattling can be reduced.

In this embodiment, both brackets 72, 73 have a pair of left and right connecting portions.
The connecting shaft connecting both brackets 72 and 73 is bolt 81
And bushings 83 and 84 are fitted to both ends of the collar 82 with their distal ends 83a and 84a closely opposed to each other. Since the outer flanges 83d and 84d are interposed between the brackets 72 and 73, the rigidity of the steering column 12 with respect to the vehicle body 20 of the steering column 12 is increased by forming the connecting portions of the brackets 72 and 73 as a pair of left and right. And vibration rigidity (vibration characteristics)
Can be further increased, and the backlash of the steering wheel can be further reduced.

In the present embodiment, the bush 8
The external shape of the connecting portion slidably fitted into the long holes 73a, 73b of the third and the third holes 84 is a quadrangle, and a slit 8 is formed at each corner.
Since the 3b and 84b are provided, the amount of engagement between the bushes 83 and 84 and the long holes 73a and 73b can be sufficiently ensured without being hindered by the slits 83b and 84b. The vibration stiffness (vibration characteristics) and the feeling of handle backlash can be improved while achieving both the movement characteristics (sliding characteristics with respect to the elongated holes 73a and 73b) of the bushes 83 and 84 and the support characteristics.

In this embodiment, resin sheets 91 and 92 are integrally attached to long holes 73a and 73b provided in the column side bracket 73, and bushes 83 and 84 are provided.
Since the resin sheets 91 and 92 are interposed between the upper and lower holes 73a and 73b, the long holes 73a and 73b provided in the column-side bracket 73 are formed by press punching to reduce the processing cost. , Bush 8
Damage due to the long holes 73a, 73b of the bushes 83, 84 can be suppressed, and the durability (maintenance of functions) of the bushes 83, 84 can be improved.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a modification of the above embodiment. In this modification, bushes 83 and 84 are used.
Are provided with outer protrusions 83e and 84e on the outer periphery of the distal end portion. Therefore, in this embodiment, the column-side bracket 73 and the bushes 83, 84 between the outward flanges 83d, 84d and the outer protrusions 83e, 84e of the bushes 83, 84 due to the warpage due to the expansion of the bush tips 83a, 84a. Axial play (lateral play) can be eliminated along with radial play (longitudinal play) between them, and vibration stiffness (vibration characteristics) can be accurately increased, and the handle rattle feel can be accurately determined. Can be reduced. The other configuration and operation and effect are substantially the same as those of the above-described embodiment.

In the above-described embodiment and the modified example, the present invention is practiced by assembling the bolts 81 and the collar 82 integrally with the vehicle body side bracket 72 and providing the column side bracket 73 with the long holes 73a and 73b. A bolt and a collar are integrally assembled with the column side bracket, and a long hole is provided in the vehicle body side bracket (for example, the bracket 72 of the above-described embodiment is attached to the steering column 12).
It is also possible to implement the present invention (with the bracket 73 fixed to the vehicle body 20 while fixing the bracket 73 to the vehicle body 20). In each of the above embodiments, the present invention is implemented by integrally attaching the resin sheets 91 and 92 to the long holes 73a and 73b.
When the long holes 73a and 73b can be finely finished by machining or the like, the present invention can be implemented without the resin sheets 91 and 92.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an embodiment of a steering device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of an upper support mechanism shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a lower support mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lower support mechanism shown in FIGS. 1 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the lower support mechanism shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bush shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a modification of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bush shown in FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Steering shaft, 12 ... Steering column, 20 ... Body, A ... Upper support mechanism, B ... Lower support mechanism, 72 ... Body side bracket, 73 ... Column side bracket, 73a, 73b ... Long hole, 80 ... Connection means, 81 ... bolt, 82 ... collar, 83, 84 ... bush, 83a,
84a: tip, 83b, 84b: slit, 83c,
84c: inside projection, 83d, 84d: outward flange, 8
3e, 84e: outer projection, 87: nut, 91, 92 ...
Resin sheet.

Claims (5)

[Claims] An upper support mechanism for supporting an upper portion of the steering column movably in front and rear and up and down directions, and a lower support mechanism for supporting a lower portion of the steering column movably and tiltably in a column axial direction. The steering column is supported on the vehicle body at a steep slope, and the lower support mechanism is provided on the vehicle body side bracket fixed to the vehicle body, the column side bracket fixed on the steering column, and the vehicle body side bracket. In a steering device configured to include a connecting means for connecting a column-side bracket so as to be movable and tiltable in a column axial direction, the connecting means includes a connecting shaft integrally attached to one of the two brackets, It is slidably inserted into the long hole provided on the other of the two brackets integrally attached to the outer periphery of this connecting shaft. A resilient resin or the like having a slit that extends in the axial direction of the connection shaft and is open at the tip at the connection portion to be fitted, and that has an inner protrusion on the inner periphery of the tip that expands the tip by engagement with the connection shaft. A steering device comprising a bush made of a material. 2. The two brackets have a pair of left and right connecting portions, and the connecting shaft is a bolt that penetrates the two connecting portions and a collar that is fitted to the bolt to define a separation distance between the two connecting portions. And the bushing is fitted to both ends of the collar with the leading ends thereof close to and opposed to each other, and the base end has an outward flange interposed between the two brackets. The steering device according to claim 1. 3. The steering device according to claim 2, wherein an outer protrusion is provided on an outer periphery of a tip portion of the bush. 4. The connecting portion, which is slidably fitted in the elongated hole of the bush, has a rectangular outer shape, and the slit is provided at each corner thereof. A steering device as described. 5. A resin sheet is integrally attached to an elongated hole provided in the other of the two brackets, and the resin sheet is interposed between the bush and the elongated hole. The steering device according to 1, 2, 3, or 4.