JP2000127988A - Tilt lock mechanism of steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tilt lock mechanism of a steering device capable of reducing manufacturing cost due to a simple structure having less number of constituent members and facilitating the adjustment work. SOLUTION: In a condition in which a tilt lever 6 is set to a tilt lock position, a locking member 9 is elastically fitted into a head part 7a of a tilt bolt 7 or a nut 8 to integrate them. An engaging part 16 of the locking member 9 is engaged into an oblong hole 11 on a tilt bracket 5 side to keep the relative relation between the tilt lock position of the tilt lever 6 and a tightening force by means of the tilt bolt 7 and the nut 8 in this case constant at all times. Consequently, since the relative relation can be held merely by providing the locking member 9 additionally, it is possible to reduce manufacturing cost and improve the workability in assembly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tilt lock mechanism for a steering device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a steering device of an automobile is often provided with a tilt lock mechanism of the steering device in order to obtain an optimum steering position in accordance with the physique and the like of an occupant sitting on a seat. .

FIG. 4 shows an example of a tilt lock mechanism of a conventional steering device. The structure of the tilt lock mechanism will be briefly described as follows.

[0004] In Fig. 4, reference numeral 31 denotes one end 31a.
A steering wheel 33 is attached to the steering shaft 33 and is swingable up and down around the other end. The steering shaft 31 is supported in a tubular steering column 32 in an inserted state. . A column bracket 34 having a bolt hole 42 is fixed to the steering column 32.

On the other hand, in the figure, reference numeral 35 denotes a tilt bracket fixed to the vehicle body side, and the tilt bracket 35 has a pair of side walls 3 opposed to each other at a predetermined interval.
5a, 35a and the side walls 35a, 35a.
Are provided coaxially with elongated holes 41, 41 extending vertically.

The steering column 32 is mounted on the side of the tilt bracket 35 with the column bracket 34 interposed between the pair of side walls 35a, 35a of the tilt bracket 35. In this case,
The bolt holes 42 of the column bracket 34 can correspond to the entire long axis direction of the long holes 41 of the tilt bracket 35 in the swinging direction of the steering shaft 31.

In the assembled state, the elongated holes 41,
41 and bolt holes 42, 4 on the column bracket 34 side.
2 includes one side wall 35a of the tilt bracket 35.
From the side toward the other side wall 35a.
Is inserted, and a nut member 38 is screwed to a protruding end of the tilt bolt 37 toward the other side wall 35a, and a screwing operation of the nut member 38 causes a gap between the nut member 38 and the tilt bolt 37. The column bracket 34 is clamped and fixed between the pair of side walls 35a, 35a of the tilt bracket 35 by the tightening force acting on the column bracket 34.

In this case, a tilt lever 36 which is operated to rotate is attached to the nut member 38, and the nut member 38 is screwed by the rotation operation of the tilt lever 36, so that the tightening force changes in a loose manner. I do. Specifically, the nut member 3 is moved by the tilt lever 36.
8 is loosened (hereinafter, the turning position of the tilt lever 36 in this state is referred to as a “tilt lock-off position”).
The steering column 32 is vertically swingable with respect to the tilt bracket 35, and the column bracket 34 can be arbitrarily set within a range of the long hole 41 in the long axis direction. While possible
In a state in which the nut member 38 is tightened by the tilt lever 36 (hereinafter, the turning position of the tilt lever 36 in this state is referred to as a “tilt lock position”), the column bracket 34 moves relative to the tilt bracket 35. Fixedly held in place,
Thereby, a tilt operation is realized.

The tilt operation is not always performed, but is performed as a preparatory operation prior to the operation of the vehicle. In other normal times, the tilt lever 36 is moved to the steering column 32 side. It is necessary to be housed in a lever housing (not shown) provided in the camera and not to protrude to the outside. For this reason, in the normal state, that is, in the "tilt lock position" in which the tilt lever 36 is rotated in the direction of arrow A to generate a predetermined tightening force between the nut member 38 and the tilt bolt 37, the tilt lever is moved. It is necessary to preset the rotation position of the tilt lever 36, that is, the screwing position of the nut member 38, so that the nut 36 is stored in the lever storage portion.

As a method for responding to such a demand, a conventional tightening force adjusting lever 45 is generally provided as shown in FIG. The tightening force adjusting lever 45 is formed of a lever body having a square hole 46 formed at one end and an arc-shaped long hole 47 formed at the other end. The square hole 46 has a shape that can be fitted to the hexagonal head 37a of the tilt bolt 37 and restrict its relative rotation. The arc-shaped long hole 47 can correspond to a screw hole 39 provided on the column bracket 34 side when the tilt bolt 37 is inserted into the bolt hole 42 of the column bracket 34.

When mounting the tightening force adjusting lever 45, first, a predetermined tightening operation is performed between the tilt bracket 35 and the column bracket 34 while the tilt lever 36 is set at the "tilt lock position". The turning position of the tilt bolt 37 is set so that the urging force acts. Thereafter, under this condition, the square hole 46 of the tightening force adjusting lever 45 is fitted to the head 37a of the tilt bolt 37, and the bolt 48 inserted into the arc-shaped elongated hole 47 is inserted into the column bracket 34. Screw it into the screw hole 39 on the side and tighten it. As a result, the tilt bolt 37 is always fixedly held at a fixed rotation position, and as a result, in the "tilt lock position", the tilt lever 36 is securely stored in the lever storage portion. You.

[0012]

However, as described above, by using the tightening force adjusting lever 45, the relationship between the position setting of the tilt lever 36 and the tightening force of the tilt bolt 37 is defined to be constant. However, there is a problem that the number of members for achieving such a function is large and the structure of each member is complicated, so that the manufacturing cost is high and the adjustment work is complicated. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a tilt lock mechanism for a steering device which has a simple structure with a small number of components, is low in manufacturing cost, and can be easily adjusted.

[0014]

According to the present invention, the following configuration is employed as specific means for solving the above-mentioned problems. That is, in the present invention, the steering wheel 3 is attached to one end, and the column bracket 4 provided on the steering column 2 that inserts and supports the steering shaft 1 that can swing in the radial direction around the other end is provided. A pair of left and right side walls 5 capable of holding the steering column 2 in a direction perpendicular to the swing direction thereof
a, 5a, and the pair of side walls 5a, 5a are formed coaxially with long holes 11, 11 extending in the swinging direction of the column bracket 4, respectively. Tilt bolts 7 fitted in the pair of side walls 5a and 5a and disposed between the column bracket 4 and the tilt bracket 5 through the elongated holes 11 and 11 and a nut 8 screwed thereto are provided. The tightening force is changed by tightening one of the tilt bolt 7 and the nut 8 by the tilt lever 6 which is rotated between the tilt lock position and the tilt lock off position. Attaching means Y
When the tilt lever 6 is set at the tilt lock position, the column bracket 4 is clamped and fixed between the pair of side walls 5a, 5a of the tilt bracket 5, and the tilt lever 6 is set at the tilt lock off position. In the tilt lock mechanism of the steering device, in which the fixing position of the column bracket 4 with respect to the tilt bracket 5 can be arbitrarily selected in the swinging direction of the column bracket 4 in the state of being set to the head 7a of the tilt bolt 7, Either one of the nuts 8 is elastically fitted and integrated therewith, and at the appropriate position engages with the side end surfaces 11a, 11a of the elongated hole 11 in the rotation direction of the tilt bolt 7 or the nut 8. Engaging portion for restricting rotation of the tilt bolt 7 or the nut 8 It is characterized by comprising a rotation preventing member 9 provided with 6.

[0015]

According to the tilt lock mechanism of the steering device according to the present invention, for example, the nut 8 screwed to the tilt bolt 7 is tightened while the tilt lever 6 is set at the tilt lock position to provide a required tightening force. Then, the column bracket 4 is fixed to the tilt bracket 5 side, and thereafter, when the tilt lever 6 is provided on the tilt bolt 7 side, the locking member 9 is elastically fitted to the nut 8. The tilt lever 6 is provided on the nut 8 side by engaging the engaging portion 16 with the nut 8 in the elongated hole 11 on the tilt bracket 5 side. In this case, the head 7 of the tilt bolt 7
a, the locking member 9 is elastically fitted into the tilt bolt 7 to be integrated with the tilt bolt 7 and the engaging portion 16 is engaged in the elongated hole 11 on the tilt bracket 5 side.
In either case, the tilt lever 6
The relative relationship between the tilt lock position and the tightening force of the tilt bolt 7 and the nut 8 in that case is always kept constant.

Therefore, according to the tilt lock mechanism of the steering device of the present invention, the detent member 9 elastically fitted to the head 7a of the tilt bolt 7 or the nut 8 is provided.
By only providing the tilt lock, the relative relationship between the tilt lock position of the tilt lever 6 and the tightening force of the tilt bolt 7 and the nut 8 in that case can be always kept constant. In comparison, the number of members is small and the structure is simple, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced accordingly. In addition, when attaching the locking member 9, the locking member 9 is attached to the head of the tilt bolt 7. Since it is only necessary to resiliently engage the portion 7a or the nut 8, the mounting operation (ie, the adjustment of the relative relationship between the tilt lock position of the tilt lever 6 and the tightening force by the tilt bolt 7 and the nut 8 in that case). Is simple and easy, and the workability can be improved accordingly.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A preferred embodiment of a tilt lock mechanism for a steering device according to the present invention will be described below.

First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a main part of a steering apparatus Z having a tilt lock mechanism X according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. A steering wheel 3 is mounted on the steering shaft 3 and is capable of swinging up and down around the other end. The steering shaft 1 is supported in a tubular steering column 2 in an inserted state. . A column bracket 4 having bolt holes 12 is fixed to the steering column 2.

On the other hand, in the figure, reference numeral 5 denotes a tilt bracket fixed to the vehicle body side, and the tilt bracket 5 has a pair of side walls 5a,
The side walls 5a are provided coaxially with elongated holes 11 extending vertically.

The steering column 2 is mounted on the side of the tilt bracket 5 with the column bracket 4 interposed between a pair of side walls 5a, 5a of the tilt bracket 5. In this case, The bolt holes 12 of the column bracket 4 can correspond to the entire length of the long holes 11 of the tilt bracket 5 in the longitudinal direction of the tilt bracket 5 in the swinging direction of the steering shaft 1.

Then, in such an assembled state, the slots 11, 1 corresponding to the tilt bracket 5 corresponding to each other.
1 and the bolt holes 12 on the column bracket 4 side, a tilt bolt 7 is inserted from one side wall 5a side of the tilt bracket 5 toward the other side wall 5a side, and the other side of the tilt bolt 7 A flanged nut 8 having a hexagonal main body portion 8a and a flange portion 8b is screwed to a protruding end toward the side wall 5a, and a tightening force acting between the nut 8 and the tilt bolt 7 is provided. Accordingly, the column bracket 4 is sandwiched and fixed between the pair of side walls 5a, 5a of the tilt bracket 5.

Further, the head 7a of the tilt bolt 7
Is fixed to one end of a tilt lever 6 having a predetermined length, and the tilt bolt 7 is screwed by rotating the tilt lever 6. In this case, the tightening force of the tilt bolt 7 and the nut 8 is loosely changed by rotating the tilt lever 6 within a predetermined angle range in the direction of the arrow AB, thereby setting the tilt lock state. And the tilt lock-off state are selected.

More specifically, the tilt lever 6 is turned in the direction of arrow A and the nut 8 is tightened to the tilt bolt 7 (the turning position of the tilt lever 6 in this state is referred to as a "tilt lock position"). ), The tightening force reaches a predetermined value or more, and the column bracket 4 is fixedly held at a predetermined position with respect to the tilt bracket 5 by the tightening force. On the other hand, the tilt lever 6 is turned in the direction of arrow B and the nut 8 is loosened with respect to the tilt bolt 7 (the turning position of the tilt lever 6 in this state is referred to as a "tilt lock-off position"). 4), the tightening force is equal to or less than a predetermined value, and the column bracket 4 (that is, the steering column 2) can be vertically displaced with respect to the tilt bracket 5. The position can be set arbitrarily within the range of the long hole 11 in the long axis direction. The tilt function of the steering shaft 1 is realized by the change in the tightening force based on the operation of the tilt lever 6.

In this embodiment, the "tightening means Y" in the claims is constituted by the tilt bolt 7, the nut 8 and the tilt lever 6 attached to the tilt bolt 7.

When the tilt lever 6 is set at the "tilt lock position", the tilt lever 6 is mounted on the lever column provided on the steering column 2 from the viewpoint of ensuring the safety of driving the automobile. As described above, it is necessary to securely house the unit in a unit (not shown). In order to maintain the above-mentioned tilt function properly for a long period of time, the tightening force of the tilt bolt 7 and the nut 8 must be kept constant for a long period of time. is necessary. Therefore, in order to realize both of these, the relative relationship between the rotation position of the tilt lever 6 and the tightening force between the tilt bolt 7 and the nut 8 is kept constant for a long period of time. Is essential. In order to fulfill such a demand, in this embodiment, a locking member 9 described below is arranged at the nut 8 portion. Hereinafter, the structure of the detent member 9 and the operation and effect thereof will be described.

The detent member 9 is formed integrally with a resin material having appropriate elasticity and rigidity, and has a fitting hole 15 which can be fitted into the main body 8a of the nut 8. A portion 9a and a pair of engaging portions 16 provided at two positions facing each other with the center of the main body 9a interposed therebetween. The fitting hole 15 in the locking member 9 is
It is a round hole having a depth substantially equal to the height of the main body 8a of the nut 8, and its diameter is the diagonal dimension of the main body 8a of the nut 8 (that is, the axial center of the nut 8). Is set smaller than the diameter between a pair of apex portions opposing each other on both sides thereof. Therefore, when the main body portion 8a of the nut 8 is fitted into the fitting hole 15 of the detent member 9, the main body portion 8a is elastically fitted into the fitting hole 15, and the The locking member 9 and the nut 8 are integrally connected and fixed by the tightening force due to the elastic restoring force.

The engaging portions 16, 16 provided on the detent member 9 are substantially separated from the back surface (the opening side of the fitting hole 15) of the main body 9a of the detent member 9. It has a projecting piece shape extending in the orthogonal direction, and its width dimension is set slightly smaller than the width dimension of the elongated hole 11 so as to be able to be engaged in the elongated hole 11 of the tilt bracket 5. Have been.

The attachment of the detent member 9 is performed as follows. That is, first, the relative relationship between the tightening force of the tilt bolt 7 and the nut 8 and the rotational position of the tilt lever 6 is determined by assuming that the tilt lever 6 is set at the "tilt lock position". Adjustment is made such that a required tightening force capable of securely fastening and fixing the bracket 4 is obtained. After a while
As shown in FIG. 2, each engaging portion 16, 1
The main body 8a of the nut 8 is resiliently fitted into the fitting hole 15 while the nut 6 is engaged with the elongated hole 11 of the tilt bracket 5. By the attachment of the locking member 9, the locking member 9 is integrated with the nut 8, and the engaging portions 16, 16 of the locking member 9 are extended in the rotation direction of the nut 8. Both end surfaces 11 of hole 11
a, 11a, the rotation of the locking member 9
That is, the rotation of the nut 8 is restricted.

Therefore, in this state, since the rotation of the nut 8 is restricted by the locking member 9, even if the tilt lever 6 is operated to rotate to perform the tilt function thereafter. The tightening force at the "tilt lock position" and the tightening force at the "tilt lock-off position" are both kept constant without changing. Further, the storage state of the tilt lever 6 in the lever storage section at the "tilt lock position" is always properly maintained.

As described above, in this embodiment, the detent member 9 is elastically fitted to the main body 8a of the nut 8 screwed to the tilt bolt 7, and is provided on the detent member 9. The relative relationship between the rotational position of the tilt lever 6 and the tightening force of the tilt bolt 7 and the like is always constant only by engaging the engaging portions 16 and 16 with the elongated holes 11 on the tilt bracket 5 side. Since the number of members is smaller and the structure is simpler than in the case where the tightening force adjusting lever 45 is provided as in the above-mentioned known example, the manufacturing cost is low. Can be achieved.

Further, when attaching the detent member 9, the detent member 9 only needs to be elastically fitted to the main body 8a of the nut 8, so that the mounting operation (ie, the tilt lock position of the tilt lever 6) is performed. In this case, the adjustment of the relative relationship with the tightening force of the tilt bolt 7 and the nut 8 is simple and easy, and the workability can be improved accordingly.

In the above embodiment, the nut 8 is constituted by a nut with a flange. Alternatively, the nut 8 may be constituted by a combination of a normal hexagon nut without a flange and a flat washer. Further, although the main body 8a of the nut 8 is formed in a hexagonal nut shape,
The main body 8a may be any one that can be integrated with the detent member 9 side in a state where the detent member 9 is elastically fitted into the fitting hole 15; for example, the main body 8a of the nut 8 is A serrated ring nut with serrations engraved on the outer periphery can also be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the fitting hole 15 provided in the detent member 9 is a round hole. The fitting hole 15 is formed by elastically fitting the main body 8a of the nut 8 into the fitting hole. It suffices if it can be integrated with this, so that, for example, the fitting hole 15 can be a square hole such as a hexagonal hole.

In the above embodiment, the locking member 9 is provided with a pair of engaging portions 16, 16. The function of the engaging portion 16 (that is, the rotation preventing function) is 9 can be engaged with the side end face 11a of the elongated hole 11 at a position radially away from the axis of the shaft 9;
For example, the shape, the number of the arrangement, and the like can be changed as appropriate, for example, only one engaging portion 16 is provided on the peripheral edge of the fitting hole 15.

Second Embodiment FIG. 3 shows a main part of a steering device Z provided with a tilt lock mechanism X according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The tilt lock mechanism X in this embodiment includes:
The basic structure of the tilt lock mechanism X is the same as that of the tilt lock mechanism X in the first embodiment. The difference is that the tilt lever 6 is mounted on the nut 8 side, and the tilt bolt 7
Is constituted by a bolt with a flange provided with a flange portion 7b, and the detent member 9 is elastically fitted to the head 7a of the tilt bolt 7. With this configuration, the same operation and effect as in the case of the first embodiment can be obtained.

The components in FIG. 3 are assigned the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 1 and correspond to the components shown in FIG. 1, and the corresponding parts in the first embodiment are referred to. Here, the description is omitted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a steering device provided with a tilt lock mechanism according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a structure of a detent member in the tilt lock mechanism shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the steering device including the tilt lock mechanism according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a steering device provided with a conventional tilt lock mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a steering shaft, 2 is a steering column,
3 is a steering wheel, 4 is a column bracket, 5
Is a tilt bracket, 6 is a tilt lever, 7 is a tilt bolt, 8 is a nut, 9 is a locking member, 11 is a long hole,
12 is a bolt hole, 15 is a fitting hole, 16 is an engaging portion, Y is a fastening means, and X is a tilt lock mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A steering wheel (3) is attached to one end and is provided on a steering column (2) for interpolating and supporting a steering shaft (1) rotatable radially around the other end. A pair of left and right side walls (5a) capable of holding the column bracket (4) in a direction perpendicular to the swing direction of the steering column (2);
(5a) and the pair of side walls (5a), (5a).
In a), a pair of side walls of the tilt bracket (5) are formed coaxially with elongated holes (11) extending in the swing direction of the column bracket (4) and fixed to the vehicle body side. (5a), (5a) and a tilt bolt (7) disposed between the column bracket (4) and the tilt bracket (5) through the slots (11) and (11). ) And a nut (8) screwed thereto, and a tilt lever (6) pivotally operated between a tilt lock position and a tilt lock-off position to allow any one of the tilt bolt (7) and the nut (8). A tightening means (Y) whose one side is screwed to change its tightening force is arranged. When the tilt lever (6) is set at the tilt lock position, the column bracket is mounted. (4) The pair of side walls of the cheh belt bracket (5) (5a), (5
a) In the state where the tilt lever (6) is set to the tilt lock-off position, the fixing position of the column bracket (4) with respect to the tilt bracket (5) is changed to the column bracket (4). A tilt lock mechanism of a steering device that can be arbitrarily selected in the swing direction of the steering bolt, wherein the tilt lock mechanism is elastically fitted to one of the head (7a) or the nut (8) of the tilt bolt (7) and integrally formed therewith. And the slot (1) in the rotation direction of the tilt bolt (7) or the nut (8)
A locking member (9) provided with an engaging portion (16) that engages with the side end surfaces (11a) and (11a) of (1) to restrict the rotation of the tilt bolt (7) or the nut (8). A tilt lock mechanism for a steering device, which is provided.