JP2000344115A - Steering column for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure capable of surely preventing the upward displacement of a tilt bracket at the collision of a vehicle in a tilt steering column of a system in which a movable bracket is fixed to a fixed bracket by utilizing a friction caused by the tightening of a tilt bolt. SOLUTION: A steering column for vehicle is formed so that a distance bracket 2 fixed to a column jacket 1 is held so that a tilt clamp 3 can be moved in vertical direction and it can be tightened and released by an operation lever 8 having a nut 7 screwed onto a tilt bolt 6 passing through a bolt inserting hole 4 in the distance bracket 2 and an oblong hole 5 in the tilt clamp 3. A stopper bracket 12 forming a tooth part 13 opposed to a tooth part 14 formed in an end face 3a of the tilt clamp 3 is provided in the column jacket 1 and, when an impact load is applied, the tilt clamp 3 is rotated to mesh the tooth parts 13 and 14 with each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering column for a vehicle, and more particularly to a tilt steering column employing friction as a tilt fixing method, which can prevent upward displacement at the time of an impact action and secure an appropriate airbag deployment operation. It is like that.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a tilt steering column, when a friction between a movable bracket and a fixed bracket by tightening a tilt bolt is employed as a tilt fixing method, an upward displacement occurs when a driver collides with a steering wheel during a vehicle collision. It is known to

In order to solve such an upward displacement of the tilt bracket, the invention of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-45003 is provided. According to this, the upward movement of the steering handle is restrained at a reference position. A stopper is rotatably provided on the fixed side bracket, and the tilt fixing method employs friction by tightening a tilt bolt.

According to Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 2-72172, the front (rear) end of a lifting / lowering bracket fixed to an intermediate portion of a steering column is front (rear) of a fixed bracket.
The engaging projections are fixed to each other by projecting forward from the end portions, and both end edges are attached to a rear (front) end edge of the engaging projections facing each other and a front (rear) edge of the fixed side bracket. In the same manner as in the previous example, there has been proposed a device which employs friction by tightening a tilt bolt, as well as forming corrugated irregularities which mesh with each other when approaching.

[0005] By the way, the steering column employs a contraction structure for reducing the load acting on the driver by moving to the front of the vehicle body in the event of a secondary collision. A structure is used in which the supporting fixed bracket is separated from the vehicle body.

However, in the tilt steering column having the detachment structure, since the fixed bracket is fixed to the vehicle body and the input position (tilt bolt) of the load acting via the movable bracket is offset, the tilted steering column in the case of the secondary collision is not provided. The load acts in a direction in which the fixed bracket is rotated about the fixed position to the vehicle body, and therefore, there is a problem that the fixed bracket is twisted and the load for detachment from the vehicle body increases.

As a countermeasure against this, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-157, there has been provided a tilt steering column support device provided with a stopper bracket which abuts a fixed bracket on a steering column to prevent rotation.

[0008]

However, according to the invention described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-45003, when the tilt position is other than the reference position, for example, when the tilt position is at the lowest position, the upper position is increased to the reference position at the time of collision. In the case where the tilt position is slightly higher than the reference position and the tilt position is the highest, the effect as a stopper may not be sufficiently exerted depending on the tilt position. Further, in this structure, it is necessary to provide the stopper so as to be rotatable, and the structure is complicated, the number of parts is large, and the cost is high.

In the device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 2-72172, the column is slid in the axial direction so that the engagement protrusions are engaged with each other. Therefore, the tilt position largely moves before the teeth lock, and the desired effect cannot be obtained. Also, when you release the tilt lock,
If the column moves in the axial direction, the tilt operation cannot be performed.Therefore, a holding means is required to prevent the column from moving in the axial direction in normal operation, and the number of parts increases and the precision of the parts increases. The cost is high because of the need.

Therefore, the present invention reliably prevents the upward displacement of the tilt bracket at the time of a vehicle collision in a tilt steering column of a type in which a movable bracket and a fixed bracket are fixed by utilizing friction caused by tightening of a tilt bolt. Provide structure.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering column for a vehicle, wherein a distance bracket fixed to a column jacket is movably held in a vertical direction by a tilt clamp. In a vehicle steering column configured to be able to be tightened and released by an operation lever having a nut screwed into a tilt bolt that penetrates a bolt insertion hole of the tilt clamp and a long hole of the tilt clamp, the column jacket is provided with the tilt clamp. A stopper bracket having a projection opposed to the end face is provided, and teeth are formed on the projection and the end face of the tilt clamp. When an impact load is applied to the steering column, the tilt clamp rotates. The teeth of the tilt clamp and the teeth of the stopper bracket can be meshed Made is characterized in that is.

Therefore, when an occupant collides with the steering wheel and the steering column is displaced forward of the vehicle, the tilt clamp rotates about the tilt bolt, and the teeth of the projection mesh with the teeth of the tilt clamp. To prevent upward displacement of the column jacket.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a steering column for a vehicle includes a tilt clamp 3 movably holding a distance bracket 2 fixed to a column jacket 1 in a vertical direction, and a bolt insertion hole 4 of the distance bracket 2 and a tilt clamp. An operation lever 8 having a nut 7 screwed to a tilt bolt 6 penetrating through the long hole 5 of the third unit 3 enables to tighten and release the operation lever 8. In addition,
The lower end of the column jacket 1 is supported by a lower clamp (not shown) so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the distance bracket 2 has a circular arc portion 2a which is closely fixed to the outer peripheral surface substantially at the lower center of the column jacket 1 by welding or the like, and tilt clamps 3 on both left and right sides thereof. Substantially M formed with a pair of parallel hanging parts 2b, 2b formed in parallel with the inner surface
A stopper bracket having a main body portion 10 having a character shape and a protrusion 11 formed to extend from one end surface of the arc portion 2a to the steering wheel side (leftward in the figure) and to stand upright on the outer peripheral surface side of the column jacket 1. The projection 11 has a tooth portion 13 formed on a side surface 11a facing the steering wheel side end surface 3a of the tilt clamp 3, and the end surface of the tilt clamp 3 is opposed to the tooth portion 13. A tooth portion 14 is formed in 3a.

The teeth 14 formed on the tilt clamp 3 are
The teeth 13 of the stopper bracket 12 in the tilt operation range
Is formed with a predetermined length so as to face
A predetermined gap T is formed between the teeth 14 and the teeth 13. Further, as shown by an enlargement instruction portion a in FIG. 1, the tooth clamps 13 and 14 are rotated clockwise about the tilt bolt 6 by the tilt clamp 3 so that the tooth portions 13 and 14 are rotated.
The pressure angle of the tooth surface 16, 18 on the load acting side when the gear 4 is engaged is smaller than the pressure angle of the tooth surface 15, 17 on the other side, for example, at 0 degree, and the tooth portions 13 and 14 are formed. Are formed in ratchet-like tooth shapes that are opposite to each other. Thereby, while making the tooth | gear part 13 and the tooth | gear part 14 mesh easily,
The engagement strength can be increased.

In the drawings, reference numeral 19 denotes a slider for engaging the notch formed on the occupant side of the tilt clamp 3 to support the tilt clamp so as to be detachable from the vehicle body.
Reference numeral 20 denotes a ripping plate which has one end connected to the slider 19 and the other end connected to the tilt clamp 3, and which is torn when the tilt clamp 3 separates from the vehicle body to absorb energy in a secondary collision. The clamp 3 is provided on both the left and right sides. Reference numeral 21 denotes a washer which integrally improves a lock strength of the friction lock and a stopper portion which engages with the elongated hole 5 and the tilt lever 8 and regulates a rotation range of the tilt lever 8. Reference numeral 22 denotes a reinforcing plate for preventing the hanging parts 2b, 2b of the distance bracket 2 from being deformed inward when the nut 7 is tightened by operating the tilt lever 8.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be described. In the event of a vehicle collision, the airbag is deployed and the occupant collides with the steering wheel, so that a load acts on the steering column toward the front of the vehicle. As a result, a load in the axial direction and a load in the axial mounting direction act on the column jacket 1. This load acts on the tilt clamp 3 via the distance bracket 2 and the tilt bolt 6, but since the position where this load acts and the position where the tilt clamp 3 is fixed to the slider 19 are offset, the tilt clamp 3 And is about to rotate around the slider 19.

The tilt clamp 3 rotates about the tilt bolt 6 with respect to the distance bracket 2 by this rotation.
The teeth 14 of the stopper bracket 12 and the teeth 14 of the stopper bracket 12 mesh with each other to prevent further rotation of the tilt clamp 3 and also prevent upward rotation of the column jacket 1.

That is, the tilt position is supported by the friction between the distance bracket 2 and the tilt clamp 3. When the friction is applied, the distance bracket 2 is moved farther than the distance bracket 2 along the long hole 5. Rotating the bracket 2 about the tilt bolt 3 can be performed with a smaller load. As a result, the tilt clamp 3 rotates before the distance bracket 2 rotates upward.
Utilizing this rotation, the tooth portion 14 of the tilt clamp 6 is engaged with the tooth portion 13 of the stopper bracket 12, so that the upward movement of the column jacket 1 can be reliably prevented.

Therefore, in the event of a collision, the upward displacement of the column jacket 1 can be prevented to maintain proper deployment of the airbag, and the slider 1 of the tilt clamp 3 can be maintained.
9 can be prevented from being distorted and the tilt clamp 3 can be properly detached, so that the energy absorption performance of the ripping plate 20 can be improved.

Further, during a normal tilt operation, since the tilt clamp 3 is supported by the slider 19, the gap 14 is constant without the teeth 14 of the tilt clamp 6 and the teeth 13 of the stopper bracket 12 meshing. Therefore, there is no need to provide a separate holding means.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the tilt bolt 6 is located near the uppermost position of the long hole 5 (A), when the tilt bolt 6 is located substantially in the middle of the long hole 5 (B), and In either case (C) when the bolt 6 is located at the lowermost position of the long hole 5, when the occupant collides with the steering wheel irrespective of the tilt setting position, the teeth 13 and 14 are engaged with each other, and air is generated. The bag can operate normally.

The stopper bracket 12 of the present invention described above is provided by extending the arc portion 2a of the distance bracket 2, but may be provided by extending the hanging portion 2b. Also, the stopper bracket 12
May be separately fixed to the column jacket 1 by welding or the like. Further, the stopper bracket 12
Is provided on the steering wheel side of the tilt clamp 3, but may be provided on the vehicle body front side of the tilt clamp 3, as long as the position can prevent rotation of the tilt clamp 3 near the tilt clamp 3. In addition, the protrusion 11 and the teeth 13 of the stopper bracket 12 and the teeth 14 of the tilt clamp 3 are formed only on one side wall of the tilt clamp 3, but may be provided on both sides. Further, the tooth portion 14 formed on the end face of the tilt clamp 3 may be formed on the end face by projecting the side wall of the tilt clamp 3 in an embossed shape inward, and a separate tooth may be formed on the side wall of the tilt clamp 3. The part may be fixed by welding or the like.

[0024]

According to the present invention described above, since the teeth of the tilt clamp and the teeth of the stopper bracket are engaged with each other by the rotation of the tilt clamp, the structure is simple regardless of the tilt setting position. The engagement can be reliably performed, the upward displacement of the column jacket can be prevented, and the proper deployment of the airbag can be maintained. In addition, since the stopper bracket is provided integrally with the distance bracket, the position of the tooth portion can be easily set due to the press tolerance, and the number of parts does not increase, so that the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part of a steering column showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Column jacket 2 ... Distance bracket 3 ... Tilt clamp 4 ... Bolt insertion hole 5 ... Long hole 6 ... Tilt bolt 7 ... Nut 8 ... Operation lever 11 ... Projection part 12 ... Stopper bracket 13, 14 ... Tooth part 15, 17 ... Inclined tooth section 16, 18 ... Load acting tooth side

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An operation having a tilt bracket fixed to a column jacket so that a tilt clamp is movable in the vertical direction, and having a nut screwed into a tilt bolt that passes through a bolt insertion hole of the distance bracket and a long hole of the tilt clamp. In a vehicle steering column configured to be able to be tightened and released by a lever, a stopper bracket having a projection opposed to an end face of the tilt clamp is provided on the column jacket, and the projection and an end face of the tilt clamp are provided. When the impact load is applied to the steering column,
A steering column for a vehicle, wherein the tilt clamp is rotated so that the teeth of the tilt clamp and the teeth of the stopper bracket can mesh with each other. 2. The steering column according to claim 1, wherein the stopper bracket is formed by extending the distance bracket. 3. The tilt clamp according to claim 1, wherein the teeth of the tilt clamp face the teeth of the stopper bracket within a tilt movement range and are formed to have a predetermined gap. Vehicle steering column. 4. The tooth portion of the tilt clamp and the tooth portion of the stopper bracket are formed in a ratchet-like tooth shape in which the pressure angle of the tooth surface on the load acting side during engagement is smaller than the pressure angle of the tooth surface on the other side. 2. The vehicle steering column according to claim 1, wherein: