JP2001213331A - Steering device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remarkably improve the slide-contact force (holding force) of a steering column in relation to a bracket provided in a car body without using a conventional bracket provided in the column (distance bracket). SOLUTION: A nearly U-shaped flexible member 17 having a slide-contact piece 16 extended between friction plates 13, 14 and a steering column 5 is provided without using a conventional bracket provided in a column (distance bracket). When fastening a tilting telescopic, the flexible member 17 is pushed up by a lock mechanism while applying the downward force to the steering column 5, and the slide-contact piece 16 slide-contacts between the friction plates 13, 14 and the steering column 5, and the steering column 5 is pushed to a bracket 10 provided in a car body for fastening.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tilt / telescopic type vehicle steering system capable of adjusting a tilt angle of a steering wheel and an axial position of a steering wheel in accordance with a driver's driving posture.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a vehicle steering system, there is a tilt / telescopic type steering system capable of adjusting an inclination angle of a steering wheel and an axial position of the steering wheel in accordance with a driving posture of a driver.

For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-16796, a so-called waist swing type tilt
In a telescopic type steering device, a vehicle body side bracket (tilt bracket) is provided so as to surround the steering column, and a column side bracket (distance bracket) fixed to the steering column moves up and down inside the vehicle body side bracket. It is provided freely.

Further, a tilt groove is formed in the vehicle body side bracket, and a telescopic groove is formed in the column side bracket, and a tightening bolt is inserted into the tilt groove and the telescopic groove. . An operating lever is provided at one end of the tightening bolt.

Thus, when the operating lever is rotated in the tightening direction, the vehicle body-side bracket comes into sliding contact with the column-side bracket, and tilt tightening and telescopic tightening can be performed.

On the other hand, when the operating lever is rotated in the releasing direction, the sliding contact between the vehicle body side bracket and the column side bracket is released, and the steering column can be moved up and down along the tilt groove. Can be moved axially along the telescopic groove.

The above publication also discloses a configuration in which the operation lever is prevented from rotating carelessly when an impact load of an occupant is input to the steering column during a secondary collision.

[0008]

However, in the above-described tilt-telescopic type steering apparatus of the waist swing type, the operation lever is sufficiently tightened.
Even when the vehicle body side bracket slides sufficiently on the column side bracket, the sliding contact force (holding force) between the vehicle body side bracket and the column side bracket may not always be sufficient.

For example, when an impact load acts on the steering column toward the front of the vehicle at the time of a secondary collision, the upward component force of the impact load is the sliding contact force (retention force) between the vehicle body side bracket and the column side bracket. May be better. As a result, the column-side bracket may move upward together with the steering column, and the position of the airbag (not shown) provided on the steering wheel (not shown) may not be determined.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and does not use a conventional column-side bracket (distance bracket), but reduces the sliding contact force (retention force) of the steering column with respect to the vehicle body-side bracket. It is an object of the present invention to provide a significantly higher vehicle steering device.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle steering system according to the present invention provides a vehicle steering system for tilting or telescopically adjusting a steering wheel by tilting or moving in an axial direction. , A steering column rotatably supporting an extendable steering shaft, a telescopic groove formed on the lower side, and a vehicle body side provided with a tilt groove on a side surface while being provided on the vehicle body so as to surround the steering column. A bracket, a plurality of friction plates interposed between the steering column and the vehicle body side bracket, a tilt pin inserted into a tilt groove of the vehicle body side bracket, and a telescopic member inserted into a telescopic groove of the steering column, The tilt pin is penetrated and the telescopic member is connected, A flexible member having a sliding contact piece extending between a friction plate and the steering column; and a sliding member that pushes up the flexible member while applying a downward force to the steering column during tilt / telescopic tightening. A lock mechanism that slides a piece between the friction plate and the steering column and presses and tightens the steering column against the vehicle body-side bracket.

As described above, according to the present invention, the flexible member having the sliding contact piece extending between the friction plate and the steering column is provided without using the conventional column side bracket (distance bracket). At the time of tilt / telescopic tightening, the lock mechanism applies a downward force to the steering column to push up the flexible member, and the sliding contact piece slides between the friction plate and the steering column, and the steering column is attached to the body side bracket. It is configured to be pressed against and tightened. Therefore,
Since the steering column is tightened while sliding the sliding contact piece of the flexible member between the friction plate and the steering column, the friction area at the time of the sliding contact can be significantly increased compared to the conventional case, and the steering with respect to the vehicle body side bracket can be performed. The sliding force (holding force) of the column can be extremely increased.

For example, in a secondary collision, when an impact load acts on the steering column toward the front of the vehicle, the steering column tends to move upward due to the upward component force of the impact load. Since the sliding force (holding force) of the column is significantly increased, it is possible to reliably prevent the steering column from moving upward, and the position of the airbag provided on the steering wheel is not determined. .

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A tilt telescopic type vehicle steering system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a tilt telescopic type vehicle steering system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the steering device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the steering device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG.
It is a cross-sectional view along the A line. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by reference numeral B in FIG. FIG. 6 (a) is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.
FIG. 6B is a longitudinal sectional view along a line, and FIG. 6B is a plan view of a cylindrical telescopic member.

As shown in FIG. 1, the steering shaft includes a solid upper shaft 1 connected to a steering wheel (not shown), a hollow intermediate shaft 2 fixed to the upper shaft 1, and a steering shaft. The lower shaft 3 includes a spline-fitted lower shaft 3 and a universal joint 4 connected to a lower end of the lower shaft 3.
Thus, the upper shaft 1 and the intermediate shaft 2
Is spline-fitted to the lower shaft 3 so that it can be telescopically slid in the axial direction and can be tilted approximately vertically with the universal joint 4 as a tilt center.

The upper shaft 1 and the intermediate shaft 2 are rotatably supported by a steering column 5 via appropriate bearings. As shown in FIG. 2, a telescopic groove 6 is formed on the lower surface of the steering column 5. The telescopic groove 6 is provided with a telescopic groove cover 7 for reducing sliding resistance during telescopic sliding.

As shown in FIG. 4, the telescopic groove 6 is provided with a telescopic member 8 having a cylindrical shape, a substantially T-shaped cross section, and a female screw formed on an inner peripheral surface thereof. The telescopic groove 6 can be moved in the axial direction with respect to the telescopic member 8 so that the steering column 5 and the like can be telescopically adjusted.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a vehicle body side bracket 10 which surrounds the steering column 5 from below and has a tilt groove 9 on a side surface is fixed to the vehicle body. The tilt groove 9 is provided with a tilt groove cover 11 for reducing sliding resistance at the time of tilt.

A tilt pin 12 penetrating a flexible member 17 to be described later is inserted into the tilt groove 9, whereby the tilt pin 12 is moved along the tilt groove 9, and the steering column 5 and the like are moved up and down. Tilt can be adjusted by tilting in the direction.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a plurality of friction plates 13 and 14 are interposed between the steering column 5 and the vehicle body side bracket 10. One friction plate 13
Is connected to the vehicle body side bracket 10 by a pin 15, and the above-mentioned tilt pin 12 is inserted through the other friction plate 14, and the other friction plate 14 is described later via the tilt pin 12. It is connected to a flexible member 17.

As shown in FIG. 4, a substantially U-shaped flexible member 17 having a sliding contact piece 16 extending between the friction plates 13, 14 and the steering column 5 is provided. Flexible member 17
May be provided with a notched portion to make the sliding contact piece 16 easily bendable.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a lock mechanism is provided which pushes up the flexible member 17 while applying a downward force to the steering column 5 at the time of tilting and telescopic tightening.

In this lock mechanism, an operation lever 18 is rotatably provided, and a first cam member 19 is connected to the operation lever 18 so as to rotate together with the operation lever 18. . The first cam member 19 is inserted into a through hole of the flexible member 17 and is non-rotating.
The cam member 20 is engaged, and moves (elevates) in the vertical direction while engaging with the peaks or valleys of the first cam member 19 as the first cam member 19 rotates. I have.
The flexible member 17 described above is connected to the second cam member 20, and the flexible member 17 moves up and down as the second cam member 20 moves up and down.

In this lock mechanism, the operation lever 1
8, a male screw member 21 is attached by a screw 22. The male screw member 21 is screwed to the female screw of the cylindrical telescopic member 8 described above, and the first and second cam members 19, It is rotatable inside 20.

Further, a spring 23 is interposed between the lower side of the cylindrical telescopic member 8 and the flexible member 17 so that the telescopic member 8 and the flexible member 17 are separated from each other (up and down). Direction).

With the above configuration, tilt /
At the time of telescopic tightening, when the operating lever 18 is rotated in a predetermined direction, the first cam member 19 is simultaneously rotated to engage the valley portion from the valley portion of the second cam member 20, and the second cam member 20 is rotated. The flexible member 17 is moved upward (upward) and is pushed upward. When the flexible member 17 is pushed up, the tilt pin 12 penetrates through the flexible member 17 and the friction plate 14. Board 14
Is also pushed up.

Further, with the rotation of the operation lever 18, the male screw member 21 rotates, and the cylindrical telescopic member 8 into which the male screw member 21 is screwed is lowered against the urging force of the spring 23. And a downward force is applied to the steering column 5.

As described above, when the flexible member 17 is pushed up while a downward force is applied to the steering column 5, the sliding contact piece 16 of the flexible member 17 is moved to the friction plate 1.
The sliding column 3 is brought into sliding contact with the steering column 5, and the steering column 5 is firmly pressed against the vehicle body side bracket 10 to be tightened.

Therefore, the sliding contact piece 16 of the flexible member 17
The sliding column is tightened while sliding between the friction plates 13 and 14 and the steering column 5, so that the friction area at the time of sliding contact can be significantly increased as compared with the conventional case, and the steering column 5 with respect to the vehicle body side bracket 10 can be increased. The sliding contact force (holding force) can be extremely increased.

For example, when an impact load acts on the steering column 5 toward the front of the vehicle at the time of a secondary collision, the steering column 5 tends to move upward due to the upward component force of the impact load. Since the sliding force (holding force) of the steering column 5 with respect to the steering column 10 is significantly increased, it is possible to reliably prevent the steering column 5 from moving upward, and to provide an airbag provided on a steering wheel (not shown). The position of (not shown) is not determined.

On the other hand, at the time of releasing the tilt / telescopic operation, when the operation lever 18 is rotated in the reverse direction, the first cam member 19 is simultaneously rotated, and the second cam member 20 is engaged from the peak to the valley. Then, the second cam member 20 moves downward (down), and the flexible member 17 is pushed downward, so that the sliding member 16 of the flexible member 17 slides between the friction plates 13 and 14 and the steering column 5. Is released.

Further, with the rotation of the operation lever 18, the male screw member 21 rotates, and the cylindrical telescopic member 8 is moved by the spring 2.
The pushing force is pushed upward by the urging force of 3, and the downward force applied to the steering column 5 is released.

Thus, when the steering column 5 is released, the tilt pin 12 moves along the tilt groove 9, and
The tilt can be adjusted by tilting the steering column 5 or the like substantially vertically. During the tilt adjustment, the tilt pin 12
With the movement of the steering column 5, not only the upper shaft 1, the intermediate shaft 2, the telescopic member 8,
The friction plate 14, the flexible member 17, the operation lever 18, the first and second cam members 19 and 20, and the male screw member 21 move substantially vertically.

When the steering column 5 is released, the telescopic groove 6 moves in the axial direction with respect to the stationary telescopic member 8, so that the steering column 5 and the like can be telescopically adjusted. During the telescopic adjustment, not only the steering column 5 but also the upper shaft 1, the intermediate shaft 2, and the telescopic groove cover 7 move in the axial direction with the movement of the telescopic groove 6 relative to the stationary telescopic member 8.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified.

[0037]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Conventional column side bracket (distance bracket)
A flexible member having a sliding contact piece extending between the friction plate and the steering column is provided without using a lock. When the tilt and telescopic tightening is performed, a flexible mechanism is applied while applying a downward force to the steering column by the lock mechanism. The sliding member is pushed up between the friction plate and the steering column by pushing up the elastic member, and the steering column is pressed against the vehicle body side bracket to be tightened. Accordingly, since the steering column is tightened while sliding the sliding contact piece of the flexible member between the friction plate and the steering column, the friction area at the time of the sliding contact can be significantly increased as compared with the related art, and the vehicle body side bracket is provided. , The sliding contact force (holding force) of the steering column against the steering wheel can be extremely increased.

For example, in a secondary collision, when an impact load is applied to the steering column toward the front of the vehicle, the steering column tends to move upward due to the upward component force of the impact load. Since the sliding force (holding force) of the column is significantly increased, it is possible to reliably prevent the steering column from moving upward, and the position of the airbag provided on the steering wheel is not determined. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a tilt telescopic type vehicle steering system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the steering device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the steering device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by reference numeral B in FIG.

6A is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6B is a plan view of a cylindrical telescopic member.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper shaft 2 Intermediate shaft 3 Lower shaft 4 Universal joint 5 Steering column 6 Telescopic groove 7 Telescopic groove cover 8 Telescopic member 9 Tilt groove 10 Body side bracket 11 Cover for tilt groove 12 Tilt pin 13 Friction plate 14 Friction plate 15 Pin 16 Sliding contact Piece 17 flexible member 18 operation lever 19 first cam member 20 second cam member 21 male screw member 22 screw 23 spring

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle steering device for tilting or telescopically adjusting a steering wheel by tilting or moving in an axial direction, wherein a telescopic groove is formed on a lower side while a telescopic groove is formed while supporting an extendable steering shaft. A steering column, a vehicle body-side bracket provided on the vehicle body side so as to surround the steering column, and a tilt groove formed on a side surface; a plurality of friction plates interposed between the steering column and the vehicle body-side bracket; A tilt pin inserted through a tilt groove of the vehicle body side bracket, a telescopic member inserted through a telescopic groove of the steering column, and a telescopic member connected with the tilt pin being penetrated, and the friction plate and the steering wheel A flexible member having a sliding piece extending between the columns; At the time of telescopic tightening, the flexible member is pushed up while applying a downward force to the steering column, and the sliding contact piece slides between the friction plate and the steering column, and the steering column is attached to the vehicle body. A lock mechanism that presses against the side bracket and tightens it,
A steering device for a vehicle, comprising: