JP2002249053A - Steering column position adjusting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device in which the position of a steering wheel can be adjusted in the tilting, telescopic and right-to-left directions, the operability of the position adjustment is excellent, and the structure is very simple. SOLUTION: A steering column position adjusting device comprises a steering column 14, a spherical surface supporting body A comprising two semi-spherical spherical surface supporting halves A1 and A1 which holds the steering column 14 in a substantially spherical shape, a bracket B which turnably stores the spherical supporting body A with the steering column 14 fitted thereto, and presses or releases the spherical surface supporting halves A1 and A1 and the steering column 14, and a tightening tool 11 for operating the pressing or the releasing of the bracket B.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering device capable of adjusting the position of a steering wheel in tilt, telescopic and lateral directions. The present invention relates to a position adjusting device for a steering column that is capable of adjusting the position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various steering devices capable of adjusting the position of a steering wheel in order to set the steering wheel at the best position according to the physique of the driver. What is required of this type is excellent operability. However, those having the above characteristics tend to have a complicated structure and are therefore costly. For example, a hollow ball joint is formed in a part of the steering column, a universal joint is arranged on the steering shaft at the position of the hollow ball joint, and the steering shaft is rotatably supported to enable tilt adjustment in the vertical and horizontal directions. A tilt steering device that can be adjusted vertically and horizontally is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 58-44266.

[0003]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention
No. 266 discloses that a hollow ball joint is integrally provided on a tube of a steering column. However, the steering shaft must be divided at the position of the hollow ball joint provided integrally with the steering column and connected via a universal joint. For this purpose, the steering shaft must be made of three or more divided members.

[0004] The inclined position of the hollow ball joint is up and down,
Although it is possible to adjust arbitrarily in the left-right direction, it is not possible to adjust it in the front-rear direction. In the end,
If the adjustment device for the steering column in the axial direction is simply provided, the steering shaft will be provided with a telescopic portion in the axial direction. It will be difficult.
In addition, in the case of the above-described structure, the number of contact portions between the spherical members is extremely large, the friction generated during operation is increased, and the operability is expected to be extremely poor.

[0005] In view of the above, the simple configuration makes it possible to
It is expected that a steering column that can be freely adjusted in the left, right, front and rear directions and that has good operability will be developed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to make the structure of a steering column extremely simple, though it is an apparatus capable of adjusting the vertical, horizontal and telescopic positions of a steering column.

[0006]

The inventor of the present invention has made intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, and as a result, the present invention provides a steering column and a substantially spherical shape by sandwiching the steering column. A spherical support made up of two hemispherical spherical support halves, and a bracket that houses the spherical support on which the steering column is mounted and presses and releases the spherical support half and the steering column;
A steering device that can adjust the position of the steering wheel in the tilt, telescopic, and right and left directions by using a steering column position adjusting device including a fastener for operating the pressing and releasing of the bracket. And the structure can be extremely simplified while solving the above problem.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The main components of the present invention are a spherical support A, a bracket B, and a steering column 14.
[See FIGS. 1, 2 (A) and 2 (B) and FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B)]. First, the spherical support A is composed of two spherical support halves A ₁ and A ₁ . Each of the spherical supporting halves A ₁ has a hemispherical shape, and supports the steering column 14 in a sandwiched state between the two spherical supporting halves A ₁ and A ₁ (see FIG. 4).

[0008] The spherical supporting half A ₁ is a spherical main body 1.
And a bearing portion 2, wherein the spherical main body portion 1 has a spherical outer peripheral portion 1 a and, when the steering column 14 is sandwiched, a clamping side surface which is a surface facing the other spherical support half A _1. 1b. The spherical outer peripheral portion 1a has a substantially spherical surface or a bracket B described later.
There may be a case where only the portion accommodated in the sphere is spherical.

A bearing 2 is formed on the holding side surface 1b of the spherical main body 1 (see FIGS. 4A and 4C).
The outer peripheral side surface of the steering column 14 is housed and arranged in the bearing portion 2 (see FIGS. 3B and 4C). The bearing portion 2 is formed to have a substantially semicircular cross section, and when the steering column 14 is sandwiched between the two spherical supporting halves A ₁ , A ₁ , the bearing portion 2 and the steering column are held within the clamping range. 14 comes into contact (including substantially contact) with the outer peripheral surface.

The bearings 2 are formed at both ends of the spherical main body 1 in the diametrical direction. And
A gap is formed between the bearing portions 2 at both ends in the radial direction of the spherical main body portion 1, and a hollow portion is formed by the sandwiching side surface 1 b which is a concave surface side (FIG. 4A). ,
(C)). The bearing 2 has a protruding end 2a that protrudes from the diametrical direction of the spherical main body 1 in the shaft supporting direction.

With the steering column 14 held between the two spherical supporting halves A ₁ , A ₁ , the protruding ends 2 a, 2
a constitute a flat cylindrical shape (see FIG. 4B). The protruding end 2a comes into contact with the periphery of the opening of the bracket B when the spherical support A rotates the bracket B, thereby restricting the rotation range of the spherical support A and preventing the spherical support A from rotating more than necessary. (See FIG. 5).

Further, the spherical outer peripheral portion 1a of the spherical support halves A ₁ is escape portion 13 formed in an appropriate width on the outer peripheral surface is formed [FIG. 4 (A), (B) refer to Fig. The escape part 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a flat circumferential side surface, and the inner peripheral surface (a concave support surface 4a and a pressing concave support surface 8 described later) of the bracket B in a state where the spherical support A is housed in the bracket B described later.
a) and a non-contact area are formed, so that the spherical support A can operate favorably with respect to the bracket B (see FIG. 3B).

The spherical support halves A ₁ , A ₁ are designed such that when the steering column 14 is sandwiched, an appropriate gap S is formed between the two spherical support halves A ₁ , A ₁ [FIG. 3 (B) and FIG. 4 (A)]. The gap S is required as a tightening margin for clamping and fixing the steering column 14 between the spherical supporting halves A ₁ , A ₁ . The gap S
May be set as appropriate, but only a small amount may be provided. Further, when the distance between the spherical support halves A ₁ , A ₁ is slightly increased, the steering column 14 can slide along the axial direction, so that telescopic adjustment can be performed.

Each of the spherical support halves A ₁ has a hollow interior, and has bearing portions 2 at both ends in the diameter direction.
2 but those formed is shown, as another example, a solid structure the spherical support halves A _1, clamping side 1
The bearing portion 2 may be formed in the axial direction continuously along the diametric direction on the b side (see FIG. 9). In this embodiment, when clamping the steering column 14 in a spherical support halves A _1, A ₁ is the diameter direction of the spherical support halves A _1, A _1, the bearing portions 2,2 over the entire clamping range Supported.

Next, the bracket B is composed of a fixed bracket half B ₁ and a movable bracket half B ₂ , and the fixed bracket half B ₁ and the movable bracket half B ₂ form a spherical surface. The support A is supported in a sandwiched state [see FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B]. The fixing bracket halves B ₁ represents, positioned above, the movable bracket halves B ₂ located below the fixing bracket halves B ₁ fasteners 11 which is movable bracket halves B ₂ will be described below with respect to And presses or unpresses the spherical support A through the support.

The fixed bracket half B ₁ has a spherical support 4 formed thereon. The spherical support 4 has a concave support surface 4 a for supporting the spherical portion of the spherical support A.
Are formed. The concave support surface 4a has a spherical support A
Of the spherical support A is formed to be substantially equal to the radius of curvature of the spherical support A. The spherical support 4 has an arc-shaped opening 4b.

A flange portion 5 is formed above the spherical support portion 4, and is mounted at a predetermined position on the vehicle body via the flange portion 5. The spherical support portion 4, the connecting portion 9a for connecting portions 9b and pivotally connected to the movable bracket halves B ₂ to be described later is formed. Fixed bracket half B
_{In FIG. 1} , a fixed-side fastening portion 7 is formed near the spherical support portion 4. Its fixed-side fastening part 7, the inner threaded portion 7a is formed inside, threaded portion 11a of the fastener 11 to perform tightening of the movable bracket halves B ₂ and the fixed bracket halves B ₁ is the It is adapted to be screwed with the inner screw portion 7a (see FIGS. 2A and 2B).

The movable bracket half B ₂ has a pressing concave support surface 8 a formed on the inner surface side of the pressing support portion 8.
Openings 8b, 8b are formed at both ends in the axial direction (see FIG. 3B). Also in the movable bracket halves B _2, connecting portion 9b is formed, which is rotatable together with the connecting portion 9a of the fixed bracket halves B ₁ side through a pivot shaft 9c [FIG 2 (A) , (B)]. Further, the with a fixed-side clamping portion 7, to tighten the movable bracket halves B ₂ to the fixed bracket halves B _1, the movable-side clamping portion 10 is provided near the pressing support unit 8. The movable side fastening portion 10 has a through hole 10a formed therein,
The fastener 11 penetrates through the through hole 10a (see FIG. 2B).

There are a plurality of embodiments of the fastening tool 11, and a first embodiment thereof is shown in FIGS.
As shown in (B) and the like, it is a bolt type. The fastener 11 can be rotated in the axial direction via an operation lever 12. A screw portion 11a is formed on the fastener 11, and a fixing portion that is fixed to the operation lever 12 in a rotating direction is formed. Specifically, a non-circular portion is formed on a shaft portion of the fastener 11. 11b, the non-circular portion 11b is formed so that the shape matches the operation hole 12b of the operation lever 12.
2, the fastener 11 can be rotated [see FIG. 2 (B)].

Next, a second embodiment of the fastening tool 11 is of a link mechanism type.
1c and an operation link 11d (FIG. 1).
0 to FIG. 12). Opening and closing link 11c is a plate spring type, specifically, the longitudinal central portion is in the elastic portion 11c ₁ formed in an arc shape (see FIG. 10). The operation link 11d is formed integrally with the operation lever 12, and is bent so as to be substantially perpendicular to or near the handle 12a of the operation lever 12 [FIGS. 10 and 12 (A). (B)).

[0021] One end side of the operation link 11d is pivot pin 1 to half B ₁ side fixing bracket (fixed side fastening portion 7 of)
It is pivotally connected at 1p _1. Operation link 11
d the other end, that the handle portion 12a toward the side of the operating lever 12 is in the pivot pin 11p ₂ is pivotal connected to one end of the open-close link 11c, opening and closing link 11c the other end of the movable bracket halves B ₂ side ( Pivot pin 11p on the movable side fastening part 10)
It is pivotally connected at ₃ (see FIG. 10). The opening / closing link 11c is arranged on both sides of the operation lever 12, and is set such that the arc-shaped bulging sides face each other outward (see FIGS. 11A and 11B).

[0022] Then, the operating lever 12, by the pivot pin 11p _1, the vertical direction turning operation [FIG. 12
(See (A) and (B).) Then, according to the rotation operation of the operating lever 12, in which vertically moves the closing link 11c via the pivot pin 11p _2. The closing link 11c is pivotally supported pin 11 to the movable bracket halves B ₂
Since it is pivotally connected via p ₃ , the operation lever 1
By lowering the 2, lowering the movable bracket halves B ₂ via the opening and closing link 11c, to release the tightening of the fixing bracket halves B ₁ and the movable bracket halves B _2, to perform tilt adjustment of the telescopic [FIG. 11
(B) and FIG. 12 (B)).

Further, the opening / closing link 11c is moved upward.
By moving, the movable bracket half B_Two Fix the bracket semi
Body B₁To lock it. here,
The fixed bracket half B₁And movable bracket half B_Two
The elastic part 11c₁Extends in the longitudinal direction,
The distance between the pivots is L₁And Also, fixed bracket half
Body B₁And movable bracket half B_TwoOpen with the
The distance between the pivot pins of the closed link 11c is L_Two[FIG. 12
(See (A) and (B).)

The two distances L ₁ and L ₂ have a relationship of L ₁ > L ₂ . The pivot pin spacing is L ₂ state of the closing link 11c, the closing link 11c is a state where no external force applied [FIG. 11 (B)], the in the pivot pin spacing is L ₁ state, closing Elastic part 11c of link 11c
Restoring force is generated by _{that one} extends, the movable bracket halves B ₂ becomes constantly pressed state to the fixed bracket half body B ₁ side [FIG 11 (A) refer to Fig. In addition, the pivot pin 11
respect to the virtual line Q connecting the p ₁ and pivot pin 11p _3, in rotation of the operating lever 12, so that the pivot pin 11p ₂ crosses the imaginary line Q when setting the tightened state from the open state The pivot pin 11p
₂ can stabilize the tightened state by the elasticity of the opening / closing link 11c [FIGS. 12A and 12B].
reference〕.

FIG. 7A shows the entire steering device, and the bracket B is fixed to a predetermined position of the vehicle body. A steering shaft 16 is provided on the steering column 14.
And a steering wheel W is mounted on the steering shaft. The other end of the steering column 14 is connected to a steering transmission shaft 17 for the front wheels via a universal joint.

The steering column 14 is supported by a spherical support A, and the spherical support A is rotatably stored in a bracket B. Then, the fastening tool 11 and the operation lever 1
2, the pressing force of the bracket B is released, and the steering wheel W can be moved vertically and horizontally via the spherical support A (see FIGS. 7B and 8).

[0027]

The steering column 14 is supported by the spherical supporting halves A ₁ and A _{1 in a} sandwiched state. In this case, the steering column 14, both spherical support halves A _1, A bearing portion 2,2 which is formed in _one, is supported ... to. Opposing clamping side surfaces 1b, 1b of the two spherical supporting halves A ₁ , A ₁
Has a slight gap S in the non-pressed state or the initial pressed state, so that the two spherical support halves A ₁ , A ₁ can be fastened to the steering column 14.

A stopper for regulating the position of the steering column can be formed in contact with a receiving portion provided at the opening end of the spherical support portion. The two spherical supporting halves A
_1, the A _1, while holding the steering column 14, both spherical support halves A _1, A ₁ constitutes the spherical support A to be substantially spherical.

The spherical support A serves as a fixing bracket for the bracket B.
Racket half B₁And movable bracket half B_TwoAttached between
Is done. First, the movable bracket half B_TwoThrough the pivot joint
And movable bracket half B_TwoIs fixed bracket half B₁
To the fixed bracket half B₁And movable bracket
G half body B_TwoThe spherical support A is disposed between the
Racket half B₁And movable bracket half B_TwoSandwiched with
Supported by the state. Specifically, fixed bracket half B₁
Concave support surface 4a and movable bracket half B_Two Press concave
A spherical support A is arranged between the support A and the support surface 8a.

[0030] Then, clamping of the fixed bracket halves B ₁ and fixed bracket halves via the movable bracket halves B ₂ fasteners 11 provided on the operating lever 12 B ₁ and the movable bracket halves B ₂ By performing the attaching operation and pressing the spherical support A, the tilt of the steering column 14, the telescoping, and the swing adjustment in the left-right direction are locked by the two spherical support halves A ₁ , A ₁ . At this time, the spherical support half A
_1, clamping pressure of tightening by A ₁ to the steering column 14, the bearing portions 2 becomes distributed load state is transmitted ... to the steering column 14 through. The arrow group shown in FIG. 6 shows a state in which a distributed load is applied to the outer periphery of the steering column 14 as the clamping pressure.

The fastening tool 11 and the operation lever 12
Release of the pressure, the fixing bracket half B₁Against
Movable bracket half B_TwoSlightly open, spherical support
The pressure on the body A is loosened and the two spherical support halves A₁, A₁To
The clamping pressure on the steering column 14 is also loosened,
The steering column 14 has a spherical support half A₁, A₁ while
Becomes slidable.

The spherical support A is also provided with the fixing bracket.
Half B₁And movable bracket half B_Two Rotate between
Flexible, tilt, telesco and steering wheel
It is possible to adjust the right and left deflection of the wheel W (see FIG. 8). This
Here, especially the adjustment of the tilt is performed by adjusting the steering wheel W.
Adjusting the vertical tilt. In addition, up and down
For tilt adjustment in the left and right directions, the spherical support
A protruding end 2a is connected to opening 4b and 8b of bracket B.
The rotation of the spherical support A is in contact with the periphery of the opening made of
So that it does not rotate more than necessary.
You.

[0033]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spherical support comprising a steering column and two hemispherical spherical support halves A ₁ , A ₁ sandwiching the steering column and forming a substantially spherical shape. A, a bracket B for rotatably storing the spherical support A on which the steering column 14 is mounted, and pressing or releasing the pressing of the spherical support halves A ₁ , A ₁ and the steering column 14; By using a position adjustment device for the steering column consisting of a fastener for operating the pressing or releasing of the B, not only the steering column can be tilted up and down and left and right by the spherical support but also in the front and rear direction of the steering column. Adjustment can be performed, the operability is good, and the whole apparatus can be provided with an extremely simple structure.

The above effect will be described in detail.
Hemispherical spherical support halves A₁, A₁Also composed of
And the steering column 14 is connected to the spherical support half.
A₁ , A₁The two spherical support half
Body A₁, A₁With steering column 14
The state becomes a substantially spherical shape. Further, the bracket B is
Stored in a bracket B that rotatably stores the spherical support A
And presses or pushes on the spherical support A via the fastener 11.
Pressure release is to be operated.

Thus, the steering column 14
Can be adjusted not only vertically and horizontally by a spherical support with the spherical support A as the center of rotation, but also the position of the steering column 14 in the axial direction. In addition, the operability is good, and the entire apparatus is mainly composed of two spherical support halves A ₁ and A _1.
, The bracket B, and the fastener 11 for fastening the bracket B, and the assembly thereof can be made to have an extremely simple structure.

Next, according to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the two spherical supporting halves A ₁ , A ₁ are formed so as to be hollow inside, and the steering column 14 is provided at both ends in the diametrical direction. The steering column 14 is provided with a bearing column 2 on which the shaft peripheral surface is disposed, so that the steering column 14 is appropriately spaced apart in the axial direction (substantially equal to the diameter of the spherical support A). When the steering column 14 is moved by the bearings 2, 2, ... in the spherical support A,
The range of contact with the bearing portion 2 is shorter than the entire diametrical direction of the spherical support A, so that the friction at the time of sliding is reduced, and the operability in telescopic operation can be further improved.

Next, a third aspect of the present invention is directed to the first or second aspect.
In the above, the two spherical support halves A₁ , A₁Each of
The spherical outer peripheral surface is in non-contact with the inner peripheral surface of the bracket B.
Steering having a circumferential relief 13 formed
With the column position adjusting device, the bracket B
The pressing force on the spherical support A of the
When adjusting the direction, the spherical support A and the bracket B
And the spherical support A in the bracket B
Makes it easier to rotate, and tilt and left / right adjustments are even better.
Can be good.

Next, the invention of claim 4 is the invention of claim 2 or 3
In the bearing portion 2, the projecting end portion 2a along the axial support direction projecting outward of the spherical support halves A ₁ is formed, as can abut against the periphery of the opening of the bracket B steering By using the column position adjusting device, it is possible to prevent the spherical support body A from rotating more widely than necessary within the bracket B to make it difficult to adjust the tilt and the left and right directions of the steering column 14. The adjustment can be regulated within an appropriate range.

Next, a fifth aspect of the present invention provides a second aspect of the present invention.
In 4 or 5, the steering column 14 includes:
By using the position adjusting device for the steering column in which the restricting projection 15 which can be brought into contact with the spherical support A or the bracket B is formed, the telescopic adjustment of the steering column 14 allows the restricting projection 15 to be adjusted to the spherical support. It is possible to prevent a situation in which the steering column 14 moves more than necessary in contact with A, and it becomes difficult to adjust the steering column 14.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a front view of the present invention. FIG. 2B is a longitudinal sectional front view of the present invention.

3A is a side view of the present invention, and FIG. 3B is a longitudinal side view of the present invention.

4A is an exploded perspective view of a spherical support half body, FIG. 4B is a perspective view of a spherical support body and a steering column, and FIG.

FIG. 5 is an operation view showing a state in which a spherical support rotates in a bracket and a steering column moves up and down.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state in which the steering column is sandwiched.

FIG. 7A is a partially sectional side view showing that the tilt and telescopic adjustment of the steering wheel can be performed in the present invention. FIG.
Operation diagram showing that position adjustment in the left-right direction can be performed

FIG. 8 is a partially sectional plan view showing that the steering wheel can be adjusted in the left-right direction in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal side view of another embodiment of a spherical support.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a main part using a fastener according to another embodiment of the present invention.

11 (A) is a partial sectional view in a state of being tightened by a fastener, and FIG. 11 (B) is a partial sectional view of the action in a state in which the fastener is released.

12A is a front view in a state of being tightened by a fastener, and FIG. 12B is a front view of a state in which the fastener is released from being tightened.

[Explanation of symbols]

A: Spherical support A ₁ : Spherical support half B: Bracket 2: Bearing 2a: Protruding end 11: Clamping tool 13: Relief 14: Steering column 15: Regulatory projection

Claims (5)

[Claims] A spherical support comprising a steering column, two hemispherical spherical support halves forming a substantially spherical shape by sandwiching the steering column, and a spherical support on which the steering column is mounted. A position of a steering column, comprising a bracket movably housed for pressing or releasing the spherical support halves and the steering column, and a fastener for pressing or releasing the bracket. Adjustment device. 2. The two spherical supporting halves according to claim 1, wherein the two spherical supporting halves are formed in a hollow shape, and bearing portions are formed at both ends in the diametrical direction, on which shaft peripheral surfaces of the steering column are arranged. A position adjusting device for a steering column, comprising: 3. A spherical relief portion according to claim 1, wherein the spherical outer peripheral surface of each of the two spherical supporting halves is formed with a circumferential relief portion that is not in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the bracket. A steering column position adjusting device characterized by the following. 4. The bracket according to claim 2, wherein the bearing has a protruding end protruding outward along a shaft supporting direction of the spherical supporting half, and is provided around an opening of the bracket. A position adjusting device for a steering column, which can be contacted. 5. The steering column position adjusting device according to claim 2, wherein the steering column is provided with a regulating projection which can be brought into contact with the spherical support or the bracket. .