JP2003182594A - Shock absorbing steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shock absorbing steering device having a greater shock absorbing stroke. <P>SOLUTION: The shock absorbing steering device 1 has an intermediate shaft 9 for transmitting the rotation of a steering wheel 2 between a steering shaft 3 and a steering mechanism 7. The intermediate shaft 9 has a pair of shaft members 21, 22 arranged coaxially, a joint 23 for rockingly connecting the pair of shaft members 21, 22, and an encircling member 26 such as a band 28 as a rocking suppressing means 24 for suppressing the rocking between the pair of shaft members 21, 22 with required suppressing force. In a normal condition before shocking operation, the rocking of the joint 23 is suppressed, and in collision, the encircling member 26 is deformed to cancel the rocking suppression and the intermediate shaft 9 is bent and shortened. The separation of the intermediate shaft 9 in collision is prevented by the joint 23 and a bending load is freely and easily controlled by the rocking suppressing means 24. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a steering device. In particular, the present invention relates to a shock absorbing steering device that absorbs a shock at the time of collision of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a steering apparatus for an automobile, a rotational force from a steering wheel is transmitted through a steering shaft of a steering column, an intermediate shaft (hereinafter also referred to as an intermediate shaft), and the like. To the steering mechanism,
In this way, the wheels are steered. For example, the steering mechanism is arranged in the front part of the vehicle, and the upper part of the steering column and the steering wheel are arranged in the vehicle compartment.

In the event of a vehicle collision, the steering mechanism moves relative to the vehicle body toward the rear of the vehicle, and as a result, the steering column, and eventually the steering wheel, is pushed up toward the driver via the intermediate shaft. is there. In order to prevent the steering wheel from being pushed up, the intermediate shaft is deformed at the time of a collision to absorb the impact from the steering device. As such an intermediate shaft, there are a contraction type in which its length is shortened and a bending type in which its shape is in a bent shape.

Although the contraction type is the mainstream, it is difficult to secure a large stroke amount for contraction, that is, a large relative movement amount between the ends of the shaft. If the stroke amount is small, the impact at the time of collision may not be completely absorbed. Therefore, there is a demand to secure a larger stroke amount at the time of collision. Also, in the bent type,
The amount of relative movement between the end portions when bending becomes the stroke amount, and this stroke amount tends to be increased.
There are also challenges.

That is, in the bending type intermediate shaft, the intermediate part in the axial direction is bent and deformed to bend the intermediate shaft. However, for example, if the bending strength is lowered in an attempt to reduce the load for bending, there is a risk of breaking in the middle. On the contrary, to prevent breakage, the load for bending is increased. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned technical problems and to provide a bending-type shock absorbing steering device having a new structure in which a load for bending can be set to a desired value without being separated at an intermediate portion in a collision. It is to be.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 is provided with a transmission shaft for transmitting the rotation of the steering wheel to the steering mechanism, and the transmission shaft comprises:
A pair of shaft members coaxially arranged, an inseparable joint that swingably connects the pair of shaft members, and a swing suppressing means that suppresses swing between the pair of shaft members with a required restraining force. There is provided a shock absorbing steering device including:

According to the present invention, when the impact force at the time of collision exceeds the required deterrent force, the joint is allowed to swing and the transmission shaft bends. As a result, it is possible to bring the ends of the transmission shafts closer to each other and obtain the stroke amount as the relative movement amount. Moreover, since the joint prevents the shaft members from being separated from each other, only the bending load for bending the transmission shaft needs to be considered as the rocking suppressing means. Therefore, the bending load can be easily adjusted to a desired magnitude. Can be adjusted to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the shock absorbing steering device according to the first aspect, wherein the joint includes a universal joint. According to the present invention, since the universal joint can freely change the direction in which the shaft members are swung, the transmission shaft can be smoothly bent at a desired bending load without limiting the bending direction at the time of collision. You can According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the shock absorbing steering device according to the second aspect, the swing suppressing means includes an enclosing member that surrounds a pair of yokes of the universal joint. Provide a device. According to the present invention, the surrounding member can suppress the swing of the joint with a simple structure such as a tubular shape or a band shape.
The surrounding member may be broken at the time of a collision, or may be detached to the base end side of the yoke.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the shock absorbing steering device according to the third aspect, wherein the surrounding member includes a band wound around a yoke. . According to this invention, the structure can be further simplified. As such a band, an inexpensive commercial product can be used. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the shock absorbing steering device according to the first aspect, the joint includes a ball joint,
There is provided a shock absorbing steering device characterized in that the rocking suppressing means includes a sleeve that accommodates the ball joint and connects the pair of shaft members so as to be integrally rotatable. According to the present invention, the practical structure of the ball joint and the sleeve allows the transmission shaft to be smoothly bent at a desired bending load without limiting the bending direction at the time of collision.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the shock absorbing steering device according to the first aspect, the joints are respectively provided on an intermediate member interposed between the shaft members and a pair of end portions of the intermediate member. And a pair of connecting shafts respectively connecting the corresponding shaft members, wherein the pair of connecting shafts swings the corresponding shaft members in different directions from each other. According to the present invention, the transmission shaft can be smoothly bent by a desired bending load at the time of collision without restricting the bending direction so much with a simple structure.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the shock absorbing steering device according to the sixth aspect, each of the connecting shafts includes a fastening shaft that fastens a corresponding shaft member and the intermediate member with a predetermined fastening force. There is provided a shock absorbing steering device characterized in that the swing suppressing means is constituted by a friction generating portion adjusted by the fastening shaft. According to the present invention, the connecting shaft can be formed integrally with the fastening shaft, so that the structure can be further simplified.

The invention described in claim 8 is from claim 1 to claim 7.
In the shock absorbing steering device according to any one of
The shock absorbing steering device is characterized in that the transmission shaft comprises an intermediate shaft which has one end connected to the other end of a steering shaft connected to a steering wheel via a universal joint. According to this invention, the intermediate shaft can be bent at the time of a collision to reliably prevent the steering wheel from being pushed up.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A steering apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of the above steering device.
The steering device 1 includes a steering shaft 3 that transmits the movement of the steering wheel 2 for steering wheels (not shown), and a steering column 4 that rotatably supports the steering shaft 3 through the inside.
A steering mechanism 7 including a pinion, a rack shaft, and the like for steering the wheels according to the movement of the steering wheel 2, and an input shaft 8 of the steering mechanism 7 and the steering shaft 3 via universal joints 10 and 11. It has the intermediate shaft 9 connected so that it can rotate integrally.

The steering wheel 2 is connected to one end 5 of the steering shaft 3. An intermediate shaft 9 is connected to the other end 6 of the steering shaft 3. A universal joint 11 is provided at the upper end of the intermediate shaft 9, and a universal joint 10 is provided between the lower end of the intermediate shaft 9 and the steering mechanism 7. Each of the universal joints 10 and 11 is configured by connecting a pair of fork-shaped yokes 12 via a cross shaft 13. When the steering wheel 2 is rotated, the rotation thereof is transmitted to the steering mechanism 7 via the transmission shafts such as the steering shaft 3 and the intermediate shaft 9, whereby the wheels can be steered.

By the way, at the time of collision of an automobile, an impact may be exerted from the member on the steering mechanism 7 side toward the steering wheel 2. In order to absorb such an impact, the intermediate shaft 9 of the present embodiment is deformed into a bent shape when an excessive impact load is applied at the time of a collision, and the axial direction of the intermediate shaft 9 ( The distance between both ends along the central axis C) is shortened. In the present invention, the intermediate shaft 9 includes the pair of shaft members 2 arranged coaxially.
1, 22 and a universal joint 25 as an inseparable joint 23 that connects the pair of shaft members 21, 22 in a swingable manner.
And a surrounding member 26 as a swing suppressing means 24 for suppressing the swing between the pair of shaft members 21 and 22 with a required restraining force.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the universal joint 25 has a pair of fork-shaped yokes 40 and a cross shaft 41 connecting the pair of yokes 40.
The cross shaft 41 has a pair of connecting shafts 42 extending in directions orthogonal to each other and integrally formed in a cross shape. Each connecting shaft 42
Are arranged orthogonal to the central axis C before collision, and each connecting shaft 42 is rotatably supported by the corresponding yoke 40. Each yoke 40 has a corresponding shaft member 21,
It is fixed to the opposite ends of 22. For example, the yokes 40 and the corresponding shaft members 21 and 22 may be integrally formed, or may be separately formed and fixed by a known method such as welding or press fitting. In the universal joint 25, the yoke 40
Swinging is realized by sliding between the cross shaft 41 and the cross shaft 41, and the pair of shaft members 21 and 22 are guided while swinging.

In the state of normal use before impact, the surrounding member 26 surrounds the pair of yokes 40 of the universal joint 25 to prevent the universal joint 25 from swinging. Also,
The intermediate shaft 9 has a linear shape along the central axis C, and the pair of shaft members 21, 22 are arranged coaxially with the central axis C of the intermediate shaft 9 and arranged side by side along the central axis C. At the time of a collision,
When the impact force exceeds the required deterrent force, the surrounding member 26
The deformation of the joint 23 allows the joint 23 to swing,
The intermediate shaft 9 bends at the joint 23. As a result, the yokes 12 of the universal joints 10 and 11 that are the end portions of the intermediate shaft 9 can be brought close to each other, and the stroke amount can be obtained as the relative movement amount.

Further, the restraining force of the surrounding member 26 does not work when the surrounding member 26 is deformed or broken, and thereafter,
The universal joint 25 can swing freely. Moreover,
Since the joint 23 prevents the shaft members 21 and 22 from being separated from each other, it is sufficient for the rocking suppressing means 24 to consider only the bending load for starting the bending of the intermediate shaft 9, and therefore the bending load It can be easily adjusted to the desired size. In particular, when the rocking | swiveling suppression means 24 is a separate body from the joint 23, the depressing force of the rocking | swiveling suppression means 24 can be easily adjusted, without affecting the joint 23.

Further, since the joint 23 regulates the center position of swing, it is easy to predict the state of deformation at the time of collision, and the intermediate shaft 9
The degree of freedom in the layout of the intermediate shaft 9 for preventing interference with other surrounding members can be increased. Moreover, since the universal joint 25 can freely change the direction in which the shaft members 21 and 22 are swung, the intermediate shaft 9 can be
It is possible to smoothly bend with a desired bending load without limiting the bending direction.

The joint 23 is a universal joint 25.
Besides, a ball joint 29 and an intermediate member 31 described later.
And a shaft member 2 such as a link mechanism using a pair of connecting shafts
Any of the other configurations in which the 1 and 22 are swingably connected can be used. Further, the joint 23 may be one that swings by utilizing the elastic deformation of the member. Further, since the shaft members 21 and 22 on both sides in the axial direction of the joint 23 are coaxial before the impact action, the joint 23 does not need to swing even when the intermediate shaft 9 transmits rotation. Therefore, the structure for lubrication or the like required for the rocking operation can be simplified or omitted in the joint 23, so that the structure of the joint 23 can be simplified as compared with the case where power is transmitted while rocking constantly. Can be miniaturized. Moreover, the rocking | fluctuation suppression means 24 needs only a simple structure which fixes shaft members 21 and 22 comrades.

The rocking | fluctuation suppression means 24 should just be the thing which suppresses rocking | fluctuation of the center axis of a pair of shaft members 21 and 22 mutually. Further, as the deterrent force of the rocking | fluctuation suppression means 24, even when the force assumed at the time of the normal driving | operation before an impact action acts, the magnitude | size which can suppress the rocking | fluctuation by the joint 23 while resisting this force. If there is Therefore, the rocking | fluctuation suppression means 24 is comprised by a low-strength member, for example, and suppresses rocking | fluctuation, without breaking or deforming at the time of normal driving | operation, but when it receives the impact at the time of a collision, it breaks. It is also possible to release the suppression of the swing by deforming.

The surrounding member 26 includes a tubular member 27, surrounds the pair of yokes 40 of the universal joint 25, and restricts the relative displacement of the yokes 40.
The swinging of the yokes 40 can be suppressed. The tubular member 27 is formed of a hard material such as metal or synthetic resin. The tubular member 27 may be endless in the circumferential direction or endless in the circumferential direction. Further, instead of the tubular member 27, an endless band 28 which can be wound from the periphery may be used as described later. Also, the surrounding member 26
Includes those that transmit the rotation between the shaft members 21 and 22, and those that do not transmit the rotation.

As described above, the surrounding member 26 can suppress the swing of the joint 23 with a simple structure such as a tubular shape or a band shape.
For example, the surrounding member around the yoke 40 by the surrounding member 26 can be released by deforming or breaking the surrounding member 26 by an impact force, or by moving the surrounding member 26 in the axial direction so as to come off to the base end side of the yoke 40, The swinging of the universal joint 25 can be started. Further, when the universal joint 25 transmits the rotation between the shaft members 21 and 22, the surrounding member 26
Does not require rotation transmission, so high strength for this is not required, and as a result, for example, the surrounding member 26 can be configured to have low strength. As a result, the surrounding member 26 can be quickly broken or deformed at the time of a collision, which contributes to the achievement of a quick bending operation of the intermediate shaft 9.

The enveloping member 26 is replaced with the tubular member 27, and the endless elongated strip 28 shown together in FIG.
May be used. The band 28 is wound around the pair of yokes 40 and restricts the relative movement of the yokes 40. When the belt 28 is broken or deformed during the impact action and comes off from at least one of the yokes 40, the regulation is released. By using such a band 28, the structure can be further simplified. As such a belt 28, an inexpensive commercial product,
For example, a binding band for binding electric wires or a fastener for fastening piping members can be used. Such a binding band or a fastener has, for example, a recess 4 formed on the other end of the belt-shaped member for preventing the unevenness of the one end 44 of the belt-shaped member from coming off.
By engaging through the inside of 5, it is possible to easily tighten an object of any size with a desired binding force.

Since the endless belt 28 can be retrofitted to the joint 23, the joint 23 can be swung when assembled to the vehicle body so that the intermediate shaft 9 can be easily assembled. It can also be easily assembled to the other part of 1. In addition, in the present embodiment, the intermediate shaft 9 can secure a stroke not only by the bending motion of the joint 23 but also by the relative sliding motion in the axial direction. That is, the intermediate shaft 9 includes a pair of cylindrical members 47 that are integrally rotatable with each other and are relatively slidable in the axial direction. For example, the one tubular member 47 is formed integrally with the shaft member 22. The other tubular member 47 is one yoke 4 of the universal joint 25.
It is formed integrally with 0. The pair of cylindrical members 47 are fitted to each other by a serration fitting structure or the like so as to be integrally rotatable and relatively slidable in the axial direction, and relatively slide in the axial direction at the time of a collision, so that the axial length of the shaft member 22 is increased. Shorten the length. As a result, the amount of protrusion in the radial direction during bending can be reduced,
Interference between the bent intermediate shaft 9 and surrounding members can be made less likely to occur.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a ball joint 29 is used in place of the universal joint 25 as the joint 23 of the first embodiment, and the swing suppressing means 24 is used.
A sleeve 30 is used instead of the surrounding member 26. In the present embodiment, points different from those of the first embodiment will be mainly described, and similar portions will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted. The same applies to other embodiments described later. The ball joint 29 includes a spherical ball pin 48 fixed to the one shaft member 22 and the ball pin 4
8 and a ball bush 49 including a recessed spherical seat. The ball bush 49 has a ball pin 48.
Is inseparably locked to the spherical seat and fixed to the other shaft member 21. In the swingable state, the ball bush 49 supports the ball pin 48 while slidably guiding the ball pin 48 around an axis passing through the center of the ball, and allows the one shaft member 22 to freely extend in different directions. it can.

The sleeve 30 is formed in a tubular shape, accommodates the ball joint 29 therein, and connects the pair of shaft members 21 and 22 so as to be integrally rotatable. That is,
A serration fitting structure or the like is provided on the inner periphery of both ends of the sleeve 30 and the outer periphery of the corresponding ends of the pair of shaft members 21, 22. Further, the sleeve 30 may be connected to one of the shaft members so as to be relatively slidable in the axial direction. The sleeve 30 is different from the enclosing member 26 in that the rotation of the shaft members 21 and 22 is transmitted and that the ball joint 29 is accommodated, but the sleeve 30 is configured similarly in other respects.

The sleeve 30 includes a pair of shaft members 21 and 22.
By regulating the positions of each other, the ball joint 29
Suppress the swing of. When an impact is applied, the sleeve 30
Causes the bending deformation or breaks and breaks to release the above-mentioned position regulation. This allows the ball joint 29 to swing. In this way, since the direction in which the shaft members 21 and 22 are swung can be freely changed by the ball joint 29, the intermediate shaft 9 can be smoothly bent under a desired bending load without limiting the bending direction at the time of a collision. Can be made. Moreover, this action and effect can be achieved by the practical and simple structure of the ball joint 29 and the sleeve 30.

Further, since the ball joint 29 generally does not transmit the rotation between the shaft members 21 and 22, it is not necessary to secure the strength for this purpose and the size can be reduced. Accordingly, the sleeve 30 can be downsized. In the third embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the joint 2
3 uses a so-called link mechanism. Joint 2
3 is an intermediate member 31 interposed between the shaft members 21 and 22.
And a fastening shaft 34 as a pair of connecting shafts for connecting the intermediate member 31 and the shaft members 21, 22 inseparably,
And 35. The pair of fastening shafts 34, 35 fasten the corresponding shaft members 21, 22 and the intermediate member 31 with a predetermined fastening force.

In the state before the collision, the shaft member 21, the intermediate member 31, and the shaft member 22 are arranged in this order along the axial direction C. In addition, each of these members 21, 31, 22
Are arranged with their extending directions parallel to the axial direction C. The end portion of the shaft member 21 and one end portion 56 of the intermediate member 31 in the axial direction overlap with each other in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction and are arranged to face each other, and the fastening shaft 34 penetrates between these end portions. To do. Further, the end portion of the shaft member 22 and the other end portion 57 of the intermediate member 31 in the axial direction overlap with each other in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction and are arranged to face each other, and these end portions are fastened to each other. The shaft 35 penetrates.

In the intermediate member 31, the pair of connecting shafts are
The pair of connecting shafts extend in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction C, and the pair of connecting shafts extend in a direction orthogonal to each other. As a result, when the fastening is released, the corresponding shaft members 21 and 22 can be swung in different directions when viewed from the intermediate member 31. Also in the present embodiment, the same swinging movement as the surrounding member 26, the sleeve 30 and the like formed around the pair of shaft members 21 and 22 and the intermediate member 31 separately from these members. It is conceivable to provide suppression means 24. On the other hand, the rocking | fluctuation suppression means 24 may be comprised by a part of joint 23 as follows.

The joint 23 is provided with a pair of friction generating portions 33 corresponding to the pair of fastening shafts 34 and 35, respectively. The pair of friction generators 33 constitute the swing suppressing means 24. Further, the pair of fastening shafts 34 and 35 function as adjusting members that adjust the frictional force generated in the corresponding friction generating portion 33. The pair of fastening shafts 34, 3
5 has the same configuration except that the corresponding shaft members 21 and 22 are different and the corresponding end portions 56 and 57 of the intermediate member 31 are different, and therefore the fastening shaft 34 will be mainly described below. . Further, since the pair of friction generating portions 33 are similarly configured, the fastening shaft 34 will be mainly described.

The fastening shaft 34 is made of a rivet, and has a large-diameter head portion 51 at its end and a shaft portion 52 extending from the head portion 51. The shaft portion 52 penetrates through the communication holes 54 and 55 of the shaft member 21 and the intermediate member 31, and the penetrating tip extends out by a predetermined amount. In this state, the shaft 52
By plastically deforming the tip of the, the caulking portion 53 having a larger diameter than the shaft portion 52 is formed. The large-diameter caulked portion 53 and the head portion 51 join the shaft member 21 and the intermediate member 31 sandwiched between them in the tightened state with the above-described predetermined fastening force. As a result, a frictional force is generated between the friction generating portion 33, that is, between the facing surfaces that face each other, and this frictional force is
It is a deterrent that suppresses rocking.

The friction generating portion 33 has three pairs of facing surfaces facing each other. These three pairs of facing surfaces are the head 51
Facing surface 61 and the facing surface 6 of the end portion 56 of the intermediate member 31
2 sets, the facing surface 63 of the end portion 56 of the intermediate member 31 and the facing surface 64 of the shaft member 21, and the facing surface 6 of the shaft member 21.
5 and the facing surface 66 of the caulked portion 53. With the fastening shaft 34 made of rivets, there is no fear of loosening with a small number of parts. It is also conceivable to configure the fastening shaft 34 with a bolt and a nut screwed into the bolt.

In the normal state before the impact action, a static friction force acts on the friction generating portion 33 to suppress the swing of the joint 23. At the time of a collision, when an impact force exceeding the static friction force acts, the joint 23 begins to oscillate, a lower dynamic friction force acts on the friction generating portion 33, and while the impact force exceeding the dynamic friction force acts, the joint 23 It can swing, and the bending of the intermediate shaft 9 is advanced. Third
Since the joint 23 of the above embodiment can freely swing, it is possible to smoothly bend the intermediate shaft 9 at a desired bending load at the time of a collision without significantly limiting the bending direction. Moreover, this action and effect can be achieved by a simple structure configured by rotatably connecting the simple rod-shaped intermediate member 31 with the simple columnar fastening shafts 34, 35.

Further, since the fastening shafts 34 and 35 for adjusting the frictional force are integrally formed on the pair of connecting shafts, respectively, when the member for adjusting the frictional force is provided separately from the member of the joint 23. The structure can be further simplified compared to. Further, although the fastening shafts 34 and 35 function as connecting shafts, the fastening shafts 21 and 22 can be adjusted by considering only the fastening force corresponding to the restraining force regardless of the connection between the shaft members 21 and 22. Therefore, it is possible to easily adjust the frictional force, and consequently the restraining force, and the bending load to desired magnitudes.

As described above, according to each embodiment of the present invention, at the time of a collision, the joint 23 swings while maintaining the connection between the shaft members 21 and 22, and the intermediate shaft 9 bends to secure a stroke amount. it can. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the steering wheel 2 from being pushed up at the time of a collision. Further, since it is easy to adjust the restraining force of the swing restraining means 24 to a desired magnitude, the bending load can be reduced, for example. As a result, the intermediate shaft 9 can be quickly bent at the time of a collision, and the stroke amount can be increased even when the impact force is small.

In the case of the bending type intermediate shaft 9, a force other than the axial direction also contributes to the bending, and the members between the end portions do not have to escape laterally to obstruct the bending. Easy to secure a large stroke amount. In particular, when the joint 23 is swingable, even a small impact force is preferable for increasing the stroke amount. Further, it is even more preferable when the rocking suppressing means 24 releases the suppression by breaking. When the joint 23 achieves an angle corresponding to almost the entire range of the bending angle of the intermediate shaft 9 by its swinging, it is preferable for a smooth bending operation without limiting the bending direction, for example. The joint 23 achieves only a part of the bending angle of the intermediate shaft 9 by its swinging, and the remaining angle is obtained by another method, for example, by deforming the members such as the shaft members 21 and 22 and the joint 23. It may be obtained. Even in this case, some of the effects of the joint 23 can be obtained.

Further, it is preferable to apply the present invention to the intermediate shaft 9 which is an intermediate shaft connected to the steering shaft. By bending the intermediate shaft 9 at the time of a collision, it is possible to reliably prevent the steering wheel 2 from being pushed up. In particular, since both ends of the intermediate shaft 9 can be swung by the universal joints 10 and 11, the intermediate shaft 9 can be easily bent. The steering mechanism 7 may be a rack-and-pinion type or a known type.

It is also possible to omit the structure in which the shaft member extends and contracts in the axial direction from the intermediate shaft 9. It is also conceivable to apply the present invention to at least a part of the steering shaft 3 in addition to the intermediate shaft 9. Besides, various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a shock absorbing steering device showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the intermediate shaft of FIG. 1, showing a state before shock absorption.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the intermediate shaft shown in FIG. 2, showing a state during shock absorption.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the intermediate shaft shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the intermediate shaft before impact absorption according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a side view of the intermediate shaft shown in FIG. 5, showing a state during shock absorption.

7 is an exploded perspective view of the intermediate shaft shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side view of an intermediate shaft before impact absorption according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

9 is a side view of the intermediate shaft shown in FIG. 8, showing a state during shock absorption.

10 is an exploded perspective view of the intermediate shaft shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Shock absorption steering device 2 steering wheel 3 Steering shaft (transmission shaft) 5 One end of steering shaft 6 The other end of the steering shaft 7 Steering mechanism 9 Intermediate shaft (intermediate shaft, transmission shaft) 21,22 A pair of shaft members 23 Joint 24 Rocking suppression means 25 universal joint 26 Surrounding member 28 obi 29 ball joints 30 sleeves 31 Intermediate member 33 Friction generating part 34, 35 Fastening shaft (connecting shaft) 40 Universal joint yoke 56 A pair of ends of the intermediate member

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shuzo Hirakushi             3-5-8 Minamisenba, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka               Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Osamu Miyawaki             2-34 Minami-Uematsucho, Yao City, Osaka Prefecture Koyo             Machine Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Souzo Idomoto             2-34 Minami-Uematsucho, Yao City, Osaka Prefecture Koyo             Machine Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seijun Inoue             2-34 Minami-Uematsucho, Yao City, Osaka Prefecture Koyo             Machine Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kuji Kawai             2-34 Minami-Uematsucho, Yao City, Osaka Prefecture Koyo             Machine Industry Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3D030 DC40 DE02 DE42                 3J066 AA04 AA23 BA03 BB04 BF01                       BF12

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A transmission shaft for transmitting the rotation of a steering wheel to a steering mechanism, the transmission shaft comprising a pair of coaxial shaft members and a pair of shaft members swingably connected to each other. A shock absorbing steering device, comprising: a non-separable joint and a rocking suppressing means for suppressing rocking between a pair of shaft members with a required restraining force. 2. The shock absorbing steering device according to claim 1, wherein the joint includes a universal joint. 3. The shock absorbing steering device according to claim 2, wherein the swing suppressing means includes an enveloping member surrounding the pair of yokes of the universal joint. 4. The shock absorbing steering system according to claim 3, wherein the surrounding member includes a band wound around a yoke. 5. The shock absorbing steering device according to claim 1, wherein the joint includes a ball joint, and the swing suppressing means accommodates the ball joint and includes a sleeve that integrally rotatably connects a pair of shaft members. A shock-absorbing steering device including: 6. The shock absorbing steering device according to claim 1, wherein the joint includes an intermediate member interposed between both shaft members, and corresponding shaft members provided at a pair of end portions of the intermediate member, respectively. An impact absorbing steering device including a pair of connecting shafts for connecting, wherein the pair of connecting shafts cause corresponding shaft members to swing in mutually different directions. 7. The shock absorbing steering device according to claim 6, wherein each of the connecting shafts includes a fastening shaft that fastens a corresponding shaft member and the intermediate member with a predetermined fastening force, and is adjusted by the fastening shaft. A shock absorbing steering device characterized in that the swing suppressing means is constituted by a friction generating portion. 8. The shock absorbing steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission shaft has an end connected to a steering shaft, the other end of which is connected to a steering wheel, through a universal joint. A shock absorbing steering device characterized by being made of a shaft.