JP2003226243A - Vehicular steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular steering device allowing smooth movement of the arm of an operator and accurate fixation of a steering knob during operation of a steering wheel while enabling positional adjustment of the steering knob. <P>SOLUTION: The steering knob 21 consists of a connection portion 21a to be mounted on the steering wheel 20 and a gripping portion 21b rotatably mounted on the connection portion. The front face of the steering wheel is provided with a storage recessed portion 22 for fitting and storing the connection portion and a fixture for fixing the connection portion fitted and stored into the storage recessed portion to the steering wheel. A distance between the rotating center of the gripping portion and the rotating center of the steering wheel is changeable with the connection portion moved relative to the storage recessed portion and fitted and stored into the storage recessed portion. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle steering system, and more particularly to a vehicle steering system including a steering wheel and a steering knob rotatably mounted on the front surface of the steering wheel. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some vehicles are equipped with a steering device including a steering wheel and a steering knob rotatably mounted on the front surface of the steering wheel. FIG. 7 shows a reach-type forklift as a vehicle equipped with this type of steering device. A reach type forklift denoted by reference numeral 1 in this figure includes a vehicle body 2, a side cover 3 provided to surround a side portion of the vehicle body 2, a top cover 4 provided to cover an upper portion of the side cover 3, A pair of left and right straddle arms 5 extending forward at the bottom of the vehicle body 2.
A mast 6 is mounted between the straddle arms 5 so as to be movable in the lengthwise direction thereof, and a fork 7 is mounted on the mast 6 so as to be movable up and down.

Below the vehicle body 2, the vehicle body 2
The rear wheels 8 for traveling and changing the traveling direction are provided, and front wheels 9 for supporting the weight of the load lifted by the forks 7 together with the rear wheels 8 are provided in the vicinity of the tips of the straddle arms 5. Has been.

Further, a steering wheel 10 for steering the reach-type forklift 1 is arranged on the top cover 4 so as to project upward. Various levers 11 for controlling cargo handling work are provided. Also, reference numeral 1
Reference numeral 2 denotes a head guard provided above the top cover 4.

Further, the rear right side of the side cover 3 is opened, and the vehicle body 2 corresponding to the opening 3a is formed.
A driver's seat 13 for an operator to ride on is formed above,
The steering wheel 1 is provided on the side of the driver's seat 13.
0 is provided. The steering knob 1 is provided on the front surface (upper surface) of the outer peripheral portion of the steering wheel 10.
4 is rotatably mounted, and the steering wheel 10 and the steering knob 14 constitute a steering device.

[0006]

By the way, in such a conventional steering apparatus, the steering knob 1 is used.
Since 4 is provided at a fixed position from the center of rotation of the steering wheel 10, it is conceivable that the operability desired by the operator may not be obtained depending on the physique and preference of the operator.

In order to solve such a problem, for example, a technique disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-92380 has been proposed. As shown in FIG. 8, this technique uses a long hole 15a on the front surface of the outer peripheral portion of the steering wheel 10.
And the steering knob 1 is formed at one end thereof.
4 is rotatably attached to the stay 15, and
A fixing bolt 16 screwed to the steering hand 10 is inserted into the elongated hole 15a of the stay 15.

In the steering device having such a structure, the stay 15 is relatively moved along the elongated hole 15a, so that the stay 15 is mounted on the end of the stay 15, and the steering knob 14 is attached. The distance from the center of the steering wheel 10 can be adjusted, and the stay 15 is fixed to the adjustment position described above by tightening the fixing bolt 16. Therefore, the operator can adjust the position of the steering knob 14 according to his / her physique, taste, and the like.

However, even in such a conventional technique, the following problems still remain. That is, as the stay 15 is attached to the upper surface of the steering wheel 10, the stay 1
Since the fixing bolt 16 for fixing 5 is naturally projected from the front surface of the steering wheel 10, when the steering wheel 10 is operated, the movement locus of the operator's arm and the movement locus of the protruding portion of the fixing bolt 16 overlap, The fixing bolt 16 may touch the arm of the operator.

Further, since the stay 15 is fixed by the single fixing bolt 16, the operating force directly acts on the fixing bolt 16, and the fixing bolt 16
It is also easy to loosen.

The present invention has been made in view of such conventional problems, and makes it possible to adjust the position of the steering knob and to smoothly move the arm of the operator when the steering wheel is operated. An object of the present invention is to provide a steering device for a vehicle capable of securely fixing a steering knob.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a vehicle steering system according to a first aspect of the present invention is rotatably mounted on a steering wheel and a front portion of the steering wheel. A steering device for a vehicle, comprising: a steering knob, wherein the steering knob comprises a connecting portion attached to the steering wheel and a gripping portion rotatably attached to the connecting portion. A storage recess for fitting and storing the connecting portion is formed in the portion, and a fixture for fixing the connecting portion fitted and stored in the storing recess to the steering wheel is provided. The connecting portion moved relative to the storage recess is fitted into the storage recess.
By storing it, the distance between the rotation center of the grip portion and the rotation center of the steering wheel can be changed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle steering system in which the connecting portion according to the first aspect is formed in a disc shape, and an inner surface of the storage recess is formed in a perfect circle shape. In addition, concave-convex fitting portions that restrain the relative rotation of these are formed at a plurality of positions of the contact portion between the connecting portion and the storage concave portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle steering system in which the projection-depression fitting portion according to the second aspect is provided on either the connecting portion or the storage recess. And an engaging hole which is provided in the other of the connecting portion or the accommodating recess and into which the engaging protrusion is fitted.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle steering system in which the concave-convex fitting portion according to the second aspect is formed by continuous corrugations formed in the connecting portion and the storage concave portion. It is characterized by

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle steering system in which the concave-convex fitting portion according to any one of the second to fourth aspects has a bottom surface of the connecting portion and a bottom surface of the storage recess. It is characterized in that it is formed between.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle steering system in which the concave-convex fitting portion according to any one of the second to fourth aspects is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion and the storage concave portion. It is characterized in that it is formed between the inner peripheral surface.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle steering system in which the connecting portion and the storage concave portion according to the first aspect are non-round shapes when viewed from a fitted direction. It is characterized by

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle steering system, the connecting portion and the storage recess according to the seventh aspect are formed in an oval shape when viewed from the fitting direction. Is characterized by.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle steering system in which the connecting portion and the accommodating concave portion according to the seventh aspect are formed in a polygonal shape when viewed from a fitted direction. Is characterized by.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle steering system in which the fixing device according to any one of the first to ninth aspects presses and fixes the connecting portion into the storage recess. Is characterized in that.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle steering system in which the fixing tool according to the tenth aspect penetrates the steering wheel and one end of which is a screw formed in the connecting portion. It is characterized by being a bolt screwed into a hole.

[0023]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a reach type forklift will now be described with reference to FIG.
Or, it demonstrates with reference to FIG. Since the main structure of the reach type forklift is the same as the conventional one shown in FIG. 7, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

The vehicle steering system according to the present embodiment includes a steering wheel 20 and a steering knob 21 rotatably mounted on the front surface of the steering wheel 20, and the steering knob 21 includes:
A storage part 21a that is attached to the steering wheel 20 and a grip part 21b that is rotatably attached to the connection part 21a. The storage part is fitted and stored on the front surface of the steering wheel 20. The recess 22 is formed, and the storage recess 2 is formed.
A fixing tool 23 for fixing the connecting portion 21a fitted and housed in 2 to the steering wheel 20 is provided, and the connecting portion 21a moved relative to the housing recess 22 is The basic configuration is such that the distance between the rotation center of the grip portion 21b and the rotation center of the steering wheel 20 can be changed by fitting and storing in the storage recess 22.

Next, these details will be explained.
In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 21a is the same as in FIG.
As shown in (a), the grip portion 21b is rotatably mounted at a position that is formed in a disc shape and is radially offset from the center portion thereof. Further, a screw hole 24 is formed in the center of the connecting portion 21a, the screw hole 24 opening to the side opposite to the side to which the grip portion 21b is attached.
The fixing member 23 is screwed onto.

The shape of the inner surface of the storage recess 22 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the fixture 2 is formed in a perfect circle shape.
3 is made up of bolts, and this fixture 23
Is a through hole 22 formed at the center of the storage recess 22.
The screw formed on the connecting portion 21a housed in the housing recess 22 while the front end of the steering wheel 20 is inserted into the housing recess 22a into the housing recess 22a. The connection portion 21 a, that is, the steering knob 21 is fixed to the steering wheel 20 by being screwed into the hole 24.

Further, a plurality of engaging holes 25 are formed around the through hole 22a of the accommodating recess 22, and the side of the connecting portion 21a to which the gripping portion 21b is attached. On the opposite side, an engaging projection 26 that is selectively fitted into one of the engaging holes 25 is provided so as to project.
In this embodiment, the engagement hole 25 and the engagement protrusion 26 are provided.
And the concave-convex fitting portion that constrains the relative rotation of the connecting portion 21a around the fixture 23 is formed by.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 27 indicates a steering shaft provided on the vehicle, and a spline portion 28 and a screw portion 29 are formed at the tip of the steering shaft 27. In addition, the steering wheel 20
A boss 31 is fixed to the central portion of the boss via a plurality of arms 30, and a collar 32 having a spline on the inner peripheral surface is integrally attached to the central portion of the boss 31. Then, in the steering wheel 20, the collar 32 attached to the boss 31 is fitted to the tip end portion of the steering shaft 27, the collar 32 and the spline portion 28 are spline-fitted, and then the steering wheel Screw part 29 at the tip of the shaft 27
The lock nut 33 is screwed onto the steering shaft 27 to be integrally fixed to the steering shaft 27. The steering shaft 27 is connected to a rear wheel 8 which is a steered wheel via a rotation transmission mechanism including a gear (not shown), and the rear wheel 8 is steered by transmitting the rotation of the steering shaft 27. It

In the steering device according to this embodiment having the above-mentioned structure, the steering knob 2
After adjusting the positional relationship between the first grip portion 21b and the steering wheel 20, the connecting portion 21a is inserted into the storage recess 22 of the steering wheel 20, and
The engaging projections 26 projecting from the connecting portion 21a are fitted into the engaging holes 25 facing each other in the housing recess 22, and the fixing holes are inserted into the through holes 22 of the steering wheel 20 from the back side thereof. The steering knob 21 is fixed to the steering wheel 20 by inserting 23 and screwing it into the connecting portion 21a.

Here, by rotating the connecting portion 21a around the fixing member 23 and selecting the engaging hole 25 into which the engaging projection 26 is fitted, for example, L1, L2 and L2 in FIG. As shown in L3, the grip portion 2 is fixed.
The distance between 1b and the center of the steering wheel 20 is adjusted. Accordingly, the steering knob 2
The position of the first grip portion 21b is adjusted according to the physique and preference of the operator.

In the state where the steering knob 21 is attached to the steering wheel 20, the connecting portion 21a of the steering knob 21 is housed in the housing recess 22 formed in the steering wheel 20. The protruding portion of the steering knob 21 from the surface of the steering wheel 20 is only the grip portion 21b necessary for the steering wheel operation, and there is no part that hinders the steering wheel operation by the operator, and smooth operation is possible.

Further, since the bottom surface and outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 21a are supported by the inner wall surface of the accommodating concave portion 22, a stable fixed state is maintained. Further, in the present embodiment, since the concave-convex fitting portion including the engaging projection 26 and the engaging hole 25 is provided between the connecting portion 21a and the storage concave portion 22, the operation at the time of operating the handle is performed. The force is supported by the fixing tool 23 and the engaging projection 26, and as a result, a force that loosens the screwing force of the fixing tool 23 does not act, and from this point as well, a stable fixed state is maintained. To be done.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, a concave and convex fitting portion formed between the connecting portion 21a and the storage concave portion 22 is radially formed on the bottom surface of the connecting portion 21a and the storage concave portion 22. It is configured by forming a large number of engaging grooves 34 in the. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4B, an engaging groove 35 parallel to the screw hole 24 is formed over the entire outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion 21a and the inner peripheral surface of the storage recess 22 to form the concavo-convex fit. It is also possible to form a joint.

With this structure, the contact area between the connecting portion 21a and the accommodating recess 22 can be increased, and the supporting of the connecting portion 21a can be made more stable.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 21a and the accommodating recess 22 (only the connecting portion 21a is shown in the drawing) have an oval shape when viewed in the axial direction of the screw hole 24.

With such a structure, the shapes of the connecting portion 21a and the accommodating concave portion 22 themselves form the concave-convex fitting portion, and the processing man-hours for these can be reduced.

FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, the connecting portion 21a and the accommodating recess 22 (only the connecting portion 21a is shown in the figure) are triangular when viewed from the axial direction of the screw hole 24.

Here, in the above-described third embodiment, there is a restriction that the position change of the grip portion 21b is limited to two positions. However, by adopting the configuration of the present embodiment, the adjustment position thereof is set to three. You can increase the number of places.
Therefore, by making the planar shape of the connecting portion 21a polygonal, it is possible to increase the adjustable position of the grip portion 21b.

The shapes, dimensions, etc. of the constituent members shown in the above-described embodiments are merely examples, and can be variously changed based on design requirements and the like.

For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, a cargo-handling vehicle such as a forklift is exemplified as the vehicle, but it goes without saying that the invention can be applied to other vehicles having a steering device having a steering knob.

Further, as the fixing tool in the present invention, as described in each of the above-described embodiments, a bolt is used as the fixing tool 23, and the connecting portion 21a of the steering knob 21 is fixed to the steering wheel 20 by tightening the bolt. It is not limited to the one that is pressed and fixed in the storage recess 22.

Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the vehicle in which the steering wheel, the steering wheel, the steering shaft and the rear wheel 8 are mechanically connected as described in the above embodiment, and the steering is performed without mechanical connection. It is also possible to apply the invention to a vehicle in which the rotation of a wheel or a steering shaft is detected and the rear wheel 8 is driven by a steering motor according to the detected value to steer the rear wheel 8.

[0043]

As described above, according to the steering device of the first, the tenth and the eleventh aspects of the present invention, by rotating the connecting portion of the steering knob around the fixture, It is possible to adjust the distance between the grip of the steering knob and the center of the steering wheel, which allows the position of the grip of the steering knob to be adjusted according to the physique and preference of the operator.

Further, when the steering knob is attached, the protrusion of the steering knob from the surface of the steering wheel is limited to the grip portion necessary for the steering wheel operation, thereby hindering the steering wheel operation by the operator. It eliminates the parts that become different and enables smooth handle operation. Further, the bottom surface and the outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion can be supported by the inner wall surface of the storage recess to hold the steering knob in a stable fixed state.

According to the steering device of the second and third aspects of the present invention, the operating force at the time of steering operation is dispersed and supported by the fixing member and the concave-convex fitting portion, whereby the connection is achieved. It is possible to increase the support force of the portion and suppress the occurrence of looseness in the fixture.

According to the steering device of the fourth to sixth aspects of the present invention, the contact area between the connecting portion and the accommodating recess is increased to make the supporting of the connecting portion more stable. You can

According to the steering device of the seventh to ninth aspects of the present invention, the concavo-convex fitting portion for restraining the rotation of the connecting portion can be constituted by the shapes of the connecting portion and the storage recess. It is possible to reduce the processing man-hours for these.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, in which (a)
Is a perspective view of the appearance of the steering knob, and FIG. 7B is a plan view of the main part of the steering wheel.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an essential part showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the steering knob according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which (a)
Is a perspective view of a steering knob, and (b) is a plan view of the steering knob.

FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, (a)
Is a perspective view of a steering knob, and (b) is a plan view of the steering knob.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view showing a structural example of a reach-type forklift as a vehicle.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Reach type forklift (vehicle) 10 Steering wheel 14 Steering knob 15 Stay 15a Long hole 16 Fixing bolt 20 Steering wheel 21 Steering knob 21a Connecting part 21b Grip 22 Storage recess 22a Through hole 23 Fixing tool 24 Screw hole 25 Engaging hole 26 Engagement protrusion 34 Engagement groove 35 Engagement grooves L1, L2, L3 Distance between the rotation center of the grip portion 21b and the rotation center of the steering wheel 20

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a steering wheel; and a steering knob rotatably mounted on a front surface of the steering wheel, wherein the steering knob is connected to the steering wheel. And a storage recess that is rotatably attached to the connecting portion, and has a storage recess on the front surface of the steering wheel in which the connection portion is fitted and stored, and is fitted into the storage recess. A fixing tool is provided for fixing the combined and stored connecting portion to the steering wheel, and the connecting portion moved relative to the storing recess is fitted and stored in the storing recess. By doing so, the distance between the rotation center of the grip portion and the rotation center of the steering wheel can be changed. Vehicle steering apparatus characterized by being. 2. The connecting portion is formed in a disk shape, and the inner surface shape of the storage recess is formed in a perfect circle shape,
2. The vehicle steering system according to claim 1, wherein concave-convex fitting portions that restrain relative rotation of the connecting portion and the storage recess are formed at a plurality of contact portions of the connecting portion and the storage recess. apparatus. 3. The engaging projection is provided on the other of the connecting portion and the storage recess, and the engaging projection is provided on the other of the connecting portion and the storage recess. The steering device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the steering device is provided with an engaging hole. 4. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the concave-convex fitting portion is formed by continuous corrugated concave and convex portions formed in the connecting portion and the storage concave portion. 5. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the uneven fitting portion is formed between a bottom surface of the connecting portion and a bottom surface of the storage recess. Steering device. 6. The concavo-convex fitting portion is formed between an outer peripheral surface of the connecting portion and an inner peripheral surface of the accommodating concave portion, according to any one of claims 2 to 4. The steering device for a vehicle according to item 1. 7. The vehicle steering system according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion and the storage recess are non-circular when viewed from the fitting direction. 8. The steering apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the connecting portion and the storage recess are formed in an oval shape when viewed from a fitting direction. 9. The vehicle steering system according to claim 7, wherein the connecting portion and the storage recess are formed in a polygonal shape when viewed from the direction in which they are fitted together. 10. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member presses and fixes the connecting portion to the storage recess. 11. The fixing device according to claim 10, wherein the fixing member is a bolt which penetrates the steering wheel and whose one end is screwed into a screw hole formed in the connecting portion. Vehicle steering device.