JP2005186706A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device capable of generating a dwelling space for a driver during non-driving operation and capable of reducing its cost. <P>SOLUTION: This steering device comprises an extendable or retractable mechanism 15 capable of extending or retracting a steering shaft 2 connected to a steering wheel through a first stroke and a second stroke, a releasable lock means 20 for locking against a motion of the steering shaft in its retracting direction with said first stroke being left, an adjusting means capable of adjusting an extending or retracting stroke of the steering shaft within said second stroke, and an energy absorbing means allowing motion of said steering wheel toward a front part of a vehicle and absorbing a shock energy during its motion when a shock force applied in a forward direction of the vehicle acts against said steering wheel under a state of locked steering shaft. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus, and more particularly, to a steering apparatus that adjusts the position of a steering wheel by using a collision stroke that contracts when an automobile collides.

  The steering wheel should be held at an appropriate position during driving, but the driver's living space is limited by the steering wheel when the vehicle is not driven, such as when the driver gets on and off. For this reason, a method of adjusting the height of the steering wheel has been proposed.

  For example, a telescopic function that adjusts the height of the steering wheel in the axial direction of the steering shaft in accordance with the driver's physique is known. If there is a telescopic function, the physique difference of the occupant at the time of driving can be supplemented, and the driver can operate the steering wheel at an appropriate driving position.

  Further, for example, a steering device is proposed in which a slide main shaft is slidably inserted into a hollow slide outer shaft provided in front of a driver's seat, and a steering wheel is provided at the tip of the slide main shaft (see Patent Document 1). .) In the steering device described in Patent Document 1, the steering wheel can be locked at a position desired by the driver. Therefore, the driver's living space can be secured by pushing the steering wheel when not driving.

Further, there is an impact absorption type steering device in which an inner tube and an outer tube of a steering column are fitted to each other in a press-fitted state, and the two tubes slide relative to each other at the time of collision to absorb an impact (for example, Patent Document 2). reference). In such an impact absorbing steering device, a method has been proposed in which a driver's living space is secured by using displacement caused by relative sliding for height adjustment of the steering wheel. In the steering device described in Patent Document 2, by enabling the press-fitted state of the inner tube and the outer tube to be released, the driver can slide the steering wheel to ensure a living space.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-7282 JP 2003-2211 A

  However, since the telescopic function is originally assumed to complement the physique difference of the driver in accordance with the slide position of the slide seat, the adjustment amount is as small as about 50 mm at the maximum. That is, the adjustment amount is not provided for securing the driver's living space and is not sufficient.

  Further, in the steering device described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to drive the steering wheel while the steering wheel is pushed in. However, if an impact is received in such a state, the impact may not be sufficiently absorbed.

  Further, in the steering device described in Patent Document 2, the mechanism is complicated and expensive, for example, it is necessary to narrow the interval between the side plates 46 in order to maintain the press-fitted state (see FIG. 6 of Patent Document 2). Furthermore, the steering device described in Patent Document 2 can be applied only to a steering device that absorbs shock when the inner tube and the outer tube are in a press-fit state.

  In order to solve the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a steering device that can create a driver's living space when not driving and can reduce costs.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the present invention provides an expansion / contraction mechanism that allows a steering shaft connected to a steering wheel to expand and contract by a first stroke and a second stroke, and a direction in which the steering shaft contracts leaving the first stroke. A releasable lock means for locking the movement of the vehicle, an adjustment means for adjusting the expansion / contraction stroke of the steering shaft within the second stroke, and the steering wheel to the front of the vehicle while the steering shaft is locked. And an energy absorbing means for allowing the steering wheel to move forward of the vehicle when the impact force is applied and absorbing the impact energy during the movement.

  According to the present invention, a driver's living space can be created by using two strokes when not driving. Further, the amount of contraction of the steering shaft can be adjusted at an arbitrary position of the second stroke, and the operation with the steering shaft being extremely contracted by the lock means can be restricted. The expansion / contraction mechanism may be expanded and contracted with the steering shaft having a double structure, or the steering shaft itself may be expanded and contracted.

  Moreover, in one aspect of the present invention, in the steering device according to claim 1, the expansion / contraction means of the steering shaft has a fitted inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, and the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are relatively displaced. At the same time, a guide pin provided in the outer cylinder or the inner cylinder slides through a slit provided in the axial direction of the inner cylinder or the outer cylinder, and the locking means is engaged with the guide pin and the steering The movement of the shaft in the contracting direction is locked.

  The shape of the guide pin is not limited as long as it is a convex portion such as a bolt or a pin. The shape of the guide portion is not limited as long as the guide pin can slide such as a slit portion, a groove, or a concave portion.

  It is possible to provide a steering device capable of creating a driver's living space when not driving and reducing the cost.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a steering device having a collision stroke (hereinafter simply referred to as a steering device). The collision stroke is a stroke (amount of contraction) in which the steering device contracts when the automobile collides with an obstacle, and in this embodiment, the maximum stroke that can contract. The steering device shown in FIG. 1A includes a steering shaft 2 that transmits a steering wheel operation by a driver, and a steering column 1 that directs the steering shaft 2 to rotate freely. A steering wheel (not shown) is connected to one end 13 of the steering shaft 2, and an intermediate shaft (not shown) is connected to the other end 14. When the steering wheel is operated by the steering wheel, the rotation is transmitted to the gear box having a pinion, a ball nut and the like via the steering shaft 2 and the intermediate shaft. This steers the wheel.

  The steering device is attached so that the axial direction of the steering shaft 3 is inclined and the end portion 13 is on the upper side with respect to the surface on which the automobile travels. The steering column 1 has a fitted cylindrical lower column 1a and upper column 1b, and expands and contracts when they are relatively displaced. The lower column 1a of the steering column 1 has an attachment portion 12, and the attachment portion 12 is fixed to the vehicle with a bolt or the like. The slide portion 15 is integrated with the lower column 1a or fixed to the lower column 1a, or directly fixed to the vehicle by a predetermined method. The slide part 15 has a pin-shaped through bolt 5 and slides in a slit formed by the following guide part.

  An upper column 1 b constituting the upper part of the steering column 1 has a guide portion 4. Since the guide portion 4 forms a slit with the upper column 1b, the through bolt 5 slides on the slit. Therefore, the upper column 1b is slidable in the X direction (hereinafter referred to as the axial direction). The sliding resistance between the upper column 1b and the lower column 1a and the sliding resistance of the through bolt 5 and the guide portion 4 are held so that they can be easily slid by human operating force.

  The steering shaft 2 has an upper shaft 2b that constitutes the upper part and a lower shaft 2a that constitutes the lower part. The upper shaft 2b and the lower shaft 2a are connected to each other by a joint structure such as a spline structure so that they can move relative to each other in the direction along the axial direction and rotate integrally. The upper shaft 2b and the lower shaft 2a are slidable in the axial direction, and the sliding resistance is held so as to be easily slidable by human operating force. The upper shaft 2b and the lower shaft 2a are supported on the steering column 1 by a plurality of bearings 8 and the like. Therefore, when the end portion 13 of the steering shaft 2 is pushed through the steering wheel, the steering column 1 and the steering shaft 2 contract. Conversely, when the end portion 13 of the steering shaft 2 is pulled out via the steering wheel, the steering column 1 and the steering shaft 2 extend.

  FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the steering column 1 in the most contracted state. When the driver pushes the end portion 13 of the steering shaft 2 in the axial direction in the state of FIG. 1A, the lower shaft 2a of the steering shaft 2 is inserted while sliding on the upper shaft 2b, and the bearing 8 At the same time, the lower column 1a of the steering column 1 is inserted into the upper column 1b. The through bolt 5 moves by a displacement equal to the pushing amount L with the guide portion 4 as a guide. The height adjustment (telescopic function) of the steering wheel during driving will be described later.

  FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a steering apparatus having a lock mechanism. In FIG. 2A, the same components as those in FIG. The steering device shown in FIG. 2A differs from the steering device shown in FIG. In the steering device of FIG. 1, the height of the steering wheel can be adjusted within the displacement amount L. However, when a collision occurs while the steering wheel is in an extremely low position, the collision stroke may not be sufficient and the collision may not be absorbed. For this reason, when applied to an automobile, a predetermined locking mechanism as shown in FIG. 2A is provided so that the position of the steering wheel does not become lower than a predetermined position during driving.

  FIG. 2A shows a state where the lock mechanism 20 is pushed in, and FIG. 2B shows a state where the lock mechanism 20 is pulled out. The lock mechanism 20 can be operated by the driver from the outside of the column cover that accommodates the steering column 1, and the steering column 1 is locked when the driver pushes the lock mechanism 20, and is released when the driver pulls out. In the locked state as shown in FIG. 2A, the lock mechanism 20 is engaged with the through-bolt 5 to prevent sliding of the slit of the guide portion 4, so that the position of the lock mechanism 20 is exceeded. The steering column 1 cannot contract. The locking mechanism 20 may be operated manually as shown in FIG. 2, or may be electrically locked or released according to the operation of a switch provided on the instrument panel. In addition, the engine start may be prohibited or an alarm may be issued electrically or mechanically when the lock mechanism 20 is pulled out so that the operation is not performed when the lock mechanism 20 is released. As a result, for example, driving with an extremely short collision stroke is eliminated, and safety can be maintained even during a collision.

  In the state where the lock mechanism 20 in FIG. 2A is locked, the height of the steering wheel is adjusted by a known telescopic function. The distance indicated by the arrow m is a distance that allows the through bolt 5 to slide in a state where the lock mechanism 20 is pushed. Therefore, when driving, the height of the steering wheel is adjusted within the range of the arrow m, and the height is fixed by a predetermined positioning mechanism different from the lock mechanism 20. As a result, the driver can adjust the height of the steering wheel according to his / her physique as a telescopic function. Further, when the vehicle is not in operation, such as when getting on and off, the steering column 1 can be expanded and contracted by a distance indicated by arrows m and n by releasing the lock mechanism 20.

  The collision stroke (strokes indicated by arrows m and n) can be adjusted by the length of the lower column 1a and the upper column 1b forming the steering column 1 and other design matters, but is about 110 mm or more as an example. Since the telescopic stroke (the stroke indicated by the arrow m), which is a displacement amount by the telescopic function, is 40 mm to 50 mm, the displacement amount by which the steering wheel can be adjusted markedly increases compared to the height adjustment of the steering wheel by only the telescopic function.

  In this embodiment, the steering device has been described in which a collision stroke is created by sliding and expanding the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. However, the feature of the present embodiment is to create a living space during driving using the collision stroke, and the structure for creating the collision stroke is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a collision stroke may be created by moving the entire steering column without expanding or contracting the steering column, or an intermediate shaft having a telescopic structure may create a collision stroke. Good.

  Next, an energy absorption mechanism at the time of collision will be described. The steering device of the present invention can be applied to any form of energy absorption mechanism. For example, an impact absorbing plate is installed on the outer periphery of the steering column 1 to absorb impact energy. The impact absorbing plate absorbs energy by being deformed when the steering column 1 moves forward relative to the vehicle due to the impact. For example, when the steering shaft 2 of the automobile has a double structure as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the lower column 1a of the steering column 1 is formed of a net-like metal or resin. When the driver gives an impact to the steering device at the time of a collision, the lower column 1a formed in a mesh shape is deformed to absorb the energy of the collision. At that time, since the lower shaft 2a is inserted into the upper shaft 2b, the steering wheel can be prevented from pressing the driver. Moreover, when there is an impact instead of the lower column 1a, the energy of the collision may be absorbed by, for example, the slide portion 15 breaking. If the slide portion 15 is broken, the steering column 1 can be contracted even when the lock mechanism 20 is locked, so that the steering wheel can be prevented from pressing the driver.

  According to the present embodiment, a living space during non-driving can be ensured only by providing a predetermined locking mechanism in the steering device having a collision stroke. Therefore, only the lock mechanism is added as a structure, and the scale of change from the existing structure is small and the structure can be manufactured at low cost. The contraction structure that causes the collision stroke may be generated in the steering column or may be generated in the intermediate shaft. In addition, a mechanism suitable for the steering device can be used without restriction as a mechanism for absorbing energy at the time of collision.

It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of an impact-absorbing steering apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows schematic structure of the impact-absorption steering apparatus which has a lock mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering column 2 Steering shaft 4 Guide part 5 Through bolt 8 Bearing 12 Mounting part 13 Steering wheel side edge part 14 Intermediate shaft side edge part 15 Slide part 20 Lock mechanism

Claims (2)

Telescopic means for allowing the steering shaft connected to the steering wheel to be telescopic in a first stroke and a second stroke;
Releasable locking means for locking the movement of the steering shaft in the contracting direction leaving the first stroke;
An adjusting means for adjusting an amount of expansion and contraction of the steering shaft within the second stroke;
Energy absorbing means for allowing movement of the steering wheel forward of the vehicle and absorbing impact energy during the movement when an impact force forward of the vehicle acts on the steering wheel while the steering shaft is locked When,
A steering apparatus comprising: The telescopic means of the steering shaft has an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, and the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are relatively displaced,
A guide pin provided in the outer cylinder or the inner cylinder slides through a slit provided in the axial direction of the inner cylinder or the outer cylinder,
The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the locking means is locked to the guide pin to lock the movement of the steering shaft in the contracting direction.

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