JP2005306092A - Steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a less-expensive steering column device in which one stopper for preventing a steering wheel from being retracted toward a front side of a vehicle body under a large angle sprung-up state of the steering wheel and the other stopper for preventing the steering wheel from being sprung by a large angle under its retraction are constituted by the same components. <P>SOLUTION: A telescopic rod 87 prohibits an oscillation work of a lock plate 8 under a retracted state of a moving column member 2 toward a front side of a vehicle body. Accordingly, a lower end surface 441 of a stopper plate 44 is abutted against an upper end surface 81 of the lock plate 8 to prevent a tilt head 4 from being sprung by a large angle over the maximum tilt position for its driving operation. When a driver extends the moving column member 2 toward a rear part of the vehicle body, the telescopic rod 87 disappears from an oscillation orbit of the lock plate 8, resulting in that an oscillating operation of the lock plate 8 can be carried out, the driver depresses a switch 61 to operate a solenoid 86 to cause the lock plate 8 to be oscillated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering column device, and more particularly, to a steering column device capable of adjusting a tilt of a steering wheel within a driving tilt adjustment range, and capable of raising the steering wheel by a large angle beyond the driving tilt adjustment range. .

  The tilt / telescopic type steering column device that can telescopically adjust the position of the steering wheel in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and tilt the tilt angle of the steering wheel according to the physique and driving posture of the driver is generally ± 10 degrees. The tilt angle of the steering wheel can be adjusted within a range of tilt adjustment for driving.

  However, in recent RV vehicles, the usage forms of the vehicles are diversified, and there are cases where meals are taken with a family in the passenger compartment or used instead of a tent during camping. At this time, the steering wheel is lifted by a large angle beyond the tilt adjustment range for driving and retracted, and the driver seat is rotated backward to create a large effective use space in the driver seat. As such a steering column device capable of jumping up at a large angle, there are steering column devices disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2.

  In such a steering column device capable of flipping up at a large angle, if the steering wheel is flipped up at a large angle with the steering wheel retracted to the front side of the vehicle body, the steering wheel interferes with the instrument panel, and the instrument panel, instruments, and Failure to damage the steering wheel occurs. Further, when the steering wheel is retracted to the front side of the vehicle body with the steering wheel flipped up by a large angle, the steering wheel interferes with the instrument panel, resulting in the same problem as described above.

  In a conventional steering column device capable of raising a large angle, a stopper that prevents the steering wheel from being retracted to the front side of the vehicle body with the steering wheel being raised at a large angle, and a state in which the steering wheel is retracted to the front side of the vehicle body Since the stopper that prevents the steering wheel from being flipped up by a large angle is formed of separate parts, there are problems that the number of parts is large, the weight is increased, and the cost is also increased.

International Publication No. WO03 / 055730 Pamphlet International Publication No. WO03 / 055731 Pamphlet

  The present invention has a stopper for preventing the steering wheel from being contracted to the front side of the vehicle body with the steering wheel being flipped up at a large angle, and the steering wheel is flipped up at a large angle while the steering wheel is contracted to the front side of the vehicle body It is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive steering column device in which a stopper for preventing the above is constituted by the same part.

  The above problem is solved by the following means. That is, the first invention is a fixed column member fixed to a vehicle body, a movable column member supported by the fixed column member so as to be telescopically adjustable in the axial direction, and the movable column member being operated with a tilt center axis as a fulcrum. The tilt head is pivotally supported so that it can swing within the tilt adjustment range and can be raised by a large angle beyond the tilt adjustment range for driving. The moving column member can be clamped / unclamped at a desired telescopic adjustment position with respect to the steering shaft to which the steering wheel is attached and the fixed column member, and the tilt head is moved to a desired position with respect to the moving column member. Clamping / unclamping operation is possible at the tilt adjustment position for driving, and the tilt head is provided on the tilt head. A lever control lever, a stopper plate provided on the tilt head, a large angle flip-up preventing position that prevents the tilt head from flipping up by contacting the stopper plate, and a tilt angle of the tilt head is allowed to jump up. And a solenoid that moves the lock plate between the large-angle flip-up preventing position and the large-angle flip-up allowable position so as to be movable between the large-angle flip-up allowable position and the movable column member. In the state where the fixed column member is provided and the movable column member is contracted to the front side of the vehicle body, the lock plate is prevented from moving to the large angle flip-up allowable position, and the movable column member is rearward of the vehicle body. In the state extended to the side, the lock plate is allowed to move to the large angle flip-up allowable position. When the tilt head is in the large-angle flip-up state, the lock plate, which is prevented from moving to the large-angle flip-up prevention position by the stopper plate, comes into contact with the telescopic rod and moves A steering column device that prevents a column member from being contracted to the front side of a vehicle body.

  According to a second invention, in the steering column device of the first invention, the moving column member is provided with a rod guide, and the rod guide is provided with a guide portion for always guiding the free end of the telescopic rod. This is a steering column device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the steering column device according to the first or second aspect of the invention, the tilt operating lever is provided with a switch for operating the solenoid. It is.

  In the steering column device of the present invention, the steering wheel is large with the stopper that prevents the steering wheel from being contracted to the front side of the vehicle body while the steering wheel is flipped up by a large angle, and the steering wheel is contracted to the front side of the vehicle body. Since the stopper that prevents the angle from being flipped up is made up of the same parts, the number of parts is small, the weight is reduced, and it is possible to manufacture at a low cost.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of a steering column apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, which can be adjusted for both tilt and telescopic, and applied to a steering column apparatus capable of raising a large angle beyond the tilt adjustment range for driving. This is an example. FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction of arrow P, including a partially cutaway cross section.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the steering wheel is tilt-adjusted to the maximum tilt position within the driving tilt adjustment range. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the steering wheel is flipped up by a large angle beyond the driving tilt adjustment range. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the steering column device in the state of FIG. 4 as viewed from the front side of the vehicle body.

  The steering column device includes a fixed column member 1, a movable column member 2, a column head 3, a tilt head 4, a steering shaft 5, and a tilt operation lever 6.

  On both sides of the fixed column member 1 in the vehicle width direction, vehicle body mounting portions 11 and 12 are provided. With the vehicle body mounting portions 11 and 12, the fixed column member 1 is attached to a vehicle body (not shown) via a capsule, At the time of a secondary collision, the fixed column member 1 can be detached from the vehicle body. A cylindrical moving column member 2 is slidably fitted into a cylindrical guide hole (not shown) of the fixed column member 1, and the movable column member 2 cannot rotate about the central axis of the fixed column member 1. In addition, it is supported so as to be telescopically adjustable in the central axis direction (vehicle body longitudinal direction).

  A column head 3 is fixed to the right end side of the movable column member 2, and a tilt head 4 is supported on the column head 3 so as to be tiltable about tilt center axes 41 and 41. A steering shaft 5 is rotatably supported by bearings 51 and 52 on the tilt head 4, and a steering wheel (not shown) is fixed to the right end (rear side of the vehicle body).

  The fixed column member 1 is provided with a column clamp (not shown), and the movable column member 2 can be clamped / unclamped with respect to the fixed column member 1 by this column clamp.

  A tilt head clamp 42 having a segment gear 43 centered on the tilt center axis 41 is provided on the lower surface of the column head 3 so that the tilt head 4 is clamped / unclamped with respect to the column head 3. Can be. A tilt operation lever 6 is swingably supported on the lower surface of the tilt head 4. By operating the tilt operation lever 6, the column clamp and the tilt head clamp 42 can be brought into a clamp / unclamp state. .

  When the tilt operation lever 6 is swung in a direction approaching the steering wheel, the swing of the tilt operation lever 6 is transmitted to the column clamp, and the movable column member 2 is unclamped. Further, by swinging the tilt operation lever 6 in a direction approaching the steering wheel, the swing of the tilt operation lever 6 is transmitted to the tilt head clamp 42 and the tilt head 4 is unclamped simultaneously.

  The left end of the steering shaft 5 is connected to the universal joint 7 in the column head 3, and further via an intermediate shaft 71 connected to the universal joint 7 and a universal joint (not shown) connected to the left end of the intermediate shaft 71. And connected to a steering gear for operating the direction of the front wheels. Since the center of the universal joint 7 is on the center axis of the tilt center axis 41, the tilt head 4 is not affected even when the tilt head 4 is tilted.

  Accordingly, at the time of tilt and telescopic adjustment, the driver swings the tilt operation lever 6 in a direction approaching the steering wheel to unclamp the column clamp of the movable column member 2 and the tilt head clamp 42 of the tilt head 4. . Next, the driver grasps the steering wheel with his / her hand to telescopically adjust the movable column member 2 with respect to the fixed column member 1, and the tilt head 4 is within the tilt adjustment range for driving around the tilt center axis 41. The tilt can be adjusted with.

  A flat stopper plate 44 is fixed to the left side surface of the tilt head 4 by bolts 45 and 46, and the lower end surface 441 of the stopper plate 44 is above the lock plate 8 at the maximum tilt position in the tilt adjustment range for operation. It abuts against the end surface 81 and restricts the tilt head 4 from jumping up beyond the maximum tilt position for driving. This state is the state of FIG.

  The lock plate 8 has a rectangular rod shape, and is sandwiched between rectangular rod-shaped rod guides 82 and 83 fixed to the left side surface of the column head 3 and extends long in the vertical direction. The lock plate 8 is pivotally supported on the rod guides 82 and 83 by a pin 84 at a substantially intermediate position in the vertical direction.

  A solenoid 86 is fixed to an L-shaped stay 85 fixed to the lower surface of the column head 3. An output shaft 861 of the solenoid 86 is connected to the lower end of the lock plate 8 by a pin 862.

  Accordingly, when the solenoid 86 is actuated, the output shaft 861 moves in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1 and in a plane perpendicular to the paper surface via the pin 862 (a plane perpendicular to the central axis of the fixed column member 1). The lock plate 8 is swung about the pin 84 as a fulcrum. Due to this swing, the lock plate 8 is moved between the swing end in the direction of arrow A (large angle flip-up prevention position) in FIG. 2 and the swing end in the direction of arrow B (large angle flip-up allowable position). The end surface 81 moves.

  A switch (push button switch) 61 for operating the solenoid 86 is provided at the tip of the handle portion 62 of the tilt operation lever 6. The solenoid 86 operates only when the tilting lever 6 is swung in a direction approaching the steering wheel, and the driver pushes the switch 61 with the intention of jumping up by a large angle. Bounce-up operation is possible.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent the steering wheel from being flipped up by a large angle when the tilt operation lever 6 is accidentally operated during traveling or when something hits the tilt operation lever 6 and the driver does not intend. it can.

  A round bar-shaped telescopic rod 87 is screwed into the right end surface 13 of the fixed column member 1 and is fixed to the fixed column member 1 by nuts 871 and 872. The telescopic rod 87 extends to the rear side of the vehicle body parallel to the central axis of the fixed column member 1, and in the state shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 (the state in which the movable column member 2 is contracted to the front side of the vehicle body), The free ends pass through circular guide holes 821 and 831 formed in the rod guides 82 and 83 and extend rearward (near the tilt center axis 41).

  An upper end surface 81 of the lock plate 8 extends upward beyond the guide holes 821 and 831 and extends to a position substantially the same as the upper end surfaces of the rod guides 82 and 83. Therefore, in a state where the movable column member 2 is contracted to the front side of the vehicle body (the state shown in FIGS. 1 to 3), the telescopic rod 87 swings the lock plate 8 (the swing operation in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2). I am disturbing. In a state where the movable column member 2 is contracted to the front side of the vehicle body, the free end of the telescopic rod 87 is supported by both the guide holes 821 and 831, so that the rigidity is high and the rocking operation of the lock plate 8 (see FIG. 2) is reliably prevented.

  Therefore, even if the switch 61 is accidentally pressed and the solenoid 86 is operated, the lock plate 8 is in contact with the telescopic rod 87, so that it swings from the large angle flip-up preventing position to the large angle flip-up allowable position (see FIG. (Swaying in the direction of arrow B of 2) is not possible. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the lower end surface 441 of the stopper plate 44 abuts on the upper end surface 81 of the lock plate 8 so that the tilt head 4 cannot be raised by a large angle beyond the maximum tilt position for operation. I have to. Therefore, in a state where the movable column member 2 is retracted to the front side of the vehicle body, the tilt head 4 is prevented from being flipped up by a large angle, so that interference between the steering wheel and the instrument panel can be reliably prevented.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the driver holds the steering wheel and extends the movable column member 2 toward the rear side of the vehicle body, the free end of the telescopic rod 87 on the rear side of the vehicle body becomes the guide of the right rod guide 83. It comes out of the hole 831 and is fitted into only the guide hole 821 of the left rod guide 82. The free end of the telescopic rod 87 on the rear side of the vehicle body is not detached from the guide hole 821 even when the movable column member 2 is extended to the rear side of the vehicle body to the maximum. It is possible to enter and exit 83 guide holes 831.

  Accordingly, since the free end of the telescopic rod 87 is separated from the rocking locus of the lock plate 8, the rocking operation of the lock plate 8 (the rocking operation in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2) is possible. When the driver presses the switch 61 and the solenoid 86 operates, the output shaft 861 moves backward, and the lock plate 8 swings around the pin 84 as a fulcrum. As a result, the upper end surface 81 of the lock plate 8 swings in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2 from the large angle flip-up preventing position toward the large angle flip-up allowable position.

  When the lock plate 8 swings to the position where the large angle flip-up is permitted, the upper end surface 81 of the lock plate 8 moves away from the movement path of the stopper plate 44, so that the driver tilts the tilt head 4 by grasping the steering wheel with his hand. It is possible to jump a large angle around the center axis 41 beyond the tilt adjustment range for driving.

  An urging member for assisting the large-angle jumping is provided. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the support pin 47 is screwed into the right side surface of the tilt head 4. A support plate 31 is fixed to the right side surface of the column head 3 with bolts 311, and support pins 32 are screwed into the support plate 31. Since a biasing spring (a tension spring) 33 is attached between the support pin 32 and the support pin 47, when the tilt head 4 is flipped up by a large angle, the biasing spring 33 biases the tilt head 4 in the flip-up direction. The tilt head 4 is held in a state where the tilt head 4 is flipped up by a large angle.

  When the switch 61 is pressed and then the finger is released from the switch 61, the output shaft 861 of the solenoid 86 moves forward by a spring force to return to the original position. However, in the state where the tilt head 4 is flipped up at a large angle as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the front side surface 442 of the stopper plate 44 interferes, and the upper end surface 81 of the lock plate 8 returns to the large angle flip-up prevention position. Oscillating motion in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2 is prevented.

  Therefore, even if the driver tries to shrink the movable column member 2 to the front side of the vehicle body, the right end surface of the free end of the telescopic rod 87 comes into contact with the left side surface of the lock plate 8 and the movable column member 2 is shrunk to the front side of the vehicle body. Is not possible. As a result, since the movable column member 2 cannot be retracted forward of the vehicle body during the large angle flip-up, the interference between the steering wheel and the instrument panel can be reliably prevented.

  When returning to the normal driving operation, the driver pushes down the tilt head 4 against the urging force of the urging spring 33 and moves the tilt head 4 to the tilt adjustment range for driving that matches the physique of the driver. Press down. Then, since the front side surface 442 of the stopper plate 44 is separated from the lock plate 8, the upper end surface 81 of the lock plate 8 swings to a large angle flip-up prevention position (the swing end in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2). 8 is away from the moving path of the telescopic rod 87, and the moving column member 2 can be contracted forward of the vehicle body.

  Accordingly, the driver can grasp the steering wheel, contract the moving column member 2 toward the front of the vehicle body, and adjust the steering wheel to the driving telescopic adjustment position that matches the physique of the driver.

  According to the above-described embodiment, the stopper that prevents the steering wheel from being contracted to the front side of the vehicle body in a state where the steering wheel is flipped up by a large angle, and the steering wheel is large in a state that the steering wheel is contracted to the front side of the vehicle body. Since the stopper that prevents the angle from being flipped up is composed of the same parts, the number of parts is small, the assembling work is simple, the weight is reduced, and the manufacturing can be performed at low cost.

It is a side view of the steering column apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is an arrow view seen from the P direction of FIG. 1, Comprising: It is a top view including a notch cross section. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the steering wheel is tilt-adjusted to a maximum tilt position within a driving tilt adjustment range. It is a perspective view which shows the state which raised the steering wheel large angle beyond the tilt adjustment range for driving. It is the perspective view which looked at the state which raised the steering wheel over a large angle beyond the tilt adjustment range for driving from the vehicle body front side.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fixed column member 11, 12 Car body attaching part 13 Right end surface 2 Moving column member 3 Column head 31 Support plate 311 Bolt 32 Support pin 33 Energizing spring 4 Tilt head 41 Tilt center axis 42 Tilt head clamp 43 Segment gear 44 Stopper plate 441 Lower end surface 442 Front side surface 45, 46 Bolt 47 Support pin 5 Steering shaft 51, 52 Bearing 6 Tilt operation lever 61 Switch 62 Handle 7 Universal joint 71 Intermediate shaft 8 Lock plate 81 Upper end surface 82, 83 Rod guide 821, 831 Guide hole 84 pin 85 stay 86 solenoid 861 output shaft 862 pin 87 telescopic rod 871, 872 nut

Claims (3)

A fixed column member fixed to the vehicle body,
A movable column member supported by the fixed column member so as to be telescopically adjustable in the axial direction;
A tilt head pivotally supported by the moving column member so as to be able to swing within a tilt adjustment range for operation with a tilt central axis as a fulcrum and to be able to be lifted by a large angle beyond the tilt adjustment range for operation;
A steering shaft rotatably supported by the tilt head and having a steering wheel mounted on the rear side of the vehicle body;
The movable column member can be clamped / unclamped at a desired telescopic adjustment position with respect to the fixed column member, and the tilt head can be clamped / clamped at a desired operation tilt adjustment position with respect to the movable column member. A tilt operation lever provided on the tilt head, which can be unclamped;
A stopper plate provided on the tilt head;
It is movable between a large-angle flip-up preventing position that contacts the stopper plate and prevents the tilt head from flipping up at a large angle, and a large-angle flip-up allowable position that allows the tilt head to flip up at a large angle. A lock plate provided on the moving column member,
A solenoid that moves the lock plate between a large-angle flip-up preventing position and a large-angle flip-up allowable position;
In a state where the fixed column member is provided and the movable column member is contracted to the front side of the vehicle body, the lock plate is prevented from moving to the large angle flip-up allowable position, and the movable column member is disposed on the rear side of the vehicle body. A telescopic rod that allows the lock plate to move to a large angle flip-up allowable position,
When the tilt head is in the large-angle flip-up state, the lock plate, which is prevented from moving to the large-angle flip-up prevention position by the stopper plate, comes into contact with the telescopic rod, and the moving column member is attached to the vehicle body. A steering column device characterized in that it is prevented from shrinking forward. In the steering column apparatus according to claim 1,
A steering column device, wherein the moving column member is provided with a rod guide, and the rod guide is provided with a guide portion for always guiding a free end of the telescopic rod. In the steering column device according to claim 1 or 2,
A steering column device, wherein the tilt operating lever is provided with a switch for operating the solenoid.

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