JP2007008184A - Steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering column device capable of enhancing the operating feeling while the retaining force is well secured. <P>SOLUTION: The steering column includes balls 11 arranged so that they retreat from between a first and a second friction surface when an energizing force (here a thrust force generated by turning of an operating lever 3) equal to or over a prescribed value is given in the direction that the two friction surfaces approach, which avoids the balls 11 interposing between the friction surfaces, and thereby the friction force generated at the friction surfaces can be secured high. On the other hand, when an energizing force less than the prescribed value is applied (here, when the thrust force goes out or becomes small owing to turning of the operating lever 3), the balls 3 interpose between the friction surfaces, so that a smooth relative movement can take place owing to sliding with the first or the second friction surface at the time of telescopic adjustment for tilting. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering column device that supports a steering shaft so as to be adjustable in at least one of a tilt direction and a telescopic direction, and in particular, improves operability in adjusting a steering wheel to provide a comfortable driving position for a driver. In addition, the present invention relates to a steering column device capable of improving the position / posture holding (locking) force at the time of a collision in order to improve safety.

  The steering column device is an important safety and security component of the vehicle, and it is very important how to control the behavior at the time of the collision in order to ensure the safety of the passenger at the time of the collision. Normally, the steering column device itself is provided with an impact energy absorbing mechanism, and also plays an important role as a support member for an air bag accommodated in the steering wheel.

  On the other hand, in order to optimize the driver's driving posture, a general steering column device can adjust the tilt angle of the steering wheel according to the driver's physique and driving posture, and adjust the axial direction position of the steering wheel It can be done. Therefore, the steering column device needs to have a conflicting function that the position and posture of the column body (that is, the steering wheel) must be easily adjusted, and that a predetermined position and posture must be secured in the event of a collision. Become. In order to make such contradictory functions compatible, the conventional steering column device has been devised in various ways. However, further improvement is demanded due to the increasing demand for user operability.

For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose a steering column device that holds a column body by generating an axial force using a lever, a screw, and a cam and generating a frictional force between relative friction surfaces.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-82273 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-82877

  However, the mechanisms disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 also have a problem that the vibration of rubbing the relative friction surfaces during the tilt / telescopic adjustment is easily transmitted to the operator and the operation feeling is poor. On the other hand, if a resin spacer, for example, is inserted between the relative friction surfaces, the operation feeling is improved, but the holding force after adjustment may be reduced. There is also a risk of seat deformation or damage.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering column device capable of improving the operation feeling while ensuring a holding force.

The steering column device of the present invention is a steering column device that supports a steering shaft so as to be adjustable with respect to at least one of a tilt direction and a telescopic direction.
A first friction surface;
A second friction surface that generates a frictional force by contacting the first friction surface;
When an urging force of a predetermined value or more is applied in a direction in which the first friction surface and the second friction surface are close to each other, the evacuation force is retracted from between the friction surfaces, but an urging force of less than the predetermined value is applied. And a guide body interposed between the friction surfaces and capable of contacting at least one friction surface.

  According to the steering column device of the present invention, when the biasing force of a predetermined value or more is applied to the guide body in a direction in which the first friction surface and the second friction surface are close to each other, Therefore, by applying an urging force equal to or greater than the predetermined value after tilt / telescopic adjustment, it is avoided that the guide body is interposed between the friction surfaces, and the original frictional surface is generated. Frictional force can be secured. On the other hand, since the guide body is interposed between the friction surfaces when an urging force less than the predetermined value is applied (including the case where the urging force is zero), at the time of tilt / telescopic adjustment, By making contact (sliding, rolling, etc.) with the friction surface or the second friction surface, smooth relative movement is possible. In the present specification, the “telescopic direction” refers to the axial direction of the steering shaft, and the “tilt direction” refers to the direction (particularly the vertical direction) intersecting with it.

  The guide body preferably has a lower coefficient of friction than the friction surface.

  Preferably, the guide body is elastically deformable and is disposed in a recess formed in at least one of the first friction surface and the second friction surface.

  It is preferable that at least three guide bodies are disposed on one friction surface because stable sliding can be provided.

  Hereinafter, a tilt / telescopic steering column apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a partial cross-sectional front view of a steering column device according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1A, a bracket 1 attached to a vehicle body (not shown) has a pair of arms 1a and 1a. The arms 1a and 1a are formed with elongated holes 1b and 1b extending in the vertical direction (referred to as the tilt direction) in the drawing. A hollow cylindrical column body 2 is disposed between the pair of arms 1a and 1a. In the column body 2, a steering shaft S that connects a steering wheel (not shown) and a steering mechanism is rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown).

  Telescopic plates 2 a and 2 a extend in parallel from the side surface of the column body 2. The telescopic plates 2a and 2a are respectively formed with long holes 2b and 2b extending in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface (referred to as the telescopic direction).

  In FIG. 1A, the control lever 3, the outer cam plate 4, the long hole 1b of the arm 1a, the spacer 5, the long hole 2b of the telescopic plate 2a, the inner cam plate 6, the cam member 7, the inner cam plate 6, and the telescopic plate 2a. The long hole 2b, the spacer 5, the long hole 1b of the arm 1a, the outer cam plate 4, and the cam member 8 are arranged in this order from the left, and both ends of the bolt 9 passing through these are fixed by nuts 10 and 10. It has become so.

  The operation lever 3 has a cam surface 3a, and the outer cam plate 4 on the operation lever 3 side has a cam surface 4a facing the cam surface 3a. The two inner cam plates 6 have cam surfaces 6a, and the cam member 7 has cam surfaces 7a opposite to the cam surfaces 6a at both ends. The cam member 8 has a cam surface 8a, and the outer cam plate 4 on the cam member 8 side has a cam surface 4a facing the cam surface 8a. Each cam surface has a convex portion protruding in the axial direction at a predetermined angular phase.

  The operation lever 3 and the cam members 7 and 8 are fixed to the bolt 9 and rotate integrally. Accordingly, when the operation lever 3 is rotated in a certain direction, the cam surface 3a is rotated with respect to the cam surface 4a, the cam surface 7a is rotated with respect to the cam surface 6a, and the cam surface is relative to the cam surface 4a. 8a rotates, but when the convex portions are brought into the butting phase position at this time, the opposing cam surfaces are separated from each other, so that an axial force is generated in the bolt 9. Based on this axial force, the arm 1a is sandwiched between the spacer 5 and the outer cam plate 4 and positioned in the tilt direction with a predetermined frictional force, and the telescopic plate 2a is fixed between the inner cam plate 6 and the spacer 5. It is sandwiched and positioned in the telescopic direction with a predetermined frictional force.

  On the other hand, when the operation lever 3 is rotated to a phase position where the convex portions of the cams do not collide with each other, the opposing cam surfaces become accessible, so that the axial force of the bolt 9 disappears or decreases. Therefore, the arm 1a can be moved relative to the spacer 5 and the outer cam plate 4, whereby the position of the column main body 2 can be adjusted in the tilt direction, and the telescopic plate 2a can be adjusted to the inner cam plate 6 and the spacer 5. The column body 2 can be adjusted in the telescopic direction.

  FIG. 1B is a similar cross-sectional view according to a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A. In FIG. 1B, the control lever 3, the outer cam plate 4, the long hole 1b of the arm 1a, the spacer 5, the long hole 2b of the telescopic plate 2a, the long hole 2b of the telescopic plate 2a, the long hole of the spacer 5, arm 1a. 1b, the surface pressing plate 13 is arranged from the left in this order, and the left end of the headed bolt 12 penetrating from the right is fixed by the nut 10. In addition, the lower ends of a pair of telescopic plates 2a are connected by the connection part 2c, and the rigidity is improved. Other configurations are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIG.

  According to this modification, the two inner cam plates 6 and the cam members 7 and 8 in FIG. 1A are omitted, and instead of the right outer cam plate 4 in the figure, the surface pushing plate is removed from the cam surface. 13 is provided. Therefore, when the operation lever 3 is rotated in a certain direction, the cam surface 3a is rotated with respect to one cam surface 4a, and an axial force can be generated in the headed bolt 12. According to such a modified example, compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the number of friction surfaces to be paired with respect to the head of the cam increases, and it becomes difficult to set the distance between the friction surfaces. This makes it possible to reduce costs. In addition, this invention is not limited to the form of FIG. 1A and 1B.

  Further, in order to suppress the resistance and wear due to the sliding contact between metals between the elongated holes 2b and 2b for tilting and the elongated holes 1b and 1b for telescopic and the bolt 9 or the headed bolt 12, the bolt 9 or A resin collar may be fitted around the headed bolt 12, or the resin may be coated or attached to the inner circumference of the tilt long holes 2 b and 2 b and the telescopic long holes 1 b and 1 b. By combining this with the present invention, it can be said that it is more preferable because it prevents sliding contact between metals. Although the following description is centered on the steering column device of FIG. 1A, it goes without saying that it can also be applied to FIG. 1B.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion indicated by an arrow II in the configuration of FIG. 1A. In FIG. 2, the arm 1a has friction surfaces 1c and 1c arranged on both sides thereof. The spacer 5 has friction surfaces 5a and 5a arranged on both sides thereof, and conical recesses 5b and 5b are formed on each friction surface 5a. The telescopic plate 2a has friction surfaces 2c and 2c arranged on both sides thereof. The inner cam plate 6 has a friction surface 6b disposed on the surface opposite to the cam surface 6a (FIG. 1A) and has a conical recess 6c formed on the friction surface 6b. When three or more frictional surfaces are formed, spherical balls 11 serving as guide bodies are arranged in the recesses 5b and 6c. The ball 11 is preferably made of a resin having a lower coefficient of friction than the friction surface (for example, PTFE), but its volume is smaller than the volume of the recesses 5b and 6c.

  When the operation lever 3 is turned to a phase position where the convex portions of the cam do not collide with each other, the opposing friction surfaces 1c and 5a are separated as shown in FIG. Opposing friction surfaces 5a and 2c are separated from each other, and opposing friction surfaces 2c and 6b are separated from each other. At this time, the ball 11 is shaped so that a part thereof protrudes from the recesses 5b and 6c based on the original shape. Therefore, the ball 11 is interposed between the opposing friction surfaces and can contact the opposing friction surfaces. Thereby, when the arm 1a moves relative to the spacer 5 at the time of adjusting the position in the tilt direction, the ball 11 suppresses the friction surfaces 1c and 5a from coming into direct contact with each other, and the ball 11 slides smoothly. Relative movement is supported. Further, when the telescopic plate 2a is moved relative to the inner cam plate 6 and the spacer 5 at the time of adjusting the position in the tilt direction, the friction surfaces 2c, 5a and 2c, 6b may be in direct contact with each other by the ball 11. It is suppressed and smooth relative movement is supported by the sliding of the ball 11.

  On the other hand, when the operation lever 3 is turned to a phase position where the convex portions abut each other, the opposed friction surfaces 1c and 5a come into contact with each other as shown in FIG. The opposing friction surfaces 5a and 2c are in contact with each other, and the opposing friction surfaces 2c and 6b are in contact with each other. At this time, the ball 11 is elastically deformed by the axial force and is accommodated in the recesses 5b and 6c. Accordingly, the original frictional force is generated on the opposing friction surfaces, so that the telescopic plate 2a can be reliably held with respect to the arm 1a. Obviously, one of the friction surfaces 1c and 5a constitutes a first friction surface, the other constitutes a second friction surface, one of the friction surfaces 5a and 2c constitutes a first friction surface, and the other constitutes a second friction surface. The friction surface 2c, 6b is a first friction surface and the other is a second friction surface, which is preferably made of metal, and is further subjected to a treatment for increasing the friction force. It is more preferable.

  According to the present embodiment, the ball 11 has an urging force (in this case, an axial force due to a turning operation of the operation lever 3) in a direction in which the first friction surface and the second friction surface are close to each other. Since the ball 11 is retracted from between the friction surfaces when applied, it is possible to avoid the balls 11 from being interposed between the friction surfaces, thereby ensuring a high frictional force generated on the friction surfaces. On the other hand, the ball 11 is interposed between the friction surfaces when an urging force less than a predetermined value is applied (here, when the axial force disappears or becomes small due to the turning operation of the operation lever 3), the tilt / At the time of telescopic adjustment, smooth relative movement is enabled by sliding with respect to the first friction surface or the second friction surface.

  FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a modification of the present embodiment. In the modification shown in FIG. 3, the difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is that the recess of the spacer 5 is a through hole 5b '. The diameter of the through hole 5b 'increases toward the center of the spacer 5 so that the ball 11 can be held therein. Accordingly, when the axial force disappears or becomes small due to the turning operation of the operation lever 3, as shown in FIG. 3A, the frictional surfaces 5a and 5a protrude from both surfaces. Since other configurations are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, the same reference numerals are given and description thereof is omitted.

  The shape of the recess is not limited to a conical shape, and the guide body is not limited to a spherical shape and may not be made of resin. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 4, the ball 11 ′ as the guide body is made of metal. In such a case, it is difficult to cause the ball 11 'to undergo elastic deformation similar to that of the resin. Therefore, in FIG. 4, a coil spring C is disposed in the recess B on the back side of the ball 11 ′. When an axial force is generated by the turning operation of the operation lever 3 (when an urging force of a predetermined value or more is generated between the friction surfaces), the ball 11 ′ is pushed by the opposing friction surface (not shown) and is indicated by a dotted line. As shown, since it is accommodated in the recess B, it does not intervene between the friction surfaces. On the other hand, when the axial force disappears or decreases due to the turning operation of the operation lever 3 (when an urging force less than a predetermined value is generated between the friction surfaces), the ball 11 ′ is pushed out by the elastic force of the coil spring C. Thus, as shown by the solid line, it protrudes from the recess B and can roll with respect to the opposing friction surface, so that the relative movement during tilt / telescopic adjustment becomes smooth.

  In order to prevent the ball 11 'from falling off, a stopper D as shown in FIG. The stopper D can be formed by inserting the ball 11 ′ into the recess B and then crimping the entrance.

  As described above, the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed and improved without departing from the spirit thereof. Of course there is.

It is a partial cross section front view of the steering column apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is the same sectional view concerning the modification of an embodiment shown in Drawing 1A. It is a figure which expands and shows the site | part shown by the arrow II of the structure of FIG. 1A. It is a figure similar to FIG. 2 concerning a modification. It is a figure concerning another modification, and the ball | bowl 11 'and the coil spring C are accommodated in the recessed part B. FIG. It is a figure concerning another modification, The ball | bowl 11 'and the coil spring C are accommodated in the recessed part B which provided the stopper D. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Bracket 1a Arm 1b Long hole 1c Friction surface 2 Column body 2a Telescopic plate 2b Long hole 2c Friction surface 3 Operation lever 3a Cam surface 4 Outer cam plate 4a Cam surface 5 Spacer 5a Friction surface 5b Recess 5b 'Through hole 6 Inner cam Plate 6a Cam surface 6b Friction surface 6c Recess 7 Cam member 7a Cam surface 8 Cam member 8a Cam surface 9 Bolt 10 Nut 11, 11 'Ball 12 Headed bolt 13 Face pressing plate B Recess C Coil spring D Retaining S Steering shaft

Claims (4)

In a steering column device that supports a steering shaft so as to be adjustable with respect to at least one of a tilt direction and a telescopic direction,
A first friction surface;
A second friction surface that generates a frictional force by contacting the first friction surface;
When an urging force of a predetermined value or more is applied in a direction in which the first friction surface and the second friction surface are close to each other, the evacuation force is retracted from between the friction surfaces, but an urging force of less than the predetermined value is applied. And a guide body which is interposed between the friction surfaces and is capable of contacting at least one of the friction surfaces.   The steering column device according to claim 1, wherein the guide body has a lower coefficient of friction than the friction surface.   The said guide body is elastically deformable, It is arrange | positioned in the recessed part formed in at least one of the said 1st friction surface and the said 2nd friction surface, The Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. The described steering column device. The steering column device according to claim 3, wherein at least three guide bodies are arranged on one friction surface.

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