JP2007246003A - Steering device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device for a vehicle capable of being comfortably operated by a driver. <P>SOLUTION: The steering device 1 is a device for the driver to steer the vehicle, and has a first ring 21 and a second ring 22 which is provided separating from the driver compared to the first ring 21 and relatively movable relative to the first ring 21. The second ring 22 can be operated with a finger in such a state that the driver supports the first ring 21 with his/her open hand. The first ring 21 is rotatable and the second ring 22 is movable along the plane of rotation of the first ring 21. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus for a vehicle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle steering apparatus having a plurality of steering units that can be operated by a driver.

Conventionally, a vehicle is provided with a steering device that steers steered wheels in accordance with a driver's operation.
The steering apparatus includes a steering shaft and a steering wheel coupled to the steering shaft. The steered wheel is connected to the steering shaft via a transmission mechanism that changes the steered wheel according to the rotation angle of the steered shaft.
According to this steering device, when the driver rotates the steering wheel, the steering shaft also rotates, and the steered wheels are steered according to the rotation angle of the steering shaft.

By the way, in the above steering apparatus, in order to maximize the turning angle of the steered wheels, it is necessary to rotate the steering wheel one or more times. Therefore, a steering device that can be steered by operations other than the rotation operation of the steering wheel has been desired.
For this reason, a steering device in which a stick is provided on the steering wheel has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Specifically, the vehicle steering apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a rotary handle that is connected to a steering shaft and can be rotated, and a stick that is provided on the rotary handle and can be swung. According to this steering device, the driver can steer by rotating the rotary handle and can also steer by tilting the stick left and right.
JP 2005-225384 A

  However, in the steering device described in Patent Document 1, the driver needs to hold the stick to operate the stick and to hold the rotary handle to rotate the rotary handle. For this reason, the driver changes the rotating handle or the stick during driving, which may reduce driving comfort.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle steering apparatus that can be operated more comfortably by the driver.

  (1) A steering device (for example, a steering device 1 described later) for a driver to steer a vehicle, and a first steering unit (for example, a first ring 21 described later) and the first steering unit. A second steering unit (for example, a second ring 22 described later) that is provided away from the driver and is movable relative to the first steering unit. The second steering unit is a driver A steering apparatus, wherein the first steering unit is supported by a palm and can be operated with a finger.

According to the invention of (1), the driver operates the second steering unit with a finger in a state where the first steering unit is supported by the palm of the hand, so that the second steering unit is relative to the first steering unit. Move.
Therefore, if the steering angle is adjusted according to the magnitude of the relative movement, the driver's intention can be accurately transmitted to the steering device. There is no need to rotate, and it can be steered comfortably.
In addition, since both the first steering unit and the second steering unit can be grasped and operated at the same time with each hand, there is no need to switch between the first steering unit and the second steering unit as in the conventional case, and the steering is performed more comfortably. it can.

  (2) The steering apparatus according to (1), wherein the first steering unit is rotatable, and the second steering unit is movable along a rotation surface of the first steering unit. .

  According to the invention of (2), since the second steering part can be moved along the rotation surface of the first steering part, the driver can support the first steering part with the palm while holding the second steering part with the finger. Steering can be performed by pushing the steering unit and sliding it along the rotation surface of the first steering unit. Therefore, the intention of the driver can be easily transmitted to the steering device, so that the driver can steer more comfortably.

  (3) The steering according to (1), wherein the first steering unit is rotatable, and the second steering unit is movable along a rotation axis direction of the first steering unit. apparatus.

  According to the invention of (3), since the second steering part can be moved along the rotation axis direction of the first steering part, the driver supports the first steering part with the palm while holding the finger in the first steering part. 2 It can be steered by hooking on the steering section and bringing the second steering section closer to the front side. Therefore, the intention of the driver can be easily transmitted to the steering device, so that the driver can steer more comfortably.

According to the invention of (1), the driver operates the second steering unit with a finger in a state where the first steering unit is supported by the palm of the hand, so that the second steering unit is relative to the first steering unit. Move. Therefore, if the steering angle is adjusted according to the magnitude of the relative movement, the driver's intention can be accurately transmitted to the steering device, and the steering wheel is rotated a plurality of times as in the conventional case. There is no need and the driver can steer comfortably. In addition, since both the first steering unit and the second steering unit can be operated by simultaneously grasping with each hand, there is no need to switch between the first steering unit and the second steering unit as in the conventional case, and steering is performed more comfortably. it can.
According to the invention of (2), since the second steering part can be moved along the rotation surface of the first steering part, the driver can support the first steering part with the palm while holding the second steering part with the finger. Steering can be performed by pushing the steering unit and sliding it along the rotation surface of the first steering unit. Therefore, since the driver's intention can be transmitted to the steering device more easily, the driver can steer more comfortably.
According to the invention of (3), since the second steering part can be moved along the rotation axis direction of the first steering part, the driver supports the first steering part with the palm while holding the finger in the first steering part. 2 It can be steered by hooking on the steering section and bringing the second steering section closer to the front side. Therefore, the intention of the driver can be easily transmitted to the steering device, so that the driver can steer more comfortably.

  Hereinafter, a steering apparatus according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, the steering apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the steering device 1.
The steering apparatus 1 includes a steering shaft 10 connected to a vehicle, and a steering wheel 20 that is operated by a driver to steer the vehicle.

The steering shaft 10 has a rod shape, and is supported so as to be rotatable about a central axis thereof.
The steering wheel 20 is connected to the steering shaft 10, whereby the steering wheel 20 is rotatably supported together with the steering shaft 10.
As described above, in the steering device 1, when the driver rotates the steering wheel 20, the steering shaft 10 rotates, and the transmission mechanism is controlled based on this rotation, and the steered wheels are steered according to the rotation angle. .

Hereinafter, the configuration of the steering wheel 20 will be described in detail.
The steering wheel 20 includes a center core portion 23 connected to the tip of the steering shaft 10, a first ring 21 as a first steering portion supported by the center core portion 23, and a driver than the first ring 21. And a second ring 22 as a second steering part that is provided in parallel with the center core part 23 and is supported by the center core part 23.

The first ring 21 is formed in an annular shape so that the driver can hold it.
The second ring 22 has an annular shape that is substantially the same shape as the first ring. The second ring 22 is provided within a range that can be operated by a finger while the driver supports the first ring 21 with a palm.

  The center core portion 23 includes a center core body 231 that slidably supports the second ring 22, and a center core cover 232 that covers the center core body 231 and supports the first ring 21.

The center core cover 232 has a truncated conical shape that becomes thinner toward the tip, and is connected to the tip of the steering shaft 10 so that the center thereof is located on the rotation axis of the steering shaft 10.
The center core cover 232 includes first connecting portions 232L, 232C, and 232R that project radially from the outer peripheral surface, and the tips of the first connecting portions 232L, 232C, and 232R are connected to the inner peripheral surface of the first ring 21. Has been.

  The center core body 231 includes second connection portions 231L and 231R connected to the second ring 22 and support portions that support the second connection portions 231L and 231R movably along the rotation surface of the first ring 21 ( And a displacement sensor (not shown) for detecting a displacement amount from a later-described reference position of the second connecting portions 231L and 231R.

The support portion of the center core body 231 supports the second connecting portions 231L and 231R so as to be movable along the rotation surface of the first ring 21, and is moved by a biasing member (not shown). Returns to the reference position.
More specifically, the second connecting portions 231L and 231R are connected in a straight line, and the support portion is connected to the central portion of the connected second connecting portions 231L and 231R, and the second connecting portions 231L and 231R are connected to each other. It is swingably supported in the extending direction.
The second connecting portions 231L and 231R are rod-shaped, and extend from the insertion holes formed in the outer peripheral surface of the center core cover 232 to both sides in the horizontal direction to the inner peripheral surface of the second ring 22, respectively. Connected to

The displacement amount sensor of the center core body 231 detects the displacement amount from the reference position of the second coupling portions 231L and 231R.
That is, the state where the central portions of the second coupling portions 231L and 231R are located at the center of the first ring 21 is set as a reference position, and the movement distances of the second coupling portions 231L and 231R with respect to the reference position are detected as displacement amounts.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a relative positional relationship between the first ring 21 and the second ring 22.
A position where the center of the second ring 22 overlaps the center of the first ring 21 is set as a reference position of the second ring 22.

The first ring 21 is supported by first connecting portions 232L, 232C, and 232R provided in the center core cover 232, and the second ring 22 is a center core body provided inside the center core cover 232. 231.
That is, the first ring 21 can rotate on the rotating shaft of the steering shaft 10 together with the second ring 22.

The second ring 22 is supported by a support portion provided on the center core body 231 so as to be slidable in the left-right direction in FIG. 2, that is, in the extending direction of the second connecting portions 231L and 231R, with respect to this reference position. Has been.
That is, the second ring 22 can move relative to the first ring 21 and can move along the rotation surface of the first ring 21.

The rotation of the first ring 21 rotates the steering shaft 10 via the center core cover 232. The rotation angle of the steering shaft 10 is detected by a rotation angle sensor (not shown), and a transmission mechanism (not shown) is electrically controlled based on the detection value of the rotation angle sensor so that the steered wheels are steered. It has become.
Further, the displacement amount of the second ring 22 from the reference position is detected by the displacement amount sensor provided in the center core body 231 as described above, and the transmission mechanism is electrically connected based on the detection value of the displacement amount sensor. And the steered wheels are steered.

  Therefore, in this steering apparatus 1, the driver can steer by operating only the first ring 21, or can steer by operating only the second ring 22. In addition, the first ring 21 and the second ring 22 can be operated and steered simultaneously.

With reference to FIG. 3, a method of operating and steering only the second ring 22 will be described.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the driver puts the steering wheel 20 in a straight traveling state and grasps the first ring 21 and the second ring 22 with both hands at the same time.

  First, the driver presses the first connecting portion 232R side of the first ring 21 with the palm of the right hand, and further presses the first connecting portion 232L side of the first ring 21 with the palm of the left hand. Next, the first ring 21 is held with the thumb, ring finger, and little finger of each hand, and the fingertips of the index finger and the middle finger are hung on the second ring 22. As described above, the driver can simultaneously hold both the first ring 21 and the second ring 22 with each hand.

  Therefore, the driver holds the first ring 21, pushes it with a finger hung on the second ring 22, and slides the second ring 22 left and right, thereby simultaneously moving the first ring 21 and the second ring 22. Turn the vehicle left and right while holding it.

The steering apparatus 1 configured as described above has the following effects.
First, the driver moves the second ring 22 relative to the first ring 21 by operating the second ring 22 with a finger while the first ring 21 is supported by a palm.
Therefore, by adjusting the turning angle according to the magnitude of this relative movement, that is, the amount of displacement from the reference position, it is possible to accurately convey the driver's intention to the steering device 1. Thus, it is not necessary to rotate the steering wheel a plurality of times, and the vehicle can be steered comfortably.
In addition, since both the first ring 21 and the second ring 22 can be grasped and operated at the same time by the respective hands, it is not necessary to change the first ring 21 and the second ring 22 as in the prior art, and the steering is more comfortable. it can.

  Further, since the second ring 22 is movable along the rotation surface of the first ring 21, the driver pushes the second ring 22 with his / her finger while supporting the first ring 21 with a palm. The vehicle can be steered by sliding along the 21 rotation surface. Accordingly, since the driver's intention can be easily transmitted to the steering device 1, the driver can steer more comfortably.

Next, a steering apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In the following description of the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the steering device 1A according to the second embodiment, showing a state in which the driver puts the steering wheel 20A in a straight traveling state and simultaneously holds the first ring 21 and the second ring 22A with both hands. ing.

In the steering device 1A of the second embodiment, the direction in which the center core main body 231A can move the second ring 22A is different from the steering device 1 of the first embodiment.
The center core body 231A includes second connection portions 231LA and 231RA connected to the second ring 22A, and support portions that support the second connection portions 231LA and 231RA so as to be movable along the rotation axis direction of the first ring 21. (Not shown) and a displacement amount sensor (not shown) for detecting displacement amounts from the reference positions of the second connecting portions 231LA and 231RA.

The support portion of the center core body 231A supports the second connection portions 231LA and 231RA so as to be movable along the rotation axis direction of the first ring 21, and is moved by the urging member (not shown). , 231RA return to the reference position.
More specifically, the second connecting portions 231LA and 231RA are connected in a straight line, and the support portion supports the central portions of the connected second connecting portions 231LA and 231RA so as to be swingable.
Thereby, for example, when the driver brings the second connecting portion 231RA side of the second ring 22A closer to the driver side, the second connecting portion 231LA side of the second ring 22A moves away from the driver, and the second ring 22A is inclined with respect to the first ring 21.
On the other hand, for example, when the driver brings the second connecting portion 231LA side of the second ring 22A closer to the driver side, the second connecting portion 231RA side of the second ring 22A moves away from the driver, and the second ring 22A Is inclined with respect to the first ring 21.

The displacement amount sensor of the center core main body 231A detects the displacement amount from the reference position of the second coupling portions 231L and 231R.
That is, the state where the second connecting portions 231LA and 231RA extend in the horizontal direction is set as a reference position, and the inclination angle of the second connecting portions 231LA and 231RA with respect to the reference position is detected as a displacement amount.

An operation method for operating only the second ring 22A and turning the vehicle to the right will be described.
First, the driver holds the first ring 21 and the second ring 22A at the same time in the same manner as the first ring 21 and the second ring 22 of the first embodiment.
In the state where the first ring 21 and the second ring 22A are gripped at the same time, the force of the index finger and the middle finger of the left hand is removed, and these fingers are opened, and the force of the index finger and the middle finger of the right hand is applied. As shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the second connecting portion 231RA side of the second ring 22A is brought closer to the driver side and the second connecting portion of the second ring 22A is bent by bending the finger toward the driver. Separate the 231LA side from the driver.

  When only the second ring 22A is operated and the vehicle is steered to the left, the forefinger and middle finger of the left hand are put into force, the fingers are bent toward the front side, and the index finger and middle finger of the right hand are bent. By pulling out the force and opening these fingers, the second connecting portion 231LA side of the second ring 22A is brought close to the driver, and the second connecting portion 231RA side of the second ring 22A is moved to the driver. Move away from.

The steering apparatus 1A configured as described above has the following effects.
First, the driver can steer by supporting the first ring 21 with the palm and hooking the finger on the second ring 22A and bringing the second ring 22A toward the front side. Accordingly, since the driver's intention can be easily transmitted to the steering device 1A, the driver can steer more comfortably.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this.

1 is a perspective view of a steering device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a front view of a steering device. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing of the steering wheel which shows the operating method of the steering apparatus of Example 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering device 10 Steering shaft 20 Steering wheel 21 1st ring (1st steering part)
22 Second ring (second steering part)

Claims (3)

A steering device for a driver to steer a vehicle,
A first steering section;
A second steering unit provided farther from the driver than the first steering unit and movable relative to the first steering unit;
The second steering unit can be operated with a finger while a driver supports the first steering unit with a palm. The first steering unit is rotatable,
The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second steering unit is movable along a rotation surface of the first steering unit. The first steering unit is rotatable,
The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second steering unit is movable along a rotation axis direction of the first steering unit.

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