JP2008018876A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lightweight and compact steering device capable of suppressing manufacturing cost, and obtaining an excellent steering feeling over the entire stroke of a tilt position adjustable range. <P>SOLUTION: An upper adjustment screw 8A is arranged at an upper position than an upper end 35C of a contact face of an inner face 74 of a spacer 7 with a right face 34 of a lower column 3 at a tilt-elevated end of the lower column 3. A lower adjustment screw 8B is arranged at a lower position than a lower end 35D of a contact face of the inner face 74 of the spacer 7 with the right face 34 of the lower column 3 at a tilt-lowered end of the lower column 3. Since the resultant P of the gravity W and the centrifugal force F1 is always applied between the upper side adjustment screw 8A and the lower side adjustment screw 8B, the displacement of the lower column 3 is suppressed to be small, the excellent steering feeling is maintained, the height h of the contact face of the lower column 3 may be small, and the weight and the size of the lower column 3 can be reduced thereby. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus, and more particularly to a tilt position adjustable electric steering apparatus that can adjust a tilt position of a steering wheel using an electric actuator as a power source in accordance with the physique and driving posture of a driver.

  As a device for adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel in accordance with the physique and driving posture of the driver, there is an electric steering device called a tilt type steering device. There is an electric steering device called a tilt / telescopic steering device as a device for adjusting both the vertical position and the front / rear position of the steering wheel.

  In such an electric steering device, in order to ensure the rigidity of the steering device and to smoothly adjust the tilt position, there is no play in the gap of the tilt sliding portion between the column and the vehicle body mounting bracket.

  The electric steering device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is an electric steering device that can adjust the clearance of the tilt sliding portion between the column and the vehicle body mounting upper bracket. In other words, in the electric steering device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a spacer is inserted into the gap between the column and the vehicle body mounting upper bracket, and the spacer is pressed against the column with the adjusting screw, thereby eliminating the gap in the tilt sliding portion. ing.

  FIG. 13 is a side view showing a conventional electric steering apparatus using one adjusting screw for eliminating backlash. FIG. 14 is an explanatory view showing only the column and the adjusting screw taken out from FIG. FIG. 15 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the axis of the adjusting screw coincides with the axis of the column, and corresponds to FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the upper plate 21 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 on the rear side of the vehicle body is fixed to the vehicle body 11. The front side of the vehicle body of the lower column 3 is supported by the vehicle body 11 via a tilt center axis (not shown) so that the tilt position can be adjusted (oscillates in a plane perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 13 and parallel to the vertical direction of FIG. 13). Has been.

  The upper column 4 is fitted to the inner periphery of the lower column 3 so as to be capable of telescopic position adjustment (sliding in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 13). An upper steering shaft 102A is pivotally supported on the upper column 4, and a steering wheel (not shown) is fixed to an end portion of the upper steering shaft 102A on the rear side of the vehicle body (the front side of the paper in FIG. 13). .

  A lower steering shaft (not shown) is rotatably supported on the lower column 3, and the lower steering shaft is splined to the upper steering shaft 102A. Therefore, regardless of the telescopic position of the upper column 4, the rotation of the upper steering shaft 102A is transmitted to the lower steering shaft, and is connected to the steering gear via the intermediate shaft (not shown) to change the steering angle of the wheel. .

  A left side plate 22 and a right side plate 23 extending in parallel downward from the upper plate 21 are formed on the upper plate 21 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2. The left and right side surfaces of the lower column 3 are sandwiched between inner surfaces of the left side plate 22 and the right side plate 23 so as to be slidable in a tilting manner.

  One adjustment screw 8 is screwed into the right side plate 23 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2, and the tip of the adjustment screw 8 presses the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3, so that the gap of the tilt sliding portion is loose. Is lost. Further, the lower ends of the left side plate 22 and the right side plate 23 are connected by a lower plate 24 to form a rectangular shape closed by the upper plate 21, the left side plate 22, the right side plate 23, and the lower plate 24.

  A telescopic drive mechanism 5 for adjusting the telescopic position is attached to the outer periphery of the lower column 3. A tilt drive mechanism 6 for adjusting the tilt position is attached below the left side plate 22 and the right side plate 23 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2.

  The worm attached to the output shaft of the tilt motor 61 for the tilt drive mechanism 6 meshes with the worm wheel attached below the feed screw shaft 63 to transmit the rotation of the tilt motor 61 to the feed screw shaft 63. ing.

  A feed nut 65 is screwed onto a male screw formed on the outer periphery of the feed screw shaft 63. A tilt driving force transmission protrusion (not shown) is integrally formed on the feed nut 65, and the tip of the tilt driving force transmission protrusion is fitted into an engagement hole formed in the lower column 3.

  When the feed screw shaft 63 rotates, the feed nut 65 and the tilt driving force transmission protrusion perform a linear motion in the vertical direction of FIG. With the tilt central axis as a fulcrum, the lower column 3 swings along an arcuate locus when the tilt position is adjusted.

  A telescopic motor 51 is attached to the outer periphery of the lower surface of the lower column 3. A feed screw shaft 52 is fixed to the outer periphery of the lower surface of the lower column 3 in parallel with the center axis of the lower column 3, and the rear end of the vehicle body of the feed screw shaft 52 (the front side of the paper in FIG. 13) It is connected to the lower end of the flange 41 fixed to the rear end.

  The rotation of a worm attached to an output shaft (not shown) of the telescopic motor 51 is transmitted to a worm wheel (not shown), and a feed nut (not shown) screwed to the feed screw shaft 52 is rotated. By rotating the feed nut, the feed screw shaft 52 is reciprocated (moved in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 13), and the telescopic position of the upper column 4 is adjusted.

  When the vehicle travels on a curve during driving of the vehicle, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, gravity W due to the mass of the electric steering device acts below the plane of the page. Further, the centrifugal force F1 acting on the driver acts in the horizontal direction of the paper surface through the hand of the driver holding the steering wheel, and the resultant force P of the gravity W and the centrifugal force F1 is oblique to the paper surface. Acts downward.

  Due to the resultant force P, a moment M (see FIG. 14) proportional to the distance b between the adjusting screw 8 and the axis of the lower column 3 acts on the lower column 3. Accordingly, since the lower column 3 is displaced by the bending moment M, the steering feeling is deteriorated.

  As shown in FIG. 15, at the position where the axis of the lower column 3 coincides with the axis of the adjusting screw 8, no bending moment acts on the lower column 3, but the position where this bending moment does not act is the tilt position adjustment. Limited to a single stroke.

  16 to 17, in order to solve the problems of the conventional electric steering apparatus shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, two adjustment screws are used, and the vertical distance between the adjustment screws is widened. This is an example in which the bending moment M does not act on the lower column 3. Here, FIG. 16 is a side view showing a conventional electric steering apparatus using two adjustment screws for eliminating looseness, and FIG. 17 is an explanatory view showing the column and the adjustment screw taken out from FIG.

16 and 17, the height of the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3 (the contact range with the adjusting screws 8A and 8B) is h, the stroke of the lower column 3 on the tilt raising side is S1, and the lower column 3 If the stroke on the tilt lowering side is S2, the distance between the adjustment screws 8A and 8B in the vertical direction (tilt position adjustment direction) is L, and the diameter of the adjustment screws 8A and 8B is d.
h> L + d + S1 + S2
It becomes.

  That is, in order for the resultant force P of the gravity W and the centrifugal force F1 to act between the upper adjustment screw 8A and the lower adjustment screw 8B, the height h of the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3 is increased. , The weight of the lower column 3 is increased.

  FIGS. 18 to 19 show an electric steering device including a steering assist mechanism that applies a predetermined steering assist force to the steering shaft via a speed reduction mechanism by the driving force of the steering assist motor. This is an example in which a spacer 7 is interposed between the surface 34 and the right side plate 23 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2. Here, FIG. 18 is a side view showing a conventional electric steering apparatus using a spacer for eliminating play, and FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing a load applied to the spacer of FIG.

  In the electric steering device of FIGS. 18 to 19, when the electric motor 362 is driven and the steering assist torque T1 acts on the steering shaft, the torque T2 as a reaction force is applied to the lower column 3, and therefore, the spacer is moved from the lower column 3 to the spacer. 7 is subjected to a load F2.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the load F2 is such that the distance between the adjustment screws 8A and 8B in the vertical direction (tilt position adjustment direction) is L, the distance between the upper adjustment screw 8A and the load F2 is C, and the upper adjustment screw. The reaction force acting on 8A is RA, and the reaction force acting on the lower adjustment screw 8B is RB.

Since the vertical distance L between the adjusting screws 8A and 8B is smaller than the vertical range in which the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3 contacts the spacer 7,
RA = F2 · (L + C) / L
RB = −F2 · C / L
Thus, the reaction force RA is positive and the reaction force RB is negative.

  Accordingly, a gap is generated between the lower column 3 and the spacer 7 and the steering feeling is deteriorated. However, in order to prevent the deterioration of the steering feeling, it is necessary to apply a preload to the lower adjustment screw 8B. It becomes. However, if a preload is applied to the lower adjustment screw 8B, the sliding resistance of the tilt sliding portion increases, so that the tilt drive motor and the speed reduction device of the tilt drive mechanism increase in size, thereby increasing the weight of the steering device. Along with this, the manufacturing cost also increases.

JP 2002-2503 A

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering device that is lightweight and compact, can be manufactured at a low cost, and can obtain a good steering feeling over the entire stroke of the tilt position adjustment range.

  The above problem is solved by the following means. That is, the first invention is a column, a steering shaft rotatably supported on the column and mounted with a steering wheel on the rear side of the vehicle body, and a vehicle body that can pivot about the lower side of the column with a tilt center axis as a fulcrum. Body mounting lower bracket that pivotally supports the column, body mounting upper bracket that tiltably slides the column side of the column on the upper side to the left and right side plates, tilt motor, and tilting the column by the driving force of the tilt motor A tilt drive mechanism for adjusting the position, a spacer interposed between one of the left and right side plates and the column side surface, and a side plate provided on the side plate, respectively, from the upper end of the contact surface between the spacer and the column side surface at the tilt rising end At the upper position and below the lower end of the contact surface between the spacer and the column side surface at the tilted lower end. In the position, a steering apparatus characterized by comprising an adjusting screw which presses toward the spacer to the column side.

  The second invention is a column, a steering shaft rotatably supported by the column and mounted with a steering wheel on the rear side of the vehicle body, and a lower side of the column pivoted on the vehicle body with the tilt center axis as a fulcrum. Tilt position adjustment of the column by the driving force of the vehicle body mounting lower bracket, the vehicle body mounting upper bracket that tiltably slides the column side of the column on the upper side of the column to the left and right side plates, and the driving force of the tilting motor A tilt drive mechanism, a spacer inserted between one of the left and right side plates and the column side surface, and a tilt rising end side and a tilt falling end side of the side plate, respectively, and the spacer facing the column side surface. The adjustment screw to be pressed, and within the range connecting the tilt center axis and the center of each adjustment screw, Contact surface upper end of the spacer and the column side, and a steering apparatus characterized by containing the contact surfaces the lower end of the spacer and the column side in the tilt falling edge.

  A third aspect of the invention is the steering device according to any one of the first to second aspects, wherein the spacer and the side surface of the column are formed in an arc shape having the same radius centered on the tilt central axis of the column. A steering device comprising a concave portion and a convex portion that are fitted to each other.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the steering apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention, the spacer is formed with an arc-shaped protrusion centered on the tilt center axis of the column, and is fitted to the arc-shaped protrusion. The arcuate recess is formed on the side surface of the column.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the steering device according to any one of the fourth to second aspects of the invention, a predetermined steering assist force is provided via the speed reduction mechanism by the steering assist motor and the driving force of the steering assist motor. A steering device comprising a steering assist mechanism for imparting to the steering shaft.

  A sixth aspect of the invention is the steering device according to the third aspect of the invention, in which a steering assist motor and a steering force that applies a predetermined steering assist force to the steering shaft through a speed reduction mechanism by the driving force of the steering assist motor. A steering apparatus including an auxiliary mechanism.

  A seventh aspect of the steering device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the steering device in which a steering assist motor is imparted with a predetermined steering assist force to the steering shaft via a speed reduction mechanism by a driving assist motor and a driving force of the steering assist motor. A steering apparatus including an auxiliary mechanism.

  According to an eighth invention, in the steering device according to any one of the first to second inventions, a shaft portion having a smaller diameter than the male screw formed on the outer periphery of the adjusting screw is formed at the tip of the adjusting screw. The steering device is characterized in that the shaft portion is fitted in a through-hole formed in the spacer, and the spacer is pressed by a step surface between the shaft portion and the male screw.

  According to a ninth invention, in the steering device of the third invention, a shaft portion having a smaller diameter than the male screw formed on the outer periphery of the adjusting screw is formed at the tip of the adjusting screw, and is formed on the spacer. In the steering device, the shaft portion is fitted into the through hole, and the spacer is pressed by a step surface between the shaft portion and the male screw.

  According to a tenth aspect, in the steering device according to the fourth aspect, a shaft portion having a smaller diameter than the male screw formed on the outer periphery of the adjusting screw is formed at the tip of the adjusting screw, and is formed on the spacer. In the steering device, the shaft portion is fitted into the through hole, and the spacer is pressed by a step surface between the shaft portion and the male screw.

  In the steering device of the present invention, a spacer is interposed between any one of the left and right side plates of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket and the column side surface, and a position above the contact surface upper end between the spacer and the column side surface at the tilt upper end, and An adjustment screw for pressing the spacer toward the column side surface is provided below the lower end of the contact surface between the spacer and the column side surface at the tilt lower end.

  Therefore, the load acting on the column during operation acts between the upper adjustment screw and the lower adjustment screw, so that the displacement of the column is kept small, the steering feeling is maintained well, and the column Since the height of the contact surface is small, the column can be manufactured to be light and small, and the manufacturing cost can be kept low.

  In the following embodiments, an example in which the present invention is applied to a tilt / telescopic electric steering apparatus that adjusts both the vertical position and the front / rear position of the steering wheel will be described.

  FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a state where an electric steering device 101 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a vehicle. The electric steering device 101 supports a steering shaft 102 so as to be rotatable. A steering wheel 103 is attached to the upper end (rear side of the vehicle body) of the steering shaft 102, and an intermediate shaft 105 is connected to the lower end of the steering shaft 102 (front side of the vehicle body) via a universal joint 104.

  A universal joint 106 is connected to the lower end of the intermediate shaft 105, and a steering gear 107 including a rack and pinion mechanism is connected to the universal joint 106.

  When the driver rotates the steering wheel 103, the rotational force is transmitted to the steering gear 107 through the steering shaft 102, the universal joint 104, the intermediate shaft 105, and the universal joint 106, and the tie rod is transmitted through the rack and pinion mechanism. 108 can be moved to change the steering angle of the wheel.

  FIG. 2 is a front view showing a main part of the electric steering apparatus 101 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2 and shows a main part of the tilt drive mechanism. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 3 and shows a tilt motor and a worm of the tilt drive mechanism. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 2 and shows a tilt sliding portion between the vehicle body mounting upper bracket and the column according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. FIGS. 7A and 7B are operation explanatory views showing the tilt position adjusting operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A shows the tilt upper end position, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a right side view of the electric steering apparatus 101, as viewed from the direction of arrow P in FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a column, a spacer, and an adjusting screw taken out from FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the electric steering apparatus 101 of the present invention includes a vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2, a lower column (outer column) 3, an upper column (inner column) 4, and the like.

  The upper plate 21 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 on the rear side of the vehicle body is fixed to the vehicle body 11. A bracket 31 is integrally formed at the vehicle body front end of the lower column 3, and the bracket 31 and the vehicle body mounting lower bracket 12 are connected by a tilt center shaft 32. The vehicle body mounting lower bracket 12 is fixed to the vehicle body 11. With the tilt central shaft 32 as a fulcrum, the front end of the hollow cylindrical lower column 3 is pivotally supported by the vehicle body 11 so that the tilt position can be adjusted (oscillates in a plane parallel to the plane of FIG. 2). ing.

  The upper column 4 is fitted to the inner periphery of the lower column 3 so as to be capable of telescopic position adjustment (sliding parallel to the central axis of the lower column 3). An upper steering shaft 102A is pivotally supported on the upper column 4, and a steering wheel 103 (see FIG. 1) is fixed to a rear side (right side in FIG. 2) end of the upper steering shaft 102A. Yes.

  A lower steering shaft 102B is rotatably supported on the lower column 3, and the lower steering shaft 102B is spline-fitted with the upper steering shaft 102A. Accordingly, regardless of the telescopic position of the upper column 4, the rotation of the upper steering shaft 102A is transmitted to the lower steering shaft 102B.

  The vehicle body front side (left side in FIG. 2) of the lower steering shaft 102B is connected to the steering gear 107 (see FIG. 1) via the universal joint 104 (see FIG. 1), and the driver turns the steering wheel 103 by hand. The lower steering shaft 102B rotates via the upper steering shaft 102A, and the steering angle of the wheel can be changed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, a left side plate 22 and a right side plate 23 extending in parallel downward from the upper plate 21 are formed on the upper plate 21 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2. The left side surface 33 and the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3 are sandwiched between the inner side surfaces 221 and 231 of the left side plate 22 and the right side plate 23 so as to be slidable.

  A flat spacer 7 is interposed between the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3 and the inner side surface 231 of the right side plate 23 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2. The lower ends of the left side plate 22 and the right side plate 23 are connected by a lower plate 24 to form a closed rectangular shape by the upper plate 21, the left side plate 22, the right side plate 23, and the lower plate 24, and the rigidity of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 is determined. Has improved.

  A telescopic drive mechanism 5 (see FIG. 2) for adjusting the telescopic position is attached to the outer periphery of the lower surface of the lower column 3. A tilt drive mechanism 6 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) for adjusting the tilt position is attached below the left side plate 22 and the right side plate 23 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the worm 62 connected to the output shaft 67 of the tilt motor 61 for the tilt drive mechanism 6 meshes with the worm wheel 64 attached below the feed screw shaft 63 (see FIG. 3). The rotation of the tilt motor 61 is transmitted to the feed screw shaft 63. The worm 62 is rotatably supported below the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 by bearings 671 and 672.

  The feed screw shaft 63 extends perpendicularly to the central axis of the tilt motor 61 (the vertical direction in FIGS. 2 and 3), and its upper and lower ends are rotatable to the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 by bearings 631 and 632. It is pivotally supported. A feed nut 65 is screwed onto a male screw formed on the outer periphery of the feed screw shaft 63.

  A tilt driving force transmission projection 651 is integrally formed on the feed nut 65. The tilt driving force transmission protrusion 651 protrudes toward the central axis of the lower column 3, and the tip of the tilt driving force transmission protrusion 651 is fitted in the engagement hole 66 formed in the lower column 3.

  When the feed screw shaft 63 rotates, the feed nut 65 and the tilt driving force transmission protrusion 651 perform linear motion in the vertical direction. Since the lower column 3 swings along an arc-shaped locus when the tilt position is adjusted with the tilt center axis 32 as a fulcrum, the engagement hole 66 is formed as a long hole perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. The position error with respect to the linear motion of the nut 65 in the vertical direction is absorbed.

  A telescopic motor 51 that is partially visible in FIG. 2 is attached to the outer periphery of the lower surface of the lower column 3. A feed screw shaft 52 is fixed to the outer periphery of the lower surface of the lower column 3 in parallel with the central axis of the lower column 3, and the rear end (right end in FIG. 2) of the feed screw shaft 52 is connected to the lower end of the flange 41. Yes. The flange 41 is fixed to the vehicle body rear end of the upper column 4.

  The rotation of a worm attached to an output shaft (not shown) of the telescopic motor 51 is transmitted to a worm wheel (not shown), and a feed nut (not shown) screwed to the feed screw shaft 52 is rotated. By rotating the feed nut, the feed screw shaft 52 is reciprocated (moved in the left-right direction in FIG. 2), and the telescopic position of the upper column 4 is adjusted.

  When the electric steering device 101 needs to adjust the tilt position of the steering wheel 103, the driver operates a switch (not shown) to rotate the tilt motor 61 in either the forward or reverse direction. Then, the feed screw shaft 63 is rotated by the rotation of the tilt motor 61, and the feed nut 65 performs linear motion.

  Then, the tilt driving force transmission protrusion 651 integrated with the feed nut 65 performs linear motion. Since the tilt driving force transmission protrusion 651 is engaged with the engagement hole 66 of the lower column 3, the lower column 3 tilts upward or downward with the tilt central shaft 32 as a fulcrum.

  When the electric steering device 101 needs to adjust the telescopic position of the steering wheel 103, the driver operates a switch (not shown) to rotate the telescopic motor 51 in either the forward or reverse direction. Then, the rotation of the telescopic motor 51 causes the feed screw shaft 52 to move in parallel with the central axis of the lower column 3, whereby the upper column 4 performs telescopic movement.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3 has an arc-shaped stepped portion 35 </ b> A having a radius R <b> 1 centered on the tilt center axis 32 of the lower column 3 and an arc-shaped stepped portion 35 </ b> B having a radius R <b> 2. An arcuate recess 35 surrounded by is formed.

  Further, the flat spacer 7 inserted between the inner side surface 231 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 and the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3 has a radius R1 centered on the tilt center axis 32 of the lower column 3. An arc-shaped convex portion 71A and an arc-shaped convex portion 71B having a radius R2 are formed. The arc-shaped convex portions 71 </ b> A and 71 </ b> B of the spacer 7 are closely fitted into the arc-shaped concave portion 35 of the lower column 3.

  Two female screws 25A and 25B are formed on the right side plate 23 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction (tilt position adjusting direction) of FIGS. 5 and 6. Is penetrated in the left-right direction. The female screws 25 </ b> A and 25 </ b> B are arranged on an arc having a radius R <b> 3 centered on the tilt center axis 32 of the lower column 3. Male screws 81A and 81B of adjusting screws 8A and 8B are screwed into the female screws 25A and 25B. Shaft portions 82A and 82B having smaller diameters than the outer diameters of the male screws 81A and 81B are formed at the left ends of the adjusting screws 8A and 8B.

  In the spacer 7, two through holes 72A and 72B are formed on an arc having a radius R3 at the same interval as the interval L in the vertical direction (tilt position adjustment direction) of the upper female screw 25A and the lower female screw 25B. ing. The inner diameters of the through holes 72A and 72B are formed to be slightly larger than the outer diameters of the shaft portions 82A and 82B. Accordingly, when the shaft portions 82A, 82B and the through holes 72A, 72B are in phase, the male screws 81A, 81B of the adjusting screws 8A, 8B are screwed in, and the shaft portions 82A, 82B are fitted into the through holes 72A, 72B, respectively. . As a result, the spacer 7 is held at predetermined positions of the inner surface 231 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 and the arc-shaped recess 35 of the lower column 3.

  If the male screws 81A and 81B of the adjusting screws 8A and 8B are further screwed in, the stepped surfaces of the male screws 81A and 81B and the shaft portions 82A and 82B come into contact with the outer surface 73 of the spacer 7, and the spacer 7 is moved to the circle of the lower column 3. Press toward the arc-shaped recess 35. As a result, even if the distance between the inner surface 231 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 and the arc-shaped recess 35 of the lower column 3 is inclined due to manufacturing errors, the male screws 81A and 81B of the adjusting screws 8A and 8B If the screwing amount is appropriately adjusted, the inner side surface 74 of the spacer 7 can be evenly brought into contact with the arc-shaped recess 35 of the lower column 3.

  Accordingly, the tilt sliding resistance between the lower column 3 and the left side plate 22 and between the lower column 3 and the spacer 7 can be set to a desired sliding resistance. Further, the tilt sliding resistance during the tilting operation is kept constant regardless of the tilt angle. When the adjustment of the adjustment screws 8A and 8B is completed, the lock nuts 83A and 83B are screwed into the male screws 81A and 81B to prevent the adjustment screws 8A and 8B from being loosened.

  As described above, the arc-shaped convex portions 71A and 71B of the spacer 7 and the arc-shaped step portions 35A and 35B of the lower column 3 are arc-shaped with the same radius centered on the tilt central axis 32 of the lower column 3. Are fitted to each other. Therefore, even if there is vibration during the transportation of the steering device, the relative position between the lower column 3 and the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 does not change, and this hinders the work of mounting the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 to the vehicle body 11. There is no.

  In order to adjust the tilt position of the steering wheel 103 with the electric steering device 101, the tilt motor 61 is rotated in either the forward or reverse direction. Then, the feed screw shaft 63 is rotated by the rotation of the tilt motor 61, and the feed nut 65 performs linear motion.

  Then, the tilt driving force transmission protrusion 651 integrated with the feed nut 65 performs linear motion. Since the tilt driving force transmission protrusion 651 is engaged with the engagement hole 66 of the lower column 3, the lower column 3 is moved upward with the tilt central axis 32 as a fulcrum as shown in FIGS. 7 (1) and (2). Or tilt down. At this time, since the arc-shaped step portions 35A and 35B of the lower column 3 are guided by the arc-shaped convex portions 71A and 71B of the spacer 7 and swing, the tilt position adjustment of the lower column 3 is performed smoothly.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the height in the vertical direction (tilt position adjustment direction) of the arc-shaped recess 35 of the lower column 3 is set (the inner surface 74 of the spacer 7 is the lower column). 3 is the height of the contact surface in contact with the right side surface 34) h, the stroke of the lower column 3 on the tilt raising side is S1, the stroke of the lower column 3 on the tilt lowering side is S2, and the adjustment screws 8A and 8B are vertically moved (tilt). If the interval in the (position adjustment direction) is L,
L> h + S1 + S2
It is configured.

  That is, at the tilt rising end of the lower column 3, the upper adjustment screw 8 </ b> A is disposed above the contact surface upper end 35 </ b> C between the inner surface 74 of the spacer 7 and the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3. Further, the lower adjustment screw 8B is disposed at a lower position than the lower end 35D of the contact surface between the inner side surface 74 of the spacer 7 and the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3 at the tilt lower end of the lower column 3.

  In other words, in FIG. 6, the upper end 35C of the contact surface between the spacer 7 and the lower column 3 at the tilt rising end and the tilt lowering end at an angle range α connecting the tilt center shaft 32 and the centers of the adjusting screws 8A and 8B. An angle range β connecting the lower end 35D of the contact surface between the spacer 7 and the lower column 3 is included.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, gravity W due to the mass of the electric steering device 101 acts below the plane of FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. Further, when the vehicle travels on a curve during driving of the vehicle, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the centrifugal force F <b> 1 acting on the driver is passed through the driver's hand holding the steering wheel 103. 8 and 9 acts in the horizontal direction of the paper surface, and the resultant force P of the gravity W and the centrifugal force F1 acts obliquely below the paper surface.

  This resultant force P always acts between the upper adjustment screw 8A and the lower adjustment screw 8B, so that the displacement of the lower column 3 is kept small, the steering feeling is maintained well, and the lower column 3 Therefore, the lower column 3 can be reduced in weight and size.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 10 is a front view showing a main part of the electric steering apparatus 101 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a view taken in the direction of arrow Q in FIG. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing a load applied to the spacer according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the following description, only structural parts different from those of the first embodiment will be described, and redundant description will be omitted. Further, the same parts will be described with the same numbers.

  The second embodiment shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a steering apparatus provided with a steering assist mechanism that applies a predetermined steering assist force to a steering shaft via a speed reduction mechanism by a driving force of a steering assist motor.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the electric steering apparatus 101 according to the second embodiment of the present invention includes a vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2, a lower column (outer column) 3, a steering assist portion 36 (electric assist mechanism), an upper column ( Inner column) 4 and the like.

  The upper plate 21 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 on the rear side of the vehicle body is fixed to the vehicle body 11. On the vehicle body front side (right side) of the lower column 3, the left end of the housing 361 of the steering assist portion (electric assist mechanism) 36 is fixed by press-fitting. The steering assist unit 36 includes an electric motor 362, a reduction gear box 363, an output shaft 364, and the like. The steering assisting part 36 is supported by the lower body mounting bracket 365 so as to be capable of tilt position adjustment (swing in a plane parallel to the paper surface of FIG. 10) on the vehicle body 11 via the tilt center shaft 366.

  The upper column 4 is fitted to the inner periphery of the lower column 3 so as to be capable of telescopic position adjustment (sliding parallel to the central axis of the lower column 3). An upper steering shaft 102A is pivotally supported on the upper column 4, and a steering wheel 103 (see FIG. 1) is fixed to an end of the upper steering shaft 102A on the vehicle body rear side (left side in FIG. 10). Yes.

  A lower steering shaft (not shown) is rotatably supported on the lower column 3, and the lower steering shaft is splined to the upper steering shaft 102A. Therefore, regardless of the telescopic position of the upper column 4, the rotation of the upper steering shaft 102A is transmitted to the lower steering shaft.

  The steering assist unit 36 detects torque acting on the lower steering shaft, drives the electric motor 362, rotates the output shaft 364 with a required steering assist force, and moves an intermediate shaft (not shown) connected to the front side of the vehicle body. Via, it is connected to the steering gear, and the steering angle of the wheel can be changed.

  A left side plate 22 and a right side plate 23 extending in parallel downward from the upper plate 21 are formed on the upper plate 21 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2. The left and right side surfaces of the lower column 3 are sandwiched between inner surfaces of the left side plate 22 and the right side plate 23 so as to be slidable in a tilting manner.

  A spacer 7 having the same structure as that of the first embodiment is interposed between the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3 and the inner side surface of the right side plate 23 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2. The lower ends of the left side plate 22 and the right side plate 23 are connected by a lower plate 24 to form a closed rectangular shape by the upper plate 21, the left side plate 22, the right side plate 23, and the lower plate 24, and the rigidity of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 is determined. Has improved.

  A telescopic drive mechanism 5 for adjusting the telescopic position is attached to the outer periphery of the lower column 3. A tilt drive mechanism 6 for adjusting the tilt position is attached below the left side plate 22 and the right side plate 23 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2.

  The worm attached to the output shaft of the tilt motor 61 for the tilt drive mechanism 6 meshes with the worm wheel attached below the feed screw shaft 63 to transmit the rotation of the tilt motor 61 to the feed screw shaft 63. ing.

  A feed nut 65 is screwed onto a male screw formed on the outer periphery of the feed screw shaft 63. The feed nut 65 is integrally formed with a tilt driving force transmission protrusion, and the tip of the tilt driving force transmission protrusion is fitted into an engagement hole formed in the lower column 3.

  When the feed screw shaft 63 rotates, the feed nut 65 and the tilt driving force transmission protrusion perform a linear motion in the vertical direction of FIGS. With the tilt center axis 366 as a fulcrum, the lower column 3 swings along an arcuate locus during tilt position adjustment (oscillates in a plane parallel to the paper surface of FIG. 10).

  A telescopic motor 51 is attached to the outer periphery of the lower surface of the lower column 3. A feed screw shaft 52 is fixed to the outer periphery of the lower surface of the lower column 3 in parallel with the central axis of the lower column 3, and the rear end (left end in FIG. 10) of the feed screw shaft 52 is connected to the rear end of the upper column 4. It is connected to the lower end of the fixed flange 41.

  The rotation of a worm attached to an output shaft (not shown) of the telescopic motor 51 is transmitted to a worm wheel (not shown), and a feed nut (not shown) screwed to the feed screw shaft 52 is rotated. By rotating the feed nut, the feed screw shaft 52 is reciprocated (moved in the left-right direction in FIG. 10), and the telescopic position of the upper column 4 is adjusted.

  Also in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the right side plate 23 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 has two adjustment screws 8A spaced apart in the vertical direction (tilt position adjustment direction) in FIGS. 8B is screwed.

Further, as in the first embodiment, the height h of the contact surface where the inner surface of the spacer 7 is in contact with the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3, the stroke on the tilt raising side of the lower column 3 is S1, the tilt lowering of the lower column 3 is S2 is the stroke on the side, and L is the distance between the adjustment screws 8A and 8B in the vertical direction (tilt position adjustment direction)
L> h + S1 + S2
It is configured.

  In the electric steering device 101 of the second embodiment, when the electric motor 362 is driven and the steering assist torque T1 acts on the output shaft 364, the torque T2 as a reaction force is applied to the lower column 3, and therefore the spacer from the lower column 3 to the spacer. 7 is subjected to a load F2.

As shown in FIG. 12, the distance between the adjustment screws 8A and 8B in the vertical direction (tilt position adjustment direction) is L, the distance between the upper adjustment screw 8A and the load F2 is a, and the upper adjustment screw 8A is applied. If the reaction force is RA and the reaction force acting on the lower adjustment screw 8B is RB,
RA = F2 · (L−a) / L
RB = F2 · a / L
The reaction forces RA and RB are both positive.

  Accordingly, no gap is generated between the lower column 3 and the spacer 7, so that the steering feeling is well maintained. In addition, since reaction forces RA and RB are both positive, it is not necessary to apply a large preload to adjustment screws 8A and 8B, so that the sliding resistance of the tilt sliding portion is small, and the speed reduction device of the tilt drive mechanism and tilt drive The motor can be reduced in weight and size.

  In the above embodiment, the arc-shaped recess 35 is formed in the lower column 3 and the arc-shaped projections 71A and 71B are formed in the spacer 7, but the arc-shaped projections are formed in the lower column 3 and the spacer An arcuate concave portion may be formed on 7. Alternatively, the concave portion 35 of the lower column 3 may be eliminated, and only the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3 and the inner side surface 74 of the spacer 7 may be in contact with each other. The spacer 7 may be rectangular instead of arcuate.

  In the above embodiment, the lower column 3 is an outer column and the upper column 4 is an inner column. However, the lower column 3 may be an inner column and the upper column 4 may be an outer column.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a tilt / telescopic electric steering apparatus capable of both tilt position adjustment and telescopic position adjustment has been described. However, a tilt type electric motor capable of only tilt position adjustment is described. The present invention may be applied to a steering device.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the spacer 7 interposed between the right side plate 23 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 and the right side surface 34 of the lower column 3 has been described. The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but a spacer interposed between the left side plate 22 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 and the left side surface 33 of the lower column 3 or the right side plate of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2. 23 and the spacer 34 interposed between the left side plate 22 of the vehicle body mounting upper bracket 2 and the left side surface 33 of the lower column 3. Good.

  Further, an elastic member such as a disc spring is inserted between the male screws 81A and 81B of the adjusting screws 8A and 8B and the stepped surfaces of the shaft portions 82A and 82B and the outer surface 73 of the spacer 7 so that the spacer 7 is fixed to the lower column 3. And may be elastically pressed. Furthermore, the configuration of the first embodiment may be applied to a steering device including the steering assist mechanism of the second embodiment.

1 is an overall perspective view showing a state where an electric steering device 101 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a vehicle. It is a front view which shows the principal part of the electric steering apparatus 101 of Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 3 and shows a tilt motor and a worm of the tilt drive mechanism. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 2, showing a tilt sliding portion between the vehicle body mounting upper bracket and the column according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is DD sectional drawing of FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the tilt position adjustment operation | movement of Example 1 of this invention. FIG. 3 is a right side view of the electric steering apparatus 101, as viewed from the direction of arrow P in FIG. 2. It is explanatory drawing which takes out and shows a column, a spacer, and an adjustment screw from FIG. It is a front view which shows the principal part of the electric steering apparatus 101 of Example 2 of this invention. It is Q arrow view of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the load added to the spacer of Example 2 of this invention. It is a side view which shows the conventional electric steering apparatus which uses one adjustment screw for looseness elimination. It is explanatory drawing which takes out and shows a column and an adjustment screw from FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state in which the axial center of the adjustment screw and the column corresponded, Comprising: It is a figure equivalent to FIG. It is a side view which shows the conventional electric steering apparatus which uses two adjustment screws for looseness elimination. It is explanatory drawing which takes out and shows a column and an adjustment screw from FIG. It is a side view which shows the conventional electric steering device using the spacer for backlash elimination. It is explanatory drawing which shows the load added to the spacer of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Electric steering device 102 Steering shaft 102A Upper steering shaft 102B Lower steering shaft 103 Steering wheel 104 Universal joint 105 Intermediate shaft 106 Universal joint 107 Steering gear 108 Tie rod 11 Car body 12 Car body mounting lower bracket 2 Car body mounting upper bracket 21 Upper plate 22 Left side plate 221 Inner side surface 23 Right side plate 231 Inner side surface 24 Lower plate 25A, 25B Female thread 26 Arc-shaped convex portion 3 Lower column 31 Bracket 32 Tilt center axis 33 Left side surface 34 Right side surface 35 Arc-shaped concave portion 35A, 35B Arc-shaped step portion 35C Upper end of contact surface 35C, 35D Lower end of contact surface 36 Steering assist part 361 Housing 362 Electric motor 363 Reduction gear YABOX section 364 Output shaft 365 Lower body mounting bracket 366 Tilt center shaft 4 Upper column 41 Flange 5 Telescopic drive mechanism 51 Telescopic motor 52 Feed screw shaft 6 Tilt drive mechanism 61 Tilt motor 62 Warm 63 Feed screw shaft 631, 632 Bearing 64 Worm wheel 65 Feed nut 651 Tilt driving force transmission protrusion 66 Engagement hole 67 Output shaft 671, 672 Bearing 7 Spacer 71A, 71B Arc-shaped convex part 72A, 72B Through hole 73 Outer side surface 74 Inner side surface 8A, 8B Adjustment screw 81A , 81B Male thread 82A, 82B Shaft 83A, 83B Lock nut

Claims (10)

column,
A steering shaft rotatably supported by the column and having a steering wheel mounted on the rear side of the vehicle body;
A vehicle body mounting lower bracket that pivotally supports the vehicle body so that the lower side of the column can be pivoted about the tilt center axis as a fulcrum,
A vehicle body mounting upper bracket that slidably holds the column side of the upper side of the column to the left and right side plates;
Tilt motor,
A tilt drive mechanism for adjusting the tilt position of the column by the drive force of the tilt motor;
A spacer inserted between one of the left and right side plates and the side of the column;
The spacer is provided on each of the side plates, and is positioned above the upper end of the contact surface between the spacer and the column side surface at the tilt rising end and below the lower end of the contact surface between the spacer and the column side surface at the tilt lower end. A steering device comprising an adjusting screw that presses the column toward the side of the column. column,
A steering shaft rotatably supported by the column and having a steering wheel mounted on the rear side of the vehicle body;
A vehicle body mounting lower bracket that pivotally supports the vehicle body so that the lower side of the column can be pivoted about the tilt center axis as a fulcrum,
A vehicle body mounting upper bracket that slidably holds the column side of the upper side of the column to the left and right side plates;
Tilt motor,
A tilt drive mechanism for adjusting the tilt position of the column by the drive force of the tilt motor;
A spacer inserted between one of the left and right side plates and the side of the column;
An adjustment screw provided on each of the side plate at the tilt rising end side and the tilt lowering end side to press the spacer toward the column side surface;
The upper end of the contact surface between the spacer and the column side surface at the tilt rising end and the lower end of the contact surface between the spacer and the column side surface at the tilt lower end are within the range connecting the tilt center axis and the center of each adjusting screw. A steering apparatus characterized by comprising: In the steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 2,
A steering apparatus comprising: a concave portion and a convex portion that are formed in an arc shape having the same radius around the tilt central axis of the column and are fitted to each other on the side surfaces of the spacer and the column. In the steering apparatus according to claim 3,
The spacer is formed with an arc-shaped protrusion centered on the tilt center axis of the column,
The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the arc-shaped concave portion that fits into the arc-shaped convex portion is formed on the side surface of the column. In the steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 2,
Steering assist motor,
A steering apparatus comprising a steering assist mechanism that applies a predetermined steering assist force to the steering shaft via a speed reduction mechanism by a driving force of the steering assist motor. In the steering apparatus according to claim 3,
Steering assist motor,
A steering apparatus comprising a steering assist mechanism that applies a predetermined steering assist force to the steering shaft via a speed reduction mechanism by a driving force of the steering assist motor. The steering apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
Steering assist motor,
A steering apparatus comprising a steering assist mechanism that applies a predetermined steering assist force to the steering shaft via a speed reduction mechanism by a driving force of the steering assist motor. In the steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 2,
A shaft portion having a smaller diameter than the male screw formed on the outer periphery of the adjusting screw is formed at the tip of the adjusting screw.
A steering device, wherein the shaft portion is fitted into a through hole formed in the spacer, and the spacer is pressed by a step surface between the shaft portion and a male screw. In the steering apparatus according to claim 3,
A shaft portion having a smaller diameter than the male screw formed on the outer periphery of the adjusting screw is formed at the tip of the adjusting screw.
A steering device, wherein the shaft portion is fitted into a through hole formed in the spacer, and the spacer is pressed by a step surface between the shaft portion and a male screw. The steering apparatus according to claim 4, wherein
A shaft portion having a smaller diameter than the male screw formed on the outer periphery of the adjusting screw is formed at the tip of the adjusting screw.
A steering device, wherein the shaft portion is fitted into a through hole formed in the spacer, and the spacer is pressed by a step surface between the shaft portion and a male screw.

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