JP2008201240A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the operability of a steering device by combining forward/backward movement with rotating movement of an operating element. <P>SOLUTION: The steering device 1B is provided with a steering shaft 23; the operating element 22 operated by a driver; a steering column 21 for rotatably supporting the operating element 22 around the axial center of the steering shaft 23 and around the axial center of a gear shaft 31 intersecting with the steering shaft 23; a second bevel gear 25 provided in an end part of the steering shaft 23; a first bevel gear 32 fixed to the gear shaft 31 and engaged with the second bevel gear 25; a projection 37 provided in the operating element 22; and a guide groove provided in the steering column 21. The projection 37 is movably engaged with the guide groove. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering device for a vehicle or the like.

  Conventionally, as a manipulator in a steering apparatus such as a vehicle, a rotary handle type has been generally used because of its simple structure. However, the rotary handle type has not been sufficiently satisfactory in terms of operability.

Therefore, various steering devices have been developed for the purpose of improving operability. For example, in Patent Document 1, a pair of left and right child bevel gears are meshed with a parent bevel gear fixed to the rear end of the steering shaft, and the two child bevel gears are synchronized so that they can revolve around the rotation center axis of the parent bevel gear. A steering device is disclosed in which each of the child bevel gears is configured to be able to rotate in association with the revolution, and an operation element is provided on each rotation shaft of each child bevel gear.
In the steering apparatus configured as described above, the driver can operate the moving element in a spherical shape with the elbow position as the center without moving the elbow position.
JP 2005-277772 A

  However, as in the steering device described above, it is difficult to produce a force by a steering motion with the elbow position fixed, and the operation range is narrow, and the steering shaft rotation angle is small. It is difficult to steer the wheels by connecting to the wheel. Therefore, it has been unavoidable to use a so-called steer-by-wire steering system in which the rotation angle of the steering shaft is detected by a sensor and the steering mechanism is operated based on the sensor output.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a steering device that can improve operability by combining the forward and backward movement and the rotational movement of an operator.

The steering apparatus according to the present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
The invention according to claim 1 includes a steering shaft (e.g., steering shafts 5, 23, 53 in an embodiment described later) and an operator (e.g., an operator 4, 22, in an embodiment described later) operated by a driver. 52) and a second axis (for example, rocking shafts 8 and 59, gear shaft 31 in the embodiment described later) that supports the operating element rotatably around the steering shaft and intersects the steering shaft. A support body (for example, steering columns 2, 21, 51 and holder 3 in an embodiment described later) that is rotatably supported, and a first gear (for example, an embodiment described later) that is provided on the operating element and meshes with the steering shaft. First bevel gears 9, 32, 60) and a guide mechanism (for example, provided between the operating element and the support) A steering device (e.g., a steering device 1A, 1B, or a steering device 1A, 1B, or the like in an embodiment to be described later). 1C).

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the operation element includes an annular steering wheel (for example, steering wheels 12, 30, 61 in an embodiment described later), and the second shaft and the The distance from the operation surface of the steering wheel is smaller than the radius of the steering wheel.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the steering shaft can be rotated even if the operating element is rotated around the second axis and moved back and forth, or the operating element is rotated around the steering shaft. This improves the driver's burden and reduces fatigue.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the amount of movement of the operation element when the operation element is rotated around the second axis can be reduced, and the operability is improved.

  Embodiments of a steering device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings of FIGS. Each embodiment described below is an aspect of a vehicle steering apparatus.

[Example 1]
First, a first embodiment of a steering apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a vehicle steering apparatus 1A. The steering apparatus 1A includes a steering column 2 that is fixed to a vehicle body and has a rear end disposed in front of a driver's seat, and an outer side of the steering column 2. A holder 3 which is arranged in the axial direction of the steering column 2 and is attached so as to be rotatable around the axis of the steering column 2, an operating element 4 supported by the holder 3, and a rear end through which the steering column 2 is inserted. And a steering shaft 5 protruding rearward from the steering column 2 as a main component.

  Here, the front-rear direction refers to a direction along the axial direction of the steering shaft 5 and does not necessarily coincide with the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. Further, the rear means the side of the steering shaft 5 that approaches the operating element 4, and the front means the side that is separated from the operating element 4.

  The steering shaft 5 is rotatably supported by the steering column 2, and a second bevel gear 6 is integrally formed at the rear end thereof. The front end of the steering shaft 5 is connected to a steering mechanism (not shown), and a steered wheel (not shown) can be steered by rotating the steering shaft 5.

  The holder 3 has a cylindrical shape, and the rear end thereof is disposed substantially flush with the rear end of the steering column 2. From the rear end of the holder 3, a pair of arms 7, 7 arranged to face each other in the radial direction are provided extending rearward.

  The operation element 4 is rotatably attached to the arms 7 and 7 of the holder 3. The operating element 4 has an axis extending in a direction perpendicular to the steering shaft 5, a swing shaft (second shaft) 8 that is rotatably supported by the arms 7 and 7 at both ends, and a substantially center of the swing shaft 8. A fixed first bevel gear (first gear) 9, a cylindrical gear housing 10 that is immovably connected to the swing shaft 8 and accommodates the first bevel gear 9, and a steering shaft fixed to the bottom surface of the gear housing 10. 5 and a connecting plate 11 extending in a direction perpendicular to the swing shaft 8, an annular steering wheel 12 connected to both ends of the connecting plate 11, and a plan view that protrudes forward from the upper part of the outer peripheral surface of the gear housing 10. A triangular plate-like tongue piece 13.

  The gear housing 10 is disposed outside the steering column 2 and, as shown in FIG. 3, the steering shaft 5 is inserted into a predetermined portion of the outer peripheral surface of the gear housing 10 around the swing shaft 8 of the gear housing 10. A hole 14 is provided to enable rotation of the. The rear end of the steering shaft 5 is inserted into the gear housing 10 through the hole 14, and the first bevel gear 9 of the operating element 4 and the second bevel gear 6 of the steering shaft 5 mesh with each other in the gear housing 10. ing. The extension line of the axis of the steering shaft 5 and the axis of the swing shaft 8 are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other.

A flat portion 15 is formed at the rear portion of the steering column 2 so that the upper portion thereof is crushed. The flat portion 15 has a symmetrical shape in the vehicle width direction in plan view.
In a state in which the operation element 4 is held so that the vehicle goes straight on a horizontal road surface (hereinafter, this state is referred to as a neutral state), the tongue piece 13 of the gear housing 10 is positioned above the flat portion 15 of the steering column 2. The center of the tongue 13 is set so as to be located on the axis of the steering shaft 5. In this state, the longitudinal direction of the connecting plate 11 is set so as to be along the vehicle width direction.
When the tongue piece 13 is positioned above the flat portion 15, the tongue piece 13 and the flat portion 15 restrict (block) the rotation of the gear housing 10 around the steering shaft 5, so that the holder 3 is placed against the steering column 2. Cannot rotate.
However, even if the tongue piece 13 is positioned above the flat portion 15, the gear housing 10 can be rotated around the swing shaft 8, and at that time, the tongue piece 13 moves on the flat portion 15. . As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, the connecting plate 11 hits the holder 3 when the tongue piece 13 is detached from the flat portion 15, and further rotation around the swing shaft 8 is prevented. When the tongue piece 13 is detached from the flat portion 15, the gear housing 10 can be rotated around the steering shaft 5, so that the holder 3 can be rotated with respect to the steering column 2.

Next, the operation of the steering apparatus 1A configured as described above will be described. Here, for convenience of explanation, the axis direction of the steering shaft 5 is the X axis, the axis perpendicular to the X axis on the swing shaft 8 and the axis extending in the vehicle width direction is the Y axis, and the X axis is perpendicular to the Y axis. Is the Z axis.
In the neutral state, the swing shaft 8 is located on the Z axis, the connecting plate 11 is located on the Y axis, and the steering wheel 12 is located on the YZ plane.

  Even if the steering wheel 12 is to be rotated around the X axis from this neutral state, it is rotated around the X axis by the engagement between the tongue piece 13 of the operating element 4 and the flat portion 15 of the steering column 2 as described above. However, it is possible to rotate the steering wheel 12 around the Z axis.

  Therefore, when turning the steered wheels from the neutral state, the steering wheel 12 is rotated around the Z axis (that is, around the swinging axis 8) by moving the left and right ones of the steering wheel 12 forward and the other backward. Let Then, the connecting plate 11, the gear housing 10, the swing shaft 8, and the first bevel gear 9 connected to the steering wheel 12 rotate around the Z axis together with the steering wheel 12 and rotate around the Z axis. The second bevel gear 7 meshing with the bevel gear 9 rotates about the X axis, and the steering shaft 5 rotates about the X axis. Thereby, a steered wheel can be steered. At this time, the holder 3 does not rotate.

  Then, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 2, when the steering wheel 12 is rotated around the Z axis to a position where the tongue piece 13 is detached from the flat portion 15, the connecting plate 11 hits the holder 3 and further swings. Although rotation around the moving shaft 8 is restricted, the gear housing 10 can be rotated around the steering shaft 5 in this state, and thereafter, the steering wheel 12 is rotated around the X axis (that is, the steering shaft). 5). Then, the connecting plate 11 connected to the steering wheel 12, the gear housing 10, the swing shaft 8, the first bevel gear 9, and the holder 3 rotate together with the steering wheel 12 around the X axis, and the first bevel gear 9 The meshed second bevel gear 7 rotates around the X axis. Thus, when the gear housing 10 is rotating around the X axis, the first bevel gear 9 and the second bevel gear 6 are not rotated relative to each other and are locked, so that the first bevel gear 9 revolves around the X axis. Accordingly, the steering shaft 5 rotates around the X axis. Thereby, a steered wheel can be steered.

That is, in this steering apparatus 1A, in the small steering angle region close to the neutral state, the steering wheel 12 is rotated around the Z axis by moving the left and right sides of the steering wheel 12 in the front-rear direction, thereby turning the steered wheels. After the turning angle reaches a predetermined angle, the steered wheels can be steered by rotating the steering wheel 12 about the X axis.
As a result, in the initial stage of steering, the driver can steer by the back and forth movement of the arm, so that the driver can easily exert the operating force, the operation speed is increased, and the burden on the driver can be reduced. Fatigue can be reduced. From an ergonomic point of view, human beings can move more quickly when moving objects back and forth than when rotating objects.

  In the first embodiment, the operating column 4 is supported by the steering column 2 and the holder 3 so as to be rotatable around the steering shaft 5 and is also supported so as to be rotatable around the second axis intersecting with the steering shaft 5. The tongue 13 and the flat portion 15 constitute a guide mechanism.

[Example 2]
Next, a second embodiment of the steering apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS.
FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the vehicle steering apparatus 1B. The steering apparatus 1B includes a steering column 21 that is fixed to the vehicle body and that has a rear end disposed in front of the driver's seat, and a rear part of the steering column 21. An operating element 22 attached to the end and a steering shaft 23 rotatably attached to the steering column 21 are provided.

  Here, the front-rear direction refers to a direction along the axial direction of the steering shaft 23 and does not necessarily coincide with the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. Further, the rear means the side of the steering shaft 23 that approaches the operating element 22, and the front means the side that is separated from the operating element 22.

  The steering shaft 23 is inserted into a shaft insertion hole 27 of the steering column 21 and is rotatably supported by the steering column 21 via a bearing 24. A second bevel gear 25 is integrally formed at the rear end of the steering shaft 23. The front end of the steering shaft 23 is connected to a steering mechanism (not shown), and a steered wheel (not shown) can be steered by rotating the steering shaft 23.

The rear end of the steering column 21 is provided with a substantially hemispherical concave portion 26 that continues to the rear end of the shaft insertion hole 27, and the operating element 22 is attached to the concave portion 26.
The operating element 22 includes a substantially hemispherical gear housing 28 accommodated in the recess 26, a pair of arms 29, 29 extending obliquely rearward and outward from the rear end surface of the gear housing 28, and an annular shape connected to the arms 29, 29. A steering wheel 30, a gear shaft (second shaft) 31 provided inside the gear housing 28 and arranged in the diameter direction, and a first bevel gear (first gear) 32 provided substantially at the center of the gear shaft 31. It is equipped with.

  A substantially hemispherical recess 33 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the gear housing 28 on the axial extension of the gear shaft 31, and a spherical support ball 34 is rotatably accommodated in the recess 33. This support ball 34 can roll into a guide groove 35 having a substantially semicircular cross section formed in an annular shape along the intersection of the inner surface of the recess 26 of the steering column 21 and a virtual surface orthogonal to the axis of the steering shaft 23. Is engaged. With this configuration, the gear housing 28 can rotate about the axis of the gear shaft 31 and can rotate about the axis of the steering shaft 23.

  The gear housing 28 is provided with a hole 36 that allows the steering shaft 23 to pass therethrough and allows the gear housing 28 to rotate around the gear shaft 31. The rear end of the steering shaft 23 is inserted into the gear housing 28 through the hole 36, and the first bevel gear 32 and the second bevel gear 25 of the steering shaft 23 are engaged with each other in the gear housing 28. The extension line of the axis of the steering shaft 23 is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the axis of the gear shaft 31.

Further, a projection 37 that protrudes outward is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the gear housing 28 between the recess 33 and the hole 36, and this projection 37 is formed on the inner surface of the recess 26 of the steering column 21. The guide groove 38 is slidably engaged. The engagement of the protrusion 37 and the guide groove 38 limits the rotation of the gear housing 28.
The broken line in FIG. 6 shows the center line of the guide groove 38 projected onto the YZ plane. . Here, for convenience of explanation, the axis direction of the steering shaft 23 is the X axis, the axis that is orthogonal to the X axis on the gear shaft 31 and extends in the vehicle width direction is the Y axis, and the axis that is orthogonal to the X axis and the Y axis is The Z axis is assumed.

In the drawing, the projection line of the section A from the point P1 to the point P2 is a straight line parallel to the Y axis and symmetrical with respect to the X axis, and the projection 37 is engaged with the guide groove 38 of the section A. The gear housing 28 is set so that only rotation around the Z axis is allowed and rotation around the X axis is prevented.
In addition, the projection line of the section C from the point P3 to the point P4 has an arc shape with a predetermined radius centered on the X axis, and while the projection 37 is engaged with the guide groove 38 of the section C, the gear housing 28 is Only rotation around the X axis is allowed, and rotation around the Z axis is prevented.
The projection line of the section B connecting the section A and the section C has a smooth curved shape with a changing curvature, and the projection 37 is engaged with the guide groove 38 of the section B according to the shape of the guide groove 38. Thus, the gear housing 28 is set to be allowed to rotate in either direction around the X axis or around the Z axis.

Next, the operation of the steering apparatus 1B configured as described above will be described.
In the steering device 1B, in the neutral state, the axis of the gear shaft 31 is located on the Z axis, the steering wheel 30 is located on a plane parallel to the YZ plane, and the protrusion 37 is the longitudinal direction of the section A of the guide groove 38. It is set to be located in the center.
Even if an attempt is made to rotate the steering wheel 30 about the X axis from this neutral state, as described above, the rotation of the steering wheel 30 about the X axis is caused by the engagement between the projection 37 of the operating element 22 and the guide groove 38 in the section A of the steering column 21. However, it is possible to rotate the steering wheel 30 around the Z axis.

  Therefore, when turning the steered wheels from the neutral state, the steering wheel 30 is rotated around the Z axis (that is, around the gear shaft 31) by moving one of the left and right sides of the steering wheel 30 forward and the other backward. . Then, the gear housing 28, the gear shaft 31, and the first bevel gear 32 connected to the steering wheel 30 rotate together with the steering wheel 30 around the Z axis and mesh with the first bevel gear 32 that rotates around the Z axis. The second bevel gear 25 rotates about the X axis, and the steering shaft 23 rotates about the X axis. Thereby, a steered wheel can be steered.

  When the projection 37 advances to the guide groove 38 in the section C via the section B, the steering wheel 30 is prevented from rotating around the Z axis due to the engagement between the projection 37 and the guide groove 38 in the section C. Since only rotation around the axis is allowed, thereafter, the steering wheel 30 is rotated around the X axis (that is, around the steering shaft 23). Then, the gear housing 28, the gear shaft 31, and the first bevel gear 32 connected to the steering wheel 30 rotate around the X axis integrally with the steering wheel 30, and the second bevel gear 25 that meshes with the first bevel gear 32 becomes X Rotate around the axis. As described above, when the gear housing 28 rotates around the X axis, the first bevel gear 32 and the second bevel gear 25 are not rotated relative to each other and are locked, so that the first bevel gear 32 revolves around the X axis. Accordingly, the steering shaft 23 rotates about the X axis. Thereby, a steered wheel can be steered.

  While the protrusion 37 advances along the guide groove 38 in the section B, the steering wheel 30 can rotate about the Z axis and the X axis according to the shape of the guide groove 38. At this time, the first bevel gear 32 is This is a combined rotation that rotates around the Z axis and revolves around the X axis. As a result, the second bevel gear 25 that meshes with the first bevel gear 32 rotates about the X axis, and the steering shaft 23 rotates about the X axis, so that the steered wheels can be steered.

  In the steering device 1B of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable to set the distance S between the gear shaft 31 and the operation surface of the steering wheel 30 to be smaller than the radius R of the steering wheel 30. In this way, when the operating element 22 is rotated around the Z axis, the amount of movement of the steering wheel 30 in the Y axis direction can be reduced, and the driver does not feel uncomfortable when operating the steering wheel 30. That's it. Further, the rotation operation around the Z axis of the operation element 22 is close to the operation of moving the steering wheel 30 back and forth in opposite directions. On the contrary, if the distance S is larger than the radius R of the steering wheel 30, the amount of movement of the steering wheel 30 in the Y-axis direction increases when the operating element 22 is rotated around the Z-axis. I feel uncomfortable.

As described above, in the steering device 1B, in the small steering angle region close to the neutral state, the steered wheels are moved by rotating the steering wheel 30 about the Z axis by moving the left and right sides of the steering wheel 30 in the front-rear direction. The steered wheels can be steered by rotating the steering wheel 30 about the X axis after the steered angle has reached a predetermined angle.
As a result, in the initial stage of steering, the driver can steer almost by the back and forth movement of the arm, so the driver can easily output the operation force, the operation speed is increased, and the burden on the driver can be reduced. Fatigue can be reduced.

  In the second embodiment, the steering column 21 constitutes a support body that supports the operating element 22 so as to be rotatable around the steering shaft 23 and also supports the operating element 22 so as to be rotatable around the second axis intersecting the steering shaft 23. The guide mechanism is constituted by the projection 37 of the operating element 22 and the guide groove 38 of the steering column 21.

[Example 3]
Next, a third embodiment of the steering apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS.
FIGS. 7 and 8 are a side view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, showing the vehicle steering apparatus 1C in a partially broken view. The steering apparatus 1C is a steering column that is fixed to the vehicle body and has a rear end disposed in front of the driver's seat. 51, an operating element 52 attached to the rear end of the steering column 51, a steering shaft 53 rotatably attached to the steering column 51, and a guide mechanism 54 provided between the steering column 51 and the operating element 52. And.

  Here, the front-rear direction refers to a direction along the axial direction of the steering shaft 53 and does not necessarily coincide with the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. Further, the rear means the side of the steering shaft 53 that approaches the operation element 52, and the front means the side that is separated from the operation element 52.

  The steering shaft 53 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 71 of the steering column 51 and is rotatably supported by the steering column 51 via a bearing 55. The rear end of the steering shaft 53 protrudes rearward from the rear end of the steering column 51, and a second bevel gear 56 is formed integrally with the rear end. The front end of the steering shaft 53 is connected to a steering mechanism (not shown), and a steered wheel (not shown) can be steered by rotating the steering shaft 53.

The operating element 52 includes a gear housing 57 rotatably attached to the rear end of the steering column 51 via a bearing 70 around the axis of the steering column 51, and the shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to the steering shaft 53. A swing shaft (second shaft) 59 that passes through the housing 57 and is rotatably supported by the gear housing 57 via a bearing 58, and a first bevel gear (stored in the gear housing 57 and fixed to the swing shaft 59). A first gear 60, and an annular steering wheel 61 connected to both ends of the swing shaft 59. Note that the extension line of the axis of the steering shaft 53 and the axis of the swing shaft 59 are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other.
The second bevel gear 56 of the steering shaft 53 is accommodated in the gear housing 57 and meshes with the first bevel gear 60.

In the operation element 52 configured as described above, the gear housing 57 can rotate about the axis of the steering shaft 53, and the swing shaft 59 can rotate about the axis of the gear housing 57.
In the third embodiment, the steering column 51 constitutes a support body that supports the operating element 52 so as to be rotatable around the steering shaft 53 and also supports the operating element 52 so as to be rotatable around a second axis intersecting with the steering shaft 53.

The guide mechanism 54 includes an arm 62 fixed to the swing shaft 59 in the gear housing 57, a cylindrical slider 64 that is externally fitted to the cam portion 63 of the steering column 51 so as to be axially movable and rotatable, and a gear. A cam follower arm 66 inserted through a window 65 provided in the housing 57 and rotatably connected at one end to the arm 62 and rotatably connected at the other end to the slider 64, and a cam formed on the cam portion 63 of the steering column 51 It comprises a groove 67 and a pin 68 that is attached to the inner surface of the slider 64 so as to be inseparably integrated and slidably engages with the cam groove 67.
As shown in FIG. 9, the cam groove 67 has a straight portion 67 a formed linearly along the axis of the cam portion 63, and along the outer peripheral surface of the cam portion 63 on both sides of the straight portion 67 a. And spiral portions 67b and 67c formed in a spiral shape, and curved portions 67d and 67e connecting the straight portion 67a and the spiral portions 67b and 67c.

  In the guide mechanism 54, the pin 68 engages with the cam groove 67 and can move only along the cam groove 67. Therefore, when the pin 68 is moving along the straight portion 67a, the slider 64 does not rotate with respect to the cam portion 63, but only moves linearly along the axis of the cam portion 63. When moving 67d, 67e, the slider 64 rotates around the cam part 63 while moving along the axis of the cam part 63, and when the pin 68 is moving the spiral parts 67b, 67c, the slider 64 rotates. 64 moves in a spiral around the cam portion 63. When the slider 64 rotates about the axis of the cam portion 63, the gear housing 57 of the operating element 52 connected to the slider 64 via the cam follower arm 66, the arm 62, and the swing shaft 59 is also connected to the slider 64. Rotate together.

Next, the operation of the steering apparatus 1C configured as described above will be described. Here, for convenience of explanation, the axis direction of the steering shaft 53 is the X axis, the axis that is orthogonal to the X axis on the swing shaft 59 and extends in the vehicle width direction is the Y axis, and the axis that is orthogonal to the X axis and the Y axis. Is the Z axis.
In the steering device 1C, in the neutral state, the axis of the swing shaft 59 coincides with the Z axis, the steering wheel 61 and the arm 62 are positioned on the YZ plane (see FIG. 8), and the pin 68 is a straight line of the cam groove 67. It is set to be located at the center in the longitudinal direction of the portion 67a (Q point in FIG. 9).

  Even if the steering wheel 61 is to be rotated about the X axis from this neutral state, it cannot be rotated about the X axis due to the engagement between the pin 68 and the straight portion 67 a of the cam groove 67. However, it is possible to move the pin 68 in the axial direction of the steering column 51 along the straight portion 67a.

  Therefore, when turning the steered wheels from the neutral state, the steering wheel 61 is rotated around the Z axis (that is, around the swinging shaft 59) by moving one of the left and right sides of the steering wheel 61 forward and the other backward. Let Then, the swing shaft 59 and the first bevel gear 60 connected to the steering wheel 61 are rotated together with the steering wheel 61 around the Z axis, and meshed with the first bevel gear 60 rotating around the Z axis. 56 rotates around the X axis, and the steering shaft 53 rotates around the X axis. Thereby, a steered wheel can be steered. At this time, since the arm 62 rotates integrally with the swing shaft 59, the cam follower arm 66 and the slider 64 are moved in the front-rear direction, and the pin 68 is moved to the straight portion 67a of the cam groove 67. Along the axis of the steering column 51. At this time, the gear housing 57 does not rotate. The operation range of the steering wheel 61 in the front-rear direction can be set by setting the length of the straight line portion 67a. 10 and 11 are a side view and a cross-sectional view showing a state where the pin 68 has reached the end point of the straight portion 67a.

Then, after the pin 68 reaches the curved portion 67d or 67e of the cam groove 67, the gear housing 57 is rotated about the axis of the steering column 51 while the steering wheel 61 is rotated about the swing shaft 59. That is, a complex rotation is performed in which the steering wheel 61 is rotated around the steering shaft 53 while being rotated around the swing shaft 59.
Then, the swing shaft 59, the gear housing 57, and the first bevel gear 60 connected to the steering wheel 61 rotate around the X axis integrally with the steering wheel 61, and the swing shaft 59 and the first bevel gear 60 are steered. Rotates around the Z axis together with the wheel 61. Accordingly, the pin 68 can be moved along the curved portion 67d or 67e of the cam groove 67.
By this operation, the second bevel gear 56 meshed with the first bevel gear 60 can be rotated around the X axis, and the steered wheels can be steered.
By appropriately setting the curvatures of the curved portions 67d and 67e, the transition from the straight portion 67a to the spiral portions 67b and 67c can be made smooth.

  Then, after the pin 68 reaches the spiral portion 67b or 67c, the gear housing 57 is rotated around the axis of the steering column 51 in order to move the pin 68 along the spiral portion 67b or 67c of the cam groove 67. . That is, the steering wheel 61 is rotated around the steering shaft 53. Then, the swing shaft 59, the gear housing 57, and the first bevel gear 60 connected to the steering wheel 61 rotate around the X axis integrally with the steering wheel 61, and the second bevel gear 56 that meshes with the first bevel gear 60 is obtained. By rotating around the X axis, the steering shaft 53 rotates around the X axis. Thereby, a steered wheel can be steered. When the pin 68 moves in the spiral portions 67b and 67c, the movement of the pin 68 in the axial direction of the cam portion 63 is restricted and hardly moves in that direction. The rotation operation range around the X axis of the steering wheel 61 can be set by setting the lengths of the spiral portions 67b and 67c. 12 and 13 are a side view and a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the pin 68 is moving in the spiral portion 67c and the cam follower arm 66 is positioned on the XZ plane.

That is, in the steering device 1C, in the small steering angle region close to the neutral state, the steering wheel 61 is rotated around the Z axis by moving the left and right sides of the steering wheel 61 in the front-rear direction, thereby turning the steered wheels. After the turning angle reaches a predetermined angle, the steered wheels can be steered by rotating the steering wheel 61 around the X axis.
As a result, in the initial stage of steering, the driver can steer by the back and forth movement of the arm, so that the driver can easily exert the operating force, the operation speed is increased, and the burden on the driver can be reduced. Fatigue can be reduced.

A modification of the steering device 1C according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
A modification of the cam mechanism 54 is shown in FIGS.
In the modification shown in FIG. 14A, a cam projection 67A having a trapezoidal cross section is provided instead of providing the cam groove 67 of the cam portion 63, and instead of attaching a pin 68 to the slider 64, a piece that engages with the cam projection 67A. 68A is attached.
In the modification shown in FIG. 14B, the cam protrusion 67 </ b> A is formed in a plate shape separately from the cam portion 63 and is fitted and fixed to the cam portion 63.
In the modification shown in FIG. 14C, a cam hole 67B is provided instead of the cam groove 67 of the cam portion 63, and a pin 68 is engaged with the cam hole 67B.

  In the modification shown in FIG. 15, the straight portion 67 a of the cam groove 67 is provided with a predetermined angle with respect to the axial direction of the cam portion 63. Further, the straight line portion 67a may have a curved shape such as an arc shape with a large curvature radius.

In the modification shown in FIG. 16, the pin 68 has a spherical shape, the cross-sectional shape of the cam groove 67 has a circular shape, and the spherical pin 68 fits in the cam groove 67 so as not to be detached and can move along the cam groove 67. Is. If comprised in this way, the slider 64 for hold | maintaining the pin 68 will become unnecessary.
Further, in this case, since the slider 64 is not used, the cam portion 63 can be formed into a curved surface whose radius changes along the axial direction of the cam portion 63 instead of a cylindrical shape having a constant radius. For example, it may be curved according to the movement locus (see FIG. 8) of the connection point between the cam follower arm 66 and the arm 62.

  FIG. 17 shows a modification of the support structure for the gear housing 57. In the third embodiment described above, the gear housing 57 is rotatably attached to the steering column 51. However, the gear housing 57 may be rotatably attached to the steering shaft 53 via a bearing 72 as shown in FIG.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view of a steering apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view of the steering device of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the steering device of Example 1 with a part broken away. It is a perspective view partially broken and showing in Example 2 of the steering device according to the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the steering apparatus of Example 2. It is a front view which shows the projection shape of the guide groove of the steering apparatus of Example 2. FIG. FIG. 10 is a side view partially broken away in Embodiment 3 of the steering device according to the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view of the steering device of Example 3. It is a side view of the cam part in the steering device of Example 3. FIG. 10 is a side view showing a state in which the steering wheel is operated in the front-rear direction in the steering device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state where a steering wheel is operated in the front-rear direction in the steering device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 9 is a side view showing a state where a steering wheel is rotated around a steering shaft in the steering device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state where a steering wheel is rotated around a steering shaft in the steering device according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a view showing a modification of the guide mechanism in the steering device of the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a view showing a modification of the guide mechanism in the steering device of the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a view showing a modification of the guide mechanism in the steering device of the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a view showing a modification of the support structure of the gear housing in the steering device of the third embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1A, 1B, 1C Steering device 2, 21, 51 Steering column (support)
3 Holder (support)
4, 22, 52 Operating elements 5, 23, 53 Steering shafts 6, 25, 56 Second bevel gears 8, 59 Oscillating shaft (second shaft)
9, 32, 60 First bevel gear (first gear)
12, 30, 61 Steering wheel 13 Tongue piece (guide mechanism)
15 Flat part (guide mechanism)
31 Gear shaft (second axis)
37 Protrusion (guide mechanism)
38 Guide groove (Guide mechanism)
54 Guide mechanism

Claims (2)

A steering shaft,
An operator operated by the driver, and
A support that rotatably supports the operating element around the steering shaft and supports the operating element rotatably about a second axis that intersects the steering shaft;
A first gear provided on the operating element and meshing with the steering shaft;
A guide mechanism provided between the operating element and the support;
A steering apparatus comprising:   The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the operation element includes an annular steering wheel, and a distance between the second shaft and an operation surface of the steering wheel is smaller than a radius of the steering wheel.

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