JP2009096381A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a positioning mechanism for positioning a steering column and a housing with high accuracy and at low cost. <P>SOLUTION: In the steering device constituted by assembling the steering column 12a and the housing 26 incorporating a driving mechanism for driving the steering column for adjusting the position of a steering wheel via a bolt 80, a positioning protruding member 78 are protrudingly arranged on the abutting face 71 of the steering column, a positioning hole 64b is arrange in the securing face 61 of the housing 12a abutting against the abutting face of the steering column, and the housing is positioned relative to the steering column by fitting the positioning protruding member into the positioning hole. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus having a drive mechanism for driving a steering column to adjust the position of a steering wheel, and more specifically, positioning of a steering column and a housing having a drive mechanism incorporated therein. Regarding improvement of mechanism.

The vehicle steering device needs to adjust the tilt position and telescopic position of the steering wheel according to the physique and posture of the driver, and the tilt position and the telescopic position are adjusted by a drive mechanism using an electric motor. As such a steering device, for example, a device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known.
The steering device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a steering column that rotatably supports a steering shaft having a steering wheel fixed at one end thereof, and a housing that is built in a tilt driving mechanism and a telescopic driving mechanism and is assembled to the outer periphery of the steering column. An electric steering apparatus provided with a flange portion and a boss portion formed on the outer periphery of the housing, and the mounting surface of the flange portion and the mounting surface of the boss portion are in contact with the mounting surface provided on the outer periphery of the steering column. The steering column and the housing are integrally assembled by screwing a bolt inserted into a bolt hole formed in the portion and the boss portion into a mounting surface provided on the outer periphery of the steering column.

Here, the device of Patent Document 1 is provided with a positioning mechanism at a position different from the position where the bolt engages in order to facilitate the assembly work of the steering column and the housing. In other words, the positioning mechanism is provided with a protrusion on the housing side, a cylindrical hole on the outer periphery of the steering column, and a protrusion on the housing side fitted into the cylindrical hole of the steering column, thereby positioning the steering column and the housing. Yes.
JP 2005-31826 A

However, in Patent Document 1, the protrusion of the positioning mechanism is a telescopic driving force transmission protrusion formed on the feed nut of the tilt driving mechanism built in the housing, and the steering column and the housing can be positioned with high accuracy. Since many manufacturing processes are required to form the telescopic driving force transmission protrusion, there is a problem in terms of the manufacturing cost of the positioning mechanism.
The present invention has been made paying attention to the unsolved problems of the above-described conventional example, and a steering device capable of forming a positioning mechanism for positioning a steering column and a housing with high accuracy and at low cost. It is intended to provide.

  To achieve the above object, a steering apparatus according to claim 1 drives a steering column for rotatably supporting a steering shaft to which a steering wheel is attached, and drives the steering column to adjust the position of the steering wheel. In a steering device in which a housing incorporating a drive mechanism is assembled via a plurality of bolts, one of the steering column and the mounting surface of the housing that are in contact with each other protrudes toward the other mounting surface The steering apparatus is characterized in that a positioning projecting member is provided, a positioning hole is provided in the other mounting surface, and the housing is positioned with respect to the steering column by fitting the positioning projecting member into the positioning hole.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the steering apparatus according to the first aspect, the positioning hole is a screw of the bolt provided coaxially with the screw hole formed on the other mounting surface and provided on the mounting surface side. The positioning projecting member is a hollow cylindrical member that projects from the one mounting surface and fits into the positioning hole while the threaded portion of the bolt is inserted therethrough.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the steering apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the positioning protruding member has a notched hollow cylindrical shape provided with one slit in the axial direction. The portion is fitted into the engagement hole formed on the one mounting surface while being reduced in diameter while being elastically deformed.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the steering device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the positioning projecting member is formed by plastically deforming a metal plate into a cylindrical shape.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the steering device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the positioning projecting member is formed by extrusion molding of a metal material.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the steering apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the positioning projecting member is formed by extrusion molding of a synthetic resin.
Furthermore, the invention according to claim 7 is the steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein at least two positioning protrusion members are provided on one of the mounting surfaces of the steering column and the housing, At least two or more positioning holes corresponding to the positioning projecting member are formed on the other mounting surface, and at least two positioning projecting members provided on the one mounting surface are arranged at the center of the one mounting surface. Is a rotational position, it is provided at an astigmatic position with respect to this rotational position.

  According to the steering device of the present invention, the positioning projection member protrudes from the one mounting surface on the mounting surface of the steering column and the housing that are in contact with each other, and this positioning projection member is in the positioning hole provided on the other mounting surface. Since the housing is positioned with respect to the steering column by fitting, the steering column and the housing can be positioned with high accuracy, and since the positioning projecting member is fitted into the positioning hole, The structure can be formed at low cost.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a vehicle assembled with a steering device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram showing a steering device according to the present invention.
In FIG. 1, a steering column device 10 includes a steering column 12 that supports a steering shaft 11 so as to be rotatable. A steering wheel 13 is mounted at the rear end of the steering shaft 11, and an intermediate shaft 15 is connected to the front end of the steering shaft 11 via a universal joint 14. A steering gear 17 composed of a rack and pinion mechanism or the like is connected to the intermediate shaft 15 through a universal joint 16 at the front end thereof. The output shaft of the steering gear 17 is connected to the steered wheel 19 through a tie rod 18.

When the driver steers the steering wheel 13, the rotational force is transmitted to the steering gear 17 via the steering shaft 11, the universal joint 14, the intermediate shaft 15, and the universal joint 16, and the rack and pinion mechanism rotates the vehicle. The steered wheels 19 are steered through the tie rods 18 after being converted into a linear motion in the width direction.
In addition, peripheral parts P such as a control switch, a combination switch, a column cover, and the like for driving an electric tilt mechanism 30 and an electric telescopic mechanism 50 described later are disposed at a rear portion of the steering column 12 in the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 2, the steering shaft 11 includes an outer shaft 11a to which a steering wheel 13 is attached, and an inner shaft 11b that is slidably engaged with the outer shaft 11a by spline coupling or serration coupling. ing.
The steering column 12 includes an outer column 12a and an inner column 12b that is slidably held on the outer column 12a. The steering shaft 11 is rotatably supported by a rolling bearing (not shown) disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the vehicle rear side end portion of the outer column 12a (not shown).

  In the outer column 12a, a column bracket 22 provided integrally on the rear end side (left end in FIG. 2) is supported by a vehicle body side bracket 23 attached to the vehicle body side member 21 via a pivot pin 24, and a front end on the steering wheel 13 side. (The right end in FIG. 2) is supported by a vehicle body side bracket 25 attached to the vehicle body side member 21, and can swing about the axis of the pivot pin 24 as a fulcrum.

And the gear housing 26 is assembled | attached to the lower outer periphery of the outer column 12a. The gear housing 26 incorporates an electric tilt mechanism 30 and an electric telescopic mechanism 50.
The electric tilt mechanism 30 includes a worm (not shown) that rotates forward and backward by the drive of the electric motor 40, a worm wheel (not shown), a feed screw mechanism (not shown) that moves in the vertical direction when a rotational force is transmitted from the worm wheel, and the like. It has. The electric tilt mechanism 50 also has a worm (not shown) that rotates forward and backward by the drive of the electric motor 42, a worm wheel (not shown), and a feed screw mechanism (moving in the axial direction of the outer column 12 as the rotational force is transmitted from the worm wheel). (Not shown).

  When the driver operates a tilt mechanism control switch provided in a peripheral part P disposed in the rear part of the steering column 12 shown in FIG. 1 in the tilt-up direction (or tilt-down direction), the electric tilt The electric motor 40 of the mechanism 30 is driven forward (or reversely), the rotational force is transmitted to the worm wheel via the worm, and the screw mechanism moves in the vertical direction, so that the outer column 12a is centered on the pivot pin 24. It rotates upward (downward), and tilt-up (or tilt-down) adjustment is performed.

  In addition, in order for the driver to perform telescopic adjustment of the steering column of the steering column device 10, a control switch for a telescopic mechanism provided on a peripheral part P disposed in the rear portion of the steering column 12 shown in FIG. When operated in the extending direction (or contracting direction), the electric motor 42 of the electric telescopic mechanism 50 is driven to rotate forward (or reversely), the rotational force is transmitted to the worm wheel via the worm, and the screw mechanism is the axis of the outer column 12. By moving in the direction, the inner column 12b is pulled out from the outer column 12a (the inner column 12b enters the outer column 12a), and the steering column 12 extends (shrinks), and the inner column 12b moves. Accordingly, the outer shaft 11a of the steering shaft 11 is also on the vehicle rear side (in front of the vehicle). It will move to the side).

(First embodiment)
Here, FIGS. 3 to 8 show a first embodiment of the assembly structure of the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26. FIG.
3 is a view specifically showing the shape of the outer periphery of the lower part of the outer column 12a to which the gear housing 26 is assembled, FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line AA in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a view showing a mounting surface of the housing 26, FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a view showing an assembling essential part of the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26. FIG. 8 is a view showing the structure of the positioning projecting member used in the assembly of this embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a rectangular column opening 52 is formed on the outer periphery of the outer column 12 a to which the gear housing 26 is assembled. A column mounting surface 61 is formed around the column opening 52. , 62 are formed.
One column mounting surface 61 is formed as a plane extending in the column axis P1 in one region with respect to the vertical virtual surface F including the column axis P1 of the outer column 12a. Further, the other column mounting surface 62 is formed as a flat surface provided with a step 63 on the one column mounting surface 61 side in the other region with respect to the virtual plane F and extending to the column axis P1.

  Two holes, first and second assembly holes 64 and 65 are formed on the vehicle rear side (right side in FIG. 3) of one column mounting surface 61. As shown in FIG. 4, the first assembly hole 64 positioned at the rear of the vehicle with respect to the second assembly hole 65 is formed from a screw hole 64 a formed on the bottom side and from the screw hole 64 a to the hole opening. And an engagement hole 64b having a diameter larger than that of the screw hole 64a. The second assembly hole 65 is formed as a screw hole.

Two holes, third and fourth assembly holes 66 and 67 are formed on the vehicle front side (left side in FIG. 3) of the other column mounting surface 62. Although not shown, the third assembly hole 66 includes a screw hole formed on the bottom side and an engagement hole formed from the screw hole to the hole opening and having a larger diameter than the screw hole. The fourth assembly hole 67 is formed as a screw hole.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a rectangular housing opening 54 is formed in a portion of the gear housing 26 assembled to the outer column 12a, and a housing mounting surface is provided around the column opening 54. 71, 72 and a step 73 are formed.

The gear housing 26 is flat so that the step 73 comes into surface contact with the step 63 of the outer column 12, one housing mounting surface 71 comes into surface contact with one column mounting surface 61, and the other housing mounting surface 72. However, it is made into a plane so that the other column attachment surface 62 may be in surface contact.
One housing mounting surface 71 is provided with a projecting positioning projection 78 that engages with the first assembly hole 64 of one column mounting surface 61, and the second assembly hole of one column mounting surface 61. An insertion hole 75 corresponding to 65 is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the positioning projecting member 78 is a notched hollow cylindrical member in which a slit 78a is provided in the axial direction by rounding a plate made of spring steel into a cylindrical shape. As shown in FIG. A part of the column mounting surface 61 is fitted into the insertion hole 74 formed in the one housing mounting surface 71 at a position corresponding to the first assembly hole 64 of the column mounting surface 61, so that one housing mounting surface is concentric with the insertion hole 74. 71 protruding from 71.

  The other housing mounting surface 72 is provided with a protruding projecting member 79 that engages with the third mounting hole 66 of the other column mounting surface 62, and the fourth mounting hole of the other column mounting surface 62. An insertion hole 77 corresponding to 67 is formed. The positioning projecting member 79 has the same shape as the positioning projecting member 78 described above, and a part of the insertion projecting hole formed in the other housing mounting surface 72 at a position corresponding to the third mounting hole 66 of the other column mounting surface 62. Is provided so as to protrude from the other housing mounting surface 72 concentrically with the insertion hole.

Next, a procedure for assembling the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26 will be described.
First, the positioning protruding member 78 protruding from the insertion hole 74 of one housing mounting surface 71 is fitted into the engaging hole 64b of the first assembly hole 64 formed in one column mounting surface 61, and the other housing The positioning protruding member 79 protruding from the insertion hole of the mounting surface 72 is fitted into the engagement hole of the third assembly hole 66 formed in the other column mounting surface 62 to position the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26. While the step 73 of the gear housing 26 is in surface contact with the step 63 of the outer column 12, one housing mounting surface 71 is brought into contact with one column mounting surface 61, and the other housing mounting surface 72 is brought into contact with the other column mounting surface. 62 abuts.

Then, an assembly bolt is inserted from the gear housing 26 side into the second assembly hole 65 and the insertion hole 75, the fourth assembly hole 67 and the insertion hole 77 corresponding to each other, and passes through the insertion holes 75 and 77. Then, it is screwed into the second assembly hole 65 and the fourth assembly hole 67.
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the threaded portion 80a of the assembly bolt 80 is inserted from the gear housing 26 side into the insertion hole 74 and the first assembly hole 64 that correspond to each other while the positioning projecting member 78 is fitted. Then, the screw portion 80 a that has passed through the positioning projecting member 78 is screwed into the screw hole 64 of the first assembly hole 64. Although not shown in detail, the screw portion of the assembly bolt is inserted from the gear housing 26 side into the insertion hole and the third assembly hole 66 corresponding to each other while the positioning projecting member 79 is fitted, and positioning is performed. The threaded portion that has passed through the protruding member 79 is screwed into the screw hole of the third assembly hole 66. As a result, the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26 are assembled together via the assembly bolt 80.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the one housing mounting surface 71 is brought into contact with the one column mounting surface 61 and the other housing mounting surface 72 is brought into contact with the other column mounting surface 62, the housing mounting surfaces 71 and 72 are brought into contact. Since the positioning projecting members 78 and 79 project at positions separated from each other, one positioning projecting member 78 is formed in the insertion hole 74 formed in one housing mounting surface 71 and the first column mounting surface 61 formed in the first column mounting surface 61. The insertion hole 74 and the first assembly hole 64 are arranged concentrically by fitting into both the assembly holes 64, and the other positioning projecting member 79 is also formed in the other housing mounting surface 72 and the other one. The insertion hole and the third assembly hole 66 are arranged concentrically by fitting into both the third assembly holes 66 formed in the column mounting surface 62, and Accordingly, the other holes, that is, the second assembly hole 65 and the insertion hole 75, the fourth assembly hole 67, and the insertion hole 77 are also arranged concentrically, so that the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26 are positioned with high accuracy. be able to.

  The positioning projecting member 78 is fitted using the insertion hole 74 through which the assembly bolt 80 is inserted and the first assembly hole 64. Similarly, the positioning projecting member 79 is inserted through the assembly bolt 80. The insertion hole and the third assembly hole 66 are fitted into each other, and there is no need to provide a dedicated positioning mechanism for positioning the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26 as in the prior art. The positioning mechanism for the gear housing 26 can be formed at low cost.

Further, the positioning projecting members 78 and 79 are notched hollow cylindrical members in which a plate made of spring steel is rolled into a cylindrical shape and provided with slits 78a in the axial direction. Since it can be fitted into 74, the cost of the positioning mechanism can be further reduced.
Further, when the driver collides with the steering wheel 13 due to the collision of the vehicle, a large impact load directed to the front of the vehicle is applied to the steering column 12 via the steering shaft 13, and the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26 are assembled. The assembled bolt 80 is also subjected to shear stress in the vehicle longitudinal direction. However, in this embodiment, the positioning projecting members 78 and 79 used as the positioning members are buried between the column mounting surfaces 61 and 62 and the housing mounting surfaces 71 and 72, and the positioning projecting members 78 and 79 are placed. Functions as a member that resists shear stress, so that the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26 can be assembled with improved rigidity against secondary collision.

  In the present embodiment, the positioning protrusion member 78 protrudes from one housing mounting surface 71 and the positioning protrusion member 79 protrudes from the other housing mounting surface 72. Providing both the projecting members 78 and 79 projecting or providing both the projecting projecting members 78 and 79 on the other housing mounting surface 72 can provide the above-described effects, and also provide the outer column 12a with respect to the outer column 12a. Even if the gear housing 26 is to be assembled in a state where it is rotated by 180 °, there is no hole for engaging the positioning projecting members 78 and 79, so that the reverse assembly of the gear housing 26 can be prevented.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, FIGS. 9 to 12 show a second embodiment of the assembly structure of the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26. FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component as the structure shown in FIGS. 1-8, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.
9 is a view specifically showing the shape of the lower outer periphery of the outer column 12a to which the gear housing 26 is assembled, FIG. 10 is a view taken along the line CC of FIG. 9, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the attachment surface of the housing 26, and FIG. 12 is the DD arrow line view of FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, column mounting surfaces 81 and 82 are formed around the column opening 52 of the outer column 12a.

One column mounting surface 81 is formed as a flat surface extending in the column axis P1 in one region with respect to the vertical virtual surface F including the column axis P1 of the outer column 12a. Further, the other column mounting surface 82 is formed as a plane extending in the other region with respect to the imaginary surface F in the column axis P1.
On one column mounting surface 81, three holes, first to third assembly holes 83, 84, 85 are formed. As shown in FIG. 10, the first assembly hole 83 located on the most rear side of the vehicle (the right side in FIG. 9) includes a screw hole 83a formed on the bottom side and a screw hole 83a to a hole opening. The engagement hole 83b has a larger diameter than the hole 83a. Further, the third assembly hole 85 located on the most front side of the vehicle (left side in FIG. 9) and the second assembly hole 84 located between the first assembly hole 83 and the third assembly hole 85 are screw holes. It is formed as.

  On the other column mounting surface 82, three holes, fourth to sixth assembly holes 86, 87, 88 are formed. Although not shown, the fourth assembly hole 86 located on the most front side of the vehicle (the left side in FIG. 9) is a screw hole formed on the bottom side, and is formed from the screw hole to the hole opening and has a larger diameter than the screw hole. It is comprised with the engagement hole of a dimension. Further, the sixth assembly hole 88 located closest to the vehicle front (right side in FIG. 9) and the fourth assembly hole 86 located between the fourth assembly hole 86 and the sixth assembly hole 88 are screw holes. It is formed as.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, housing mounting surfaces 91 and 92 are formed around the rectangular housing opening 54 of the gear housing 26.
One housing mounting surface 91 of the gear housing 26 is flat so as to make surface contact with one column mounting surface 81, and the other housing mounting surface 92 is flat so as to make surface contact with the other column mounting surface 82. ing.

One housing mounting surface 91 is provided with a protruding projecting positioning member 100 fitted into the first mounting hole 83 of one column mounting surface 81 and corresponds to the second mounting surface 84 of one column mounting surface 81. An insertion hole 93 corresponding to the third attachment surface 85 of the one column attachment surface 91 is formed.
The positioning projecting member 100 has the same shape as that shown in FIG. 8, and is a notched hollow cylindrical member in which a slit is provided in the axial direction by rounding a plate material made of spring steel into a cylindrical shape, as shown in FIG. As described above, by inserting a part into the insertion hole 100a formed in one housing mounting surface 91 at a position corresponding to the first assembly hole 83 of one column mounting surface 81, one of the column mounting surfaces 81 is concentrically with the insertion hole 100a. Projecting from the housing mounting surface 91 is provided.

The other housing mounting surface 92 is provided with a positioning projecting member 101 that is fitted in the fourth mounting hole 86 of the other column mounting surface 82, and the fifth mounting hole of the other column mounting surface 92. An insertion hole 95 corresponding to 87 and an insertion hole 96 corresponding to the sixth assembly hole 88 of the other column mounting surface 92 are formed.
Here, as shown in FIG. 11, a line connecting the centers of the insertion holes 100 and 101 of the housing mounting surfaces 81 and 82 disposed at diagonal positions with the housing opening 54 interposed therebetween is defined as a first virtual line. A line connecting the centers of the insertion holes 94 and 96 of the housing mounting surfaces 81 and 82 arranged diagonally to each other is defined as a second imaginary line K2, and the first and second imaginary lines K1 and K2 are Assuming that the intersecting position is the rotational position Q, when the gear housing 26 is rotated 180 degrees around the rotational position Q, the insertion hole 93 and the second assembly hole 84 do not overlap, and the insertion hole 95 and the fifth assembly hole Since 87 does not overlap, the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26 cannot be bolted. That is, the positioning projecting members 100 and 101 are arranged at asymmetrical positions with respect to the rotational position Q.

  According to this embodiment, when one housing mounting surface 91 abuts on one column mounting surface 81 and the other housing mounting surface 92 abuts on the other column mounting surface 82, the housing mounting surfaces 91, 92 are mutually connected. Since the positioning projecting members 100 and 101 project at the separated positions, one positioning projecting member 100 is formed in the insertion hole 95 formed in one housing mounting surface 81 and the first assembly formed in one column mounting surface 81. The insertion hole 100a and the first assembly hole 83 are arranged concentrically by fitting in both of the holes 83, and the other positioning protruding member 101 is also formed in the other housing mounting surface 92 and the other column mounting. The insertion hole and the fourth assembly hole 86 are arranged concentrically by fitting into both of the fourth assembly holes 86 formed in the surface 82. Accordingly, other holes, that is, the second assembly hole 84 and the insertion hole 93, the third assembly hole 85 and the insertion hole 94, the sixth assembly hole 88 and the insertion hole 96, the fifth assembly hole 87 and the insertion hole. 95 is also arranged concentrically, so that the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26 can be positioned with high accuracy.

  The positioning projecting member 100 is fitted using the insertion hole 100a through which the assembly bolt 80 is inserted and the first assembly hole 83. Similarly, the positioning projecting member 101 is inserted through the assembly bolt 80. The insertion hole and the fourth assembly hole 86 are used for insertion, and it is not necessary to provide a dedicated positioning mechanism for positioning the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26 as in the prior art. Therefore, the outer column 12a and the gear housing are not provided. 26 positioning mechanisms can be formed at a low cost.

The positioning projecting members 100 and 101 are notched hollow cylindrical members in which a plate material made of spring steel is rolled into a cylindrical shape and provided with slits 78a in the axial direction, and can be easily inserted by reducing the diameter while elastically deforming. Therefore, the cost of the positioning mechanism can be further reduced.
Further, the positioning projecting members 100 and 101 are arranged in a state of being embedded between the column mounting surfaces 81 and 82 and the housing mounting surfaces 91 and 92, and these positioning projecting members 100 and 101 are in a secondary collision. Since it functions as a member that resists shear stress, the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26 can be assembled with improved rigidity against secondary collisions.

  Further, since the positioning projecting members 100 and 101 projecting from the housing mounting surfaces 91 and 92 are arranged at asymmetrical positions with respect to the rotational position Q, the housing mounting surface 91 is in relation to the column mounting surfaces 81 and 82. , 92 is rotated 180 °, the insertion hole 93 and the second assembly hole 84 do not overlap, and the insertion hole 95 and the fifth assembly hole 87 do not overlap. Assembly can be prevented.

(Third embodiment)
Next, FIGS. 13 to 16 show a third embodiment of the assembly structure of the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26. FIG. Note that the same components as those shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

13 is a view specifically showing the shape of the outer periphery of the lower portion of the outer column 12a to which the gear housing 26 is assembled, FIG. 14 is a view taken along the line E-E in FIG. 13, and FIG. It is a figure which shows the attachment surface of the housing 26, and FIG. 16 is the FF arrow directional view of FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, one column mounting surface 81 is formed with first to third assembly holes 110, 111, 112, and these first to third assembly holes 110, A first engagement hole 113 into which the positioning protrusion member 100 is fitted is formed at a position different from the positions 111 and 112.

The first to third assembly holes 110, 111, and 112 are formed as screw holes. The first engagement hole 113 is set to an inner diameter and a depth into which the positioning projecting member 100 is fitted.
On the other column mounting surface 82, fourth to sixth assembly holes 114, 115, 116 are formed, and at different positions with respect to the fourth to sixth assembly holes 114, 115, 116, A second engagement hole 117 into which the positioning protruding member 101 is fitted is formed.

The fourth to sixth assembly holes 114, 115, 116 are formed as screw holes. The second engagement hole 117 is set to an inner diameter and a depth into which the positioning protruding member 101 is fitted.
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, one housing mounting surface 91 has insertion holes 118, 119, 120 corresponding to the first to third assembly holes 110, 111, 112 of one column mounting surface 81. And a positioning projecting member 100 that is engaged with the first engagement hole 113 is provided so as to project. As shown in FIG. 16, the positioning protruding member 100 is fitted in a mounting hole 121 formed in one housing mounting surface 91.

  The other housing mounting surface 92 is formed with insertion holes 122, 123, 124 corresponding to the fourth to sixth mounting holes 114, 115, 116 of the other column mounting surface 82, and the second engagement. A positioning protrusion member 101 that engages with the hole 117 protrudes. Although not shown, the positioning protruding member 101 is fitted in a mounting hole formed in the other housing mounting surface 92.

  According to this embodiment, the positioning projecting member 100 projecting from one housing mounting surface 91 is fitted into the first engagement hole 113 of one column mounting surface 81, and the positioning projecting member 101 projecting from the other housing mounting surface 92. Is fitted into the second engagement hole 117 of the other column mounting surface 82, so that the first assembly hole 110 and the insertion hole 120, the second assembly hole 111 and the insertion hole 119, the third assembly hole 112, and Since the insertion hole 118, the fourth assembly hole 114 and the insertion hole 124, the fifth assembly hole 115 and the insertion hole 123, the sixth assembly hole 116 and the insertion hole 122 can be arranged concentrically, the outer column 12a and The gear housing 26 can be positioned with high accuracy.

  Further, the positioning projecting members 100 and 101 are arranged in a state of being embedded between the column mounting surfaces 81 and 82 and the housing mounting surfaces 91 and 92, and these positioning projecting members 100 and 101 are in a secondary collision. Since it functions as a member that resists shear stress, the outer column 12a and the gear housing 26 can be assembled with improved rigidity against secondary collisions.

  In addition, although the positioning protrusion members 78, 79, 100, and 10 of the above-described embodiments are notched hollow cylindrical members formed by rolling a plate material made of spring steel into a cylindrical shape, the gist of the present invention is limited thereto. For example, a notched hollow cylindrical member formed by extruding a metal material, or a low-cost positioning protruding member even if formed by extruding synthetic resin Can do.

  In each embodiment, the positioning protrusion member is disposed on the housing mounting surface of the gear housing 26. However, the positioning protrusion member may be disposed on the column mounting surface of the outer column 12a.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a vehicle assembled with a steering device according to the present invention. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a steering device according to the present invention. It is the figure which showed concretely the shape of 1st Embodiment of the lower outer periphery of the outer column where a gear housing is assembled | attached. It is an AA arrow directional view of FIG. It is a figure which shows the attachment surface of 1st Embodiment of a gear housing. It is a BB line arrow directional view of FIG. It is a figure which shows the assembly | attachment principal part of the outer column and gear housing of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of a positioning protrusion member. It is the figure which showed concretely the shape of 2nd Embodiment of the lower outer periphery of the outer column in which a gear housing is assembled | attached. It is CC line arrow directional view of FIG. It is a figure which shows the attachment surface of 2nd Embodiment of a gear housing. It is the DD arrow line view of FIG. It is the figure which showed concretely the shape of 3rd Embodiment of the lower outer periphery of the outer column where a gear housing is assembled | attached. It is an EE arrow directional view of FIG. It is a figure which shows the attachment surface of 3rd Embodiment of a gear housing. It is a FF line arrow directional view of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Steering column apparatus, 11 ... Steering shaft, 11a ... Outer shaft, 11b ... Inner shaft, 12 ... Steering column, 12a ... Outer column, 12b ... Inner column, 13 ... Steering wheel, 14 ... Universal joint, 15 ... Intermediate shaft , 16 ... Universal joint, 17 ... Steering gear, 18 ... Tie rod, 19 ... Steering wheel, 21 ... Car body side member, 22 ... Column bracket, 23 ... Car body side bracket, 24 ... Pivot pin, 26 ... Gear housing, 30 ... Electric Tilt mechanism, 40 ... electric motor, 42 ... electric motor, 50 ... electric telescopic mechanism, 52 ... column opening, 61,62 ... column mounting surface, 63 ... step, 64,65 ... first and second assembly holes, 64a ... screw hole, 64b ... engagement hole (positioning hole , 66, 67 ... third and fourth assembly holes, 54 ... housing opening, 71, 72 ... housing mounting surface, 73 ... step, 75 ... insertion hole, 77 ... insertion hole, 78 ... positioning projection member, 78a ... Slit, 79 ... Positioning projection member, 80 ... Assembly bolt (bolt), 81, 82 ... Column mounting surface, 83, 84, 85 ... First to third assembly holes, 83a ... Screw holes, 83b ... Engagement holes (Positioning holes), 86, 87, 88 ... 4th to 6th assembly holes, 91, 92 housing mounting surface, 93 ... insertion hole, 94 ... insertion hole, 95 ... insertion hole, 96 ... insertion hole, 100 ... positioning Projection member, 100a ... insertion hole, 101 ... positioning projection member, 110, 111, 112 ... first to third assembly holes, 113 ... first engagement hole (positioning hole), 114, 115, 116 ... fourth to 6th assembly hole, 117 ... 2 engagement holes (positioning holes), 118, 119, 120 ... insertion holes, 121 ... mounting holes, 122, 123, 124 ... insertion holes, P1 ... column axis, F ... virtual plane, K1 ... first virtual line, K2 ... second imaginary line, Q ... rotation position

Claims (7)

Via a plurality of bolts, a steering column that rotatably supports a steering shaft to which a steering wheel is mounted, and a housing that houses a drive mechanism that drives the steering column to adjust the position of the steering wheel In the assembled steering device,
One of the mounting surfaces of the steering column and the housing that are in contact with each other is provided with a positioning protruding member that protrudes toward the other mounting surface, a positioning hole is provided on the other mounting surface, and the positioning protruding member is inserted into the positioning hole. A steering device, wherein the housing is positioned with respect to the steering column by being fitted into the steering column.   The positioning hole is a hole that is coaxial with a screw hole formed on the other mounting surface and larger in diameter than a screw portion of the bolt provided on the mounting surface side, and the positioning projecting member is mounted on the one mounting surface. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the steering device is a hollow cylindrical member that protrudes from a surface and fits into the positioning hole while the threaded portion of the bolt is inserted.   The positioning projecting member has a hollow cylindrical shape with a single slit in the axial direction, and a part of the positioning projecting member is reduced in diameter while being elastically deformed into an engagement hole formed in the one mounting surface. The steering apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the steering apparatus is fitted.   The steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the positioning projecting member is formed by cutting a metal plate material into a cylindrical shape and plastically deforming it.   The steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the positioning projecting member is formed by extrusion molding of a metal material.   The steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the positioning protruding member is formed by extrusion molding of a synthetic resin.   At least two positioning protrusion members are provided on one of the mounting surfaces of the steering column and the housing, and at least two positioning holes corresponding to the positioning protrusion members are formed on the other mounting surface. The at least two positioning projecting members provided on the mounting surface of the first and second mounting surfaces are provided at asymmetrical positions with respect to the rotational position when the center of the one mounting surface is the rotational position. Item 7. The steering device according to any one of Items 1 to 6.

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