JP2009202858A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device to be comfortably operated by a driver. <P>SOLUTION: The steering device 1 comprises a steering shaft 10, and a steering wheel 20 provided on the steering shaft 10 to turn the steering shaft 10, and the angle formed by a plane 24 including the steering wheel 20 and the axis of rotation of the steering shaft 10 is a right angle. In the steering device 1, the steering wheel 20 comprises a center core part to be connected to the steering shaft 10 and a rim part 22 to be supported by the center core part. First inclined surfaces 231L, 231R having the predetermined angle θ with respect to the plane 24 including the steering wheel are formed at the top side of the rim part 22. The first inclined surfaces 231L, 231R are erected from the plane 24 including the steering wheel while the steering wheel 20 is located at the neutral position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus. Specifically, the present invention relates to a steering apparatus in which an angle formed by a plane including a handle and a rotation axis of a steering shaft is a right angle.

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

By the way, in such a steering apparatus, in general, the steering wheel is coupled to the steering shaft so that the rotation shaft of the steering shaft is perpendicular to a steering wheel surface that is a plane including the steering wheel. Therefore, even if the handle is rotated, the rotation trajectory of the handle is the same regardless of the position where the driver holds the handle.
When the driver operates the handle, the driver first holds a part of the handle so that the hand holding the handle is substantially perpendicular to the handle surface. Next, the handle is rotated in the handle surface while holding the handle. Therefore, the steering operation of the steering wheel by the driver has to be performed by continuously holding the steering wheel so as not to release the steering wheel.

In view of this, a steering apparatus has been proposed in which the angle formed between the handle surface and the rotation axis of the steering shaft is other than a right angle in order to operate the steering wheel more comfortably (see Patent Document 1).
According to this steering apparatus, the handle can be rotated also by applying a force in a direction perpendicular to the handle surface, and the driver can comfortably operate the handle.
JP 2007-246005 A

  However, in the steering device described in Patent Document 1, since the handle surface and the rotation axis of the steering shaft are not formed at right angles, when the driver grips the handle and performs the rotation operation, the handle after the rotation operation is performed. The surface changes so as to have a predetermined angle with respect to the handle surface before the rotation operation. That is, a waviness occurs on the handle surface as the handle rotates. For this reason, there are cases where it is difficult to change the handle when the driver rotates the handle greatly.

  An object of this invention is to provide the steering device which a driver | operator can operate comfortably.

  A steering device (for example, a steering device 1 described later) of the present invention includes a steering shaft (for example, a steering shaft 10 described later) and a handle (for example, a handle 20 described later) that is provided on the steering shaft and rotates the steering shaft. A steering device in which an angle between a plane including the handle (for example, a handle surface 24 to be described later) and a rotation axis of the steering shaft is a right angle, and the handle is coupled to the steering shaft. A center core portion (for example, a center core portion 21 described later) and a rim portion (for example, a rim portion 22 described later) supported by the center core portion. A first inclined surface having a predetermined angle with respect to a plane including the handle (for example, an upper surface-side inclined surface 231L described later, 31R) is formed, the first inclined surface, the handle is characterized in that standing than a plane containing the handle while the neutral position.

According to this invention, the handle surface, which is a plane including the handle, and the rotation axis of the steering shaft are configured to be vertical, and the first inclined surface is provided on the upper surface side of the rim portion. In other words, a part of the handle that is not perpendicular to the rotation axis of the steering shaft is provided.
Therefore, the driver can not only apply a force in a direction along the handle surface but also rotate the handle by applying a force to the first inclined surface in a direction perpendicular to the handle surface. it can. Specifically, the driver can rotate the handle by pressing the first inclined surface forward while lightly grasping the portion of the handle where the first inclined surface is formed. it can. Further, since the rotation shaft of the steering shaft is connected to the steering shaft so as to be perpendicular to the steering wheel surface, the steering wheel surface does not swell when the driver rotates the steering wheel.
Accordingly, the driver can comfortably operate the steering device.

  In this case, it is preferable that the first inclined surface is formed such that the upper surface side of the rim portion is recessed.

  In this case, it is preferable that the first inclined surface is formed so that an upper surface side of the rim portion protrudes.

  In this case, a part of the first inclined surface is formed with the upper surface side of the rim portion recessed, and the remaining portion of the first inclined surface is formed with the upper surface side of the rim portion protruding. preferable.

  In this case, a second inclined surface (for example, lower surface inclined surfaces 251L and 251R described later) having a predetermined angle with respect to a plane including the handle is formed on the lower surface side of the rim portion. It is preferable that the inclined surface rises more than a plane including the handle in a state where the handle is located at a neutral position.

  According to this invention, the 2nd inclined surface was provided in the lower surface side of the rim | limb part. Therefore, the driver can rotate the handle by operating the second inclined surface to the near side while lightly grasping the portion where the second inclined surface of the handle is formed. Accordingly, the driver can rotate the steering wheel not only by pushing the steering wheel but also by pulling it, so that the steering device can be operated more comfortably.

  In this case, it is preferable that the second inclined surface is formed such that the lower surface side of the rim portion is recessed.

  In this case, it is preferable that a part of the second inclined surface is formed such that the lower surface side of the rim portion is recessed, and the remaining portion of the second inclined surface is formed so that the lower surface side of the rim portion protrudes. .

According to the steering device of the present invention, the first inclined surface of the steering wheel is formed on the part of the steering wheel because the first inclined surface that is not perpendicular to the rotation axis of the steering shaft is provided. The handle can be rotated by operating the first inclined surface to the front side while lightly gripping the portion. Further, since the rotation shaft of the steering shaft is connected to the steering shaft so as to be perpendicular to the steering wheel surface, the steering wheel surface does not swell when the driver rotates the steering wheel.
Accordingly, the driver can comfortably operate the steering device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a steering device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description of the embodiments, the same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted or simplified.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the steering device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the steering device 1.

  The steering device 1 includes a steering shaft 10 connected to a steered wheel of a vehicle, and a handle 20 that rotates the steering shaft 10 to change the direction of the steered wheel.

  The steering shaft 10 has a rod shape and extends obliquely upward. The proximal end side of the steering shaft 10 is connected to a transmission mechanism (not shown) that changes the steered wheels of the vehicle. The steering shaft 10 is configured to be rotatable about a central axis as a rotation axis. Further, the transmission mechanism changes the direction of the steered wheels according to the rotation angle of the steering shaft 10.

  The handle 20 is connected to the distal end side of the steering shaft 10. When a plane including the handle 20 is a handle surface 24, the handle surface 24 is orthogonal to the rotation axis of the steering shaft 10.

The handle 20 includes a center core portion 21 connected to the steering shaft 10 and a rim portion 22 supported by the center core portion 21.
The rim portion 22 has an annular shape centering on the steering shaft 10 and is gripped by the driver.
The center core portion 21 includes a substantially disc-shaped center core main body 211 and a plurality of connection portions 212 extending outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the center core main body 211.
The ends of the plurality of connecting portions 212 are connected to the inner peripheral surface of the annular rim portion 22.

  According to the above handle 20, the driver grips and rotates the rim portion 22 to rotate the steering shaft 10, thereby transmitting the rotation operation of the handle 20 by the driver to the transmission mechanism, and rotating the steering shaft 10. Change the direction of the steering wheel.

On the upper surface side of the rim portion 22, upper surface-side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R as first inclined surfaces are formed. These two upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are formed by recessing the upper surface side of the rim portion 22.
Assuming that the steering wheel has a turning angle of 0 ° as the neutral position of the handle 20, the two upper side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are respectively located on both sides of the rim portion 22 with the handle 20 being in the neutral position. It is provided so that it may be located in.
Here, the upper side inclined surface on the right side as viewed from the driver is an upper side inclined surface 231R, and the upper side inclined surface on the left side is an upper side inclined surface 231L.

  The two upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R each have a predetermined angle θ with respect to the handle surface 24, and these upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R stand up from the handle surface 24.

When the driver applies a force in the front-rear direction to the gripped portion of the handle 20, the applied force is a component force in a direction perpendicular to the gripped portion and a component force in a direction parallel to the gripped portion. And decomposed.
In the conventional handle, when the driver applies a force in the front-rear direction to the gripped portion of the handle 20, the direction of the component force perpendicular to the gripped portion matches the rotation axis of the steering shaft. It does not act in the in-plane direction of the handle. Therefore, in order to rotate the handle, the driver needs to grip the rim portion and apply a rotational force, and a strong grip force is required.
However, in the present embodiment, since the inclined surface is provided upright with a predetermined angle θ with respect to the handle surface 24, when a force in the front-rear direction is applied to the inclined surface, the applied force is applied to the inclined surface. On the other hand, it is broken down into a component force in the vertical direction and a component force parallel to the inclined surface. The component force perpendicular to the inclined surface acts in the in-plane direction of the handle and rotates the handle 20.
Therefore, for example, when it is desired to rotate the handle 20 to the left, the driver applies a force in the in-plane direction of the handle surface 24 (the direction of the arrow B in FIGS. 1 and 2) and forward (FIGS. 1 and 2). The handle 20 can be efficiently rotated by applying a force in the direction of arrow A).

Next, a driver's steering operation in the steering device 1 will be described.
First, the driver gently grasps the portions on the left and right sides of the rim portion 22 where the upper side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are formed with the left hand and the right hand, respectively. More specifically, the driver gently holds the rim portion 22 with both hands.

Next, the driver operates to push one of the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R forward while lightly grasping the portion where the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R of the rim portion 22 are formed.
For example, when it is desired to rotate the handle 20 to the left, the driver operates the upper surface side inclined surface 231R with the right hand so as to push it forward. On the other hand, in order to rotate the handle 20 to the right, the driver operates the left side hand to push the upper surface side inclined surface 231L forward.
In this way, the driver can perform a steering operation while lightly grasping the rim portion 22.

The steering device 1 according to the first embodiment has the following effects.
(1) The driver uses the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R inclined with respect to the handle surface 24, so that the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are at the base of the finger with the rim portion 22 lightly grasped. The handle 20 can be rotated by pushing with the periphery or the palm. Accordingly, the handle can be easily rotated without strongly grasping the rim portion 22 of the handle 20.
Further, since the steering shaft 10 is coupled to the handle 20 so that the rotation axis thereof is perpendicular to the handle surface 24, the handle surface 24 does not swell when the driver rotates the handle 20. Therefore, even when the driver rotates the handle greatly, the handle can be easily changed.
Therefore, the driver can comfortably operate the steering wheel.

  Next, a steering device 1A according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the steering apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment.

The steering device 1A of the second embodiment is different from the steering device 1 of the first embodiment in the configuration of the rim portion 22 of the handle 20.
Specifically, it differs from the first embodiment in that a second inclined surface is formed on the lower surface side of the rim portion 22.

On the lower surface side of the rim portion 22, lower surface side inclined surfaces 251 </ b> L and 251 </ b> R as second inclined surfaces are formed. These two lower surface side inclined surfaces 251L and 251R are formed by recessing the lower surface side of the rim portion 22.
The two lower surface side inclined surfaces 251L and 251R are provided so as to be positioned on both sides of the rim portion 22 in a state where the handle 20 is positioned at the neutral position.
Here, the lower side inclined surface on the right side as viewed from the driver is a lower side inclined surface 251R, and the lower side inclined surface on the left side is a lower side inclined surface 251L.

  That is, in the second embodiment, the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are formed on the upper surface side on both sides of the rim portion 22, and the lower surface side inclined surfaces 251L and 251R are formed on the lower surface side, respectively. The lower surface side inclined surfaces 251L and 251R are formed at positions substantially overlapping with the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R as viewed from the driver.

  Accordingly, the thickness L1 of the portion where the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R of the rim portion 22 are formed, that is, the dimension from the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R to the lower surface side inclined surfaces 251R and 251L is the upper surface of the rim portion 22. It is smaller than the thickness L2 of the portion other than the portion where the side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are formed.

  The two lower surface side inclined surfaces 251L and 251R each have a predetermined angle θ with respect to the handle surface 24, and the lower surface side inclined surfaces 251L and 251R stand up from the handle surface 24.

In the steering device 1A according to the second embodiment, when the driver performs a steering operation, the driver grips the portion where the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R of the rim portion 22 are formed, and at the same time, the lower surface side inclined surfaces 251L and 251R The formed part can be gripped.
Therefore, in the steering apparatus 1A of the second embodiment, the steering wheel 20 can be rotated by operating the steering wheel to pull the hand holding the rim portion 22 toward the front side, in addition to performing the steering operation similar to the first embodiment described above. Can be made.
For example, when the driver wants to rotate the handle 20 to the left, the driver operates to push the upper side inclined surface 231R forward with the right hand, and simultaneously pulls the lower side inclined surface 251L with the left hand. By doing so, the handle 20 can be rotated.

According to the steering device 1A of the second embodiment, in addition to the above-described effect (1), the following effect can be obtained.
(2) Since the lower surface side inclined surfaces 251L and 251R are formed on the lower surface side of the rim portion 22, the handle 20 can also be rotated by applying a force pulled by the driver to the front side. That is, the driver can rotate the handle by operating one of the lower inclined surfaces 251L and 251R to the front side while lightly holding the handle 20. Accordingly, the driver can rotate the steering wheel 20 not only by pushing the steering wheel 20 but also by pulling it, so that the steering device 1A can be operated more comfortably.

Next, a steering device 1B according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the steering apparatus 1B according to the third embodiment.
The steering device 1B of the third embodiment is different from the steering device 1A of the second embodiment in the configuration on the upper surface side of the rim portion 22.

Specifically, the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are formed so that the upper surface side of the rim portion 22 protrudes.
Here, when viewed from the driver, the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are formed at positions overlapping the lower surface side inclined surfaces 251L and 251R.
Accordingly, the thickness L1 of the portion where the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R of the rim portion 22 are formed, that is, the dimension from the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R to the lower surface side inclined surfaces 251R and 251L is the upper surface of the rim portion 22. It is substantially equal to the thickness L2 of the portion other than the portion where the side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are formed.

According to the steering device 1B of the third embodiment, in addition to the effects (1) and (2) described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(3) The upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are formed by protruding the upper surface side of the rim portion 22. Accordingly, the thickness L1 of the portion of the rim portion 22 where the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are formed is substantially equal to the thickness L2 of the portion other than the portion where the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R of the rim portion 22 are formed. it can. Therefore, the driver who grips the rim portion 22 does not feel uncomfortable.

Next, a steering apparatus 1C according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a side view of the steering apparatus 1C according to the fourth embodiment.
The steering device 1C of the fourth embodiment differs from the steering device 1B of the third embodiment in the configuration of the upper surface side and the configuration of the lower surface side of the rim portion 22.

Specifically, the upper surface side of the rim portion 22 is provided with a projecting surface 26 formed by projecting the upper surface side of the rim portion 22 and a recessed surface 27 formed continuously with the projecting surface 26. Yes.
The projecting surface 26 and the recessed surface 27 are provided so that the projecting surface 26 is positioned upward and the recessed surface 27 is positioned downward in a state where the handle 20 is positioned at the neutral position.
The projecting surfaces 26 and the recessed surfaces 27 form upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R.

On the lower surface side of the rim portion 22, a protruding surface 28 formed by protruding the upper surface side of the rim portion 22 and a recessed surface 29 formed continuously with the protruding surface 28 are provided.
On the lower surface side of the rim portion 22, the protruding surface 28 and the recessed surface 29 are provided so that the recessed surface 29 is positioned upward and the protruding surface 28 is positioned downward with the handle 20 positioned at the neutral position. ing.
The recessed surface 29 and the protruding surface 28 form lower surface side inclined surfaces 251L and 251R.

Here, when viewed from the driver, the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are formed at positions overlapping the lower surface side inclined surfaces 251L and 251R.
Accordingly, the thickness L1 of the portion where the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R of the rim portion 22 are formed, that is, the dimension from the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R to the lower surface side inclined surfaces 251R and 251L is the upper surface of the rim portion 22. It is substantially equal to the thickness L2 of the portion other than the portion where the side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are formed.

According to the steering device 1C of the fourth embodiment, in addition to the effects (1) and (2) described above, the following effects can be obtained.
(4) A part of the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R is formed by denting the upper surface side of the rim part 22, and the remaining part is formed by projecting the upper surface side of the rim part 22. Further, a part of the lower surface side inclined surfaces 251L and 251R was formed by denting the lower surface side of the rim portion 22, and the remaining portion was formed by projecting the lower surface side of the rim portion 22. Accordingly, the thickness L1 of the portion of the rim portion 22 where the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R are formed is substantially equal to the thickness L2 of the portion other than the portion where the upper surface side inclined surfaces 231L and 231R of the rim portion 22 are formed. it can. Therefore, the driver who grips the rim portion 22 does not feel uncomfortable.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications, improvements and the like within a scope that can achieve the object of the present invention are included in the present invention.

1 is a perspective view of a steering device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of the steering device concerning the embodiment. It is a side view of the steering device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the steering device which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the steering device which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering device 10 Steering shaft 20 Handle 21 Center core part 22 Rim part 231L, 231R Upper surface side inclined surface (1st inclined surface)
24 Handle surface (plane including handle)
251L, 251R Lower side inclined surface (second inclined surface)

Claims (7)

A steering device comprising: a steering shaft; and a handle provided on the steering shaft for rotating the steering shaft, wherein an angle formed by a plane including the handle and a rotation axis of the steering shaft is a right angle,
The handle includes a center core portion coupled to the steering shaft, and a rim portion supported by the center core portion,
A first inclined surface having a predetermined angle with respect to a plane including the handle is formed on the upper surface side of the rim portion,
The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first inclined surface stands up from a plane including the handle when the handle is located at a neutral position.   2. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first inclined surface is formed by recessing an upper surface side of the rim portion.   The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first inclined surface is formed such that an upper surface side of the rim portion protrudes.   A part of the first inclined surface is formed by recessing the upper surface side of the rim part, and the remaining part of the first inclined surface is formed by protruding the upper surface side of the rim part. The steering apparatus according to claim 1. A second inclined surface having a predetermined angle with respect to a plane including the handle is formed on the lower surface side of the rim portion,
The steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second inclined surface stands up from a plane including the handle in a state where the handle is located at a neutral position.   The steering apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second inclined surface is formed such that a lower surface side of the rim portion is recessed.   A part of the second inclined surface is formed by recessing a lower surface side of the rim portion, and a remaining portion of the second inclined surface is formed by protruding a lower surface side of the rim portion. The steering apparatus according to claim 5.

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