JP2011218947A - Steering lock mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering lock mechanism enabling a steering lock part integrally formed of mounting parts such as a switch body to be easily and accurately assembled in a steering column post.SOLUTION: The steering lock mechanism 1 includes an assembly constituted of the switch body 13 and a lock body 21, and a body support bracket 22 which is disposed so as to face the lock body 21 and which holds the steering column post 3. The movement of the assembly constituted of the switch body 13 and the lock body 21 relative to the steering column post 3 is restrained by engaging an engagement protrusion 22d formed on the inner surface 22c of the body support bracket 22 with an engagement recess 3a formed in the steering column post 3.

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering lock mechanism suitably used for preventing theft of a vehicle.

  A steering lock equipped with a key cylinder and an ignition switch is known for the purpose of preventing theft of a vehicle such as an automobile. As an example of this type of steering lock, for example, a locking rod (lock bar) is engaged in a lock hole formed in the outer periphery of a column shaft (steering shaft) of an automobile, thereby preventing the rotation of the column shaft. A steering lock mounting structure has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  According to the conventional steering lock mounting structure described in Patent Document 1, the joint portion of the steering lock body (lock body) is joined to the fixer frame fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the column pipe (steering column post), and The column pipe and the steering lock body are positioned by inserting and fitting the spigot portion protruding from the joint into the positioning hole of the fixer frame. The steering lock body is fastened and fixed to the fixer frame with bolts.

JP 2002-337663 A

  By the way, a lever combination switch (hereinafter referred to as “LCS”) having various operation levers on both the left and right sides of a switch body formed of a block-shaped casing is configured as an LCS integrated type steering lock integrated with a steering lock body. In this case, when the LCS integrated steering lock is assembled to the column pipe, it is necessary to insert and fit the mounting cylinder portion formed on the switch body of the LCS together with the steering lock body to the outer peripheral portion of the column pipe.

  However, when the LCS is integrated with the steering lock body described in Patent Document 1 to form an LCS-integrated steering lock, the mounting cylinder portion of the LCS switch body is inserted and fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the column pipe. Sometimes, the inner diameter of the mounting cylinder portion of the switch body must be set larger than the outer diameter of the column pipe so that the inlay portion of the steering lock body does not interfere with the column pipe.

  According to such a configuration, the mounting cylinder portion of the switch body of the LCS can be inserted and fitted into the outer peripheral portion of the column pipe without the inlay portion of the steering lock body interfering with the column pipe. However, when the LCS integrated steering lock is attached to the outer periphery of the column pipe, the assembly part in which the switch body and the steering lock body are integrated is shifted radially from the axis of the column pipe to the outer periphery of the column pipe. The column pipe and the steering lock body must be positioned by inserting and fitting and then inserting and fitting the inlay portion of the steering lock body into the positioning hole of the fixer frame.

  In such an LCS-integrated steering lock mechanism, the arrangement position of the mounting parts such as the switch body and the arrangement position of the steering lock parts greatly vary from each other in the radial direction of the column post. The steering lock body cannot be assembled as a position. As a result, it is difficult to mass-produce with the variation in the quality of mounting the steering lock.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a steering lock mechanism that can easily and accurately assemble a steering lock part integrated with a mounting part such as a switch body to a steering column post.

[1] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a mounting part that is inserted and attached to a steering column post in which a steering shaft is rotatably accommodated, and an attachment part that is integrated with the mounting part and is attached to the steering column post. Positioning means that includes a lock body and a body support bracket that is disposed opposite to the lock body and sandwiches the steering column post, and that restricts movement of the mounting part and the lock body on an inner surface of the body support bracket A steering lock mechanism is provided.

[2] The positioning means according to [1] can be configured by an engagement recess formed in the steering column post and an engagement projection formed on an inner surface of the body support bracket.

[3] The body support bracket according to [1] can be fastened and fixed to the lock body with a bolt.

[4] The body support bracket described in [1] is preferably connected and fixed to one end of the lock body so as to be rotatable.

[5] According to the steering lock mechanism described in [1] above, the mounting part is composed of a lever combination switch, and the switch body holding the lever combination switch and the lock body are integrated. It may be.

  According to the present invention, a steering lock part in which a mounting part such as a switch body is integrated can be assembled to the steering column post with the steering column post as an assembly reference position. Variations in the arrangement position with respect to the post can be prevented.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the state which removed the steering lock mechanism which concerns on suitable embodiment of this invention from the steering column post. It is the schematic perspective view which looked at the steering lock mechanism from the back side. (A) is a perspective view schematically showing a lock body which is one component of a steering lock mechanism, and (b) is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the lock body is removed from a steering column post. It is a figure for demonstrating the state at the time of attachment of a steering lock mechanism. (A) is a comparison figure for demonstrating the positioning means of a steering lock mechanism, (b) is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the positioning means of the steering lock mechanism which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Embodiment]
(Overall structure of steering lock mechanism)
1 and 2, reference numeral 1 indicating the whole indicates a configuration example of a typical steering lock mechanism according to this embodiment. The basic configuration of the steering lock mechanism 1 is mainly configured by a lever combination switch (LCS) 10 and a steering lock main body 20. The lower surface of the LCS 10 and the upper surface of the steering lock body 20 are not particularly limited, but are fixed and integrated by, for example, heat fastening such as screw fastening or ultrasonic welding.

(External structure of LCS)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the LCS 10 includes a light control switch 11 for operating a turn signal lamp, a head lamp, and the like, a wiper switch 12 for operating a wiper, a washer, and the like, and the light control switch. 11 and a block-like switch body (hereinafter referred to as “LCS casing”) 13 for holding the wiper switch 12. An attachment cylinder portion 14 is formed at a substantially central portion of the LCS housing 13 to be inserted and attached to the outer peripheral portion of the steering column post 3 in which the steering shaft 2 is rotatably accommodated.

(External configuration of the steering lock body)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the one steering lock body 20 includes an electric steering lock that restricts or cancels the rotation operation of the steering shaft 2. The steering lock body 20 includes a lock body 21 and a body support bracket 22 that is rotatably connected and fixed to one end of the lock body 21.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the lock body 21 includes a block-shaped housing. A pair of leg portions 23 and 24 are formed at both end portions of the lock body 21. Various lock parts (not shown) such as a motor, a rotational force conversion unit, and a lock unit are accommodated in the lock body 21.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the leg portions 23 and 24 of the lock body 21 are disposed with a predetermined phase difference so as to straddle the steering column post 3. A concave surface portion 25 is formed between the leg portions 23 and 24 so as to be fitted and attached to the outer peripheral portion of the steering column post 3. The concave surface portion 25 has a semicircular arc surface shape. The semicircular arc surface of the concave surface portion 25 is formed with a curvature along the outer peripheral surface of the column post 3.

  Of the pair of leg portions 23, 24 forming the semicircular arc surface of the lock body 21, one leg portion 23 is formed with a pair of plate-like mounting flange pieces 23a, 23a as shown in FIG. ing. The mounting flange piece 23a supports the body support bracket 22 so as to be rotatable. A smooth joint surface 24a is formed on the body support bracket facing surface side of the other leg portion 24.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the body support bracket 22 of the lock body 21 is made of a plate-like member, and is formed in a semicircular arc shape having the same curvature as the semicircular arc surface of the lock body 21. The base end of the body support bracket 22 is rotatably supported by a pair of mounting flange pieces 23a of the lock body 21 via a pin 26 serving as a support shaft.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a joint flange piece 22a is formed at the tip of the body support bracket 22. The joint flange piece 22 a is joined to the joint surface 24 a of the lock body 21. A through hole 22b is formed through the joining flange piece 22a. With the joint flange piece 22a joined to the joint surface 24a of the lock body 21, the screw of the bolt 27 is screwed into the screw hole formed in the joint surface 24a of the lock body 21 through the through hole 22b of the joint flange piece 22a. It is fastened and fixed by doing.

(Configuration of positioning means)
The steering lock mechanism 1 configured as described above can employ general components and is not limited to the illustrated example. The steering lock mechanism 1 according to this embodiment has a main structure in a mounting structure for attaching an assembly part in which the LCS 10 and the steering lock body 20 are integrated to the steering column post 3.

  According to the illustrated example, an engagement convex portion 22 d that protrudes toward the steering column post 3 side is formed on the inner surface 22 c of the semicircular arc shape of the body support bracket 22 as shown in FIG. 3. On the other hand, an engaging concave portion 3a for positioning that engages with the engaging convex portion 22d is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the counterpart steering column post 3. The engaging convex portion 22d and the engaging concave portion 3a constitute a part of positioning means for restricting the movement of the LCS housing 13 and the lock body 21.

(Installation of steering lock mechanism)
In attaching an assembly part including the LCS housing 13 and the lock body 21 to the steering column post 3, first, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, first, the mounting cylinder portion 14 of the LCS housing 13 is attached to the outer periphery of the steering column post 3. The concave surface portion 25 of the lock body 21 is fitted. In this state, the body support bracket 22 is covered with the outer periphery of the steering column post 3, and the engagement convex portion 22 d of the body support bracket 22 is engaged with the engagement concave portion 3 a of the steering column post 3, while the body support bracket 22 is engaged. The joining flange piece 22 a is joined to the joining surface 24 a of the lock body 21. With this mounting operation, the LCS housing 13 and the lock body 21 are positioned with respect to the steering column post 3.

  Next, the bolt 27 is screwed into the screw hole of the lock body 21 through the through hole 22b of the joining flange piece 22a, thereby tightening the LCS housing 13 and the lock body 21 with the steering column post 3 interposed therebetween. By this mounting operation, the body support bracket 22 is fastened to the lock body 21, and the steering column post 3 is sandwiched and fixed between the lock body 21 and the body support bracket 22. Through the above mounting operation, the assembly part composed of the LCS housing 13 and the lock body 21 can be positioned and mounted on the steering column post 3.

(Effect of embodiment)
The effects of the steering lock mechanism 1 according to the above embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the configuration in which the engagement convex portion 22d is provided on the concave surface portion 25 of the lock body 21, the engagement convex portion 22d of the lock body 21 does not interfere with the outer peripheral portion of the steering column post 3 as shown in FIG. Further, the inner diameter D1 of the mounting cylinder portion 14 in the LCS casing 13 is set larger than the outer diameter D2 of the steering column post 3, and the assembly of the LCS casing 13 and the lock body 21 is set in the radial direction from the axis of the steering column post 3. It must be assembled to the outer periphery of the steering column post 3 while shifting. For this reason, the arrangement position of the LCS housing 13 and the arrangement position of the lock body 21 greatly vary in the radial direction of the steering shaft 2.

  Therefore, in order to eliminate interference between the engagement convex portion 22d of the lock body 21 and the outer peripheral portion of the steering column post 3, an elongated slit hole is cut out along the longitudinal direction from the insertion side opening end of the steering column post 3. Can be considered. By inserting the engaging projection 22d of the lock body 21 into the outer peripheral portion of the steering column post 3 through the slit hole, the assembly of the LCS housing 13 and the lock body 21 is moved in the radial direction of the steering column post 3. It can be fitted along the outer periphery of the steering column post 3 without shifting. However, in this case, although the assembly of the LCS housing 13 and the lock body 21 can be assembled using the steering column post 3 as an assembly reference position, the strength and rigidity of the steering column post 3 are lowered.

  On the other hand, in the configuration in which the engagement convex portion 22d is provided in the body support bracket 22 of the lock body 21 as in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. Even if the inner diameter D1 of the steering wheel 14 and the outer diameter D2 of the steering column post 3 are formed to be the same diameter, the engaging column 22d does not interfere with the outer periphery of the steering column post 3, and the steering column post 3 is assembled. The assembly of the LCS housing 13 and the lock body 21 can be assembled. Thereby, various effects as described below can be obtained.

(1) With the steering column post 3 as an assembly reference position, an assembly part composed of the LCS casing 13 and the lock body 21 can be easily and reliably assembled to the steering column post 3.
(2) A large and small gap is not formed in the radial direction of the steering column post 3, and variations between the arrangement position of the LCS housing 13 and the arrangement position of the lock body 21 can be prevented, and the steering lock Variations in the quality of the mechanism 1 can be suppressed.
(3) The positioning accuracy of the LCS housing 13 and the lock body 21 can be improved.
(4) The inner diameter D1 of the mounting cylinder portion 14 in the LCS housing 13 and the outer diameter D2 of the steering column post 3 can be formed without forming a long and narrow slit hole along the longitudinal direction from the insertion side opening end of the steering column post 3. Can be formed to have the same diameter, and the strength and rigidity of the steering column post 3 can be secured.
(5) The mounting workability to the steering column post 3 is improved, and it can be performed accurately and reliably without strict quality control in the mounting work.

[Other embodiments]
As is clear from the above description, the steering lock mechanism of the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and illustrated examples, and departs from the gist thereof. It is possible to implement in various embodiments as long as they are not. In the present invention, for example, the following embodiments are possible.

(1) In the illustrated example, the engagement convex portion 22d formed on the body support bracket 22 and the engagement concave portion 3a formed on the steering column post 3 are engaged with each other, but on the contrary, The engaging recess formed on the body support bracket 22 and the engaging protrusion formed on the steering column post 3 can be engaged. As this engaging recessed part, it can form in female shape, such as a groove | channel, a hole, and a level | step difference part, for example. As one engagement convex part, it can form in various male-type shapes, such as a protrusion and a pin which can be freely inserted or detached with respect to an engagement recessed part.
(2) The positioning means comprising the engaging convex portion 22d and the engaging concave portion 3a is not limited to the illustrated example, and other fitting and disengaging fixing means using a male member and a female member may be used. it can.
(3) A hinge mechanism that opens and closes the body support bracket 22 by, for example, closing bias or reverse biasing can be provided on the outer periphery of the pin 26 that rotatably supports the body support bracket 22. As an example, for example, when the rotation angle of the body support bracket 22 is equal to or less than a predetermined rotation angle with respect to the lock body 21, the body support bracket 22 is attached to the lock body 21 side with the pin 26 as the rotation center. When the rotation angle of the body support bracket 22 is equal to or greater than a predetermined rotation angle, the body support bracket 22 may be reversely biased to the side opposite to the lock body 21 side with the pin 26 as the rotation center. Possible hinge mechanisms can be provided.
(4) As the hinge mechanism, various spring mechanisms in which a spring constant such as a coil spring, a leaf spring, a torsion coil spring, a rubber damper, a torsion bar, or the like is set can be employed.
(5) In the illustrated example, the body support bracket 22 is integrally formed at one end of the lock body 21 via a hinge mechanism. However, the body support bracket 22 may be formed separately from the lock body 21.
(6) The LCS housing 13, the lock body 21, and the body support bracket 22 may be made of metal or may be made of hard synthetic resin.
(7) In the illustrated example, the electric steering lock is illustrated as the steering lock body 20, but a steering lock provided with a cylinder lock may be used.
(8) In the illustrated example, the LCS casing 13 is illustrated as an attachment part to the steering column post 3, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an attachment part other than the LCS casing 13 such as a steering lock sensor. Of course, various column-related parts such as these may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steering lock mechanism, 2 ... Steering shaft, 3 ... Steering column post, 3a ... Engaging recess, 10 ... Lever combination switch (LCS), 11 ... Light control switch, 12 ... Wiper switch, 13 ... Switch body (LCS housing) Body), 14 ... mounting cylinder part, 20 ... steering lock body, 21 ... lock body, 22 ... body support bracket, 22a ... joining flange piece, 22b ... through hole, 22c ... inner surface, 22d ... engagement convex part, 23 24 ... Leg part, 23a ... Mounting flange piece, 24a ... Joining surface, 25 ... Concave part, 26 ... Pin, 27 ... Bolt

Claims (5)

A mounting part that is inserted and attached to a steering column post in which a steering shaft is rotatably accommodated;
A lock body integrated with the mounting part and mounted on the steering column post;
A body support bracket disposed opposite to the lock body and sandwiching the steering column post;
A steering lock mechanism characterized in that positioning means for restricting movement of the attachment part and the lock body is provided on an inner surface of the body support bracket.   The said positioning means is comprised by the engagement recessed part formed in the said steering column post, and the engagement convex part formed in the inner surface of the said body support bracket, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Steering lock mechanism.   The steering lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the body support bracket is fastened and fixed to the lock body by a bolt.   The steering lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the body support bracket is rotatably connected and fixed to one end of the lock body. The mounting part consists of a lever combination switch,
The steering lock mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a switch body that holds the lever combination switch and the lock body are integrated.

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