JP2012035665A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To highly accurately install and extremely easily install a bearing in a member constituting a steering device.SOLUTION: This steering device includes an outer column 2, a bifurcated arm-shaped part 3, a connecting part 4 formed over between the bifurcated arm-shaped part 3, the bearing 9 stored in the connecting part 4, and a clip A. An insertion hole 43 is respectively formed in the vertical direction on both right-left sides in an upper connection piece 41U and a lower connection piece 41L of the connecting part 4, and an angle-shaped bending part 71 is formed in a bearing pressing shaft part of the clip A. The bearing 9 is stored in a large diameter inner peripheral part 41a, and a side surface on one side of an outer ring 91 of the bearing 9 abuts on a step height wall surface 41b, the bearing pressing shaft part 7 of the clip A is inserted into the respective insertion holes 43 of the upper connecting piece 41U and the lower connection piece 41L, and a top part 71a of the angle-shaped bending part 71 abuts on a side surface on the other side of the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9 between the upper connection piece 41U and the lower connection piece 41L.

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus that can mount a bearing for smoothly and rotatably mounting a steering shaft on a member constituting the steering apparatus with high accuracy and can be mounted extremely easily and satisfactorily.

  Conventionally, various steering devices having a tilt / telescopic function have been developed. In this type of steering device, many bearings are used. And patent document 1 is disclosed as an example of the means for fixing a bearing to a steering device. This Patent Document 1 discloses a bearing fixing structure of a steering device in which a bearing 6 for supporting a steering shaft 12 is mounted on a column 1.

  An upper steering shaft 12A is rotatably supported on the outer column 11 by a bearing 6. A fitting hole 11C into which the outer ring 61 of the bearing 6 is fitted is formed on the inner peripheral surface 11B of the outer column 11 on the rear side of the vehicle body. The inner diameter D2 of the fitting hole 11C is formed larger than the inner peripheral surface 11B of the outer column 11, and the vehicle body of the outer ring 61 of the bearing 6 is formed on the step surface 11D between the fitting hole 11C and the inner peripheral surface 11B. The front side 611 is in contact.

  The inner ring 62 of the bearing 6 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface 121A of the upper steering shaft 12A. The outer ring 61 of the bearing 6 is fixed by an outer ring fixing member 8 that is press-fitted into the fitting hole 11C from the rear side of the vehicle body. The outer ring fixing member 8 includes an annular outer peripheral surface 81, an arc-shaped pressing side surface 82, a bent portion 83, and a through hole 84. The outer diameter D1 of the vehicle body rear side end 85, which is the maximum outer diameter of the annular outer peripheral surface 81, is formed larger than the inner diameter D2 of the fitting hole 11C of the outer column 11, and the fitting hole 11C of the outer column 11 is formed. On the other hand, the vehicle body rear side end portion 85 of the annular outer peripheral surface 81 is fitted by an interference fit.

  The annular outer peripheral surface 81 of the outer ring fixing member 8 is press-fitted into the fitting hole 11C while reducing the diameter. Then, the arc-shaped pressing side surface 82 on the vehicle body front side of the outer ring fixing member 8 contacts the side surface 612 on the vehicle body rear side of the outer ring 61. After the arc-shaped pressing side surface 82 comes into contact with the side surface 612 of the outer ring 61 on the vehicle body rear side, when the outer ring fixing member 8 is further pushed into the vehicle body front side of the fitting hole 11C, the arc-shaped pressing side surface 82 is elastically deformed. Then, the side surface 612 of the outer ring 61 on the rear side of the vehicle body is firmly pressed against the front side of the vehicle body, and the bearing 6 is mounted on the steering device.

JP2008-221905

  However, Patent Document 1 sometimes has to solve as described below. First, there is an assembly process in which the outer ring fixing member 8 is press-fitted into the fitting hole 11C of the outer column 11 in order to fix the outer ring 61 of the bearing 6. In this press-fitting operation, the accuracy of the hole diameter of the fitting hole 11C has to be finished with high accuracy, which increases the processing time and processing cost. Considering the shape, the outer ring fixing member 8 is highly likely to be manufactured by press molding. However, in press molding, it is difficult to maintain a high dimensional accuracy above a certain level.

  The arc-shaped pressing side surface 82 is elastically deformed during press-fitting to press and fix the outer ring 61 of the bearing 6. However, there is a possibility that the elastic deformation varies due to the press molding. When the variation occurs, the location where the arc-shaped pressing side surface 82 presses the outer ring 61 of the bearing 6 and the pressing force are not uniform, the balance is deteriorated, and the bearing 6 may be rattled.

  Since the pressing side 82 strongly presses the outer ring 61 of the bearing 6 by press-fitting, there is a possibility that the shape of the outer ring 61 may be distorted. Arise. Accordingly, an object (technical problem) of the present invention is a steering device having a tilt / telescopic adjustment mechanism, and the bearing for smoothly rotating the steering shaft in the axial circumferential direction is highly accurate and free of rattling. And it is in enabling it to mount | wear favorably.

  In view of this, the inventor has intensively and intensively studied to solve the above-described problems, and as a result, the invention of claim 1 is divided into an outer column, a bifurcated arm-like portion extending from the outer column into a bifurcated shape, and the bifurcated arm. A clip having a connecting part formed between the two parts, a bearing housed in the connecting part, a bearing presser shaft part and a mounting shaft part. A small-diameter inner peripheral portion is formed through a portion and a stepped wall surface, insertion holes are formed in the upper and lower connecting pieces of the connecting portion in the vertical direction on both the left and right sides, and the bearing retainer shaft portion of the clip A mountain-shaped bent portion is formed, the bearing is housed in the inner diameter portion of the large diameter, and a side surface of one side of the outer ring of the bearing is in contact with the stepped wall surface, and the bearing press shaft portion of the clip is the upper portion Inserted through the insertion holes of the connecting piece and the lower connecting piece, By the top of the chevron-shaped bent portion at between parts connecting piece and the lower connection piece has a steering device in which in contact with the side surface of the other side of the outer ring of the bearing, the above-mentioned problems are eliminated.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the mounting shaft portion of the clip includes an upper shaft piece and a hanging shaft piece, and the upper connecting piece is sandwiched between the bearing retainer shaft portion and the hanging shaft piece. By solving the above problem, the above problem was solved. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the clip is a steering device joined at the mounting shaft portion so as to be parallel and integrated.

  In the first aspect of the invention, the bearing retainer shaft portion of the clip is inserted into the insertion hole, and the left and right (width direction) both sides of the connecting portion are symmetrical by the mountain-shaped bent portion formed in the bearing retainer shaft portion. By pressing the outer ring of the bearing, the bearing can be fixed in a well-balanced manner, and rattling and tilting of the bearing can be prevented. In addition, the angled bent part of the bearing presser shaft part is a wire shaft, and the bearing can be fixed to the inner periphery of the large diameter just by inserting it into the insertion hole, making assembly work easier and shortening the work time. Is done. In other words, according to the first aspect of the present invention, if the accuracy of only the dimensions of the large-diameter inner peripheral portion of the connecting portion and the bearing is secured to a certain level or more, then the mountain-shaped bent portion of the clip comes into contact with the outer ring of the bearing and By pressing, the bearing abuts against the stepped wall surface, and the bearing can be mounted satisfactorily with very high accuracy without rattling.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, an upper shaft piece and a hanging shaft piece are formed on the mounting shaft portion of the clip, and the upper connecting piece of the connecting portion is sandwiched between the bearing pressing shaft portion and the hanging shaft piece. Therefore, the clip itself can be firmly fixed to the connecting portion, and the clip can be prevented from rotating around the bearing pressing shaft portion, thereby stably holding the bearing on the large-diameter inner peripheral portion. be able to.

  In addition, when two said mountain-shaped bending parts are formed in each bearing retainer shaft part, each bearing retainer shaft part is inserted in the insertion hole of a connection part, and a total of four chevron shapes are carried out. The bent portion abuts the side surface of the other side (front side) of the outer ring of the bearing at four points and can press with good balance. As a result, the bearing can be firmly fixed, and tilting and rattling can be prevented.

  In the invention of claim 3, the clip inserted through each insertion hole is joined and integrated at the mounting shaft portion so as to be parallel and integrated, thereby reducing the number of parts and assembling time. It can be shortened, leading to cost reduction. Further, by changing the position and size of the insertion hole formed in the connecting portion and using a clip adapted to this, it is possible to cope with various sizes of bearings. Thus, in the present invention, it becomes possible to mount the bearing to the large-diameter inner peripheral portion of the connecting portion with high accuracy by the pressing force of the clip inserted into the insertion hole, improving the assembling property and improving the quality. Can be good.

(A) is a plan view of the steering device of the present invention, (B) is a side view with a partial cross section of the present invention, (C) is a perspective view of the clip of the first embodiment, and (D) is the connection part. It is the perspective view which mounted | wore the bearing with the clip of 1 embodiment. (A) is a sectional view of the present invention in a state where the connecting portion, the clip and the bearing are separated, (B) is a sectional view taken along the arrow line Ya-Ya of (A), and (C) is a bearing mounted on the connecting portion with a clip. The block diagram seen from the front side made, (D) is the block diagram seen from the back side by which the bearing was mounted | worn with the clip at the connection part. (A) is the principal part expanded sectional view in which the clip which has a mountain-shaped bending part was used in two places, (B) is the principal part expanded sectional view in which the clip which has a mountain-shaped bending part in one place was used. (A) is the perspective view of the clip of 2nd Embodiment, (B) is the block diagram seen from the back side which attached the bearing to the connection part with the clip of 2nd Embodiment, (C) is 2nd Embodiment. The perspective view of the clip of a modification, (D) is the block diagram seen from the front side which attached the bearing to the connection part in the modification of 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, in the present invention, main components of the steering device are a fixed bracket 1, an outer column 2 that is swingably attached to the fixed bracket 1, a bifurcated arm-shaped portion 3, a connecting portion 4, and a tightening member. It is comprised from the attachment 5, the inner column 6, and the steering shaft 100 (refer FIG. 1 (A), (B)). The steering shaft 100 includes a lower shaft 100a and an upper shaft 100b. The lower shaft 100a and the upper shaft 100b are fitted and joined so as to be slidable with respect to each other along the axial direction, and the steering shaft 100 has a structure in which the axial length thereof is expanded and contracted.

  The upper shaft 100b of the steering shaft 100 is attached to both end portions in the axial direction of the inner column 6 via bearings (not shown) so that the upper shaft 100b can rotate in the axial circumferential direction with respect to the inner column 6. Configured. The lower shaft 100a is rotatably supported by the connecting portion 4 via a bearing 9. The bearing 9 includes an outer ring 91, an inner ring 92, and other components. The fixed bracket 1 is composed of fixed side portions 11 and 11 and mounting top portions 12 formed on both left and right sides. Both fixed side portions 11 and 11 are formed with adjustment holes 13 and 13 that are elongated in the substantially vertical direction or the vertical direction, and the mounting top portion 12 is mounted at a predetermined position in the vehicle via a capsule member.

  The fastening tool 5 includes a fastening shaft 51 and a lock lever portion 52, and the outer column 2 is sandwiched between both fixed side portions 11 and 11 of the fixed bracket 1. Then, the inner column 6 attached to the outer column 2 is locked (fixed) in the axial direction by the rotation operation of the lock lever portion 52. Further, when the tightening tool 5 is released, the outer column 2 is gradually locked to the inner column 6 so that the inner column 6 can be moved in the axial direction, and telescopic adjustment is possible. Tilt adjustment can also be performed at the same time.

  The outer column 2 includes a holding main body portion 21 and a tightening portion 22. The holding body portion 21 is a portion that is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having a hollow inside and serves to hold an inner column 6 described later. The inner column 6 protrudes from the front end portion and the rear end portion in the axial direction of the holding main body portion 21. Here, in the description of the present invention, the front-rear direction indicating front and rear is a direction based on the front-rear direction of the automobile in a state where the steering device is mounted on the automobile. Further, the front side and the rear side are also described in the drawings.

  The tightening portion 22 is a portion formed in a slit shape extending along the axial direction at the lower portion of the holding main body portion 21. The inner column 6 housed and mounted in the holding main body 21 can be tightened and locked (fixed). A bifurcated arm-shaped portion 3 and a connecting portion 4 are formed on the front side in the axial direction of the holding main body portion 21. Specifically, two bifurcated arm-like portions 3 are formed from the front side in the axial direction of the holding main body portion 21.

  The bifurcated arm-shaped portion 3 is formed with the left and right side positions of the holding main body portion 21 as root portions, and the bifurcated arm-shaped portion 3 is formed on the shaft of the outer column 2 from the axial end portion of the outer column 2. It is formed to extend outward in the front direction (see FIGS. 1A and 1B). The bifurcated arm-shaped part 3 is composed of two arm-shaped pieces 30 and 30. Both arm-shaped pieces 30 and 30 are formed symmetrically with the outer column 2 toward the outer front side in the axial direction, and the distance between the both arm-shaped pieces 30 and 30 gradually increases toward the front side. Is formed.

  Each arm-shaped piece 30, 30 of the bifurcated arm-shaped part 3 includes intermediate arm-shaped pieces 31, 31 that are gradually spaced apart from each other, and the holding main body 21 from the outer ends of the intermediate arm-shaped pieces 31, 31. And end arm-like pieces 32 and 32 which are parallel to each other. The intermediate arm-shaped piece 31 and the terminal arm-shaped piece 32 are integrally formed continuously. The end arm-shaped pieces 32, 32 are formed with pivot through holes 33, 33, which are pivotally connected to and supported by the tilt lower bracket 200. A connecting portion 4 is integrally formed between the arm-like pieces 30 and 30 of the bifurcated arm-like portion 3. In particular, the connecting portion 4 is formed between the end arm-like pieces 32 and 32 of the both arm-like pieces 30 and 30 and at the center of the distance between the end arm-like pieces 32 and 32.

  An open space S is provided between the front end portion of the holding main body portion 21 of the outer column 2, the bifurcated arm-shaped portion 3, and the connecting portion 4. The open gap portion S is a space surrounded by the vehicle body front side end portion of the holding main body portion 21, the bifurcated arm-like portion 3, and the connecting portion 4. A circular opening hole 41 is formed in the connecting portion 4 along the axial direction (see FIG. 1D). A large-diameter inner peripheral portion 41a, a stepped wall surface 41b, and a small-diameter inner peripheral portion 41c are formed continuously in the opening hole 41 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B). First, the large-diameter inner peripheral portion 41a is formed on the front side in the axial direction of the connecting portion 4, and the small-diameter inner peripheral portion 41c is formed on the rear side in the axial direction of the connecting portion 4 (see FIG. 2A). The step wall surface 41b and the small diameter inner peripheral portion 41c are concentric circles. The large-diameter inner peripheral portion 41a has an inner diameter that allows the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9 to be inserted or lightly press-fitted. The inner diameter of the small-diameter inner peripheral portion 41 c is formed smaller than the outer diameter of the outer ring 91.

  The step wall surface 41b is a surface formed at a step portion formed between the large-diameter inner peripheral portion 41a and the small-diameter inner peripheral portion 41c. The step wall surface 41b is a surface perpendicular to the axial direction of the connecting portion 4 and faces the front side in the axial direction. The stepped wall surface 41b serves as a seating surface that comes into contact with the side surface 91b on one side (rear side) in the axial direction of the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9 and serves to position the bearing in the axial direction. Specifically, the step wall surface 41b and the side surface 91b on the rear side of the outer ring 91 abut (see FIG. 3).

  The connecting portion 4 has a ring shape, and the upper side is referred to as an upper connecting piece 41U and the lower side is referred to as a lower connecting piece 41L. The upper connecting piece 41U and the lower connecting piece 41L are formed with insertion holes 43, 43,... Corresponding to positions in the vertical direction on both the left and right sides in the formation region of the large-diameter inner peripheral portion 41a. . That is, the insertion holes 43, 43,... Extend between the outer peripheral side of the upper connecting piece 41U and the large-diameter inner peripheral part 41a and between the outer peripheral side of the lower connecting piece 41L and the large-diameter inner peripheral part 41a. It is formed through. A total of four insertion holes 43, 43,... Are formed by the upper connecting piece 41U and the lower connecting piece 41L.

  For easy understanding of the insertion hole 43, the insertion holes 43, 43 formed in the upper connection piece 41U are referred to as upper insertion holes 43U, 43U, and the insertion holes 43, 43 formed in the lower connection piece 41L are referred to as the insertion holes 43, 43U. These are referred to as lower insertion holes 43L and 43L. The two upper insertion holes 43U and 43U and the two lower insertion holes 43L and 43L are formed symmetrically and parallel to the vertical line Lv in the left-right direction with respect to the vertical line Lv passing through the diameter center P of the opening hole 41. [See FIG. 2 (B)]. The bearing press shaft portion 7 of the clip A described later is inserted through the upper insertion holes 43U and 43U and the lower insertion holes 43L and 43L.

  The insertion holes 43, 43,... (Upper insertion holes 43U, 43U and lower insertion holes 43L, 43L) are located within the formation range of the large-diameter inner peripheral portion 41a as described above. Further, the dimension K from the stepped wall surface 41b to the rear end face 43r located on the diametrically rear side of the insertion holes 43, 43,... (Upper insertion holes 43U, 43U and lower insertion holes 43L, 43L) is the axis of the bearing 9 It is formed smaller than the thickness dimension M in the direction [see FIG. 2 (A), FIG. 3]. The thickness of the bearing 9 in the axial (front-rear) direction is the distance between the side surfaces 91a and 91b. That is, when the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 of the clip A is inserted into the insert holes 43, 43,..., The insert hole from the stepped wall surface 41b so that the bearing 9 can be fixed by the bearing retainer shaft portion 7. An interval up to 43 is set.

  The clip A has a plurality of embodiments, and basically includes two clips A and A (see FIGS. 1A, 1C, and 1D). Each clip A includes a bearing press shaft portion 7 and a mounting shaft portion 8. The bearing retainer shaft portion 7 is a portion that is inserted through the upper insertion hole 43U and the lower insertion hole 43L of the connecting portion 4. The mounting shaft portion 8 is a portion that is located on the upper surface side of the upper connecting piece 41U of the connecting portion 4 and serves to be fixed to the upper connecting piece 41U. First, in the first embodiment, the two clips A and A are independent separate members, and two pieces constitute one set [see FIGS. 1A, 1C, and 1D].

  The bearing retainer shaft portion 7 is used in a substantially hanging shape (see FIGS. 2A and 2C), and the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 has at least one or more mountain-shaped bent portions 71. Is formed. The mountain-shaped bent portion 71 is a bent portion formed so as to protrude from a part of the bearing press shaft portion 7 having a substantially hanging shape in a direction perpendicular to the hanging direction, and the shape thereof is a normal flat shape. It is a shape in which a chevron or a flat triangular chevron is laid down, and more specifically, it is bent into a substantially flat “>” (inequality symbol) character in mathematical symbols (see FIG. 2A).

  The protruding direction of the mountain-shaped bent portion 71 is a direction in which the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9 accommodated in the large-diameter inner peripheral portion 41a of the connecting portion 4 is always pressed. And the front-end | tip which the mountain-shaped bending part 71 protrudes is called the top part 71a. The top portion 71a is in contact with the side surface 91a on the other side (front side) of the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9, and serves to fix the bearing 9 to the large-diameter inner peripheral portion 41a [FIG. 2 (A), FIG. 3 (A)]. Further, a portion of the bearing press shaft portion 7 that contacts the front end surface 43f in the diameter direction of the upper insertion hole 43U and the lower insertion hole 43L is referred to as a contact surface 7p. The contact surface 7p is formed at two places.

  It is preferable that the mountain-shaped bent portion 71 is formed at two locations with respect to the bearing pressing shaft portion 7. When two mountain-shaped bent portions 71, 71 are formed on the bearing retainer shaft portion 7, the entire bearing retainer shaft portion 7 has a substantially zigzag shape (see FIG. 2A). Further, only one angle-shaped bent portion 71 may be formed in the bearing retainer shaft portion 7. In this case, the entire bearing pressing shaft portion 7 is formed in a substantially flat “>” shape (see FIGS. 3B and 4C).

  Here, the interval between the upper insertion holes 43U and 43U on the left and right sides of the connecting portion 4 and the interval W between the lower insertion holes 43L and 43L are the same (see FIG. 2B). Further, the interval W varies depending on the number of the mountain-shaped bent portions 71 formed on the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 of the clip A. That is, when the number of the mountain-shaped bent portions 71 formed on the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 of the clip A is two, the top portion 71 a passes through the diameter center P of the opening hole 41 with respect to the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9. Since it contacts the upper and lower positions of the horizontal line Lh, the interval W is set narrower than the diameter of the outer ring 91 (see FIGS. 2B and 2C). Further, in the case where one mountain-shaped bent portion 71 is formed on the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 (see FIGS. 3B and 4C), the top portion 71a is positioned at the center of the diameter of the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9. Therefore, the interval W is substantially the same as the diameter of the outer ring 91 (see FIG. 4D).

  The mounting shaft portion 8 formed at the upper end of the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 is composed of a substantially horizontal upper shaft piece 81 and a substantially shaft-hanging hanging shaft piece 82. The upper shaft piece 81 and the hanging shaft It forms so that it may become a substantially reverse "L" shape with the piece 82 (refer FIG. 2 (A)). The bent portion of the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 and the upper shaft piece 81 is an arc-shaped bent portion 81a having an arc shape that protrudes outward, and similarly, the upper shaft piece 81 and the hanging shaft piece. A bent portion with 82 also becomes an arc-shaped bent portion 81b having an arc shape protruding outward.

  In addition, a bulging portion 81c bulging downward is formed at an axially intermediate portion of the upper shaft piece 81, and a convex bulging toward the front side is formed at the vertical intermediate portion of the hanging shaft piece 82. A protruding bulging portion 82a is formed [see FIG. 2 (A)]. The bulged portion 81c is brought into contact with the outer peripheral side of the upper connecting piece 41U as an abutment for inserting the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 of the clip A into the insertion hole 43 of the connecting portion 4 at an appropriate position. The bulging portion 81c functions as a positioning portion for the top portion 71a. Thereby, the top portion 71 a of the mountain-shaped bent portion 71 of the clip A is positioned at a position where the top portion 71 a properly contacts the outer ring 91, and the bearing 9 can be fixed to the connecting portion 4. Further, the bulging portion 82a contacts the rear side surface of the upper connecting piece 41U, so that the upper connecting piece 41U is sandwiched by the mounting shaft portion 8, and the clip A is prevented from rotating.

  In the second embodiment of the clip A, the two clips A and A in the first embodiment are joined by the joining shaft piece 83, and the two clips A and A are integrally formed as one [ See FIG. 4A]. The joining shaft piece 83 is formed continuously at the lower ends of both hanging shaft pieces 82 and 82 of the two clips A and A 2. Furthermore, as a modification of the second embodiment, the two clips A, A do not have the upper shaft piece 81 and the hanging shaft piece 82, respectively, but are formed at the upper ends of the two bearing presser shaft portions 7, 7. There is also a form of joining at the joining shaft portion 83 (see FIG. 4C).

  Next, the structure for fixing the bearing 9 to the connecting portion 4 in the present invention will be described. The outer ring 91 of the bearing 9 is inserted into the large-diameter inner peripheral portion 41 a of the connecting portion 4. At this time, the bearing 9 and the large-diameter inner peripheral portion 41a are mounted with dimensions set so as not to cause rattling. The circumferential surface 91c of the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9 inserted into the large-diameter inner peripheral portion 41a is in contact with the large-diameter inner peripheral portion 41a, and the side surface 91b on the one axial side (rear side) of the outer ring 91 is a stepped wall surface. 41b (see FIGS. 2A and 3A).

  Then, the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 of the clip A is inserted into the upper insertion holes 43U and 43U of the upper connection piece 41U and the lower insertion holes 43L and 43L of the lower connection piece 41L, respectively. When the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 is inserted into the insertion hole 43 until the bulging portion 81c formed on the upper shaft piece 81 of the mounting shaft portion 8 abuts on the outer peripheral side of the upper connection piece 41U, the upper connection piece 41U and The apex 71a of the mountain-shaped bent portion 71 is in contact with the lower connecting piece 41L at an appropriate position on the side surface 91a on the other side (front side) of the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9.

  Further, as described above, the dimension K from the stepped wall surface 41b to the rear end face 43r located on the diameter direction rear side of the insertion holes 43, 43,... Is smaller than the thickness dimension M in the axial direction of the bearing 9. It is formed (see FIG. 3A). That is, a part of the front side of the bearing 9 housed in the large-diameter inner peripheral portion 41a overlaps with the positions of the insertion holes 43, 43,... (See FIG. 3). With such a configuration, when the top portion 71a of the mountain-shaped bent portion 71 in the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 of the clip A contacts the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9, the reaction force F from the outer ring 91 causes the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 to move forward. The contact surface 7p of the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 comes into contact with the front end surface 43f located on the front side in the diameter direction of the insertion holes 43U and 43L.

  Then, the mountain-shaped bent portion 71 of the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 is deformed so that the amount of bending is reduced and the flatness is further flattened. Therefore, a restoring force for returning to the original shape is generated at the apex portion 71a of the mountain-shaped bent portion 71 with the contact surface 7p as a fulcrum. As a result, a pressing force that elastically presses the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9 is generated by the top portion 71a of the mountain-shaped bent portion 71 of the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 of the clip A and the contact surface 7p. It can be firmly fixed. Further, when the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 of the clip A moves to the front side, the bulging portion 82a of the hanging shaft piece 82 of the mounting shaft portion 8 comes into contact with the rear side surface of the upper connecting piece 41U, and the upper portion The connecting piece 41U is clamped by the mounting shaft 8 of the clip A.

  In the case where the mountain-shaped bent portions 71 are formed at two locations on the bearing retainer shaft portion 7, the front side surface of the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9 is formed by the two mountain-shaped bent portions 71, 71 of one clip A. The two points abut against 91a, and the bearing retainer shaft 7 is pushed forward by the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9 so that the contact surface 7p of the bearing retainer shaft 7 is inserted into the upper connecting piece 41U and the lower insertion. It abuts against the front surface of the hole 43L (see FIG. 3A). The two clips A, A 2 provide a good balance between the left and right sides of the front side surface 91a of the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9 at a total of 8 points (4 points on the top 71a of the mountain-shaped bent portion 71 and 4 points on the contact portion). Since it presses, the bearing 9 can be firmly fixed to the connection part 4, and the rattle and inclination of the bearing 9 can be prevented.

  Further, the bulged portion 81 c formed in the upper shaft piece 81 is positioned at a position where the mountain-shaped bent portion 71 of the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 contacts the front side surface 91 a of the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9. Does not hinder the rotation. When the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 is provided with only one mountain-shaped bent portion 71, one clip-shaped bent portion 71 of one clip A is provided on the side surface 91 a on the front side of the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9. One point abuts against the shaft, and the bearing retainer shaft portion 7 is pushed by the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9 and moves forward, so that the contact surface 7p is brought into contact with the front surface of the upper insertion hole 43U and the lower insertion hole 43L. It abuts (see FIG. 3B). The two clips A, A 2 have a good balance between the left and right sides of the front side surface 91a of the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9 at a total of six points (two points on the top 71a of the mountain-shaped bent portion 71 and four points on the contact portion). Since it presses, the bearing 9 can be reliably fixed to the connection part 4.

  In the second embodiment of the clip A, the two clips A and A are integrated by the joining shaft piece 83, and the bearing retainer shaft portions 7 and 7 of the two clips A and A are provided in both upper insertion holes. 43U, 43U and both lower insertion holes 43L, 43L are inserted simultaneously. And then. The hanging shaft pieces 82 and 82 and the joining shaft piece 83 of both clips A and A are positioned on the rear side in the axial direction of the connecting portion 4, and the two clips A and A are fixed to the connecting portion 4 [FIG. 4 (B). reference〕.

  Since the clip A is a single member, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembling time can be shortened, leading to cost reduction. In the modification of the second embodiment of the clip A, the joining shaft piece 83 is located on the upper surface of the upper connecting piece 41U of the connecting portion 4 (see FIG. 4D). By inserting the clip A into the insertion hole 43 until the joining shaft piece 83 hits the outer peripheral side of the upper connecting piece 41U, the mountain-shaped bent portion 71 is positioned at a proper position on the front side surface 91a of the outer ring 91 of the bearing 9. It can be positioned at the abutting position.

2 ... outer column, 3 ... bifurcated arm-like part, 4 ... connecting part, 41a ... large-diameter inner peripheral part,
41b ... stepped wall surface, 41c ... small diameter inner periphery, 41U ... upper connecting piece,
41L ... lower connecting piece, 43 ... insertion hole, A ... clip, 7 ... bearing presser shaft,
71 ... Mountain-shaped bent portion, 71a ... Top portion, 8 ... Mounting shaft portion, 9 ... Bearing, 91 ... Outer ring.

Claims (3)

  An outer column; a bifurcated arm-like portion extending in a bifurcated manner from the outer column; a connecting portion formed between the bifurcated arm-like portion; a bearing housed in the connecting portion; and a bearing presser shaft A clip having a portion and a mounting shaft portion, and a small-diameter inner peripheral portion is formed in the connecting portion via a large-diameter inner peripheral portion and a stepped wall surface, and an upper connecting piece and a lower connecting piece of the connecting portion are formed. Is formed with an insertion hole in the vertical direction on both the left and right sides, a mountain-shaped bent portion is formed in the bearing retainer shaft portion of the clip, and the bearing is housed in the large-diameter inner peripheral portion and the outer ring of the bearing is One side surface is brought into contact with the stepped wall surface, and the bearing pressing shaft portion of the clip is inserted into the insertion hole of each of the upper connecting piece and the lower connecting piece, and the upper connecting piece and the lower connecting piece are The top of the mountain-shaped bend is between the other outer ring of the bearing Steering apparatus characterized by comprising a contact of the side surface.   The upper shaft piece and a hanging shaft piece are formed in the mounting shaft portion of the clip according to claim 1, and the upper connecting piece is sandwiched between the bearing pressing shaft portion and the hanging shaft piece. Steering device.   3. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the clip is joined at the mounting shaft portion so as to be parallel and integrated.

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