JP2012180039A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device having an extremely compact structure and capable of sufficiently securing a telescopic adjustment stroke and an impact absorption stroke upon impact.SOLUTION: The steering device includes a housing A, a lower fixation bracket 5, a connecting shaft member 6 and a holding part 4. The connecting shaft member 6 is inserted into an impact absorbing oblong hole part 52 of the lower fixation bracket 5 and a lower telescopic oblong hole part 22 of a lower support part 2. The connection shaft member 6 is normally held at a rear side end of the impact absorbing oblong hole 52 by the holding part 4. Upon secondary impact, the holding part 4 is broken by the connecting shaft member 6 so as to enable detachment of the connecting shaft member 6 from the holding part 4.

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus that can sufficiently ensure a telescopic adjustment stroke and a shock absorption stroke at the time of a collision with an extremely compact configuration.

Many steering devices having a tilt / telescopic adjustment function and a function of absorbing an impact at the time of a secondary impact at the time of a collision are used. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228561 discloses this type, and includes a lower fixing bracket 9 disposed at the front of the vehicle body, an upper fixing bracket 10 disposed at the rear of the vehicle body, and a column bracket fixed to the steering column 4. It has a long bracket 11 (see FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1).

The long bracket 11 is supported by both fixed brackets 9 and 10 via a lower support shaft 12 and an upper support shaft 13 as support shafts (see FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1). The long bracket 11 extends long in parallel with the longitudinal direction of the steering column 4. The long bracket 11 has a groove shape in cross section, and includes a pair of side plates 65 and a top plate 66 that connects the upper edges of the pair of side plates 65.

Both side plates 65 have insertion holes 69 and 70, which are horizontally long holes for telescopic adjustment. The lower-side insertion hole 69 communicates with a groove 71 for absorbing shock at the time of collision. The groove 71 extends with a required shock absorbing stroke amount upward in the axial direction of the shaft 3, which is the front in the moving direction when the both support shafts 12 and 13 collide with the long bracket 11. In a normal state before the collision, the upper support shaft 13 and the lower support shaft 12 are held with a predetermined holding force in a locked state at positions telescopically adjusted in the corresponding insertion holes 70 and 69 [Patent Document 1]. (See FIG. 4).

At the time of a collision, the long bracket 11 moves together with the steering column 4 toward the front of the vehicle body, moves relative to both the support shafts 12 and 13 whose positions are regulated with respect to the vehicle body, and the upper support shaft 13
Is detached from the insertion hole 70 (see FIG. 6 of Patent Document 1). Further, the lower support shaft 12 and the shock absorbing member 72 enter the groove 71 from the insertion hole 69, and the peripheral portions of the shock absorbing member 72 and the groove 71 are deformed as they move through the groove 71. Is alleviated.

JP 2004-58835 A

Patent Document 1 has the following problems. A groove 71 for absorbing shock at the time of a collision communicates with the insertion hole 69 formed in the pair of side plates 65 of the long bracket 11 fixed to the steering column 4 in the longitudinal direction. That is, since the telescopic stroke and the shock absorbing stroke are arranged in a line, the length obtained by adding the shock absorbing length to the telescopic adjustment length is increased, and the shaft length is increased. It will increase in size. Therefore, it becomes difficult to arrange the steering device in a limited space of the automobile.

Thus, if it is going to ensure the length of both an impact absorption stroke and a telescopic stroke sufficiently, the shaft 3 and the long bracket 11 will become long. If you place importance on safety in the event of collision in a limited space of the car, you will sacrifice the length of the telescopic stroke, and conversely, if you secure a large length of the telescopic stroke, The shock absorption stroke is shortened, and sufficient safety cannot be ensured. An object (technical problem) of the present invention is to provide a steering device that can sufficiently secure a telescopic adjustment stroke and a shock absorbing stroke at the time of a collision with an extremely compact configuration.

  In view of the above, the inventor has intensively and intensively studied to solve the above-described problems. As a result, the inventor of the present invention has a lower telescopic long hole portion and a lower movable side portion formed on both sides in the width direction. A housing having a support portion provided on the front side, a lower fixing bracket having shock absorbing long holes and lower fixing side portions formed on both sides in the width direction, and the lower support portion and the lower fixing bracket are connected. A connecting shaft member, and a holding portion for holding the connecting shaft member on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion. The shock absorbing long hole portion of the lower fixing bracket and the lower telescopic long hole portion of the lower supporting portion. The connecting shaft member is inserted, and the connecting shaft member is normally held by the holding portion at the rear end of the shock absorbing long hole portion, and at the time of secondary impact, the connecting shaft member is The holding part is destroyed and the holding By the steering device comprising a detachable from, the above-mentioned problems are eliminated.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the connection shaft member is a steering device that serves as a swing center of the housing. The invention according to claim 3 is the steering device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding portion is a bulging protrusion formed so as to face the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion from both ends in the vertical direction. The above-mentioned problem was solved.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the holding portion protrudes toward the other side edge from the one side edge in the vertical direction on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion. The above-described problem has been solved by using a steering device as a piece. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the holding portion is a resin holding member in which a shaft support hole and a to-be-destructed portion of the connecting shaft member are formed, and the resin holding member is the shock absorbing member. The above-described problem has been solved by providing a steering device that is fixed to the rear side of the long hole portion and that is broken by the connecting shaft member during the secondary impact.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the lower support portion formed in the housing has lower movable side portions opposed in parallel, and lower telescopic elongated holes for performing telescopic adjustment are formed on both lower movable side portions. . Further, the lower fixing bracket is formed with a lower fixing side portion facing in parallel, and both lower fixing side portions are formed with shock absorbing long holes for absorbing the impact of the secondary impact.

  The lower movable side portions are sandwiched between the lower fixed side portions, and the lower telescopic elongated hole portion and the shock absorbing elongated hole portion are arranged so as to overlap each other on the inner side and the outer side. The And a lower fixed bracket and the lower support part of a housing are connected with a connecting shaft member via both long holes. Normally, the position of the connecting shaft member is held by the holding portion on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion, and the connecting shaft member breaks the holding portion and is detached from the holding position by the secondary impact. It becomes possible, and the entire shock absorbing long hole portion becomes a shock absorbing stroke.

  As described above, the lower telescopic elongated hole portion is formed in the lower support portion of the housing, and the shock absorbing elongated hole portion is separately formed in the lower fixing bracket, so that both at the time of telescopic adjustment and at the time of secondary impact The lower telescopic slot and the shock absorbing slot can be operated in an overlapping state. Such a configuration according to the present invention can significantly reduce the total length of the telescopic adjustment long hole and the shock absorption long hole found in the prior art as compared to the continuous line formed in the same line.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the portion related to the telescopic adjustment of the housing can be shortened over the whole, and the steering device can be made extremely compact. In addition, as described above, the lower telescopic slot is formed in the lower support part of the housing and the shock absorbing slot is formed separately in the lower fixing bracket, so the telescopic adjustment stroke is also set to the desired length. The impact absorption stroke for the secondary impact can be set to a sufficient length, and the driver's safety can be sufficiently ensured.

  In the invention of claim 2, since the connecting shaft member is configured to be the center of swinging of the housing, the connecting shaft member that connects both the long holes of the lower fixing bracket and the lower support portion of the housing is provided on the housing. It can also serve as a rotation center for a swinging operation in tilt. Therefore, the configuration in which the lower telescopic elongated hole portion and the shock absorbing elongated hole portion are arranged so as to overlap each other on the inner side and the outer side and are connected via the connecting shaft member has a tilt / telescopic adjustment function. It can be employed as a tilt / telescopic adjustment mechanism of a steering apparatus equipped with

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the connecting shaft member is held on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion by the bulging protrusions formed on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion so as to face both ends in the vertical direction. ing. The structure of the holding portion is the simplest shape, and the connecting shaft member can be held on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion in a stable state at all times.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the holding portion is configured as a shaft-like protruding piece that protrudes from the one side edge in the vertical direction toward the other side edge on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion. It is easy to break against the next impact, and the shaft-like projecting piece is destroyed by being pushed down by the connecting shaft member. Therefore, an appropriate resistance force against the impact is generated in the pushing-down process, and the secondary impact is softened. be able to.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the holding portion is a resin holding member in which a shaft support hole and a to-be-destructed portion of the connecting shaft member are formed, and the resin holding member is disposed on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion. The part to be destroyed is fixed by the connecting shaft member at the time of secondary impact. Since the shaft support hole is formed in the resin-made holding member and the connecting shaft member is supported, the connecting shaft member is always extremely stable with no play at the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion. Is held in the state.

  Accordingly, the connecting shaft member becomes a stable swing center at the time of tilt adjustment, and not only telescopic adjustment but also tilt adjustment can be performed with extremely stable operation. Further, at the time of the secondary impact, the portion to be broken is broken by being broken by the connecting shaft member, so that an appropriate resistance force against the shock can be generated in the breaking stroke, and the secondary impact can be reduced.

(A) is a longitudinal side view in the first embodiment of the present invention, (B) is a view taken along arrow X1-X1 in (A), (C) is a sectional view taken along arrow Y1-Y1 in (A), (D). (A) Enlarged view of (A) part of (A), (E) Enlarged sectional view of (B) part of (B). (A) is an enlarged side view of the main part of the lower support part in which the shock absorbing long hole part is formed, (B) is an enlarged side view of the main part of the lower fixing bracket in which (A) the lower telescopic long hole part is formed, (C) is the perspective view made into the partial cross section of the lower support part and the lower fixing bracket. (A) is a principal part side view in 1st Embodiment of this invention, (B) is Y2-Y2 arrow sectional drawing of (A). (A) thru | or (D) is the side view made into the partial cross section which shows the process from just before the impact absorption of a secondary impact to completion. (A) is a side view and X2-X2 arrow cross-sectional view showing the state of the shock absorbing long hole portion, the lower telescopic long hole portion and the connecting shaft member immediately before the occurrence of the secondary shock, and (B) is (A) (C) is an enlarged side view, (C) is a side view showing the state of the shock absorbing long hole portion, the lower telescopic long hole portion and the connecting shaft member immediately after the occurrence of the secondary shock, and a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow X3-X3. (D) Enlarged view of (C), (E) is a side view showing a state in which the connecting shaft member is destroying the holding part by secondary impact, and a cross-sectional view taken along arrow X4-X4, (F) is (E) Enlarged view of (o) part, (G) is a side view showing a state where the shock absorption process by the secondary impact is completed, and a cross-sectional view taken along arrow X5-X5, (H) is (f) of (G) FIG. (A) is the side view which made the partial cross section which shows the most contracted state and the most extended state by telescopic adjustment in this invention, (B) is a shock absorption long hole part and lower telescopic long hole part in the most contracted state by telescopic adjustment Side view showing the state with the shaft member, (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X6-X6 in (B), and (D) is a telescopic adjustment by connecting the shock absorbing long hole portion and the lower telescopic long hole portion in the intermediate state of the telescopic stroke. Side view showing the state with the shaft member, (E) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X7-X7 in (D), and (F) is a shock absorbing long hole portion, a lower telescopic long hole portion and a connecting shaft in the most extended state by telescopic adjustment. The side view which shows a state with a member, (G) is X8-X8 arrow sectional drawing of (F). (A) is the principal part side view of the lower support part and lower fixing bracket which show 2nd Embodiment of the holding | maintenance part in this invention, (B) is the (G) part enlarged view of (A), (C) is (A It is an enlarged view of the state in which the holding part is destroyed in the (G) part of () (A) is a main part side view of a lower support part and a lower fixing bracket showing a third embodiment of a holding part in the present invention, (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow X9-X9 in (A), (C) is ( (A) is an enlarged view of the (K) part, (D) is a sectional view taken along the line Y3-Y3 of (C), and (E) is an enlarged view of a state in which the holding part is broken.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present invention, the terms “front side” and “rear side” are used in the following description. The “front side” is the side corresponding to the front side of the vehicle body, and the “rear side” is the side corresponding to the rear side. “Front side” and “rear side” are described in the drawing.

  In all the embodiments of the present invention, the housing A, the lower fixing bracket 5, the connecting shaft member 6, the upper fixing bracket 7 and the fastening tool 8 are mainly used [FIG. 1 (A). , (B), FIG. 3 etc.]. The housing A is composed of a cylindrical main body 1, a lower support 2 and an upper support 3, and is integrally formed (see FIG. 3).

  The main body portion 1 is formed in a substantially hollow cylindrical shape, and a column pipe 91 is mounted and fixed along the axial direction therein. A steering shaft 92 is rotatably housed inside the column pipe 91, and a steering wheel 93 is mounted on the rear side end of the steering shaft 92 [FIG. 1 (A), FIG. 6 (A), etc. reference〕.

  A lower support portion 2 is formed on the front side in the axial direction of the main body portion 1, and an upper support portion 3 is formed over substantially the entire axial direction of the main body portion 1 [FIGS. See A)]. The positional relationship between the lower support portion 2 and the upper support portion 3 in the vertical direction is based on the position formed in the main body portion 1. In other words, when the steering device is mounted on the vehicle body in an appropriate state, the axial direction of the steering device is inclined so that the rear side is upward, but the inclination direction is at a position on the lower side of the inclination. The lower support portion 2 is disposed, and the upper support portion 3 is disposed at a position on the upper side of the inclination.

  The lower support portion 2 is a member that is pivotally connected to a lower fixing bracket 5 by a connecting shaft member 6 to be described later, and is pivotally supported. The lower support portion 2 includes a pair of lower movable side portions 21, 21 and the like. It is formed so as to protrude from the vicinity of the front side of the portion 1 toward the front (see FIGS. 1A and 3A). Specifically, the lower movable side portions 21 and 21 are in the form of a plate, and the positions of the lower movable side portions 21 that are closer to the front end with respect to the main body portion 1 and on both sides in the width direction are respectively set. It is integrally formed as a base part of the [see FIG. 1 (A)].

  The lower movable side parts 21 and 21 are formed so as to protrude to the front side of the main body part 1 and to be parallel to each other at a predetermined interval (see FIG. 1B). The lower movable side portions 21 and 21 are respectively formed with lower telescopic elongated holes 22 and 22 (see FIGS. 1A, 1D, 2E, and 2A). The lower telescopic elongated hole portion 22 extends in the longitudinal direction along the front-rear direction of the main body 1 and is formed to be parallel to the axial direction of the main body 1.

  The lower telescopic long hole portion 22 is a part related to telescopic adjustment together with an upper telescopic long hole portion 32 of the upper movable side portion 31 described later, and the telescopic adjustment stroke is described as Lt in the drawing. A flat upper plate portion 23 is formed at the upper ends of both lower movable side portions 21 and 21 so as to connect both movable side portions 21 and 21, thereby forming a substantially gate shape. Both movable side portions 21 and 21 are reinforced [see FIG. 1C].

  The upper support portion 3 is composed of a pair of upper movable side portions 31, 31, etc., and protrudes downward along the axial direction of the main body portion 1 over substantially the entire region from the front side to the rear side. [Refer to FIG. 1 (A), FIG. 3, etc.]. Specifically, the upper movable side portions 31, 31 are directed toward the lower side of the main body portion 1 with the positions on both sides in the width direction of the main body portion 1 being the root portions of the upper movable side portions 31, 31. It is integrally formed so as to protrude (see FIG. 3B).

  Both upper movable side portions 31 and 31 are formed in parallel with a predetermined interval. Upper telescopic elongated holes 32 and 32 are formed in the upper movable side portions 31 and 31 (see FIGS. 1A and 3). The upper telescopic elongated hole portion 32 extends in the longitudinal direction along the front-rear direction of the main body 1 and is formed to be parallel to the axial direction of the main body 1. The length in the longitudinal direction of the upper telescopic elongated hole portion 32 is set based on the length of the moving stroke necessary for telescopic adjustment. Both the outer movable side portions 31 and 31 are flat surfaces, and are sandwiched between both upper fixed side portions of a fixing bracket described later.

  Next, the lower fixing bracket 5 will be described. The lower fixing bracket 5 is divided into two bracket members 5A and 5A, and each bracket member 5A is composed of a lower fixing side portion 51 and a lower mounting portion 53 [FIG. 1 (B), ( See C)]. The lower fixing side portion 51 and the lower mounting portion 53 are both formed of plate-like pieces and are formed at right angles to each other. The lower fixing side portion 51 is formed with an impact absorbing long hole portion 52 (see FIGS. 1A, 1D, 2E, and 2A).

  The shock absorbing long hole portion 52 is a part that operates for the first time against a secondary shock caused by a collision, and the shock absorbing stroke is described as Ls in the drawing. A holding portion 4 is provided at the rear end portion of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52. The holding unit 4 will be described later. The lower mounting portion 53 is formed with a mounting hole 53a through which a bolt shaft of a fixing tool such as a bolt passes (see FIG. 1B). The lower fixing bracket 5 has two bracket members 5A, 5A arranged in a direction orthogonal to an axial line connecting the front and rear directions of the vehicle body, and a fixing tool such as a bolt in the mounting hole 53a of each lower mounting portion 53. It is fixed to the vehicle body through the bolt shaft.

  The lower fixed side portions 51 and 51 of both bracket members 5A and 5A are arranged so as to face each other in parallel [see FIGS. 1B and 1C]. The lower movable side portions 21 and 21 of the lower support portion 2 of the housing A are disposed between the lower fixed side portions 51 and 51, and the lower movable side portions 21 and 51 are connected to the lower movable side portions 21 and 51. 21 (see FIGS. 1B and 1C), the connecting shaft member 6 is inserted into the rear end of each of the lower telescopic elongated hole portion 22 and the shock absorbing elongated hole portion 52, and the housing. The lower support part 2 of A and the lower fixing bracket 5 are connected so as to be adjustable in tilt and telescopic adjustment. That is, the lower telescopic long hole portion 22 and the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 are arranged so as to overlap each other on the inner side and the outer side.

  The connecting shaft member 6 is specifically a rivet-shaped member, and a disc-shaped head portion 62 having a diameter larger than the diameter of the shaft portion 61 is formed on one axial end side of the shaft portion 61. [Refer to FIG. 1 (C), (E)]. The shaft portion 61 has a diameter that can be inserted into the rear end portions of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 and the lower telescopic long hole portion 22, and the head portion 62 is caught around the hole and cannot be penetrated. It has become.

  Further, the other axial end side of the shaft portion 61 is a processed portion that can be expanded by plastic deformation. Then, after the shaft portion 61 of the connecting shaft member 6 is inserted into the lower telescopic long hole portion 22 and the shock absorbing long hole portion 52, plastic deformation is performed to expand the processed portion, and the shape of the head 62 is expanded. A portion 63 is formed and is attached to the rear end portions of the lower telescopic elongated hole portion 22 and the shock absorbing elongated hole portion 52 so as not to be detached.

  The axial end portion of the shaft portion 61 may be formed in a hollow tubular shape so as to be easily processed. Further, the connecting shaft member 6 may be a combination of a bolt and a nut. Thus, the rear side end of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 in a state where the lower movable side portions 21 and 21 of the lower support portion 2 are sandwiched by the lower fixed side portions 51 and 51 of the lower fixed bracket 5. The shaft portion 61 of the connecting shaft member 6 is inserted into the portion and the lower telescopic long hole portion 22. In the lower fixing bracket 5, a holding portion 4 is provided at a position near the rear end portion of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 of the lower fixing side portion 51, and is normally connected via the holding portion 4. The shaft member 6 is held at the position of the rear end portion of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52, and the connecting shaft member 6 serves as the center of swinging of the housing A when the tilt adjustment length is set.

  When the secondary impact occurs, the holding portion 4 is broken by the connecting shaft member 6 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). A region where the connecting shaft member 6 is held by the holding portion 4 on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 is referred to as a holding region 52r. When the housing A moves toward the front side along with the occurrence of the secondary impact, the connecting shaft member 6 comes into contact with the rear side end portion of the lower telescopic elongated hole portion 22.

  In such a state, the housing A itself tries to move toward the front side, so the lower telescopic long hole portion 22 also tries to move forward. Then, the connecting shaft member 6 in contact with the rear side end portion of the lower telescopic long hole portion 22 is pressed forward. Accordingly, the connecting shaft member 6 breaks the holding portion 4 and is detached from the holding region 52 r of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52, and can move to the front side of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52. In this way, the impact when the steering wheel 93 moves forward together with the housing A and the driver collides with the steering wheel 93 is absorbed.

  Various embodiments exist for the holding unit 4. First, as a first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52, the bulging projection 41 is formed from the upper and lower end edges 52a and 52b of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52. , 41 are formed. That is, the bulging protrusion 41 that bulges the edge in the vertical direction of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 from the upper edge 52a toward the lower edge 52b, and the swelling that bulges from the lower edge 52b toward the upper edge 52a. The protruding protrusion 41 is formed so as to face in the vertical direction (see FIGS. 1D and 2A).

  The distances from the rear end portions of the shock absorbing long holes 52, 52 where the bulged protrusions 41, 41 are formed are equal. Further, the distance between the tips of the bulging protrusions 41 and 41 is formed to be smaller than the diameter of the shaft portion 61 of the connecting shaft member 6. The distance between the tips of the bulging protrusions 41 and 41 is determined by the strength of the material of the connecting shaft member 6 and the like. That is, it is assumed that the connecting shaft member 6 can break the holding portion 4 for the first time by the impact load due to the secondary impact.

  As a result, the connecting shaft member 6 is normally held so as to be positioned in the holding region 52r on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52. Then, the bulging protrusions 41 and 41 are destroyed by being crushed by the connecting shaft member 6 at the time of the secondary impact, and the connecting shaft member 6 moves to the front side of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52. it can. Both bulging projections 41, 41 are formed in a substantially triangular shape. Moreover, both the bulging protrusions 41 and 41 may be formed in a semicircular shape.

  Next, in 2nd Embodiment of the holding | maintenance part 4, as shown to FIG. 7 (A), (B), it is the back side of the shock absorption long hole part 52, and either one side edge (upper edge) of an up-down direction 52a or the lower end edge 52b) is formed with an axial projection piece 42 protruding toward the other end edge. The shaft-like protruding piece 42 is formed to be slightly inclined toward the front side of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 from the end edge (the upper end edge 52a or the lower end edge 52b) where the base 42a is formed toward the front end. . Then, the shaft-like protruding piece 42 is destroyed by being pushed down by the connecting shaft member 6 at the time of the secondary impact, and the connecting shaft member 6 is detached from the holding region 52r and moved to the front side of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52. (See FIG. 7C).

  Further, a recess 42b is formed in a part of the shock absorbing long hole 52 near the front of the end edge (upper edge 52a or lower edge 52b) of the base 42a of the axial protrusion piece 42 (FIG. 7B). reference〕. The depressed shaft portion 42b can be made to be easily pierced by the pushed-down shaft-like projection piece 42 and pass through the portion of the shaft-like projection piece 42 where the connecting shaft member 6 is broken at the time of the secondary impact. The first and second embodiments of the holding portion 4 are integrally formed from the lower movable side portion 21 in which the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 is formed. The shaft-like projection piece 42 in the second embodiment of the holding portion 4 is in a state in which the connection shaft member 6 receives a resistance force from the shaft-like projection piece 42 for a relatively long time until it is pushed down by the connection shaft member 6. And there is an advantage of absorbing the impact.

  Next, in 3rd Embodiment of the holding | maintenance part 4, as shown in FIG. 8, it was made into the completely different member from the lower support part 2, and the resin-made holding member 43 was comprised as the separate member. It is. The resin holding member 43 is formed from a synthetic resin in a substantially cubic block shape, and is formed by forming a shaft support hole 432 and a to-be-destructed portion 433 in a housing 431 (see FIG. 8). . The housing 431 is fixedly fixed to the rear end portion of the shock absorbing long hole 52 (see FIGS. 8A and 8B). The to-be-destructed portion 433 is formed on the front side of the housing 431.

  Specifically, a part of the meat portion between the front side of the housing 431 and the front side edge of the shaft support hole 432 formed in the housing 431 becomes the to-be-destructed portion 433 [FIG. (See (C)). When the secondary impact occurs, the connecting shaft member 6 breaks the fractured portion 433 so as to break, and the connecting shaft member 6 jumps out of the housing 431 of the resin holding member 43 [FIG. (See (E)). The means for fixing the resin holding member 43 to the shock absorbing long hole 52 is performed by an adhesive, press-fitting, or the like. In this manner, the resin holding member 43 is fixed to the rear end portion of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52, whereby a holding region 52r is formed in the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 [FIGS. See C)].

  Then, in the resin holding member 43, the to-be-destructed portion 433 is destroyed by the connecting shaft member 6 at the time of the secondary impact (see FIG. 8E), the connecting shaft member 6 is detached from the shaft support hole 432, and the connecting shaft member 6 can move to the front side of the shock absorbing slot 52. The to-be-destructed portion 433 of the resin holding member 43 has such a strength that it is broken for the first time by the impact load of the secondary impact, and is usually the connecting shaft member 6 that is the pivot center at the time of tilt adjustment. The lower fixed side portion 51 and the lower movable side portion 21 are pivotally connected so as to be swingable so that a tilt operation can be performed.

  Similar to the lower fixing bracket 5, the upper fixing bracket 7 has a two-member structure and is separated into two bracket members 7A and 7A (see FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 3). Each bracket member 7 </ b> A includes an upper fixing side portion 71 and an upper mounting portion 73. The upper fixing side portion 71 and the upper mounting portion 73 are both formed of plate-shaped pieces and are formed at right angles to each other. A tilt adjustment long hole 72 is formed in the upper fixing side portion 71. The tilt adjustment long hole 72 is formed in an inclined shape that protrudes in the up-down direction and downwards toward the front side.

  The fastening tool 8 includes a bolt shaft 81, a lock lever portion 82, a fastening cam 83, and a nut 84 (see FIGS. 1B and 3B). The fastener 8 is attached by a nut 84 together with a lock lever portion 82 and a fastening cam 83. In the upper fixing bracket 7, two bracket members 7A, 7A are arranged along a direction orthogonal to an axial line connecting the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and an upper mounting portion 73 is disposed at a predetermined position of the vehicle body via a capsule member. Installed. The upper fixing side portions 71 and 71 of both bracket members 7A and 7A are arranged to face each other in parallel.

  The upper movable side portions 31, 31 of the upper support portion 3 of the housing A are arranged between the upper fixed side portions 71, 71, and the upper movable side portions 31, 31 are connected by the upper fixed side portions 71, 71. It is configured to be sandwiched. The positions of the respective tilt adjustment long holes 72 and the upper telescopic long hole portions 32 are aligned, the bolt shaft 81 of the fastener 8 is inserted, and the upper support portion 3 of the housing A and the upper fixing bracket 7 are connected. Tilt and telescopic adjustment are possible (see FIG. 3).

  When the lock lever portion 82 of the fastener 8 is operated to be in the tightened state, the upper fixed side portions 71 and 71 fasten and fix the upper movable side portions 31 and 31 of the housing A, and the lock lever. By releasing the tightening by operating the part 82, the upper support part 3 of the housing A can move in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, and tilt and telescopic adjustment can be performed.

  Next, the shock absorption process at the time of the secondary impact in the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Further, although the steering wheel 93 is in the most extended state by telescopic adjustment, the operation is substantially the same even in the most contracted state. In particular, when the telescopic adjustment is performed at the maximum extension state, the telescopic adjustment stroke Lt is added to the shock absorption stroke Ls in the shock absorption process.

  First, FIG. 4A and FIGS. 5A and 5B are states immediately before the occurrence of the secondary impact, which is not different from the normal state. Next, when a secondary impact occurs, the housing A moves so as to be pushed forward together with the steering wheel 93. At this time, the connecting shaft member 6 is held in the holding region 52r of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52, and the lower telescopic long hole portion 22 moves forward. That is, immediately after the occurrence of the secondary impact, the housing A moves the telescopic adjustment stroke Lt together with the lower telescopic elongated hole portion 22. As the housing A moves forward, the upper support 3 moves forward with respect to the upper fixing bracket 7, and the fastener 8 located at the front end of the upper telescopic elongated holes 32, 32. The bolt shaft portion 81 comes into contact with the rear end portions of the upper telescopic elongated hole portions 32 and 32.

  Further, the housing A moves forward, and the lower support portion 2 moves forward relative to the lower fixing bracket 5, and the lower telescopic elongated hole portion 22 moves forward relative to the shock absorbing elongated hole portion 52. To do. At this time, the connecting shaft member 6 held by the holding portion 4 in the holding region 52r at the rear side end portion of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 is in a stopped state. The connecting shaft member 6 in the stopped state comes into contact with the rear end portion of the lower telescopic long hole portion 22 of the housing A. The state at this time is shown in FIGS. 4B, 5C, and 5D.

  Even if the rear end of the lower telescopic elongated hole 22 abuts on the connecting shaft member 6, the housing A itself continues to move further forward due to the secondary impact. Therefore, the upper fixing bracket 7 is detached from the capsule member fixed to the vehicle body and moves forward together with the housing A. At the same time, the connecting shaft member 6 in the stopped state tries to move forward together with the housing A, and destroys the holding portion 4 with respect to the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 in the stationary state. The state in which the connecting shaft member 6 breaks the holding portion 4 (the bulging protrusions 41 and 41) is shown in FIGS. 4C, 5E, and 5F. The state in which the holding unit 4 is broken differs depending on the first, second, or third embodiment of the holding unit 4.

  When the connecting shaft member 6 breaks the holding portion 4, the connecting shaft member 6 moves away from the holding region 52 r on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52, and the connecting shaft member 6 moves the shock absorbing stroke Ls to the front side of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52. . As the connecting shaft member 6 moves forward through the shock absorbing long hole 52, shock absorption is performed [see FIGS. 5G and 5H].

  The shock absorbing long hole portion 52 has a sufficient length dimension in the front-rear direction, and the shock absorbing stroke Ls can have a sufficient length. Furthermore, when the adjustment position of the steering wheel 93 by the telescopic adjustment is in the “maximum extension” state, as described above, it is the remaining amount range between the “maximum reduction” of the telescopic adjustment due to the occurrence of the secondary impact. The telescopic adjustment stroke Lt is added to the shock absorbing stroke Ls of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52, and a much larger shock absorbing stroke is obtained (see FIG. 5A).

  Further, when the adjustment position of the steering wheel 93 by the telescopic adjustment is in the “neutral” state, it is not in the “maximum extension” state, but there is a certain amount of remaining telescopic adjustment stroke. A shock absorbing stroke longer than the shock absorbing stroke Ls of only the hole 52 can be obtained.

  In the present invention, the telescopic adjustment is performed in a state where the connecting shaft member 6 is held by the holding portion 4 in the holding region 52r of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 as shown in FIG. That is, the telescopic adjustment is performed by moving the telescopic adjustment stroke Lt of the lower telescopic elongated hole portion 22 with respect to the stationary connecting shaft member 6. Further, in the tilt adjustment, the connecting shaft member 6 serves as the swing center of the housing A. In the “most contracted” state by telescopic adjustment, the connecting shaft member 6 is positioned at the rear end of the lower telescopic slot 22 while being held in the holding region 52r of the shock absorbing slot 52 [FIG. B) and (C)].

  Further, in the “neutral” state by telescopic adjustment, the connecting shaft member 6 is positioned in the middle portion of the lower telescopic long hole portion 22 while being held in the holding region 52r of the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 [FIG. ), See (E)]. In the “most extended” state by telescopic adjustment, the connecting shaft member 6 is positioned at the front side end of the lower telescopic slot 22 while being held in the holding region 52r of the shock absorbing slot 52 [FIG. (See (F), (G)).

  In this way, the lower telescopic long hole portion 22 and the shock absorbing long hole portion 52 are arranged so as to overlap each other on the inner side and the outer side, thereby enabling compactness in a limited space of the automobile. With the configuration, the telescopic stroke can be set to a sufficient length.

A ... Housing, 2 ... Lower support part, 21 ... Lower movable side part, 22 ... Lower telescopic long hole part, 4 ... Holding part, 41 ... Swelling projection, 42 ... Shaft-like projection piece, 43 ... Resin holding member, 431 ... housing, 432 ... shaft support hole, 433 ... destructed part, 5 ... lower fixing bracket,
51 ... Lower fixed side portion, 52 ... Shock absorbing long hole portion, 6 ... Connecting shaft member.

Claims (5)

  A housing having a lower telescopic elongated hole portion and a lower support portion formed on the both sides in the width direction with a lower movable side portion provided on the front side, and a shock absorbing long hole portion and a lower fixed side on both sides in the width direction A lower fixing bracket formed with a portion, a connecting shaft member that connects the lower support portion and the lower fixing bracket, and a holding portion that holds the connecting shaft member on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion. The shock-absorbing elongated hole portion of the lower fixing bracket and the lower telescopic elongated hole portion of the lower support portion are inserted into the connecting shaft member, and the connecting shaft member is normally shock-absorbed by the holding portion. A steering device, wherein the steering device is held at a rear end portion of the long hole portion, and the holding portion is broken by the connecting shaft member and can be detached from the holding portion at the time of a secondary impact.   2. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting shaft member serves as a swing center of the housing.   3. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the holding portion is a bulging protrusion formed on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion so as to be opposed from both ends in the vertical direction.   3. The holding part according to claim 1, wherein the holding part is a shaft-like protruding piece that protrudes from one side edge in the vertical direction toward the other side edge on the rear side of the shock absorbing long hole part. Steering device.   3. The resin holding member according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the holding portion is a resin holding member in which a shaft support hole and a to-be-destructed portion of the connecting shaft member are formed, and the resin holding member is disposed at a rear side of the shock absorbing long hole portion. A steering apparatus characterized by being fixed and having the part to be destroyed destroyed by the connecting shaft member at the time of a secondary impact.

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