JP2013032054A - Telescopic steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a configuration enabling an inner column to be stably held on the inner diameter side of an outer column.SOLUTION: The outer column 13d is formed by bulging radially outward a hollow pipe by hydroforming. Moreover, a displacement-side bracket 22d is formed integrally with the outer column 13d by the hydroforming. Each protrusion 23a forming support sections 26 of the outer column 13d is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14c only at three places in a circumferential direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in a telescopic steering device for adjusting the front-rear position of a steering wheel. Specifically, by improving the structure of the outer column that constitutes the steering column, a structure that can stably hold the inner column on the inner diameter side of the outer column is realized at low cost.

  The automobile steering apparatus is configured as shown in FIG. 16, and transmits the rotation of the steering wheel 1 to the input shaft 3 of the steering gear unit 2, and a pair of left and right tie rods 4 in accordance with the rotation of the input shaft 3. 4 is pushed and pulled to give a steering angle to the front wheels. The steering wheel 1 is supported and fixed at the rear end portion of the steering shaft 5, and the steering shaft 5 is rotatably supported by the steering column 6 with the cylindrical steering column 6 inserted in the axial direction. Has been. Further, the front end portion of the steering shaft 5 is connected to the rear end portion of the intermediate shaft 8 via a universal joint 7, and the front end portion of the intermediate shaft 8 is connected to the input shaft 3 via another universal joint 9. Connected to.

  With such a steering device, a tilt mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel 1 and a telescopic mechanism for adjusting the front-rear position according to the physique and driving posture of the driver have been widely known. ing. In order to constitute the tilt mechanism, the steering column 6 is in the width direction with respect to the vehicle body 10 (the width direction is the width direction of the vehicle body and coincides with the left-right direction. Description and claims) The same is applied to the entire range.) The rocking displacement centering on the pivot 11 installed is supported. Further, the movable bracket fixed to the rear end portion of the steering column 6 with respect to the fixed bracket 12 supported by the vehicle body 10 is vertically and longitudinally (the longitudinal direction is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body). This is the same throughout the present specification and claims). Among these, in order to constitute a telescopic mechanism that enables displacement in the front-rear direction, the steering column 6 has a structure in which an outer column 13 and an inner column 14 are telescopically combined to expand and contract, and the steering shaft 5 The outer tube 15 and the inner shaft 16 are combined with each other so as to be able to transmit torque and expand and contract by spline engagement or the like. The illustrated example also incorporates an electric power steering device that reduces the force required to operate the steering wheel 1 using the electric motor 17 as an auxiliary power source.

  In the case of a tilt mechanism or a telescopic mechanism, the position of the steering wheel 1 can be adjusted or fixed at the adjusted position based on the operation of the adjustment lever, except for the electric mechanism. For example, in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIGS. 17 to 18, based on the rotation of the hook-shaped member 19 based on the adjusting lever 18, the axial dimension of the cam device 20 is expanded and contracted and the cam member 21 is oscillated and displaced. The structure to be made is described. In the case of this conventional structure, the movable bracket 22 fixed to the outer column 13a is engaged with and disengaged from the fixed bracket 12a based on the expansion / contraction of the cam device 20. Further, based on the rocking displacement of the cam member 21, whether the inner column 14a is slidable with respect to the outer column 13a is switched.

The outer columns 13 and 13a and the inner columns 14 and 14a constituting the steering device as described above are an inner peripheral surface near the front end of the outer columns 13 and 13a and a rear end of the inner columns 14 and 14a. The outer peripheral surface is fitted in a state where relative displacement in the axial direction is possible. When manufacturing the outer columns 13 and 13a, first, the outer column main body is formed by an aluminum die casting method. Thereafter, the inner peripheral surface of the outer column main body is cut and finished.
The movable bracket 22 is provided separately from the outer columns 13 and 13a, and is integrally connected and fixed to the outer columns 13 and 13a by welding.

  In the case of such a steering device, the cutting for accurately finishing the inner diameter of the outer columns 13 and 13a is troublesome and increases the processing cost. Further, since the inner peripheral surfaces of the outer columns 13 and 13a and the outer peripheral surfaces of the inner columns 14 and 14a are fitted over the entire circumference, the inner diameter accuracy of the outer columns 13 and 13a is not sufficient. The uneven contact occurs, and the inner columns 14 and 14a cannot be stably held on the inner diameter side of the outer columns 13 and 13a.

  Therefore, in Patent Document 2, a plurality of protruding portions protruding radially inward from the inner peripheral surface are formed at a plurality of positions in the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the outer column overlapping with the outer peripheral surface of the inner column, A structure is described in which the tip end portion (radially inner end portion) of each raised portion is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner column.

  FIG. 19 shows the structure of the telescopic steering device described in Patent Document 2. When manufacturing the outer column 13b which comprises this telescopic steering apparatus, an outer column main body is first shape | molded by the aluminum die-casting method, the hydroforming method, etc. Thereafter, forging and broaching are performed at a plurality of circumferential positions (11 in the figure) of the outer circumferential surface of the outer column main body that overlap with the outer circumferential surface of the inner column 14b. Ridges 23, 23 projecting radially inward from the top are formed. Further, in the assembled state, the tips of the raised portions 23, 23 are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14b.

  In the case of the outer column 13b, it is only necessary to perform cutting (broaching or the like) only on the tip portions of the raised portions 23 and 23. For this reason, the machining cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the entire circumference of the inner circumferential surface of the outer column is cut. However, the method of forming the outer column 13b is different from the method of forming the raised portions 23, 23. For this reason, processing takes time and processing costs increase.

  Further, in order to stably support the inner column 14b on the inner diameter side of the outer column 13b without uneven contact or rattling, all the raised portions 23, 23 and the inner column It is preferable that the contact state with the outer peripheral surface of 14b is the same. However, when a large number of (11 in the illustrated example) raised portions 23, 23 are provided as in the outer column 13b, the processing for making the contact state the same is troublesome.

  FIG. 20 shows the structure of the outer column 13c shown in Patent Document 2 as well. The outer column 13c has a cylindrical shape formed by bending a plate-shaped material and welding circumferential edges (upper edges in FIG. 20) to each other. Further, support claws 24 and 24 are formed at three positions in the circumferential direction on the inner peripheral surface of the outer column 13c, which face the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14b in the assembled state. Each of the support claw portions 24, 24 is formed by pressing the outer column 13c and bending it further radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the outer column 13c.

  A movable bracket 22a is provided on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 13c in the axial direction. Each of the movable side brackets 22a is formed by bending the plate-shaped material, one end edge is connected to the outer peripheral surface, and the other end edge is welded to the outer peripheral surface. , 25.

  In the case of such an outer column 13c, the support claw portions 24, 24 are formed at substantially equal intervals at three locations in the circumferential direction. For this reason, the process for making the contact | abutting state of the front-end edge of all the support nail | claw parts 24 and 24 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14b the same is easy. However, each of the support claw portions 24, 24 has a cantilever-like structure formed by bending inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface of the outer column 13c. For this reason, it is difficult to secure rigidity for stably supporting the inner column on the inner diameter side of the outer column 13c.

Further, in the case of the telescopic steering devices having the conventional structures described above, if the axial dimension of the portion where the outer column and the inner column overlap in the radial direction becomes longer, the rigidity in the width direction of the movable bracket becomes higher and is difficult to bend. Become. For this reason, it is necessary to change the operating force applied to the adjustment lever according to the axial dimension of the portion where the outer column and the inner column overlap in the radial direction. As a result, the operability of the adjusting lever is not stable, and there is a possibility that stable support rigidity (clamping force) cannot be applied to the inner column.
Incidentally, there is Patent Document 3 as a publication describing a technique related to the present invention.

JP 2001-322552 A JP 2008-302751 A JP 2006-255785 A

  In view of the circumstances as described above, the present invention has a structure that can stably hold the inner column on the inner diameter side of the outer column at a low cost by devising the structure of the outer column that constitutes the steering column. It was invented to realize.

The telescopic steering device of the present invention includes a steering shaft, a steering column, a fixed side bracket, a movable side bracket, a bowl-shaped member, and an adjustment lever.
Of these, the steering shaft is equipped with a steering wheel at the rear end.
The steering column includes an outer column and an inner column.
Of these, the outer column has a cylindrical shape capable of expanding and reducing at least a part of the inner diameter in the axial direction, and has a support portion for supporting the inner column on the inner peripheral surface.
Further, the inner column is fitted and supported on the inner diameter side of the outer column by a support portion of the outer column so as to be capable of axial displacement. And the said steering shaft is rotatably supported in the inside.
The fixed side bracket has a pair of left and right support plate portions provided on a fixed portion in a state where the inner column of the outer column can be expanded and contracted from both sides in the width direction.
Further, the movable bracket is formed integrally with the outer column by plastic working from an outer column constituting the steering column, and has a sandwiched portion that is sandwiched between the pair of support plate portions.
The saddle-shaped member is disposed in the width direction in a state where the vehicle body side through hole formed at the position where the both support plate portions are aligned with each other and the column side through hole formed in the both sandwiched portions are inserted. Has been established. Then, with the rotation of the adjustment lever, the distance between the surfaces of the two support plate portions facing each other is enlarged or reduced.
The adjusting lever is provided at a base end portion of the bowl-shaped member, and expands or contracts the interval with rotation.

In particular, in the case of the telescopic steering device of the present invention, the outer column is formed by inflating a hollow tube radially outward.
Further, the movable bracket is formed by bulging molding (hydroforming method, pressing, bulging, vacuum forming, air blow molding, explosion molding, etc.) integrally with the outer column.
Furthermore, the outer peripheral surface of the outer column of the outer column is brought into contact at three or more locations in the circumferential direction.

When the telescopic steering device of the present invention as described above is implemented, for example, as in the invention described in claim 2, the outer column including the support portion is formed by removing the hollow tube from the radial direction by a hydroforming method. Inflate in the direction and mold.
Further, the movable side bracket is swelled and formed integrally with the outer column by a hydroforming method.

  When the telescopic steering device of the present invention as described above is implemented, preferably, the outer column support portion and the inner column outer peripheral surface are arranged at three locations in the circumferential direction as in the invention described in claim 3. Contact with only.

  Further, when the telescopic steering device of the present invention as described above is implemented, it is preferable that the inner peripheral surface of the support portion of the outer column is finished by cutting or pressing as in the invention described in claim 4. Apply.

Further, when the telescopic steering device of the present invention as described above is implemented, the outer column is preferably arranged behind the inner column as in the fifth aspect of the present invention.
The movable bracket is provided with both the sandwiched portions and a pair of inclined portions.
Of these, the column-side through holes formed in both the sandwiched portions are elongated holes that are long in the axial direction of the outer column.
Further, both the inclined portions have one end continuous to the both sandwiched portions, extend from both the sandwiched portions in a direction approaching each other with respect to the width direction, and the other ends are continued through the continuous portion.
Then, the angle formed by the two inclined portions and the direction in which the two support plate portions press the two sandwiched portions at a position aligned with the column side through hole in the axial direction is increased toward the rear.

When the telescopic steering device of the present invention as described above is implemented, the outer column is preferably arranged behind the inner column as in the sixth aspect of the present invention.
Further, the movable side bracket is provided with both the sandwiched portions and a bottom portion where the both sandwiched portions are continuous in the width direction.
Of these, the column-side through holes formed in both the sandwiched portions are elongated holes that are long in the axial direction of the outer column.
Then, a long hole in the axial direction is formed in the intermediate portion in the width direction of the bottom portion.

Alternatively, as in the invention described in claim 7, the movable side bracket is provided with the both sandwiched portions and a bottom portion in which the both sandwiched portions are continuous in the width direction.
Then, a long hole is formed in the rear end portion in the axial direction of the movable bracket from the one sandwiched portion to the other sandwiched portion via the bottom portion.

  Further, when the telescopic steering device of the present invention as described above is implemented, preferably, as in the invention described in claim 8, at least each of the outer columns with respect to the column side through hole and the axial direction. A long column hole in the axial direction is formed at a position where the portions are aligned with each other.

  Further, when the invention described in claim 8 is carried out, specifically, as in the invention described in claim 9, the column long hole is connected to the inner part of the support portion of the outer column. It is formed on the movable bracket side with respect to the circumferential direction from a virtual plane passing through the center axis of the circle and orthogonal to both support plate portions of the fixed bracket.

  Preferably, when carrying out the invention described in claim 8 or claim 9, preferably, as in the invention described in claim 10, both the sandwiched portions and the both sandwiched portions are mounted on the movable side bracket. The sandwiched portions are provided with bottom portions that are continuous in the width direction. Further, the rear end in the axial direction of the bottom portion and the outer peripheral surface of the outer column are continued by the rear end side continuous portion. And the position regarding the axial direction of the rear-end part of the said column long hole is made back rather than the said rear-end side continuous part.

As described above, in the case of the telescopic steering device of the present invention, the outer column including the support portion for supporting the inner column and the movable side bracket provided integrally with the outer column are bulged by, for example, a hydroform method. It is molded integrally by molding. For this reason, even when the support portion is composed of a plurality of (three or more) raised portions, the processing cost can be reduced and a support portion having high rigidity can be obtained. Further, the movable bracket and the outer column are provided separately, and a troublesome fixing work such as welding is not necessary.
Further, in the case of the invention described in claim 3, the support portion provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer column and the outer peripheral surface of the inner column overlapping with the support portion are brought into contact with each other at only three locations in the circumferential direction. Support in the state. For this reason, the said support part can be reliably contact | abutted to the outer peripheral surface of the said inner column. Furthermore, since there are only three contact portions, processing for equalizing the contact state in all the contact portions is easy.

Further, in the case of the invention described in claim 5, both the inclined portions of the movable side bracket and the pair of support plate portions of the fixed side bracket, which are aligned with the column side through hole in the axial direction, are sandwiched by the both sides. The angle formed by the direction in which the part is pressed is increased as it advances backward. For this reason, the rigidity with respect to the width direction of the sandwiched portion of the movable bracket decreases as it moves rearward. As a result, even when the axial dimension of the portion where the outer column and the inner column overlap in the radial direction is long (the axial length of the steering column is the shortest), the operating force applied to the adjustment lever is reduced. Stable operability can be obtained without increasing the size.
In the case of the invention described in claim 6, a long hole in the axial direction is formed in the intermediate portion in the width direction of the bottom of the movable bracket. For this reason, the rigidity in the width direction of the sandwiched portion of the movable bracket can be reduced as compared with the case where the long hole is not formed. As a result, even when the axial dimension of the portion where the outer column and the inner column overlap in the radial direction is long, stable operability can be obtained without increasing the operating force applied to the adjustment lever.

  Further, in the case of the invention described in claim 7, a long hole is formed in the rear end portion in the axial direction of the movable side bracket from the one sandwiched portion through the bottom portion to the other sandwiched portion. Yes. For this reason, the rigidity in the width direction of the sandwiched portion of the movable bracket at the axial rear end can be reduced. As a result, even when the axial dimension of the portion where the outer column and the inner column overlap in the radial direction is long, stable operability can be obtained without increasing the operating force applied to the adjusting lever. Can do.

  Further, in the case of the invention described in claims 8 to 9, a long column long hole in the axial direction is provided at a position where at least a part of the outer column is aligned with the column side through hole in the axial direction. Forming. For this reason, the rigidity in the width direction of the movable bracket with respect to the position aligned with the column long hole can be reduced. As a result, even when the axial dimension of the portion where the outer column and the inner column overlap in the radial direction is long, stable operability can be obtained without increasing the operating force applied to the adjusting lever. Can do.

  Further, in the case of the invention described in claim 10, the position of the rear end portion of the column long hole in the axial direction is a position where the axial rear end of the bottom portion of the movable column and the outer peripheral surface of the outer column are continuous. It is located behind the end side continuous part. For this reason, the rigidity in the width direction of the sandwiched portion of the movable bracket at the axial rear end can be reduced. As a result, in the structure having the rear end side continuous portion, even when the axial dimension of the portion where the outer column and the inner column overlap in the radial direction is long, the operating force applied to the adjustment lever is increased greatly. Stable operability can be obtained without doing this.

Sectional drawing which shows the 1st example of embodiment of this invention. Similarly, the side view which takes out and shows only an outer column. Similarly, AA sectional view of FIG. The side view which takes out only the outer column and shows the 2nd example of embodiment of this invention. Similarly, the BB cross-sectional view (a) and CC cross-sectional view (b) of FIG. 4, showing only the outer column. The side view (a) and bottom view (b) which take out and show the 3rd example of embodiment of this invention only an outer column. Similarly, DD sectional drawing of FIG. A fourth example of the embodiment of the present invention is a side view (a) showing only the outer column taken out, and a bottom view (b) showing a first example of a long hole formed in the bottom of the outer column. The bottom view (c) which shows two examples. Similarly, EE sectional drawing of FIG. The 5th example of an embodiment of the invention shows the side view (a) which shows only an outer column, and is the bottom view (b). The top view (a) and side view (b) which take out and show only the outer column for the 6th example of an embodiment of the invention. Similarly, FF sectional drawing of FIG. Similarly, the same figure as FIG. The 7th example of embodiment of this invention shows the side view which takes out and shows only an outer column. Similarly, GG sectional drawing of FIG. The partial cutting side view which shows an example of the steering device for motor vehicles incorporating the telescopic steering device. Vertical side view showing a first example of a conventionally known telescopic steering device HH sectional drawing of FIG. The figure similar to FIG. 18 which shows the 2nd example of the telescopic steering apparatus known conventionally. The front view which takes out only the outer column and shows the 3rd example.

[First example of embodiment]
1 to 3 show a first example of an embodiment of the present invention corresponding to claims 1 to 4. The feature of the telescopic steering device of the present invention including this example is that the structure of the outer column constituting the steering column is devised. In addition to the telescopic mechanism for adjusting the front / rear position of the steering wheel 1 (see FIG. 16), the present invention provides a tilt mechanism for adjusting the vertical position in the same manner as the structures shown in FIGS. It can also be applied to structures with
Further, the structure other than the characteristic part of the present invention is almost the same as the structure of the telescopic steering device known so far, including the structure shown in FIGS. Accordingly, the illustration and description will be omitted or simplified, and the following description will be focused on the features of this example.

The telescopic steering device of this example is similar to the telescopic steering device having the conventional structure described above, the steering shaft 5, the steering column 6a, the fixed side bracket 12b, the movable side bracket 22b, the hook-like member 19, and the adjusting lever. 18.
Among these, the steering shaft 5 is mounted with the steering wheel 1 at a rear end portion, and is rotatably supported inside the steering column 6a.

  The steering column 6a includes an outer column 13d and an inner column 14c. In the steering column 6a, the outer column 13d is an upper column on the steering wheel 1 (see FIG. 16) side and the inner column 14c is on the side far from the steering wheel 1, as in the structure shown in FIGS. The lower column.

  The outer column 13d has a cylindrical shape in which at least a part of the inner diameter in the axial direction can be elastically expanded / contracted, and the inner column 14c is fitted and supported on the inner diameter side of the outer column 13d so as to be displaced in the axial direction. It has the support part 26 for doing.

The support portions 26 are radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the inner peripheral surface of the outer column 13d at three equally spaced circumferential positions in a portion overlapping the inner column 14c in the radial direction. It consists of raised portions 23a, 23a formed in a protruding state. Further, in the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 13d, concave portions 27 and 27 that are recessed radially inward from the outer peripheral surface are formed at positions that align with the raised portions 23a and 23a in the circumferential direction. And the front-end edge (radial direction inner side edge) of each of these protruding parts 23a and 23a is contact | abutting with the outer peripheral surface of the said inner column 14c. As will be described later, the tips of the raised portions 23a and 23a are securely attached to the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14c without increasing the processing accuracy of the raised portions 23a and 23a constituting the support portion 26. From the viewpoint of contact, the number of the raised portions 23a, 23a is preferably three in this example. However, the number of the raised portions 23a and 23a can be more than three (for example, two on the left and the right, for a total of four) in consideration of the balance of processing cost and the like.
The positions where the raised portions 23a, 23a are formed are not limited to the circumferentially equidistant positions on the inner peripheral surface of the outer column 13d. However, it is not biased toward the semicircular side, but is distributed in a range exceeding the semicircular circumference.

Such an outer column 13d (including the support portion 26) applies a hydraulic pressure (for example, water pressure) to the inner peripheral surface of a metal tube that is a hollow member made of a steel plate or an aluminum alloy. It is molded by the hydroform method that plastically deforms outward in the direction. In the method of forming the outer column 13d by this hydroforming method, for example, the metal tube as a material is set in a mold having an inner surface shape corresponding to the outer surface shape of the outer column 13d to be enlarged. . Then, both ends of the metal tube are closed with a shaft pushing tool or the like, and a high hydraulic pressure is applied to the metal tube. By applying the hydraulic pressure, the diameter of the metal tube is increased outward in the radial direction until it is in close contact with the inner surface of the cavity of the mold, thereby forming the outer column 13d. Further, after forming by the hydroforming method, cutting or pressing may be applied to the tip of each raised portion 23a, 23a constituting the support portion 26. The method of forming the outer column 13d is not limited to the hydroform method, but may be press processing, bulge processing, vacuum forming, air blow molding, explosion molding, or the like.
Further, since the structure of the inner colla 14c is the same as a conventionally known structure, the description thereof is omitted.

  The fixed side bracket 12b is provided at a fixed part of the vehicle body 10 or the like (see FIG. 16), and sandwiches a part of the outer column 13d where the inner diameter can be expanded and contracted from both sides in the width direction. A pair of support plate portions 28 and 28 are provided.

  The movable bracket 22b is formed integrally with the outer column 13d by the hydroform method described above, and is sandwiched between the pair of support plate portions 28, 28, and can be expanded and contracted in the width direction. A pair of sandwiched portions 25a and 25a and a pair of inclined portions 29 and 29 are provided. The method of forming the movable bracket 22b is not limited to the hydroform method, but may be press processing, bulge processing, vacuum forming, air blow molding, explosion molding, or the like.

Of these, both the sandwiched portions 25a, 25a are connected at one end to the lower ends of the raised portions 23a, 23a formed in the lower part of FIG. 1 among the raised portions 23a, 23a of the outer column 13d, The pair of support plate portions 28 and 28 are formed substantially parallel to each other. Further, column-side through-holes 30 and 30 that are long in the axial direction are formed at positions where the both sandwiched portions 25a and 25a are aligned with each other.
Further, both the inclined portions 29, 29 are connected to the other ends of the sandwiched portions 25a, 25a at one end thereof so as to approach each other in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1) (inclined in FIG. 1). Extending downward), and the other ends thereof are continuous via the continuous portion 33.

  The flange-shaped member 19 includes a vehicle body side through hole (not shown) formed at a position where the both support plate portions 28 and 28 are aligned with each other, and a column side through hole 30 of the both sandwiched portions 25a and 25a. , 30 are inserted in the width direction. Moreover, the head 31 which is a press part is provided in the end (left end of FIG. 1) of this bowl-shaped member 19. As shown in FIG. And the other end (right side of FIG. 1) of this bowl-shaped member 19 is a pressing nut which is a pressing member at a portion protruding from the outer surface (right side surface of FIG. 1) of the support plate portion 28 of the fixed bracket 12b. 32 is screwed together. Further, the base end portion of the adjusting lever 18 is coupled and fixed to the holding nut 32. Accordingly, if the holding nut 32 is rotated based on the operation of the adjusting lever 18 and the interval in the width direction between the holding nut 32 and the head portion 31 is changed (expanded / reduced), the both support plate portions 28, The interval between 28 can be enlarged or reduced. In addition, the structure for adjusting the space | interval of such both said support plate parts 28 and 28 can also employ | adopt the structure using a cam apparatus as shown in FIGS. 17-18 mentioned above.

  When adjusting the position of the steering wheel 1 in the front-rear direction, the adjustment lever 18 is rotated in a predetermined direction to widen the interval in the width direction between the holding nut 32 and the head 31. Then, the distance between the inner surfaces of the pair of support plate portions 28, 28 of the fixed side bracket 12b is elastically expanded, and both the inner surfaces of the both support plate portions 28, 28 and the both sides of the movable side bracket 22b are covered. The surface pressure of the abutting portion with the outer surface of the clamping portions 25a, 25a is reduced or lost. Along with this, the surface pressure of the fitting portion between the support portion 26 of the outer column 13d and the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14c is reduced or lost, and the outer column 13d and the inner column 14c are axially ( It becomes a state in which relative displacement is possible in the front-rear direction). As a result, the position of the steering wheel 1 in the front-rear direction can be adjusted.

  Further, after the position adjustment, if the adjustment lever 18 is rotated in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction, the interval in the width direction between the holding nut 32 and the head 31 is reduced. Then, the space | interval of the inner surface of both the said support plate parts 28 and 28 shrinks, and the surface pressure of the contact part of the inner surface of these both support plate parts 28 and 28 and the outer surface of both said clamping parts 25a and 25a is reduced. Becomes larger. Accordingly, the surface pressure of the fitting portion between the support portion 26 of the outer column 13d and the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14c increases. As a result, the steering wheel 1 is supported at the adjusted position.

  In this example, the outer column 13d is an upper column on the steering wheel 1 (see FIG. 16) side, and the inner column 14c is a lower column on the side far from the steering wheel 1. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration, and the outer column can be a lower column and the inner column can be an upper column. In this case, the shape of the column side through hole of the movable bracket formed integrally with the outer column is not a long hole that is long in the axial direction, but a round hole through which the bowl-shaped member can be inserted.

  As described above, in the telescopic steering device of this example, the outer column 13d including the support portion 26 and the movable bracket 22b provided integrally with the outer column 13d are formed by a hydroforming method. For this reason, compared with the conventional structure shown to the said FIGS. 17-19, reduction of processing cost can be aimed at.

Further, the support portion 26 provided on the inner peripheral surface of the outer column 13d and the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14c overlapping the support portion 26 are brought into contact with each other only at three locations in the circumferential direction. For this reason, without raising the processing precision of each protruding part 23a, 23a which comprises the said support part 26, these each protruding part 23a, 23a can be reliably made to contact | abut to the outer peripheral surface of the said inner column 14c.
If the processing accuracy of the support portion 26 is not sufficient by the hydroform method alone, cutting is performed on the tip portions of the raised portions 23a and 23a of the support portion 26. However, in the case of this example, the number of these raised portions 23a, 23a is only three. For this reason, it is sufficient that the diameters of the inscribed circles of the three raised portions 23a and 23a are the same in the axial direction, so that the finishing process such as the cutting process or the press process becomes much troublesome. There is no.
Further, the raised portions 23a, 23a constituting the support portion 26 are formed in a mountain shape by a hydroforming method. Therefore, the rigidity for supporting the inner column 14c can be increased as compared with the structure shown in FIG.

[Second Example of Embodiment]
FIGS. 4-5 has shown the 2nd example of embodiment of this invention corresponding to Claims 1-5. In the case of the telescopic steering device of this example, the outer column 13e is disposed behind the inner column 14c (see FIG. 1), similarly to the structure shown in FIGS.
Similarly to the first example of the above embodiment, the column-side through hole 30 that is long in the axial direction is positioned at the position where the sandwiched portions 25b and 25b of the movable bracket 22c provided integrally with the outer column 13e are aligned with each other. 30 are formed.

  Further, the inclined portions 29, 29 of the movable bracket 22c and the support plate portions 28, 28 of the fixed bracket 12b, which are aligned with both the column side through holes 30, 30 in the axial direction, are clamped. The angle formed by the direction α for pressing (clamping) the portions 25b and 25b is increased toward the rear (right side in FIG. 4).

That is, both the inclined portions 29, 29 of the movable bracket 22c and the both support plate portions 28, 28 are in positions aligned with the rear end portions of the column side through holes 30, 30 in the axial direction. An angle θ ₂ (see FIG. 5B) formed by a direction α for pressing (clamping) the sandwiched portions 25b and 25b is a position aligned with the front end portions of the column side through holes 30 and 30 in the axial direction. The angle θ ₁ of the similar part is larger than {see FIG. 5A} (θ ₂ > θ ₁ ). And the angle of the same part changes continuously in the middle part.

In addition, the distance between the inner peripheral surface of the continuous portion 33 between the inclined portions 29 and 29 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14c at a position aligned with the column side through holes 30 and 30 in the axial direction is set so as to increase backward. It is getting bigger.
That is, the distance L ₂ between the inner peripheral surface of the continuous portion 33 and the lower end of the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14c at a position aligned with the rear end portion of the column side through holes 30, 30 in the axial direction. {See FIG. 5 (b)} is larger than the distance L _{1 of the same} portion (see FIG. 5 (a)) at the position aligned with the front end portion of the column side through holes 30, 30 (see L _{1). <L} 2).

  In the telescopic steering device of this example configured as described above, the rigidity in the width direction of the sandwiched portions 25b and 25b of the movable side bracket 22c is reduced as it moves rearward. Therefore, stable operability can be achieved without greatly changing the operating force applied to the adjusting lever 18 (see FIG. 1) by the length of the portion where the outer column 13e and the inner column 14c overlap in the axial direction. Can be obtained. As a result, stable support rigidity (clamping force) can be imparted to the inner column 14c.

  That is, when no measures are taken (the structure of this example is not adopted), the axial length of the portion where the outer column 13e and the inner column 14c overlap in the radial direction is long { When the bowl-shaped member 19 (see FIG. 1) is present near the rear end of the column side through-holes 30 and 30 (right side in FIG. 4)} to reduce the distance in the width direction between the sandwiched portions 25b and 25b. Force (operating force applied to the adjusting lever 18) required for the adjustment increases.

  On the other hand, when the axial dimension of the portion where the outer column 13e and the inner column 14c overlap in the radial direction is short {the bowl-shaped member 19 (see FIG. 1) is the front end of the column side through holes 30, 30 In the case of being near (on the left side in FIG. 4), the force required to reduce the distance in the width direction between the sandwiched portions 25b and 25b may be relatively small.

  Thus, if the operating force applied to the adjusting lever 18 differs depending on the axial dimension of the portion where the outer column 13e and the inner column 14c overlap in the radial direction, the steering wheel 1 (see FIG. 16) The operability (operation feeling) when adjusting the position in the front-rear direction is not stable.

On the other hand, if the rigidity in the width direction of the sandwiched portions 25b, 25b of the movable bracket 22c is lowered as it goes rearward as in the structure of this example, the outer column 13e, the inner column 14c, Regardless of the overlapping state in the radial direction, the operability of the adjusting lever 18 is stabilized so that the tightening torque of the adjusting lever 18 required for fixing the columns 13e and 14c is not greatly different. I can plan. As a result, stable support rigidity (clamping force) can be imparted to the inner column 14c. Other structures, operations, and effects are the same as those of the first example of the embodiment.
Note that, as in this example, the structure for changing the rigidity of the portion to be suppressed in the outer column according to the fitting depth of both the inner and outer columns is different from the structure of the first example of the above embodiment. Also, for example, by applying to various conventionally known structures as shown in FIGS. 16 to 20, the same actions and effects can be obtained with respect to stabilization of the operability of the operation lever.

[Third example of embodiment]
FIGS. 6-7 has shown the 3rd example of embodiment of this invention corresponding to Claims 1-4. Also in the case of the telescopic steering device of the present example, the outer column 13f is disposed behind the inner column 14c, similarly to the structure shown in FIGS.
Similarly to the second example of the above-described embodiment, the column-side through hole 30 that is long in the axial direction is formed in a portion where the sandwiched portions 25c and 25c of the movable bracket 22d provided integrally with the outer column 13f are aligned with each other. 30 are formed.
In addition, one end (the lower end in FIG. 6) of both the sandwiched portions 25c and 25c is continuous in the width direction via the flat bottom portion 34.

  A distance L between the inner surface of the bottom 34 and the lower end of the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14c at a position aligned with the pair of column side through holes 30 and 30 in the axial direction is constant over the axial direction. is there. Other structures, functions, and effects are the same as those of the first example of the embodiment.

[Fourth Example of Embodiment]
FIGS. 8-9 has shown the 4th example of embodiment of this invention corresponding to Claims 1-4,6. The outer column 13g constituting the telescopic steering device of the present example has the same basic structure as the outer column 13f of the third example of the embodiment.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the outer column 13g is aligned with at least the column side through holes 30 and 30 in the center in the width direction of the bottom 34 of the movable side bracket 22e in the axial direction. Long holes 35, 35a that are long in the axial direction are formed at the positions.
Of these, the long hole 35 shown in FIG. 8B has a position in the axial direction substantially coincided with the column side through holes 30 and 30.
On the other hand, the dimension in the axial direction of the long hole 35a shown in FIG. That is, with respect to the axial direction, the long hole 35a extends from the front side in the axial direction of the column side through holes 30, 30 of the bottom portion 34 to the axial rear end of the bottom portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 13g. Is formed up to the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 13g through a continuous portion 36.
Such long holes 35 and 35a can also be formed by a hydroforming method (see Patent Document 3).

  In such a telescopic steering device of this example, by forming the elongated holes 35 and 35a in the bottom 34 of the movable bracket 22e, the rigidity in the width direction of the bottom 34 and the sandwiched portions 25c and 25c can be increased. It is low. In particular, as shown in FIG. 8 (c), the long hole 35a is connected to the bottom portion 34 through a continuous portion 36 that continues the rear end portion of the bottom portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 13g. If the outer column 13g is formed to the outer peripheral surface, the rigidity of the bottom portion 34 and the portions near the rear ends of the sandwiched portions 25c and 25c can be sufficiently lowered. Therefore, regardless of the axial dimension of the portion where the outer column 13g and the inner column 14c are overlapped in the radial direction, the adjustment lever 18 (FIG. 1) required for fixing the columns 13g and 14c. It is possible to stabilize the operability of the adjusting lever 18 so that the tightening torque does not greatly differ. As a result, stable support rigidity (clamping force) can be imparted to the inner column 14c.

  In addition, this example can be implemented in combination with each example of the said embodiment. In particular, when the present example is implemented in combination with the first example or the second example of the embodiment, the both inclined portions 29 and 29 are portions corresponding to the bottom portion 34. Moreover, this example can be applied regardless of the support structure of the outer column and the inner column. Other structures, operations, and effects are the same as those of the second example of the embodiment.

[Fifth Example of Embodiment]
FIG. 10 shows a fifth example of an embodiment of the present invention corresponding to claims 1 to 4 and 7. The outer column 13h constituting the telescopic steering device of this example has the same basic structure as the outer column 13f of the third example of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

  In particular, in the case of this example, the outer column 13h is the rear end portion in the axial direction of the movable bracket 22f (the front end portion of the continuous portion 36 connecting the axial rear end of the bottom portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 13h). In addition, a long hole 37 is formed from one sandwiched portion 25c through the bottom 34 to the other sandwiched portion 25c.

According to the telescopic steering device of this example, the rigidity in the width direction of the rear end portion in the axial direction of the movable bracket 22f can be reduced. That is, since the continuous portion 36 is present at the rear end portion in the axial direction of the movable bracket 22f, the rigidity in the width direction is higher than that at the front end portion in the axial direction. Therefore, the long hole 37 is formed to reduce the rigidity in the width direction of the rear end portion in the axial direction of the movable bracket 22f. As a result, the column 13h and the inner column 14c (see FIG. 9) are required to fix the columns 13h and 14c, regardless of the overlapping state (the axial dimension of the overlapping portion) in the radial direction. It is possible to stabilize the operability of the adjusting lever 18 so that the tightening torque of the adjusting lever 18 (see FIG. 1) is not greatly different.
In addition, this example can be implemented in combination with each example of the said embodiment. Other structures, operations, and effects are the same as those of the third example of the embodiment.

[Sixth Example of Embodiment]
FIGS. 11 to 13 show a sixth example of the embodiment of the invention corresponding to claims 1 to 4 and 6. The movable side bracket 22g constituting the telescopic steering device of this example is provided in a state of protruding upward from the front end portion of the outer column 13i. Such a movable side bracket 22g has a substantially symmetric structure with respect to the radial direction with respect to the movable side bracket 22e of the fourth example of the embodiment shown in FIGS. It consists of plate portions 25d, 25d and a bottom portion 34a.

  Of these, the sandwiched plate portions 25d and 25d are provided in a state of being continuous upward from the main body portion of the outer column 13i, and are parallel to each other. The bottom portion 34a is provided in a state in which one end edges (the upper end edges in FIGS. 12 and 13) of the both sandwiched plate portions 25d and 25d are continuous in the width direction. In addition, the processing method of the outer column 13i and the movable bracket 22g is not limited to the hydroform method, as in each example of the above-described embodiment, but press processing, bulge processing, vacuum forming, air blow molding, explosion Molding or the like may be used.

  Similarly to the fourth example of the embodiment, column-side through-holes 30 and 30 that are long in the axial direction are formed in the portions where the clamped portions 25d and 25d of the movable bracket 22g are aligned with each other. Yes.

  Further, from the front end edge (the left side in FIG. 11) of the bottom portion 34a of the movable side bracket 22g through the continuous end portion 36a connecting the axial rear end of the bottom portion 34a and the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 13i. A long hole 35b that is long in the axial direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 13i. As described above, the long hole 35b has a shape in which the front end side is closed, such as the long hole 35 shown in FIG. 8 (b) or the long hole 35a shown in FIG. 8 (c). You can also. It should be noted that the structure of this example can be implemented together with the structure of each example of the above-described embodiment.

  The outer column 13i constituting such a telescopic steering device of this example is assembled in a state as shown in FIG. With regard to the operation for adjusting the position of the steering wheel 1 (see FIG. 16) in the front-rear direction and the operation for fixing the steering wheel 1 at the position after the position adjustment in the assembled state, This is the same as the operation of the first example of the embodiment and the telescopic steering device having the conventional structure shown in FIGS.

  In the telescopic steering device of this example, the movable bracket 22g is provided in a state of protruding upward from the front end portion of the outer column 13i. For this reason, it is possible to facilitate the design of a structure that can prevent interference with the driver's knee or the like without disposing the hook-shaped member 19a below the front end portion of the outer column 13i. Other structures, operations, and effects are the same as in the fourth example of the above embodiment.

[Seventh example of embodiment]
FIGS. 14-15 has shown the 7th example of embodiment of this invention corresponding to Claims 1-4 and 8-10. The outer column 13j constituting the telescopic steering device of this example has the same basic structure as the outer column 13g of the fourth example of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

  Further, the outer column 13j has an axial rear end portion of the movable side bracket 22h from a portion slightly closer to the front side in the axial direction than the central portion of the column side through holes 30, 30 in the axial direction of the outer column 13j. A pair of column long holes that are long in the axial direction at portions that are slightly rearward than the front end portion of the continuous portion 36 where the axial rear end of the bottom portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 13j are continuous with each other. 38 and 38 are formed. The front end positions in the axial direction of the column long holes 38, 38 are not limited to the positions in this example, but can be formed to a position ahead of the front ends of the column side through holes 30, 30.

Moreover, both of these columns long holes 38, 38 in the circumferential direction of the outer column 13j, passes through the center axis _{O 13} of the inscribed circle of the support portion 26a of the outer column 13j (an outer circumferential surface of the inner column 14c), And each bulging part 23a which constitutes the above-mentioned support part 26a on the above-mentioned movable side bracket 22h side (under Drawing 14 and 15) rather than virtual plane alpha orthogonal to both support plate parts 28 and 28 of fixed side bracket 12b, It forms above each protruding part 23a, 23a formed below among 23a.

  In the present example, both the column long holes 38, 38 are formed at two positions in the circumferential direction of the outer column 13j. The number to be determined is appropriately determined in consideration of the support rigidity (clamping force) of the outer column 13j with respect to the inner column 14c.

According to such a telescopic steering device of this example, the rigidity in the width direction of the movable bracket 22h at the position aligned with the column long holes 38, 38 in the axial direction can be reduced. In particular, since the continuous portion 36 is present at the axial rear end of the movable side bracket 22h, the rigidity in the width direction is higher than that of the axial front end. Therefore, in the case of this example, the position in the axial direction of the rear end portions of the column long holes 38, 38 is set slightly behind the continuous portion 36. For this reason, the rigidity regarding the width direction of the axial direction rear-end part of the said movable side bracket 22h can be made low. As a result, the adjustment lever 18 (see FIG. 5) required to fix both the columns 13j and 14c regardless of the overlapping state (the axial dimension of the overlapping portion) in the radial direction between the outer column 13j and the inner column 14c. The operability of the adjusting lever 18 can be stabilized so that the tightening torque of 1) is not significantly different.
In addition, this example can be implemented in combination with each example of the said embodiment. Other structures, functions, and effects are the same as those of the fourth example of the embodiment.

Each of the above embodiments has been described with respect to a steering apparatus provided with only a telescopic mechanism for adjusting the front-rear position of the steering wheel. However, the present invention can be applied to a structure provided with a tilt mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel in addition to the telescopic mechanism.
Further, the front-rear direction of the outer column and the inner column constituting the steering column is not limited. The inner column may be on the rear side, and the outer column may be on the rear side.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering wheel 2 Steering gear unit 3 Input shaft 4 Tie rod 5 Steering shaft 6, 6a Steering column 7 Universal joint 8 Intermediate shaft 9 Universal joint 10 Car body 11 Axis 12, 12a, 12b Fixed side bracket 13, 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d , 13e, 13f Outer column 14, 14a, 14b, 14c Inner column 15 Outer tube 16 Inner shaft 17 Electric motor 18 Adjustment lever 19, 19a Saddle-shaped member 20 Cam device 21 Cam member 22, 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e 22f Movable bracket 23, 23a Raised portion 24 Support claw portion 25, 25a, 25b, 25c Clamped portion 26, 26a Support portion 27 Recess 28 Support plate portion 29 Inclined portion 30 Column side through hole 31 Head portion 32 For example nut 33 contiguous portions 34,34a bottom 35, 35a, 35b long hole 36,36a continuous portion 37 long hole 38 column slot

Claims (10)

A steering shaft to which a steering wheel is mounted at the rear end;
At least a part of the inner diameter in the axial direction can be expanded or contracted, and the outer diameter of the outer column is fitted to the inner diameter side of the outer column by a support part formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer column so that the axial displacement is possible. A steering column comprising a cylindrical inner column supported, and rotatably supporting the steering shaft therein;
A fixed-side bracket having a pair of support plate portions provided in a fixed portion in a state where the inner column of the outer column can be expanded and contracted from both sides in the width direction;
A movable side bracket having a sandwiched portion that is integrally formed with the outer column and is sandwiched between the pair of support plate portions by plastic working from the outer column that constitutes the steering column;
The both support plate portions are disposed in the width direction in a state where the vehicle body side through holes formed at positions where both the support plate portions are aligned with each other and the column side through holes formed in the both sandwiched portions are inserted. A bowl-shaped member for expanding and reducing the interval between the mutually facing surfaces;
In a telescopic steering device provided with an adjustment lever that is provided at the base end portion of the bowl-shaped member and expands or contracts the interval with rotation,
An outer column including a support portion for supporting the inner column is formed by inflating a hollow tube radially outward,
The movable side bracket is formed by bulging integrally with the outer column,
A telescopic steering device, wherein a support portion of the outer column and an outer peripheral surface of the inner column are in contact with each other at three or more locations in the circumferential direction. The outer column including the support part is formed by inflating a hollow tube radially outward by a hydroforming method,
The telescopic steering device according to claim 1, wherein the movable side bracket is formed by bulging and forming integrally with the outer column by a hydroforming method.   The telescopic steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein a support portion of the outer column and an outer peripheral surface of the inner column are in contact with each other only at three locations in a circumferential direction.   The telescopic steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the support portion of the outer column is subjected to finishing processing by cutting or pressing. The outer column is disposed behind the inner column;
The movable bracket includes both the sandwiched portions and a pair of inclined portions,
Of these, the column side through holes formed in both the sandwiched portions are long holes in the axial direction of the outer column,
The both inclined portions are connected to the both sandwiched portions at one end, extend from both the sandwiched portions in a direction approaching each other with respect to the width direction, and the other ends are continuous via the continuous portion,
The angle formed by the both inclined portions and the direction in which the both sandwiched portions are pressed by the two support plate portions at a position aligned with the column side through-hole in the axial direction increases toward the rear. 4. The telescopic steering device according to any one of 4. The outer column is disposed behind the inner column;
The movable side bracket includes both the sandwiched portions and a bottom portion that is continuous between the both sandwiched portions in the width direction,
Of these, the column side through holes formed in both the sandwiched portions are long holes in the axial direction of the outer column,
The telescopic steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a long hole in the axial direction is formed in an intermediate portion in the width direction of the bottom portion. The movable side bracket includes both the sandwiched portions and a bottom portion that is continuous between the both sandwiched portions in the width direction,
The long hole which continues from the said one clamping part to the other clamping part is formed in the axial direction rear-end part of the said movable side bracket from the said other clamping part of Claims 1-6. The telescopic steering apparatus described in any one of the items.   8. The long column long hole in the axial direction is formed at a position where at least a part of the outer column is aligned with the column side through hole in the axial direction. A telescopic steering device according to claim 1.   The column long hole is movable with respect to the circumferential direction with respect to a virtual plane passing through the center axis of the inscribed circle of the support portion of the outer column and perpendicular to both support plate portions of the fixed side bracket. The telescopic steering device according to claim 8, wherein the telescopic steering device is formed on a side bracket side. The movable side bracket includes both the sandwiched portions and a bottom portion that is continuous between the both sandwiched portions in the width direction,
The axial rear end of the bottom portion and the outer peripheral surface of the outer column are continued by a rear end side continuous portion,
The telescopic steering device according to any one of claims 8 to 9, wherein a position of the rear end portion of the column long hole in the axial direction is rearward of the rear end side continuous portion.

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