JP2013100002A - Steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering column device for allowing the setting of the sizes of release members and the magnitude of absorbable energy, independently of a holding force in tilting or telescopic state and the operating force of an operation lever, without increasing the number of components and setting a space for absorbing the energy.SOLUTION: When an excessive collision load is applied to an upper jacket 34a along a column axial direction in the state of fastening a clamping bolt 20, the connection of upper jackets 4a, 34a to the release members 5, 35 with connection means 9 is released, and energy absorbing structures 7, 37 engaging with the upper jackets 4a, 34a are deformed to absorb energy while the upper jackets 4a, 34a are moved in the column axial direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering column device including a jacket that rotatably supports a steering shaft.

  Conventionally, as a steering column device, a configuration shown in Patent Document 1 has been proposed. As shown in FIG. 12, the steering column device 101 includes a pair of vehicle body mounting brackets 102 that are fixed while suspended from a vehicle body 150, a cylindrical jacket 104 that is sandwiched between the vehicle body mounting brackets 102, and a jacket 104. And a lock mechanism 106 that fastens and clamps the jacket 104 to the vehicle body mounting bracket 102 by tightening the clamp bolt 120.

  The jacket 104 includes an outer jacket 107 as an upper jacket having a cylindrical shape, and an inner jacket 108 as a lower jacket having a cylindrical shape and slidably inserted in the cylinder of the outer jacket 107 along the axial direction. The outer jacket 107 is sandwiched between the pair of vehicle body mounting brackets 102.

  In the above configuration, when the operation lever 123 is rotated in the lock direction, the clamp bolt 120 is pulled to the left in FIG. 12 by the operation of the lock mechanism 106, and the interval between the vehicle body mounting brackets 102 is narrowed. And the outer jacket 107 are pressed against each other. In addition, the outer jacket 107 is provided with a slit 107 a, and the distance between the slit 107 a and the vehicle body mounting bracket 102 is narrowed so that the outer jacket 107 and the inner jacket 108 are pressed against each other. Thereby, the tilt / telescopic position adjustment of the steering shaft 103 is fixed.

  Further, when the operation lever 123 is rotated in the unlocking direction, the fastening force of the clamping bolt 120 is weakened, the space between the vehicle body mounting brackets 102 is expanded, the pressure contact between the vehicle body mounting bracket 102 and the outer jacket 107, and the outer jacket 107. And the inner jacket 108 are released from pressure contact. As a result, the tilt and telescopic position adjustment of the steering shaft 103 can be adjusted.

  Patent Document 2 proposes an energy absorption structure that absorbs energy when a collision load is applied to the steering column device in a vehicle collision accident. The energy absorbing member constituting the energy absorbing structure is made of one sheet metal formed by bending one end and the other end in a substantially L shape in opposite directions, and one end is fixed to the vehicle body side via a slide block. The other end is fixed to the steering column side via an upper clamp. The slide block and the upper clamp are integrated with a pin. In addition, a slit is provided at the boundary between the one end and the other end.

  When an occupant collides with the steering wheel during a vehicle collision accident, the steering column moves to the front side of the vehicle body by that force, and the upper clamp breaks the pin. At this time, one end of the energy absorbing member is fixed to the upper clamp and the other end is fixed to the vehicle body together with the slide block, so that the energy absorbing member breaks along the slit and consumes energy for this breaking action. The collision load is alleviated.

JP 2007-223383 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-217981

  By the way, in the event of a secondary collision in which the occupant collides with the steering wheel due to a vehicle collision or the like, a structure is adopted that reduces the load acting on the occupant by moving the steering wheel forward of the vehicle. In the technique described in Document 1, in the configuration shown in FIG. 12, the outer jacket with respect to the vehicle body mounting bracket 102 and the inner jacket 108 is kept until the clamp bolt 120 contacts the end of the telescopic elongated hole at the time of the secondary collision. 107 contracts in the axial direction and energy is absorbed.

  However, in such a structure, the holding force for holding the state after the tilt / telescopic position adjustment and the magnitude of the operating force for operating the operating lever 123 are the amount of energy absorbed. Therefore, there is a problem that the magnitude of energy cannot be set separately from the holding force and the operation force. Further, in the case of providing an energy absorption structure as shown in Patent Document 2, since the separation structure consisting of a slide block and the energy absorption structure are separate parts, the holding force, the operation force of the operation lever, and the energy Although the size can be set individually, the number of parts increases, and a space for breaking the tearing portion of the energy absorbing member needs to be set around the column. is there.

  In consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention is capable of absorbing energy separately from the tilt and telescopic holding force and the operating force of the operating lever without increasing the number of parts and without setting a space for absorbing the energy. An object of the present invention is to provide a steering column device capable of setting the size.

  The invention of claim 1 includes a vehicle body mounting bracket that is fixed to the vehicle body and includes a suspension portion that hangs down from the vehicle body, a lower jacket that has a cylindrical shape and rotatably supports the steering shaft, and has a cylindrical shape. The steering shaft is rotatably supported, and is disposed in an upper jacket that is slidably inserted into the lower jacket, and a sliding contact portion formed on the inner peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface of the upper jacket. A detaching member, an energy absorbing structure formed integrally with the detaching member and engageable with the upper jacket, a connecting means for integrally connecting the upper jacket and the detaching member, and the vehicle body mounting bracket. A clamping bolt supported by the detachable member, the upper jacket, and the lower jacket. When the release member, the upper jacket, and the lower jacket are fastened and fixed to the suspension, and the clamping bolt is tightened, an excessive collision load is applied along the column axis direction. When the upper jacket is added to the upper jacket, the connection between the upper jacket and the detachment member by the connecting means is released, and the upper jacket engages with the upper jacket while moving in the column axial direction. The energy absorbing structure is deformed to absorb energy.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the steering column apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the energy absorbing structure includes at least one hook shape engageable with a front end edge of the upper jacket, When the connection between the upper jacket and the detachable member is released and the upper jacket moves in the column axis direction, the shape of the flange of the energy absorbing structure that engages with the edge of the upper jacket is extended. It is characterized by that.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the steering column device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the detaching member and the energy absorbing structure are formed in the sliding contact portion formed on an outer peripheral surface of the upper jacket. And the suspension part.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the steering column device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the detaching member includes the sliding contact portion formed on an inner peripheral surface of the upper jacket and the clamping bolt. It is arrange | positioned between.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the clamping bolt is tightened, the body mounting bracket, the upper jacket, and the lower jacket are pressed and engaged with each other via the detaching member, so that the upper jacket is fastened and fixed. Movement is restricted. Further, when the clamping bolt is loosened, the pressure contact engagement state between the vehicle body mounting bracket, the upper jacket, and the lower jacket is released, so that the upper bracket and the lower jacket can be moved. When an excessive collision load is applied to the upper jacket with the clamping bolts tightened, the connection between the upper jacket and the detaching member by the connecting member is released, and the upper jacket moves in the column axis direction. The part of the energy absorbing structure that engages with the upper jacket is deformed. And the excessive load added to the upper jacket is absorbed because the site | part of the energy absorption structure engaged with an upper jacket deform | transforms.

  As a result, both the separation load when the separation member separates from the upper jacket and the required energy absorption load can be generated by the movement of the separation member, so that the number of parts can be reduced and energy can be reduced. It is not necessary to set a space for absorption, and the layout can be improved.

  In addition, since the separation member and the energy absorption structure formed integrally with the separation member can separately adjust the separation load and the energy absorption load, the operation force when tightening the clamping bolt, and the separation member, The separation load and the energy absorption load can be set without affecting the tilting and telescopic holding force of fastening and fixing the upper jacket and the lower jacket to the suspension part.

  Furthermore, since the detachable member is connected to the upper jacket, the detachable member follows the upper jacket even when it moves in the column axial direction while receiving an excessive collision load and rotating the upper jacket upward. Therefore, since the twist does not occur between the upper jacket and the detachable member, the upper jacket moves smoothly and can absorb energy as set.

  In the invention of claim 2, when the upper jacket moves in the column axis direction, the energy absorbing structure that engages with the edge of the upper jacket is elongated to extend the collar shape, thereby absorbing energy. The structure of the energy absorption structure is simplified, the energy absorption structure can be reduced in size, and the energy absorption load can be easily adjusted.

  In the inventions of claims 3 and 4, the same effect as that of claim 1 can be obtained.

1 is a perspective view of a steering column device in a normal operation state according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a plan view of a steering column device in a normal operation state according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a side view of a steering column device in a normal operation state according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 shows the first embodiment of the present invention and is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. It is a perspective view which shows each aspect of the detachable member which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view of a steering column device in an energy absorption state according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a steering column device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of a steering column device showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and is a cross-sectional view along the line IX-IX in FIG. 8. It is a perspective view which shows each aspect of the detachable member which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The upper jacket and detachment member concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention are shown, (a) is a normal operation state, and (b) is a perspective view in an energy absorption state. It is sectional drawing which shows the prior art example of a steering column apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the steering column device 1 a according to the present embodiment includes a vehicle body mounting bracket 2 fixed to the vehicle body 50 and a steering wheel (not shown) at the upper end in the axial direction (the right end in FIGS. 2 and 3). A jacket 4 for rotatably supporting the steering shaft 3 to which the motor is attached), a detaching member 5 disposed between the jacket 4 and the vehicle body mounting bracket 2, and the jacket 4 being locked to the vehicle body mounting bracket 2. And a locking mechanism 6 to be used.

  The steering shaft 3 includes an upper shaft 3a and a lower shaft 3b, and is fitted so as to be relatively slidable in the axial direction.

  The vehicle body mounting bracket 2 includes a fixed portion 2a that is fixed to the vehicle body and a single suspension portion 2b that is suspended from the fixed portion 2a. The suspension portion 2b is provided with a tilting long hole 2c having an arc shape along the vehicle vertical direction.

  The jacket 4 has a cylindrical shape, and has an upper jacket (outer jacket) 4a that rotatably supports an upper shaft (steering shaft) 3a, and has a cylindrical shape, along the axial direction inside the upper jacket 4a. And a lower jacket (inner jacket) 4b that rotatably supports a lower shaft (steering shaft) 3b together with the upper jacket 4a.

  On the outer peripheral surface of the upper jacket 4a, a slidable contact portion 11 extending integrally along the axial direction of the upper jacket 4a so as to face the suspension portion 2b, and an axial direction in the slidable contact portion 11 are formed. The contraction dimension of the steering shaft 3 when absorbing energy is set by the dimension along the axial direction of the contraction slot 12. Further, a detachment member 5 described later is fixed to the sliding contact portion 11. And the upper jacket 4a is suspended by the suspension part 2b via the lock mechanism 6 mentioned later.

  The lower jacket 4b is pivotally supported by the vehicle body 50 via the lower support bracket 8c at the lower end in the axial direction (the left end in FIGS. 2 and 3).

  The detaching member 5 is in contact with the sliding contact portion 11 while being opposed thereto, is fixed to the sliding contact portion 11, and is disposed between the suspension portion 2b and the outer peripheral surface of the upper jacket 4a. The detachable member 5 includes a plate-like contact portion 13 having a U-shaped cross section and an energy absorbing structure 7 provided integrally with the contact portion 13. A telescopic long hole (regulation hole) 13 a formed of a long hole along the axial direction is formed on a side surface portion of the contact portion 13. And the telescopic adjustment dimension of a steering wheel is set by the dimension along the axial direction of the telescopic long hole 13a. Further, the detaching member 5 is integrally fixed so as to cover and overlap the sliding contact portion 11 of the upper jacket 4a via the connecting means 9.

  The connecting means 9 includes a detachable side connecting hole 15, a sliding contact side connecting hole 16, and a shear pin 14. The detachment side connection hole 15 is composed of through holes arranged at a total of four locations, one at the front and back of the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion of the contact portion 13. The sliding contact side coupling holes 16 are provided at a total of four locations of the sliding contact portion 11 that overlaps the separation side connection hole 15 in a state where the separation member 5 is covered with the sliding contact portion 11. The shear pin 14 is fixed to the slidable contact side coupling hole 16 while penetrating the detachable side connection hole 15 with the detachable member 5 covered on the slidable contact portion 11. Further, the shear pin 14 is set to be broken when a shearing stress exceeding a set value is applied.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the energy absorbing structure 7 has a T-shaped piece 17 provided at the front end of the side surface portion of the contact portion 13, and the piece 17 is shaped like a bowl toward the inside of the U-shape. The hook-shaped portion 17a that is bent is bent into the front end (end edge) 19 of the upper jacket 4a. When the upper jacket 4a slides forward in the axial direction, the front end 19 of the upper jacket 4a extends the hook-shaped portion 17a of the section 17, so that energy applied to the upper jacket 4a is absorbed.

  The configuration of the energy absorption structure 7 is not limited to the first mode 7a shown in FIG. 5A, and various forms can be applied. For example, as in the second mode 7b shown in FIG. 5B, the neck width L1b, which is the width of the neck portion 17b, can be changed according to the magnitude of the set absorption load. Further, by changing the distance between the neck length L2b which is the length of the neck portion 17b, that is, the front end 19 of the section 17 and the front end 19 of the upper jacket 4a, the timing at which the collision load starts to be absorbed can be adjusted.

  Moreover, it can be set as the structure which consists of several slices 17 and 18 like the 3rd aspect 7c shown in FIG.5 (c). Each piece 17, 18 is provided at each front end of the upper surface portion, the side surface portion, and the lower surface portion of the contact portion 13, and bends toward the inside of the U shape so as to be engageable with the front end 19 of the upper jacket 4a. It is formed in a bowl shape. As in the second mode, the slices 17 and 18 can individually adjust the neck widths L1b and L1c and the neck lengths L2b and L2c of the neck portions 17b and 18b. For example, the widths of the neck portions 17b and 18b are set so that the neck width L1c is half of the neck width L1b, and the upper surface portion side and the lower surface portion side are equal to the side surface portion. The neck length L2c is set longer than the neck length L2b. And by setting the neck widths L1b and L1c and the neck lengths L2b and L2c in this way, the load absorption profile is set so as to absorb the load for a longer time while reducing the peak load. Energy can be absorbed while reducing damage to the body.

  In addition, when it is not necessary to absorb a collision load by the energy absorbing structure 7, the T-shaped piece 17 is not bent into a bowl shape as in the fourth aspect 7d shown in FIG. What is necessary is just to make it remain flat and not engage with the front end 19 of the upper jacket 4a. Thereby, the detachable member 5 can be diverted.

  The lock mechanism 6 includes a clamp bolt 20 that passes through the suspension portion 2b, an operation lever 23 that is fixed to one end of the clamp bolt 20 and that is rotated with respect to the clamp bolt 20, and an operation lever for the clamp bolt 20. 23 and a lock cam portion 24 disposed between the suspension portion 2b.

  The clamping bolt 20 is disposed such that the shaft portion 20a is substantially horizontal along the vehicle left-right direction, and the extension line of the shaft portion 20a passes through the diameter of the cross section of the steering shaft 3. Further, a head 20b is formed at the other end of the clamp bolt 20 and passes through the deformed hole 8b of the engaging piece 8a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lower jacket 4b, and is clamped by fitting with the deformed hole 8b. The bolt 20 is locked so as not to rotate.

  The shaft portion 20 a of the clamping bolt 20 passes through the fixed cam 25 and the movable cam 26. The fixed cam 25 is inserted into the tilt long hole 2c of the suspension portion 2b, and is disposed so as to be movable within the tilt long hole 2c and not rotatable. The movable cam 26 is inserted into one end of the clamping bolt 20 and is fixed integrally with the operation lever 23.

  The clamping bolt 20 passes through each member so that the engaging piece 8a of the lower jacket 4b, the upper jacket 4a, the detaching member 5, the vehicle body mounting bracket 2, the fixed cam 25, and the movable cam 26 are overlapped in this order with a nut 20d. When the operating lever 23 is rotated, the cam crest of the movable cam 26 rides on the cam crest of the fixed cam 25 and tightens, and the head 20b of the clamp bolt 20 approaches the suspension 2b. Displace in the direction (left side of FIG. 4), and fasten and hold.

  In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 1, when the driver of the vehicle rotates the operating lever 23 in the locking direction and tightens the clamping bolt 20 (locked state), the head of the clamping bolt 20 20b moves in a direction approaching the suspension part 2b from the jacket 4, presses the lower jacket 4b, the upper jacket 4a, the detaching member 5, and the suspension part 2b, and is fastened and fixed. Tilt) and movement in the axial direction (telescopic) are restricted. Further, when the operation lever 23 is rotated in the unlocking direction and the clamping bolt 20 is loosened (unlocked state), the head 20b of the clamping bolt 20 is away from the suspension 2b (right side in FIG. 4). Since the jacket 4 is released from fastening and holding, the jacket 4 can move in the vertical direction (tilt) and in the axial direction (telescopic).

  When an excessive collision load is applied in the axial direction of the upper jacket 4a through the steering shaft 3 due to a driver hitting the steering wheel due to a vehicle collision accident or the like when the locking mechanism 6 is locked, the upper shaft 3a and the upper jacket 4a slide forward of the vehicle body, thereby mitigating the collision load applied to the driver.

  When the steering shaft 3 and the jacket 4 slide to the front of the vehicle body, the upper jacket 4a first slides together with the release member 5 to the front of the vehicle body due to an excessive collision load, and the clamping bolt 20 is a telescopic elongated hole of the release member 5. 13a hits the rear edge of the vehicle body. In the state where the clamp bolt 20 is in contact with the vehicle body rear side edge portion of the telescopic elongated hole 13a, an excessive collision load is applied, and the shear pin 14 of the detachable member 5 is broken by shearing force, and the contact portion 13 and The connection with the sliding contact portion 11 is released. When the connection between the contact portion 13 and the slidable contact portion 11 is released, the upper jacket 4a further slides forward of the vehicle body while leaving the detaching member 5 on the suspension portion 2b. When the upper jacket 4a slides forward of the vehicle body, the collar shape of the energy absorbing structure 7 is extended by the front end 19 of the upper jacket 4a, thereby absorbing energy applied to the upper jacket 4a (see FIG. 6).

  When the energy is absorbed, the upper jacket 4a stops moving forward, but even if the applied collision load is excessive, the clamping bolt 20 eventually becomes the contraction length of the upper jacket 4a. The upper jacket 4 a does not fall from the vehicle body 50 because it hits the edge of the hole 12 on the vehicle body rear side. Further, after the energy is absorbed, even if the driver pulls the retracted steering wheel to operate the steering wheel in order to move the vehicle to another place, the clamping bolt 20 is used to contract the upper jacket 4a. Since it hits the edge of the hole 12 on the front side of the vehicle body, the upper shaft 3a cannot be removed from the lower shaft 3b. Further, the upper jacket 4a cannot be removed from the lower jacket 4b.

  According to the present embodiment, both the separation load when the separation member 5 is detached from the upper jacket 4a and the required energy absorption load can be generated by the separation member 5 moving in the axial direction. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced, and it is not necessary to set a space for absorbing energy, and the layout can be improved.

  In addition, since the energy absorbing structure 7 is formed integrally with the detachable member 5 while being fixed to the detachable member 5 upper jacket 4a via the connecting means 9, the detachment load and the energy absorption load can be adjusted separately. Without affecting the operating force of the operating lever 23 when tightening the clamping bolt 20, and the tilting and telescopic holding force for fastening and holding the detachable member 5, the upper jacket 4a, and the lower jacket 4b to the suspension, A separation load and an energy absorption load can be set.

  Further, since the detachable member 5 is connected to the upper jacket 4a, the detachable member 5 receives the excessive load, and when the upper jacket 4a is rotated upward, the detachable member 5 is moved in the column axial direction. Since it rotates following 4a, no twisting occurs between the upper jacket 4a and the detachable member 5, so that the upper jacket 4a moves smoothly and can absorb energy as set.

  When the upper jacket 4a moves in the column axis direction, the energy absorbing structure 7 that engages with the front end 19 of the upper jacket 4a is extended by extending the hook shape of the energy absorbing structure 7 to thereby absorb the energy. The energy absorption structure 7 can be reduced in size, and the energy absorption load and the timing of starting absorption can be easily adjusted.

  In this embodiment, the steering shaft 3 can be tilted and telescopically adjusted. However, the telescopic elongated hole 13a of the detachable member 5 has a hole shape having the same dimensions as the shaft portion of the clamping bolt 20. Can be used only for tilt adjustment, and by making the elongated elongated hole 2c have the same shape as the shaft portion of the clamping bolt 20, only telescopic adjustment can be supported. By making both of the tilt long holes 2 c have the same hole shape as the shaft portion of the clamp bolt 20, it is possible to cope with a structure having no tilt and telescopic adjustment functions. Further, even when only the telescopic adjustment is performed, only when the tilt adjustment is performed, or when there is no tilt and no telescopic adjustment, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the above embodiment.

  Further, the connecting means 9 of the present embodiment is configured to release the connection between the upper jacket 4a and the detachable member 5 when the shear pin 14 is broken, but is not limited to such a configuration. A hemispherical convex portion is provided at a position corresponding to the detachable side connecting hole 15, a hemispherical concave portion is provided at a position corresponding to the sliding contact side connecting hole 16 of the sliding contact portion 11, and the convex portion and the concave portion are engaged. Thus, it is possible to adopt various configurations for releasing the connection when a load exceeding the set value is applied, such as a configuration in which the detachable member is connected to the upper jacket.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to the steering column apparatus 1a of the said 1st Embodiment. A major difference between the first embodiment and the steering column device 1b of the present embodiment is the configuration of the jacket, and the jacket 34 of the present embodiment has a cylindrical shape and supports the upper shaft 3a so as to be rotatable. An upper jacket (inner jacket) 34a, and a lower jacket that has a cylindrical shape, is slidably inserted along the axial direction outside the upper jacket 34a, and rotatably supports the steering shaft 3 together with the upper jacket 34a. (Outer jacket) 34b.

  The lower jacket 34b is pivotally supported by the vehicle body 50 via a lower support bracket (not shown) at the lower end in the axial direction (the left end in FIGS. 7 and 8) via the lower support bracket (not shown).

  On the inner peripheral surface of the upper jacket 34a, a sliding contact portion 31 that extends integrally along the axial direction of the upper jacket 34a so as to face the suspension portion 2b of the vehicle body mounting bracket 2, and The contraction long hole 12 formed along the axial direction is provided, and the contraction dimension of the steering shaft 3 when absorbing energy is set by the dimension along the axial direction of the contraction long hole 12. Further, a detachment member 35 described later is fixed to the sliding contact portion 31. And the upper jacket 34a is suspended by the suspension part 2b via the lock mechanism 6 mentioned later.

  The detaching member 35 is in contact with the sliding contact portion 31 while being opposed thereto, is fixed to the sliding contact portion 31, and is disposed between the head 20b of the clamping bolt 20 and the inner peripheral surface of the upper jacket 34a. Further, the detaching member 35 includes a flat plate-like contact portion 33 and an energy absorbing structure 37 provided integrally with the contact portion 33. The contact portion 33 is formed with a telescopic long hole (regulatory hole) 13a formed of a long hole along the axial direction. The telescopic elongated hole 13a is provided with a frame portion 35a along the periphery of the hole. The detachable member 5 is fixed integrally with the connecting means 9 in a state where the frame portion 35a is fitted in the contraction long hole 12 while abutting on the sliding contact portion 31 of the upper jacket 34a. In addition, about the connection means 9, it is the structure similar to the said embodiment.

  As in the first aspect 37a shown in FIG. 10 (a), the energy absorbing structure 37 is formed by attaching a rectangular section 38 provided at the front end of the contact portion 33 to the front end (edge) 39 of the upper jacket 34a. It is configured to be engaged with the front end 39 of the upper jacket 34a by bending it into a bowl shape. That is, the energy absorption structure 37 is disposed between the contact portion 33 and the sliding contact portion 31. When the upper jacket 34a slides forward in the axial direction, the energy absorbing structure 37 absorbs energy applied to the upper jacket 34a by extending the hook-shaped portion 38a by the front end 39 of the upper jacket 34a.

  The configuration of the energy absorbing structure 37 is not limited to the first mode 37a shown in FIG. 10A, and various forms can be applied. For example, as in the second mode 37b shown in FIG. 10B, the neck width L1b that is the width of the neck portion 38b can be changed according to the set absorption load. Further, by changing the neck length L2b (the distance between the tip of the energy absorbing structure 37 and the front end of the lower jacket 34b), which is the length of the neck 38b, the timing at which the collision load starts to be absorbed can be adjusted.

  Moreover, in the 3rd aspect 37c shown by FIG.10 (c), the division | segmentation 38 is divided | segmented into the width direction of the contact part 33, and the slice 38 is provided in two places. Each section 38 is provided at the front end of the abutting portion 33, and is formed in a bowl shape that is bent so as to be engageable with the front end of the lower jacket 34b.

  When it is not necessary to absorb the collision load by the energy absorbing structure 37, the rectangular section 38 is not bent into a bowl shape as in the fourth aspect 37d shown in FIG. The disengagement member 35 can be diverted because it is only necessary to remain in the shape and not engage with the front end of the lower jacket 34b.

  The lock mechanism 6 has the same configuration as in the above embodiment.

  In the above configuration, as in the steering column device 1a of the first embodiment, the lock mechanism 6 is in a locked state, and an excessive amount is caused via the upper shaft 3a due to a driver hitting the steering wheel due to a vehicle collision accident or the like. When a collision load is applied in the axial direction of the upper jacket 34a, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the steering shaft 3 and the upper jacket 34a slide forward of the vehicle body. When the upper shaft 3a and the jacket 4 slide forward of the vehicle body and the clamping bolt 20 hits the edge of the telescopic elongated hole 13a of the detachable member 5 on the rear side of the vehicle body, the shear pin 14 of the detachable member 5 causes a shearing force. And the connection between the contact portion 13 and the sliding contact portion 11 is released. When the connection between the contact portion 13 and the sliding contact portion 11 is released, the upper jacket 34a further slides forward with the detachable member 5 left on the suspension portion 2b, and the collar shape of the energy absorbing structure 7 is By being extended by the front end 39 of the jacket 34a, the energy applied to the upper jacket 34a is absorbed.

  Further, when the energy is absorbed, the clamping bolt 20 stays in the contracting long hole 12 of the upper jacket 34 a and hits the edge of the rear side of the vehicle body, so that the upper jacket 34 a does not fall from the vehicle body 50. In addition, after the energy is absorbed, even if the driver pulls the retracted steering wheel to operate the steering wheel in order to move the vehicle to another location, the clamping bolt 20 is used to contract the upper jacket 34a. Since it stays in the hole of the long hole 12 and hits the edge of the front side of the vehicle body, the upper shaft 3a cannot be detached from the vehicle body 50. Further, the upper jacket 4a cannot be removed from the lower jacket 4b.

  Also in the present embodiment, the same effects as those in the first embodiment can be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1a, 1b ... Steering column apparatus 2 ... Car body mounting bracket 2b ... Suspension part 3a ... Upper shaft (steering shaft)
3b ... Lower shaft (steering shaft)
4a ... Upper jacket 4b ... Lower jacket 5 ... Release member 7, 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d ... Energy absorbing structure 9 ... Connecting means 11 ... Sliding contact portion 17a ... Hook-shaped portion 20 ... Clamp bolt 34a ... Upper jacket 34b ... Lower jacket 35 ... Detachment member 37, 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d ... Energy absorption structure 38a ... Hook-shaped part

Claims (4)

A vehicle body mounting bracket fixed to the vehicle body and provided with a suspension part depending from the vehicle body;
A lower jacket that rotatably supports the steering shaft;
An upper jacket that rotatably supports the steering shaft and is slidably inserted into the lower jacket;
A detachable member disposed on a sliding contact portion formed on the inner peripheral surface or outer peripheral surface of the upper jacket,
An energy absorbing structure formed integrally with the release member and engageable with the upper jacket;
Connecting means for integrally connecting the upper jacket and the detachable member;
A clamp bolt supported by the vehicle body mounting bracket and penetrating the detachable member, the upper jacket, and the lower jacket;
The detaching member, the upper jacket, and the lower jacket are fastened and fixed to the suspension by tightening the clamping bolt,
When an excessive collision load is applied to the upper jacket along the column axis direction with the clamping bolt tightened, the connection between the upper jacket and the detaching member by the connecting means is released. Then, the energy absorbing structure that engages with the upper jacket is deformed and the energy is absorbed while the upper jacket moves in the column axis direction. The steering column device according to claim 1,
The energy absorbing structure includes at least one hook shape engageable with a front edge of the upper jacket,
When the connection between the upper jacket and the detachable member by the connecting means is released and the upper jacket moves in the column axial direction, the shape of the energy absorbing structure that engages with the edge of the upper jacket Steering column device characterized in that is extended. The steering column device according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The steering column device, wherein the detaching member and the energy absorbing structure are disposed between the sliding contact portion and the suspension portion formed on an outer peripheral surface of the upper jacket. The steering column device according to claim 1 or claim 2,
The steering column device according to claim 1, wherein the detaching member is disposed between the sliding contact portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the upper jacket and the clamping bolt.

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