JP2013166517A - Position-adjustable steering column device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To include an impact energy absorbing material in addition to a resin component in order to obtain a larger impact energy absorbing load.SOLUTION: A position-adjustable steering column device for vehicles is configured to adjust an axial position of an inner column 2 with respect to an outer column 1 by reducing or increasing a diameter of an inner circumferential surface of the outer column 1. A bush B is fixed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer column 1. At an end of the outer column 1, a flange is formed by folding one axial side of the bush B toward an outer diameter. An inner-diameter-side protrusion Bb is formed in a part which slides on the outer periphery of the inner column 2 beyond a telescopic operation range of the bush B. The flange folded toward the outer diameter is held by the end of the outer column 1 and a ring 30. At a secondary collision of the vehicle, the flange folded toward the outer diameter stands still at the end of the outer column 1, and the inner-diameter-side protrusion Bb is deformed by the inner column 2.

Description

  According to the present invention, the outer column and the inner column are slidably fitted, and the inner column is adjusted in position relative to the outer column by reducing and expanding the inner peripheral surface of the outer column. The present invention relates to a vehicle position-adjustable steering column device that can adjust the axial position of the outer column and the inner column.

  Conventionally, there is a telescopic type steering column device that can adjust the axial position of the steering wheel according to the physique, driving posture, etc. of the driver. For example, the steering wheel with respect to the outer column fixed to the vehicle body Etc. are provided so as to be telescopically slidable.

  As an example, a shearing ring is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the inner column, etc., and a shearing allowable protrusion provided on the shearing ring is engaged with a groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner column. is there. The shearing ring can play the role of a stopper that regulates the telescopic stroke within a predetermined range by contacting and regulating the end of the outer column or the like.

  Also, at the time of the secondary collision of the vehicle, for example, when the inner column collapses with respect to the outer column and moves forward of the vehicle, if the shearing ring comes into contact with the end of the outer column or the like, the shearing ring The shearing allowable protrusion is sheared and detached from the inner column or the like. Therefore, the detached shearing ring does not affect the impact energy absorption load, and the generation of the peak load during the collapse at the time of the secondary collision can be minimized.

  However, when the inner column is used with a long groove for the rotation stopper (telescopic adjustment groove), there is a possibility that the claw (shearing allowable protrusion) may enter the long groove for the rotation stopper (telescopic adjustment groove). .

  In that case, only the claw (shearing allowable projection) that has entered the long groove for the rotation stopper (telescopic adjustment groove) may not be sheared, and the shearing force of the entire shearing ring may be reduced. There was a problem that there was.

JP 2006-103366 A

As a prior art for improving this portion, there is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-103366. This is an expansion / contraction structure in which an outer member and an inner member are slidably fitted to each other. A groove formed on at least one of the inner peripheral surface of the outer member or the outer peripheral surface of the inner member is mounted on at least one of the peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface of the inner member with a shearing ring made of at least a resin ring. Further, a shearing allowable protrusion provided on the resin ring is engaged, and the resin ring is an integral resin molded product having a slit.
However, in this prior art, the impact energy is absorbed by the resin parts, but in order to further obtain the impact energy absorption load, it is necessary to have an impact energy absorbing member in addition to the resin parts. There was a problem.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention provides a bushing stroke range that is greater than the telescopic operation range of the bush that can smooth and stabilize basic performance such as slidability during telescopic and collapsing. Thus, a collision stroke is ensured while absorbing a collision load by providing a convex shape on the inner diameter side in a portion sliding with the outer peripheral portion of the inner column.
In the vehicle position-adjustable steering column device according to claim 1 of the present invention, the outer column and the inner column are slidably fitted, and the inner peripheral surface of the outer column is reduced in diameter and enlarged. In the vehicle-position-adjustable steering column device capable of adjusting the axial position of the inner column with respect to the outer column,
A bush is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the outer column,
An end of the outer column is provided with a flange that is folded back to the outer diameter side in the axial direction of the bush.
Provide a convex shape on the inner diameter side in the portion that slides with the outer periphery of the inner column over the telescopic operation range of the bush,
The collar part turned back to the outer diameter side is sandwiched between the end of the outer column and the ring,
At the time of a secondary collision of the vehicle, the protruding portion on the inner diameter side is deformed by the inner column while the flange portion turned back to the outer diameter side remains at the end of the outer column.

  According to the present invention, an impact energy absorbing member can be provided in addition to the resin stopper.

1 is a side sectional view of a tilt / telescopic steering column device for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is II-II arrow sectional drawing of the bush of FIG. It is the elements on larger scale of the III section of FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which a resin stopper serves as a stopper for defining a telescopic stroke within a predetermined range in a vehicle tilt / telescopic steering column apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. . In the vehicle tilt / telescopic steering column apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, the side of the bush shows a state in which the bush slides with the outer periphery of the inner column at a collision stroke range that is equal to or greater than the telescopic operation range. It is sectional drawing. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the stroke and load at the time of the collision which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the stroke at the time of the conventional collision, and a load. It is the elements on larger scale of VIII of FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The steering column is composed of a lower column 1 (outer column) fixed to the vehicle body and an upper column 2 (inner column) fitted telescopically to the lower column 1 so as to collapse during a secondary collision of the vehicle. Can be shrunk.
The lower column 1 is made of aluminum, and the upper column 2 is made of iron or aluminum.

  A steering shaft 3 is rotatably provided in both columns 1 and 2. The steering shaft 3 includes a cylindrical upper shaft 71 and a middle lower shaft 72 that is slidably attached to the cylindrical upper shaft 71 by spline fitting or the like. Therefore, at the time of telescopic sliding, the upper column 2 and the upper shaft 71 can integrally move in the axial direction.

  Further, the lower column 1 is provided with an electric power steering device 5 (EPS), and the electric power steering device 5 includes an electric motor (not shown), a speed reduction mechanism unit 6, an output shaft 8, and the like. Note that the speed reduction mechanism is surrounded by the housing 7. Further, the lower column 1 and the housing 7 are integrally formed.

The lower column 1 is supported on the vehicle body by a lower vehicle body side bracket (not shown) at a side portion of the housing 7, and a tilt pivot 10 is provided on the lower vehicle body side bracket.
The lower column 1 is formed in a thick shape in the column radial direction and in the vehicle width direction through a slit, and holds the upper column 2, and reduces and expands the upper column 2 to tighten and release the upper column 2. Thick-walled clamps 20 and 20 are provided.

A pair of through holes 21 and 21 are formed in the pair of clamp portions 20 and 20. Tightening bolts (not shown) are inserted through the through holes 21 and 21.
When the operation lever (not shown) is rotated in one direction, the tightening bolt is pulled in the axial direction to tighten the clamp portions 20, 20 and the like, and when the operation lever is rotated in the other direction, the tightening bolt is The tension in the axial direction is released, and tightening of the clamp portions 20, 20 and the like is released.

Therefore, in the case of tilt / telescopic adjustment, when the operation lever is rotated in one direction, the tightening bolt is released from the axial tension, and the clamps 20, 20, etc. are released from tightening, The breadth expands.
As a result, the lower column 1, the upper column 2, the steering shaft 3, and the like can be rotated about the tilt pivot 10 to adjust the tilt.
Further, the upper column 2 (inner column), the steering shaft 3 and the like slide in the axial direction with respect to the pair of widened clamp portions 20 and 20 (that is, the lower column 1 (outer column)). Telescopic adjustment can be made.

On the other hand, in the case of tilt / telescopic tightening, when the operation lever is rotated in the reverse direction, the tightening bolt is pulled in the axial direction.
As a result, the pair of clamp parts 20 are tightened. As a result, the pair of clamp portions 20 and 20 can clamp the upper column 2 (inner column) in pressure contact and can be tilted and telescopically tightened.

In the present embodiment, a cylindrical iron bush B is fitted to the inner peripheral side of the lower column 1 (outer column) of the fitting portion of both columns 1 and 2.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, a cylindrical iron bush B is fitted (press-fitted) into the inner peripheral surface of the lower column 1 (outer column). The end portion of the column 1 has a flange Ba that is folded back to the outer diameter side. The flange portion Ba prevents the bush B from being caught by engaging with an end edge of the lower column 1 (outer column). A ring 11 is press-fitted on the inner peripheral side of the end edge of the lower column 1 (outer column). The ring Ba is sandwiched between the ring 11 and the lower column 1 (outer column), thereby further ensuring the engagement.
By the telescopic operation, the upper column 2 moves back and forth (telescopic adjustment). In this embodiment, the sliding contact surface can be limited to the inner surface of the bush B and the outer surface of the upper column 2 by securely fixing the bush B between the inner surface of the lower column 1 on the fixed side to the fixed side. . Therefore, the iron bush B is excellent in workability and assemblability, can be securely fixed to the lower column 1, and smooth and stabilize basic performance such as slidability during telescopic and collapsing. Can do.
Similarly, at the time of a collision (secondary), the bush B is securely fixed to the lower column 1 side, and in this embodiment, the sliding contact surface is limited and the collapse performance is stabilized.
Further, in particular, in this type of column type EPS, in which the motor of EPS 5 and the speed reduction mechanism 6 are provided in the lower column 1 as in the case of telescopic attachment, It is not possible to secure a sufficient collapsing stroke at the time of collision (especially when telescopic is attached, there is a restriction). In this way, during a limited short collapse stroke, it is necessary to absorb the energy of the load-stroke diagram which is smooth and targeted. This embodiment in which smoothing and stabilization of the above are effective.

  A resin ring 30 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the upper column 2 (inner column). The distance between the resin ring 30 and the rear end of the lower column 1 (outer column) is set corresponding to the telescopic stroke.

  One circumferential groove 24 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper column 2, and a plurality of shearing allowable protrusions 31 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the resin ring 30. The shearing allowable protrusions 31 of these resin rings 30 are adapted to be engaged with the grooves 24 of the upper column 2.

  Thus, since the resin ring 30 is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the upper column 2 and the shearing allowable projection 31 is locked in the groove 24 of the upper column 2, the resin ring 30 is formed of the lower column. By controlling by contacting the rear end of one, it can serve as a stopper that defines the telescopic stroke within a predetermined range.

  When a traveling vehicle collides with another vehicle or an obstacle on the road, the driver collides with the steering wheel due to inertia, and a large collapse load acts on the upper column 2. The upper column 2 enters the lower column 1 and the steering column collapse starts.

  When the upper column 2 enters a predetermined amount into the lower column 1 and the rear end of the lower column 1 comes into contact with the resin ring 30, the shearing allowable protrusion 31 of the resin ring 30 shears and the inner column 2 Leave.

  Thereafter, the inner diameter side convex portion Bb of the bush B and the outer peripheral portion of the inner column 2 slide. The inner diameter side convex shape portion Bb is deformed by sliding with the outer peripheral portion of the inner column 2, thereby obtaining an impact energy absorption load.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the peak load at the end of the collapse stroke at the time of the secondary collision can be minimized.

  At the time of the secondary collision of the vehicle, the flange Ba turned back to the outer diameter side remains engaged with the edge of the lower column 1 (outer column). Thereby, the sliding contact surface is limited to the inner surface of the bush B and the outer surface of the upper column 2 (inner column), and the collapse performance is stabilized.

  As described above, the present embodiment can have an impact energy absorbing member in addition to the resin stopper.

  It can be used as a vehicle-adjustable steering column device.

1 Lower column (outer column)
2 Upper column (inner column)
3 Steering shaft
B Iron bush
Ba Folded back to outer diameter side
Bb Inner diameter convex part
5 Electric power steering device
6 Deceleration mechanism
7 Housing
8 Output shaft
10 Tilt pivot
11 rings
20 Clamp part
21 Through hole
24 groove
30 Resin ring
31 Shear allowable protrusion
71 Upper shaft
72 Lower shaft

Claims (1)

The outer column and the inner column are slidably fitted, and the axial position of the inner column with respect to the outer column can be adjusted by reducing the diameter and expanding the inner peripheral surface of the outer column. In a vehicle position-adjustable steering column device,
A bush is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the outer column,
An end of the outer column is provided with a flange that is folded back to the outer diameter side in the axial direction of the bush.
Provide a convex shape on the inner diameter side in the portion that slides with the outer periphery of the inner column over the telescopic operation range of the bush,
The collar part turned back to the outer diameter side is sandwiched between the end of the outer column and the ring,
At the time of a secondary collision of the vehicle, the flange portion folded back to the outer diameter side remains stopped at the end of the outer column, and the convex shape on the inner diameter side is deformed by the inner column. Steering column device.

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