JP2014015128A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device which can reduce force to operate an operation lever, and has high retentivity of a lock state.SOLUTION: A cam mechanism clamps a fixed side plate to a column side plate via a rolling body rolling between surfaces, facing each other in an axial direction, of a first member rotating integrally with a rotationally operated operation lever and a second member of which rotation is regulated, and thereby lock is achieved with light lever operation force. When the lock is performed by the cam mechanism, a protrusion 52 serving as an engaging part, provided on an outer periphery 42a of a holder 42 for holding a rolling body 41 engages with, in a radial direction R1, a recess 55 serving as an engaged part, provided at a first member 37, relative rotation of the first member 37 and the second member is regulated, and thereby retentivity of the lock state is increased.

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering device.

  In a position-adjustable steering device that changes the position of the steering wheel according to the physique and driving posture of the driver, after the position adjustment, the cam mechanism is operated by operating the operation lever, and a pair of fixed brackets fixed to the vehicle body There has been proposed a structure in which a pair of side plates of a column bracket fixed to a steering column is tightened by side plates to achieve locking (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2012-35758 A

In the cam mechanism, locking is achieved by frictional engagement between a cam surface and cam follower surfaces that are inclined in opposite directions and are in sliding contact with each other. However, since the frictional resistance at the time of sliding contact between the cam surface and the cam follower surface is large, the operation force of the operation lever is increased.
In order to reduce the operating force, it is conceivable to apply a so-called ball cam mechanism as the cam mechanism. However, in this case, there is a possibility that a new problem that the holding force in the locked state becomes low may occur.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a steering device in which the operating force of the operating lever is reduced and the holding force in the locked state is high.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes a pair of fixed side plates (26, 27) fixed to the vehicle body (14) and a pair of column side plates (23, 24) fixed to the steering column (8). ), The fastening shaft (35) inserted through the fastening shaft insertion holes (34, 33) provided in the fixed side plate and the front column side plate, respectively, one of which is restricted in rotation and the other of the operation lever (20). A first member (37) and a second member (38) that rotate around a central axis of the tightening shaft according to a rotation operation, and an axis of the tightening shaft provided on the first member and the second member A first axially facing surface (37a) and a second axially facing surface (38a) which are opposed to each other in the direction (Y1) and have a cam surface (44) formed on at least one side thereof; the first member and the second member; Rolls between opposing surfaces in the axial direction with relative rotation A plurality of rolling elements (41), a cam mechanism (40) for tightening and locking the fixed side plate to the column side plate in response to a rotation operation of the operation lever, and the first member and the second member At least one member and a member (42) that rotates relative to at least one of the first member and the second member, and engages in a radial direction of the tightening shaft when locked by the cam mechanism. Provided is a steering device (1) including a relative rotation restricting mechanism (56) including an engaging portion (52) and an engaged portion (55) for restricting relative rotation between one member and the second member. .

In addition, although the alphanumeric character in a parenthesis represents the corresponding component etc. in embodiment mentioned later, this does not mean that this invention should be limited to those embodiment as a matter of course. The same applies hereinafter.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the relative rotating member includes a retainer (42) that retains the plurality of rolling elements, and the engaging portion is provided in the retainer, and the engaged portion May be provided on at least one of the first member and the second member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the first member and the second member are provided with a first stopper (47) and a second stopper (50) that engage with each other in the circumferential direction and restrict the relative rotational amount of each. The engaged portion may be provided in at least one of the first stopper and the second stopper.
Further, as in claim 4, any one of the engaging portion and the engaged portion includes a convex portion (52), and the other includes a concave portion (55) engaged with the convex portion. Good.

Moreover, at least one of the said convex part and the said recessed part may be provided in the flexible part (53) which can be elastically displaced to the said radial direction like Claim 5.
In addition, as in claim 6, any one of the convex portion and the concave portion is provided on an outer periphery (42a) of a cage that holds the plurality of rolling elements, and the cage includes the convex portion and the convex portion. A thinning hole (54) may be provided on the radially inner side of any one of the concave portions, and the flexible portion may be provided between any one of the convex portion and the concave portion and the thinning hole.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the cam mechanism tightens the fixed side plate to the column side plate via the rolling elements that roll between the axially opposed surfaces of the first member and the second member. The force can be reduced. Moreover, when the cam mechanism is locked, the relative rotation between the first member and the second member is restricted by engaging the engaging portion and the engaged portion of the relative rotation restricting mechanism in the radial direction of the fastening shaft. Therefore, the locked state is surely held, and the locked state is not inadvertently released.

According to the invention of claim 2, in the locked state, the engaging portion provided on the retainer engages with the engaged portion provided on at least one of the first member and the second member. The state is more reliably maintained.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the engaged portion is provided on at least one of the first stopper and the second stopper provided on the first member and the second member and restricting the relative rotation amount of both members. Therefore, the structure can be simplified as compared with the case where the engaged portion is provided separately from the stopper.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the engaging portion and the engaged portion are engaged with each other in a concave-convex manner, the locked state can be more reliably maintained as compared with the case of frictional engagement.
According to the invention of claim 5, the flexible portion is once elastic in the radial direction in accordance with the relative rotation of at least one of the first member and the second member and the member that rotates relative to the first member. After the displacement, the convex portion and the concave portion engage with each other, so that the concave and convex engagement can be smoothly performed.

  According to the invention of claim 6, the flexible portion can be formed at low cost by providing the hollow hole in the cage.

It is a mimetic diagram showing a schematic structure of a steering device of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the steering device taken along line II-II in FIG. 1. It is a disassembled perspective view of a steering device. It is the figure which looked at the inner surface as an axial direction opposing surface of a 1st member from the front. It is an axial sectional view of the 1st member, and shows the section which meets the VV line of Drawing 4. It is sectional drawing of the holding groove | channel of a 1st member, and has shown the outline of the cam surface. It is the figure which looked at the outer side surface as an axial direction opposing surface of a 2nd member from the front. It is sectional drawing of the 2nd member, and has shown the cross section which follows the VII-VII line of FIG. It is a front view of a holder | retainer. It is sectional drawing of a holder | retainer and has shown the cross section which follows the XX line of FIG. It is a schematic sectional drawing of a cam mechanism. It is the schematic of the 1st stopper and 2nd stopper which regulate the maximum value of the relative rotation amount of a 1st member and a 2nd member. It is the schematic of a 1st member and a holder | retainer, and the convex part (engagement part) of a holder | retainer engages with the recessed part (engaged part) of a 1st member at the time of locking by a cam mechanism, and a 1st member And the relative rotation of the second member is restricted.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of a position-adjustable steering apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a steering device 1 includes a steering member 2 such as a steering wheel, and a steering mechanism 3 that steers steered wheels (not shown) in conjunction with the steering of the steering member 2. As the steering mechanism 3, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism is used.

  The steering member 2 and the steering mechanism 3 are mechanically connected via a steering shaft 4 and an intermediate shaft 5 as a steering shaft. The rotation of the steering member 2 is transmitted to the steering mechanism 3 via the steering shaft 4 and the intermediate shaft 5. Further, the rotation transmitted to the steering mechanism 3 is converted into an axial movement of a rack shaft (not shown). Thereby, a steered wheel is steered.

  The steering shaft 4 has a cylindrical upper shaft 6 and a lower shaft 7 which are fitted so as to be able to slide relative to each other by, for example, spline fitting or serration fitting. The steering member 2 is connected to one end of the upper shaft 6. Further, the steering shaft 4 can expand and contract in the axial direction X1. The steering shaft 4 is inserted into a cylindrical steering column 8 and is rotatably supported by the steering column 8 via a plurality of bearings 9 and 10.

The steering column 8 has an outer tube 11 as an upper tube and an inner tube 12 as a lower tube. Both tubes 11 and 12 are fitted so as to be slidable relative to each other in the axial direction. Thereby, the steering column 8 can be expanded and contracted in the axial direction, and telescopic adjustment described later can be performed.
The outer tube 11 rotatably supports the upper shaft 6 via the bearing 9. The outer tube 11 is connected to the upper shaft 6 via a bearing 9 so as to be able to move in the axial direction X1 of the steering shaft 4.

A lower column bracket 13 is fixed to the outer periphery of the inner tube 12. The lower column bracket 13 is rotatably supported by a lower fixing bracket 15 fixed to the vehicle body 14 via a tilt center shaft 16. The steering column 8 and the steering shaft 4 can be rotated around the tilt center axis 16.
The height position of the steering member 2 can be adjusted by rotating the steering shaft 4 and the steering column 8 around the tilt center axis 16 (so-called tilt adjustment). Further, the height position and the front-rear direction position of the steering member 2 can be adjusted by expanding and contracting the steering shaft 4 and the steering column 8 in the axial direction X1 (so-called telescopic adjustment).

  The steering device 1 includes a tightening mechanism 17 for achieving tilt lock and telescopic lock so as to fix the position of the steering member 2 whose height has been adjusted. Specifically, an upper column bracket 18 as a movable bracket is fixed to the outer tube 11. The upper column bracket 18 is connected to the upper fixing bracket 19 fixed to the vehicle body 14 by the tightening mechanism 17, thereby achieving tilt lock and telescopic lock. As a result, the position of the steering column 8 is fixed with respect to the vehicle body 14, and the position of the steering member 2 is fixed.

  Further, the tightening mechanism 17 has a function of suppressing backlash between the telescopically locked tubes 11 and 12. Specifically, the tightening mechanism 17 includes a sleeve 21 that rotates as the operating lever 20 rotates, and a pressing portion 22 that is provided on the outer periphery of the sleeve 21 so as to be rotatable along with the cam 21. ing. When the sleeve 21 is rotated by the operation of the operation lever 20, the pressing portion 22 pushes up the inner tube 12. As a result, the inner tube 12 is pressed against the outer tube 11 in the radial direction, and the backlash in the radial direction of the inner tube 12 with respect to the outer tube 11 is suppressed.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the steering device 1 taken along line II-II in FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, the upper column bracket 18 is a groove-shaped member that opens upward, and is formed symmetrically. That is, the upper column bracket 18 includes a pair of column side plates 23 and 24 each having one end fixed to the outer periphery of the outer tube 11 and a connecting plate 25 connecting the other ends of the pair of column side plates 23 and 24. ing.

  The upper fixing bracket 19 is a generally groove-shaped member that opens downward, and is formed symmetrically. That is, the upper fixing bracket 19 is fixed to a pair of fixed side plates 26 and 27 facing each other in the left-right direction, a connection plate 28 connecting the upper ends of the pair of fixed side plates 26 and 27, and the upper surface of the connection plate 28. And a plate-like mounting stay 29 extending substantially in the left-right direction.

The steering shaft 4, the steering column 8, and the upper column bracket 18 are disposed between a pair of fixed side plates 26 and 27 of the upper fixing bracket 19 in FIG. Further, the upper fixing bracket 19 is fixed to the vehicle body 14 via a pair of mounting bodies 30 connected to the mounting stay 29.
Each mounting body 30 and the mounting stay 29 are connected by a synthetic resin pin 31 as a breakable connecting member that penetrates the mounting stay 29 in the vertical direction, and each mounting body 30 is fixed by a fixing bolt 32. It is fixed to the vehicle body 14.

  The outer side surfaces of the corresponding column side plates 23 and 24 of the upper column bracket 18 are provided along the inner side surfaces of the fixed side plates 26 and 27 of the upper fixing bracket 19. The pair of column side plates 23 and 24 of the upper column bracket 18 are formed with telescopic horizontal elongated holes 33 extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface (corresponding to the axial direction X1) as a fastening shaft insertion hole. A pair of fixed side plates 26 and 27 of the upper fixing bracket 19 is formed with a vertically elongated hole 34 for tilt as a tightening shaft insertion hole.

  The tightening mechanism 17 includes a tightening shaft 35 inserted through the horizontally long holes 33 of the fixed side plates 26 and 27 of the upper fixing bracket 19 and the vertically long holes 34 of the column side plates 23 and 24 of the upper column bracket 18. A nut 36 screwed into a threaded portion formed at one end, an annular first member 37 and an annular second member 38 fitted on the outer periphery in the vicinity of the other end of the fastening shaft 35, and a first member 37 and a cam mechanism 40 provided between the second member 38 and the second member 38.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the cam mechanism 40 is provided on each of the first member 37 and the second member 38 and is axially connected to each other (the axial direction of both the members 37 and 38 corresponds to the axial direction Y1 of the fastening shaft 35). The first axial facing surface 37a and the second axial facing surface 38a (in this embodiment, the cam surface 44 is formed on the first axial facing surface 37a). ), And a plurality of rolling elements 41 made of, for example, balls that roll between the first axial facing surface 37a and the second axial facing surface 38a, and a holder 42 that holds the rolling elements 41.

The cam mechanism is a predetermined motion (in this embodiment, the axial direction Y1) in the driven portion (corresponding to the second member 38 in this embodiment) according to the surface shape of the cam (corresponding to the shape of the cam surface 44 in this embodiment). It is a mechanical interlocking mechanism that gives a direct motion to
As shown in FIG. 2, the inner periphery 21 a of the sleeve 21 is provided with a spline (not shown) that engages with a spline 39 provided at an intermediate portion in the axial direction Y <b> 1 of the fastening shaft 35. The sleeve 21 and the fastening shaft 35 are spline-coupled, and both 21 and 35 rotate together.

  The outer periphery 21b of the sleeve 21 is provided with the pressing portion 22 made of a cam-like protrusion as described above. The pressing part 22 can press the outer periphery 12 a of the inner tube 12 by inserting the insertion hole 11 a provided in the outer tube 11 with the rotation of the sleeve 21. A head 351 is provided at the other end of the fastening shaft 35. The head 351 and the first member 37 of the fastening shaft 35 are coupled to the operation lever 20 so as to be integrally rotatable.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first member 37 is a perforated disk. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of arc-shaped holding grooves 43 that hold the rolling elements 41 are formed on the first axially facing surface 37 a of the first member 37 at regular intervals in the circumferential direction Z <b> 1. ing.
As shown in FIG. 5, which is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6, which is a cross-sectional view in the circumferential direction of the first member 37, the bottom of the holding groove 43 is advanced in the circumferential direction Z1. Accordingly, a cam surface 44 undulating in the axial direction Y1 is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, for example, a rectangular fitting convex portion 45 is provided on the back surface of the first axially facing surface 37 a of the first member 37. By fitting the fitting convex portion 45 into the fitting hole 46 at the base end of the operation lever 20, the first member 37 is connected to the operation lever 20 so as to be integrally rotatable.
As shown in FIG. 4, a first stopper 47 composed of a plurality of arc-shaped protrusions protruding from the first axially facing surface 37 a to the second member 38 side is provided in the circumferential direction Z <b> 1 at the peripheral portion of the first member 37. It is formed at an equal interval. Each first stopper 47 has a circumferential end surface 47a as a pair of stopper surfaces opposed to the circumferential direction Z1.

In the first stopper 47, as shown in FIG. 13, the radially opposing surface 47 b that faces the outer periphery 42 a (radially opposing surface) of the retainer 42 has an outer periphery of the retainer 42 described later when locked by the cam mechanism 40. A concave portion 55 is formed as an engaged portion with which the convex portion 52 as the engaging portion of 42a is engaged.
As shown in FIG. 3, the second member 38 is a perforated disk. As shown in FIG. 7, an annular guide groove 48 that guides the plurality of rolling elements 41 in the circumferential direction Z <b> 1 is provided on the second axially facing surface 38 a of the second member 38.

  As shown in FIG. 8, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7, a fitting convex portion 49 is provided on the back surface of the second axially facing surface 38 a of the second member 38. As shown in FIG. 2, the fitting convex portion 49 is formed in each of the elongated holes 34, in the vertically elongated hole 34 of one fixed side plate 26 of the upper fixing bracket 19 and the horizontally elongated hole 33 of one column side plate 23 of the upper column bracket 18. It is fitted so as to be movable along the extending direction of 33.

Moreover, the fitting convex part 49 is providing the pair of flat surfaces (not shown) which form a two-sided width between each other in the part fitted to the vertically long hole 34 of the fixed side plate 26, for example. The rotation of the second member 38 is restricted by the engagement convex portion 49 engaging with the vertically long hole 34.
As shown in FIG. 7, a second stopper 50 composed of a plurality of arc-shaped protrusions protruding from the second axially facing surface 38 a toward the first member 37 side is provided in the circumferential direction Z <b> 1 at the peripheral portion of the second member 38. It is formed at an equal interval. Each second stopper 50 has a circumferential end surface 50a as a pair of stopper surfaces opposed to the circumferential direction Z1.

  As shown in FIG. 12, which is a schematic view, the first stoppers 47 and the second stoppers 50 are alternately arranged in the circumferential direction Z1. When the circumferential end surface 47a (stopper surface) of the first stopper 47 and the circumferential end surface 50a (stopper surface) of the second stopper 50 facing the circumferential end surface 47a abut, the first member 37 and the first end The maximum value of the relative rotation amount with the two members 38 is regulated.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the cage 42 is formed of a perforated disk and is formed by press molding using, for example, a sheet metal. As shown in FIG. 10, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIGS. 9 and 9, the retainers 42 include pockets 51 that hold the corresponding rolling elements 41 so as to allow rolling. A plurality of one or a plurality of convex portions 52 serving as engaging portions projecting outward in the radial direction R <b> 1 are provided on the outer periphery 42 a (radially facing surface) of the cage 42. In the present embodiment, a description will be given based on an example in which the plurality of convex portions 52 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction Z1.

As shown in FIG. 9, each convex part 52 is provided in the flexible part 53 which can be elastically displaced in radial direction R1. Specifically, the cage 42 is flexible between the convex portion 52 and the lightening hole 54 by providing, for example, a fan-shaped lightening hole 54 inward of the radial direction R1 of the convex portion 52. A portion 53 is formed.
At the time of locking by the cam mechanism 40, as shown in FIG. 13, each convex part 52 (engagement part) of the retainer 42 and the corresponding concave part 55 (engaged part) of the first stopper 47 of the first member 37 are formed. By engaging, the relative rotation of the first member 37 and the second member 38 is restricted. That is, the convex portion 52 (engaging portion) and the concave portion 55 (engaged portion) constitute a relative rotation restricting mechanism 56 that restricts relative rotation between the first member 37 and the second member 38 at the time of locking. Yes.

  Referring to FIG. 2 again, a first interposed member 61 and a second interposed member 62 are provided between the nut 36 screwed into one end of the fastening shaft 35 and the other fixed side plate 27 of the upper fixing bracket 19. And intervene. The first interposed member 61 has a first portion 611 and a second portion 612. The first portion 611 of the second interposed member 61 extends along the outer surface of the other fixed side plate 27 of the upper fixing bracket 19.

  The second portion 612 of the first interposing member 61 has a longitudinal hole 34 of the other fixed side plate 27 of the upper fixing bracket 19 and a horizontal long hole 33 of the other column side plate 24 of the upper column bracket 18. It is fitted so as to be movable along the extending direction. Further, the rotation of the second portion 612 is restricted by the vertical hole 34 by providing, for example, a pair of flat surfaces that form a two-sided width in a portion that fits into the vertical hole 34 of the fixed side plate 27. .

  The second interposed member 62 is interposed between the thrust washer 63 interposed between the first portion 611 of the first interposed member 61 and the nut 36, and between the thrust washer 63 and the first portion 611 of the first interposed member 61. And a needle roller bearing 64 for thrust. The nut 36 can rotate smoothly together with the tightening shaft 35 by the action of the second interposed member 62 including the needle roller bearing 64.

  As the operation lever 20 rotates, the first member 37 rotates relative to the second member 38, whereby the second member 38 is moved in the axial direction Y1 of the fastening shaft 35. Since the pair of fixed side plates 26 and 27 of the upper fixing bracket 19 are sandwiched and tightened between the moved second member 38 and the first interposed member 61, the fixed side plates 26 and 27 of the upper fixing bracket 19 are Tilt lock and telescopic lock are achieved by tightening the corresponding column side plates 23 and 24 of the upper column bracket 18.

  According to the present embodiment, the cam mechanism 40 moves the fixed side plates 26 and 27 to the column side plate via the rolling elements 41 that roll between the axially opposed surfaces 37a and 38a of the first member 37 and the second member 38. Since it is tightened to 23, 24, the operating force of the operating lever 20 can be reduced. In addition, when the cam mechanism 40 is locked, the engaging portion (the convex portion 52) and the engaged portion (the concave portion 55) of the relative rotation restricting mechanism 56 are engaged in the radial direction R1 of the tightening shaft 35. Since the relative rotation between the first member 37 and the second member 38 is restricted, the locked state is surely held and the locked state is not inadvertently released.

  Further, in the locked state, the engaging portion (the convex portion 52) provided in the retainer 42 is covered by at least one of the first member 37 and the second member 38 (the first member 37 in the present embodiment). Since it engages with the engaging portion (concave portion 55), the locked state is more reliably maintained. In particular, when the retainer 42 is formed by press molding using sheet metal, a convex portion as an engaging portion (may be a concave portion as an engaged portion) can be formed simultaneously with the press molding. Manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, at least one of the first stopper 47 and the second stopper 50 (the first stopper 47 in the present embodiment) provided on the first member 37 and the second member 38 and restricting the relative rotation amount of both the members 37, 38. Since the engaged portion (recess 55) is provided, the structure can be simplified as compared with the case where the stopper 47 (or 50) and the engaged portion (recess 55) are provided separately.

Moreover, since the convex part 52 as an engaging part and the concave part 55 as an to-be-engaged part engage in uneven | corrugated at the time of a lock | rock, holding | maintenance of a locked state becomes more reliable compared with the case where it engages frictionally. In addition, the driver who operates the operation lever 20 can feel a click feeling at the time of engaging the concave and convex, and the driver can easily recognize the completion of the lock.
Further, when the cam mechanism 40 is locked, the convex portion 52 and the concave portion 55 are engaged after the flexible portion 53 of the retainer 42 is elastically displaced in the radial direction. . Moreover, the flexible part 53 can be formed at low cost by providing the hollow hole 54 in the retainer 42. In particular, when the retainer 42 is formed by press molding using a sheet metal, the convex portion 52, the lightening hole 54 and the flexible portion 53 can be formed simultaneously with the press molding, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. it can.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the engaging portion is the convex portion 52 and the engaged portion is the concave portion 55. It is sufficient that either one of the engaged portions includes a convex portion and the other includes a concave portion that engages with the convex portion. In that case, since the engaging portion and the engaged portion are unevenly engaged, the locked state is more reliably maintained as compared with the case of frictional engagement.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the convex part 52 was provided in the flexible part 53 which can be elastically deformed to radial direction R1, it is not restricted to this, At least one of a convex part and a recessed part can be elastically deformed to radial direction. What is necessary is just to be provided in the flexible part. In that case, after the flexible portion is elastically displaced in the radial direction once with the relative rotation of at least one of the first member 37 and the second member 38 and the member that rotates relative to the first member 37, the convex portion And the recess are engaged with each other, so that the recesses and protrusions can be engaged smoothly. That is, when the convex portion or the concave portion is provided in the cage as a member that rotates relatively, the flexible portion is provided in the cage. In the case where the cage is provided with a flexible portion, a hollow hole for forming the flexible portion may be provided in the cage. Moreover, when a convex part or a recessed part is provided in the 1st member or 2nd member as a member which rotates relatively, a flexible part is provided in the 1st member or the 2nd member. When a flexible part is provided in a 1st member or a 2nd member, you may provide a hollow hole in the 1st member or 2nd member in which the flexible part was provided.

  In the above embodiment, the engaging portion (convex portion 52) is provided in the retainer 42 and the engaged portion (recessed portion 55) is provided in the first member 37. The engaged portion (concave portion or convex portion) may be provided in the second member 38 instead of the first member 37, or the engaged portion (concave portion or convex portion) may be provided in the first member 37 and the first member 37. The two members 38 may be provided on both sides. When the engaged portion is provided in the first member 37 or the second member 38, the engaged portion may be provided in the first stopper 47 or the second stopper 50.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the engaging part (convex part 52) was provided in the holder | retainer 42, not only this but an engaging part and an engaged part do not need to be provided in the holder | retainer 42. FIG. For example, as a relative rotation restricting mechanism that restricts relative rotation between the first member 37 and the second member 38 when locked by the cam mechanism 40, an engagement provided on one of the first member 37 and the second member 38. A portion (convex portion or concave portion) and an engaged portion (concave portion or convex portion) provided on the other of the first member 37 and the second member 38 may be provided.

  In addition, various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steering device, 2 ... Steering member, 3 ... Steering mechanism, 4 ... Steering shaft (steering shaft), 6 ... Upper shaft, 7 ... Lower shaft, 8 ... Steering column, 11 ... Outer tube, 12 ... Inner tube, 14 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Vehicle body, 17 ... Tightening mechanism, 18 ... Upper column bracket, 19 ... Upper fixing bracket, 20 ... Operation lever, 23, 24 ... Column side plate, 26, 27 ... Fixed side plate, 35 ... Tightening shaft, 37 ... First 37a ... first axially facing surface, 38 ... second member, 38a ... second axially facing surface, 40 ... cam mechanism, 41 ... rolling element, 42 ... cage (member that rotates relative), 42a ... outer periphery (Radial facing surface), 43 ... holding groove, 44 ... cam surface, 47 ... first stopper, 47a ... circumferential end surface (stopper surface), 47b ... radial facing surface, 48 ... draft Groove, 50 ... second stopper, 50a ... circumferential end face (stopper surface), 52 ... convex part (engaging part), 53 ... flexible part, 54 ... thickening hole, 55 ... concave part (engaged part), 56 ... Relative rotation restricting mechanism, R1 ... Radial direction X1 ... Axial direction (steering shaft), Y1 ... Axial direction (tightening shaft), Z1 ... Circumferential direction

Claims (6)

A pair of fixed side plates fixed to the vehicle body;
A pair of column side plates fixed to the column jacket;
A fastening shaft inserted through a fastening shaft insertion hole provided in each of the fixed side plate and the front column side plate;
A first member and a second member, one of which is restricted in rotation and the other of which rotates around the central axis of the tightening shaft according to the rotation operation of the operation lever;
A first axially opposed surface and a second axially opposed surface provided on the first member and the second member and facing each other in the axial direction of the fastening shaft and having a cam surface formed on at least one of the first and second members; A plurality of rolling elements that roll between two axially opposed surfaces in association with relative rotation of the member and the second member, and tightening the fixed side plate to the column side plate in response to a rotation operation of the operation lever A locking cam mechanism;
A radial direction of the fastening shaft is provided on at least one of the first member and the second member and a member that rotates relative to at least one of the first member and the second member, and is locked by the cam mechanism. And a relative rotation restricting mechanism including an engaged portion and an engaged portion that restrict relative rotation between the first member and the second member by engaging with the first and second members. In Claim 1, the relative rotating member includes a cage that holds the plurality of rolling elements,
The steering device is provided in the retainer, and the engaged portion is provided in at least one of the first member and the second member. In Claim 2, The 1st member and the 2nd member include the 1st stopper and the 2nd stopper which engage mutually in the peripheral direction, and control the amount of mutual rotation, respectively.
The engaged portion is a steering device provided in at least one of the first stopper and the second stopper.   4. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein one of the engaging portion and the engaged portion includes a convex portion, and the other includes a concave portion that engages with the convex portion. 5.   5. The steering apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the convex portion and the concave portion is provided in a flexible portion that can be elastically displaced in the radial direction. In Claim 5, any one of said convex part and said crevice is provided in the perimeter of a maintenance machine holding said plurality of rolling elements,
The retainer is provided with a lightening hole inwardly in any one of the convex portion and the concave portion, and the flexible portion between the convex portion and the concave portion and the lightening hole. A steering device is provided.

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