JP2016187982A - Steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering column device which restricts a position of an inner column in a more secure manner and prevents increase of an impact absorption load of impact energy when the inner column goes beyond a telescopic position and moves to a vehicle front side.SOLUTION: A steering column device includes coupling means 5b which couples an assistance restriction member 64a to an inner column 4 when lock means 5 is in a lock position. When a load equal to or larger than a setting value is applied to the inner column 4 in a cylinder axis direction, the assistance restriction member 64a moves with the inner column 4 to be disengaged from a restriction member 73. The action allows the restriction member 73 to be separated from a restriction position where the restriction member 73 may engage with the inner column 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering column device that can be telescopically operated and that, in the event of a secondary collision in a collision accident, an inner column contracts with a steering shaft due to an impact load to absorb impact energy.

  As a steering column device of this type, a steering column device 101 of Patent Document 1 is provided with an outer column 103 that is fixed to the vehicle body side and is movable in the vehicle longitudinal direction within the outer column 103 as shown in FIG. An inner column 104 and fastening means 105 for fastening the inner column 104 to the outer column 103. The inner column 104 has a movement range (telescopic position adjustment range) defined by abutment of the regulating member 173 installed on the inner column 104 against the lock member 153 installed on the operation shaft 151 of the fastening means 105. Yes. The restriction member 173 is set to be broken by a lock plate 154 engaged with the lock member 153 when a load greater than a set value is applied, and the inner column 104 moves by telescopic movement by breaking. Can move forward beyond range.

  Further, in the steering column device 201 of Patent Document 2, as shown in FIG. 8, the regulating member 273 is disposed so as to be able to protrude and retract with respect to the inner column 204 in association with the operation lever 251 a of the fastening means 205. Yes. The restricting member 273 is held at a position separated from the inner column 204 in a locked state where the fastening means 205 is fastened to the inner column 204, and the movement range of the inner column 204 is restricted while the fastening means 205 is unlocked. Displace to the position to be regulated.

WO2012 / 000593A1 JP-A-2005-001517

  By the way, in the structure of the regulating member 173 shown in Patent Document 1, the regulating member 173 is broken while the inner column 104 is contracting, so that the impact absorbing load is instantaneously absorbed while impact energy is absorbed. There is a problem of increasing.

  Further, by adopting the configuration of the regulating member 273 shown in Patent Document 2, the problem of Patent Document 1 can be solved. However, in the configuration of the restricting member shown in Patent Document 2, in the unlocked state where the restricting member 273 restricts the movement range of the inner column 204, the operation lever 251a is not fixed, so that the position of the restricting member 273 is not stable. There is. Further, in the configuration of the restriction member 273 shown in Patent Document 2, when the inner column 204 hits the restriction member 273 when the position of the inner column 204 is adjusted, the movable restriction member 273 has a contact with the restriction member 273. There is a risk of not being able to receive the load.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a steering column device that can more reliably regulate the position of the inner column and that does not increase the impact absorption load while absorbing the impact energy. For the purpose.

  The invention according to claim 1 has a cylindrical shape, an outer column disposed along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and an inner column having a cylindrical shape and movably inserted into the outer column in the cylindrical axis direction. A lock means having an operating lever capable of operating the lock position for fastening the inner column to the outer column, and a release position where the inner column can be adjusted in the cylinder axis direction of the outer column; A restricting member that penetrates the cylindrical wall of the outer column from the outer peripheral surface side, is held at a restricting position that can be engaged with the inner column, and is detachable from the restricting position, and is engaged with the restricting member. And an auxiliary restricting member that is held in a holding position for holding the restricting member in a restricting position, and when the locking means is in the locked position, And when the load exceeding the set value is applied to the inner column in the cylinder axis direction, the auxiliary restricting member moves together with the inner column and disengages from the restricting member. The member is disengaged from a restricting position where the member can be engaged with the inner column.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the steering column device according to the first aspect, the restriction member is disposed so as to penetrate the cylindrical wall of the outer column from below to above.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the steering column device according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the steering column device further includes an urging unit that urges the restricting member from the restricting position side toward the disengaging position side. .

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the steering column device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the auxiliary regulating member is made of a linear material, and is folded back by the operation shaft of the locking means. An impact absorbing member that extends forward of the vehicle and has one end fixed to the inner column via the coupling means, and the restricting member is held at the restricting position by the other end of the impact absorbing member It is characterized by being.

  In the first aspect of the invention, the restricting member is held by the auxiliary restricting member at a restricting position engageable with the inner column, so that the position of the inner column can be reliably controlled and the locking means is in the locked position. When the load exceeding the set value is applied to the inner column in the cylinder axis direction, the auxiliary restricting member moves together with the inner column and disengages from the restricting member, so that the restricting member is detached from the restricting position. To do. As a result, the inner column can move to the front side of the vehicle beyond the moving range of the telescopic, and stable shock absorption can be performed without increasing the shock absorption load while absorbing the impact energy.

  In the invention of claim 2, the restricting member is disposed so as to penetrate the cylinder wall from below to above, so that when the auxiliary restricting member is detached from the holding position, the restricting member falls by gravity, Since it leaves | separates from a control position, a control means can be simplified.

  In the invention of claim 3, when the restricting member is biased from the restricting position side to the disengaging position side, when the auxiliary restricting member is detached from the holding position, the restricting member is moved from the restricting position by the biasing force of the biasing member. Since it detaches | leaves, a control member can be more reliably moved to a detachment position by the structure of a comparatively simple control means.

  In the invention of claim 4, the auxiliary regulating member is set at the other end of the impact absorbing member, so that the impact energy can be absorbed while simplifying the configuration of the regulating means.

It is a left view which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is a bottom view showing one embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing along the III-III line of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the locking means and impact absorption means of this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the locking means and the shock absorbing means of the present embodiment, where (a) shows a state in which the locking means is unlocked, and (b) shows that the locking means is unlocked and the inner column is moved forward. (C) shows a state in which the locking means is locked, and (d) shows a state in which an impact applied to the inner column is absorbed. It is a perspective view which shows a prior art steering column apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the impact absorption means of a prior art.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the present embodiment is a manual steering column apparatus 1. In addition, the steering column device 1 of the present embodiment includes a mounting bracket 2 for fixing to the vehicle body, an outer column 3 supported by the mounting bracket 2 so as to be swingable in the vehicle vertical direction (tilt position can be adjusted), and an outer Inner column 4 supported by column 3, locking means 5 for fastening mounting bracket 2, outer column 3 and inner column 4 together, impact absorbing means 6 for absorbing impact energy applied to inner column 4, and outer column And a telescopic position restricting means 7 capable of setting an adjustment range of the position (telescopic position) of the inner column 4 in the vehicle longitudinal direction with respect to 3.

  The mounting bracket 2 includes a front side fixing portion 21a and a rear side fixing portion 21b that are fixed to a ceiling surface (not shown) of the vehicle body. The front side fixing portion 21a includes a shaft support portion 23 that pivotally supports the outer column 3 so that the outer column 3 can swing, and the rear side fixing portion 21b includes a pair of hanging portions 22 that hang from the left and right side edge portions. A tilt elongated hole 24 that defines a tilt position adjustment range along the vehicle vertical direction (tilt direction) is opened in the both hanging portions 22. The tilt long hole 24 is an arc-shaped long hole centered on the shaft support portion 23.

  The outer column 3 has a cylindrical shape, and is disposed between the pair of hanging portions 22 along the vehicle front-rear direction. The outer column 3 is provided with a shaft support portion 30 at the upper edge portion on the front end side, and the shaft support portion 30 is supported by the shaft support portion 23 of the mounting bracket 2 via a bolt 23a. 3 swings in the vehicle vertical direction.

  The outer column 3 is provided with a slit 31 that extends from the rear end edge along the cylinder axis direction while penetrating the lower surface of the cylinder wall 3a. The dimension of the slit 31 in the cylinder axis direction is such that the inner column 4 inserted from the rear end of the outer column 3 is cut to the portion of the outer column 3 corresponding to the front end of the inner column 4 in the most contracted state after absorbing the shock. It is set to be included.

  A pair of clamp portions 32 are erected on both edge portions of the slit 31 along the cylinder axis direction. Both clamp portions 32 are located on the rear end side of the slit 31 and are erected along the vehicle vertical direction at each portion facing the hanging portion 22. The operation shaft 51 passes through both the clamp portions 32 so as to be rotatable around the shaft.

  In addition, a pair of lever support portions 36 are erected downward at the front end portions of both edges along the cylinder axis direction of the slit 31, and a pair of front end holding portions 35 are disposed below the lever support portions 36. A holding beam 35 a is bridged between the front end holding portions 35.

  The inner column 4 has a cylindrical shape, and is inserted in the cylinder of the outer column 3 so as to be movable in the cylinder axis direction. A steering shaft 11 is supported in the cylinders of the inner column 4 and the outer column 3. The steering shaft 11 includes a lower shaft 11L that is pivotally supported in the outer column 3 and an upper shaft 11U that is pivotally supported in the inner column 4. By connecting the upper shaft 11U and the lower shaft 11L by spline, the upper shaft 11U and the lower shaft 11L rotate integrally around the axis, and the upper shaft 11U can move relative to the lower shaft 11L in the axial direction. Has been.

  The lock means 5 includes an operation lever 51a, an operation shaft 51, a fixed cam 52a, and a rotation cam 52b. The operating shaft 51, the eccentric cam member 53, the lock plate 54, the claw plate 55, and the support lever 56 constitute the coupling means 5b.

  The operation shaft 51 has an axial shape, penetrates the tilt elongated holes 24 of the hanging portions 22 and the clamp portions 32 of the outer column 3 along the vehicle width direction, and is supported rotatably around the shaft. Yes. Further, the operating shaft 51 has a washer that is engaged with an outer surface of the right hanging part 22R at one end of the operation shaft 51 by a nut through a thrust bearing, and an end on the other end is a head provided integrally. The cam means 52 and the operation lever 51a are installed between the upper portion and the outer surface side of the left hanging portion 22L. The cam means 52 on the operating shaft 51 located between the operating lever 51a and the left hanging part 22L is composed of a fixed cam 52a and a rotating cam 52b. In addition, an eccentric cam member 53 is disposed so as to be rotatable integrally with the operation shaft 51 at a position located between the clamp portions 32 on the operation shaft 51.

  The fixed cam 52a has a wide annular shape through which the operation shaft 51 penetrates the center, and the fixed cam surface is arranged facing the operation lever 51a side. Further, the fixed cam 52a is arranged such that the back surface side of the fixed cam surface is fitted in the tilt long hole 24, does not rotate around the operation shaft 51, and is movable up and down in the tilt long hole 24. On the fixed cam surface, crests and troughs are alternately formed in the circumferential direction.

  The rotation cam 52b has a wide annular shape through which the operation shaft 51 penetrates the center, and is arranged so that the rotation cam surface faces the fixed cam surface. The rotation cam 52b is coupled to the operation lever 51a so as to be rotatable integrally with the operation lever 51a, and is assembled to the operation shaft 51 so as to rotate around the operation shaft 51 together with the penetrating operation shaft 51. On the rotating cam surface, crests and troughs are alternately formed in the circumferential direction.

  The eccentric cam member 53 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and an eccentric cam 53a protruding in the radial direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface. Further, the operation shaft 51 is inserted into the eccentric cam member 53 so as to rotate around the shaft together with the operation shaft 51.

  The lock plate 54 is made of a strip-shaped plate material that is curved in an arc shape in the width direction, and is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 4 along the cylinder axis direction. The lock plate 54 has a plurality of lock holes 54a that continuously open in the longitudinal direction and is formed in a ladder shape.

  The claw plate 55 has a plurality of lock claws 55b, elastic arm portions 55c, and support members 55e formed on a substrate 55a made of a rectangular plate having elasticity.

  The lock claw 55b is configured by an elastic piece that is obliquely cut and raised so as to be inserted into the lock hole 54a so as to cut and raise the vehicle rear side from the substrate 55a toward the lock plate 54. Further, the lock claw 55b is continuously cut in the cylinder axis direction at equal intervals so as to be simultaneously engageable with the plurality of lock holes 54a of the lock plate 54, thereby forming a claw row 55d. . Further, similar claw rows 55d are provided adjacent to the operation axis direction on the substrate 55a, and these claw rows 55d are set so that the interval in the cylinder axis direction of the lock claw 55b is shifted from each other by 1/2. ing.

  The elastic arm portions 55c are constituted by elastic pieces that can be brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 4 at the four corners of the claw plate 55 and that are higher than the lock claw 55b and long and obliquely cut and raised. .

  The support member 55e is a pair of hook-shaped members formed by bending both side surfaces of the front end portion of the claw plate 55 downward at a substantially right angle, and has a locking portion for an impact absorbing wire 64 described later. .

  The support lever 56 is formed of a rail-shaped member having a quadrangular cross section, and is disposed in the slit 31 along the cylinder axis direction so as to be substantially parallel to the inner column 4 when the locking means 5 is locked. One end of the support lever 56 is pivotally supported by a lever support portion 36 provided on the outer periphery of the outer column 3, and the other end is sandwiched between the eccentric cam member 53 and the claw plate 55. . The eccentric cam member 53 and the support lever 56 are disposed so as to rotate between the pair of support members 55e. By adopting a configuration in which the claw plate 55 is pressed against the lock plate 54 via the support lever 56, the rotational force (frictional force) of the eccentric cam member 53 is not transmitted to the claw plate 55, but the radial force. Only is transmitted to the claw plate 55. Thereby, when performing the locking operation, the inner column 4 can be fixed without being displaced from the desired position in the cylinder axis direction.

  The impact absorbing means 6 includes an ironing portion 61, an auxiliary shaft 62, and an impact absorbing wire 64 in order to bend and deform the impact absorbing wire 64 like an iron.

  The squeezing portion 61 has a cylindrical shape, and is set at a portion located on both sides of the eccentric cam 53 a integrally with the eccentric cam member 53.

  The impact absorbing wire 64 can be inserted between the auxiliary shaft 62 and the ironing portion 61 so as to be parallel to the operation shaft 51 between the pair of clamp portions 32 and overlap the operation shaft 51 in the cylinder axis direction. It is arranged with a large interval.

  The shock absorbing wire 64 has a substantially U-shape obtained by folding the wire rod in half. The shock absorbing wire 64 has a bi-fold portion that is a horizontal bar portion on one end side locked and fixed to a pair of support members 55e, and a parallel portion that is a vertical bar portion on the other end side in the cylinder axis direction. A parallel portion of the shock absorbing wire 64 is further folded back so as to be wound around the ironing portion 61, and is passed through a gap between the ironing portion 61 and the auxiliary shaft 62 to the front of the vehicle. Routed. Moreover, the parallel part of the shock absorbing wire 64 routed forward is routed along the cylinder axis direction by arranging the front end portion between the holding beam 35a of the outer column 3 and the slit 31. At the same time, it is latched and held by the holding beam 35a by its elastic force. The impact absorbing wire 64 absorbs impact energy by being bent and deformed while being squeezed by the ironing portion 61.

  The telescopic position restricting means 7 includes a telescopic elongated hole 71, a rear stopper 72, and a front stopper 73 as a restricting member.

  The telescopic long hole 71 is formed in the ceiling portion of the outer column 3 as a long hole extending along the cylinder axis direction while penetrating the cylindrical wall 3a. The dimension of the telescopic elongated hole 71 in the cylinder axial direction is such that the stopper 41 protruding from the upper surface of the inner column 4 does not contact the end face in the entire telescopic position adjustment range and the entire shock absorption range. The front side is set to be wider than the shock absorption range.

  The rear stopper 72 is an end surface of the telescopic elongated hole 71 on the vehicle rear side, and a stopper 41 protruding from the ceiling portion of the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 4 abuts on the rear stopper 72.

  The front stopper 73 has a substantially U shape in which a pair of leg portions 73b extend in parallel from an axial main body portion 73a. Further, the front stopper 73 has an outer side along the direction penetrating the cylindrical wall 3a in a state where the support lever 56 is disposed between the leg portions 73b at the restriction position set at the cylindrical axial front end portion of the slit 31. The column 3 is detachably arranged from the outer peripheral surface side. The front stopper 73 is disposed between the front end holding portion 35 and the lever support portion 36 of the outer column 3 so that the position in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder axis is defined and disposed in the slit 31. The position in the left-right direction is defined. The front stopper 73 is supported from below by the front end portion 64a of the shock absorbing wire 64, whereby the vertical position is defined. That is, the front end portion 64a of the shock absorbing wire 64 functions as an auxiliary regulating member. The front stopper 73 is integrally formed with a pair of receiving portions 73c protruding in the left-right direction. The front stopper 73 is disposed at the restriction position and is supported by the front end portion 64a of the shock absorbing wire 64. The release spring 74 formed of a winding spring is compressed and held between the receiving portion 73c and the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 3.

  When the inner column 4 is moved rearward in the cylinder axis direction by the telescopic position regulating means 7, the telescopic position adjustment range is obtained by engaging the rear stopper 72 with the rear end edge of the telescopic elongated hole 71. The rear end side is defined. Further, when the inner column 4 is moved forward in the cylinder axis direction, the front end of the telescopic position adjustment range is defined by engaging the front end of the inner column 4 with the front stopper 73.

  Next, the assembly procedure of the steering column device 1 of this embodiment will be described. First, while inserting the lock plate 54 fixed to the inner column 4 into the slit 31 of the outer column 3, the inner column 4 is inserted into the cylinder of the outer column 3 and the stopper 41 is assembled.

  Next, the outer column 3 is disposed between the hanging portions 22 of the mounting bracket 2, and the outer column 3 is supported using the suspension spring 14 while supporting the shaft support portion 30 of the outer column 3 on the shaft support portion 23 of the mounting bracket 2. 3 is suspended from the mounting bracket 2.

  A support lever 56 is swingably disposed on the lever support 36 via a lever pin 36a. Then, the claw plate 55 is disposed between the rear end side of the support lever 56 and the lock plate 54, and the eccentric cam member 53 in which the shock absorbing wire 64 is wound around the ironing portion 61 is disposed in the support lever 56. . Then, the bifold portion on one end side is fixed to the support member 55e while the parallel portion of the shock absorbing wire 64 is inserted from the front side to the rear side in the gap between the eccentric cam member 53 and the inner column 4.

  Next, the operating shaft 51 is assembled to the mounting bracket 2 and the outer column 3 while penetrating the eccentric cam member 53. The operation shaft 51 includes an operation lever 51a, a rotation cam 52b, a fixed cam 52a, a tilt long hole 24 of the left hanging part 22L, a left clamp part 32L, an eccentric cam member 53, a right clamp part 32R, and a right side. It penetrates in the order of the tilt long hole 24 of the drooping portion 22R, and further, a washer and a thrust bearing are penetrated outside the right drooping portion 22R, and a nut is screwed and assembled.

  Then, the shock absorbing wire 64 is folded back while being wound around the ironing part 61, and the parallel part is routed forward through the gap between the ironing part 61 and the auxiliary shaft 62. The end of the parallel portion of the shock absorbing wire 64 routed forward is locked and held by the holding beam 35a of the outer column 3, and the lower surface of the front stopper 73 is supported by the front end. The upper shaft 11U is splined to the lower shaft 11L and inserted from the front end side of the outer column 3, and the lower shaft 11L is pivotally supported in the cylinder of the outer column 3 via the outer bearing 12, and the inner bearing 13, the upper shaft 11 </ b> U is pivotally supported in the cylinder of the inner column 4.

  Next, an operation procedure of the steering column device 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

  In order to fix the inner column 4 to a desired position, first, the inner column 4 is moved to a desired position in the tilt direction (vehicle up-down direction) and the telescopic direction (vehicle front-back direction), and the operation lever 51a is moved upward. Swing operation. By swinging the operation lever 51a upward, the operation shaft 51 rotates around the shaft in the fastening direction.

  Along with the operating shaft 51, the rotating cam 52b integrated with the operating lever 51a rotates in the fastening direction, whereby the crests of the fixed cam 52a and the crests of the rotating cam 52b overlap, and the axial dimension increases. As a result, the operating shaft 51 is pulled toward the cam means 52, the hanging portion 22 and the clamp portion 32 are pressed against each other, the outer column 3 is held at an arbitrary tilt position, and the space between the pair of clamp portions 32 is narrowed. Thus, the outer column 3 is reduced in diameter, and the inner column 4 is held at an arbitrary telescopic position.

  Further, when the operation shaft 51 is rotated in the fastening direction, the eccentric cam member 53 rotates and the eccentric cam 53 a presses the claw plate 55 against the lock plate 54 via the support lever 56. By pressing the claw plate 55 against the lock plate 54, any one of the lock claws 55b is inserted into any one of the lock holes 54a, and the tip of the inserted lock claw 55b partitions each lock hole 54a. The portion can be engaged. Further, when the claw plate 55 is pressed against the lock plate 54, if the other lock claw 55b is positioned on the case 54b, the lock claw 55b is moved backward with respect to the pressing direction while being pressed against the case 54b. It will be elastically deformed. Accordingly, the rotation operation of the operation shaft 51 is not hindered, and any one of the lock claws 55b is engaged with the case 54b.

  Further, in order to adjust the position of the inner column 4, the fastening between the inner column 4 and the outer column 3 is released. For this purpose, first, the operation lever 51a is swung downward (in the release direction). By swinging the operation lever 51a downward, the operation shaft 51 rotates in the fastening release direction around the shaft.

  Along with the operation shaft 51, the rotation cam 52b integrated with the operation lever 51a rotates in the fastening release direction, so that the peak portion of the fixed cam 52a and the valley portion of the rotation cam 52b overlap, and the axial dimension of the tilt lock means 5a is reduced. It narrows. As a result, the operating shaft 51 is loosened, the pressure contact between the hanging portion 22 and the clamp portion 32 is eliminated, the outer column 3 can be moved in the tilt direction (the vehicle vertical direction) with respect to the mounting bracket 2, and a pair of clamps By expanding the space between the portions 32, the outer column 3 is expanded in diameter, and the inner column 4 is movable in the telescopic direction (vehicle longitudinal direction).

  Further, as the operating shaft 51 rotates in the fastening release direction, the coupling means 5b moves in a direction in which the eccentric cam member 53 rotates and the eccentric cam 53a moves away from the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 4. The lock claw 55b is separated from the lock hole 54a by the elastic force of the elastic arm portion 55c, and the lock is released.

  When the operation lever 51a is fastened and the inner column 4 is fastened to the outer column 3, and an impact load exceeding the set value is applied to the inner column 4, the lock claw 55b engaged with the lock hole 54a is When the adjacent case 54 b is pressed, the two-folded portion of the shock absorbing wire 64 fixed to the support member 55 e of the claw plate 55 that is integrally engaged with the inner column 4 moves forward together with the inner column 4 in the cylinder axis direction. . The parallel portion of the shock absorbing wire 64 is pulled by the two-folded portion and moves rearward in the cylinder axis direction, and the front end portion 64 a is separated from the front stopper 73. Thereby, the front side stopper 73 falls off from the slit 31 by gravity and the compression reaction force of the detachment spring 74. When the inner column 4 moves forward in the cylinder axial direction together with the folded portion of the shock absorbing wire 64, the shock absorbing wire 64 is bent and deformed while being squeezed by the squeezing portion 61 and the auxiliary shaft 62. Absorb energy. Thus, since the front stopper 73 is disengaged from the position where it engages with the inner column 4, there is no obstacle when the inner column 4 contracts beyond the telescopic range forward in the cylinder axis direction. The inner column 4 can be contracted without increasing.

  When the impact load exceeding the set value is applied to the inner column 4 in a state where the front end portion of the inner column 4 is in contact with the front stopper 73 by the telescopic position adjustment, the inner column 4 is moved to the front stopper by the impact load. 73 is broken and the inner column 4 can be moved forward in the cylinder axis direction. As described above, when an impact load exceeding the set value is applied to the inner column 4 in a state where the front end portion of the inner column 4 is in contact with the front stopper 73 by the telescopic position adjustment, the front stopper is first applied by the impact load. Since 73 is broken, the impact load does not increase in the middle.

  As described above, according to the embodiment, the front stopper 73 is held at the restriction position that can be engaged with the inner column 4 by the front end portion 64 a of the shock absorbing wire 64, so that the position restriction of the telescopic position range of the inner column 4 is achieved. Can be performed reliably. Further, when a load greater than a set value is applied to the inner column 4 in the cylinder axis direction with the locking means 5 in the locked position, the shock absorbing wire 64 moves together with the inner column 4 so that the front end portion 64a Since the front stopper 73 is disengaged from the restriction position by detaching from the front stopper 73, the inner column 4 can move to the vehicle front side beyond the telescopic position adjustment range and absorb the shock while absorbing the impact energy. Stable shock absorption can be performed without increasing the load.

  By disposing the front stopper 73 so as to penetrate the cylindrical wall 3a from below to above, when the front end portion 64a of the shock absorbing wire 64 leaves the holding position, the front stopper 73 falls due to gravity. Since it is separated from the restriction position, the structure of the restriction means can be simplified.

  Further, the front stopper 73 is urged by the release spring 74 in the direction in which the front stopper 73 is released from the restriction position side, so that when the front end portion 64a of the shock absorbing wire 64 is released from the holding position, the front stopper 73 is released. Therefore, the front stopper 73 can be more reliably separated from the restriction position with a relatively simple restriction means.

  By setting the auxiliary regulating member at the front end portion 64a of the impact absorbing wire 64, it is possible to absorb the impact energy while simplifying the configuration of the regulating means.

  In the present embodiment, the front end portion 64a of the shock absorbing wire 64 is used as the auxiliary regulating member, but the configuration is not limited to the shock absorbing means 6 of the present embodiment. Any structure that can move with the inner column 4 and detach from the front stopper 73 as a restricting member without impeding the forward movement of the inner column 4 at the time of impact absorption can be applied, and similar effects can be obtained. It is done.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steering column apparatus 3 ... Outer column 3a ... Cylindrical wall 4 ... Inner column 5 ... Locking means 5a ... Coupling means 7 ... Control means 51 ... Operation shaft 64 ... Shock absorbing member (shock absorbing wire)
64a ... auxiliary regulating member 73 ... regulating member (front stopper)
74 ... Biasing means (release spring)

Claims (4)

An outer column having a cylindrical shape and disposed along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
An inner column having a cylindrical shape and inserted into the outer column so as to be movable in the cylinder axis direction;
Lock means having an operating lever capable of operating the lock position for fastening the inner column to the outer column, and the release position that can be adjusted in the cylinder axis direction of the outer column;
A regulating member that penetrates the cylindrical wall of the outer column from the outer peripheral surface side of the outer column, is held at a regulating position that can be engaged with the inner column, and is detachably disposed from the regulating position;
An auxiliary restricting member that engages with the restricting member and is held at a holding position for holding the restricting member at a restricting position;
A coupling means for coupling the auxiliary regulating member to the inner column when the locking means is in the locked position;
When a load of a set value or more is applied to the inner column in the cylinder axis direction, the auxiliary regulating member moves together with the inner column and disengages from the regulating member, so that the regulating member becomes the inner column. A steering column device, wherein the steering column device is disengaged from a restricting position engageable with the column. In the steering column device according to claim 1,
A steering column device, wherein the restricting member is disposed so as to penetrate the cylindrical wall of the outer column from below to above. In the steering column device according to claim 1 or claim 2,
A steering column device comprising urging means for urging the restricting member from the restricting position side toward the disengaging position side. In the steering column device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The auxiliary restricting member is made of a wire material, is extended by the operation shaft of the lock means, extends to the front of the vehicle, and has one end fixed to the inner column via the coupling means. And
The steering column device, wherein the restricting member is held at the restricting position by the other end of the shock absorbing member.

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