JP2016215686A - Steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering column device which is inhibited from being moved in a dropping direction by self-weight even when use of a tilt spring is avoided.SOLUTION: A steering column device 1 includes a steering column 3, a column side bracket 32 fixed to the steering column 3, an upper bracket 6 fixed to a vehicle body 9, a cam mechanism 7 which generates a cam thrust force, and a friction plate 8 which is compressed by operation of the cam mechanism 7 and elastically deforms. The cam mechanism 7 compresses the friction plate 8 by the cam thrust force to generate a frictional force between the upper bracket 6 and the column side bracket 32. The friction plate 8 generates a frictional force for inhibiting movement of the steering column 3 in a falling direction with its restoring force when the cam thrust force is released.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering column device.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a steering shaft having a steering wheel fixed to an end portion, a steering column that rotatably supports the steering shaft, and a lock mechanism that fixes the steering column to the vehicle body are provided. There is known a steering column device that enables wheel tilt adjustment and supports a steering column at a tilt-adjusted position with a lock mechanism locked (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  A steering column device described in Patent Literature 1 includes a column side bracket fixed to a steering column, a vehicle body side bracket having a pair of side plates opposed to each other with the column side bracket interposed therebetween, and a column side bracket. And a tilt spring disposed between the column side bracket and the vehicle body side bracket to prevent the steering column from falling due to its own weight.

  The locking mechanism includes a tilt slot formed in the vehicle body side bracket, a tilt bolt inserted into the telescopic slot formed in the column side bracket, and an operation lever that is supported by the tilt bolt and operated by the driver. A cam mechanism including a first cam member that rotates about the central axis of the tilt bolt by operation of the operation lever, and a second cam member that generates cam thrust by relative rotation with the first cam member; A friction plate that generates a frictional force is provided between one side plate of the side bracket and the second cam member of the cam mechanism.

  The second cam member is disposed so as to be movable in the axial direction with respect to the tilt bolt. On the surface of the second cam member facing the first cam member, there are formed a high portion and a bottom portion having different axial heights, and an inclined portion formed between the high portion and the bottom portion. . On the surface of the first cam member facing the second cam member, a plurality of protrusions that press the above-described high portion, bottom portion, and inclined portion are provided.

  When the driver adjusts the position of the steering wheel, the operation lever is operated to rotate the first cam member so that the protrusion of the first cam member faces the bottom of the second cam member. Accordingly, the cam thrust of the cam mechanism is released, and the column side bracket is released from the state of being sandwiched between the pair of side plates of the vehicle body side bracket. As a result, the tilt bolt can be moved along the shape of the long slot for tilting on the side plate of the vehicle body side bracket, and tilt adjustment is possible.

JP 2012-11837 A

  By the way, with the recent increase in environmental awareness, further weight reduction of vehicles has been demanded. In particular, a steering column device mounted on a small vehicle is required to have excellent mountability that can be mounted even in a narrow space. As a measure for reducing the weight and improving the mountability, it is conceivable to reduce the number of parts.

  Here, among the components of the steering column device, the tilt spring exhibits its function only at the time of tilt adjustment. Therefore, it is conceivable to eliminate this tilt spring. However, when the tilt spring is simply abolished, when the lock mechanism is released, the steering column device moves in the dropping direction together with the steering wheel due to its own weight, and the driver himself does not sufficiently support the steering wheel. Then, the steering column device or the steering wheel may hit the driver's knee or the like.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a steering column device capable of suppressing movement in the dropping direction due to its own weight even if the tilt spring is eliminated.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a steering column that rotatably supports a steering shaft having a steering wheel fixed to an end thereof, a column side bracket fixed to the steering column, and the column side bracket. A vehicle body side bracket having a pair of side plates opposed to each other and fixed to the vehicle body; and a lock mechanism for fixing the column side bracket to the vehicle body side bracket, the lock mechanism including the column side bracket and the A shaft-shaped member inserted into the vehicle body side bracket, an operation lever that is rotated around the central axis of the shaft-shaped member, a cam mechanism that generates a cam thrust by rotating the operation lever, and an operation of the cam mechanism A friction plate compressed and elastically deformed by the cam mechanism, the cam mechanism Therefore, by compressing the friction plate and generating a frictional force between the vehicle body side bracket and the column side bracket, the column side bracket is fixed to the vehicle body side bracket, and the friction plate includes the cam Provided is a steering column device that generates a frictional force that suppresses movement of the steering column in the falling direction by the restoring force when the thrust is released.

  According to the present invention, even if the tilt spring is eliminated, it is possible to suppress movement in the dropping direction due to its own weight.

It is sectional drawing which shows typically the principal part of the steering column apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of an upper bracket and its periphery part. An upper bracket is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view. The steering column and the column side bracket fixed to the outer tube of the steering column are shown, (a) is a front view and (b) is a side view. The tilt bolt is shown, (a) is a front view and (b) is a side view. A friction plate is shown, (a) is an end view, (b) is a plan view. It is a perspective view which shows the structural example of a cam mechanism. It is an external view which shows an operation lever. The 1st cam member is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a rear view. The 2nd cam member is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view, (c) is a rear view. It is explanatory drawing which shows the non-operation state of a cam mechanism. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operating state of a cam mechanism.

[Embodiment]
A steering column apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this steering column device, the position of the steering wheel of the vehicle in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction can be adjusted according to the physique and driving posture of the driver. In the following description, left and right, top and bottom, and front and rear refer to the left and right, top and bottom, and front and rear of a vehicle on which the steering column device is mounted.

(Overall configuration of steering column device)
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a main part of a steering column device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  The steering column device 1 includes a steering shaft 2 having a steering wheel 100 fixed to an end thereof, a steering column 3 that rotatably supports the steering shaft 2, and a steering assist device 4 that applies a steering assist force to the steering shaft 2. And a lower bracket 5 that swingably supports the steering column 3 via the housing 40 of the steering assist device 4 and an upper bracket 6 that supports the steering column 3 on the steering wheel 100 side of the lower bracket 5. . The upper bracket 6 corresponds to the vehicle body side bracket of the present invention.

  The steering shaft 2 includes an upper shaft 20 and a lower shaft 21 that is disposed so as not to rotate relative to the upper shaft 20 and to be movable in the axial direction. The steering shaft 2 is supported in the steering column 3 so as to be rotatable about its axis, and is connected to a steering mechanism (not shown) formed of, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism via a universal joint 22 or the like. Then, the steering shaft 2 transmits the rotational force of the steering wheel 100 as a steering force to the steering mechanism to steer a steered wheel (not shown) of the vehicle.

  The upper shaft 20 is disposed on the steering wheel 100 side of the steering shaft 2, and the steering wheel 100 is fixed to an end portion exposed to the outside of the steering column 3. The upper shaft 20 is a cylindrical member that houses a part of the lower shaft 21.

  The lower shaft 21 is disposed on the lower side (steering mechanism side) of the steering shaft 2, and one end portion on the lower side is connected to the steering assist device 4. The lower shaft 21 is connected to the upper shaft 20 so as to be relatively movable along the axis thereof. The lower shaft 21 and the upper shaft 20 are connected so as not to be relatively rotatable by, for example, spline fitting.

  The steering column 3 includes an outer tube 30 on the steering wheel 100 side and an inner tube 31 on the housing 40 side. The outer tube 30 is disposed on the inner tube 31 so as to be relatively movable along the axial direction thereof. A column side bracket 32 is attached to the outer tube 30, and the column side bracket 32 is supported by the upper bracket 6 fixed to the vehicle body 9. The upper bracket 6 is provided with a locking capsule 63 that can be detached by an impact when the vehicle collides. The locking capsule 63 is fixed to the vehicle body 9 by a bolt 92. In FIG. 1, the steering shaft 2 and the steering column 3 are illustrated in cross sections cut along the respective central axes.

  The steering assist device 4 includes an electric motor that receives supply of motor current from an unillustrated controller, a speed reducer that decelerates the output of the electric motor, and a torque sensor that detects steering torque applied to the steering wheel 100 by a driver of the vehicle. Is housed in a housing 40. The steering assist device 4 supplies a motor current having a magnitude corresponding to the steering torque detected by the torque sensor from the controller to the electric motor to assist the driver in operating the steering wheel 100.

  The lower bracket 5 has a vehicle body mounting flange 50 fastened to the vehicle body 9 via bolts 91 and is fixed to the vehicle body 9. The lower bracket 5 is formed with a through hole 5a through which a support shaft 41 fixed to the housing 40 of the steering assist device 4 is inserted, and the housing 40 is swingably supported by the lower bracket 5 via the support shaft 41. ing.

  The upper shaft 20 and the outer tube 30 are immovable in the axial direction and relatively rotatable. The lower shaft 21 and the inner tube 31 are immovable in the axial direction and relatively rotatable. The upper shaft 20 is rotatably supported on the outer tube 30 by a bearing 23, and the lower shaft 21 is rotatably supported on the inner tube 31 by a bearing 24. Thereby, the upper shaft 20 and the outer tube 30 are integrally movable with respect to the lower shaft 21 and the inner tube 31.

  The upper bracket 6 is formed with a vertically long hole 621a as a first through hole through which the tilt bolt 33 that rotates with the swing of the operation lever 36 operated by the driver is inserted. Further, the column side bracket 32 is formed with a laterally long hole 321a as a second through hole through which the tilt bolt 33 is inserted. The tilt bolt 33 passes through the horizontally long hole 321 a of the column side bracket 32 and the vertically long hole 621 a of the upper bracket 6. With this configuration, the column side bracket 32 is supported by the upper bracket 6 via the tilt bolt 33.

  When a cam mechanism 7 (see FIG. 2), which will be described later, is actuated in response to the operation of the operation lever 36, the column side bracket 32 is sandwiched between a pair of side plates of the upper bracket 6 by the cam thrust of the cam mechanism 7. It is fixed so that it cannot move relative to. On the other hand, when the cam mechanism 7 is inactivated according to the operation of the operation lever 36, the cam thrust of the cam mechanism 7 is released, and the column side bracket 32 becomes movable relative to the upper bracket 6. Thereby, the column side bracket 32 can be displaced in the front-rear direction according to the length of the horizontally long hole 321a with respect to the upper bracket 6, and can be displaced in the vertical direction according to the length of the vertically long hole 621a.

  According to the steering column apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration, the position of the steering wheel 100 in the front-rear direction is adjusted (telescopic adjustment) when the steering shaft 2 and the steering column 3 expand and contract in the axial direction, and the steering column 3 and the steering column 3 The shaft 2 is rotated around the support shaft 41 to adjust the vertical position of the steering wheel 100 (tilt adjustment).

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of the upper bracket 6, the column side bracket 32, and the peripheral portion thereof.

  The upper bracket 6 is fixed to a vehicle body attachment portion 61 that is attached to the vehicle body 9 and extends in the left-right direction (the vehicle width direction of the vehicle) perpendicular to the axial direction of the steering column 3, and the center portion of the vehicle body attachment portion 61. And a body portion 62 having first and second side plates 621 and 622 as a pair of side plates that hang downward from the vehicle body mounting portion 61 and face in the left-right direction. The main body portion 62 is joined to the vehicle body attachment portion 61 by welding, for example.

  The vehicle body attachment portion 61 integrally includes a joint portion 610 joined to the main body portion 62 and a pair of attachment stays 611 that respectively protrude in the left-right direction from both ends of the joint portion 610. The pair of mounting stays 611 is formed with a notch groove 611a cut out in a U-shape, and a locking capsule 63 (shown in FIG. 1) is fitted into the notch groove 611a.

  The main body portion 62 integrally includes a substrate 620 fixed to the joint portion 610 of the vehicle body attachment portion 61, and a first side plate 621 and a second side plate 622 that are formed to hang downward from both ends of the substrate 620. doing. The first side plate 621 and the second side plate 622 are opposed to each other with the column side bracket 32 interposed therebetween.

  The first side plate 621 is formed with a vertically long hole 621a extending in the vertical direction. Similarly, the second side plate 622 is formed with a vertically long hole 622a extending in the vertical direction. A tilt bolt 33 as a shaft-like member is inserted into the vertically long hole 621a of the first side plate 621 and the vertically long hole 622a of the second side plate 622.

  The column side bracket 32 is disposed between the first and second side plates 621 and 622 of the upper bracket 6. The column side bracket 32 includes a first plate portion 321 pressed against the first side plate 621 of the upper bracket 6, a second plate portion 322 pressed against the first side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6, And it has integrally the connection part 320 formed by connecting the edge parts on the opposite side to the outer tube 30 of the 2nd board parts 321 and 322. FIG. As for the 1st and 2nd board parts 321,322, the front-end | tip part on the opposite side to the connection part 320 side is being fixed to the outer tube 30. FIG.

  In the first plate portion 321, a laterally long hole 321 a (see FIG. 1) extending in the front-rear direction is formed as an insertion hole through which the tilt bolt 33 is inserted. Similarly, in the second plate portion 322, a laterally elongated hole 322a extending in the front-rear direction is formed as an insertion hole through which the tilt bolt 33 is inserted.

  The horizontally long hole 321 a of the first plate portion 321 in the column side bracket 32 intersects with the vertically long hole 621 a of the first side plate 621 in the upper bracket 6. Similarly, the horizontally long hole 322 a of the second plate portion 322 in the column side bracket 32 intersects with the vertically long hole 622 a of the second side plate 622 in the upper bracket 6.

  The tilt bolt 33 is disposed through the vertically long holes 621a and 622a of the upper bracket 6 and the horizontally long holes 321a and 322a of the column side bracket 32 (only the horizontally long hole 322a is shown in FIG. 2). The tilt bolt 33 can be displaced in the vertical direction with respect to the first and second side plates 621 and 622 of the upper bracket 6 along the vertically elongated holes 621a and 622a when the cam mechanism 7 is not operated. It can be displaced in the axial direction with respect to the first and second plate portions 321 and 322 along the laterally long holes 321a and 322a of the side bracket 32.

At the end exposed from the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 of the tilt bolt 33,
A cam mechanism 7 that generates a fastening force for fastening the upper bracket 6 and the column side bracket 32 and an operation lever 36 that is pivotally supported by the tilt bolt 33 and operates the cam mechanism 7 are provided. A hexagon nut 34 for fixing the operation lever 36 and the cam mechanism 7 to the end of the tilt bolt 33 is attached to the end of the tilt bolt 33.

  FIG. 3 shows the upper bracket 6, wherein (a) is a front view and (b) is a side view.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the first side plate 621 of the main body 62 in the upper bracket 6 has a second inner surface that faces the inner side of the upper bracket 6 (the column side bracket 32 side shown in FIG. 2). The end surface 621 c is formed as an opposing surface 621 b that faces the side plate 622, and an end surface 621 c opposite to the opposing surface 621 b faces the outside of the upper bracket 6. Similarly, the second side plate 621 has an inner surface directed inward of the upper bracket 6 as a facing surface 622 b facing the first side plate 621, and an end surface 622 c opposite to the facing surface 622 b is the upper bracket 6. Oriented to the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the vertically long hole 622a of the second side plate 622 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the side, and its short side has an arc shape with respect to the long side extending linearly in the vertical direction. Is formed. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the first side plate 621 is also formed with a vertical hole 621 a (shown in FIG. 1) having the same shape as the vertical hole 622 a of the second side plate 622. Further, the second side plate 622 is formed with a pair of rectangular through holes 622d below the vertically long hole 622a.

  4A and 4B show the column side bracket 32 fixed to the outer tube 30 of the steering column 3, wherein FIG. 4A is a front view and FIG. 4B is a side view.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, a surface 321 b of the first plate portion 321 of the column side bracket 32 facing the first side plate 621 (shown in FIG. 3A) of the upper bracket 6 is the outer tube 30. The first wall portion 621 is formed in a planar shape except for the tip portion fixed to the first wall portion 621. Similarly, a surface 322 b of the second plate portion 322 of the column side bracket 32 facing the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 is parallel to the second side plate 622 except for a tip portion fixed to the outer tube 30. It is formed in a flat shape.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the first plate portion 321 of the column side bracket 32 is formed with a horizontally long hole 321a through which the tilt bolt 33 (shown in FIG. 2) is inserted. The second plate portion 322 is formed with a horizontally long hole 322a through which the tilt bolt 33 is inserted.

  FIG. 5 shows the tilt bolt 33, where (a) is a front view and (b) is a side view. The tilt bolt 33 integrally includes a shaft portion 331, a flange portion 332 provided at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 331, and a screw portion 333 provided at the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 331. doing. The outer diameter of the shaft portion 331 is slightly smaller than the vertical width (vertical width) of the laterally long holes 321a and 322a (shown in FIG. 4) of the first and second plate portions 321 and 322 of the column side bracket 32. It is formed to have a size and is slightly smaller than the lateral width (the axial width) of the vertically elongated holes 621a and 622a (shown in FIGS. 2 and 4B) of the first and second side plates 621 and 622 of the upper bracket 6. It is formed in small dimensions.

  The outer diameter of the flange portion 332 is formed to be larger than the width dimension of the vertically long holes 621 a and 622 a of the first and second side plates 621 and 622 of the upper bracket 6. Further, the flange portion 332 is formed with an oval boss portion 332 a that fits into the vertically long hole 621 a of the first side plate 621 of the upper bracket 6. The tilt bolt 33 is restricted from rotating with respect to the first side plate 621 of the upper bracket 6 by fitting the boss portion 332 a with the elongated hole 621 a of the first side plate 621. A hexagonal nut 34 (shown in FIG. 2) is screwed into the screw portion 333.

  FIG. 6 is an external view showing the operation lever 36. The operation lever 36 is formed to be bent in an L shape, and a rectangular fitting hole 360a is formed in the base end portion 360 thereof. Further, a screw hole 360b is formed in the base end portion 360 of the operation lever 36. A distal end side of the operation lever 36 on the side opposite to the base end portion 360 is formed as an operation portion 361 operated by the driver.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of the cam mechanism 7. FIG. 7 shows an operating state in which the cam mechanism 7 is operated and cam thrust is generated.

  The cam mechanism 7 is a first cam member 71 that rotates about the central axis of the tilt bolt 33 in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever 36 and a second cam member that generates a cam thrust by the relative rotation of the first cam member 71. 72. A frictional force is generated between the upper bracket 6 and the column side bracket 32 by the cam thrust, thereby restricting relative movement of the column side bracket 32 with respect to the upper bracket 6.

  The first cam member 71 is connected to the base end portion 360 of the operation lever 36 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The second cam member 72 is connected to the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The first cam member 71 and the second cam member 72 are arranged concentrically with respect to the central axis of the tilt bolt 33.

  A plate-like friction plate 8 is sandwiched between the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 and the second cam member 72. In the friction plate 8, a pair of locking pieces 811 and 812 (only the locking piece 811 is shown in FIG. 7) of a locking portion 81 provided on the lower end side thereof is inserted into a pair of through holes 622d of the upper bracket 6, It is supported by the upper bracket 6. Thereby, the vertical movement of the friction plate 8 with respect to the upper bracket 6 is restricted. 7 shows the friction plate 8 compressed and flattened by the cam thrust of the cam mechanism 7. However, as will be described later, the friction plate 8 is curved in a natural state where the cam thrust is released. Shape.

  The tilt bolt 33 is inserted through the first cam member 71, the second cam member 72, and the base end portion 360 of the operation lever 36. The base end portion 360 of the operation lever 36 is fixed to the tilt bolt 33 by a hexagon nut 34 that is screwed into the screw portion 333 of the tilt bolt 33.

  The hexagon nut 34 is fitted with a stopper plate 35 that is bent in a step shape so as not to rotate. The stopper plate 35 includes a hexagonal fitting hole 35 a that is fitted to the hexagon nut 34, and an arc groove 35 b that is formed at a position shifted in the radial direction of an imaginary circle around the central axis of the tilt bolt 33. Have. A stopper bolt 38 screwed into the screw hole 360b of the operation lever 36 is inserted into the arc groove 35b. The operation lever 36 is allowed to rotate around the central axis of the tilt bolt 33 within a range in which the stopper bolt 38 can move in the arc groove 35b.

  The tilt bolt 33, the operation lever 36 that rotates about the center axis of the tilt bolt 33, the cam mechanism 7 that operates in response to the operation of the operation lever 36, and the compression by the cam thrust are elastically explained. The flat friction plate 8 constitutes the “lock mechanism” in the present invention.

  8A and 8B show the first cam member 71, where FIG. 8A is a front view, FIG. 8B is a side view, and FIG. 8C is a rear view. The first cam member 71 includes a disc-shaped base portion 710, a cylindrical protrusion 711 formed to protrude from the center of the base portion 710 toward the second cam member 72, and an outer side than the cylindrical protrusion 711 in the base portion 710. A plurality (four in this embodiment) of protrusions 712 formed to protrude toward the second cam member 72 and the side opposite to the cylindrical protrusion 711 from the center of the base 710 (the operation lever 36 shown in FIG. And a rectangular fitting protrusion 713 projecting toward the base end 360 side).

  In the first cam member 71, an insertion hole 71 a for inserting the tilt bolt 33 is formed through the base 710, the cylindrical protrusion 711, and the fitting protrusion 713. Further, the first cam member 71 rotates integrally with the operation lever 36 by fitting the fitting protrusion 713 into the fitting hole 360 a (shown in FIG. 6) of the operation lever 36.

  FIG. 9 shows the second cam member 72, where (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a rear view.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, the second cam member 72 includes a disk-shaped base 720 having a flat surface 720 a facing the second side plate 622 (shown in FIG. 7) of the upper bracket 6, and the base 720. A pair of arcuate engaging portions 721 projecting from the flat surface 720a to the second side plate 622 side. An accommodation hole 72 a that accommodates the cylindrical protrusion 711 (shown in FIG. 8B) of the first cam member 71 is formed at the center of the second cam member 72. As a result, the first cam member 71 can rotate relative to the second cam member 72 on the same axis.

  The engaging portions 721 are formed at two locations facing each other across the accommodation hole 72 a, and engage with the longitudinally long holes 622 a in the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 and the through holes 80 a in the elastic portion 80 of the friction plate 8. Thereby, the relative rotation of the second cam member 72 with respect to the second side plate 622 and the friction plate 8 of the upper bracket 6 is restricted.

  As shown in FIG. 9B, a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) cam grooves 723 are formed on the surface of the second cam member 72 opposite to the flat surface 720a. The bottom surface of each cam groove 723 is formed between the first flat surface 723a and the second flat surface 723b having different axial depths, and between the first flat surface 723a and the second flat surface 723b. Thus, an inclined surface 723c whose axial depth gradually changes is arranged in the circumferential direction.

  The base 720 has a thickness on the first flat surface 723a (distance in the axial direction between the flat surface 720a and the first flat surface 723a) and a thickness on the second flat surface 723b (the flat surface 720a and the second flat surface 723b). The distance in the axial direction) is thinner. The thickness of the base portion 720 on the inclined surface 723c is formed so as to gradually increase from the end portion on the first flat surface 723a side toward the end portion on the second flat surface 723b side.

  As shown in FIGS. 9B and 9C, between the two adjacent cam grooves 723, a locking projection 724 that protrudes further toward the first cam member 71 than the second flat surface 723b is provided. It has been. The locking protrusion 724 locks the protrusion 712 of the first cam member 71 and restricts the rotation of the first cam member 71 relative to the second cam member 72.

  10A and 10B show the friction plate 8, where FIG. 10A is a plan view, FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. The friction plate 8 is a plate-like member made of spring steel such as SUP or SK5.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, the friction plate 8 is disposed between the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 and the second cam member 72, and the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 and the second side plate 622. A rectangular elastic portion 80 that is elastically deformable by being sandwiched between the two cam members 72, and extends further downward from the lower end side of the elastic portion 80, and has a smaller width than the elastic portion 80. It has the formed locking part 81 integrally.

  The elastic portion 80 is formed with a rectangular through hole 80a formed by punching in the thickness direction. The through hole 80a corresponds to the third through hole of the present invention. The tilt bolt 33 and the protrusion 712 of the second cam member 72 are inserted through the through hole 80a. In addition, the through hole 80 a communicates with the vertically long hole 622 a of the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6.

  In the present embodiment, the friction plate 8 is disposed between the upper bracket 6 and the second cam member 72. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 and You may arrange | position between the 2nd board parts 322 of the column side bracket 32. FIG. In this case, the through hole 80 a of the friction plate 8 communicates with the vertically elongated hole 622 a of the second side plate in the upper bracket 6 and also communicates with the horizontally elongated hole 322 a of the second plate portion 322 in the column side bracket 32. Still further, the friction plate 8 may be disposed between the first side plate 621 of the upper bracket 6 and the first plate portion 321 of the column side bracket 32. In this case, the through hole 80 a of the friction plate 8 communicates with the vertically elongated hole 621 a of the first side plate in the upper bracket 6 and also communicates with the horizontally elongated hole 321 a of the first plate portion 321 in the column side bracket 32.

  As shown in FIG. 10 (b), the elastic portion 80 of the friction plate 8 is curved in a wave shape in which peaks and valleys are formed in the vertical direction in the natural state where the cam thrust force is not received from the cam mechanism 7. When it is compressed by receiving a cam thrust from the cam mechanism 7, it is elastically deformed so as to be flattened.

  More specifically, the elastic portion 80 of the friction plate 8 includes a plurality of (two in the present embodiment) first protrusions as peaks that protrude toward the second cam member 72 (see FIG. 12 described later). 801 and a plurality of (two in this embodiment) second projecting portions 802 as valleys projecting to the second side plate 622 (see FIG. 12) side of the upper bracket 6. In the present embodiment, the mountain shape formed by the first protruding portion 801 and the valley shape formed by the second protruding portion 802 coincide with each other, and each protruding height has the same dimensional configuration.

  When the cam mechanism 7 is in an inoperative state, the elastic portion 80 of the friction plate 8 has a top portion 801a with the highest protrusion height at the first protrusion 801 that contacts the flat surface 720a of the second cam member 72, The top 802a having the highest protrusion height in the second protrusion 802 contacts the end surface 622c of the upper bracket 6 (see FIG. 12).

  As shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, the locking portion 81 of the friction plate 8 includes a flat plate portion 810 that extends from the lower end of the elastic portion 80 and has a rectangular shape, and both ends of the flat plate portion 810. Are integrally formed with a pair of locking pieces 811 and 812 that are formed so as to protrude along the plate thickness direction. As shown in FIG. 10B, the pair of locking pieces 811 and 812 are rectangular in side view, and the width thereof is slightly smaller than the through-hole 622 d in the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6. Has been.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing the periphery of the cam mechanism 7 in the operating state, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the periphery of the cam mechanism 7 in the non-operating state.

  When the driver fixes the position of the steering wheel 100, when the operation lever 36 is rotated and the first cam member 71 of the cam mechanism 7 is rotated, as shown in FIG. 712 contacts the second flat surface 723 b of the second cam member 72, and the base 710 of the first cam member 71 and the base 720 of the second cam member are separated along the axial direction of the tilt bolt 33. As a result, cam thrust is generated. Then, the friction plate 8 is flattened by receiving this cam thrust, and the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 is pressed against the second plate portion 322 side of the column side bracket 32 via the friction plate 8. Thereby, a frictional force is generated between the upper bracket 6 and the column side bracket 32 and between the friction plate 8 and the upper bracket 6, and the movement of the column side bracket 32 relative to the upper bracket 6 is restricted. That is, the steering column 3 is fixed to the upper bracket 6. In the operating state of the cam mechanism 7, the holding force of the steering column 3 is improved by increasing the frictional force between the upper bracket 6 and the column side bracket 32 via the friction plate 8.

  On the other hand, when the driver adjusts the position of the steering wheel 100, when the operation lever 36 is rotated and the first cam member 71 of the cam mechanism 7 is rotated, as shown in FIG. The protrusion 712 moves to come into contact with the first flat surface 723a of the second cam member 72, and the base 710 of the first cam member 71 and the base 720 of the second cam member 72 come close to each other, and the cam thrust force Is released. As the cam thrust is released, the frictional force between the first and second side plates 621 and 622 of the upper bracket 6 and the first and second plate portions 321 and 322 of the column side bracket 32 is released. The Accordingly, the column side bracket 32 is allowed to move in the vertical direction and the front / rear direction with respect to the upper bracket 6. That is, the vertical position adjustment (tilt adjustment) and the front-back direction position adjustment (telescopic adjustment) of the steering wheel 100 are possible.

  Here, in the non-operating state in which the cam thrust of the cam mechanism 7 is released, the friction plate 8 is not flattened, and the elastic force (restoring force) of the first protrusion 801 and the second protrusion 802 of the elastic part 80 is obtained. ), The second cam member 72 and the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 are pressed against each other in a direction away from the tilt bolt 33 in the axial direction.

  More specifically, the friction plate 8 has a top 801a of the first protrusion 801 that contacts the end surface 622c of the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6, and a top 802a of the second protrusion 802 is a second cam member. A frictional force is generated between the upper bracket 6 and the second cam member 72 in contact with the flat surface 720a of the 72. That is, in the non-operating state in which the cam mechanism 7 is released, the column side bracket 32 and the second cam member 72 are allowed to move relative to the friction plate 8. The protrusion 801 and the base 720 of the second cam member 72, and the second protrusion 802 of the friction plate 8 and the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 are in elastic contact with each other, so that the column side bracket 32 and the second bracket It becomes a frictional resistance when the cam member 72 moves. That is, a frictional force is generated between the upper bracket 6 and the second cam member 72 by the restoring force of the friction plate 8. Thereby, the movement to the fall direction by the dead weight of the steering column 3 when the cam mechanism 7 changes from the operating state to the non-operating state is suppressed.

  Here, the friction force generated by the friction plate 8 is, for example, when the driver applies an operation force to the steering column 3 when the operation of the cam mechanism 7 is released, the column side bracket 32 acts on the upper bracket 6. The frictional force is such that the position of the column side bracket 32 relative to the upper bracket 6 can be maintained in a state where the driver can move the steering column 3 and does not apply an operating force to the steering column 3. The elastic force (restoring force) of the friction plate 8 is the distance between the top 801a of the first protrusion 801 and the top 802a of the second protrusion 802 in a natural state where no external force is applied to the friction plate 8 ( (Free length) and adjustment of the plate thickness dimension or the like.

[Effect of the embodiment]
According to the embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The friction plate 8 is an elastic body that is compressed and elastically flattened when the cam mechanism 7 is in an operating state, and is released and non-flattened when the cam mechanism 7 is in an operating state. By generating a frictional force between the side plate 622 and the second cam member 72, the movement of the steering column 3 in the falling direction due to its own weight can be suppressed. That is, the tilt spring for buffering the impact at the time of free fall like the steering column device described in Patent Document 1 is not necessary. That is, according to the present embodiment, even if the tilt spring is eliminated, the movement in the dropping direction due to the weight of the steering column 3 can be suppressed.

(2) The friction plate 8 has a wave-like shape in which the first protrusion 801 and the second protrusion 802 are formed, and is disposed between the second cam member 72 and the upper bracket 6. As a result, when the cam mechanism 7 is deactivated, the first protrusion 801 presses the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 and the second protrusion 802 presses the second cam member 72. Then, the second cam member 72 is elastically supported in the axial direction of the tilt bolt 33. For this reason, the play of the cam mechanism 7 is suppressed. Specifically, if the friction plate 8 has a flat plate shape, the second cam member 72 moves toward the first cam member 71 when the cam thrust of the cam mechanism 7 is released. A gap is generated between the member 72 and the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6, and the second cam member 72 may be inclined in the axial direction of the tilt bolt 33 due to the gap, but this embodiment According to the form, such backlash can be suppressed.

(3) The friction plate 8 has a through hole 80a communicating with the vertically elongated hole 622a of the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6, and the tilt bolt 33 is inserted into the through hole 80a so that the second of the upper bracket 6 It is supported between the side plate 622 and the base 720 of the second cam member 72. As a result, the first protrusion 801 of the friction plate 8 contacts the base 720 of the second cam member 72 on both sides of the tilt bolt 33 and the second protrusion 802 of the friction plate 8 is in contact with the first protrusion of the upper bracket 6. The second side plate 622 is contacted. For this reason, the second cam member 72 can be pressed toward the first cam member 71 without being inclined with respect to the tilt bolt 33, and the operation of the cam mechanism 7 when the operation lever 36 is operated is stabilized. Can be done automatically.

  As mentioned above, although the steering column apparatus of this invention was demonstrated based on said embodiment, this invention is not limited to said embodiment, It implements in a various aspect in the range which does not deviate from the summary. It is possible.

  Moreover, although said embodiment demonstrated the case where the single friction plate 8 was arrange | positioned, it is not limited to this, The some friction plate 8 may be arrange | positioned. In this case, one friction plate 8 is disposed between the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 and the base 720 of the second cam member 72, and the other friction plate 8 is the first side plate 621 of the upper bracket 6. And the first plate portion 321 of the column side bracket 32 may be disposed. A plurality of friction plates 8 are provided between the first side plate 621 of the upper bracket 6 and the first plate portion 321 of the column side bracket 32, and between the second side plate 622 of the upper bracket 6 and the column side bracket 32. You may each arrange | position at both between the 2nd board parts 322.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first projecting portion 801 and the second projecting portion 802 of the friction plate 8 are formed in two places, but the number of the first projecting portions 801 and the second projecting portions 802 is the same. For example, the first and second protrusions 801 and 802 may be formed one by one, or may be formed by three or four.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steering column apparatus, 2 ... Steering shaft, 3 ... Steering column, 4 ... Steering auxiliary device, 5 ... Lower bracket, 5a ... Through-hole, 6 ... Upper bracket, 7 ... Cam mechanism, 8 ... Friction plate, 9 ... Car body 20 ... Upper shaft, 21 ... Lower shaft, 22 ... Universal joint, 23 ... Bearing, 30 ... Outer tube, 31 ... Inner tube, 32 ... Column side bracket, 33 ... Tilt bolt, 34 ... Hex nut, 35 ... Stopper plate 35a ... fitting hole, 35b ... circular groove, 36 ... operating lever, 38 ... stopper bolt, 40 ... housing, 41 ... spindle, 50 ... body mounting flange, 61 ... body mounting portion, 62 ... body portion, 71 ... 1st cam member, 71a ... insertion hole, 72 ... 2nd cam member, 72a ... accommodation hole, 80 ... elastic part, 80a ... through-hole, 81 ... Stop part, 91, 92 ... Bolt, 100 ... Steering wheel, 320 ... Connection part, 321 ... First plate part, 321a, 322a ... Horizontally long hole, 321b, 322b ... Opposing surface, 322 ... Second plate part, 331 ... Shaft part, 332 ... Flange part, 332a ... Boss part, 333 ... Screw part, 360 ... Base end part, 360a ... Fitting hole, 360b ... Screw hole, 361 ... Operation part, 610 ... Joint part, 611 ... Mounting stay , 611a ... fitting groove, 620 ... substrate, 621 ... first side plate, 621a, 622a ... vertically long hole, 621b ... opposite surface, 621c ... end surface, 622 ... second side plate, 622b ... opposite surface, 622c ... end surface, 622d ... through-hole, 630 ... main body, 710 ... base, 711 ... cylindrical projection, 712 ... projection, 713 ... fitting projection, 720 ... base, 720a ... plane, 721 ... engagement portion, 723 ... cam 723a ... first flat surface, 723b ... second flat surface, 723c ... inclined surface, 724 ... locking projection, 801 ... first protrusion, 801a ... top, 802 ... second protrusion, 802a ... top, 810 ... Flat plate portion, 811 ... Locking piece

Claims (4)

A steering column that rotatably supports a steering shaft with a steering wheel fixed to the end;
A column side bracket fixed to the steering column;
A vehicle body side bracket having a pair of side plates facing each other with the column side bracket interposed therebetween, and fixed to the vehicle body;
A locking mechanism for fixing the column side bracket to the vehicle body side bracket;
The lock mechanism includes a shaft-like member inserted through the column-side bracket and the vehicle-body-side bracket, an operation lever that is rotated around a central axis of the shaft-like member, and a cam thrust generated by rotating the operation lever. A generated cam mechanism, and a friction plate that is compressed and elastically deformed by the operation of the cam mechanism,
The cam mechanism compresses the friction plate by the cam thrust and generates a frictional force between the vehicle body side bracket and the column side bracket, thereby fixing the column side bracket to the vehicle body side bracket. ,
When the cam thrust is released, the friction plate generates a friction force that suppresses the movement of the steering column in the falling direction by the restoring force.
Steering column device. The cam mechanism is disposed between a first cam member that rotates together with the operation lever, and between the first cam member and the vehicle body side bracket, and a second rotation in which relative rotation with the vehicle body side bracket is restricted. A cam member,
The friction plate is disposed between the second cam member and the vehicle body side bracket,
The steering column device according to claim 1. The vehicle body side bracket has a first through hole extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle in the pair of side plates,
The column side bracket has a pair of plate portions respectively opposed to the pair of side plates, and the pair of plate portions is formed with a second through hole communicating with the first through hole,
The friction plate has a third through hole communicating with the first through hole or the second through hole.
The steering column device according to claim 1 or 2. The friction plate is a wave-shaped shape in which peaks and valleys are formed, and is elastically flattened by the cam thrust of the cam mechanism.
The steering column device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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