JP2017019482A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device that is commonly structured so as to fix a position of a column jacket in a tilt direction by holding a steering shaft with the column jacket and engaging teeth with each other.SOLUTION: A steering device 1 includes: an insertion shaft 40 that can move together with a column jacket 4 in a tilt direction C; a first tooth member 43 including a plurality of first teeth 51 arranged along a first linea direction L1; and a second tooth member 45 including a plurality of second teeth 63 arranged along the first linear direction L1. A first regulating portion 55 regulates movement of the first tooth member 43 in the first linear direction L1 relative to the upper bracket 6. A second regulating portion 58 can move in the first linear direction L1 and cannot move in a second linear direction L2, relative to a straight hole 52 of the first tooth member 43 extending along the first linear direction L1, and regulates movement of the second tooth member 45 in the second linear direction L2 relative to the first tooth member 43.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering device.

The steering column described in Patent Document 1 includes an adjustment unit that can move in the adjustment direction in order to adjust the position of the steering column, and a holding unit in which the position in the adjustment direction is fixed. A jacket unit that holds the steering shaft is attached to the adjustment unit. The long hole provided in the holding part extends along the adjustment direction.
The holding portion is provided with teeth arranged along the adjustment direction. A tooth plate is inserted through the clamp bolt inserted through the long hole of the holding portion. The tooth plate has teeth arranged along the adjustment direction.

  By operating the operation member attached to the clamp bolt, the pressing member into which the clamp bolt is inserted can be moved to the holding portion side. When the pressing member is moved toward the holding portion, the tooth plate is moved toward the holding portion by being pressed by the pressing member. At this time, when the teeth of the tooth plate enter the gap between the teeth of the holding portion, the teeth of the holding portion mesh with the teeth of the tooth plate. Thereby, the position of the jacket unit in the adjustment direction is fixed.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0013817

  In the steering column of Patent Document 1, the adjustment direction is a direction along an arc around a turning axis provided on a bracket fixed to a vehicle chassis, and is a so-called tilt direction. Since the distance between the turning shaft and the long hole is set for each vehicle type, the curvature of the arc changes if this distance is slightly different depending on the vehicle type. When the curvature of the arc changes, it is necessary not only to change the shape of the elongated hole of the holding portion, but also to change the shape and pitch of the tooth portions arranged along the adjustment direction in the holding portion and the tooth plate. In this case, it is difficult to achieve a common configuration for fixing the position of the column jacket in the adjustment direction by meshing the teeth.

  The present invention has been made based on such a background, and a steering device that can hold a steering shaft by a column jacket and can share a configuration in which the position of the column jacket in the tilt direction is fixed by meshing teeth with each other. The purpose is to provide.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering shaft (3) having a steering member (11) connected to one end (3A), and a tilt along an arcuate locus (K) having a predetermined curvature while holding the steering shaft. A column jacket (4) rotatable in a direction (C), a bracket (6) fixedly supported on a vehicle body (2), and a movement of the column jacket with respect to the bracket; An operating member (41) operated for enabling and disabling is attached and extends in a cross direction (Y) intersecting both the axial direction (X) and the tilt direction of the steering shaft, and the column An insertion shaft (40) that can move in the tilt direction together with the jacket, and a first linear direction (L1) that intersects the axial direction and is orthogonal to the intersecting direction. A first tooth row (51L; 103L) configured by a plurality of first teeth (51; 103) arranged along the first linear direction, A first tooth member (43; 100, 71) supported by the bracket so as to be movable in a second linear direction (L2) intersecting the linear direction and perpendicular to the intersecting direction; A first restricting portion (55, 77) for restricting movement of the first tooth member relative to the bracket in the first linear direction; and a plurality of second teeth (63; 113) arranged along the first linear direction. A second tooth row (63L; 113L) configured to be opposed to the first tooth member from the intersecting direction, supported by the insertion shaft, and movable in the intersecting direction by operation of the operating member; Tsu And a second member connected to the second tooth member so as to be movable in the first linear direction with respect to the straight hole, and to the second straight line with respect to the straight hole. And a second restricting portion (58) that is inserted in the straight hole so as not to move in the direction and restricts the movement of the second tooth member in the second straight direction relative to the first tooth member (1). 1P; 1Q).

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the first tooth row is elastically deformable in the intersecting direction, and the bracket has a recess (56, 78) at a position facing the first tooth row from the intersecting direction. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The invention according to claim 3 is the steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first tooth member is provided with a rigidity reducing portion (49A) for reducing the rigidity of the first tooth member. .

The steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a tooth trace (51A, 63B) of the first tooth and the second tooth extends in the intersecting direction. It is.
Invention of Claim 5 is provided in the said 1st tooth member, The bending suppression structure (95) which suppresses that the said 1st tooth member bends so that the both ends in the said 1st linear direction may mutually approach, A steering apparatus according to claim 1.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the first tooth member can be elastically deformed so that the first teeth are inclined in the intersecting direction, and the bending suppression structure is provided between the first tooth member and the bracket. The steering apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an allowable space (97) that allows the first teeth to tilt in the intersecting direction.
The steering device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the first tooth member is provided with a rigidity reducing portion (49A) for reducing the rigidity of the first tooth member. It is.

The invention according to claim 8 is the steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second tooth row is elastically deformable in the intersecting direction.
The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the tooth traces (51A; 103B, 63B; 113A) of the first teeth and the second teeth extend in the intersecting direction. It is a steering device of description.

  In the above description, numbers in parentheses represent reference numerals of corresponding components in the embodiments described later, but the scope of the claims is not limited by these reference numerals.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the column jacket that holds the steering shaft to which the steering member is connected at one end can be rotated in the tilt direction along the arc-shaped locus having a predetermined curvature. By this rotation, the position of one end of the steering shaft (that is, the steering member connected to this one end) can be adjusted.
The first tooth member including the first tooth row constituted by a plurality of first teeth is supported by a bracket fixed to the vehicle body. A second tooth member including a second tooth row constituted by a plurality of second teeth is supported by an insertion shaft that can move in the tilt direction together with the column jacket. The second tooth member is opposed to the first tooth member from an intersecting direction intersecting both the axial direction and the tilt direction of the steering shaft. The plurality of first teeth and second teeth are arranged along a first linear direction that intersects the axial direction and is orthogonal to the intersecting direction. Moreover, the 1st tooth member is formed with the linear hole extended along a 1st linear direction.

  When the second tooth member moves in the crossing direction by operating the operation member attached to the insertion shaft, the first tooth of the first tooth row of the first tooth member and the second tooth of the second tooth row of the second tooth member Are alternately arranged in the first linear direction, so that the first tooth row and the second tooth row mesh with each other. As a result, the column jacket cannot be rotated, and the position of the column jacket in the tilt direction is fixed.

  While the first tooth member is supported by the bracket, the first tooth member is movable in a second linear direction that intersects the first linear direction and is orthogonal to the intersecting direction. Movement with respect to the bracket in the first linear direction is restricted. The second restricting portion connected to the second tooth member is inserted into the straight hole of the first tooth member. In this state, the second restricting portion can move in the first linear direction but cannot move in the second linear direction. Thereby, the second tooth member can move relative to the first tooth member in the first linear direction and can move integrally in the second linear direction.

  With this configuration, when the insertion shaft rotates together with the column jacket in the tilt direction to adjust the position of the steering member in the tilt direction, the second tooth member moves in the second linear direction with respect to the bracket together with the first tooth member. It rotates by linearly moving in the first linear direction relative to the first tooth member while moving linearly. That is, the rotation of the second tooth member can be broken down into the respective linear movements in the first linear direction and the second linear direction. Accordingly, the plurality of second teeth in the second tooth row of the second tooth member and the plurality of first teeth in the first tooth row meshing with the second tooth row in the first tooth member are along the arcuate locus. It is not necessary to arrange them in the tilt direction, and they can be arranged linearly along the first linear direction. In this case, since the shape and arrangement of the first dentition and the second dentition are not affected by the trajectory, even if the curvature of the trajectory changes depending on the vehicle type on which the steering device is mounted, It is not necessary to change the shape and arrangement of the second dentition. Therefore, a common first tooth member and second tooth member can be applied even to a plurality of vehicle types having different curvatures of the trajectory. Therefore, the common use of the first tooth member and the common use of the second tooth member can be achieved.

  According to invention of Claim 2, the bracket is provided with the recessed part which opposes a 1st tooth row from a cross direction. When the first tooth row and the second tooth row do not mesh and the second tooth row rides on the first tooth row, this recess can receive the first tooth row, so the first tooth row is It can be bent by being elastically deformed toward the recess. As a result, the first tooth row and the second tooth row can be pressed against each other even when they are not engaged with each other, so that the position of the column jacket in the tilt direction can be locked.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the first tooth member is provided with the rigidity reducing portion for reducing the rigidity of the first tooth member, the second tooth row rides on the first tooth row. In this case, the first tooth row can be easily bent.
According to invention of Claim 4, a 1st tooth and a 2nd tooth can be meshed | engaged from the direction where each tooth trace extends.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the first tooth member is suppressed from being bent so that both ends in the first linear direction are close to each other by the bending suppression structure. Therefore, when the load which has an excessive component in a 1st linear direction is loaded on the 1st tooth member, it is suppressed that a 1st tooth member bends rapidly.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the permissible space allows the first teeth to tilt in the intersecting direction between the first tooth member and the bracket. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the bracket with a configuration for avoiding the interference between the first tooth inclined in the intersecting direction and the bracket due to the elastic deformation of the first tooth member. Therefore, processing of the bracket becomes easy and the cost is reduced.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the first tooth member is provided with the rigidity reducing portion for reducing the rigidity of the first tooth member. Therefore, the first tooth member can be elastically deformed and the first teeth can be easily tilted in the crossing direction.
According to invention of Claim 8, a 2nd tooth row can be elastically deformed. When the first tooth row and the second tooth row do not mesh with each other and the first tooth row rides on the second tooth row, the second tooth row can be elastically deformed to the side opposite to the bracket and bend. it can. As a result, the first tooth row and the second tooth row can be pressed against each other even when they are not engaged with each other, so that the position of the column jacket in the tilt direction can be locked.

  According to invention of Claim 9, a 1st tooth | gear and a 2nd tooth | gear can be meshed | engaged from the direction where each tooth trace extends.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a steering apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the steering device. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of members in the vicinity of the left side plate of the upper bracket. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which the second tooth row rides on the first tooth row in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a release state in FIG. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the operation of each member during tilt adjustment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram for explaining the movement of the second restricting portion relative to the first tooth member. FIG. 11 is a diagram in which a modification of the first embodiment is applied to FIG. FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of members around the left side plate of the upper bracket of the steering device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the left side plate periphery of the upper bracket according to the second embodiment cut along a plane perpendicular to the first linear direction. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a cross section around a deflection suppressing structure according to a first modification of the second embodiment. Fig.15 (a) is a typical perspective view of the 1st tooth member which concerns on the 2nd modification of 2nd Embodiment, FIG.15 (b) is the bending suppression which concerns on the 1st modification of 2nd Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section around a structure. FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of members around the left side plate of the upper bracket of the steering device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of the left side plate of the upper bracket according to the third embodiment cut along a plane perpendicular to the first linear direction.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a steering apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the left side of the drawing is the front side of the vehicle body 2 to which the steering device 1 is attached, the right side of the drawing is the rear side of the vehicle body 2, the upper side of the drawing is the upper side of the vehicle body 2, and the lower side of the drawing is the lower side of the vehicle body 2. It is.

Referring to FIG. 1, a steering device 1 mainly includes a steering shaft 3, a column jacket 4, a lower bracket 5, and an upper bracket 6 (bracket).
In the steering shaft 3, a steering member 11 is connected to one end 3A that is a rear end. The other end 3B that is the front end of the steering shaft 3 is connected to the pinion shaft 16 of the steering mechanism 15 through the universal joint 12, the intermediate shaft 13, and the universal joint 14 in this order.

The steered mechanism 15 includes a rack and pinion mechanism. The steered mechanism 15 steers steered wheels such as tires (not shown) in response to the rotation of the steering shaft 3 being transmitted.
The steering shaft 3 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 2. Hereinafter, the direction in which the steering shaft 3 extends is referred to as an axial direction X. The axial direction X is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction so that the other end 3B is lower than the one end 3A. The rear side in the axial direction X is denoted by reference numeral “X1”, and the front side in the axial direction X is denoted by reference numeral “X2”.

Of the directions intersecting the axial direction X, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1 is referred to as the left-right direction Y (intersection direction), and the direction extending substantially up and down in FIG. In the left-right direction Y, the back side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 is the right side Y1, and the near side of the paper surface is the left side Y2. In the vertical direction Z, a sign “Z1” is attached to the upper side, and a sign “Z2” is attached to the lower side.
In the drawings other than FIG. 1, the directions corresponding to the axial direction X, rear side X1, front side X2, left and right direction Y, right side Y1, left side Y2, up and down direction Z, upper side Z1 and lower side Z2 in FIG. The same reference numerals as those in FIG.

The steering shaft 3 has an upper shaft 20 in which at least a part of the front side X2 is cylindrical, and a columnar lower shaft 21. The upper shaft 20 is disposed coaxially on the rear side X1 with respect to the lower shaft 21. A rear end 20 </ b> A of the upper shaft 20 is one end 3 </ b> A of the steering shaft 3.
The rear end portion of the lower shaft 21 is inserted into the front end portion of the upper shaft 20 from the front side X2. The lower shaft 21 is fitted to the upper shaft 20 by spline fitting or serration fitting. Therefore, the upper shaft 20 and the lower shaft 21 can rotate together and can move relative to each other along the axial direction X. The steering shaft 3 can expand and contract in the axial direction X by the movement of the upper shaft 20 in the axial direction X with respect to the lower shaft 21.

The column jacket 4 is a hollow body that extends in the axial direction X as a whole. The column jacket 4 accommodates the steering shaft 3. The column jacket 4 includes a cylindrical upper jacket 22 and a lower jacket 23 that extend in the axial direction X.
The upper jacket 22 is located on the rear side X1 with respect to the lower jacket 23. The lower jacket 23 is externally fitted to the upper jacket 22 from the front side X2. In this state, the upper jacket 22 can move in the axial direction X with respect to the lower jacket 23. By this movement, the entire column jacket 4 can be expanded and contracted along the axial direction X.

Since the column jacket 4 is connected to the steering shaft 3 by the bearing 24 and the bearing 25, the column jacket 4 rotatably supports the steering shaft 3 and holds the steering shaft 3. The column jacket 4 can be expanded and contracted together with the steering shaft 3.
The expansion / contraction of the steering shaft 3 and the column jacket 4 here is called “telescopic”, and this expansion / contraction adjustment, that is, the position adjustment of the steering member 11 in the axial direction X by telescopic is called telescopic adjustment.

The lower bracket 5 supports a portion on the front side X <b> 2 of the lower jacket 23 and connects the steering device 1 to the vehicle body 2.
The lower bracket 5 includes a pair of movable brackets 5A fixed to the lower jacket 23, a fixed bracket 5B fixed to the vehicle body 2, and a central shaft 5C extending in the left-right direction Y.

  The movable bracket 5A is rotatably supported by a fixed bracket 5B via a central axis 5C such as a column hinge. Therefore, the entire column jacket 4 can be rotated up and down around the central axis 5 </ b> C with respect to the fixed bracket 5 </ b> B and the upper bracket 6 with the steering shaft 3. The rotation here is referred to as “tilt”, and the substantially vertical direction around the central axis 5C is referred to as the tilt direction C. The tilt direction C is along an arcuate locus K having a predetermined curvature. The tilt direction C intersects the axial direction X vertically. The tilt direction C is orthogonal to the left-right direction Y. Adjustment of the position of the steering member 11 by tilt is referred to as tilt adjustment.

The upper bracket 6 supports the rear X1 portion of the lower jacket 23 of the column jacket 4 and connects the steering device 1 to the vehicle body 2.
Referring to FIG. 2 which is a perspective view of the steering device 1, the upper bracket 6 has a groove shape that opens downward, and has a substantially U shape that is upside down when viewed in the axial direction X. It is formed symmetrically with the column jacket 4 in between. More specifically, the upper bracket 6 includes a pair of side plates 30 that are thinly opposed in the left-right direction Y with the column jacket 4 interposed therebetween, and a connecting plate 31 that is thinly connected in the vertical direction Z connected to the respective upper ends of the pair of side plates 30. Is integrated.

The connection plate 31 has, for example, portions extending outward in the left-right direction Y from the pair of side plates 30, and the entire upper bracket 6 is secured to the vehicle body 2 (FIG. 1) by bolts (not shown) inserted through the portions. Reference) is fixed.
In the upper Z1 portion of the lower jacket 23, a slit 33 extending in the entire axial direction X and penetrating the lower jacket 23 in the vertical direction Z is formed. In addition, a pair of tightened portions 34 that extend from the left and right direction Y to the upper side Z1 while partitioning the slits 33 are integrally provided at the rear end portion 23A of the lower jacket 23. Each tightened portion 34 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped extending in the axial direction X and the vertical direction Z.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. In FIG. 3, a plane extending in the vertical direction Z through the central axis 3C of the steering shaft 3 is referred to as a reference plane 3D.
Referring to FIG. 3, in the pair of side plates 30, rectangular insertion holes 32 that are long in the vertical direction Z are formed at the same position when viewed from the left-right direction Y. Each of the pair of tightened portions 34 is formed with a shaft insertion hole 35 that penetrates the tightened portion 34 in the left-right direction Y.

  A guide groove 37 extending in the axial direction X is formed in the lower Z2 portion of the lower jacket 23. A guided projection 38 fixed to the upper jacket 22 is inserted into the guide groove 37. The guide groove 37 regulates the rotation of the upper jacket 22 relative to the lower jacket 23 while guiding the movement of the upper jacket 22 in the axial direction X via the guided protrusion 38. Further, the end portion of the guide groove 37 in the axial direction X is in contact with the guided projection 38, thereby preventing the upper jacket 22 from coming off from the lower jacket 23.

The steering apparatus 1 includes an insertion shaft 40, an operation member 41, a cam 42, a first tooth member 43, a tightening member 44, a second tooth member 45, and an elastic member 46 disposed in the vicinity of the left side Y2 side plate 30. In addition.
The insertion shaft 40 is made of metal and has a rod shape having a central axis C1 extending in the left-right direction Y. The insertion shaft 40 is also called a tilt bolt. The insertion shaft 40 is inserted through a portion where the shaft insertion hole 35 and the insertion hole 32 overlap when viewed in the left-right direction Y. Specifically, the insertion shaft 40 is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 35 so as to be rotatable around the central axis C <b> 1 in the shaft insertion hole 35, and is allowed to move in the tilt direction C within the insertion hole 32. Is inserted.

The movement of the insertion shaft 40 in the axial direction X and the tilt direction C with respect to the column jacket 4 is restricted by the shaft insertion hole 35 and can move in the tilt direction C as the column jacket 4 is tilted. The insertion shaft 40 is located on the upper side Z <b> 1 from the steering shaft 3.
The left end portion of the insertion shaft 40 is located on the left side Y2 with respect to the side plate 30 on the left side Y2 of the upper bracket 6. The right end portion of the insertion shaft 40 is located on the right side Y1 with respect to the side plate 30 on the right side Y1 of the upper bracket 6. A head portion 40 </ b> A having a larger diameter than the other part of the insertion shaft 40 is provided at the left end portion of the insertion shaft 40. A thread groove 40 </ b> B is provided at the right end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the insertion shaft 40.

The operation member 41 is a grippable lever or the like. The operation member 41 includes a base end portion 41A that is one end in the longitudinal direction and a grip portion 41B that is the other end in the longitudinal direction. A through hole 41C that penetrates the operation member 41 in the left-right direction Y is formed in the base end portion 41A. The insertion shaft 40 is inserted through the through hole 41C.
The cam 42 integrally includes an annular plate portion 42A adjacent to the base end portion 41A of the operation member 41 from the right side Y1 and a boss portion 42B extending from the plate portion 42A to the left side Y2. A cam protrusion 42C is provided on the right side surface of the plate portion 42A.

  The insertion shaft 40 is inserted in a press-fit state into a space defined by the inner peripheral surfaces of the plate portion 42A and the boss portion 42B. Therefore, the cam 42 can rotate integrally with the insertion shaft 40. The outer shape of the boss portion 42B is, for example, a substantially square shape when viewed from the left-right direction Y. Since the boss portion 42B is inserted into the through hole 41C of the operation member 41, the idling between the operation member 41 and the boss portion 42B is prevented. Therefore, the operation member 41 can rotate integrally with the cam 42 and the insertion shaft 40. As described above, the operation member 41 is attached to the left end portion of the insertion shaft 40 via the cam 42. The driver can rotate the insertion shaft 40 together with the operation member 41 in accordance with the operation of the operation member 41 by grasping and operating the grip portion 41 </ b> B of the operation member 41.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of members around the side plate 30 on the left side Y2 of the upper bracket 6.
Referring to FIG. 4, the first tooth member 43 is, for example, a metal plate that can be elastically deformed in the left-right direction Y. The outer contour of the first tooth member 43 is substantially rectangular when viewed from the left-right direction Y.

The first tooth member 43 integrally includes a pair of support portions 49, a pair of connecting portions 50, and a pair of first tooth rows 51L.
The support portion 49 has a plate shape that is long in the vertical direction Z and thin in the left-right direction Y. The pair of support portions 49 are arranged in the axial direction X with a space therebetween. Each support portion 49 is formed with a plurality of holes 49 </ b> A as rigidity reducing portions for reducing the rigidity of the first tooth member 43. In each support portion 49, a plurality of holes 49A are arranged at equal intervals in the vertical direction Z. The hole 49A passes through the support portion 49 in the left-right direction Y. Each hole 49A of the support portion 49 on the rear side X1 has a substantially trapezoidal shape with the upper base facing the front side X2 when viewed from the left-right direction Y. Each hole 49A of the support portion 49 on the front side X2 has a substantially trapezoidal shape with the upper base facing the rear side X1 when viewed from the left-right direction Y.

  The connecting portion 50 has a plate shape that is long in the axial direction X and thin in the left-right direction Y. The pair of connecting portions 50 are disposed in the up-down direction Z with a space therebetween. The pair of connecting portions 50 connects the pair of support portions 49. Specifically, the connecting portion 50 on the upper side Z <b> 1 is installed between the upper ends of the pair of support portions 49, and the connecting portion 50 on the lower side Z <b> 2 is installed between the lower ends of the pair of support portions 49.

  The first tooth member 43 is formed with a straight hole 52 that penetrates the first tooth member 43 in the left-right direction Y. The straight hole 52 extends in a first straight direction L1 that intersects the axial direction X and is orthogonal to the left-right direction Y. In the first embodiment, the first linear direction L1 is a direction parallel to the vertical direction Z. The straight hole 52 is a space surrounded by the pair of support portions 49 and the pair of connecting portions 50. The insertion shaft 40 is inserted into the straight hole 52 (see FIG. 3).

  Each of the pair of first tooth rows 51L includes a plurality of substantially triangular first teeth 51 arranged in the first linear direction L1 (also in the vertical direction Z). The first tooth row 51L on the front side X2 is provided at the front edge of the support portion 49 on the front side X2. The first tooth row 51L on the rear side X1 is provided on the rear end edge of the support portion 49 on the rear side X1. The first teeth 51 of the first tooth row 51L on the front side X2 protrude from the support portion 49 on the front side X2 to the front side X2. The first teeth 51 of the first tooth row 51L on the rear side X1 protrude from the support portion 49 on the rear side X1 to the rear side X1.

  Each first tooth 51 of the first tooth row 51L has a tooth trace 51A extending in the left-right direction Y as a tip thereof. The root portion 51 </ b> B of the first tooth 51 is supported by the support portion 49 and is integrated with the support portion 49. The first tooth member 43 can be elastically deformed in the left-right direction Y as described above. However, in the first tooth member 43, it is sufficient that at least the pair of first tooth rows 51L can be elastically deformed in the left-right direction Y. The first tooth member 43 is adjacent to the left side Y2 side plate 30 from the left side Y2 (see FIG. 3).

In relation to the first tooth member 43, the side plate 30 on the left side Y <b> 2 of the upper bracket 6 is provided with a pair of first restricting portions 55 and a pair of concave portions 56.
The first restricting portion 55 is formed by extruding the left side Y2 side plate 30. The 1st control part 55 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped long in the 2nd linear direction L2 which cross | intersects the 1st linear direction L1 and orthogonally crosses with respect to the left-right direction Y. The second linear direction L2 is orthogonal to the first linear direction L1 in the first embodiment. The pair of first restricting portions 55 are provided integrally with the side plate 30 on the left side Y2, but may be formed separately from the side plate 30 on the left side Y2, and may be fixed to the side plate 30 on the left side Y2. The first restricting portions 55 are arranged in the up-down direction Z at intervals from each other. Specifically, one first restricting portion 55 is disposed on each outer side in the vertical direction Z in the insertion hole 32.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the first tooth member 43 is disposed between the pair of first restricting portions 55 as viewed in the axial direction X. The connecting portion 50 on the upper side Z1 of the first tooth member 43 faces the first restricting portion 55 on the upper side Z1 from the lower side Z2. The connecting portion 50 on the lower side Z2 of the first tooth member 43 faces the first restricting portion 55 on the lower side Z2 from the upper side Z1. Accordingly, the first tooth member 43 is restricted from moving in the up-down direction Z with respect to the side plate 30 on the left side Y2. The first tooth member 43 is supported by the left Y2 side plate 30 via the pair of first restricting portions 55 so as to be movable in the second linear direction L2 with respect to the left Y2 side plate 30. Since the pair of first restricting portions 55 extend in the second linear direction L2, it is possible to guide the movement of the first tooth member 43 in the second linear direction L2 with respect to the side plate 30 on the left side Y2.

The pair of first restricting portions 55 restricts the rotation of the first tooth member 43 around the insertion shaft 40.
Referring to FIG. 4, in the side plate 30 on the left side Y <b> 2, a portion that partitions the insertion hole 32 from both outer sides in the axial direction X is defined as a peripheral edge portion 32 </ b> A. One recess 56 is located on each outer side of the pair of peripheral edges 32A in the axial direction X. Each recessed part 56 is formed by denting the side plate 30 to the right side Y1.

  The tightening member 44 integrally includes an annular plate portion 57, a second restricting portion 58 that is a substantially rectangular block body as viewed from the right side Y1, and a cylindrical boss portion 59. The tightening member 44 includes a pressing surface 44 </ b> B that forms the right side surface of the plate portion 57. The second restricting portion 58 extends from the pressing surface 44B to the right side Y1. The boss portion 59 extends from the right side surface of the second restricting portion 58 to the right side Y1. The tightening member 44 is formed with a through hole 44 </ b> A that penetrates the tightening member 44 in the left-right direction Y. The internal space of the boss portion 59 constitutes a part of the through hole 44A.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the fastening member 44 is adjacent to the cam 42 from the right side Y1. The insertion shaft 40 is inserted into the through hole 44A with play. Thus, the tightening member 44 is supported by the insertion shaft 40 so as to be rotatable relative to the insertion shaft 40. On the left side surface of the plate portion 57 of the tightening member 44, a cam projection 44C of the cam 42 and a cam projection 44C that can ride on are formed.

Referring to FIG. 4, second tooth member 45 is, for example, a metal sintered body. The second tooth member 45 integrally includes a main body portion 60, a pair of projecting portions 61, and a pair of second tooth rows 63L.
The main body 60 has a thin plate shape in the left-right direction Y. The outer contour of the main body 60 has a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the axial direction X when viewed from the left-right direction Y. In the main body 60, one bending portion 60A is formed at each of both ends in the up-down direction Z of the substantially central portion in the axial direction X. The curved portion 60A on the upper side Z1 bulges to the upper side Z1, and the curved portion 60A on the lower side Z2 bulges to the lower side Z2. The contours of the pair of curved portions 60A viewed from the left-right direction Y substantially coincide with the arcuate contours of the plate portion 57 of the fastening member 44 viewed from the left-right direction Y.

  In the main body 60, a through hole 45 </ b> A that penetrates the main body 60 in the left-right direction Y is formed at the approximate center in the vertical direction Z and the axial direction X. The through hole 45 </ b> A has a substantially square shape when viewed from the left-right direction Y. Referring to FIG. 3, insertion shaft 40 and second restriction portion 58 are inserted through through hole 45 </ b> A. The main body portion 60 is adjacent to the plate portion 57 of the fastening member 44 from the right side Y1. The main body 60 faces the first tooth member 43 from the left side Y2.

Referring to FIG. 4, the protrusion 61 has a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction Z when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The protrusions 61 protrude from the both ends in the axial direction X of the main body 60 one by one toward the right Y1.
Each second tooth row 63L includes a plurality of second teeth 63 arranged along the first linear direction L1 (also the vertical direction Z). The pair of second tooth rows 63 </ b> L are provided one by one on the pair of projecting portions 61, and are thus spaced apart from each other in the axial direction X. The second tooth row 63L on the rear side X1 protrudes from the front surface of the protruding portion 61 on the rear side X1 to the front side X2 with the tooth tip portion 63A of the second tooth 63 facing the front side X2. The second tooth row 63L on the front side X2 protrudes from the rear surface of the protrusion portion 61 on the front side X2 toward the rear side X1 with the tooth tip portion 63A of the second tooth 63 directed toward the rear side X1.

  A tooth tip portion 63A of each second tooth 63 of the second tooth row 63L has a tooth trace 63B extending in the left-right direction Y. In the pair of second tooth rows 63 </ b> L, a left end portion 63 </ b> C that is an end portion of the second tooth 63 on the main body portion 60 side is fixed to the right side surface 60 </ b> B of the main body portion 60. In the pair of second tooth rows 63 </ b> L, the tooth base portion 63 </ b> D of the second tooth 63 is fixed to the protruding portion 61. Thus, since the 2nd tooth | gear 63 is being fixed in two places, the tooth root part 63D and the left end part 63C, intensity | strength is high.

The elastic member 46 is, for example, a leaf spring formed by press-molding a single metal plate. The elastic member 46 integrally includes a pair of deforming portions 65 that are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction X and a pair of connecting portions 66 that are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction Z.
The deformation portion 65 is thin in the left-right direction Y and is long in the up-down direction Z. The deforming portion 65 is curved so that the approximate center in the vertical direction Z bulges toward the left side Y2. The deformable portion 65 can be elastically deformed in the left-right direction Y. At each of both end portions in the up-down direction Z of the deformable portion 65, one hook portion 67 bent in a crank shape toward the left side Y2 is formed.

  The hook portion 67 is integrated with a first portion 67A that is thin in the left-right direction Y and extends in the up-down direction Z, and a second portion 67B that is thin in the up-down direction Z and extends from the front end portion of the first portion 67A and extends to the left side Y2. Included. In the upper Z1 hook portion 67, the second portion 67B extends from the upper end portion of the first portion 67A, and in the lower Z2 hook portion 67, the second portion 67B is the lower end portion of the first portion 67A. It is extended from.

The connecting portion 66 of the elastic member 46 is thin in the left-right direction Y and is long in the axial direction X. The connecting portion 66 on the upper side Z <b> 1 is installed between the upper ends of the pair of deforming portions 65, and the connecting portion 66 on the lower side Z <b> 2 is installed between the lower ends of the pair of deforming portions 65.
A space 46A defined by the pair of deforming portions 65 and the pair of connecting portions 66 has a substantially rectangular shape that substantially matches the through hole 45A when viewed from the left-right direction Y.

Referring to FIG. 3, the elastic member 46 is adjacent to the second tooth member 45 from the right side Y1, and is adjacent to the first tooth member 43 from the left side Y2. The insertion shaft 40 and the second restricting portion 58 are inserted through the space 46A.
The second portion 67B of the hook portion 67 on the upper side Z1 of the elastic member 46 is engaged with the main body portion 60 of the second tooth member 45 from the upper side Z1, and the second portion 67 of the hook portion 67 on the lower side Z2 of the elastic member 46. The part 67B is engaged with the main body part 60 of the second tooth member 45 from the lower side Z2. Thereby, the elastic member 46 is integrated with the second tooth member 45.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG.
Referring to FIG. 5, the second restricting portion 58 of the tightening member 44 includes a through hole 45 </ b> A of the second tooth member 45, a space 46 </ b> A of the elastic member 46, and a straight hole 52 of the first tooth member 43. It is inserted in this order from the left side Y2. As described above, the insertion shaft 40 is inserted into the through hole 44 </ b> A of the tightening member 44. Thereby, the second tooth member 45 and the elastic member 46 are supported by the insertion shaft 40 via the tightening member 44. As described above, the through hole 45 </ b> A, the space 46 </ b> A, and the second restricting portion 58 have a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the left-right direction Y. Therefore, the second tooth member 45 and the elastic member 46 are prevented from idling with respect to the second restricting portion 58, and the second restricting portion 58 is connected to the second tooth member 45.

  The gap in the axial direction X between the second restricting portion 58 and both end edges in the axial direction X of the straight hole 52 is very small, and the second restricting portion 58 can be relatively moved along the straight hole 52 in the vertical direction Z. Degree. Therefore, the second restricting portion 58 can move in the first linear direction L1 with respect to the linear hole 52 and cannot move in the second linear direction L2 with respect to the linear hole 52. Thereby, the movement of the second tooth member 45 in the second linear direction L2 with respect to the first tooth member 43 is restricted.

Further, the both end surfaces of the second restricting portion 58 in the axial direction X and the both end edges of the linear hole 52 in the axial direction X are in contact with each other, so that the fastening member 44 is prevented from idling with respect to the first tooth member 43.
As described above, the rotation of the first tooth member 43 around the insertion shaft 40 is restricted by the first restricting portion 55. Therefore, the fastening member 44 that is prevented from idling with respect to the first tooth member 43 and the second tooth member 45 and the elastic member 46 that are prevented from idling with respect to the second restricting portion 58 of the fastening member 44 are around the insertion shaft 40. Rotation is restricted.

The right end portion of the second restricting portion 58 of the tightening member 44 and the entire boss portion 59 are inserted into the insertion hole 32 with play.
The bottom surface 56A of the recess 56 faces each first tooth row 51L one by one from the right side Y1. The peripheral portion 32A of the insertion hole 32 has a pressing surface 44B of the tightening member 44 from the right side Y1 across the support portion 49 of the first tooth member 43, the deformable portion 65 of the elastic member 46, and the main body portion 60 of the second tooth member 45. Opposite to. The pair of deformable portions 65 of the elastic member 46 is compressed in the left-right direction Y between the support portion 49 of the first tooth member 43 and the main body portion 60 of the second tooth member 45.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the cam 42 rotates according to the operation of the operation member 41 and the cam protrusion 42 </ b> C and the cam protrusion 44 </ b> C ride on, so that the tightening member 44 extends along the central axis C <b> 1 of the insertion shaft 40. Move in the left-right direction Y. Since the second tooth member 45 is adjacent to the plate portion 57 of the fastening member 44 from the right side Y1, the second tooth member 45 moves to the right side Y1 as the fastening member 44 moves to the right side Y1.

The steering device 1 includes a first tooth member 71, a second tooth member 72, an elastic member 73, a nut 74, a needle roller bearing 75, and a thrust washer 76 disposed in the vicinity of the side plate 30 on the right side Y1.
The first tooth member 71, the second tooth member 72, and the elastic member 73 on the right side Y1 are the right side of the first tooth member 43, the second tooth member 45, and the elastic member 46 on the left side Y2, with reference to the reference surface 3D. It is moved to Y1 and only the left and right directions are reversed. A pair of first restriction portions 77 and a pair of recesses 78 are formed in the side plate 30 on the right side Y1. Each of the pair of first restricting portions 77 and the pair of recessed portions 78 moves the pair of first restricting portions 55 and the pair of recessed portions 56 provided on the left side Y2 side plate 30 with respect to the reference surface 3D to the right side Y1, respectively. In this way, only the left and right directions are reversed.

  The first tooth member 71, the second tooth member 72, the elastic member 73, the pair of first restricting portions 77, and the pair of concave portions 78 include a first tooth member 43, a second tooth member 45, an elastic member 46, The same code | symbol as the corresponding structure of a pair of 1st control part 55 and the recessed part 56 is attached | subjected, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. In FIG. 3, only one of the pair of recesses 56 is illustrated, and only one of the pair of recesses 78 is illustrated.

The fastening member 79 on the right side Y1 is substantially the same as the shape obtained by inverting only the left and right directions of the fastening member 44 on the left side Y2. The components of the tightening member 79 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the tightening member 44, and description thereof is omitted. However, unlike the fastening member 44, the right side Y1 fastening member 79 is not provided with a cam projection 44C.
The nut 74 is attached to the thread groove 40 </ b> B of the insertion shaft 40. Between the nut 74 and the tightened portion 34 on the right side Y1, the side plate 30 on the right side Y1, the first tooth member 71, the second tooth member 72, the elastic member 73, the tightening member 79, and the annular needle roller bearing 75 and a thrust washer 76 are interposed. The needle roller bearing 75 and the thrust washer 76 are arranged in this order between the tightening member 79 and the nut 74 from the left side Y2. The insertion shaft 40 includes a straight hole 52 of the first tooth member 71, a through hole 45A of the second tooth member 72, a space 46A of the elastic member 73, a through hole 44A of the tightening member 79, a needle roller bearing 75 and a thrust washer 76. Is inserted for each of the.

  Referring to FIG. 3, the left side Y2 side plate 30, the insertion shaft 40, the cam 42, the first tooth member 43, the tightening member 44, the second tooth member 45, and the elastic member 46 form the tilt lock mechanism 86 of the left side Y2. It is composed. The tilt lock mechanism 86 is a mechanism for firmly locking the position of the column jacket 4 in the tilt direction C and for releasing the lock of the position of the column jacket 4.

Similar to the tilt lock mechanism 86, the right Y1 side plate 30, the insertion shaft 40, the first tooth member 71, the tightening member 79, the second tooth member 72, and the elastic member 73 constitute a right Y1 tilt lock mechanism 87. ing.
The steering device 1 includes a cylindrical lock member 80, a transmission member 81, and a plate-like lock plate 82 extending in the axial direction X. The lock member 80, the transmission member 81, and the lock plate 82 are disposed between the pair of tightening portions 34 as viewed in the axial direction X. The lock member 80 is rotatably supported by the insertion shaft 40. The lock plate 82 is fixed to the upper jacket 22. The transmission member 81 includes a cam for transmitting the rotation of the insertion shaft 40 to the lock member 80, a spring for urging the lock member 80 toward the lock plate 82, and the like.

  The tooth portion 80A provided on the lock member 80 and the tooth portion 82A provided on the lock plate 82 mesh with each other, whereby the position of the steering member 11 (see FIG. 1) in the axial direction X is firmly locked (described later). In the locked state). Moreover, the lock | rock of the position of the steering member 11 in the axial direction X is cancelled | released by releasing mesh | engagement of the tooth part 80A and the tooth part 82A (the mode at the time of the releasing state mentioned later). Thus, the lock member 80, the transmission member 81, and the lock plate 82 constitute a telescopic lock mechanism 83.

Next, the operation of the steering device 1 will be described.
Below, the characteristic tilt lock mechanism 86 is demonstrated and description of the telescopic lock mechanism 83 is abbreviate | omitted.
When the operation member 41 is rotated after the driver performs tilt adjustment or telescopic adjustment, the fastening member 44 compresses the pair of deformed portions 65 of the elastic member 46 via the main body portion 60 of the second tooth member 45. While moving to the right side Y1 along the central axis C1 of the insertion shaft 40, the peripheral portion 32A of the insertion hole 32 of the side plate 30 on the left side Y2 is pressed as shown in FIG. Thereby, the space | interval in the left-right direction Y of the fastening member 44 and the fastening member 79 becomes narrow, and a pair of side plate 30 is fastened from the both sides of the left-right direction Y between the fastening member 44 and the fastening member 79. The friction between each side plate 30 and the tightened portion 34 and between the lower jacket 23 and the upper jacket 22 is held by friction, so that the column jacket 4 cannot be rotated and stretched, and the steering member 11 (see FIG. 1). ) Cannot move in the tilt direction C and the axial direction X.

The state of the steering device 1 when the position of the steering member 11 is fixed in the tilt direction C and the axial direction X is referred to as a “locked state”. Note that the steering device 1 is in a locked state during normal driving.
In the steering apparatus 1 in the locked state, when the operation member 41 is rotated in the opposite direction, the tightening member 44 is urged by the elastic member 46 via the second tooth member 45 and moves to the left side Y2. Thereby, the space | interval of the clamping member 44 and the clamping member 79 spreads, and the clamp | tightening with respect to a pair of side plate 30 between the clamping member 44 and the clamping member 79 is cancelled | released. Friction holding between each side plate 30 and the tightened portion 34 and between the lower jacket 23 and the upper jacket 22 is released, and the steering member 11 (see FIG. 1) moves in the tilt direction C and the axial direction X. It becomes possible to move to.

The state of the steering device 1 when the position of the steering member 11 is released in the tilt direction C and the axial direction X is referred to as a “released state”.
The insertion shaft 40, the operation member 41, the cam 42, the tightening member 44, the elastic member 46, the elastic member 73, the nut 74, the needle roller bearing 75, the thrust washer 76 and the tightening member 79 constitute a tightening mechanism 85. ing. The tightening mechanism 85 tightens the pair of side plates 30 and the pair of tightened portions 34 to lock the position of the steering member 11 that has finished the tilt adjustment and telescopic adjustment, or releases the tightening to release the steering member 11 (see FIG. 1) to enable tilt adjustment and telescopic adjustment.

Here, in the locked state, the first teeth 51 of the first tooth row 51L and the second teeth 63 of the second tooth row 63L do not overlap with each other according to the tilt adjustment position (phases coincide). Or it will be in the state where teeth overlap (phase mismatch).
Next, the operation of meshing between the first tooth member 43 and the second tooth member 45 will be described.

  Regarding the operation of meshing between the first tooth member 71 and the second tooth member 72 arranged around the right side Y1 side plate 30, the first tooth member 43 and the second tooth arranged around the left side Y2 side plate 30 are used. This is the same as the operation of meshing with the member 45. Therefore, in the following, the configuration on the side plate 30 side of the left side Y2 will be described in detail, and the description on the configuration on the side plate 30 side of the right side Y1 will be omitted. The same applies to the operations of the first tooth member 43 and the second tooth member 45 during the tilt adjustment described later.

6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. In the cross-sectional view along the line VI-VI, the main body portion 60 of the second tooth member 45 does not appear originally, but is shown by a two-dot chain line for convenience of explanation.
Referring to FIG. 6, when the second tooth member 45 moves to the right side Y1 in accordance with the operation of the operation member 41 (see FIG. 3), the first teeth 51 of the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row If the second tooth 63 of 63L is in a positional relationship that does not overlap with the left side Y2, when the operation is completed, the first tooth 51 and the second tooth 63 are alternately arranged in the first linear direction L1, and the fastening member The pressing surface 44B of 44 presses the peripheral edge portion 32A of the insertion hole 32 of the side plate 30 on the left side Y2. Therefore, the locked state can be reached without being obstructed by the first teeth 51 of the first tooth row 51L and the second teeth 63 of the second tooth row 63L. At this time, the 1st tooth | gear 51 and the 2nd tooth | gear 63 have meshed | engaged from the direction (equivalent to the left-right direction Y) where each tooth trace extends (refer FIG. 5).

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the second tooth row 63L is riding on the first tooth row 51L in FIG.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the second tooth member 45 moves to the right side Y1, the first teeth 51 of the first tooth row 51L and the second teeth 63 of the second tooth row 63L are moved from the left side Y2. In the case of the overlapping positional relationship, the second tooth row 63L is the first before the pressing surface 44B (see FIG. 5) of the tightening member 44 presses the peripheral portion 32A of the insertion hole 32 of the side plate 30 on the left side Y2. Get on the dentition 51L. The state in which the second tooth row 63L rides on the first tooth row 51L and the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L do not mesh with each other is referred to as a tooth-on-tooth state.

  As described above with reference to FIG. 5, the left side Y <b> 2 side plate 30 is provided with the recess 56 at a position facing the first tooth row 51 </ b> L of the first tooth member 43. Therefore, a space 56B exists on the right side Y1 of the first tooth row 51L. Therefore, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 5, in the tooth-on-tooth state, the first tooth 51 of the portion riding on the second tooth row 63L in the first tooth row 51L is bent and accommodated in the space 56B. Yes. Since the first tooth member 43 is provided with a plurality of holes 49A as rigidity reducing portions, the first tooth row 51L can be easily bent.

  As described above, the first teeth 51 are bent to the right side Y1, so that the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L can be pressed against each other even in the tooth-on-tooth state. Further, the pressing surface 44 </ b> B of the tightening member 44 transmits force via the main body portion 60 of the second tooth member 45, the pair of deformable portions 65 of the elastic member 46, and the pair of support portions 49 of the first tooth member 43. Thus, the left side Y2 side plate 30 can be pressed. Therefore, the steering device 1 can reach the locked state without the operation member 41 (see FIG. 3) being unable to rotate during the operation.

As described above, the steering device 1 can be in a locked state regardless of the positional relationship between the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L. That is, regardless of the tilt adjustment position, the steering device 1 can be locked, that is, so-called stepless locking.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a release state in FIG.

  As described above, when changing from the locked state to the released state, the tightening member 44 and the second tooth member 45 move to the left side Y <b> 2 by the urging force of the pair of deforming portions 65 of the elastic member 46. Therefore, referring to FIG. 8, the second tooth row 63L of the second tooth member 45 is separated from the first tooth row 51L of the first tooth member 43 to the left side Y2. When the first tooth 51 is bent by the tooth-on-tooth in the locked state, the first tooth 51 returns to the state before the elastic deformation with the change from the locked state to the released state.

  In the released state, the second restricting portion 58 of the tightening member 44 is continuously inserted into the through hole 45A of the second tooth member 45, the space 46A of the elastic member 46, and the straight hole 52 of the first tooth member 43. Yes. Further, in the released state, in the tightening member 44, the second restricting portion 58 is detached from the insertion hole 32 and only the boss portion 59 is inserted through the insertion hole 32, but the right end portion of the second restricting portion 58 is also inserted. The hole 32 may be inserted.

Next, operations of the first tooth member 43 and the second tooth member 45 at the time of tilt adjustment will be described.
Referring to FIG. 9 which is a schematic diagram showing the operation of each member during the tilt adjustment, when the tilt adjustment is performed in the released state, the insertion shaft 40 moves in the tilt direction within each insertion hole 32 of the upper bracket 6. Go to C. In FIG. 9, for convenience of explanation, the illustration of the hole 49A of the first tooth member 43 is omitted, and the second tooth member 45 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. In FIG. 9, the insertion shaft 40 and the fastening member 44 when the insertion shaft 40 is moved to the lowest position in the tilt direction C by tilt adjustment are shown by solid lines, and the insertion shaft 40 is moved most in the tilt direction C by tilt adjustment. The insertion shaft 40 and the tightening member 44 when moved upward are shown by two-dot chain lines.

  The insertion shaft 40 is movable in the tilt direction C together with the second restricting portion 58 or the boss portion 59 of the fastening member 44 and the fastening member 79 in the insertion holes 32 of the left and right side plates 30 in the upper bracket 6. is there. However, the insertion shaft 40 can rotate around the central axis C1 in the shaft insertion hole 35 of the lower jacket 23 of the column jacket 4, but cannot move in the other direction. Therefore, when the column jacket 4 is tilted for tilt adjustment, the insertion shaft 40 rotates in the tilt direction C together with the column jacket 4. As described above, the upper bracket 6 supports the column jacket 4 through the insertion shaft 40 so as to be rotatable.

When the driver moves the steering member 11 (see FIG. 1) in the tilt direction C for tilt adjustment, the entire column jacket 4 (see FIG. 1) is tilted relative to the upper bracket 6. The tilt adjustment of the steering member 11 is performed within a range in which the second restricting portion 58 and the boss portion 59 of the tightening member 44 can move within the insertion hole 32.
The first tooth member 43 is movable in the second linear direction L2 while being supported by the left side Y2 side plate 30 of the upper bracket 6, but is moved in the first linear direction L1 by the pair of first restricting portions 55. The movement of the left side Y2 relative to the side plate 30 is restricted. As shown in FIG. 10, which is a schematic diagram for explaining the movement of the second restricting portion 58 with respect to the first tooth member 43, the second restricting portion 58 connected to the second tooth member 45 includes the first tooth member 43. In this state, it can move in the first linear direction L1, but cannot move in the second linear direction L2. Thus, the second tooth member 45 can move relative to the first tooth member 43 in the first linear direction L1 and can move integrally in the second linear direction L2. In FIG. 10, the second tooth member 45 is shown by a two-dot chain line when the insertion shaft 40 is moved to the lowest position in the tilt direction C by tilt adjustment, and the insertion shaft 40 is moved to the uppermost position in the tilt direction C by tilt adjustment. The insertion shaft 40, the tightening member 44, and the second tooth member 45 when being moved to are shown by a one-dot chain line.

  Referring to FIG. 9, when the insertion shaft 40 rotates in the tilt direction C together with the column jacket 4 for adjusting the tilt of the steering member 11 (see FIG. 1), the second tooth member 45 and the first tooth member 43 are rotated. It rotates by linearly moving in the first linear direction L1 with respect to the first tooth member 43 while linearly moving in the second linear direction L2 with respect to the upper bracket 6. That is, the rotation of the second tooth member 45 can be decomposed into the respective linear movements in the first linear direction L1 and the second linear direction L2. Thereby, the plurality of second teeth 63 in the second tooth row 63L of the second tooth member 45, and the plurality of first teeth 51 in the first tooth row 51L meshing with the second tooth row 63L in the first tooth member 43, It is not necessary to arrange them in the tilt direction C along the arcuate locus K, and they can be arranged linearly along the first linear direction L1. In this case, since the shape and arrangement of the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L are not affected by the locus K, even if the curvature of the locus K changes depending on the vehicle type on which the steering device 1 is mounted, It is not necessary to change the shape and arrangement of the tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L. Therefore, the common first tooth member 43 and second tooth member 45 can be applied even to a plurality of vehicle types having different curvatures of the trajectory K.

  Specifically, even if the distance D (see FIG. 1) between the central shaft 5C and the insertion shaft 40 varies depending on the vehicle type, the first tooth member 43 and the second tooth member 45 in the second linear direction L2 Only the amount of movement (sliding amount) and the amount of movement of the second tooth member 45 relative to the first tooth member 43 in the first linear direction L1 change, and the plurality of first teeth 51 and the plurality of second teeth 63 There is no need to change the direction. Therefore, the common use of the first tooth member 43 and the common use of the second tooth member 45 can be achieved. As a result, the cost of parts can be reduced.

  Unlike the first embodiment, in the configuration in which the plurality of first teeth 51 and the plurality of second teeth 63 are arranged along the tilt direction C (for example, the configuration of a comparative example described later), the first teeth 51 and the first teeth It is necessary to design the two teeth 63 so as to extend radially from the central axis 5C. Therefore, if the distance D (see FIG. 1) between the central shaft 5C and the insertion shaft 40 is changed even by 1 mm, the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L on the front side X2 and the first on the rear side X1 are changed. It is necessary to change the tooth pitch between the tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L. On the other hand, in the configuration in which the plurality of first teeth 51 and the plurality of second teeth 63 are arranged along the first linear direction L1 as in the first embodiment, the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L There is no need to change the tooth pitch depending on the position in the axial direction X.

At the time of tilt adjustment, the elastic member 46 supported by the insertion shaft 40 via the second restricting portion 58 also performs the same operation as the second tooth member 45. Therefore, the second tooth member 45 and the elastic member 46 are adjusted by tilt adjustment. Do not move relative to each other in the first linear direction L1 or the second linear direction L2.
By the way, the steering device of the comparative example of the structure by which the 1st tooth member 43 was fixed to the side plate 30 of the left side Y2, and the tilt groove extended in the tilt direction C was provided in the side plate 30 of the left side Y2 is assumed. In the comparative example, the movement of the second tooth member 45 during tilt adjustment is guided by the tilt groove. In the steering device of the comparative example, the variation in dimensions when the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L are meshed with each other is the size of each of the first tooth member 43, the second tooth member 45, and the tightening member 44. The total of the variation and the variation in the dimension of the tilt groove of the left side Y2 side plate 30, that is, the total of the variation in the dimensions of the four components.

  In the steering device 1 of the first embodiment, the movement of the second tooth member 45 at the time of tilt adjustment is directly guided by the straight hole 52 of the first tooth member 43. Therefore, unlike the comparative example, the dimension variation of the left side Y2 side plate 30 is not added to the dimension variation when the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L are engaged. That is, the variation in dimensions when the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L are meshed is the sum of the variations in the dimensions of the first tooth member 43, the second tooth member 45, and the fastening member 44, that is, This is the sum of the dimensional variations of the three parts.

  Therefore, in the steering device 1 of the first embodiment, the accuracy in the axial direction X in the meshing of the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L can be improved as compared with the steering device of the comparative example. As a result, the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L ride on the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L by shifting the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L in the axial direction X due to the influence of the variation described above. It can suppress that the quantity which the row | line | column 51L and the 2nd tooth row | line 63L mesh | engage mutually becomes small. As a result, it is possible to improve the force that holds the position of the steering member 11 in the tilt direction C, that is, the tilt holding force.

The tilt lock mechanism 87 on the right side Y1 also has the same effect as that of the tilt lock mechanism 86 on the left side Y2.
Next, it is assumed that a secondary collision occurs in which the driver collides with the steering member 11 at the time of a vehicle collision.
When a secondary collision occurs with the second tooth row 63L riding on the first tooth row 51L (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 5), the second tooth member 45 moves in the vertical direction Z with respect to the first tooth member 43. By moving, the riding of the second tooth row 63L with respect to the first tooth row 51L is eliminated. Thereby, the state before the first tooth row 51L is elastically deformed is restored, and the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L are engaged with each other.

  At the time of the secondary collision, the column jacket 4 holding the steering shaft 3 tends to move in the tilt direction C with the second tooth member 45. On the other hand, the first tooth member 43 supported by the upper bracket 6 fixed to the vehicle body 2 does not move in the vertical direction Z. Therefore, in the state where the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L are engaged with each other, the position of the steering member 11 in the vertical direction Z is maintained.

Next, a modification of the first embodiment will be described.
FIG. 11 is a diagram in which a modification of the first embodiment is applied to FIG. In FIG. 11, the same members as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 11, the steering device 1 according to the modification of the first embodiment includes a second tooth member 90 instead of the tightening member 44 and the second tooth member 45. The second tooth member 90 is a member in which the fastening member 44 and the second tooth member 45 of the first embodiment are integrally formed. That is, the second tooth member 90 has a shape in which the tightening member 44 and the second tooth member 45 in a state where the second restricting portion 58 is inserted into the through hole 45A are integrated.

Referring to FIG. 11, the second tooth member 90 includes a main body portion 60, a pair of protrusions 61, a pair of second tooth rows 63 </ b> L, a second restriction portion 58, and a boss portion 59. The second tooth member 90 is formed with a through-hole 90 </ b> A that penetrates the second tooth member 90 in the left-right direction Y. The insertion shaft 40 is inserted into the through hole 90A with play.
The second restricting portion 58 is inserted into the space 46A of the elastic member 46 and the straight hole 52 of the first tooth member 43 from the left side Y2.

The right side surface 60B of the main body portion 60 faces the peripheral edge portion 32A of the left side Y2 side plate 30 from the left side Y2 with the support portion 49 of the first tooth member 43 and the deformation portion 65 of the elastic member 46 interposed therebetween.
A cam protrusion 44 </ b> C is formed on the left side surface of the main body 60. When the second tooth member 90 moves to the right side Y1 in accordance with the operation of the operation member 41, the left side Y2 via the pair of deformable portions 65 of the elastic member 46 and the pair of support portions 49 of the first tooth member 43. The peripheral edge portion 32 </ b> A of the insertion hole 32 of the side plate 30 is pressed by the right side surface 60 </ b> B of the main body portion 60. Thus, the right side surface 60B of the main body 60 constitutes the pressing surface.

According to the modification, the same effects as those of the first embodiment are obtained.
Further, in the steering device 1 of the modified example, the movement of the second tooth member 90 at the time of tilt adjustment is guided by the straight hole 52 of the first tooth member 43. Therefore, the variation in dimensions when the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L are engaged with each other is the sum of the variation in the sizes of the first tooth member 43 and the second tooth member 90, that is, the size of the two parts. This is the total variation. Therefore, in the steering device 1 of the first embodiment, the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L can be meshed with higher accuracy than the steering device of the comparative example described above. Thereby, the tilt holding force can be further improved.

Second Embodiment
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of members around the side plate 30 on the left side Y2 of the upper bracket 6 of the steering device 1P according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the periphery of the left side Y2 side plate 30 of the upper bracket 6 taken along a plane perpendicular to the first linear direction L1. 12 and FIG. 13 and FIGS. 14 to 17 described later, the same members as those described so far are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  Referring to FIG. 12, the steering device 1P according to the second embodiment is mainly different from the steering device 1 according to the first embodiment in that the steering device 1P is provided in the first tooth member 43, and This is a point including a bending suppression structure 95 that suppresses the first tooth member 43 from bending so that both ends thereof in the linear direction L1 approach each other. The first tooth member 43 can be elastically deformed in the left-right direction Y so that the first tooth row 51L is tilted to the right side Y1 regardless of the presence or absence of the deflection suppressing structure 95.

  The deflection suppressing structure 95 includes, for example, a pair of ribs 96 extending in the first linear direction L1. Each rib 96 protrudes to the right side Y1. Each rib 96 has a substantially semicircular arc shape when viewed from the first linear direction L1 (see FIG. 13). The pair of ribs 96 are provided on the first tooth member 43 by being formed integrally with the first tooth member 43. Unlike this embodiment, a pair of ribs 96 provided separately from the first tooth member 43 may be fixed to the first tooth member 43.

  Each of the pair of ribs 96 is located between the corresponding first tooth row 51 </ b> L and the straight hole 52. More specifically, each of the pair of ribs 96 is located between the corresponding hole 49 </ b> A and the straight hole 52. In each of the support portions 49, a recess 96 </ b> A is formed in which the left side surface is recessed toward the right side Y <b> 1. A pair of ribs 96 is not necessarily provided, and only one rib 96 may be provided, or three or more ribs 96 may be provided.

  Referring to FIG. 13, in the locked state, right end portion 96 </ b> B that is an end portion on the protruding side of the pair of ribs 96 is in contact with side plate 30 on left side Y <b> 2 of upper bracket 6. In this state, the pressing surface 44B of the tightening member 44 is positioned on the left Y2 via the main body portion 60 of the second tooth member 45, the pair of deformed portions 65 of the elastic member 46, and the pair of ribs 96 of the first tooth member 43. The side plate 30 is pressed. A space between the pair of first tooth rows 51 </ b> L of the first tooth member 43 and the side plate 30 on the left side Y <b> 2 is referred to as an allowable space 97.

  In the state of tooth-on-tooth, the first tooth member 43 is elastically deformed with the right end portions 96B of the pair of ribs 96 in contact with the left side Y2 side plate 30 serving as fulcrums. Thereby, in the first tooth row 51L, the portion of the first tooth 51 riding on the second tooth row 63L is inclined to the right side Y1 (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 13). The tip of the first tooth 51 moves to the right side Y1 and is accommodated in the allowable space 97 without interfering with the side plate 30 on the left side Y2. As described above, the deflection suppressing structure 95 includes the allowable space 97 that allows the first tooth row 51L to tilt to the right Y1 between the first tooth member 43 and the left side Y2 side plate 30.

  When the steering member 11 is moved up and down in the locked state, or when the driver collides with the steering member 11 at the time of a secondary collision, the steering shaft 3, the column jacket 4, the insertion shaft 40, and the tightening member 44. In addition, a load may be transmitted from the steering member 11 to the first tooth member 43 via the second tooth member 45. These loads may have an excessive component in the first linear direction L1, and the first tooth member 43 whose movement with respect to the side plate 30 on the left side Y2 in the first linear direction L1 is restricted by the restricting portion 55 is bent. There is a risk.

According to this embodiment, the first tooth member 43 is suppressed from being bent by the bending suppression structure 95 so that both ends in the first linear direction L1 are close to each other. Therefore, even when a load having an excessive component in the first linear direction L1 is applied to the first tooth member 43, the first tooth member 43 can be prevented from being bent suddenly, that is, buckled. .
The permissible space 97 allows the first tooth row 51L to tilt to the right side Y1 between the first tooth member 43 and the left side Y2 side plate 30 of the upper bracket 6. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the side plate 30 with a configuration for avoiding interference with the first teeth 51 inclined to the right side Y1 (for example, the recesses 56 and 78 in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 11). Therefore, the processing of the upper bracket 6 becomes easy and the cost is reduced. Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide the recessed parts 56 and 78 in the side plate 30, the width | variety of the side plate 30 in the left-right direction Y can be made small correspondingly (thickness is made thin).

According to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.
That is, the common first tooth member 43 and the second tooth member 45 can be applied even to a plurality of vehicle types having different curvatures of the locus K, and the common use of the first tooth member 43 and the common use of the second tooth member 45. Can be planned.
In addition, since the first tooth member 43 is provided with a plurality of holes 49A as rigidity reducing portions, the first tooth member 43 is elastic when the second tooth row 63L rides on the first tooth row 51L. By deforming, the first tooth row 51L can be easily tilted to the right side Y1 (specifically, the first tooth 51 on the portion of the first tooth row 51L that rides on the second tooth row 63L).

Moreover, the 1st tooth | gear 51 and the 2nd tooth | gear 63 can be mesh | engaged from the left-right direction Y which is a direction where each tooth trace extends.
In FIG. 12, only the members around the side plate 30 on the left side Y2 are shown, but even if the first tooth member 71 arranged around the side plate 30 on the right side Y1 is provided with the same deflection suppressing structure 95. Good. However, the right-side Y1 bending suppression structure 95 is configured by moving the left-side Y2 bending suppression structure 95 to the right Y1 and inverting only the left-right direction.

  FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of a cross section around a deflection suppressing structure 95 according to a first modification of the second embodiment. The rib 96 in this embodiment is substantially a semicircular arc when viewed from the first linear direction L1, but the rib 96 is viewed from the first linear direction L1 as in the first modification shown in FIG. A substantially trapezoidal shape may be used. Since the right end portion 96B of the rib 96 has a flat surface 96C, when the rib 96 comes into contact with the side plate 30 on the left side Y2 of the upper bracket 6 in the locked state, the rib 96 receives the reaction force received from the side plate 30 by the entire flat surface 96C. Can do. Thereby, the pressure which the rib 96 receives can be reduced.

FIG. 15A is a schematic perspective view of a first tooth member 43 according to a second modification of the second embodiment. FIG. 15B is a schematic diagram of a cross section around the deflection suppressing structure 95 according to the second modification of the second embodiment.
With reference to FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B, the bending suppression structure 95 of the first tooth member 43 according to the second embodiment is provided in each support portion 49 instead of the rib 96 of the first modification. It includes a pair of steps 98 provided throughout the first linear direction L1.

In the first tooth member 43 of this modified example, a step 98 is provided in each support portion 49, so that a portion around the straight hole 52 protrudes to the right Y1 from the pair of first tooth rows 51L.
Specifically, each of the pair of steps 98 is provided between the corresponding hole 49 </ b> A and the straight hole 52. Each support portion 49 includes a right side portion 49B and a left side portion 49C that are arranged on the left and right sides through a corresponding step 98. The pair of connecting portions 50 connects the right side portions 49B. The pair of first tooth rows 51 </ b> L is supported by the left side portion 49 </ b> C of the corresponding support portion 49. Each first tooth row 51 </ b> L is arranged on the left side Y <b> 2 with respect to the right side portion 49 </ b> B of the pair of support portions 49 and the pair of connection portions 50.

Referring to FIG. 15B, in the locked state, the right side portion 49 </ b> B of the pair of support portions 49 is in contact with the side plate 30 on the left side Y <b> 2 of the upper bracket 6. In this state, the pressing surface 44B (see FIG. 13) of the tightening member 44 of the second modified example is placed on the left side Y2 via the right side portions 49B of the pair of support portions 49 instead of the pair of ribs 96 of the second embodiment. The side plate 30 is pressed. Therefore, an allowable space 97 is formed between the pair of first tooth rows 51L of the first tooth member 43 and the side plate 30 on the left side Y2. In the state of tooth-on-tooth, the first tooth member 43 is elastically deformed with the boundary portion between the right side portion 49 of the support portion 49 and the step 98 as a fulcrum.
Also in the second embodiment, the modification shown in FIG. 11 can be applied.

<Third Embodiment>
Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of members around the side plate 30 on the left side Y2 of the upper bracket 6 of the steering device 1Q according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a schematic view of a cross section obtained by cutting the periphery of the left side Y2 side plate 30 of the upper bracket 6 along a plane perpendicular to the first linear direction L1.

The steering device 1Q according to the third embodiment is mainly different from the steering device 1 according to the first embodiment in that the steering device 1Q includes the first tooth member 100 instead of the first tooth member 43, and the second tooth. The second tooth member 110 is included instead of the member 45.
Specifically, the first tooth member 100 is, for example, a metal sintered body. The first tooth member 100 has, for example, a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The first tooth member 100 integrally includes a main body portion 101, a pair of projecting portions 102, and a pair of first tooth rows 103L.

The main body 101 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The protrusion 102 has a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the up-down direction Z when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The protrusions 102 protrude one by one from both ends in the axial direction X of the main body 101 toward the left side Y2.
The first tooth member 100 is formed with a straight hole 104 that penetrates the first tooth member 100 in the left-right direction Y. The straight hole 104 extends in the first straight direction L1. In the third embodiment, the first linear direction L1 is parallel to the vertical direction Z as in the first embodiment. The straight hole 104 is formed at substantially the center in the axial direction X and the vertical direction Z of the main body 101. The insertion shaft 40 is inserted into the straight hole 104.

  Each first tooth row 103L includes a plurality of first teeth 103 arranged along the first linear direction L1 (also the vertical direction Z). The pair of first tooth rows 103 </ b> L are provided one by one on the pair of projecting portions 102, and are thus spaced apart from each other in the axial direction X. The first tooth row 103L on the rear side X1 protrudes from the front surface of the protruding portion 102 on the rear side X1 to the front side X2 with the tooth tip portion 103A of the first tooth 103 facing the front side X2. The first tooth row 103L on the front side X2 protrudes from the rear surface of the protrusion portion 102 on the front side X2 to the rear side X1 with the tooth tip portion 103A of the first tooth 103 facing the rear side X1.

  The tooth tip portion 103A of each first tooth 103 of the first tooth row 103L has tooth traces 103B extending in the left-right direction Y. In the pair of first tooth rows 103 </ b> L, a right end portion 103 </ b> C that is an end portion of the first tooth 103 on the main body portion 101 side is fixed to the left side surface of the main body portion 101. In the pair of first tooth rows 103 </ b> L, the root portion 103 </ b> D of the first tooth 103 is fixed to the protruding portion 102. Thus, since the 1st tooth | gear 103 is being fixed in two places, the tooth root part 103D and the right end part 103C, intensity | strength is high.

  The first tooth member 100 is disposed between the pair of first restricting portions 55. The movement of the first tooth member 100 in the first linear direction L <b> 1 is restricted by the first restriction part 55. Further, the rotation of the first tooth member 100 around the insertion shaft 40 is restricted by the first restricting portion 55. The first tooth member 100 is supported by the left side Y2 side plate 30 via the pair of first restricting portions 55. Accordingly, the first tooth member 100 is movable in the second linear direction L2 with respect to the left side Y2 side plate 30 between the pair of first restricting portions 55. The pair of first restricting portions 55 also function as guide portions that guide the movement of the first tooth member 100 in the second linear direction L2.

The second tooth member 110 is, for example, a metal plate that can be elastically deformed in the left-right direction Y. The outer contour of the second tooth member 110 has a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the axial direction X when viewed from the left-right direction Y.
The second tooth member 110 integrally includes a pair of support portions 111, a pair of connection portions 112, and a pair of second tooth rows 113L.

  The pair of support portions 111 are arranged at an interval in the axial direction X. Each support portion 111 may be formed with a plurality of holes 111 </ b> A as rigidity reduction portions for reducing the rigidity of the second tooth member 110. The hole 111A has the same shape as the hole 49A of the first embodiment. The pair of connecting portions 112 are arranged in the up-down direction Z with a space therebetween. The pair of connecting portions 112 connects the pair of support portions 111.

  Each of the pair of second tooth rows 113L includes a plurality of substantially triangular second teeth 113 arranged in the first linear direction L1 (also the vertical direction Z). The width of the second tooth row 113L in the first linear direction L1 is smaller than the width of the first tooth row 103L in the first linear direction L1. Further, the number of second teeth 113 in each second tooth row 113L is smaller than the number of first teeth 103 in each first tooth row 103L.

  The second tooth row 113L on the front side X2 is provided on the front end edge of the support portion 111 on the front side X2. The second tooth row 113L on the rear side X1 is provided at the rear end edge of the support portion 111 on the rear side X1. The second teeth 113 of the second tooth row 113L on the front side X2 protrude from the support portion 111 on the front side X2 to the front side X2. The second teeth 113 of the second tooth row 113L on the rear side X1 protrude from the support portion 111 on the rear side X1 to the rear side X1.

  Each second tooth 113 of the second tooth row 113L has a tooth trace 113A extending in the left-right direction Y as its tip. The tooth root portion 113 </ b> B of the second tooth 113 is supported by the support portion 111 and is integrated with the support portion 111. As described above, the second tooth member 110 can be elastically deformed in the left-right direction Y. However, in the second tooth member 110, it is sufficient that at least the pair of second tooth rows 113L can be elastically deformed in the left-right direction Y.

  The second tooth member 110 is formed with a through hole 110 </ b> A that penetrates the second tooth member 110 in the left-right direction Y. 110 A of through-holes are substantially square shape seeing from the left-right direction Y. The through hole 110 </ b> A is a space surrounded by the pair of support portions 111 and the pair of connection portions 112. The insertion shaft 40 and the second restricting portion 58 are inserted through the through hole 110A. The support portion 111 is adjacent to the plate portion 57 of the fastening member 44 from the right side Y1.

The second tooth member 110 faces the first tooth member 100 in the left-right direction Y with the elastic member 46 interposed therebetween. Specifically, the pair of support portions 111 of the second tooth member 110 face the pair of deformed portions 65 of the elastic member 46 from the left side Y2, and face the main body portion 101 of the first tooth member 100 from the left side Y2. Yes.
The second restricting portion 58 of the tightening member 44 is inserted in this order from the left Y2 into the through hole 110A of the second tooth member 110, the space 46A of the elastic member 46, and the straight hole 104 of the first tooth member 100. Has been. As described above, the insertion shaft 40 is inserted into the through hole 44 </ b> A of the tightening member 44. Thus, the second tooth member 110 and the elastic member 46 are supported by the insertion shaft 40 via the tightening member 44. The through hole 110 </ b> A, the space 46 </ b> A, and the second restricting portion 58 have a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the left-right direction Y. Therefore, the second tooth member 110 and the elastic member 46 are prevented from idling with respect to the second restricting portion 58, and the second restricting portion 58 is connected to the second tooth member 110.

  The gap in the axial direction X between the second restricting portion 58 and both end edges in the axial direction X of the straight hole 104 is very small, and the second restricting portion 58 can move in the vertical direction Z along the straight hole 104. Degree. Therefore, the second restricting portion 58 can move in the first linear direction L1 with respect to the linear hole 104 and cannot move in the second linear direction L2 with respect to the linear hole 104. Thereby, the movement to the 2nd linear direction L2 of the 2nd tooth member 110 with respect to the 1st tooth member 100 is controlled.

Further, the both end surfaces of the second restricting portion 58 in the axial direction X and the both end edges of the linear hole 104 in the axial direction X are in contact with each other, so that the fastening member 44 is prevented from idling with respect to the first tooth member 100.
As described above, the rotation of the first tooth member 100 around the insertion shaft 40 is restricted by the first restricting portion 55. Therefore, the fastening member 44 that is prevented from idling with respect to the first tooth member 100 and the second tooth member 110 and the elastic member 46 that are prevented from idling with respect to the second restricting portion 58 of the fastening member 44 are the insertion shaft 40. Rotation around is restricted.

Next, the operation of the steering device 1Q will be described with reference to FIG. Since the operation of tightening the pair of side plates 30 and the pair of tightened portions 34 by the tightening mechanism 85 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted, and hereinafter, the first tooth member 100 and the second tooth member 100 will be described. The operation of meshing with the tooth member 110 will be described in detail.
When the second tooth member 110 moves to the right side Y1 in accordance with the operation of the operation member 41 (see FIG. 3), the first teeth 103 of the first tooth row 103L and the second teeth 113 of the second tooth row 113L When the operation is completed, the first teeth 103 and the second teeth 113 are alternately arranged in the first linear direction L1, and the pressing surface 44B of the tightening member 44 is on the left side. The peripheral edge portion 32A of the insertion hole 32 of the Y2 side plate 30 is pressed. Therefore, the steering device 1Q can reach the locked state without being inhibited by the first teeth 103 and the second teeth 113. At this time, the 1st tooth | gear 103 and the 2nd tooth | gear 113 have meshed | engaged from the direction (equivalent to the left-right direction Y) where each tooth trace extends.

  On the other hand, when the second tooth member 110 moves to the right side Y1, the first teeth 103 of the first tooth row 103L and the second teeth 113 of the second tooth row 113L overlap with each other when viewed from the left side Y2. In this case, the first tooth row 103L rides on the second tooth row 113L before the pressing surface 44B of the fastening member 44 presses the peripheral edge portion 32A of the insertion hole 32 of the left side Y2 side plate 30. Thereby, it will be in the state of a tooth on tooth.

  In the tooth-on-tooth state, the second tooth member 110 is elastically deformed so that the second tooth 113 of the second tooth row 113L is tilted to the left side Y2. Specifically, the second teeth 113 of the second tooth row 113L riding on the first tooth row 103L are elastically deformed and bent to the left side Y2, and are positioned in the spaces 115 on both outer sides of the fastening member 44 in the axial direction X. ing. Thus, even in the tooth-on-tooth state, when the second teeth 113 are positioned in the space 115, the tightening member 44 is not obstructed by the first tooth row 103L and the second tooth row 113L, and the right side Y1. Can be moved to. Therefore, even in the tooth-on-tooth state, the pressing surface 44 </ b> B of the tightening member 44 is inserted into the insertion hole 32 of the left side Y <b> 2 side plate 30 via the deformable portion 65 of the elastic member 46 and the main body portion 101 of the first tooth member 100. The peripheral edge portion 32A can be pressed. Therefore, the steering device 1Q can reach the locked state without the operation member 41 (see FIG. 3) being unable to rotate during the operation.

As described above, the steering device 1Q can be in a locked state regardless of the positional relationship between the first tooth row 103L and the second tooth row 113L. That is, regardless of the tilt adjustment position, the steering device 1Q can be locked, that is, so-called stepless locking.
According to the third embodiment, the second tooth row 113L can be elastically deformed. When the first tooth row 103L and the second tooth row 113L do not mesh with each other and the first tooth row 103L rides on the second tooth row 113L, the second tooth row 113L moves to the left side Y2 (the side plate 30 of the upper bracket 6). It can be bent by elastic deformation to the opposite side. Thereby, even if the 1st tooth row | line 103L and the 2nd tooth row | line | column 113L are the states which do not mesh, it can mutually press-contact. Further, the pressing surface 44 </ b> B of the tightening member 44 transmits a force through the pair of support portions 111 of the second tooth member 110, the pair of deformation portions 65 of the elastic member 46, and the main body portion 101 of the first tooth member 100. Thus, the left side Y2 side plate 30 can be pressed. Therefore, the position of the column jacket 4 in the tilt direction C can be locked.

  Further, the first tooth member 100 is a sintered body, and is a member that is not easily elastically deformed (not easily bent). Therefore, even when a load having an excessive component in the first linear direction L1 is applied to the second tooth member 110, the second tooth member 110 can be prevented from being bent suddenly, that is, buckled. . The first tooth member 100 is not limited to a sintered body, and may be any member that is not easily elastically deformed (not easily bent).

  Further, the second tooth row 113 </ b> L is allowed to tilt to the right side Y <b> 1 by the spaces 115 on both outer sides of the fastening member 44 in the axial direction X. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the side plate 30 with a configuration for avoiding interference with the second teeth 113 inclined to the left side Y2, and it is also necessary to provide the side plates 30 with the concave portions 56 and 78 of the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Absent. Therefore, the processing of the upper bracket 6 becomes easy and the cost is reduced. Moreover, since it is not necessary to provide the recessed parts 56, 78 etc. in the side plate 30, the width | variety of the side plate 30 in the left-right direction Y can be made correspondingly small (thickness is made thin).

Moreover, according to 3rd Embodiment, there exists an effect similar to 1st Embodiment.
That is, the common first tooth member 100 and the second tooth member 110 can be applied even to a plurality of vehicle types having different curvatures of the locus K, and the common use of the first tooth member 100 and the common use of the second tooth member 110. Can be planned.
In addition, since the second tooth member 110 is provided with a plurality of holes 111A as rigidity reducing portions, the second tooth member 110 is elastic when the first tooth row 103L rides on the second tooth row 113L. The second tooth row 113L can be easily tilted to the left side Y2 by deforming (specifically, the second tooth 113 of the second tooth row 113L riding on the first tooth row 103L).

Moreover, the 1st tooth | gear 51 and the 2nd tooth | gear 63 can be mesh | engaged from the left-right direction Y which is a direction where each tooth trace extends.
16 and 17, only the members around the side plate 30 on the left side Y2 are shown, but the first tooth member 71 arranged around the side plate 30 on the right side Y1 also has the same configuration as the first tooth member 100. The same configuration as that of the second tooth member 110 can be applied to the second tooth member 72 disposed around the side plate 30 on the right side Y1. However, each structure of the 1st tooth member 71 and the 2nd tooth member 72 moves each of the 1st tooth member 100 and the 2nd tooth member 110 to the right side Y1, and reversed only the right-and-left direction. .

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.
For example, the first linear direction L1 and the second linear direction L2 do not have to be orthogonal to each other, as long as they intersect each other. Further, the first linear direction L1 may not coincide with the up-down direction Z.

Further, the first tooth row 51L and the second tooth row 63L are configured by a plurality of teeth having tooth traces extending in a direction orthogonal to a direction (left-right direction Y) facing each other, that is, a plurality of teeth undulating in the left-right direction Y. May be.
Further, the rigidity reduction portion is not limited to the hole 49A, and may be a recess or a notch that makes the support portion 49 thin in the left-right direction Y.

Further, the tightening member 44 may not include the second restricting portion 58, and the second tooth member 45 may include the second restricting portion 58. The second restricting portion 58 may be provided as a separate member from the tightening member 44 and the second tooth member 45.
Unlike the above-described embodiment, the steering device 1 may include either one of the left Y2 tilt lock mechanism 86 or the right Y1 tilt lock mechanism 87.

The steering device 1 is not limited to a manual type steering device in which the steering of the steering member 11 is not assisted, but may be a column assist type electric power steering device in which the steering of the steering member 11 is assisted by an electric motor.
In addition, the steering device 1 is not limited to the telescopic lock mechanism 83, and may include a telescopic lock mechanism having a different structure, or may not include the telescopic lock mechanism 83 unlike the present embodiment.

Further, the steering device 1 may be configured to have only a tilt adjustment function without providing a telescopic adjustment function.
Further, the lower jacket 23 may be configured to hold the upper jacket 22 by reducing the diameter by sandwiching the pair of side plates 30. For example, the slit 33 may be closed at the front side X2. Further, the steering device 1 may be configured to hold the upper jacket 22 without reducing the diameter instead of the lower jacket 23.

  Further, the tilt lock mechanism 86 and the tilt lock mechanism 87 are different from the above-described embodiment, and are capsules (not shown) that connect the connecting plate 31 (see FIG. 2) of the upper bracket 6 and the vehicle body 2 (see FIG. 1). It can also be applied to a capsule-type steering apparatus 1 having At the time of the secondary collision, the upper bracket 6 is detached from the vehicle body 2 by breaking the capsule (not shown).

  Further, the steering devices 1, 1P, and 1Q of the above-described embodiment are so-called lever-mounted steering devices in which the base end portion 41A of the operation member 41 is disposed on the upper side Z1 with respect to the upper jacket 22, The tilt lock mechanism 86 and the tilt lock mechanism 87 can also be applied to a so-called lever bottom type steering device in which the base end portion 41A of the member 41 is disposed on the lower side Z2 from the upper jacket 22.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1; 1P; 1Q ... Steering device, 2 ... Vehicle body, 3 ... Steering shaft, 3A ... One end, 4 ... Column jacket, 6 ... Upper bracket, 11 ... Steering member, 40 ... Insertion shaft, 41 ... Operation member, 43 ... No. 1 tooth member, 45 ... 2nd tooth member, 49A ... hole, 51 ... 1st tooth, 51A ... tooth trace, 51L ... 1st tooth row, 52 ... straight hole, 55 ... 1st control part, 56 ... recessed part, 58 ... 2nd restricting part, 63 ... 2nd tooth, 63B ... tooth trace, 63L ... 2nd tooth row, 71 ... 1st tooth member, 72 ... 2nd tooth member, 77 ... 1st restricting part, 78 ... recessed part, 90 ... second tooth member, 95 ... deflection suppressing structure, 97 ... allowable space, 100 ... first tooth member, 103 ... first tooth, 103B ... tooth trace, 103L ... first tooth row, 104 ... straight hole, 110 ... first 2 tooth members, 113 ... second tooth, 113A ... tooth trace, 1 3L ... second toothing, C ... tilt direction, K ... trajectory, L1 ... first linear direction, L2 ... second linear direction, X ... axial direction, Y ... lateral direction

Claims (9)

A steering shaft to which a steering member is coupled at one end;
A column jacket that holds the steering shaft and is rotatable in a tilt direction along an arcuate path having a predetermined curvature;
A bracket that rotatably supports the column jacket and is fixed to the vehicle body;
An operating member that is operated to enable and disable the movement of the column jacket relative to the bracket is attached and extends in a crossing direction that intersects both the axial direction and the tilting direction of the steering shaft. An insertion shaft movable in the tilt direction together with the jacket;
A first tooth row that is formed by a plurality of first teeth that are formed along a first linear direction that extends along a first linear direction that intersects the axial direction and that is orthogonal to the intersecting direction. A first tooth member supported by the bracket so as to be movable in a second linear direction intersecting the first linear direction and orthogonal to the intersecting direction;
A first restricting portion provided on the bracket for restricting movement of the first tooth member relative to the bracket in the first linear direction;
Including a second tooth row composed of a plurality of second teeth arranged along the first linear direction, facing the first tooth member from the intersecting direction, supported by the insertion shaft, and operating the operation member A second tooth member movable in the crossing direction by:
Connected to the second tooth member, movably movable in the first linear direction with respect to the linear hole, and inserted into the linear hole so as not to move in the second linear direction with respect to the linear hole, And a second restricting portion for restricting movement of the second tooth member in the second linear direction relative to the first tooth member. The first dentition is elastically deformable in the intersecting direction,
The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is provided with a recess at a position facing the first tooth row from the intersecting direction.   The steering device according to claim 2, wherein the first tooth member is provided with a rigidity reducing portion for reducing the rigidity of the first tooth member.   The steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein tooth traces of the first teeth and the second teeth extend in the intersecting direction.   2. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a bending suppression structure that is provided on the first tooth member and suppresses the first tooth member from bending so that both ends in the first linear direction approach each other. The first tooth member is elastically deformable so as to incline the first teeth in the intersecting direction,
The steering apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the bending suppression structure has a permissible space that allows the first teeth to tilt in the intersecting direction between the first tooth member and the bracket.   The steering device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the first tooth member is provided with a rigidity reducing portion for reducing the rigidity of the first tooth member.   The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second tooth row is elastically deformable in the intersecting direction. The steering device according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein tooth traces of the first teeth and the second teeth extend in the intersecting direction.

Images