JP2018083613A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device that has a stable force for holding a steering column and is able to achieve a size reduction.SOLUTION: In a steering device, a cramp mechanism part 27 comprises: a pair of cramp parts 33 sandwiching an inner column 14 in a width direction while being sandwiched by a pair of side plates 20; a pair of first action surfaces 36 provided integrally with the cramp parts 33 and configured to elastically deform the pair of cramp parts 33 in contact with the respective pair of side plates 20; a pair of second action surfaces 42 provided below the pair of first action surfaces 36 and sandwiching an outer column 15 in contact with the respective pair of side plates 20; and a pair of third action surfaces 44 provided above the pair of first action surfaces 36 and sandwiching an outer column 15 in contact with the respective pair of side places 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering device.

FIG. 44 is a perspective view of a conventional steering device 101 and shows a state where it is attached to a vehicle body.
As shown in FIG. 44, the steering device 101 transmits the rotation of the steering wheel 102 to the steering gear unit 110 via the steering shaft 109, and the steering gear unit 110 is based on the rotation of the steering shaft 109. And the steering angle is given to the left and right steering wheels 100.

  Such a steering device includes a position adjusting mechanism that can adjust the tilt position, that is, the height position, and the telescopic position, that is, the front-rear direction position of the steering wheel, and the steering column is fixed to the vehicle body side in the event of a secondary collision. There is a mechanism that includes a detachment mechanism that detaches from a section and protects the driver from the impact of a secondary collision by moving the detached steering column forward (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-164852

  In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for downsizing and stabilization of steering column holding force in a steering device having a steering wheel position adjusting mechanism.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a steering device that has a stable steering column holding force and can be miniaturized.

  The above problem is solved by the following means. That is, the present invention provides a steering column including an outer column, an inner column having one end portion fitted to the other end portion of the outer column so as to be axially slidable, and a steering wheel at a rear end. The outer shaft is supported by sandwiching a clamp mechanism portion fixed to the steering column and fixed to the vehicle body and fixed to the vehicle body and formed on the outer column by a pair of plate-like members. And a bracket for supporting the inner column via the outer column, and the clamp mechanism portion clamps the inner column in the width direction while being clamped by the pair of plate-like members. And the clamp portions are integrally provided, and contact with the pair of plate-like members, respectively, A pair of first action surfaces for elastically deforming the pair of clamp portions, and a pair provided below the pair of first action surfaces and sandwiching the outer column by making contact with the pair of plate-like members, respectively. A second working surface, and a pair of third working surfaces provided above the pair of first working surfaces and contacting the pair of plate-like members to sandwich the outer column. This is a steering device.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the pair of clamp portions includes an axial slit formed in a lower portion of the outer column, and the axial slit in a rear portion and a front portion of the axial slit. A pair of outer columns that are surrounded on three sides by two circumferential slits that intersect each other in the circumferential direction and are opposed in the width direction with respect to the axial slit; A steering device characterized in that it is a width direction outer side end surface of a protruding plate portion provided to protrude outward in the width direction from a lower end portion of the clamp portion.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the clamp mechanism portion includes a reinforcing plate portion that vertically opposes the pair of protruding plate portions below the pair of protruding plate portions, a front end of the reinforcing plate portion, and The steering apparatus includes a pair of connecting portions that connect a rear end and the outer column, and includes a bridge portion that covers the pair of protruding plate portions below.

  Moreover, the preferable aspect of this invention is that the said clamp mechanism part has a U-shaped clearance gap formed between the said bridge part, the said clamp part, and the said protrusion board part seeing from the width direction. This is a featured steering apparatus.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the pair of second working surfaces are both ends of the reinforcing plate portion in the width direction, and the reinforcing plate portion is configured such that the clamp mechanism portion is formed by the pair of plate-like members. The steering device is a restricting portion that restricts displacement of the pair of plate-like members in a direction in which a distance between the pair of plate-like members is narrowed in the sandwiched state.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the outer column is provided with protrusions extending in the front-rear direction on both side portions in the width direction, and the pair of third working surfaces are formed on the protrusions of the protrusions. A steering device characterized by being a top portion.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, in the state in which the clamping mechanism portion is held between the pair of plate-like members, the distance between the pair of first working surfaces in the width direction is the pair of the second second surfaces. The steering apparatus is characterized in that it is formed to be larger than the interval between the working surfaces in the width direction.

  Further, in a preferred aspect of the present invention, the U-shaped gap has a shape viewed from the width direction with respect to the center in the front-rear direction of the U-shaped gap, and the shape of the front side portion and the shape of the rear side portion. Is a steering device characterized by being symmetrical.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, in the pair of clamp portions, a portion between the front side portion and the rear side portion is a thin-walled portion that is thinner than the front side portion and the rear side portion. A steering apparatus characterized by the above.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the outer column is a steering device characterized in that a circumferential portion corresponding to the thin portion is thinner than other portions.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a long hole extending in the front-rear direction is formed by the lower side surface of the pair of projecting plate portions and the upper side surface of the reinforcing plate portion, and the long holes have the pair of plate-like shapes. The rod inserted through the member is inserted so as to be relatively movable in the front-rear direction.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the length of the first working surface in the front-rear direction is shorter than the length of the third working surface in the front-rear direction.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the center of the first working surface in the front-rear direction and the center of the third working surface in the front-rear direction are the same position in the front-rear direction of the outer column. Is a steering device.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the center of the first working surface in the front-rear direction is on the front side or the rear side in the front-rear direction of the outer column with respect to the center of the third working surface in the front-rear direction. A steering apparatus characterized by being positioned.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a width direction groove having an arc shape in cross section is provided on the lower surface of the pair of projecting plate portions, and the pair of projecting plates on the upper surface of the reinforcing plate portion. The cross-sectional shape facing each of the width direction grooves in the vertical direction is an arc-shaped width direction groove, and the width direction grooves of the pair of projecting plate portions and the width direction groove of the reinforcing plate portion A round hole penetrating the clamp mechanism portion in the width direction is formed, and a rod inserted through the pair of plate members is inserted into the round hole.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the round hole is formed in a central portion in the front-rear direction of the pair of protruding plate portions and the reinforcing plate portion.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a steering apparatus that has a stable steering column holding force and can be miniaturized.

It is a perspective view showing the whole electric power steering device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a side view of the principal part of the electric power steering device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a perspective view of the principal part of the electric power steering device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is the perspective view which looked at the principal part of the electric power steering device concerning a 1st embodiment from another angle. It is the perspective view which looked at the principal part of the electric power steering device concerning a 1st embodiment from still another angle. It is a front view of the important section of the electric power steering device concerning a 1st embodiment, and shows the state seen from the body back side. It is sectional drawing of the AA line of FIG. It is a side view of the principal part of the electric power steering device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the BB line of FIG. It is a top view of the important section of the electric power steering device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is sectional drawing of CC line of FIG. It is a bottom view of the important section of the electric power steering device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a perspective view of the outer column which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is the perspective view which looked at the outer column which concerns on 1st Embodiment from another angle. It is a front view of the outer column which concerns on 1st Embodiment, and shows the state seen from the vehicle body back side. It is a side view of the outer column which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the EE line | wire of FIG. It is a top view of the outer column which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is an exploded view of the principal part of the electric power steering device concerning a 1st embodiment. It is an expansion perspective view of the block member for detachment. 21A is an enlarged plan view of the detaching block member, FIG. 21B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 21A, and FIG. 21C is FIG. 21A. FIG. 21D is a side view of the detaching block member as viewed from the lower side of FIG. 21A. It is a side view of the principal part of the electric power steering device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the principal part of the electric power steering device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a side view of the principal part of the electric power steering device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the GG line of FIG. It is a perspective view of the outer column which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is the perspective view which looked at the outer column which concerns on 2nd Embodiment from another angle. It is the perspective view which looked at the outer column which concerns on 2nd Embodiment from another angle. It is the perspective view which looked at the outer column which concerns on 2nd Embodiment from another angle. It is the perspective view which looked at the outer column which concerns on 2nd Embodiment from another angle. It is the perspective view which looked at the outer column which concerns on 2nd Embodiment from another angle. It is a front view of the outer column which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and shows the state seen from the vehicle body rear side. It is a side view of the outer column which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and shows the state seen from the vehicle body left side. It is a side view of the outer column which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and shows the state seen from the vehicle body right side. It is a rear view of the outer column which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and shows the state seen from the vehicle body front side. It is a top view of the outer column which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a bottom view of the outer column which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the AA line of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the DD line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the EE line | wire of FIG. It is sectional drawing of CC line of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the FF line of FIG. It is a perspective view of an outer column formed by casting using iron as a material. It is a perspective view of the conventional steering device, and shows the state attached to the vehicle.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a steering apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to a column assist type electric power steering apparatus.
First, directions related to the electric power steering apparatus in the present specification will be defined. In this specification, the direction related to the electric power steering apparatus is the same as the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction with respect to the vehicle body in a state of being attached to the vehicle body unless otherwise specified. The left-right direction is also referred to as the width direction. These directions are appropriately shown in each drawing as necessary. In the present specification, the axial direction, radial direction, and circumferential direction refer to the axial direction, radial direction, and circumferential direction related to the steering shaft or steering column, unless otherwise specified. The axial direction and the longitudinal direction with respect to the vehicle body are substantially the same direction. Further, the upper side and the lower side in the radial direction are substantially the same as the upper side and the lower side with respect to the vehicle body, respectively.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire electric power steering apparatus according to this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, an electric power steering apparatus 1 according to this embodiment is a column assist type electric power steering apparatus. The electric power steering device 1 applies the steering assist force of the electric power assist device 4 attached to the steering column 3 to the output shaft 5 in order to reduce the operation force of the steering wheel 2, and the rack via the intermediate shaft 6. This is a power steering device of a type in which a rack of an and pinion type steering gear assembly 7 is reciprocated to steer a steered wheel via a tie rod 8.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a main part of the electric power steering apparatus according to the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, the electric power steering apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a steering shaft 9, a steering column 3 that rotatably supports the steering shaft 9, and a vehicle body that is fixed to the vehicle body. A tilt bracket 11 which is an upper side bracket held on the vehicle body and a power assist device 4 are provided.

  The steering shaft 9 includes a lower shaft 12 disposed on the front side and an upper shaft 13 disposed on the rear side. A male spline (not shown) and a female spline (not shown) are formed at the front end portion of the upper shaft 13 and the rear end portion of the lower shaft 12, respectively. The upper shaft 13 and the lower shaft 12 can transmit torque. And it is spline-fitted so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the steering wheel 2 is fixed to the rear end portion of the upper shaft 13.

  The steering column 3 includes an inner column 14 that is an upper column and an outer column 15 that is a lower column. The inner column 14 is made of a steel alloy, and the outer column 15 is made of an aluminum alloy, and each is formed in a cylindrical shape. On the inner peripheral surface of the rear side portion of the outer column 15 that is the lower column, the outer peripheral surface of the front side portion of the inner column 14 that is the upper column is fitted so as to be slidable in the axial direction. A lower shaft 12 is rotatably supported on the inner peripheral side of the outer column 15 via a bearing (not shown). An upper shaft 13 is rotatably supported on the inner peripheral side of the inner column 14 via a bearing (not shown).

  A housing 16 made of a metal such as aluminum is integrally connected to the front end portion of the outer column 15. Note that the outer column 15 and the housing 16 may be integrally formed. The housing 16 is assembled with a power assist device 4 that is a steering assist portion for applying a steering assist torque to the output shaft 5 (see FIG. 1). The power assist device 4 includes an electric motor 17, a speed reduction mechanism (not shown) that transmits the rotation of the electric motor 17 to the output shaft 5, and a torque sensor (not shown). The electric motor 17 is supported by the housing 16. The speed reduction mechanism is stored in the housing 16. The direction and magnitude of the torque applied from the steering wheel 2 to the upper shaft 13 is detected by a torque sensor (not shown). The power assist device 4 drives the electric motor 17 in accordance with the direction and magnitude of the torque detected by the torque sensor. From the rotation of the electric motor 17, the power assist apparatus 4 has a predetermined magnitude in a predetermined direction via the speed reduction mechanism. A steering assist torque is generated and applied to the output shaft 5.

  As described above, the upper shaft 13 and the lower shaft 12 are spline-fitted so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction. Therefore, the front and rear positions of the steering wheel 2 can be adjusted by the relative movement of the upper shaft 13 and the lower shaft 12 in the axial direction. Further, the steering column 3 is fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the rear side portion of the outer column 15 so that the outer peripheral surface of the front side portion of the inner column 14 is slidable in the axial direction. As the relative position in the axial direction between the outer column 15 and the inner column 14 changes, the overall length of the steering column 3 changes.

  The front end of the outer column 15 is supported by the vehicle body via the housing 16 by the lower bracket 18. The lower bracket 18 supports the housing 16 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction about a tilt shaft 19 disposed along the width direction. Thus, the outer column 15 connected to the housing 16 is supported on the vehicle body by the lower bracket 18 via the housing 16 and can swing in the vertical direction about the tilt shaft 19 as a rotation center. That is, the steering column 3 can swing up and down around the tilt shaft 19 as a rotation center.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a main part of the electric power steering apparatus. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the main part of the electric power steering apparatus as seen from another angle. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the main part of the electric power steering apparatus as seen from another angle.
FIG. 6 is a front view of the main part of the electric power steering apparatus, and shows a state viewed from the rear side of the vehicle body. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. FIG. 8 is a side view of a main part of the electric power steering apparatus. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view of a main part of the electric power steering apparatus. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the main part of the electric power steering apparatus.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the outer column. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the outer column as seen from another angle. FIG. 15 is a front view of the outer column and shows a state viewed from the rear side of the vehicle body. FIG. 16 is a side view of the outer column. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE of FIG. FIG. 18 is a plan view of the outer column. FIG. 19 is an exploded view of the main part of the electric power steering apparatus. 3 to 19, illustration of the steering shaft 9 and the power assist device 4 is omitted.

  The tilt bracket 11 includes a U-shaped member including a pair of side plates 20 extending in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction, and a flat plate portion 21 connecting the upper ends of the pair of side plates 20. The “plate member” in the claims refers to the side plate 20. The pair of side plates 20 are disposed opposite to each other in the width direction with respect to the outer column 15. The flat plate portion 21 is disposed above the outer column 15. A flange portion 22 that protrudes outward in the width direction and extends in the width direction and the front-rear direction is formed at the intermediate portion in the vertical direction of each side plate 20. The front-rear direction dimension of the flange portion 22 has the same size as the front-rear direction dimension of the side plate 20. Reinforcing ribs 23 extending downward are formed at the front edge of each flange portion 22. A long hole 24 extending in the vertical direction is formed in a portion of the side plate 20 below the flange portion 22. The long hole 24 is a long hole for adjusting the tilt position of the steering wheel 2.

  Each flange portion 22 is provided with a bolt hole 25. The bolt hole 25 penetrates the flange portion 22 in the vertical direction. The tilt bracket 11 is fixed to the vehicle body by bolts 26 (see FIG. 2) inserted into the bolt holes 25 of the flange portions 22. The tilt bracket 11 holds the steering column 3 on the vehicle body by sandwiching the steering column 3 from both sides in the width direction with a pair of side plates 20. Specifically, the pair of side plates 20 sandwich clamp mechanism portions 27 described later provided at both side portions of the outer column 15 in the width direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the outer column 15 includes a main body 28 that is a rear side portion including the rear end of the outer column 15, and a front side portion of the main body 28, and the housing 16 at the front end. Is formed of a cylindrical portion 29 that is integrally connected. The main body portion 28 and the cylindrical portion 29 are integrally formed. The main body 28 of the outer column 15 is clamped at a lower portion by a pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 to hold the outer column 15 to the tilt bracket 11 that is a vehicle body side fixing member, and through the outer column 15. A clamping mechanism 27 for clamping the inner column 14 is provided. The clamp mechanism portion 27 is formed to extend forward from the rear end portion of the outer column 15 and is formed over a front-rear direction range smaller than the front-rear direction range of the side plate 20 of the tilt bracket 11. Below, the structure of the clamp mechanism part 27 is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the lower portion of the main body portion 28 of the outer column 15 extends in the axial direction and penetrates in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion 28 of the outer column 15. The first axial slit 30 is formed. The rear end of the first axial slit 30 opens at the rear end of the main body portion 28 of the outer column 15, that is, the rear end of the outer column 15, and the front side extends to the vicinity of the front end of the main body portion 28 of the outer column 15. ing.

  Further, two circumferential slits extending in the circumferential direction are formed in the lower portion of the main body portion 28 of the outer column 15. The first circumferential slit 31 is formed near the rear end of the main body 28 of the outer column 15. Both ends of the first circumferential slit 31 are positioned at portions of both side portions in the width direction of the main body portion 28 of the outer column 15 that overlap the central axis of the outer column 15 in the vertical direction. The first circumferential slit 31 intersects the first axial slit 30 in the circumferential direction in the vicinity of the rear end of the first axial slit 30.

  The second circumferential slit 32 is formed near the front end of the main body 28 of the outer column 15. Both ends of the second circumferential slit 32 are positioned at portions of both side portions in the width direction of the main body portion 28 of the outer column 15 that overlap the central axis of the outer column 15 in the vertical direction. The second circumferential slit 32 intersects the first axial slit 30 in the circumferential direction at the front end of the first axial slit 30. Since the first axial slit 30, the first circumferential slit 31, and the second circumferential slit 32 are formed in this way, in the lower portion of the main body 28 of the outer column 15, the first A pair of clamp portions 33 are formed in the width direction, which are surrounded on three sides by the axial slit 30, the first circumferential slit 31, and the second circumferential slit 32. That is, the pair of clamp portions 33 are opposed to each other in the width direction with respect to the first axial slit. Since each clamp part 33 is a part of the outer column 15, it has a partially cylindrical inner peripheral surface.

  Each clamp portion 33 is continuously opened on the three sides of the lower side, the rear side, and the front side by the first axial slit 30, the first circumferential slit 31, and the second circumferential slit 32. The upper side is integrally connected to the main body 28 of the outer column 15. In other words, each clamp portion 33 is a non-fixed end where two sides arranged in the axial direction and one side in the vertical direction are continuous, and the other side in the vertical direction is a fixed end. Due to such a configuration, each clamp portion 33 has a cantilever structure having a fixed end extending in the axial direction. Each clamp portion 33 is less rigid in the width direction than the other portions of the main body portion 28 of the outer column 15, and can be elastically deformed in the width direction. Specifically, each clamp part 33 is elastically deformed in the width direction, whereby the inner diameter of each clamp part 33 can be elastically expanded or reduced.

  At the lower end portion of the outer peripheral surface of each clamp portion 33, a flat plate-like protruding plate portion 34 is provided so as to protrude outward in the width direction. Note that the “projection plate portion” in the claims refers to the overhang plate portion 34. Each overhang plate portion 34 extends outward from the outer peripheral surface on the width direction side of the outer column 15. Each overhang plate portion 34 is formed over the length of the clamp portion 33 in the front-rear direction. A reinforcing rib 35 is provided between the upper surface of each overhang plate portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the clamp portion 33 to connect the upper surface of each overhang plate portion 34 and the outer peripheral surface of the clamp portion 33. The reinforcing ribs 35 are formed on the rear end and the front end of the upper surface of each overhang plate portion 34. An end surface on the outer side in the width direction of each projecting plate portion 34 constitutes a first working surface 36 that receives the tightening force of the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11. Accordingly, a pair of first action surfaces 36 of the overhang plate portion 34 are formed. In this embodiment, the 1st action surface 36 of each overhanging plate part 34 is formed in the flat surface extended in the up-down direction and the front-back direction. The first working surface 36 may have a shape other than a flat surface.

  The outer column 15 has a bridge portion 37 that continuously connects one side portion of the outer column 15 in the width direction and the other side portion in the width direction. In the present embodiment, the bridge portion 37 is provided below the main body portion 28 of the outer column 15 so as to cover the pair of clamp portions 33 and the pair of projecting plate portions 34 from below. The bridge portion 37 is provided integrally with the outer column 15.

  The bridge portion 37 includes a reinforcing plate portion 38 that extends in the width direction and the axial direction below the main body portion 28 of the outer column 15, and a rear side connecting portion that connects the rear end of the reinforcing plate portion 38 and the outer column 15. 39, and a front side connecting portion 40 that connects the front end of the reinforcing plate portion 38 and the outer column 15. The reinforcing plate portion 38 has an axial length equivalent to the axial length of the main body portion 28 of the outer column 15, and has a width slightly larger than the outer diameter of the outer column 15 in the width direction. The reinforcing plate portion 38 opposes the pair of overhanging plate portions 34 in the vertical direction with a predetermined gap therebetween. The rear side connecting part 39 has the same width dimension as the width direction dimension of the reinforcing plate part 38, extends upward from the rear end of the reinforcing plate part 38, and is more than the first circumferential slit 31 of the outer column 15. The rear side is connected to the lower side of the outer column 15. The front side connecting portion 40 has the same width dimension as the width direction dimension of the reinforcing plate portion 38, extends upward from the front end of the reinforcing plate portion 38, and is larger than the second circumferential slit 32 of the outer column 15. The front side is connected to the lower side of the outer column 15. Thus, the bridge portion 37 is formed in a box shape by the reinforcing plate portion 38, the rear side connection portion 39, and the front side connection portion 40.

  Since the bridge portion 37 has such a configuration, a gap 41 having a U-shape when viewed from the width direction is formed between the bridge portion 37 and each clamp portion 33. The box-shaped bridge portion 37 surrounds the U-shaped gap 41 and covers the lower side of the first axial slit 30. The U-shaped gap 41 between the bridge portion 37 and each clamp portion 33 is symmetric when viewed in the width direction. That is, each U-shaped gap 41 has a shape viewed from the width direction in which the shape of the front side portion and the shape of the rear side portion are symmetric with respect to a virtual straight line in the vertical direction passing through the center of the gap 41 in the front-rear direction. It has become. In the present embodiment, the outer column 15 has high torsional rigidity by including such a bridge portion 37.

  The reinforcing plate portion 38 of the bridge portion 37 constitutes a second working surface 42 that receives the tightening force of the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 at both ends in the width direction. Therefore, the reinforcing plate portion 38 has a pair of second action surfaces 42. In the present embodiment, the second working surface 42 is formed as a flat surface extending in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction, and is formed across the entire region in the front-rear direction at both ends on the width direction side of the reinforcing plate portion 38. . The second working surface 42 is a first working surface 36 of the overhanging plate portion 34 of the clamp portion 33 (hereinafter, the first working surface 36 is referred to as a “first working surface 36 on the clamp portion 33 side”). ) And are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, and are disposed below the first action surface 36 on the clamp portion 33 side. The second working surface 42 may have a shape other than a flat surface.

  On both sides in the width direction of the main body portion 28 of the outer column 15, the portions that overlap the central axis of the outer column 15 in the vertical direction extend in the front-rear direction, that is, in the axial direction of the outer column 15 and protrude outward in the width direction. A protrusion 43 is provided. Each protrusion 43 extends in the front-rear direction from the rear end of the main body 28 of the outer column 15, that is, from the rear end of the outer column 15, over a length corresponding to the front-rear direction range of the main body 28 of the outer column 15. doing. The top of each protrusion 43, that is, the outer side portion of the outer column 15 in the width direction is formed on a flat surface extending in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction, and receives the tightening force of the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 respectively. 3 working surfaces 44 are formed. Accordingly, the main body portion 28 of the outer column 15 is provided with a pair of third action surfaces 44. The third working surface 44 of the outer column 15 is provided vertically apart from the first working surface 36 on the clamp part 33 side, and is disposed above the first working surface 36 on the clamp part 33 side. ing. The third working surface 44 may have a shape other than a flat surface.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the pair of clamp portions 33 includes the pair of first working surfaces 36 that receive the tightening force of the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 and the clamp portions in the vertical direction of the outer column 15. A pair of second action surfaces 42 and a pair of third action surfaces 44 that receive the tightening force of the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 are provided on the lower side and the upper side of 33, respectively. The pair of first action surfaces 36 are provided independently of the pair of second action surfaces 42 and the pair of third action surfaces 44. The pair of first action surfaces 36 may be positioned at the center of the pair of second action surfaces 42 and the pair of third action surfaces 44 with respect to the vertical direction of the outer column 15, or the pair of second action surfaces 36. It may be offset above or below the center of the working surface 42 and the pair of third working surfaces 44. The pair of clamp portions 33 and the overhang plate portion 34, the bridge portion 37, the pair of first action surfaces 36 on the clamp portion 33 side, the pair of second action surfaces 42 of the bridge portion 37, and the outer column 15 The clamp mechanism portion 27 is configured by the pair of third action surfaces 44. In the present embodiment, the axial length of the pair of first working surfaces 36 is determined by the axial length of the pair of second working surfaces 42 and the axial length of the pair of third working surfaces 44. However, the axial length of the pair of first working surfaces 36 is longer than the axial length of the pair of second working surfaces 42 and the axial length of the pair of third working surfaces 44. It may be configured longer. Further, the pair of second working surfaces 42 and the pair of third working surfaces 44 are provided so that the positions of the rear ends thereof coincide with the rear ends of the outer columns 15. That is, the outer column 15 does not extend behind the rear ends of the pair of second working surfaces 42 and the pair of third working surfaces 44. With this configuration, the overall length of the outer column 15 can be shortened, and the electric power steering device 1 can be downsized.

  On the lower surface of the overhang plate portion 34 provided in each clamp portion 33, one width direction groove 45 having a circular cross section is provided. Each width direction groove 45 penetrates each overhanging plate portion 34 in the width direction at the center portion in the front-rear direction of the overhanging plate portion 34, that is, in the center portion in the front-rear direction of the first working surface 36 on the clamp portion 33 side. . In addition, a width direction groove 46 having an arcuate cross section is provided on the upper side surface of the reinforcing plate portion 38 of the bridge portion 37. The width direction groove 46 of the reinforcing plate portion 38 is provided to face the width direction groove 45 of the overhanging plate portion 34 in the vertical direction, and a pair of second actions of the center portion in the front-rear direction of the reinforcing plate portion 38, that is, the bridge portion 37. The reinforcing plate 38 is penetrated in the width direction at the center in the front-rear direction of the surface 42. The curvature radius of the cross section of the width direction groove 45 on the overhang plate portion 34 side and the curvature radius of the cross section of the width direction groove 46 on the bridge portion 37 side are formed to be the same size. A circular hole 47 penetrating the clamp mechanism portion 27 in the width direction is formed by the respective width direction groove 45 on the pair of projecting plate portions 34 side and the width direction groove 46 on the reinforcing plate portion 38 side. The round hole 47 may be formed so as to be shifted in the front-rear direction according to the tightening holding force of the clamp mechanism portion 27 with respect to the outer column 15.

  A rod 48 is inserted through the round hole 47 in the width direction. The rod 48 penetrates through the tilt position adjusting long holes 24 formed in the clamp mechanism 27 and the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 in the width direction. One end of the rod 48 is engaged with one side plate 20 of the tilt bracket 11 so as not to be relatively rotatable by a fastening member (not shown). The other end of the rod 48 protrudes outward in the width direction of the other side plate 20 of the tilt bracket 11, and a nut 49 (see FIG. 2) is screwed to the other end of the rod 48. Between the other side plate 20, a thrust bearing (not shown), an operation lever 50, and a known cam mechanism (not shown) are provided.

  The operation lever 50 is for performing an operation for locking the steering wheel 2 at the tilt adjustment position or the telescopic adjustment position, and an operation for releasing the lock of the steering wheel 2 locked at the tilt adjustment position or the telescopic adjustment position. When the operation lever 50 is operated in a direction in which the position of the steering wheel 2 is locked, a cam mechanism (not shown) is driven in a predetermined direction, whereby the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 are bent in a direction in which the distance between them is reduced. The pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 bend in a direction in which the distance between them is reduced, and the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 clamps the clamp mechanism portion 27 of the outer column 15 from the outside in the width direction, thereby The outer column 15 is tightened while being held by the tilt bracket 11 which is a vehicle body side fixing member. The pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 contacts the pair of first action surfaces 36 before sandwiching the pair of second action surfaces 42 and the pair of third action surfaces 44, and thereafter The second working surface 42 and the pair of third working surfaces 44 are sandwiched. When the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 is further bent in the direction in which the distance between the pair of side plates 20 is narrowed, the pair of side plates 20 generates a moment with the pair of second action surfaces 42 or the pair of third action surfaces 44 as fulcrums. Then, the pair of first working surfaces 36 are pressed. When the outer column 15 is tightened by the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11, the pair of first action surfaces 36 of the outer column 15 bend, and the inner column 14 disposed on the inner diameter side of the outer column 15 is tilted. The steering wheel 2 is locked at a predetermined position.

  On the other hand, when the operation lever 50 is operated in a direction to release the lock of the steering wheel 2 locked at a predetermined position, the cam mechanism (not shown) is driven in a direction in which the distance between the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 is increased. That is, the tightening of the outer column 15 by the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 is released. When the tightening of the outer column 15 is released, the pressing force of the pair of first working surfaces 36 is released, and the tightening of the inner column 14 via the outer column 15 is also released, so that the steering wheel 2 is moved to a predetermined position. The lock is released. Thus, the inner column 14 can be adjusted in the front-rear direction while being guided by the outer column 15.

  In the present embodiment, the rod 48 is inserted through the round hole 47 formed by the width direction groove 45 of each of the pair of overhanging plate portions 34 and the width direction groove 46 on the reinforcing plate portion 38 side. Even if the operation lever 50 is operated in the direction in which the position of the steering wheel 2 is locked, the bending of the rod 48 can be suppressed to the minimum.

  In the present embodiment, in a state in which no external force is applied to the outer column 15, that is, in a state where the tightening of the outer column 15 by the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 is released, a pair of third third columns provided in the outer column 15. The width direction interval between the action surfaces 44 and the width direction interval between the pair of second action surfaces 42 of the bridge portion 37 are formed to have the same size. That is, on one side in the width direction, one third working surface 44 of the outer column 15 and one second working surface 42 of the bridge portion 37 are located on one virtual plane extending in the vertical direction. On the other side in the width direction, the other third action surface 44 of the outer column 15 and the other second action surface 42 of the bridge portion 37 are located on one virtual plane extending in the vertical direction. Yes.

  In a state in which no external force is applied to the outer column 15, the distance in the width direction between the pair of first action surfaces 36 on the clamp portion 33 side is the distance in the width direction between the pair of second action surfaces 42 in the bridge portion 37. That is, the outer column 15 is formed to be larger than the distance between the pair of third action surfaces 44 in the width direction. That is, on one side in the width direction, one first working surface 36 on the clamp portion 33 side is more than one second working surface 42 of the bridge portion 37 and one third working surface 44 of the outer column 15. The other first working surface 36 on the clamp portion 33 side is located on the outer side in the width direction, and the other second working surface 42 of the bridge portion 37 and the other first working surface 36 of the outer column 15 are arranged on the other side in the width direction. 3 is located outward in the width direction with respect to the third working surface 44. The clamping operation of the outer column 15 and the inner column 14 by the clamping mechanism 27 will be described later.

  A second axial slit 51 extending in the axial direction and penetrating from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface of the outer column 15 is provided in the upper portion of the outer column 15. The second axial slit 51 is formed across the main body portion 28 and the cylindrical portion 29 of the outer column 15, and both ends are closed. That is, the front end of the second axial slit 51 does not open to the front end of the outer column 15, and the rear end of the second axial slit 51 does not open to the rear end of the outer column 15. Both ends of the second axial slit 51 are formed in an arc shape. Therefore, the shape of the second axial slit 51, that is, the shape of the edge is an oval or a rounded rectangle that is long in the axial direction.

  On the outer peripheral surface of the upper portion of the outer column 15, it protrudes upward to both side portions on the outer side of the second axial slit 51 in the width direction, and axially extends along the second axial slit 51. The axial direction wall part 52 extended in this is formed. Accordingly, a pair of axial wall portions 52 are formed, and the pair of axial wall portions 52 are opposed in the width direction with respect to the second axial slit 51. The pair of axial wall portions 52 are formed on the cylindrical portion 29 of the outer column 15 between the rear end of the outer column 15 and the front end of the second axial slit 51 and the front end of the cylindrical portion 29 of the outer column 15. It extends over an axial range up to the part.

  Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the upper portion of the outer column 15, a front side width direction wall portion 53 that connects the front ends of the pair of axial wall portions 52 in the width direction, and a rear end of the pair of axial direction wall portions 52. The rear side width direction wall part 54 which connects each other in the width direction is formed. Therefore, on the outer peripheral surface of the upper portion of the outer column 15, the second axial slit 51 is formed on the width direction side by the pair of axial wall portions 52, the front side width direction wall portion 53, and the rear side width direction wall portion 54. Further, a substantially rectangular reinforcing wall portion 55 is formed which is enclosed on the front and rear direction side and is substantially rectangular when viewed from the upper side. Since the outer column 15 has such a reinforcing wall portion 55 formed in the upper portion, the outer column 15 has high torsional rigidity even if the entire length is shortened.

  A portion of the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 15 surrounded by the reinforcing wall portion 55 is formed so as to become thicker upward so that the upper surface becomes a flat surface. Therefore, an axial groove 56 having a U-shaped cross section is formed by the substantially rectangular reinforcing wall portion 55 and the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 15 surrounded by the reinforcing wall portion 55. In other words, a rectangular bathtub-shaped groove portion extending in the axial direction is formed by the substantially rectangular reinforcing wall portion 55 and the portion of the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 15 surrounded by the reinforcing wall portion 55. The sectional shape of the bathtub-shaped groove is U-shaped. The second axial slit 51 is formed at the bottom of the axial groove 56.

  As described above, the outer peripheral surface of the front side portion of the inner column 14 that is the upper column is fitted in the inner peripheral surface of the rear side portion of the outer column 15 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. The inner column 14 is provided with a third axial slit 57 extending in the axial direction and penetrating from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface of the inner column 14 at an upper portion near the front end. The third axial slit 57 is at least partially opposed to the second axial slit 51 of the outer column 15 in the vertical direction. Both ends of the third axial slit 57 are closed. That is, the front end of the third axial two slits 57 does not open at the front end of the inner column 14, and the rear end of the third axial slit 57 does not open at the rear end of the outer column 15. Both ends of the third axial slit 57 are formed in an arc shape. Accordingly, the outline, that is, the edge shape of the third axial slit 57 is an oval or a rounded rectangle that is long in the axial direction. The third axial slit 57 is provided with a liner slot 58 which is an oval or rounded rectangular resin frame member that matches the shape of the edge of the third axial slit 57.

  The liner slot 58 includes a frame-shaped main body portion 59 disposed along the inner side of the edge of the third axial slit 57 and a flange portion 60 that protrudes outward from the upper end of the main body portion 59. The width of the inner periphery of the main body 59 has the same width as that of the second axial slit 51 of the outer column 15, and the inner peripheral surface of the main body 59 penetrates the third axial slit 57 in the vertical direction. It has a vertical thickness. The flange portion 60 is formed in an oblong or rounded rectangle larger than the shape of the edge of the third axial slit 57. The liner slot 58 is attached to the third axial slit 57 from the upper side of the inner column 14, the main body 59 is fitted inside the edge of the third axial slit 57, and the flange portion 60 is the third. By contacting the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14 around the edge of the axial slit 57, the inner column 14 is fixed to the edge of the third axial slit 57 and prevented from falling into the inner column 14. .

  In a state where the liner slot 58 is fixed to the third axial slit 57 of the inner column 14, the flange portion 60 of the liner slot 58 protrudes above the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14 by the thickness. is there. On the inner peripheral surface of the upper side portion of the outer column 15, an axial groove 61 that is recessed upward is formed in a portion facing the flange portion 60 of the liner slot 58 in the vertical direction. The axial groove 61 has such a depth and width that the flange portion 60 of the liner slot 58 does not contact the bottom surface of the axial groove 61 when the inner column 14 slides in the axial direction with respect to the outer column 15. .

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 19, a block member 62 is fixed inside the axial groove 56 formed in the upper portion of the outer column 15. The block member 62 has the same width direction dimension as the axial dimension of the axial groove 56, and the vertical dimension substantially the same as the depth of the axial groove 56. The front-rear direction dimension and the width direction dimension of the block member 62 are formed to have the same size. As will be described later, the block member 62 is a detaching member that detaches from the fixed position in the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15 at the time of a secondary collision, and the block member 62 detaches from the fixed position in the axial groove 56. As a result, the inner column 14 is disengaged from the clamping by the tilt bracket and can move in the axial direction beyond the telescopic position adjustment range.

  FIG. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of the block member. 21 (a) is an enlarged plan view of the block member, FIG. 21 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 21 (a), and FIG. 21 (c) is an upper side of FIG. 21 (a). FIG. 21D is a side view of the block member viewed from the lower side of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the block member 62 is formed with a vertical through hole 63 penetrating in the vertical direction at the center. An inward flange portion 64 that protrudes inward of the vertical direction through hole 63 is formed at a lower portion on the inner peripheral side of the vertical direction through hole 63. Therefore, the diameter of the vertical through-hole 63 is such that the portion corresponding to the inward flange portion 64 is smaller than the portion above the inward flange portion 64. In the portion of the block member 62 around the vertical through-hole 63, a plurality of vertical thinning portions 65 are provided. In the present embodiment, four thinned portions 65 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the vertical through-hole 63. As shown in FIG. 21B, the lower portion 65 is closed at the lower portion and does not penetrate in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIG. 21A, the block member 62 has a substantially square shape when viewed from the vertical direction. As shown in FIGS. 21 (c) and 21 (d), the pair of side walls 66 of the block member 62 facing each other with respect to the vertical direction through-hole 63 are arranged in the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and in the width direction in the assembled state. A width direction through hole 67 that penetrates the side wall 66 and opens to the thinned portion 65 is provided. The width direction through holes 67 of the side walls 66 are arranged diagonally with respect to the center of the block member 62. In other words, the pair of width direction through holes 67 are in a point-symmetric relationship with respect to the center point of the block member 62.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 19, the block member 62 is disposed at the rear side end of the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15. The block member 62 has one side wall 66 having a width direction through hole 67 facing the one axial wall portion 52 of the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15 in the width direction, and the other side wall having the width direction through hole 67. 66 is disposed in the axial groove 56 so as to face the other axial wall 52 of the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15 in the width direction. In this state, the width direction through hole 67 of the one side wall 66 of the block member 62 is located in the front side portion of the one side wall 66 of the block member 62 and penetrates the one side wall 66 in the width direction. The width direction through hole 67 of the other side wall 66 of the block member 62 is located in the rear side portion of the other side wall 66 of the block member 62 and penetrates the other side wall 66 in the width direction.

  A through hole 68 penetrating in the width direction is formed in one axial wall portion 52 of the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15 at a position corresponding to the width direction through hole 67 of the one side wall 66 of the block member 62. ing. A through hole 68 penetrating in the width direction is formed in the other axial wall portion 52 of the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15 at a position corresponding to the width direction through hole 67 of the other side wall 66 of the block member 62. ing. Therefore, the through hole 68 of the one axial wall portion 52 and the through hole 68 of the other axial wall portion 52 are provided at different positions in the front-rear direction. The width direction through hole 67 of the side wall 66 of the block member 62 and the through hole 68 of the axial direction wall portion 52 of the axial groove 56 have the same diameter.

  A shear pin 69 is inserted into the through hole 68 of one axial wall portion 52 from the outside in the width direction. The shear pin 69 is made of a resin such as POM (polyacetal) or aluminum. The share pin 69 is inserted through the width direction through hole 67 of one axial wall portion 52 and one side wall 66 of the block member 62. The share pin 69 includes an outer pin 70 and an inner pin 71 as shown in FIG. The outer pin 70 includes a cylindrical main body 72, a diameter-enlarging part 73 formed on one end side of the main-body part 72, a flange part 74 formed on the other end side of the main-body part 72, and the main-body part 72 and the diameter-enlarging part. 73 and a guide hole 75 penetrating through the flange portion 74. The enlarged diameter portion 73 has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the through hole 68 of one axial wall portion 52 and the width direction through hole 67 of the block member 62. The outer pin 70 is press-fitted into the through hole 68 of one axial wall portion 52 and the width direction through hole 67 of one side wall 66 of the block member 62, and the one axial wall portion 52 and one side wall 66 of the block member 62 are inserted into the outer pin 70. It penetrates. The enlarged diameter portion 73 of the outer pin 70 reaches the inner side of the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15, specifically, the inner side in the width direction of the side wall 66 of the block member 62. Therefore, the outer pin 70 is difficult to come out outward in the width direction. The flange portion 74 of the outer pin 70 is in contact with the outer side surface in the width direction of the one axial wall portion 52. Specifically, the flange portion 74 of the outer pin 70 contacts a counterbore 76 formed around the width direction outer side opening of the through hole 68 of the one axial wall portion 52. Thus, the outer pin 70 is fixed to the through hole 68 of the one axial wall portion 52 and the width direction through hole 67 of the one side wall 66 of the block member 62.

  The inner pin 71 is a member that is inserted into the guide hole 75 of the outer pin 70. The inner pin 71 has a columnar main body 77 and a large-diameter portion 78 formed at one end of the main body 77. The main body 77 is press-fitted into the guide hole 75 of the outer pin 70 and passes through the guide hole 75. The large diameter portion 78 is in contact with the flange portion 74 of the outer pin 70. In this way, the inner pin 71 is fixed to the guide hole 75 of the outer pin 70 by press fitting, and the shear pin 69 is fixed to the through hole 68 of one axial wall portion 52 and the width direction through hole 67 of one side wall 66 of the block member 62. A shear pin 69 having the same configuration is also fixed to the through hole 68 of the other axial wall portion 52 of the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15 and the width direction through hole 67 of the other side wall 66 of the block member 62. Therefore, the block member 62 is fixed to the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15 by a pair of shear pins 69. Note that, by adopting a configuration in which the shear pin 69 is inserted from the width direction with respect to the block member 62 as in the present embodiment, the vertical dimension of the block member 62 can be reduced, and therefore the vertical direction of the steering device. The increase in size can be suppressed.

  A metallic stopper pin 79 is inserted into the vertical through hole 63 at the center of the block member 62 from above. The stopper pin 79 includes a cylindrical shaft portion 80 and a head portion 81 that is formed at an upper end portion of the shaft portion 80 and has a diameter larger than the diameter of the shaft portion 80. The shaft portion 80 of the stopper pin 79 includes an inward flange portion 64 on the inner peripheral side of the vertical through hole 63 of the block member 62, the second axial slit 51 of the outer column 15, and the third shaft of the inner column 14. The directional slit 57, that is, the liner slot 58, penetrates in the vertical direction, and the lower surface of the large-diameter head 81 contacts the inward flange portion 64 of the vertical through hole 63 of the block member 62. Thus, the block member 62 and the inner column 14 are connected via the stopper pin 79. The block member 62 disposed in the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15 and the stopper pin 79 constitute an engaging member that engages the outer column 15 and the inner column 14. The shaft portion 80 of the stopper pin 79 has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the width of the second axial slit 51 of the outer column 15 and the width of the liner slot 58. Therefore, the shaft portion 80 of the stopper pin 79 and the second axial slit 51 of the outer column 15 are relatively movable in the axial direction, and the shaft portion 80 of the stopper pin 79 and the liner slot 58, that is, the inner column 14 of the inner column 14. 3 axial slits 57 are relatively movable in the axial direction. The interaction of the block member 62, the shear pin 69, the stopper pin 79, and the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15 will be described later. The block member 62 and the stopper pin 79 may be integrally formed.

The electric power steering apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes a known steering lock mechanism that is one of the antitheft apparatuses for vehicles. Since the steering lock mechanism is a known one, detailed illustration is omitted.
The steering lock mechanism includes a key lock collar (not shown) fitted on the upper shaft 13 (see FIG. 2) of the steering shaft 9 and an upper column (inner column 14) attached to the radially outer side of the key lock collar. The steering lock device does not. A plurality of axial grooves extending in the axial direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the key lock collar. In other words, a plurality of protrusions extending in the axial direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the key lock collar, and axial grooves are formed by protrusions adjacent in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, a locking through hole 82 that penetrates the inner column 14 in the radial direction is formed in the vicinity of the rear end portion of the inner column 14. When the ignition key is turned off, a lock bar (not shown) provided in the steering lock device passes through the lock through hole 82 and is displaced toward the inner diameter side of the inner column, and the axial direction formed in the key lock collar Engage with the groove. The lock bar engages with the axial groove of the key lock collar to restrict the rotation of the steering shaft 9 so that it cannot be steered when the vehicle is stolen.

  In the state where the lock bar is engaged with the key lock collar, the steering lock mechanism is configured such that the steering shaft 9 is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the key lock collar when a force that rotates the steering wheel 2 with a force greater than a predetermined force is applied. It is designed to rotate with respect to it. By adopting such a configuration, the steering lock mechanism is prevented from being damaged, and friction between the key lock collar and the steering shaft 9 is provided so that the steering wheel cannot be steered. Is configured to prevent.

  The electric power steering apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a tilt position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel 2, that is, the height position, according to the physique and driving posture of the driver, and the front and rear of the steering wheel 2. A telescopic position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the directional position. Hereinafter, a method for adjusting the position of the steering wheel and a method for clamping the steering column 3 in the electric power steering apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described.

  The position of the steering wheel 2 is adjusted by operating the operation lever 50 (see FIG. 2) in a direction to release the lock of the steering wheel 2 locked at a predetermined position, and tightening the outer column 15 by the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11. In addition, the inner column 14 is tightened via the outer column 15 in a released state. As shown in FIG. 2, the steering column 3 is supported by the lower bracket 18 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction with the tilt shaft 19 as a rotation center. Therefore, the height position of the steering wheel 2 can be adjusted by moving the steering wheel 2 in the vertical direction. At this time, the rods 48 arranged through the respective long holes 24 of the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 and the clamp mechanism portion 27 of the outer column 15 in the width direction are the lengths of the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11. It moves in the hole 24 in the vertical direction. The moving range of the steering wheel 2 corresponding to the range in which the rod 48 can move in the vertical direction within the long hole 24 is an adjustable range of the height position of the steering wheel 2.

  When the outer column 15 is tightened by the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11, the inner column 14 can slide in the axial direction with respect to the outer column 15. In this state, the inner column 14 is moved in the front-rear direction by moving the steering wheel 2 in the front-rear direction, and the telescopic position of the steering wheel 2 is adjusted. When the inner column 14 is moved in the front-rear direction with respect to the outer column 15, the liner slot 58 is also moved in the front-rear direction, and the position where the stopper pin 79 penetrates the liner slot 58 is displaced in the front-rear direction in the liner slot 58. That is, the liner slot 58 and the stopper pin 79 constitute a guide mechanism for moving the inner column 14 in the front-rear direction with respect to the outer column 15.

  The stopper pin 79 guides the inner column 14 in the front-rear direction with respect to the outer column 15 via the liner slot 58, and the inner column 14 moves with respect to the outer column 15 when the inner column 14 moves in the front-rear direction. It prevents it from rotating. The liner slot 58, that is, the third axial slit 57 of the inner column 14 and the stopper pin 79 constitute a rotation preventing mechanism that restricts the rotation of the inner column 14 relative to the outer column 15.

  The inner column 14 moves in the front-rear direction with respect to the outer column 15 in a range from a position where the stopper pin 79 contacts the front end of the liner slot 58 to a position where the stopper pin 79 contacts the rear end of the liner slot 58. Is possible. The position of the steering wheel 2 corresponding to the position where the stopper pin 79 contacts the front end of the liner slot 58 is the rear end position of the telescopic position adjustment range of the steering wheel 2. The position of the steering wheel 2 corresponding to the position where the stopper pin 79 contacts the rear end of the liner slot 58 is the front end position of the telescopic position adjustment range of the steering wheel 2. Thus, the axial length of the liner slot 58, that is, the axial length of the third axial slit 57 of the inner column 14 is the telescopic position adjustment range of the steering wheel 2. In other words, the telescopic position adjustment range is a range of a normal use position of the steering wheel 2 and a range of a normal use position of the inner column 14. The stopper pin 79 functions as a stopper that restricts the rearward movement of the steering wheel 2 at the rear end of the telescopic position adjustment range of the steering wheel 2 and restricts the forward movement of the steering wheel 2 at the front end. .

  The outer column 14 is formed with an axial groove 56, that is, a reinforcing wall portion 55, which includes a pair of axial wall portions 52, a front side width direction wall portion 53, and a rear side width direction wall portion 54 in the upper portion. Therefore, even if the total length is shortened, it has high torsional rigidity. The block member 62 through which the stopper pin 79 is inserted is fixed in the 56 axial groove of the outer column 15, that is, in the reinforcing wall portion 55. Thus, the outer column 15 is configured to have high torsional rigidity. Conventionally, the stopper member in the telescopic position adjustment range of the steering wheel has used a large shaft member to ensure rigidity against the input in the torsion direction, and the outer column has a wide slit through which this large shaft member can pass. It was necessary to provide. However, since the outer column 15 of this embodiment has high torsional rigidity, the shaft portion 80 of the stopper pin 79 can be made thin. That is, the second axial slit 51 provided in the outer column 15 can be narrower than the conventional outer column. Therefore, the outer column 15 can maintain a sufficiently high torsional rigidity even if the second axial slit 51 is formed.

  When locking the steering wheel 2 to the tilt adjustment position and the telescopic adjustment position, the operation lever 50 is operated in a direction to lock the position of the steering wheel 2. Then, the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 bend in a direction in which the interval between the side plates 20 is narrowed, that is, a direction in which the clamp mechanism portion 27 of the outer column 15 is sandwiched, via a cam mechanism (not shown). In the clamp mechanism portion 27 of the outer column 15, the pair of first action surfaces 36 on the clamp portion 33 side is more than the pair of second action surfaces 42 of the bridge portion 37 and the pair of third action surfaces 44 of the outer column 1. Since the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 are first in contact with the pair of first working surfaces 36 on the clamp part 33 side.

  When the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 are further bent in the direction in which the distance between the tilt brackets 11 is narrowed by the operation of the operation lever 50, the pair of side plates 20 has a pair of first working surfaces 36 and a pair of first The pair of clamp portions 33 are sandwiched in the width direction via the pair of overhanging plate portions 34 on which one action surface 36 is formed, thereby tightening the outer column 15. Specifically, the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 elastically reduces the inner diameter of the pair of clamp portions 33. When the inner diameters of the pair of clamp parts 33 are reduced, the pair of clamp parts 33 come into contact with the inner column 14 disposed on the inner diameter side of the pair of clamp parts 33 and sandwich the inner column 14 in the width direction. That is, the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 holds the outer column 15 on the tilt bracket 11 via the pair of first action surfaces 36 and the pair of overhanging plate portions 34, and also via the outer column 15. The inner column 14 is supported on the inner peripheral side of the outer column 15.

  When the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 is further bent in the direction in which the distance between the pair of side plates 20 is narrowed by the operation of the operation lever 50, the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 is And a pair of third working surfaces 44 on the outer column 15 side. Since the pair of second working surfaces 42 of the bridge portion 37 are formed at both ends in the width direction of the single reinforcing plate portion 38 of the bridge portion 37, the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 can mutually cross the width direction. Even if a force in a direction in which the interval is reduced acts, the interval in the width direction is not reduced. Therefore, even if the operation lever is further operated from this state so that the distance between the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 is reduced, the distance between the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 further increases in the width direction. There is no bending in the narrowing direction. As described above, the reinforcing plate portion 38 of the bridge portion 37 functions as a restricting portion that restricts the pair of side plates 20 from being bent in a direction in which the mutual interval in the width direction is narrowed.

  In this state, the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 contact the pair of second action surfaces 42 and the pair of third action surfaces 44 to sandwich the outer column 15 in the width direction, and tilt the outer column 15. Hold on the bracket 11. At the same time, the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 is independent from the holding of the outer column 15 by contacting the pair of second action surfaces 42 and the pair of third action surfaces 44, and the outer column 15 The inner column 14 is in contact with the pair of first working surfaces 36 with a sufficient clamping force. The pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 hold the outer column 15 on the tilt bracket 11 by clamping the pair of clamp portions 33 by this clamping force, tighten the outer column 15, and tighten the outer column 15 via the outer column 15. Is sandwiched in the width direction. Thus, the inner column 14 is held by the tilt bracket 11.

  In a state where the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 are in contact with the pair of second action surfaces 42 of the bridge portion 37 and the pair of third action surfaces 44 of the outer column 15, the outer column 15 The inner column 14 is not sandwiched between the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11. When the outer column 15 and the inner column 14 are clamped by a clamping force larger than necessary, when a force in the twisting direction is applied to the outer column 15 and the inner column 14, a predetermined portion of the outer column 15 and the inner column 14 is applied. A large stress is applied, and the outer column 15 and the inner column 14 may be deformed. In the present embodiment, the clamping force of the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 does not become larger than a predetermined magnitude, so that the steering column 3 can be held on the vehicle body with a stable clamping force.

  The electric power steering apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a detachment mechanism that detaches the inner column 14 from the tilt bracket 11 that is a vehicle body side fixing member at the time of a secondary collision. During the secondary collision, the inner column 14 detached from the tilt bracket 11 moves forward to absorb the impact of the secondary collision and protect the driver from the impact of the secondary collision.

  The upper shaft 13 and the lower shaft 12 constituting the steering shaft 9 are spline-fitted. In the steering column 3, a front side portion of an inner column 14 that is an upper column is fitted to an inner peripheral side of a rear side portion of an outer column 15 that is a lower column so as to be slidable in the axial direction. During the secondary collision, the upper shaft 13 moves forward together with the steering wheel 2. Since the upper shaft 13 is supported by the inner column 14 via a bearing (not shown), when the upper shaft 13 moves forward, the inner column 14 also moves forward together with the upper shaft 13.

  The inner column 14 is movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the outer column 15 in the telescopic position adjustment range of the steering wheel 2. For this reason, at the time of the secondary collision, first, the inner column 14 moves forward in the telescopic position adjustment range until the steering wheel 2 is located at the front end. That is, the inner column 14 moves forward until the stopper pin 79 contacts the rear end of the liner slot 58 attached to the third axial slit 57 of the inner column 14. When adjusting the telescopic position, the stopper pin 79 comes into contact with the rear end of the liner slot 58 to restrict the forward movement of the inner column 14, but it is larger than a predetermined size as in a secondary collision. When a forward load is applied to the inner column 14, the forward load is received in the order of the liner slot 58, the stopper pin 79, the block member 62, and the shear pin 69. The shear pin 69 is received by the received forward load. Shear.

  When the shear pin 69 is sheared, the block member 62 leaves the fixed position in the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15 and can move forward. That is, the inner column 14 is released from the clamping state by the tilt bracket 11 that is the vehicle body side fixing member. The block member 62 disposed in the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15, the stopper pin 79, and the shear pin 69 that fixes the block member 62 to the axial groove 62 constitute a separation mechanism. Since the inner column 14 is subjected to a forward load due to the secondary collision, the inner column 14 detached from the tilt bracket 11 is behind the liner slot 58 attached to the third axial slit 57 of the inner column 14. Push the stopper pin 79 forward at the end. When the stopper pin 79 is pushed forward, the block member 62 into which the stopper pin 79 is inserted moves forward in the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15. Thus, the inner column 14 moves forward while pushing the block member 62 forward via the stopper pin 79. At this time, the stopper pin 79 is guided by the second axial slit 51 formed in the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15 and moves forward. The block member 62 moves forward together with the stopper pin 79 until the stopper pin 79 contacts the front end of the second axial slit 51. That is, the axial length of the second axial slit 51 of the outer column 15 exceeds the telescopic position adjustment range, that is, the normal use position range of the inner column 14 at the time of the secondary collision. It is the range that can move to.

  During the secondary collision, when the inner column 14 moves forward, the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 14 slides with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the outer column 15. Thus, the electric power steering apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment absorbs the impact of the secondary collision by sliding the inner column 14 and the outer column 15 with a predetermined frictional force. Further, when the block member 62 moves forward at the time of a secondary collision, the block member 62 is configured to slide with respect to the groove surface of the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15, that is, the axial wall portion 52 and the bottom surface. In other words, a structure that actively generates frictional force, a structure that moves smoothly without sliding, that is, a structure that generates as little frictional force as possible are possible. . In the case where the block member 62 is configured to slide with respect to the groove surface of the axial groove 56, the electric power steering apparatus 1 according to this embodiment slides between the inner column 14 and the outer column 15 with a predetermined frictional force. In addition, the block member 62 and the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15 slide with a predetermined frictional force to absorb the impact of the secondary collision.

  When the block member 62 moves to the front end of the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15, the front side end surface of the block member 56 contacts the front side width direction wall portion 53 of the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15. In this state, since the inner column 14 cannot move further forward with respect to the outer column 15, the inner column 14 pushes the outer column 15 forward via the block member 62 and the front side width direction wall portion 53. It becomes. Since the outer column 15 is fixed to the vehicle body by the front lower bracket 18 and the rear tilt bracket 11, the load of the secondary collision applied from the inner column 14 to the outer column 15 is reduced by the lower side tilt shaft 19 and It is received by the lower bracket 18 and the tilt bracket 11 via the rod 48 on the upper side.

  As described above, in the electric power steering apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when a forward load of a predetermined size or more is applied to the shear pin 79, the inner pin 14 is detached from the tilt bracket 11 by shearing the shear pin 79. Move forward. Therefore, at the time of the secondary collision, the inner column 14 can be moved forward beyond the telescopic position adjustment range, that is, the range of the normal use position of the inner column 14, and can enter the inner peripheral side of the outer column 15. . In a steering apparatus that does not have a telescopic position adjusting mechanism, the normal use position of the inner column 14 is fixed at a predetermined position in the front-rear direction, and the inner column 14 is normally used in a secondary collision. It moves forward beyond a predetermined position in the use position range, that is, the front-rear direction, and enters the outer peripheral side of the outer column 15. That is, in a steering device that does not have a telescopic position adjusting mechanism, the inner column 14 simply enters the inner peripheral side of the outer column 15 in the case of a secondary collision.

  As described above, the electric power steering apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a known steering lock mechanism. In a state where the steering lock mechanism locks the rotation of the steering shaft 9, that is, in a state where a lock bar (not shown) is engaged with an axial groove of a key lock collar (not shown) fitted on the upper shaft 13. When a force of a predetermined magnitude or more that rotates the shaft 9 in one rotation direction is applied, the load in one rotation direction is transmitted to the liner slot 58 fixed to the inner column 14. Since the shaft portion 80 of the stopper pin 79 is inserted into the liner slot 58, when the liner slot 58 receives a load in one rotation direction, the shaft portion 80 of the stopper pin 79 is rotated in one rotation direction by the liner slot 58. Pushed to. Then, the stopper pin 79 is inclined in the other rotation direction on the head 81 side of the stopper pin 79 disposed in the vertical through hole 63 of the block member 62. When the stopper pin 79 is tilted in the other rotation direction, the head 81 of the stopper pin 79 pushes the block member 62 in the other rotation direction. Since the block member 62 is fixed to the reinforcing wall portion 55 of the outer column 15, that is, the axial groove 56, the load in the other rotation direction transmitted to the block member 62 is applied to the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15. It is received by the axial wall portion 52.

  Further, since the shear pin 69 is press-fitted in the width direction with respect to the block member 62, the steering shaft 9 is moved to one side with a predetermined force or more in a state where the steering lock mechanism locks the rotation of the steering shaft 9. Even if a force for turning in the turning direction is applied, a load is applied to the shear pin 69 along the axial direction of the shear pin 69. Therefore, no load is transmitted in the direction of shearing the shear pin 69 via the block member 62, and the shear pin 69 is not sheared. That is, the inner column 14 is not detached from the tilt bracket 11, and the inner column 14 can be prevented from being accidentally dropped. Similarly, when the steering lock mechanism locks the rotation of the steering shaft 9 and a force that rotates the steering shaft 9 in the other rotation direction with a force greater than a predetermined force is applied, the block member 62 is also used. Thus, no load is transmitted in the shearing direction of the shear pin 69, and the shear pin 69 does not shear.

  Further, when the steering wheel 2 is further pulled rearward in a state where the steering wheel 2 is at the rear end of the telescopic position adjustment range, the rearward load is transmitted to the liner slot 58 fixed to the inner column 14. The stopper pin 79 is located at the front end of the liner slot 58, and when the liner slot 58 receives a backward load, the stopper pin 79 is pulled backward by the liner slot 58. Then, the block member 62 is pulled rearward together with the stopper pin 79. However, since the block member 62 is disposed at the rear end of the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15, the side wall on the rear side of the block member 62 is the outer column. The rear side load direction wall part 54 of the 15 axial grooves 56 contacts the rear side load, and the rearward load is received by the rear side width direction wall part 54 of the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15. Therefore, even when the steering wheel 2 is pulled further rearward with the steering wheel 2 at the rear end of the telescopic position adjustment range, no load is transmitted to the shear pin 69 via the block member 62, and the shear pin 69 is sheared. do not do. That is, the inner column 14 is not detached from the tilt bracket 11, and the inner column 14 can be prevented from being accidentally dropped.

  As described above, the electric power steering apparatus 1 according to this embodiment includes the steering wheel in a state in which the backward load due to the backward movement of the steering wheel 2 and the steering lock mechanism locks the rotation of the steering shaft 9. The load in the direction of rotating 2 to one or the other is not transmitted to the shear pin 69 that fixes the block member 62 to the axial groove 56 of the outer column 15. In other words, only when a forward load larger than a predetermined size is applied to the steering wheel 2 during the secondary collision, the forward load is transmitted to the shear pin 69 and the shear pin 69 is sheared. Therefore, the inner column 14 is not detached from the tilt bracket 11 except during the secondary collision.

  In the present embodiment, the pair of shear pins 69 are arranged on the diagonal of the block member 62, that is, in a point-symmetric relationship with respect to the center point of the block member 62. By arranging the pair of shear pins 69 in this manner, the posture of the block member 62 is stable even when a secondary collision load is input to the block member 62. After the shear pin 69 is sheared, the block member 62 is moved to the outer side. The axial groove 56 of the column 15 moves smoothly forward. Further, when the block member 62 is assembled to the axial groove 56 of the outer column, the width direction through hole 67 and the through hole 68 of the axial wall portion 52 are not affected even if the block member 62 is rotated around the vertical direction through hole 63. By always maintaining a fixed positional relationship, the assembly direction of the block member 62 is not mistaken. Furthermore, a structure that can be assembled in the same manner even when the block member 62 is reversed in the vertical direction can be employed. Therefore, the efficiency of the assembly work can be improved and the yield can be improved.

  As described above, in the electric power steering apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 are in contact with the pair of second action surfaces 42 and the pair of third action surfaces 44, so that the outer The column 15 is clamped in the width direction, and the outer column 15 is held by the tilt bracket 11. At the same time, the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 is independent from the holding of the outer column 15 by contacting the pair of second action surfaces 42 and the pair of third action surfaces 44, and the outer column 15 The inner column 14 is in contact with the pair of first working surfaces 36 with a sufficient clamping force. In this state, the pair of side plates 20 of the tilt bracket 11 clamps the outer column 15 and the inner column 14 with a constant and stable clamping force.

  Moreover, since the box-shaped bridge part 37 is formed in the lower part of the outer column 15, the rigidity of the outer column 15 can be made high. Therefore, the overall length of the outer column 15 can be shortened, and the steering device can be reduced in size. Furthermore, the electric power steering apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an axial groove including a pair of axial wall portions 52, a front side width direction wall portion 53, and a rear side width direction wall portion 54 in the upper portion of the outer column 15. 56, that is, a reinforcing wall 55 is formed. With such a configuration, the outer column 15 can maintain high torsional rigidity even when the entire length is shortened. Therefore, the overall length of the outer column 15 can be shortened, and the steering device can be downsized.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, a steering apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the present embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 22 is a side view of a main part of the electric power steering apparatus according to the second embodiment.
The electric power steering apparatus 201 according to the second embodiment is a column assist type electric power steering apparatus as in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 22, an electric power steering apparatus 201 according to the present embodiment includes a steering shaft 209, a steering column 203 that rotatably supports the steering shaft 209, and a vehicle body that is fixed to the vehicle body. A tilt bracket 211 which is an upper side bracket held on the vehicle body and a power assist device 4 are provided.

  The steering shaft 209 includes a lower shaft 212 disposed on the front side and an upper shaft 213 disposed on the rear side. A male spline (not shown) and a female spline (not shown) are formed at the front end portion of the upper shaft 213 and the rear end portion of the lower shaft 212, respectively, and the upper shaft 213 and the lower shaft 212 can transmit torque. And it is spline-fitted so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the steering wheel 2 is fixed to the rear end portion of the upper shaft 213.

  Unlike the first embodiment, the steering column 203 of the present embodiment includes an inner column 214 that is a lower column and an outer column 215 that is an upper column. The inner column 214 is made of a steel alloy, and the outer column 215 is made of aluminum, and each is formed in a cylindrical shape. On the outer peripheral surface of the rear side portion of the inner column 214 that is a lower column, the inner peripheral surface of the front side portion of the outer column 215 that is an upper column is externally fitted so as to be slidable in the axial direction. On the inner peripheral side of the inner column 214, a lower shaft 212 is rotatably supported via a bearing (not shown). On the inner peripheral side of the outer column 215, an upper shaft 213 is rotatably supported via a bearing (not shown).

  A housing 216 made of a metal such as a steel alloy is integrally connected to the front end portion of the inner column 214. Note that the inner column 214 and the housing 216 may be integrally formed. The housing 216 is assembled with a power assist device 4 that is a steering assist unit for applying a steering assist torque to the output shaft 5 (see FIG. 1). The power assist device 4 has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment.

  As described above, the upper shaft 213 and the lower shaft 212 are spline-fitted so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction. Therefore, the front and rear positions of the steering wheel 2 can be adjusted by the relative movement of the upper shaft 213 and the lower shaft 212 in the axial direction. The steering column 203 is externally fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the rear side portion of the inner column 214 so that the inner peripheral surface of the front side portion of the outer column 215 is slidable in the axial direction. As the relative position in the axial direction between the outer column 215 and the inner column 214 changes, the overall length of the steering column 203 changes.

  The front end portion of the inner column 214 is supported by the vehicle body via the housing 216 by the lower bracket 18. The lower bracket 18 supports the housing 216 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction around a tilt shaft 19 disposed along the width direction. Thus, the inner column 214 connected to the housing 216 is supported on the vehicle body by the lower bracket 18 via the housing 216, and can swing up and down about the tilt shaft 19 as a rotation center. In other words, the steering column 203 can swing in the vertical direction about the tilt shaft 19 as a rotation center.

  FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a main part of the electric power steering apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 24 is a side view of a main part of the electric power steering apparatus according to the second embodiment. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken along line GG in FIG. 23 to 25 show the configuration of the outer column 215 and the tilt bracket 211, and the illustration of the inner column 214, the steering shaft 209, and the power assist device 4 is omitted.

FIG. 26 to FIG. 31 are perspective views of the outer column according to the second embodiment, and show states seen from different directions.
FIG. 32 is a front view of the outer column according to the second embodiment, and shows a state viewed from the rear side of the vehicle body. FIG. 33 is a side view of the outer column according to the second embodiment, and shows a state viewed from the left side of the vehicle body. FIG. 34 is a side view of the outer column according to the second embodiment, and shows a state viewed from the right side of the vehicle body. FIG. 35 is a rear view of the outer column according to the second embodiment, and shows a state viewed from the front side of the vehicle body. FIG. 36 is a plan view of an outer column according to the second embodiment. FIG. 37 is a bottom view of the outer column according to the second embodiment.
38 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 40 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. 41 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 42 is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in FIG.

  The tilt bracket 211 includes a pair of spaced apart side plates 220 extending in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction, and a connecting portion 221 that connects the upper ends of the pair of side plates 220. The pair of side plates 220 is made of a thin plate member, and is disposed to face the outer column 215 in the width direction. The connecting portion 221 includes a center portion 292 disposed above the outer column 215, and a pair of flange portions 222 extending outward in the width direction from the right side end portion and the left side end portion of the center portion 292, respectively. Have The central portion 292 is formed in a U shape that protrudes upward when viewed from the axial direction. The upper end portions of the pair of side plates 220 are fixed to both end portions in the width direction of the lower surface of the central portion 292 by welding. The front ends of the pair of side plates 220 are positioned rearward of the front end portion of the central portion 292, and the rear ends of the pair of side plates 220 protrude rearward of the rear end portion of the central portion 292. That is, the pair of side plates 220 extends to the rear side from the rear end portion of the central portion 292 of the connecting portion 221. The flange portion 222 extends outward in the width direction from the side plate 220 and extends to the front side from the front end of the side plate 220. A long hole 224 extending in the vertical direction is formed in the central portion of each side plate 220. The long hole 224 is a hole for adjusting the tilt position of the steering wheel 2.

  A first reinforcing rib 293 extending in the vertical direction is formed at the front edge of each side plate 220. The first reinforcing rib 293 is formed by curving the front edge of the side plate 220 outward in the width direction. As shown in FIG. 24, the first reinforcing rib 293 extends at the lower end to the lower end of the front side edge of the side plate 220, and the upper end extends vertically with the lower surface of the flange portion 222 via the slit 294. Opposite. Thus, the first reinforcing rib 293 is not coupled with the flange portion 222.

  A second reinforcing rib 295 extending in the vertical direction is formed on the rear side edge of each side plate 220. The second reinforcing rib 295 is formed by bending an edge on the rear side of the side plate 220 outward in the width direction. Since the rear side end portion of the side plate 220 protrudes rearward from the rear end portion of the central portion 292 of the connecting portion 221, the second reinforcing rib 295 is positioned behind the central portion 292 of the connecting portion 221. doing. As shown in FIG. 24, the second reinforcing rib 295 extends at the lower end to the lower end of the rear side edge of the side plate 220, and the upper end is rearward of the rear end of the central portion 292 in the front-rear direction. On the side, it is located below the flange portion 222 in the vertical direction. As described above, the second reinforcing rib 295 is not coupled to the flange portion 222.

  The steering column 203 is supported on the vehicle body by a tilt bracket 211. The outer column 215 of the steering column 203 is supported by the tilt bracket 211 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The tilt bracket 211 holds the steering column 203 on the vehicle body by sandwiching the steering column 203 from both sides in the width direction with a pair of side plates 220. Specifically, the pair of side plates 220 are surfaces facing each other (hereinafter, these surfaces are referred to as “clamping surfaces 296”), and clamp mechanisms 227 (described later) provided on both sides of the outer column 215 in the width direction. The steering column 203 is held on the vehicle body by tightening and clamping.

  The tilt bracket 211 is fixed to the vehicle body via a pair of capsules 283 that are sheared when a load of a predetermined magnitude or more is applied so that the tilt bracket 211 can be detached from the vehicle body in a secondary collision. Each flange portion 222 is provided with a notch portion 284 having an opening on the rear side. Each capsule 283 has a bolt hole (not shown) penetrating in the vertical direction. The pair of capsules 283 are respectively arranged below the cutout portions 284 of the corresponding flange portions 222, and the tilt bracket 211 is fixed to the vehicle body by bolt holes (not shown) inserted through the bolt holes of the capsules 283 and the cutout portions 284. Is done. At the time of the secondary collision, the capsule 283 is sheared by a load of a predetermined magnitude or more forward, and the tilt bracket 211 is detached from the vehicle body, so that the outer column 215 can move forward. The outer column 215 moves forward together with the tilt bracket 211, and the inner peripheral surface of the outer column 215 slides with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 214 to absorb the impact of the secondary collision. It is designed to protect the driver.

  As shown in FIGS. 26 to 30, the outer column 215 is formed with a clamp mechanism portion 227, a main body portion 228 that is a substantially half portion on the front side of the outer column 215, and a rear portion of the main body portion 228. And a cylindrical portion 229. The main body portion 228 and the cylindrical portion 229 have the same inner diameter and are integrally formed. A central portion of the main body 228 is a thin portion 285 having a smaller outer diameter than other portions of the main body 228. The thin portion 285 is formed over the entire circumference of the main body portion 228. The front-rear dimension of the thin part 285, the front-rear dimension of the body part 228 in front of the thin part 285, and the front-rear dimension of the body part 228 rearward of the thin part 285 are equivalent. It is. That is, the thin portion 285 is formed over the range of the central portion when the main body portion 228 of the outer column 215 is divided into approximately three equal parts in the front-rear direction. For convenience of explanation, the portion of the main body portion 228 on the front side of the thin portion 285 is referred to as “front thick portion 286”, and the portion of the main portion 228 on the rear side of the thin portion 285 is referred to as “rear thick portion 287. "

  Clamp mechanism portions 227 that are clamped by the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 are formed on both side portions and the lower side portion of the main body portion 228. The clamp mechanism portion 227 holds the outer column 215 on the tilt bracket 211 that is the vehicle body side fixing member by being clamped by the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211, and clamps the inner column 214 via the outer column 215. Mechanism. The clamp mechanism portion 227 is formed to extend from the vicinity of the front end portion of the outer column 215 to the rear side, and is formed over a front-rear direction range that is larger than the front-rear direction range of the side plate 220 of the tilt bracket 211. Below, the structure of the clamp mechanism part 227 is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIGS. 27 and 31, the lower portion of the main body portion 228 of the outer column 215 extends in the axial direction and penetrates in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface of the main body portion 228 of the outer column 215. An axial slit 230 is formed. The front end of the axial slit 230 opens at the front end of the main body 228 of the outer column 215, that is, the front end of the outer column 215, and the rear side extends to the vicinity of the rear end of the main body 228 of the outer column 215. Specifically, the axial slit 230 penetrates the front-side thick part 286 and the thin-walled part 285 of the main body part 228 in the axial direction from the front end of the outer column 215, and is an intermediate part of the rear-side thick part 287. It extends to.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 31, two circumferential slits extending in the circumferential direction are formed in the lower portion of the main body 228 of the outer column 215. The first circumferential slit 231 is formed near the rear end of the main body 228 of the outer column 215. Specifically, the first circumferential slit 231 is formed in an intermediate portion of the rear-side thick portion 287 of the main body portion 228 of the outer column 215. Both ends of the first circumferential slit 231 are positioned at portions of both side portions in the width direction of the main body 228 of the outer column 215 that overlap with the central axis of the outer column 215 in the vertical direction. The first circumferential slit 231 intersects the axial slit 230 in the circumferential direction at the rear end of the axial slit 230.

  As shown in FIGS. 27 and 31, the second circumferential slit 232 is formed near the front end of the main body 228 of the outer column 215. Specifically, the second circumferential slit 232 is formed in an intermediate portion of the front-side thick portion 286 of the main body portion 228 of the outer column 215. Both ends of the second circumferential slit 232 are positioned at portions of both side portions in the width direction of the main body 228 of the outer column 215 that overlap with the central axis of the outer column 215 in the vertical direction. The second circumferential slit 232 intersects the axial slit 230 in the circumferential direction in the vicinity of the front end of the axial slit 230.

  Since the axial slit 230, the first circumferential slit 231, and the second circumferential slit 232 are formed in this way, the axial slit 230 and the second slit 232 are formed in the lower portion of the main body 228 of the outer column 215. A pair of clamp portions 233 surrounded by three sides by one circumferential slit 231 and second circumferential slit 232 are formed in the width direction. That is, the pair of clamp portions 233 are opposed to each other in the width direction with respect to the axial slit 230. Since each clamp part 233 is a part of the outer column 215, it has a partially cylindrical inner peripheral surface. Each clamp part 233 has a dimension in the front-rear direction larger than the dimension in the front-rear direction of the thin part 285. That is, each clamp part 233 is formed over the back side part of the front side thick part 286 of the main-body part 228, the thin part 285, and the front side part of the back side thick part 287 regarding the front-back direction. . Specifically, each clamp portion 233 is configured such that a front side end portion is a lower side portion on the rear side of the front side thick portion 286, and a rear side end portion is a lower side on the front side of the rear side thick portion 287. The intermediate portion between the front end portion and the rear end portion is configured as a lower portion of the thin portion 285. Therefore, each clamp part 233 has a structure in which both the front end and the rear end are thick, and the middle part between the front end and the rear end is thin.

  Each clamp part 233 has three sides, the lower side, the rear side, and the front side, continuously opened by the axial slit 230, the first circumferential slit 231 and the second circumferential slit 232, The upper side is integrally connected to the main body 228 of the outer column 215. In other words, each clamp part 233 is a non-fixed end where two sides aligned in the axial direction and one side in the vertical direction are continuous, and the other side in the vertical direction is a fixed end. Due to such a configuration, each clamp portion 233 has a cantilever structure having a fixed end extending in the axial direction. Each clamp part 233 has lower rigidity in the width direction than the other part of the main body part 228 of the outer column 215, and can be elastically deformed in the width direction. Specifically, the inner diameter of each clamp part 233 can be elastically expanded or reduced by elastically deforming each clamp part 233 in the width direction.

  A flat projecting plate portion 234 is provided at the lower end portion of the outer peripheral surface of each clamp portion 233 so as to protrude outward in the width direction. Each overhang plate portion 234 extends outward from the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 215 on the width direction side. Each overhang plate portion 234 is formed over the length of the clamp portion 233 in the front-rear direction. A reinforcing rib 235 is provided between the upper surface of each overhang plate portion 234 and the outer peripheral surface of the clamp portion 233 to connect the upper surface of each overhang plate portion 234 and the outer peripheral surface of the clamp portion 233. The reinforcing ribs 235 are formed in the vicinity of the rear side end portion and the front side end portion vicinity of the upper surface of each overhang plate portion 234. An end surface on the outer side in the width direction of each overhang plate portion 234 constitutes a first action surface 236 that receives the tightening force of the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211. Therefore, a pair of first action surfaces 236 of the overhang plate portion 234 are formed. In this embodiment, the 1st action surface 236 of each overhang | projection board part 234 is formed in the flat surface extended in an up-down direction and the front-back direction. The first working surface 236 may have a shape other than a flat surface.

  The outer column 215 includes a bridge portion 237 that continuously connects the width direction one side portion and the width direction other side portion of the outer column 215. In the present embodiment, the bridge portion 237 is provided below the main body portion 228 of the outer column 215 so as to cover the pair of clamp portions 233 and the pair of projecting plate portions 234 from below. The bridge portion 237 is provided integrally with the outer column 215.

  The bridge portion 237 includes a reinforcing plate portion 238 that extends in the width direction and the axial direction below the main body portion 228 of the outer column 215, and a rear side connecting portion that connects the rear end of the reinforcing plate portion 238 and the outer column 215. 239 and a front side connecting portion 240 that connects the front end of the reinforcing plate portion 238 and the outer column 215. The reinforcing plate portion 238 has an axial length substantially the same as the axial length of the main body portion 228 of the outer column 215, and has a width that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the outer column 215 in the width direction. The reinforcing plate portion 238 faces the pair of overhanging plate portions 234 in the vertical direction with a predetermined gap therebetween. The rear side connecting portion 239 has the same width dimension as the width direction of the reinforcing plate portion 238, extends upward from the rear end of the reinforcing plate portion 238, and is more than the first circumferential slit 231 of the outer column 215. The rear side is connected to the lower side of the outer column 215. The front side connecting portion 240 has the same width dimension as the width direction of the reinforcing plate portion 238, extends upward from the front end of the reinforcing plate portion 238, and is more than the second circumferential slit 232 of the outer column 215. The front side is connected to the lower surface of the outer column 215. Thus, the bridge portion 237 is formed in a box shape by the reinforcing plate portion 238, the rear side connection portion 239, and the front side connection portion 240.

  Since the bridge portion 237 has such a configuration, a gap 241 having a U-shape when viewed from the width direction is formed between the bridge portion 237 and each clamp portion 233 as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34. Yes. The box-shaped bridge portion 237 surrounds the U-shaped gap 241 and covers the lower side of the axial slit 30. As viewed from the width direction, the first action surface 236 is located inside the U-shaped gap 241. The U-shaped gap 241 between the bridge part 237 and each clamp part 233 is symmetrical with respect to the width direction. That is, each U-shaped gap 241 has a shape viewed from the width direction in which the shape of the front side portion and the shape of the rear side portion are symmetrical with respect to a virtual straight line in the vertical direction passing through the center in the front-rear direction of the gap 241. It has become. In the present embodiment, the outer column 215 has high torsional rigidity by including such a bridge portion 237.

  The reinforcing plate portion 238 of the bridge portion 237 constitutes a second working surface 242 that receives the tightening force of the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 at both ends in the width direction. Therefore, the reinforcing plate portion 238 has a pair of second action surfaces 242. In the present embodiment, the second working surface 242 is formed as a flat surface extending in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction, and is formed across the entire region in the front-rear direction at both ends on the width direction side of the reinforcing plate 238. . The second working surface 242 is the first working surface 236 of the overhanging plate portion 234 of the clamp portion 233 (hereinafter, the first working surface 236 is referred to as “the first working surface 236 on the clamp portion 233 side”). ) And are spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, and are disposed below the first action surface 236 on the clamp portion 233 side. Note that the second working surface 242 may have a shape other than a flat surface.

  The widthwise side portions of the main body 228 of the outer column 215 extend in the front-rear direction, that is, in the axial direction of the outer column 215 and project outward in the width direction, at portions overlapping the central axis of the outer column 215 in the vertical direction. A ridge 243 is provided. Each protrusion 243 extends in the front-rear direction from the front end of the main body part 228 of the outer column 215, that is, from the front end of the outer column 215 over a length corresponding to the front-rear direction range of the main body part 228 of the outer column 215. doing. The top of each protrusion 243, that is, the outer side portion of the outer column 215 in the width direction is formed on a flat surface extending in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction, and receives the tightening force of the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211. 3 working surfaces 244 are formed. Accordingly, the main body 228 of the outer column 215 is provided with a pair of third action surfaces 244. The third working surface 244 of the outer column 215 is provided vertically apart from the first working surface 236 on the clamp part 233 side, and is disposed above the first working surface 236 on the clamp part 233 side. ing. Note that the third working surface 244 may have a shape other than a flat surface.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the pair of clamp portions 233 includes the pair of first action surfaces 236 that receive the tightening force of the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211, and the outer A pair of second action surfaces 242 and a pair of third action surfaces 244 that receive the tightening force of the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 are provided below and above the clamp portion 233 with respect to the vertical direction of the column 215. .

  The pair of first action surfaces 236 are provided independently of the pair of second action surfaces 242 and the pair of third action surfaces 244. The axial lengths of the pair of first working surfaces 236 are configured to be shorter than the axial lengths of the pair of second working surfaces 242 and the pair of third working surfaces 244. The pair of first action surfaces 236 may be positioned at the center of the pair of second action surfaces 242 and the pair of third action surfaces 244 with respect to the vertical direction of the outer column 215, or the pair of second action surfaces 236. It may be offset above or below the center of the working surface 242 and the pair of third working surfaces 244.

  When viewed from the width direction, the center of the first working surface 236 in the front-rear direction and the center of the third working surface 244 in the front-rear direction are the same position in the front-rear direction of the outer column 215. Note that the center of the first working surface 236 in the front-rear direction as viewed from the width direction may be offset forward or rearward with respect to the center of the third working surface 244 in the front-rear direction. The pair of clamp portions 233 and the overhang plate portion 234, the bridge portion 237, the pair of first action surfaces 236 on the clamp portion 233 side, the pair of second action surfaces 242 of the bridge portion 237, and the outer column 215 The pair of third action surfaces 244 constitute a clamp mechanism portion 227.

  As shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, a concave portion 289 that is recessed downward as viewed in the width direction is formed on the upper surface of the reinforcing plate portion 238 of the bridge portion 237. The concave portion 289 is formed so as to penetrate the upper surface of the reinforcing plate portion 238 in the width direction, and the front-rear direction dimension of the concave portion 289 is equal to or slightly smaller than the front-rear direction size of the overhang plate portion 234, that is, the front-rear direction size of the clamp portion 233. Has been. With respect to the front-rear direction, the front end of the recess 289 is located in the middle of the front-side thick part 286 of the main body 228 of the outer column 215, and the rear end of the recess 289 is the rear-side thickness of the main body 228. It is located in the middle part of the front-rear direction range of the meat part 287. When viewed from the width direction, the center in the front-rear direction of the recess 289 and the center in the front-rear direction of the projecting plate portion 234, that is, the center in the front-rear direction of the second working surface 242 are the same position in the front-rear direction of the outer column 215. It has become.

  Since the concave portion 289 is formed on the upper surface of the reinforcing plate portion 238, the concave portion 289 opens in a space on the bottom side of the U-shaped gap 241 and is continuous with the U-shaped gap 241 in the vertical direction. Therefore, when viewed from the width direction, the concave portion 289 and the gap portion on the bottom side of the U-shaped gap 241 continuous above the concave portion 289 have a large vertical width and extend in the front-rear direction. A long hole 290 is formed. In other words, a long hole 290 extending in the front-rear direction is formed by the extended plate portion 234 of each clamp portion 233 and the portion of the reinforcing plate portion 238 of the bridge portion 237 facing each extended plate portion 234 in the vertical direction. Is formed. A rod 48 (see FIG. 22) is inserted through the elongated hole 290 in the width direction. The rod 48 is inserted through the long hole 290 so as to be relatively movable in the longitudinal direction through the long hole 290. That is, the long hole 290 is a hole extending in the front-rear direction for adjusting the telescopic position of the steering wheel 2. The rod 48 penetrates the elongated hole 224 for adjusting the tilt position formed in the pair of side plates 220 of the clamp mechanism portion 227 and the tilt bracket 211 in the width direction.

  The configurations of the rod 48, the nut 49, the operation lever 50, and a known cam mechanism (not shown) are the same as those in the first embodiment. By operating the operation lever 50, the outer column 215 is tightened from both sides in the width direction by the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 and the inner column 214 is tightened via the outer column 215 to adjust the steering wheel 2 to the tilt adjustment position or telescopic adjustment. Lock to the position and release the locked state. A method for adjusting the position of the steering wheel 2 in the electric power steering apparatus 201 according to this embodiment will be described later.

  In the present embodiment, in a state in which no external force is applied to the outer column 215, that is, in a state where the tightening of the outer column 215 by the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 is released, a pair of third columns provided in the outer column 215. The interval in the width direction between the action surfaces 244 and the interval in the width direction between the pair of first action surfaces 236 on the clamp portion 233 side are formed to have the same size. That is, on one side in the width direction, one third action surface 244 of the outer column 215 and one first action surface 236 on the clamp part 233 side are positioned on one virtual plane extending in the vertical direction. On the other side in the width direction, the other third action surface 244 of the outer column 215 and the other first action surface 236 on the clamp part 233 side are positioned on one virtual plane extending in the vertical direction. doing.

  In the state where no external force is applied to the outer column 215, the distance between the pair of third action surfaces 244 provided in the outer column 215, that is, the width between the pair of first action surfaces 236 on the clamp part 233 side. The interval in the direction is formed larger than the interval in the width direction between the pair of second action surfaces 242 of the bridge portion 237. In other words, the width-direction interval between the pair of second operation surfaces 242 of the bridge portion 237 is the width-direction interval between the pair of first operation surfaces 236 on the clamp portion 233 side, that is, the pair of third third surfaces of the outer column 215. Are formed smaller than the distance between the working surfaces 244 in the width direction. That is, on one side in the width direction, one second working surface 242 of the bridge portion 237 is more than one first working surface 236 on the clamp portion 233 side and one third working surface 244 of the outer column 215. The other second working surface 242 of the bridge portion 237 is positioned inward in the width direction, and the other first working surface 236 on the clamp portion 233 side and the other first working surface 236 of the outer column 215 are disposed on the other side in the width direction. 3 inward in the width direction relative to the third working surface 244. With this configuration, in a state where the outer column 215 is tightened by the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211, the pair of second actions of the bridge portion 237 and the surfaces of the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211. The surface 242 faces the width direction through a gap. The clamping operation of the outer column 215 and the inner column 214 by the clamping mechanism unit 227 will be described later.

Similar to the first embodiment, the electric power steering apparatus 201 according to the present embodiment includes a known steering lock mechanism that is one of the vehicle antitheft devices. Since the steering lock mechanism is a known one, detailed illustration is omitted.
The steering lock mechanism is provided in a key lock collar (not shown) that is externally fitted to the upper shaft 213 (see FIG. 22) of the steering shaft 209 and a cylindrical portion 229 of the upper column, that is, the outer column 215 on the radially outer side of the key lock collar. And a steering lock device (not shown) attached to the steering lock mechanism fixing portion 291. A plurality of ridges extending in the axial direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the key lock collar, and axial grooves are formed by the ridges adjacent in the circumferential direction. As shown in FIGS. 30 and 34, a locking through-hole 282 that penetrates the outer column 215 in the radial direction is formed in the vicinity of the rear end portion of the outer column 215. When the ignition key is turned off, a lock bar (not shown) provided in the steering lock device passes through the lock through-hole 282 and is displaced toward the inner diameter side of the outer column 215, and the shaft formed in the key lock collar Engage with directional groove. As described above, the steering lock mechanism restricts the rotation of the steering shaft 209 by engaging the lock bar with the axial groove of the key lock collar so that the steering cannot be performed when the vehicle is stolen.

  In the state where the lock bar is engaged with the key lock collar, the steering lock mechanism is configured such that the steering shaft 209 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the key lock collar when a force that rotates the steering wheel 2 with a predetermined force or more is applied. It is designed to rotate with respect to it. By adopting such a configuration, while preventing the steering lock mechanism from being damaged, a friction of such a magnitude that the steering wheel 2 cannot be steered between the inner peripheral surface of the key lock collar and the steering shaft 209 is given. Configured to prevent theft.

  Next, a method for adjusting the position of the steering wheel 2 and a method for clamping the steering column 203 in the electric power steering apparatus 201 according to this embodiment will be described.

  The position of the steering wheel 2 is adjusted by operating the operation lever 50 (see FIG. 22) in a direction to release the lock of the steering wheel 2 locked at a predetermined position, and tightening the outer column 215 by the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211. The inner column 214 is tightened via the outer column 215 in a released state. As shown in FIG. 22, the steering column 203 is supported by the lower bracket 18 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction about the tilt shaft 19. Therefore, the height position of the steering wheel 2 can be adjusted by moving the steering wheel 2 in the vertical direction. At this time, the rods 48 disposed in the width direction through the long holes 224 of the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 and the clamp mechanism portion 227 of the outer column 215 are the lengths of the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211. It moves up and down in the hole 224. The moving range of the steering wheel 2 corresponding to the range in which the rod 48 can move in the vertical direction in the long hole 224 is the adjustable range of the height position of the steering wheel 2.

  In a state where the outer column 215 is tightened by the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211, the outer column 215 is slidable in the axial direction with respect to the tilt bracket 211 and is pivoted with respect to the inner column 214. It can slide in the direction. In this state, the outer column 215 is moved in the front-rear direction by moving the steering wheel 2 in the front-rear direction, and the telescopic position of the steering wheel 2 is adjusted. When the outer column 215 is moved in the front-rear direction with respect to the inner column 214, the position where the rod 48 penetrates the long hole 290 in the width direction is displaced in the front-rear direction. The outer column 215 is movable in the front-rear direction with respect to the inner column 214 within a range in which the long hole 290 extends in the front-rear direction. The position of the steering wheel 2 corresponding to the position where the rod 48 contacts the front end of the long hole 290, that is, the front end of the recess 289 is the rear end position of the telescopic position adjustment range of the steering wheel 2. The position of the steering wheel 2 corresponding to the position where the rod 48 contacts the rear end of the long hole 290, that is, the rear end of the recess 289 is the front end position of the telescopic position adjustment range of the steering wheel 2.

  The operation lever 50 is operated in a direction to lock the position of the steering wheel 2. Then, the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 bends in a direction in which the distance between the side plates 220 is narrowed via a cam mechanism (not shown), that is, a direction in which the clamp mechanism portion 227 of the outer column 215 is sandwiched. The tightening surfaces 296 of the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 are first pressed against the pair of third action surfaces 244 to tighten the outer column 215 from both sides in the width direction. Thereby, the outer column 215 is clamped in the width direction. The third working surface 244 contacts the tightening surface 296 of the side plate 220 at the upper portion of the side plate 220, specifically, at the portion of the side plate 220 between the upper end of the side plate 220 and the upper end of the long hole 224. Since the pair of third action surfaces 244 of the outer column 215 are formed on both sides in the width direction of the main body 228 of the outer column 215, they do not move elastically and move in the width direction. In other words, when the position of the steering wheel 2 is adjusted, the pair of third action surfaces 244 do not operate. That is, the pair of third working surfaces 244 are non-operating parts.

  When the operation lever 50 is operated in a direction in which the distance between the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 is further reduced, the pair of side plates 220 has a pair of third action surfaces 244 as a fulcrum. The portion corresponding to the lower side of the contact point with the wire bends in the direction in which the interval between them is narrowed. That is, each side plate 220 bends at a portion between the upper end welded to the central portion 292 of the connecting portion 221 and the upper end of the long hole 224. Since the first reinforcing rib 293 and the second reinforcing rib 295 are respectively formed on the pair of side plates 220, each side plate 220 has a contact point with the third working surface 244 and a position lower than the contact point. Excessive bending of the portion corresponding to is prevented, and the fastening surface 296 of each side plate 220 bends in a state close to a flat surface. In other words, the fastening surface 296 of each side plate 220 bends in a state close to a straight line extending in the vertical direction when viewed from the axial direction. The tightening surfaces 296 of the pair of side plates 220 are located on the side of the clamp portion 233 at the portion of the side plate 220 below the contact point with the third working surface 244, specifically, in the central portion in the vertical direction of the side plate 220. The pair of first working surfaces 236 are in contact with each other.

  The respective clamping surfaces 296 of the pair of side plates 220 sandwich the pair of first working surfaces 236 on the clamp portion 233 side from both sides in the width direction, and a pair of overhanging plate portions formed with the pair of first working surfaces 236. The pair of clamp portions 233 are tightened from both sides in the width direction via 234. As a result, the tightening surfaces 296 of the pair of side plates 220 tighten the outer column 215. Specifically, the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 elastically reduces the inner diameter of the pair of clamp portions 233. When the inner diameters of the pair of clamp parts 233 are reduced, the pair of clamp parts 233 come into contact with the inner column 214 disposed on the inner diameter side of the pair of clamp parts 233 and sandwich the inner column 214 in the width direction. That is, the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 holds the outer column 215 on the tilt bracket 211 via the pair of first action surfaces 236 and the pair of overhanging plate portions 234, and also via the outer column 215. The inner column 214 is supported on the inner peripheral side of the outer column 215. Thus, the pair of clamp parts 233, the pair of overhanging plate parts 234, and the pair of first action surfaces 236 operate when the steering wheel 2 is adjusted. That is, the pair of clamp parts 233, the pair of overhanging plate parts 234, and the pair of first action surfaces 236 are operating parts.

  When the operation lever 50 is operated in a direction in which the distance between the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 is further narrowed, the pair of side plates 220 has the pair of first action surfaces 236 as fulcrums. The portion corresponding to the lower side of the contact point with the wire bends in the direction in which the interval between them is narrowed. That is, each side plate 220 bends at the central portion in the vertical direction. Since the first reinforcing rib 293 and the second reinforcing rib 295 are respectively formed on the pair of side plates 220, each side plate 220 has a contact point with the first working surface 236 and below the contact point. Excessive bending of the portion corresponding to is prevented, and the fastening surface 296 of each side plate 220 bends in a state close to a flat surface. In other words, the fastening surface 296 of each side plate 220 bends in a state close to a straight line extending in the vertical direction when viewed from the axial direction. Then, the tightening surfaces 296 of the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 are portions of the side plate 220 below the contact point with the first action surface 236, specifically, in the vicinity of the lower end of the side plate 220. The pair of second working surfaces 242 of the bridge portion 237 are in contact with each other.

  Since the pair of second action surfaces 242 of the bridge portion 237 are formed at both ends in the width direction of one reinforcing plate portion 238 of the bridge portion 237, they are elastically deformed and do not move in the width direction. In other words, the pair of second working surfaces 242 do not operate when the steering wheel 2 is adjusted. That is, the pair of second working surfaces 242 are non-operating parts. Therefore, the pair of second working surfaces 242 do not narrow each other in the width direction even if the pair of side plates 220 acts in the direction in which the distance in the width direction is narrowed. Therefore, from this state, even if the operation lever 50 is further operated so that the distance between the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 is narrowed, the distance between the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 remains in the width direction. Furthermore, it does not bend in the narrowing direction. As described above, the reinforcing plate portion 238 and the pair of second action surfaces 242 of the bridge portion 237 serve as a restriction portion that restricts the pair of side plates 220 from bending in a direction in which the distance between the pair of side plates 220 is narrowed at a predetermined position. It is functioning.

  As described above, when the electric power steering apparatus 201 according to the present embodiment locks the steering wheel 2 at the tilt adjustment position and the telescopic adjustment position, the tightening surfaces 296 of the pair of side plates 220 are initially at the upper portion. It contacts the third working surface 244 of the clamp mechanism 227, then contacts the first working surface 236 at the central portion in the vertical direction, and finally contacts the second working surface 242 at the lower portion. Since each side plate 220 is formed with a first reinforcing rib 293 and a second reinforcing rib 295 extending in the vertical direction, each side plate 220 has a contact point with the third working surface 244 and a first action. When the contact point with the surface 236 is bent as a fulcrum, the side plate 220 is prevented from being excessively bent, and the tightening surface 296 of the side plate 220 is bent in a state close to a flat surface. As a result, each side plate 220 comes into contact with the third working surface 244, the first working surface 236, and the second working surface 242 linearly in the vertical direction when viewed from the axial direction. Accordingly, the pair of side plates 220 can hold the steering column 203 on the vehicle body with a stable clamping force. In the electric power steering apparatus 201 according to the present embodiment, when the steering wheel 2 is locked at the tilt adjustment position and the telescopic adjustment position, the respective tightening surfaces 296 of the pair of side plates 220 are first at the center in the vertical direction. In some cases, the first working surface 236 may be contacted, then the upper portion may contact the third working surface 244, and finally the lower portion may contact the second working surface 242. Also in this case, the fastening surfaces 296 of the pair of side plates 220 are in contact with each other at the second action surface 242, and each side plate 220 is in contact with the third action surface 244 and the first action. When the contact point with the surface 236 is bent as a fulcrum, the fastening surface 296 of the side plate 220 is bent in a state close to a flat surface.

  In the present embodiment, in a state where the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 is in contact with the pair of second action surfaces 242 of the bridge portion 237, the outer column 215 and the inner column 214 are tilted by the greater clamping force. 211 is not sandwiched between the pair of side plates 220. When the outer column 215 and the inner column 214 are clamped by an unnecessarily large clamping force, when a force in the twisting direction is applied to the outer column 215 and the inner column 214, a predetermined portion of the outer column 215 and the inner column 214 is applied. A large stress is applied, and the outer column 215 and the inner column 214 may be deformed. In the present embodiment, the clamping force of the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 does not become larger than a predetermined magnitude, so that the steering column 203 can be held on the vehicle body with a stable clamping force.

  As described above, each clamp portion 233 is tightened from both sides in the width direction by the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211. The tightening force of the pair of side plates 220 is the largest at the position where the rod 48 is inserted. Become. Each clamp part 233 receives this tightening force via a projecting plate part 234 and a first action surface 236 formed at the lower end of each clamp part 233. Since each clamp portion 233 has a cantilever structure, it is easily elastically deformed when a tightening force is applied to the front end portion or the rear end portion of the first action surface 236. When a tightening force is applied to an intermediate portion between the front end portion and the rear end portion, the structure is less susceptible to elastic deformation than when a tightening force is applied to both end portions. That is, when each clamp part 233 is formed with the same thickness over the entire area, when the rod 48 is at the front end or the rear end of the long hole 290, that is, the steering wheel 2 is at the rear end of the telescopic position adjustment range. Alternatively, when it is at the front end, the operation force of the operation lever 50 for locking the position of the steering wheel 2 may be small, but when the rod 48 is in the middle part of the long hole 290, that is, the steering wheel 2 is in the telescopic position. When in the middle of the adjustment range, the operating force of the operating lever 50 becomes large.

  In the present embodiment, each clamp portion 233 is configured such that the front end portion and the rear end portion are thick, and the intermediate portion between these both end portions is thin. By setting it as such a structure, as for each clamp part 233, the front side edge part and the rear side edge part have high rigidity, and the thin part between both ends has low rigidity. Each clamp part 233 is easily bent because the rigidity of the intermediate part is low. Furthermore, since the intermediate part of the main body part 228 of the outer column 215 in which the clamp mechanism part 237 is formed is a thin part 285, the intermediate part of each clamp part 233 is more easily bent. With this configuration, in this embodiment, the position of the steering wheel 2 is locked regardless of the position of the rod 48 in the long hole 290, that is, the position of the steering wheel 2 in the telescopic position adjustment range. The operating force of the operating lever 50 at the time can be made constant.

  Further, the steering device 201 according to the present embodiment has a pair of first columns in a state where no external force is applied to the outer column 215, that is, in a state where the outer column 215 is tightened by the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211. The pair of second action surfaces 242 are positioned inward in the width direction with respect to the width direction positions of the action surface 236 and the pair of third action surfaces 244. The steering device 201 according to the present embodiment changes the position in the width direction of the pair of second action surfaces 242 with respect to the position in the width direction of the pair of first action surfaces 236 and the pair of third action surfaces 244. The relationship between the rigidity of the tilt bracket 211, that is, the rigidity of the pair of side plates 220, and the holding force of the outer column 215 by the pair of side plates 220 can be adjusted.

  When the operation lever 50 is operated with an operation force of a predetermined size, if the rigidity of the pair of side plates 220 is low, the pair of side plates 220 is easily bent, and the holding force of the outer column 215 by the pair of side plates 220 is increased. On the other hand, when the operation lever 50 is operated with the same operating force, if the rigidity of the pair of side plates 220 is high, the pair of side plates 220 is difficult to bend and the holding force of the outer column 215 by the pair of side plates 220 is low. Hereinafter, the configuration of one side in the width direction of the pair of side plates 220, the pair of first action surfaces 236, the pair of second action surfaces 242 and the pair of third action surfaces 244 will be described. The configuration is the same.

  When the rigidity of the side plate 220 is low, the interval in the width direction between the position in the width direction of the first action surface 236 and the position in the width direction of the second action surface 242 may be reduced. That is, the second working surface 242 is located closer to the first working surface 236 with respect to the position in the width direction. In this way, when the position of the steering wheel 2 is locked, the side plate 220 comes into contact with the second working surface 242 immediately after starting to bend. If it does so, the holding force with respect to the outer column 215 of the side plate 220 will not become large too much, and the stable holding force can be maintained. On the other hand, when the rigidity of the side plate 220 is high, the interval in the width direction between the width direction position of the first action surface 236 and the width direction position of the second action surface 242 may be increased. That is, the second working surface 242 is positioned farther from the first working surface 236 than the case where the rigidity of the side plate 220 is low with respect to the position in the width direction. In this way, when the position of the steering wheel 2 is locked, the side plate 220 is greatly bent until it contacts the second working surface 242. As a result, the holding force of the side plate 220 with respect to the outer column 215 is increased, and the outer column 215 can be held with a large enough and stable holding force to hold the outer column 215.

  As described above, the electric power steering apparatus 201 according to the present embodiment includes a known steering lock mechanism. In a state where the steering lock mechanism locks the rotation of the steering shaft 9, that is, in a state where a lock bar (not shown) is engaged with an axial groove of a key lock collar (not shown) fitted on the upper shaft 213. When a force of a predetermined magnitude or more is applied to rotate the shaft 209 in one or the other rotation direction, the load in the one or other rotation direction is the upper column via the lock bar and the steering lock mechanism. It is transmitted to the outer column 215 as a load for rotating the outer column 215. Here, the outer column 215 is held by the tilt bracket 211 by the pair of side plates 220 sandwiching the third action surface 244. Therefore, the load in the direction in which the outer column 215 is rotated in the key-locked state is such that the side plate 220 bent with the third action surface 244 as a fulcrum is in contact with the second action surface 242. It is received by the tilt bracket 211.

  In the present embodiment, when the position of the steering wheel 2 is locked, the pair of side plates 220 are configured to contact the pair of second action surfaces 242, but when the position of the steering wheel 2 is locked, The pair of side plates 220 and the pair of second working surfaces 242 are opposed to each other via a gap, and when a force of a predetermined magnitude or more is applied to rotate the steering shaft 209 in the key lock state, Any one of the side plates 220 may be in contact with any one of the second working surfaces 242.

  As described above, in the electric power steering apparatus 201 according to the present embodiment, the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 contacts the pair of third action surfaces 244 to sandwich the outer column 215 in the width direction, The outer column 215 is held by the tilt bracket 211. At the same time, the pair of side plates 220 is sufficient to fix the inner column 214 via the outer column 215 independently of the holding of the outer column 215 by contacting the pair of third working surfaces 244. The pair of first working surfaces 236 are in contact with each other with a clamping force. In this state, the pair of side plates 220 of the tilt bracket 211 clamps the outer column 215 and the inner column 214 with a constant and stable clamping force.

  Further, since the box-shaped bridge portion 237 is formed in the lower portion of the outer column 215, the rigidity of the outer column 215 can be increased. Therefore, high torsional rigidity can be maintained even if the overall length of the outer column 215 is shortened, and the steering device can be reduced in size.

  In the steering device 201 according to the second embodiment, the outer column 215 is formed of aluminum, but may be formed by casting using iron as a material. FIG. 43 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of the outer column 315 formed in this way. The outer column 315 shown in FIG. 43 also has a clamp mechanism portion 227, and the clamp mechanism portion 227 has a first action surface 236, a second action surface 242 and a third action surface 244. Also in such an outer column 315, the same effects as those of the first embodiment and the second embodiment can be obtained.

1, 201 Electric power steering device 2 Steering wheel 3, 203 Steering column 4 Electric power assist device 5 Output shaft 6 Intermediate shaft 7 Steering gear assembly 8 Tie rod 9, 209 Steering shaft 11, 211 Tilt bracket 12, 212 Lower shaft 13, 213 Upper shaft 14, 214 Inner column 15, 215, 315 Outer column 16, 216 Housing 17 Electric motor 18 Lower bracket 19 Tilt shaft 20, 220 Side plate 21 Flat plate portion 22, 222 Flange portion 23 Reinforcing rib 24, 224 Long hole 25 Bolt hole 26 Bolt 27, 227 Clamping mechanism part 28, 228 Main body part 29, 229 Cylindrical part 2
30 First axial slits 31 and 231 First circumferential slits 32 and 232 Second circumferential slits 33 and 233 Clamp portions 34 and 234 Overhang plate portions 35 and 235 Reinforcing ribs 36 and 236 First working surfaces 37, 237 Bridge part 38, 238 Reinforcement plate part 39, 239 Rear side connection part 40, 240 Front side connection part 41, 241 U-shaped gap 42, 242 Second action surface 43, 243 Projection part 44, 244 Third working surface 45 Width direction groove 46 Width direction groove 47 Round hole 48 Rod 49 Nut 50 Operation lever 51 Second axial direction slit 52 Axial wall portion 53 Front side width direction wall portion 54 Rear side width direction wall portion 55 Reinforcing wall portion 56 Axial groove 57 Third axial slit 58 Liner slot 59 Main body portion 60 Flange portion 61 Axial groove 62 Block member 63 Vertical through hole 64 Inside Perforated flange portion 65 Thinned portion 66 Side wall 67 Width direction through hole 68 Through hole 69 Shear pin 70 Outer pin 71 Inner pin 72 Main body portion 73 Expanded portion 74 Flange portion 75 Guide hole 76 Counterbore 77 Main body portion 78 Large diameter portion 79 Stopper pin 80 Shaft part 81 Head part 82, 282 Locking through-hole 221 Connecting part 230 Axial slit 283 Capsule 284 Notch part 285 Thin part 286 Front side thick part 287 Rear side thick part 289 Recess 290 Long hole 291 Steering lock mechanism fixed Part 292 Central part 293 First reinforcing rib 294 Slit 295 Second reinforcing rib 296 Tightening surface

Claims (16)

A steering column comprising an outer column and an inner column whose one end is fitted to the other end of the outer column so as to be slidable in the axial direction;
A steering wheel fixed to the rear end, and a steering shaft rotatably supported by the steering column;
A bracket that is fixed to the vehicle body and supports the outer column by sandwiching a clamp mechanism formed on the outer column by a pair of plate-like members, and also supports the inner column via the outer column. ,
The clamp mechanism portion is provided integrally with each of the clamp portions and a pair of clamp portions that sandwich the inner column in the width direction in a state of being sandwiched by the pair of plate-like members, and the pair of plate-like members A pair of first working surfaces that elastically deform the pair of clamp portions by contacting with each of the members; and a pair of first working surfaces provided below the pair of first working surfaces; A pair of second working surfaces that sandwich the outer column, and a pair of second working surfaces that are provided above the pair of first working surfaces and that respectively contact the pair of plate-like members and sandwich the outer column. 3. A steering apparatus having three working surfaces. The pair of clamp portions includes an axial slit formed in a lower portion of the outer column, and two circumferential sections that intersect the axial slit in the circumferential direction at a rear side portion and a front side portion of the axial slit, respectively. A portion of the outer column that is surrounded on three sides by a directional slit and faces in the width direction with respect to the axial slit;
2. The pair of first working surfaces are width direction outer side end surfaces of a protruding plate portion provided to protrude outward in the width direction from a lower end portion of each clamp portion. Steering device.   The clamp mechanism portion connects the pair of projecting plate portions vertically opposite to the pair of projecting plate portions below the pair of projecting plate portions, the front and rear ends of the reinforcement plate portion, and the outer column. The steering apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a bridge portion that covers the pair of projecting plate portions below.   The said clamp mechanism part has a U-shaped clearance gap formed between the said bridge | bridging part, the said clamp part, and the said protrusion board part seeing from the width direction, The Claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Steering device. The pair of second working surfaces are both ends on the width direction side of the reinforcing plate part,
The reinforcing plate portion is a regulating portion that regulates displacement of the pair of plate-like members in a direction in which a distance between the pair of plate-like members is narrowed in a state where the clamp mechanism portion is sandwiched between the pair of plate-like members. The steering apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that:   The outer column is provided with protrusions extending in the front-rear direction on both sides in the width direction, and the pair of third working surfaces are tops of the protrusions. Item 6. The steering device according to any one of Items 1 to 5. In the state in which the clamping mechanism portion is held between the pair of plate-like members, the interval in the width direction between the pair of first action surfaces is larger than the interval in the width direction between the pair of second action surfaces. The steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the steering device is large.   The shape of the U-shaped gap viewed from the width direction is characterized in that the shape of the front side portion and the shape of the rear side portion are symmetrical with respect to the center in the front-rear direction of the U-shaped gap. The steering device according to any one of claims 4 to 7.   9. The pair of clamp portions, wherein a portion between a front side portion and a rear side portion is a thin portion that is thinner than the front side portion and the rear side portion. The steering device according to any one of the above.   The steering device according to claim 9, wherein the outer column has a circumferential portion corresponding to the thin portion thinner than other portions.   A long hole extending in the front-rear direction is formed by the lower side surface of the pair of protruding plate portions and the upper side surface of the reinforcing plate portion, and a rod inserted through the pair of plate-like members is inserted in the long hole in the front-rear direction. The steering device according to any one of claims 3 to 10, wherein the steering device is inserted in a relatively movable manner.   The steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein a length of the first working surface in the front-rear direction is shorter than a length of the third working surface in the front-rear direction.   The center in the front-rear direction of the first working surface and the center in the front-rear direction of the third working surface are at the same position with respect to the front-rear direction of the outer column. A steering apparatus according to claim 1.   The center of the first working surface in the front-rear direction is located on the front side or the rear side in the front-rear direction of the outer column with respect to the center of the third working surface in the front-rear direction. The steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12.   The lower side surfaces of the pair of projecting plate portions are each provided with a width direction groove having an arc shape in cross section, and the upper side surface of the reinforcing plate portion is provided with upper and lower sides of the width direction grooves of the pair of projecting plate portions. A widthwise groove having a circular cross-sectional shape facing the direction is provided, and the clamp mechanism portion is penetrated in the widthwise direction by the widthwise groove of the pair of protruding plate portions and the widthwise groove of the reinforcing plate portion. The steering device according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein a round hole is formed, and a rod inserted through the pair of plate-like members is inserted into the round hole.   The steering device according to claim 15, wherein the round hole is formed at a center portion in the front-rear direction of the pair of protruding plate portions and the reinforcing plate portion.

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