JP2019104368A - Steering unit of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a steering unit of a vehicle including an electric tilt mechanism and ensuring a smooth fluctuation action despite a simple and inexpensive structure.SOLUTION: Included are a link mechanism LM borne by a stationary bracket 1 and main housing 2 so that the link mechanism can swing with a first pivot shaft P1 and second pivot shaft P2, which are orthogonal to the axis of a steering shaft 4, as a center, a swinging member 9 borne by the link mechanism so that the swinging member can rotate with the second pivot shaft as a center, and a support member 2b having an engagement concave part 2a, which accommodates the swinging member so that the swinging member can swing, and borne by the main housing. The link mechanism is driven by a drive mechanism MT in order to adjust the steering shaft to a desired tilt angle. An end of a shaft member (pin 10) is rotatably supported by a support hole of the swinging member, and the other end is fixed to the link mechanism.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus for a vehicle, and more particularly to a steering apparatus provided with an electric tilt mechanism that drives at least a steering wheel in the vertical direction.

  For example, Patent Document 1 below relates to an embodiment of the above-mentioned steering apparatus, wherein “when the swing arm 6 is driven to swing relative to the upper bracket 20, the first pivot shaft 23 of FIG. It is necessary to rotate with a small radius around the second swing axis 5 and at the same time with a large radius around the first swing axis 4 in order to absorb the displacement at this time. A disk 26 is rotatably supported on the left and right side bracket portions 20b via a bush link 25, and a swing arm is mounted on the upper bracket 20 via the second swing shaft 5 disposed at an eccentric position of the disk 26. It is described that “6 is rotatably supported” (described in paragraph [0025] of Patent Document 1).

  Further, in Patent Document 2, “The link mechanism 4 according to the present embodiment is, as shown in FIG. 1, an upper end portion of a first link (constituted by a pair of link members 41) below the fixed bracket 30. Is rotatably supported about the pivot axis P1, and its lower end is centered on the pivot axis P2 at the rear upper end of the pair of arms 421, 422 of the second link (formed by the link member 42). Is described as being supported rotatably (as described in paragraph [0015] of Patent Document 2), and is configured to be absorbed by the "link member 41" as described in "Displacement" described in Patent Document 1. ing.

Patent No. 5161534 gazette Patent No. 579 6776

  Although it is necessary to rotatably support the “disc 26” and “link member 41” provided to the devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above, a fixing member or the like is used to hold the disc 26 and the link member 41 so as not to separate from the mounting object. Needed. Moreover, in order to ensure smooth rotational sliding of the above-mentioned "disk 26" and "link member 41", it is also necessary to interpose a sliding member between the mounting object and the mounting member. Addition is a cost increase factor.

  Then, this invention makes it a subject to provide the steering apparatus which can ensure a smooth rocking operation by simple and cheap structure in the steering apparatus of the vehicle provided with the electric tilt mechanism at least.

  In order to achieve the above object, a steering apparatus according to the present invention includes a fixed bracket fixed to a vehicle body, and a main housing of a casing swingably supported with respect to the fixed bracket and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body; A movable column member of a cylindrical body housed in the main housing; a steering shaft housed in the movable column member and supported so as to be axially movable relative to the main housing together with the movable column member; A link mechanism pivotally supported about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis orthogonal to the axis of the steering shaft with respect to the main housing, and the link about the second pivot axis A sliding member rotatably supported by the mechanism, and a fitting recess slidably receiving the sliding member; A support member supported on the grayed, coupled to the link mechanism, in which the steering shaft driving the link mechanism and further comprising a drive mechanism for adjusting the desired angle of inclination.

  In the above steering apparatus, the sliding member has a support hole whose axis is the second pivot shaft, one end of which is rotatably supported by the support hole, and the other end of which is the link mechanism. It is good to have a shaft member fixed to.

  The sliding member has two parallel flat surfaces orthogonal to the second pivot axis around the second pivot axis, and the fitting recess is the sliding member in the moving direction of the sliding member. It may be configured to have a longer two-plane. For example, the slide member may have a hose track shape cross section, and the fitting recess may have a hose track shape cross section longer than the hose track shape cross section in the movement direction of the slide member. .

  Furthermore, the sliding member is formed in at least one flat portion, has at least a pair of projecting portions that project outward from the flat portion from both sides of the support hole, and are parallel to the second pivot shaft. You should do it. In addition, the sliding member may be formed at the base of each of the pair of projecting portions, and may have a pair of through holes parallel to the second pivot shaft.

  In the above-described steering apparatus, the link mechanism is integrally connected to a first arm portion having the first and second pivot axes, and the first arm portion, and the first and second link portions are integrally connected. It is preferable to have a second arm portion connected to the drive mechanism on an axis at a predetermined angle with respect to an axis connecting the pivot axes of the two.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained. That is, the steering apparatus according to the present invention comprises a link mechanism pivotally supported about a first pivot axis and a second pivot axis perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft with respect to the fixed bracket and the main housing, respectively, A sliding member rotatably supported by the link mechanism about the pivot shaft of the frame, and a supporting member having a fitting recess slidably accommodating the sliding member and supported by the main housing; Since the sliding member is held with respect to the fitting recess so as not to form a gap while maintaining the slidability, the deviation between the rocking of the link mechanism and the rocking of the main housing is appropriately absorbed, and a smooth rocking is achieved. The movement can be secured.

  In the above-described steering apparatus, a sliding member having a support hole whose center axis is the second pivot shaft, and a shaft member whose one end is rotatably supported by the support hole and whose other end is fixed to the link mechanism If it is provided, it is possible to secure a smooth rocking operation with a simple and inexpensive configuration.

  The sliding member described above has two parallel flat surfaces orthogonal to the second pivot axis about the second pivot axis, and the fitting recess is longer than the sliding member in the moving direction of the sliding member. If the configuration has two planes, the sliding member can be held so that a gap is not generated while easily maintaining the slidability with respect to the fitting recess. As a result, the shift between the swing of the link mechanism and the swing of the main housing is appropriately absorbed, and a smooth swing operation can be ensured. For example, the sliding member may have a hose track shaped cross section, and the fitting recess may have a hose track shaped cross section which is longer than the hose track shaped cross section in the moving direction of the sliding member.

  Furthermore, if the sliding member is formed in at least one flat portion and protrudes outward of the flat portion from both sides of the support hole, it has at least a pair of protruding portions parallel to the second pivot axis, Since the press-fit portion is locally formed by the projecting portion, the sliding member can be held so as to easily maintain a slidability with respect to the fitting concave portion and prevent a gap from being generated. In addition, if the sliding member is formed at the base of each of the pair of projecting portions and has a pair of through-holes parallel to the second pivot shaft, the amount of deformation of the projecting portion is obtained by the through-hole. Since the adjustment can be performed, the sliding member can be held so that no gap occurs while easily and surely maintaining the slidability.

  In the above-described steering apparatus, the link mechanism is integrally connected to the first arm portion having the first and second pivot axes, and the first arm portion, and further includes the first and second pivot axes. If the second arm portion connected to the drive mechanism on the axis at a predetermined angle with respect to the connecting axis is provided, the sliding member can be easily mounted, and good assemblability is ensured. Can.

It is a side view of a steering device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is an exploded perspective view of a steering device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the link mechanism part in one embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the other aspect of the sliding member provided to one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the further another aspect of the sliding member provided to one Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view showing the state at the time of rake up of the steering device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view showing the state at the time of rakedown of the steering device concerning one embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show the entire configuration of a steering apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a fixed bracket 1 fixed to a vehicle body V and supported so as to be able to swing relative to the fixed bracket 1 Of the main housing 2 of the housing extending in the direction and having openings at the front and rear ends, the movable column member 3 of the cylindrical body housed in the main housing 1 via the one opening thereof, and the inside of the movable column member 3 And a steering shaft 4 supported so as to be movable in the axial direction with respect to the main housing 2 together with the movable column member 3. Further, a link mechanism LM supported so as to be pivotable about a first pivot axis P1 and a second pivot axis P2 orthogonal to the axis of the steering shaft 4 with respect to the fixed bracket 1 and the main housing 2, respectively, and this link A drive mechanism MT is provided which drives the mechanism LM to adjust the steering shaft 4 to a desired inclination angle. Thus, an electric tilt mechanism is configured in which the steering shaft 4 is adjusted to a desired tilt angle according to the operation of the drive mechanism MT, and the operation position of the steering wheel (not shown) is adjusted.

  In this embodiment, the telescopic mechanism TL is further mounted, and the movable column member 3, the steering shaft 4 and the steering wheel (not shown) integrally move in the axial direction with respect to the main housing 2. Although the steering wheel can be adjusted to a desired vehicle longitudinal direction position, the description thereof is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention.

  The movable column member 3 of the present embodiment comprises an upper tube (inner tube) 3a and a lower tube (outer tube) 3b (shown in FIG. 2) which is press-fit into the tube. A cylindrical upper shaft 4a to which a wheel (not shown) is connected and a lower shaft 4b spline-connected to the front end of the upper shaft 4a are supported by the main housing 2 via the movable column member 3 There is. The upper shaft 4a and the lower shaft 4b are connected so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction, and the front end portion of the lower shaft 4b is connected to a steering mechanism (not shown). The steering mechanism is configured to be driven in response to the operation of a steering wheel (not shown) to steer steered wheels (not shown) via a wheel steering mechanism (not shown).

  The drive mechanism MT according to the present embodiment includes an electric motor 5 rotatably supported on the main housing 2 around an output rotation axis, a tilt screw shaft 6 of a trapezoidal screw rotationally driven by the motor, and a screw screw , And the link mechanism LM is swingably supported by the nut member 7, and the fixing bracket 1 and the fixing mechanism 1 are provided. The main housing 2 is swingably supported. The electric motor 5 has a reduction gear (reference numeral omitted), is rotatably supported centering on a motor pivot shaft (shown by P0 in FIGS. 1 and 2) with respect to the main housing 2, and the output rotation shaft of the electric motor 5 Is connected to the tilt screw shaft 6 via a reduction gear, and the output torque of the electric motor 5 is appropriately adjusted and transmitted to the nut member 7. The nut member 7 is also referred to as a tilt nut or a tilt slider, and stoppers (reference numeral omitted) are provided at both ends in the axial direction.

  The main housing 2 further includes a sliding member 9 rotatably supported by the link mechanism LM about the second pivot shaft P2, and a fitting recess 2a slidably accommodating the sliding member 9. A support member 2b to be supported is provided. In the present embodiment, the pair of support members 2b are integrally formed on both side surfaces of the main housing 2, and the fitting concave portions 2a are formed on the outer side surfaces of the respective support members 2b. Each sliding member 9 has a support hole 9a (shown in FIG. 2) whose axis is the second pivot axis P2 (the central axis of the pin 10 described later), and the second slide axis 9 is centered on the second pivot axis P2. It has parallel two planes orthogonal to the two pivot axes P2. The fitting recess 2 a slidable on the two planes has two planes longer than the sliding member 9 in the moving direction of the sliding member 9.

  That is, the sliding member 9 is formed of a hose track shape (elliptical circle) cross section as shown in FIG. 2 by a resin material excellent in slidability. Therefore, the fitting recess 2a is a movement of the sliding member 9 It is formed in a hose track shaped cross section which is longer than the hose track shaped cross section of the sliding member 9 in the direction. And when the sliding member 9 is accommodated in the fitting recessed part 2a, the sliding member 9 is press fit so that a clearance gap may not be produced, maintaining slidability with respect to the fitting recessed part 2a. In this state, one end of the pin 10 which is a shaft member constituting the second pivot axis P2 is rotatably supported by the support hole 9a, and the other end of the pin 10 is fixed to the link mechanism LM. Will be described later.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the link mechanism LM of the present embodiment includes a first arm 8a having first and second pivot axes P1 and P2, and the first arm 8a. The arm member 8 comprises a second arm portion 8b which is integrally connected and is connected to the drive mechanism MT on an axis at a predetermined angle with respect to an axis connecting the first and second pivot axes P1 and P2. It is configured. That is, as apparent from FIGS. 2 and 3, the arm members 8 are disposed symmetrically on the left and right sides of the steering shaft 4, and the first arm 8 a with respect to the pair of legs 1 b and 1 b of the fixed bracket 1. , 8a are rotatably supported about a first pivot axis P1. A nut member 7 is interposed between the pair of second arm portions 8b and 8b, and is rotatably supported centering on a nut pivot axis P3. Thus, the arm member 8 is rotatably supported about the nut pivot axis P3 with respect to the nut member 7 and rotatably supported about the first pivot axis P1 with respect to the fixed bracket 1 as described above. It is rotatably supported centering | focusing on 2nd pivot axis P2 with respect to the main housing 2 (support member 2b).

  Then, one end of a pin 10 which is a shaft member constituting the second pivot shaft P2 is rotatably supported by the support hole 9a of the sliding member 9, and the other end is fixed to the first arm 8a. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the tip of the pin 10 is accommodated in the support hole 9a of the sliding member 9 through the female screw hole 8as of the first arm 8a, and the male screw 10s of the pin 10 is female. It is screwed into the screw hole 8as and fixed to the first arm portion 8a. Thus, the sliding member 9 is interposed between the first arms 8a and 8a and the supporting members 2b and 2b, and the sliding member 9 is rotatably supported by the pin 10 serving as the shaft member. There is no need for a separate holding member for holding the sliding member 9. And since the sliding member 9 is held so as not to form a gap while maintaining the slidability with respect to the fitting recess 2a, the swinging of the first arm portions 8a, 8a and the swinging of the main housing 2 The displacement of the shaft is absorbed appropriately, and a smooth rocking operation is ensured.

  FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the sliding member 9 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) described above, in which support holes are respectively formed on both flat portions (upper and lower flat portions in FIG. 4) of the sliding member 9. A pair of projecting portions (representatively represented by 9b) projecting outward from flat portions on both sides of 9a and parallel to the second pivot axis P2 are formed, and a base portion of each projecting portion 9b A pair of lightening holes (represented by 9c representatively) parallel to the two pivot axes P2 are formed. Thus, a local press fit is formed by the protruding portion 9b, and the amount of deformation of the protruding portion 9b can be adjusted by the lightening hole 9c, so that the sliding member 9 is suitable for the fitting recess 2a. Good slidability and press fit can be ensured. As a result, the displacement between the swing of the first arm portions 8a and 8a and the swing of the main housing 2 is appropriately absorbed, and a smooth swing operation is ensured. The protruding portions 9 b and 9 b and the lightening holes 9 c and 9 c may be formed only on one flat portion of the sliding member 9.

  Similarly to the sliding member 9 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sliding member 9 shown in FIG. 4 is also a parallel two plane perpendicular to the second pivot axis P2 about the second pivot axis P2. However, instead of the hose track-shaped cross section, as shown in FIG. 5, the sliding member 9 (having the same reference numeral as FIG. 4) having a rectangular cross section may be used. As for the fitting recess 2a, as long as it has two flat surfaces longer than the sliding member 9 in the moving direction of the sliding member 9, for example, the assemblability of the sliding member 9 can be changed instead of the closed cross section. In consideration of this, one of the short side walls (for example, the wall on the vehicle rear side) may be removed to form a U-shaped cross section or a U-shaped cross section. At this time, the support member 2b may be formed separately from the main housing 2 and joined. Further, the support holes 9a and the lightening holes 9c shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 may be replaced by communicating holes, and may have a bottom portion, and the cross-sectional shape of the lightening holes 9c is not limited to a circle, It may be of various shapes suitable for adjustment. Furthermore, in place of the linear protrusions 9b, a plurality of continuous protrusions may be provided, and in consideration of the slidability and the press fit, these are not limited to the linear shape, but may be arranged as desired. Good.

  The overall operation of the electric tilt mechanism configured as described above will be described below. In FIG. 1, when the electric motor 5 is rotationally driven, the tilt screw shaft 6 is rotationally driven about its axis, and the nut member 7 is moved in the axial direction of the tilt screw shaft 6 according to the rotational drive. . Along with this, the arm member 8 pivots around the first pivot axis P1, and the main housing 2 (as well as the movable column member 3, the steering shaft 4 and the steering wheel) pivots around the pivot center (C). It pivots and the steering wheel (not shown) moves in the vertical direction of the vehicle body. During this time, the sliding member 9 and the fitting recess 2a appropriately absorb the deviation between the swinging of the arm member 8 and the swinging of the main housing 2, so that a smooth swinging action (and thus a smooth tilt action) can be obtained. Secured.

  Thus, when moving the steering wheel (not shown) to the upper side of the vehicle body, the electric motor 5 is rotationally driven (for example, normal rotation), and the nut member 7 is along the tilt screw shaft 6 according to this rotational movement. While rotating about the motor pivot axis P0 (with the tilt screw shaft 6), it moves axially in the direction approaching the motor pivot axis P0 (left direction in FIG. 1). As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, through the link mechanism LM, the main housing 2 (as well as the movable column member 3, the steering shaft 4 and the steering wheel) swings counterclockwise around the swing center (C). The operation position of the steering wheel tilts upward from the neutral position by a predetermined angle (for example, an angle α) around the rocking center (C), and becomes the top position.

  On the other hand, when moving the steering wheel (not shown) to the lower side of the vehicle body, the electric motor 5 is rotationally driven in the opposite direction to the above, and the nut member 7 (with the tilt screw shaft 6) While rotating about the axis P0, it moves axially in the direction (rightward in FIG. 1) away from the motor pivot axis P0. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the main housing 2 (as well as the movable column member 3, the steering shaft 4 and the steering wheel) swings clockwise about the swing center (C) via the link mechanism LM. The operation position of the steering wheel is inclined downward from the neutral position by a predetermined angle (for example, an angle β) about the rocking center (C), and becomes the lowermost position.

Reference Signs List 1 fixed bracket 2 main housing 2a fitting recess 2b support member 3 movable column member 4 steering shaft 5 electric motor 6 tilt screw shaft 7 nut member 8 arm member 9 sliding member 9a support hole 9b protruding portion 9c meat hole 10 pin Shaft member)
V body MT drive mechanism LM link mechanism P0 motor pivot axis P1 first pivot axis P2 second pivot axis P3 nut pivot axis

Claims (7)

A fixed bracket fixed to the vehicle body,
A main housing of a housing swingably supported on the fixed bracket and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body;
A movable column member of a cylindrical body housed in the main housing;
A steering shaft housed in the movable column member and supported for axial movement with the movable column member relative to the main housing;
A link mechanism pivotally supported about the first bracket and the second pivot axis perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft with respect to the fixed bracket and the main housing, respectively;
A sliding member rotatably supported by the link mechanism about the second pivot shaft;
A support member having a fitting recess for slidably accommodating the sliding member and supported by the main housing;
A steering system for a vehicle, comprising: a drive mechanism connected to the link mechanism, driving the link mechanism, and adjusting the steering shaft to a desired inclination angle. The sliding member has a support hole centering on the second pivot shaft,
The vehicle steering system according to claim 1, further comprising a shaft member rotatably supported at one end by the support hole and fixed at the other end to the link mechanism. The sliding member has two parallel planes perpendicular to the second pivot axis about the second pivot axis,
The steering apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fitting recess has two planes longer than the sliding member in the moving direction of the sliding member. The sliding member has a hose track shaped cross section,
4. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the fitting recess has a hose track shaped cross section which is longer than the hose track shaped cross section in the moving direction of the sliding member. The sliding member is formed in at least one flat portion, and has at least a pair of protruding portions which project outward from the flat portion from both sides of the support hole and are parallel to the second pivot axis. The steering apparatus of the vehicle according to claim 3 or 4. 6. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the sliding member is formed at the base of each of the pair of projecting portions, and has a pair of lightening holes parallel to the second pivot shaft. The link mechanism is
A first arm portion having the first and second pivot axes;
And a second arm coupled to the drive mechanism on an axis at a predetermined angle with respect to an axis connecting the first and second pivot axes. A steering apparatus for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that:

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