JP2592682Y2 - Support mechanism for tilt steering device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tilt steering device in which a steering column is supported by a vehicle body via a lower bracket and an upper bracket and tilts around a column lower end as a fulcrum. Related to the support mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a tilt steering apparatus of this type, a middle portion of a steering column extending obliquely upward is supported on a vehicle body via an upper bracket having a tilt lever, and a lower end portion of the column is mounted on the vehicle body via a lower bracket. It is pivotally supported, and when the tilt lever is operated to release the support in the middle of the column, a tilt operation is performed around the lower end of the column in a predetermined range as a fulcrum. Heretofore, as a pivot support mechanism for the lower end of the column, there has been known a structure in which the lower end of the column is connected to a lower bracket by a pin so as to be vertically swingable .

As another example, as shown in FIG. 8, a lower bracket 16 is attached to a mounting piece 1 fixed to a vehicle body 39 side.
7 and a plate-shaped horizontal piece 1 extending substantially at right angles to the mounting piece 17
8 and a plate-shaped tongue piece 20 vertically extending from the horizontal piece 18 via a bent portion 19, and the lower end of the column 2 is inserted into an assembling hole 24 formed in the tongue piece 20 and fixed by welding. Alternatively, it is caulked and fixed, and at the time of tilting operation, the tongue piece 20 is displaced up and down around the bent portion 19 due to the elastic bending deformation of the bent portion 19,
A structure in which the steering column 2 pivots by this is disclosed (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-11750).

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In the structure in which the lower end of the steering column is connected to the bracket on the vehicle body side with a pin, the lower end of the column is supported by the lower bracket by a support shaft, so that it is not affected by an unspecified direction. The column cannot be securely supported, and the lower end of the column tends to rattle during operation.

In the support structure of the tilt steering apparatus described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Hei 5-11750, the lower end of the column is fixed to the lower part of a plate (lower mount bracket) fixed to the vehicle body. The problems of rattling and bitter noise caused by the connection are eliminated, and a certain effect is exhibited in the normal operation state. However, in this structure, the lower bracket that supports the column is mounted with the plate surface facing in the direction in which the impact force of the car body acts, and at the time of tilt, it pivots using the bending deformation along this plate surface,
Low rigidity when a large load is applied from the vehicle body side. For example, due to the load in the column axial direction at the time of collision, the deformation of the lower bracket becomes large, and the support of the steering column becomes unstable. It is disadvantageous to stabilize the column collapse load because the axial holding load at the lower end of the column is small,
In order to obtain a stable collision load, it is necessary to fix another member 21 for reinforcement as shown in FIG. 8 or to form a flange member 22 on the periphery of the bracket, which increases the number of parts and increases the cost.

The present invention provides a support mechanism for a tilt steering device which can secure rigidity by utilizing the torsional action of a plate, obtain a stable load at the time of a vehicle collision, and can reduce the number of parts. is there.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a lower end of a steering column extending obliquely upward is supported by the vehicle body via a lower bracket, and an intermediate portion is supported by the vehicle body via an upper bracket. In a tilt steering device that operates a tilt lever provided on the upper bracket to release the support of the intermediate portion and tilts the steering column vertically using the lower bracket as a support portion, the lower bracket includes the column A bent-shaped member having a U-shaped portion having a curved portion corresponding to the outer diameter of the U-shaped portion and a left and right mounting flat portion having a predetermined length extending from the left and right arms of the U-shaped portion to the left and right, and A rib-shaped recess is formed at the center of the joint bending portion between the flat portion and the U-shaped portion, and the left and right mounting flat portions are out of the extending direction of the flat portion.
Mounting seat formed at the end and bolted to the vehicle body
Part and a connecting plate connecting the mounting seat part and the U-shaped part
And the vehicle body is in contact with the connecting plate surface.
An escape portion is formed with respect to the connecting plate surface portion so as not to
This creates a gap between the vehicle body and the connecting plate surface
Is formed, the steering column is fixed, the support mechanism of the supported tilt steering device can be obtained in the curved portion of the U-shaped portion. According to another aspect of the present invention,
The lower end of the steering column that extends
Supported by the vehicle body through the
The upper bracket is supported on the vehicle body through a bracket.
Operate the tilt lever provided on the
Release the support, and use the lower bracket as a support
Tilts for tilting the tearing column up and down
In the tearing device, the lower bracket is
A U-shaped portion having a curved portion corresponding to the outer diameter of the column;
Right and left mounting flats of a predetermined length extending from the left and right arms of the part to the left and right
And a bent band-shaped member having a surface portion.
A rib-shaped recess in the center of the joint bending portion between the flat portion and the U-shaped portion
Are formed, and the left and right mounting flat portions are
An outer end formed at the outside end and bolted to the vehicle body
A seat for connecting the mounting seat to the U-shaped portion;
A connecting plate surface portion, wherein the connecting plate surface portion is
Lower than the position of the seat plane of the mounting seat so as not to contact
The body and the connecting plate surface
A gap is formed between the U-shaped portion and the curved portion of the U-shaped portion.
Tilt steering with fixed and supported steering column
Thus, a support mechanism for the operating device is obtained .

[0008]

The plate-shaped lower bracket of the present invention, which has flat extension portions at both ends and a U-shaped portion, is fixed to the vehicle body at both ends and holds the lower end of the steering column at the U-shaped portion.
The plate surface of the lower bracket faces in a direction parallel to the axial load direction of the column, and has high rigidity against the axial load. In this type of tilt device, the tilt angle is usually a very small angle of about 2.4 degrees .
Between the left and right plane parts projecting from the U-shaped part and the vehicle body
A slight gap t is formed between the lower brackets, and the left and right flat portions of the lower bracket are twisted and elastically deformed during the tilt operation in the range of this gap, so that a tilt operation is possible. Although the width of the lower bracket in the column axial direction is reduced in consideration of the ease of twisting of the lower bracket during tilting operation, the left and right mounting plane portions and the U-shape are used so that the rigidity of the lower bracket in the left and right and up and down directions does not decrease. Reinforcing ribs are formed integrally with each connecting bent portion with the portion. The ribs maintain the rigidity in the left, right, up and down directions without changing the torsional rigidity extremely.

[0009]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a tilt steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a support mechanism at a lower end portion of a steering column according to an embodiment of the present invention. A lower steering shaft 3 connected to the universal joint 15 and an upper steering shaft 4 to which a steering wheel (not shown) is attached are surrounded by the lower steering column 2 and the upper steering column 6, and a middle part of the upper steering column 6 is axially oriented. It is supported by a substantially U-shaped upper bracket 7. The upper bracket 7 is fixed to the vehicle body 23, and a tilt lever 9 for fixing and releasing the upper steering column 6 is provided on one side of the upper bracket 7. The lower end of the lower steering column 2 is fixed to a U-shaped curved portion of a lower bracket 1 described later, and in this form, the upper and lower columns 6, 2 extend obliquely upward. By releasing the fixation of the upper steering column 6 by operating the tilt lever 9, the torsional operation of the lower bracket 1 fixed to the vehicle body 23 causes the two columns 6, 2 to fall within a predetermined angle range regulated by the upper bracket 7. , Tilting up and down with the lower bracket 1 as a fulcrum. The tilt amount is about 25 mm on the steering wheel, and the tilt angle is about 2.4 degrees. 4
Reference numeral 0 denotes an impact energy absorbing device at the time of a vehicle collision.

The lower bracket 1 of the embodiment is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, a plate member having a predetermined width, which is in a band shape in the unfolded state, is bent into a U-shape at a substantially middle portion thereof.
The upper part of the left and right vertical arm portions 27 is bent outward at about 90 ° on both sides to form a left and right mounting flat portion 28. The left and right mounting flat portions 28 are provided with mounting holes 13 for bolting to the vehicle body, and the bottom of the U-shaped portion 26 extends circumferentially along the center of the plate surface for fixing the lower steering column 2. A welding hole 29 is formed.
The inner periphery of the U-shaped portion 26 has a curvature substantially the same as the curvature of the outer periphery of the lower steering column 2 held by the U-shaped portion 26, and the lower end of the column 2 as indicated by reference numeral 41 using the welding holes 29. Are welded and fixed to the U-shaped portion 26 of the lower bracket 1.

The connecting bent portion 30 between the upper extending arm portion 27 of the U-shaped portion 26 and the left and right mounting flat portion 28 is crushed outwardly in a concave shape at a substantially central portion of the width of the plate, thereby forming the arm. Reinforcing ribs 8a and 8b are formed on the outer surface of the portion 27 to extend to the lower surfaces of the left and right mounting flat portions 28. As shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the left and right mounting flat portions 28 are fixed to the vehicle body 23 by bolts through the mounting holes 13 of the flat portion 28. In the example of FIG. A clearance portion 32 is formed between the seating surfaces. Therefore, when the left and right mounting flat portions 28 are mounted on the mounting seating surface 31 of the vehicle body 23, the left and right mounting flat portions 28 except for the vicinity of the mounting hole 13 and the vehicle body side relief portion 32 are formed. A gap 33 exists between them. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 5 denotes a lower tube. In the example of FIG. 4, the lower bracket mounting portion on the vehicle body 23 side is a flat surface, and the mounting seat surface 34 including the mounting hole 13 is formed on the left and right mounting flat portion 28 side.
As a result, the left and right mounting flat portions 28 excluding the mounting seat surface 34
A gap 33 exists between the vehicle body 23 and the vehicle body 23.

As described above, the U-shaped portion 2 of the lower bracket 1
The lower steering column 2 is fixed to the vehicle body 6, and the mounting flat portion 28 is fixed to the vehicle body 23 through a mounting bolt 13 in the mounting hole 13 of the left and right mounting flat portion 28. When the pitch with the attached bolt screw holes is the same, the right and left arm portions 27 of the U-shaped portion 26 extend in parallel with the same length as shown in FIG. 3, so that the length of the mounting flat portion 28 is also the same on the left and right. On the other hand, when the pitch from the center of the lower column 2 to the left and right fastening bolt screw holes is different due to the space on the vehicle body 23 side, FIGS.
As in the embodiment, the arm 27 on one side is bent toward the center of the column and extends upward, so that the left and right mounting flat portions 28 are formed to have the same length on the left and right.

When the lower steering column 2 is tilted upward by the action of the universal joint 15 (FIG. 1) at the lower end in the tilting operation, the lower part of the U-shaped portion 26 of the lower bracket 1 is welded and fixed to the lower steering column 2. , The right and left mounting flat portion 2 via the arm portion 27 of the U-shaped portion 26
8 is twisted about the center axis A of extension of the mounting flat portion 28 within the elastic range. Since the left and right mounting flat portions 28 have the same length on the left and right, the torsional rigidity on the right and left is equal, and a stable tilting operation can be obtained. The torsional deformation is facilitated by reducing the width of the lower bracket 1 in the column axial direction. In this case, too, the reinforcing ribs 8a and 8b are provided between the left and right mounting flat portions 28 and the arms 27 of the U-shaped portion 26. As a result, the rigidity of the lower bracket 1 in the vertical and horizontal directions and the column axial direction is secured without having an extreme effect on the torsional rigidity.
In particular, the lower bracket 1 according to the present invention has high rigidity in the column axial direction because the left and right mounting flat portions 28 and the arms 27 of the U-shaped portion 26 have a plate width along the column axial direction, and is stable in the event of a collision. The load is obtained.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show another embodiment of the present invention. In particular, this embodiment has a structure in which the upright deformation of the column in the event of a collision is prevented in a vehicle with an air bag. The configuration of the U-shaped portion 26, the left and right mounting flat portions 28 and the reinforcing ribs 8a, 8b formed on the bent connection portions thereof are substantially the same as those in the examples of FIGS.
In this case, a U-shaped bent piece 35 is formed in a side view (FIG. 7) following the end portions of the left and right mounting flat portions 28. As shown in FIG. 6, the bent piece 35 has a step 42 so that the upper surface 35a thereof is higher than the upper surfaces of the left and right mounting flat portions 28 and is connected to the mounting flat portion 28. Has a slight gap t with respect to the lower surface of the left and right mounting flat portion 28 and extends inside the lower surface of the mounting flat portion 28 (FIGS. 5 and 7). The upper surface 35a of the bent piece 35 is formed with a mounting hole 13 for fixing to the vehicle body 23 with bolts. Therefore, when the upper surface 35a of the bent piece 35 is mounted on the vehicle body 23, as shown in FIG. A gap 33 exists between the left and right mounting plane portions 28 and the bent piece 35
In combination with the gap t between the hanging portion 35b and the left and right mounting flat portions 28, the torsional deformation of the left and right mounting flat portions 28 at the time of tilting operation is smoothly performed.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, since only the upper surface 35a of the U-shaped bent piece 35 is connected to the left and right mounting flat portions 28, the lower steering column 2 or the steering wheel portion (not shown). When a supine load is applied at the time of a collision, the hanging portion 35b of the bent piece 35 comes into contact with the mounting flat portion 28, and the mounting flat portion 28 is not excessively deformed. 1) is prevented from being deformed to the standing state, and the safety of the driver by the airbag operation is ensured. In this embodiment, the U-shaped part 26, the left and right mounting flat part 28, and the U-shaped bent piece 35 are one.
It can be formed from a plate-like member by press working. The mounting hole 13, the reinforcing ribs 8a and 8b, and the welding hole 29 of the U-shaped portion 26 can also be easily formed by punching or drawing.

[0016]

As described above, according to the present invention, the lower bracket for holding the lower steering column has a plate width along the axial direction of the column, and the elastic deformation due to the torsion of the plate surface during the tilt operation. By tilting the steering column, the rigidity in the column axis direction and in the vertical and horizontal directions can be increased as compared with the conventional pin connection or plate bending deformation. In a vehicle with a back, upright deformation of the handle portion can be prevented. The lower bracket according to the present invention can be easily obtained by punching or bending a single band-shaped plate member without combining other members, and has an effect of being able to be manufactured at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a tilt steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a lower bracket supporting a lower end of the lower steering column according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view showing a state in which the lower bracket according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle body;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a lower bracket according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a lower bracket according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a conventional lower steering column support structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lower bracket 2 Lower steering column 6 Upper steering column 8a, 8b Reinforcement rib 9 Tilt lever 13 Mounting hole 23 Body 26 U-shaped part 27 Arm part 28 Left and right mounting plane part 29 Welding hole 33 Void 35 Bent piece

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B62D 1/16-1/20

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A lower end of a steering column extending obliquely upward is supported by a vehicle body via a lower bracket, and an intermediate portion is supported by the vehicle body via an upper bracket, and a tilt provided on the upper bracket is provided. In a tilt steering device for operating a lever to release the support of the intermediate portion and tilting the steering column vertically using the lower bracket as a support portion, the lower bracket has a curvature that matches the outer diameter of the column. A bent belt-shaped member having a U-shaped portion having a portion and a left and right mounting flat portion having a predetermined length extending right and left from the right and left arms of the U-shaped portion, wherein the left and right mounting flat portion and the U-shaped portion are provided. A rib-shaped recess is formed at the center of the joint bending portion, and the left and right mounting flat portions are formed.
Is formed at the outer end of the plane portion in the direction of extension, and
Mounting seat portion to be bolted to the mounting seat portion and the U-shaped
And a connecting plate surface portion connecting the
The body is connected to the connecting plate surface so as not to contact the connecting plate surface.
An escape portion is formed for the vehicle body and the escape portion.
A support mechanism for a tilt steering device , wherein a gap is formed between the connecting plate surface portion and the steering column is fixedly supported by a curved portion of the U-shaped portion. 2. Under a steering column extending obliquely upward.
The end is supported by the vehicle body via the lower bracket and
The middle part is supported by the vehicle body via the upper bracket.
And operate the tilt lever provided on the upper bracket.
To release the support of the middle part and remove the lower bracket.
Chill the steering column vertically as a support
In the tilt steering device for tilt operation, the lower
The bracket has a curved portion that matches the outer diameter of the column.
The U-shaped part and the left and right arms of the U-shaped part extending left and right
Consists of a bent band-shaped member with fixed length left and right mounting flats
And a bent portion connecting the left and right mounting flat portions and the U-shaped portion.
A rib-shaped recess is formed in the center, and the left and right mounting flat portions are formed.
Is formed at the outer end of the plane portion in the direction of extension, and
Mounting seat portion to be bolted to the mounting seat portion and the U-shaped
And a connecting plate surface portion connecting the
The tie plate surface of the mounting seat is so as not to contact the vehicle body.
Lower than the seat plane position,
A gap is formed between the vehicle body and the connecting plate surface, and the U
The steering column is fixed and supported on the curved part of the character
Support for a tilt steering device
mechanism.