JP3783524B2 - Tilt and telescopic steering device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a steering device mounted on a vehicle, and more particularly to a tilt / telescopic steering device capable of adjusting the position of a steering wheel up and down and front and back.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As one of the tilt and telescopic steering devices, the steering wheel tilt adjustment (tilt amount adjustment in the vertical direction) and telescopic adjustment (axial direction of the steering shaft) are performed by operating a single operator from the release position to the lock position. There is a tilt / telescopic steering device that makes it possible to perform tilt adjustment and telescopic adjustment of the steering wheel by operating a single operator from the lock position to the release position. It is shown in the Kaihei 5-262238 publication.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the tilt / telescopic steering device disclosed in the above publication, a fixing bracket that is assembled to a part of a vehicle body by tightening a bolt to a nut by rotating the operating element (adjusting lever) from a released position to a locked position. A column tube (sliding inner cylinder) that makes it impossible to adjust the tilt by increasing the pressure contact force between the movable brackets that can be tilted, and that allows the pressing pieces that are pushed by tightening (screwing) the bolts to the nuts. ) Is used to make telescopic impossible.
[0004]
For this reason, the backlash between the column tube that can be telescopically moved by the pressing piece and the steering column that supports it (radial gap) can be removed, but the locking force that makes tilt adjustment impossible (the fixed bracket and the movable bracket The pressure force) and the locking force that disables telescopic adjustment (pressure force against the column tube of the pressing piece) are both obtained by tightening the bolt against the nut, so it is difficult to obtain a good balance between the two locking forces. Either one of the locking forces may not be sufficiently obtained.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made to cope with the above-described problems. The tilt / telescopic steering apparatus is assembled to a part of a vehicle body so as to be tiltable, and is telescopically assembled to the lower tube. The Can be assembled to a part of the car body An upper tube fixed to the support bracket so as to be releasable by a fixing device, a lower shaft rotatably assembled to the lower tube, and a rotatable and axially immovable assembly assembled to the upper tube. An upper shaft that supports the steering wheel integrally and is telescopically connected to the lower shaft and capable of transmitting torque, and the fixing device is rotatable through the connection bracket fixed to the upper tube and the support bracket. An adjustable bolt, a nut that is screwed to the threaded portion of the bolt and can adjust the length between the head of the bolt, and is rotatable on the bolt between the nut and the head of the bolt A cam mechanism that is assembled and capable of changing its axial dimension by relative rotation; and a cam mechanism that is rotatably mounted on the bolt. An operating element capable of operating a mechanism, a looseness-removing cam assembled to the bolt so as to be integrally rotatable, and a connecting body for connecting the bolt and the operating element so that the rotational position can be adjusted. It is characterized in that it is configured (invention according to claim 1).
[0006]
In this case, the backlash cam is provided with a protrusion protruding radially outward, and an engaging portion (which can be a long hole or a long groove) is fitted to the protrusion so as to be movable by a predetermined amount in the axial direction. It is provided in the lower tube (invention according to claim 2), or a bush is integrally attached to the outer periphery of the lower tube so that the bush is interposed between the upper tube (invention 3). Invention) is desirable.
[0007]
In addition, when a bush is integrally attached to the outer periphery of the lower tube, the backlash removal cam can be engaged with and disengaged from the lower tube through an opening provided in the bush, and the lower tube is connected to the backlash removal cam. The engaging portion provided at the opening end of the bush engages with the backlash cam when the shaft moves relatively in the axial direction (invention according to claim 4), or the bush It is desirable to provide a protrusion projecting radially outward and an engaging portion (an invention according to claim 5) in which the protrusion is fitted so that the protrusion can be moved by a predetermined amount in the axial direction.
[0008]
[Operation and effect of the invention]
In the tilt and telescopic steering device according to the present invention (the invention according to claim 1), the cam mechanism can be directly rotated by the operation element, the axial dimension of the cam mechanism can be changed, and the operation can be performed. The rattle cam can be rotated integrally with the bolt via the coupling body by the child, and the rattle cam can be engaged with or detached from the lower tube.
[0009]
For this reason, when the operating element is rotated from the release position to the locked position to increase the axial dimension of the cam mechanism and the backlash cam is engaged with the lower tube, it is supported between the bolt head and the nut. The bracket and the connecting bracket can be clamped so as not to move relative to each other, and both the tilt adjustment and telescopic adjustment of the steering wheel can be disabled, and the lower tube can be pressed against the upper tube, and the lower tube and the upper The backlash between the tubes (the radial gap) can be removed.
[0010]
In addition, when the operating element is rotated from the locked position to the released position to shorten the axial dimension of the cam mechanism and the backlash cam is removed from the lower tube, the support bracket and the nut are The connecting bracket can be moved relative to each other, and both the tilt adjustment and telescopic adjustment of the steering wheel can be performed, and the lower tube can be released from being pressed against the lower tube. On the other hand, the upper tube can be telescopic (movable in the axial direction) with a small operating force.
[0011]
By the way, in the present invention, by adjusting the screwing position (screwing amount) of the nut with respect to the screw part of the bolt, the axial length between the head of the bolt and the nut can be adjusted. The clamping force of both brackets obtained by extending the axial dimension of the cam mechanism between the head and nut (ie, the locking force that disables tilt and telescopic adjustment) can be adjusted and is independent of this. By adjusting the rotational position of the connecting body that connects the bolt and the operation element to the operation element, the pressing force of the lower tube to the upper tube by the backlash cam can be adjusted. The backlash removal effect of the backlash cam can be obtained reliably and sufficiently.
[0012]
In addition, when the present invention is implemented, a protrusion that protrudes radially outward is provided on the backlash cam, and an engaging portion (which can be a long hole or a long groove) is fitted so that the protrusion can be moved by a predetermined amount in the axial direction. ) Is provided on the lower tube (the invention according to claim 2), the engaging portion provided on the lower tube of the protrusion provided on the backlash cam even when the operation element is rotated from the lock position to the release position. The lower tube can be accurately held by fitting to the vehicle, and the transportability during assembly to the vehicle and the workability during assembly to the vehicle can be improved without using other members. Can do. Moreover, by using a resin for the backlash removal cam, the protrusion of the backlash cam comes into contact with the lower tube at the end of the engaging portion provided on the lower tube without using another member such as rubber as a cushioning material. The occurrence of hitting sound can be suppressed.
[0013]
When the present invention is implemented, a bush is integrally attached to the outer periphery of the lower tube so that the bush is interposed between the upper tube and the upper tube (the invention according to claim 3). Thus, the upper tube can be smoothly slid in the axial direction, and the telescopic operation can be improved.
[0014]
Further, when the present invention is implemented, the backlash removal cam can be engaged with and disengaged from the lower tube through the opening provided in the bushing described above, and the bushing is moved when the lower tube moves a predetermined amount in the axial direction relative to the backlash removal cam. In the case where the engaging portion provided at the opening end of the slidably engages the backlash removal cam (the invention according to claim 4), the amount of axial movement of the lower tube relative to the backlash removal cam is defined as a predetermined amount. It is possible to improve transportability during assembly to the vehicle and workability during assembly to the vehicle without using other members. In addition, by using at least one of the bush and the backlash removal cam as a resin, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of hitting sound when the bush and the backlash removal cam come into contact without using another member such as rubber as a cushioning material. .
[0015]
Further, when the present invention is implemented, the bush is provided with a protrusion protruding radially outward, and the upper tube is provided with an engaging portion for fitting the protrusion so as to be movable by a predetermined amount in the axial direction. In the invention according to item 5, even when the operating element is rotated from the locked position to the released position, the lower tube is accurately held by fitting the protrusion provided on the bush to the engaging portion provided on the upper tube. It is possible to improve transportability during assembly to the vehicle and workability during assembly to the vehicle without using other members.
[0016]
Further, in this case, when the protrusion provided on the bush and the engaging portion provided on the upper tube are engaged (contacted) at the telescopic moving end, the protrusion provided on the bush is connected to the telescopic stopper ( It can also be used as a stopper for restricting movement in the axial direction, and the bush is made of resin, so that the protrusion of the bush can contact the engaging portion provided on the upper tube without using another member such as rubber as a cushioning material. It is possible to suppress the generation of hitting sound when touching.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the vehicle tilt / telescopic steering device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the column is assembled to a part of the vehicle body (instrument panel reinforcing plate not shown) via the lower support bracket 11 and the upper support bracket 12. The tube 20 is constituted by a lower tube 21 and an upper tube 22, and a steering main shaft 30 that is rotatably supported by the column tube 20 is constituted by a lower shaft 31 and an upper shaft 32. The apparatus is attached to a part of the vehicle body at a predetermined inclination angle with the left side (front of the vehicle) in FIG.
[0018]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lower tube 21 can be tilted to a part of the vehicle body via a support pin 13 by a lower support bracket 11 fixed to the front end (lower end) by welding (in the vertical direction). The resin bush 23 (see FIG. 1) is integrally mounted on the outer periphery excluding the front end portion. Further, the lower tube 21 supports the lower shaft 31 via the bearing 24 at the inner periphery of the front end portion thereof so as to be rotatable and not movable in the axial direction. The bearing 24 is assembled to the lower tube 21 by caulking a part of the lower tube 21.
[0019]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper tube 22 is assembled on the lower tube 21 fitted with the bush 23 so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and is attached to the connecting bracket 14 fixed by welding above the front end portion. The upper support bracket 12 is connected to the upper support bracket 12 via a pair of front and rear tension coil springs S1 and S2 and is releasably fixed by the fixing device 40 shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the upper tube 22 supports the upper shaft 32 rotatably and axially immovably via a bearing 25 at the inner periphery of the rear end portion. The bearing 25 is assembled to the upper tube 22 by caulking a part of the upper tube 22.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 1, the front tension coil spring S <b> 1 is interposed between a spring locking portion 14 a provided on the connection bracket 14 and a spring locking portion 12 a provided on the upper support bracket 12. The connecting bracket 14 is pulled upward with respect to the bracket 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the rear tension coil spring S <b> 2 is interposed between a spring locking portion 14 b provided on the connection bracket 14 and a spring locking portion 12 b provided on the upper support bracket 12. The connecting bracket 14 is pulled upward with respect to the bracket 12.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper support bracket 12 is assembled to a part of the vehicle body using a breakable capsule 15 and a mounting bolt 16, and is shown in FIGS. As described above, a pair of front and rear spring locking portions 12a and 12b and an arc-shaped elongated hole 12c centering on the support pin 13 of FIG. 1 are provided, and a pair of left and right capsule mounting holes (mounting holes opened at the rear) 12d. Have. The upper support bracket 12 is a breakaway bracket because it breaks the capsule 15 and moves forward in the event of a collision.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, the bush 23 is formed in a C-shaped cross section having an upper opening, and as shown in FIG. 1, the protrusions 23a and 23b provided on the inner periphery of both front and rear ends. Are integrally fitted and fixed in mounting holes 21 a and 21 b provided in the lower tube 21. In addition, the bush 23 is provided at four locations, that is, the lower left and right side portions 23c and 23d and the upper left and right side portions 23e and 23f in a range in which the upper tube 22 moves in the axial direction relative to the lower tube 21, that is, a telescopic movement range L. Thus, the outer peripheral surface is partially recessed and the wall thickness is partially reduced so as to be slidably engaged with the inner periphery of the upper tube 22. Note that a part of the lower left and right side portions 23c and 23d (a portion corresponding to the portion where the rattling cam 47 shown in FIG. 1 is disposed) is formed with a small thickness, and the lower tube 21 is When pressed by the backlash cam 47, the lower left and right side portions 23c, 23d are brought into pressure contact with the inner periphery of the upper tube 22 accurately.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 1, the lower shaft 31 is a solid shaft having an outer spline 31a formed at the rear, and transmits torque to the intermediate shaft (not shown) via a joint (not shown) at the front end. It is designed to be connected as possible. On the other hand, the upper shaft 32 is integrally fixed to the rear end of the hollow shaft having an inner spline 32a formed at the front portion and the rear end portion (upper end portion) of the steering wheel (not shown). It consists of a solid shaft having a mounting portion (tapered portion, serrated portion, threaded portion) 32b, and is connected to the outer spline 31a of the lower shaft 31 by the inner spline 32a so as to be movable in the axial direction and capable of transmitting torque. The steering wheel is integrally supported by the mounting portion 32b at the rear end.
[0024]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fixing device 40 is long in the up-down direction provided in the linear support hole 14 c long in the front-rear direction provided in the connection bracket 14 fixed to the upper tube 22 and in the upper support bracket 12. Main components are a bolt 41 that passes through the arc-shaped elongated hole 12c in a rotatable manner, a nut 42 assembled to the bolt 41, a pair of cam plates 43 and 44, an operation lever 45, a coupling body 46, a backlash cam 47, and the like. It is a member.
[0025]
2 and 13, the bolt 41 has a hexagonal head portion 41a at one end, a screw portion 41b at the other end of the small diameter, and a serration portion 41c in the middle of the medium diameter. have. As shown in FIG. 2, the nut 42 is screwed to the screw portion 41 b of the bolt 41, and the length between the nut 41 and the head portion 41 a of the bolt 41 is adjusted by adjusting the screwing position (screwing amount). Can be adjusted. Further, the nut 42 presses the stopper 48 via the washer W and the thrust needle bearing NB.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 14 to 16, the stopper 48 is formed on the left end surface of the flange portion 48 a that press-engages with the right end surface of the upper support bracket 12 and on the left side of the flange portion 48 a. An inner projection 48b that is non-rotatably and movably fitted in the long holes 12c and 14c of the brackets 12 and 14 on the outer periphery of the square, and an outer side that is formed on the right side of the flange portion 48a and can hold the thrust needle bearing NB. It has a protrusion 48c, is formed of sintered metal, and is assembled on the bolt 41 through the mounting hole 48d so as to be rotatable and axially movable. The thrust needle bearing NB ensures smooth rotation with respect to the stoppers 48 such as the bolts 41, the nuts 42, and the washers W.
[0027]
The pair of cam plates 43 and 44 are respectively formed of sintered metal, and are assembled to the bolt 41 so as to be rotatable and axially movable in the mounting holes 43e and 44e. A cam mechanism that can change the axial dimension by relative rotation between the heads 41a is configured. As shown in FIGS. 2, 17 and 18, the left cam plate 43 is formed in the mounting hole 45a of the operation lever 45 at the substantially rectangular outer periphery of the cylindrical protrusion 43a formed on the left side of FIG. It is fitted so as to be able to rotate integrally, and rotates integrally with the rotation of the operation lever 45, and is pressed against the right end surface of the operation lever 45 at the left end surface in FIG. It comes to match. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 19 to 21, the cam plate 44 on the right side of FIG. 2 is a long hole of the brackets 12 and 14 on the substantially square outer periphery of the cylindrical protrusion 44a formed on the right side of FIG. 12c and 14c are fitted to be non-rotatable and movable, and press-fit to the left end surface of the upper support bracket 12 at the right end surface in FIG. 2 of the disc portion 44b.
[0028]
Further, four stopper protrusions 43c and 44c and four cam protrusions 43d and 44d are formed on the opposing surfaces of the pair of cam plates 43 and 44, respectively, and the cam plate 44 side is taken as an example in FIG. As shown, the four stopper projections 44c are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the four cam projections 44d are equally spaced in the circumferential direction at a position displaced in the circumferential direction by a predetermined amount with respect to the stopper projection 44c. Is provided. The stopper protrusions 43c and 44c and the cam protrusions 43d and 44d formed on the cam plates 43 and 44 are formed in substantially the same shape.
[0029]
The stopper projection 44c shown in detail in FIG. 21 regulates the allowable rotation amount of the operation lever 45 and regulates the lock position and the release position. In the lock position, both the peaks of the cam projections 43d and 44d facing each other. The portions 43d1 and 44d1 are engaged as shown in FIG. 22, and the crest portions 43d1 and 44d1 and the trough portions 43d2 and 44d2 of the cam projections 43d and 44d facing each other are engaged at the release position. ing. Each cam projection 43d, 44d has the above-described fan-shaped peak portions 43d1, 44d1 and valley portions 43d2, 44d2, and has inclined portions 43d3, 44d3 that continuously connect the peak portions 43d1, 44d1 and the valley portions 43d2, 44d2. Have.
[0030]
The operation lever 45 can operate the cam mechanism, that is, can rotate the left cam plate 43 in FIG. 2 with respect to the right cam plate 44 in FIG. And is connected to the bolt 41 via the connecting plate 46 so as to be integrally rotatable. Further, as shown in FIG. 18, the operation lever 45 has an attachment screw hole 45b for attaching the connecting bolt 49 and an operation lever 45 in the locked position in addition to the attachment hole 45a for attaching the cam plate 43. It has a spring locking hole 45c and an operation knob 45d for hooking one end of a spring (not shown) that urges toward it.
[0031]
As shown in FIGS. 2, 23, and 24, the connecting plate 46 has a polygonal (decagonal) engagement hole 46 a that fits the head 41 a of the bolt 41, and the engagement hole 46 a as a center. In the state where the connecting bolt 49 is inserted, the operation lever 45 can be rotated with respect to the bolt 41 when the connecting bolt 49 is loosened, and within the range of the arc-shaped long hole 46b. The rotation position of the operation lever 45 with respect to the bolt 41 can be adjusted.
[0032]
As shown in FIGS. 2, 25, and 26, the backlash removal cam 47 includes a cylindrical portion 47 a that is serrated and fitted to the serration portion 41 c of the bolt 41 and can rotate integrally with the bolt 41, and a shaft of the cylindrical portion 47 a. It is comprised by the cam part 47b integrally formed in the direction center. The cam portion 47b is an eccentric cam formed by displacing the center O1 by a predetermined amount with respect to the axial center O2 of the cylindrical portion 47a, and the outer peripheral surface is an arcuate concave surface as shown in FIG. The opening formed in the upper portion of the upper tube 22 by rotating counterclockwise in FIGS. 1 and 25 as the operation lever 45 is rotated from the release position to the lock position (a long hole in the axial direction). The lower tube is engaged with the outer periphery of the lower tube 21 through the joint of the bush 22a and the bush 23, and is rotated clockwise in FIGS. 1 and 25 as the operation lever 45 is rotated from the lock position to the release position. 21 is slightly detached from the outer periphery of 21.
[0033]
In the present embodiment configured as described above, the cylindrical projection 44a of the cam plate 44 on the right side of FIG. 2 and the inner projection 48b of the stopper 48 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the arc-shaped elongated hole 12c provided in the upper support bracket 12. Is set so as to abut the upper support bracket 12 at the portion (the tilt adjustment amount is set), and is also abutted with the connecting bracket 14 at the front and rear end portions of the linear elongated hole 14c provided in the connecting bracket 14. It is set (the telescopic adjustment amount is set), and the steering wheel can be adjusted by a predetermined amount of tilt and can be adjusted by a predetermined amount of telescopic adjustment.
[0034]
In addition, the operation lever 45 can directly rotate the cam plate 43 on the left side of FIG. 2 as a component of the cam mechanism, and can change the axial dimension of the cam mechanism. Accordingly, the backlash cam 47 can be rotated integrally with the bolt 41 via the connecting plate 46, and the cam portion 47 b of the backlash cam 47 can be engaged with or detached from the outer periphery of the lower tube 21.
[0035]
Therefore, when the operation lever 45 is rotated from the release position to the lock position to increase the axial dimension of the cam mechanism and the cam portion 47b of the backlash cam 47 is engaged with the outer periphery of the lower tube 21, the bolt The upper support bracket 12 and the connection bracket 14 can be sandwiched between the head 41a of the 41 and the nut 42 so as not to be relatively movable, and both the tilt adjustment and the telescopic adjustment of the steering wheel can be disabled. The tube 21 can be pressed against the upper tube 22, and a backlash (radial gap) between the lower tube 21 and the upper tube 22 can be removed.
[0036]
In this locked state, the cam portion 47b of the backlash removal cam 47 presses the lower tube 21 against the upper tube 22, and the lower tube is in a state before the steering device is assembled to the vehicle (the state shown in FIG. 1). In order to restrict axial movement of the lower shaft 21 and the lower shaft 31 relative to the upper tube 22 and the upper shaft 32, the backlash cam 47 is also used as a position fixing means of the lower tube 21 until the steering device is mounted on the vehicle. be able to.
[0037]
Further, when the operating lever 45 is rotated from the lock position to the release position to shorten the axial dimension of the cam mechanism and the cam portion 47b of the backlash cam 47 is detached from the outer periphery of the lower tube 21, the bolt 41 The upper support bracket 12 and the connection bracket 14 can be moved relative to each other between the head 41a and the nut 42, and both the tilt adjustment and the telescopic adjustment of the steering wheel can be performed. The pressing on the upper tube 22 can be released, and the upper tube 22 can be telescopically (movable in the axial direction) with a small operating force with respect to the lower tube 21.
[0038]
By the way, in this embodiment, the axial direction length between the head 41a of the bolt 41 and the nut 42 is adjusted by adjusting the screwing position (screwing amount) of the nut 42 with respect to the screw part 41b of the bolt 41. The clamping force of the brackets 12 and 14 obtained by increasing the axial dimension of the cam mechanism between the head 41a of the bolt 41 and the nut 42 (that is, the locking force that disables the tilt and telescopic adjustment). ) And the rotation position of the connecting plate 46 for connecting the bolt 41 and the operating lever 45 with respect to the operating lever 45 independently of this, the lower by the cam portion 47b of the backlash cam 47 is adjusted. The pressing force of the tube 21 against the upper tube 22 can be adjusted, and the locking effect by the cam mechanism and the backlash removal cam 47 can be adjusted. It is possible to obtain the backlash removal effect to both reliably and sufficiently.
[0039]
In the present embodiment, a resin bush 23 is integrally attached to the outer periphery of the lower tube 21 so that the bush 23 is interposed between the upper tube 22 and the upper tube on the bush 23. 22 can be slid smoothly, and the telescopic operation can be improved. Further, since the bush 23 is slidably engaged with the inner periphery of the upper tube 22 at four locations, the lower left and right side portions 23c and 23d and the upper left and right side portions 23e and 23f, The lower tube 21 can be pressed against the upper tube 22 in a stable state, and play can be accurately removed.
[0040]
In the above embodiment, the cylindrical projection 44a of the cam plate 44 on the right side of FIG. 2 and the inner projection 48b of the stopper 48 are in contact with the connecting bracket 14 at the front and rear ends of the linear elongated hole 14c provided in the connecting bracket 14. However, before the projections 44a and 48b come into contact with the front and rear ends of the linear elongated hole 14c, the cam portion 47b of the backlash removal cam 47 is moved to the upper side. If the front and rear ends of the opening 22a formed in the upper portion of the tube 22 are set so as to contact the upper tube 22, the backlash cam 47 functions as a telescopic stopper having a buffering action, and the impact at the telescopic end is reduced. Generation of a hitting sound at the telescopic end can be suppressed without using another member such as rubber as a cushioning material.
[0041]
Further, as shown in FIG. 27, the resin bush 23 is provided with projections 23g and 23h projecting radially outward, and both projections 44a and 48b of the above embodiment are provided at the front and rear ends of the linear elongated hole 14c. If the projections 23g and 23h are set so as to contact the upper tube 22 at the telescopic end before contacting the portion, the projections 23g and 23h provided on the bush 23 also function as a telescopic stopper having a buffering action. The impact at the telescopic end can be suppressed without using a separate member such as rubber as a cushioning material, and the occurrence of hitting sound at the telescopic end can be suppressed.
[0042]
Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 27, if the projection 23h of the bush 23 is set so as to be fitted in the axial slit 22b provided in the upper tube 22 so as to be axially movable and relatively non-rotatable, the projection 23h The amount of axial movement of the lower tube 21 and the lower shaft 31 with respect to the upper tube 22 and the upper shaft 32 in a state before the steering device is assembled to the vehicle (fitting state) to the slit 22b. Can be defined to a predetermined amount, and the transportability until the steering device is assembled to the vehicle and the workability during the assembly to the vehicle can be improved without using other members. In FIG. 27, the notch 21c provided at the right end of the lower tube 21 is for releasing the protrusion 23h when the lower tube 21 with the bush 23 attached is assembled into the upper tube 22.
[0043]
Further, in the above embodiment, tapered engagement portions 23i and 23j are provided at the opening end of the resin bush 23 as shown by phantom lines in FIG. 9, and each of the engagement portions 23i and 23j When the cam portion 47b of the backlash removal cam 47 is set to be engaged when it moves relative to the axial direction by a predetermined amount, the amount of axial movement of the lower tube 21 relative to the backlash removal cam 47 is defined as a predetermined amount. It is possible to improve the transportability until the steering device is assembled to the vehicle and the workability during the assembly to the vehicle without using other members. In addition, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of hitting sound when the bush 23 and the backlash cam 47 abut without using another member such as rubber as a cushioning material.
[0044]
Further, as schematically shown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29, an arcuate flange (projection) 47c projecting radially outward is provided on the backlash cam 47, and this is an axial slit formed in the lower tube 21. When the engagement portion 21d is fitted so as to be movable by a predetermined amount in the axial direction, the protrusion 47c provided on the backlash cam 47 even when the operation lever 45 is rotated from the lock position to the release position. The lower tube 21 can be accurately held (stopped and prevented from coming off) by fitting into a slit (engagement portion) 21d provided in the lower tube 21 until the steering device is assembled to the vehicle. It is possible to improve the transportability between the vehicle and the workability during assembly to the vehicle without using other members. In addition, by forming the backlash cam 47 with resin, a protrusion 47c of the backlash cam 47 is formed on the slit (engagement portion) 21d provided on the lower tube 21 without using another member such as rubber as a cushioning material. It is possible to suppress the generation of hitting sound when coming into contact with the lower tube 21 at the end.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view showing an embodiment of a tilt and telescopic steering device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view in which the lower tube shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is partially broken.
4 is an enlarged side view in which the upper tube shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is partially broken. FIG.
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a single upper tube shown in FIG.
6 is a side view of a single upper support bracket shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
7 is a plan view of a single upper support bracket shown in FIG. 6. FIG.
8 is a side view of the bush shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
9 is a plan view of a single bush shown in FIG. 8. FIG.
10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the bush shown in FIG. 8;
11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of the bush shown in FIG. 8;
12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the bush shown in FIG. 8 along the line CC.
13 is a side view of a single bolt in the fixing device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
14 is a sectional view of a single stopper in the fixing device shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
15 is a left side view of the stopper alone shown in FIG.
16 is a right side view of the stopper alone shown in FIG.
17 is a front view showing a state in which the left cam plate in FIG. 2 is assembled to the operation lever shown in FIG. 2;
18 is a left side view of the operation lever and the cam plate shown in FIG.
19 is a longitudinal sectional view of a single cam plate on the right side shown in FIG.
20 is a right side view of the cam plate alone shown in FIG.
21 is a left side view of the cam plate alone shown in FIG.
22 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a relationship at a locking position of both cam plates shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 23 is a front view of a single connection plate in the fixing device shown in FIG. 2;
24 is a left side view of a single connection plate shown in FIG. 23. FIG.
25 is a vertical side view of the backlash cam in the fixing device shown in FIG. 2; FIG.
26 is a longitudinal sectional view of the backlash removal cam shown in FIG.
FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing an embodiment in which a protrusion is provided on a bush and the protrusion is used as a telescopic stopper.
FIG. 28 is a partially broken side view showing an embodiment in which a protrusion is provided on the backlash removal cam and the amount of axial movement of the lower tube is defined by the protrusion.
29 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 28. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Upper support bracket, 12c ... Arc-shaped long hole, 13 ... Lower support bracket, 14 ... Connection bracket, 14c ... Linear long hole, 21 ... Lower tube, 21d ... Slit, 22 ... Upper tube, 23 ... Bush, 23g , 23h ... projection, 23i, 23j ... tapered engagement part, 31 ... lower shaft, 32 ... upper shaft, 40 ... fixing device, 41 ... bolt, 41a ... head, 41b ... screw part, 41c ... serration part, 42 ... Nuts, 43, 44 ... Cam plates (cam mechanisms), 45 ... Operating levers, 46 ... Connectors, 47 ... Backlash cams, 47b ... Cam parts, 47c ... Arc-shaped flanges (projections).

Claims (5)

A lower tube that can be tiltably assembled to a part of the vehicle body, and an upper tube that is telescopically assembled to the lower tube and is releasably fixed to a support bracket that is assembled to a part of the vehicle body by a fixing device; A lower shaft that is rotatably assembled to the lower tube, and a rotatable and axially movable assembly that is assembled to the upper tube so that the steering wheel is integrally supported at the upper end portion, and telescopic to the lower shaft and torque. An upper shaft connected to be able to be transmitted, and the fixing device is screwed onto a rotating bolt that penetrates the connecting bracket fixed to the upper tube and the support bracket, and a screw portion of the bolt, and the bolt A nut with an adjustable length between the head of the bolt and the bolt between the nut and the head of the bolt A cam mechanism capable of changing the axial dimension by relative rotation, an operating element which is rotatably mounted on the bolt and can operate the cam mechanism, and can rotate integrally with the bolt. A tilt and telescopic steering device comprising a looseness-removing cam that is assembled to the lower tube and that connects the bolt and the operating element so that the rotational position can be adjusted. 2. The tilt / telescopic steering device according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion protruding radially outward is provided on the backlash cam, and an engaging portion for fitting the protrusion so as to be movable by a predetermined amount in the axial direction is provided. A tilt and telescopic steering device characterized by being provided in the lower tube. 2. The tilt and telescopic steering device according to claim 1, wherein a bush is integrally mounted on an outer periphery of the lower tube so that the bush is interposed between the upper tube and the lower tube. Steering device. 4. The tilt / telescopic steering apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the backlash removal cam can be engaged with and disengaged from the lower tube through an opening provided in the bush, and the lower tube is axially relative to the backlash removal cam. A tilt / telescopic steering device characterized in that an engagement portion provided at an opening end of the bush engages with the backlash cam when moved by a predetermined amount. 4. The tilt / telescopic steering device according to claim 3, wherein a protrusion projecting radially outward is provided on the bush, and an engaging portion into which the protrusion is relatively movable in a predetermined amount in the axial direction is provided in the upper tube. A tilt / telescopic steering device provided in

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