JP3906084B2 - Tilt steering device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a steering device. In particular, the present invention relates to a tilt steering device capable of adjusting the position of a steering wheel.
[0002]
[Background Art and Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
In the tilt steering device, for example, the lower portion of the steering column is supported by the vehicle body so as to be swingable about the tilt support shaft. For this purpose, a pair of side plates of the column bracket fixed to the steering column are disposed between the pair of side plates of the fixed bracket fixed to the vehicle body, and a tilt support shaft is disposed through the side plates of both the brackets. Yes.
[0003]
The tilt support shaft has a bolt and a cylindrical collar that passes through the bolt. The bolts fasten the pair of side plates of the fixing bracket, and the collar is sandwiched between the side plates. The collar is slidably inserted through the insertion hole in the side plate of the column bracket.
However, rattling may occur between the collar and the side plate of the column bracket. In addition, in order to suppress friction between the collar and the side plate of the column bracket while suppressing the rattling, an annular resin member is interposed between the outer periphery of the collar and the peripheral portion of the insertion hole. However, since such an annular member is required separately from the pipe, the number of parts tends to increase, and the steering device becomes expensive.
[0004]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a tilt steering device that solves the above technical problems, can suppress the occurrence of rattling and friction, and is inexpensive.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, in a tilt steering device capable of adjusting a tilt around a tilt support shaft, a vehicle body side bracket fixed to the vehicle body and supporting the tilt support shaft, and swingable about the tilt support shaft. And a column side bracket fixed to the steering column, wherein one of the vehicle body side and the column side bracket includes a pair of outer side plates and the other includes a pair of inner side plates. A connecting shaft for penetrating and connecting the side plates, and a cross-section that is inserted through the connecting shaft, passes through the insertion holes of the pair of inner side plates, and is sandwiched between the pair of outer side plates, and can be elastically reduced in diameter. look including the color of the C-shaped configuration, the insertion hole of the respective inner side plates, extending設溝for relatively moving the collar is extended at impact absorption, the groove width of the extending設溝than the diameter of the insertion hole Characterized in that it is small.
[0006]
According to the present invention, since the collar that can be elastically reduced in diameter is surely along the inner periphery of the insertion hole, it is possible to incorporate the collar in a state in which the collar in the radial direction in the insertion hole is not shaky. By holding the collar between the pair of outer side plates, the diameter expansion force due to the elasticity of the collar is suppressed, so that the friction between the inner periphery of the insertion hole and the collar at the time of tilt adjustment can be suppressed small. Moreover, it is not necessary to provide a conventional rattling prevention component separately from the collar, and the number of components can be reduced. As a result, the tilt steering device can be made inexpensive.
[0008]
In addition, an extension groove for moving the collar relative to each other when the shock is absorbed is extended in the insertion hole of each inner side plate, and the groove width of the extension groove is made smaller than the diameter of the insertion hole . As a result, the shock absorbing mechanism can be incorporated at a low cost with a simple structure.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the slit formed in the collar is opened in a direction in which the collar advances when absorbing the impact. Accordingly, the collar can be smoothly deformed when entering the extending groove.
A third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect, an inlet portion of the extending groove continuous to the insertion hole is expanded in a tapered shape toward the insertion hole. As a result, the collar can easily enter the extending groove.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a tilt steering device (hereinafter also simply referred to as a steering device) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a schematic configuration of the above-described steering apparatus.
The steering device 1 includes a steering shaft 3 that transmits the movement of the steering wheel 2 to steer a wheel (not shown), and a steering column 4 that rotatably supports the steering shaft 3 through the inside. is doing. A steering wheel 2 is connected to one end 5 of the steering shaft 3. A steering mechanism including a pinion, a rack shaft, and the like is connected to the other end portion 6 of the steering shaft 3 via a universally rotatable universal joint, an intermediate shaft, and the like (not shown). When the steering wheel 2 is rotated, the rotation is transmitted to the steering mechanism via the steering shaft 3, the universal joint, the intermediate shaft, and the like, so that the wheel can be steered.
[0010]
The steering device 1 is attached to a vehicle body 7 (a part of which is shown by an alternate long and short dash line) so that the position of the steering wheel 2 can be adjusted in the vertical direction and the front-rear direction. For example, when the position of the steering wheel 2 is set to a standard position, the steering wheel 2 is on the upper side, and the axial direction of the steering shaft 3 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the axial direction) is set to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. It is arranged diagonally. In the following, the direction will be described based on a state in which the axial direction of the steering shaft 3 at the above-described standard position is horizontal and along the front-rear direction. In each figure, the front-rear direction and the axial direction (see arrow S), the left-right direction (see arrow Y), and the up-down direction (see arrow Z) are shown.
[0011]
The steering column 4 includes a column jacket 8 as a cylindrical member for rotatably supporting the steering shaft 3, and a lower bracket that is fixed to the vehicle body 7 by being welded to the vicinity of the front end portion of the column jacket 8. 9 and an upper bracket 10 that is fixed to an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the column jacket 8 and is attached to the vehicle body 7. The column jacket 8 is rotatably supported by a plurality of, for example, two bearings (not shown) in a state where the column jacket 8 accommodates most of the steering shaft 3 and is positioned in the axial direction.
[0012]
Further, the steering device 1 has two attachment structures 11 and 12 for attaching the steering column 4 to the vehicle body 7. By the mounting structures 11 and 12, the steering column 4 is swung around the central axis of the tilt support shaft 13 and tilted, so that the height position of the steering wheel 2 is adjusted according to the physique and driving posture of the driver. A tilt adjusting function and a telescopic adjusting function for adjusting the position of the steering wheel 2 in the axial direction of the steering shaft 3 are realized.
[0013]
The mounting structure 11 includes the above-described lower bracket 9 as a column-side bracket that is fixed to the steering column 4, and a lower fixing bracket 14 that is disposed corresponding to the lower bracket 9 and is fixed to the vehicle body 7. The tilt support shaft 13 is supported by the lower fixing bracket 14 and interposed between the brackets 9 and 14. A lower bracket 9 is swingably supported around the tilt support shaft 13.
[0014]
The mounting structure 12 includes the above-described upper bracket 10, an upper fixing bracket 15 that is disposed corresponding to the upper bracket 10 and is fixed to the vehicle body 7, and is supported by the upper fixing bracket 15 between the brackets 10 and 15. And an interposing spindle 16.
The upper bracket 10 has a pair of side plates, and each side plate is formed with an insertion hole formed of a laterally elongated hole extending in the axial direction. The upper fixing bracket 15 has a pair of side plates, and each side plate is formed with an insertion hole formed of a vertically long hole extending in a vertical direction orthogonal to the axial direction. The support shaft 16 is inserted through the insertion holes of the brackets 10 and 15. The support shaft 16 is provided with a lock mechanism 17 for releasably locking the posture of the steering column 4.
[0015]
The lock mechanism 17 has a cam mechanism (not shown) for pressing the side plates of the upper fixing bracket 15 and the upper bracket 10 and an operation lever 18 for operating the cam mechanism. When the operation lever 18 is operated, the side plates of the brackets 10 and 15 are pressed by the cam mechanism, the steering column 4 is held with a predetermined holding force, and tilt lock can be achieved. Further, the holding state can be canceled by the reverse operation. In the released state, the steering column 4 can be tilt-adjusted so as to be swingable around the tilt support shaft 13 and can be telescopically adjusted by sliding in the axial direction while being guided by the tilt support shaft 13 and the support shaft 16. It is said that.
[0016]
In particular, in the embodiment of the present invention, the mounting structure 11 suppresses rattling while suppressing the operating force at the time of position adjustment, and the structure is simplified.
In the mounting structure 11, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower fixing bracket 14 as a vehicle body side bracket has a side plate 30 (hereinafter also referred to as an outer side plate 30) as a pair of outer side plates. Further, the lower bracket 9 as the column side bracket has a pair of side plates 35 (hereinafter also referred to as inner side plates 35) as a pair of inner side plates. The tilt support shaft 13 includes a connecting shaft 19 formed of a bolt for connecting through the side plates 35 and 30 of the brackets 9 and 14, a nut 20 screwed into the connecting shaft 19, and a shaft portion 23 of the connecting shaft 19. And a single collar 21 having a C-shaped cross section that is inserted through the inside and can be elastically reduced in diameter. The collar 21 passes through a long hole 36 as an insertion hole for the pair of inner side plates 35 and is sandwiched between the pair of outer side plates 30. The head 22 and the nut 20 of the connecting shaft 19 are disposed outside the outer side plate 30.
[0017]
The collar 21 is a long, substantially cylindrical member that is long in the direction in which the tilt support shaft 13 extends. The cross-sectional shape of the collar 21 that cuts the longitudinal direction of the collar 21 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the longitudinal direction) has a substantially arc shape. A single groove-shaped slit 40 is formed so as to open a predetermined interval between the pair of arc ends. The slit 40 penetrates the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the collar 21 and extends parallel to the longitudinal direction. Both ends in this direction are opened to form the entire length of the collar 21, and the arc end of the collar 21 is also formed. They are close to each other and face each other, and the cross-sectional shape is substantially circular.
[0018]
The collar 21 is formed of an elastic member such as a metal material. The collar 21 has a relatively large outer diameter in a natural state that is not elastically deformed before being inserted into the insertion hole of the inner side plate 35, and is elastically deformed and reduced in diameter by being inserted into the long hole 36. Then, in the state of being arranged in the long hole 36, it comes into contact with the peripheral portion of the long hole 36 of the inner side plate 35 with an elastic restoring force that expands the diameter. At this time, the outer diameter of the collar 21 is autonomously adjusted according to the width of the long hole 36 (see dimension L1).
[0019]
In this way, the collar 21 having a C-shaped cross section and having a diameter that can be elastically reduced is surely along the inner periphery of the long hole 36, so that the collar 21 has a backlash in the radial direction in the long hole 36. The collar 21 can be incorporated without any sticking. Since the collar 21 is clamped between the pair of outer side plates 30 to suppress the diameter expansion force due to the elasticity of the collar 21, the friction between the inner periphery of the long hole 36 and the collar 21 at the time of tilt adjustment is suppressed to be small. Can do. Moreover, it is not necessary to provide a conventional rattling prevention component separately from the collar 21, and the number of components can be reduced. As a result, the tilt steering device can be made inexpensive.
[0020]
In particular, since the collar 21 has a C-shaped shape with an open cross section, it is more easily elastically deformed in the radial direction than a circular collar with a closed cross section. For example, even when a low-precision component is used for the collar 21 or the like. The dimensional error can be absorbed, and it is preferable for reducing the cost.
In particular, when the collar 21 is inserted through the pair of inner side plates 35 and is made of a single component, the number of components can be minimized. A configuration in which a plurality of collars 21 are arranged along the axial direction of the tilt support shaft 13 through the connecting shaft 19 is also conceivable.
[0021]
As a method for forming the collar 21, a known method such as a sheet metal processing method or a method of processing a slit in a pipe material can be used. In particular, the collar 21 is preferably formed of sheet metal. That is, the collar 21 having a C-shaped cross section can be formed from a metal plate at a low cost. In addition, the metal plate is easy to increase the degree of design freedom of the shape, thickness, size, etc. of the collar 21 compared to the pipe material, and easily achieves the strength that can withstand the force applied when pinched and fixed. it can.
[0022]
The collar 21 is sandwiched between the pair of outer side plates 30 by being inserted into the elongated holes 36 of the inner side plate 35 and in contact with the peripheral edge of the elongated holes 36, and the nut 20 is tightened to the connecting shaft 19. It is fixed by friction by this.
On the other hand, in a state where the collar 21 is not fixed to the outer side plate 30, the elastic force of the collar 21 is always applied to the peripheral edge portion of the long hole 36, so that the collar 21 and the inner side plate 35 slide in a pressed state, causing friction and wear. There is concern about becoming larger. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the collar 21 is fixed to the pair of outer side plates 30 as described above, so that it is ensured that the diameter expansion force due to the elasticity of the collar 21 is exerted on the inner periphery of the long hole 36. Therefore, it is possible to reliably suppress an increase in friction during tilt adjustment. Similarly, it is possible to reliably suppress an increase in wear and a decrease in rigidity.
[0023]
Further, when the outer side plate 30 fixes the collar 21 and is fixed to the vehicle body 7, the collar 21 can be stably fixed, and therefore, it is preferable that the steering column 4 can be operated smoothly when the position of the steering column 4 is adjusted.
In order to fix the collar 21 in a clamped state, a known method can be used in addition to the fastening means including the connecting shaft 19 and the nut 20 described above.
Moreover, in this Embodiment, the shakiness of the side plates 30 and 35 about the left-right direction can also be suppressed by the above-mentioned fastening means.
[0024]
The collar 21 regulates the distance between the outer side plates 30 in the direction in which the tilt support shaft 13 extends, so that the friction between the side plates 30 and the side plates 35, and thus the operating force when adjusting the position, do not become excessively large. .
The pair of inner side plates 35 of the lower bracket 9 are arranged in parallel to face each other at a predetermined interval, the upper ends of the pair of inner side plates 35 are connected to each other by a connection plate 37, and the lower ends are connected to the column jacket 8. It is fixed to the outer periphery. The outer side plates 30 are disposed adjacent to the left and right sides that are the outer sides of the pair of inner side plates 35. The outer side plate 30 is fixed to a predetermined portion of the vehicle body at the upper end portion, and an insertion hole 31 formed of a circular hole is formed in a portion near the free end. The long dimension of the collar 21 is formed to be substantially the same as the interval between the outer surfaces of the inner side plate 35. The connecting shaft 19 is inserted between the four insertion holes of the brackets 9 and 14, and the nut 20 is screwed into the male screw of the connecting shaft 19. The pair of outer side plates 30 and the collar 21 are pressed and tightened. As a result, the collar 21 and the outer side plate 30 come into contact with each other, and rattling between them can be prevented, and the side plates 30 and 35 adjacent to each other can be placed along each other to prevent rattling between them.
[0025]
A laterally long hole 36 as an insertion hole of the inner side plate 35 extends in the axial direction with a length corresponding to the adjustment range of the telescopic adjustment, and is configured to relatively move the collar 21 during the telescopic adjustment. In this way, telescopic adjustment can be performed at a low cost with a simple structure in which the insertion hole is the long hole 36.
When performing telescopic adjustment, it is preferable to open the slit 40 of the collar 21 in the direction in which the long hole 36 extends. Thereby, the collar 21 can be moved smoothly without the peripheral edge of the slit 40 being caught by the peripheral edge of the long hole 36.
[0026]
In addition, the structure which abbreviate | omits a telescopic adjustment function from this tilt steering apparatus 1 is also considered. In this case, the insertion hole does not need to be the long hole 36 and may be formed into a circular hole that is easy to process and inexpensive.
Further, the steering device 1 has an impact absorbing mechanism for absorbing an impact at the time of a collision. This impact absorbing mechanism absorbs the impact as the steering column 4 moves forward relative to the vehicle body 7 in the event of a collision. Further, the horizontally elongated hole of the upper bracket 10 is formed longer than the telescopic adjustment range so that the steering column 4 can be moved in the axial direction at the time of a collision.
[0027]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shock absorbing mechanism includes the above-described tilt adjusting tilt support shaft 13 and a pair of brackets 9 and 14 through which the tilt support shaft 13 is inserted. In each insertion hole of the inner side plate 35, for example, the long hole 36, an extension groove 38 for relatively moving the collar 21 when absorbing the shock is extended along the direction in which the steering column 4 moves when absorbing the shock. Yes. The groove width (see dimension L2) of the extended groove 38 is made smaller than the diameter of the insertion hole formed of a circular hole. Moreover, in the case of the insertion hole which consists of the long hole 36, it is made smaller than the width dimension (refer dimension L1) which is a dimension corresponded to the diameter of an insertion hole. The inner side plate 35 and the collar 21 function as an impact absorbing member that absorbs an impact by being deformed.
[0028]
When the driver hits the steering wheel 2 at the time of a collision, the steering column 4 moves relative to the vehicle body 7 forward. Accordingly, the inner side plate 35 of the lower bracket 9 fixed to the steering column 4 moves relative to the lower fixing bracket 14 and the tilt support shaft 13 fixed to the vehicle body 7. At this time, the collar 21 is integrated with the connecting shaft 19 of the tilt support shaft 13 and enters the extending groove 38 from the elongated hole 36 of the inner side plate 35, as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. While moving while being squeezed along the groove 38, the diameter is reduced and deformed. Along with this, the peripheral edge portion of the extending groove 38 of the inner side plate 35 is also deformed. Thereby, impact energy is absorbed.
[0029]
Thus, the shock absorbing mechanism can be incorporated at a low cost with a simple structure using the collar 21 and the insertion hole.
At the time of collision, the collar 21 can smoothly enter the extending groove 38 while shrinking the C-shape in the radial direction, so that an excessive rise in load at the time of shock absorption can be suppressed. In particular, the slit 40 of the collar 21 is preferably opened in the direction in which the collar 21 advances when absorbing the impact, and the collar 21 can be smoothly deformed when entering the extending groove 38. Further, it is preferable that the peripheral edge portion of the extending groove 38 is tapered along the axial direction and is formed in a tapered shape and widened at a portion near the long hole 36 so that the collar 21 can easily enter.
[0030]
Note that the arrangement of the side plates 35 and 30 of the brackets 9 and 14 may be reversed, and between the side plates 35 of the column-side lower bracket 9 as the pair of outer side plates, the side plate 30 of the lower fixing bracket 14 as the inner side plate. May be arranged. In this case, the tilt support shaft 13 is clamped and fixed to the side plate 35 of the lower bracket 9, and the extension groove 38 of the shock absorbing mechanism is provided on the side plate 30 of the lower fixing bracket 14 on the vehicle body side for steering during shock absorption. It extends from the long hole 36 toward the front of the vehicle body along the moving direction of the column 4.
[0031]
Its other, it is possible to apply various modifications within the scope of the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a schematic configuration of a tilt steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the tilt steering device mounting structure of FIG. 1;
3 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting structure shown in FIG.
4 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing an impact absorbing mechanism of the tilt steering device of FIG. 1. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Tilt steering device 4 Steering column 7 Car body 9 Lower bracket (column side bracket)
13 Tilt support shaft 14 Lower fixed bracket (Body side bracket)
19 Connecting shaft 21 Collar (Shock absorbing mechanism)
30 Side plate of the lower fixing bracket (outside side plate)
35 Side plate of lower bracket (inner side plate, shock absorbing mechanism)
36 Long holes (insertion holes) in a pair of side plates
38 Extension groove
40 Slot L1 Diameter of insertion hole L2 Groove width of extended groove

Claims (3)

In a tilt steering device capable of adjusting the tilt around the tilt spindle,
A vehicle body side bracket that is fixed to the vehicle body and supports the tilt support shaft;
A column side bracket that is supported so as to be swingable around the tilt spindle and is fixed to the steering column,
One of the vehicle body side and the column side bracket includes a pair of outer side plates and the other includes a pair of inner side plates,
The tilt support shaft is connected to the connecting shaft for penetrating the side plates of both brackets, and the inside is inserted through the connecting shaft, and is sandwiched between the pair of outer side plates through the insertion holes of the pair of inner side plates. the color of the elastically contracted possible C-shaped cross section shape viewed including,
An extension groove for relatively moving the collar when absorbing the impact is extended in the insertion hole of each inner side plate, and the groove width of the extension groove is smaller than the diameter of the insertion hole. Tilt steering device. 2. The tilt steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slit formed in the collar is opened in a direction in which the collar advances when absorbing an impact . 3. The tilt steering device according to claim 1, wherein an inlet portion of the extending groove that is continuous with the insertion hole is tapered toward the insertion hole .

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