JP4176494B2 - Electric steering column device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an electric steering column device, and more particularly to a technique for improving the degree of freedom of installation of an electric motor unit and improving the mounting property.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Since the steering device of an automobile is used (steered) by an unspecified number of drivers, it is desirable that the position of the steering wheel can be easily adjusted according to an individual's physique and driving posture. In order to respond to such a demand, an electric steering column apparatus using an electric tilt mechanism and an electric telescopic mechanism has appeared not only in passenger cars but also in freight cars and the like.
[0003]
The electric tilt type steering column device is a device that adjusts the position of the steering wheel in the vertical direction, and divides the steering shaft and the steering column into the swing side column and the fixed side column, and the swing center of the swing side column. And a tilt drive mechanism including a worm reduction mechanism, a screw mechanism, and the like (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). In addition, the electric telescopic steering column device has a lower column that supports a steering shaft slidably fitted to an outer column attached to the vehicle body side, and is electrically driven by an electric motor, a worm speed reduction mechanism, a screw mechanism, etc. The telescopic drive mechanism etc. which become (For example, refer patent document 3, 4).
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-1503 (2nd and 3rd pages, FIGS. 1 and 2)
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-238647 A (page 4, FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 3]
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-165269 (first page, FIGS. 6 and 7)
[Patent Document 4]
JP 2001-18809 A (Page 3, FIGS. 1 and 2)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the electric steering column device, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 (viewed in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 6) and FIG. 8 (viewed in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 6), the electric motor 33 has a worm on its shaft. Since 35, a pinion, etc. are fixed, it is often integrated with a mounting bracket 37 that also serves as a dust-proof housing and fastened to the column drive mechanism as the electric motor unit 31. In order to prevent the mounting bracket 37 and the worm 35 from moving during operation, the worm 35 is supported by the electric motor 33 side and the tip side of the worm 35, and a pair of fastening flanges 61, 63 are vertically arranged in FIG. 7. It has. In addition, as the electric motor 33, there is a cylindrical section (so-called round type). However, the electric motor 33 has a specification required for the electric steering column device, and is relatively compact and inexpensive. (So-called flat type) is common.
[0006]
However, when such an electric motor unit 31 is mounted on an electric tilt / telescopic steering column device, the following problems may occur. As shown in FIG. 9, a telescopic drive mechanism 27 and a tilt drive mechanism 29 are incorporated in the electric tilt / telescopic steering column apparatus 1, and the same electric motor is used as a drive source for both the drive mechanisms 27 and 29. A unit 31 is mounted. At this time, since the electric motor unit 31 is attached along the motor mounting surfaces 65 and 67 of both the drive mechanisms 27 and 29, the electric motor 33 is in a vertically long state in the tilt drive mechanism 29 in FIG. Then, the electric motor 33 is in a horizontally long state.
[0007]
Then, the electric motor 33 on the tilt drive mechanism 29 side protrudes from the end face of the tilt drive mechanism 29 by a predetermined amount (indicated by a dimension a in FIG. 9), causing interference and the like, and the electric tilt / telescopic steering column. There is a problem that the layout of the apparatus 1 becomes difficult. Further, in order to solve this problem, when the angle phase of the electric motor 33 in the electric motor unit 31 is changed by 90 °, this time, from the mounting surface of the telescopic drive mechanism 27, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. This increases the amount of protrusion of the electric motor 33 (indicated by the dimension b in FIG. 9). Note that it is conceivable to employ different electric motor units 31 for the tilt drive mechanism 29 and the telescopic drive mechanism 27. In this case, however, costs can be reduced and assembly can be facilitated by sharing parts. The problem that becomes impossible occurs.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an electric steering column device that improves the degree of freedom of installation of the electric motor unit, improves the mountability, and the like.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the invention of claim 1, in order to adjust the position of the steering shaft on which the steering wheel is mounted at the rear end portion, the steering column that rotatably supports the steering shaft, and the steering wheel. An electric steering column device comprising: a column driving mechanism that drives the steering column; and an electric motor unit that is a driving source of the column driving mechanism, wherein the electric motor unit includes: an electric motor; A mounting bracket for fastening and supporting the electric motor and mounting the electric motor to the steering column , the mounting bracket including a first mounting surface for mounting the electric motor unit to the steering column, and the first mounting; The angle of less than 180 ° to the surface And a mounting surface of, when extended and said first mounting surface and the second attachment surface, respectively, the lines they both surfaces intersect proposes what is parallel to the axis of the electric motor .
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is proposed an electric steering column apparatus according to the first aspect in which the angle is 90 °.
[0011]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is proposed the electric steering column device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the electric motor has a non-circular cross-sectional shape.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the electric steering column apparatus according to the first to third aspects, the column driving mechanism is a tilt driving mechanism and a telescopic driving mechanism, and the tilt driving mechanism and the telescopic driving mechanism include Then, a device using the common electric motor unit is proposed.
[0013]
According to the present invention, it is possible to mount the electric motor unit with a relatively large degree of freedom on the plurality of column drive mechanisms.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electric steering column apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a passenger compartment side portion of a hydraulic power steering apparatus according to an embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an electric tilt / telescopic steering column device (hereinafter simply referred to as a steering column device), which supports the upper steering shaft 3 in a freely rotatable manner. A steering wheel 5 is mounted at the upper end of the upper steering shaft 3, while a lower steering shaft 9 is connected to the lower end via a universal joint 7.
[0016]
A steering gear 11 including a rack and pinion mechanism and a hydraulic power assist mechanism is connected to the lower steering shaft 9 at the lower end thereof. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 13 denotes a column cover that covers the steering column 1, and reference numeral 15 denotes a tie rod connected to the left and right ends of the steering gear 11.
[0017]
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the steering column apparatus 1 according to the embodiment, and reference numeral 21 in the drawing denotes an outer column. The outer column 21 swings with a tilt pivot 23 provided at the front end as a fulcrum, and slidably holds an inner column 25 that holds the upper steering shaft 3. The outer column 21 is provided with a telescopic drive mechanism 27 on the left side in FIG. 2, and a tilt drive mechanism 29 is mounted on the upper right side in FIG. The telescopic drive mechanism 27 and the tilt drive mechanism 29 are known ones composed of a worm wheel, a feed screw mechanism, and the like, but their description is omitted because they become complicated.
[0018]
In the present embodiment, the electric motor unit 31 is fastened to the outer column 21 on the upper side of the telescopic drive mechanism 27 in FIG. 2, while the electric motor unit 31 is also fastened to the upper left surface of the tilt drive mechanism 29 in FIG. ing.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3) and FIG. 5 (viewed in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3), the electric motor unit 31 includes an electric motor 33 having a substantially small judgment surface shape. The worm 35 is fixed to a shaft (not shown) of the electric motor 33, and the mounting bracket 37 is fastened to the electric motor 33. The mounting bracket 37 supports the worm 35 at two places, that is, the electric motor 33 side and the tip side of the worm 35 via a bearing (not shown) in order to prevent the worm 35 from shaking during operation.
[0020]
The mounting bracket 37 is formed with a pair of first fastening flanges 41 in the horizontal direction in FIG. 5 and at an angle of 90 ° with respect to the first fastening flange 41 upward in FIG. A pair of second fastening flanges 43 are formed. Reference numeral 45 in FIG. 5 indicates a first attachment surface formed on the first fastening flange 41, and reference numeral 47 indicates a second attachment surface formed on the second fastening flange 43.
[0021]
On the other hand, at the attachment site of the electric motor unit 31 in the outer column 21, the first electric motor unit mounting surface 51 and the second electric motor forming an angle of 90 ° with respect to the first electric motor unit mounting surface 51. A unit mounting surface 53 is formed. In addition, the first electric motor unit mounting surface 55 and the second electric motor that forms an angle of 90 ° with respect to the first electric motor unit mounting surface 55 also at the mounting portion of the electric motor unit 31 in the tilt drive mechanism 29. A motor unit mounting surface 57 is formed.
[0022]
A first fastening flange 41 is fastened to the outer column 21 by a bolt 59 so that the first mounting surface 45 of the electric motor unit 31 contacts the first electric motor unit mounting surface 51. The second fastening flange 43 is fastened by a bolt 59 in such a manner that the second mounting face 47 contacts the second electric motor unit mounting face 53. In addition, the first fastening flange 41 is fastened to the tilt drive mechanism 29 by a bolt 59 so that the first mounting surface 45 of the electric motor unit 31 contacts the first electric motor unit mounting surface 55. The second fastening flange 43 is fastened by a bolt 59 so that the second mounting surface 47 of the motor unit 31 abuts on the second electric motor unit mounting surface 57.
[0023]
In this embodiment, by adopting such a configuration, the electric motor unit 31 is attached to the outer column 21 and the tilt drive mechanism 29 in a state where the electric motor 33 is horizontally long in FIG. It became so. As a result, while using the same electric motor unit 31 for the tilt drive mechanism 29 and the telescopic drive mechanism 27, the electric motor 33 does not protrude from the upper surface of the tilt drive mechanism 29 in FIG. Can be easily laid out in the passenger compartment.
[0024]
Although description of specific embodiment is finished above, the aspect of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the angle formed by the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface in the electric motor unit is 90 °, but it may be 180 ° depending on the position and shape of the tilt driving mechanism and the telescopic driving mechanism. Less than desired angles can be employed. The cross-sectional shape of the motor is not limited to the oval type employed in the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to the electric motor unit in which the worm is incorporated. However, the present invention may be applied to an object in which a helical gear or the like is incorporated. In addition, the overall configuration of the electric steering column device, the shape of each member, and the like can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, in the electric steering column device of the present invention, the steering shaft on which the steering wheel is mounted at the rear end, the steering column that rotatably supports the steering shaft, and the steering wheel An electric steering column apparatus comprising: a column driving mechanism that drives the steering column and an electric motor unit that is a driving source of the column driving mechanism in order to adjust the position. An electric motor and a mounting bracket for mounting to the column drive mechanism, the mounting bracket being at an angle of less than 180 ° with respect to the first mounting surface and the first mounting surface. With the second mounting surface, for a plurality of column drive mechanisms, It becomes possible to mount the dynamic motor unit with a relatively large degree of freedom, it is possible to reduce or facilitate the assembling cost by common use of the electric motor unit and the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a compartment side portion of a hydraulic power steering apparatus according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an electric steering column apparatus according to the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the electric motor unit according to the embodiment.
4 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a side view of a conventional electric motor unit.
7 is a view taken in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a view taken in the direction of arrow D in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional electric steering column device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electric tilt and telescopic type steering column apparatus 3 Upper steering shaft 5 Steering wheel 21 Outer column 23 Tilt pivot 25 Inner column 27 Telescopic drive mechanism 29 Tilt drive mechanism 31 Electric motor unit 33 Electric motor 35 Worm 37 Mounting bracket 41 First fastening flange 43 Second fastening flange 45 First mounting surface 47 Second Mounting surfaces 51, 55 ... first electric motor unit mounting surface 53, 57 ... second electric motor unit mounting surface

Claims (4)

A steering shaft to which a steering wheel is mounted at the rear end;
A steering column that rotatably supports the steering shaft;
A column drive mechanism for driving the steering column to adjust the position of the steering wheel;
An electric steering column device comprising: an electric motor unit that is a drive source of the column drive mechanism;
The electric motor unit includes an electric motor , and an attachment bracket for fastening and supporting the electric motor and attaching to the steering column,
The mounting bracket includes a first mounting surface for mounting the electric motor unit to the steering column, and a second mounting surface that forms an angle of less than 180 ° with respect to the first mounting surface , An electric steering column apparatus characterized in that when the first mounting surface and the second mounting surface are extended, the line intersecting both surfaces is parallel to the axis of the electric motor .   The electric steering column apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the angle is 90 °.   The electric steering column apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the electric motor is non-circular. The column drive mechanism is a tilt drive mechanism and a telescopic drive mechanism, and the tilt motor mechanism and the telescopic drive mechanism use the common electric motor unit , respectively . 4. The electric steering column apparatus according to claim 3.

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