JP4487936B2 - Vehicle steering device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle steering device, and more particularly, to a steering device characterized by a configuration for dealing with a secondary collision of a driver to a steering operation member at the time of a vehicle collision.

A general vehicle steering apparatus is for dealing with a driver's secondary collision with a steering operation member (for example, a steering wheel or the like, which may be simply referred to as an “operation member” hereinafter) resulting from a vehicle collision. In addition, various mechanisms are provided. In many steering systems, as one of those mechanisms, a steering column (hereinafter simply referred to as “column”) supported by a part of the vehicle body (for example, instrument panel reinforcement) is provided in front of the vehicle. It has a mechanism that can move in the direction. By this mechanism, the operation member held at one end of the column moves together with the column in the vehicle front direction. When the operation member moves in the vehicle forward direction, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, the column cover that covers the column does not hinder the movement of the operation member in the vehicle forward direction. The column cover is separated into two members.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-26717

  In the mechanism capable of moving the column in the forward direction of the vehicle as described above, the amount of movement of the operating member in the forward direction of the vehicle in order to cope with the secondary collision of the driver with the operating member due to the vehicle collision. (It is possible to think of it as a moving distance). From such a point of view, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, the column cover does not hinder the movement of the operation member in the vehicle front direction, and thus the movement amount of the operation member is increased. However, in a steering device, an operation switch unit (for example, a combination switch unit) including a turn signal switch lever, a wiper switch lever, a light control lever, and the like is often disposed on the vehicle front side of the operation member. In such a steering device, the operation switch unit, more specifically, the housing of the operation switch unit that holds the above-described switch lever or the like in an operable manner hinders the movement of the operation member in the forward direction of the vehicle. Is restricted. That is, such a steering device leaves room for improvement in terms of practicality. The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a highly practical steering device.

  In order to solve the above problems, the steering device of the present invention is disposed on the vehicle front side of the operation member in a state where the column is inserted in accordance with the movement of the operation member in the vehicle front direction, that is, the column in the vehicle front direction. The operation switch unit is configured to be separated into a plurality of parts in a direction crossing the column axis.

  According to the steering device of the present invention, the operation switch unit is separated as the column moves, so that the operation member is prevented from moving in the forward direction of the vehicle, and the movement amount of the operation member is increased. Become. From such a viewpoint, the steering device of the present invention is practical.

Aspects of the Invention

  In the following, some aspects of the invention that can be claimed in the present application (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “claimable invention”) will be exemplified and described. As with the claims, each aspect is divided into sections, each section is numbered, and is described in a form that cites the numbers of other sections as necessary. This is merely for the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the claimable inventions, and is not intended to limit the combinations of the constituent elements constituting those inventions to those described in the following sections. In other words, the claimable invention should be construed in consideration of the description accompanying each section, the description of the embodiments, etc., and as long as the interpretation is followed, another aspect is added to the form of each section. Moreover, the aspect which deleted the component from the aspect of each term can also be one aspect of the claimable invention. In the following items, each of items (1) to (5) corresponds to each of items 1 to 5.

(1) a steering column supported by the vehicle body so as to be movable in the vehicle forward direction;
A steering operation member operably held at an end of the steering column on the vehicle rear side;
A steering device including a generally annular operation switch unit disposed on the vehicle front side of the steering operation member in a state where the steering column is inserted,
The steering apparatus for vehicles by which the said steering apparatus was comprised so that it might isolate | separate into a some part in the direction which cross | intersects the axis line of the said steering column with the movement to the vehicle front direction of the said steering column.

  When the operating member moves together with the steering column in the forward direction of the vehicle due to a secondary collision of the driver with the steering operating member during a vehicle collision, the operating member comes into contact with a part of the vehicle body, and the operating member moves in the forward direction of the vehicle. The amount of movement may be limited. In such a case, when the operation switch unit as described above is arranged on the vehicle front side of the operation member, the operation switch unit is sandwiched between the operation member and a part of the vehicle body, so that the operation member moves. This may hinder the movement of the operation member in the vehicle forward direction. In such a steering device, when the amount of movement of the operating member is small, the energy of the secondary collision described above cannot be properly absorbed, and the impact on the driver can be increased. There is a need to increase the amount of movement. According to the aspect of this section, since the operation switch unit is separated into a plurality of parts, it becomes difficult to be sandwiched between the operation member and a part of the vehicle body, and the elimination or reduction of the movement of the operation member can be expected. An increase in the amount of movement of the operation member in the vehicle front direction can be expected.

  The “steering column” described in this section is movable in the forward direction of the vehicle, but the entire column may be movable, or only a part of the column may be movable. That is, when the column is composed of two parts and the column can be expanded and contracted by a structure that can move relative to each other in the axial direction of the column, for example, the vehicle of these two parts Only the portion located on the rear side may be movable in the vehicle forward direction. That is, the concept of “movable in the forward direction of the vehicle” in the description of this section is a concept including that only a part of the column is movable. The “vehicle forward direction” referred to in this section may be, for example, the horizontal direction, or may be a forward direction having a certain degree of inclination with respect to the horizontal direction. For example, when the column axis is arranged with a certain degree of inclination with respect to the horizontal line, it may be in the column axis direction.

  The “operation switch unit” described in this section is not limited to the one that is fixed to the column and moves in the vehicle forward direction together with the column as the column moves in the vehicle forward direction in the steering device. For example, the operation switch unit is not fixed to the column but can be moved relative to the column in the axial direction so as to contact a member fixed to the column, for example, an operation member, a column cover that covers the column, etc. It may be made to move to the vehicle front direction with the member which contacts. Further, the operation switch unit may be fixed to a member that does not move with the movement of the column, and the operation switch unit may be prevented from moving in the vehicle forward direction with the movement of the column.

  In this steering apparatus, the operation switch unit can be separated into a plurality of parts by contacting the operation switch unit with some member as the column moves. For example, as described later, an inclined surface is formed on at least one of the member that contacts the operation switch unit and the operation switch unit, and the operation switch unit is divided into a plurality of parts by using the inclined surface like a wedge. It is a structure that can be separated. Further, a structure in which the operation switch unit can be separated by relying on an external force, for example, a force exerted by an elastic body such as a spring or rubber, an electromagnetic actuator, a fluid pressure cylinder, or the like. For example, an operation switch unit is composed of two parts, a coil spring is disposed between the two parts in a compressed state, and the operation switch unit is divided into two parts using the elastic force of the coil spring. It is a structure that can be separated.

  In addition, the operation switch unit, more specifically, the housing may be formed by connecting a plurality of members, and the connection may be released and separated into the plurality of members. It may be made of a member, and the member may be broken and separated. For example, a weak part that is easily broken, for example, a thin part, is provided in the housing of the operation switch unit, and the thin part is broken and separated. The “direction intersecting the axis” in this section indicates a direction in which the operation switch unit is separated from the column.

(2) Each of the plurality of parts of the operation switch unit has a contact part, and each part of the vehicle body hits each of the contact parts as the steering column moves toward the vehicle front side. A plurality of contact portions that can contact each other are provided, and at least one of the contact portions of each of the plurality of parts and each of the plurality of contact portions of a part of the vehicle body corresponding to each of the contact portions has an inclined surface. The abutting surface is in contact with the other,
In the steering device, the steering column moves in the vehicle forward direction in a state in which the plurality of contact portions of each of the plurality of parts and the plurality of contact portions of a part of the vehicle body are in contact with each other. The vehicle steering device according to (1), wherein the vehicle steering device is configured to be separated into parts.

  The aspect of this section is an aspect suitable when the operation switch unit and a part of the vehicle body come into contact with the movement of the column in the vehicle forward direction. For example, each of the plurality of parts of the operation switch unit is inclined. This is a mode in which the operation switch unit is separated into a plurality of parts by moving along the surface.

  The “part of the vehicle body” described in this section refers to a portion that hinders the movement of the operation switch unit in the vehicle forward direction accompanying the movement of the column. Specifically, the fixing member for mounting the column is an instrument panel reinforcement (hereinafter referred to as “instrument panel R / F”) for maintaining the strength and rigidity of the instrument panel (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “instrument panel”). For example, an instrument panel R / F, a fixing member, and a column holding device are attached to the fixing member. The column holding device is attached to the fixing member so as to be movable in the axial direction. Since the device, the member that attaches the column holding device to the fixing member, and the like can hinder the movement of the operation switch unit, they can be a part of the vehicle body. In addition, if the instrument panel, instrument panel lower cover, etc. are placed at a position that prevents the operation switch unit from moving in the forward direction of the vehicle, regardless of the column mounting location, the instrument panel, instrument panel lower cover, etc. Can be part.

  The “contact portion” described in this section is provided so as to be paired with each of a plurality of parts and a part of the vehicle body, and “each of the plurality of parts” described in this section is It may have one contact part or may have a plurality of contact parts. The “inclined surface” referred to in this section may be a flat surface or a curved surface, and the movement of the operation switch unit in the vehicle front direction may be performed in a direction in which a plurality of parts move away from the column axis. What is necessary is just to incline so that it may convert into movement.

  (3) The steering apparatus according to (1) or (2), wherein each of the plurality of parts is configured to be separated to a position beyond a portion of the steering operation member that faces the operation switch unit. Vehicle steering system.

  According to the steering device of this aspect, since the plurality of parts are sufficiently separated from the column, the plurality of parts are not sandwiched between the operation member and a part of the vehicle body, and obstruction of movement of the operation member is eliminated. Thus, the amount of movement of the operating member in the vehicle front direction can be increased.

(4) The operation switch unit has a latching mechanism that latches adjacent parts of the plurality of parts so that they do not separate from each other,
In the steering device, when the steering column moves forward of the vehicle, an engaging portion provided in a part of the vehicle body engages with the latching mechanism, so that the operation switch unit is separated prior to the separation. The vehicle steering device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the latching mechanism releases the latching of adjacent parts of the plurality of parts.

  In short, the steering device according to this aspect is configured so that the operation switch unit is easily separated into a plurality of parts by releasing the latch. According to the aspect of this section, the operation switch unit is arranged on the vehicle front side of the operation member before the latch is released, that is, in a normal state, with a plurality of parts firmly fixed.

  The "holding mechanism" described in this section is not limited in structure. For example, it is possible to provide a claw on one part of two adjacent parts and the claw on the other part. It is possible to employ a mechanism that hooks the two parts by providing a simple hole and hooking the claw into the hole. When such a mechanism is employed, the “engagement portion” in this section can be obtained by, for example, deforming the above-described claw portion and releasing the claw portion from the above-described hole portion, thereby The structure can be such that the parts are unlocked.

  (5) The vehicle steering device according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the operation switch unit is structured to be separable into two parts.

  According to the aspect of this section, since the operation switch unit is structured to be separated into the minimum number of parts, the structure of the steering device can be simplified, the number of parts can be reduced, and the assembly work can be simplified. Become.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the claimable invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition to the following examples, the claimable invention is implemented in various modes including various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the mode described in the above [Mode of Invention]. can do.

  FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a vehicle steering apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, the left side shows the front side of the vehicle, the right side shows the rear side of the vehicle, the other side of the page shows the right side of the vehicle, and the front side of the page shows the left side of the vehicle. The present steering device 10 is mainly composed of a steering column (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “column”) 12, and the column 12 is attached to the vehicle body in an inclined state as shown in the figure. More specifically, the column 12 is attached so that one end of the column 12 is located obliquely upward and rearward of the vehicle and the other end is located obliquely downward and forward of the vehicle. The axial direction of the column 12 is also treated as “vehicle longitudinal direction”, and the direction toward one end of the column 12 in the axial direction is also “vehicle rearward direction” or “rearward” and the direction toward the other end is “ The description will be made by calling it “vehicle forward direction” or “front”.

  The column 12 is supported by the vehicle body at a steering support 16 provided in the instrument panel reinforcement (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “instrument R / F”) 14. The column 12 is supported in a state in which a rear portion protrudes from the instrument panel (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “instrument panel”) 22 to the rear of the vehicle, and a steering operation is performed at the protruding rear end. A steering wheel 24 as a member is attached. A combination switch unit (hereinafter also referred to as “switch unit”) 26 as an operation switch unit is disposed on the front side of the steering wheel 14. Further, a portion protruding from the instrument panel 22 of the column 12 and the switch unit 26 are covered with a column cover 28.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the column 12 includes a column shaft 30 and a column tube 32 that supports the column shaft 30 in a state where the column shaft 30 is inserted. The column shaft 30 includes a pipe shaft 34 having a generally pipe shape located on the rear side, and a rod shaft 36 having a generally rod shape located on the front side. The rod shaft 36 is spline-fitted with the rear portion of the rod shaft 36 inserted into the front portion of the pipe shaft 34, and the pipe shaft 34 and the rod shaft 36 are capable of relative movement in the axial direction. Connected in a state where relative rotation is not possible. On the other hand, the column tube 32 includes a rear tube 38 located on the rear side and a front tube 40 located on the front side. The rear tube 38 and the front tube 40 are both pipe-shaped, and the rear side portion of the front tube 40 is inserted into the front side portion of the rear tube 38. That is, the rear tube 38 and the front tube 40 can be relatively moved in the axial direction. With the structure as described above, the column 12 can be expanded and contracted in the axial direction. Further, radial bearings 42 and 44 are provided at the rear end portion of the rear tube 38 and the front end portion of the front tube 40, respectively, through which the pipe shaft 34 and the rod shaft 36 are respectively Each of the rear tube 38 and the front tube 40 is rotatably held.

  A bracket 46 is fixedly provided at the front end portion of the front tube 40, and the column 46 is rocked by the bracket 46 being pivotally supported on the steering support 16 using the support shaft 47. It is possible to move. On the other hand, the rear tube 38 is held by a column holder 48, and the column holder 48 is attached to the steering support 16. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the column holder 48 includes a U-shaped channel 50 that holds the rear tube 38 in between, and a substantially U-shaped holding member that holds the channel 50 from above. 52, an upper plate 54 fixed to the upper part of the holding member 52, a lower plate 56 fastened and fixed to the lower part of the holding member 52, and a mounting plate 58 fixed to the upper plate 54. The mounting plate 58 is fastened to the steering support 16.

  The channel 50 and the holding member 52 are provided with elongated holes 62 and 64, respectively, through which a rod 66 is passed. As a result, the column 12 can be swung around the support shaft 47 by the length of the long hole 64 provided in the holding member 52 and can be expanded and contracted by the length of the long hole 62 provided in the channel 50. It is said that. Then, by operating the operation lever 68, the channel 50 is strongly held by the holding member 52, and the swinging position and the expansion / contraction position of the column 12 are fixed. That is, the steering device 10 includes the tilt / telescopic mechanism having such a structure.

  In addition, a pair of grooves 69 are provided on the outer peripheral portion of the rear tube 38 so as to extend in the front-rear direction, and the front ends of the flanges on both sides of the channel 50 are fitted in the grooves 69. . More specifically, each of the tip portions is provided with a ridge protruding inward, and the width of each ridge is slightly larger than the width of the groove 69. Each of the ridges having such a shape is fitted in the respective groove 69. With such a structure, the relative movement between the channel 50 and the rear tube 38 is prohibited by the frictional force between the channel 50 and the groove 69, and when a load exceeding the above-mentioned frictional force acts on the rear tube 38, for example, When the driver collides with the steering wheel 14 due to a vehicle collision, relative movement between the channel 50 and the rear tube 38 is allowed. That is, the vehicle rear portion of the column 12, more specifically, the rear tube 38 and the pipe shaft 34 are movable in the vehicle front direction. Further, in this steering apparatus, the frictional force between the channel 50 and the groove 69 acts as a force that prevents the movement of the rear tube 38, that is, an energy absorption load (EA load), and the rear tube is in a state where the EA load is applied. By moving 38, the impact energy of the secondary collision is effectively absorbed. That is, the steering device 10 includes an impact energy absorbing mechanism having such a structure.

  Further, the above-described lower plate 56 of the column holder 48 has a shape in which both ends of one long side of a substantially rectangular shape are cut off. As shown in the figure, the portions of the lower plate 56 that are cut off are inclined symmetrically to each other, and the lower plate 56 is positioned on the holding member 52 so that the inclined portions 70 and 71 are located on the rear side. It is fastened to a collar portion 72 provided at the lower portion. A push rod 74 that protrudes rearward is attached between the inclined portion 70 and the inclined portion 71 of the lower plate 56. On the other hand, similarly to the lower plate 56, the upper plate 54 has a shape in which both ends of one long side of a substantially rectangular shape are cut off. As shown in FIG. 4, each portion of the upper plate 54 that is cut off is inclined symmetrically, and the upper plate 54 is positioned on the holding member 52 so that the inclined portions 76 and 77 are located on the rear side. It is fixed at the top. A push rod 78 projecting rearward is attached between the inclined portion 76 and the inclined portion 77 of the upper plate 54.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the switch unit 26 includes a right unit 80 and a left unit 82, each of which is a part of the switch unit 26. The switch unit 26 is attached to the column 12 in the combined state. More specifically, the right unit 80 includes a right switch lever 84 that functions as a turn signal switch lever, a case 86 that holds the right switch lever 84 in an operable manner (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a “right case”), A switch operated by a right switch lever 84 is provided in the case 86. On the other hand, the left unit 82 includes a left switch lever 88 that functions as a wiper switch lever and the like, a case 90 that holds the left switch lever 88 in an operable manner (hereinafter also referred to as “left case”), and a case 90 A switch operated by a left switch lever 88 is provided. The right case 86 and the left case 90 have substantially symmetrical shapes, and have recesses 92 and 94, respectively. In a state where the right case 86 and the left case 90 are combined, the column 12 is inserted into a substantially columnar space formed by the recesses 92 and 94 included therein. The switch unit 26 is not fixed to the column 12, and is positioned by the column cover 28 in a state in which the switch unit 26 cannot rotate relative to the column 12 and cannot move relative to the axial direction.

  On the front side surface of the right case 86, holes 96 are provided above and below the recess 92, respectively. On the other hand, on the inner side of the front side surface of the left case 90, hooks 98 and 102 are fixed to the upper and lower sides of the recess 94, respectively. Each of the hooks 98 and 102 extends toward the right case 86 and enters the inside of the front side surface of the right case 86. A claw 100 is formed at each of the tip portions of the hooks 98 and 102, and each claw 100 is caught in each of the above-described holes 96 from the inside of the front side surface of the right case 86. With such a structure, the right case 86 and the left case 90 are hooked together. That is, the switch unit 26 includes a latching mechanism that latches the right unit 80 and the left unit 82 together.

  Further, protrusions 110 and 112 are provided on the front side surface of the right case 86 so as to line up and down, and protrusions 114 and 116 are provided on the front side surface of the left case 90 so as to line up and down. That is, as will be described in detail later, when the switch unit 26 moves forward along the axis of the column 12, the protrusion 110 is the inclined portion 76, the protrusion 112 is the inclined portion 70, and the protrusion 114 is the inclined portion. 77 and the protrusion 116 are disposed so as to first contact the inclined portion 71. Each of the protrusions 110, 112, 114, 116 is formed with an inclined surface corresponding to the inclined portions 76, 70, 77, 71 with which the protrusions 110, 112, 114, 116 abut. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the steering device 10 is viewed from above the vehicle, more specifically, from above, perpendicular to the axial direction of the column 12, each of the inclined portions 76, 77, 70, 71 is The inclined surfaces of the respective protrusions 110, 114, 112, and 116 are inclined with respect to the axis so as to form the same inclination angle as the angle inclined with respect to the axis of the column 12 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an inclination angle). is doing. In addition, the inclination angles of the respective inclined portions 70, 71, 76, 77 are the same.

  In addition, an inclined surface is formed on each of the left edge of the front side surface of the right case 86 and the right edge of the front side surface of the left case 90. More specifically, an inclined surface 120 is formed above a left-side edge recess 92 on the front side surface of the right case 86, and an inclined surface 122 is formed below the recess 92, and a right-side edge recess on the front side surface of the left case 90. An inclined surface 124 is formed above 94, and an inclined surface 126 is formed below the inclined surface 124. Further, the inclined surface 120 is an inclined surface of the protruding portion 110, the inclined surface 122 is an inclined surface of the protruding portion 112, the inclined surface 124 is an inclined surface of the protruding portion 114, and the inclined surface 126 is an inclined surface of the protruding portion 116, respectively. They are formed so as to be on the same plane.

  Further, notches 128 and 130 are provided in the inclined surfaces 120 and 122, respectively, on the front side surface of the right case 86, and notches 132 and 130 are provided in the inclined surfaces 124 and 126 on the front side surface of the left case 90, respectively. 134 are provided. In the state in which the right case 86 and the left case 90 are combined, the substantially center of the hook 98 is exposed by the hole 136 formed by the notch 128 and the notch 132, and is formed by the notch 130 and the notch 134. The substantially center of the hook 102 is exposed by the hole 138 formed.

  When the driver collides with the steering wheel 24 due to the collision of the vehicle, first, as shown in FIG. 5, the vehicle rear portion of the column 12, more specifically, the rear tube 38, the pipe shaft, 34, the steering wheel 24 is moved in the vehicle forward direction (arrow direction in the figure). Then, the switch unit 26 is pushed by the steering wheel 24 together with the column cover 28 and is moved in the vehicle forward direction. The column cover 28 is compressed and broken by the steering wheel 24 and the column holder 48 as it moves forward. As the switch unit 26 moves, each of the push rod 78 attached to the upper plate 54 of the column holder 48 and the push rod 74 attached to the lower plate 56 causes the holes 136 and 138 on the front side surface of the switch unit 26 to move. Pass through and push the approximate center of each of the hooks 98,102. As a result, the claw 100 of the hook 98 fixed above the left case 90 is released from the hole 96 above the right case 86, and the claw of the hook 102 fixed below the left case 90 is below the right case 86. It is released from the hole. With such a structure, the right case 86 and the left case 90 are unlocked. That is, when the push rods 74 and 78 provided on the column holder 48 which is a part of the vehicle body are engaged with the above-described latching mechanism, the latching between the right unit 80 and the left unit 82 is released. .

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when the steering wheel 24 is further moved in the forward direction of the vehicle (in the direction of the thick arrow in the figure), the right side unit 80 and the left side unit 82, which have been released, are moved forward. Moved. At this time, each of the protrusions 110 and 112 provided on the right case 86 abuts on each of the inclined portions 76 and 70, and each of the protrusions 114 and 116 provided on the left case 90 corresponds to the inclined portions 77 and 71. It will come into contact with each. That is, the inclined portions 70, 71, 76, 77 and the protruding portions 110, 112, 114, 116 function as contact portions in the respective portions, and the right case 86 extends along the inclined portions 70, 76 to the left case 90. Are separated along the inclined portions 71 and 77. That is, the right unit 80 and the left unit 82 are separated in a direction intersecting with the axial direction of the column 12, more specifically, in a direction away from the axial line of the column 12 (a thin arrow direction in the drawing). The hooks 98 and 102 are further pushed by push rods 74 and 78 as engaging portions so as to be detached from the left case 90.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 7, when the steering wheel 24 is further moved in the forward direction of the vehicle (in the direction of the thick arrow in the figure), the right unit 80 and the left unit 82 move away from the axis along with it. Will be separated. At this time, each of the inclined portions 76 and 70 comes into contact with each of the inclined surfaces 120 and 122 of the right case 86, and each of the inclined portions 77 and 71 comes into contact with each of the inclined surfaces 124 and 126 of the left case 90. Become. That is, the inclined surfaces 120, 122, 124, 126 also function as contact portions on the switch unit 26 side, the right case 86 along the inclined portions 70, 76, and the left case 90 along the inclined portions 71, 77. To be separated. That is, it is possible to further separate each of the right unit 80 and the left unit 82 in a direction away from the axis. With this structure, as shown in FIG. 8, the right unit 80 and the left unit 82 go beyond the position where they are not sandwiched between the steering wheel 24 and the column holder 48, that is, the front part of the steering wheel 24. Separated to position. The push rods 74 and 78 are pushed by the steering wheel 24 so as to be detached from the column holder 48.

As described above, the steering device 10 has a structure in which the switch unit 26 is separated into the right unit 80 and the left unit 82, that is, two parts, and does not hinder the movement of the steering wheel 24 in the vehicle forward direction. Has been. In other words, when such a structure is adopted, the switch unit 26 is not sandwiched between the steering wheel 24 and the column holder 48, and therefore, as shown in FIG. Becomes X _L. Further, when the structure is not such, the switch unit 26 is sandwiched between the steering wheel 24 and the column holder 48, so that the movement amount of the steering wheel 24 is X _S. That is, in the present steering device 10 having such a structure, the amount of movement of the steering wheel 24 in the vehicle forward direction is increased.

It is a figure showing the whole steering device composition of an example. It is sectional drawing of the steering column which comprises the steering apparatus of an Example. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a portion where a column holder and a combination switch unit are attached to the steering column shown in FIG. 2. It is a figure which shows the part of the back side of the steering device of an Example in the viewpoint from the vehicle upper side. It is a figure which shows the part of the back side of a steering device in the state which the combination switch unit and the column holder contact | abutted at the time of the vehicle collision of the steering device of an Example from the viewpoint from the vehicle upper side. It is a figure which shows the state which the steering wheel moved ahead from the state shown in FIG. 5 in the steering apparatus of an Example. It is a figure which shows the state which the steering wheel moved further ahead from the state shown in FIG. 6 in the steering apparatus of an Example. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the steering wheel further moves forward from the state illustrated in FIG. 7 and the steering wheel and the column holder are in contact with each other in the steering device of the embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10: Steering device for vehicle 12: Steering column 24: Steering wheel (steering operation member) 26: Combination switch unit (operation switch unit) 48: Column holder (part of vehicle body) 70, 71, 76, 77: Inclined portion ( Contact part) (Inclined surface) 74: Push rod (engagement part) 78: Push rod (engagement part) 80: Right unit (two parts) 82: Left unit (two parts) 96: Hole (latching) Mechanism) 98: Hook (latching mechanism) 100: Claw (latching mechanism) 102: Hook (latching mechanism) 110, 112, 114, 116: Protrusion part (contact part) (inclined surface) 120, 122, 124 126: Inclined surface (contact portion)

Claims (5)

A steering column supported on the vehicle body so as to be movable in the forward direction of the vehicle;
A steering operation member operably held at an end of the steering column on the vehicle rear side;
A steering device including a generally annular operation switch unit disposed on the vehicle front side of the steering operation member in a state where the steering column is inserted,
The steering apparatus for vehicles by which the said steering apparatus was comprised so that it might isolate | separate into a some part in the direction which cross | intersects the axis line of the said steering column with the movement to the vehicle front direction of the said steering column. Each of the plurality of parts of the operation switch unit has an abutting portion, and can be brought into contact with each of the abutting portions on a part of the vehicle body as the steering column moves toward the vehicle front side. A plurality of contact portions are provided, and at least one of the contact portions of each of the plurality of parts and each of the plurality of contact portions of a part of the vehicle body corresponding to each of the contact portions has an inclined surface. In contact with the other surface,
In the steering device, the steering column moves in the vehicle forward direction in a state in which the plurality of contact portions of each of the plurality of parts and the plurality of contact portions of a part of the vehicle body are in contact with each other. The vehicle steering device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle steering device is configured to be separated into parts.   3. The vehicle steering according to claim 1, wherein the steering device is configured to separate each of the plurality of parts to a position beyond a portion of the steering operation member that faces the operation switch unit. 4. apparatus. The operation switch unit has a latching mechanism for latching adjacent parts of the plurality of parts so that they do not separate from each other,
In the steering device, when the steering column moves forward of the vehicle, an engaging portion provided in a part of the vehicle body engages with the latching mechanism, so that the operation switch unit is separated prior to the separation. The vehicle steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the latching mechanism is configured to release latching of adjacent parts of the plurality of parts. The vehicle steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operation switch unit is structured to be separable into two parts.

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