JP4696687B2 - Steering device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus provided with a tilt mechanism.

Conventionally, as this type of steering device, for example, a configuration described in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 is known. In the steering devices described in these documents, in order to increase the rigidity of the steering column, a pressure is applied in the lateral direction (steering column radial direction) to the tilt mechanism unit connected to the drive source (tilting motor). In this way, the rattling in the vertical direction is suppressed.
JP 2002-193110 A JP 2000-280916 A

  However, in the configuration described in each of the above documents, if the pressure applied to the tilt mechanism is too large, the tilt operation is affected. Conversely, if the pressure is too small, the vertical rattling cannot be suppressed. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to adjust the pressurized load to the optimum load. There is also a problem that if the pressurizing portion to which a pressurizing load is worn due to sliding with the tilt mechanism portion by the tilt operation, it is impossible to suppress the rattling in the vertical direction. In addition, since the tilt mechanism is arranged on one side of the steering column in the steering column radial direction, a twisting force is generated in the mechanism at the time of tilt operation to inhibit stable and smooth operation (power transmission). There was also the problem of doing.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering device capable of suitably suppressing the rattling in the vertical direction without affecting the tilt operation. There is.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention includes a steering shaft coupled to a steering wheel, and a cylindrical column housing that rotatably accommodates and supports the steering shaft. In a steering apparatus including a fixed steering column and a tilt mechanism that adjusts a tilt amount of the steering column with respect to the fixed bracket based on an operation of a tilt motor, the tilt mechanism is rotationally driven by the tilt motor. A shaft, a slide member that slides on the shaft based on rotation of the shaft, the column housing is connected to the slide member and the fixed bracket, and the steering column is moved based on the slide of the slide member. The fixing bracket And a link mechanism for tilting activated for packets, wherein the column housing includes a cylindrical first tube, wherein the link mechanism is attached, forms a smaller diameter than the first tube, longitudinal at first the tube A cylindrical second tube that is housed and supported so as to be movable back and forth in a direction, and a cylindrical third tube that has a smaller diameter than the second tube and that has one end in the longitudinal direction engaged and fixed to the second tube. The steering shaft includes a first shaft that is rotatably supported by a first bearing provided on the first tube, and is capable of extending and contracting in the axial direction relative to the first shaft and relative to the circumferential direction. A second shaft that is non-rotatably connected and rotatably supported by a second bearing provided on the third tube, and the steering column is based on the operation of a telescopic motor. A telescopic mechanism for adjusting the telescopic position of the steering column by moving the second tube relative to the first tube in the longitudinal direction, and when a predetermined load is applied in the axial direction of the steering shaft; The third tube is disengaged from the second tube, and the second shaft is contracted in the axial direction with respect to the first shaft, the first tube, and the second tube together with the third tube. The gist of the invention is that it has a breakaway function and the link mechanisms are arranged on both the left and right sides of the column housing on the outer side in the radial direction of the column housing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the steering device according to the first aspect, the link mechanism is disposed on both the left and right sides of the column housing, and is a pair of first links that are rotatably supported with respect to the fixed bracket. And a second link that is rotatably supported by the pair of first links, is rotatably supported by the column housing, and is rotatably supported by the slide member. The shaft is supported rotatably with respect to the column housing.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the column housing is connected to the slide member and the fixed bracket via the link mechanisms disposed on the left and right sides of the column housing. Accordingly, the input load in the vertical direction with respect to the steering column is absorbed by the link mechanism between the fixed bracket and the slide member, and is also absorbed by the shaft that supports the slide member. Thereby, the rigidity of a steering column can be improved and the rattling of an up-down direction can be suppressed suitably. Further, since the link mechanisms are arranged on both sides of the column housing, the steering column can be tilted by transmitting the driving force of the tilt motor to the link mechanisms on both sides. As a result, it is possible to perform a stable and smooth operation while suppressing the generation of a twisting force during the tilt operation. Further, the column housing is composed of first, second and third tubes, and a telescopic mechanism for adjusting the telescopic amount of the steering column by moving the second tube relative to the first tube, and the second tube In a steering device having a column contraction-type breakaway function with a double tube structure of the first tube and the third tube, a tilt mechanism capable of suitably suppressing the rattling in the vertical direction without affecting the tilt operation is mounted. be able to. Moreover, since this structure is a structure which arrange | positions a tilt mechanism with respect to a 1st tube and a telescopic mechanism with respect to a 1st and 2nd tube, the energy absorption mechanism which absorbs the collision energy at the time of a vehicle collision It is possible to ensure a space for arranging the third tube.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the input load in the vertical direction with respect to the steering column is absorbed by the pair of first links and second links between the fixed bracket and the slide member.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing the steering device of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing the steering device, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the steering device 10 includes a steering column 11 and a steering shaft 12 that passes through the steering column 11. The steering column 11 supports a steering shaft 12 rotatably in a cylindrical column housing 13. One end (the rear side of the vehicle body) of the steering shaft 12 is connected to the steering wheel SW, and the other end (the front side of the vehicle body) is connected to a steering gear mechanism (not shown).

  The steering column 11 is supported by a support member 14 provided at the front end (vehicle body front side) of the column housing 13 and a fixed bracket 15 fixed to the vehicle body. Specifically, the steering column 11 is supported by the support member 14 and the fixed bracket 15 so that the steering column 11 can be tilted with respect to the vehicle body with the connection point P1 between the support member 14 and the vehicle body as a swing center. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the column housing 13 includes a cylindrical main tube 21, a cylindrical lower tube 22 having a smaller diameter than the main tube 21, and a cylindrical upper tube 23 having a smaller diameter than the lower tube 22. And.

  The lower tube 22 is supported by a pair of front and rear bearings 24 a and 24 b provided on the main tube 21 so as to advance and retract in the axial direction of the steering shaft 12 in the main tube 21. One end of the upper tube 23 in the longitudinal direction (front side of the vehicle body) is fitted into the lower tube 22 and is engaged with the lower tube 22 by engagement means (not shown). The engagement method is arbitrary. Accordingly, the upper tube 23 moves relative to the main tube 21 integrally with the lower tube 22. In the present embodiment, the main tube 21 constitutes the first tube according to the invention of claim 4, the lower tube 22 constitutes the second tube according to the invention, and the upper tube 23 corresponds to the third tube according to the invention. Configure the tube.

  A first bearing 25 and a second bearing 26 are attached to the main tube 21 and the upper tube 23, respectively. By these first and second bearings 25 and 26, the steering column 11 supports the steering shaft 12 so as to be rotatable with respect to the column housing 13 and immovable in the axial direction.

  The steering shaft 12 includes an upper shaft 12a connected to the steering wheel SW and a lower shaft 12b that is slidably fitted to the upper shaft 12a. Splines are formed in the fitting portions of the upper shaft 12a and the lower shaft 12b, and the splines formed on the inner peripheral surface of the upper shaft 12a mesh with the splines formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower shaft 12b. Is done. Therefore, the upper shaft 12a is connected to the lower shaft 12b so that it can expand and contract in the axial direction but cannot rotate relative to the circumferential direction. That is, the upper shaft 12a is rotated integrally with the lower shaft 12b. In the present embodiment, the lower shaft 12b constitutes a first shaft according to the invention of claim 3 or 4, and the upper shaft 12a constitutes a second shaft according to the invention.

When a predetermined load is applied toward the front of the vehicle body in the axial direction of the steering shaft 12 due to the collision of the vehicle, the steering column 11 releases the above-described engagement between the lower tube 22 and the upper tube 23, and the upper shaft A breakaway function is provided to contract 12a together with the upper tube 23 with respect to the lower shaft 12b, the lower tube 22 and the main tube 21 toward the front of the vehicle body.

  Further, the steering column 11 includes a known energy absorbing mechanism (not shown), and when the steering shaft 12 breaks away forward of the vehicle body, the energy absorbing mechanism restricts the forward movement of the steering shaft 12. Thus, the shock received by the driver from the steering wheel SW is absorbed. In the steering device 10 having this configuration, this energy absorption mechanism can be provided in the upper tube 23.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the steering device 10 includes a tilt mechanism 31, and the tilt amount of the steering column 11 based on the operation of the tilt motor 32, that is, the tilt amount of the steering column 11 in the vertical direction with respect to the fixed bracket 15. Adjust.

  Further, the steering device 10 includes a telescopic mechanism 33, and adjusts the telescopic amount of the steering column 11, that is, the axial length of the steering column 11, based on the operation of the telescopic motor 34 (see FIG. 2). To do. Hereinafter, the configuration of the tilt mechanism 31 and the telescopic mechanism 33 will be described in detail.

First, the configuration of the tilt mechanism 31 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 to 7.
As shown in FIG. 1, the tilt mechanism 31 includes a screw shaft (hereinafter referred to as a shaft) 42 having a male screw that is rotationally driven by a tilt motor 32 via a reduction gear 41 (see FIG. 5), and a shaft 42. And a slide member 43 having a female screw that slides on the shaft 42 based on the rotation of the shaft 42. The screws of the shaft 42 and the slide member 43 are trapezoidal screws. Further, the tilt mechanism 31 connects the main tube 21 (column housing 13) to the slide member 43 and the fixed bracket 15, and tilts the steering column 11 relative to the fixed bracket 15 based on the slide of the slide member 43. A link mechanism 44 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the link mechanisms 44 are disposed on the left and right sides of the main tube 21 on the radially outer side of the main tube 21. Specifically, the link mechanism 44 includes a pair of first links 46a and 46b that are rotatably supported by the first pivots 45a and 45b with respect to the fixed bracket 15, and the pair of first links 46a and 46b. On the other hand, a substantially U-shaped second link 48 rotatably supported by second pivots 47a and 47b is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the second link 48 is bent in a substantially L shape at the connecting end with the first links 46 a and 46 b, and is attached to the left and right sides of the main tube 21. 49a and 49b (see FIG. 2) are rotatably supported. The second link 48 is rotatably supported by the slide member 43 by fourth pivots 50a and 50b (see FIG. 5). Below the fourth pivots 50a and 50b are gear housings 41a for accommodating the reduction gear 41, that is, fifth pivots 51a and 51b (see FIG. 5) for rotatably supporting the shaft 42 with respect to the main tube 21. Is provided.

  In the link mechanism 44 configured as described above, when the shaft 42 is rotated by the tilt motor 32 via the reduction gear 41, the slide member 43 slides on the shaft 42 based on the rotation.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the slide member 43 slides upward along the axial direction of the shaft 42, the second link 48 moves with respect to the main tube 21 with the third pivot 49 a, Rotate clockwise around 49b in FIG. As a result, the steering column 11 is moved upward with respect to the fixed bracket 15 with the connection point P1 between the support member 14 and the vehicle body as the center of swinging while being restrained by the second link 48 and the first links 46a and 46b. Tilted.

  On the contrary, as shown in FIG. 7, when the slide member 43 slides downward along the axial direction of the shaft 42, the second link 48 moves to the third pivot 49 a with respect to the main tube 21 along with the downward slide. , 49b as a center and rotates counterclockwise in FIG. As a result, the steering column 11 is moved downward with respect to the fixed bracket 15 with the connection point P1 between the support member 14 and the vehicle body as the pivot center while receiving the restraint between the second link 48 and the first links 46a and 46b. Tilted. Thus, the tilt amount of the steering column 11 is adjusted by operating the link mechanism 44 based on the forward / reverse rotation of the shaft 42.

Next, the configuration of the telescopic mechanism 33 will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the telescopic mechanism 33 is screwed to the shaft 62 and a screw shaft 62 (hereinafter referred to as a shaft) having a male screw that is rotationally driven by a telescopic motor 34 via a reduction gear 61. And a slide member 63 having a female screw that slides on the shaft 62 based on the rotation of the shaft 62.

  The reduction gear 61 is accommodated in a gear housing 21 a formed in the main tube 21, and the shaft 62 is provided substantially parallel to the axial direction of the steering shaft 12. The screws of the shaft 62 and the slide member 63 are trapezoidal screws. A long hole-like cutout groove 21b (see FIG. 2 for details) is formed on the bottom surface of the main tube 21, and the slide member 63 is fixed to the lower tube 22 through the cutout groove 21b.

  In the telescopic mechanism 33 configured as described above, when the shaft 62 is rotated by the telescopic motor 34 via the reduction gear 61, the slide member 63 slides on the shaft 62 based on the rotation. Then, the slide member 63 slides on the shaft 62 based on the forward / reverse rotation of the shaft 62, whereby the lower tube 22 moves relative to the main tube 21 in the longitudinal direction (advances / retreats). Thereby, the telescopic amount of the steering column 11 is adjusted.

  In the steering device 10 configured as described above, via the link mechanisms 44 (the first links 46a and 46b and the second link 48) pivotally supported by the third pivots 49a and 49b on the left and right sides of the main tube 21, The main tube 21 is connected to the slide member 43 and the fixed bracket 15. Therefore, the input load in the vertical direction with respect to the steering column 11 is absorbed between the fixed bracket 15 and the slide member 43 by the first links 46 a and 46 b and the second link 48, and by the shaft 42 that supports the slide member 43. Absorbed. Thereby, the rigidity of the steering column 11 can be increased, and the rattling in the left-right direction can be suppressed as well as the rattling in the vertical direction can be suitably suppressed. Further, by arranging the link mechanisms 44 on the left and right sides of the main tube 21 in this way, the driving force of the tilt motor 32 can be transmitted to the link mechanisms 44 on both sides to perform a tilt operation. Thereby, generation | occurrence | production of the twisting force at the time of tilt operation can be suppressed, and a stable and smooth tilt operation can be performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) A link mechanism 44 (first links 46a, 46b, second link) for connecting the main tube 21 to the slide member 43 and the fixed bracket 15 and tilting the steering column 11 based on the operation of the tilt motor 32. Links 48) are provided on both the left and right sides on the radially outer side of the main tube 21. As a result, sufficient rigidity can be secured to the steering column 11 without applying a lateral pressure to the tilt mechanism portion as in the prior art, and the input load to the steering column 11 is absorbed by the link mechanism 44. Thus, it is possible to suitably suppress the vertical shaking.

  (2) Since the link mechanisms 44 are arranged on both the left and right sides of the main tube 21, the generation of the twisting force during the tilt operation can be suppressed. Thereby, a stable and smooth tilt operation can be performed.

(3) Since the pressure is not applied to the tilt mechanism 31 in the lateral direction, wear between the slide member 43 and the shaft 42 due to the tilt operation can be suppressed as much as possible.
(4) The column housing 13 includes the main tube 21, the lower tube 22, and the upper tube 23, the link mechanism 44 is disposed with respect to the main tube 21, and the telescopic mechanism 33 is disposed with respect to the main tube 21 and the lower tube 22. It was set as the structure to do. As a result, in the steering apparatus 10 having a column contraction type breakaway function with a double tube structure of the lower tube 22 and the upper tube 23, the space for arranging the energy absorbing mechanism for absorbing the collision energy at the time of the vehicle collision is reduced to the upper tube. 23 can be secured.

In addition, you may implement the said embodiment in the aspect of the modification shown below.
-It is good also as a structure which does not mount the telescopic mechanism 33 in the steering apparatus 10. FIG. FIG. 8 shows a configuration of a steering device 70 that does not include the telescopic mechanism 33. That is, the steering device 70 has a configuration in which the telescopic mechanism 33 is omitted from the steering device 10 (FIG. 1) of the above-described embodiment, and the other components are the same as those in FIG. In addition, in the figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the component similar to FIG . Also it exhibits the same effect as in the foregoing embodiment as steering device 70 without the telescopic mechanism 33 as this.

  -You may comprise the column housing 13 from one tube (only the main tube 21). That is, the present invention can also be applied to a steering device that does not have a telescopic mechanism 33 or a column contraction type (double tube structure) breakaway function.

-Arrangement | positioning of the telescopic mechanism 33 is not restricted to the said embodiment, It is good also as another arrangement | positioning.
Other design matters related to the configurations of the above-described embodiments and modifications can be appropriately changed within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

The side view which shows the steering device of one embodiment. The bottom view which shows the same steering apparatus. Sectional drawing which shows the steering apparatus (AA sectional drawing of FIG. 2). Sectional drawing which shows the steering device (BB sectional drawing of FIG. 1). Sectional drawing (CC sectional drawing of FIG. 1) which shows the steering device. The side view for demonstrating the tilt action of the steering device. The side view for demonstrating the tilt action of the steering device. The side view which shows the steering device which concerns on a modification.

Explanation of symbols

  SW ... steering wheel 10, 70 ... steering device, 11 ... steering column, 12 ... steering shaft, 12a ... upper shaft (second shaft), 12b ... lower shaft (first shaft), 13 ... column housing, 15 ... fixed Bracket, 21 ... main tube (first tube), 22 ... lower tube (second tube), 23 ... upper tube (third tube), 25 ... first bearing, 26 ... second bearing, 31 ... tilt mechanism, 32 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS: Tilt motor, 33 ... Telescopic mechanism, 34 ... Telescopic motor, 42 ... Screw shaft (shaft), 43 ... Slide member, 44 ... Link mechanism, 46a, 46b ... First link, 48 ... Second link.

Claims (2)

A steering shaft coupled to the steering wheel;
A steering column that has a cylindrical column housing that rotatably accommodates and supports the steering shaft, and is fixed to the vehicle body by a fixing bracket;
In a steering apparatus comprising: a tilt mechanism that adjusts a tilt amount of the steering column with respect to the fixed bracket based on an operation of a tilt motor;
The tilt mechanism is
A shaft that is rotationally driven by the tilt motor;
A slide member that slides on the shaft based on the rotation of the shaft;
A link mechanism for connecting the column housing to the slide member and the fixed bracket, and for causing the steering column to tilt with respect to the fixed bracket based on the slide of the slide member;
The column housing has a cylindrical first tube to which the link mechanism is attached, and a cylindrical first tube that has a smaller diameter than the first tube and is accommodated and supported in the first tube so as to be capable of moving forward and backward in the longitudinal direction. 2 tubes, and a cylindrical third tube having a smaller diameter than the second tube and having one end in the longitudinal direction engaged and fixed to the second tube,
The steering shaft is connected to a first shaft rotatably supported by a first bearing provided on the first tube, and is expandable and contractable in the axial direction with respect to the first shaft and is relatively non-rotatable in the circumferential direction. And a second shaft rotatably supported by a second bearing provided on the third tube,
The steering column includes a telescopic mechanism for adjusting the telescopic position of the steering column by moving the second tube relative to the first tube in the longitudinal direction based on the operation of a telescopic motor, When a predetermined load is applied in the axial direction, the third tube is disengaged from the second tube, and the second shaft is moved together with the third tube to the first shaft, the first tube, and the A breakaway function for contracting the second tube in the axial direction;
A steering device according to claim 1, wherein the link mechanism is arranged on both the left and right sides of the column housing on the outer side in the radial direction of the column housing. The link mechanism is disposed on both the left and right sides of the column housing, and is a pair of first links that are rotatably supported with respect to the fixed bracket, and is rotatably supported with respect to the pair of first links. A second link rotatably supported with respect to the column housing and further rotatably supported with respect to the slide member, and the shaft is rotatably supported with respect to the column housing.
The steering apparatus according to claim 1.

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