JP5082871B2 - Vehicle steering device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tilt-adjustable vehicle steering apparatus having an impact absorbing function during a secondary collision.

  As a tilt-adjustable vehicle steering device, for example, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the vehicle front side of a steering column that rotatably supports a steering shaft is supported on the vehicle body side via an elastically deformable vehicle front side bracket. An apparatus is known in which a vehicle rear side of the steering column is supported by a vehicle body side member via a tilt mechanism so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

  The vehicle front side bracket of the device of Patent Document 1 is a member formed by bending a metal plate, and has a vehicle body attachment surface fixed to the vehicle body side member and a vehicle body attachment surface side that is perpendicular to the vehicle body attachment surface and wide. A triangular column mounting surface (a jacket mounting surface in Patent Document 1), an opening formed in the column mounting surface and penetrating the vehicle front side of the steering column, and formed on the left and right sides of the opening for left and right objects. A pair of beam portions (equal beam portions in Patent Document 1) sandwiching the column are provided, and when the steering column is tilt-adjusted, the pair of beam portions of the vehicle front side bracket is elastically deformed.

Further, the vehicle front side bracket of the device of Patent Document 2 is also a member formed by bending a metal plate, an attachment part fixed to the vehicle body side member, and a support part hanging downward from the attachment part, A circular hole formed in the support portion and inserted through the steering column, and a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction of the circular hole by intermittently forming a radially outward cut at the inner peripheral edge of the circular hole. And a plurality of support tongues that support the outer periphery of the steering column, and when the steering column is tilt-adjusted, the plurality of support tongues of the vehicle front side bracket are elastically deformed. Yes. Further, an abutting member is fixed to the outer periphery of the steering column of Patent Document 2 at a position behind the vehicle from the vehicle front side bracket. When the steering column moves to the front of the vehicle at the time of a secondary collision, the abutting member is set to a predetermined position. The impact is applied to the support tongue piece, and the impact force at that time is received by the front bracket of the vehicle and plastically deformed. As a result, an impact absorbing load is generated and the impact energy at the time of the secondary collision is absorbed.
No. 7-10996 Japanese Patent No. 3591284

  However, in Patent Document 1, for example, when the steering force at the time of steering is transmitted to the steering column, or when the vehicle body vibration from the engine or the like is transmitted to the steering column, the rigidity of the pair of beam portions of the vehicle front side bracket is disclosed. If the value is small, the steering column may swing, and accurate steering may be hindered and the driver's steering feeling may deteriorate. Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the rigidity of the pair of beam portions to prevent the steering column from swinging due to the transmission of steering force and vehicle body vibration during steering, but this makes the steering column smooth. There is a possibility of inhibiting the tilt tilt.

Further, in Patent Document 2, when the steering column moves forward of the vehicle at the time of the secondary collision, the abutting member first comes into contact with the support tongue of the bracket on the vehicle front side, and an impact absorbing load is generated due to plastic deformation of the support tongue. Then, the abutting member comes into contact with the support portion, and an impact absorbing load is generated by plastic deformation of the boundary portion between the attachment portion and the support portion.
As described above, when the abutting member comes in contact with the support tongue and the support portion in this order, the contact surface pressure of the abutting member and the front bracket of the vehicle becomes unstable, so that a constant shock absorption is obtained from the initial stage to the final stage of the secondary collision. There is a problem that no load is generated and a stable impact energy absorption characteristic cannot be obtained.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made paying attention to the above-mentioned unsolved problems of the conventional example, and enables the tilt tilt of the steering column to be smooth, the driver's steering feeling being good, and the secondary It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle steering apparatus that can obtain a stable impact energy absorption characteristic at the time of a collision.

To achieve the above object, a vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle front side of the steering column that rotatably supports a steering shaft is supported on the vehicle body member via the vehicle front side bracket, the steering In the vehicle steering apparatus in which the vehicle rear side of the column is supported on the vehicle body side member via a tilt mechanism so that the vehicle rear side is movable in the vertical direction, the tilt mechanism is connected to the vehicle body side member via a release capsule. A vehicle rear side bracket fixed to the steering column, and a lift bracket integrally connected to the vehicle rear side bracket so as to be movable up and down. When an impact force to the front side is input, the rear-side bracket of the vehicle comes off from the release capsule. To absorb the impact load while the vehicle front side bracket, when performing a tilt operation of the steering column by operation of the tilt mechanism becomes low rigidity, the column axis to the steering column, the vehicle vertical direction and the column When external force in the rotational direction around the axis is input, it becomes highly rigid, and in the event of a secondary collision, impact is generated by plastic deformation while keeping the contact area with the outer periphery of the steering column moving forward of the vehicle constant. An energy absorbing portion for absorbing a load is provided, and the vehicle front side bracket is fixed to the vehicle body side member, and a support integrally formed with the fixing portion and extending in one of the vehicle vertical directions And is fitted in the support portion in a state where the entire outer periphery of the steering column on the front side of the vehicle is in surface contact with the support portion. Forming a cylindrical support tube portion protruding in the direction, and the support portion as the energy absorbing portion that plastically deforms toward the front of the vehicle along with the movement of the steering column toward the front of the vehicle at the time of a secondary collision, The support portion includes an upper elastic deformation portion that is elastically deformable in a vehicle front-rear direction between the support cylinder portion and the first slit by forming an arc-shaped first slit at an upper portion of the support cylinder portion. Forming and forming an arc-shaped second slit at a point target centered on an axis of the support cylinder portion with respect to the first slit at a lower portion of the support cylinder portion; A lower elastic deformation portion that is elastically deformable in the vehicle front-rear direction is formed between the second slit and low rigidity when the steering column is tilted, while the support portion is fixed. Car width on the side Reinforcing ribs that increase the length in the direction and have an outer shape that gradually shortens the length in the vehicle width direction toward one side in the vehicle vertical direction, and restrict the deformation of the support portion against the external force at the outer peripheral edge As a result, the rigidity is increased when the external force is input .

  According to the vehicle steering device of the present invention, when the tilt adjustment of the steering column is performed, the bracket on the front side of the vehicle has low rigidity, so that the tilt tilt of the steering column can be smoothly performed, and the column shaft is attached to the steering column. Even when an external force in the direction, an external force in the vertical direction, or an external force that rotates around the column axis is input, the steering column does not swing because the bracket on the vehicle front side is highly rigid with respect to the input direction of the external force.

On the other hand, in the case of a secondary collision, the energy absorbing portion provided in the vehicle front side bracket is plastically deformed with a constant contact area with the outer periphery of the steering column moving forward of the vehicle. A constant shock absorbing load is generated from the end to the end.
Therefore, the vehicle steering device according to the present embodiment can smoothly tilt the steering column, improve the driver's steering feeling, and obtain a stable impact energy absorption characteristic at the time of a secondary collision. it can

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a vehicle equipped with a tilt adjustment type steering apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a tilt adjustment type steering apparatus according to the present invention from the vehicle width direction, and FIG. 4 is a view taken along line A-B in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a view taken along line C-C in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is related to the present invention. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the vehicle front side bracket is elastically deformed during tilt upward adjustment, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the vehicle front side bracket according to the present invention is elastically deformed during tilt downward direction adjustment.

  In FIG. 1, a steering device 10 is disposed so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the vehicle so as to rise rearward of the vehicle, and rotatably supports a steering shaft 11 via a rolling bearing (not shown). A steering column 12 is provided. A steering wheel 13 is mounted at the rear end of the steering shaft 11, and an intermediate shaft 15 is connected to the front end of the steering shaft 11 via a universal joint 14. A steering gear 17 composed of a rack and pinion mechanism or the like is connected to the intermediate shaft 15 through a universal joint 16 at the front end thereof. The output shaft of the steering gear 17 is connected to the steering wheel 19 via a tie rod 18.

When the driver steers the steering wheel 13, the rotational force is transmitted to the steering gear 17 via the steering shaft 11, the universal joint 14, the intermediate shaft 15, and the universal joint 16, and the rack and pinion mechanism rotates the vehicle. The steering wheel 19 is steered through the tie rod 18 after being converted into a linear motion in the width direction.
As shown in FIG. 2, the steering column 12 is supported on the vehicle body side member 22 by the lower bracket 20 disposed on the vehicle front side, and the vehicle body rear side 22 is supported by the tilt mechanism 21 disposed on the vehicle rear side. It is supported by.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tilt mechanism 21 includes a support bracket 30 fixed to the vehicle body side member 22, and a lift bracket 31 that is integrally formed with the steering column 12 and that is coupled to the support bracket 30 so as to be movable up and down. And a clamp device 32 for performing a connecting / releasing operation of the lifting bracket 31 with respect to the support bracket 30.
The lifting bracket 31 is formed at a substantially central portion of the steering column 12 in the vehicle front-rear direction, and a bulging portion 31a bulging downward from the outer periphery of the steering column 12 with the same dimension in the vehicle width direction. And a circular through hole 31b penetrating the bulging portion 31a in the vehicle width direction.

The support bracket 30 is fixed to an inverted U-shaped bracket body 30a that opens downward, and a pair of side plates 30b that are spaced apart in the vehicle width direction of the bracket body 30a, and is connected to the vehicle body side member 22. Each of the pair of side plates 30b is provided with a tilt long hole 30b1 having a long axis extending in the vertical direction.
The flange 30c of the support bracket 30 is formed with a slit 30c1 at the rear end of the vehicle, and the separation capsule 34 is fitted into the slit 30c1. A bolt through hole 34a is formed in the detaching capsule 34, and the fixing bolt 33 penetrating the bolt through hole 34a from below the detaching capsule 34 is screwed into the vehicle body side member 22 so that the flange 30c becomes the vehicle body side member. 22 is attached. And the outer periphery of the bulging part 31a of the raising / lowering bracket 31 is contact | abutting inside a pair of side plate 30b.

  The clamp device 32 includes a tightening bolt 32 a that is inserted into the long hole 30 b 1 for tilting of the pair of side plates 30 b and the through hole 31 b of the lifting bracket 31. The tightening bolt 32a has a head 32a1 formed at one end and a male screw 32a2 into which the nut 32b is screwed at the other end. An operation lever is provided between the nut 32b and the head 32a1 of the tightening bolt 32a. The lever connecting portion 32c1 of 32c, the cam mechanism 32d, one side plate 30b of the support bracket 30, the bulging portion 31a of the lifting bracket 31 and the other side plate 30b of the support bracket 30 are arranged in this order.

The cam mechanism 32d includes a rotating cam 32d1 that rotates as the lever connecting portion 32c1 rotates, and a cam follower 32d2 that engages with the elongated slot 30b1 of one side plate 30b and is prevented from rotating.
Cams are formed on the mutually facing surfaces of the rotating cam 32d1 and the cam follower 32d2, and when the operating lever 32c is rotated in the clamping direction, the cams of the rotating cam 32d1 and the cam follower 32d2 that are simultaneously rotated mesh with each other, and the cam follower 32d2 is tightened. It moves to the head 32a1 side of the bolt 32a. Further, when the operation lever 32c is rotated in the unclamping direction, the cams of the rotating cam 32d1 and the cam follower 32d2 that simultaneously rotate in the opposite directions are released, and the cam follower 32d2 moves away from the head 32a1 of the tightening bolt 32a. Moving.

On the other hand, the lower bracket 20 is a member integrally formed by press-molding a metal plate having elasticity such as a steel plate, and as shown in FIG. 2, a fixed portion 20a fixed to the vehicle body side member 22, and a fixed portion It is comprised with the support part 20b which cross | intersects at a substantially right angle from 20a.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fixing portion 20 a is formed on the contact plate 20 a 1 that contacts the vehicle body side member 22, the reinforcing rib 20 a 2 that rises from the edge of the contact plate 20 a 1, and the contact plate 20 a 1. A connecting bolt 23 that is formed and screwed into the vehicle body side member 22 is provided with a bolt insertion hole 20a3 from below.

Supporting portion 20b, and extend substantially perpendicular to the abutment plate 20a1 of the fixing portion 20a, the side continuous to the contact plate 20a1 and long sides, and farthest edge of the short side from the contact plate 20a1 The support plate 20b1 having a polygonal shape (substantially trapezoidal shape) and the reinforcing rib 20b2 rising from the edge of the support plate 20b1 so as to be continuous with the reinforcing rib 20a2 of the fixing portion 20a are provided.

At the center of the support plate 20b1, there is formed a support cylinder part 20b3 that opens with the same outer diameter as the outer periphery of the steering column 12 and protrudes as a cylindrical shape in the same direction as the direction in which the reinforcing rib 20b2 rises.
In addition, an arc-shaped first slit 20b4 is formed between the support cylinder portion 20b3 and the fixed portion 20a around the support cylinder portion 20b3 of the support plate 20b1, and the first slit 20b4 supports the first slit 20b4. An arc-shaped second slit 20b5 is formed at a point-symmetrical position about the axis of the cylindrical portion 20b3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower bracket 20 is configured such that the support portion 20 b extends downward from the vehicle rear side end portion of the fixing portion 20 a by fixing the fixing portion 20 a to the vehicle body side member 22 with the connecting bolt 23. Are arranged as follows.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the support plate 20b1 has the long side located at the upper part, the short side located at the lower part, and the length in the vehicle width direction gradually increases from the upper part (the fixed part 20a side) toward the lower part. The region between the first slit 20b4 and the support cylinder part 20b3 located on the upper side (on the fixed part 20a side) with respect to the support cylinder part 20b3 is elastically deformed during tilt adjustment. An upper elastic deformation portion 20b6, and a region between the first slit 20b4 and the support cylinder portion 20b3 located below the support cylinder portion 20b3 is elastically deformed when the tilt is adjusted. Has been.

And the outer periphery whole area | region of the vehicle front side of the steering column 12 is internally fitted in the support cylinder part 20b3 formed in the center of the support plate 20b1.
The vehicle front side bracket of the present embodiment corresponds to the lower bracket 20.
Next, operations and effects of the steering device 10 according to the present embodiment of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  In order to adjust the tilt of the steering column 12, first, the operation lever 32c of the tilt mechanism 21 is rotated in the unclamping direction (the vehicle front position shown in FIG. 2), and the rotating cam 32d1 that rotates together with the lever connecting portion 32c1; The cam follower 32d2 is disengaged from the cam, the cam follower 32d2 is moved away from the head 32a1 of the tightening bolt 32a, and the pair of side plates 30b of the support bracket 30 are separated from the bulging portion 31a of the lifting bracket 31. Let As a result, the vertical movement of the lifting bracket 31 relative to the support bracket 30 is allowed, so that the fastening bolt 32a is slid in the vertical direction of the vehicle along the long slots 30b1 of the pair of side plates 30b of the support bracket 30 to move the steering column. The position of the vehicle 12 in the vertical direction is changed, and the inclination of the steering column 12 is changed.

  Then, the operating lever 32c is rotated in the clamping direction (vehicle rear position), the rotating cam 32d1 rotating with the lever connecting portion 32c1 and the cam of the cam follower 32d2 are engaged, and the cam follower 32d2 is moved to the head 32a1 side of the tightening bolt 32a. And the bulging part 31a of the raising / lowering bracket 31 is clamped from a vehicle width direction with a pair of side plate 30b of the support bracket 30. FIG. As a result, the vertical movement of the lifting bracket 31 relative to the support bracket 30 is restricted, and the lifting bracket 31 is coupled to the support bracket 30, so that the position of the steering column 12 in the vertical direction of the vehicle is fixed and the tilt adjustment is completed. .

6 and 7 show the operation of the lower bracket 20 at the time of tilt adjustment.
When the tilt upward adjustment shown in FIG. 6 is performed, the upper elastic deformation portion 20b6 of the lower bracket 20 is elastically deformed toward the front of the vehicle, and the lower elastic deformation portion 20b7 is elastically deformed toward the rear of the vehicle. Since the periphery of the supporting cylindrical portion 20b3 that is supported has low rigidity, the vehicle front side of the steering column 12 rotates smoothly. Further, at the time of tilt downward adjustment shown in FIG. 7, the upper elastic deformation portion 20b6 of the lower bracket 20 is elastically deformed toward the rear of the vehicle, and the lower elastic deformation portion 20b7 is elastically deformed toward the front of the vehicle. Since the periphery of the portion 20b3 has low rigidity, the vehicle front side of the steering column 12 rotates smoothly.

  Further, the steering force when steering the steering wheel 13 is input to the steering column 12 as an external force in the direction of the column axis P1, an external force in the vertical direction, and an external force that rotates around the column axis P1, but the support plate 20b1 of the lower bracket 20 is The plate is shaped like a plate whose length in the vehicle width direction increases from the lower part to the upper part (fixed part 20a side), and the reinforcing rib 20b2 rises from the edge part. Thus, the steering column 12 does not swing. Further, even if the vehicle body vibration from the engine or the like is transmitted from the steering column 12, the highly rigid support plate 20b1 (lower bracket 20) does not vibrate.

  On the other hand, when an impact force directed from the driver toward the front of the vehicle is input to the steering wheel 13 at the time of a secondary collision of the vehicle, the vehicle is moved forward to the tilt mechanism 21 that supports the vehicle rear side of the steering column 12 on the vehicle body side member 22. The impact force to the input. At this time, the pair of flanges 30c of the support bracket 30 of the tilt mechanism 21 are fixed to the vehicle body side member 22 via the detachment capsule 34, and an impact force to the front side of the vehicle is input to the pair of flanges 30c. As the pair of flanges 30c come out of the release capsule 34, an impact absorbing load is generated to absorb the impact force during the secondary collision.

  Further, when the pair of flanges 30c come out of the separation capsule 34 and the steering column 12 moves forward in the vehicle during the secondary collision, the support portion of the lower bracket 20 that supports the front side of the steering column 12 in the vehicle. The impact force at the time of the secondary collision is absorbed by 20b plastically deforming toward the front of the vehicle. At that time, the support cylinder portion 20b3 of the support portion 20b is fitted in a state of surface contact with the entire outer periphery of the steering column 12 on the front side of the vehicle, and the support cylinder for the steering column 12 from the initial stage to the final stage of the secondary collision. Since the contact surface pressure of the portion 20b3 is constant, the lower bracket 20 generates a constant shock absorbing load from the initial stage to the final stage of the secondary collision.

  Therefore, according to this embodiment, at the time of tilt adjustment, the upper elastic deformation portion 20b6 and the lower elastic deformation portion 20b7 formed on the support portion 20b of the lower bracket 20 are elastically deformed in the vehicle front-rear direction opposite to each other. Since the periphery of the support cylinder portion 20b3 that supports the front side of the vehicle 12 has low rigidity, the steering column 12 can be tilted smoothly.

The rigidity of the support portion 20b of the lower bracket 20 at the time of tilt adjustment is adjusted by changing the shape (longitudinal dimension and width dimension) of the first slit 20b4 and the second slit 20b5, and the upper elastic deformation portion 20b6. And it can carry out easily by changing the elastic area | region of the lower elastic deformation part 20b7.
Further, even if the steering force when steering the steering wheel 13 is transmitted to the steering column 12 or the vehicle body vibration from the engine or the like is transmitted to the steering column 12, the support plate 20b1 of the lower bracket 20 of the present embodiment The steering column 12 has a plate shape whose length in the vehicle width direction increases from the lower portion toward the upper portion (the fixed portion 20a side), and the reinforcing rib 20b2 rises from the edge portion of the support plate 20b1. Since the support structure is highly rigid with respect to the input external force, the steering column 12 can be prevented from swinging and the driver's steering feeling can be improved.

  Further, when the steering column 12 moves forward in the case of a secondary collision of the vehicle, the support portion 20b of the lower bracket 20 plastically deforms toward the front of the vehicle, thereby absorbing the impact force at the time of the secondary collision. Since the support cylinder portion 20b3 of the support portion 20b is fitted in a state of being in surface contact with the entire outer periphery of the steering column 12 on the front side of the vehicle, the steering column 12 moves to the front of the vehicle from the beginning to the end of the secondary collision. The contact surface pressure of the support cylinder part 20b3 is constant. Therefore, since the lower bracket 20 generates a constant shock absorbing load from the initial stage to the final stage at the time of the secondary collision, a stable shock energy absorbing characteristic can be obtained.

  When the steering device 10 of the present embodiment includes an electric power steering device that transmits a steering assist force to the steering shaft 11, the reaction force when the steering assist force is transmitted to the steering shaft 11 is the direction of the column axis P1. However, as described above, since the support plate 20b1 of the lower bracket 20 has a high-rigidity support structure with respect to the rotation of the steering column 12 around the column axis P1, it is electrically driven. Even if the power steering device is provided, the steering feeling of the driver can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, the case where only the manual tilt mechanism is provided has been described. However, an apparatus provided with a manual tilt / telescopic mechanism may be used.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a vehicle in which a tilt adjustment type steering apparatus according to the present invention is assembled. It is the figure which showed the steering apparatus of the tilt adjustment type by this invention from the vehicle width direction. It is an AA arrow directional view of FIG. It is a BB line arrow directional view of FIG. It is CC line arrow line view of FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which the vehicle front side bracket which concerns on this invention elastically deforms at the time of a tilt up direction adjustment. It is a figure which shows the state which the vehicle front side bracket which concerns on this invention elastically deforms at the time of a tilt downward direction adjustment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Steering device, 11 ... Steering shaft, 12 ... Steering column, 13 ... Steering wheel, 14 ... Universal joint, 15 ... Intermediate shaft, 16 ... Universal joint, 17 ... Steering gear, 18 ... Tie rod, 19 ... Steering wheel, 20 ... Lower bracket, 20a ... fixed part, 20a1 ... contact plate, 20a2 ... reinforcing rib, 20a3 ... bolt insertion hole, 20b ... support part, 20b1 ... support plate, 20b2 ... reinforcing rib, 20b3 ... support cylinder part, 20b4 ... first DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 slit, 20b5 ... 2nd slit, 20b6 ... Upper elastic deformation part, 20b7 ... Lower elastic deformation part, 21 ... Tilt mechanism, 22 ... Car body side member, 23 ... Connection bolt, 30 ... Support bracket, 30a ... Bracket main body, 30b ... Side plate, 30b1 ... Elongation hole for tilting, 0c ... Flange, 30c1 ... Slit, 31 ... Elevating bracket, 31a ... Expanded portion, 31b ... Through hole, 32 ... Clamp device, 32a ... Tightening bolt, 32a1 ... Head, 32b ... Nut, 32c ... Control lever, 32c1 ... Lever connecting part, 32d ... cam mechanism, 32d1 ... rotating cam, 32d2 ... cam follower, 33 ... fixing bolt, 34 ... release capsule, 34a ... bolt through hole, P1 ... column shaft

Claims (1)

A vehicle front side of a steering column that rotatably supports the steering shaft is supported by a vehicle body side member via a vehicle front side bracket, and a vehicle rear side of the steering column is interposed via a tilt mechanism so as to be movable in the vertical direction. In the vehicle steering device supported by the vehicle body side member,
The tilt mechanism includes a vehicle rear side bracket fixed to the vehicle body side member via a release capsule, and a lift bracket integrally formed with the steering column and coupled to the vehicle rear side bracket so as to be movable up and down. When the impact force to the vehicle front side is input to the vehicle rear side bracket during the secondary collision, the impact load is absorbed while the vehicle rear side bracket is pulled out from the release capsule,
The vehicle front bracket has low rigidity when the steering column is tilted by operating the tilt mechanism, and external force in the column axis direction, the vehicle vertical direction, and the rotational direction around the column axis is applied to the steering column. An energy absorbing part that absorbs an impact load by being plastically deformed while maintaining a constant contact area with the outer periphery of the steering column that moves forward in the vehicle in the event of a secondary collision. equipped and,
The vehicle front side bracket includes a fixed portion fixed to the vehicle body side member, and a support portion formed integrally with the fixed portion and extending in one of the vehicle vertical direction,
Forming a cylindrical support tube portion protruding in the vehicle front-rear direction from the support portion, which is fitted in the support portion in a state in which the entire outer periphery of the steering column on the vehicle front side is in surface contact ,
The support portion is the energy absorbing portion that is plastically deformed toward the front of the vehicle along with the movement of the steering column toward the front of the vehicle in a secondary collision,
The support portion includes an upper elastic deformation portion that is elastically deformable in a vehicle front-rear direction between the support cylinder portion and the first slit by forming an arc-shaped first slit at an upper portion of the support cylinder portion. Forming and forming an arc-shaped second slit at a point target centered on an axis of the support cylinder portion with respect to the first slit at a lower portion of the support cylinder portion; While forming a lower elastic deformation part elastically deformable in the vehicle longitudinal direction between the second slit and making the steering column tilt operation,
The support portion has an external shape in which the length in the vehicle width direction on the fixed portion side is increased, and the length in the vehicle width direction is gradually shortened toward one side in the vehicle vertical direction. On the other hand , the vehicle steering apparatus is characterized in that a reinforcing rib for restricting deformation of the support portion is formed so as to be highly rigid when the external force is input .

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