JP5093454B2 - Steering column device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering column device that supports a steering shaft so that the position thereof can be adjusted.

  The steering column device is an important safety and security component of the vehicle, and it is very important how to control the behavior at the time of the collision in order to ensure the safety of the passenger at the time of the collision. Normally, the steering column device itself is provided with an impact energy absorbing mechanism, and also plays an important role as a support member for an air bag accommodated in the steering wheel.

  On the other hand, in order to optimize the driver's driving posture, a general steering column device can adjust the tilt angle of the steering wheel according to the driver's physique and driving posture, and adjust the axial direction position of the steering wheel It can be done. Therefore, the steering column device needs to have a conflicting function that the position and posture of the column body (that is, the steering wheel) must be easily adjusted, and that a predetermined position and posture must be secured in the event of a collision. Become. In order to make such contradictory functions compatible, the conventional steering column device has been devised in various ways. However, further improvement is demanded due to the increasing demand for user operability.

Here, in Patent Document 1, by tightening the tilt lever, the side plate of the tilt bracket holds the steering column, and the engagement teeth of the lock lever interlocking with the tilt lever mesh with the engagement teeth of the column. A steering column device that can lock the position of the steering column is disclosed.
JP 2004-268841 A

  By the way, in the steering column device of Patent Document 1, since the engaging teeth are spring-biased, when the tilt lever is moved to the tightening position, the side plate of the tilt bracket reaches the holding position for holding the steering column. Before the engagement, the engagement teeth are engaged. In such a case, only the tip of the engaging tooth is incompletely engaged before the holding is established, so that a sufficient locking action does not occur, and the steering column is displaced when a large load is applied, There is a risk of user discomfort. Further, when only the tips of the engaging teeth are engaged with each other, a large surface pressure is generated at the tips of the teeth due to the application of a load, which may be damaged.

  On the other hand, when the tilt lever is moved to the release position, the side plate of the tilt bracket may reach the release position that allows the displacement of the steering column before the disengagement of the engaging teeth is completed. In such a case, if the user tries to displace the steering column while only the tips of the engagement teeth are incompletely engaged, the user may get caught in the gear and the user may feel uncomfortable. Furthermore, if only the tips of the engaging teeth are engaged with each other, a large surface pressure is generated at the tips of the teeth when the steering column is adjusted, and this may be damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering column device that is excellent in operability and can suppress malfunction and damage to parts.

The steering column device of the present invention is a steering column device for fixing a column to a vehicle body by operating an operation lever for adjusting a steering position.
A first gear tooth that is driven in accordance with an operation of the operation lever; and a gear portion that includes a second gear tooth that meshes with the driven first gear tooth, and the first gear. The column is fixed to the vehicle body by meshing the teeth with the second gear teeth,
Furthermore, the cam mechanism interlocked with the operation lever, a fixed position that is driven by the cam mechanism and presses against the vehicle body, and a press that is displaceable between a release position that is farther from the vehicle body than the pressing position. And the column is held against the vehicle body by displacing the pressing member to the fixed position,
After the pressing member starts to move from the release position toward the fixed position and before the fixed position, the meshing of the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth is started.
After the pressing member completes the displacement from the release position toward the fixed position, the meshing between the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth is completed .

  According to the present invention, since the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth mesh after the pressing member starts to move toward the fixed position, the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth. When the gear teeth are in an incomplete meshing state, the pressing member is already pressed toward the column, which can resist unexpected loads, so that damage to the gear teeth can be suppressed. The “vehicle body” includes a bracket fixed to the vehicle body.

  More preferably, the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth mesh after the pressing member reaches the fixed position.

  If the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth are separated before the pressing member starts to be displaced from the fixed position toward the release position, the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth are separated. When the gear teeth are incompletely engaged, the pressing member is pressed toward the column and can withstand unexpected loads, so that damage to the gear teeth during adjustment of the column is suppressed. it can.

  Hereinafter, a tilt / telescopic steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are perspective views of the steering column device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a locked state, and FIG. 2 shows a released state. 3 is a diagram of the configuration of FIG. 1 cut along the line III-III and viewed in the direction of the arrow. FIG. 4 is a diagram of the configuration of FIG. 2 cut along the line IV-IV and viewed in the direction of the arrow. is there.

  1 and 2, a cylindrical column main body 1 is attached to a vehicle body (not shown) via brackets 2 and 3. A steering shaft 4 that connects a steering wheel (not shown) and a steering mechanism is inserted into the column body 1 and is rotatably supported by a bearing (not shown).

  A plate-shaped telescopic gear base 6 is fixed to the side of the column main body 1, while a plate-shaped tilt gear base 7 is fixed to the bracket 2. The telescopic gear base 6 has a length corresponding to the adjustment width in the telescopic direction in the column body 1. The tilt gear base 7 has a height corresponding to the adjustment width in the tilt direction of the column body 1. A long hole for telescopic slide is formed in the column main body 1.

  3 and 4, the bracket 2 has a pair of side plates 2a and 2a so as to sandwich the column body 1 from both sides. The side plates 2a and 2a are formed with long holes 2b and 2b in the tilt direction, respectively. On the side wall of the column body 1, long holes 1a and 1a in the telescopic direction are formed at positions corresponding to the long holes 2b and 2b.

  3 and 4, from the right side, the bolt 11 includes a cam-type rotary clamp mechanism 10, a long hole 2 b in the right side plate 2 a, a right long hole 1 a in the column body 1, a left long hole 1 a in the column body 1, The long hole 2b of the left side plate 2a, the spacer 12, and the opening 5a of the operation lever 5 are inserted in this order and fixed by a nut 13.

  The cam type rotary clamp mechanism 10 includes a cam portion 10 a fixed to the side plate 2 a and a cam portion 10 b fixed to the bolt 11. In the state shown in FIG. 3, the high surfaces and the low surfaces of the cam portions 10a and 10b are in contact with each other. On the other hand, when the bolt 11 rotates, the cam portion 10b rotates with respect to the cam portion 10a, and the high surfaces come into contact with each other as shown in FIG. As a result, the side plates 2a and 2a as the pressing members are displaced toward the column body 1, and the state shown in FIG. 3 is the release position and the state shown in FIG. 4 is the fixed position.

  In FIGS. 1 and 2, a telescopic gear member 8 is fixedly attached to the operation lever 5 corresponding to the telescopic gear base 6, and a tilt gear member 9 is corresponding to the tilt gear base 7. It is integrally formed.

  When the operating lever 5 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 1, the telescopic gear member 8 meshes with the telescopic gear base 6 while moving in an arc shape, and the tilt gear base 7 is engaged with the tilt gear member 9. Mesh. On the other hand, when the operating lever 5 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 2, the telescopic gear member 8 is detached from the telescopic gear base 6 while moving in an arc shape, and the tilt gear base 7 is used for tilting. The gear member 9 is disengaged.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 in an engaged state, and the telescopic gear member 8 is positioned with respect to the vehicle body. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 in a detached state. The telescopic gear base 6 has a plurality of teeth (first teeth) 6a on both outer surfaces of a tapered surface that becomes narrower as it goes downward, and the telescopic gear member 8 tapers that becomes wider as it goes upward. A plurality of teeth (second teeth) 8a are provided at the same pitch on both inner surfaces.

  Here, the taper angle of the tapered surfaces of the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 is κ = 9 °, but it may be 0 ° or more. Further, the end (the lower end in the figure) of the tooth 6a of the telescopic gear base 6 is contoured with a radius of curvature R2, and the end (the upper end in the figure) of the tooth 8a of the telescopic gear member 8 facing it is curved. It is contoured with a radius R3 so that the tapered surfaces can be easily fitted together. In the present embodiment, the ends of the teeth 6a and 8a are contoured by arcs, but the radius of curvature is arbitrary and is not necessarily required. Moreover, you may outline with a straight line instead of a circular arc. In that case, it is desirable to connect the tooth trace and the straight line with an arc having an arbitrary radius of curvature.

  The tooth traces of the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 are preferably formed in an arc shape having a radius of curvature R (FIG. 1) centered on the operation lever 5. Since the telescopic gear member 8 is fixed to the operation lever 5, the trace of the movement axis of the tooth 8a has an arc shape. Therefore, by forming the tooth traces of the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 in an arc shape having the same radius of curvature, the operation feeling is improved when the teeth 6a and 8a are engaged with each other.

  FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 from the disengaged state to the meshed state. With reference to FIG. 7, the meshing operation of the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 will be described. First, in the disengaged state, the teeth 6a of the telescopic gear base 6 and the teeth 8a of the telescopic gear member 8 that face each other are not facing directly in front, and the meshing teeth shift from the position directly in front to the tooth trace direction. (Fig. 7 (a)).

  From this point, when the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 are relatively close to each other, when there is a center shift, the teeth 6a on one surface are tooth tips of the teeth 8a (FIG. 7B). C point), but since it is engaged with each tooth trace along a direction other than the normal direction and the tangential direction, even after contacting at C point, The telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 can continue to move relative to each other in the direction of the arrow (FIG. 7 (b)) and engage with each other while sliding. Therefore, the teeth 6a, 8a Can be easily engaged (point D in FIG. 7C).

  If the teeth 6a and 8a on one surface mesh with each other, it becomes a guide, and the teeth 6a and 8a on the other surface can be easily meshed (FIGS. 7D and 7E). As described above, in the meshing of the teeth 6a and 8a according to the present embodiment, compared to the meshing of the conventional gear, there is a low possibility that the tooth tips are in contact with each other and the movement is prevented. There is an effect that feeling improves.

  In the case of the present embodiment, the telescopic gear member 8 attached to and integrated with the telescopic gear base 6 is engaged with the telescopic gear base 6 by the rotation of the operational lever 5. By transmitting the applied force directly to the telescopic gear member 8, it is possible to perform reliable meshing. Further, since the rotation amount of the operation lever 5 becomes the meshing amount of the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 as it is, the column main body 1 can be reliably fixed with a simple configuration.

  The meshing operation between the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 has been described above, but the meshing operation between the tilt gear base 7 and the telescopic gear member 9 is basically the same.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the tilt gear base 7 and the tilt gear member 9, but the tilt gear base 7 is shown in a state of being cut in half for easy explanation. The tilt gear base 7 has a plurality of teeth (first teeth) 7a on both inner surfaces of a tapered surface that becomes narrower toward the left in the figure, and the tilt gear member 9 is on the right in the figure. A plurality of teeth (second teeth) 9a are provided at the same pitch on both outer surfaces of the tapered surface that becomes wider as it goes. Further, the tilt gear member 9 aligns the tip shape of the tooth trace of the tooth 9a to a shape having an inclination angle of ν = 5 degrees with respect to the arrangement of the tip shape of the tooth 7a of the tilt gear base 7. .

  At the time of meshing, the teeth 9a of the tilt gear member 9 begin to mesh from the point A in FIG. 8 when they begin to mesh with the teeth 7a of the tilt gear base 7. That is, it is possible to reduce the occurrence rate of the meshing failure by starting the meshing of the teeth 7a and 9a from one tooth and sequentially meshing the adjacent teeth.

  In the present embodiment, the inclination angle ν is set to 5 degrees. However, the gear engagement start is not limited to the angle and shape since it is only necessary to start the meshing from one tooth. Such a configuration can be similarly applied to the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8. Further, in the present embodiment, the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8, and the tilt gear base 7 and the tilt gear member 9 are provided only on one side of the column main body 1. By providing the same configuration on both sides, the lock strength can be doubled, the symmetry can be increased, and the operation can be further stabilized.

  In the present embodiment, the operation of the operation lever 5 increases the axial force of the bolt 11 to press the side plates 2a and 2a of the bracket 2 as the pressing member toward the column main body 1, and the friction generated therebetween. The column body 1 is held with respect to the side plates 2a and 2a by force, and the meshing between the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 and the meshing between the tilting gear base 7 and the tilting gear member 9 are synchronized. The column body 1 is fixed (locked) to the bracket 2.

  For example, when a secondary collision occurs due to a vehicle collision accident, it is predicted that an excessive load will be applied to the steering wheel that the driver throws forward and receives this, but the cam type rotary clamp Only the frictional force between the side plates 2 a and 2 a driven by the mechanism 10 and the column body 1 may cause a slip between the bracket 2 and the column body 1. On the other hand, as in the present embodiment, by engaging the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 and engaging the tilt gear base 7 and the tilt gear member 9, for example, a secondary collision. Even if this occurs, the column main body 1 can be properly held with respect to the bracket 2, that is, the vehicle body, thereby ensuring the safety of the driver.

  Here, the timing of holding and meshing will be considered with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 9, the vertical axis indicates the cam lift (the relative movement distance in the axial direction of the cam portions 10a and 10b) and the gear meshing amount of the cam type rotary clamp mechanism 10, and the horizontal axis indicates the rotation angle of the operation lever 5. FIG.

  Here, when the lift of the cam is zero, the side plates 2a and 2a are in the release position. When the operation lever 5 is rotated from here, the rotation angle of the operation lever 5 which starts the displacement from the release position toward the fixed position where the side plate 2a, 2a presses the column main body 1 is θ1, and the fixed position is reached. The rotation angle of the operating lever when it is reached is θ2, and the lift of the cam at this time is X (see the solid line in FIG. 9).

  However, if the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 and the tilt gear base 7 and the tilt gear member 9 are engaged before the rotation angle θ1 of the operation lever 5, During the period of the angles θ4 to θ1, the column body 1 is supported only by the engagement of the gears. In this case, since only the gear tip is meshed at the initial stage of meshing, if an unexpected load is applied to the column main body 1, there is a possibility that the gear teeth may be broken.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the engagement between the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 and the tilt gear base 7 from the rotation angle θ3 after the operation lever 5 is rotated by the angle θ1 or more. Engagement with the tilting gear member 9 is started (one-dot chain line A in FIG. 9). In such a case, when the gear is engaged, the side plates 2a and 2a always press the column body 1, and an unexpected load is applied to the column body 1 with only the gear tip engaged. However, there is a low risk of causing breakage of the gear teeth.

  Note that the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 are engaged and tilted after the operation lever 5 is rotated by an angle θ2 or more, that is, after reaching the fixed position where the pressing force of the side plates 2a and 2a is highest. If the engagement between the gear base 7 and the gear member 9 for tilting is started, the column body 1 is held with the maximum holding force by the side plates 2a and 2a at the start of the engagement, which is more effective (FIG. 9). Dash-dot line C).

  The same applies when the operation lever 5 is rotated in the loosening direction. That is, before the operation lever 5 is rotated to an angle θ1 or less, the separation between the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 and the separation between the tilt gear base 7 and the tilt gear member 9 are completed. (A dashed line A in FIG. 9). Similarly to the rotation in the tightening direction, when the gear is engaged, the side plates 2a and 2a always press the column body 1, and only the tip of the gear is engaged, Even if an unexpected load is applied, there is a low risk of causing breakage of the gear teeth.

  The telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 are separated and tilted before the operating lever 5 is rotated to an angle θ2 or less, that is, before the operating lever 5 is displaced from the fixed position of the side plates 2a and 2a. It is more desirable to start disengagement from the tilt gear member 9 (dashed line C in FIG. 9).

  As described above, the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments. However, the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately changed and improved without departing from the spirit thereof. Of course there is.

1 is a perspective view of a steering column device according to the present embodiment. 1 is a perspective view of a steering column device according to the present embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the steering column apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the steering column apparatus which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a perspective view of the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 in the meshing state. It is sectional drawing of the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 in the detached state. It is sectional drawing of the telescopic gear base 6 and the telescopic gear member 8 from a disengagement state to a meshing state. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a tilt gear base 7 and a tilt gear member 9. The vertical axis indicates the cam lift (relative movement distance in the axial direction of the cam portions 10a and 10b) and the meshing amount of the gear in the cam type rotary clamp mechanism 10, and the horizontal axis indicates the rotation angle of the operation lever 5. It is.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Column main body 2, 3 Bracket 4 Steering shaft 5 Operation lever 6 Telescopic gear base 7 Tilt gear base 8 Telescopic gear member 9 Tilt gear member 10 Cam type rotary clamp mechanism 11 Bolt 12 Spacer 13 Nut

Claims (1)

In the steering column device that fixes the column to the vehicle body by operating the steering position adjusting lever,
A first gear tooth that is driven in accordance with an operation of the operation lever; and a gear portion that includes a second gear tooth that meshes with the driven first gear tooth, and the first gear. The column is fixed to the vehicle body by meshing the teeth with the second gear teeth,
Furthermore, the cam mechanism interlocked with the operation lever, a fixed position that is driven by the cam mechanism and presses against the vehicle body, and a press that is displaceable between a release position that is farther from the vehicle body than the pressing position. And the column is held against the vehicle body by displacing the pressing member to the fixed position,
After the pressing member starts to move from the release position toward the fixed position and before the fixed position, the meshing of the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth is started.
The steering column device , wherein the engagement between the first gear teeth and the second gear teeth is completed after the pressing member completes the displacement from the release position toward the fixed position .

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