JP5440519B2 - Steering device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention adjusts the telescopic position of a steering wheel by fitting an outer column and an inner column so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and at the time of a secondary collision, the steering wheel is moved forward of the vehicle body. The present invention relates to a steering apparatus that absorbs impact loads by collapsing.

  There is a telescopic steering device that adjusts a telescopic position of a steering wheel by fitting an outer column and an inner column so as to be slidable in an axial direction. There is also a tilt / telescopic type steering device that adjusts both the telescopic position and the tilt position of the steering wheel.

  In such a steering device, after the telescopic position adjustment is completed, the outer column having a slit is reduced in diameter, the outer periphery of the inner column is tightened with the inner periphery of the outer column, and the outer column is moved in the axial direction. The inner column is clamped relatively immovably. In addition, the lower steering shaft engages with the upper steering shaft with the steering wheel mounted on the rear side of the vehicle body so that it can be telescopically moved by spline engagement, etc., and the rotation of the steering wheel is transmitted to the steering gear, and the steering angle of the wheel is increased. Change.

  In such a state that the bracket for mounting the vehicle body of the steering device is not attached to the vehicle body, when the steering device is transported or the column cover is assembled, the operation lever is erroneously operated, etc. The telescopic clamp may be released. If the steering wheel is pulled rearward in this state, the outer column may come out from the inner column together with the vehicle body mounting bracket, and the spline engagement of the steering shaft may be disengaged.

  In an electric power steering device, the input shaft on the steering wheel side and the output shaft on the wheel side are connected by a torsion bar, and the torsion of this torsion bar is detected by a torque sensor. From this detection result, the torque acting on the torsion bar is calculated. Detecting and driving the electric motor, the required steering assist force is applied to the output shaft.

  Therefore, the neutral state of the steering wheel and the neutral state of the wheel side need to be accurately matched, and the phase of the upper steering shaft spline to which the rotation of the steering wheel is transmitted and the lower steering shaft that transmits the rotation to the wheel side are required. The splines are assembled with the phase matched with high accuracy. Therefore, once the spline engagement of the steering shaft is disengaged, there is a problem that it takes time to reassemble the spline of the upper steering shaft and the lower steering shaft with the same phase.

  In the steering device of Patent Document 1, a restraining pin is attached to a vehicle body mounting bracket, and the restraining pin is fitted into a fitting hole formed in the outer column and the inner column, thereby preventing the outer column from coming out of the inner column. However, in the steering device of Patent Document 1, if the operation lever is operated by mistake before the vehicle body mounting bracket of the steering device is attached to the vehicle body, and the outer column is unclamped to the vehicle body mounting bracket, the outer column and the inner column are The dead weight may cause the vehicle body mounting bracket to move downward. Then, since the restraining pin comes out of the insertion hole, it becomes impossible to prevent the outer column from coming out of the inner column.

JP-A-11-301492

  The present invention provides a steering device that prevents the inner column from coming out of the outer column even when the telescopic clamp of the inner column is released with respect to the outer column before the vehicle body mounting bracket of the steering device is attached to the vehicle body. The task is to do.

The above problem is solved by the following means. That is, the first invention is an inner column that can be fixed to the vehicle body, and is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the inner column so that the telescopic position can be adjusted. The outer column that is pivotally supported, the upper side body mounting bracket and the lower side body mounting bracket that can be attached to the vehicle body, the inner peripheral surface of the outer column is reduced in diameter at a desired telescopic position, and the outer peripheral surface of the inner column is To clamp the outer column to the upper side body mounting bracket, the upper side body mounting bracket is tightened inward in the vehicle width direction by operating the operation lever, and the outer column is clamped to the upper side body mounting bracket. Do Attaching rod is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner column, and is inserted into an annular gap between the inner peripheral surface of the outer column and the outer peripheral surface of the inner column, so that the inner column cannot move in the axial direction and the rotational direction. An engagement member that is fixed and has a hollow cylindrical shape with slits extending along the entire length in the axial direction, and a columnar shape that protrudes from the inner peripheral surface toward the axial center at two opposing positions on the inner periphery of the engagement member. A protrusion that penetrates from the outer peripheral surface of the inner column to the inner peripheral surface, the through hole into which the protrusion of the engaging member of the engaging member fits, and the engaging member that is open at one end in the circumferential direction The other end in the circumferential direction is closed, and an engagement groove formed in a groove width into which the protrusion of the engagement member is fitted is provided, and one end of the engagement groove is open to communicate with the slit. An end is formed, and the other end has a closed arc shape The closed end is formed, the upper side body mounting bracket and the lower side body mounting bracket just before mounting to the vehicle body, and wherein the disengaging said protrusion of said engaging member from the engaging groove It is a steering device.

According to a second invention, in the steering device according to the first invention, the engagement groove has an open end wider than the protrusion of the engagement member, and the engagement from the open end. The groove width is gradually narrowed toward the communicating portion with which the protrusion of the member is fitted, and then a closed end portion having a groove width wider than the protrusion of the engaging member is formed. A steering apparatus characterized by the above.

A third invention is a steering device according to the steering device of the first or second invention, wherein the engaging member is made of a synthetic resin.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third steering devices, the protrusion of the engagement member includes an internal thread formed to penetrate from the outer peripheral surface of the outer column to the inner peripheral surface; The steering device is characterized by comprising a bolt having a male screw screwed into the female screw from the outer peripheral surface side of the outer column and having a tip protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the outer column.

  The steering device according to the present invention is attached to the outer column, and is inserted into a gap between the engagement protrusion whose tip protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the outer column, and the inner peripheral surface of the outer column and the outer peripheral surface of the inner column. An engagement member fixed to the inner column so as to be immovable in the axial direction and the rotation direction, and formed on the engagement member, with one end in the circumferential direction being opened and the other end in the circumferential direction being closed, An engagement groove formed in a groove width into which the protrusion is fitted is provided.

  Therefore, before the assembly operation of the steering device is completed and shipped to the vehicle body assembly factory, the outer column is slid in the axial direction with respect to the inner column, and the engagement grooves and the engagement protrusions are aligned in the axial direction. Thereafter, when the outer column is rotated with respect to the inner column, the engaging protrusion is fitted into the engaging groove, and the outer column and the vehicle body mounting bracket can be prevented from coming out of the inner column. In addition, when the engagement protrusion is fitted in the engagement groove, the engagement protrusion does not leave the engagement groove even if a slight impact is applied to the steering device.

It is a whole perspective view which shows the state which attached the steering device 101 of this invention to the vehicle. It is a front view which shows the principal part of the steering apparatus of Example 1 of this invention. (A) is the front view which carried out the cross section of FIG. 2, (b) is the P section expanded sectional view of (a). FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the vicinity of an upper-side vehicle body mounting bracket in FIG. 2. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is BB sectional drawing of FIG.3 (b). It is a component figure of the engagement member single-piece | unit of Example 1 of this invention, (a) is a front view, (b) is a right view of (a). FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a state in which the end of the bolt is engaged with the engagement groove of the engagement member to prevent the outer column from coming out of the inner column. It is a component figure of the engagement member single-piece | unit of Example 2 of this invention, (a) is a front view, (b) is a right view of (a).

  Hereinafter, Example 1 to Example 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a tilt / telescopic steering device that adjusts both the vertical position and the front / rear position of the steering wheel will be described.

  FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a state in which a steering device 101 of the present invention is attached to a vehicle. The steering device 101 pivotally supports a steering shaft 102 so as to be rotatable. A steering wheel 103 is attached to the upper end (rear side of the vehicle body) of the steering shaft 102, and an intermediate shaft 105 is connected to the lower end of the steering shaft 102 (front side of the vehicle body) via a universal joint 104.

  A universal joint 106 is connected to the lower end of the intermediate shaft 105, and a steering gear 107 including a rack and pinion mechanism is connected to the universal joint 106.

  When the driver rotates the steering wheel 103, the rotational force is transmitted to the steering gear 107 through the steering shaft 102, the universal joint 104, the intermediate shaft 105, and the universal joint 106, and the tie rod is transmitted through the rack and pinion mechanism. 108 can be moved to change the steering angle of the wheel.

  2 is a front view showing a main part of the steering apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 (a) is a front view of a part of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 (b) is a view of P in FIG. 3 (a). FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view of the vicinity of the upper-side vehicle body mounting bracket of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3B, FIG. 7 is a part view of the engaging member alone according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7A is a front view, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a right side view of FIG. FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a state in which the outer column is prevented from coming out of the inner column by engaging the tip of the bolt with the engaging groove of the engaging member.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, an upper steering shaft 41 is rotatably supported in the hollow cylindrical outer column 1, and the rear side of the vehicle body of the upper steering shaft 41 (the right side in FIGS. 2 and 3). ) Is attached with a steering wheel 103. The inner column 2 is fitted to the outer column 1 on the front side of the vehicle body (the left side in FIGS. 2 and 3) so as to be slidable in the axial direction. The outer column 1 is attached to the vehicle body 43 by an upper-side vehicle body mounting bracket (vehicle body mounting bracket) 3.

  A lower body mounting bracket 44 is attached to the vehicle body 43 on the vehicle body front side of the inner column 2, and the tilt center shaft 21 fixed to the vehicle body front side of the inner column 2 can be tilted to the lower vehicle body mounting bracket 44. It is pivotally supported.

  A lower steering shaft 42 is rotatably supported on the inner column 2, the lower steering shaft 42 is spline-fitted with the upper steering shaft 41, and the rotation of the upper steering shaft 41 is transmitted to the lower steering shaft 42.

  The left end of the lower steering shaft 42 is connected to the intermediate shaft 105 via the universal joint 104 in FIG. 1, and the lower end of the intermediate shaft 105 is transmitted to the steering gear 107, so that the steering angle of the wheel can be changed.

  In an annular gap between the inner peripheral surface 11 of the outer column 1 and the outer peripheral surface 22 of the inner column 2, bushes 5 and 5 for guiding the inner column 2 to be slidable in the axial direction with respect to the outer column 1 are provided. It is inserted. The bushes 5 and 5 are inserted at two locations on the front side of the vehicle body (left side in FIG. 3) with respect to the upper vehicle body mounting bracket 3. The bush 5 is made of a resin having a small friction coefficient, and can move the outer column 1 with a light force with respect to the inner column 2. Since the bush 5 is formed with a slit (not shown), the bush 5 can be expanded and contracted.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, projections 52 are formed on the outer peripheral surface 51 of the bush 5 at four positions on the circumference of the bush 5 at intervals of 90 degrees. The protrusion 52 is formed to protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral surface 51 of the bush 5.

  A rectangular hole 13 penetrating from the outer peripheral surface 12 of the outer column 1 to the inner peripheral surface 11 is formed on the upper side and the lower side of the outer column 1, and two protrusions 52 on the upper side and the lower side of the bush 5. , 52 are fitted in the rectangular holes 13, 13, respectively. Accordingly, the bush 5 is assembled to the outer column 1 while being locked in the axial direction and the rotational direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, opening holes 14 and 14 penetrating from the outer peripheral surface 12 of the outer column 1 to the inner peripheral surface 11 are formed on both side surfaces of the outer column 1 in the vehicle width direction. The pressing members 53 and 53 are inserted into the fourteen and fourteen, respectively. The opening hole 14 is formed at a position where the bush 5 near the upper-side vehicle body mounting bracket 3 is disposed in the two bushes 5 and 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the opening hole 14 has a rectangular shape that is long in the axial direction of the outer column 1, and the axial length L <b> 2 is slightly longer than the telescopic stroke L <b> 1 of the outer column 1.

  The bush tightening lever 7 is engaged with the outer surface of the pressing members 53, 53, the inner surface of the pressing members 53, 53 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface 51 of the bush 5, the diameter of the bush 5 is reduced, and the outer column 1 The inner column 2 is clamped so as not to move relative to the axial direction. The pressing member 53 is formed slightly longer than the telescopic stroke L1 of the outer column 1. Therefore, the bush tightening lever 7 can be engaged with the outer surface of the pressing member 53 over the entire length of the telescopic stroke.

  The bush tightening lever 7 includes arm portions 71A and 71B, engaging ribs 72A and 72B, and a connecting rib 73. The arm portions 71 </ b> A and 71 </ b> B are disposed on both sides of the outer column 1 in the vehicle width direction and outside the outer surfaces of the pressing members 53 and 53, and are formed parallel to the axis of the outer column 1. The engaging ribs 72A and 72B are formed at the front end of the vehicle body of the arm portions 71A and 71B, and are formed in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the outer column 1 from the arm portions 71A and 71B toward the outer surface of the pressing members 53 and 53. Has been.

  The connecting rib 73 is disposed away from the lower end of the outer column 1 on the vehicle body lower side, extends in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the outer column 1, and connects the arm portions 71A and 71B and the engaging ribs 72A and 72B. The rigidity of the bush tightening lever 7 is increased.

  4, the engagement ribs 72A and 72B press the pressing members 53 and 53 toward the axis of the outer column 1, and the bush 5 is reduced in diameter through the pressing members 53 and 53. The inner column 2 is clamped so as not to move relative to the outer column 1 in the axial direction.

  In the position of the two-dot chain line shown in FIG. 4, the engagement ribs 72A, 72B move upward in the vehicle body, and a gap is formed between the engagement ribs 72A, 72B and the outer surface of the pressing members 53, 53. 5 is expanded in diameter and the clamp is released, and the inner column 2 can move relative to the outer column 1 in the axial direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a pair of left and right flange portions 31 </ b> A and 31 </ b> B for attaching the upper side vehicle body mounting bracket 3 to the vehicle body 43 are formed on the upper side of the upper side vehicle body mounting bracket 3. The outer side surfaces 62A and 62B of the distance bracket 6 are tiltable and telescopically movable on the inner side surfaces 321A and 321B of the left and right side plates 32A and 32B that are formed integrally with the flange portions 31A and 31B and extend in the vertical direction. It is pinched.

  The distance bracket 6 is integrally fixed to the lower side of the outer column 1 by welding. The distance bracket 6 is formed with telescopic long grooves 61A and 61B extending in the axial direction of the outer column 1 (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 5), and the tilt long grooves 33A and 33B formed on the side plates 32A and 32B. The tightening rod 34 is inserted into the telescopic long grooves 61A and 61B from the left side of FIG. The long tilt grooves 33 </ b> A and 33 </ b> B are formed in an arc shape centered on the tilt center axis 21.

  A washer 342, a thrust bearing 345, and an arm portion 71B are externally fitted in this order on the right side of the tightening rod 34, and a female screw 348 formed on the inner diameter portion of the adjusting nut 346 is a male screw formed on the right end of the tightening rod 34. 347 is screwed.

  A fixed cam 343 and a movable cam 344 are externally fitted in this order on the outer periphery of the left end of the tightening rod 34, and an operation lever 349 is fixed to the left end surface of the movable cam 344. The operation lever 349 is integrally operated. The movable cam 344 and the fixed cam 343 constitute a cam lock mechanism. The fixed cam 343 engages with the long tilt groove 33A and is not rotated with respect to the upper-side vehicle body mounting bracket 3, and slides the fixed cam 343 along the long tilt groove 33A when adjusting the tilt position.

  In addition, an arm portion 71 </ b> A is fitted on the outer periphery of the left end of the tightening rod 34 between the operation lever 349 and the head 341 at the left end of the tightening rod 34. Accordingly, the arm portions 71A and 71B of the bush tightening lever 7 are supported by the tightening rod 34 so as to be swingable.

  As shown in FIG. 4, an arcuate groove 74 centering on the axial center of the tightening rod 34 is formed in the arm portion 71A. The operation lever 349 is integrally formed with an engagement protrusion 35 that engages with the arcuate groove 74.

  When the operation lever 349 is rotated clockwise at the time of tilt / telescopic release, the engagement protrusion 35 of the operation lever 349 comes into contact with the upper end of the arc-shaped groove 74, and the arm portion 71A swings clockwise. When the operation lever 349 rotates clockwise, the arm portion 71A swings clockwise, and the state of the two-dot chain line in FIG. 4 is obtained.

  As a result, the engaging ribs 72A and 72B move upward in the vehicle body, the engaging ribs 72A and 72B are disengaged from the outer surfaces of the pressing members 53 and 53, and the engaging ribs 72A and 72B and the outer surfaces of the pressing members 53 and 53 are removed. There is a gap between Accordingly, the bush 5 is expanded in diameter and the clamp is released, and the inner column 2 can move relative to the outer column 1 in the axial direction.

  Further, when the operation lever 349 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the valley of the movable cam 344 enters the peak of the fixed cam 343, and the force that pushes the fixed cam 343 to the right is released, and at the same time, the force that pulls the clamping rod 34 to the left. Is released, the side plates 32A and 32B are separated from each other, and the fastening of the distance bracket 6 is released.

  When the operation lever 349 is rotated counterclockwise at the time of tilt / telescopic tightening, the engagement protrusion 35 of the operation lever 349 comes into contact with the lower end of the arcuate groove 74, and the arm portion 71A swings counterclockwise. When the operation lever 349 rotates counterclockwise, the arm portion 71A swings counterclockwise, and the state shown by the solid line in FIG.

  As a result, the engagement ribs 72A and 72B move to the lower side of the vehicle body, the engagement ribs 72A and 72B engage with the outer surfaces of the pressing members 53 and 53, and the pressing members 53 and 53 become the axis of the outer column 1. Press towards. As a result, the pressing members 53 and 53 reduce the diameter of the bush 5 and clamp the inner column 2 so that it cannot move relative to the outer column 1 in the axial direction. Therefore, the backlash between the outer column 1 and the inner column 2 can be reduced.

  Further, when the operation lever 349 is rotated counterclockwise, the peak of the movable cam 344 rides on the peak of the fixed cam 343 and pushes the fixed cam 343 to the right side in FIG. By pulling, the distance bracket 6 is tightened by the inner side surfaces 321A and 321B of the side plates 32A and 32B. Accordingly, the distance bracket 6 and the outer column 1 are clamped with respect to the upper-side vehicle body mounting bracket 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 3B, 6, and 7, the engaging member 8 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface 22 of the inner column 2, and the inner peripheral surface 11 of the outer column 1 and the outer peripheral surface 22 of the inner column 2. Is inserted in an annular gap between the two. The engaging member 8 is preferably made of polyacetal (POM) made of synthetic resin, having excellent mechanical properties, a small friction coefficient, and excellent wear resistance. The engagement member 8 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and a slit 81 is formed over the entire length in the axial direction.

On the inner peripheral surface 82 of the engaging member 8, columnar projections 83, 83 projecting from the inner peripheral surface 82 toward the axial center are formed at two opposite locations on the circumference. In the inner column 2, through holes 24, 24 penetrating from the outer peripheral surface 22 of the inner column 2 to the inner peripheral surface 23 are formed at two opposite positions on the circumference, and the projections 83, 83 of the engaging member 8 are formed. The through holes 24 and 24 are fitted.
Therefore, the engaging member 8 is fixed to the inner column 2 so as not to move in the axial direction and the rotational direction.

  The engaging member 8 has an engaging groove 84 at an intermediate position in the axial direction (left and right direction in FIG. 7B) on one side (the right side in FIG. 7A) across the slit 81. Is formed. The engaging groove 84 is formed with an open end 841 communicating with the slit 81 at one end (the lower side in FIG. 7B) and closed at the other end (the upper side in FIG. 7B). An arcuate closed end 842 is formed. The open end 841 is chamfered.

  In the outer column 1, a female screw 15 (see FIG. 6) is formed so as to penetrate from the outer peripheral surface 12 of the outer column 1 to the inner peripheral surface 11. A bolt (engagement protrusion) 85 is screwed into the female screw 15 from the outer peripheral surface 12 side of the outer column 1, and the tip of the bolt 85 projects from the inner peripheral surface 11 of the outer column 1. The groove width W1 of the engagement groove 84 is constant, and the groove width W1 is smaller than the external dimension D1 of the external thread of the bolt 85.

  Before the assembly operation of the steering device 101 is completed and the steering device 101 is shipped to the vehicle body assembly factory, the outer column 1 is slid in the axial direction with respect to the inner column 2, and the axial direction of the engagement groove 84 and the bolt 85 is reached. Match the positions. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, when the outer column 1 is rotated counterclockwise with respect to the inner column 2 and the bolt 85 is inserted to the vicinity of the closed end 842 of the engaging groove 84, the bolt 85 is moved to the engaging groove 84. Fits with a snug fit. In addition, although interference fit fitting is desirable in this way, clearance fitting or intermediate fitting may be used.

  The operation lever 349 is mistakenly set when the steering device 101 is transported or the column cover is assembled before the upper side body mounting bracket 3 and the lower side body mounting bracket 44 of the steering device 101 are attached to the vehicle body 43. The outer column 1 may be unclamped with respect to the upper-side vehicle body mounting bracket 3 and the inner column 2 by turning clockwise.

  However, since the bolt 85 is fitted in the engagement groove 84, it is possible to prevent the outer column 1 and the upper-side vehicle body mounting bracket 3 from coming out of the inner column 2. In addition, when the bolt 85 is fit in the engagement groove 84, the bolt 85 does not detach from the engagement groove 84 even if a slight impact is applied to the steering device 101.

  Immediately before attaching the upper body mounting bracket 3 and the lower body mounting bracket 44 of the steering device 101 to the vehicle body 43, the outer column 1 is rotated clockwise with respect to the inner column 2, and the bolt 85 is removed from the engagement groove 84. Then, the bolt 85 is positioned in the slit 81 as shown in FIG. The groove width of the slit 81 is formed larger than the external dimension D1 of the external thread of the bolt 85. Accordingly, the telescopic position of the outer column 1 can be adjusted with respect to the inner column 2 after the upper side vehicle body mounting bracket 3 and the lower side body mounting bracket 44 of the steering device 101 are mounted to the vehicle body 43.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. 9A and 9B are component diagrams of a single engaging member according to the second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 9A is a front view and FIG. 9B is a right side view of FIG. 9A. In the following description, only structural parts different from the above-described embodiment will be described, and redundant description will be omitted. Further, the same parts will be described with the same numbers. The second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment, and is an example in which the shape of the engagement groove is changed to facilitate the insertion of the bolt 85 into the engagement groove.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the engaging member 8 </ b> A of the second embodiment has a hollow cylindrical shape as in the first embodiment, and a slit 81 is formed over the entire length in the axial direction. On the inner circumferential surface 82 of the engaging member 8A, cylindrical projections 83, 83 projecting from the inner circumferential surface 82 toward the axial center are formed at two opposite locations on the circumference. The protrusions 83 and 83 are fitted into through holes 24 and 24 (see FIG. 6) formed in the inner column 2, and the engaging member 8A is fixed to the inner column 2 so as not to move in the axial direction and the rotational direction. .

  An engaging groove 86 is formed in the engaging member 8A at an intermediate position in the axial direction (left-right direction in FIG. 9B). The engagement groove 86 is formed with an open end portion 861 that is open at one end (lower side of FIG. 9B) and communicates with the slit 81, and at the other end (upper side of FIG. 9B). A closed closed end 862 is formed.

  As in the first embodiment, the outer column 1 is formed with a female screw 15 penetrating from the outer peripheral surface 12 of the outer column 1 to the inner peripheral surface 11, and a bolt (engagement protrusion) 85 is screwed into the outer column 1. The portion protrudes from the inner peripheral surface 11 of the outer column 1. The groove width W2 of the open end portion 861 of the engagement groove 86 is formed larger than the external dimension D1 of the male thread of the bolt 85. The closed end 862 is substantially arc-shaped, and its inner diameter dimension D2 is larger than the outer dimension D1 of the male thread of the bolt 85. The engagement groove 86 is formed such that the groove width W3 of the communication portion 863 with the closed end portion 862 is smaller than the external dimension D1 of the external thread of the bolt 85, and the groove width is from the open end portion 861 toward the communication portion 863. It is formed to become gradually narrower.

  Before the assembly operation of the steering device 101 is completed and the steering device 101 is shipped to the vehicle body assembly factory, the outer column 1 is slid in the axial direction with respect to the inner column 2, and the axial direction of the engagement groove 86 and the bolt 85 is reached. Match the positions. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 8, the outer column 1 is rotated counterclockwise with respect to the inner column 2, and the bolt 85 is inserted into the open end portion 861 of the engagement groove 86.

  Since the groove width W2 of the open end portion 861 is formed larger than the external dimension D1 of the external thread of the bolt 85, even if the axial positions of the engagement groove 86 and the bolt 85 are slightly shifted, The bolt 85 can be easily inserted into the open end 861. When the bolt 85 is inserted up to the communication portion 863, the bolt 85 fits into the communication portion 863 of the engagement groove 86. The outer column 1 is further rotated counterclockwise with respect to the inner column 2, and the bolt 85 is inserted up to the closed end 862 of the engagement groove 86.

  The operation lever 349 is mistakenly set when the steering device 101 is transported or the column cover is assembled before the upper side body mounting bracket 3 and the lower side body mounting bracket 44 of the steering device 101 are attached to the vehicle body 43. The outer column 1 may be unclamped with respect to the upper-side vehicle body mounting bracket 3 and the inner column 2 by turning clockwise.

  However, since the bolt 85 is fitted in the closed end 862 of the engagement groove 86, it is possible to prevent the outer column 1 and the upper-side vehicle body mounting bracket 3 from coming out of the inner column 2. Further, since the groove width W3 of the communication portion 863 is smaller than the external dimension D1 of the male screw of the bolt 85, the bolt 85 is detached from the engaging groove 86 even if a slight impact is applied to the steering device 101. There is nothing.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a tilt / telescopic steering device capable of both tilt position adjustment and telescopic position adjustment has been described, but the present invention is applied to a telescopic steering device capable of only telescopic position adjustment. The invention may be applied. It is also possible to provide the engaging protrusion on the inner column side and the engaging member on the outer column side.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Steering device 102 Steering shaft 103 Steering wheel 104 Universal joint 105 Intermediate shaft 106 Universal joint 107 Steering gear 108 Tie rod 1 Outer column 11 Inner peripheral surface 12 Outer peripheral surface 13 Rectangular hole 14 Open hole 15 Female screw 2 Inner column 21 Tilt center axis 22 Outer periphery Surface 23 Inner peripheral surface 24 Through hole 3 Upper side body mounting bracket (vehicle body mounting bracket)
31A, 31B Flange portion 32A, 32B Side plate 321A, 321B Inner side surface 33A, 33B Long slot for tilt 34 Tightening rod 341 Head 342 Washer 343 Fixed cam 344 Movable cam 345 Thrust bearing 346 Adjustment nut 347 Male screw 348 Female screw 35 Projection 41 Upper steering shaft 42 Lower steering shaft 43 Car body 44 Lower side body mounting bracket 5 Bush 51 Outer peripheral surface 52 Projection 53 Pressing member 6 Distance bracket 61A, 61B Telescopic long groove 62A, 62B Outer surface 7 Bush tightening lever 71A, 71B Arm part 72A, 72B Engaging rib 73 Connecting rib 74 Arc-shaped groove 8 Engaging member 8A Engaging member 81 Slit 82 Inner peripheral surface 83 Projection 84 Engaging groove 841 Open Part 842 closed end 85 volts 86 engaging grooves 861 open end 862 closed end portion 863 communicating portion

Claims (4)

Inner column that can be fixed to the car body,
An outer column that is telescopically adjustable on the outer peripheral surface of the inner column, and that supports the upper and lower steering shafts with the steering wheel mounted thereto,
Upper side body mounting bracket and lower side body mounting bracket that can be mounted on the vehicle body,
At a desired telescopic position, the inner peripheral surface of the outer column is reduced in diameter to clamp the outer peripheral surface of the inner column, and the operation lever is operated to clamp the outer column to the upper body mounting bracket. The upper side body mounting bracket is tightened inward in the vehicle width direction, and a clamping rod for clamping the outer column to the upper side body mounting bracket,
Provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner column, inserted in an annular gap between the inner peripheral surface of the outer column and the outer peripheral surface of the inner column, and fixed to the inner column so as to be immovable in the axial direction and the rotational direction; An engagement member having a hollow cylindrical shape and a slit formed over the entire length in the axial direction,
Columnar protrusions protruding from the inner peripheral surface toward the axial center at two opposing positions on the inner periphery of the engaging member,
The penetrating in the inner peripheral surface from the outer peripheral surface of the inner column, the through-hole in which the protrusion of the engagement member is fitted,
An engagement groove formed on the engagement member, with one end in the circumferential direction being opened and the other end in the circumferential direction being closed, and an engagement groove formed in a groove width into which the projection of the engagement member is fitted;
One end of the engagement groove is formed with an open end communicating with the slit, and the other end is formed with a closed arc-shaped closed end,
A steering apparatus, wherein the protrusion of the engaging member is detached from the engaging groove immediately before the upper side body mounting bracket and the lower side body mounting bracket are attached to the vehicle body. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
In the engagement groove,
And wide open end of the groove width than the protrusion of said engagement member,
A closed end having a groove width wider than that of the protrusion of the engaging member after the groove width is gradually narrowed from the open end toward the communicating portion where the protrusion of the engaging member is fitted. Part is formed,
A steering apparatus characterized by the above. In the steering device according to claim 1 or 2,
A steering apparatus, wherein the engaging member is made of a synthetic resin. The steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The protrusion of the engagement member is
A female screw formed so as to penetrate from the outer peripheral surface of the outer column to the inner peripheral surface;
A steering apparatus comprising a bolt having a male screw screwed into the female screw from the outer peripheral surface side of the outer column and having a tip protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the outer column.

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