JP5521321B2 - Steering column holding device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering column holding device that holds a steering column on a vehicle body side member in a relatively rotatable manner.

Patent Document 1 describes a steering column holding device including a connecting device that connects a vehicle body side bracket fixed to a vehicle body side member and a column side bracket fixed to a steering column so as to be relatively rotatable. The coupling device includes an outer tube and an inner pin. The outer tube is disposed through the body-side bracket and the column-side bracket, and the outer tube is expanded by caulking the inner pin. It is done. The vehicle body side bracket and the column side bracket are connected by being sandwiched from both sides by a flange provided at one end of the outer tube and a caulking portion formed by pulling the inner pin.
JP 2002-370653 A

  An object of the present invention is to improve a steering column holding device.

Means and effects for solving the problem

A steering column holding device according to claim 1 is a steering column holding device that includes a bracket that connects a vehicle body side member and a steering column, and holds the steering column relative to the vehicle body side member in a relatively rotatable manner. ,
The bracket includes a cylindrical portion that constitutes a hollow shaft portion, and the steering column has a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom surface and a cylindrical surface, and the bracket receiving recess that receives the cylindrical portion of the bracket so as to be relatively rotatable. The steering column holding device is located on the inner peripheral side of the cylindrical portion in a state where the cylindrical portion is accommodated in the bracket accommodating recess, and the cylindrical portion and the A device that prevents the tubular portion from being detached from the bracket housing recess while allowing relative rotation with the bracket housing recess , and (a) is fixed to the bottom of the bracket housing recess, and has a small diameter portion on the bottom side thereof. A column-side fixing member having a large-diameter portion on the opening side of the bracket housing recess, and (b) in a state where the column-side fixing member of the cylindrical portion is fixed to the column-side housing. It is located on the bottom side from the large diameter portion, and at least a part is provided extending from the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion to the inner peripheral side, and prevents disengagement by engagement with the large diameter portion. A separation prevention device including one or more separation prevention protrusions is included.

Patentable invention

  In the following, the invention that is claimed to be claimable in the present application (hereinafter referred to as “claimable invention”. The claimable invention is at least the “present invention” to the invention described in the claims. Some aspects of the present invention, including subordinate concept inventions of the present invention, superordinate concepts of the present invention, or inventions of different concepts) will be illustrated and described. As with the claims, each aspect is divided into sections, each section is numbered, and is described in a form that cites the numbers of other sections as necessary. This is merely for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the claimable invention, and is not intended to limit the set of components constituting the claimable invention to those described in the following sections. In other words, the claimable invention should be construed in consideration of the description accompanying each section, the description of the embodiments, etc., and as long as the interpretation is followed, another aspect is added to the form of each section. In addition, an aspect in which constituent elements are deleted from the aspect of each item can be an aspect of the claimable invention.

(1) A steering column holding device that includes a bracket that connects a vehicle body side member and a steering column, and holds the steering column relative to the vehicle body side member in a relatively rotatable manner.
Steering column holding characterized in that the bracket includes a cylindrical portion constituting a hollow shaft portion, and the steering column includes a column side housing in which a bracket receiving recess for receiving the cylindrical portion of the bracket is relatively rotatable. apparatus.
(2) The steering column holding device according to (1), wherein the bracket is formed integrally with the cylindrical portion and an arm portion in which a fixing portion to the vehicle body side member is formed.
The bracket is fixed to the vehicle body side member at the arm portion, and is accommodated in the bracket accommodating recess of the steering column at the cylindrical portion. For example, when the arm portion extends in parallel with the axis of the hollow shaft portion (cylinder portion), the bracket is attached to the steering column in a posture in which the arm portion extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle.
In addition, since the arm portion and the tube portion are integrally formed, there is an advantage that a fixing member for fixing the arm portion and the tube portion becomes unnecessary.
(3) The steering column holding device includes a resin-made cylindrical sliding member disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the bracket housing recess and an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion. The steering column holding device according to item 2) (claim 5) .
If a resin sliding member is provided between the steering column and the bracket, the friction generated in the relative rotation can be reduced. The sliding member may be disposed on a portion between the inner peripheral surface of the bracket housing recess and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, or may be disposed on the whole, but it is desirable that the sliding member be disposed on the whole.
For example, a resin such as polyacetal is often used as the sliding member.
(4) The steering column holding device according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the bracket receiving recesses are formed on both sides of the steering column in the left-right direction.
(5) The steering column holding device according to any one of (1) to (4), wherein the bracket receiving recess has a bottomed cylindrical shape with a bottom surface and a cylindrical surface.
Bracket receiving recesses are formed on both sides of the steering column in the left-right direction, and the bracket cylindrical portions are respectively stored in the two bracket receiving recesses.
Since the steering column is held on both sides in the left-right direction, the bracket housing recess can be formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape. In other words, although it is difficult to form a through hole in the size and shape of the column side housing, it is possible to attach a bracket even if a recess can be formed.
The column-side housing may be separate or integral with the right and left sides of the steering column.
(6) The steering column holding device is located on the inner peripheral side of the cylindrical portion in a state where the cylindrical portion is received in the bracket receiving recess, and allows relative rotation between the cylindrical portion and the bracket receiving recess. The steering column holding device according to any one of (1) to (5), further including a removal prevention device that prevents the cylinder portion from being detached from the bracket housing recess .
(7) The bracket housing recess has a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom surface and a cylindrical surface, and the separation prevention device is fixed to the bottom of the bracket housing recess (a) A column-side fixing member having a small-diameter portion and a large-diameter portion on the opening side of the bracket housing recess, and (b) the column-side fixing member of the cylindrical portion being fixed to the column-side housing, It is located on the bottom side from the large diameter portion, and at least a part is provided extending from the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion to the inner peripheral side, and prevents disengagement by engagement with the large diameter portion. The steering column holding device according to item (6), including one or more protrusions for preventing detachment (the portion quoting the item (6) having the characteristics of the item (1) corresponds to claim 1) .
The column side fixing member is fixed to the bottom of the bracket housing recess of the column side housing in a posture parallel to the center line of the bracket housing recess, and is fixed so as not to be relatively movable in a direction parallel to the center line.
The column side fixing member has a stepped shape having a small diameter portion on the bottom side and a large diameter portion on the opening side. The column side fixing member can be, for example, a bolt that is fixed to the boss portion via a screw mechanism.
On the other hand, one or more protrusions for preventing separation are provided on the cylindrical portion of the bracket. The protrusion for preventing separation is such that at least the distal end portion has a large diameter on the bottom side from the large diameter portion of the column side fixing member in a state where the cylindrical portion is accommodated in the bracket accommodating concave portion and the column side fixing member is fixed. It is provided in a state extending from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral side. As a result, it is possible to prevent the tubular portion from being detached from the bracket housing recess by engagement between the separation preventing projection and the large diameter portion.
In addition, it is not always necessary that the protrusion for preventing separation and the column side fixing member are in contact with each other in a state in which the cylindrical portion is accommodated in the bracket housing recess and the column side fixing member is fixed.
In addition, at least one protrusion for preventing separation may be provided, but it is desirable that three or more protrusions be provided at positions separated in the circumferential direction. For example, three can be provided at positions that are 120 ° apart from each other. Further, the width of the protrusion for preventing separation is determined by the relationship with the number of protrusions for preventing separation to be formed. For example, when the number of protrusions for preventing separation is large, the width can be reduced.
(8) The steering column holding device according to (7), wherein the separation preventing protrusion is formed by bending a part of an intermediate portion of the cylindrical portion toward the inner peripheral side.
(9) The steering column holding device according to (7) or (8), wherein the column side fixing member includes an annular engaging portion provided at a step portion between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion.
When the protrusion for preventing separation is formed by bending a strip-like portion parallel to the center line of the intermediate portion of the cylindrical portion toward the inner peripheral side, the tip of the portion bent toward the inner peripheral side is formed. The end surface is a surface inclined with respect to the center line in a direction approaching the opening as it goes from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side. On the other hand, in the position facing the end face of the separation preventing projection between the large diameter portion and the small diameter portion of the column side fixing member, in the same direction, that is, in the opening portion from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side. An engaging portion having an inclined surface that is inclined in the approaching direction is provided. Since the inclined surface of the engaging portion and the end surface of the tip portion of the protrusion for preventing separation are opposed to each other, the separation of the cylindrical portion can be satisfactorily prevented by the engagement between the end surface and the inclined surface.
Further, when the end surface of the protrusion for preventing separation comes into contact with the inclined surface of the engaging portion in a state where the cylindrical portion is accommodated in the bracket accommodating concave portion, these slide due to relative rotation of the bracket and the steering column. Will move. In that case, if the engaging portion is made of resin, the sliding resistance in the case of relative rotation can be reduced. In that sense, the engaging portion is a sliding member, and can be made of, for example, a resin such as polyacetal.
Further, when the cylindrical portion is accommodated in the bracket accommodating recess with the protrusion for preventing separation and the engaging portion in contact with each other, a direction parallel to the center line of the bracket accommodating concave portion of the cylindrical portion is caused by the contact. The relative position of is determined. In that sense, the separation preventing projection can be referred to as an axial positioning projection, and the separation preventing device can be referred to as an axial positioning device. In this case, the engaging portion can be an elastic member such as rubber.
(10) The column-side fixing member in which the bracket receiving recess has a bottomed cylindrical shape including a bottom surface and a cylindrical surface, and the bottom portion of the bracket receiving recess is provided at the center of the bottom surface The steering column holding device according to any one of items (1) to (9), wherein the steering column holding device has a structure in which a boss portion for holding the boss portion is formed and an annular groove portion is formed around the boss portion.
A boss portion is provided at the center of the bottom portion of the bracket housing recess, and the periphery of the boss portion is an annular groove portion.
A bracket housing recess is formed in the column side housing, and the cylinder portion is housed in the bracket housing recess. However, a vertical force is applied to the arm portion of the bracket, thereby generating a moment. Therefore, in order to hold the bracket satisfactorily, it is desirable to increase the length from the opening to the bottom surface of the bracket housing recess and to increase the length of the tube portion. Moreover, in order to hold the column side fixing member satisfactorily, it is desirable that the bottom portion of the bracket housing recess is thick.
However, depending on the size and shape of the column-side housing, it may be difficult to increase the length of the bracket receiving recess while increasing the bottom.
On the other hand, if the bottom surface is provided with a boss that protrudes inside the housing recess, the bracket housing recess can be made long while securing a thickness for fixing the column side fixing member.
For example, when the column side fixing member is a bolt, a threaded portion is formed at the bottom, but when the bottom is thin, the length of the threaded portion is undesirably shortened. On the other hand, if the boss portion is provided, the length of the screw portion can be increased.
(11) The steering column according to (10), wherein the cylindrical portion is accommodated in the bracket accommodating recess in a state of extending into the annular groove, and the column side fixing member is fixed to the boss portion. A holding device (Claim 2) .
(12) Item (10) or (10), wherein a resin-made cylindrical sliding member extends between the cylindrical portion and the inner peripheral surface of the bracket receiving recess, extending into the annular groove. The steering column holding device according to item 11).
Since the circumference of the boss portion is an annular groove portion, the cylindrical portion can be extended to the annular groove portion.
Moreover, when a sliding member is arrange | positioned between a cylinder part and a bracket accommodation recessed part, the sliding member can also be extended in a groove part.
A force corresponding to the force acting between the vehicle body side member and the steering column acts on the sliding member. However, if the sliding member is lengthened to increase the area of the pressure receiving surface, the surface pressure is increased accordingly. (Stress applied to the sliding member) can be reduced. As a result, the life of the sliding member can be extended. In addition, the strength of the sliding member can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.
It should be noted that at least one of the cylindrical portion and the sliding member may extend until it contacts the bottom surface of the annular groove portion, or may extend to the middle of the groove portion.
(13) The steering column holding device includes: (a) an arc-shaped notch formed on the outer peripheral surface of the boss portion; and (b) a phase-determining protrusion formed on the cylindrical portion and protruding toward the inner peripheral side. And a phase determining device that determines a relative phase of the cylindrical portion with respect to the steering column by aligning the phases of the notches and the phase determining projections. A steering column holding device according to claim 3 (Claim 3) .
(14) The steering column holding device according to (13), wherein the steering column holding device includes a stopper by the end face of the arc-shaped cutout and the phasing portion.
In the phasing device, the relative phase of the cylindrical portion with respect to the bracket receiving recess is determined, and the relative phase of the bracket with respect to the steering column is determined.
The limit of relative rotation can be defined by the contact between the end face of the notch and the phasing portion.
(15) The column-side fixing member of the separation preventing device does not include a portion protruding outward from the opening surface including the opening edge of the bracket receiving recess when the column-side fixing member is fixed to the column-side housing. (14) The steering column holding device according to any one of (14 ) .
If the column-side fixing member does not protrude from the opening edge, the space around the bracket housing recess of the steering column can be increased. As a result, the degree of freedom in design can be improved. In addition, the fixing portion of the arm portion of the bracket to the vehicle body side member can be brought close to the cylindrical portion. As a result, even if the force applied to the bracket is the same, the moment can be reduced, and the thickness and weight of the bracket can be reduced accordingly.

Hereinafter, a steering column holding device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the entire steering column including the steering column holding device.
Reference numeral 10 denotes a steering wheel as an operation member operated by the driver, reference numeral 12 denotes a steering device, and reference numeral 14 denotes a steering column.
The steering column 14 transmits the operation force applied to the steering wheel 10 to the steering device 12. The steering column 14 is provided with a booster 16. In the booster 16, the operation force applied to the steering wheel 10 is boosted and output to the output shaft 18. The output of the output shaft 18 is input to the steering device 14 via the rear universal joint 20, the intermediate shaft 22, and the front universal joint 24. The booster 16 includes an electric motor 26, a speed reducer 28, a driving force transmission mechanism (not shown), and the like, which are held in a housing 30.

The steering column 14 extends in a posture inclined with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and is held by the instrument panel reinforcement 40 that is a vehicle body side member at two positions separated from each other in the front-rear direction. A steering support 42 is fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement 40, and a steering column 14 is held by fixing a tilt bracket 44 on the front side and a breakaway bracket 46 on the rear side to the steering support 42.
The steering column 14 is held by a tilt bracket 44 so as to be rotatable around a tilt center line To. The tilt center line To is a line extending in the left-right direction (width direction) of the vehicle. The steering column 14 is held in a state where relative movement is permitted by the breakaway bracket 46.
The lever 50 is a lever that is operated when switching between a state in which the rotation of the steering column 14 is allowed and a state in which the steering column 14 is prevented. Although the steering column 14 is always in a position that prevents rotation, the steering column 14 can be rotated around the tilt center line To in a position that allows rotation, and the height of the steering wheel 10 can be adjusted. it can.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, bracket housings extending parallel to the width direction are respectively provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction of a housing (hereinafter referred to as a column side housing) 30 of the booster 16 of the steering column 14. A recess 56 is formed. The bracket receiving recess 56 is formed with its center line P extending parallel to the vehicle width direction, and the center line P of the bracket receiving recess 56 coincides with the tilt center line To. The tilt bracket 44 is attached to each of the bracket receiving recesses 56 provided on the left and right sides.
The tilt bracket 44 includes a cylindrical portion (hollow shaft portion) 60 and an arm portion 62 that are integrally formed with each other. The arm part 62 extends in a direction parallel to the axis of the cylinder part 60. Therefore, in a state where the cylindrical portion 60 is accommodated in the bracket accommodating recess 56, the arm portion 62 protrudes and extends in the vehicle width direction, and is fastened to the steering support 42 at the attachment portion (in this embodiment, a female screw hole) 66. It is fixed by 68 (including bolts and nuts in this embodiment).

The bracket receiving recess 56 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a boss portion 72 is provided at the center of the bottom surface. A female screw hole 74 extending in a direction parallel to the center line P is formed on the top surface 73 of the boss portion 72, and an arcuate notch 76 (see FIG. 3) is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the boss portion 72. The gap between the outer peripheral surface of the boss portion 72 and the inner peripheral surface 78 of the bracket housing recess 56 is an annular groove portion 80.
A bolt 82 as a column side fixing member is fixed to the boss portion 72 of the bracket receiving recess 56 by screwing. The bolt 82 has a stepped shape and includes a large diameter portion 84, a small diameter portion 85, and a male screw portion 86. An annular sliding member 88 is fitted into the step portion of the large diameter portion 84 and the small diameter portion 85.
In the bolt 82, the male screw portion 86 is screwed into the female screw portion 74 provided in the boss portion 72. In this state, the posture is parallel to the center line P, and the small diameter portion 85 is a large diameter portion on the boss portion side. 84 is located on the opening side of the bracket housing recess 56.
The sliding member 88 has an inclined surface 90 that is inclined with respect to the center line P. The inclined surface 90 is a surface that inclines toward the opening as it goes from the inner peripheral side to the outer peripheral side. The sliding member 88 is made of polyacetal or the like, and friction when the separation preventing projections 110, 112, 114 and the bolt 82 are relatively rotated is reduced.

On the other hand, at the intermediate part of the cylindrical part 60 of the tilt bracket 44, a strip-like extended part is bent toward the inner peripheral side to form separation preventing projections 110, 112, 114 (see FIG. 3). . The protrusions 110, 112, 114 for preventing separation are located on the bottom side of the large diameter portion 84 of the bolt 82 in a state where the bolt 82 is fixed at a position where the central angles of the cylindrical portion 60 are separated from each other by 120 degrees. It is provided in the part to do.
End surfaces 110R, 112R, and 114R (only the end surface 112R is shown in FIG. 2) of the separation preventing projections 110, 112, and 114 are surfaces inclined toward the opening from the inner peripheral side toward the outer peripheral side.
Further, a strip-shaped portion at the end opposite to the arm portion 62 of the cylindrical portion 60 is bent toward the inner peripheral side to form a phase determining projection 118. In this embodiment, the phase determining projection 118 is provided at a position where the center angle is separated from the projection preventing projection 112 by 180 °.

  A cylindrical sliding member 120 is provided between the inner peripheral surface 78 of the bracket housing recess 56 and the cylindrical portion 60 of the tilt bracket 44. A flange 122 is formed at one end of the sliding member 120, and the flange 122 is disposed so as to protrude from the opening of the bracket housing recess 56 to the outer peripheral side. The sliding member 120 is made of polyacetal or the like, and friction when the tilt bracket 44 and the column side housing 30 are rotated relative to each other is reduced.

In the steering column holding device configured as described above, the cylindrical portion 60 of the tilt bracket 44 is held in a bracket receiving recess 56 formed in the steering column 14 so as to be relatively rotatable, and is fixed to the steering support 42 at the arm portion 62. As a result, the steering column 14 is held on the vehicle body side member such as the steering support 42 so as to be relatively rotatable.
In the steering column holding device according to the present embodiment, the cylinder portion 60 is attached to the bracket receiving recess 56 and the phase determining projection 118 is attached in a relative phase located inside the notch 76. The relative phase of the cylindrical portion 60 with respect to the bracket receiving recess 56 is determined by the phase determining projection 118 and the notch 76, and the arm portion 62 is configured to extend above the cylindrical portion 60. In the present embodiment, the notch 76 and the phasing portion 118 constitute a phasing device 124.
In a state where the cylindrical portion 60 is accommodated in the bracket accommodating recess 56 and the bolt 82 is fixed, the separation preventing projections 110, 112, and 114 have a large diameter on the bottom side from the large diameter portion 84 of the bolt 82. The state is such that the outer peripheral surface of the portion 84 reaches the inner peripheral side. As a result, the separation preventing projections 110, 112, 114 are engaged with the large diameter portion 84, whereby the separation of the cylindrical portion 60 can be prevented. In this embodiment, the detachment prevention device 130 is constituted by the bolt 82 and the detachment prevention protrusions 110, 112, 114, and the like.
Further, the end surfaces 110 </ b> R, 112 </ b> R, 114 </ b> R of the separation preventing projections 110, 112, 114 are opposed to the inclined surface 90 of the sliding member 88. The position of the bolt 82 in the direction parallel to the center line P of the bolt 82 is determined by the end surface 132 of the small diameter portion 85 on the male screw portion 86 side coming into contact with the top surface 73 of the boss portion 72. When the inclined surface 90 of the bolt 82 and the end surfaces 110R, 112R, and 114R of the protrusions 110, 112, and 114 for preventing separation come into contact with each other, the position in the direction parallel to the center line P of the cylindrical portion 60 is determined. In that sense, the detachment prevention device 130 is also a positioning device that determines an axial position in a direction parallel to the center line P of the cylindrical portion 60.
The sliding member 88 can be an elastic body, or an elastic member such as a disc spring can be provided between the sliding member 88 and the step surface of the large diameter portion 84 and the small diameter portion 85 of the bolt 82. By doing so, even if the sliding member 88 is worn, a decrease in positioning accuracy in a direction parallel to the center line P of the cylindrical portion 60 can be suppressed.

  The sliding member 120 and the cylindrical portion 60 are fitted to the inner peripheral surface 78 of the bracket receiving recess 56, and the bolt 82 is fixed to the central boss portion 62. Extends to the inside of the annular groove 80. As described above, the boss portion 72 is provided in the central portion, and the periphery of the boss portion 72 is formed as an annular groove portion 80. The length of the part 60 and the sliding member 120 can be increased. A vertical force corresponding to the torque applied to the output portion 18 (steering shaft) is applied to the attachment portion 66 of the tilt bracket 44 with the steering support 42. Therefore, a vertical force corresponding to the bracket housing recess 56 and the cylindrical portion 60 is also applied, and a vertical force is also applied to the sliding member 120. On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the pressure receiving area of the sliding member 120 can be increased, the stress applied to the sliding member 120 can be reduced and the life of the sliding member 120 can be extended. Is possible.

As described above, the bolt 82 is screwed in until the end surface 132 comes into contact with the top surface 73. In this state, the bolt 82 does not have a portion protruding outward from the surface F that defines the opening edge C of the bracket housing recess 56. The bolt 82 is screwed in using the tool engagement hole 134 formed in the end face of the large diameter portion 84. As a result, the space near the opening of the bracket housing recess 56 can be widened.
The arm portion 62 is fixed to the steering support 42 by a fastening device 68 at the attachment portion 66. In the present embodiment, since the space near the opening of the bracket housing recess 56 can be widened as described above, the attachment portion 66 of the arm portion 62 can be brought closer to the cylindrical portion 60. The length M between the end surface of the column side housing 30 (surface F defining the opening edge C) and the screw portion 66 can be shortened, and the length of the arm portion 62 can be shortened. As a result, the steering column 14 can be downsized in the width direction.
Further, since the arm M can be shortened, the moment acting on the tilt bracket 44 can be reduced. As a result, the life of the tilt bracket 44 can be extended or the strength can be reduced. In this case, the cost can be reduced.
Furthermore, if the moment acting on the tilt bracket 44 is reduced, the cylindrical portion 60 can be satisfactorily held in the bracket housing recess 56. In other words, if the moment acting on the tilt bracket 44 is reduced, it can be satisfactorily held even if the length of the cylindrical portion 60 of the tilt bracket 44 is short, but in this embodiment, Since the length of the cylindrical portion 60 (the length L of the bracket housing recess 56) is increased and the moment is reduced, the tilt bracket 44 can be held in the bracket housing recess 56 even better.

When adjusting the height of the steering wheel 10, the column-side housing 30 is rotated relative to the tilt bracket 44. A sliding member 120 is provided between the cylindrical portion 60 and the inner peripheral surface 78. A sliding member 88 is provided between the end faces 110R to 114R and the bolt 82. Therefore, the frictional resistance when these are relatively rotated can be reduced.
Further, since the sliding member 120 has the flange 122, the tilt bracket 44 and the column side housing 30 are not directly brought into contact with each other even around the opening edge C of the column side housing 30. In other words, the sliding member 120 is interposed between the tilt bracket 44 and the column side housing 30 also around the opening edge C. As a result, the friction during relative rotation can be further reduced.
Further, the tilt bracket 44 is not held by the column-side housing 30 by the bolts 82, but the bolts 82 have a positioning action and a detachment preventing action of the tilt bracket 44. As a result, there is an advantage that the strength of the bolt 82 can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the steering column holding device is applied to the electric power steering system in which the steering force is boosted by the driving force of an electric motor or the like and applied to the steering device 12, but the hydraulic power The present invention can also be applied to a steering system and a steering system that does not include a booster.
It is not essential to provide the bolt 82. In the above embodiment, since the steering column 14 is held on both the left and right sides, it is considered that the possibility that the tilt bracket 44 is detached is low.
Furthermore, in the above embodiment, three protrusions for preventing separation are provided, but two or four or more protrusions may be used.
In addition to the above-described embodiments, the present invention can be carried out in various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

1 is a diagram showing an entire steering system including a steering column holding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the principal part of the said steering column holding | maintenance apparatus. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  14: Steering column 40: Instrument panel reinforcement 44: Tilt bracket 56: Bracket housing recess 60: Tube part 62: Arm part 72: Boss part 76: Notch 80: Ring groove part 82: Bolt 99: Engagement part 110.11.114 : Protrusion for separation prevention 118: Protrusion for phase alignment 120: Sliding member 124: Phase alignment device 130: Removal prevention device

Claims (5)

A steering column holding device that includes a bracket that connects a vehicle body side member and a steering column, and holds the steering column relative to the vehicle body side member so as to be relatively rotatable;
The bracket includes a cylindrical portion constituting a hollow shaft portion,
The steering column has a bottomed cylindrical shape having a bottom surface and a cylindrical surface, and includes a column side housing in which a bracket housing recess for housing the cylindrical portion of the bracket is relatively rotatable;
The steering column holding device is located on the inner peripheral side of the cylindrical portion in a state where the cylindrical portion is received in the bracket receiving recess, and allows the relative rotation between the cylindrical portion and the bracket receiving recess. A device for preventing the cylindrical portion from being detached from the bracket housing recess, (a) fixed to the bottom of the bracket housing recess, a small diameter portion on the bottom side, and a large diameter portion on the opening side of the bracket housing recess A column-side fixing member, and (b) in the state where the column-side fixing member of the cylindrical portion is fixed to the column-side housing, and located at the bottom side from the large-diameter portion. Detachment prevention device provided with one or more detachment prevention protrusions that are provided in a state where the part extends from the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter part to the inner peripheral side and prevents detachment by engagement with the large diameter part It is characterized by including Tearing column holding device. The bracket receiving recess has a structure in which the bottom portion of the bracket receiving recess has a boss portion provided at the center of the bottom surface, and the cylindrical portion extends into an annular groove around the boss portion. steering column retaining device according together are accommodated, in claim 1, wherein the column-side fixing member is fixed to the boss portion. The steering column holding device includes: (a) an arc-shaped notch formed on the outer peripheral surface of the boss portion; and (b) a phasing portion that is formed on the cylindrical portion and protrudes toward the inner peripheral side. The steering column holding device according to claim 2 , further comprising a phase determining device that determines a relative phase of the cylindrical portion with respect to the steering column by matching phases of the notches and the phase determining projection. The column-side fixing member, in a state of being fixed to the column housing, according to any one of 3 claims 1 does not include a portion protruding outward from an opening surface including the opening edge of the bracket accommodating concave portion Steering column holding device. The steering column retaining device, any one of claims 1 to 4 comprising a disposed a resin tubular slide member between the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the bracket accommodating recess 1 Steering column holding device described in 1.

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