JP5626045B2 - Steering device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering device, and more particularly to a synthetic resin steering device that achieves both weight reduction and securing of rigidity.

  In recent years, it has been necessary to reduce the weight of vehicles in order to improve fuel efficiency, and attempts have been made to reduce the weight of steering devices by using a light alloy as a main material. In the steering device of Patent Document 1, a plurality of ridges are formed on the inner peripheral surface of an outer column formed of a synthetic resin, and a metal inner column scrapes the ridges at the time of a secondary collision. Is intended to absorb. With this structure, the steering device of Patent Document 1 realizes an impact-absorbing steering device that is small and light, and that can obtain stable impact energy absorption performance.

  However, the steering device of Patent Document 1 is simply formed of a synthetic resin for the outer column alone, and is not considered to improve the mounting rigidity between the steering device and the vehicle body at the time of a secondary collision. It has been demanded to ensure both rigidity and rigidity.

JP 2010-36677 A

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a synthetic resin steering device that achieves both weight reduction and ensuring rigidity.

The above problem is solved by the following means. That is, the first invention is a synthetic resin lower column, an upper column that is fitted to the lower column so as to be movable in a collapsible manner, and rotatably supports a steering shaft on which a steering wheel is mounted, and the lower column. A lower bracket that is integrally formed by projecting from the lower column to the upper side of the vehicle body on the front side of the vehicle body, a lower bolt hole formed in the lower bracket parallel to a horizontal axis perpendicular to the central axis of the lower column, A metal lower side mounting bolt that secures the lower bracket to a metal lower side body mounting plate that is inserted into the lower side bolt hole and is fixed to the vehicle body. From the lower column to the vehicle rear side of the lower column, the vehicle body upper side An upper bracket that is integrally formed to protrude from the center axis of the lower column The upper bracket is fastened and fixed to a metal upper side vehicle mounting plate that is inserted into the upper side bolt hole formed in the upper bracket, parallel to the intersecting horizontal axis, and fixed to the vehicle body. A metal upper side mounting bolt is provided, and a plurality of upper brackets are formed in the vehicle rear side of the lower column so as to be separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. A metal hollow is formed on the shaft portion of the lower side mounting bolt. A cylindrical lower sleeve is fitted externally, the outer peripheral surface of the lower sleeve is fitted into the lower bolt hole, and a metal hollow cylindrical upper sleeve is attached to the shaft of the upper mounting bolt. stearin There is fitted, characterized in that the outer circumferential surface of the upper side sleeve to the upper side bolt holes are fitted into It is a device.

A second invention is the steering device according to the first invention, wherein the lower side body mounting plate is formed on the lower side vehicle body mounting plate, the front side of the vehicle body is closed, the rear side of the vehicle body is opened, and the lower side mounting bolt is inserted. notched groove, is formed on the upper side body mounting plate, scan the front side of the vehicle body is closed are opened rear side of the vehicle body, characterized by comprising an upper side notched groove in which the upper side mounting bolts are inserted tearing Device.

According to a third aspect, in the steering device according to the second aspect, the lower side cutout groove and the upper side cutout groove have a width in the vehicle vertical direction that is wider on the vehicle rear side than on the vehicle front side. a scan tearing apparatus characterized by there.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the steering device of the second aspect of the invention, the lower notch groove of the upper side cut-out groove has a vehicle rear side of the closed end portion on the front side of the vehicle body, and a vehicle body upper side. it is scan tearing device according to claim convex portion protruding is formed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the steering device according to the second aspect of the invention, the lower edge of the lower notch groove has a length from the closed end on the front side of the vehicle body to the rear side of the vehicle body. it is scan tearing device according to claim which is formed longer than a length of up to the rear side of the vehicle body from the closed end of the vehicle body front side of the vehicle body lower side edge portion of the upper side cut-out groove.

According to a sixth invention, in the steering device according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, the upper bracket is sandwiched between the side plates of the upper vehicle body mounting plate so as to be adjustable in a tilt direction. a scan tearing apparatus characterized.

A seventh invention is the steering device according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, wherein the torque sensor for detecting torque acting on the steering shaft is attached to the vehicle body front side of the lower column and the torque A sensor housing that houses a sensor; a gear housing that is attached to the front side of the vehicle body of the lower column and that is attached with an electric motor that applies a predetermined steering assist force according to a detection value of the torque sensor; and the gear housing and the lower it is scan tearing device according to claim the column are integrally molded with synthetic resin.

Eighth invention is a steering apparatus of the seventh day of the invention, a scan Tearing apparatus characterized by said gear housing, the lower column and the sensor housing are integrally molded with synthetic resin.

  The steering device of the present invention includes a synthetic resin lower column, an upper bracket integrally formed by projecting from the lower column to the vehicle body upper side on the vehicle body rear side of the lower column, and a horizontal axis orthogonal to the central axis of the lower column The upper side bolt hole formed in the upper bracket parallel to the axis, and the metal upper side that is inserted into the upper side bolt hole and is fixed to the metal upper body mounting plate fixed to the vehicle body by fastening the upper bracket. A mounting bolt is provided.

  Therefore, when the driver collides with the steering wheel during the secondary collision, the impact force to the upper side of the vehicle body is supported by the metal upper side mounting bolt and the upper side vehicle body mounting plate, so the synthetic resin lower column and upper The deformation generated in the bracket is reduced, and the upper column can be smoothly collapsed.

1 is an overall perspective view of a steering device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the front view which looked at the principal part of the steering device of Example 1 of the present invention from the side of a vehicle body. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is BB sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the lower-side vehicle body mounting plate of FIG. 2 as viewed from the side of the vehicle body. FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 2. It is CC sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view of the upper side vehicle body mounting plate of FIG. 2 as viewed from the side of the vehicle body. It is the front view which looked at the principal part of the steering device of Example 2 of the present invention from the body side. FIG. 10 is a front view of the upper side vehicle body mounting plate of FIG. 9 as viewed from the side of the vehicle body. It is the front view which looked at the principal part of the steering device of Example 3 of the present invention from the body side. It is Q arrow view of FIG. It is DD sectional drawing of FIG.

  Examples 1 to 3 of the present invention will be described below.

  FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a steering apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, which is a column assist type rack and pinion type electric power steering apparatus. The electric power steering apparatus shown in FIG. 1 applies a steering assist force of a steering assist portion (electric assist mechanism) 102 attached to a column 105 to a steering shaft in order to reduce an operation force of the steering wheel 101, and an intermediate shaft. This is an electric power steering device of a type in which a rack of a rack and pinion type steering gear 103 is reciprocated through 106 and a steered wheel is steered through a tie rod 104.

  2 is a front view of the main part of the steering device according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the side of the vehicle body, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view of the lower-side vehicle body mounting plate of FIG. 2 as viewed from the side of the vehicle body. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 2, and FIG. 8 is a front view of the upper-side vehicle body mounting plate in FIG. 2 viewed from the side of the vehicle body.

  The steering apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is an example in which the present invention is applied to an electric power steering apparatus that does not have a tilt position adjusting mechanism and a telescopic position adjusting mechanism of the steering wheel 101.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 8, the steering apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a gear housing (reduction gear box) 30, a lower bracket 40, a sensor housing (torque sensor housing) 50, and a lower column (outer column) 10. The upper bracket 60 is integrally formed of glass fiber-containing synthetic resin. Since it is integrally formed of synthetic resin, the strength of the joint is improved, and a lightweight electric power steering device can be obtained.

  Moreover, since it integrally molds with the synthetic resin containing glass fiber, glass fiber continues without breaking, and the intensity | strength of a molded article improves. An outer peripheral surface 21 of an upper column (inner column) 20 is fitted to an inner peripheral surface 11 (see FIG. 7) of the lower column 10 so as to be movable in a collapsed manner toward the front side of the vehicle body. The upper column 20 is made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy or iron.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an upper steering shaft 22A is rotatably supported on the upper column 20, and the steering wheel 101 of FIG. 1 is fixed to the right end (rear side of the vehicle body) of the upper steering shaft 22A. . On the vehicle body front side of the upper steering shaft 22A, the vehicle body rear side of the lower steering shaft (not shown) is serrated. Accordingly, the upper steering shaft 22A and the lower steering shaft are engaged with each other so that rotational torque can be transmitted and relative displacement can be performed in the axial direction. Therefore, the upper steering shaft 22A and the lower steering shaft can be shortened in total length by the relative sliding of the engaging portion at the time of collision.

  Further, the vehicle body front side end portion of the lower steering shaft is coupled to the vehicle body rear side end portion of the output shaft 31 of the steering assisting portion 102. The output shaft 31 protrudes from the front end surface of the gear housing 30 of the steering assisting portion 102 and is connected to the rear end portion of the intermediate shaft 106 via the universal joint 107 shown in FIG. An input shaft 109 of the steering gear 103 is connected to the front end portion of the intermediate shaft 106 via another universal joint 108.

  An output shaft 31 is rotatably supported on the gear housing 30 by a bearing, and the lower steering shaft and the output shaft 31 are connected by a torsion bar. An electric motor 36 is fixed to the gear housing 30, and the rotation of the electric motor 36 is transmitted to the output shaft 31 via a speed reduction mechanism composed of a worm wheel and a worm.

  A torque sensor that detects torsion of the torsion bar is provided around the right side of the output shaft 31. The torque sensor is housed in a sensor housing 50 that is integrally formed with the lower column 10. The torque sensor detects the direction and magnitude of torque applied from the steering wheel 101 to the lower steering shaft. In response to this detection signal, the electric motor 36 is driven to cause the output shaft 31 to generate an auxiliary torque with a predetermined magnitude in a predetermined direction via a speed reduction mechanism.

  A steering lock device (not shown) is fixed to the steering lock device mounting portion 14 on the lower surface of the lower column 10, and when the ignition key is turned to the lock position and pulled out from the key hole, the lock key is engaged with the key lock collar of the lower steering shaft. Then, the lower steering shaft is fixed to the lower column 10 to prevent the lower steering shaft from rotating.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of ribs 15 are integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower column 10 in the vicinity of the steering lock device mounting portion 14. Therefore, the torsional deformation of the lower column 10 is prevented when an excessively large torsional moment is applied to the lower steering shaft in the key lock state.

  The key lock collar and steering lock device mounting portion 14 is disposed between the lower bracket 40 and the upper bracket 60. Therefore, since the reaction force when a torsional load is applied to the lower steering shaft in the key lock state can be supported by both the lower bracket 40 and the upper bracket 60, the load can be dispersed, which is preferable. A synthetic resin front cover 32 is attached to the end surface of the gear housing 30 on the front side of the vehicle body, and the end surface of the gear housing 30 on the front side of the vehicle body is sealed.

  The lower bracket 40 is integrally formed on the vehicle body front side of the lower column 10 so as to protrude from the lower column 10 to the vehicle body upper side (upper side in FIG. 2). The lower bracket 40 is fixed to the lower-side vehicle body mounting plate 43 by lower-side mounting bolts 42 inserted into lower-side bolt holes 41 (see FIG. 4) formed in the lower bracket 40. The lower side mounting bolt 42 is made of metal such as iron.

  The lower-side bolt hole 41 is formed in the lower bracket 40 in parallel to a horizontal axis line (axis line orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 2) orthogonal to the central axis 12 of the lower column 10. The lower-side vehicle body mounting plate 43 is made of metal such as iron, and its upper end is fixed to the vehicle body 13, and side plates 431 and 431 extending from the vehicle body 13 to the vehicle body lower side sandwich both sides of the lower bracket 40 in the vehicle width direction.

  A hollow cylindrical sleeve 44 made of metal such as iron is externally fitted to the shaft portion 421 of the lower side mounting bolt 42, and the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 44 is fitted internally to the lower side bolt hole 41. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the side plates 431 and 431 of the lower-side vehicle body mounting plate 43 are formed with a lower-side notch groove 45, and the shaft portion 421 of the lower-side mounting bolt 42 is formed in the lower-side notch groove 45. Is inserted. The lower-side notch groove 45 is formed such that the front side of the vehicle body is closed and the rear side of the vehicle body is opened. Further, the lower cutout groove 45 has a groove width in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, a groove width W2 on the vehicle body rear side is wider than a groove width W1 on the vehicle body front side, and gradually widens from the vehicle body front side toward the vehicle body rear side. It is formed to become.

  A nut 46 is screwed into the male screw 422 at the right end of the shaft portion 421 of the lower side mounting bolt 42, and the side plates 431, 431 are sandwiched between the head 423 at the left end of the shaft portion 421 and the washer 47. The inner surface is strongly pressed against the outer surface of the sleeve 44. In this manner, the sleeve 44 of the lower bracket 40 can be firmly fastened to the lower-side vehicle body mounting plate 43. Since the outer surface of the iron sleeve 44 is used for tightening, the durability of the resin lower bracket 40 is improved.

  Similarly, the upper bracket 60 is integrally formed on the vehicle body rear side of the lower column 10 so as to project from the lower column 10 to the vehicle body upper side (upper side in FIG. 2). The upper bracket 60 is fixed to the upper-side vehicle body mounting plate 63 by upper-side mounting bolts 62 inserted through upper-side bolt holes 61 (see FIG. 7) formed in the upper bracket 60. The upper side mounting bolt 62 is made of metal such as iron.

  The upper-side bolt hole 61 is formed in the upper bracket 60 in parallel to a horizontal axis line (axis line orthogonal to the paper surface of FIG. 2) orthogonal to the central axis 12 of the lower column 10. The upper-side vehicle body mounting plate 63 is made of metal such as iron, and its upper end is fixed to the vehicle body 13, and side plates 631 and 631 extending from the vehicle body 13 to the vehicle body lower side sandwich both sides of the upper bracket 60 in the vehicle width direction.

  A hollow cylindrical sleeve 64 made of metal such as iron is externally fitted to the shaft portion 621 of the upper side mounting bolt 62, and an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 64 is internally fitted to the upper side bolt hole 61. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the side plates 631 and 631 of the upper-side vehicle body mounting plate 63 are formed with upper-side notch grooves 65, and the shaft portions 621 of the upper-side mounting bolts 62 are formed in the upper-side notch grooves 65. Is inserted. The upper side notch groove 65 is formed such that the front side of the vehicle body is closed and the rear side of the vehicle body is opened.

  Further, the upper notch groove 65 has a groove width in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, the groove width W4 on the vehicle body rear side is wider than the groove width W3 on the vehicle body front side, and gradually widens from the vehicle body front side toward the vehicle body rear side. It is formed to become. Further, at the edge 652 of the upper side notch groove 65 on the vehicle body lower side (lower side in FIG. 8), a convex portion 653 projecting upward of the vehicle body is formed on the vehicle body rear side of the closed end portion 651 on the vehicle body front side. Is formed. The convex portion 653 protrudes from the edge portion 652 on the vehicle body lower side by a height H.

  Further, an edge 452 on the vehicle body lower side of the lower-side notch groove 45 shown in FIG. 5 has a length L1 from the closed end 451 on the vehicle front side to the vehicle rear side, and the upper-side notch groove shown in FIG. The edge 652 on the lower side of the vehicle body 65 is formed longer than the length L2 from the closed end 651 on the vehicle body front side to the vehicle body rear side.

  A nut 66 is screwed into a male screw 622 at the right end of the shaft portion 621 of the upper side mounting bolt 62, and the side plates 631, 631 are sandwiched between the head 623 at the left end of the shaft portion 621 and the washer 67. The inner surface is strongly pressed against the outer surface of the sleeve 64. In this way, the sleeve 64 of the upper bracket 60 can be firmly tightened to the upper side vehicle body mounting plate 63. Since the outer surface of the iron sleeve 64 is used for tightening, the durability of the resin upper bracket 60 is improved.

  The procedure for attaching the steering device of the present invention to the vehicle body 13 is as follows. That is, first, the nuts 46 and 66 on the lower bracket 40 side and the upper bracket 60 side are loosened, and between the heads 423 and 623 and the side plates 431 and 631, and between the washers 47 and 67 and the side plates 431 and 631. Gaps β1, β2, β3, and β4 (see FIGS. 3 and 6) are formed between them.

  Next, the shaft portion 421 of the lower side mounting bolt 42 on the side of the lower bracket 40 that is heavy is placed on the edge 452 on the vehicle body lower side of the lower side notch groove 45. Subsequently, the shaft portion 621 of the upper side mounting bolt 62 on the upper bracket 60 side is inserted into the upper side notch groove 65. As described above, the length L1 of the lower side edge 452 of the lower notch groove 45 is longer than the length L2 of the upper side edge 652 of the upper notch groove 65. . Accordingly, when the shaft portion 621 of the upper side mounting bolt 62 is inserted into the upper side notch groove 65, the shaft portion 421 of the lower side notch groove 45 is difficult to come off from the edge 452 on the vehicle body lower side of the lower side notch groove 45. Therefore, the assembly work becomes easy.

  Further, since the groove width in the vehicle body vertical direction of the lower side notch groove 45 and the upper side notch groove 65 is formed so as to gradually increase from the vehicle body front side toward the vehicle body rear side, the shaft portion 421 is formed. , 621 can be easily inserted into the lower notch groove 45 and the upper notch groove 65, and the assembling work time can be shortened.

  When the shaft portion 621 of the upper side mounting bolt 62 is inserted into the upper side notch groove 65, the shaft portion 621 gets over the convex portion 653 and reaches the closed end portion 651 of the upper side notch groove 65. At the same time, the shaft portion 421 of the lower side mounting bolt 42 reaches the closed end 451 of the lower side notch groove 45. Since the convex portion 653 protrudes by a height H from the lower edge portion 652 of the vehicle body, the shaft portion 621 that has once reached the closed end portion (regular assembly position) 651 extends from the upper-side notch groove 65. Hard to come off.

  Finally, the nuts 46 and 66 on the lower bracket 40 side and the upper bracket 60 side are tightened to sandwich the side plates 431 and 631 between the head 423 and the washer 47 and between the head 623 and the washer 67. Then, the lower bracket 40 and the upper bracket 60 are fixed to the lower-side vehicle body mounting plate 43 and the upper-side vehicle body mounting plate 63.

  When the driver collides with the steering wheel 101 during the secondary collision, an impact force F (see FIGS. 2 and 7) on the upper side of the vehicle body acts on the upper column 20 and the lower column 10. The impact force F toward the upper side of the vehicle body is mainly supported by the iron upper side mounting bolts 62 and the upper side vehicle body mounting plate 63, so that deformation occurring in the synthetic resin lower column 10 and the upper bracket 60 is reduced. Smooth collapse movement of the column 20 becomes possible.

  Further, since the lower bracket 40 and the upper bracket 60 are integrally formed with the lower column 10, the mounting accuracy of the lower bracket 40 and the upper bracket 60 with respect to the lower column 10 is good. Therefore, when the lower column 10 is fixed to the vehicle body by the lower bracket 40 and the upper bracket 60, bending and twisting generated in the lower column 10 are reduced, and thus the upper column 20 can be smoothly moved in a collapsed manner.

  In the above embodiment, only the lower column 10, the lower bracket 40, and the upper bracket 60 may be integrally formed of synthetic resin, and the gear housing 30 and the sensor housing 50 formed as separate parts may be connected.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 9 is a front view of the main part of the steering device according to the second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the side of the vehicle body. FIG. 10 is a front view of the upper-side vehicle body mounting plate of FIG. 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 steering device according to the second embodiment of the present invention is an example in which the deformation generated in the synthetic resin lower column 10 and the upper bracket 60 is further reduced by providing two upper brackets 60. As shown in FIGS. 9 to 10, the lower bracket 40 of the steering device according to the second embodiment of the present invention has the same structure as that of the first embodiment, and the lower column 10 made of synthetic resin is disposed on the front side of the vehicle body. The column 10 is integrally formed so as to protrude upward from the vehicle body (upper side in FIG. 9). Further, the lower bracket 40 is fixed to the lower-side vehicle body mounting plate 43 by an iron lower-side mounting bolt inserted through a lower-side bolt hole (not shown) formed in the lower bracket 40.

  The lower-side vehicle body mounting plate 43 has exactly the same structure as that of the first embodiment. The upper end of the lower-side vehicle body mounting plate 43 is fixed to the vehicle body 13, and the side plates 431 and 431 extending from the vehicle body 13 to the vehicle body lower side. It is sandwiched. The side plates 431 and 431 of the lower-side vehicle body mounting plate 43 are formed with a lower-side notch groove 45 having the same structure as that of the first embodiment, and the shaft portion of the lower-side mounting bolt is inserted into the lower-side notch groove 45. .

  The upper bracket 60 protrudes from the lower column 10 to the vehicle body rear side of the lower column 10 and to the vehicle body upper side (upper side in FIG. 2), and is separated from the synthetic resin lower column 10 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Two are formed. The upper brackets 60, 60 have exactly the same structure as that of the first embodiment, and are formed on the upper side by iron upper side mounting bolts inserted into upper side bolt holes (not shown) formed in the upper brackets 60, 60. It is fixed to the vehicle body mounting plate 68.

  The upper-side vehicle body mounting plate 68 is made of metal such as iron, and the upper end thereof is fixed to the vehicle body 13. The side plates 681 and 681 extending downward from the vehicle body 13 sandwich the both sides of the upper brackets 60 and 60 in the vehicle width direction. Yes.

  Two upper-side notch grooves 69, 69 having the same structure as that of the first embodiment are formed on the side plates 681, 681 of the upper-side vehicle body mounting plate 68. The upper-side notch grooves 69, 69 have upper-side mounting bolts. Each of the shaft portions 621 and 621 is inserted. The upper-side notch grooves 69 and 69 are formed apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. The interval between the upper-side notch grooves 69 and 69 is the same as the interval between the upper brackets 60 and 60.

  The upper-side notch grooves 69 and 69 have the same structure as that of the first embodiment, and are formed such that the front side of the vehicle body is closed and the rear side of the vehicle body is opened. Further, the upper-side notch grooves 69 and 69 are formed such that the groove width in the vertical direction of the vehicle body gradually increases from the vehicle body front side toward the vehicle body rear side. Further, the edge portions 692 and 692 of the upper side notch grooves 69 and 69 on the vehicle body lower side (the lower side in FIGS. 9 and 10) are arranged on the vehicle body rear side of the vehicle body front side closed end portions 691 and 691. Convex portions 693 and 693 projecting upward are formed. The procedure for attaching the steering device of the second embodiment of the present invention to the vehicle body 13 is the same as that of the first embodiment.

  When the driver collides with the steering wheel 101 during the secondary collision, an impact force to the upper side of the vehicle body acts on the upper column 20 and the lower column 10. The impact force to the upper side of the vehicle body acts as impact forces F1 and F2 on the shaft portions 621 and 621 of the iron upper side mounting bolts of the two upper brackets 60 and 60. Accordingly, since the deformation generated in the synthetic resin lower column 10 and the two upper brackets 60 and 60 is smaller than that in the first embodiment, the upper column 20 can be smoothly collapsed.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. 11 is a front view of the main part of the steering device according to the third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the side of the vehicle body, FIG. 12 is a view taken along the arrow Q in FIG. 11, and FIG. . 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 steering device according to the third embodiment of the present invention is an example in which the present invention is applied to a tilt-type electric power steering device that adjusts the tilt position of the steering wheel 101. As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the lower bracket 40 of the steering device according to the third embodiment of the present invention has the same structure as that of the first embodiment, and the lower column 10 made of synthetic resin is disposed on the front side of the vehicle body. It protrudes from the column 10 to the upper side of the vehicle body (upper side in FIG. 11) and is integrally formed. Further, the lower bracket 40 is fixed to the lower-side vehicle body mounting plate 43 by an iron lower-side mounting bolt inserted through a lower-side bolt hole (not shown) formed in the lower bracket 40.

  The lower-side vehicle body mounting plate 43 has exactly the same structure as that of the first embodiment. The upper end of the lower-side vehicle body mounting plate 43 is fixed to the vehicle body 13, and the side plates 431 and 431 extending from the vehicle body 13 to the vehicle body lower side. It is sandwiched. The side plates 431 and 431 of the lower-side vehicle body mounting plate 43 are formed with a lower-side notch groove 45 having the same structure as that of the first embodiment, and a shaft portion of a lower-side mounting bolt (not shown) is inserted into the lower-side notch groove 45. Is done.

  The upper bracket 60 has exactly the same structure as that of the first embodiment. The upper bracket 60 protrudes from the lower column 10 to the vehicle body rear side and from the lower column 10 to the vehicle body upper side (upper side in FIG. 11). It is integrally formed. The upper bracket 60 is fixed to the upper-side vehicle body mounting plate 71 by iron upper-side mounting bolts 62 inserted into upper-side bolt holes 61 (see FIG. 13) formed in the upper bracket 60. A hollow cylindrical sleeve 64 made of metal such as iron is externally fitted to the shaft portion 621 of the upper side mounting bolt 62, and an outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 64 is internally fitted to the upper side bolt hole 61.

  The upper-side vehicle body mounting plate 71 is made of metal such as iron, and the upper end thereof is fixed to the vehicle body 13 so that the outer surface of the upper bracket 60 can slide on the inner surface of the side plates 711 and 711 extending from the vehicle body 13 to the lower side of the vehicle body. It touches.

  Tilt adjusting long grooves 72 and 72 are formed in the side plates 711 and 711. The long grooves 72 and 72 for tilt adjustment are formed in the circular arc shape centering on the lower side mounting bolt inserted in the above-mentioned lower bracket 40. The shaft portion 621 of the upper side mounting bolt 62 is inserted from the left side of FIGS. 12 and 13 through the tilt adjusting long grooves 72 and 72 and the upper side bolt hole 61.

  A head 623 is formed at the left end of the upper side mounting bolt 62. A fixed cam 73, a movable cam 74, an operation lever 75, and a nut 76 are externally fitted in this order on the outer periphery of the right end of the shaft portion 621, and a female screw (not shown) formed on the inner diameter portion of the nut 76 is connected to the shaft portion 621. It is screwed into a male screw 622 formed at the right end of the part 621.

  Complementary inclined cam surfaces are formed on the opposing end surfaces of the fixed cam 73 and the movable cam 74 and mesh with each other. When the operation lever 75 connected to the right side surface of the movable cam 74 is operated by hand, the movable cam 74 rotates with respect to the fixed cam 73.

  When the operating lever 75 is rotated in the clamping direction, the slope of the inclined cam surface of the movable cam 74 rides on the slope of the inclined cam surface of the fixed cam 73, and simultaneously pulls the upper side mounting bolt 62 to the right side of FIGS. Then, the fixed cam 73 is pushed to the left side. The left side plate 711 is pushed rightward by the right end surface of the head 623 of the upper side mounting bolt 62, deforms the side plate 711 inward, and strongly presses the inner side surface of the side plate 711 against the outer side surface of the sleeve 64.

  At the same time, the right side plate 711 is pushed to the left by the left end surface of the fixed cam 73, deforms the side plate 711 inward, and strongly presses the inner surface of the side plate 711 against the outer surface of the sleeve 64. In this way, the sleeve 64 of the upper bracket 60 can be firmly fastened to the upper side vehicle body mounting plate 71. Since the outer surface of the iron sleeve 64 is used for tightening, the durability of the resin upper bracket 60 is improved. Therefore, the lower column 10 is fixed to the upper-side vehicle body mounting plate 71, and displacement of the lower column 10 in the tilt direction is prevented.

  Next, when the driver rotates the operation lever 75 in the tightening release direction, the side plate 711 of the upper-side vehicle body mounting plate 71 in which the distance in the free state is set wider than the dimension in the vehicle width direction of the outer surface of the sleeve 64. , 711 return elastically in the direction opposite to the clamping direction.

  Therefore, the lower column 10 is in a free state with respect to the side plates 711 and 711 of the upper-side vehicle body mounting plate 71. Therefore, the upper-side mounting bolt 62 is displaced in the tilt direction while being guided by the tilt adjusting long grooves 72 and 72. The tilt direction of the steering wheel 101 can be adjusted arbitrarily.

  When the driver collides with the steering wheel 101 during the secondary collision, an impact force F (see FIGS. 11 and 13) on the upper side of the vehicle body acts on the upper column 20 and the lower column 10. The impact force F to the upper side of the vehicle body is mainly supported by the iron upper side mounting bolts 62 and the upper side vehicle body mounting plate 71, so that the deformation generated in the synthetic resin lower column 10 and the upper bracket 60 is reduced. Smooth collapse movement of the column 20 becomes possible.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to the electric power steering apparatus has been described. However, the present invention may be applied to a steering apparatus that does not have the steering assisting unit 102. In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to the steering device without the tilt position adjusting mechanism and the telescopic position adjusting mechanism of the steering wheel and the tilt type steering device capable of adjusting only the tilt position has been described. Further, the present invention may be applied to a tilt / telescopic steering device capable of adjusting both the tilt position and the telescopic position.

101 Steering wheel 102 Steering assist unit (electric assist mechanism)
103 Steering gear 104 Tie rod 105 Column 106 Intermediate shaft 107 Universal joint 108 Universal joint 109 Input shaft 10 Lower column (outer column)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Inner peripheral surface 12 Center axis 13 Car body 14 Steering lock apparatus attaching part 15 Rib 20 Upper column (inner column)
21 outer peripheral surface 22A upper steering shaft 30 gear housing (reduction gear box)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 31 Output shaft 32 Front cover 36 Electric motor 40 Lower bracket 41 Lower side bolt hole 42 Lower side mounting bolt 421 Shaft part 422 Male screw 423 Head 43 Lower side body mounting plate 431 Side plate 44 Sleeve 45 Lower side notch groove 451 Closed end 452 Car body lower side edge 46 Nut 47 Washer 50 Sensor housing (torque sensor housing)
60 Upper bracket 61 Upper side bolt hole 62 Upper side mounting bolt 621 Shaft portion 622 Male screw 623 Head 63 Upper side body mounting plate 631 Side plate 64 Sleeve 65 Upper side notch groove 651 Closed end portion 652 Car body lower side edge portion 653 Convex Portion 66 Nut 67 Washer 68 Upper side body mounting plate 681 Side plate 69 Upper side notch groove 691 Closed end 692 Car body lower side edge 693 Convex portion 71 Upper side body mounting plate 711 Side plate 72 Tilt adjustment long groove 73 Fixed cam 74 Movable cam 75 Operation lever 76 Nut

Claims (8)

Lower column made of synthetic resin,
An upper column that fits on the lower column so that it can move in a collapsible manner and pivotally supports a steering shaft on which a steering wheel is mounted,
A lower bracket integrally formed to protrude from the lower column to the upper side of the vehicle body on the vehicle body front side of the lower column;
A lower bolt hole formed in the lower bracket in parallel to a horizontal axis perpendicular to the central axis of the lower column;
A metal lower side mounting bolt that is inserted into the lower side bolt hole and fixes the lower bracket to a metal lower side body mounting plate fixed to the vehicle body;
An upper bracket integrally formed to protrude from the lower column to the vehicle body upper side on the vehicle body rear side of the lower column,
An upper-side bolt hole formed in the upper bracket parallel to a horizontal axis perpendicular to the central axis of the lower column;
A metal upper side mounting bolt that is inserted into the upper side bolt hole and is fixed to a metal upper side vehicle body mounting plate fixed to the vehicle body by tightening the upper bracket,
On the vehicle body rear side of the lower column, a plurality of upper brackets are formed spaced apart in the vehicle body longitudinal direction,
A metal hollow cylindrical lower sleeve is fitted on the shaft of the lower mounting bolt, and an outer peripheral surface of the lower sleeve is fitted on the lower bolt hole.
A metal hollow cylindrical upper side sleeve is externally fitted to the shaft portion of the upper side mounting bolt, and an outer peripheral surface of the upper side sleeve is internally fitted to the upper side bolt hole. Steering device. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A lower notch groove formed on the lower side vehicle body mounting plate, the front side of the vehicle body is closed and the rear side of the vehicle body is opened, and the lower side mounting bolt is inserted;
The formed on the upper side body mounting plate, the front side of the vehicle body is closed are opened rear side of the vehicle body, scan Tearing device, characterized in that said upper side mounting bolt with an upper side notched groove to be inserted. The steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
Vehicle vertical direction of the groove width of the lower side notched groove and the upper side cutout grooves, scan tearing device, wherein a vehicle body rear side is formed wider than the vehicle body front side. The steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The edge of the vehicle body lower side of the upper side notched groove, on the vehicle body rear side of the closed end of the vehicle body front side, scan Tearing device, wherein a convex portion projecting to the vehicle body upper side is formed . The steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The edge of the lower notch groove on the vehicle lower side has a length from the closed end on the vehicle front side to the vehicle rear side on the vehicle front side of the edge on the vehicle lower side of the upper notch groove. scan tearing apparatus characterized by being formed longer than the length from the closed end to the vehicle body rear side. In the steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The upper bracket includes scan tearing apparatus characterized by being adjustably clamped in the tilt direction in the side plate of the upper side body mounting plate. In the steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A torque sensor for detecting torque acting on the steering shaft;
A sensor housing which is attached to the front side of the lower column and houses the torque sensor;
A gear housing attached to the vehicle body front side of the lower column, to which an electric motor for applying a predetermined steering assist force according to a detection value of the torque sensor is attached;
A tearing device, wherein the gear housing and the lower column are integrally formed of a synthetic resin. The steering apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein
Scan Tearing device the gear housing, the lower column and the sensor housing, characterized in that it is integrally molded by synthetic resin.

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