JP5773740B2 - Steering device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus including a telescopic mechanism (extension / contraction mechanism) and a tilt mechanism (swing mechanism) of a steering column.

  The steering device is configured by supporting a steering column for transmitting a steering wheel rotation operation to a steered wheel on a vehicle body. A steering apparatus in recent years is provided with a telescopic mechanism and a tilt mechanism of a steering column so that the distance to the handle and the tilt of the handle can be adjusted according to the posture of the driver. The telescopic mechanism is, for example, configured to advance and retract the holding side steering shaft with respect to the fixed side steering shaft of the steering column in which the holding side steering shaft is fitted so as to be movable back and forth with respect to the fixed side steering shaft. Adjust the position by making it possible to advance and retreat, and prohibit the advance and retreat and fix the position. In addition, the tilt mechanism has a configuration in which, for example, a steering column in which a holding side steering shaft is fitted to a fixed side steering shaft so as to be movable back and forth is rocked integrally with the fixed side steering shaft and the holding side steering shaft. The tilt is adjusted by allowing the side steering shaft and the holding side steering shaft to swing together, and the swing is prohibited to fix the tilt. The fixed side steering shaft may be fitted with a fixed cylinder, or the holding side steering shaft may be fitted with a holding cylinder. When both the fixed cylinder and the holding cylinder are present, they are in a fitting relationship.

  A telescopic mechanism and a tilt mechanism in a conventional steering apparatus often have a configuration in which a vehicle body side friction plate supported on the vehicle body side and a column side friction plate attached to the steering column side are tightened and released. The vehicle body side friction plate and the column side friction plate are integrated by screwing the operating shaft, which is a penetrating male screw shaft, into the female screw block, and operating with the female screw block by screwing the operating shaft. The distance between the pressing portion provided on the shaft is shortened, the column side friction plate is pressed against the vehicle body side friction plate and fixed in position, the operation shaft is loosened, and the distance between the female screw block and the pressing portion is increased. The column side friction plate is movable with respect to the vehicle body side friction plate so that the telescopic adjustment and tilt adjustment of the steering column can be performed. Here, in the case where the position fixing is not sufficient only by pressing the vehicle body side friction plates one by one by the column side friction plates, as shown in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, a plurality of column side friction plates are subjected to vehicle body side friction. A configuration in which plates are laminated is adopted.

  To fix the position of the column side friction plate to the vehicle body side friction plate more strongly, as shown in Patent Document 3 or Patent Document 4, the teeth are aligned in the steering column adjustment direction (stretching or swinging direction). The structure which meshes | engages the plate and the tooth block provided with the tooth | gear engaged with the tooth | gear of the said tooth plate is used. The configuration in which the tooth plate and the tooth block are engaged is usually used for fixing the position of the steering column in the expansion / contraction direction. As shown in Patent Document 5, for example, the position of the steering column is fixed in both the expansion / contraction direction and the swinging direction. Sometimes used. Since the tooth plate is a member that specifies a trajectory for telescopic adjustment or tilt adjustment, the tooth plate is fitted and fixed to a support bracket fixed to the vehicle body or a column bracket fixed to the steering column.

  The structure in which the tooth plate and the tooth block are engaged is a ratchet between the pressing portion of the operation shaft and the vehicle body side friction plate in order to earn the clearance of the tooth block with respect to the tooth plate necessary for releasing the engagement of the teeth. Provide a mechanism. The ratchet mechanism includes a rotating ratchet plate that rotates in conjunction with the operation shaft, and a fixed ratchet plate that does not rotate by engaging with the arc-shaped elongated hole of the vehicle body side friction plate. The rotating ratchet plate and the fixed ratchet plate release the meshing of the tooth block and the tooth plate by fitting the circumferential unevenness formed on each facing surface in a specific rotational positional relationship, and the specific rotational position. The tooth block is engaged with the tooth plate by contacting the convexity with the rotational positional relationship deviated from the relationship.

JP 2006-117120 A JP 2009-029224 JP 2006-182062 JP JP 2008-239111 A JP 2008-055983 A

  In a steering apparatus having a telescopic mechanism and a tilt mechanism, when adjusting the tightening of the column side friction plate with respect to the vehicle body side friction plate, the vehicle body side friction plate and the column side friction plate are alternately stacked as described above. . However, if the vehicle body side friction plate and the column side friction plate are laminated too much, the sliding resistance between the two becomes too large, which causes a problem that telescopic adjustment or tilt adjustment becomes difficult. However, no matter how many the vehicle body side friction plate and the column side friction plate are stacked, it is difficult to maintain a stable and strong positional relationship of the steering column corresponding to the meshing of the tooth plate and the tooth block. From now on, in order to maintain a stable and strong positional relationship of the steering column, there is no choice but to use a configuration in which the tooth plate and the tooth block are engaged with each other, rather than a configuration in which the vehicle body side friction plate and the column side friction plate are laminated. It was.

  The configuration in which the tooth plate and the tooth block are engaged can maintain a stable and strong positional relationship of the steering column, but the tooth plate is attached to the support bracket fixed to the vehicle body or the column bracket fixed to the steering column. To fit and fix the position, the design is basically made for each specification. For this reason, when the holding of the steering column does not need to be so strong, a configuration in which the vehicle body side friction plate and the column side friction plate are separately tightened and released is designed. This means that two types of designs are required in accordance with the degree of specification requirements, and hinders the reduction of manufacturing costs due to mass production effects.

  The tilt mechanism can be seen as having an operating shaft as the swinging shaft. However, if there is another swinging shaft, the body side friction plate and the column side friction plate can be moved away from the swinging shaft to the operation shaft. Tightening and releasing configuration is sufficient. On the other hand, since the telescopic mechanism fixes the position of the steering column only by the operation shaft, the configuration in which the vehicle body side friction plate and the column side friction plate are tightened and released in accordance with the specification requirements, the tooth plate and the tooth plate. It is desirable to be able to select a configuration for engaging the block. Therefore, the telescopic mechanism was studied in order to develop a steering device capable of selecting a configuration in which the vehicle body side friction plate and the column side friction plate are tightened and released, and a configuration in which the tooth plate and the tooth block are engaged with each other.

  As a result of the study, in the steering device equipped with the telescopic mechanism and tilt mechanism of the steering column, the steering column fitted with the holding side steering shaft to be able to advance and retreat with respect to the fixed side steering shaft can be swung freely A vehicle body side friction plate extending from a support bracket that supports the shaft is sandwiched between a column side friction plate provided on a holding cylinder that is externally fitted to a holding side steering shaft of the steering column and a tooth plate that meshes with a tooth block, A steering device characterized by combining a configuration in which a vehicle body side friction plate is sandwiched and released by a tooth plate and a configuration in which the tooth plate and a tooth block are engaged with each other.

  The steering device of the present invention has a configuration in which a vehicle body side friction plate is sandwiched between a column side friction plate and a tooth plate and is integrally tightened and released, and a configuration in which the tooth plate and the tooth block are engaged with each other. The steering column is fixed in cooperation. The configuration in which the vehicle body side friction plate, the column side friction plate, and the tooth plate are integrally tightened and released is because the vehicle body side friction plate, the column side friction plate, and the tooth plate prevent mutual movement. Responsible for fixing the steering column position during adjustment. Since the tilting mechanism of the present invention is provided with the swinging shaft of the steering column away from the operation shaft, the steering column can be positioned stably only by tightening the vehicle body side friction plate, the column side friction plate and the tooth plate together. Can be fixed. In addition, the configuration in which the tooth plate and the tooth block are meshed with each other meshes the teeth aligned in the extending direction of the stationary steering shaft of the steering column, and therefore, the position of the steering column in the telescopic adjustment is fixed.

Specifically, the steering device is configured such that the fixed-side steering shaft of the steering column, in which the holding-side steering shaft is fitted to the fixed-side steering shaft so as to be able to advance and retreat, can swing in a vertical plane in the front-rear direction. Left and right vehicle body side friction plates that are pivotally supported by a fixed support bracket and have arc-shaped elongated holes centering on the swing axis of the fixed steering shaft extend from the support bracket, respectively, The left and right column side friction plates having column-side linear elongated holes extending in parallel are fixed to a holding cylinder that is externally fitted to the holding-side steering shaft of the steering column, and the plate-side linear shape that extends parallel to the stationary-side steering shaft of the steering column. A tooth plate having a long hole, the plate side straight long hole and the column side straight long hole being parallel to each other, and teeth aligned in the extending direction of the steering column fixed side steering shaft are directed to the right. The guide pin projecting rightward from the right column side friction plate by penetrating toward and away from freely being supported from the right to the right of the column-side friction plates crush the tip of the guide pin, the vehicle body side of the left The left column side friction plate is slidably contacted to the right side of the friction plate, the right column side friction plate is slidably contacted to the left side of the right vehicle body side friction plate, and the right vehicle body is connected to the right column side friction plate and tooth plate. Sandwiching the side friction plate, passing through the arc-shaped slot in the left car body side friction plate through the column side straight slot in the left column side friction plate, and right from the column side straight slot in the right column side friction plate On the right end of the operation shaft, which is a screw shaft that penetrates through the arc-shaped slot of the vehicle body friction plate and the plate-side linear slot of the tooth plate, teeth aligned in the extending direction of the steering column fixed side steering shaft are to the left The tooth block facing the left body side friction plate and the operation A cam pressing portion that presses or releases the operation portion to the left according to the rotation of the operation shaft is provided between the left end operation portion and the operation portion is pushed by the cam pressing portion to the left. Moves the tooth block to the left and presses the right vehicle body side friction plate and the tooth plate against the right column side friction plate.

The front, rear, left and right referred to in the present invention are for convenience of explanation, and mean the direction matched to the front, rear, left and right of the automobile. From this, the steering device is provided with a tooth block at the right end of the operation shaft protruding to the right and an operation portion at the left end of the operation shaft protruding to the left, and a cam is provided between the operation portion and the left vehicle body friction plate. Although the pressing portion is provided, the configuration may be reversed left and right. Specifically, the tooth plate is directed with the plate-side linear elongated hole and the column-side linear elongated hole in parallel, the teeth are directed to the left, and a guide pin protruding leftward from the left column-side friction plate is passed through. The tip of the guide pin is crushed to support the left column side friction plate so that the left column side friction plate can be moved toward and away from the left side, and the right column side friction plate is slidably contacted to the left side of the right vehicle body side friction plate. The left column side friction plate is slid in contact with the right side of the plate, the left vehicle body side friction plate is sandwiched between the tooth plate and the left column side friction plate, and the tooth block is inserted at the left end of the operation shaft that penetrates from the right vehicle body side friction plate to the tooth plate. A configuration in which the cam pressing portion is provided between the right vehicle body side friction plate and the operation portion of the operation shaft is also included in the present invention.

  The fixed-side steering shaft of the steering column is pivotally supported by the support bracket so that it can swing within a vertical plane in the front-rear direction. The swinging trajectory of the fixed-side steering shaft has a vertical surface facing the front-rear direction. Means included. The fixed-side steering shaft is supported by, for example, a swinging bracket pivotally supported by the support bracket so as to rotate freely. However, a fixed cylinder that is externally fitted to the fixed-side steering shaft may be supported by the swing bracket. . In this case, the holding cylinder that is externally fitted to the holding-side steering shaft is externally fitted to the fixed cylinder or is externally fitted to the fixed cylinder, and the externally fitted side (for example, the fixed cylinder) is the inner cylinder, and the external fitting side For example, the holding cylinder) is called an outer cylinder. Further, the fact that the left and right vehicle body side friction plates extend from the support bracket means that the left and right vehicle body side friction plates extend from a portion attached to the vehicle body without interfering with the swinging range of the steering column. Usually, the left and right vehicle body side friction plates extend downward or rearward. The operation portion of the operation shaft can be exemplified by a lever, a handle, or a knob that rotates the telescopic shaft, a pressing block that is provided on the right side of the lever and moves integrally with the lever.

  The cam pressing portion is a member that is also found in a steering device of the same type in the past, and is a fixed ratchet that does not rotate by engaging with a rotating ratchet plate that rotates in conjunction with the operating shaft and an arc-shaped elongated hole in the left vehicle body friction plate. The rotation ratchet plate and the fixed ratchet plate move away from each other to increase or decrease the distance from the left body friction plate of the operating part of the operating shaft, and the tooth block is pulled to the left or loosened. To do. The rotating ratchet plate and the fixed ratchet plate, for example, form unevenness in the circumferential direction on each facing surface, and when the unevenness is fitted in a specific rotational positional relationship, the rotating ratchet plate and the fixed ratchet plate are brought close to each other, When the convex and convex portions are brought into contact with each other with a rotational positional relationship deviated from the rotational positional relationship, the rotating ratchet plate and the fixed ratchet plate are separated.

  The left and right column-side oscillating friction plates and the column-side forward / backward friction plates may be made of independent plate materials, but from the viewpoint of ensuring the strength or rigidity of each plate, it is better to make use of an integral channel material. . That is, the left and right vehicle body side friction plates are a pair of left and right flanges provided in a channel structure support bracket extending in parallel with the fixed steering shaft of the steering column, and the left and right column side friction plates are connected to the fixed steering shaft of the steering column. A pair of left and right flanges of the column bracket of the channel structure extending in parallel, the column bracket is fitted between the left and right body side friction plates of the support bracket, and the left column side friction plate is placed on the right side of the left body side friction plate. The right column side friction plate is slid in contact with the left side of the right vehicle body side friction plate, and the right vehicle body side friction plate is sandwiched between the right column side friction plate and the tooth plate.

  Further, the tooth block has a pressing pipe penetrating at least the column-side linear elongated hole of the right column side friction plate abutted from the left side, and a coil is formed on the operation shaft between the pressing pipe and the left column side friction plate. By loosely fitting the spring, it may be configured to be biased in a direction away from the tooth plate via a pressing pipe pressed by the coil spring. As a result, even if the body side friction plate is sandwiched between the column side friction plate and the tooth plate and the tooth plate and the tooth block are meshed, the tooth plate and the tooth block are energized by the bias of the coil spring having a large repulsive force. Can be reliably released, and the adhesion between the column side friction plate and the tooth plate can be reliably eliminated.

  The pressing pipe prevents the coil spring from being caught in the column-side linear elongated hole, and transmits the repulsive force to the tooth block along the operation axis, thereby moving the tooth block away from the tooth plate in the orthogonal direction. From this, the press pipe should just be the length which penetrates at least the column side linear long hole. In this case, the tooth block is provided with a pipe receiving projection that passes through the plate-side linear elongated hole and the arc-shaped elongated hole and contacts the right end of the pressing pipe. The pipe receiving projection penetrates the operation shaft, and the operation shaft is screwed into a female screw provided on the tooth block or a separate female screw attached to the tooth block. The pressing pipe may have a length penetrating from the column-side linear elongated hole to the plate-side linear elongated hole and further to the arc-shaped elongated hole.

  The steering apparatus of the present invention has a configuration in which the vehicle body side friction plate is sandwiched between the column side friction plate and the tooth plate and is integrally tightened and released, and a configuration in which the tooth plate and the tooth block are engaged with each other. The configuration in which the vehicle body side friction plate, the column side friction plate, and the tooth plate are integrally tightened and released is responsible for fixing the position of the steering column in the telescopic adjustment and tilt adjustment, and the configuration in which the tooth plate and the tooth block are engaged in the telescopic adjustment. Since it is responsible for fixing the position of the steering column, the configuration of meshing the tooth plate and the tooth block is omitted, and only the configuration in which the vehicle body side friction plate is sandwiched between the column side friction plate and the tooth plate and tightened and released together. can do.

  In addition, the steering device of the present invention may be configured such that a plurality of friction plates are stacked by providing a moving friction plate instead of the tooth plate and a pressing block instead of the tooth block on the operation shaft. As described above, the steering device of the present invention can select a plurality of configurations for fixing the position of the steering column only by changing the parts without changing the design, and the effect of suppressing or preventing an increase in manufacturing cost due to the specification change. Bring. In addition, the ability to select a plurality of configurations for fixing the position of the steering column by changing the parts without changing the design brings about the advantage that the same steering device of the present invention can be used for the same vehicle type with different specifications.

It is a right view showing an example of a steering device to which the present invention is applied. It is a front view of the steering device of this example. It is sectional drawing of the steering apparatus of this example by the cut surface containing an operating shaft. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the steering apparatus of this example from diagonally forward left. FIG. 2 is a right side view corresponding to FIG. 1 with a tooth plate removed. FIG. 3 is a front view corresponding to FIG. 2 with a tooth plate removed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the steering device of the present invention is similar in appearance to a conventional configuration in which the tooth column 4 and the tooth plate 5 are engaged to fix the steering column 1 in position. However, the tooth plate 5 pushed by the meshed tooth block 4 is clamped by sandwiching the right vehicle body side friction plate 32 together with the right column side friction plate 22 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). That is, the present invention is configured such that the right column side friction plate 22 and the tooth plate 5 sandwich the right vehicle body side friction plate 32 and are integrally tightened and released, and the tooth plate 5 and the tooth block 4 are engaged. It is characterized by having a structure to match.

  The steering device of this example has a configuration in which a column bracket 2 attached to a holding cylinder 12 of a steering column 1 is sandwiched between support brackets 3 and a holding cylinder 12 is externally fitted to a fixed cylinder 11 so as to be movable forward and backward. Although not shown, the fixed side steering shaft passes through the fixed cylinder 11, the holding side steering shaft passes through the holding cylinder 12, and the steering shafts are in a fitting relationship. The tilt mechanism supports the fixed cylinder 11 so as to be swingable with respect to the vehicle body (not shown in the axial support portion), and fixes the column bracket 2 integrated with the holding cylinder 12 with respect to the support bracket 3. It is configured by moving up and down (up and down in FIGS. 1 to 3). In addition, the telescopic mechanism is configured by moving the fixing position of the column bracket 2 integrated with the holding cylinder 12 back and forth with respect to the support bracket 3 (left and right in FIG. 1, and in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. .

  The column bracket 2 is a sheet metal member having a channel structure in which a pair of left and right flanges face upward and the upper edges of the flanges are bent so as to be orthogonal to the holding cylinder 12, and the left flange is the left column side friction plate 21. The right flange is the right column side friction plate 22. The left column side friction plate 21 is provided with a column side linear elongated hole 211 having a width through which the operation shaft 6 can be inserted in parallel with the extending direction of the column bracket 2. The right column-side friction plate 22 has a column-side linear elongated hole 221 having a width capable of inserting a cylindrical pressing pipe 64 fitted on the operation shaft 6, and a left-right column-side linear elongated hole 211 symmetrically. Provided in position.

  The right column side friction plate 22 has guide pins 222 and 222 protruding rightward from the front and rear positions of the column side linear elongated hole 221. As a result, the tooth plate 5 inserts the guide pins 222 into the guide insertion holes 53, and crushes the protruding tips to prevent them from falling out (in FIG. 4, for convenience of explanation, the tips of the guide pins 222 are crushed). In the range of the length of the guide pin 222 excluding the crushed portion, the right column side friction plate 22 approaches and separates. The right vehicle body side friction plate 32 is inserted between the right column side friction plate 22 and the tooth plate 5, and is sandwiched between the right surface of the right column side friction plate 22 and the flat left surface of the tooth plate 5.

  The support bracket 3 is a sheet metal member having a channel structure with a pair of left and right flanges facing downward, and the left flange is the left vehicle body side friction plate 31 and the right flange is the right vehicle body side friction plate 32. In the steering device of this example, the column side friction plates 21 and 22 of the column bracket 2 are sandwiched between the vehicle body side friction plates 31 and 32 of the support bracket 3, and the right side of the left vehicle body side friction plate 31 is placed on the left column side friction plate. The left surface of the plate 21 is brought into sliding contact with the left surface of the plate 21, and the left surface of the right vehicle body side friction plate 32 is brought into sliding contact with the right surface of the right column side friction plate 22. Thus, when the operating shaft 6 tightens the vehicle body side friction plates 31 and 32, the column side friction plates 21 and 22 are fixed in position by friction with the vehicle body side friction plates 31 and 32, and the steering column is fixed in position.

  The support bracket 3 of this example is provided with an impact absorbing device that absorbs the initial impact applied to the handle. Specifically, the support bracket 3 is fixed to the vehicle body side, and a mounting surface provided on the left and right flanges is attached to the vehicle body side plate 33 that contacts the web sandwiched between the flanges via a pair of left and right capsules 34. Connected. Thus, when an impact is applied to the handle (not shown), the handle 34 is detached from the capsule 34, and the steering column 1 is moved forward (right direction in FIG. 1, right direction in FIGS. 2 and 3) together with the column bracket 2 and the support bracket 3. It is possible to move to the back (perpendicular to the plane of the paper), and absorbs impact energy when the capsule 34 is detached.

  The left vehicle body side friction plate 31 is provided with an arc-shaped long hole 311 having a width that allows the operation shaft 6 to be inserted and centering on the swing shaft of the steering column 1 that is swingably supported with respect to the vehicle body. The arc-shaped long hole 311 provided in the left vehicle body side friction plate 31 intersects with the linear long hole 211 provided in the left column side friction plate 21. The right vehicle body side friction plate 32 has a width that allows a cylindrical pressing pipe 64 fitted around the operation shaft 6 to pass therethrough, and has an arc-shaped slot 321 centered on the same swinging axis as the arc-shaped slot 311. The arc-shaped elongated holes 311 are provided at symmetrical positions. The arc-shaped elongated hole 321 provided in the right vehicle body side friction plate 32 includes a column-side linear elongated hole 221 provided in the right column-side friction plate 22, and a plate-side linear elongated hole 51 provided in the tooth plate 5. Intersect.

  The tooth plate 5 is a plate material having a plate-side linear elongated hole 51 extending in parallel with the fixed cylinder 11 of the steering column 1, the left surface facing the right column-side friction plate 22 is flat, and the teeth 52 are formed on the right surface. Provided side by side in the extending direction of the side straight elongated holes 51 (= the extending direction of the fixed cylinder 11 of the steering column 1), a pair of guide insertion holes 53, 53 are opened on the front side and the rear side of the row of the aligned teeth 52 doing. The plate-side linear elongated hole 51 has a width that allows the pipe receiving projection 42 of the tooth block 4 to be inserted therethrough. The tooth plate 5 is inserted into guide insertion holes 53 and 53 through guide pins 222 and 222 protruding rightward from the right column side friction plate 22, and approaches and separates from the right column side friction plate 22.

  The operation shaft 6 passes through a cam pressing portion composed of a rotating ratchet plate 61 and a fixed ratchet plate 62, and has an arc-shaped elongated hole 311 in the left vehicle body side friction plate 31 and a column side of the left column side friction plate 21. The straight long hole 211, the column side straight long hole 221 of the right column side friction plate 22, the arc long hole 321 of the right vehicle body side friction plate 32, and the plate side straight long hole 51 of the tooth plate 5 are passed in this order. Then, it passes through the pipe receiving projection 42 of the tooth block 4 so that the male screw 68 at the tip can be seen rightward. The column bracket 2, the support bracket 3, the tooth block 4, and the tooth plate 5 are integrally held via the operation shaft 6 by screwing the tightening nut 67 into the male screw 68.

  The rotary ratchet plate 61 constituting the cam pressing portion is operated in conjunction with the rotation operation of the operation lever 63 by fitting the lever hole projection 612 into the lever hole 631 of the operation lever 63 attached to the left end of the operation shaft 6. It rotates with the shaft 6. On the other hand, the fixed ratchet plate 62 fits the arc-shaped elongated hole projection 622 into the arc-shaped elongated hole 311 of the left vehicle body side friction plate 31, and does not interlock with the rotation operation of the operation lever 63. The rotating ratchet plate 61 and the fixed ratchet plate 62 approach each other by bringing the rotation-side convex portion 611 and the fixed-side convex portion 621 that are opposed to each other into contact with each other in a specific rotational positional relationship or by being alternately fitted. Get away. The rotation ratchet plate 61 and the fixed ratchet plate 62 have misalignment prevention protrusions that prevent mutual misalignment on the outer periphery, and the opposing rotation side convex portion 611 and fixed side convex portion 621 are provided inside the misalignment prevention projection. (See FIG. 4).

  As a result, when the rotation-side convex portion 611 and the fixed-side convex portion 621 come into contact with each other, the operation shaft 6 is pulled to the left. As a result, the distance from the fixed ratchet plate 62 to the tightening nut 67 is shortened. The side friction plate 31, the left column side friction plate 21, the right column side friction plate 22, the right vehicle body side friction plate 32, the tooth plate 5, and the tooth block 4 are tightened together. On the other hand, when the rotation-side convex portion 611 and the fixed-side convex portion 621 are alternately fitted between the opposing circumferential direction, the tooth block 4 and the tightening nut 67 are moved to the right side of the pressing pipe 64 biased by the coil spring 65. As a result, the distance from the fixed ratchet plate 62 to the tightening nut 67 becomes longer, the left vehicle body side friction plate 31, the left column side friction plate 21, the right column side friction plate 22, and the right vehicle body side The friction plate 32, the tooth plate 5, and the tooth block 4 are loosened. Such a cam pressing portion is also found in a steering device of the same type.

  The tooth block 4 meshes with the teeth 52 of the tooth plate 5 facing leftward with the teeth 41 facing leftward. The tooth block 4 of this example is fixed relative to the tooth plate 5 that moves back and forth with the steering column 1 by telescopic adjustment, so that the meshing relationship with the tooth plate 4 does not shift vertically. A plate guide 43 having an L shape in front view is provided to engage with the upper and lower edges of the plate 5. Such a meshing relationship between the tooth block 4 and the tooth plate 5 is also found in a steering device of the same type.

  In the steering apparatus of this example, the tooth block 4 is removed from the tooth plate 5 by the pressing pipe 64 fitted on the operation shaft 6 in order to eliminate the above-described meshing between the tooth block 4 and the tooth plate 5 at the time of tilt adjustment or telescopic adjustment. Always pushing to the right to go away. The operation shaft 6 has a spring receiving washer 66, a coil spring 65, and a pressing pipe 64 fitted from the left between the left and right column side friction plates 21 and 22, and the right end of the pressing pipe 64 is connected to the right vehicle body side friction plate. It is inserted into 32 arc-shaped elongated holes 321 from the left. Since the coil spring 65 is interposed between the spring receiving washer 66 and the pressing pipe 64 in a compressed state, the pressing pipe 64 is always urged rightward from the spring receiving washer 66 as a starting point.

  The pressing pipe 64 abuts the right end of the pipe receiving projection 42 of the tooth block 4 inserted from the right side into the arc-shaped elongated hole 321 of the right vehicle body side friction plate 32, and constantly biases the tooth block 4 to the right side. To do. Thereby, if a cam press part loosens tightening as mentioned above, the tooth block 4 will leave | separate from the tooth plate 5, and mesh | engagement will be eliminated easily. A similar biasing means for the tooth block 4 is also found in the same type of steering device. However, the steering device of the present invention utilizes not only the meshing of the tooth block 4 and the tooth plate 5 but also the friction caused by the tightening of the vehicle body side friction plates 31, 32, the column side friction plates 21, 22 and the tooth plate 5. In order to fix the position of the steering column 1, a pressing pipe 64 biased from the inside sandwiched between the column side friction plates 21 and 22 is used as a biasing means that does not hinder the tightening.

  In the steering device of this example, in addition to the configuration in which the column side friction plates 21 and 22 and the vehicle body side friction plates 31 and 32 are pressed and released, the right column side friction plate 22 and the tooth plate 5 are connected to the right vehicle body side friction. The configuration in which the plate 32 is clamped and released integrally and the configuration in which the tooth plate 5 and the tooth block 4 are engaged cooperate to fix the steering column 1 in position. The present invention includes a configuration in which the right column side friction plate 22 and the tooth plate 5 sandwich the right vehicle body side friction plate 32 to be integrally tightened and released, and the tooth plate 5 and the tooth block 4 are engaged with each other. Thus, even if the tooth plate 5 is removed, the steering column 1 can be fixed in position by pressing and releasing the right column side friction plate 22 against the right vehicle body side friction plate 32.

  A structure in which the column side friction plates 21 and 22 and the vehicle body side friction plates 31 and 32 are pressed and released, and the right column side friction plate 22 and the tooth plate 5 sandwich the right vehicle body side friction plate 32 and tighten them together. In the configuration of attaching and releasing, the steering column 1 is moved back and forth and fixed in the range of the column-side linear elongated holes 211 and 221 and the plate-side linear elongated hole 51 with respect to the support bracket 3 holding the operation shaft 6. Since the steering column 1 is swung and fixed in the range of the arc-shaped elongated holes 311,321, the position of the steering column 1 is fixed in telescopic adjustment and tilt adjustment. Since the column bracket 2 is fixed to the support bracket 3 at a position away from the swing shaft (not shown), the steering column 1 is reliably prohibited from swinging.

  In addition, the configuration in which the tooth plate 5 and the tooth block 4 are engaged with each other is such that the steering column 1 is in the range of the column-side linear elongated holes 211 and 221 and the plate-side linear elongated hole 51 with respect to the support bracket 3 that holds the operation shaft 6. Is moved forward and backward and the position is fixed, so that the position of the steering column 1 is fixed in the telescopic adjustment. As described above, the steering column 1 is configured such that the column side friction plates 21 and 22 and the vehicle body side friction plates 31 and 32 are pressed and released, and the right column side friction plate 22 and the tooth plate 5 are connected to the right vehicle body side. Since the position is fixed by a configuration in which the tooth plate 5 and the tooth block 4 are engaged with each other in addition to the configuration in which the friction plate 32 is clamped and released integrally, the back and forth movement is reliably prohibited.

  In the steering device of the present invention, when the position of the steering column 1 is not required to be fixed as strongly as the tooth plate 5 and the tooth block 4 are engaged, the tooth plate 5 can be moved back and forth as shown in FIGS. In addition, the tooth block 4 can be removed from the set. Since the column bracket 2 uses the above-described one as it is, the guide pins 222 whose front ends are not crushed project before and after the column-side linear elongated hole 221. Since the steering device of this example uses the above-described operation shaft 6 (see FIGS. 1 to 4) as it is, the spacer 7 that compensates for the thickness of the tooth plate 5 and the tooth block 4 is attached to the operation shaft 6. However, for example, when the operation shaft 6 is changed to a short one, the spacer 7 may not be used.

1 Steering column
11 Fixed cylinder
12 Holding cylinder 2 Column bracket
21 Left column friction plate
211 Straight hole on the column side
22 Right column friction plate
221 Straight hole on the column side
222 Guide pin 3 Support bracket
31 Left car body friction plate
311 Arc-shaped slot
32 Body friction plate on the right
321 Arc-shaped slot
33 Car body side plate 4 Tooth block
41 teeth
42 Pipe receiving projection
43 Plate guide 5 Tooth plate
51 Plate side straight slot
52 teeth
53 Guide insertion hole 6 Operation shaft
61 Rotating ratchet plate
62 Fixed ratchet plate
63 Control lever
64 Pressing pipe
65 Coil spring
66 Spring receiving washer
67 Tightening nut
68 Male thread 7 Spacer

Claims (3)

The fixed side steering shaft of the steering column, in which the holding side steering shaft is fitted to the fixed side steering shaft so as to be movable forward and backward, is pivoted on a support bracket fixed to the vehicle body so as to be swingable within a vertical plane in the front-rear direction. The left and right vehicle body side friction plates having arc-shaped long holes centered on the swing axis of the fixed side steering shaft are extended from the support brackets, respectively.
The left and right column side friction plates having a column side linear elongated hole extending in parallel with the fixed side steering shaft of the steering column are fixed to a holding cylinder that is externally fitted to the holding side steering shaft of the steering column,
A tooth plate having a plate-side linear elongated hole extending in parallel with the stationary-side steering shaft of the steering column, the plate-side linear elongated hole and the column-side linear elongated hole being parallel, The teeth aligned in the extending direction are directed to the right, the guide pin protruding right from the right column side friction plate is penetrated, and the tip of the guide pin is crushed to the right with respect to the right column side friction plate Supporting from and away from,
The left column side friction plate is slid in contact with the right side of the left vehicle body side friction plate, the right column side friction plate is slid in contact with the left side of the right vehicle body side friction plate, and the right column side friction plate and tooth plate are With the right friction plate on the right side,
From the arc-shaped slot in the left body friction plate through the column-side straight slot in the left column-side friction plate and from the column-side straight slot in the right column-side friction plate to the arc-shape in the right body friction plate A tooth block is provided at the right end of the operating shaft, which is a screw shaft that passes through the long hole and the plate-side linear elongated hole of the tooth plate, with the teeth aligned in the extending direction of the stationary steering shaft of the steering column facing leftward. A cam pressing part that presses or releases the operation part to the left according to the rotation of the operation shaft is provided between the left vehicle body side friction plate and the operation part at the left end of the operation shaft,
Steering that pushes the right body side friction plate and the tooth plate against the right column side friction plate by pulling the tooth block to the left by the operation portion being pushed by the cam pressing portion and the operation shaft moving to the left apparatus. The left and right vehicle body side friction plates are a pair of left and right flanges having a channel structure support bracket extending in parallel with the stationary side steering shaft of the steering column.
The left and right column side friction plates are a pair of left and right flanges that a column bracket having a channel structure extending in parallel with the stationary side steering shaft of the steering column,
Fit the column bracket between the left and right body side friction plates of the support bracket,
The left column side friction plate is slid in contact with the right side of the left vehicle body side friction plate, the right column side friction plate is slid in contact with the left side of the right vehicle body side friction plate, and the right column side friction plate and tooth plate are in steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein sandwiching the right of the vehicle body-side friction plate. The tooth block has at least a pressing pipe penetrating the column-side linear elongated hole of the right column-side friction plate abutted from the left side, and a coil spring as an operating shaft between the pressing pipe and the left column-side friction plate. 3. The steering device according to claim 1 , wherein the steering device is biased in a direction away from the tooth plate via a pressing pipe pressed by the coil spring.

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