JP5811735B2 - Vehicle steering device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus for a vehicle, and more particularly to a steering apparatus that can adjust an operation position of a steering wheel in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body.

  With respect to the steering device that can adjust the operation position of the steering wheel in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, in particular, the movable column member between the main housing supported by the vehicle body and the movable column member supported so as to be movable in the axial direction. Therefore, there is a need for means for restricting the movement of the movable column member in the axial direction so that it does not fall off from the main housing. With regard to such movement restricting means, for example, in Patent Document 1 below, in paragraph [0023], “the fixed column 11 is fixed to the body of the vehicle by the mounting bracket 25 and the moving column 12 is arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction (direction A). ) Is movable with respect to the fixed column 11. The moving column 12 is guided in the axial direction by a pin 20 provided on the fixed column 11, and is restricted in rotation with respect to the fixed column 11. " .

  On the other hand, in paragraph [0014] of Patent Document 2 below, “the outer tube 20 is supported by the column housing 2 via bearings 3a and 3b, and the outer tube 20 is supported by the friction mechanisms 4a and 4b using disc springs. It is pressed and held by the inner wall of the column housing 2. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the slidability in the thrust direction without causing play in the steering wheel (not shown) ". A bearing is interposed between the outer tube and the outer tube. Further, paragraph [0023] of Patent Document 2 states that “the locking pin 60 is fixed to the outer tube 20, and the inner tube 10 and the outer tube 20 are inserted with the locking pin 60 inserted into the locking hole 16. As a result, as shown in Fig. 1, the locking pin 60 protrudes inside the outer tube 20 so as to be locked against the inner wall surface of the locking hole 16 in front of the vehicle. The projecting height is set to a dimension that does not contact the outer surface of the flat surface portion 14. Thus, the inner tube 10 is reliably prevented from dropping from the outer tube 20 to the vehicle rear side. It is described.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-70880 JP 2010-188901 A

  However, regarding the axial movement of the movable column member with respect to the main housing, the bearing described in Patent Document 2 does not restrict the axial movement of the outer tube, and the locking pin causes the inner tube to fall off the outer tube. It does not restrict the axial movement of the outer tube relative to the main housing. On the other hand, it is recognized that the pin 20 shown in FIG. 4 of Patent Document 1 contributes not only to the rotation restriction of the moving column but also to the restriction of the axial movement. Here, the main housing and the movable column member correspond to the fixed column and the movable column described in Patent Document 1, respectively, and correspond to the column housing and the outer tube described in Patent Document 2. The latter relates to means for restricting axial movement.

  With respect to such a regulation means, in Patent Document 1, not only a pin is required, but also a hole processing for inserting the pin is required, and an increase in the number of parts and an increase in the number of assembling steps are inevitable. Further, the axial movement of the outer tube cannot be restricted only by the bearing described in Patent Document 2.

  Therefore, the present invention can configure a means for restricting the axial movement of the movable column member with respect to the main housing at a low cost with a small number of parts in a vehicle steering apparatus that can adjust at least the steering wheel operation position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. It is an object to provide a steering device.

To achieve the above object, the present invention includes a main housing supporting the vehicle body, a steering system for a vehicle having a movable column member relative to said main housing for axially movably supporting said main housing, the shaft A casing having a pair of side wall portions extending in the direction, having an opening between the pair of side wall portions and opening portions at both ends in the axial direction, wherein the movable column member is at least one of the front side of the vehicle body. A cylindrical body having an enlarged diameter portion formed by expanding the diameter of the portion, disposed on the inner wall of the housing, and fixed to the pair of side wall portions , a bearing member that slidably supports the movable column member, An urging member for urging the movable column member, wherein a dimension between the pair of side wall portions is larger than an outer diameter of an enlarged diameter portion of the cylindrical body, and an inner wall of the casing is formed of the cylindrical body. A uniform gap in the circumferential direction with respect to the outer peripheral surface Have facing curved surface, in a state where the vehicle body rear side of the cylinder housing through the opening in the vehicle body front side in the housing and biasing the movable column member by the biasing member, the movable column A member is supported so as to be movable in the axial direction with respect to the main housing via the bearing member, and the movable column member is prevented from moving in the axial direction when the enlarged diameter portion of the cylindrical body abuts on the bearing member. It is supposed to be arranged so as to obtain.

In the above steering apparatus, the main housing has a U-shaped cross-section perpendicular to the axial direction including the pair of side wall portions, and the bearing member has a curved surface that contacts the inner wall of the housing. It is good to have a shape.

  Furthermore, the main housing may be formed by forming a groove for holding the bearing member on the inner wall of the housing. Further, the inner wall of the housing may have a locking hole, and a locking projection that engages with the locking hole may be formed on the bearing member.

  The biasing member includes a substrate fixed to the end surfaces of the pair of side wall portions, and a pair of spring members that are supported by the substrate and bias the movable column member toward the bearing member. Good.

According to the present invention, in a vehicle steering apparatus including a main housing supported by a vehicle body and a movable column member supported so as to be axially movable with respect to the main housing, the main housing extends in the axial direction. A housing having a pair of side wall portions, having an opening between the pair of side wall portions and having openings at both ends in the axial direction, wherein the protruding portions projecting in the center direction from the inner wall of the housing are integrally formed Formed and provided with an urging member that is fixed to the end surfaces of the pair of side wall portions and urges the movable column member, and the movable column member is accommodated in the housing and slidable with respect to the protruding portion Having a diameter-enlarged portion formed by enlarging at least part of the front side of the vehicle body of the cylinder, and the dimension between the pair of side wall portions is the diameter-enlarged portion of the cylinder. Larger than the outer diameter, and the inner wall of the casing is To the outer peripheral surface of the body has a curved surface which faces the gap even I than in the circumferential direction, housed through the opening in the vehicle body front side of the vehicle body rear side of the cylinder in the housing, said biasing When the movable column member is urged by the member to support the movable column member so as to be movable in the axial direction with respect to the main housing, and the enlarged-diameter portion of the cylindrical body comes into contact with the protruding portion of the casing In addition, the movable column member may be arranged so as to be prevented from moving in the axial direction.

Since this invention is comprised as mentioned above, there exist the following effects. That is, in the steering apparatus of the present invention, the main housing is a housing having a pair of side wall portions extending in the axial direction, an opening between the pair of side wall portions and opening portions at both ends in the axial direction. The movable column member is a cylindrical body having a diameter-enlarged portion formed by enlarging at least a part of the front side of the vehicle body, and is disposed on the inner wall of the housing and slidably supports the movable column member. A member and a biasing member that is fixed to the pair of side wall portions and biases the movable column member, and the dimension between the pair of side wall portions is larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion of the cylindrical body, The inner wall of the cylinder has a curved surface facing the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder with a uniform gap in the circumferential direction, and the rear side of the cylinder body is accommodated in the casing through the opening on the front side of the main housing. In the state where the movable column member is urged by the urging member, the movable column member is It is configured so that it can be moved in the axial direction with respect to the uding through a bearing member, and arranged so that the axial movement of the movable column member can be prevented when the expanded diameter portion of the cylindrical body abuts on the bearing member. Therefore, the means for restricting the movement of the movable column member in the axial direction relative to the main housing can be easily and reliably configured by the cylindrical body formed with the enlarged diameter portion and the bearing member, and has good assemblability. Can be secured. In particular, the main housing is a housing having a pair of side wall portions extending in the axial direction, having an opening between the pair of side wall portions and having openings at both ends in the axial direction, and is attached to the pair of side wall portions. Since the main member can be manufactured by metal die casting, the number of parts is small, processing and assembly are easy, and an inexpensive device can be provided. Moreover, the dimension between the pair of side wall portions is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical body constituting the movable column member, and the inner wall of the housing faces the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body with a uniform gap in the circumferential direction. Since it has a curved surface, it is easy to process and assemble.

In the steering apparatus described above, if the cross-sectional shape of the main housing is U-shaped and the bearing member has a curved surface that comes into contact with the inner wall of the main housing, the bearing member can be easily assembled from the opening of the main housing. be able to.

  Further, if a groove for holding the bearing member is formed on the inner wall of the housing of the main housing, the assembly of the bearing member to the main housing becomes easier and can be reliably held in the main housing. At the same time, the movement of the movable column member in the axial direction can be surely restricted. Since this groove can be simultaneously formed on the inner wall of the main housing by die casting, it can be manufactured at low cost without the need for subsequent cutting. In addition, if a locking hole is formed in the inner wall of the housing of the main housing and a locking projection is formed on the bearing member, the bearing member can be stably held in the main housing. Thus, the axial movement of the movable column member can be reliably controlled.

  And if the biasing member provided with the board | substrate fixed to the end surface of a pair of side wall part and a pair of spring member which biases a movable column member toward a bearing member direction, it is movable with a main housing reliably with a small number of parts. The backlash between the column member and the column member can be prevented, and the axial movement of the movable column member can be reliably restricted.

Further, according to the present invention, the main housing has a pair of side wall portions extending in the axial direction, an opening between the pair of side wall portions and opening portions at both ends in the axial direction, A protruding portion that protrudes in the center direction from the inner wall of the housing is integrally formed, and includes a biasing member that is fixed to the end surfaces of the pair of side wall portions and biases the movable column member. Is a cylindrical body that is slidably supported with respect to the projecting portion, and has a diameter-enlarged portion formed by enlarging at least a part of the front side of the cylinder body, and between the pair of side wall portions. The cylinder body has a curved surface whose dimension is larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion of the cylindrical body, and the inner wall of the casing faces the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body with a uniform gap in the circumferential direction. The rear side is accommodated in the housing through the opening on the front side of the vehicle body, and the movable column member is urged by the urging member. The column member is supported so as to be movable in the axial direction with respect to the main housing, and arranged so that the axial movement of the movable column member can be prevented when the diameter-expanded portion of the cylindrical body abuts against the protruding portion of the housing. In this case, the means for restricting the movement of the movable column member in the axial direction relative to the main housing can be easily and reliably constituted by the cylindrical body having the enlarged diameter portion and the protruding portion of the housing, and is good. Can be secured. In addition, since the main housing can be manufactured by metal die casting, it is possible to provide an inexpensive apparatus with a small number of parts, easy to process and assemble.

It is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the assembled state of the steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of one Embodiment of this invention, and is AA sectional view taken on the line of FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view showing the whole steering device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the state after the movement of the movable column member in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a partial expanded cross-sectional view which shows the state after the movement of the movable column member in one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing corresponding to the AA line cross section of FIG. 1 which shows the bearing member of other embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing corresponding to the AA cross section of FIG. 1 which shows the bearing member of further another embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view which shows the state after the movement of the movable column member in another embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 shows an overall configuration of a steering apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the steering shaft 1 is a cylindrical shape in which a steering wheel (not shown) is connected to a rear end portion. The upper shaft 1a includes a lower shaft 1b that is splined to the front end portion of the upper shaft 1a. That is, the upper shaft 1a and the lower shaft 1b are coupled so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction, and the front end portion of the lower shaft 1b is connected to a turning mechanism (not shown). This steering mechanism is configured to be steered by a steering wheel (not shown) through a wheel steering mechanism (not shown) by being driven in accordance with the operation of the steering wheel.

  A main housing 10 is arranged coaxially with the steering shaft 1 and is supported so as to be swingable about a swing center C with respect to a vehicle body (not shown) and held by a fixed bracket 30. The fixed bracket 30 has a pair of holding portions (only 31 is shown in FIG. 4) that extends and faces the lower side of the vehicle, and the main housing 10 is held between them. Fixed to the car body. Further, a pressing mechanism (not shown) is interposed between the pair of holding portions 31 of the fixing bracket 30 and the main housing 10, whereby the main housing 10 is slidably pressed and supported.

  A movable column member 20 is supported in the main housing 10 so as to be movable in the axial direction, that is, movable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. As the movable column member 20, a metal inner tube 21 that houses the steering shaft 1 and supports it rotatably around an axis, and a metal that houses the inner tube 21 and holds the inner tube 21 at a predetermined position at all times. The inner tube 21 is also called an upper tube, and the outer tube 22 is also called a telescopic tube. The upper shaft 1a is rotatably supported by a rear end portion of the inner tube 21 via a bearing (not shown), but the axial relative movement between the upper shaft 1a and the inner tube 21 is restricted, and the upper shaft 1a The shaft 1a and the inner tube 21 are configured so as to be able to move in the axial direction together.

  Thus, the outer tube 22, the inner tube 21, the steering shaft 1 and the steering wheel (not shown) are integrally movable with respect to the main housing 10, and the telescopic mechanism 2 is configured. Thus, the steering wheel can be adjusted to a desired position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. Further, when a load equal to or greater than a predetermined value is applied to the steering shaft 1, the inner tube 21 is allowed to move in the axial direction relative to the outer tube 22 (and thus the upper shaft 1a moves in the axial direction). The inner tube 21 and the outer tube 22 of the present embodiment function as energy absorbing means together with an annular friction material (for example, a metal elastic bush) interposed between them.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main housing 10 of the present embodiment is configured by a metal (for example, aluminum) die-cast housing having a pair of side wall portions 11 and 12 extending in the axial direction. The side walls 11 and 12 are opened above the vehicle body, and openings (indicated by 10a and 10b in FIG. 1) are provided at both ends in the axial direction. The dimension between the side wall parts 11 and 12 is made larger than the outermost diameter of the outer tube 22 which comprises the movable column member 20, and the inner wall of the main housing 10 is a curved surface which adapts to the outer surface of the outer tube 22 , ie, an outer tube. The main housing 10 has a curved surface facing the outer peripheral surface 22 with a uniform gap in the circumferential direction, as shown in FIG. 2 of the AA line sectional view of FIG. An orthogonal cross-sectional shape including the side walls 11 and 12 is formed in a U shape. As described above, the main housing 10 is a housing that is open between the side wall portions 11 and 12 extending in the axial direction (upward in FIGS. 1 and 2), and thus easily manufactured by, for example, aluminum die casting. The inner wall of the outer tube 22 can be easily formed into a desired shape (a curved surface facing the outer surface of the outer tube 22 with a uniform gap in the circumferential direction ). Further, since the grooves 10d and 10e and the locking holes 10g and 10h, which will be described later, can be formed at the same time when the main housing 10 is manufactured, the manufacturing process can be shortened without requiring cutting and drilling. .

  On the other hand, the outer tube 22 is a metal cylinder, and a flat surface portion 22a extending in the axial direction is formed on the outer surface thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the rear side of the outer tube 22 in the vehicle body is accommodated in the main housing 10 through the opening on the front side of the vehicle (indicated by 10b in FIG. 1). The bearing 13 shown is mounted, and the lower shaft 1b is rotatably supported. The outer tube 22 has a diameter-enlarged portion 22d formed by partially expanding the front end portion of the vehicle body, and the dimension between the side wall portions 11 and 12 is the outer diameter of the enlarged-diameter portion 22d (outer tube 22). Is set larger than the outermost diameter.

As shown in FIG. 1, grooves 10d and 10e are formed on the inner wall of the main housing 10 at a predetermined distance in the axial direction, and bushes 60a and 60b are formed in the grooves 10d and 10e, respectively. It is configured to be fitted and held. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bearing member 60 of the present embodiment is formed in a shape having a curved surface that comes into contact with the inner wall of the main housing 10. That is, the bearing member 60 is a synthetic resin member of semicircular or U-shaped bushes 60a and 60b, and is disposed at a position separated by a predetermined distance in the axial direction. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, locking projections 60d and 60e are integrally formed on the bushes 60a and 60b, and are formed in the grooves 10d and 10e of the main housing 10 shown in FIG. It is configured to engage with the locking holes 10g and 10h.

  As shown in an enlarged view of the relationship between the bush 60b and the outer tube 22 in FIG. 3, the outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion 22d is set larger than the inner diameter of the bearing member 60 (bush 60b). 22d is arrange | positioned so that it can contact | abut to the side surface of the bush 60b. Therefore, when the rear body side of the outer tube 22 is accommodated in the main housing 10 via the opening 10b on the front side of the main housing 10 and the enlarged diameter portion 22d contacts the side surface of the bush 60b, the outer tube 22 Axial movement is reliably prevented.

  Thus, the outer tube 22 that is axially movable with respect to the main housing 10 can smoothly slide through the bushes 60a and 60b. In this case, the sliding surface of the bearing member 60 with respect to the outer tube 22 only needs to be on the side opposite to the biasing member 40, and it is not necessary to secure the sliding surface over the entire circumference of the outer tube 22. 60a and 60b are formed in a semicircular shape or a U-shape. Further, the bearing member 60x formed in the outer peripheral shape of the fan is used as shown in FIG. It is good as well.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, when the main housing 10 is formed of a cylindrical body (illustration of the entire configuration is omitted), a bearing member 60y formed in a C shape close to a circle may be used. That is, the contact area between the enlarged diameter portion 22d and the side surface of the bearing member 60y is set to be larger than the configuration shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, and the axial movement of the outer tube 22 is prevented (restricted). Securing the power to do is given priority. Note that the locking protrusion 60e formed integrally with the bearing members 60, 60x, 60y is not limited to preventing the displacement in the rotational direction, but only the frictional force when the outer tube 22 slides in the main housing 10. Instead, it is desirable to set the cross-sectional area so as to overcome the load when the enlarged diameter portion 22d of the outer tube 22 abuts against the locking projection 60e.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the biasing member 40 of the present embodiment is a position that is spaced apart from the steel substrate 41 fixed to the end surfaces of the pair of side wall portions by a predetermined distance in the axial direction with respect to the flat portion 22 a of the outer tube 22. A pair of spring members 42a and 42b for urging the outer tube 22 in the direction of the bushes 60a and 60b are provided. The spring members 42a and 42b of the present embodiment are formed by laminating a plurality of disc springs, and press the flat portion 22a of the outer tube 22 through the synthetic resin contact members 43a and 43b supported by the substrate 41. When arranged in this manner and fixed to the main housing 10, a desired pressing force is applied to the outer tube 22. As a method for fixing the substrate 41 to the main housing 10, any method may be used as long as the substrate 41 can be securely fixed to the main housing 10, such as bolts, caulking, or pin press-fitting. The spring members 42a and 42b may be plate springs or coil springs instead of a plurality of disc springs.

  Here, the assembly procedure of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4. First, a pair of bearing members 60 formed by integrally molding the bushes 60 a and 60 b with synthetic resin are provided in the main housing 10. The bushes 60a and 60b are fitted in the grooves 10d and 10e that are accommodated and formed in the inner wall of the main housing 10, respectively. At this time, the bushes 60a and 60b are easily and reliably fitted into the grooves 10d and 10e of the main housing 10, and the locking protrusions 60d and 60e of the bushes 60a and 60b are respectively connected to the corresponding locking holes 10g and 10h. Therefore, the bearing member 60 is securely held in the main housing 10.

  After the bearing member 60 is thus held in the main housing 10, the outer tube 22 is accommodated in the main housing 10, and the urging member 40 is assembled to the main housing 10 from above the vehicle body and fixed to the main housing 10. Is done. That is, if the urging member 40 is fixed to the main housing 10 in which the outer tube 22 and the bearing member 60 are built, a desired pressing load is applied to the outer tube 22, and the radial play of the outer tube 22 is reduced. Can be prevented appropriately. In particular, the outer tube 22 is pressed in the axial center direction by the urging force of the spring members 42a and 42b in a state in which the lower flat portions of the contact members 43a and 43b are in contact with the flat portion 22a of the outer tube 22. Further, the backlash in the radial direction of the outer tube 22 can be prevented, and the rotation around the axis of the outer tube 22 can be reliably prevented. The bearing member 60 is disposed below the vehicle body in the main housing 10, and the outer tube 22 is appropriately supported by the bearing member 60 in a state where the lower outer peripheral surface of the outer tube 22 and the inner wall of the bearing member 60 are in contact with each other. Therefore, the axial movement of the outer tube 22 can be performed smoothly.

  Next, the drive part of the telescopic mechanism 2 will be described. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the attachment 2 a is disposed so as to be movable in the axial direction (vehicle body longitudinal direction) in the opening 10 c formed in the side wall 12 of the main housing 10, and is fixed to the outer tube 22. ing. This attachment 2a is a metal bottomed cylindrical body, and is arranged so as to be able to contact the front end and the rear end of the opening 10c of the main housing 10, and the bottom thereof is on the side of the outer tube 22 at the front of the vehicle body and the rear of the vehicle body. Welded.

  An electric motor 70 is supported on the main housing 10, a screw shaft 72 is connected to the output shaft, and a nut 73 screwed to the screw shaft 72 is disposed in the attachment 2a. Thus, according to the rotational drive of the screw shaft 72 by the electric motor 70, the nut 73 in the attachment 2a moves in the axial direction of the screw shaft 72, and together with the nut 73 (and the attachment 2a), the outer tube 22 (and thus, The inner tube 21, the upper shaft 1a, and the steering wheel (not shown) are configured to move in the axial direction. A reduction mechanism (not shown) is interposed between the output shaft of the electric motor 70 and the screw shaft 72, and the output of the electric motor 70 is appropriately reduced and transmitted to the screw shaft 72. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the tilt mechanism 3 is disposed below the fixed bracket 30, but since this is not directly related to the present invention, description thereof will be omitted. .

  When driving the telescopic mechanism 2 configured as described above, when the electric motor 70 is activated and the output shaft is driven to rotate, the rotation is decelerated via a speed reduction mechanism (not shown) and transmitted to the screw shaft 72. The nut 73 screwed to this moves in the axial direction, and the outer tube 22 moves in the axial direction together with the attachment 2a in which the nut 73 is accommodated. As the outer tube 22 moves, the inner tube 21, the upper shaft 1a, and the steering wheel (not shown) move in the axial direction, so that the electric motor 70 is turned on when the steering wheel reaches a desired vehicle body longitudinal direction position. If stopped, the steering wheel can be adjusted to a desired operation position. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the enlarged diameter portion 22d abuts against the side surface of the bush 60b, the movement of the outer tube 22 is reliably prevented, so that an appropriate movement restricting means is configured. The

  FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a protruding portion 10p is formed on the inner wall of the main housing 10 in place of the bearing member 60 described above, and the other configuration is the embodiment shown in FIG. Since they are the same as those in FIG. That is, the outer tube 22 is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and the main housing 10 is a metal (for example, aluminum) die having a pair of side wall portions 11 and 12 extending in the axial direction, as shown in FIG. It is constituted by a cast case, and the side walls 11 and 12 are opened above the vehicle body, and openings 10a and 10b are provided at both ends in the axial direction.

Also in this embodiment, the dimension between the side wall parts 11 and 12 is made larger than the outermost diameter of the outer tube 22 which comprises the movable column member 20, and the inner wall of the main housing 10 adapts to the outer surface of the outer tube 22. The main housing 10 has a curved surface , that is, a curved surface that faces the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube 22 with a uniform gap in the circumferential direction. Is formed in a U-shape. Then, it protrudes toward the center from the inner wall of the housing constituting the main housing 10, the front and rear protrusions 10p shaped to abut against the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube 22 (e.g., U-shape) of the main housing 10 respectively integrally Is formed. In the present embodiment, for example, when the main housing 10 is manufactured by aluminum die casting, the protruding portion 10p can be formed at the same time, so there is no need to perform the boring process that is essential for the cylindrical housing. It can be manufactured easily.

  Thus, when the rear side of the vehicle body is accommodated in the main housing 10 via the opening 10b, the outer tube 22 is held in a state where a desired pressing load is applied by the biasing member 40, and the protruding portion 10p. It can slide smoothly through. When the diameter-enlarged portion 22d of the outer tube 22 comes into contact with the side surface of the protruding portion 10p, the axial movement of the outer tube 22 is reliably prevented.

  In any of the above-described embodiments, as described above, it functions as an energy absorbing means, and an impact absorbing operation is performed as follows. For example, in a normal state shown in FIG. 4, when a predetermined load or more is input from the rear to the steering wheel (not shown), the inner tube 21 integrally connected to the upper shaft 1 a is changed to the outer tube 22. Move in the axial direction. That is, the inner tube 21 moves forward from the position in the normal state of FIG. 4 together with the upper shaft 1a and the steering wheel (not shown), and moves to a predetermined stop position (not shown). The impact on the steering wheel is absorbed by the movement of the inner tube 21, the upper shaft 1a, and the steering wheel (not shown) during this period. That is, when a load exceeding a predetermined load is applied to the steering wheel, the inner tube 21 is gradually accommodated in the outer tube 22 and resists the frictional force of the annular friction material (not shown) interposed therebetween. As the inner tube 21 moves forward, the impact is absorbed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering shaft 2 Telescopic mechanism 3 Tilt mechanism 10 Main housing 10p Protrusion part 20 Movable column member 21 Inner tube 22 Outer tube 22d Expanded diameter part 30 Fixed bracket 40 Energizing member 60 Bearing member 70 Electric motor

Claims (6)

In a vehicle steering apparatus including a main housing supported by a vehicle body and a movable column member supported so as to be axially movable with respect to the main housing, the main housing has a pair of side wall portions extending in the axial direction. A casing having an opening between the pair of side wall portions and opening portions at both ends in the axial direction, wherein the movable column member has a diameter-expanding portion formed by expanding at least a part of the front side of the vehicle body. A cylindrical member that is disposed on the inner wall of the housing and slidably supports the movable column member; and a biasing member that is fixed to the pair of side wall portions and biases the movable column member. And the dimension between the pair of side wall portions is larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion of the cylindrical body, and the inner wall of the casing has a uniform gap in the circumferential direction with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body. It has a curved surface which faces I body of the cylindrical body The movable column member is accommodated in the casing through the opening on the front side of the vehicle body and the movable column member is biased by the biasing member with respect to the main housing via the bearing member. The vehicle is arranged so as to be movable in the axial direction, and is arranged so that the movable column member can be prevented from moving in the axial direction when the enlarged diameter portion of the cylindrical body abuts on the bearing member. Steering device. The main housing has a U-shaped cross section orthogonal to the axial direction, including the pair of side wall portions, and the bearing member has a curved surface that comes into contact with the inner wall of the housing. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein a groove for holding the bearing member is formed in an inner wall of the housing. The said main housing has a locking hole in the inner wall of the said housing | casing, The locking protrusion which engages with this locking hole was formed in the said bearing member, The Claim 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. The vehicle steering device according to one item. The biasing member includes a substrate fixed to the end surfaces of the pair of side wall portions, and a pair of spring members that are supported by the substrate and bias the movable column member toward the bearing member. The vehicle steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . A vehicle is provided with a main housing that is supported by the vehicle body, and a movable column member that is supported so as to be axially movable with respect to the main housing. In the steering apparatus, the main housing includes a pair of side wall portions extending in the axial direction, an opening between the pair of side wall portions and openings at both ends in the axial direction. A projecting portion that projects in the center direction from the inner wall of the body is integrally formed, and includes a biasing member that is fixed to end surfaces of the pair of side wall portions and biases the movable column member, and the movable column member includes: the housing is accommodated in the body a cylindrical body slidably supported with respect to the projecting portion, has a enlarged diameter portion formed by the enlarged diameter at least a portion of the vehicle body front side of the tubular member, the pair of A curved surface in which the dimension between the wall portions is larger than the outer diameter of the enlarged diameter portion of the cylindrical body, and the inner wall of the casing faces the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body with a uniform gap in the circumferential direction. The movable column member is housed in the casing through the opening on the front side of the vehicle body and the movable column member is urged by the urging member. It is supported so as to be axially movable with respect to the housing, and arranged so that the movable column member can be prevented from moving in the axial direction when the enlarged diameter portion of the cylindrical body comes into contact with the protruding portion of the housing. A vehicle steering device.

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