JP6413375B2 - Tilt-type steering device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a tilt mechanism for adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel, an urging spring that applies a pressing force upward to the steering column and assists the tilting operation by the driver, and a collision accident. The present invention relates to a tilt type steering apparatus including an impact absorbing device for protecting a driver colliding with a steering wheel.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the steering device is configured to transmit the movement of the steering wheel 1 to the steering gear via the steering shaft 2 and to give a steering angle to the left and right steering wheels 3. Further, since the positional relationship between the steering wheel 1 and the driver changes depending on the physique and driving posture of the driver, tilt / telescopic steering devices having a function of adjusting the front / rear position and the vertical position of the steering wheel 1 are widely used. It is used.

  FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show a conventional tilt / telescopic steering device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-218941. This steering device includes an electric power steering device, a steering shaft 2 having a steering wheel 1 fixed to a rear end portion thereof, a steering column 4 that rotatably supports the steering shaft 2 inside thereof, and the steering shaft 2 A steering force assisting device 5 for applying auxiliary torque to the steering shaft 2 and a steering gear unit 7 for displacing the tie rod 6 based on the rotation of the steering shaft 2. The front-rear direction means the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

  The steering shaft 2 is configured by combining the inner shaft 8 and the outer shaft 9 so that rotational force can be transmitted and relative displacement in the axial direction is possible. The longitudinal displacement of the inner shaft 8 and the outer shaft 9 allows the front and rear positions of the steering wheel 1 to be adjusted. In addition, in the event of a collision, the entire length of the steering shaft 2 is shortened and the steering wheel 1 collides. It is possible to reduce the impact on the driver.

  The steering column 4 is fitted to the rear end side portion of the inner column 10 arranged on the front side by externally fitting the front end side portion of the outer column 11 arranged on the rear side so that relative displacement in the axial direction is possible. The shaft 2 and the shaft 2 can be expanded and contracted. The front end portion of the inner column 10 is coupled and fixed to the rear end surface of the gear housing 12 that constitutes the steering force assisting device 5. Further, the inner shaft 8 is inserted into the gear housing 12, and the front end portion of the inner shaft 8 is coupled to an input shaft constituting the steering force assisting device 5. An output shaft 13 constituting the steering force assisting device 5 is connected to the input shaft via a torsion bar. A front end portion of the output shaft 13 protrudes from a front end surface of the gear housing 12, and an intermediate shaft and a universal joint are connected. To the steering gear unit 7.

  The inner column 10 is supported by a part of the vehicle body 15 via the gear housing 12 by the front support bracket 14. The gear housing 12 is supported by the front support bracket 14 so as to be swingable about the pivot 16. Further, a portion near the front end of the outer column 11 is supported by a part of the vehicle body 15 by the rear support bracket 17. Further, the rear support bracket 17 is supported so as to be detachable forward when a strong impact directed forward is applied to the vehicle body 15.

  In order to allow the rear support bracket 17 to be disengaged forward, as shown in FIG. 10, a coupling plate portion 19 is provided on each upper end portion of the pair of left and right support plate portions 18 constituting the rear support bracket 17. Is provided so as to protrude to the side of the steering column 4. A cutout 20 is formed in each coupling plate portion 19 so as to open at the rear end edge of the coupling plate portion 19. And each capsule 20 fixed to the vehicle body 15 by a not-shown bolt is engaged with each notch 20. Engagement grooves 22 are formed on the left and right side surfaces of the capsules 21 to engage the left and right side edges of the notch 20 of the coupling plate portion 19, and the bolts are inserted through intermediate portions thereof. For this purpose, a vertical through hole 23 is formed.

  In the event of a collision, a large impact load directed forward is applied to the steering column 4 from the driver's body via the steering wheel 1 and the steering shaft 2. As a result, the steering shaft 2 and the steering column 4 tend to shorten the overall length while absorbing the energy of the impact. At this time, the rear support bracket 17 tends to be displaced forward together with the outer column 11, but both the capsules 21 remain in the same position together with the bolts. As a result, all the capsules 21 are pulled out rearward from the notches 20, and the steering wheel 1 is allowed to move forward. The impact absorbing mechanism configured as described above absorbs impact energy applied from the driver to the steering wheel 1 in the event of a collision, thereby protecting the driver.

  Further, in order to make it possible to adjust the front-rear position and the vertical position of the steering wheel 1, the outer column 11 is supported by the rear support bracket 17 so as to be displaceable in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. More specifically, a column side bracket 25 having a pair of sandwiched portions 24 spaced apart from each other in the width direction is integrally provided on the lower surface of the front end portion of the outer column 11. Further, column-side through holes 26 extending in the front-rear direction are formed at positions where these sandwiched portions 24 are aligned with each other. In addition, the vehicle body side through hole 27 extending in the vertical direction is aligned with a part of each support plate portion 18 of the rear support bracket 17 and aligned with a part of the column side through hole 26 in the front and rear direction. Is formed. The column side through hole 26 and the vehicle body side through hole 27 are inserted from one side to the other side (from the right side to the left side in FIG. 10) in a state where the clamped part 24 is clamped by the support plate part 18 of the support bracket 17. A connecting nut 29 is screwed to the other end of the hooked member 28. The coupling nut 29 is rotatable by the adjustment lever 30.

  Based on the operation of the adjusting lever 30, the coupling nut 29 rotates and the distance between the coupling nut 29 and the head portion 31 of the flange-shaped member 28 is expanded or contracted, thereby expanding or contracting the distance between the support plate portions 18. The outer column 11 is fixed to the inner column 10 by fixing the column 11 to the rear support bracket 17 or releasing the fixing, and by expanding or reducing the interval between the clamped portions 24. Or it is possible to release the fixation. With such a configuration, when the gap between the coupling nut 29 and the head portion 31 is widened, the outer column 11 is moved within the range (telescopic adjustment range) in which the flange-like member 28 can be displaced inside the column side through hole 26. The front / rear position of the steering wheel 1 can be adjusted by relatively displacing the column 10 in the front / rear direction. Further, the steering column 4 is swung up and down around the pivot 16 within a range in which the flange-like member 28 can be displaced inside the vehicle body side through hole 27 (tilt adjustment range), and the vertical position of the steering wheel 1 is changed. Adjustments can be made.

  On the other hand, FIG. 11 shows a conventional tilt type steering apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-159920, which includes an urging spring 32 that applies an upward pressing force to the steering column 4a. Yes. The urging spring 32 is a so-called double torsion spring, which is formed by bending a single wire made of spring steel, and includes a pair of coil spring portions 33 provided at both ends of the wire. The both ends of the urging spring 32 are arranged in front of the rear support bracket 17a and twisted in the torsional direction by twisting the pair of coil spring portions 33. Part is engaged with a part of the front plate part 34 provided at the front end of the rear support bracket 17a, and the pressing force 35 formed by the intermediate part of the wire rod is used to push the steering column 4a upward. It is assembled in the state that acted.

  By providing the biasing spring 32, the steering column 4a is prevented from swinging downward due to gravity when the adjustment lever 30 is operated, and the height position of the steering column 4a is adjusted. The required force can be reduced. However, when the urging spring 32 is applied as a support mechanism for the steering column 4 in the tilt / telescopic steering device having the impact absorbing mechanism shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the urging spring is used during a secondary collision. The urging spring 32 is displaced forward together with the rear support bracket 17 and the outer column 11 in which both end portions of 32 are locked, and the coil spring portion 33 is located behind the gear housing 12 constituting the steering force assisting device 5. There is a possibility that the biasing spring 32 may be prevented from being further displaced forward by colliding with a member disposed forward of the biasing spring 32 such as an end portion.

  If the rear side support bracket 17 and the outer column 11 are to be further displaced forward in a state where the biasing spring 32 is prevented from being further displaced forward, the biasing spring 32 is moved to the rear side supporting bracket 17a. As long as the locked state is not released, the biasing spring 32 is stretched between the rear end portion of the gear housing 12 and the rear support bracket 17, and the rear support bracket 17 and the outer column 11 are smoothly displaced forward. There is a possibility of being disturbed.

  Further, even when the latching state of the urging spring 32 to the rear support bracket 17 is released during the secondary collision, if the rear support bracket 17 is further displaced forward, the rear support bracket 17 and the coil The spring portion 33 interferes with the front-rear direction, which obstructs the forward displacement of the rear support bracket 17a, and prevents the rear support bracket 17 and the outer column 11 from being smoothly displaced forward. there is a possibility. In such a situation, the shock absorbing mechanism that enables the steering column 4a and the rear support bracket 17a to be displaced forward in the case of a secondary collision is applied to the tilt type steering apparatus shown in FIG. The same applies to the case.

JP 2011-218941 A JP 2006-159920 A

  Even when the biasing spring for applying an upward pressing force to the steering column is applied to the tilt type steering apparatus provided with the impact absorbing mechanism, the present invention can perform a secondary collision. An object is to provide a structure in which a steering column and a support bracket can be smoothly displaced forward without interference of an urging spring.

  The present invention relates to a tilt type steering apparatus provided with a biasing spring provided between a steering column and a support bracket and for applying an upward pressing force to the steering column. During the next collision, during the stroke of the steering column and the support bracket, the biasing spring is displaced forward together with these members, and the biasing spring is moved forward and backward with respect to the member disposed further forward. In the case of interference, the latching state of the biasing spring to the support bracket is released, and the steering column and the support bracket are allowed to displace further forward. In the present invention, in the case of a structure having a telescopic mechanism, the stroke means a contractible length in the front-rear direction (axial direction) of the steering column at the time of a secondary collision. In the case of a structure that is not provided, it means the length that can be displaced forward of the steering column in the event of a secondary collision.

Specifically, the tilt type steering apparatus of the present invention includes a steering column, a support bracket, and an urging spring. The steering column includes a front portion supported via a pivot that is installed in a width direction with respect to a portion fixed to the vehicle body, and can swing and displace around the pivot. The shaft is supported rotatably. A steering wheel is supported and fixed to the rear end portion of the steering shaft. The support bracket is fixed to the vehicle body so as to be able to displace forward with respect to the vehicle body, and is fixed to the connection plate part so as to hang downward. A pair of support plate portions that enable a state of being held from both sides in the width direction and a state of enabling the swing displacement of the steering column are provided.

  More specifically, a column side bracket is provided on a part of the steering column in the axial direction. The pair of support plate portions are aligned with each other at a vehicle body side through hole extending in the vertical direction, and the column side bracket of the portion aligned with the vehicle body side through hole is provided with a column. The side through holes are provided so as to penetrate in the width direction. In the case of a steering apparatus having a telescopic function, the column side through hole extends in the front-rear direction. A saddle-like member is provided so as to be inserted through the vehicle body side through hole and the column side through hole in the width direction, and the saddle-like member is provided with a mechanism for expanding and reducing the distance between the pair of support plate portions. . Further, an adjustment lever is provided at the end of the hook-shaped member, and a mechanism for expanding and reducing the distance between the pair of support plate portions is operated as the adjustment lever rotates.

  The biasing spring is assembled between the steering column and the support bracket so as to be able to move forward together with the steering column and the support bracket, and applies an upward pressing force to the steering column. Configured as follows.

In particular, in the tilt type steering device of the present invention, the biasing spring is composed of one spring piano wire SWP-B (a material defined in the piano wire of JISG3502), and a pair of coils. A spring portion , a pair of locking arm portions, and a pressing portion are provided. The pressing portion is formed by bending the intermediate portion of the wire, and the pair of coil spring portions are formed by spirally winding portions near both ends of the wire, and in the width direction. The pair of locking arm portions are formed in a state of being separated from each other, and are formed so as to extend rearward from both ends of the wire and from the opposite ends of the pair of coil spring portions. And the said bracket side latching | locking part is each provided in the width direction side surface of the said one pair of support plate part . Each part of the locking arm of the front Symbol pair, spring-side engaging portion is formed, said both spring-side engaging portion, the support bracket which is formed on the bracket side locking portion It is locked to. Further, the pressing portion is directly or indirectly locked to a part of the steering column, and an upward pressing force is applied to the steering column with the spring side locking portion as a fulcrum. . The tilt type steering apparatus according to the present invention includes a member that is supported by the vehicle body so as to be swingable about the pivot, is disposed in front of the biasing spring, and includes a receiving surface that is orthogonal to the front-rear direction. Prepare. The tilt steering apparatus of the present invention, when the secondary collision, in the middle of the steering column and the support bracket is displaced forward, when the biasing spring, which interferes with respect to the receiving surface and the longitudinal direction The latching state of the spring side latching portion and the bracket side latching portion is released, and the biasing spring stops in place without being displaced forward, and the steering column and the support bracket are further forwarded. It is configured to allow displacement.

  In the tilt type steering device according to the present invention, preferably, when the locking state of the spring side locking portion to the bracket side locking portion is released, the steering column and the support bracket are further displaced forward. The biasing spring and the support bracket are configured so as not to interfere with each other in the front-rear direction.

  In this case, preferably, the pair of coil spring portions are forward of the pair of support plate portions, do not overlap with the pair of support plate portions in the front-rear direction, and the pair of engagement spring portions. It arrange | positions in the position aligned with a stop arm part regarding the width direction.

  Preferably, the pair of coil spring portions and the pair of locking arm portions are disposed outside the pair of support plate portions in the width direction, and the bracket side locking portion is the first It is provided on the outer side surface in the width direction of the pair of support plate portions.

  The tilt type steering apparatus of the present invention is preferably supported by a portion fixed to the vehicle body, and guides the forward displacement of the support bracket while preventing the support bracket from falling during a secondary collision. And a guide member. In this case, of the pair of locking arm portions, a portion that is in sliding contact with the bracket-side locking portion at the time of a secondary collision is vertically parallel or substantially vertical with respect to the direction in which the guide member guides the support bracket. More preferably, a parallel spring-side guide portion is provided.

  In the tilt type steering apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that a coating layer made of a low friction material is formed on the spring side locking portion. Alternatively, it is preferable that grease is applied to a locking portion between the spring side locking portion and the bracket side locking portion.

  According to the tilt type steering device of the present invention, the steering column and the support bracket can be smoothly displaced forward in the event of a secondary collision. In other words, in the present invention, when a biasing spring that is displaced forward together with the steering column and the support bracket interferes with another member in the front-rear direction during a secondary collision, the spring of the biasing spring is used. The locking state of the side locking portion to the bracket side locking portion of the support bracket is released. For this reason, the biasing spring does not stretch between the another member and the support bracket in the middle of a stroke in which the steering column and the support bracket can be displaced forward. As a result, during the secondary collision, the steering column and the support bracket are allowed to smoothly move forward.

  Further, in the tilt type steering apparatus of the present invention, when the biasing state of the biasing spring to the support bracket is released and the steering column and the support bracket are further displaced forward, the biasing spring and By adopting a configuration in which the support bracket does not interfere with the front-rear direction, a large stroke can be secured in the case of a secondary collision, and the steering column and the support bracket are moved forward over the entire length of the stroke. It can be displaced smoothly.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a tilt / telescopic steering device in a normal state, showing an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a bottom view seen from below in FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view showing the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the outer column and the support bracket are displaced forward during a secondary collision. FIG. 4 is a bottom view seen from below in FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 in a state in which the outer column and the support bracket are completely displaced forward during a secondary collision. FIG. 6 is a bottom view seen from below in FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the support bracket, the capsule, and the guide member taken out from the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed obliquely from the rear. FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a steering device. FIG. 9 is a partially cut side view showing an example of a conventional tilt and telescopic steering device. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX of FIG. FIG. 11 is a side view showing an example of a tilt type steering apparatus having a conventional biasing spring.

1 to 7 show an example of an embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the present invention is applied to a tilt / telescopic steering device in which both the height position and the front / rear position of the steering wheel can be adjusted among the tilt type steering devices. Specifically, tilt teres copy click type steering apparatus of this embodiment, a steering column 4b which is configured by combining a outer column 11a arranged on the rear side and the inner column 10, which is disposed on the front side, A support bracket 17b having a pair of support plate portions 18a supported so as to be displaceable forward with respect to the vehicle body 15 and sandwiching the steering column 4b from both sides in the width direction, the steering column 4b and the support bracket 17b In addition, an urging spring 32a is provided between the steering column 4b and the support bracket 17b so as to be displaced forward, and applies an upward pressing force to the steering column 4b.

  The steering column 4b includes a front portion supported via a pivot 16 installed in the width direction with respect to a portion fixed to the vehicle body, and can swing and displace around the pivot 16, and inwardly steering. A steering shaft 2 that supports and fixes the wheel 1 at its rear end is rotatably supported. In the structure in which the front portion of the steering column 4b is supported by a portion fixed to the vehicle body so as to be swingable and displaceable via the front support bracket 14, the support bracket 17b corresponds to a so-called rear support bracket.

  A column side bracket 25a is provided on a part of the outer column 11a constituting the steering column 4b in the axial direction. Further, a vehicle body side through hole 27 extending in the vertical direction is provided in a portion where the pair of support plate portions 18a are aligned with each other. A column side through hole 26 extending in the width direction is provided so as to penetrate in the width direction. A hook-shaped member 28 is provided so as to be inserted through the vehicle body side through hole 27 and the column side through hole 26 in the width direction, and the hook-shaped member 28 has a mechanism for expanding and reducing the distance between the pair of support plate portions 18a. Provided. As such a mechanism, a mechanism using a cam device in addition to a mechanism including a nut screwed to a head portion of the hook-shaped member 28 and a distal end portion of the hook-shaped member 28 may be employed. An adjustment lever 30 is provided at the end of the bowl-shaped member 18a, and as the adjustment lever 30 rotates, a mechanism for expanding and reducing the distance between the pair of support plate portions 18a is operated, whereby the steering column 4b. Is switched between a state in which the outer column 11a that constitutes is held between both sides in the width direction and a state in which the swing displacement of the steering column 4b is enabled.

  A feature of this example is that in the tilt / telescopic steering device with an impact absorbing mechanism provided with an urging spring 32a for applying an upward pressing force to the steering column 4b, the shape of the urging spring 32a and The support structure is devised. Since the structure of the tilt / telescopic steering device other than the characteristic part of this example is the same as that of the conventional structure, the description thereof will be omitted or simplified, and the characteristic part of this example will be mainly described below.

  The support bracket 17 b constituting the tilt / telescopic steering device of this example is constituted by an upper bracket 43 and a pair of left and right support plate portions 18 a provided below the upper bracket 43. The upper bracket 43 is a single plate-like member extending in the width direction, and includes a pair of left and right connecting plate portions 19a and a continuous plate portion 44 provided between the connecting plate portions 19a in the width direction. The The continuous plate portion 44 connects the inner ends in the width direction of the coupling plate portion 19a in a state of protruding upward from the coupling plate portions 19a on both sides. Further, a guided side through hole 45 penetrating the continuous plate portion 44 in the vertical direction is formed in a portion near the rear end of the central portion in the width direction of the continuous plate portion 44.

  The pair of support plate portions 18a has their upper ends bonded and fixed to the lower surface of the continuous portion between the pair of connection plate portions 19a and the continuous plate portion 44 by means such as welding. A locking piece 41 formed by bending a part of the support plate portion 18a toward the front end of the intermediate portion in the vertical direction is bent outward in the width direction. The locking piece 41 corresponds to the bracket side locking portion in the present invention. The structure of the bracket-side locking portion is not limited to the locking piece 41, and any other locking structure such as a protrusion can be adopted as the bracket-side locking portion. Moreover, in this example, the length dimension regarding the up-down direction of a pair of front board part 34a which comprises the support bracket 17b is made small, and the lower end edge position of the front board part 34a is located above a conventional structure. Yes. In this way, in the event of a secondary collision, the front plate portion 34a and the biasing spring 32a are prevented from interfering with each other in the front-rear direction, and the assembly of the biasing spring 32a to the support bracket 17b is improved. Yes.

  In this example, the support bracket 17b is displaced forward while preventing the support bracket 17b from falling during a secondary collision between the vehicle body 15 and the upper surface of the upper bracket 43 constituting the support bracket 17b. Is provided. The guide member 46 is a single plate-like member that is long in the width direction, and includes a pair of left and right fixed plate portions 47 and a guide plate portion 48 provided in the center portion in the width direction. A fixing through hole 49 penetrating the fixing plate portion 47 in the vertical direction is formed in the center portion of the fixing plate portion 47. A pair of fixed flange portions 50 are formed on both sides in the width direction of the front end portion of the fixed plate portions 47 so as to protrude outward in the width direction. Each fixed flange portion 50 is formed with a fixed small through hole 51 penetrating the fixed flange portion 50 in the vertical direction.

  The guide plate portion 48 connects the inner ends in the width direction of the fixed plate portion 47 in a state of protruding upward from the fixed plate portions 47 on both sides. That is, the guide member 46 has a shape along the upper surface of the upper bracket 43. Further, at the center portion in the width direction of the guide plate portion 48, in the assembled state, the guide plate portion 48 extends in the front-rear direction to a position aligned with the guided side through hole 45 of the continuous plate portion 44 constituting the upper bracket 43 in the width direction and the front-rear direction. A guide-side long hole 52 whose width direction dimension is slightly larger than the diameter of the guided-side through hole 45 is formed.

  The guide member 46 is disposed above the upper bracket 43 to which the capsule 21 is assembled, and the fixing through hole 49 of the fixing plate portion 47 and the vertical through hole 23 of the capsule 21 are aligned, The capsule 21 is coupled and fixed to the vehicle body 15 by bolts (not shown) for fixing the capsule 21 to the vehicle body. Further, the front end portion of the guide member 46 is coupled and fixed to the vehicle body 15 by a bolt (not shown) inserted through the fixed side through hole 51 of the fixed flange portion 50 from below. Accordingly, the guide member 46 is prevented from being displaced in the front-rear direction with respect to the vehicle body 15 in a secondary collision. Thus, in the state where the guide member 46 is coupled and fixed to the vehicle body 15, the guided side through hole 45 of the continuous plate portion 44 and the rear end portion in the front-rear direction of the guide side long hole 52 of the guide member 46 are aligned.

  A shaft portion of a bolt 53 having a head portion disposed below the continuous plate portion 44 is inserted into the guided side through hole 45 and the guide side long hole 52, and the guide plate portion 48 out of the shaft portion. A nut 54 is screwed into a male screw portion formed in a portion protruding upward. In this state, the continuous plate portion 44 and the guide plate portion 48 can be displaced in the front-rear direction of the upper bracket 43 with respect to the guide member 46 without being strongly clamped between the head of the bolt 53 and the nut 54. Combined. That is, in the state where the guide member 46 and the support bracket 17 b are coupled, the support bracket 17 b is suspended and supported by the guide member 46, and the displacement in the front-rear direction is guided by the guide member 46. In this example, the sliding plate 55 is formed between the upper surface of the continuous plate portion 44 of the support bracket 17b and the lower surface of the nut 54 in the through hole formed in the center thereof, among the shaft portions of the bolts 53. It is provided in a state where a portion protruding upward from the guide plate portion 48 is inserted. As a result, the support bracket 17 b is smoothly guided in the front-rear direction by the guide member 48. The structure in which the support bracket 17b is guided by the guide member 48 is not limited to the structure of this example, and the guide member fixed to the vehicle body and the support bracket are directly or indirectly engaged with each other. Various known structures in which the support bracket is guided by the guide member can also be employed.

  The biasing spring 32a constituting the tilt / telescopic steering device of the present example is stretched between the outer column 11a constituting the steering column 4b and the support bracket 17b, and in the assembled state, the outer column 11a of the steering column 4b. An upward pressing force is applied to the steering column 4b and the weight of the steering column 4b and the weight of the member moving up and down together with the steering column 4b. The urging spring 32a in this example has a so-called double torsion spring structure, and is constituted by a single wire made of spring steel, and a space between the pair of coil spring portions 33a and the coil spring portions 33a in the width direction. A pressing portion 35 a provided in the portion and a pair of locking arm portions 36 are provided. Moreover, about the material of spring steel, JISG3502 and the material and SWP-B prescribed | regulated to a piano wire are used. SWP-B is a carbon steel piano wire in the cold-worked steel wire for springs, and has a particularly high strength as a steel wire. It is required that the carbon content is 0.60% to 0.95%, the chemical composition is uniform, there is no segregation, and there are few impurities and non-metallic inclusions. As an excellent steel wire. In JIS, there are SWP-A type, SWP-B type, and SWP-V type, but V type is assumed to be used for valve springs, and B type has higher allowable stress in A type and B type, SWP-B is 10% higher in tensile strength than SWP-A, and is suitable for automobile parts. However, the biasing spring of the present invention is not limited to the structure of the present example, and is spanned between the steering column 4b such as two torsion springs and the support bracket 17b, and realizes the features of the present invention. Any possible spring structure can be employed.

  The coil spring portions 33a are formed concentrically and spaced apart from each other in the width direction by spirally winding portions near both ends of the wire. The pressing part 35a is formed by bending the intermediate part of the wire rod and folding the intermediate part into a U-shape, and a pair of linear parts 37 parallel to each other and the rear end parts of these linear parts 37 And an arc-shaped first connecting portion 38 that connects the two. A front end portion of the pair of linear portions 37 and end portions on opposite sides of the coil spring portions 33 a on both sides are connected by a second connecting portion 39. In addition, it is preferable that the part (part near width direction outer end) arrange | positioned ahead of the support plate part 18a in the assembly state among the 2nd connection parts 39 is arrange | positioned ahead as much as possible. In this way, the second connecting portion 39 is prevented from obstructing the forward displacement of the support bracket 17b during the secondary collision.

  Each of the pair of locking arm portions 36 is long in the front-rear direction due to both ends of the wire, has a substantially straight shape when viewed from the top and bottom, and is bent in a zigzag shape when viewed from the side ( (Triangular wave shape). Further, by bending the wire rod so that it protrudes slightly upward (a bending angle becomes an obtuse angle) at a portion near the rear end of the locking arm portion 36, a substantially L-shaped spring-side locking portion 40 is formed. It is formed.

  In the case of this example, the steering column 4b and the support are supported from the portion of the pair of locking arm portions 36 that are in sliding contact with the locking piece 41 at the time of the secondary collision, that is, from the front end of the spring side locking portion 40. In a state where the bracket 17b is fully displaced forward (state shown in FIG. 5), the guide member 46 supports the support bracket in a portion (a portion indicated by α in FIG. 1) which is in a position aligned with the locking piece 41 in the front-rear direction. The spring-side guide portion 56 is vertically parallel or substantially parallel to the direction in which 17b is guided (front-rear direction). In other words, the spring-side guide portion 56 is provided in a vertically parallel or substantially vertically parallel state with respect to the upper surface of the guide plate portion 48. When the spring side guide portion 56 is configured in a zigzag shape by a plurality of (two in this example) straight portions slightly inclined with respect to the upper surface of the guide plate portion 48 as in this example. The pair of locking arm portions 36 are arranged so that the average value of the inclinations of these linear portions is vertically parallel or substantially parallel to the direction in which the guide member 46 guides the support bracket 17b. The Alternatively, when the spring-side guide portion 56 is configured so as to be entirely wavy with a gentle curve, the virtual line obtained by linear approximation is the direction in which the guide member 46 guides the support bracket 17b. On the other hand, the pair of locking arm portions 36 are arranged so as to be parallel in the vertical direction or substantially parallel in the vertical direction. The front end portions of these locking arm portions 36 are coupled to these end portions so that the locking arm portion 36 extends rearward from the opposite ends of the pair of coil spring portions 33a. Further, the coil spring portion 33a and the locking arm portion 36 are formed at substantially aligned positions in the width direction. In other words, the coil spring portion 33a and the locking arm portion 36 are provided in a substantially overlapping state in the front-rear direction. In addition, it is also possible to provide these latching arm parts 36 outward in the width direction from the coil spring part 33a.

  In the case of this example, the urging spring 32a is entirely covered with a coating layer made of a low friction material. This low friction material coating layer is formed by various surface treatments such as PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coating, fluorine coating, molybdenum disulfide coating, and zinc phosphate coating treatment. Such a coating layer can be formed on the entire urging spring 32a as in this example, or the outer column 11a constituting the support bracket 17b and the steering column 4b of the urging spring 32a, or It can also be formed only in a portion that comes into contact with a peripheral member such as the bowl-shaped member 28. Thus, if the part which forms a coating layer is limited, the process cost for forming this coating layer can be held down.

  Such an urging spring 32a arranges the coil spring part 33a in front of the support bracket 17b, and twists the coil spring part 33a to generate elasticity in the torsional direction at each coil spring part 33a. In this state, the rear half of the spring side locking portion 40 of the locking arm portion 36 is locked to the upper surface of the locking piece 41 of the support bracket 17b, and the pressing portion 35a is fixed to the shaft of the hook-shaped member 28. It is made to engage with the receiving surface 42 provided in the lower surface of the direction center part. In this state, the urging spring 32a imparts upward elasticity to the outer column 11a via the flange-shaped member 28. The pressing portion 35a is prevented from relative displacement in the front-rear direction only by the frictional force acting between the receiving surface 42 and the other pressing portions 35a for restricting relative displacement in the front-rear direction. No structure is provided. The receiving surface 42 can also be provided at the lower end of the outer column 11a.

  Further, in the case of this example, the locking portion between the spring side locking portion 40 of the pair of locking arm portions 36 and the locking piece 41 of the support bracket 17b, and the receiving surface of the pressing portion 35a and the hook-shaped member 28 Grease is applied to both the abutting portion and 42. As this grease, any kind of grease can be adopted as appropriate in consideration of lubricity and viscosity, but dripping and scattering are small, it has rust prevention, and can be used for a long time. It is preferable to employ a grease having characteristics such as a wide range of operating temperatures.

  In the assembled state, the locking arm portion 36 and the coil spring portion 33a arranged on both sides of the urging spring 32a are respectively arranged outside the pair of support plate portions 18a of the support bracket 17b in the width direction. Is done. That is, the locking arm portion 36 and the coil spring portion 33a are arranged at positions that do not overlap with the support plate portion 18a in the front-rear direction. Further, the pressing portion 35a of the urging spring 32a is disposed at a portion between the support plate portions 18a with respect to the width direction. Accordingly, only the portion of the biasing spring 32a near the outer end in the width direction of the second connecting portion 39 is disposed in front of the support plate portion 18a.

  In the assembled state, the biasing spring 32 a presses the locking piece 41 downward by the spring side locking portion 40. Further, the biasing spring 32a applies an upward pressing force to the outer column 11a of the steering column 4b by the pressing portion 35a with the locking portions of the spring-side locking portions 40 and the locking pieces 41 on both sides as fulcrums. Make it work. Then, the pressing force (the force for swinging the steering column 4b upward about the pivot 16) and the gravity (the force for swinging the steering column 4b downward = moment) are balanced. Thus, when the height position of the steering wheel 1 is adjusted, the force necessary for swinging the steering column 4b about the pivot 16 can be reduced. The spring side locking portion 40 and the locking piece 41 have a locking force that does not cause the biasing spring 32a to shift in the front-rear direction during the operation for adjusting the height position and the front-rear position of the steering wheel 1. Is engaged.

When the driver's body collides with the steering wheel 1 in the case of a secondary collision resulting from a collision accident, the tilt type steering device of this example starts from the normal state shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. The outer column 11 a and the support bracket 17 b are displaced forward while the capsule 21 is held at the position fixed to the vehicle body 15. At this time, the support bracket 17b is guided forward displacement by the guide member 46 while being prevented from falling off. Therefore, when the secondary collision, the support bracket 17b along the guide member 46, is displaced to the front towards, even when the secondary collision has proceeded, it never ends up falling. For this reason, the support bracket 17b is stably displaced forward regardless of the direction of the force applied to the steering wheel 1 from the driver during the secondary collision. Further, since the urging spring 32a is not detached due to an impact caused by dropping of the support bracket 17b, the urging spring 32a is smoothly displaced forward together with the outer column 11a and the support bracket 17b.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the middle of the stroke in which the outer column 11a and the support bracket 17b can be displaced forward, one of the second connecting portions 39 of the biasing spring 32a (below the lower side in FIG. 4). The portion near the outer end in the width direction of the second connecting portion 39) is a receiving member provided at the rear end portion of the gear housing 12 constituting the steering force assisting device 5, which is a member arranged in front of the biasing spring 32. Abutting on the surface 57, the biasing spring 32a is prevented from being further displaced forward.

  In the case of this example, of the rear end portion of the gear housing 12, the receiving surface 57 that comes into contact with the one of the second connecting portions 39 is an imaginary direction orthogonal to the displacement direction (front-rear direction) of the support bracket 17b. Provided on a plane. Thus, by providing the receiving surface 57, after the front end portion of the urging spring 32a (the one front end portion of the second connecting portion 39) comes into contact with the receiving surface 57 in the event of a secondary collision. The posture of the urging spring 32a can be stabilized. In the case of this example, the receiving surface 57 of the gear housing 12 is provided so as to abut only with the one of the second connecting portions 39. However, the receiving surface of the gear housing is used for both the second connecting portions. It can also be provided so as to come into contact with 39. With such a configuration, the posture of the urging spring 32 after the front end portion of the urging spring 32 (the front end portions of both the second connecting portions 39) abuts the receiving surface in the case of a secondary collision. Can be further stabilized.

  On the other hand, a force is applied to the outer column 11a and the support bracket 17b so as to displace them further forward. The outer column 11a and the support bracket 17b are then disengaged between the spring side locking portion 40 of the biasing spring 32a and the locking piece 41 of the support bracket 17b and the biasing spring 32a is stopped in place. Is further displaced forward, and the state shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is fully displaced forward. Thus, in the case of this example, when the biasing spring 32a interferes with the receiving surface 57 provided at the rear end portion of the gear housing 12, which is another member existing further forward, in the front-rear direction, the biasing spring 32a is biased. The locking state of the spring side locking portion 40 of the spring 32a to the locking piece 41 which is the bracket side locking portion of the support bracket 17b is released. For this reason, the urging spring 32a is stretched between the receiving surface 57 of the gear housing 12 and the support bracket 17b during the stroke in which the outer column 11a and the support bracket 17b of the steering column 4b can be displaced forward. There is no. As a result, during the secondary collision, the outer column 11a and the support bracket 17b are allowed to smoothly displace forward.

  Further, when shifting from the state shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to the state shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the support bracket 17b and the biasing spring 32a do not interfere in the front-rear direction. For this reason, a large stroke can be secured in the case of a secondary collision, and the outer column 11a and the support bracket 17b can be smoothly displaced forward over the entire length of the stroke. In addition, in accordance with the forward displacement of the outer column 11a and the support bracket 17b, the locking piece 41 elastically deforms the locking arm portion 36 of the urging spring 32a, and the locking arm portion 36 However, such interference caused by the sliding contact does not prevent the outer column 11a and the support bracket 17b from being smoothly displaced forward. Further, the abutting portion between the pressing portion 35a of the urging spring 32a and the receiving surface 42 of the steering column 4b does not hinder smooth forward displacement of the outer column 11a and the support bracket 17b.

  In the case of this example, the locking piece 41 is in a state in which the steering column 4b and the support bracket 17b are fully displaced forward from at least the front end of the spring side locking portion 40 of the locking arm portion 36 of the biasing spring 32a. The guide member 46 is vertically parallel or substantially parallel to the direction in which the guide member 46 guides the support bracket 17b (the upper surface of the guide plate portion 48) at a position aligned with the front-rear direction (the portion indicated by α in FIG. 1). A spring side guide portion 55 is provided. For this reason, during the secondary collision, the biasing spring 32a interferes with the rear end portion of the gear housing 12, and the biasing spring 32a stops in place without being displaced forward. It is possible to smoothly move the support bracket 17b to the front.

  In the case of this example, a coating layer made of a low friction material is formed on the entire biasing spring 32a, and the spring side locking portion 40 of the biasing spring 32a and the locking piece 41 of the support bracket 17b. Grease is applied to the engaging portion and the contact portion between the pressing portion 35a and the receiving surface 42 of the bowl-shaped member 28. For this reason, during the secondary collision, the urging spring 32a comes into contact with the rear end portion of the gear housing 12 to prevent the urging spring 32a from being displaced forward, and then the outer column with respect to the urging spring 32a. 11a and the support bracket 17b can be smoothly displaced forward. In addition, it is possible to prevent the generation of abnormal noise based on rubbing, squeaking, vibration, or the like in these locking portions and contact portions. In addition, the coating layer made from a low friction material should just be formed in the spring side latching | locking part 40 among the urging | biasing springs 32a. Further, the grease may be applied only to the engaging portion between the spring side locking portion 40 and the locking piece 41 of the support bracket 17b.

  The present invention can be widely applied not only to a tilt / telescopic steering device but also to a tilt type steering device having an impact absorbing mechanism regardless of the presence or absence of a telescopic mechanism.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering wheel 2 Steering shaft 3 Steering wheel 4, 4a, 4b Steering column 5 Steering force auxiliary device 6 Tie rod 7 Steering gear unit 8 Inner shaft 9 Outer shaft 10 Inner column 11, 11a Outer column 12 Gear housing 13 Output shaft 14 Front support Bracket 15 Body 16 Axis 17, 17a Support bracket (rear support bracket)
18, 18a Support plate portion 19, 19a Coupling plate portion 20 Notch 21 Capsule 22 Engagement groove 23 Vertical direction through hole 24 Clamped portion 25, 25a Column side bracket 26 Column side through hole 27 Vehicle body side through hole 28 Hook-shaped member 29 coupling nut 30 adjusting lever 31 head 32, 32a urging spring 33, 33a coil spring part 34, 34a front plate part 35, 35a pressing part 36 locking arm part 37 linear part 38 first connecting part 39 second connecting part Connecting portion 40 Spring side locking portion 41 Locking piece 42 Receiving surface 43 Upper bracket 44 Continuous plate portion 45 Guided side through hole 46 Guide member 47 Fixed plate portion 48 Guide plate portion 49 Fixing through hole 50 Fixed flange portion 51 Fixed Small through hole 52 guide side long hole 53 bolt 54 nut 55 sliding plate 56 spring side guide portion 57 receiving surface

Claims (8)

A steering column that includes a front portion that is swingably supported by the vehicle body about the pivot axis, and that can be swung and displaced as a whole around the pivot axis, and that supports the steering shaft rotatably inside;
With respect to the vehicle body, and supported coupling plate portion so as to allow displacement of the forward, fixed as hanging downward in said binding plate portions, the scaling of the mutual distance, the width direction on both sides of the steering column A support bracket comprising a pair of support plate portions that enable a state of being held between and a state of enabling the swing displacement of the steering column;
The steering column and the support bracket, together with the steering column and the support bracket, are assembled between the steering column and the support bracket and are arranged rearward of the front portion, so that an upward pressing force is applied to the steering column. A biasing spring to be applied ;
With
The biasing spring is composed of one spring piano wire SWP-B, and includes a pair of coil spring portions, a pair of locking arm portions, and a pressing portion,
The pressing part is formed by bending the intermediate part of the wire,
The pair of coil spring portions are formed by spirally winding portions near both ends of the wire, and being separated from each other in the width direction,
The pair of locking arm portions are disposed at both ends of the wire and extend rearward from an end portion of the pair of coil spring portions opposite to the side where the pressing portion is located. Formed with
The support plate portion includes a bracket side locking portion on a side surface in the width direction,
A spring-side locking portion is formed on a part of each of the pair of locking arm portions, and each of the spring-side locking portions is locked to the bracket-side locking portion, The pressing portion directly or indirectly contacts a part of the steering column , and the biasing spring applies an upward pressing force with the spring side locking portion as a fulcrum to the steering column. And
During the secondary collision, when the steering column and the support bracket are displaced forward, the biasing spring interferes with the receiving surface orthogonal to the front-rear direction at the front part with respect to the front-rear direction . The latched state of the spring side latching portion and the bracket side latching portion is released, and the biasing spring stops in place without being displaced forward, and the steering column and the support bracket are further forwarded. Configured to allow displacement,
Tilt-type steering device.   When the locking state of the spring side locking portion to the bracket side locking portion is released and the steering column and the support bracket are further displaced forward, the biasing spring and the support bracket are The tilt type steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein there is no interference in the front-rear direction.   The pair of coil spring portions are forward of the pair of support plate portions, do not overlap with the pair of support plate portions in the front-rear direction, and the pair of locking arm portions and the width direction The tilt type steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tilt type steering apparatus is disposed at a position aligned with respect to each other.   The pair of coil spring portions and the pair of locking arm portions are arranged outside the pair of support plate portions in the width direction, and the bracket-side locking portion is the pair of support portions. The tilt type steering device according to claim 1, wherein the tilt type steering device is provided on an outer side surface of the plate portion in the width direction.   The guide member according to claim 1, further comprising a guide member that is supported by a portion fixed to the vehicle body and guides the displacement of the support bracket forward while preventing the support bracket from falling during a secondary collision. Tilt steering device.   Of the pair of locking arm portions, at the time of a secondary collision, the portion that is in sliding contact with the bracket-side locking portion is vertically parallel or substantially vertically parallel to the direction in which the guide member guides the support bracket, The tilt type steering apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a spring side guide portion is provided.   The tilt type steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a coating layer made of a low friction material is formed on the spring side locking portion.   The tilt type steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein grease is applied to a locking portion between the spring side locking portion and the bracket side locking portion.

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