JP6896566B2 - Electric steering column device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electric steering column device.

Conventionally, an electric steering column device has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

As this type of electric steering column device, there are those provided with a vehicle body mounting bracket, a steering column swingably supported by the vehicle body mounting bracket, and a tilt mechanism using an electric motor as a drive source. In such an electric steering column device, the steering column is swung in the vertical direction of the vehicle with the tilt shaft arranged on the front side of the vehicle as a rotation fulcrum.

In the electric steering column device described in Patent Document 1, a through hole penetrating in the left-right direction is formed in the front end support portion of the steering column, and the side wall portion of the vehicle body mounting bracket is supported so that the through hole and the axis line coincide with each other. A hole is formed. Then, the steering column is swingably supported with respect to the vehicle body mounting bracket by the bolts (tilt pivot shafts) inserted into the support holes and the through holes.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-190679

In the electric steering column device described in Patent Document 1, when tightening a bolt inserted into a support hole and a through hole with a nut, it is necessary to manage the tightening torque of the nut, and it is difficult to adjust at the time of assembly and the assembly is easy. There is a problem that it also decreases.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric steering column device capable of simplifying the tilt shaft (pivot shaft) structure and improving the assembling property.

The electric steering column device according to the present invention includes a vehicle body mounting bracket, a steering column swingably supported by the vehicle body mounting bracket, and a tilt mechanism using an electric motor as a drive source. The vehicle body mounting bracket integrally has a bracket main body and a pair of side wall portions extending from the bracket main body and arranged on the left and right sides of the rocking support portion of the steering column. A column through hole that penetrates in the left-right direction is formed in the rocked support portion of the steering column, and a support hole that faces the column through hole is formed in the side wall portion of the vehicle body mounting bracket. A shaft pin is inserted into the support hole and the column through hole, and a collar member is inserted between the outer peripheral surface of at least one end of the shaft pin and the inner peripheral surface of the support hole. A circumferential groove is formed at least at one end of the shaft pin, and an engaging claw that engages with the circumferential groove is formed on the collar member.

According to the electric steering column device according to the present invention, the tilt shaft (pivot shaft) structure can be simplified and the assembling property can be improved.

It is a perspective view of the electric steering column device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view of the electric steering column device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the electric steering column device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the electric steering column device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the arrow FR indicates the front side of the vehicle, and the arrow RR indicates the rear side of the vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the electric steering column device 1 includes a vehicle body mounting bracket 2 fixed to the vehicle body and a steering column 3 supported by the vehicle body mounting bracket 2 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Be prepared.

Further, the electric steering column device 1 includes a steering shaft 5 that is rotatably supported by the steering column 3 and has a steering wheel 4 connected to the rear end, and a tilt mechanism 7 that uses an electric motor 6 as a drive source.

The vehicle body mounting bracket 2 extends downward from the bracket body 10 and the bracket body 10, and is arranged on the left and right sides of the rocked support portion (front end support portion) 11 of the steering column 3. It is configured to have 12 integrally. The bracket body 10 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and is fixed to the vehicle body. The side wall portion 12 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, similarly to the bracket main body 10. A support hole 13 is formed in the vehicle front end side portion 12a of the side wall portion 12, and a through hole (first through hole) 14 is formed in the vehicle rear end side portion 12b of the side wall portion 12. The support hole 13 formed in the vehicle front end side portion 12a of the side wall portion 12 is an elongated hole extending along the vehicle front-rear direction (axial direction of the steering column 3). The vehicle body mounting bracket 2 is, for example, a die-cast product (aluminum cast molded product) made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

The steering column 3 is interposed between the tubular outer jacket 15, the tubular inner jacket 16 inserted into the outer jacket 15 so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction, and the outer jacket 15 and the inner jacket 16. It has a mid jacket 17 and the like. The outer jacket 15 is, for example, a die-cast product (aluminum cast molded product) made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

The steering shaft 5 is formed by connecting a lower shaft 18 on the steering wheel side (see FIG. 4) and an upper shaft 19 connected to the steering wheel 4 so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction in a state where relative rotation is restricted. is there. The upper shaft 19 is rotatably supported by the steering column 3 via a bearing (not shown). A universal joint 20 (see FIG. 4) is connected to the front end of the lower shaft 18.

Next, the tilt mechanism 7 will be described.

The tilt mechanism 7 has a link member 21 that connects the vehicle body mounting bracket 2 and the steering column 3.

The link member 21 integrally includes a pair of link main bodies 22 and 22 arranged on the left and right sides of the steering column 3 and a connecting portion 23 that connects the pair of link main bodies 22 and 22 to each other. .. The link body 22 is formed in a triangular shape when viewed from the side. The link main body 22 includes a first connecting portion (first corner portion) 24 to which the vehicle body mounting bracket 2 is connected, a second connecting portion (second corner portion) 25 to which the steering column 3 is connected, and an electric motor 6. It has a third connecting portion (third triangular portion) 27 to which the screw shaft 26 of the above is connected. A bottomed hole (first bottomed hole) 28 is formed in the first connecting portion 24 so that the axis line coincides with the first through hole 14 of the vehicle body mounting bracket 2 and faces the first through hole 14. A through hole (second through hole) 29 is formed in the second connecting portion 25. A screw nut 30 (see FIG. 3) into which the screw shaft 26 is screwed is rotatably supported on the third connecting portion 27 around the axis in the left-right direction. The link member 21 is, for example, a die-cast product (aluminum cast molded product) made of aluminum or an aluminum alloy.

A reduction gear mechanism 31 and a screw shaft 26 are mounted on the electric motor 6, and the screw shaft 26 is screwed into a screw nut 30 rotatably supported by a third connecting portion 27 of the link main body 22. There is. Further, the electric motor 6 is rotatably supported by a motor support portion 32 (see FIG. 4) formed in the lower portion of the outer jacket 15 by using a motor support pin 33 (see FIG. 2).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, a first through hole 14 is formed in the side wall portion 12 of the vehicle body mounting bracket 2, and the axis line coincides with the first through hole 14 in the first connecting portion 24 of the link main body 22. A first bottomed hole 28 is formed so as to face each other. The base 34a of the pin (first pin) 34 is fixed (screwed) to the first through hole 14, and the tip 34b of the first pin 34 is inserted into the first bottomed hole 28, so that the first pin 34 The tip portion 34b of the above is in pressure contact with the bottom surface of the first bottomed hole 28. In order to screw the base 34a of the first pin 34 into the first through hole 14, the base 34a of the first pin 34 and the large diameter portion of the first through hole 14 are threaded (screw processing is performed). It has been subjected). The first pin 34 is prevented from loosening by using, for example, a locking agent or caulking. Further, the first pin 34 has a protrusion (first protrusion) 35 having an arcuate cross section (hemispherical shape) at the tip portion 34b, and the tip of the first protrusion 35 is pressed against the bottom surface of the first bottomed hole 28. There is. That is, the first pin 34 is in pressure contact with the bottom surface of the first bottomed hole 28 on its central axis. A bearing (first bearing) 36 is interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the first bottomed hole 28 and the outer peripheral surface of the tip end portion 34b of the first pin 34. The first pin 34 is, for example, a metal pin formed of a metal material. The first bearing 36 is, for example, a needle bearing.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, a second through hole 29 is formed in the second connecting portion 25 of the link main body 22, and the outer jacket 15 of the steering column 3 has an axis that coincides with the second through hole 29. Opposing bottomed holes (second bottomed holes) 37 are formed. The base 38a of the pin (second pin) 38 is fixed (screwed) to the second through hole 29, and the tip 38b of the second pin 38 is inserted into the second bottomed hole 37, so that the second pin 38 The tip portion 38b of the above is in pressure contact with the bottom surface of the second bottomed hole 37. In order to screw the base 38a of the second pin 38 into the second through hole 29, the base 38a of the second pin 38 and the large diameter portion of the second through hole 29 are threaded (screw processing is performed). It has been subjected). The second pin 38 is prevented from loosening by using, for example, a locking agent or caulking. Further, the second pin 38 has a protrusion (second protrusion) 39 having an arcuate cross section (hemispherical shape) at the tip portion 38b, and the tip of the second protrusion 39 is pressed against the bottom surface of the second bottomed hole 37. There is. That is, the second pin 38 is in pressure contact with the bottom surface of the second bottomed hole 37 on its central axis. A bearing (second bearing) 40 is interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the second bottomed hole 37 and the outer peripheral surface of the tip end portion 38b of the second pin 38. The second pin 38 is, for example, a metal pin formed of a metal material. The second bearing 40 is, for example, a needle bearing.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a screw nut 30 is rotatably supported by a third connecting portion 27 of the link main body 22 around an axis in the left-right direction, and the screw nut 30 is attached to the screw shaft of the electric motor 6. 26 is screwed.

Next, the rocked support portion 11 of the steering column 3 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, a through hole (column through hole) 41 penetrating in the left-right direction is formed in the rocked support portion 11 of the steering column 3 (outer jacket 15). On the other hand, the side wall portion 12 of the vehicle body mounting bracket 2 is formed with a support hole 13 whose axis line coincides with and faces the column through hole 41. A shaft pin 42 is inserted into the support hole 13 and the column through hole 41, and a collar member 43 is inserted between the outer peripheral surfaces of both ends of the shaft pin 42 and the inner peripheral surface of the support hole 13, and the collar is inserted. The inner end surface of the member 43 faces the bush 44 or the flange 45, which will be described later, with a gap so as to be in contact with the bush 44 or the flange 45. Circumferential grooves 46 are formed at both ends of the shaft pin 42, and engaging claws 47 (see FIG. 2) that engage with the circumferential grooves 46 are formed on the collar member 43. The circumferential groove 46 is formed only at one end of the shaft pin 42, and a brim portion having the same shape as the collar member 43 is integrally formed at the other end of the shaft pin 42. May be good. The shaft pin 42 is, for example, a metal pin formed of a metal material. The color member 43 is, for example, a resin color formed of a synthetic resin material.

The support hole 13 is an elongated hole extending along the vehicle front-rear direction (axial direction of the steering column 3), and the collar member 43 can slide in the vehicle front-rear direction (axial direction of the steering column 3) with respect to the support hole 13. Is supported by. Further, the collar member 43 is formed as a C-shaped collar, and is pressed against the inner surface of the support hole 13 by the elastic force of the collar member 43. By moving the collar member 43 together with the steering column 3 along the extending direction of the elongated hole, the locus between the tilt rotation center (axis pin 42) and the link rotation center (first pin 34) when the steering column 3 is tilted. It is designed to absorb the difference.

Further, a bush 44 is inserted between the inner peripheral surface of the column through hole 41 and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft pin 42. On the other hand, a flange 45 integrally formed at the end of the bush 44 between the inner side surface of the side wall portion 12 of the vehicle body mounting bracket 2 and the side surface of the rocking support portion 11 of the steering column 3 (outer jacket 15). Is inserted. The bush 44 and the flange 45 are formed of, for example, a metal material or a synthetic resin material.

In the electric steering column device 1 of the present embodiment, the third connecting portion 27 of the link member 21 is pushed and pulled by the electric motor 6 to use the first connecting portion 24 (first pin 34) of the link member 21 as a rotation fulcrum. The second connecting portion 25 is swung in the vertical direction of the vehicle. By this swing operation, the steering column 3 is swung in the vertical direction of the vehicle with the tilt shaft (shaft pin 42) arranged on the front side of the vehicle as a rotation fulcrum, and the tilt position of the steering wheel 4 is adjusted. ing.

The effects of this embodiment will be described below.

(1) The electric steering column device 1 includes a vehicle body mounting bracket 2, a steering column 3 swingably supported by the vehicle body mounting bracket 2, and a tilt mechanism 7 using an electric motor 6 as a drive source. The vehicle body mounting bracket 2 integrally includes a bracket main body 10 and a pair of side wall portions 12, 12 extending from the bracket main body 10 and arranged on both left and right sides of the rocking support portion 11 of the steering column 3. .. A column through hole 41 penetrating in the left-right direction is formed in the rocked support portion 11 of the steering column 3, and a support hole 13 facing the column through hole 41 is formed in the side wall portion 12 of the vehicle body mounting bracket 2. .. The shaft pin 42 is inserted into the support hole 13 and the column through hole 41, and the collar member 43 is inserted between the outer peripheral surface of at least one end of the shaft pin 42 and the inner peripheral surface of the support hole 13. A circumferential groove 46 is formed at at least one end of the shaft pin 42, and an engaging claw 47 that engages with the circumferential groove 46 is formed on the collar member 43.

In the electric steering column device 1, the pair of side wall portions 12, 12 and the bracket body 10 are integrated to make the vehicle body mounting bracket 2 rigid. Further, the rocked support portion 11 can be assembled simply by inserting the shaft pin 42, which is the rotation fulcrum of the steering column 3, into the support hole 13 and the column through hole 41, and attaching the collar member 43 to the end of the shaft pin 42. it can. By configuring the rocked support portion 11 of the steering column 3 in this way, it is possible to improve the assembling property without increasing the number of parts.

Therefore, according to the electric steering column device 1 according to the present embodiment, the tilt shaft (pivot shaft) structure can be simplified and the assembling property can be improved.

(2) The support hole 13 is an elongated hole extending along the axial direction of the steering column 3, and the collar member 43 is slidably supported in the axial direction of the steering column 3 with respect to the support hole 13.

Even in a structure that allows the tilt shaft (shaft pin 42) to move in the axial direction of the steering column 3, a relatively simple shaft support structure can be realized.

(3) A bush 44 is inserted between the inner peripheral surface of the column through hole 41 and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft pin 42, and between the inner side surface of the side wall portion 12 and the side surface of the rocked support portion 11. A flange 45 formed at the end of the bush 44 is inserted.

By doing so, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of rattling between the vehicle body mounting bracket 2 and the steering column 3.

By the way, the electric steering column device of the present invention has been described by taking an example in the above-described embodiment, but the electric steering column device is not limited to this embodiment, and various other embodiments can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention. ..

1 Electric steering column device 2 Body mounting bracket 3 Steering column 6 Electric motor 7 Tilt mechanism 10 Bracket body 11 Swingable support (front end support)
12 Side wall 13 Support hole 41 Through hole (column through hole)
42 Shaft Pin 43 Collar Member 44 Bush 45 Flange 46 Circumferential Groove 47 Engagement Claw

Claims (3)

Body mounting bracket and
A steering column that is swingably supported by the vehicle body mounting bracket,
Equipped with a tilt mechanism that uses an electric motor as a drive source,
The vehicle body mounting bracket integrally includes a bracket main body and a pair of side wall portions extending from the bracket main body and arranged on both left and right sides of a rocking support portion of the steering column.
A column through hole penetrating in the left-right direction is formed in the rocked support portion of the steering column, and a support hole facing the column through hole is formed in the side wall portion of the vehicle body mounting bracket to support the steering column. A shaft pin is inserted into the hole and the column through hole, and a collar member is inserted between the outer peripheral surface of at least one end of the shaft pin and the inner peripheral surface of the support hole.
An electric steering column device characterized in that a circumferential groove is formed at at least one end of the shaft pin, and an engaging claw that engages with the circumferential groove is formed on the collar member. The support hole is an elongated hole extending along the axial direction of the steering column.
The electric steering column device according to claim 1, wherein the collar member is slidably supported in the axial direction of the steering column with respect to the support hole. A bush is inserted between the inner peripheral surface of the column through hole and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft pin, and the end of the bush is inserted between the inner surface of the side wall portion and the side surface of the rocked support portion. The electric steering column device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a flange formed in the portion is inserted.

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