JPH0217974Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tilt steering column device for a tilt steering wheel system.

Traditionally, the steering wheel (steering wheel)
A tilt steering wheel system has been developed that allows the height position of the steering column to be changed according to the driver's preference. The column is configured to be tiltable.

By rotating the lever using a lever-type tightening mechanism, the steering column can be fixed to the vehicle body in a desired posture.

However, in such conventional tilt-type steering column devices, there is no way to accurately know when the tightening mechanism is complete, so the operator has to rely on intuition to determine the complete tightening state. figure,
Therefore, differences in tightening force inevitably occur due to individual differences among operators, which causes the following problems.

(1) The position of the lever operated when tightening is different depending on the person operating the lever when tightening is completed, but such a situation is not favorable in terms of operating performance.

(2) Excessive input may be applied to components such as the tightening mechanism, and when this happens, problems arise in terms of strength or durability, and furthermore, excessive quality assurance is forced.

(3) The tightening force required to complete tightening changes, and as a result, the detachment load in the event of a collision (the load that causes the tightening force to loosen in the event of a collision and prevents the steering column from maintaining the desired attitude) also changes. , which is also unfavorable from a safety standpoint.

The present invention aims to solve these problems by making it possible to accurately know when the tightening mechanism has completed tightening, thereby eliminating differences in tightening force due to individual differences in the operator. An object of the present invention is to provide a tilt type steering column device.

Therefore, the tilt-type steering column device of the present invention includes a tilt-type steering column whose one end is pivotally connected to the vehicle body, and a lever-type tightening device that converts the turning force of the lever into a tightening force to fix the steering column to the vehicle body. A stopper member is provided on the vehicle body side with an arcuate surface centered at the pivot point of the steering column, and the lever is provided with a stopper member that tightens the tightening mechanism as the lever rotates. The lever is characterized in that a locking member is provided which comes into contact with the arcuate surface of the stopper member to restrict the amount of rotation of the lever when the lever is fully attached.

As described above, the tilt type steering column device of the present invention is provided with a stopper member having an arc surface centered on the pivot point of the steering column on the vehicle body side, and a stopper member of the lever of the tightening mechanism. It has a simple structure in which a locking member is provided which restricts the amount of rotation of the lever by coming into contact with the arc surface of the stopper member when the tightening mechanism is completely tightened due to the rotation. It is possible to accurately know when the tightening has been completed, and this prevents differences in tightening force due to individual differences among operators.As a result, operational performance is improved, and excessive quality assurance is forced. This has the advantage of not causing any problems, and is also preferable from the standpoint of safety.

Hereinafter, a tilt type steering column device as an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an enlarged main part thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, a steering column 3 is provided, into which a steering shaft 2 with a handle (steering wheel) 1 attached at its tip is inserted.
In order to realize a tilt steering wheel system, it is configured as a tilt-type steering column that can be tilted freely. That is, one end of the steering column 3 is pivotally attached to the vehicle body 4 via a bracket 5.

Further, the steering column 3 can be maintained in a desired posture by a lever-type tightening mechanism 9.

This tightening mechanism 9 fixes the steering column 3 to the vehicle body 4 by converting the turning force of the lever 8 into a tightening force, and its configuration is as follows.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of brackets 6 each having a long hole 7 are attached to the vehicle body 4 so as to face each other, and the brackets 6,
A pair of flanges 3a, 3 from the steering column 3 with a pipe-shaped spacer 21 sandwiched therebetween.
A is interposed therein, and a bolt shaft 14 as a tilt shaft is provided so as to pass through the elongated hole 7 of the bracket 6, the flange 3a, and the spacer 21.

A nut 18 is screwed onto one end of the bolt shaft 14 (the part outside one bracket 6) via a block 19 and a washer 20, and after the nut 18 is screwed in by a predetermined amount, it is welded. Therefore, it is fixed to the bolt shaft 14.

Further, on the other end side of the bolt shaft 14 (the part outside the other bracket 6), washers 17, 1
6 and a large diameter female threaded member 15 are provided, and a threaded member 13 that is screwed into both the female threaded member 15 and the bolt shaft 14 is interposed between the female threaded member 15 and the bolt shaft 14.

A lever 8 is attached to this screw member 13.

Therefore, when the lever 8 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG.
Because it is pulled out to the left in the figure, the brackets 6, 6
A tightening force is generated between the two, whereby the steering column 3 is fixed to the bracket 6 attached to the vehicle body 4 via the flange 3a and the spacer 21.

The assembly procedure for this tightening mechanism 9 is as follows.

First, the threaded member 13 and the female threaded member 15 are assembled, and the bolt shaft 14 is screwed into the threaded member 13 by a predetermined amount.

Then, the bolt shaft 14 is passed through the elongated hole 7, the flange 3a, and the spacer 21. At this time, washers 16, 17, 20 and block 19 are installed as appropriate.

Next, with the lever 8 with the screw member 13 set in the predetermined position, tighten the nut 18,
Thereafter, the bolt shaft 14 and nut 18 are welded together.

By the way, on the outer surface of the bracket 6 near the other end of the bolt shaft 14, a stopper member 11 having an arcuate surface with a radius R centered on the pivot point O of the steering column 3 is provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, when the tightening mechanism 9 is completely tightened as the lever 8 rotates, the stopper member 1
The locking member 10 that is locked to the arc surface of the lever 8
It is integrated with the

Note that the reference numeral 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicates a column cover.

With the above-described configuration, in order to adjust the handlebar 1 to a height position suitable for the occupant, first turn the lever 8 clockwise in FIG. loosen. As a result, the steering column 3 becomes freely tiltable. Therefore, in this state, tilt the steering column 3 so that the handle 1 is at the desired position, and once the handle 1 is set at the desired position, turn the lever 8 in the opposite counterclockwise direction. good.

As a result, the rotational force of the lever 8 is converted into a tightening force by the action of the tightening mechanism 9, and the steering column 3 is fixed to the vehicle body 4. However, when the tightening mechanism 9 is fully tightened, Since the locking member 10 with the lever 8 is locked on the arcuate surface of the stopper member 11 with the vehicle body 4, it is possible to accurately know when the tightening is completed.

Further, the locking member 10 is connected to the steering column 3
No matter what position is within the tilting range,
When the lever 8 is rotated by a certain amount, it is locked to the arc surface of the stopper member 11, so the tightening force must always be constant no matter what posture the steering column 3 is fixed to the vehicle body 4. Can be done.

In this manner, the tilt type steering column device of the present invention provides the following effects and advantages.

(1) When the driver rotates the lever to fix the steering column in a predetermined position, when the tightening is completed, the stopper on the lever comes into contact with the locking member, preventing further lever movement. Since rotation of the bolt is disabled, the driver can reliably know when the proper tightening is completed.

(2) It is possible to advantageously prevent insufficient tightening force or excessive tightening due to individual differences between drivers;
A safe and reliable tightening state can be stably obtained.

(3) Since a constant and appropriate tightening force can be obtained, the driver does not have to pay attention to the tightening force.
In addition to improved operability, it is advantageous in terms of strength and durability of parts, and there is no need to excessively guarantee the quality of component parts.

(4) The stopper member has an arc surface centered on the pivot point of the steering column,
Since the locking member contacts this arc surface, the locking member always contacts the stopper member with the same amount of lever operation, regardless of the adjustment position (degree of inclination, posture) of the steering column. This has the advantage of providing excellent operability and providing a stable tightening condition.

(5) Since the tightening force can be made constant, the detachment load in the event of a collision can be kept constant, which is advantageous from the standpoint of safety.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show a tilt-type steering column device as an embodiment of the present invention, with FIG. 1 being a side view thereof, and FIG. 2 being an enlarged sectional view showing the main parts thereof. 1... Handle, 2... Steering shaft, 3... Steering column, 3a... Flange, 4... Vehicle body, 5, 6... Bracket, 7...
Long hole, 8...Lever, 9...Lever type tightening mechanism,
10...Locking member, 11...Stopper member, 12
...Column cover, 13...Screw member, 14...
Bolt shaft, 15... Female thread member, 16, 17...
Watshiya, 18...Natsuto, 19...Brock,
20...Watushiya, 21...Spacer.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The steering column is equipped with a tilt-type steering column whose one end is pivotally connected to the vehicle body, and a lever-type tightening mechanism that converts the turning force of the lever into a fastening force to fix the steering column to the vehicle body. A stopper member having an arc surface centered on the pivot point is provided, and the lever is provided with a stopper member having an arc surface centered on the pivot point.
The tilt mechanism is characterized by being provided with a locking member that comes into contact with the arc surface of the stopper member to restrict the amount of rotation of the lever when the tightening mechanism is fully tightened as the lever rotates. type steering column device.