JPH0223477Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Purpose of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a steering device for automobiles, etc., and in particular, a steering device in which the pad portion in the center of the steering wheel remains in a non-rotating state. Regarding.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, in a steering device, operating parts of various operating mechanisms are arranged in a pad part at the center of the steering wheel, and the pad part is held in a non-rotating state when the steering wheel is rotated, for example. , a device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-80361 is known.

Such a conventional device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

1 is a steering wheel body, and this steering wheel body 1 includes an annular rim portion 4 in which the outside of a rim core metal 2 is covered with a covering material 3, and an outside of a spoke core metal 5 welded and connected to the rim core metal 2. It has a plate-shaped spoke portion 7 covered with a covering material 6 and a boss 8 welded and fixed to the center portion of the spoke core metal 5. This boss 8 has an annular flange portion 10 on the upper outer periphery of the lower end base portion 9 welded to the spoke core metal 5.
A cylindrical part 11 is provided at the upper part of this flange part 10, and a ring groove 12 is formed in the outer circumference of the upper end of this cylindrical part 11. And boss 8
The center portion of the steering shaft 13 is fitted into the upper end of the steering shaft 13 and secured by a nut 14.

Reference numeral 15 designates an upper cylindrical member integrally formed of synthetic resin. An internal gear 18 is formed inside. Then, the inner fitting cylinder portion 16 is connected to the boss 8.
The fitting cylinder part 16 is rotatably fitted to the outer periphery of the cylindrical part 11 of
Snap spring 1 that comes into contact with the top surface of the
9 is fitted.

20 is a cylindrical lower cylindrical member integrally formed of synthetic resin, and this lower cylindrical member 20 has a cylindrical attachment part 21 at the inner lower part and an annular part 22 at the outer periphery.
An internal gear 23 is formed inside this annular portion 22 . Then, the upper cylindrical member 15
Below, an inner mounting portion 21 of the lower cylindrical member 20 is fitted onto the outer side of the steering column 24 through which the steering shaft 13 is inserted, and is fixed to the lower side with a screw 25 so as not to rotate.

A substantially U-shaped support frame 26 is fixed near the center of the spoke core metal 5 with a screw 28 via a mounting piece 27, and the upper cylindrical member 15 is attached to this support frame 26.
A gear 29 meshed with the internal gears 18 and 23 of the lower cylindrical member 20 is rotatably mounted on a support shaft 30.

An electric unit 31 is mounted on the upper cylindrical member 15 with screws 33 via a mounting piece 32, and a plurality of operation buttons 3 are mounted on the upper surface of the electric unit 31.
4 are arranged in parallel. A pad 35 is fitted over the electric unit 31 with each operation button 34 protruding.

Then, when the steering wheel main body 1 is rotated, the gear 29 of the support frame 26, which rotates together with the boss 8 via the spoke core metal 5, is moved to the lower cylindrical member 20.
The upper cylindrical member 15 rotates and revolves around its axis through engagement with the internal gear 23 of the upper cylindrical member 15, and rotates the upper cylindrical member 15 in a relatively opposite direction through the engagement between the gear 29 and the internal gear 18 of the upper cylindrical member 15. , apparently the upper tubular member 1
5 to hold the electrical unit 31 and pad 35 stationary.

In the above device, the upper cylindrical member 1
5 is usually formed integrally with a hard synthetic resin and is prevented from coming off by a snap spring 19 at the upper part.
6 is expanded vertically and outwardly, and the fitting cylinder portion 1
When the length of the boss 8 becomes longer than the distance between the flange portion 10 of the boss 8 and the snap ring 19, the boss 8 and the upper cylindrical member 15 cannot rotate with respect to each other.

Therefore, it is necessary to make the distance between the flange portion 10 of the boss 8 and the snap spring 19 large in advance, but if the distance is made too large, the boss 8 and the upper cylindrical member 15 will become loose at room temperature. It is also possible to form the upper cylindrical member 15 from a synthetic resin having an extremely small coefficient of thermal expansion, which is not preferable, but this increases the material cost and the manufacturing cost.

Further, when the upper cylindrical member 15 expands outward in the vertical direction and its diameter becomes larger, a gap is created between the upper cylindrical member 15 and the cylindrical portion 11 of the boss 8, and the upper cylindrical member 15
The rotation center (apparent non-rotation center) of the steering shaft 13 may be misaligned,
In this case, the internal gear 18 and gear 29 of the upper cylindrical member 15 may not mesh smoothly.

In addition, in the above-mentioned device, as shown in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-80949, the mutually fitted sliding surfaces of the boss and the upper cylindrical member are made into tapered surfaces, and the upper cylindrical member Even if expansion/contraction deformation occurs due to temperature changes, the deformation is absorbed by the tapered surface to maintain a constant center position of the upper cylindrical member, and an oil sliding recess for lubricating oil is provided on the sliding surface of the boss. A device has been proposed in which lubricating oil is supplied to the sliding surface between the boss and the upper cylindrical member.

However, according to this structure, when the operating part such as a switch button provided on the pad on the upper cylindrical member is pressed down, or when a pressing force is applied to the pad by placing a hand on the pad, the boss and the upper The fit of the tapered surface with the cylindrical member becomes strong, which tends to impede the rotation of the upper cylindrical member, and therefore it is necessary to supply lubricating oil.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional device, there is a problem in that smooth rotation is inhibited when the upper cylindrical member is deformed due to a change in ambient temperature.

The present invention is an attempt to improve the above-mentioned points, and aims to ensure smooth operation even when the ambient temperature changes.

[Structure of the idea]

(Means for Solving the Problem) The present invention fixes a steering wheel body 1 having a rim portion 4, spoke portions 7 and bosses 8 to a steering shaft 13 by means of the bosses 8, and A flange part 10 and a cylindrical part 11 are formed on the upper part of the flange part 10,
On the outer periphery of this cylindrical portion 11, an internal gear 18 is provided on the inner side of the outer periphery.
An upper cylindrical member 15 having a pad 35 on the upper part is rotatably fitted through the fitting cylindrical part 16 inside the upper cylindrical member 15, and below the upper cylindrical member 15 on the steering column 24 side, A lower cylindrical member 20 having an internal gear 23 inside the outer periphery is provided in a non-rotating state, and the internal gear 18 of the upper cylindrical member 15 and the lower cylindrical member 20 is mounted on a support frame 26 that rotates together with the boss 8. , 23, the above-mentioned upper cylindrical member 1
A notch 42 having a tapered surface 41 that is inclined outwardly and upwardly is formed on the upper inner periphery of the fitting cylinder portion 16 that is fitted into the boss 8 of No. A ring-shaped member 44 having a tapered surface 43 in contact and restricted from moving upward is provided, and the lower surface of the fitting cylindrical portion 16 of the upper cylindrical member 15 is slidably connected to the upper surface of the flange portion 10 of the boss 8. This is what I did.

(Function) In the present invention, for example, when placed in a high temperature atmosphere, the fitting cylindrical portion 16 of the upper cylindrical member 15 expands in the vertical direction and outward, but the lower part is expanded by the flange portion 10 of the boss 8. Since it is supported by the base, it extends upward. At this time, a tapered surface 41 facing outward and upward is formed in the notch 42 on the upper inner periphery of the fitting cylinder portion 16, and the tapered surface 43 of the ring-shaped member 44 whose upward movement is restricted comes into contact with this. Therefore, the fitting cylinder portion 16 moves slightly outward and upward along the tapered surface 41. Therefore, the flange portion 10
Since the fitting cylindrical portion 16 is comfortably positioned between the ring-shaped member 44 and the boss 8, the boss 8 and the upper cylindrical member 15 are always rotatable, and the upper cylindrical member 15
Since the center of rotation of the steering shaft 13 is always located at the center of the steering shaft 13, the rotation is performed smoothly.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

This device basically consists of the above-mentioned figures 1 to 3.
It has the same structure as the device shown in the figure, and the first
Components that are the same as those in the figures or FIG. 3 are given the same reference numerals and explanations will be omitted.

A tapered surface 4 inclined toward the upper outer periphery is provided on the upper inner periphery of the cylindrical fitting tube portion 16 of the upper cylindrical member 15.
1 is formed, and this notch 42
A ring-shaped member 44 made of synthetic resin and having a triangular cross section
Attach. This ring-shaped member 44 has a tapered surface 43 on its outer circumferential surface that corresponds to and contacts the tapered surface 41, and has an inner circumferential surface that fits into the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 11 of the boss 8, and an upper surface that is connected to the snap ring 1.
The upper cylindrical member 15 is in sliding contact with the upper surface of the flange portion 10 of the boss 8, and the lower surface of the fitting cylindrical portion 16 of the upper cylindrical member 15 is brought into sliding contact with the upper surface of the flange portion 10 of the boss 8.

Further, the ring groove 12 of the cylindrical portion 11 of the boss 8
A tapered surface 4 that slopes inwardly and downwardly on the inner circumferential surface of the
5, and the upper edge of the inner hole of the snap ring 19 is brought into contact with and engaged with this tapered surface 45.

The rest of the structure is similar to the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

In such a configuration, for example, when placed in a high temperature atmosphere, the fitting cylindrical portion 16 of the upper cylindrical member 15 expands in the vertical direction and outward, but the lower portion is expanded by the flange portion 10 of the boss 8. Since it is supported, it extends upward. At this time, a tapered surface 41 facing outward and upward is formed in the notch 42 on the upper inner periphery of the fitting cylinder 16, and the snap ring 1
Since the tapered surface 43 of the ring-shaped member 44 whose upward movement is restricted by 9 is in contact with the fifth
As shown in the figure, the fitting cylinder portion 16 moves slightly outward and upward along the tapered surface 41. Therefore, since the fitting cylinder part 16 is comfortably positioned between the flange part 10 and the ring-shaped member 44, the boss 8 and the upper cylinder member 15 are always rotatable, and the upper cylinder member Since the rotation center of the steering shaft 15 is always located at the center of the steering shaft 13, rotation is performed smoothly.

In addition, since the lower surface of the fitting cylindrical portion 16 rotates while being pressed against the upper surface of the flange portion 10 of the boss 8, there is no vertical backlash. Even if a downward pressing force is applied by pressing down on the operating part 35 or placing the operator's hand on the pad 35, the lower surface of the fitting cylinder part 16 of the upper cylindrical member 15 will not be in contact with the pressing force. Since it is received on the upper surface of the flange portion 10 of the boss 8, rotation can be performed without any trouble.

In addition, as shown in Figure 6, during implementation,
The snap ring 19 and the ring-shaped member 44 may be formed integrally, and by doing so, the number of parts can be reduced.

[Effect of idea]

According to the present invention, a notch having a tapered surface inclined outward and upward is formed on the upper inner periphery of the fitting cylinder portion of the upper cylindrical member, and a ring-shaped member is provided in the notch. Since the tapered surface is brought into contact with the tapered surface of the fitting cylindrical part, and the lower surface of the fitting cylindrical part is brought into sliding contact with the upper surface of the flange part of the boss, deformation occurs in the upper cylindrical member due to changes in ambient temperature. However, the fitting cylindrical part of the upper cylindrical member is comfortably located between the flange part and the ring-shaped member, and the center of the upper cylindrical member can always be aligned with the boss, so that the boss and the upper The cylindrical member can be rotated smoothly relative to the cylindrical member, and since the lower surface of the fitting cylindrical portion is rotated while being pressed against the upper surface of the flange portion of the boss, there is no vertical play. Furthermore, even if the operating section provided on the pad of the upper cylindrical member is pushed down or the operator's hand is placed on the pad and a downward pressing force is applied, the pressing force is applied to the fitting of the upper cylindrical member. Since the lower surface of the cylindrical portion is received by the upper surface of the flange portion of the boss, rotation can be performed without any trouble.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a conventional steering device, Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof, Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a part thereof, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a main part showing an embodiment of the device of the present invention. 5 is a sectional view showing the state of thermal expansion of the upper cylindrical member, and FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing another embodiment of the ring-shaped member. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Steering wheel body, 4... Rim part, 7... Spoke part, 8... Boss, 10... Flange part, 11... Cylindrical part, 13... Steering shaft, 15... Upper cylindrical member, 16... Fitting cylinder part, 18... Internal gear, 20... Lower cylindrical member, 23... Internal gear, 24... Steering column, 26... Support frame, 29... Gear, 35... Pad , 41... Tapered surface, 42... Notch, 43
... Tapered surface, 44 ... Ring-shaped member.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A steering wheel body having a rim portion, spoke portions, and a boss is fixed to a steering shaft by the boss, and a flange portion is formed on the outer periphery of the boss and a cylindrical portion is formed above the flange portion. Then, an upper cylindrical member having an internal gear on the inner side of the outer periphery and a pad on the upper part is rotatably fitted to the outer periphery of this cylindrical part via the fitting cylindrical part inside the upper cylindrical member. Below the member, on the steering column side, a lower cylindrical member having an internal gear on the inside of the outer periphery is provided in a rotationally immovable state, and the upper cylindrical member and the lower cylindrical member are mounted on a support frame that rotates together with the boss. In a steering device in which a gear meshing with an internal gear is mounted on a shaft, a cutout portion having a tapered surface inclined outwardly and upwardly is formed on the upper inner periphery of the fitting cylindrical portion that fits into the boss of the upper cylindrical member. A ring-shaped member having a tapered surface correspondingly abutting the notch and restricting upward movement is provided in the notch, and a fitting cylinder of the upper cylindrical member is provided on the upper surface of the flange of the boss. A steering device characterized in that the lower surface of the part is in sliding contact.