JPH0224369Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea] Industrial applications The present invention relates to a steering device for an automobile.

2. Description of the Related Art There is a known automotive steering device equipped with a so-called tilt and telescopic mechanism, which allows the position of the steering wheel to be adjusted up and down as well as in the front and rear directions according to the physique of the driver. Figure 8 shows the general structure of such a steering device with a tilt and telescopic mechanism.
A steering shaft 1 has steering wheels S and W fixed to its upper end, and is connected at its lower end to steering gear units S and G via shaft coupling units U and J. 2 shows a steering column that rotatably supports the steering shaft 1. A support bracket 3 is fixed to the lower end of the steering column, and a tilt bracket 4 is fixed to the upper end of the steering column. A bolt 6 is connected to the vehicle body side tilt bracket 7 via the tilt bracket 4 so as to allow vertical and longitudinal movement adjustment. be. That is, in this conventional device, when the clamping force of the pin 8 is released by operating one knob 9 at the end of the pin 8, the steering shaft 1 and the steering column 2 are integrally tightened with the bolt 6. It is possible to tilt the steering shaft 1 and the steering column 2 in the vertical direction using the connecting part as a fulcrum, or to telescopically move the steering shaft 1 and the steering column 2 integrally in the longitudinal direction with respect to the respective brackets 5 and 7 on the vehicle body.
The position of the driver can be adjusted as desired depending on the physique of the driver.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, with such a conventional structure, especially when performing a telescopic operation, the overall movement of the steering shaft 1 and the steering column 2 is required as in the case of a tilt operation, and the shaft coupling unit U.
Since this involves the movement of J, a problem arises in that the operating force becomes extremely heavy. In addition, since the lower end of the steering column 2 also needs to be connected to the vehicle support bracket 5 so as to be able to slide forward and backward, the degree of connection of this part cannot be made firm, causing wobbling and the steering wheel S.・There was a problem that W's operability deteriorated and abnormal noises were also generated. Furthermore, there is a problem in that the durability of the connecting portion itself is reduced due to the repeated occurrence of such rattling.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional situation, it is an object of the present invention to provide a steering device that allows telescopic operation to be carried out easily and that can reliably connect the steering column and the support bracket on the vehicle body side without causing rattling. This is the purpose.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the present invention, the steering shaft is constituted by a lower shaft and a shaft that are connected to each other so as to be slidable relative to each other in the axial direction, and the steering column is connected to the upper and lower ends of the lower shaft. a lower column connected to the upper end of the upper shaft via a bearing member; and a tilt bracket connected to the upper end of the upper shaft via a bearing member;
The upper column is slidably fitted to the lower column, and the lower end of the lower column is vertically rotatably connected to the support bracket on the vehicle body side, and the upper column is connected to the tilt bracket on the vehicle body side via the tilt bracket. It is connected to the top and bottom so that it can be moved up and down and back and forth.

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

In FIGS. 1 to 5, reference numeral 11 indicates a steering shaft, and the steering shaft 11 includes a pipe-shaped lower shaft 13 having a yoke 12 fixedly connected to the shaft coupling units U and J shown in FIG. The upper shaft 14 is connected to the other end of the lower shaft 13 by spline engagement, serration engagement, etc. so as to be relatively slidable in the axial direction. The steering wheel S/W is attached to the upper end of the shaft 14.

Reference numeral 15 indicates a steering column, and this steering column 15 also includes a lower column 16 and an upper column 17. The lower column 16 has its upper and lower ends connected to the lower shaft 13 with a bearing member 18,
They are rotatably connected via 19. 16a is a socket member connected to the lower end of the lower column 16. Also, the Atsupa column 17 is the Atsupa shaft 1
4 is rotatably connected to the upper end of the lower column 16 via a bearing member 20, and is slidably fitted onto the upper end of the lower column 16. A tilt bracket 21 having a slide slit 22 formed in the axial direction is fixed to this upper column 17, and a tilt bracket 2 on the vehicle body side is connected via this tilt bracket 21.
It is connected to 3. Vehicle side tilt bracket 23
A slide slit 24 is formed in the vertical direction so as to be perpendicular to the slide slit 22, and a connecting pin 25 is passed through the slide slits 22 and 24, and a nut 26 is tightened to connect them. Further, an operating lever 27 is fixed to this nut 26 with a lock nut 28.
The connection between the brackets 21 and 23 can be loosened by operation 7.

On the other hand, the lower end of the lower column 16 is connected to a support bracket 29 on the vehicle body side via a bolt 31 via a bush 30 so as to be freely rotatable in the vertical direction.

With the structure of the embodiment described above, when performing a tilt operation, the tilt bracket 2 is controlled by the operation lever 27.
1 and 23, the steering shaft 11 and the steering column 15 can be tilted vertically within the range of the slide slit 24 using the connecting portion of the bolt 31 as a fulcrum.

Furthermore, when performing telescopic operation, if the operating lever 27 is loosened and the steering shaft 11 is operated in the longitudinal direction, the upper shaft 14 will telescopically operate relative to the lower shaft 13.
It is possible to adjust the position in the longitudinal direction, and in particular, during this telescopic operation, only the upper shaft 14 and upper column 17 are moved back and forth as one, so the operating force can be significantly reduced.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower shaft 130
A solid lower lower shaft 131 having the same diameter as the Atsupashi shaft 14, and a hollow upper lower shaft 132 that is fitted and fixed to the lower lower shaft 131.
This is the case when it is configured as follows. In this embodiment, the upper shaft 14 is connected to the upper lower shaft 132 by spline engagement so as to be relatively slidable in the axial direction. Further, the upper end portion of the lower column 16 is rotatably connected to the upper lower shaft 132 via a bearing member 19. In this embodiment, by making the lower lower shaft 131 a solid shaft with the same diameter as the upper shaft 14, the gap between the lower lower shaft 131 and the lower column 16 can be made large, and as a result, the diameter can be increased. Since a large bearing member 18A can be used, there is an advantage that durability can be improved.

Effects of the invention As described above, according to the invention, in addition to following the simple operation structure in which tilt operation and telescopic operation are performed using a single operation lever, especially when operating the telescopic lever, the upper shaft of the steering shaft and the steering column are Since it is only necessary to move the Atsupa column, there is an advantage that the operating force during operation can be significantly reduced, and furthermore,
The rotation fulcrum part of the steering column has a connection structure that does not involve longitudinal movement, and the bearing branches of the steering shaft are located at the upper and lower ends and the middle part of the steering column, which is advantageous in terms of vibration and rigidity, so it reduces rattling. This makes it possible to avoid the occurrence of noise, thereby improving the operability of the steering wheel and preventing the occurrence of abnormal noise. Furthermore, the durability at the pivot point can be improved, which has a great practical effect of further improving quality and reliability.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention;
The figure is a sectional view taken along the - line in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the - line in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the same embodiment, and Fig. 5 shows the same arrangement state. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a different example of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional device. 11... Steering shaft, 13,130
...Lower shaft, 14...Atsupa shaft, 1
5... Steering column, 16... Lower column, 17... Atsupa column, 18, 18A, 1
9, 20...Bearing member, 21...Tilt bracket, 23...Vehicle side tilt bracket, 27...
Operation lever, 29...Vehicle side support bracket.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The steering shaft is composed of a lower shaft and a top shaft that are connected to each other so as to be slidable relative to each other in the axial direction, and a steering column is connected to the upper and lower ends of the lower shaft through a bearing member, and a tilt bracket is provided. The upper column is connected to the upper end via a bearing member and is slidably fitted to the lower column, and the lower end of the lower column is connected to the support bracket on the vehicle body side so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. A steering device characterized in that a top column is connected to a vehicle body side tilt bracket via a tilt bracket so as to be adjustable in vertical and longitudinal directions.