JPH0549564U - Telescopic steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To prevent the inner column 3 from being displaced inside the outer column 2 when it is not adjusted. This allows
Prevents a large impact on the driver's body during a collision,
Improve safety. [Structure] The inner column 3 is axially displaced inside the outer column 2 to adjust the front-back position of the steering wheel. At the time of non-adjustment, the displacement side ratchet teeth 26 are engaged with the fixed side ratchet teeth 22 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 3.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The telescopic steering column device according to the present invention is used to adjust the front-rear position of the steering wheel provided at the end of the steering shaft according to the physique and driving posture of the driver.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 A telescopic steering column device (so-called telescopic steering device) is known as a device for adjusting the front-rear position of the steering wheel according to the physique and driving posture of the driver. 8 to 10 show a steering device incorporating such a telescopic steering column device, which is described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-9972.

In this telescopic steering column device, the steering lever 4 is combined with the outer column 2 and the inner column 3 in a telescopic manner by operating the adjusting lever 1 so that the entire length of the steering column 4 can be telescopically expanded and retracted. A steering wheel fixed to the rear end of the steering shaft 5 (not shown in the figure) is arranged by displacing the rear end of the steering shaft 5 (right end in FIG. 8) in the direction of arrow a in FIG. ) Adjust the front and back position.

A deep groove type (or angular type) ball bearing 6 is provided inside the inner column 3 among the outer column 2 and the inner column 3 which are formed in a cylindrical shape and are telescopically combined with each other. The intermediate portion of the steering shaft 5 is supported via the bearings 6 and 6. A spline engaging portion 7 is provided at an intermediate portion of the steering shaft 5 so that the steering shaft 5 also expands and contracts as the steering column 4 expands and contracts.

Further, a lock housing 8 is fixedly provided at a middle portion of the outer column 2 in a state where a part thereof is projected to a side of the outer column 2 (downward in FIG. 9, leftward in FIG. 10). is doing. A cylinder space 9 is provided inside a part of the lock housing 8 that projects laterally of the outer column 2, and a lock member 10 is provided in the cylinder space 9 so that the lock member 10 can be displaced only in a diametrical direction. It is fitted.

At a position where a part of the side surface of the outer column 2 is aligned with the cylinder space 9, a communication opening 11 that connects the cylinder space 9 and the inside of the outer column 2 is formed, and the lock member is formed. The inner side surface of 10 is freely abuttable against the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 3 inserted inside the outer column 2. The inner side surface of the lock member 10 is a circular arc-shaped concave surface 12 having substantially the same curvature as the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 3, and the arc-shaped concave surface 12 is strongly pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 3. The relative displacement between the inner column 3 and the outer column 2 is prevented.

On the other hand, a screw hole 14 is formed in the central portion of the partition wall 13 that defines the outside of the cylinder space 9, and the inner end of the lock screw 15 screwed into the screw hole 14 is connected to the lock member member. It abuts against the central portion of the outer surface of 10. The base end portion of the adjusting lever 1 is fixed to the outer end portion of the lock screw 15. Based on the operation of the adjusting lever 1, the arcuate concave surface 12 of the lock member 10 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 3. It can be pressed freely.

The guide pin 16 fixed to the bottom of the lock housing 8 and penetrating the lower surface of the outer column 2 is engaged with a long hole 17 formed in the lower surface of the inner column 3 in the axial direction. ing. Therefore, the inner column 3 does not rotate but can be displaced only in the axial direction.

In the telescopic steering column device configured as described above, the total length of the steering column 4 is adjusted as follows.

In performing the adjustment work, first, by operating the adjustment lever 1, the lock screw 15 is retracted (to the left in FIG. 10), and the lock member 10 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 3. The applied force is released and the inner column 3 can be displaced inside the outer column 2.

In this state, a steering wheel (not shown) fixed to the end of the steering shaft 5 is pushed and pulled to adjust the front-rear position of the steering wheel. As the steering wheel is pushed and pulled, the spline engagement portion 7 provided in the middle of the steering shaft 5 is displaced, and an inner column provided outside the steering shaft 5 via ball bearings 6, 6. 3 is displaced in the front-back direction.

As a result, when the front and rear position of the steering wheel is adjusted, the lock screw 15 is moved forward (to the right in FIG. 10) by operating the adjustment lever 1, and the lock screw 15 is moved. Thus, the lock member 10 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 3. As a result, a strong frictional force acts between the arcuate concave surface 12 formed on the inner surface of the lock member 10 and the outer surface of the inner column 3, so that the inner column 3 is supported inside the outer column 2 in a non-displaceable manner. The steering wheel remains supported in the adjusted position.

The tilt adjusting lever 18 shown in FIGS. 8 to 9 is for adjusting the height position of the steering wheel. That is, based on the operation of the tilt adjusting lever 18, the rear end of the steering shaft 5 can be swung in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 8, so that the height position of the steering wheel can be adjusted.

[0014]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 By the way, in the case of the conventional telescopic steering column device configured and operating as described above, when the arcuate concave surface 12 of the lock member 10 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 3 based on the operation of the adjusting lever 1. However, the axial displacement of the inner column 3 cannot be reliably prevented, and a large axial force is applied to the inner column 3 from the steering wheel through the steering shaft 5, the ball bearings 6 and 6. Then, the inner column 3 is displaced in the axial direction.

Therefore, when the driver strongly pushes the steering wheel when getting on and off, the front and rear positions of the steering wheel may be displaced. Also, when the driver's body collides with the steering wheel due to a collision accident, a so-called secondary collision occurs and the outer column 2 is strongly pushed forward, the steering wheel can be adjusted. There is a risk of moving vigorously to the most forward position within a certain range.

When a secondary collision occurs, the mounting portion between the support bracket 19 fixed to the outer column 2 and the vehicle body comes off, so that the steering wheel is displaced beyond the normal adjustment range to the front. However, when the forward displacement of the steering wheel is started before the attachment part comes off, the forward movement of the steering wheel is in the middle (the state of being moved to the most forward position within the adjustable range). Since the vehicle temporarily stops at this point, a large impact is easily applied to the body of the driver who collides with the steering wheel.

The telescopic steering column device of the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned inconvenience.

[0018]

[Means for solving the problem]

 The telescopic steering column device of the present invention is provided with an outer column and an inner column inserted in a telescopic shape inside the outer column, like the conventional telescopic steering column device described above. One of the inner column and the inner column is supported by the vehicle body.

Particularly, in the telescopic steering column device of the present invention, the fixed-side uneven portion that is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the column that can be displaced in the axial direction and that is continuous in the axial direction is formed. A displacement member that is supported by the vehicle body and is displaceably supported by a column that does not displace in the axial direction, and that has a displacement-side uneven portion that is engageable with the fixed-side uneven portion, and a displacement member that displaces this displacement member. By doing so, a displacement driving means for engaging and disengaging the fixed side uneven portion and the displacement side uneven portion is provided.

[0020]

[Action]

 When adjusting the front-back position of the steering wheel by the telescopic steering column device of the present invention configured as described above, the displacement driving means is used to displace the displacement means so that the fixed-side uneven portion and the displacement-side uneven portion are separated. The engagement is disengaged and the steering column composed of the inner column and the outer column is made flexible.

When the front and rear positions of the steering wheel are adjusted by expanding and contracting the steering column, the displacement driving means displaces the displacement member in the opposite direction to thereby displace the displacement side uneven portion and the fixed side uneven portion. Engage. As a result, even when a large force is applied to the steering wheel in the axial direction, the steering column does not contract.

[0022]

【Example】

 1 to 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention. The steering column 4 is formed in a telescope shape by inserting the inner column 3 inside the outer column 2 so that the inner column 3 can be displaced in the axial direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1). A rolling bearing 21 supports a retractable steering shaft 5 inside the inner column 3 so as to be rotatable only.

The front end portion (the left end portion in FIG. 1) of the outer column 2 is swingable by a pair of left and right horizontal shafts 20 on a support bracket 19 supported by the vehicle body in the lower portion of the dashboard. Support. Further, the outer column 2 is swung about the horizontal shaft 20 by operating a tilt adjusting lever 18, and a steering wheel (fixed to the rear end portion (right end portion in FIG. 1) of the steering shaft 5). The upper and lower parts (not shown) are adjustable.

As described above, the inner column 3 is supported by the vehicle body via the horizontal shaft 20 and the support bracket 19, and is inserted inside the outer column 2 which cannot be displaced in the axial direction so as to be displaceable in the axial direction. Has been done. On the upper side surface of the inner column 3 as described above, fixed-side ratchet teeth 22, which are fixed-side uneven portions that are continuous in the axial direction, are formed.

On the other hand, as shown in detail in FIG. 4, a support portion 23 is formed on the upper side surface of the intermediate portion of the outer column 2, and the base end portion of the swinging piece 24 (displacement member) is formed on the support portion 23. The left end portion in FIG. 1) is swingably supported about a horizontal pivot 25. At the lower edge of the tip end (right end in FIG. 1) of the oscillating piece 24, a displacement side concave-convex portion is formed, which is a displacement side ratchet tooth 26 that can be engaged with and disengaged from the fixed side ratchet tooth 22. .. A through hole 42 is provided in a portion of the upper surface of the upper end of the outer column 2 where the lower surface of the tip of the swinging piece 24 faces to allow the ratchet teeth 22, 26 on both the fixed side and the displacement side to engage with each other. I am trying.

Further, between the locking pin 27 whose base end is fixed to one side surface of the tip end portion of the swing piece 24 and the locking portion 28 provided on the side surface of the outer column 2, a first pin is provided. The pull rod 29 is provided. Therefore, as long as no external force acts, the swinging piece 24 swings clockwise about the pivot 25 in FIG. 1, and the displacement side ratchet teeth 26 at the lower edge of the tip end of the swinging piece 24 are moved to the outer side. Push it against the fixed ratchet teeth 22 on the upper side of the column 2.

The inclination directions of the fixed side ratchet teeth 22 and the displacement side ratchet teeth 26 are not related to each other when the inner column 3 tends to be displaced rearward (rightward in FIG. 1). When the inner columns 3 tend to be displaced forward (to the left in FIG. 1), they are engaged with each other.

Further, above the one side of the swinging piece 24, the locking pin 27 is pulled up against the elastic force of the first tension spring 29, so that the ratchet teeth 22 of the fixed side are not changed. A pull-up arm 30 that disengages from the ratchet teeth 26 on the side is provided, and the pull-up arm 30 and the first tension spring 29 constitute a displacement driving means.

The tip end of the pull-up arm 30 whose base end is fixed to the middle part of the swing rod 31 is bent downward by 180 degrees, and is provided below the locking pin 27. A pull-up portion 32 that is freely movable is configured. Then, the upper edge 32a of the pull-up portion 32 is inclined and directed upward with increasing distance from the tip (right end in FIGS. 1 and 4). However, a second tension spring 44 is provided between the tip end portion of the lifting arm 30 and the locking pin 43 (FIG. 2) fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 2 so that an external force acts. Unless otherwise, the pull-up portion 32 of the pull-up arm 30 is retracted from below the locking pin 27.

A base end portion (upper end portion in FIG. 2) of the swing rod 31 is fixed to a swing piece 33 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, a vertical circular hole 35 is formed on the upper surface of the projecting portion 34 formed on the outer surface of the outer column 2. By inserting a cylindrical portion 36 protruding from the lower surface of the swing piece 33 into the circular hole 35, the swing rod 31 having its base end fixed to the swing piece 33 can be moved horizontally. The swinging displacement is wide.

A pin 38 is inserted between the concave groove 36 a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 36 and the concave portion 37 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the circular hole 35, and the cylindrical portion is formed. 36 is prevented from coming out of the circular hole 35. Further, a compression spring 39 and a steel ball 40 are inserted into the recessed hole 46 opened on the lower surface of the rocking piece 33 in this order from the back, and the steel ball 40 is directed toward the upper surface of the projecting portion 34 so as to be elastic. Is pressing. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a mortar-shaped recess 41 into which the lower portion of the steel ball 40 can be inserted is formed in a part of the upper surface of the protrusion 34.

When adjusting the longitudinal position of the steering wheel by the telescopic steering column device of the present invention configured as described above, the tip end of the swing rod 31 (the lower end of FIG. 2, the left end of FIG. 3) is adjusted. By pulling the knob 45 provided on the part), the swing rod 31 is swung counterclockwise in FIG. 2 from the solid line position to the chain line position.

As a result, the pull-up arm 30 whose base end is fixed to the intermediate portion of the swing rod 31 is displaced rearward (rightward in FIG. 4), and the pull-up portion 32 of the pull-up arm 30 is engaged. Enter the lower side of the stop pin 27. As a result, the locking pin 27 is pulled upward based on the engagement between the upper edge 32a of the pull-up portion 32 and the locking pin 27, and the rocking piece 24 to which the base end portion of the locking pin 27 is fixed is released. , And swings upward (in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 4) about the pivot 25.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the fixed-side ratchet teeth 22 formed on the upper side surface of the inner column 3 and the displacing-side ratchet teeth 26 formed on the lower surface of the tip end of the rocking piece 24 are formed. Disengage. As described above, when the fixed ratchet teeth 22 and the swing ratchet teeth 24 are disengaged from each other, the inner column 3 can be displaced inside the outer column 2 in any of the front and rear directions. .. In addition, in the state where the swing rod 31 is swung until the engagement between the fixed side and swing side ratchet teeth 22, 24 is released, the lower portion of the steel ball 40 becomes the recess 41. You can get a click feeling by sinking.

Therefore, the front and rear position of the steering wheel is adjusted by expanding and contracting the steering column 4 constituted by the outer and inner columns 2 and 3. When the front-rear position of the steering wheel is adjusted to a desired position, the pulling force of the knob 45 is released, and the swing rod 31 is relieved by the elastic force of the second pulling rod 44 to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. When it is rocked up to (2), the pull-up portion 32 of the pull-up arm 30 retracts from the lower side of the locking pin 27.

As a result, the locking pin 27 and the swinging piece 24 to which the proximal end portion of the locking pin 27 is fixed swings downward around the pivot 25, and as shown in FIG. The ratchet teeth 22 and 26 on the rocking side are engaged with each other. As a result, even when a large force is applied to the steering wheel in the axial direction, the steering column 4 does not contract.

Next, FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the above-described first embodiment, the proximal end portion of the rocking piece 24 is positioned forward and the distal end portion of the rocking rod 31 is pulled, so that the ratchet teeth 22, 26 on both the fixed side and the displacement side are engaged with each other. On the other hand, in the case of the present embodiment, the base end of the rocking piece 24 is positioned rearward and the tip of the rocking rod 31 is pushed to fix the rocking piece. The ratchet teeth 22, 26 on both the side and the displacement side are disengaged from each other. Other configurations and operations are the same as in the case of the first embodiment described above.

In each of the illustrated embodiments, it is free to extend the entire length of the steering column 4 by pulling the inner column 3 in the direction without operating the swing rod 31. However, by changing the shapes of the fixed-side uneven portion and the displacement-side uneven portion, the steering column 4 cannot be expanded or contracted when the swing rod 31 is not operated. Further, the fixed-side uneven portion such as the fixed-side ratchet teeth 22 is directly formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 3, or another member having the uneven portion may be fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 3 by welding or the like. Can be configured.

[0039]

[Effect of the device]

 Since the telescopic steering column device of the present invention is constructed and operates as described above, it prevents the steering column from being inadvertently contracted, and the front and rear adjustment position of the steering wheel is displaced, or It is possible to prevent a large impact on the driver's body in the event of a collision.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a half section showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a half section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged AA sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part B of FIG. 1 showing a state in which the front and rear positions of the steering wheel are fixed.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing a state during adjustment.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to a portion C in FIG. 3, showing a state during adjustment.

FIG. 7 is a partial vertical sectional side view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a steering device incorporating a conventional telescopic steering column device.

9 is a view on arrow D in FIG.

10 is a view corresponding to the EE cross section of FIG. 8;

[Explanation of sign]

 1 Adjustment Lever 2 Outer Column 3 Inner Column 4 Steering Column 5 Steering Shaft 6 Ball Bearing 7 Spline Engagement Part 8 Lock Housing 9 Cylinder Space 10 Lock Member 11 Communication Opening 12 Arc-Shaped Concave 13 Partition Wall 14 Screw Hole 15 Lock Screw 16 Guide Pin 17 Long Hole 18 Tilt Adjusting Lever 19 Support Bracket 20 Horizontal Shaft 21 Rolling Bearing 22 Fixed Side Ratchet Teeth 23 Support 24 Rocking Piece 25 Axis 26 Displacement Ratchet Teeth 27 Lock Pin 28 Lock Part 29 First Tension Spring 30 Lifting arm 31 Swing rod 32 Lifting portion 32a Upper edge 33 Swing piece 34 Projecting portion 35 Circular hole 36 Cylindrical portion 36a Recessed groove 37 Recessed 38 pin 39 Compression spring 40 Steel ball 41 Recessed 42 Through hole 43 Locking pin 44 Second Tension spring 45 Only 46 recessed hole

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A telescopic steering column device having an outer column and an inner column inserted into the outer column in a telescopic manner, wherein one of the outer column and the inner column is supported by a vehicle body. In this case, the fixed side uneven portion fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the column which is displaceable in the axial direction and continuous in the axial direction, and the column which is supported by the vehicle body and does not displace in the axial direction are displaceable. A displacement member that is supported and that has a displacement-side uneven portion that is engageable with the fixed-side uneven portion, and the fixed-side uneven portion and the displacement-side uneven portion are engaged by displacing the displacement member. A telescopic steering column device, characterized in that it is provided with a displacement driving means for removing it.