JPH0558550U - Steering column fixing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To ensure that the fixed bracket and the movable bracket can be locked and unlocked by rotating the operating lever. [Structure] Movable brackets 31 and 32 that are movable in the vertical direction are provided between a pair of left and right fixed brackets 21 and 22 fixed to the vehicle body side. The screw shaft 40 is inserted through the left and right clamp portions 23 and 24. Threaded portions 41 and 42 in opposite directions are provided at both ends of the screw shaft 40. An intermediate screw barrel 60 is provided at an axially intermediate portion of the screw shaft 40. The screw parts 61, 6 in opposite directions are also provided at both ends of the intermediate screw body 60.
Two are provided. A screw portion 41 of the screw shaft 40,
The outer nut members 70 and 71 are screwed into the screw 42. The inner nut member 8 is attached to the screw portions 61 and 62 of the intermediate screw body 60.
0 and 81 are screwed together. The levers 50 and 91 are fixed to the screw shaft 40 and the intermediate screw cylinder 60.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial application]

 The present invention relates to a steering column fixing device used for a steering mechanism of an automobile having a tilt function.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 A steering mechanism that has a tilt function so that the steering wheel angle (angle formed by the rim surface of the steering wheel with respect to the vertical line) can be variably set according to the physique of the driver. It has been known.

As shown in FIG. 6, an example of a steering mechanism having a tilt function is provided with a fixed side bracket 1 fixed to the vehicle body side and a vertically movable relative to the fixed side bracket 1. The movable bracket 2 and the steering column fixing device 3 are provided. An operation lever 4 is provided on the steering column fixing device 3. The movable bracket 2 is fixed to the steering column 5. A steering shaft 6 is rotatably inserted through the steering column 5, and a steering wheel 7 is fixed to one end of the steering shaft 6. The other end side of the steering shaft 6 is connected to a known member (not shown) on the steering gear side via a universal joint 8.

As shown in FIG. 7, an example of a conventional steering column fixing device 3 is provided with screw parts 11 1 and 12 opposite to each other at both left and right ends of a screw shaft 10 to which an operating lever 4 is fixed. Nut members 13 and 14 are screwed into the screw portions 11 and 12, respectively. When the movable side brackets 2, 2 are positioned between the pair of left and right fixed side brackets 1, 1 and the screw shaft 10 is rotated in the first direction by the operation lever 4, the nut members 13, 14 respectively move in the figure. The movable brackets 2 and 2 and the fixed brackets 1 and 1 are fixed by screwing the movable brackets 2 and 2 in the direction of arrow A, that is, in the direction of pressing the movable brackets 2 and 2 from the outside. ..

In the case of the above-mentioned conventional example, when the operation lever 4 is rotated in the second direction opposite to the above, the nut members 13 and 14 are separated from the movable brackets 2 and 2, respectively, that is, outward. By screwing the movable brackets 2 and 2 against the fixed brackets 1 and 1, the movable brackets 2 and 2 are released from the pressing state, so that the movable brackets 2 and 2 can move. In this state, the steering column 5 can be moved vertically.

In the case of another conventional example shown in FIG. 8, when the operation lever 4 is rotated in the first direction, the nut members 13 and 14 are respectively screwed in the direction of arrow B in the drawing, that is, outward. As a result, the movable side brackets 2 and 2 are pressed and fixed from the inside of the fixed side brackets 1 and 1.

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 In any of the conventional examples described above, the nut members 13, 14 are screwed inward or outward by the same amount on the left and right sides in accordance with the rotation angle of the operating lever 4. That is, the brackets 1 and 2 are pushed from one direction on the outer side or the inner side in accordance with the screwing amounts of the nut members 13 and 14 in the left and right clamp parts to generate a tightening force. Therefore, the tightening margins at the left and right clamp portions depend on the screwing amounts of the nut members 13 and 14 on one side, respectively.

Since the maximum angle at which the operating lever 4 can be rotated is about 100 °, the stroke by which one nut member 13 (14) can move is relatively small. Therefore, it is necessary to obtain a predetermined tightening allowance with a short stroke, and the tightening force in the left and right clamp parts tends to vary. In addition, since the clamping force is generated when both the brackets 1 and 2 are pushed from one side (only in the outer direction or only in the inner direction) in the left and right clamp parts, if the turning angle of the operating lever 4 is small, the tightening force will not be so great. I couldn't make it bigger.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to generate a tightening force such that the fixed side bracket and the movable side bracket are sandwiched between the inner side and the outer side in the plate thickness direction in the left and right clamp parts, and further, the operation lever. It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering column fixing device capable of doubling the tightening stroke in the left and right clamp parts when rotating the device.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The steering column fixing device of the present invention developed to achieve the above object includes a pair of left and right fixed side brackets fixed to the vehicle body side and a vertical direction between the pair of fixed side brackets fixed to the steering column side. A pair of left and right movable brackets that are movable relative to each other, and a pair of fixed brackets and a pair of movable brackets that penetrate through the brackets and have screw parts in opposite directions provided at both ends. A screw shaft, an intermediate screw barrel provided at an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the screw shaft and having screw portions in opposite directions to the screw portion of the screw shaft at both ends, and screwed to the screw portions of the screw shaft, respectively. And a pair of left and right outer nut members that are non-rotatably and relatively vertically movable relative to the fixed bracket, and the intermediate A pair of left and right inner nut members that are respectively screwed into the threaded portions of the barrel and are non-rotatable with respect to the movable bracket and movable in the axial direction of the screw shaft, the screw shaft, and the intermediate screw. And a lever for rotation operation fixed to the body.

[0011]

[Action]

 When the operating lever is rotated in the non-tightening direction (unlocking direction), the screw shaft and the intermediate screw cylinder rotate in the first direction, respectively, so that the inner nut member and the outer nut member are respectively moved in the pair of left and right clamp parts. By screwing the brackets away from each other, the fastening of the fixed side bracket and the movable side bracket is released in each clamp part.

In this unlocked state, the movable side bracket can be moved in the vertical direction with respect to the fixed side bracket. Therefore, the steering column supported by the movable side bracket can be moved in the vertical direction to perform the desired tilt adjustment. It can be carried out.

When the operating lever is rotated in the tightening direction (locking direction) opposite to that described above, the screw shaft and the intermediate screw barrel rotate in the second direction, so that the inner nut members in the pair of left and right clamp portions respectively. The outer side nut member and the outer side nut member move toward each other, and the movable side bracket and the fixed side bracket are both tightened in the plate thickness direction from both inside and outside in each clamp portion. By fixing the movable bracket to the fixed bracket in this way, the steering column is fixed to the desired tilt position.

[0014]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the steering column fixing device 20 of this embodiment has clamp portions 23 and 24 provided with a pair of left and right fixed side brackets 21 and 22. The fixed side brackets 21 and 22 are fixed to a member on the vehicle body side similarly to the fixed side bracket of the conventional device (see FIG. 6). The fixed brackets 21 and 22 are provided with elongated holes 25 and 26 extending in the vertical direction.

Movable brackets 31 and 32 are provided between the fixed brackets 21 and 22. The movable brackets 31 and 32 are connected to each other via an inverted U-shaped connecting portion 33. The steering column 5 is fixed to the connecting portion 33. The movable brackets 31 and 32 are adjacent to the fixed brackets 21 and 22 in the left and right clamp portions 23 and 24, respectively. On the mutually opposing surfaces of the movable side brackets 31, 32, concave portions 35, 36 having a non-circular shape when viewed from the side direction and through holes 37, 38 penetrating the centers of the concave portions 35, 36 are provided.

A screw shaft 40 is inserted through the through holes 37, 38 and the elongated holes 25, 26. At both ends of the screw shaft 40, screw parts 41 and 42 in opposite directions are provided. For example, when one threaded portion 41 located on the left side in the figure is a right-handed thread, the threaded section 42 on the right side in the figure is a left-handed thread (reverse thread).

An operation lever 50 is fixed to the end of the screw shaft 40. The operation lever 50 in the illustrated example is fixed to the screw shaft 40 by a rotation preventing means 51 such as a serration or a key groove and a fixing part 52 such as a nut.

A cylindrical intermediate screw cylinder 60 is provided at an axially intermediate portion of the screw shaft 40. At both ends of the intermediate screw body 60, screw portions 61 and 62 having threads in the opposite direction to the screw portions 41 and 42 of the screw shaft 40 are provided. For example, one threaded portion 61 located on the left side in the figure is a left-hand thread, and the threaded portion 62 on the right side in the figure is a right-hand thread.

Outer nut members 70 and 71 are screwed into the screw portions 41 and 42 of the screw shaft 40, respectively. The outer nut members 70, 71 have non-circular convex portions 72, 73 as shown in FIG. The convex portions 72, 73 are fitted into the long holes 25, 26 provided in the fixed side brackets 21, 22 and are movable in the longitudinal direction of the long holes 25, 26, that is, the vertical direction in the drawing, Moreover, rotation is blocked.

The outer nut member 71 on the right side of the drawing includes a first part 71a provided with an internal thread and a second part 71b having no internal thread and having only a through hole. In this case, after the convex portion 73 of the second component 71b is fitted into the elongated hole 26 and the first component 71a is screwed in by an appropriate amount, the first component 71a and the second component 71b are joined by an appropriate joining means such as welding. Are fixed to each other.

Inner nut members 80 and 81 are screwed into the screw portions 61 and 62 of the intermediate screw body 60, respectively. The convex portions 82, 83 provided on the end surfaces of the inner nut members 80, 81 are fitted into the non-circular concave portions 35, 36 provided on the movable brackets 31, 32. Therefore, the inner nut members 80 and 81 are not rotatable with respect to the movable brackets 31 and 32 and are movable in the thickness direction of the movable brackets 31 and 32 (the axial direction of the screw shaft 40).

The one inner nut member 80 is composed of a first component 80a provided with an internal thread and a second component 80b having no internal thread and having only a through hole. In this case, after the convex portion 82 of the second component 80b is fitted in the concave portion 35 and the first component 80a is screwed in by an appropriate amount, the first component 80a and the second component 80b are welded by an appropriate joining means. Are fixed to each other.

An engaging portion 90 having a non-circular cross section is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the intermediate screw cylinder 60 at the center in the axial direction, and the tip 92 of the auxiliary lever 91 is fitted to the engaging portion 90. .. The auxiliary lever 91 is bent into a shape as shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 3, and the base portion 93 is fixed to the operation lever 50 by a fastening member 95 such as a bolt or a rivet.

As shown in FIG. 4, the operation lever 50 is provided with a circular arc-shaped long hole 96 in the width direction, and the position of the fastening member 95, that is, the operation lever is within the length range of the long hole 96. The relative position of the base 93 of the auxiliary lever 91 with respect to 50 can be adjusted to some extent. The center of the arc of the long hole 96 is the rotation center C of the operation lever 50. By providing such elongated holes 96, it is possible to adjust the initial tightening amount of the inner nut members 80, 81 with respect to the outer nut members 70, 71.

Next, the operation of the steering column fixing device 20 having the above structure will be described. When adjusting the tilt, rotate the operation lever 50 in the non-tightening direction (unlocking direction). By doing so, the screw shaft 40 and the intermediate screw barrel 60 rotate in the same direction, and as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5, the outer nut member 70 and the inner nut member 80 are provided in the first clamp portion 23 on the left side of the drawing. Move away from each other. Therefore, the fastening between the fixed bracket 21 and the movable bracket 31 in the first clamp portion 23 is released.

On the other hand, also in the second clamp portion 24 on the right side of the drawing, the outer nut member 71 and the inner nut member 81 move in the directions away from each other, so that the fixed bracket 22 and the movable bracket 32 cannot be tightened. It will be canceled. In this unlocked state, the movable brackets 31 and 32 can move vertically with respect to the fixed brackets 21 and 22. Therefore, the steering column 5 can be moved in the vertical direction, and desired tilt adjustment can be performed.

When the operating lever 50 is rotated in the tightening direction (locking direction) opposite to the above, the screw shaft 40 and the intermediate screw cylinder 60 rotate in the second direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 1, in the first clamp portion 23, the outer nut member 70 and the inner nut member 80 move in the directions toward each other. Therefore, in the first clamp portion 23, the fixed side bracket 21 and the movable side bracket 31 are fastened from the inside and the outside in the plate thickness direction.

On the other hand, also in the second clamp portion 24, since the outer nut member 71 and the inner nut member 81 move in the directions of approaching each other, the fixed side bracket 22 and the movable side bracket 32 move inward in the plate thickness direction. And tightened from the outside. In this way, the steering column 5 can be reliably fixed by the pair of left and right clamp portions 23, 24 at the desired tilt position.

In the steering column fixing device 20 having the above-described configuration, when the screw shaft 40 and the intermediate screw barrel 60 are rotated by the operation lever 50, the screw portions 41, 41 of the first clamp portion 23, which face in opposite directions to each other, are provided. The outer nut member 70 and the inner nut member 80, which are respectively screwed into the screws 61, are screwed in a direction in which they come into contact with and separate from each other, and also in the second clamp portion 24, the screw portions 42 and 62 in opposite directions are provided. Since the outer nut member 71 and the inner nut member 81, which are respectively screwed, are screwed in a direction in which they come into contact with and separate from each other, if the operating angle range of the operating lever 50 is the same as the conventional one, the left and right clamp portions 23, 24 are In each case, twice the tightening stroke of the conventional device can be obtained. Therefore, it is possible to reliably switch between the locked state and the unlocked state even if the turning amount of the operation lever 50 is small.

Moreover, in the left and right clamp portions 23 and 24, the fixed brackets 21 and 22 and the movable brackets 31 and 32 are independently fastened from both sides in the thickness direction. , 24 can be tightened uniformly, strongly and securely.

[0031]

[Effect of the device]

 According to the present invention, in the steering mechanism having the tilt function, the tightening stroke due to the rotation of the operation lever when locking / unlocking can be made larger than that of the conventional device, and the left and right clamp parts are fixed side respectively. Since the bracket and movable bracket are sandwiched from both the outside and inside directions, they can be securely fixed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a steering column fixing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a part of a nut member and a bracket in the device shown in FIG.

3 is a perspective view of an intermediate screw cylinder and an auxiliary lever in the apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a part of the operation lever in the apparatus shown in FIG.

5 is a cross-sectional view showing an unlocked state of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a steering mechanism having a tilt function.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a conventional steering column fixing device.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a steering column fixing device showing another conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 ... Steering column, 20 ... Steering column fixing device 21, 22 ... Fixed side bracket, 23, 24 ...
Clamp part, 31, 32 ... Movable side bracket, 40 ... Screw shaft, 41, 42 ... Screw part, 50 ... Operation lever,
60 ... Intermediate screw barrel, 61, 62 ... Threaded portion, 70, 71 ...
Outer nut member, 80, 81 ... Inner nut member, 91 ...
Auxiliary lever.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A pair of left and right fixed side brackets fixed to the vehicle body side, and a pair of left and right movable side brackets fixed to the steering column side and provided between the pair of fixed side brackets so as to be vertically movable relative to each other. A screw shaft that penetrates through the pair of fixed-side brackets and the pair of movable-side brackets and that has threaded portions opposite to each other at both end portions; and a screw shaft provided at an intermediate portion in the axial direction of the screw shaft. And an intermediate screw barrel having threaded portions in opposite directions to the screwed portion of the screw shaft at both ends, and screwed to the screwed portions of the screw shaft, respectively, and non-rotatable relative to the fixed bracket in the vertical direction. A pair of left and right outer nut members that are movably held, and screwed to the screw parts of the intermediate screw body, respectively, and to the movable bracket. And a pair of left and right inner nut members provided so as not to be rotatable and movable in the axial direction of the screw shaft, and a lever for rotation operation fixed to the screw shaft and the intermediate screw barrel. Steering column fixing device.