JPH0678155U - Telescopic steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To obtain a structure that can be manufactured at low cost and that has a large holding power simply by combining parts with simple shapes. [Structure] At both ends of the screw rod 31, the first in the opposite directions,
The second male screw portions 32 and 33 are formed. The screw hole 29 of the first pressing block 25 is screwed into the first male screw portion 32. A lock nut 34 is provided at a portion of one end of the screw rod 31 protruding from the outer end surface of the first pressing block 25.
Tighten and tighten. The other end of the screw rod 31 is inserted through the through hole 30 formed in the second pressing block 27 so as to project from the outer end surface of the second pressing block 27. Then, the adjusting nut 35 is screwed into the other end. The rotation of the adjusting nut 35 can be freely performed by the adjusting lever 36.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The telescopic steering column device according to the present invention expands and contracts the entire length of the steering column through which the steering shaft is inserted, and adjusts 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. It is used when adjusting.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 A tilt steering device and a telescopic steering column device (so-called telescopic steering device) are known as devices for adjusting the position of the steering wheel according to the physique and driving posture of the driver. FIG. 5 shows a structure described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-9973 as a steering device incorporating both the tilt steering device and the telescopic steering column device.

When adjusting the height position of the steering wheel (not shown), one end of the steering shaft 3 (right end in FIG. 5) inserted through the steering column 2 is operated by operating the adjusting lever 1 of the tilt steering device. Part) is displaced in the direction of arrow a. In addition, when adjusting the front-back position of the steering wheel, the total length of the steering column 2 in which the outer column 5 and the inner column 6 are combined in a telescopic manner by operating the adjusting lever 4 of the telescopic steering column device. Is contracted, and one end of the steering shaft 3, which is also configured to be expandable and contractible, is displaced in the direction of arrow b.

The structure and operation of the tilt steering device is described in detail in Japanese Patent Application No. 1-49490 (Japanese Utility Model Application No. 2-142373), such as a microfilm, and the gist of the present invention. Since it is not a place to say, detailed explanation is omitted.

On the other hand, the telescopic steering column device has conventionally been configured as shown in FIGS. The steering column 2 includes an outer column 5 and an inner column 6, which are each formed in a cylindrical shape and are combined with each other in a telescopic shape. An inner portion of the steering shaft 3 is supported inside the inner column 6 through deep groove type (or angular type) ball bearings 7, 7. A spline engagement portion 8 is provided at an intermediate portion of the steering shaft 3 so that the steering shaft 3 also extends and contracts as the steering ring 2 expands and contracts.

Further, a lock housing 9 is fixedly provided at a middle portion of the outer column 5 in a state where a part thereof is projected to a side of the outer column 5 (downward in FIG. 6, leftward in FIG. 7). is doing. A cylinder space 11 for fitting a lock member 10, which will be described later, is provided in a portion of the lock housing 9 that projects laterally of the outer column 5.

Both sides (upper and lower sides in FIG. 7) of the cylinder space 11 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape are partitioned by a pair of flat surfaces 17 and 17 which are parallel to the central axis of the outer column 5 and are spaced from each other. Has been done. A communication opening 12 is formed in a part of the side surface of the outer column 5 at a position aligned with the cylinder space 11 so as to communicate the cylinder space 11 and the inside of the outer column 5. Through the communication opening 12, the inner side surface of the lock member 10 fitted in the cylinder space 11 can be abutted against the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 6 inserted inside the outer column 5.

The inner side surface of the lock member 10 is an arcuate concave surface 13 having a curvature substantially the same as the curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 6. When fixing the front and rear positions of the steering wheel, the arcuate concave surface 13 is strongly pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 6 to prevent relative displacement between the inner column 6 and the outer column 5. .

On the other hand, a screw hole 15 is formed in the central portion of the partition wall 14 that divides the outside of the cylinder space 11, and the inner end of the lock screw 16 screwed into the screw hole 15 is connected to the lock member 10. It abuts the center of the outer surface. The base end of the adjusting lever 4 is fixed to the outer end of the lock screw 16, and the arcuate concave surface 13 of the lock member 10 is moved to the outer periphery of the inner column 6 based on the operation of the adjusting lever 4. The surface can be pressed freely. Further, the guide pin 18 fixed to the bottom of the lock housing 9 and penetrating the lower surface of the outer column 5 is engaged with the elongated hole 19 formed in the lower surface of the inner column 6 in the axial direction. , Only the displacement of the inner column 6 in the axial direction (preventing rotation) is allowed.

In the telescopic steering column device configured as described above, when adjusting the total length of the steering column 2, first, by operating the adjusting lever 4, the lock screw 16 is moved to the left side in FIG. ) By retracting, the lock screw 16 releases the force pressing the lock member 10 against the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 6, so that the inner column 6 is displaceable inside the outer column 5.

In this state, a steering wheel (not shown) fixed to the end of the steering shaft 3 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 8 provided in the middle of the steering shaft 3 is displaced, and the inner side provided through the ball bearings 7 on the outside of the steering shaft 3. Column 6 shifts in the front-back direction.

As a result, when the front-rear position of the steering wheel is adjusted, the lock lever 16 is moved forward (to the right in FIG. 7) by operating the adjustment lever 4, and the lock screw 16 is used. The lock member 10 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 6. As a result, a strong frictional force acts between the arcuate concave surface 13 formed on the inner side surface of the lock member 10 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 6, and the inner column 6 is displaced inside the outer column 5. Unsupported, the steering wheel remains supported in the adjusted position.

[0013]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the case of the conventional telescopic steering column device configured and operating as described above, the production of the lock housing 9 having the cylinder space 11 and the machining of the arcuate concave surface 13 of the lock member 10 are troublesome, and the telescopic type. This is a cause of increasing the manufacturing cost of the steering column device.

When the lock member 10 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 6 in order to fix the front and rear positions of the steering wheel, the inner column 6 is elastically deformed in the direction in which it is crushed. As a result, the force for fixing the inner column 6 tends to be insufficient. In particular, the force that presses the lock member 10 toward the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 6 is the force itself that causes the lock screw 16 to displace in the axial direction, and since the booster mechanism does not work in particular, the above-mentioned fixing You tend to lack the power to do it.

On the other hand, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-152771 discloses a structure in which an inner column is held down by a pair of holding pieces that move in a perspective manner by operating a lever. It is inconvenient and the production cost is inevitably high. The telescopic steering column device of the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned inconvenience.

[0016]

[Means for solving the problem]

 The telescopic steering column device of the present invention has a tubular shape that is long in the axial direction, and is inserted into the outer column supported by the vehicle body and axially displaceably inside the outer column, and the steering shaft is rotated inside. A freely supported inner collum, a lock housing fixed to a part of the outer column so as to project diametrically outward from the outer peripheral surface of the outer column, and penetrates the lock housing in the left-right direction. And a cylinder hole in which a part of the inner peripheral surface of the inner column is projected from the inner peripheral surface of the inner hole, and a cylinder hole inserted into the cylinder hole from one end opening of the cylinder hole, and a portion near the inner end is inserted. A first pressing block that is brought into contact with one side portion of the outer peripheral surface, and is inserted into the cylinder hole from the other end opening of the cylinder hole, A second pressing block in which a portion near the inner end of the first pressing block is brought into contact with the other side portion of the outer peripheral surface, a screw hole formed in the first pressing block in the left-right direction, and the second pressing block. Through hole formed concentrically with the screw hole in the pressing block in the left-right direction, a first male screw portion screwed into the screw hole at one end, and the first male screw at the other end. A screw rod formed with a second male screw portion in a direction opposite to the screw portion, a rotation blocking portion that prevents the screw rod from rotating with respect to the first pressing block, and the screw rod described above. The other end of the second pressing block is provided with a screw hole member screwed into a portion projecting from the outer end surface of the second pressing block, and an adjusting lever having its base end fixed to the screw hole member.

[0017]

[Action]

 When adjusting the length of the steering column in order to adjust the front-back position of the steering wheel with the telescopic steering column device of the present invention configured as described above, the screw is first operated by operating the adjustment lever. Rotate the aperture member. Since the screw rod screwed to the screw hole member by the second male screw portion does not rotate due to the function of the rotation preventing portion, the screw hole member is based on the screwing with the second male screw portion. , Is displaced to the other end side of the screw rod in the axial direction of the screw rod. As a result, the force with which the screw hole member is pressing the second pressing block is released, the distance between the second pressing block and the first pressing block is increased, and the inner column is positioned inside the outer column. It can be displaced.

In this state, the steering wheel fixed to the end of the steering shaft is pushed and pulled to displace the inner column in the front-rear direction while adjusting the front-rear position of the steering wheel. After adjusting the front-rear position of the steering wheel to a desired position, the screw hole member is displaced to one end side of the screw rod by operating the adjusting lever in the opposite direction to the above-mentioned case. Shorten the distance between the second pressure block and the first pressure block. As a result, the inner end portion of each of the first and second pressing blocks is strongly pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner column, and the steering wheel remains supported at the adjusted position.

Particularly, in the case of the telescopic steering column device of the present invention, since the shape of the cylinder hole for fitting the first and second pressing blocks is simple, it is easy to process parts. The production cost does not increase. Also, by devising the shape of the inner and inner portions of each of the first and second pressing blocks, this inner portion can be configured to bite into the outer peripheral surface of the inner column in a wedge shape. The force that presses the outer peripheral surface of the inner column becomes large, and the holding force when holding and fixing the position of the steering wheel becomes large.

[0020]

【Example】

 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. The outer column 20 is formed in a tubular shape that is long in the axial direction by die-cast molding of an aluminum material, injection molding of synthetic resin, or the like. The outer column 20 as described above is supported by the vehicle body on the lower surface portion of the dashboard or the like by the support bracket 21 fixedly provided on the upper surface of the intermediate portion. Inside the outer column 20, an inner column 22 also formed in a tubular shape that is long in the axial direction is inserted so as to be displaceable in the axial direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 1). Inside the inner column 22, a retractable steering shaft 3 is rotatably supported.

At a part of the outer column 20 below the support bracket 21, a lock housing 23 projects diametrically outward (downward in FIGS. 1 to 3) from the outer peripheral surface of the outer column 20. It is fixed in the state. A cylinder hole 24 having a circular cross section is formed in the lock housing 23 so as to penetrate the lock housing 23 in the left-right direction. The center axis of the cylinder hole 24 is in a twisted positional relationship with the center axes of the outer column 20 and the inner column 22. A part of the inner peripheral surface of the inner column 22 is projected from a part of the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder hole 24.

A first pressing block 25 is inserted into one half (right half in FIG. 2) of the cylinder hole 24 from one end opening of the cylinder hole 24. The first pressing block 25 is formed in a short cylindrical shape that can be inserted into the cylinder hole 24 without rattling. In addition, in the portion near the inner end of the first pressing block 25 (the portion near the center of the cylinder hole 24, the portion near the left in FIG. 2), the portion facing the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 22 has the first An inclined plane 26 is formed, and the first inclined plane 26 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 22 are in contact with each other.

A second pressing block 27 is inserted into the other half of the cylinder hole 24 (left half in FIG. 2) from the other end opening of the cylinder hole 24. Similar to the first pressing block 25, the second pressing block 27 is formed in a short cylindrical shape that can be inserted into the cylinder hole 24 without rattling. A second inclined flat surface 28 is formed in a portion of the second pressing block 27 near the inner end (the rightward portion in FIG. 2) facing the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 22. The inclined flat surface 28 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 22 are in contact with each other.

A screw hole 29 is formed in the first pressing block 25 in the left-right direction. Further, a through hole 30 is formed in the second pressing block 27 in the left-right direction so as to be concentric with the screw hole 29. Then, the first male screw portion 32 formed at one end portion (right end portion in FIG. 1) of the screw rod 31 is screwed into the screw hole 29. A second male screw portion 33 is formed at the other end of the screw rod 31 in the opposite direction to the first male screw portion 32. The second male screw portion 33 is a screw having a coarse pitch such as a double thread screw.

Further, a lock nut 34 is screwed onto a portion of one end of the screw rod 31 protruding from the outer end surface of the first pressing block 25, and the lock nut 34 is tightened toward the outer end surface. Thus, a rotation blocking portion that blocks the rotation of the screw rod 31 with respect to the first pressing block is configured. A pair of flat surfaces 37, 37 parallel to each other are formed on the outer peripheral surface of one end of the screw rod 31. On the other hand, an adjusting nut 35, which is a screw hole member, is screwed into a portion of the other end of the screw rod 31 protruding from the outer end surface of the second pressing block 27. Then, the base end of the adjusting lever 36 is fixedly connected to the adjusting nut 35 by welding or the like.

When assembling and adjusting the telescopic steering column device of the present invention configured as described above, with the lock nut 34 loosened, a tool such as a spanner is engaged with the flat surfaces 37, 37, The screw rod 31 is rotated. Since the first and second male screw portions 32 and 33 formed on the screw rod 31 are in opposite directions to each other, the first pressing block 25 and the adjusting nut 35 are displaced from each other as the screw rod 31 rotates. Move in the opposite direction. Therefore, the screw rod 31 is rotated so that the two members 25, 35 approach each other, and the distance between the first pressing block 25 and the second pressing block 27 pressed by the adjusting nut 35 is shortened. At this time, in order to fix the position of the steering wheel, the adjusting lever 36 is held in the rotated position so that the adjusting nut 35 does not rotate.

As a result, the first and second inclined surfaces 26, 28 formed on the inner end portions of both pressing blocks 25, 27 are pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 22, and the inner column 22 is It is fixed inside the outer column 20. Therefore, the lock nut 34 is tightened while a sufficient fixing force is obtained so that the screw rod 31 does not rotate with respect to the first pressing block 25.

With the telescopic steering column device of the present invention assembled in this way, when adjusting the length of the steering column in order to adjust the front-back position of the steering wheel, first, by operating the adjusting lever 36, Rotate the adjusting nut 35. Since the screw rod 31 does not rotate due to the tightening of the lock nut 34, the adjustment nut 35 is screwed in the axial direction of the screw rod 31 based on the screw engagement with the second male screw portion 33. The screw rod 31 is displaced to the other end side (the left side in FIG. 2). In this case, since the pitch of the second screw portion 33 is coarse, the displacement amount of the adjusting nut 35 is sufficiently large even if the operating angle of the operating lever 36 is small.

As a result of displacing the adjusting nut 35 to the other end side of the screw rod 31 in this way, the force with which the adjusting nut 35 is pressing the second pressing block 27 is released. Then, the distance between the second pressing block 27 and the first pressing block 25 increases, and the inner column 22 becomes displaceable inside the outer column 20.

In this state, the steering wheel fixed to the end of the steering shaft is pushed and pulled to displace the inner column 22 in the front-rear direction and adjust the front-rear position of the steering wheel. After adjusting the front-rear position of the steering wheel to a desired position, the adjusting nut 36 is operated in the opposite direction to the above-mentioned case to displace the adjusting nut 35 to one end side of the screw rod 31, The distance between the second pressing block 27 and the first pressing block 25 is shortened. As a result, the first and second inclined surfaces 26 and 28 formed near the inner ends of the first and second pressing blocks 25 and 27 are strongly pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 22, and the steering wheel However, it remains supported at the adjusted position.

In particular, in the case of the telescopic steering column device of the present invention, the cylinder hole 24 into which the first and second pressing blocks 25 and 27 are fitted may be a simple circular hole, or The pressing blocks 25 and 27 also have a simple shape in which a part of a cylinder is planed and the first and second inclined surfaces 26 and 28 are formed. It doesn't get bulky. Further, by appropriately adjusting the inclination angles of the first and second inclined surfaces 26 and 28, these inclined surfaces 26 and 28 can be wedged into the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 22. . Therefore, the force pressing the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 22 becomes large, and the holding force when holding and fixing the position of the steering wheel becomes large.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the present embodiment, a cylindrical portion 38 is formed at the base end portion of the adjusting lever 36 by burring or drawing, and a female screw is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 38 to form a screw rod. A screw hole member that is screwed with the second male screw portion 33 at the other end 31 is configured. Further, the lock nut as in the first embodiment is not screwed to one end of the screw rod 31. When the rotation blocking portion of the screw rod 31 is formed, the outer end opening of the screw hole 29 is caulked toward the first male screw portion 32. Further, a compression spring 39 is sandwiched between the first and second pressing blocks 25 and 27 to adjust the front and rear position of the steering wheel, and when the screw hole member is loosened, both pressing blocks are The distance between 25 and 27 is surely widened. Other configurations and operations are similar to those of the first embodiment described above.

[0033]

[Effect of device]

 Since the telescopic steering column device of the present invention is constructed and operates as described above, it can be constructed at a relatively low cost only by combining parts having simple shapes, but the holding force of the steering wheel can be reduced. Can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is an enlarged AA sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view on arrow B of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2, showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a conventional steering device that incorporates a telescopic steering device and a tilting steering device.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway view taken in the direction of arrow C in FIG.

7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.

[Explanation of sign]

 1 Adjustment Lever 2 Steering Column 3 Steering Shaft 4 Adjustment Lever 5 Outer Column 6 Inner Column 7 Ball Bearing 8 Spline Engagement Part 9 Lock Housing 10 Lock Member 11 Cylinder Space 12 Communication Opening 13 Arc Concave Surface 14 Partition Wall 15 Screw Hole 16 Lock Screw 17 Plane 18 Guide Pin 19 Long Hole 20 Outer Column 21 Support Bracket 22 Inner Column 23 Lock Housing 24 Cylinder Hole 25 First Pressing Block 26 First Inclined Plane 27 Second Pressing Block 28 Second Inclined Plane 29 Screw Hole 30 through hole 31 screw rod 32 first male screw part 33 second male screw part 34 lock nut 35 adjusting nut 36 adjusting lever 37 flat surface 38 cylindrical part 39 compression spring

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An axially long tubular outer column supported by a vehicle body, and an inner column axially movably inserted inside the outer column and rotatably supporting a steering shaft therein. A column, a lock housing fixed to a part of the outer column so as to project diametrically outward from the outer peripheral surface of the outer column, and a state of penetrating the lock housing in the left-right direction. A cylinder hole in which a part of the inner peripheral surface of the inner column is projected from the inner peripheral surface, and one end of the cylinder hole is inserted into the cylinder hole,
A first pressing block in which a portion close to the inner end thereof is brought into contact with one side portion of the outer peripheral surface, and the other end opening of the cylinder hole is inserted into the cylinder hole, and the inner end portion is A second pressing block that is in contact with the other side part of the outer peripheral surface, a screw hole formed in the first pressing block in the left-right direction, and a left-right direction in the second pressing block. A through hole formed concentrically with the screw hole, a first male screw portion screwed into the screw hole at one end, and a first male screw portion opposite to the first male screw portion at the other end. A second male screw portion, a respectively formed screw rod, and a rotation preventing portion that prevents the screw rod from rotating with respect to the first pressing block,
Expansion and contraction including a screw hole member screwed into a portion of the other end of the screw rod projecting from the outer end surface of the second pressing block, and an adjusting lever having a base end portion fixed to the screw hole member. Steering column device.