JPH076060Y2 - Chittle and telescoping steering columns - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention relates to a tilt and telescopic steering column.

[Prior Art] Generally, in a steering column of a vehicle, a tilt mechanism (for example, the actual opening 57- 108476), and a so-called telescopic mechanism for advancing and retracting the occupant in the front-rear direction (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 54-57244). Further, when the tilt mechanism is adopted, a flip-up mechanism for rapidly turning the steering wheel onto the occupant's knee so that the occupant does not interfere with getting on and off the vehicle (for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication 57-537).
No. 30) may be adopted. In addition, when adopting this flip-up mechanism, a memory mechanism is attached to the tilt mechanism in order to eliminate the inconvenience of having to re-adjust the tilt setting each time the passenger gets on and off, and the steering wheel position initially set is stored. To avoid the need to reset after rebounding (for example,
(See JP-A-59-179451).

By the way, the tilt mechanism has a so-called hand tilt type in which only the vicinity of the upper end of the steering column can be bent.In this type, the upper end of the steering column is fixed to the vehicle body by a clamp,
A movable bracket is rotatably attached to the clamp by a tilt hinge, and a steering shaft is pivotally supported by the movable bracket via a universal joint that is the same as the tilt hinge, and a steering wheel is connected to the upper end of the shaft. Then, in this case, in order to add the telescopic mechanism, the shaft to which the steering wheel is connected is configured to be expandable and contractable in the axial direction. Therefore, when the movable bracket rotates about the tilt hinge in the vertical direction, the steering wheel tilts in the vertical direction.
In this case, as means for fixing the tilting of the movable bracket at a desired angle, a tooth member having arc-shaped teeth centered on the tilt hinge is attached to the movable bracket, while the teeth of the tooth member are attached to the clamp side. A movable tooth member having a tooth portion that meshes with the shaft portion is mounted on a shaft, and the movable tooth member is rotated by a rotation operation of a tilt lever (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-53730).

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, when a flip-up mechanism is added to the conventional hand tilt type steering column and a telescopic mechanism is further added, the tension of the flip-up spring mounted between the clamp and the movable bracket is reduced. There is no choice but to change, and the flip-up force changes and does not become constant for each telescopic operation, resulting in a difference in speed and steepness, which causes an occupant to be uncomfortable and uncomfortable with the movement of the steering wheel.

Then, this invention was made for the purpose of eliminating the said inconvenience.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is directed to a first long length in which a frame is housed in a clamp that is detachably fixed to a vehicle body and the frame can be moved in the front-rear direction. A hole is formed in each of the clamp and the frame body, and a clamp bolt is inserted into the first elongated hole so that the clamp can be clamped to the frame body.
The tilt bolt is inserted through the tilt bolt insertion hole formed in the frame in the front and rear direction above the elongated hole, the first elongated hole of the clamp, and the second elongated hole formed in the clamp in the upper and lower two stages. The movable bracket is pivotally attached to the movable bracket, and the slide bolt is inserted below the tilt bolt of the movable bracket, and a long hole through which the slide bolt penetrates is formed in the frame body under the tilt bolt and a circle centered around the tilt bolt. By forming the arcuate shape, the movable bracket is rotatably connected to the clamp so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and the holder is pivotally supported by the tightening bolt so that the compressibility is maintained between the holder and the slide bolt. The spring of the flip-up spring is mounted, and a cam for rotatably urging one end to pivotally support is provided.
A tilt-and-telescopic type steering column having a stepped hook portion that engages with the slide bolt is formed at the other end of the cam.

[Operation] According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, when the tightening lever is rotated, the clamp tightens or unfastens the frame body, the holder, and the collar via the plate, and the movable bracket moves in the front-rear direction with respect to the clamp. Possible and
It becomes possible to rotate around the tilt bolt, and the steering shaft can follow the movement. Therefore, the occupant can hold the steering wheel to perform a desired tilt and telescopic operation, and the tilt or telescopic position can be tightened and fixed. Also, when the flip-up lever is rotated, the cam that suppresses the elastic force of the spring that biases the movable bracket swings and disengages from the movable bracket, and the elastic force causes the movable bracket to move around the tilt bolt. As it rotates, it instantly jumps upward. When the steering wheel is pushed downward after the flip-up operation, the movable bracket engages with the cam and returns to the original state, the tilt set at the beginning is reproduced, and it is not necessary to set the tilt again. Absent. That is, a memory for tilt setting is made.

[Embodiment] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First
The drawing is an exploded perspective view, FIG. 2 is a side view, FIG. 3 is a partial plan view, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 2, and FIG.
It is a -C line sectional view.

The configuration will be described with reference to FIG. Clamp 1 has both side walls
1a and 1a are integrally formed with wing-shaped projecting attachment portions 1b and 1b for a vehicle body, and a well-known slide block 2 is attached to the attachment portion 1b.
And a mounting plate for the lower jacket 3 on the front part of the slide block 2 by inserting a bolt (not shown) into the slide block 2 so that the clamp 1 can be detachably fixed to the vehicle body.
Mounting wall 1c connecting 3a, movable bracket 4 at the rear
Openings 1d (FIG. 2) for inserting the movable brackets 4 are formed in the openings 1d so as to project rearward at the top.
Is formed with a stopper 1e for restricting the rotation of the first opening, the lower surface is opened, and both side walls 1a, 1a have a first long hole 1g and a second long hole which are moved back and forth in two steps below the mounting portion 1b. Each hole 1f is formed. The mounting wall 1c is formed with a circular hole 1h through which the steering shaft 5 is inserted, and a bolt screwing hole 1i is formed at a corner portion thereof.

The movable bracket 4 is a substantially U-shaped frame body that can be fitted into the opening 1d of the clamp 1, and both side wall portions 4
Stopper 4 abutting against the stopper 1e at the upper edge of a, 4a
B and 4b are bent, and long holes 4c and 4c through which the tilt bolts 6 and 6 are inserted and bolt through holes 4d and 4d through which the slide bolt 7 is inserted, respectively, and the steering shaft 5 is inserted. The upper jacket 4e is connected. Bushings 4f, 4f made of an elastic body are attached to the stoppers 4b, 4b, respectively. Tilt bolt 6,6 above
From the inside of the movable bracket 4, respectively, through circular holes 28a, 28a of the frame body 28, which will be described later, through the long holes 4c, 4c, and project into the long holes 1f, 1f of the clamp 1, respectively. , Bushings 9,9 and washers 10,10 are inserted, and nuts 11,11
Is screwed on (see FIG. 4). In addition, the slide bolt 7 penetrates a long hole 28c of a frame 28, which will be described later, inside the movable bracket 4 from one side of the clamp 1, and the roller 1
A nut 14 is screwed into each of the collars 13 having the ends 2 and 12 disposed at both ends thereof, and the other long hole 28c of the frame 28 (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the movable bracket 4
Is the slide bolt 7 through the rollers 12,12 and the long holes 28c, 2.
Since it can be moved along 8c, it can be rotated up and down around the tilt bolts 6,6 (tilt function), and the tilt bolts 6,6 can be extended along the long holes 1f, 1f via the collar 8 and the bush 9. Since it can be moved, it can be moved in the front-back direction (telescopic function). Therefore, the steering shaft 5 is inserted through the circular hole 1h of the clamp 1 into the upper jacket 4e, the universal joint 5a is arranged at the same position as the tilt bolt 6, and the C ring 15, the bearing 16 and the O, at the end of the upper jacket 4e.
The upper end of the steering shaft 5 is rotatably supported by the ring 17, the washer 18 and the C ring 15a, and
When the lower end portion is supported by the bearing 16a (see FIG. 2), the steering shaft 5 can move in the axial direction integrally with the movable bracket 4, and the shaft 5b can tilt in the vertical direction around the universal joint 5a. Become. A spline 5d having a predetermined length is formed in the axial direction at the end of the shaft 5c connected to the shaft 5b via the universal joint 5a.

On the other hand, as means for locking the tilt and telescopic setting positions of the movable bracket 4 with respect to the clamp 1, a washer 19 and a long hole 20a having a telescopic and tiltable length are formed outside the elongated holes 1g and 1g, respectively. A plate 20, a washer 19a, a plate 21 having a long hole 21a that matches the long hole 20a, a stopper 22 (rotation preventing member) having a protrusion 22a that fits in the long hole 21a, and a washer 23 on one side are provided. A tightening bolt 24 that penetrates these, and a frame body 28 and a holder 29 described later is provided, and a screw portion of the tightening bolt 24.
A tightening lever 25 is screwed into the nut 24a by a nut 25a, and a flip-up lever 26 having a burrow hole 26a is fitted in the other end by a push nut 27 (see FIG. 5). In the tightening lever 25, rotation restricting protrusions 25b, 25c that come into contact with the upright bent portion 22b of the one stopper 22 are formed within a predetermined rotation angle about the nut 25a. The flip-up lever 26 has a yoke portion 26b formed at one end. The plates 20 and 21 increase the tightening force of the tightening bolt 24, and are intended for a so-called multi-plate effect. The larger the number of plates, the higher the tightening force of the clamp 1. The long holes 20a, 21a formed in these plates 20, 21 are respectively aligned with the long hole 1g, and the mounting pins 21b, 21b for increasing the positioning, rotation regulation and fixing force of the plates are the outermost plates. 21 and the holes 20b, 20b for inserting the mounting pins 21b, 21b into the plate 20.
The clamp 1 is provided with a mounting pin 21
Pin holes 1j, 1j are formed to pass through b, 21b.

A flip-up mechanism and a memory mechanism are attached to the frame body 28 and the holder 29 through which the tightening bolt 24 penetrates. That is, inside the clamp 1, the tightening bolt 24
The frame 28 and the holder 29 into the first elongated holes 28b, 28, respectively.
b, rotatably supported through circular holes 29a, 29a. Frame 28
Is a circular hole 28a, 2 into which the tilt bolts 6, 6 are inserted, which are integrally formed by connecting a pair of triangular plates with a distance 28d.
8a, elongated holes 28b, 28b into which the tightening bolt 24 is inserted, and elongated holes 28c, 28c through which the slide bolt 7 passes. The long hole 28c has an arc shape with a predetermined radius centered on the circular hole 28a. The holder 29 is formed with a standing bent portion 29b facing the distance 28d and a standing bent portion 29c having a spring seat 29d. Inside the standing bent portions 29b, 29b, the C rings 30, 30, the cam 31, and the cam 31, 31, O-ring 32,32, bush 33,33
The bushes 33, 33, the ends of which come into contact with the springs 3
4 and insert into the hole 31e of the cam 31 to arrange the collar 35, insert them into the tightening bolt 24, and insert the tube 36 into the spring 34 of the double coil into the tube 36. Insert the spring 37 (see FIG. 5).
Both ends 37a and 37a of the double coil spring 37 are hooked on the cams 31 and 31, respectively, and the middle portion 37b is a distance 29e.
And urges the cams 31, 31 to rotate clockwise.
The cams 31, 31 are projectingly provided on one side thereof, are connected to each other by a connecting rod 31a which is inserted into the other hole 31f, and can be interlocked with each other by an interlocking rod 31b, and the collar 13 is hooked at the rear end thereof. Hook portions 31c and 31d are formed. The interlocking rod 31b is a cam
31 projecting outward from the end of the flip-up lever 26
Engages with the yoke portion 26b. Further, one end of the flip-up spring 38 abuts on a spring seat 29d formed on the upright bent portion 29c of the holder 29, and the other end of the flip-up spring 38 is locked by a locking projection 39b of the spring seat 39. . Spring seat 3
9 includes a yoke portion 39a, and the yoke portion 39a abuts and locks the collar 13 through which the slide bolt 7 penetrates, and the elastic force of the spring 38 is applied to the slide bolt 7.
The movable bracket 4 is always urged to rotate counterclockwise about the chilled bolt 6.

In the lower jacket 3, the upper tube 3d is attached to the mounting plate 3a in which the circular hole 3b, which is in contact with the mounting wall 1c and coincides with the circular hole 1h and the bolt screwing hole 1i, and the insertion hole 3c for the bolt 40 are formed. Connected orthogonally, and its upper tube 3d
The lower tube 3e is slidably inserted in the
As shown in FIG. 2, steel balls 3h, 3h are held by a spacer 3g and are inserted between them to absorb impact energy with a jacket. At the end of the lower tube 3e,
A lower clamp 3f for fixing to the vehicle body is attached.
The lower shaft 41 penetrating the lower jacket 3 is a tube of a predetermined length formed on the inner peripheral surface in the axial direction with a spline 41a that engages with the spline 5d of the steering shaft 5, and a universal joint 42 is connected to the other end. The universal joint 42 is connected to the steering gear box via an intermediate shaft (not shown).

The operation of the above embodiment will be described. In the tilting operation, when the tightening lever 25 is rotated clockwise until the rotation restricting projection 25b comes into contact with the standing bent portion 22b of the stopper 22 and stops, the nut 25a loosens, and the tightening bolt 24 causes the tightening bolt 24 to move. The clamp 1 is released via 21 from the frame 28, the holder 29 and the collar 35. Then, by holding the steering wheel by hand, tilt the steering wheel in the desired direction up or down. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the movable bracket 4 tilts up or down about the tilt bolt 6 at a desired angle, and the slide bolt 7 moves the rollers 12, 1
The long holes 28c and 28c of the frame body 28 are slidably moved through the two to accommodate them, and the collar 13 fitted to the slide bolt 7 is engaged with the hooks 31c and 31c through the cams 31 and 31 and the collar 35. , The tightening bolt 24 is the long hole 28b, 28b of the frame 28 and the clamp 1
Slots 1g, 1g and clamping plates matching slot 1g, 1g
The movable bracket 4 is allowed to tilt by sliding along the long holes 20a, 21a of 20,21. Therefore, the distance between the slide bolt 7 and the tightening bolt 24 is always kept constant via the cam 31, so that the spring force of the flip-up spring 38 is always constant. In order to lock the desired inclination angle of the movable bracket 4 thus set, the tightening lever 25 is rotated counterclockwise until the rotation restricting projection 25c of the movable lever 4 comes into contact with the upright bent portion 22a of the stopper 22 to tighten the tightening bolt. The clamp 1 is fastened to the frame body 28, the holder 29 and the collar 35 with 24 and the nut 25a. The tightening force of the tightening bolt 24 is kept high through the four stacked plates 20 and 21 to prevent the movable bracket 4 from moving. In the above tilt operation, since the tilt bolt 6 is engaged with the long hole 1f,
When the movable bracket 4 tilts, the tilt bolt 6 becomes a long hole.
There is a possibility to move 1f, but it is tilt bolt 6
Since it is inserted into the circular hole 28a of the frame body 28, it is prevented, the tilt setting angle does not become abnormal, and the movable bracket 4 can be prevented from resonating while the vehicle is traveling.

Next, in the telescopic operation, first, similarly to the tilt operation, the tightening lever 25 is rotated clockwise so that the clamp 1
Releases the tightening of the frame 28, the holder 29 and the collar 35, and then pulls the steering wheel forward or pushes it forward to adjust the position. When the steering wheel is moved in the axial direction of the steering shaft 5,
As shown in FIG. 7, the frame body 28 in which the steering shaft 5, the movable bracket 4 and the slide bolt 7 are engaged with each other.
Then, the holder 29 and the collar 35, which are engaged with the frame body 28 by the tightening bolts 24, can be integrally moved in the front-rear direction of the clamp 1. That is, the tilt bolt 6 inserts the elongated hole 1f into the bushes 9,9.
Also, the tightening bolt 24 can slide in the long holes 1g and 1g, respectively. Therefore, the slide bolt 7 and the tightening bolt
Since the distance from 24 is always kept constant via the cam 31 (see FIG. 8), the resilience of the flip-up spring 38 is always constant. When the steering shaft 5 moves in the axial direction, the spline 5d of the shaft 5c moves in the axial direction of the spline 41a of the lower shaft 41 to absorb the amount of movement of the steering shaft 5. Therefore, the movement of the movable bracket 4 is stopped at a desired position, and the tightening lever 24
When the is rotated counterclockwise, the clamp 1 is again fixed to the frame body 28, the holder 29, and the collar 3 with the tightening bolt 24 and the nut 25a.
The tightening force is exchanged for a high frictional force by the four plates 20 and 21 which are tightened on and overlapped with each other to prevent the movable bracket 4 from moving.

Next, in the flip-up operation, as shown in FIG. 8, when the flip-up lever 26 is rotated counterclockwise, the yoke portion 26b rotates the interlocking rod 31b counterclockwise, and the cams 31, 31 are rotated. Rotates counterclockwise against the force of the double coil spring 37,
Collar 13 urged by flip-up spring 38 is hook
The movable bracket 4 is instantly moved from 31c to the hook portion 31d, whereby the movable bracket 4 is flipped up around the tilt bolt 6, and the stopper 4 having the bushes 4f, 4f attached thereto.
b and 4b come into contact with the stopper 1e of the clamp 1 and stop, and the flip-up state is completed. When the hand is released from the flip-up lever 26, the cams 31 and 31 are rotated clockwise by the force of the double coil spring 37, and the engagement between the hook portions 31d and 31d and the collar 13 is fixed. After that, the occupant re-boards and returns the steering wheel to the original state. Therefore, when the steering wheel is pushed down, the collar 13 moves from the hook portion 31d to the hook portion 31c, and the tilt setting is restored to the original state.
That is, even if the flip-up operation is performed, the memory mechanism does not have to operate and the tilt setting need not be performed again. This flip-up operation is performed regardless of the tilt or telescoping position of the movable bracket 4 with respect to the clamp 1, the movable bracket 4, the frame 28, and the holder 29.
Since the collar 35 moves as a unit and the cam 31 connects the slide bolt 7 and the tightening bolt 24, the spring force of the flip-up spring 38 is always constant and does not change. Further, the cams 31,31 are pressed against the C-rings 30,30 by the springs 34 and have O-rings 32,32 which come into contact with the bushes 33,33. In addition to the fact that the engagement between the portions 31c and 31d and the collar 13 is not supported, the so-called rattling of the cams 31 and 31 is sufficiently performed.

[Advantages of the Invention] According to the above-described invention, the steering column has both tilt, telescopic, flip-up, and memory functions, and has the convenience of ensuring the optimum driving posture of the driver and getting on and off. Moreover, even if the telescoping operation is performed, the movable bracket and the frame body move integrally, so that the distance between the frame body and the movable bracket that engages with the slide bolt via the cam is always constant, and the flip-up spring is Since the force for urging the movable bracket to flip up is always constant, there is an effect that the flipping up force does not change due to the telescopic operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawing shows an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view,
2 is a half sectional side view, FIG. 3 is a partial plan view, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation. 1 ... Clamp, 1g ... Slot (first slot), 1f ... Slot (second slot), 4 ... Movable bracket, 4c ... Slot, 4d ... Bolt insertion hole, 4e …… Upper jacket,
5 ... Steering shaft, 5d ... Spline, 6 ...
… Tilt bolt, 7 …… Slide bolt, 12 …… Roller, 8,13 …… Collar, 20,21 …… Tightening plate, 24…
… Tightening bolts, 25 …… Tightening levers, 26 …… Bounce levers, 26b …… Yoke part, 28 …… Frame, 28a …… Circular hole,
28b, 28c …… elongated hole, 29 …… holder, 29a …… circular hole, 29d
...... Locking protrusion, 31 …… Cam, 31b …… Interlocking rod, 31c, 31d…
… Hook part, 34 …… Spring, 35 …… Collar, 36 ……
Tube, 37 ... Double coil spring, 38 ... Spring spring, 39 ... Spring seat, 39b ... Locking protrusion, 41 ... Shaft, 41a ... Spline.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A frame body is housed in a clamp that is detachably fixed to a vehicle body, and first elongated holes that allow the frame body to move in the front-rear direction are formed in the clamp and the frame body, respectively. The clamp bolt is inserted into the hole so that the clamp can be tightened to the frame body, and the tilt bolt insertion hole formed in the frame body in the front and rear direction above the first elongated hole of the frame body and the clamp. The tilt bolt is inserted through the second long hole formed in the clamp in front of and behind the first long hole in two steps, and the movable bracket is axially attached, and the slide bolt is inserted under the tilt bolt of the movable bracket. The movable bracket can be rotated with respect to the clamp and can be moved in the front-back direction by forming an elongated hole through which the slide bolt penetrates in the frame body in an arc shape below the tilt bolt with the tilt bolt as the center. Connected to the front The tightening bolt is provided with a cam that pivotally supports the holder and mounts a compressible flip-up spring between the holder and the slide bolt, and pivotally supports one end of the spring to pivotally support the cam. A tilt and telescopic steering column characterized in that a stepped hook portion engaging with the slide bolt is formed at the other end of the tilt and telescopic steering column.