JPH077251Y2 - Steering wheel position adjustment device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a steering wheel position adjusting device.

2. Description of the Related Art For example, as a telescopic steering device for an automobile, in a first shaft that constitutes a steering shaft, a second shaft that also constitutes a steering shaft is axially slidable and does not rotate relative to each other. Such that the pipe-shaped members that are rotatable with respect to the shafts and that do not slide in the axial direction are respectively disposed around both shafts, and that both pipe-shaped members are fitted so as to be slidable in the axial direction. Are known.

By the way, in such a steering device, a mechanism for detachably fixing both pipe-shaped members is indispensable.
As such a fixing mechanism, an elongated hole extending in the axial direction is formed on the peripheral wall of the outer pipe-shaped member, a hole is formed at a position corresponding to the elongated hole of the inner pipe-shaped member, and A female screw member is arranged, a locking female screw portion extending in the radial direction is formed on the female screw member, and a rod-shaped lock member having a lever attached to one end is passed through the elongated hole and the hole to form the female screw portion. It is conceivable that it can be screwed into. In this fixing mechanism,
The male screw portion formed on the lock member is passed through the elongated hole and the hole and is screwed into the female screw portion. However, in a steering device having such a fixing mechanism, when the tightening by the lock member is loosened in order to extend and contract the steering shaft, the lock member and its lever fall down. Also, when both pipe-shaped members slide relative to each other in the axial direction when the steering shaft expands or contracts, the male threaded portion of the lock member abuts both ends of the elongated hole. Both ends of the elongated hole in the strip-shaped member may be worn. Therefore, when the male thread cannot be screwed into the female thread to a predetermined depth and the tightening force is insufficient, or when both pipe-shaped members slide relative to each other in the axial direction, the male thread of the lock member May be caught on both sides of the long hole and the above sliding may not be performed smoothly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel position adjusting device that solves the above problems.

Means for Solving the Problems In a steering wheel position adjusting device according to the present invention, a first member and a second member constituting a steering device are combined so that they can move relatively and partially overlap each other. , A threaded member is passed through the overlapping portion of both members, and a female threaded member capable of fixing the first and second members together with the male threaded member is screw-fitted at the tip of the male threaded member, and the male threaded member is A steering wheel adapted to pass through an elongated hole formed in either one of the first and second members and a hole formed in the other member and move in the elongated hole by relative movement of both members. The position adjusting device of claim 1, wherein the female screw member is formed with a hole that is continuous with the female screw portion and the male screw member inlet side of the female screw portion and that has a large diameter portion larger than this. Right A large-diameter shaft portion is provided at the tip of the member, which is provided with a male-threaded portion which is screwed into the female-threaded portion, and which passes through the elongated hole and is tightly fitted into the large-diameter portion of the female-threaded member member. Is provided.

In the above, the relative movement of the first and second members includes both rotation and direct movement.

Function Even when the tightening of the male and female thread members is loosened, the large-diameter shaft section connected to the male thread section of the male thread member is closely fitted in the large-diameter section of the hole of the female thread member. Since it is bent, the male screw member is prevented from falling down. Further, since the large-diameter shaft portion of the male screw member passes through the long hole, when the male screw member moves in the long hole due to the relative movement of the first and second members, the large-diameter shaft portion of the long screw hole Hit both ends.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a steering device for an automobile will be described with reference to the drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same parts and the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In the following description, the left side of FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 is the front, the right side is the rear, the lower side of FIGS. 1 and 5 is the left side, and the upper side is the right side.

Example 1 This example is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 show the main part of a telescopic steering device for an automobile, and FIG. 3 shows a part of it in an enlarged manner.

In addition to the telescopic operation for expanding and contracting the steering shaft, this steering device can perform tilt operation for adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel by rotating the rear side of the steering shaft up and down. The tilt bracket (1) shown is attached to a fixed bracket (not shown) fixed to the vehicle body so as to be vertically rotatable. The tilting device (not shown) adjusts the vertical angle of the tilt bracket (1).

The front end of the column tube (2) (first member) is fixed to the rear end of the tilt bracket (1), and the lock ring (3) (female screw member) is attached to the inner rear end of the column tube (2). ) Is fitted in the hollow outer shaft (4), which constitutes the steering shaft (7) in front of the lock ring (3) inside the column tube (2).
Are rotatably supported via bearings (5) and (6).

A hole (8) for key lock is formed on the right side of the middle portion of the peripheral wall of the column tube (2). A through hole (19) is formed on the left side of the rear end of the peripheral wall of the column tube (2). On the left side of the lock ring (3), the through hole (1
Corresponding to 9), there is formed a through hole (9) which penetrates this in the radial direction. A female thread for locking (9a) is provided on the inner periphery of the lock ring (3) in the through hole (9).
However, similarly, large diameter hole portions (9b) continuous with the female screw portion (9a) and having a slightly larger inner diameter than this are formed in the outer peripheral side portion, respectively. Through hole (19) in column tube (2)
Is the same size as the large diameter hole (9b). Serrations (10) are formed on the inner surface of the outer shaft (4). On the right side of the outer circumference of the outer shaft (4), a key lock groove (11) is formed corresponding to the key lock hole (8) of the column tube (2). The rear end of the intermediate shaft (12), a part of which is shown in the drawing, is fixed to the front end of the outer shaft (4).

The inner shaft (13) forming the steering shaft (7) is inserted inside the outer shaft (4). The inner shaft (13) penetrates through the center of the lock ring (3) and projects rearward, and a steering wheel (not shown) is fixed to the rear end of the inner shaft (13). Further, the bearing (14) is provided in the middle of the portion of the inner shaft (13) that projects rearward from the lock ring (3).
The telescopic pipe (15) (second member) is rotatably fitted and fitted via the. The outer shaft (4) has serrations (10) on the outer periphery of the front of the inner shaft (13).
A serration (16) that meshes with the inner shaft (13) is formed so that the inner shaft (13) can slide axially with respect to the outer shaft (4) but cannot rotate. The inner ring (14a) of the bearing (14) is fixed by retaining rings (17) and (18) to the outer periphery of the intermediate portion of the inner shaft (13) projecting rearward from the lock ring (3). The outer ring (14b) of the bearing (14) is a telescopic pipe (15)
It is fitted inside the rear end of the rear. The front portion of the telescopic pipe (15) is fitted around the rear portion of the column tube (2) so as to be slidable in the axial direction. An elongated hole (20) extending in the axial direction is formed on the left side of the peripheral wall of the telescopic pipe (15) corresponding to the through hole (19) of the column tube (2) and the hole (9) of the lock ring (3). The rod-shaped lock member (21) (male screw member) penetrates the slot (20) and the hole (19) of the column tube (2) from the outside.

The lock member (21) has a male screw member (21a), an outer diameter slightly larger than that of the male screw member (21a), and is closely fitted in the large-diameter hole portion (9b) of the hole (9). The large diameter shaft part (21b) that passes through 19), the washer holding part (21c) that has a slightly larger outer diameter and presses the washer (23) described later, and the mounting shaft part (21d) that has a smaller outer diameter than this are on the right. And the base end of the lock lever (22) is fitted and fixed to the mounting shaft (21d). The male thread portion (21a) of the lock member (21) is screwed into the female thread portion (9a) of the lock ring (3), and the large diameter shaft portion (21b) is provided with the long hole (20) of the telescopic pipe (15) and It penetrates the hole (19) of the column tube (2) and is tightly fitted in the large diameter hole (9b) of the lock ring (3). As a result, the telescopic pipe (15) can slide in the axial direction with respect to the column tube (2) but cannot rotate. Large diameter shaft (21) of lock member (21)
The washer (23) is fitted in b), and the telescopic pipe (15)
Is located between the outer surface of the lock member (21c) and the washer holding portion (21c) of the lock member (21).

When the lock lever (22) is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2 and the lock member (21) is loosened, the inner shaft (13) and the telescopic pipe (15) have the long holes ( 20) and the large diameter shaft (21) of the lock member (21)
and b) move relative to each other to move in the axial direction using these parts as guides, whereby the entire steering shaft (7) expands and contracts. Even when the lock member (21) is loosened in this way, the large-diameter shaft portion (21b) of the lock member (21) is tightly fitted inside the large-diameter hole portion (9b) of the lock ring (3). Therefore, the lock lever (22) side of the lock member (21) does not fall down. When the long hole (20) and the large-diameter shaft portion (21b) move relative to each other, the large-diameter shaft portion (21b) makes sliding contact with both side surfaces of the long hole (20) and the long hole (20). Abut on both ends of.

Rotate the lock lever (22) clockwise in Fig. 2 to
When the lock member (21) is tightened, the telescopic pipe (1
The part of the long hole (20) of 5) is sandwiched and fixed between the outer surface of the lock ring (3) and the washer (23), and as a result, the outer shaft (4) and the inner shaft (13) are fixed. They do not move axially relative to each other.

In the above steering device, the lock member (21) and the lock lever (22) are located at a portion corresponding to the rear end portion of the outer shaft (4), and are separated from the rear end portion of the inner shaft (13) to which the steering wheel is attached. Because
This does not interfere with the steering wheel.

Example 2 This example is shown in FIG. Fourth magnified view of a part of automobile telescopic steering device
In the figure, an elongated hole (25) extending in the axial direction is formed on the left side of the peripheral wall of the column tube (2), and a hole (26) corresponding to the elongated hole (25) is formed on the left side of the peripheral wall of the telescopic pipe (15). )
Are formed. The male screw portion (21a) at the tip of the lock member (21) has a nut (27) (female screw member) larger than the width of the elongated hole (25) arranged on the left side of the inner rear end portion of the column tube (2). ) Is screwed on. The nut (27) can slide axially along the inner surface of the column tube (2). The nut (27) is formed with a through hole (28) extending in the radial direction of the steering shaft (7). A female thread for locking (28a) is formed on the right side of the through hole (28), and a large diameter hole (28b) is formed on the left side, which is continuous with the female thread (28a) and has a slightly larger inner diameter. There is. Then, the male thread portion (21a) of the lock member (21) is screwed into the female thread portion (28a), and the large diameter shaft portion (21b) passes through the hole (26) and the long hole (25) to form the large diameter hole portion. It fits tightly in (28b).

In this steering device, the lock member (21) is tightened and loosened by the telescopic pipe (15) in the same manner as in the first embodiment except that the nut (27) moves together with the lock member (21). The telescoping operation is performed.

Embodiment 3 In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the position adjusting device of the present invention is a tilt in which the rear side of the steering shaft can be rotated up and down to adjust the vertical position of the steering wheel. It is applied to a steering device. In FIGS. 5 and 6 showing a tilt steering device of an automobile, a tilt bracket (32) (second member) is attached to a fixed bracket (31) (first member) fixed to a vehicle body (not shown) of the automobile. Is mounted so that it can rotate up and down. The fixing bracket (31) has a substantially U-shape with an open rear portion when viewed from above, and the lower column tube (33) is fixed to the front end portion thereof. The front end of the lower column tube (33) is also fixed to an appropriate place on the vehicle body by the fixing member (34). A lower steering shaft (35) (lower shaft) is rotatably supported in the lower column tube (33). Although illustration is omitted, the front end of the lower shaft (35) is connected to the steering gear.

Install the tilt bracket (3
2) The rear part is rotatably attached by two connecting pins (36) extending right and left. Tilt bracket (3
2) has a substantially U-shape with the front part open when viewed from above. The left side part (32a) is inside the left side part (31a) of the fixing bracket (31), and the right side part (32b) is the fixing bracket (31). ) Are arranged inside the right part (31b). An upper column tube (37) is fixed to a rear end portion of the tilt bracket (32), and an upper steering shaft (38) (upper shaft) is rotatably supported in the upper column tube (37). A steering wheel (39) is attached to the rear end of the upper shaft (38). The front end of the upper shaft (38) is connected to the rear end of the lower shaft (35) through a universal joint (40), and the center of the universal joint (40) is the center of rotation of the tilt bracket (32). It is on the center line of the connecting pin (36). Although illustration is omitted, if necessary, the upper column tube (37) is provided with a telescopic drive unit for expanding and contracting the upper shaft (38). The tilt bracket (32) is rotated upward between the spring support part (41) provided on the front part of the upper surface of the fixed bracket (31) and the spring support member (42) secured to the rear part of the upper surface of the tilt bracket (32). A tension coil spring (43) for urging the moving direction is attached. A bottom plate (not shown) is attached to the front part of the lower surface of the fixing bracket (31), and a rubber stopper (not shown) is fixed to the left side portion of the upper surface of the bottom plate. On the other hand, on the bottom of the tilt bracket (32),
The bottom plate (44) that restricts the upward rotation range of the tilt bracket (32) by hitting the stopper of the fixed bracket (31) is fixed.

Mounting brackets (45) projecting outward are integrally formed on the rear upper ends of the left side portion (31a) and the right side portion (31b) of the fixing bracket (31), and the rear ends of these mounting brackets (45) are extended to the rear end. Long notches (46) are formed before and after reaching.

The fixing bracket (31) is fixed by inserting a bolt (not shown) from below into the notch (46) of the mounting bracket (45) and screwing the bolt into the vehicle body.

A tilt device is provided between the fixed bracket (31) and the tilt bracket (32), which allows fine adjustment of the vertical position of the steering wheel (39).

A hole (47) is formed in the front portion of the left side portion (32a) of the tilt bracket (32). Retaining bracket (3
On the front side of the left side part (31a) of 1), connect the connecting pin (3
A circular arc-shaped elongated hole (48) is formed centering around 6) and the tilt lever shaft (49) is formed in this elongated hole (48).
(Male thread member) is threaded from the right side. From the outside of the left part (31a) of the fixing bracket (31) to the lever shaft (49)
The lever shaft nut (50) (female screw member) is screwed in through the washer (51). The lever shaft nut (50) has a through hole (52) formed therethrough in the left-right direction. A female thread portion for locking (52a) is formed on the left side portion of the through hole (52), and a large diameter hole portion (52b) having a diameter larger than that of the female thread portion (52a) is formed on the right side portion. ing. From the left side of the lever shaft (49), the male thread (49a) has a slightly larger outer diameter and a through hole (5
It fits tightly into the large diameter hole (52b) in 2) and the hole (47)
A large-diameter shaft portion (49b) passing through the long hole (48) and a head portion (49c) are formed. The left side portion of the tilt bracket (32) penetrates from the right side, and the head portion (49c) is tilted. It is fixed to the left side portion (32a) of (32) by welding. The male screw part (49a) of the lever shaft (49) is screwed into the female screw part (52a) of the lever shaft nut (50), and the large diameter shaft part (49b) has a hole (47) and an elongated hole (48). It penetrates and is tightly fitted in the large diameter hole (52b) of the nut (50). On the left side of the lever shaft nut (50),
a) is integrally formed, and the front portion of the fine adjustment tilt operation lever (53) is fitted around and fixed by welding.

When the lever (53) is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 6 and the lever shaft nut (50) is loosened, the tilt bracket (32) causes the fixed bracket (31) to have the elongated hole (48) and the lever shaft (48). The large-diameter shaft portion (49b) of 49) rotates relative to the pin (36) using these portions as a guide by relative movement, whereby the entire upper shaft (38) rotates up and down. Move. Even when the lever shaft nut (50) is loosened in this way, the large diameter shaft portion (49b) of the lever shaft (49) is tightly fitted inside the large diameter hole portion (52b) of the lever shaft nut (50). The lock lever (53) side of the lever shaft nut (50) does not fall down because it is bent. When the long hole (48) and the large diameter shaft portion (49b) move relatively,
The large-diameter shaft portion (49b) makes sliding contact with both side surfaces of the elongated hole (48) and also contacts both ends of the elongated hole (48).

Rotate the lever (53) clockwise in Fig. 6 and tighten the lever shaft nut (50) to secure the fixed bracket (31).
The slotted hole (48) part of the tilt bracket (32) is sandwiched between the outer surface of the left side part (32a) of the tilt bracket (32) and the washer (51), and as a result, both brackets (31) (32) are fixed. No longer rotate up and down.

Example 4 This example is shown in FIG. In FIG. 7 showing a part of the tilt steering device of the automobile in an enlarged manner, the lever shaft nut (55) (female screw) is formed inside the left side portion (32a) of the tilt bracket (32) in correspondence with the hole (47). (Member) is arranged and is fixed to the left side portion (32a) by welding. The nut (55) is formed with a through hole (56) penetrating the nut (55) in the left-right direction. A female thread for locking (56a) is formed on the right side of the through hole (56), and a large diameter hole (56b) that is continuous with the female thread (56a) and has a slightly larger inner diameter is formed on the left side. There is.
The lever shaft (57) (male screw member) is screwed into the lever shaft nut (55) from the outside of the left side portion (31a) of the fixed bracket (31). On the lever shaft (57), from the right side, the male screw part (57a) is fitted tightly into the large diameter hole part (56b) of the through hole (56) which has a slightly larger outer diameter than this, and the hole (4
7) and a large-diameter shaft part (57b) that passes through the elongated hole (48), and a head part (57c) are formed, and the left part (31a) of the fixed bracket (31) and the left part of the tilt bracket (32). It penetrates (32a) from the left side. Lever shaft (57)
The male screw part (57a) is screwed into the female screw part (56a) of the lever shaft nut (55), the large diameter shaft part (57b) penetrates the hole (47) and the long hole (48), and the nut It is tightly fitted in the large diameter hole (56b) of (55). A circular shaft part (57d) is integrally formed on the left side of the head part (57c) of the lever shaft (57), and the front part of the fine adjustment tilt operation lever (53) is fitted around it and fixed by welding. There is.

In this steering device, the tilt operation is performed in the same manner as in the third embodiment except that the lever shaft (57) is tightened and loosened by operating the lever (53).

Effect of the Invention According to the steering wheel position adjusting device of the present invention, as described above, the male screw member is prevented from falling downward even when the male screw member is loosely tightened, and the operability is good. Further, when the male screw member moves in the oblong hole due to the relative movement of the first and second members, the large diameter shaft portion abuts both ends of the oblong hole, so that the male screw member of the male screw member is prevented from being crushed. To be done. Therefore, the tightening does not become insufficient and the relative movement does not stop smoothly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a main part of a telescopic steering device showing a first embodiment of the present invention (a sectional view taken along the line II in FIG. 2), FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the same, and FIG. Figure 1
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line III-III, FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of a part of a telescopic steering device showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a tilt steering device showing a third embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a partially cutaway plan view, FIG. 6 is a partial side view of the same, and FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway plan view of a tilt steering device showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. (2) …… Column tube (first member), (3) ……
Lock ring (female screw member), (9) ... through hole, (9
a) …… Locking female thread, (9b) …… Large diameter hole, (1
5) ... telescopic pipe (second member), (20) ... oblong hole, (21) ... lock member (male thread member), (21a) ...
… Male thread, (21b) …… Large diameter shaft, (27) …… Nut (female thread member), (31) …… Fixed bracket (first member), (32) …… Tilt bracket (first) 2 member),
(49) …… Lever shaft (male thread member), (49a) …… Male thread part, (49b) …… Large diameter shaft part, (50) …… Lever shaft nut (female thread member), (52)… … Through hole, (52a) …… Female thread, (52b) …… Large diameter hole, (55) …… Lever shaft nut (female thread member), (56) …… Through hole, (56a) ……
Female thread, (56b) …… Large diameter hole, (57) …… Lever shaft (male thread member), (57a) …… Male thread, (57b) …… Large diameter shaft.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A first member and a second member constituting a steering device are combined so that they can move relative to each other and partially overlap each other, and a screw member is passed through an overlapping portion of both members. And a female screw member capable of fixing the first and second members together with the male screw member is screw-fitted to the tip of the male screw member, and the male screw member is formed on either one of the first and second members. A position adjusting device for a steering wheel, which is adapted to be moved through the long hole and the hole formed on the other side and move in the long hole by relative movement of both members. A hole having a large diameter portion having a larger diameter than that of the female thread portion and the male thread portion inlet side of the female thread portion is formed, and the female thread portion is screwed into the tip of the male thread member. When the male thread is provided A position adjusting device for a steering wheel, which is provided with a large-diameter shaft portion which is continuous with the male screw portion, passes through the elongated hole, and is closely fitted to the large-diameter portion of the female screw member hole.