JPH0818562B2 - Tilt steering device - Google Patents

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tilt steering device in a vehicle, and more particularly to a tilt steering device in which the steering wheel is prevented from jumping up in the event of a collision.

[Prior art and its problems]

Conventionally, the tilt steering device (so-called swing-tilt type) whose support rigidity is increased is such that an upper column or the like that houses the upper steering shaft can be pivoted around the tilt pin with respect to the lower column. In some cases, a movable gear member pivotally mounted on the upper bracket side and a fixed gear member fixedly mounted on the lower bracket side of the lower column can mesh with each other. The engagement or disengagement of both gear members is performed by an operating lever (for example, Shokai Sho 60-144569).

This tilt steering device is provided with a support hanger that is pivotable around a tilt pin and can be rotated by an operating lever, a movable gear member is pivotally provided on an upper bracket, and a shaft serving as a locking means fixed to the support hanger. The member is biased from the axial direction of the column to engage with the inclined surface of the back surface of the movable gear member to restrict the rotation of the movable gear member. However, in this type of tilt lock device, since the support hanger and the operation lever are integrally connected,
When the vehicle collides, the support hanger rotates forward due to the impact of a so-called primary collision (the support hanger rotates clockwise), the shaft member of the support hanger removes the regulation of the movable gear member, and the movable gear member rotates. As a result, the engagement with the fixed gear member may be lost.

When the gear members are disengaged from each other, it is conceivable that the upper bracket, the upper column, and the steering wheel may jump upward due to the action of the flip-up spring stretched between the upper bracket and the lower bracket.

A spring for urging the support hanger in the direction of locking the movable gear member is stretched between the upper bracket and the support hanger, but the force of the forward impact generated on the support hanger due to a collision is considerably large. This spring force is exceeded and the above result is reached.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, that is, to provide a tilt steering device improved and devised so that the movable gear member and the fixed gear member are not disengaged from each other due to a collision. It was made.

[Means and actions for solving problems]

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and in the present invention, the fixed gear member fixed to the lower column side and the movable gear member pivotally attached to the upper column side and meshed with the solid gear member are provided with the locking means. In the engaged free state, the operation lever is further urged in the locking operation direction so as to be rotatable. The upper column is provided with a stopper means, and the stopper means is engaged in the free state, and the lock means is in this state. It is desirable to provide the operation lever with a notch surface for preventing the column axial movement of the.

As a result, at the time of tilt operation, only the operation lever is pivoted in the initial stage of the downward pivoting operation of the operation lever to disengage the stopper of the upper column from the notch surface of the operation lever, and thereafter, the operation lever The shaft member of the support hanger, which is the locking means, pivots integrally, and the locking means separates from the movable gear member, and a normal tilt adjusting operation is performed.

On the other hand, even if the support hanger, the operation lever, etc. try to pivot around the tilt pin due to a primary collision at the time of a vehicle collision, at this time, the driver is in a free state in which the operation lever is not operated. The notch surface engages with the stopper of the upper column to prevent pivotal movement of the support hanger, that is, to prevent disengagement of the fixed gear member and the movable gear member.

〔Example〕

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, an upper steering shaft 12 having a steering wheel 10 fixed to the upper end is inserted into an upper column 20 and is rotatably supported. On the other hand, a lower steering shaft 18 whose lower end is connected to an input shaft 17 of a steering gear 16 via a universal joint 14 is inserted into a lower column 23 provided below the upper column 20 and is rotatably supported. Both shafts 12 and 18 are connected to each other in columns 20 and 23 by a universal joint (not shown). Lower column 23
Is fixed to the vehicle body portion 19 by a lower bracket 24.

Next, the details of the tilt mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 for the first embodiment.

The upper column 20 has a cylindrical shape, and an upper bracket 22 having a pair of side plates is fixed to the lower end of the upper column 20.
The side plates of the lower bracket 24 fixed to the upper ends of the lower columns 23 are fitted on both outer sides of the side plates of the upper bracket 22, and the upper bracket 22 and the lower bracket 24 are tilted by the tilt pins 26 penetrating the side plates. 22 is rotatable about a tilt pin 26 as a fulcrum. Therefore, the upper column 20 and the upper steering shaft 12 fixed to the upper bracket 22 can be tilted with the tilt pin 26 as a fulcrum, and the position (height) of the steering wheel 10 can be adjusted. The upper steering shaft 12 and the lower steering shaft 18 are tiltably connected by a universal joint in the column. A tension spring 30 is provided between the upper bracket 22 and the lower bracket 24.
Is tensioned to urge the upper bracket 22 upward (in the left-handed direction in FIG. 2).

On the underside of the upper bracket 22 is a U-shaped bracket 32
Has been fixed. The bracket 32 includes a ceiling portion 34 fixed to the upper bracket 22 and a pair of side wall portions 36 and 38 extending downward from both ends of the ceiling portion 34, and supports a movable gear member 42 described later. On one side wall portion 36, a claw portion 40 as a stopper means extending laterally is formed. A shaft 44 is inserted through both side wall parts 36 and 38, and one end of a movable gear member 42 is pivotally supported by the shaft 44 between the side wall parts 36 and 38. A tooth portion 44 is formed on the upper surface of the free end of the movable gear member 42. The tooth portion 45 can mesh with the tooth portion 48 of the fixed gear member 46 fixed to the lower bracket 24.

A support hanger 50 is arranged further outside the lower bracket 24. The support hanger 50 is a pair of spaced arms 52.
And 54 and a connecting portion 56 that connects the arm portions 52 and 54, and has a U shape as a whole, and the free end side of each arm portion is pivotally supported by the tilt pin 26.

The connecting portion 56 of the support hanger 50 extends further below the movable gear member 42 and the fixed gear member 46, and both arm portions 52
A shaft 58 penetrating both arm portions 52 and 54 is inserted in a portion of the parts 54 and 54 near the connecting portion 56. An intermediate portion of the shaft 58 is engageable with a lower inclined surface which is a back surface of the tooth portion 45 at the free end of the movable gear member 42 and forms a locking means. An operating lever 60 is pivotally fitted to one end of the shaft 58.

The operating lever 60 includes a cylindrical sleeve 62 fitted to a shaft 58 and rotatable with respect to the shaft 58, a side plate portion 63 fixed to the sleeve 62, and a steering wheel 10 bent at a right angle from the side plate portion 63. The side plate 63 is formed with an overhanging portion 78 and an extension 64 extending toward the
Is provided. A concave portion 80 is formed on the upper surface of the overhanging portion 78, and a notch surface 85 of the concave portion 80 can engage with the claw portion 40 of the bracket 32 when the operating lever 60 is in a free state. A spring 84 that is fitted onto the sleeve 62 is arranged between the overhanging portion 78 and the support hanger connecting portion 56, and biases the operating lever 60 upward (to the left turning direction in FIG. 2) with respect to the support hanger 50. ing. Upper bracket 22 and support hanger
A spring 55 is stretched between the movable hanger and the movable gear member 42 by urging the support hanger upward in the column axial direction (counterclockwise direction).
It is designed to press the inclined surface of.

 Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, the tilt operation will be explained.
When the grip portion 66 of 60 is held by hand and pushed down, the operating lever 60 is pivoted independently of the support hanger 50 (only the lever 60) in the range between 60 and 60a in FIG. Move,
As a result, the notch surface 85 of the concave portion 80 and the claw portion 40 do not interfere with each other.

When the operation lever 60 is in the state of 60a, the lower surface of the operation lever 60 abuts the connecting portion 56 of the support hanger 50, and when the operation lever 60 is further pushed down, the operation lever 60 and the support hanger 50 are integrated with the tilt pin 26 as a fulcrum. Turn right. This right-handed rotation causes the shaft 58 provided on the support hanger 50 to pivotally move around the tilt pin 26, separate from the lower inclined surface of the movable gear member 42, and disengage from it. At this time, the movable gear member 42 is rotated counterclockwise around the shaft 44 by a cam means separately provided as the shaft 58 moves, and its tooth portion 45 and the tooth portion of the fixed gear member 46 are rotated.
48 is out of mesh. In this state, the upper bracket 22
Since the upper column 20 is urged in the counterclockwise direction by the tension spring 30, the upper column 20 is rotated counterclockwise with the tilt pin 26 as the fulcrum with respect to the lower bracket 24.
Is flipped up.

To adjust the position of the steering wheel 10, the driver depresses the steering wheel 10 until the steering wheel 10 reaches the optimum position with the operation lever 60 pressed down, and the operation lever 60 is urged upward in the column axial direction. As a result, each member operates in the opposite direction to that described above, the shaft 58 engages with the lower inclined surface of the movable gear member 42, and the fixed gear member 46 and the movable gear member 42 mesh with each other. When locked, the steering wheel 10 is prevented from pivoting with respect to the lower bracket 24 and is fixed.

Next, the operation when the vehicle collides will be described. As described above, at the time of a vehicle collision, the support hanger 50, the shaft 58, the operation lever 60, and the like receive a force that is moved forward of the vehicle due to the impact of the primary collision. That is, it tends to rotate right around the tilt pin 26. However, when the operation lever 60 is locked, that is, in the free state, as shown in FIG. 2, the claw portion 40 which is the stopper means of the bracket 32 is fitted into the recess 80 of the overhang portion 78 of the operation lever, and The portion 40 is in a state of interfering with the cutout surface 85 of the recess 80. Therefore, even if the support hanger 50, the operation lever 60, and the like try to move to the left in FIG. 2 (the front at the time of a collision), the notch surface 85 contacts the claw portion 40, and this column axial movement (pivot) occurs. Be blocked. Therefore, the shaft 58, which is the locking means, and the movable gear member 42 are not disengaged from each other, and the movable gear member 42 pivots (counterclockwise) around the shaft 44 and its tooth portion 45 and the fixed gear member 42. The toothing 48 of 46 does not disengage. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an accident in which the steering wheel 10 jumps up at the time of the primary collision and the driver collides with the jumped up steering wheel 10 at the time of the secondary collision, resulting in injury.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention, in which the side wall 36 of the bracket 32 attached to the upper column 20 via the upper bracket 22 is replaced with the claw portion 40 serving as the stopper means. Projection 92 as inserted stopper means
Is adapted to engage with the notch surface 85 of the recess 80.

Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 3 shown in FIG. 6, a stopper means is formed by the pivot 44 of the movable gear member 42, and the operating lever is formed.
A stopper formed on the end portion of the pivot shaft 44 inserted into the side wall 36 of the bracket 32 attached to the upper column via the upper bracket 22 by the side wall notch surface 98 of the notch 96 of the bending plate 77 provided on the 60. The projection 94 as means is brought into contact with the projection 94.

The structure shown in FIG. 6 simplifies the structure on the bracket 32 side.

It is needless to say that the detailed structure of the present invention can be appropriately changed and improved within the range not impairing the gist of the present invention.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the fixed gear member fixed to the lower column side and the movable gear member meshed with the fixed gear member pivotally attached to the upper column side are engaged with the locking means. In this state, the operating lever is further urged in the lock operating direction so as to be rotatable. The upper column is provided with stopper means, which engages with the stopper means in the free state, and in this state, the lock means moves in the column axial direction. Since the operation lever is provided with a notch surface for preventing the above, it is possible to prevent the support hanger and the operation lever from moving forward to unlock the movable gear member and the steering wheel from jumping up in a primary collision at the time of a vehicle collision. As a result, it is possible to prevent the driver from being injured by hitting his face or the like on the steered steering wheel due to a secondary collision. It is. Of course, since the tilting operation can be performed as usual, the steering wheel can be adjusted to the optimum position, and the locking means is released in the initial stage of the operation lever depressing operation, there is no problem.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The drawing is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a bottom view of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view of the essential portions of the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the essential portions of the third embodiment of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols for main parts] 10 …… Steering wheel 12 …… Upper steering shaft 18 …… Lower steering shaft 19 …… Vehicle part 20 …… Upper column 23 …… Lower column 26 …… Tilt pin 40 …… Claw ( 42) Movable gear member 46 ... Fixed gear member 58 ... Shaft (locking means) 60 ... Operating lever 84 ... Spring 85 ... Notch surface 92 ... Projection (stopper means) 94 ... Projection Part (stopper means)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-74765 (JP, A) ACTUAL SHO 61-179075 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An upper column for rotatably supporting an upper steering shaft having a steering wheel fixed to an upper end thereof, and a lower steering shaft fixed to a vehicle body portion and connected to the upper steering shaft via a universal joint. And a lower column supported on the upper column, the upper column is tiltably coupled to the lower column by a tilt pin, a fixed gear member is fixed to the lower column side, and the fixed gear member is fixed to the upper column side. A movable gear member that meshes and fixes the upper column tilted with respect to the lower column at that position is pivotally attached, and in the meshed state of the movable gear member and the fixed gear member, the movable gear member is attached to the movable gear member from the column axial direction. Locking means for engaging the urging force of the movable gear member to prevent rotation of the movable gear member; In a tilt steering device including a movable gear member and an operating lever for releasing the engagement of the locking means by a predetermined amount of rotation, the operating lever is engaged with the fixed gear member. In a free state in which the locking means is engaged with a member, the member is further urged in the lock operating direction to be rotatable, the upper column is provided with stopper means, and the operation lever is provided with the stopper in the free state. A tilt steering device characterized in that a notch surface is provided which engages with the means and prevents the locking means from moving in the column axial direction in this state.