JPH09123923A - Tilt type steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly displace a steering column forward when a collision accident occurs. SOLUTION: A displacement bracket 8 is fixed to the underside of the intermediate part of a steering column 2 which can freely oscillate about a lateral axis as a center. A fixed bracket 9 is supported on the car body. The displacement bracket 8 and the fixed bracket 9 are connected through a position adjusting means. The position adjusting means can freely adjust the upper and lower fixed positions of the displacement bracket 8 relative to the fixed bracket 9. An engaging recessed part 24 is formed on the upper face of the intermediate part of the steering column 2. Further, an engaging member 27 is provided between mounting plate parts 14, 14 of the fixed bracket 9. A projected part 25 of the engaging member 27 enters inside the above engaging recessed part 24 in state where the position of the displacement bracket 8 relative to the fixed bracket 9 is positioned in the uppermost position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a tilt type steering device in which the position of a steering wheel can be adjusted according to the physique and driving posture of a driver. This is to prevent a large impact on the body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A tilt-type steering device that allows the height position of a steering wheel to be adjusted according to the physique and driving posture of a driver has been widely used. The steering device includes a steering shaft having a steering wheel fixed to a rear end thereof and rotatably supported inside a steering column. A steering column that constitutes a tilt type steering device is swingable by supporting a front portion of the steering column by a pivot portion.
A displacement bracket is fixed to the lower surface of the intermediate portion of the steering column. On the other hand, a fixed bracket is supported on the portion fixed to the vehicle body. Then, the fixed bracket and the displacement bracket are connected via a position adjusting means. As a result, the intermediate portion of the steering column is supported so that it can be raised and lowered with respect to the vehicle body.

The position adjusting means is capable of adjusting the vertically fixed position of the displacement bracket with respect to the fixed bracket. For example, a through hole formed in the displacement bracket,
The fixed bracket includes a pair of left and right support plate portions provided with a pair of left and right support plates, and circular arc-shaped elongated holes centering on the pivot portion, and through holes and tilt bolts inserted through the elongated holes. Then, a tilt nut is screwed into a portion of the tip of the tilt bolt protruding from the outer surface of one of the support plate portions. Further, the base end of the tilt lever is coupled to either one of the tilt nut and the tilt bolt. By swinging the tilt lever in a predetermined direction, the distance between the head of the tilt bolt and the tilt nut is widened, and the displacement bracket fixed to the steering column can be displaced with respect to the fixed bracket.
When the tilt lever is swung in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction, the gap between the head of the tilt bolt and the tilt nut is narrowed, and the displacement bracket cannot be displaced with respect to the fixed bracket.

Therefore, when the height position of the steering wheel is adjusted, the tilt lever is swung in the predetermined direction so that the displacement bracket can be displaced with respect to the fixed bracket. Then, after moving the steering wheel to a desired position, the tilt lever is swung in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. As a result, the displacement bracket cannot be displaced with respect to the fixed bracket, and the steering wheel is supported at the desired position.

Further, by adding a shock absorbing function to the tilt type steering device as described above, it is possible to mitigate the shock applied to the body of the driver who has collided with the steering wheel at the time of a secondary collision accompanying the collision accident. Has been done. In the case of the tilt type steering device having such a shock absorbing function, the fixed bracket is supported by the vehicle body so as to be detachable forward based on the forward impact force. That is,
The fixed bracket is provided with a pair of left and right mounting plate portions, and a cutout opening at the rear end edge of each mounting plate portion is provided at the rear end portion of each mounting plate portion. Then, these mounting plate portions are fixed to the vehicle body by bolts or studs inserted through the notches. Therefore, when a forward impact load is applied to the fixed bracket via the steering shaft and the steering column due to the secondary collision, the respective mounting plate portions fall off the vehicle body and are displaced forward. As a result,
The steering column moves forward to reduce the impact on the driver's body.

[0006]

By the way, in the case of the tilt type steering device having the above-mentioned conventional shock absorbing function, the steering column is connected to the fixed bracket by the tilt bolt. Therefore, if a forward impact is applied to the steering column during a secondary collision,
Due to the load based on this impact, the fixed bracket receives a moment load with the fixed portion of the support plate portion by the bolt or stud as the point of action and the joint between the tilt bolt and the fixed bracket as the force point. If the steering column is further strongly pushed forward from this state, the mounting plate portion of the fixed bracket tends to be twisted and deformed before the fixed bracket comes off from the vehicle body. As a result, the load required for each of these mounting plate portions to fall off the vehicle body increases. The tilt type steering device of the present invention is invented in order to suppress the deformation of the mounting plate portion due to such a cause at the time of a collision and to ensure a smooth displacement of the steering column.

[0007]

The tilt type steering device of the present invention is similar to the above-mentioned conventional tilt type steering device in that it has a steering shaft for fixing a steering wheel to a rear end thereof, and the steering shaft inside the steering shaft. A steering column that supports only rotation, a pivotal support part that pivotally supports the front part of the steering column around a horizontal axis, and a displacement bracket fixed to the lower surface of the intermediate part of the steering column. It is equipped with a pair of left and right supporting plate portions arranged vertically and sandwiching the displacement bracket from both sides, and a pair of left and right mounting plate portions bent from the upper end of each supporting plate portion to the opposite side, and a forward impact force is provided. The fixed bracket supported on the vehicle body by each of the above-mentioned mounting plate portions is freely detachable forward based on Provided between the bracket, and a position adjusting means for freely adjusting the vertical fixed position of the displacement bracket with respect to the fixed bracket.

Particularly, in the tilt type steering device of the present invention, between the engaging recess formed in the upper surface of the intermediate portion of the steering column and the pair of mounting plate portions,
And an engaging member fixed to the fixing bracket. Then, the engaging member enters the inside of the engaging recess with the position of the displacement bracket relative to the fixed bracket being the uppermost position.

[0009]

With the tilt type steering device of the present invention configured as described above, the function of adjusting the height position of the steering wheel according to the physique of the driver is the same as that of the conventional tilt type steering device described above. It is the same. In particular, in the tilt type steering device of the present invention, in the event of a collision, the mounting plate portion constituting the fixed bracket is prevented from being deformed, and the steering column is smoothly displaced forward. That is, when a forward impact load is applied to the steering wheel due to a secondary collision resulting from a collision accident, a component force of the impact load that is directed upward of the steering wheel causes the steering column to approach the vehicle body (upward). Turn to. As a result, the engagement recess formed in the steering column and the engagement member provided between the pair of mounting plate portions are engaged with each other. Due to this engagement, the axial component of the impact load acts on the mounting plate portions of the fixed bracket almost as they are, and the mounting plate portions are displaced forward without being deformed. Therefore, at the time of a collision, the pair of mounting plate parts are smoothly removed from the vehicle body, and the steering column is smoothly displaced forward.

[0010]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. The tilt type steering device of the present invention is similar to the above-mentioned conventional tilt type steering device in that the steering shaft 1 for fixing a steering wheel (not shown) to the rear end portion (the upper right end portion of FIGS. Inside the column 2, a pair of bearings 3 and 3 rotatably supports it. The steering column 2 is the outer column 2a.
And the inner column 2b are combined in a telescopic manner. Therefore, the steering column 2 absorbs energy when a large compressive load (large forward impact force) is applied in the axial direction (oblique vertical direction in FIGS. 1 and 2, front and back direction in FIG. 3). , Its total length is shortened. Further, the steering shaft 1 is also constructed by combining the inner shaft 1a and the outer shaft 1b so as to freely expand and contract. At the connecting portion between the inner shaft 1a and the outer shaft 1b, there is provided a conventionally known coupling means 4 such as interposing a synthetic resin. Therefore, the steering shaft 1 shortens its entire length when a large compressive load is applied. The front portion (lower left portion in FIG. 1) of the steering column 2 is supported by a vehicle body 6 by a pivot portion 5, and is swingable around a horizontal shaft 7 forming the pivot portion 5. A displacement bracket 8 is fixed to the lower surface of the intermediate portion of the steering column 2. On the other hand, a fixed bracket 9 is supported on a portion fixed to the vehicle body 6. The displacement bracket 8 and the fixed bracket 9 are connected to each other via the position adjusting means 10 described later.

The displacement bracket 8 is formed by bending a steel plate, and the steering column 2 is formed.
And a pair of left and right bending plate portions 12 and 12 bent downward from both ends in the width direction (left and right direction in FIG. 3) of the bending portion 11. on the other hand,
The fixing bracket 9 is made of a metal plate having sufficient rigidity, and is supported and fixed to the vehicle body 6 at the lower portion of the dashboard or the like. That is, this fixing bracket 9
Is a pair of support plate portions 13 and 13 for supporting the displacement bracket 8 from both left and right sides, and these support plate portions 13 and 13 respectively.
And a pair of mounting plate portions 14 that are bent in the opposite left and right directions from the upper edge of the. These pair of mounting plate parts 1
The bolts 4 and 14 are supported and fixed to the vehicle body 6 by bolts 18 via sliding plates 15 and 15 described below.

Further, the fixing bracket 9 loses its supporting force for the vehicle body 6 and is displaced forward when a large compressive load is applied in the axial direction due to a secondary collision. I support you. Therefore, at the rear end portion (upper right end portion in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the pair of mounting plate portions 14 and 14,
The notches 16 and 16 that open to the rear end edges of the mounting plate portions 14 and 14 are formed. Then, U-shaped sliding plates 15 and 15 having front open sides are externally fitted to the rear end portions of the mounting plate portions 14 and 14, and the long holes 17 and 17 formed in the sliding plates 15 and 15 and the above The notches 16 and 16 are aligned with each other. And each of these notches 16, 16
The fixing bracket 9 is fixedly coupled to the vehicle body 6 by screwing and tightening a bolt 18 inserted through the elongated holes 17 and 17 into a screw hole (not shown) provided on the vehicle body 6 side. Therefore, when a large compressive load is applied to the tilt type steering device in the axial direction due to a secondary collision accompanying a collision accident of an automobile, the mounting plate portions 14 and 1 are
4 slips out of the sliding plates 15, 15.

On the other hand, the position adjusting means 10 has a through hole 1 formed in the bent plate portions 12, 12 of the displacement bracket 8.
9, 19 and each support plate portion 13 of the fixed bracket 9,
Elongated holes 20 and 20 provided in the vertical direction 13 and a tilt bolt 21 inserted into the through holes 19 and 19 and the elongated holes 20 and 20 are provided. The elongated holes 20, 20 are arc-shaped with the horizontal axis 7 constituting the pivot portion 5 as the center. Then, the tilt nut 2 is attached to a portion of the tip portion of the tilt bolt 21 that protrudes from the outer surface (the right side surface in FIG. 3) of the support plate portion 13 on one side (the right end portion in FIG. 3 in the illustrated example).
Two are screwed together. Further, the base end of the tilt lever 23 is connected to either one of the tilt nut 22 and the tilt bolt 21 (the tilt bolt 21 in the illustrated example). Based on the swing of the tilt lever 23, the tilt nut 22 and the tilt bolt 21 relatively rotate. Of the tilt nut 22 and the tilt bolt 21, the member (the tilt nut 22 in the illustrated example) on the side where the tilt lever 23 is not coupled is based on the engagement with the elongated hole 20 facing the member. Prevents rotation. That is, when the base end of the tilt lever 23 is connected to the tilt nut 22, the head of the tilt bolt 21 is connected, and when the base end of the tilt lever 23 is connected to the head of the tilt bolt 21, the tilt nut 22 is connected. The long holes 20 facing each other.
Then, only the displacement of the elongated hole 20 in the lengthwise direction is freely (non-rotatably) engaged. The above-mentioned configuration is the same as that of the tilt type steering device having a shock absorbing function which has been conventionally known.

Particularly, in the tilt type steering device of the present invention, the engaging recess 2 is formed on the upper surface of the intermediate portion of the steering column 2 where the displacement bracket 8 is provided.
4 are formed. The engagement recess 24 is formed by recessing a part of the metal plate forming the steering column 2 inward in the diametrical direction. In addition, between the pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 constituting the fixing bracket 9,
An engagement member 27 made of a steel plate or the like is fixed so as to be bridged between the both mounting plate portions 14, 14. The engagement member 27 includes a convex portion 25 protruding downward,
It is composed of a pair of connecting plate portions 26, 26 extending in the left-right direction from both ends of the convex portion 25. And these connecting plate parts 2
6, 26 are fixed to the upper surfaces of the mounting plate portions 14, 14 by welding, screwing, rivets or the like. These engaging members 2
7 and the engagement recess 24, the steering column 2 is rotated to the uppermost position so that the height position of the steering wheel is the highest, and the position of the displacement bracket 8 with respect to the fixed bracket 9 is the uppermost position. When the tilt bolt 21 is moved to the upper ends of the elongated holes 20, 20, they are engaged with each other (the convex portion 25 of the engaging member 27 is the engaging concave portion 24).
Get in).

With the tilt type steering device of the present invention configured as described above, the operation when adjusting the height position of the steering wheel is the same as that of the conventional tilt type steering device described above. That is, when the height position adjusting work is performed, the tilt lever 23 is swung in a predetermined direction to widen the distance between the head of the tilt bolt 21 and the tilt nut 22. In this way, if the distance between the head of the tilt bolt 21 and the tilt nut 22 is widened,
The inner surface of the pair of support plate portions 13, 13 is the displacement bracket 8
The force pressing the outer side surface of the is weakened, and the frictional force between these both side surfaces is reduced. As a result, the long holes 20,
By elevating and lowering the tilt bolt 21 along 20, the vertical position of the displacement bracket 8 is changed to the long holes 20, 2
It becomes adjustable within the range where the tilt bolt 21 can be displaced inside 0. Therefore, the steering wheel is moved to a desired position, and then the tilt lever 23 is swung in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction. As a result, the distance between the head of the tilt bolt 21 and the tilt nut 22 is narrowed, and the inner side surfaces of the pair of support plate portions 13, 13 press the outer side surface of the displacement bracket 8 more strongly. Then, the frictional force between the both side surfaces increases, and the steering wheel is supported at the desired position.

In particular, in the tilt type steering device of the present invention, in the event of a collision, the mounting plate portions 14, 14 of the fixed bracket 9 are prevented from being deformed and the steering column 2 is smoothly displaced forward. I can do things. That is, when a shock load (a large compressive load in the axial direction) is applied to the steering wheel due to a secondary collision accompanying a collision accident, the steering column 2 is moved to the vehicle body side by the component force of the shock load that is directed to the upper side of the steering wheel. Rotate in the direction of approaching (upward). As a result, the steering column 2
Rises to the uppermost position, and the engagement recess 24 formed on the upper surface of the intermediate portion of the steering column 2 and the projection 25 of the engagement member 27 provided between the pair of mounting plate portions 14 and 14 are separated from each other. Engage. This engagement is surely performed by the rotation of the steering column 2 by the component force regardless of the position of the steering wheel before the collision. As a result, the axial component of the impact load acts on the fixing bracket 9 almost as it is. In other words, the engaging point between the engaging concave portion 24 and the convex portion 25 of the engaging member 27 serves as a force point, and therefore, this force point and the action point (fixing portion of the mounting plate portions 14, 14 by the bolt 18). Is shortened, the moment load acting on the fixing portions of the mounting plate portions 14, 14 by the bolt 18 is reduced, and the mounting plate portion 1 is
The deformation of Nos. 4 and 14 is prevented. Therefore, at the time of a collision, the pair of mounting plate portions 14, 14 are smoothly removed from the sliding plates 15, 15, and the forward displacement of the steering column 2 is smoothly performed. As a result, it becomes easy to design the impact load applied to the driver to be further reduced in the event of a collision accident.

[0017]

The tilt type steering apparatus according to the present invention has the following features.
Since it is configured and operates as described above, it is designed to smoothly displace the steering column 2 in the event of a collision, further reduce the impact load applied to the driver, and enhance the driver protection. It will be easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same main part.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Steering Shaft 1a Inner Shaft 1b Outer Shaft 2 Steering Column 2a Outer Column 2b Inner Column 3 Bearing 4 Coupling Means 5 Pivot Supports 6 Car Body 7 Horizontal Axis 8 Displacement Brackets 9 Fixing Brackets 10 Position Adjusting Means 11 Bending Parts 12 Bending Plates 13 Support plate part 14 Mounting plate part 15 Sliding plate 16 Notch 17 Long hole 18 Bolt 19 Through hole 20 Long hole 21 Tilt bolt 22 Tilt nut 23 Tilt lever 24 Engagement recess 25 Convex part 26 Connection plate part 27 Engagement member

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A steering shaft for fixing a steering wheel to a rear end thereof, a steering column for rotatably supporting the steering shaft inside thereof, and a front part of the steering column about a horizontal axis. A pivotally supporting portion that is movably supported, a displacement bracket fixed to a lower surface of an intermediate portion of the steering column, a pair of left and right support plate portions arranged vertically and sandwiching the displacement bracket from both sides, and each support plate. A pair of left and right mounting plate parts that are bent to the opposite side from the upper end of the part, and can be detached forward based on a front impact force, and fixed brackets supported by the vehicle body by the respective mounting plate parts; It is provided between the fixed bracket and the displacement bracket so that the vertical fixing position of the displacement bracket with respect to the fixed bracket can be adjusted. In a tilt type steering device provided with a position adjusting means, it is fixed to the fixing bracket between the engaging recess formed in the upper surface of the intermediate portion of the steering column and the pair of mounting plate portions. A tilt type, characterized in that the engaging member is provided in a state where the displacement bracket with respect to the fixed bracket is in the uppermost position. Steering device.