JPS5845173Y2 - Steering shaft length adjustment device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a steering shaft length adjustment device.

There is a steering wheel length adjustment device that allows the steering wheel to be adjusted to a desired position depending on the driver's body position.

Conventionally, an adjustment device of this kind has been proposed in which the steering column and the steering shaft can be expanded and contracted simultaneously, but the fixing mechanism thereof is complicated and expensive.

The present invention was devised in view of the above points, and is a type of adjustment device that can easily extend and retract only the steering shaft, and eliminates backlash in the rotational direction for smooth steering operation. This will be explained below based on the illustrated embodiment.

In the figure, 1 is a steering column attached to the vehicle body, 2 is a tube whose upper end is rotatably supported by a bearing 3 on the steering column 1, and a keyway 21 is formed in the inner circumference of the tube. , Also, on the side substantially opposite to the keyway 21, there are recesses 221, 222, 223, 224 for seconds.
is provided in the axial direction.

As shown in FIG. 2, the recess is provided with inclined surfaces 222a and 222b that are inclined in the circumferential direction.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a lower shaft whose upper end is connected to the lower end of the tube 2 by welding or the like, and whose lower end is connected to a steering gear (not shown).

Reference numeral 5 denotes an upper shaft that is fitted to the tube 2 so as to be slidable in the axial direction.A hole 51 is bored in the center of the upper shaft in the axial direction, and a horizontal hole 52 is provided in the lower part.

As shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal hole 52 and the center of the recess provided in the tube 2 are configured to have a phase difference of an angle θ in the circumferential direction.

Further, a key groove 53 is formed on the outer periphery of the upper shaft 5, and a key 6 is fitted between the corrugated groove 53 and the key groove 21 formed in the tube 2. It rotates integrally with the shaft, but is configured to be slidable in the axial direction.

I is a rond that is slidably inserted into the hole 51 of the upper shaft 5, and on the outer periphery of the lower end thereof, there is an inclined surface that slopes upward at a position facing the hole 52 provided in the upper shaft 5. 71, the upper end of which protrudes from the upper shaft 5, and a push-bore member 72 is attached to the tip.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a spring disposed between the push button 72 and the tip of the upper shaft, which urges the rod T to always move upward.

9a and 9b I/i are locking balls fitted in a horizontal hole 52 provided in the upper shaft 5 so as to be movable in the radial direction, and one ball 9a is connected to an inclined surface γ1 provided in the rod 1. , the other ball 9b is connected to the tube 2
It is adapted to engage appropriately with holes 221, 222, 223, 224 provided in the.

Alternatively, the ball may be a locking member such as a pin.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a pin added to the upper end of the tube 2 to prevent the upper shaft 5 from being removed.

111/i is a ring to prevent the bin 10 from being removed; 12 is a steering wheel attached to the upper end of the upper shaft 5; and 13 is a center pad of the steering wheel 12.

The present invention is constructed as described above, and the center of the horizontal hole 52 provided in the upper shaft 5 and the center of the recess formed in the tube 2 are positioned at an angle θ in the circumferential direction as shown in FIG. Since they are configured with a difference, the locking ball 9b pressed by the slope 1 formed on the rod 7 comes into contact with one slope 222b of the recess 222.

Therefore, the upper shaft 5 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, and as a result, the key 61/'i disposed between the upper shaft 5 and the tube 2, and one side wall 21a of the keyway 21 formed in the tube 2. The rotational play between the two is eliminated by being pressed against it.

Next, the operation for adjusting the length of the steering shaft, which is performed by pressing the button on the device of the present invention, will be described.

Now, if you want to adjust the steering shaft length from the state shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, press the push button 72 and move the rod 7 downward against the force of the spring 8.
An inclined surface 71 provided at the lower end of the rod 7
a, the locking state between the upper shaft 5 and the tube 2 by the locking balls 9a and 9b is released, and the upper shaft 5 becomes able to slide relative to the tube 2 in the axial direction.

When the steering wheel 12 is pulled upward, for example, in this state, the upper shaft 5 slides upward, and accordingly, the ball 9b rides up from the recess 222 and is disengaged, causing the ball 9a to move on the inner peripheral surface of the tube 2. move upwards.

In this way, when the upper shaft 5 slides upward and the ball 9b that moves accordingly comes to the position of the recess 223, the ball falls into the recess 223 due to gravity and slightly changes the tensile force on the steering wheel 12. For,
The driver can sense that the next adjustment position has been reached.

If this position of the steering wheel is acceptable, if you let go of the pusher member 72, the rod 1 will move upwards due to the force of the spring 8, and the ball 9a will be pressed by the inclined surface 71, so the ball 9b will be Recess 22
2, and firmly engage the upper shaft 5 and tube 2.
It is possible to restrict phasic movement between the two and hold them in a locked state.

As described above, according to the present invention, the length of the steering shaft can be adjusted by sliding only the upper shaft 5 in the axial direction, so the steering column is also moved at the same time as in the conventional system. It has a simpler structure and is easier to operate.

Additionally, according to the present invention, the center of the horizontal hole 52 provided in the upper shaft 5 and the center of the recess formed in the tube 2 are provided with a phase difference of an angle θ in the circumferential direction as shown in FIG. Because of this structure, when the tube 2 is locked, the locking ball 9b fitted into the horizontal hole 52 of the tube 2 is connected to one inclined surface 2 of the recess 222.
22bVC is suppressed, and as a result, the upper shaft 5 is turned in the direction of arrow A, and the key 6 is pressed against one side wall 21a of the key groove 21 formed in the tube 2.
It is possible to eliminate backlash in the rotational direction of both, allowing smooth steering operation.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited to only what is shown in the embodiment. For example, in the embodiment, the inclined surface 11 provided on the rod γ i. Although it was formed to be inclined upward, the inclined surface is configured to be inclined downward, and by pushing down the rod, the upper shaft 5 and tube 2 are engaged, and the rod is pulled up. It may also be configured such that the locked state is released by this.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a steering shaft length adjusting device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. 1...Steering column, 2...Tube, 21...Keyway, 221.222,2
23, 224... Concavity, 4... Lower shaft, 5... Upper shaft, 51...
...hole, 52 ... side hole, 6 ... key, T ... rod, γ1 ... slope,
72...Push button, 8...Spring, 9a, 9b...Ball, 12...
・Steering wheel.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A lower shaft is connected to the lower end of a tube that is rotatably supported by the steering column, and an additional upper shaft that serves as a steering wheel is attached to the upper end of the tube, which rotates integrally but can slide in the axial direction. A steering device fitted to the upper shaft includes a rond that is slidably fitted in a hole bored in the center of the upper shaft in the axial direction and has an inclined surface on the outer periphery of the lower end thereof; It consists of a locking member movably fitted in a radial direction in a side hole provided at a position facing the formed inclined surface, and a plurality of recesses provided in the tube and into which the locking members engage. . A steering shaft length adjustment device, characterized in that the center of the recess and the center of the horizontal hole provided in the upper shaft are configured to have a phase difference in the circumferential direction.