JPS5973361A - Tilting device for steering column - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the rigidity of a column by arranging the engaging point of tilt bracket teeth and tooth plate teeth and the locking point of a lock member for locking the tooth plate on a radial line of a pivot of said bracket. CONSTITUTION:By pivoting counterclockwise a control lever 13 is pivoted a lock pole 15 to be disengaged from a pin 17a of a lock shaft 17. Next, when a pin 13b pushes a tooth plate 14 outward in the direction of the radial line R of a pivot O of a tilt bracket 10, teeth 10c of the bracket 10 is disengaged from teeth 14b of the plate 14 and the lock shaft 17 from the tooth plate 14. When the tilt bracket 10 is pivoted to a desired position to release the control lever 13, the respective members moves reversely so that the lock shaft 17 engages the tooth plate 14 and said both teeth 14b, 14c mesh with each other. And the engaging point of both teeth and the locking point of the lock shaft 17 are always set to be arranged on the radial line R.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a tilt device for a steering column, and more particularly to a tilt device that prevents malfunctions during locking.

Conventionally, there are tilt devices of this type, such as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, for example. This is lower tube 5
and a steering column constituted by the upper tube 9, and an Atsuno (steering shaft constituted by the shaft 3 and the lower shaft 1, and the upper end of the steering shaft) rotatably held within the steering column via a bearing and connected by a universal joint 11. and a steering wheel 4 attached to the lower tube 5.
The lower end of the body panel P is attached to the dash bracket 6.
At the same time, the lower end of the lower shaft 1 is fixed to the universal joint 2.
It is used in a steering device that is connected to a gearbox (not shown) via a gearbox. This tilt device includes a fixed bracket 7 attached to a lower tube 5 by means such as bolts 8 and fixed to the vehicle body, and a tilt bracket 10 rotatably attached to the fixed bracket 7 by bolts 21. The tilt bracket 10 is rotationally biased with respect to the fixed bracket I by a spring 38, and a first tooth portion 35 is formed on the tilt bracket 10, and a second tooth that meshes with the first tooth portion 35 is formed on the tilt bracket 10. A lock pole 32 having a locking groove 39 at its tip is rotatably attached to the fixed bracket I by a pin 31, and a roller pin 34 that engages with the locking groove 39 is attached to the lock pole. An operating lever 30, which is operatively engaged with the lever 32, is rotatably attached to the fixed bracket γ by a bolt 21. The operating lever 30 is biased in the counterclockwise direction υ in the figure by a spring 37 interposed between the operating lever 30 and the fixed bracket 7, and under normal conditions, the operating lever 30 is biased against the first tooth portion 35. Second tooth portion 36
The lock pawl 32 is locked in a state where the two are engaged. Therefore, the tilt bracket 1 due to the action of the spring 38
00 rotational force is supported by the lock pole 32. On the other hand, by rotating the operating lever 30, the shutter roller bin 34 is engaged with the locking groove 39, and when the lock pawl 32 is rotated, the first tooth portion 35 and the second tooth portion 36 are engaged with each other. is removed, and the tilt bracket 10 springs up by the action of the spring 38.

However, in such a conventional steering column tilt device, the lock pawl 32 is mounted on the fixing bracket 1 by a pin 31 at a position different from the bolt 21, which is the rotation center axis of the tilt bracket 10. Since the lock pawl 32 is pivotally supported, if an excessive rotational load is applied to the steering wheel 4 while the first tooth portion 35 and the second tooth portion 36 are in mesh with each other, the lock pawl 32
As shown in FIG. 2, with respect to the rotational force F of the tilt bracket 100, a component force Fl is generated around the rotation center point A of the lock pole 32, and the lock pole 32 attempts to rotate according to this component force Fs. This action affects the stiffness of the steering column, so in order to increase the stiffness of the steering column, it is necessary to increase the reaction force F1' of Fl. This can be achieved by making the spring 37 even stronger.

However, this increases the operating force of the operating lever 30, resulting in a problem that the operability of the tilt device is impaired.

The present invention has been made by focusing on such conventional problems, and its purpose is to use the rotational force of the steering wheel to control the first and second It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems by providing a steering column tilt device that prevents the teeth from coming off, increases the rigidity of the steering column, and improves tilt operability.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a tooth grate that breaks the second tooth portion corresponding to the first tooth portion along a line extending in the radial direction with respect to the rotation center axis of the tilt bracket. The tooth plate is movably attached to the tooth plate, and a lock portion for regulating the rotational movement of the tooth plate is engaged, and the meshing point of the first and second tooth portions and the lock member are located on the radiation line. The gist is that the rotational direction lock points are set so that they are almost aligned in a straight line. In this way, because some of the engagement points and the locking point of the locking member are on the radial line passing through the rotational center point of the tilt bracket, the generation of component force due to excessive rotational force applied to the steering wheel is eliminated, and the first and second Since the second tooth portion is not detached, high rigidity of the steering column and strength balance in the vertical direction can be obtained.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 to 5 are views showing one embodiment of the present invention.

The steering column tilt device according to this embodiment is as follows:
Similar to the above-mentioned conventional example, there is a fixed platen 7 fixed to the vehicle body, a tilt bracket 10 rotatably supported by a bolt 21 on the fixed bracket 7, and a gap between these brackets 7 and 10. and a locking mechanism attached to the. The tilt bracket 10 is
It consists of a tilt bracket body 10a that is directly supported by the fixed bracket 1, and an auxiliary plate 10b that is fixed to one side of the tilt bracket body 10a with a screw bed 26. While a tooth portion 10c is formed, a stopper surface 10 is formed at a predetermined position on the outer periphery.
d is formed. Further, a first spring seat 23 is pivotably attached to the fixed bracket 7, while a second spring seat 23 with a spring guide is attached to the tilt bracket 10.
Two compression coil springs 25 are loaded between the two spring seats 23 and 24 to bias the tilt bracket 10 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. are doing.

An operating lever 13 having an arm structure is arranged on the outside of the fixed platen 7, and is rotatably attached to the fixed bracket γ with a bolt 12. Operation lever 13
At one end of the port 12, there is an operation knob 13a.
A roller pin 13c having a roller 16 fitted thereon is fixed to the other end, and a pin 13b is fixed to an intermediate portion between the roller pin 13c and the port 12 mounting portion, and a 4-inch pin 13c is fixed to a predetermined portion on the other end side of the roller pin 13c. A spring locking piece 13d is provided. Pin 13b and troller pin 13c, bottle 13b
is erected on the inner surface of the operating lever 13, that is, the surface on the fixed bracket I side, while the roller pin 13c is erected on the opposite side, ie, the outer surface.

There is still a tooth plate 14 inside the operating lever 13,
A lock pawl 15 is disposed on the outside and is pivotally supported by a bolt 21 that together forms a pivot axis of the tilt bracket 10. The tooth plate 14 has a long hole 14a for attachment at its base end, and a notched groove 1 for locking at its distal end.
4c is formed, while a tilt bracket 1 is formed in the middle part.
A second tooth portion 14b corresponding to the first tooth portion 10c formed at 0 is provided, and an operating elongated hole 14d for linking the operating lever 13 is formed. And tooth plate 1
4 is rotatably and slidably engaged with the bolt 21 in the elongated hole 14a, and is operatively engaged with the operating lever 13 by engaging with the bottle 13b in the operating elongated hole 14d. The tooth portion 14b meshes with the ninth tooth portion 10c formed on the tilt bracket 10. rock pole 15
, the roller 16 is attached to the roller pin 13c of the operation renocouple 13.
A cam portion 15a that engages through the cam portion is formed, while a force groove 15b and a spring locking hole 15c are provided at the tip portion.
A round hole 15d for mounting is formed at the base end, and a bolt 21 is formed in the base end.
is rotatably engaged with.

A support bracket 19 is fixed to the side surface of the fixed bracket 7 opposite to the side where the operating lever 13# is installed, and the support bracket 19 has a lock member, that is, a lock shaft 17 that locks into the tooth plate 14. This lock shaft 1 is pivoted by one end or pin 19a.
7 passes through holes 7a and 7b formed in the fixed platen 7 and crosses the fixed bracket T. The lock shaft 17 has a shape and size that allows a portion corresponding to the tooth plate 14 to fit loosely into a notched groove 14c formed in the tooth plate 14, and a roller 18 is externally fitted at the tip, and a roller 18 is fitted onto the tip thereof. A lock pin 17a that engages with the cam groove 15b of the lock ball 15 is implanted. Moreover, the holes 7a and 7b opened in the fixed bracket 7 are
The lock shaft 1γ is formed with a certain gap so that it can swing with a predetermined stroke about the pin 19a.

Furthermore, a spring locking hole 7C is formed in the fixed bracket I in correspondence with the spring locking hole 15c of the lock ball 15, and a tension coil spring 20 is interposed between both spring locking holes 7c and 15c. 15 in the clockwise direction in FIG. This is the cam groove 15 of the lock pole 15.
The lock shaft 1γ is biased through the lock pin 17a engaged with the tooth plate 14, and the tooth plate 14 slides along the elongated hole 14a due to this bias, and the second tooth portion 14b formed in the tooth plate 14 slides. is the first position of the tilt bracket 10.
meshes with the teeth 10c. The tooth plate 14 and the lock shaft 17 have first and second tooth portions 10c and 14a.
Meshing point B and tooth plate 1 of Lock Shima 7 and 11
4 engagement point C is the rotation center axis O of the tilt bracket 10.
The elongated hole 1 provided in the tooth plate 14 is set to substantially coincide with the radiation R extending in the radial direction from
4a and the hole provided in the fixing bracket 7? a+7b is also formed so that the tooth plate 14 and the lock shaft 1γ slide or swing in the direction of the radiation R. Therefore, the lock shaft 1γ is shaped according to the shape of the hole γa+7b. It is restricted from rotating along the circumference around the rotation center axis O. Therefore, when the lock shaft 1T engages with the tooth plate 14, the tooth plate 14 is rotated in the rotational direction. Support and prevent the tilt bracket from rotating 100 times.

Further, a spring locking portion 17 is provided at the tip of the lock shaft 11.
b is provided, and this spring locking portion 17b and the operating lever 13
A tension coil spring 22 is tensioned between the spring locking piece 13d and the spring locking piece 13d, and biases the operating lever 13 in the clockwise direction in FIG. For this reason, the operating lever 13
rotates around the bolt 12, and the roller pin 13c
The pin 13)+ contacts the cam portion 15a of the lock pawl 15 and is seated without play, while the pin 13)+ contacts the proximal end edge P of the operating elongated hole 14d of the tooth plate 14 and slides outward along its radius R. to regulate movement. Then, apply it to the cover 21 from the outside of the lock pole 15, and tighten the bolt 12°21.2.
8 and nuts 29.

With this configuration, when the operating lever 13 is now rotated counterclockwise, the roller pin 13c and roller 16 of the operating lever 13 contact the cam portion 15a of the lock pawl 15 and rotate it counterclockwise in the υ direction. The lock pin 1γa and roller 1 of the lock shears 71 and 17 are rotated and engaged with the cam groove 15b of the VjE lock ball 15.
Leave from 8. Next, when the operating lever 13 is further rotated by a predetermined angle, the pin 13b slides within the operating elongated hole 14d of the tooth plate 14 and comes into contact with the edge Q on the distal end side thereof.

Then, when the operating lever 13 is still rotated, the pin 13
b pushes the tooth plate 14, so the tooth plate 14 moves outward in the radial direction about the rotation center axis 0 of the bracket) 10, and the tilt bracket 1
From the first tooth portion 10c formed at 0 to the tooth plate 14
2. Release the second tooth portion 14b. At this time, the lock shaft 17 is oscillated around the pin 19a (1), and the securing portion with the tooth grate 14 is the fixed bracket l-TQ) hole 7a.

7b, it moves in the radial direction centered on the bolt 21.

As a result, the tilt bracket 10 is rotated by the action of the compression coil spring 250 until the stopper 10d formed on the tilt bracket 10 comes into contact with the bolt 12 fastened to the fixed bracket 7, causing the steering wheel 4 to leave a trace. Lie up. At this time, the operator
When the steering wheel 4 is pushed down to a desired position while keeping the steering wheel 3 rotated one turn counterclockwise, the tilt bracket 10 rotates about the rotation center axis O. If you let go of the hand operating the operating lever 13, the operating lever 13 returns to rotation, and the action of the roller pin 13c on the lock pawl 15 is released, and the lock pawl 15 is moved by the tension coil spring 22.
It rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 4 due to the action of . Then, the cam groove 15 of the lock ball 15 is inserted into the roller 18 that is fitted onto the lock pin 17a at the end of the lock shaft 17.
A hole γa is formed in the fixing bracket 1, with the lock shaft 17 centered on the pin 19at, which is in contact with the hole γa.

γb is used as a guide to swing the lock shaft 1γ.
The engagement 1!1μ of the tooth plate 14 is moved along the radiation line R (direction toward the rotation center axis O of the tilt bracket 100).

Due to the series of operations of these lock balls 15 and lock shafts 11, the tooth grate 14 has its notched grooves 14.
The elongated hole 14 receives the pressure action of the lock shaft 1γ at c and engages with the bolt 21 that supports the tilt bracket 10.
The second tooth plate 14 moves in the 0 direction of the rotation center axis of the tilt bracket 10 while being guided by the
The teeth 14b of the tilt bracket 1oLv first teeth 10c are in K engagement, and the tilt bracket 10, the tooth plate 14, and the lock shaft 1γ are integrally lockingly engaged, and are supported by the sides of the holes 7a and 7b of the fixed bracket 7. be done. Therefore, rotational movement about the bolt 21 is prevented, the tilt bracket 1o is fixed, and the steering wheel 4 is set at the desired position.

On the other hand, the operation lever 13 is automatically returned to the position before operation under the action of the tension coil spring 22 and the cam portion 15a of the lock pawl 15.

In addition, in the embodiment described here, the operating lever 13
is set at a position apart from the rotation center axis 〇 of the tilt bracket 1o, but both of the above members may be attached coaxially. 1, the lock pawl 15 and the operating lever 13 are integrated, and the lock pawl 15 is further provided with a cam portion that combines the above-mentioned cam portion 15a and cam groove 15b. Lock pin 1γ of lock shaft 17 on the surface
af: The lock shaft 17 may be engaged and detached by making contact. Furthermore, tooth plate 1
4, the tooth plate 14 is held slidably by a guide member attached to the fixed bracket 7, and the tooth plate 14 is slidably held by the operation of the operating lever 13, instead of being held by the bolt 21 and the elongated hole 14a as described above. It may also be operated. Alternatively, the tooth plate 14 may be provided with a stopper pin as a locking member that engages and releases the fixed bracket I, and the lock shaft 17 may be omitted. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the tilt bracket 10 is provided with the first tooth portion 10c, and the tooth plate having the second tooth portion 14b is provided on the fixed plate 2 side. Of course, a structure may be adopted in which the first tooth portion is provided on the fixed bracket γ side and the tooth plate is provided on the tilt bracket 10 side.

As explained above, according to the present invention, one of the fixed bracket or the tilt bracket is provided with a first tooth, and the other is provided with a tooth plate having a second tooth, and the tooth plate has a lock shaft. In addition, the engagement point between the first tooth portion and the second tooth portion and the engagement point of the lock shaft with the tooth plate are aligned from the rotation center axis of the tilt bracket. They are set so that they are almost lined up on a line extending in the radial direction, and the engagement and disengagement between the two teeth, the lock shaft, and the source plate is performed by operating a lever, so it is possible to steer with the tilt bracket locked. Even if an excessive rotational load is applied to the wheel, all of this load can be supported by the lock shaft, and no component force is generated in the direction of disengaging the teeth. Therefore, the lever operation force was kept relatively small! It is possible to realize a tilt device with high rigidity, and a steering column with excellent operability and reliability can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a steering column equipped with a conventional tilt device, FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing the structure of a conventional steering column tilt device, and FIG. 3 is a steering column according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the column tilt device disassembled into its component parts; FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view showing the structure of the tilt device in the above embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the tilt device in the above embodiment. 1...Lower shaft 3...Upper shaft 4.
・・Steering wheel 5・Lower tube r・Fixing bracket 9・
・・Upper tube 10・・Tilt bracket 10
c...First tooth portion 13...Operation lever 14...
- Tooth plate 14b...second tooth portion 14c...
Notch groove (lock point) 15...Lock pole 11...Lock shaft (lock member) procedure amendment (
Method) r7 Ll =). Showa = J4ゝ°Page Japan Patent Office Commissioner Kazuo Wakasugi 1 Display of the case 1982 Patent Application No. 182063 2 Title of the invention Steering column tilt device 3,
Relationship with the case of the person making the amendment Patent applicant i"'ti 3-9-5 Nihonbashi Honmachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Name (Name: 4, Agent: 105 Telephone: 580-8931, 6,
Number of inventions increased due to amendment Appendix υ Contents of amendment 1!17, 1st page of a old, m4f-? fl r'
2 shots 191 (D name & E
In the search (L Tomoe 1 j IC printing iE L.

Claims (1)

[Claims] It is integrally connected to the lower tube of the steering column,
A tilt device comprising a fixed bracket fixed to a vehicle body, and a tilt bracket integrally connected to an upper tube, rotatably supported with respect to the fixed bracket, and rotationally biased in one direction. , one of the fixed bracket and the tilt bracket is provided with a first tooth portion along an arc centered on the rotation center axis, and a second tooth portion that meshes with the first tooth portion.
a tooth plate having a tooth portion and mounted so as to be movable in a substantially radial direction with respect to the rotation center axis of the tilt bracket;
A locking member is loaded between the fixed bracket and the tooth plate, and engages with the tooth plate to restrict rotational movement of the tooth plate; The tooth plate and the locking member are provided with an operating lever for engaging and disengaging, and the tooth plate and the locking member are
A steering column characterized in that the meshing point of the first and second tooth portions and the locking point of the locking member are set to substantially coincide with a line extending in a radial direction from the rotation center axis of the tilt bracket. Tilt device.