JPS6239970Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a steering column fixing structure for a tilt steering device used in vehicles such as automobiles.

The so-called tilt steering device allows the steering column inclination angle to be adjusted within a predetermined range so that the inclination angle of the steering wheel can be adjusted according to the driver's preference. The steering column includes a steering column fixing structure that is fixed to the vehicle body in a readjustable manner. This steering column fixing structure generally includes a bracket fixed to the vehicle body, a bracket fixed to the steering column and slidably engaged with the vehicle body side bracket, and a bolt element and a nut that selectively fasten both the brackets. The steering column is fixed to the vehicle body at an arbitrary tilting position by fastening the two brackets to each other by frictional resistance on their engagement surfaces.

Regarding this steering column fixed structure,
The threaded engagement between the bolt element and the nut element creates frictional resistance between the engagement surfaces of the two brackets, which tightens the two brackets. When the operating lever for tightening and loosening is brought to a predetermined rotating position, a predetermined tightening force is generated and the two brackets are fastened to each other with a required fastening force, and at this time, a sense of moderation is given to the operator. is preferable in terms of safety and operability of steering column inclination adjustment.

The present invention has been improved so that when the operating lever is brought to a predetermined rotational position, the operator is given a sense of moderation and a predetermined tightening force is generated to securely fix the steering column to the vehicle body. The object of the present invention is to provide a steering column fixing structure for a tilt steering device.

According to the present invention, the present invention has a fastening means that selectively fastens and fixes the steering column at an arbitrary tilting position by generating a fastening force by rotation of the operating lever, and includes a fastening means that selectively fastens and fixes the steering column at an arbitrary tilted position. A resilient locking means consisting of a ball and a spring that biases the ball toward a fixed wall surface is attached to the wall surface, and when the operating lever is in a rotating position that generates a predetermined fastening force, the spring locking means is attached to the wall surface. A groove is provided in which the ball engages, and the groove is a long groove extending in the direction of tilting of the steering column to receive the ball when the steering column is in any tilting position. This is achieved by the steering column fixing structure of the tilt steering device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing one embodiment of a tilt steering device incorporating a steering column fixing structure according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view showing an enlarged view of the main parts, and FIGS. 3 and 4. 2 are cross-sectional views taken along lines - and -, respectively, of FIG. 2; In these figures, 1 indicates a lower steering column, and 2 indicates an upper steering column, which are connected by a universal joint 3. The lower steering column 1 is fixed to the floor 4 of the vehicle, and the upper steering column is connected to the upper steering column by a universal joint 3. The column 2 is tiltable about a universal joint 3, and a portion near its upper end is selectively fixed to an instrument panel 6 of the vehicle by a fixing structure 5.
A steering main shaft 7 projects from the upper part of the upper steering column 2, and a steering wheel 8 is attached to the tip of the shaft.

The fixing structure 6 includes a bracket 10 fixed to the instrument panel 5 and a bracket 11 fixed to the upper steering column 2.
The brackets 10 and 11 both have a yoke shape, and the bracket 10 has a pair of outer pieces 10a and 10b facing each other, and the bracket 11 slides on the inside of the outer pieces 10a and 10b and faces each other. A pair of inner pieces 11a and 11
It is equipped with b. The outer pieces 10a and 10b have arcuate long holes 12a and 12b concentric with the center of rotation of the upper steering column 2, and the inner pieces 11a and 11b have long holes 12a and 12b, respectively.
Round holes 13a and 13b are formed, respectively, in alignment with b. One bolt element 14 passes through the elongated hole and the round hole. The bolt element 14 has a head 14a at one end that engages the outer surface of the outer piece 10a.
and a rotation stopper part 14b with a non-circular cross section that engages with the elongated hole 12a, and has a threaded part 14c at the other end, and the threaded part 1 projects outward from the outer piece part 10b.
A nut element 15 is screwed into 4c. One end of an operating lever 18 is rigidly fixed to the nut element 15 by a nut 16 and a bolt 17.

A spring locking device 19 is attached to the operating lever 18 with a bolt 2.
Attached by 0. This bullet locking tool 1
9 is a bolt 2, as shown in FIG.
0, a cylindrical member 21 fixed to the operating lever 18, a ball 22 held by the cylindrical member,
It includes a spring 23 that flexibly biases the ball 22 toward the outer surface of the outer piece 10b facing the ball 22. Further, on the outer surface of the outer piece portion 10b, there is a groove 24 in which the ball 22 engages when the operating lever 18 is in a rotational position that generates a predetermined tightening force, and a groove 24 in which the operating lever 18 does not generate a substantial tightening force. Another groove 25 is provided, in which said ball 22 engages when in the pivoted position. The grooves 24 and 25 each extend in the tilting direction of the upper steering column 2 to receive the ball 22 when the upper steering column 2 is in any tilting position, and are arcuate long grooves concentric with the center of rotation thereof. It's summery.

A strut sleeve 26 that fits around the outer periphery of the bolt element 14 and has a threaded portion 27 at one end, and a nut element 28 that engages with the threaded portion 27 are provided between the inner pieces 11a and 11b. There is. The strut sleeve 26 is rotationally fixed relative to the bracket 11, and is threadedly engaged with a nut element 28 so as to cooperate with the nut element to prevent the inner pieces 11a and 11b from deflecting inwardly. The opposing distance between the parts is variably adjusted while the parts are stretched against each other.

The upper steering column 2 is also biased clockwise in FIG. 1 by a spring 29.

According to the steering column fixing structure configured as described above, the nut element 28 is rotated using an appropriate tool while the operating lever 18 is brought to the fastening position where the ball 22 engages with the groove 24.
This and the strut sleeve 26 cause the inner pieces 11a and 11b of the bracket 11 to bend outward, respectively, so that the inner pieces 11a and 11b of the bracket 10 are bent outward.
and 10b so that a predetermined frictional resistance is generated between the two pieces, and thereby the bracket 1
0 and 11 are tightened together with a predetermined tightening force.

After the above-described initial settings have been made, the nut element 15 may be rotated using the operating lever 18 to tighten and loosen the bolt element 14. In this case, when the operating lever 18 is brought to the fastening position where the ball 22 engages with the groove 24, the brackets 10 and 11 are repeatedly fastened with a predetermined tightening force, and the ball 22 engages with the groove 25. When the operating lever 18 is rotated to the release position, the tension between the brackets 10 and 11 is released, and the upper steering column 2 is ready to move to any tilting position.

When the operating lever 18 is brought to its engagement position and release position, the ball 22 engages with the groove 24 or 25 as described above, so that the operator feels a sense of moderation, thereby causing the operating lever 18 to engage with the groove 24 or 25.
It can be clearly recognized that the is in the normal fastening position or release position.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It will be clear to those skilled in the art.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an overall view showing one embodiment of a steering column incorporating the steering column fixing structure according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view showing an enlarged view of the main parts thereof, and Figs. 3 and 4. 2 are cross-sectional views taken along lines - and -, respectively, of FIG. 2; DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Lower steering column, 2... Upper steering column, 3... Universal joint, 4... Floor, 5... Instrument panel, 6... Fixed structure, 7... Steering main shaft, 8...
...steering wheel, 10...bracket,
10a, 10b...outer piece, 11...bracket, 11a, 11b...inner piece, 12a, 12
b...Long hole, 13a, 13b...Round hole, 14...
Bolt element, 15... Nut element, 16... Nut, 17... Bolt, 18... Operation lever, 19
...Bullet lock, 20...Bolt, 21...Cylindrical member, 22...Ball, 23...Spring, 24,2
5...Groove, 26...Strut sleeve, 27...
...Threaded portion, 28...Nut element, 29...Spring.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The operating lever has a fastening means for selectively fastening and fixing the steering column at an arbitrary tilting position by generating a fastening force by rotating the operating lever, and the operating lever has a ball and a fastening means for fixing the steering column to a fixed wall surface. A resilient locking means is attached to the wall surface, and the ball engages when the operating lever is in a rotational position that generates a predetermined fastening force. and the groove is a long groove extending in the tilting direction of the steering column so as to receive the ball when the steering column is in any tilting position. structure.