JPS6280155A - Support force warning device for steering wheel support device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make possible to always ensure appropriate force in a steering support device in which a steering shaft is supported position-adjustably by a support means, by detecting a support force of the steering means and by warning and displaying an abnormal force condition. CONSTITUTION:A steering shaft 20 secured at its one end with a steering wheel, is supported rotatably by a steering column 22 which is in turn supported position-adjustably by a support means 23 that is fixed to the lower section of an instrument panel 25 by means of a bracket 24. A tilt lever 26 is provided one side surface of the support means 23. In the above-mentioned arrangement, a strain sensor 36 as a support force detecting means is attached on the upper surface of the tilt lever 26 so that the sensor may detect the strain of the tilt lever even if the tilt lever 263 is rotated in either the loosing direction L thereof or the fastening direction F thereof. Further, when a strain which is detected by the strain sensor 36 exceeds a reference value, a warning means is energized with the use of sound, light or the like.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a support force warning device for a support device using frictional force, and is used to adjust the position of a vehicle steering shaft, for example. Used in steering support devices, etc.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, there are tilt steering devices, telescopic steering devices, etc. as steering support devices that can adjust the position of the steering wheel using support means using frictional force. An example of this is shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-51895.

In the conventional tilt steering device 1 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a steering shaft 2 is rotatably supported by a steering column 3, and a steering wheel 4 is attached to the upper end of the steering shaft 2. . The steering column 3 is supported by support means 6 below an instrument panel 5 of the vehicle body.

The support means 6 supports the steering column 3, that is, the steering shaft 2 so that its vertical position can be adjusted.
The column bracket 7 is attached to the steering column 3 and the vehicle body 9
A steering bracket 8 is fixed to each of the steering brackets 8, and a column bracket 7 is inserted into the steering bracket 8 so as to be vertically movable. Further, a horizontal cylinder 9 is fixed to the column bracket 7, and a long hole 10 is provided in the vertical direction in the steering bracket 8. A bolt 11 having a left-hand thread is inserted through the long hole 10 and the cylinder 9. is provided in the horizontal direction. A stopper 12 is attached to one end of the bolt 11.
is formed, and a tilt lever 13 is screwed to the other end.

Therefore, when adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel 4, rotate the tilt lever 13 to loosen the tightening of the steering bracket 8, and then
, and rotate the tilt lever 13 again to tighten the steering bracket 8.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) These supporting means using frictional force can provide sufficient tightening and supporting force if the tilt lever is operated reliably as described above. However, if the operator's operation is uncertain and the tightening force is insufficient, the support means may loosen due to factors such as steering force and vibration.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable the operator to know that the support means has been reliably tightened after adjusting the steering position.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for solving the problem) The technical means taken to solve the above problem is to detect the supporting force of the steering shaft support means using frictional force and to display a warning about the supporting force. That's what I did.

(Operation) When loosening or tightening the steering shaft support means using frictional force, for example,
Loosen the tilt lever, steering bracket, etc.
Alternatively, changes related to the force applied for the tightening operation appear. These changes are detected as supporting force,
Based on this detection result, a warning is displayed that the support means may loosen due to factors such as steering force or vibration due to insufficient tightening. Therefore, by following this warning and tightening the tilt lever, the operator can recognize that the tilt lever has been securely tightened.

(Example) Examples of the present invention will be described below based on the attached figures.

A side view of one embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
Section A is shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 1, a steering wheel 21 is fixed to one end of a steering shaft 20. As shown in FIG. Also,
A steering mechanism (not shown) is connected to the other end of the steering shaft 20. steering shaft 2
0 is rotatably supported by a steering column 22. The steering column 22 is supported by a support means 23 so that its support position can be adjusted as will be described later. This support means 23 is supported by a bracket 24.
It is fixed to the lower part of the instrument panel 25 of the vehicle body. A tilt lever 26 is arranged on the side surface of the support means 23. Here, the support means 23 will be explained with reference to FIG. The steering bracket 30 has a U-shaped cross section, and a long hole 31 is provided in a part thereof. A column bracket 32 is disposed inside the steering bracket 30 and is fixed to the steering column 22 to support it. The column bracket 32 has a through hole 33.
is provided, and the bolt 34 is attached to the steering bracket 30.
It is arranged to pass through the elongated hole 31 and the through hole 33. A screw 34 is provided at one end of the bolt 33, and this screw 34
A tilt lever 26 is fixed to a nut 35 that is screwed into the nut 35. Therefore, in FIG. 1, when the tilt lever 26 is rotated in the direction shown, the tightening force between the column bracket 32 and the steering bracket 30 is loosened, allowing sliding between them, and the steering column 22 and steering The vertical position of the wheel 21 can be adjusted.

Thereafter, by rotating and tightening the tilt lever 26 in the direction F in the figure, the space between the column bracket 32 and the steering bracket 30 is tightened, and the steering column 22 and the steering wheel 21 are fixed.

Next, a strain sensor 36 is fixed to the tilt lever 26. This strain sensor 36 is a supporting force detection means. The strain sensor 36 uses a strain gauge here, and the tilt lever 26 is loosened.

The tightening is arranged so that distortion can be detected no matter which direction it is rotated. That is, the strain sensor 36 is disposed on the top surface of the tilt lever 26, so that when the tilt lever 26 is rotated in either the loosening direction or the tightening direction F, the strain generated by the rotational force is applied to the strain sensor 36. It is. Note that, depending on the type of strain gauge, it is not necessarily necessary to arrange it on the upper surface of the tilt lever 26, but it may be arranged appropriately at a position where strain is generated by rotation of the tilt lever 26 in both the loosening direction and the tightening direction F. Further, the supporting force detection means is not limited to the strain sensor, but the tilt lever 26
Any device that can detect the force generated by rotation in both the loosening direction and the tightening direction F may be used.

FIG. 3 shows a flow for processing the output signal of the strain sensor 36.

In loop a, the strain in the loosening direction sent from the strain sensor is constantly checked, and when it is detected that this exceeds a reference value, a warning means using sound, light, etc. is activated, and the process moves to loop b.

In loop b, the strain in the tightening direction sent from the strain sensor is constantly checked, and when it is detected that this exceeds a reference value, the warning means is stopped and the process returns to loop a.

A strain sensor 36 disposed between both ends of the tilt lever 26
The distortion caused by loosening the tilt lever 26 is detected. The warning means attached to the strain sensor 36 is
When the detected distortion exceeds the defined darkness value, a warning is initiated.

Thereafter, by tightening the tilt lever 26, the strain sensor 36 detects the strain in the tightening direction. The warning means attached to the strain sensor 36 stops warning when it is determined that the amount of strain exceeds a predetermined darkness value.

Therefore, when operating the tilt lever 26 in the tightening direction, it is sufficient to rotate the tilt lever 26 until the above-mentioned warning stops.

FIG. 4 shows another example of warning means for processing the output signal of the strain sensor 36.

The output of the strain sensor 36 is input to two comparators 40.41 for the warming direction and the tightening direction.

The loosening direction comparator 40 compares a predetermined loosening direction reference value with the output of the strain sensor 36, and when the output of the strain sensor exceeds the loosening direction reference value, a warning start signal is sent to the state storage device. Send to 42.

The status storage device 42 will be stored until the next warning stop signal is sent.
It continues to remember that the warning device should be activated.

Next, the tightening direction comparator 41 compares a predetermined tightening direction reference value with the output of the strain sensor 36, and the output of the strain sensor 36 exceeds the tightening direction reference value. When it has turned around, a warning stop signal is sent to the status storage device 42. When a warning stop signal is sent to the status storage device 42,
Continue to remember that the warning should be stopped.

The warning device 43 issues a warning using a method such as light or sound depending on the state of the state storage device 42 .

As described above, in this embodiment, the distortion caused by the rotational operation of the tilt lever 26 is detected and displayed as a warning as the supporting force of the supporting means. In this example, the activation of the warning device is always started by rotating the tilt lever 26 in the loosening direction, and then when tightening the tilt lever 26 again in the tightening direction F, sufficient support is required. It will continue to warn you until you have the strength to do so.

Next, other embodiments will be described based on the accompanying drawings. A side view of another embodiment is shown in FIG. 5, and a BB cross section thereof is shown in FIG. 6.

In this example, a strain sensor 36 serving as a supporting force detection means is arranged on the steering bracket 30.

Further, the control circuit that processes the output signal of the strain sensor 36 is
The ones shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 above can be used as they are.

5 and 6, by loosening the tilt lever 26, sliding movement between the column bracket 32 and the steering bracket 30 is enabled, and the steering column 22. The steering wheel 21 can be adjusted up and down. At this time, the strain sensor 36 disposed on the steering bracket 30 detects the strain caused by the loosening of the steering bracket 30.

Therefore, according to the process shown in FIG. 3 or 4,
A warning means attached to the strain sensor 36 starts warning when the amount of strain exceeds a predetermined darkness value.

Thereafter, by tightening the tilt lever 26, the space between the column bracket 32 and the steering bracket 30 is tightened.

At this time, the strain sensor 36 attached to the steering bracket 32 detects the strain caused by the tightening of the steering bracket 32. When the warning means attached to the strain sensor 36 determines that the amount of strain exceeds a predetermined darkness value, it stops issuing a warning.

In the second embodiment described above, by disposing the strain sensor 36 on the steering bracket 30, the strain sensor 36
6 is directly affected by the strain occurring in the steering bracket 30. Therefore, the supporting force supporting the steering column 22 can be detected more directly.

In the embodiment shown here, the output of the strain sensor is compared with the dark value to activate the warning means, but the output of the strain sensor may be displayed as is.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the present invention detects the supporting force of the steering support device itself, a more reliable warning device can be constructed.

Furthermore, the structure is simple and can be manufactured at low cost, and there is no need for adjustment, especially during assembly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an A-Alfr side view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing an example of the operation of the warning means of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a side view of another embodiment, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a side view of the conventional tilt steering, and FIG. The figure is a sectional view of a conventional support means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a steering support device that adjusts the position of the steering wheel by adjusting the steering shaft by supporting means that uses frictional force against the vehicle body, the supporting force of the supporting means for adjusting the position is detected, and the supporting force of the supporting means for position adjustment is detected. A support force warning device for a steering support device that displays a warning of support force.