KR101487611B1 - A device for locking the steering column of a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a locking device of a vehicle steering column. The locking device of a vehicle steering column includes: a coupling bracket configured to couple a steering shaft to a vehicle body such that the steering shaft can be tilted or telescopically operable; a hinge bracket coupled to the coupling bracket by a hinge shaft; an inner supporting member provided to integrally move with the hinge shaft having a ball track formed on one side, and configured to make frictional contact with one side of the coupling bracket; a lever provided to be rotated around the hinge shaft outside the inner supporting member having a ball track formed on one side; an inner ball member configured to make rolling contact with the ball tracks of the inner supporting member and the lever, respectively; and a ball bush configured to support the inner ball member between the lever and the inner supporting member. The locking device of a vehicle steering column may maintain an axial force, and reduce the actuating force of the lever to enable a driver to easily control the steering column to secure ease of the driver and strongly support the steering column; thereby ensuring safety.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a locking device for a steering column,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle steering column, and more particularly, to a locking device for a vehicle steering column that locks or releases an operating lever of a vehicle steering column.

Generally, the steering device is a device for adjusting the driving direction of the vehicle and has a tilt and telescopic function for the convenience of the driver. The tilt function is a function for varying the angle of the steering wheel so as to match the physique of the driver and the posture of the driver, and the telescopic function is a function for sliding the steering shaft in the direction of the steering axis.

In order to realize such a tilt and telescopic operation, a conventional steering apparatus is provided with a telescopic hole 185 in an upper tube 100 receiving a steering shaft, as shown in Fig. 1 of the prior patent document 1, And the tilt bracket 150 is provided with a tilt long hole 110 so that the steering shaft can be turned along the tilt long hole 110 so that the angle of the steering wheel .

The tilt and telescopic operation is achieved by locking and releasing the hinge portion of the adjustment lever 115. In the locked state of the adjustment lever 115, the behavior of the steering column in the tilting or telescopic direction is restricted and the adjustment lever 115 ), The lock state is canceled and the position of the steering wheel is adjusted.

Here, the steering column is provided with two hollow tubes (100) and (170) inserted therein so as to be able to extend and contract in the axial direction, thereby absorbing the impact energy while colliding with the steering shaft and the steering column The locking state of the adjusting lever 115 must be maintained firmly even when a load is applied to the steering wheel due to the collision or the weight of the driver.

In order to support the steering wheel firmly against the external force, the axial force of the lever hinge shaft must be high. However, in the conventional structure, when the axial force of the hinge shaft is increased, the operating force of the lever is increased, and the driver can not easily lock / unlock the lever .

Patent Document 2 discloses a cam-type lever locking device. 2 and 3 of Patent Document 2, in the structure in which the movable cam 70 and the fixed cam 80 are engaged with each other, the movable protrusion 71 of the movable cam 70 is engaged with the fixed cam 80 The distance between the tilt bracket 13 and the lever 30 is widened and the side wall of the tilting bracket 13 and the side wall of the moving cam 70 are moved to the steering column 11 is inserted into the fixing groove 83 of the fixed cam 80 in the unlocked state of the lever so that the distance between the tilt bracket 13 and the lever 30 is narrowed and the tilt bracket 13, And the moving cam 70 are spaced apart from each other, so that the steering column 11 can move.

Such a conventional cam structure restrains the behavior of the lever by adjusting the distance between the moving cam 70 and the fixed cam 80 during operation. When the cam surfaces of the moving cam 70 and the fixed cam 80 are brought into frictional contact with each other There is a problem that a large force is required to operate the lever.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2013-0027122 Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2013-0044731

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the lock device of the conventional vehicle steering column as described above, and it is an object of the present invention to reduce the operating force of the lever due to friction while maintaining the axial force so that the driver can easily adjust the steering column, And an object of the present invention is to provide a locking device for a steering column of a vehicle which ensures convenience and secures safety by firmly supporting a steering column.

In order to achieve the above object, a lock device for a vehicle steering column according to the present invention comprises: an engaging bracket for tilting or telescopically coupling a steering shaft to a vehicle body; and a steering shaft for axially movably supporting the steering shaft A hinge bracket that is provided at one side and is coupled to the coupling bracket by a hinge shaft; an inner supporting member movably integrated with the hinge shaft and formed with a ball track at one side thereof and frictionally contacting one side of the coupling bracket; A lever which is provided so as to be pivotable around the hinge axis on the outside of the support member and on which a ball track is formed and an inner ball provided between the inner support member and the lever and in rolling contact with the ball track of the inner support member and the lever, Member. ≪ / RTI >

Preferably, the ball track of the lever and the inner support member is provided with a first seat portion for accommodating the inner ball member and a second seat portion for receiving the inner ball member in the unlocking operation of the lever, Respectively.

More preferably, the ball track of the lever and the inner support member is formed by protruding two contact portions on the inner side surface thereof so as to be in contact with the inner ball member at two points.

The present invention may further include a ball bush provided between the lever and the inner support member and having a ball receiving portion for supporting the inner ball member.

Preferably, the inner supporting member and the ball bushing are integrally joined to each other at an edge of the inner supporting member and the coupling end is protruded outward. The engaging jaws are formed.

Wherein a first boss portion penetrating through the inner support member and protruding outwardly is formed at one side of the ball bush and fits in the hinge shaft, and a first engagement protrusion for holding the inner support member at the edge of the first boss portion is formed outside As shown in FIG.

And a second boss portion fitted to the lever may protrude outward on one side of the ball bush.

The present invention is characterized by an outer support member provided on the outer side of the lever so as to be integrally movable with the hinge shaft and having a ball track formed on one side thereof and an outer support member provided between the outer support member and the lever, Respectively, in a rolling contact manner.

As described above, according to the locking device for a vehicle steering column according to the present invention, the operating force of the lever due to friction is lowered while maintaining the axial force, so that the driver can easily adjust the steering column, The column can be firmly supported and safety can be ensured.

In addition, according to the locking device for a vehicle steering column according to the present invention, there is an effect that a feeling of stability can be improved by improving a detent in which a driver can feel the locking and unlocking states of the steering column.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing a locking device of a vehicle steering column according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are partially-assembled perspective views showing the locking device of the vehicle steering column shown in FIG. 1,
Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the locking device of the vehicle steering column shown in Fig. 2,
Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of one side portion of the inner support member and the lever shown in Fig. 3,
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 5,
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 5,
Figs. 8 and 9 are perspective views showing the ball bush shown in Fig. 3,
10 is a side view of the ball bush shown in FIG. 9,
Fig. 11 is an engaging sectional view showing the locking device of the vehicle steering column shown in Fig. 2,
FIG. 12 is a partially-assembled perspective view showing a locking device of a vehicle steering column according to another embodiment of the present invention,
13 is an engaging sectional view showing the locking device of the vehicle steering column shown in Fig.

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

1 to 11, a locking device for a vehicle steering column according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a coupling bracket 10 for tilting or telescopically coupling a steering shaft 2 to a vehicle body 1 side, A hinge bracket 20 coupled to the coupling bracket 10 by a hinge shaft 15, an inner supporting member 30 frictionally contacting one side of the coupling bracket 10, an inner supporting member 30, An inner ball member 50 which is in rolling contact with the inner support member 30 and the lever 40, a lever 40 which is rotatably provided around the hinge shaft 15 outside the lever 40 An outer ball member 55 provided between the outer supporting member 70 and the lever 40 and an outer ball member 55 provided between the inner ball member 50 and the outer ball member 50. [ And a ball bush 60 (60 ') for supporting the ball bush 55, respectively.

The coupling bracket 10 is provided on the side of the vehicle body 1 and has a tilt long hole 11 for tilting operation of the steering shaft 2.

The hinge bracket 20 is provided on one side of the steering tube 3 for axially movably supporting the steering shaft 2 and has a telescopic hole 21 for telescopic operation of the steering shaft 2 Respectively.

A hinge shaft 15 penetrates through the tilted slot 11 of the coupling bracket 10 and the telescopic hole 21 of the hinge bracket 20. The inner supporting member 30 and the inner ball bushing 60 and the lever 40 are sequentially fitted and coupled to the hinge shaft 15 on the outer side of the coupling bracket 10. A first hinge coupling hole 31 is formed at the center of the inner support member 30 and a second hinge coupling hole 61 is formed at the center of the inner ball bushing 60, And a second hinge coupling hole 41 is formed at the center of the second hinge coupling hole 41. [

The second hinge coupling hole 41 formed in the lever 40 is formed in a circular shape so that the lever 40 can be pivoted relative to the hinge shaft 15. However, the first hinge coupling hole 31 formed on the inner support member 30 is formed as a straight key surface 31a on one side and is coupled to the key surface 15a formed on the hinge shaft 15. Therefore, the inner support member 30 can be pivotally rotated with the hinge shaft 15.

The lever 40 is relatively pivotable with respect to the hinge shaft 15 while the inner support member 30 is integrally moved so that the lever 40 is relatively moved relative to the inner support member 30 So that it can be turned. Therefore, when the driver turns the lever 40, the inner supporting member 30 is fixed to the hinge shaft 15, and only the lever 40 turns around the hinge shaft 15. [

The second hinge coupling hole 61 formed in the inner ball bushing 60 may have the same shape as the first hinge coupling hole 31 or may have the same shape as the second hinge coupling hole 41 have. Since the inner ball bushing 60 is integrally and movably coupled to the inner supporting member 30 as described later, the second hinge coupling hole 61 is formed in a circular shape, It is not necessary to be constrained by

The inner ball member 50 is provided between the inner support member 30 and the lever 40 so that the first ball track 32 of the inner support member 30 and the second ball 32 of the lever 40 And is seated on the track 42.

A first ball track 32 on which the inner ball member 50 is seated is formed on one side of the inner supporting member 30 and a first ball track 32 is formed on one side of the lever 40 in correspondence with the first ball track 32 A second ball track 42 is formed. The first ball track 32 is formed at a predetermined angle with respect to the circumferential direction of the inner support member 30 and the first ball track 32 is also formed in the circumferential direction of the lever 40 A plurality of portions are formed at predetermined angles.

6, the first ball track 32 and the second ball track are provided with first seating portions 32a and 42a that receive the inner ball member 50 during the locking operation of the lever 40, And second seat portions 32b and 42b that receive the inner ball member 50 in the unlocking operation of the lever 40 are formed at a stepped angle with respect to each other.

The first seating portions 32a and 42a are formed to be deeper than the second seating portions 32b and 42b. Accordingly, when the inner ball member 50 is seated on the first seating portions 32a and 42a, a gap between the inner supporting member 30 and the lever 40 is narrowed, The frictional resistance between the inner supporting member 30 and the engaging bracket 10 is lost by the distance between the engaging bracket 30 and the engaging bracket 10 to become unlocked and the steering shaft 2 can be moved do.

On the other hand, when the inner ball member 50 is seated on the second seating portions 32b and 42b, the distance between the inner supporting member 30 and the lever 40 is increased, The distance between the inner supporting member 30 and the engaging bracket 10 is relatively narrowed so that the frictional resistance between the inner supporting member 30 and the engaging bracket 10 is lost to be locked.

Hill portions 32c and 42c are formed between the first and second seating portions 32a and 42b and between the first and second seating portions 32b and 42b. The hill portions 32c and 42c are formed in a gentle curve of an S shape so that the inner ball member 50 is moved along the curved lines to the first and second seating portions 32a and 42a and the second seating portion 32b 42b.

The second seating portions 32b and 42b are formed to be lower than the hill portions 32c and 42c so that the inner ball member 50 passes over the hill portions 32c and 42c to the second seating portion 32b, (42b). That is, the inner ball member 50 moves from the first seating portion 32a to the second seating portion 32b or 42b or from the second seating portion 32b or 42b to the first seating portion 32b or 42b, 32a and 42a to move beyond the hill sections 32c and 42c so as to recognize whether the driver has operated the lever 40 to the locked state or properly operated in the unlocked state detent. The hill portions 32c and 42c prevent the inner ball member 50 from moving when the inner ball member 50 is positioned on the second seating portions 32b and 42b, Is not easily released.

Briefly describing the operating state of this embodiment,

First, when the lever 40 is locked, the inner ball member 50 is seated on the first seating portions 32a and 42a so that the distance between the inner supporting member 30 and the lever 40 is narrowed So that the distance between the inner supporting member 30 and the engaging bracket 10 is distanced so that an axial force is generated in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 15. [

In the unlocked state of the lever 40, the inner ball member 50 is seated on the second seating portions 32b and 42b, so that the distance between the inner supporting member 30 and the lever 40 is increased So that the gap between the inner support member 30 and the engagement bracket 10 is relatively narrowed, so that the axial force of the hinge shaft 15 is removed.

The inner ball member 50 is in rolling contact with the first ball track 32 of the inner supporting member 30 when the driver turns the lever 40 in the locked state in the unlocked state to generate axial force, At the same time, the rolling contact with the second ball track (42) of the lever (40) reduces the frictional resistance, thereby reducing the lever operating force of the driver.

7, in order for the inner ball member 50 to be seated on the first ball track 32, the curvature of the inner surface of the first ball track 32 is set to be smaller than the curvature of the inner ball member 50 In this case, the inner ball member 50 makes point contact with the inner surface of the first ball track 32 at one point. As a result, the external force applied to the inner ball member 50 is concentrated at one point, so that the durability can be remarkably lowered.

To this end, two contact portions 32d and 42d are formed on the inner surface of the first ball track 32 so as to project inward. As a result, the inner ball member 50 makes two-point contact with the two contact portions 32d and 42d. That is, the inner ball member 50 is spherical and the contact portions 32d and 42d are protruded inwardly at predetermined intervals along the inner surface of the first ball track 32, 50 are brought into two-point contact with the two contact portions 32d, 42d.

When the inner ball member 50 makes two point contact through the contact portions 32d and 42d as described above, the load is dispersed to two points as compared with the case where one point contact is made, so that the durability . This is also true in the case of the lever 40 having the second ball track 42 as well.

A ball receiving portion 62 for receiving the inner ball member 50 is formed at one side of the ball bushing 60. The ball bushing 60 is positioned between the inner supporting member 30 and the lever 40 in a state where the inner ball member 50 is inserted into the ball receiving portion 62. The ball receiving portion 62 is surrounded by a part of the outer circumferential surface of the inner ball member 50 so that the inner ball member 50 can be confined and rotated inside the ball receiving portion 62.

An engagement end 33 protrudes outwardly from the edge of the inner support member 30 to receive the engagement end 33 of the inner support member 30 along the edge of the ball bushing 60 A coupling jaw 63 is formed. The engaging jaw 63 is formed in a letter shape so that the engaging end portion 33 is caught by the hinge shaft 15 in such a manner as not to be displaced in the axial direction. So that the inner support member 30 and the ball bushing 60 can be integrally assembled first before assembling the entire device.

A coupling portion 45 is formed on one side of the lever 40 and a coupling jaw 64 is formed on one side of the ball bushing 60 to receive the coupling portion 45 of the lever 40 Respectively. Accordingly, the ball bushing 60 is coupled to the inner support member 30 and to the lever 40 at the same time.

Another embodiment of the ball bush will be described with reference to Figs. 9 and 10. Fig.

The ball bush 60 'of the present embodiment has a first boss portion 65 protruded outward on one side thereof and fitted to the fourth hinge coupling hole 71 of the outer support member 70, And a second hinge coupling hole 61 'through which the hinge shaft 15 is inserted.

The first boss portion 65 is coupled through the fourth hinge coupling hole 71 and the hinge shaft 15 is fitted into the second hinge coupling hole 61 ' Is coupled to the outer support member 70. [ The first boss portion 65 has a first latching protrusion 66 protruding outwardly for holding the outer support member 70 thereon.

The first locking protrusion 66 supports the outer surface of the outer support member 70 in a state where the first boss unit 65 is fitted in the fourth hinge coupling hole 71 of the outer support member 70, The first boss portion 65 is not separated from the fourth hinge coupling hole 71 and thereby the ball bush 60 'and the outer support member 70 are firmly coupled.

On the other hand, a second boss 67 protrudes outward from the first boss 65. The second boss 67 is fitted in the second hinge joint hole 41 of the lever 40 so that the ball bush 60 is engaged with the lever 40. The second boss 67 is pivotably fitted to the second hinge joint hole 41 so that the lever 40 does not move integrally with the ball bush 60 ' (40) can be pivoted relative to the ball bushing (60) and the outer support member (70).

The second boss 67 is also provided with a second latching jaw 68 similar to the first latching jaw 66. The second latching jaw 68 engages with one side of the lever 40 But does not move the ball bushing 60 in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 15 from the lever 40.

The outer support member 70 is movably provided integrally with the hinge shaft 15, and a third ball track 72 is formed on one side thereof. The lever 40 has a fourth ball track 43 corresponding to the third ball track 72 on the opposite side of the second ball track 42.

The outer ball member 55 is provided between the outer support member 70 and the lever 40 and is disposed between the third ball track 72 of the outer support member 70 and the fourth ball track 72 of the lever 40. [ (43).

In this embodiment, the frictional resistance is further reduced as compared with the case where one side of the lever 40 comes into rolling contact by rolling contact with both sides of the lever 40, thereby further reducing the lever operating force.

The outer support member 70 of this embodiment is formed in the same structure as the inner support member 30 and the outer ball member 55 is formed in the same shape as the inner ball member 50. The structures of the third ball track 72 and the fourth ball track 43 are the same as those of the first ball track 32 and the second ball track 42. Therefore, the description of the structure and operation principle of the outer support member 70 and the outer ball member 55 will be omitted.

Another embodiment of a lock device for a vehicle steering column according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 12 and 13. Fig.

The present embodiment has a bearing member 80 on the outer side of the lever 40 in place of the outer support member 70 and the outer ball member 55 of the above embodiment.

A bearing member (80) and a tightening member (90) are sequentially coupled to the outside of the lever (40). The bearing member 80 is a thrust bearing, and the tightening member 90 is a nut that is engaged with the hinge shaft 15 by fitting.

A washer member 85 is provided between the outer surface of the lever 40 and the bearing member 80 and a washer member 85 is also provided between the tightening member 90 and the bearing member 80.

10: coupling bracket 11: tilt slot
15: Hinge shaft 15a:
20: Hinge bracket 21: Telescopic slot
30: inner supporting member 31: first hinge engaging hole
31a: key surface 32: first ball track
32a: first seat portion 32b: second seat portion
32c: hill portion 32d: contact portion
33: engagement end 40: lever
41: second hinge engaging hole 42: second ball track
42a: first seat portion 42b: second seat portion
42c: hill portion 42d: contact portion
43: fourth ball track 45: engaging portion
50: inner ball member 55: outer ball member
60, 60 ': ball bush 61, 61': third hinge coupling ball
62, 62 ': a ball receiving portion 63, 64:
65: first boss portion 66: first stopping jaw
67: second boss part 68: second jaw
70: outer supporting member 71: fourth hinge engaging hole
72: third ball track 80: bearing member
85: washer member 90: tightening member

Claims (8)

A coupling bracket provided on the vehicle body side for tilting or telescopically operable coupling the steering shaft about a hinge axis;
A hinge bracket provided at one side of the steering tube for axially movably supporting the steering shaft, the hinge bracket being coupled to the coupling bracket by the hinge shaft;
An inner support member provided movably in unison with the hinge shaft and having a ball track formed on one side thereof and frictionally contacting one side of the engagement bracket;
A lever provided on the outer side of the inner support member so as to be pivotable about the hinge axis and having a ball track formed on one side thereof; And
And an inner ball member provided between the inner support member and the lever, the inner ball member being in rolling contact with the inner support member and the ball track of the lever,
Wherein the ball track of the lever and the inner support member is formed so that two contact portions protrude from the inner side surface so as to be in contact with the inner ball member at two points. The method according to claim 1,
The ball track of the lever and the inner support member is formed with a first seating portion for accommodating the inner ball member and a second seating portion for accommodating the inner ball member during the unlocking operation of the lever in a stepped manner Characterized in that the lock of the steering column of the vehicle. delete The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising: a ball bush provided between the lever and the inner support member, the ball bush having a ball receiving portion for supporting the inner ball member. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the inner supporting member and the ball bushing are integrally joined to each other, and the coupling end is protruded outward at an edge of the inner supporting member, and a coupling jaw for holding the coupling end of the inner supporting member at one side of the ball bushing Wherein the locking member is formed of a metal plate. 5. The method of claim 4,
A first boss portion that penetrates the inner supporting member and is fitted to the hinge shaft is formed to protrude outward on one side of the ball bush, and a first engaging jaw which is engaged with the inner supporting member is formed on the outer side of the first boss portion, Is formed to protrude into the vehicle steering column. The method according to claim 6,
And a second boss portion that is fitted to the lever is protruded outward on one side of the ball bush. The method according to claim 1,
An outer supporting member provided on the outer side of the lever so as to be integrally movable with the hinge shaft and having a ball track formed on one side thereof; And
And an outer ball member provided between the outer support member and the lever, the outer ball member being in rolling contact with the outer support member and the ball track of the lever, respectively.

Images