KR102076012B1 - Ratchet structure for vehicle steering systems - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle steering ratchet structure whose structure is improved so as to improve the ratchet structure of the tilting device so as to prevent the double striking phenomenon by a simple configuration using an elastic member and the auxiliary gear, the configuration is the tilt of the tilt bracket Tilt bolt is coupled to the hole to penetrate, a fixed gear is formed in the center so that the tilt bolt penetrates, the first gear portion made of a plurality of mountains and valleys in the longitudinal direction on one side, left and right sides, the end of the tilt bolt A second coupling portion is formed so that the coupling hole penetrates and the second gear portion is formed on the left and right sides of the surface facing the fixed gear, and is coupled to the fixed gear and the end of the tilt bolt. A fixing member for preventing axial separation, and an accommodating groove portion formed between the second gear portion on one side of the movable gear; The side is accommodated at an inclined angle in the receiving groove portion, the fitting hole is formed so that the tilt bolt penetrates in the center and the other side is bent to form an elastic member formed with a carbon portion, and one side is in surface contact to be in close contact with the carbon portion of the elastic member Complementary gears each having a third gear portion having at least one gear tooth that is tooth-coupled with the gear teeth of the first gear portion on both sides of the left and right sides.

Description

Steering Ratchet Structure for Vehicles {RATCHET STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEMS}

The present invention relates to a steering ratchet structure for a vehicle, and in particular, a structure in which a secondary gear and an elastic member are disposed between a fixed gear and a movable gear to prevent double tooth jamming when the tilt lever is operated. A steering ratchet structure.

In general, the steering device of a vehicle is a device for changing the driving direction of the vehicle at the driver's will, and is a device that assists the driver in advancing the vehicle in a desired direction by arbitrarily changing the rotation center of the front wheel of the vehicle. .

In such a steering device of a vehicle, steering force generated by a driver operating a steering wheel is transmitted to the rack pinion mechanism through the steering shaft and finally changes the direction of both wheels.

In addition, the automotive steering system can add telescope or tilt function, which is divided into telescope or tilt steering according to this function, and in some cases, tilt function in the telescope steering system. Can be added.

Through this function, the driver can smoothly steer the steering wheel by adjusting the degree of inclination or the tilting angle of the steering wheel according to his / her height or body shape.

Such a tilting device includes a bracket for supporting a steering column, a cam and a tilt lever provided in the bracket, and presses the steering column by the operation principle of the cam by operating the tilt lever and is fixed to the bracket.

However, the simple friction type tilting device is a phenomenon in which the steering column is flipped upward due to the impact force if a larger impact load is caused by an accident than the friction force that fixes the steering column (hereinafter, 'pop-up phenomenon'). Has occurred, causing double injury to the driver.

Accordingly, in order to solve the above problems, a tilting device capable of adjusting and fixing the inclination of the steering column by applying a pair of gears in the configuration of the conventional tilting device has been developed.

The conventional tilt or telescope steering column according to the prior art has an outer tube accommodating a steering shaft, an inner tube drawn into the outer tube, a lower bracket fixing the inner tube to the vehicle body, and installed on an upper side of the outer tube to be fixed to the vehicle body. Mounting brackets, tilt brackets fixed integrally with the steering column to adjust the tilting angle of the steering wheel, fixed gears formed on the outer surface of the tilt brackets, movable gears engaged or separated from the fixed gears, tilt It comprises a tilt bolt penetrating the hole, a cam coupled to the movable gear, a bush and a nut fixing the cam and the adjustment lever.

The fixed gear and the movable gear are formed with the same pitch and mount height so that they can be engaged with each other. When the adjustment lever is locked, the fixed gear and the movable gear are engaged so that the outer tube and the steering shaft are fixed, but they are moved by the cam when the adjustment lever is released. The gear is separated from the fixed gear so that the upper steering column can rotate in a tilting direction with respect to the lower tilt center.

A movable gear is attached to the cam, and a protrusion is formed on one side of the cam so that the protrusion is drawn into or out of the groove of the adjustment lever according to the rotation of the adjustment lever so that the fixed gear is engaged or separated.

However, in the case of such a conventional tilt or telescopic steering column, when an overrun occurs when the adjustment lever is operated, or when an overrun in which the movable gear exceeds the original tilt operating distance occurs, the movable gear is engaged with the fixed gear. If the steering column is not fixed, the locking column is not fixed, and the steering column pops up toward the driver, causing a pop-up phenomenon. There was a problem that the safety is greatly reduced.

As prior art related to the existing steering column, as disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1286322, "Tilt or Telescope Steering Column of Automobile" (Registration Date: 2013.07.09), facing each other during operation of the adjustment lever. In a tilt or telescope steering column of a vehicle that is tilted or telescope operated by the engagement of a fixed gear and a movable gear, the height of the outermost tooth formed at both ends is higher than the height of the adjacent tooth. It is formed, the outermost tooth of the movable gear is in contact with the outer inclined surface of the outermost bone of the fixed gear when sliding the sliding lever is engaged.

However, in the existing steering column apparatus, when the tilting operation of the movable gear is engaged with the fixed gear, there may be a case in which the mesh is not completely engaged. In this case, the acid and the acid of the movable gear and the fixed gear face each other and are fixed. Occurred. Afterwards, the dents of the hills and valleys generate noise or damage the gears by impact.

Therefore, it is time to develop a tilting device that can secure driver's safety by smoothing the biting and smoothly perform the tilting function.

In particular, the existing steering column device is engaged with the fixed gear formed on the outer side of the tilt bracket in the direction in which the same gear and the mountain face each other, so that there is no space for movement of the movable gear during lever lock operation. Therefore, when the jamming phenomenon occurs, it affects the operating force of the tilt lever and there is a problem that the lever operation is difficult.

Meanwhile, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-269629 "Vehicle Steering Device" (published date: 2010.12.02) includes a fixed bracket having a first tilt lock gear for locking during tilt adjustment or telescope adjustment, and a first telescope. The first locking gear forming member with the movable bracket and the second tilt lock gear forming with the lock gear teeth is inclinedly supported, and the second lock gear formation with the first holder and the second telescope lock gear supporting with the elastic member is inclinedly supported. By providing the second holder supported by the elastic member, it is possible to prevent tooth jamming and to restore the first and second lock gear formations by the elastic force of the elastic member in the unlocked state, thereby reducing the gear gap in the unlocked state. There is something to keep it constant.

In this case, accurate gear biting may be performed due to the restoring operation of the first and second lock gear forming bodies. However, as the seal passes, the elastic force of the elastic member may be easily changed. In this case, there is a fear that the meshing operation of the respective gears is shifted.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1286322 "Tilt or Telescope Steering Column of Automobile" (Registration Date: 2013.07.09) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-269629 "Vehicle Steering Device" (published date: 2010.12.02)

The present invention was created in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to improve the ratchet structure of the tilting device so that the structure can be prevented by double configuration by a simple configuration using an elastic member and an auxiliary gear. An improved vehicle steering ratchet structure is provided.

The present invention for achieving the above object is fixed integrally with the steering column and the tilt bracket is formed with a tilt hole, a tilt bolt coupled to penetrate the tilt hole of the tilt bracket, and a through-hole in the center to pass through the tilt bolt And a second gear portion formed at the left and right edges of the fixed gear which is formed and the first gear is formed on one side of the left and right sides, and a coupling hole is formed to penetrate the end of the tilt bolt, and faces the fixed gear. And a movable gear which is formed to engage with the fixed gear, and a fixed member which is fastened to an end of the tilt bolt to prevent the movable gear from being separated, and is formed between the second gear part on one side of the movable gear. Receiving groove portion, one side is coupled to the receiving groove portion and the fitting hole is formed so that the tilt bolt penetrates in the center and the other side is formed bent And an auxiliary gear having one side thereof in surface contact so that one side is in close contact with the finger portion of the elastic member, and third gear portions formed at the left and right sides of the other side to be coupled with the gear teeth of the first gear portion, respectively. It is characterized by.

The stopper portion of the elastic member further includes a bent portion formed so that the other end is bent toward the receiving groove portion.

The auxiliary gear is formed in a concave arcuate groove recessed so that the outer circumferential lower portion of the tilt bolt is seated in the upper center, the inclined surface is formed so as to become thinner toward the upper side on one side that is in contact with the stop.

In addition, the auxiliary gear is arranged such that a third gear portion protrudes toward the first gear portion rather than the second gear portion.

The elastic member further includes a binding portion extending to bind and bind the upper portion of the fixed gear on one side.

According to the present invention, since the auxiliary gear guides the gear of the movable gear to the fixed gear, the simple configuration using the elastic member and the auxiliary gear can prevent double tooth jamming during the tilting operation of the tilt lever. It has a useful effect of saving.

In addition, the elastic member of the present invention has the advantage that it can perform a stopper function of limiting the radius of rotation of the stop as the bent portion is formed at the end of the stop.

And according to the present invention, the binding member is formed to extend on the one side of the elastic member to wrap and bind the upper portion of the fixed gear, thereby firmly coupling the elastic member to the movable gear, thereby improving the adhesion of the elastic member to the movable gear. Has an advantage.

1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a first embodiment of a vehicle steering ratchet structure according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the present invention the elastic member and the auxiliary gear is coupled in the receiving groove.
3a and 3b is a view showing an example of the use of the elastic member of the present invention
Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a second embodiment of a vehicle steering ratchet structure according to the present invention.
5 is a front view showing the elastic member and the auxiliary gear of the second embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a perspective view showing a vehicle steering apparatus to which a second embodiment of the present invention is applied;
Figures 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, 7e is a use state diagram sequentially showing the tilting operation of the second embodiment of the present invention.

The steering column described below is a steering column of a known technology is applied, the description of the detailed structure, etc. of the steering column will be omitted.

A first embodiment of a steering ratchet structure for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the tilt bolt 100 coupled to penetrate the tilt hole of the tilt bracket, and the tilt bolt 100 The through-hole 205 is formed in the center so as to penetrate the fixed gear 200 and the first gear portion 210 formed of a plurality of mountains and valleys in the longitudinal direction on one side left and right, and the end of the tilt bolt 100 The coupling hole 305 is formed so as to penetrate and the second gear part 310 formed on the left and right sides of the surface facing the fixed gear 200 is formed to engage with the fixed gear 200. 300, a fixing member 400 which is fastened to an end of the tilt bolt 100 to prevent axial deviation of the movable gear 300, and a second gear part on one side of the movable gear 300. Receiving groove 320 is formed between the 310, and one side inclined angle in the receiving groove 320 And the fitting hole 505 is formed so that the tilt bolt 100 penetrates in the center and the other side is bent to form the elastic member 500 and the tangy portion 510 is formed, one side of the elastic member 500 Auxiliary gears each having a third gear portion 610, each of which is in surface contact with the branch portion 510 and at least one gear tooth that is tooth-coupled with the gear teeth of the first gear portion 210 on both the left and right sides of the other side. It consists of 600.

In more detail, the receiving groove 320 is formed to be recessed on one side of the fixed gear 200 and has a structure in which the receiving space is deeper than the upper portion.

For example, the elastic member 500 may employ a leaf spring, and the support portion 510 bent at the other side may be formed at an inclined angle to perform a function of elastically supporting one surface of the auxiliary gear 600.

More preferably, the elastic member 500 may further include a bent portion 515 formed so that the other end portion is bent toward the receiving groove 320.

The bent portion 515 is rotated toward the receiving groove 320 when the load is applied to the finger portion 510, the auxiliary gear is rotated as the rotation operation of the finger portion 510. Perform the function of a stopper to limit the rotation range of 600.

That is, the bent part 515 limits the rotation angle of the finger part 510 as the end portion comes into contact with one side of the elastic member 500 coupled to the receiving groove 320 during the rotation operation of the finger part 510. do.

In addition, the fitting hole 505 of the elastic member 500 is assembled without play with the coupling hole 305 of the movable gear 300.

At this time, the elastic member 500 has a structure that is assembled in the receiving groove portion 320 without any gap.

The auxiliary gear 600 has an arcuate groove 605 formed concave so that the outer circumferential lower portion of the tilt bolt 100 is seated in the upper center thereof, and the upper side of the auxiliary gear 600 faces the tangent part 510. It has a structure in which the inclined surface is formed so that the thickness becomes thin.

The auxiliary gear 600 is disposed such that the third gear part 610 protrudes toward the first gear part 210 rather than the second gear part 310.

Accordingly, as the auxiliary gear 600, which is elastically supported by the elastic member 500, is coupled into the receiving groove 320 of the movable gear 300, the third gear part 610 may be the first of the fixed gear 200. The third gear part 610 is in contact with the first gear part 210 before the second gear part 310 in a state in which the gear part 210 can be engaged.

The fixing member 400 includes a fixing washer 410 and a fixing nut 420 for fastening the end of the tilt bolt 100.

3A and 3B illustrate an example of using the elastic member 500 of the present invention, wherein the gear pitches of the third gear part 610 and the first gear part 210 are at the same position, and the elastic member ( Although the third gear part 610 and the first gear part 210 are caught in the initial stage of the assembly in which the load is not applied to the load 500, the load is applied to the elastic member 500 due to the above-described caught phenomenon. In this case, while the support part 510 is rotated toward the receiving groove part 320, the auxiliary gear 600 that is elastically supported by the finger part 510 is also rotated.

As a result, the first gear part 210 of the fixed gear 200 and the third gear part 610 of the auxiliary gear 600 are spaced apart, thereby eliminating the jamming phenomenon.

At this time, the rotation operation of the finger portion 510 is limited by the angle of rotation by the bent portion 515, the auxiliary gear 600 is rotated together as the finger portion 510 is rotated to the receiving groove 320 side. As a result, the third gear part 610 and the first gear part 210 are spaced apart from each other to generate a gap, thereby causing height displacement of the third gear part 610 and the first gear part 210.

Subsequently, the movable gear 300 and the auxiliary gear 600 may move in the axial direction of the tilt bolt 100 by the gap.

In the tilting operation, the peak of the third gear part 610 of the auxiliary gear 600 is located at the height of the bone part of the first gear part 210 due to the height displacement described above, and the movable gear 300 is moved. And the third gear part 610 is moved on the inclined surface of the mountain portion of the first gear part 210 when the auxiliary bolt 600 moves in the axial direction of the tilt bolt 100.

At this time, the movable gear 300 and the elastic member 500 is a force acting in the direction of the inclined surface movement of the mountain portion, the force is raised to the movable gear 300 and the tilt bolt 100 assembled with the elastic member 500. Direction, and the second gear portion 310 of the movable gear 300 is engaged with the first gear portion 210 of the fixed gear 200 to prevent tilting.

4 to 7 is a view showing a second embodiment of the vehicle steering ratchet structure according to the present invention, the structure of the elastic member 500 and the movable gear 300 in the components of the first embodiment described above, Duplicate descriptions of the same components as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.

The movable gear 300 of the second embodiment has a structure in which the upper and lower portions are opened and concave in one direction, rather than the receiving groove 320 being opened in one direction.

In addition, the elastic member 500 is, as shown in Figure 5, the other side is formed with a tangy part 510, the binding portion 530 is extended to wrap and bind the upper portion of the fixed gear 200 on one side Formed.

The binding unit 530 is coupled to surround the front, top and rear surfaces of the receiving groove 320 of the movable gear 300 to firmly couple the elastic member 500 to the movable gear 300, the movable gear ( It has an advantage that can improve the adhesion of the elastic member 500 to 300.

Reference numeral "40" denotes the tilt lever 40, and "50" is coupled to the tilt bolt 100 and the cam for moving the tilt bolt 100 forward and backward during the rotation operation of the tilt lever 40. The member 50 is shown.

In the second embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 6, the tilt bolt 100 is installed in the tilt hole in the tilt bracket 30 fixed integrally with the column tube 10 in which the steering shaft is accommodated. The ends of the tilted bolt 100 coupled to each other pass through the through hole 205 of the fixed gear 200 and the fitting hole 505 of the elastic member 500, and then the coupling hole of the movable gear 300. 305 has a structure that is fastened to the fixing member 400 through.

As described above, the auxiliary gear 600 has a third gear part 610 that is elastically supported by the finger portion 510 of the elastic member 500 coupled to the receiving groove 320 and the other side of the auxiliary gear 600 is fixed gear ( The first gear 210 of the 200 is disposed to face each other.

7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E are diagrams illustrating states of the first, second, and third gear parts according to a situation, and sequentially show unlock, tooth jam, rotation of the finger part 510, tilting lift, and lock operation. will be.

In the case of the unlock operation, as shown in FIG. 7A, the second gear part 610 and the second gear part 310 of the movable gear 300 are moved in the state in which the auxiliary gear 600 is elastically supported by the finger portion 510. The first gear part 210 of the fixed gear 200 is maintained in a tiltable state without being engaged with each other.

At this time, the finger portion 510 is a state in which the load is not transmitted, and maintains the rotatable state as the auxiliary gear 600 by the load transmitted through the auxiliary gear 600.

In the case of a tooth jam, as shown in FIG. 7B, the gear pitches of the third gear part 610 of the auxiliary gear 600 and the first gear part 210 of the fixed gear 200 are the same. The double teeth caught in contact with the acidic portion of the first gear portion 210 of the movable gear 300 is the mountain portion of the third gear portion 610 of the auxiliary gear 600 is elastically supported by the finger portion 510 in the The phenomenon occurs.

In the case of the rotation of the finger part 510, as shown in FIG. 7C, a load is applied to the finger part 510 through the auxiliary gear 600 due to the previous toothing phenomenon, and thus the finger part 510 is accommodated. The auxiliary gear 600 is rotated together while being rotated toward the groove 320, and as a result, the third gear part 610 and the first gear part 210 are spaced apart from each other to generate a gap, and thus the third gear part 610. And the height displacement of the first gear portion 210 is generated.

Subsequently, the movable gear 300 and the auxiliary gear 600 may move in the axial direction of the tilt bolt 100 by the gap.

In the tilting operation, as shown in FIG. 7D, the hill portion of the third gear 610 of the auxiliary gear 600 is positioned at the height of the bone portion of the first gear 210 due to the above-described height displacement. In the axial movement of the tilt bolt 100 of the movable gear 300 and the auxiliary gear 600, the third gear part 610 is moved on the inclined surface of the mountain of the first gear part 210.

At this time, the movable gear 300 and the elastic member 500 is a force acting in the direction of the inclined surface movement of the mountain portion, the force is raised to the movable gear 300 and the tilt bolt 100 assembled with the elastic member 500. The second gear part 310 of the movable gear 300 moved as shown in FIG. 7E is engaged with the first gear part 210 of the fixed gear 200 to suppress tilting.

Meanwhile, the tilt bolt 100 is linearly reciprocated in the axial direction according to the operating principle of the tilt lever 40 and the cam member 50, which is known as in the past, and the fixed gear (for the forward operation of the tilt bolt 100) Since the engagement state between the 200 and the movable gear 300 is released, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Therefore, in the present invention, since the auxiliary gear 600 guides the gears of the movable gear 300 to the fixed gear 200, the tilting of the auxiliary gear 600 is performed in a simple configuration using the elastic member 500 and the auxiliary gear 600. Double tilting phenomenon can be prevented during the tilting operation of the lever 40, and the cost can be reduced.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment should be interpreted by the claims. Those skilled in the art having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

10: column tube 20: steering shaft
30: tilt bracket 40: tilt lever
50: cam member 100: tilt bolt
200: fixed gear 205: through hole
210: first gear part 300: movable gear
305: coupling hole 310: second gear
320: receiving groove 400: fixing member
410: fixing washer 420: fixing nut
500: elastic member 505: fitting hole
510: bullet section 515: bending section
530: binding unit 600: auxiliary gear
605: arc groove 610: third gear

Claims (5)

Tilt brackets fixed integrally with the steering column and formed with a tilt hole, a tilt bolt 100 coupled to penetrate the tilt hole of the tilt bracket, and a through hole 205 formed at the center so that the tilt bolt 100 penetrates. And left and right sides of the fixed gear 200 having the first gear part 210 formed thereon, and a coupling hole 305 formed to penetrate the end of the tilt bolt 100, and the fixed gear 200 with each other. The second gear portion 310 is formed on the left and right edges of the facing surface is fastened to the movable gear 300 that can be engaged with the fixed gear 200 and the end of the tilt bolt 100 and the It is provided with a fixing member 400 for preventing the departure of the movable gear 300,
An accommodation groove 320 formed between the second gear 310 on one side of the movable gear 300;
An elastic member 500 having one side coupled to the accommodating groove 320 and a fitting hole 505 formed at the center thereof so that the tilt bolt 100 penetrates and the other side is bent to form a tangy part 510.
The third gear part 610, which is in surface contact with one side to be in close contact with the finger part 510 of the elastic member 500, and which can be tooth-coupled with the gear teeth of the first gear part 210 on both left and right sides of the other side, respectively. The auxiliary gear 600 is formed,
The auxiliary gear 600 is a vehicle steering ratchet structure, characterized in that the inclined surface is formed so as to become thinner toward the upper side on one side that is in contact with the finger portion 510. The method according to claim 1,
The gripping part 510 of the elastic member 500 further includes a bent part 515 formed to be bent toward the receiving groove part 320 at the other end thereof. The method according to claim 1,
The auxiliary gear 600 is a vehicle steering ratchet structure, characterized in that the arcuate groove portion 605 is formed concave so that the outer peripheral bottom of the tilt bolt 100 is seated in the upper center. The method according to claim 1,
The auxiliary gear 600 is a vehicle steering ratchet structure, characterized in that the third gear portion 610 is disposed to protrude toward the first gear portion 210 than the second gear portion 310. The method according to claim 1,
The elastic member 500 is a steering ratchet structure for a vehicle, characterized in that it further comprises a binding portion 530 extending to bind to bind the upper portion of the movable gear 300 on one side.

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