JP2002120731A - Vehicle steering system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To heighten the rigidity of a steering column to a large extent and provide an inexpensive, simple stopper for the axial and circumferential directions. SOLUTION: A pair of clamping members 12a and 12b are installed on an outer column 4 in such a way as embracing an inner column 3 and moved by a fastening bolt 13 in such a way as approching each other, and thereby the inner column 3 is clamped being embraced. According to this constitution in which the inner column 3 is clamped directly by the outer column 4, it is possible to heighten the rigidity of the columns 3 and 4. Between the two clamping members 12a and 12b, a stopper member 11 is interposed, whose shank 11b is engaged with an axially directed oblong hole 3a in the inner column 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a telescopic system in which the axial position of a steering wheel can be adjusted according to the driving posture of a driver, or a tilt system in which the inclination angle of a steering wheel can be adjusted. The present invention relates to a tilt / telescopic type vehicle steering device that is also provided.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a vehicle steering system, there is a tilt / telescopic type steering system capable of adjusting an inclination angle of a steering wheel and an axial position of the steering wheel in accordance with a driving posture of a driver.

For example, in a tilt telescopic steering apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-278283, an upper inner column is slidably inserted and fitted into a lower outer column. A distance bracket having a telescopic adjustment groove is attached to the upper inner column, and the distance bracket is configured to be pressed into contact with a vehicle body side bracket having a tilt adjustment groove. A tightening bolt is inserted into the telescopic adjustment groove and the tilt adjustment groove, and an operation lever is attached to one end of the tightening bolt.

When the operating lever is swung, the tightening bolt moves in the axial direction to release the pressure contact between the vehicle body side bracket and the distance bracket, and the tightening bolt is moved vertically along the tilt adjusting groove. It is possible to adjust the inclination angle of the inner column on the upper side by moving it, and to move the tightening bolt in the axial direction along the telescopic adjustment groove to adjust the axial position of the inner column on the upper side. .

After the tilt and telescopic adjustment,
When the operation lever is swung in the opposite direction, the tightening bolt moves in the axial direction to press the body side bracket against the distance bracket, thereby tightening the upper side inner column after tilt and telescopic adjustment. be able to. Further, as described above, both the tilt adjustment and the telescopic adjustment can be performed by swinging one operation lever.

[0006]

In the tilt telescopic steering apparatus disclosed in the above publication, an inner column on the upper side is slidably fitted to an outer column on the lower side to increase the rigidity of both columns. are doing.

However, the inner column on the upper side is not necessarily directly clamped to the outer column on the lower side, so that when a bending load is applied to the steering wheel (ie, the steering wheel is twisted in the vertical direction). ), The inner column on the upper side sometimes moves so as to swing slightly, and the rigidity of both columns was not necessarily high.

It is conceivable to increase the rigidity by providing a plurality of reinforcing plates on the distance bracket provided on the inner column on the upper side. However, the increase in the number of parts may lead to an increase in manufacturing costs. There is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to provide a vehicle steering apparatus in which the rigidity of a steering column is significantly increased and the tilt and / or telescopic position can be adjusted. And

[0010]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: an inner column for rotatably supporting one end of a steering shaft; An outer column rotatably supporting the other end of the steering shaft, and slidably fitted to the inner column;
A pair of clamp members formed integrally with the outer column and capable of approaching or separating from each other through a gap, and each having a holding surface for holding the inner column; The stopper member mounted on the inner column and engaged with the axially long hole formed in the inner column, and the pair of clamp members are moved so as to approach each other, and the inner column is fastened and held by the pair of clamp members. And a telescopic position of the steering shaft can be adjusted by releasing the tightening of the tightening means and moving the steering shaft in the axial direction.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering apparatus for a vehicle according to the first aspect, wherein the outer column is rotatably supported by a vehicle body. The tilt position of the steering shaft can be adjusted when the fastening means is released.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: an inner column rotatably supporting one end of a steering shaft; and the other end of the steering shaft. An outer column rotatably supported on the end side, slidably fitted to the inner column, and rotatably supported on the vehicle body side; integrally formed on the outer column; A pair of clamp portions that are possible, a stopper member interposed in a gap between the pair of clamp members, and a stopper member engaged with an axially long hole formed in the inner column; Each has a holding surface for holding the inner column, and a pair of top members made of metal and a pair of clamp members are arranged close to each other. And a tightening means for tightening and enclosing the inner column with the pair of top members, thereby releasing the tightening of the tightening means and moving the steering shaft in the axial direction. The telescopic position of the steering shaft is adjustable.

As described above, in the vehicle steering apparatus according to the present invention, the pair of clamp members integral with the outer column are provided so as to enclose the inner column, By the attaching means, the pair of clamp members are moved so as to approach each other, and the inner column is held and clamped by the pair of clamp members. Therefore, since the inner column is configured to be directly clamped by the outer column in this manner, when a bending load is applied to the steering wheel (ie,
Even if the steering wheel is twisted in the vertical direction), the inner column does not move so as to swing slightly, and the rigidity of both columns can be significantly increased.

According to the present invention, since the stopper member interposed in the gap between the pair of clamp members is engaged with the axially long hole formed in the inner column, the stopper member is rotated in the rotational direction ( In the rotational direction, both columns are mechanically held as well as held only by friction. Therefore, even when a very large torque is applied to the steering wheel, the outer column and the inner column do not relatively rotate.

Further, at the time of telescopic sliding, the stopper member can move in the axially long hole of the inner column, and when the stopper member abuts on the end of the axially long hole, the telescopic sliding of the inner column can be reduced. Can act as a stopper in the axial direction.

Further, according to the present invention, since the stopper is provided, it is not necessary to complicate the mold and to process the screw thread in a post-process, and the configuration of the stopper is extremely simple. Manufacturing costs can be reduced.

Further, when a tightening bolt (tilt bolt) which penetrates a pair of clamp members is used as the tightening means, if the tightening bolt penetrates the stopper member, the stopper member may fall off. Can be eliminated.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A tilt telescopic type vehicle steering system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tilt telescopic type vehicle steering system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the steering device shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing a main part of the steering device of FIG. 2 in an enlarged manner. FIG.
It is a cross-sectional view along the A line. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steering shaft is composed of an upper shaft 1 which fixedly supports a steering wheel (not shown) at the rear end of the vehicle and a lower shaft 2 which is spline-fitted to the upper shaft. The steering column is configured to be extendable and contractable. The steering column includes an upper inner column 3 that rotatably supports the upper shaft 1 via a ball bearing 31 at an upper end, and a lower shaft 2 via a ball bearing 33 at a lower end. And is slidably supported by a lower side outer column 4 fitted to the upper side inner column 3. The upper shaft 1 is provided with a C-ring 35 for preventing the upper shaft from being pushed into the inner column 3.
Also, a C-ring 37 for preventing the lower shaft 2 from being pushed into the outer column 4 is provided.

A bracket 6 having a tilt adjusting groove 5 is provided around the lower outer column 4 as shown in FIG. The bracket 6 has a flange portion 6a connected to the vehicle body on the rear side of the vehicle, has an inverted U-shape as a whole as a whole, and integrally forms opposing side plate portions 6b and 6c.

As shown in FIG. 5, a separate lower bracket 7 is provided on the lower side of the vehicle body side bracket 6 so as to surround the vehicle body side bracket 6. The lower bracket 7 is formed with downward facing side plate portions 7b and 7c for holding the upper plate portion 7a connected to the vehicle body and the facing side plate portions 6b and 6c of the bracket 6 in contact therewith. The cylindrical portion 8 is formed such that both ends contact the inside of the opposite side plate portions 6b and 6c of the bracket 6.
Are formed integrally with the front end of the outer column 4.
A tilt center bolt 10a is inserted through a spacer tube 9 between the opposed side plate portions 7b and 7c of the lower bracket 7, the opposed side plate portions 6b and 6c of the bracket 6, and the cylindrical portion 8. It is tightened. Thus, the lower outer column 4 can be tilted about the tilt center bolt 10a. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower bracket 7 has a tilt center bolt 1 at the time of the secondary collision collapse.
A detaching open slit 7d for detaching 0 is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the lower outer column 4 extends rearward to a position almost covering the fitting portion between the upper shaft 1 and the lower shaft 2.
Further, an outer jacket portion 4a is integrally provided over a certain length range behind the fitting portion.

As shown in FIG. 4, an axial slot L is formed in the center of the upper portion of the outer jacket portion 4a, and a pair of clamps for holding and clamping the inner column 3 on the upper side. The clamp members 12a and 12b are formed.

Each of the clamp members 12 a and 12 b has an inner peripheral surface having a shape adapted to the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 3 and an outer surface that contacts the inside of the vehicle body side bracket 6. It is desirable that the inner peripheral surfaces of the clamp members 12a and 12b contact the outer peripheral surface of the inner column 3 over 180 degrees in the circumferential direction. Also, the contact may be made from at least three directions in the circumferential direction.

In this embodiment, a stopper member 11 is interposed in a gap L (slit) between the pair of clamp members 12a and 12b. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the stopper member 11 includes a clamp member 12a,
The head 11a mounted on the shoulders 12c and 12d respectively formed on the inner column 12b and the shaft 11b at the lower end engaging with the axially long hole 3a formed on the inner column 3 are integrally formed. A tightening bolt 13 (tilt bolt) is inserted through the stopper member 11 and the clamp members 12a and 12b. A tightening nut 14 and a lock nut 15 are screwed into a screw portion of the tightening bolt 13.

As described above, the gap L between the pair of clamp members 12a and 12b is formed in the axially long hole 3a of the inner column 3.
Since the shaft portion 11b of the stopper member 11 interposed therebetween is engaged, the stopper member 11 functions as a stopper in the rotation direction (circumferential direction), and
Is mechanically held in the rotation direction, not only by friction. Therefore, even when a very large torque is applied to the steering wheel (not shown), the outer column 4 and the inner column 3 do not relatively rotate.

Further, during telescopic sliding, the shaft portion 11b of the stopper member 11 can move in the axially long hole 3a of the inner column 3, and the shaft portion 11b of the stopper member 11 is moved to the end of the axially long hole 3a. When it abuts the part, it can act as an axial stop for the telescopically sliding inner column 3.

Further, in this embodiment, since the stopper is provided, it is not necessary to complicate the mold and to machine the screw thread in a later step, and the configuration of the stopper is extremely simple. Yes, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, a pair of clamp members 12a, 12
Since the tightening bolt 13 (tilt bolt) penetrating through “b” also penetrates the stopper member 11, there is no possibility that the stopper member 11 will fall off. Further, the head 11a of the stopper member 11 is connected to the clamp members 12a, 12a.
Since the stopper member 11 is in contact with the shoulder portions 12c and 12d of FIG.

Further, at the time of telescopic tightening, as shown in FIG. 4, the stopper member 11, the clamp member 12a,
Since there is a gap between each of the clamp members 12b and the tightening bolt 13, the tightening bolt 13
By tightening a and 12b, the stopper member 11 and the inner column 3 can be firmly clamped.
However, only the head 11a of the stopper member 11 and the shoulders 12c, 12d of the clamp members 12a, 12b are in contact.

On the head side of the tightening bolt 13, an operation lever 16 is mounted, and a cam lock mechanism is provided. The cam lock mechanism includes a first cam member 17 that rotates integrally with the operation lever 16, and a shaft that engages with a peak or a valley of the first cam member 17 with the rotation of the first cam member 17. And a non-rotating second cam member 18 that moves in the direction to lock or unlock. Since the projection 17a of the first cam member 17 is fitted to the operation lever, the first cam member 17 is configured to be able to rotate integrally with the operation lever 16, and the second cam member 18 Projection 18a is tilt adjustment groove 5.
, The second cam member 18 is always non-rotating. The detachable capsule 19 at the time of the collapse of the secondary collision is provided on the flange portion 6a of the bracket 6.
a and 19b are provided. That is, the bracket 6 is connected to the vehicle body via the detaching capsules 19a and 19b.

With the above-described structure, at the time of a vehicle collision, the steering shaft assembly including the outer column 4, the inner column 3, the lower shaft 2 and the upper shaft 1 is attached to the lower bracket 7 together with the bracket 6 to the vehicle. Move forward.

When the operation lever 16 is swung in one direction at the time of tightening the tilt and telescopic, the first cam member 17 is rotated.
Simultaneously rotate to engage the valley portion from the valley portion to the peak portion of the second cam member 18, the second cam member 18 moves rightward in FIG. 3, and the vehicle body side bracket 6 is Press column 4.

Thus, the pair of clamp members 1
2a and 12b move so as to approach each other, clamp the stopper member 11 and clamp the inner column 3 on the upper side.

As described above, since the upper inner column 3 is directly clamped by the lower outer column 4, a bending load is applied to a steering wheel (not shown) (that is, the steering wheel is not shown). Even when the steering wheel (not shown) is twisted in the vertical direction, the inner column 3 on the upper side does not slightly swing, and the rigidity of both columns 3 and 4 is significantly increased. can do.

At the time of this telescopic tightening, as shown in FIG.
a, 12b, and the tightening bolt 13, there are gaps, respectively.
When the 2a and 12b are tightened, the stopper member 11 and the inner column 3 can be firmly clamped.

Further, the slot 3 in the axial direction of the inner column 3
Since the shaft portion 11b of the stopper member 11 is engaged with the stopper member 11a, the stopper member 11 is rotated in the rotational direction (circumferential direction).
, And the columns 3 and 4 are mechanically held in the rotation direction as well as being held only by friction. Therefore, even when a very large torque is applied to the steering wheel (not shown), the outer column 4 and the inner column 3 do not relatively rotate.

On the other hand, at the time of releasing the tilt / telescopic operation, when the operation lever 16 is swung in the reverse direction, the first cam member 17 rotates simultaneously, and engages from the peak to the valley of the second cam member 18. The second cam member 18 moves to the left in FIG. 3 to release the press-fixing of the vehicle body-side bracket 6 to the outer column 4, and separates the pair of clamp members 12a and 12b.

Thus, in the case of tilt adjustment, the tightening bolt 13 is moved along the tilt adjusting groove 5, the outer column 4 and the inner column 3 are tilted about the tilt center bolt 10, and the steering wheel (Not shown) can be adjusted as desired.

In the case of the telescopic adjustment, the inner column 3 on the upper side is slid in the axial direction with respect to the outer column 4 on the lower side, and the axial position of the steering wheel (not shown) is adjusted as desired. Can be.

At the time of this telescopic sliding, the shaft portion 11b of the stopper member 11 is
When the shaft portion 11b of the stopper member 11 abuts on the end of the axial long hole 3a, the stopper member 11 can function as a stopper in the axial direction for the inner column 3 that slides telescopically.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A pair of clamp members integral with the outer column are provided so as to surround the inner column, and furthermore, the pair of clamp members are moved so as to be close to each other by tightening means, and the inner column is brought into contact with the pair of clamp members. Is configured to be held and clamped by the clamp member. Therefore, since the inner column is configured to be directly clamped to the outer column in this manner, the case where a bending load is applied to the steering wheel (that is, the case where the steering wheel is twisted in the vertical direction). However, the inner column does not slightly swing, and the rigidity of both columns can be significantly increased.

According to the present invention, since the stopper member interposed in the gap between the pair of clamp members is engaged with the axially long hole formed in the inner column, the stopper member is rotated in the rotational direction ( In the rotational direction, both columns are mechanically held as well as held only by friction. Therefore, even when a very large torque is applied to the steering wheel, the outer column and the inner column do not relatively rotate.

Further, at the time of telescopic sliding, the stopper member can move within the axially long hole of the inner column, and when the stopper member comes into contact with the end of the axially long hole, the inner column of the inner column that slides telescopically. Can act as a stopper in the axial direction.

Further, in the present invention, since the stopper is provided, it is not necessary to complicate the mold and to machine the screw thread in a later step, and the structure of the stopper is extremely simple. Manufacturing costs can be reduced.

Further, when a tightening bolt (tilt bolt) that penetrates a pair of clamp members is used as the tightening means, if the tightening bolt penetrates the stopper member, the stopper member may fall off. Can be eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a tilt-telescopic vehicle steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the steering device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view showing a main part of the steering device of FIG. 2 in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 2;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Upper shaft 2 Lower shaft 3 Upper side inner column 3a Long axial hole 4 Lower side outer column 5 Tilt adjusting groove 6 Bracket 7 Lower bracket 7d Separation open slit 8 Cylindrical part 9 Spacer 10d Tilt center pin 11 Stopper Member 11a Head 11b Shaft 12 Clamping member 13 Tightening bolt (tightening means) 14 Tightening nut 15 Lock nut 16 Operating lever 17 First cam member 18 Second cam member 19 Capsule for detachment 31, 33 Ball bearing 35, 37 C-ring

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An inner column rotatably supporting one end of a steering shaft, and rotatably supporting the other end of the steering shaft and slidably fitted to the inner column. A pair of clamp members respectively formed integrally with the outer column, capable of approaching or separating from each other via a gap, and each having a holding surface for holding the inner column; and a pair of these clamp members. A stopper member interposed in a gap between the members and engaged with an axially long hole formed in the inner column; and moving the pair of clamp members so as to approach each other to move the inner column to the pair of clamp members. Means for tightening and enclosing by means of Move the ring shaft in the axial direction, the steering apparatus for a vehicle, wherein the telescopic position of the steering shaft is adjustable. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the outer column is rotatably supported by the vehicle body, and the tilt position of the steering shaft is adjustable when the tightening means is released. The vehicle steering device according to any one of the preceding claims. 3. An inner column for rotatably supporting one end of a steering shaft, and rotatably supporting the other end of the steering shaft and slidably fitted to the inner column. An outer column rotatably supported on the vehicle body side; a pair of clamp members formed integrally with the outer column and each having a holding surface for holding the inner column; and a pair of clamp members. A stopper member interposed in the gap of the inner column and engaged with an axially long hole formed in the inner column, and moving the pair of clamp members so as to approach each other, the inner column is moved by the pair of clamp members. Tightening means for tightening and enclosing the steering shaft. The vehicle steering device, wherein the tilt position is adjustable.