JPH0441016Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a telescopic steering device in which the position of a steering wheel can be adjusted in the axial direction of a steering shaft.

[Prior art]

As a conventional telescopic steering device, as filed by the present applicant in U.S. Pat. a second shaft that is slidably fitted only in the axial direction to the upper end of the first shaft and a steering wheel is assembled to the upper end; It is known to have a locking mechanism that releasably locks onto the shaft. In such a steering device, stoppers are provided between the two shafts that come into contact with each other when the second shaft slides in the axial direction, and the action of these stoppers changes the stroke amount of the second shaft. The amount of position adjustment of the steering wheel is specified.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

By the way, unlike the above-mentioned conventional type of telescopic steering device, there is a first shaft rotatably supported within a first tube with regulated movement in the axial direction, and an upper end of the first shaft. The second part is slidably fitted only in the axial direction, and the steering wheel is attached to the upper end of the second part.
a shaft, the second shaft is rotatably supported within the second shaft while restricting movement in the axial direction, and the first tube is assembled to the first tube or the upper end outer periphery of the first shaft; The third tube is slidably fitted in the axial direction to the second tube located at the second tube.
tube and a locking mechanism that releasably locks the third tube to the first or second tube, the advantage is that the supporting rigidity of the second shaft can be increased. However, there are the following problems.

That is, when the telescopic steering device is configured as described above, the fitting portion of both tubes becomes an axial sliding portion, but it is necessary to provide a stopper means for restricting the sliding of the third tube toward the extension side. Must be provided at the mating part. Therefore, when providing a stopper means in such a fitting part,
The smooth sliding of the third tube must not be impaired.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides an axial groove on the inner periphery of the first or second tube in the fitting portion of both tubes of the latter telescopic steering device, and an upper end of the groove. a first protrusion facing the third protrusion;
A second protrusion is formed by cutting and raising a predetermined amount below the first protrusion on the outer periphery of the tube, and faces into the groove and faces the first protrusion. The structure is as follows.

[Functions and effects of the idea]

As a result, in the present invention, the first protrusion provided on the first or second tube side and the second protrusion provided on the third tube side function as a stopper, and the third tube is extended. When the tubes slide toward each other by a predetermined amount, they surely come into contact with each other to prevent further sliding of the same tube.

Therefore, even if the protrusions are provided on both tubes, there is no effect on the set shape, concentricity, etc. of both tubes, and smooth sliding of the third tube is ensured. Further, the second protrusion provided on the third tube side has a guiding function and a rotation prevention function when the tube slides, and there is no need to provide a special guide member and rotation prevention member. Furthermore, since the second protrusion is formed by cutting and raising the third tube, it can be formed at low cost and with high precision.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a telescopic steering device according to an example of the present invention with the steering wheel removed, and FIG. The figure shows the steering device assembled to the vehicle body.

In such a steering device, the steering shaft includes an upper shaft 10a which is a second shaft and a lower shaft 10 which is a first shaft.
b, the upper shaft 10a is composed of the first shaft 11 and the second shaft 12, and the lower shaft 10b is composed of the third shaft 1.
3, a fourth shaft 14 and a fifth shaft 15. Such lower shaft 10b
, the fourth shaft 14 is connected at its upper end to the third shaft 13 via a universal joint 16, and is fitted and fixed to the fifth shaft 15 at its lower end, and a lower tube, which is a first tube, is connected to the third shaft 13 through a universal joint 16. 21 and is rotatably supported. Further, in this lower shaft 10b, the fifth
The lower end of the shaft 15 is connected to a gearbox via a universal joint (not shown). On the other hand, in the Atsupashi shaft 10a, the second shaft 1
2 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is fixed coaxially with the lower end of the first shaft 11, and the second shaft 12 is spline-fitted to the outer periphery of the third shaft 13 so as to be connected to the third shaft 13. They are connected to be slidable in the axial direction and capable of transmitting torque. Further, the attenuation shaft 10a is inserted into and rotatably supported by an attenuation tube 22, which is a third tube, and a steering wheel W is attached to the upper end of the first shaft 11.

The lower tube 21 is assembled to the vehicle body below the instrument panel via a fixed bracket 23 and an auxiliary bracket 24 fixed to its upper end. Further, the attachment tube 22 is slidably inserted in the axial direction into the cylindrical portion 25a, which is the second tube, of the rotation bracket 25, which is supported on both left and right outer sides of the fixed bracket 23 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction by a predetermined amount. It is releasably locked by a lock mechanism 50, which will be described later. As a result, when the attachment tube 22 is unlocked from the rotating bracket 25, the attachment tube 22, the first shaft 11, and the second shaft 12 slide in the axial direction relative to the cylindrical portion 25a of the rotation bracket 25 and the third shaft 13. The position of the steering wheel W can be adjusted in the axial direction. A fixed bracket 23 and a rotating bracket 25 connect the upper tube 22 and the lower tube 21.
A pair of left and right tilt mechanisms 30, 40 are provided on both the left and right sides of the
is installed. Further, a pair of left and right tension springs 26a and 26b are interposed between the fixed bracket 23 and the rotating bracket 25, and the rotating bracket 25 is always biased counterclockwise in the second figure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the first tilt mechanism 30 has a ratchet 31, a ball 32, a first release lever 33, a cover plate 34, and a second release lever 35 as its main components.

The ratchet 31 is a plate-like member that also serves as a support for the fixed bracket 23 fixed to the left arm portion 25b of the rotating bracket 25, and is provided with an arc-shaped tooth portion 31a on one end side.
The bolt 22 is pivotally mounted on one side of the fixed bracket 23 by a serration bolt 36a so as to face the teeth 31a of the ratchet 31 and has teeth 32a at its tip which mesh with the ratchet 31.

The first release lever 33 separates the ball 32 from the ratchet 31 and releases the engagement between these two 31 and 32. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first release lever 33 consists of a lever 33a and an auxiliary plate 33b. Both 33a and 33b are connected to each other by sandwiching a roller 33c for pressing the ball 32 at their tips. The first release lever 33 is rotatably supported in the vertical direction by a serration bolt 36b that supports the rotary bracket 25 on the fixed bracket 23, and the lever 33a
An engagement pin 32b implanted in the ball 32 is fitted into a cam groove 33d provided on one end side. Also,
One end of a tension spring 36c, which is fixed to the fixed bracket 23, is fixed to one end of the lever 33a, and the roller 33c elastically contacts the back of the ball 32 due to its biasing force, and latches the ball 32. 31 is engaged.

The cover plate 34 defines the engaging portion of the ball 32 with the ratchet 31, and as shown in FIG. 8, the end of the plate portion 34a is provided with an arcuate cover portion 34b and a protrusion 34c. A toothed portion 34 is provided inside the portion 34b.
It is equipped with d. This cover plate 34 is equipped with an arcuate leaf spring 34e and an engagement pin 34f, and is rotatably and slidably assembled on the serration bolt 36b on the outside of the ratchet 31 in the radial direction. 34e elastically abuts against the back of the ratchet 31. As a result, the cover plate 34 engages its teeth 34d with the ratchet 31a by the biasing force of the leaf spring 34e, thereby covering a part of the outer periphery of the teeth 31a.

The second release lever 35 slides on the cover plate 34 to adjust the position of the engagement portion of the ball 32 with respect to the ratchet 31. As shown in FIG. The first
It is rotatably assembled on the serration bolt 36b between the release lever 33 and the cover plate 34. This second release lever 35 comes into contact with the mounting bolt 36f of the retainer plate 36d by the biasing force of a tension spring 36e whose one end is locked to the outermost retainer plate 36d, thereby restricting further rotation. has been done. In this state, the engagement pin 34f of the cover plate 34 faces and engages with the cam groove 35c. In addition,
A guide plate 3 is installed on the outside of the fixed bracket 23.
7 is assembled, its engagement recess 37a is located opposite the protrusion 34c of the cover plate 34, and the cover plate 34 slides to engage the protrusion 34c.
When the object enters, the rotation of the cover plate 34 is restricted.

On the other hand, the second tilt mechanism 40 has a ratchet 41,
The main components are a ball 42 and a release lever 43. In these members, the ratchet 41 and ball 42 are similar to the ratchet 31 and ball 32 in the first tilt mechanism 30, and the release lever 43 is formed as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

The release lever 43 releases the ball 42 from the ratchet 4.
1 to release the engagement between the lever 43a and the auxiliary plate 43.
b, and both of these 43a and 43b have rollers 4 for pressing the ball 42 at their tips.
They are connected by sandwiching 3c. The release lever 43 is supported by a serration bolt 44a so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction.
An engagement pin 42a implanted in the ball 42 is fitted into the cam groove 43d provided in the cam groove 43d. Further, a tension spring 44b whose one end is fixed to the fixed bracket 23 is fixed to one end of the lever 43a, and the roller 43c is pushed against the ball 42 by the biasing force of the tension spring 44b.
The ball 42 is brought into mesh with the ratchet 41 by elastically abutting against the back of the ratchet.

The first release lever 33 of the first tilt mechanism 30 and the release lever 43 of the second tilt mechanism 40 are
They are connected by a connecting member 38 shown in the figure and FIG. 13. The connecting member 38 is a lever bent into an L-shape, and is rotatably assembled on the serration bolt 36b between the cover plate 34 and the second release lever 35. This connecting member 3
8, the connecting pin 38b provided in the plate portion 38a is connected to the connecting hole 3 provided in the first release lever 33.
An arm portion 43e provided on the release lever 43 is assembled with a pair of bolts to an arm portion 38c that is fitted into the release lever 3e and extends to the right at the lower end of the plate portion 38a. As a result, both release levers 33 and 43 are connected to each other, and the first release lever 3
3 rotates the connecting member 38 and simultaneously rotates the release lever 43.

Further, the cam grooves 33d and 43d of both release levers 33 and 43 are formed asymmetrically,
A slight time difference is provided between the engagement and disengagement of each ball 32, 42 with each ratchet 31, 41. In the cam groove 33d of the first release lever 33, the base end side is formed as a circular arc part 33d1 centered on the serration bolt 36b, and the distal end side is formed as a cam part 33d2. On the other hand, in the cam groove 43d of the release lever 43, the base end side is formed as a cam portion 43d1, and the distal end side is formed as an arcuate portion 43d2 centered on the serration bolt 44a. As a result, when the release levers 33, 43 are rotated, the pressure of the rollers 33c, 43c on each ball 32, 42 is simultaneously released, but after that, the ball 4 is released first.
The pawl 32 is separated from the ratchet 41 and disengaged therefrom, and then the pawl 32 is separated from the ratchet 31 and disengaged therefrom. Note that when each ball 32, 42 meshes with each ratchet 31, 41, ball 32 has priority.

The lock mechanism 50 consists of a lock member 51, a pusher 52, a screw rod 53, and an operating lever 54, as shown in FIG. In this lock mechanism 50, the screw rod 53 is connected to the cylindrical portion 25 of the rotating bracket 25.
It is screwed into one side of a so as to be movable forward and backward, and a presser 52 is screwed onto the inner circumference thereof. The pusher 52 is formed into a conical shape, and as the screw rod 53 advances, it presses the locking member 51 and brings its arcuate surface 51a into pressure contact with the outer peripheral surface of the attachment tube 22, thereby locking the attachment tube 22 to the rotation bracket 25. , and by retracting the screw rod 53, the pressure contact of the locking member 51 with respect to the upper tube 22 is released, and the lock of the upper tube 22 with respect to the rotation bracket 25 is released. The screw rod 53 is moved back and forth by rotating an operating lever 54 attached to its outer end so as to be able to transmit torque.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 14, a bulge extending in the axial direction is provided on one side of the cylindrical portion 25a of the rotating bracket 25, and the inside of this bulge extends in the axial direction. The groove portion 25c has a predetermined width. Further, the groove portion 2 of the atupati tube 22
A second protrusion 22a is formed at a portion corresponding to 5c by cutting and raising the same portion. This second protrusion 22a corresponds to the second protrusion of the present invention and faces into the groove 25c, and faces the bolt 27 which is screwed onto the upper end of the groove 25a and faces into the groove 25c. The bolt 27 corresponds to the first protrusion of the present invention, and will be hereinafter referred to as the first protrusion 27. As a result, Atsupachiyubu 2
2 slides in the extension direction, the second protrusion 22a
comes into contact with the first protrusion 27, and the attachment tube 22
prevents further sliding in the direction of extension. Further, a plurality of leg portions 28a are protruded from a combination switch CS assembly plate 28 fixed to the outer periphery of the intermediate portion of the attachment tube 22.
Each leg portion 28a is deformable in the axial direction, and when the uppipe tube 22 slides in the contraction direction, it comes into contact with the upper end of the cylindrical portion 25a of the rotating bracket 25, preventing further sliding of the top tube tube 22 in the contraction direction. prevent.

In the steering device constructed in this way, when the first release lever 33 of the first tilt mechanism 30 is not operated, the rotating bracket 25 is locked to the fixed bracket 23 by the action of both the left and right tilt mechanisms 30 and 40. In this case, the first tilt mechanism 30
is in the state shown in FIG. 3, and also in the second tilt mechanism 40, the ratchet 41, ball 42 and release lever 43 are in the same state as in the first tilt mechanism 30.

When the first release lever 33 of the first tilt mechanism 30 in this state is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3, the connecting member 38 and the release lever 43 of the second tilt mechanism 40 are rotated in the same direction. move. As a result, the pressure of each ball 32, 42 by each roller 33c, 43c provided on each release lever 33, 43 is released almost simultaneously, but each cam groove 33
d and 43d, the ball 42 first separates from the ratchet 41 and is disengaged from it, and then the ball 32 separates from the ratchet 31 and disengages from it. As a result, the rotation bracket 25 is unlocked from the fixed bracket 23 by both tilt mechanisms 30 and 40, and the rotation bracket 25, the upper shaft 10 and the upper shaft 10 supported thereon are released.
a. The steering wheel W is raised as shown in FIG. 4 by the action of both tension springs 26a and 26b.

In the first tilt mechanism 30 in this state, the cover plate 34 is engaged with the ratchet 31, and releases the portion of the arcuate toothed portion 31a of the ratchet 31 in which the ball 32 was engaged so as to be able to engage with it. The portion is covered with a cover portion 34b. Therefore, when the raised steering wheel W is pushed down, the ball 32 pressed by the roller 33c slides on the outer periphery of the cover portion 34b of the cover plate 34 and returns to the original engagement site of the arcuate tooth portion 31a. It reaches and engages the same part. Also,
In the second tilt mechanism 40, the roller 43c presses the ball 42, but before the latch 31 and the ball 32 engage, the action of the engagement pin 42a and the cam groove 43d keeps the latch 41 and the ball 42 apart. Separate, ratchet 31 and ball 3
Immediately after the two meshes, the ball 42 meshes with the ratchet 41. Thereby, the steering wheel W always returns to its original position.

Next, a case will be described in which the position of the steering wheel W is adjusted in the vertical direction. In this case, the second release lever 35 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 3. As a result, the cover plate 34
is slid to the left in the figure by the action of the engagement pin 34f and the cam groove 35c of the second release lever 35,
As the cover portion 34b is separated from the ratchet 31, the projection portion 34c is moved away from the guide plate 3.
7 into the engagement recess 37a. Therefore, the ratchet 31 can rotate relative to the cover plate 34. Further, when the second release lever 35 is further rotated, the engagement pin 35d provided on the second release lever 35 engages with the first release lever 33 and rotates it integrally. Therefore, the release lever 43 simultaneously rotates via the connecting member 38, and the rotation bracket 25 is unlocked from the fixed bracket 23 by both the tilt mechanisms 30 and 40, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the steering wheel W can be moved up and down while the second release lever 35 is held at its rotational position, and after the steering wheel W has been moved up and down to a desired position, the second release lever 35 can be moved up and down. When the operation of
2 and 42 mesh with originally different parts of the arcuate teeth of each ratchet 31 and 41. Thereafter, the second release lever 35 is rotated back to return the cover plate 34 to the non-operating position, and its teeth 34d are brought into engagement with a different part of the arcuate teeth 31a. In this case, the tooth portion 34d of the cover plate 34
meshes with the tooth portion 31a of the ratchet 31 that is shifted by the adjustment angle of the steering wheel W from the tooth portion of the ratchet 31 that was engaged before the position adjustment of the steering wheel W, and the adjusted position of the steering wheel W is memorized.

However, in the steering device,
Rotating bracket 25 is rotated by operating lock mechanism 50.
By unlocking the upper tube 22 and sliding it in the axial direction, the upper tube 22 and the upper shaft 10a supported thereon are expanded and contracted, and the axial position of the steering wheel W is adjusted. When adjusting this position,
A second protrusion 22a provided on the attachment tube 22 and a first
The protrusion 27 functions as a stopper when the attachment tube 22 slides in the extension direction, and the leg portion 28a provided on the assembly plate 28 and the upper end of the cylindrical portion 25a prevent the attachment tube 22 from sliding in the contraction direction. It functions as a time stopper.

In this way, the fitting portion between the attachment tube 22 and the cylindrical portion 25a of the rotation bracket 25 in this embodiment has the second protrusion 22a on the attachment tube 22.
and the first protrusion 27 is screwed onto the tube 25a, so there is no welding distortion compared to the case where a member functioning as a stopper is welded to the tube 22 and the tube 25a, so there is no distortion between the two. The roundness of the tube 22 is maintained, and smooth sliding of the attenuation tube 22 is ensured.

Therefore, even if the protrusions 22a and 27 are provided on the tube 22 and the cylindrical portion 25a, the tube 2
2. There is no influence on the set shape, concentricity, etc. of the cylindrical portion 25a, and smooth sliding of the tube 22 is ensured. Further, the second protrusion 22a provided on the tube 22 side has a guiding function and a rotation prevention function when the tube 22 slides, and there is no need to provide a special guide member and rotation prevention member. Furthermore, the second protrusion 22a is connected to the tube 2.
Since it is formed by cutting and raising 2, it can be formed at low cost and with high precision.

In this embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a tilt steering device is shown, but the present invention can also be applied to a normal steering device that does not include a tilt mechanism.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the main parts of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side view showing how the device is assembled to a vehicle body, and Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of Fig. 2. 4 and 5 are side views corresponding to FIG. 3 showing the operating state of the tilt mechanism, FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the first release lever, and FIG.
The figures are a sectional view taken along the arrow-line in Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is an enlarged side view of the cover plate, Fig. 9 is an enlarged side view of the second release lever, Fig. 10 is an enlarged side view of the release lever, Figure 11 shows the arrow in Figure 10 -
12 is an enlarged side view of the connecting member, FIG. 13 is an enlarged front view thereof, and FIG. 14 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional front view of the locking mechanism. Explanation of the code, 10a... Atsupashiyaft, 10
b...Lower shaft, 21...Lower shaft, 2
2...Application tube, 22a...Second protrusion (second protrusion), 23...Fixing bracket, 25
...Rotating bracket, 25c...Groove, 27...
First protrusion (first protrusion), 30, 40... Tilt mechanism, 31, 41... Ratchet, 32, 4
2...Ball, 33, 35, 43...Release lever, 38...Connection member, 50...Lock mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A first shaft rotatably supported within the first tube with regulated movement in the axial direction; a second shaft to which a steering wheel is assembled; and a second shaft rotatably supported within the second shaft while restricting movement in the axial direction, the second shaft being assembled to the first tube or the same tube. a third tube slidably fitted in the axial direction to the second tube located on the outer periphery of the upper end of the first shaft; and the third tube is releasable to the first or second tube. and a locking mechanism for locking the tube, and an axial groove on the inner periphery of the first or second tube in the fitting portion of both tubes, and a first protrusion facing the upper end of the groove. , and the third
A second protrusion is formed by cutting and raising a predetermined amount below the first protrusion on the outer periphery of the tube, and faces into the groove and faces the first protrusion. A telescopic steering device.