JPH045383Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a tilt meter device for an automobile.
Specifically, the present invention relates to a tilt meter device having a mechanism that assists in tilting a steering wheel. This is used in the field of steering devices that can change the angle of the steering wheel.

[Conventional technology]

Some automobiles have a mechanism that allows the vertical position of the steering wheel to be changed depending on the driver's body shape and seating posture. For example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 52-156032 describes an example in which certain improvements have been made to the steering device for such a vehicle.

In such a device, when the steering wheel is tilted according to the driver's preference, the relative position of the steering wheel and the meters and switches attached to the instrument pulse will change. As a result, the driver may find it difficult to see some of the gauges because they are hidden behind the steering wheel, or it may be difficult to operate the switches.

Therefore, attempts have been made in some sports cars to combine meters and switches into a single meter unit, and to have that unit tilt in conjunction with the tilt of the steering wheel. In this way, even if the position of the steering wheel is changed according to the body shape of the driver, the meter unit also tilts, thereby solving the above-mentioned difficulty.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, the meter unit is supported by a steering support member fixed to the vehicle body via the steering shaft. However, the meter unit is quite heavy, and it is difficult to ensure stable support and smooth tilting during tilting, and a solution to this problem is desired. Furthermore,
When tilting the steering device that is integrated with the meter unit, a particularly large force is required for tilting up, and it is also desirable to reduce the operating force.

By the way, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 58-33327 describes a meter mounting structure in which when the steering wheel is tilted, a link mechanism that rotates in response to the tilting of the steering wheel causes the meter unit and the like to tilt.

This consists of two long and short links that are pivoted to a bracket fixed to the vehicle body, and the other ends of which are pivoted to the side of the meter unit. A spring is applied between the pivot part on the bracket side of one link and the pivot part on the meter unit side of the other link, and the other link is always connected upwardly with the pivot part on the bracket side as the center. The meter unit is biased upward by the force that rotates it.

In such a structure, during a tilt operation, the above-described spring can reduce the weight burden of the meter unit on the steering shaft, and also reduce the tilt operation force of the steering handle.

However, the meter unit is pivoted to the bracket via a link mechanism, and
Since the support mechanism consists of only the two links described above, the meter unit, which is heavy, may wobble or its movement may be hindered, making it difficult to ensure stable support and tilting operation. In addition, since the meter unit is attached to a bracket fixed to the vehicle body, there is the problem that the support structure becomes complicated.

The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to enable the tilting of the meter unit to be linked to the tilt of the steering wheel, to further stabilize the support of the meter unit, and to ensure that the meter unit does not move when tilted. To provide a tilt meter device for an automobile, which enables smooth tilting of a steering wheel and further assists the operation of tilting up a steering wheel, thereby reducing the operation force.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention is applied to a tilt meter device for an automobile, in which a steering device for interlocking and tilting a meter unit is provided via a tilt mechanism to a steering support member fixed to a vehicle body.

Its characteristics are as shown in Figure 1.
A meter set bracket 18 provided on the tilt mechanism 4 and a meter unit 2 disposed above the steering device are connected via a columnar member 20. Further, a guide portion 6 that guides the movement of the columnar member 20 when the meter unit 2 is tilted by a tilt operation is formed on the steering support member 5 located between the meter unit 2 and the tilt mechanism 4. A guide portion 6 provided on the meter unit 2 and the steering support member 5
A spring member 7 that assists the tilting operation is fitted around the outer periphery of the columnar member 20 located between.

[Effect]

If the driver tilts the steering wheel, move the steering wheel in the desired upward or downward direction. With the movement of the steering wheel, via the meter set bracket 18 and the columnar member 20 provided on the tilt mechanism 4,
The meter unit 2 moves up and down. At this time, the movement of the columnar member 20 is reliably guided by the guide portion 6 formed on the steering support member 5, and the meter unit 2 is tilted smoothly without wobbling or being hindered in its movement.

In such a tilt operation, when the steering device is lifted up, the spring member 7 fitted onto the columnar member 20 located between the meter unit 2 and the guide portion 6 of the steering support member 5 It bears a considerable portion of the weight of the meter unit 2, tilt mechanism 4, and steering device as a whole. Therefore, the person performing the tilt operation only needs to support the load that is not supported by the spring member 7. the result,
Compared to the case where the spring member 7 is not present, the operating force is extremely small.

Note that the spring member 7 is maintained in its installed position by the columnar member 20 in a stable position, and the ease of assembling the spring member 7 is also improved. In this way, the tilting of the meter unit 2 and its support are stabilized, and the ease of mounting the meter unit 2 is also improved.

[Effect of idea]

According to the present invention, the meter unit is supported only by the steering device, and the meter unit is stably supported, and the guide portion corrects left and right shake or wobbling when the meter unit tilts.
Movement of the columnar member is also facilitated.

Further, a spring member is provided on a columnar member located between the meter unit and the steering support member, and the spring member is fitted onto the outer surface of the columnar member, so that positioning of the spring member can be easily and accurately performed. The spring member can assist and reduce the operating force when tilting the steering wheel.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described in detail below based on examples thereof.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the automobile tilt meter device of the present invention, in which the steering wheel (not shown) attached to the steering shaft 1 is
It is designed to be able to tilt up and down around the front tilt fulcrum. Such a tiltable steering device is provided with a meter unit 2 that tilts in conjunction with the tilt operation of the steering wheel.

This meter unit 2 collects and stores meters, etc., and is covered with a single plastic cover 3. The meter unit 2 is supported by a tilt mechanism 4, which is attached to a steering support member 5 that supports a steering device.

Since the steering support member 5 is fixed to the vehicle body, it has sufficient strength to support the weight of the steering device, the tilt mechanism 4, and the meter unit 2. Such a steering support member 5 is provided with a guide portion 6 that guides the tilting movement of the meter unit 2 when the steering wheel is tilted. A spring member 7 is disposed between the meter unit 2 and the steering support member 5 to assist the tilt operation.

Specifically, a steering support bracket 9 is fixed to a cowl 8 on the front side of the vehicle body, and extends in the direction of the steering shaft 1. In this example, in order to prevent steering vibration, a steering frame 11 is attached to the cab side body 10, and this prevents steering vibration from occurring on rough roads or at high speeds, improving the high-speed performance of the steering and the ability to travel on rough roads. It is now possible to improve.

The other end of this is fixed to the tunnel part 12 in the center of the floor, or depending on the vehicle model, it may extend over the entire width and be fixed to the left and right side bodies. In any case, the shape is highly rigid, such as forming a closed cross section, and it is mounted under the instrument panel 13 (see FIG. 2) in a position that is not directly visible to the driver.

The tip of the above-mentioned steering support bracket 9 is superimposed on the raised part of the steering frame 11 in the center thereof.

Steering support members 5 such as the steering support bracket 9 and the steering frame 11
supports the weight of the tilt mechanism 4 and meter unit 2 in the steering device,
A steering tilt bracket 14, shown in FIG. 3 and having a substantially inverted U-shaped cross section, for example, is attached to its lower surface so as to straddle the outer cylinder 1a of the steering shaft 1 from above.

A slider 15 that slides up and down inside the steering tilt bracket 14 is fixed to a portion of the outer cylinder 1a located at the steering tilt bracket 14, and a tilt lever 16 for fixing the slider 15 to the steering tilt bracket 14. (See Figure 1) is slider 15
It is installed through the left and right sides.

This tilt lever 16 is used to unlock the slider 15 before and after tilting the steering wheel, and to release the lock of the slider 15 before and after tilting the steering wheel.
In the illustrated example, the screw moves forward and backward by turning the tilt lever 16.
The steering tilt bracket 14 can generate or release a force that pinches the slider 15.

Furthermore, if the steering wheel is tilted,
Since the slider 15 moves up and down inside the steering tilt bracket 14, a tilt lever 16 is attached to the side of the steering tilt bracket 14.
An elongated hole 17 is formed in which the axis of the slider 15 can move together with the slider 15.

The slider 15 of the tilt mechanism 4 has a meter set bracket 18 at the bottom thereof.
18 is fixed so as to protrude left and right, and a meter strut 20 as a columnar member is fixed to a seat surface portion 19 at the tip thereof. That is, the meter set bracket 1 provided on the tilt mechanism 4
8, 18, and the meter unit 2 disposed above the steering device are connected to the columnar members 20, 20.
are connected via.

A flange 21 is attached to the steering tilt bracket 14, and the tilt mechanism 4 is attached to the steering support by bolting or the like through a hole 22 opened in the flange 21 and a hole 23 provided in the steering support bracket 9 and the steering frame 11. It is designed to be firmly fixed to the member 5.

In the steering support member 5, in this example, a guide hole 24 forming a guide portion 6 is opened in the steering frame 11, and the meter strut 20 described above is inserted through the guide hole 24. A mounting seat 25 provided on the lower surface of the meter unit 2 is mounted on the meter strut 20, and is integrated with the meter set bracket 18 via a bolt 26 with a long leg.

That is, the meter unit 2 and the tilt mechanism 4
The steering support member 5 located between the
A guide portion 6 is formed to guide the movement of the meter strut 20 when the meter unit 2 is tilted by a tilt operation. Therefore, the meter unit 2 can move up and down in accordance with the movement of the slider 15 within the steering tilt bracket 14.

A coil spring, which is a spring member 7, is fitted onto the meter strut 20 described above, and this spring member 7 supports not only the meter unit 2 but also a considerable amount of the load of the steering device. As can be seen from FIG. 3, this is arranged on the outer periphery of the meter strut 20 located between the lower surface of the meter unit 2 and the guide section 6 provided on the steering frame 11, and is used to prevent tilt up and down during tilt operations. It functions to assist the operating force during the actual operation.

The meter unit 2 installed in this way is covered with a cover 3 as shown in FIG.
It is designed in an attractive manner so that only the parts necessary for the driver to check and operate are visible.

According to the above configuration example, when the driver tilts the steering wheel, first, the driver turns the tilt lever 16 and adjusts the steering tilt bracket 1.
4. Unlock the slider 15 fixed within the lock. In this state, the steering wheel can be tilted about the tilt fulcrum, so the driver moves the steering wheel in the desired upward or downward direction.

Due to the movement of the steering wheel, the slider 15 shown in FIG.
Slide inside 4. By moving the slider 15,
The meter unit 2 moves up and down via meter struts 20, 20 provided on the left and right sides as shown in FIG. At that time, the movement of the meter strut 20 causes the guide portions 6, 6 of the steering frame 11 to
The left and right sides are equally guided by the meter unit 2, and the meter unit 2 is tilted smoothly without wobbling or being hindered in its movement.

In such a tilt operation, when the steering device is tilted up, the steering device is lifted in a direction against its own weight. However, the strength and elastic force of the coil spring are designed so that the spring member 7 supports a considerable portion of the weight of the tilt mechanism 4 and the entire steering device via the meter unit 2 and the meter strut 20. Therefore, the person performing the tilt operation only needs to support the load that cannot be supported by the spring member 7. As a result, compared to the case where the spring member 7 is not present, the operating force can be extremely small.

When tilted to the desired position, tilt lever 16
Turn to lock the slider 15 to the steering tilt bracket 14. Even in such a state, the meter unit 2 is supported equally on the left and right sides, and since it is fixed to the steering support member 5, which is fixed to the vehicle body and is particularly strong in the lateral direction, its support is even stronger. Therefore, the stability of mounting the meter unit 2 can be improved.

Figure 4 shows a different embodiment of the meter unit 2.
This is an example in which the steering support member 5 that supports the steering wheel is only the steering support bracket 9.

This steering support bracket 9 has a steering support part 27 projecting left and right, and a guide hole 24 through which the meter strut 20 is inserted and which guides the tilting movement is provided in the steering support part 27. Therefore, the steering tilt bracket 14 of the tilt mechanism 4 is fixed to the lower surface of the steering support part 27, and the meter strut 2 is attached to the meter set bracket 18 fixed to the slider 15.
The meter unit 2 is supported through the 0.

In this example as well, a guide portion 6 that guides the movement of the meter strut 20 when the meter unit 2 is tilted by a tilt operation is formed on the steering support member 5 located between the meter unit 2 and the tilt mechanism 4. A spring member 7 is fitted around the outer periphery of the meter strut 20 located between the meter unit 2 and a guide portion 6 provided on the steering support member 5. The spring member 7 assists the tilt operation.

Therefore, the meter unit 2 has a large weight.
The spring member 7
The tilt operation force is assisted by this.

In addition, the above-mentioned guide part can exhibit the above-mentioned function even when it is provided in the center in addition to when it is provided on the left and right, and the operating force can be reduced by the spring member provided there. Needless to say, it is possible.

As can be seen from the description of the embodiments above, the meter unit is supported only by the steering device, and a steering support member that supports the steering device is fixedly provided to the vehicle body, and the steering support member is provided with a steering support member that supports tilting of the steering wheel. A guide part is provided to guide the movement of the meter unit, which tilts in conjunction with the operation, so the meter unit can be stably supported, and the guide part is free from side-to-side shaking or wobbling when the meter unit tilts. The meter strut 2 has been twisted and is connected to the meter unit 2.
0 movement becomes a smoother one.

Furthermore, a spring member for assisting the tilt operation is disposed between the meter unit and the steering support member, and is fitted onto the meter strut located between the meter unit and the steering support member. The meter strut allows easy and accurate positioning of the spring member, and in addition, the spring member allows part of the weight of the meter unit to be deposited on the steering support member, so that the steering wheel is It becomes possible to assist and reduce the operating force required when tilting.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an exploded view of the automobile tilt meter device of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the interior of the vehicle in front of the driver's seat, Fig. 3 is an installation view of the meter unit, and Fig. 4 is an exploded view of a different embodiment. It is. 2...meter unit, 4...tilt mechanism,
5... Steering support member, 6... Guide part,
7... Spring member, 9... Steering support bracket (steering support member), 11...
Steering frame (steering support member),
18... Meter set bracket, 20... Column member (meter strut), 24... Guide portion (guide hole), 27... Steering support portion (steering support member).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A tilt meter device for an automobile in which a steering device configured to tilt a meter unit in conjunction with each other is provided via a tilt mechanism to a steering support member fixed to the vehicle body, A meter set bracket provided on the tilt mechanism and the meter unit disposed above the steering device are connected via a columnar member, and when the meter unit is tilted by a tilt operation, A guide portion for guiding movement is formed on the steering support member located between the meter unit and the tilt mechanism, and a guide portion located between the meter unit and the guide portion provided on the steering support member is formed in the columnar shape. A tilt meter device for an automobile, characterized in that a spring member is fitted around the outer periphery of the member to assist in tilting operation.