JPH1016794A - Steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To move a steering handle so that the steering handle is not in the way at getting on and off by supporting a bracket for bending a steering shaft in an universal joint part connected with a gear box side and controlling the bending of the bracket by an electric motor. SOLUTION: A first bracket fixed in a body B is mounted on both side of a universal joint 7 side to which a steering handle 6 is fixed at one end and the universal joint 7 is fixed at the other end. The first bracket and a second bracket 3 are connected and a tilt shaft is turned to turn the second bracket 3 with respect to the first bracket 1. A control device 15 for controlling a bending means of a steering column formed with an epicycle gear 12 and the electric motor 9 and the second bracket 3 is connected with the electric motor 9 by an electric circuit 16. Whereby, position of the steering column is changed and one can easily get on and off.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering column device having means for lifting a steering column when getting on and off and returning the steering column to a normal operating position during driving.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A steering wheel of a vehicle is arranged in relation to a seat so that a driver can obtain a good driving position. Therefore, the distance between the steering handle and the seat is small, and the handle is an obstacle when getting on and off the vehicle. On the other hand, a so-called tilt telescopic device is known, in which a driver having a different physique can change the inclination of a steering wheel or extend and contract a steering column in an axial direction so as to obtain a driving position suitable for the driver.

[0003]

However, the above technique does not improve the getting on and off characteristics because the adjustment range is narrow and the operation cannot be easily performed when getting on and off.

The technique disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-98179 is disclosed. However, this technique requires that the handle be manually lifted when the user gets off the vehicle and that the handle be returned and locked after getting on the vehicle. It is dangerous to forget the lock and depart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a safe steering column device that can easily move a steering handle without getting in the way when getting on and off.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided a steering column apparatus having means for lifting a steering column at the time of getting on and off and returning the steering column to a normal operating position at the time of driving. A connected steering shaft, a pair of brackets for supporting the steering shaft in a bendable manner at the universal joint portion, bending means driven by an electric motor to bend the bracket, and a control device for controlling the electric motor. Is provided.

According to the present invention, when the key switch is ON and the seating switch is ON, the steering column is in the normal position and the key switch is ON.
When the seat switch is OFF, the steering column is controlled to be at the rising position.

Further, according to the present invention, the control device is a key switch ON and the seat belt wearing switch is an O switch.
In the case of N, the steering column is in the normal position, the key switch is ON, and the seat belt wearing switch is OFF.
In the case of, the steering column is controlled to be at the rising position.

Further, according to the present invention, when the key switch is ON and the seat switch and the seat belt wearing switch are ON and the side brake is OFF, the steering column is in the normal position and the key switch is ON.
When the seat switch and the seat belt wearing switch are OFF and the side brake is ON, the steering column is controlled to be in the rising position.

Therefore, the key switch is turned on and off.
In addition, since the position of the steering column can be changed between the normal position and the standing position by sitting on the driver's seat, getting on and off is facilitated. Even if the engine is not stopped, the position of the column is changed by releasing the seat belt with the side brake ON, so that the driver can easily get on and off even when leaving the car for a short time.

Further, it is possible to obligate the user to wear a seat belt.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, a pair of first brackets 1 fixed to a vehicle body B have a steering handle 6 at one end.
Are provided on both sides of the universal joint 7 side of the steering shaft 5 having the universal joint 7 fixed to the other end. The tilt shaft 2 is provided around an intersection X between the two shafts connected by the universal joint 7, and the tilt shaft 2 is rotatably supported at both ends by the bracket 1. Further, a pair of second brackets 3 that rotate about the tilt shaft 2 as an axis and are bent with respect to the first bracket are provided, and the left and right second brackets 3 are connected to form a cylindrical portion. A connecting member 4 having a connecting member 4 a is provided, and the steering shaft 5 is supported on a cylindrical portion 4 a of the connecting member 4 via a bearing 8. One of the universal joints 7 is connected to another steering shaft 11 and is connected to a steering gear box (not shown) via a spline joint.

The first bracket 1 and the second bracket 3 are connected to each other via a planetary gear unit 12, and the first bracket 1 is connected to the first bracket 1 by rotating a tilt shaft 2 as an axis. On the other hand, the second bracket 3 is rotated. At one end of the tilt shaft 2, for example, a rotation transmission device 10 configured by a gear train is provided, and is driven by an electric motor 9 provided on the vehicle body B. The control device 15 for controlling the bending means of the bracket composed of the planetary gear device 12, the electric motor 9, the first bracket 1 and the second bracket 3, that is, the bending means of the steering column, is controlled by the electric circuit 16. It is connected to an electric motor 9.
The switch 21 for detecting the normal position P1 of the second bracket 3 at the position of the steering column and the switch 22 for detecting the rising position P2 are connected to the control device 15 by an electric circuit.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control of the steering column device. A key switch 17, a seat switch 18, a seat belt switch 19, and a side brake switch 20, which are not shown, are connected to the control device 15, respectively. Normal column position P1
The normal position detection switch 21 for detecting (see FIG. 3) and the rising position detection switch 22 for detecting the rising position P2 are connected to the control device 15, and the control device 15
Are connected to the electric motor 9 by an electric circuit 16.

The operation will now be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

In operation, it is first determined whether or not the position of the steering column is at the rising position P2 (step S2).
1). If YES, that is, if it is the rising position,
It is determined whether the key switch and the seat switch are ON (step S2). If the answer is NO, the process returns. If the answer is YES, the motor 9 is turned on in the direction in which the steering moves to the normal position P1 (step S3). If the normal position detection switch 21 detects the normal position P1 (step S4), the motor 9 is turned off. Stop (step S5) and return. Therefore, the driver can easily get on the steering column when the steering column is in the upright position, and the steering can be returned to the normal position by turning on the key switch, so that the driver can drive the vehicle. Use can be obliged.

If NO in step S1, that is, if the steering is in the normal position, it is determined whether or not the key switch is OFF (step S6). If YES, the motor is set to 0N in the rising direction of the column (step S7). If the rising position detection switch 22 is turned ON (step S8), the motor is stopped (step S9), and the process returns. If NO in step S6, it is determined whether the side brake is ON and the seat belt is OFF (step S10). If YES, steps 7, 8, and 9 are performed to set the steering to the rising position, and if NO, the process returns.

Therefore, the driver sets the key switch to OF.
F to get off easily and turn on the saddle brake
However, if the user removes the seat belt, even if the vehicle is left for a short time without stopping the engine, the steering wheel is in the rising position, so that the driver can easily get off the vehicle.

[0020]

The present invention is configured as described above,
The following excellent effects can be obtained. (1) Since the position of the steering column can be changed between the normal position and the rising position by turning on and off the key switch and sitting on the driver's seat, getting on and off is facilitated. (2) Even if the engine is not stopped, the side brake O
If the seat belt is removed at N, the position of the column is changed, so that the user can easily get on and off the vehicle. (3) It is possible to oblige the user to fasten the seat belt.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a normal position showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of control.

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the operation.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of control.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... 1st bracket 2 ... Tilt shaft 3 ... 2nd bracket 4 ... Connecting member 5 ... Steering shaft 6 ... Steering handle 7 ... Universal joint 8 ... Bearing 9 ・ ・ ・ Electric motor 10 ・ ・ ・ Rotation transmission device 11 ・ ・ ・ Steering shaft

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A steering column device having means for lifting a steering column at the time of getting on and off and returning the steering column to a normal operation position at the time of driving, a steering shaft connected to a gear box via a universal joint, and a steering shaft thereof. A steering column provided with a pair of brackets for supporting a shaft so as to be able to bend at the universal joint portion, bending means driven by an electric motor to bend the bracket, and a control device for controlling the electric motor. apparatus. 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the key switch is ON, and when the seat switch is ON, the steering column is in the normal position, and the key switch and the side brake are ON.
The steering column device according to claim 1, wherein the steering column is controlled to be in a rising position when the seating switch is OFF. 3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the key switch is ON, and the steering column is in a normal position when the seat belt wearing switch is ON, and the steering column is in a normal position when the key switch is ON and the seat belt wearing switch is OFF. The steering column device according to claim 1, wherein the steering column device is controlled to be at a rising position. 4. When the key switch is ON, the seat switch and the seat belt wearing switch are ON and the side brake is OFF, the steering column is in the normal position, the key switch is ON, and the seat switch and the seat are switched. 4. The steering column device according to claim 1, wherein when the belt mounting switch is OFF and the side brake is ON, the steering column is controlled to be in a rising position.