Unlock instant, AI-driven research and patent intelligence for your innovation.

Electric Position Adjustment Apparatus for Steering Wheel

a technology of electric position adjustment and steering wheel, which is applied in the direction of steering parts, vehicle components, steering parts, etc., can solve the problems of large operating sound and large drive load of electric motors, and achieve the effects of low cost, stable and smooth operation of adjusting the position, and cost reduction

Active Publication Date: 2015-03-12
NSK LTD
View PDF27 Cites 10 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is an electric position adjustment apparatus for a steering wheel that is cost-effective and operates smoothly. This is achieved by simplifying the shape of the transmission member and spacer that transmit movement of a moving piece to an adjusted section of a column unit. Additionally, it compensates for relative displacement of the transmission member and moving piece in the axial direction of the transmission member at two locations, reducing the occurrence of strange noise and vibration.

Problems solved by technology

However, in this mechanism, when the pressure force for pressing the pads 26 against the outer circumferential surface of the inner column 7b is made just large enough so that backlash movement can be prevented, the friction force when moving the outer column 6b and inner column 7b becomes large, so there is a problem in that the drive load on the motor, such as an electric motor, becomes large and the operating sound becomes large.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Electric Position Adjustment Apparatus for Steering Wheel
  • Electric Position Adjustment Apparatus for Steering Wheel
  • Electric Position Adjustment Apparatus for Steering Wheel

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first example

[0067]FIG. 1 to FIG. 18 illustrate a first example of an embodiment of the present invention. The electric position adjustment apparatus for a steering wheel has a steering shaft 2b and a cylindrical steering column 5b, neither of which is extendable or contractible, in the portion that makes up a steering column apparatus. In the construction of this example, the forward / backward position and the up / down position of a steering wheel 1 that is supported by and fastened to the rear-end section of the steering shaft 2b that protrudes from an opening on the rear end of the steering column 5b (see FIG. 21) can be adjusted within specified ranges, wherein, adjustment of the forward / backward position of the steering wheel 1 is achieved by moving the entire steering shaft 2b and steering column 5b in the axial direction. Therefore, in this example, the entire steering column 5b corresponds to an adjusted section of a column unit of the present invention.

[0068]In the construction of this ex...

second example

[0102]FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 illustrate a second example of an embodiment of the present invention. This example is of the case in which the construction of the present invention is applied to the second example of conventional structure. In this example, a steering shaft 2a is composed of a cylindrical outer shaft 3a, and a circular rod shaped inner shaft 4a that is inserted into the outer shaft 3a so as to be able to slide in the axial direction and so as to be able to transmit rotational force. Moreover, a steering column 5c of a column unit of the present invention is composed of a cylindrical outer column 6c that is supported by an installation bracket 14, and a cylindrical inner column 7c that is inserted inside the outer column 6c so as to be able to slide in the axial direction. The steering shaft 2a is supported on the inside of the steering column 5c so as to be able to rotate freely, and the outer shaft 3a and inner column 7c move in the forward / backward direction relative t...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

In order to make it possible to stably and smoothly perform the operation of position adjustment of a steering wheel 1, the electric position adjustment apparatus for a steering wheel of the present invention is such that: a concave engaging section 19a of a moving piece 16a that moves in the forward / backward direction with an electric motor 56 as a driving source has a cylindrical concave-shaped inner-circumferential surface; a cylindrical column section 65 of a transmission member 17a that transmits the movement of the moving piece 16a to a steering column 5b is inserted into the concave engaging section 19a by way of cylindrical spacer 72 and has a cylindrical convex-shaped outer-circumferential surface; and a cylindrical spacer 72 has a cylindrical convex-shaped outer-circumferential surface and a cylindrical concave-shaped inner-circumferential surface.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to an electric position adjustment apparatus for a steering wheel, and more specifically to an apparatus that is driven by an electric motor, and that adjusts the forward / backward position and up / down position of a steering wheel.BACKGROUND ART[0002]Various kinds of structure for electric position adjustment apparatuses for a steering wheel are known, and some are already being applied to steering apparatuses for automobiles. FIG. 21 illustrates a first example of conventional structure as disclosed in JP 2010-116042 (A). A steering shaft 2 to which a steering wheel 1 is fastened has a cylindrical shaped outer shaft 3, and a circular rod shaped inner shaft 4 that is inserted into the outer shaft 3 and is able to slide in the axial direction and transmit rotational force. More specifically, the inner circumferential surface from the middle section to the front-end section of the outer shaft 3 and the outer circumferential surface of ...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B62D1/181B62D1/187
CPCB62D1/187B62D1/181B62D1/189B62D1/185
Inventor IWAKAWA, MASATOSEKII, YOSHIYUKIKAKITA, HIROSHI
Owner NSK LTD