Steering column arrangement

Abstract

A steering column device (1) is provided with: a link mechanism (11) that is supported to a fixed bracket (2) so as to be able to pivot about a first pivot (P1) that is orthogonal to a center axis (PC) of a steering shaft (4) and is located on an upper side of the vehicle than the center axis (PC), and is supported to a column sleeve (3) so as to be able to pivot about a second pivot (P2) that is located on the upper side of the vehicle than the center axis (PC); and a drive mechanism (12) that is linked to the link mechanism (11) and drives the link mechanism (11) to adjust a tilt angle of the steering shaft (4). A sliding member (22) is engaged with and pivotably supported to an elongated hole (20) provided to a portion on the second pivot (P2) side of the link mechanism (11), and has a shaft member (21) that is fixed to the column sleeve (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a steering column device. Background Technology

[0002] A known steering column assembly comprises: a fixed bracket fixed to a vehicle body; a column sleeve pivotally supported on the fixed bracket; a steering shaft housed within the column sleeve; and an electrically operated tilting mechanism (Patent Documents 1 and 2). In such a steering column assembly, a linkage mechanism is provided between the fixed bracket and the column sleeve. By using an electric motor (drive mechanism) to drive the linkage mechanism, the column sleeve is pivoted, thereby adjusting the tilt angle of the steering shaft.

[0003] Existing technical documents

[0004] Patent documents

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 4696687

[0006] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-104368 Summary of the Invention

[0007] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0008] In the steering column device described in Patent Document 1, the linkage mechanism has a large number of parts, making the structure more complex and potentially increasing manufacturing costs.

[0009] In the steering column device described in Patent Document 2, the distance between the link fulcrum in the fixed bracket and the vehicle body fixing point becomes longer, which may reduce the rigidity of the vehicle mounting.

[0010] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a steering column device that can reduce the number of parts in the linkage mechanism while maintaining sufficient rigidity for installation in the vehicle.

[0011] Solution for solving the problem

[0012] One aspect of the present invention provides a steering column assembly comprising: a fixed bracket fixed to a vehicle body; a column sleeve pivotally supported on the fixed bracket; and a steering shaft housed within the column sleeve. Furthermore, the steering column assembly includes a linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism is rotatably supported on the fixed bracket around a first pivot orthogonal to the central axis of the steering shaft and located above the vehicle body than the central axis. Additionally, the linkage mechanism is rotatably supported on the column sleeve around a second pivot located above the vehicle body than the central axis. Moreover, the steering column assembly includes: a sliding member rotatably supported on the linkage mechanism around the second pivot; and a drive mechanism connected to the linkage mechanism and driving the linkage mechanism to adjust the tilt angle of the steering shaft. The sliding member engages with an elongated hole provided on the second pivot side of the linkage mechanism and is rotatably supported in the elongated hole, and has a shaft member fixed to the column sleeve.

[0013] Invention Effects

[0014] According to one aspect of the present invention, the steering column device can reduce the number of parts in the linkage mechanism while maintaining sufficient rigidity for installation in the vehicle. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a steering column device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view showing the main parts of the steering column device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a side view showing a steering column device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 From and Figure 3 A side view of the steering column device according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the opposite side.

[0019] Figure 5 yes Figure 3 Enlarged view of the main part of the AA line cross section.

[0020] Figure 6 It is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of a linkage mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Additionally, in the attached diagram, arrow FR indicates the front side of the vehicle, and arrow RR indicates the rear side of the vehicle.

[0023] like Figures 1 to 4As shown, the steering column assembly 1 includes: a fixed bracket 2, which is fixed to the vehicle body; and a column sleeve 3, which is supported relative to the fixed bracket 2 in a way that allows it to swing in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0024] In addition, the steering column assembly 1 includes: a steering shaft 4, which is rotatably supported relative to the column sleeve 3; and an electric tilting mechanism 6, which is driven by an electric motor 5.

[0025] The fixed bracket 2 has a fixing part 2a fixed to the roof surface (not shown) of the vehicle body; and side wall parts 2b respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the swing support part 3a of the pillar sleeve 3. A support hole 2c is formed through each side wall part 2b.

[0026] The column sleeve 3 has a cylindrical lower sleeve (outer sleeve) 7 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a cylindrical upper sleeve (inner sleeve) 8 housed within the lower sleeve 7.

[0027] The column sleeve 3 (lower sleeve 7) has an axle support seat 3b on its front end side. By axle support seat 3b being axle-supported to the vehicle body, the rear end side of the column sleeve 3 can swing in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0028] The steering shaft 4 is housed within the upper sleeve 8 and is supported axially movable relative to the lower sleeve 7. A universal joint 9 is connected to the front end of the steering shaft 4 (see reference). Figure 1 A steering wheel 10 is connected to the rear end of the steering shaft 4 (see reference). Figure 3 as well as Figure 4 ).

[0029] Next, the electric tilting mechanism 6 will be described.

[0030] The electric tilting mechanism 6 includes: a linkage mechanism 11 that connects the fixed bracket 2 and the column sleeve 3; and a drive mechanism 12 that is connected to the linkage mechanism 11 and drives the linkage mechanism 11 to adjust the steering shaft 4 to the desired tilt angle.

[0031] The linkage mechanism 11 is rotatably supported relative to the fixed bracket 2 about a first pivot P1. This first pivot P1 is orthogonal to the central axis PC of the steering shaft 4 and is located on the vehicle-top side above the central axis PC of the steering shaft 4 (see reference). Figure 3 ).

[0032] Furthermore, the linkage mechanism 11 is rotatably supported relative to the column sleeve 3 about a second pivot P2. This second pivot P2 is orthogonal to the central axis PC of the steering shaft 4 and is located on the vehicle-top side above the central axis PC of the steering shaft 4 (see reference). Figure 3 ).

[0033] Such a linkage mechanism 11 has linkage members 13 respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the column sleeve 3 of the vehicle. Each linkage member 13 is configured to include: a first arm 14 having a first pivot P1 and a second pivot P2; and a second arm 15 integrally formed with the first arm 14 and connected to the drive mechanism 12. The second arm 15 is connected to the drive mechanism 12 on a second shaft Q2 inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the first shaft Q1 connecting the first pivot P1 and the second pivot P2 (see reference). Figure 6 ).

[0034] A bolt hole (first connecting rod hole) 16 is formed at the rear vehicle side end of the first arm portion 14 of the connecting rod component 13. One end of the shaft component (bolt) 17 constituting the first pivot P1 is rotatably supported in the support hole 2c of the fixed bracket 2, and the other end of the shaft component 17 is fixed to the bolt hole 16 of the first arm portion 14. In addition, a bushing 18 is disposed between the inner circumferential surface of the shaft component 17 and the support hole 2c, and a gasket 19 is disposed between the shaft component 17 and the outer surface of the side wall portion 2b.

[0035] Additionally, an elongated hole (second connecting rod hole) 20 is formed at the vehicle-front end of the first arm portion 14 of the connecting rod assembly 13. One end of the shaft member (bolt) 21 constituting the second pivot P2 is rotatably supported on a sliding member 22 that engages with the elongated hole 20, and the other end of the shaft member 21 is fixed to the bolt hole 23 of the lower sleeve 7. A gasket 24 is disposed between the inner surface of the connecting rod assembly 13 and the outer surface of the lower sleeve 7.

[0036] The elongated hole 20 is a hole that is longer in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (the extension direction of the first shaft Q1 connecting the first pivot P1 and the second pivot P2), and the sliding member 22 is supported so that it can slide relative to the elongated hole 20 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction (the extension direction of the first shaft Q1). The sliding member 22 is, for example, a flanged collar having a collar portion and a flange portion.

[0037] Multiple protrusions 25, formed by spline machining, are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the collar portion of the sliding member 22, and multiple protrusions 26 are formed on the outer surface of the flange portion of the sliding member 22 (see reference). Figure 5 By forming these protrusions 25 and convex portions 26, the wobble of the shaft component (bolt) 21 and the sliding component 22 is suppressed.

[0038] Furthermore, by moving the sliding member 22 together with the column sleeve 3 along the extending direction of the elongated hole 20, it is possible to absorb the trajectory difference between the tilting rotation center (shaft support seat 3b) and the connecting rod rotation center (first pivot P1) when the column sleeve 3 is tilted (see reference). Figure 6 ).

[0039] Furthermore, a circular hole (third link hole) 27 is formed at the vehicle-side lower end of the second arm portion 15 of the connecting rod component 13. Through this circular hole 27, a third pivot P3 (see reference 1) can be used to... Figure 3 A screw nut 29 is rotatably supported by a locking screw shaft 28. A gasket 30 is disposed between the inner circumferential surface of the circular hole 27 and the screw nut 29.

[0040] Furthermore, the linkage mechanism 11 has a connecting portion 31 that connects the linkage members 13 disposed on the left and right sides of the vehicle in the column sleeve 3 to each other. This connecting portion 31 is, for example, made of bolts. One end of the bolt-made connecting portion 31 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 32 of one of the linkage members 13, and the other end of the connecting portion 31 is fixed to the bolt hole 33 of the other linkage member 13.

[0041] On the other hand, the electric motor 5 of the drive mechanism 12 is equipped with a reduction gear mechanism 34 and a screw shaft 28, and the screw shaft 28 is engaged with a screw nut 29 that is rotatably supported on the second arm 15 of the connecting rod member 13. In addition, the electric motor 5 is rotatably supported on the motor support portion 35 formed in the lower part of the lower sleeve 7 using a motor support member (bolt) 36.

[0042] In the steering column assembly 1 of this embodiment, the electric motor 5 pushes and pulls the second arm 15 of the connecting rod assembly 13, thereby causing the first arm 14 to swing about the first pivot P1 (shaft assembly 17) in the vertical direction of the vehicle. Through this swinging operation, the column sleeve 3 swings about the axle support seat 3b located on the front side of the vehicle in the vertical direction of the vehicle, enabling adjustment of the tilt angle of the steering shaft 4 (see reference). Figure 6 ).

[0043] The effects of this embodiment will be explained below.

[0044] (1) The steering column assembly 1 includes: a fixed bracket 2 fixed to the vehicle body; a column sleeve 3 pivotally supported on the fixed bracket 2; and a steering shaft 4 housed within the column sleeve 3. Furthermore, the steering column assembly 1 includes a linkage mechanism 11. The linkage mechanism 11 is rotatably supported on the fixed bracket 2 about a first pivot P1 orthogonal to the central axis PC of the steering shaft 4 and located above the central axis PC on the vehicle side. Additionally, the linkage mechanism 11 is rotatably supported on the column sleeve 3 about a second pivot P2 located above the central axis PC on the vehicle side. Further, the steering column assembly 1 includes: a sliding member 22 rotatably supported on the linkage mechanism 11 about the second pivot P2; and a drive mechanism 12 connected to the linkage mechanism 11, driving the linkage mechanism 11 to adjust the tilt angle of the steering shaft 4. The sliding member 22 engages with the elongated hole 20 on the portion provided on the second pivot P2 side of the linkage mechanism 11 and is rotatably supported on the elongated hole 20, and has a shaft member 21 fixed to the column sleeve 3.

[0045] By connecting the linkage mechanism 11 and the sleeve 3 via the elongated hole 20, the difference between the tilting direction (vehicle vertical direction) movement of the sleeve 3 and the tilting direction movement of the linkage mechanism 11 relative to the axial direction of the sleeve 3 can be absorbed. Based on such a linkage mechanism 11, a reduction in the number of parts can be achieved.

[0046] In addition, the distance between the link fulcrum (first pivot P1) in the fixed bracket 2 and the vehicle body fixing point (fixed part 2a) is shortened, thereby improving the rigidity of the installation on the vehicle.

[0047] (2) The linkage mechanism 11 has linkage members 13 disposed on the left and right sides of the vehicle sleeve 3. The linkage members 13 are configured to include: a first arm 14 having a first pivot P1 and a second pivot P2; and a second arm 15 integrally formed with the first arm 14 and connected to the drive mechanism 12.

[0048] By constructing the linkage component 13 in this way, the number of parts in the linkage mechanism 11 can be reduced.

[0049] In this embodiment, the second pivot P2 is located on the front side of the vehicle compared to the first pivot P1, but it can also be located on the rear side of the vehicle compared to the first pivot P1.

[0050] Furthermore, the steering column device of the present invention has been described using the above-described embodiment as an example, but is not limited to this embodiment. Various other embodiments can be adopted without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0051] Symbol Explanation

[0052] 1—Steering column assembly, 2—Fixed bracket, 3—Column sleeve, 4—Steering shaft, 7—Lower sleeve (outer sleeve), 8—Upper sleeve (inner sleeve), 11—Linkage mechanism, 12—Drive mechanism, 13—Linkage assembly, 14—First arm, 15—Second arm, 20—Long hole (second link hole), 21—Shaft assembly (bolt), 22—Sliding component, P1—First pivot, P2—Second pivot, P3—Third pivot, PC—Central shaft.

Claims

1. A steering column device, characterized in that, have: A mounting bracket, which is fixed to the vehicle body; A column sleeve that is swayably supported on the fixed bracket; Steering shaft, which is housed within the column sleeve; A linkage mechanism that is rotatably supported on the fixed bracket about a first pivot orthogonal to the central axis of the steering shaft and located on the vehicle-top side of the central axis, and rotatably supported on the column sleeve about a second pivot located on the vehicle-top side of the central axis; A sliding component that is rotatably supported on the linkage mechanism about the second pivot; as well as A drive mechanism, connected to the linkage mechanism, drives the linkage mechanism to adjust the tilt angle of the steering shaft. The sliding component has: A flanged collar having a collar portion and a flange portion engages with an elongated hole in a portion located on the second pivot side of the linkage mechanism and is rotatably supported in the elongated hole. Bolts, which are rotatably supported by the flanged collar and fixed to the column sleeve, To suppress the shaking of the bolt and the sliding component, a plurality of protrusions are formed on the inner circumferential surface of the flange portion of the flanged collar, and a plurality of protrusions are formed on the outer surface of the flange portion of the flanged collar.

2. The steering column device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The linkage mechanism has linkage components disposed on the left and right sides of the column sleeve of the vehicle, and is configured to include: a first arm having a first pivot and a second pivot; and a second arm integrally formed with the first arm and connected to the drive mechanism.

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