Steering device

Abstract

To provide a steering device that is able to improve operability when adjusting a vertical position of a steering wheel.SOLUTION: A steering device includes coil springs 8a, 8b for elastically supporting a steering column 2 with respect to a support bracket 4. The support bracket 4 includes, at a widthwise position where the coil springs 8a, 8b are disposed, spring locking parts 25a, 25b located above a portion of a mounting plate part 18 existing at the widthwise position. One end parts of the coil springs 8a, 8b are locked to the spring locking parts 25a, 25b, respectively. The other end parts of the coil springs 8a, 8b are located below the mounting plate part 18 and are locked to the steering column 2 or a member that swings about a tilt shaft integrally with the steering column 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering device provided with a tilt mechanism that enables adjustment of the vertical position of a steering wheel.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, regarding a steering device for an automobile, a structure provided with a tilt mechanism that enables adjustment of the vertical position of a steering wheel according to the physique of a driver, driving posture, etc. is known.

[0003] A steering device provided with a tilt mechanism includes a steering column, a displacement bracket, a support bracket, an adjustment rod, a pair of pressing parts, and an expansion and contraction device.

[0004] The steering column rotatably supports a steering shaft inside thereof. A steering wheel is attached to the rear end portion of the steering shaft. The front end portion of the steering shaft is connected to left and right steering wheels via an intermediate shaft, a steering gear unit, etc. Thereby, a steering angle corresponding to the amount of rotation operation of the steering wheel is imparted to the left and right steering wheels. The steering column is supported by the vehicle body so as to be able to swing about a tilt axis in the width direction. The displacement bracket is provided in a part of the steering column and has a column-side through hole penetrating in the width direction. The support bracket has a mounting plate portion arranged in the width direction, a pair of support plate portions whose upper end portions are connected to the mounting plate portion and arranged on both sides in the width direction of the displacement bracket, and a pair of tilt elongated holes provided in the pair of support plate portions and extending in the vertical direction. The adjustment rod penetrates the column-side through hole and the pair of tilt elongated holes in the width direction. The pair of pressing parts are arranged at positions sandwiching the pair of support plate portions from both sides in the width direction with a part of the adjustment rod. The expansion and contraction device is a device that expands and contracts the interval between the pair of pressing parts.

[0005] When adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel, the expansion / contraction device widens the distance between a pair of pressing parts, thereby reducing or eliminating the frictional force acting between the inner surfaces of the pair of support plates and the outer surfaces of the displacement bracket in the width direction. In this state, the vertical position of the steering wheel can be adjusted by oscillating the steering column around the tilt axis, within the range in which the adjustment rod can move inside the pair of tilt slots.

[0006] After adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel, the expansion / contraction device reduces the distance between the pair of pressing parts, thereby increasing the frictional force acting between the inner surfaces of the pair of support plates and the outer surfaces of the displacement bracket in the width direction. This prevents the steering column from oscillating around the tilt axis, and the steering wheel is held in the adjusted vertical position.

[0007] International Publication No. 2019 / 189471 describes a steering device with a tilt mechanism, comprising a coil spring that elastically supports the steering column with respect to a support bracket in order to reduce the force required to adjust the vertical position of the steering wheel. In this structure, one end of the coil spring, the upper end, is locked to the support bracket, and the other end, the lower end, is locked to the base of an adjustment lever that constitutes an expansion / contraction device. When adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel, the elasticity of the coil spring can suppress the oscillation of the steering column that would cause the steering wheel to fall, thus reducing the force required to adjust the vertical position of the steering wheel. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 189471 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] In the structure described in International Publication No. 2019 / 189471, the total length of the coil spring changes with the oscillation position of the steering column, i.e., the vertical position of the steering wheel. Therefore, the elastic force of the coil spring in the direction of pulling the steering column upward changes with the vertical position of the steering wheel. Consequently, the operating force required by the driver to adjust the vertical position of the steering wheel changes with the vertical position of the steering wheel.

[0010] To improve the operability when adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel, it is preferable to reduce the amount of change in the elasticity of the coil spring that occurs with changes in the vertical position of the steering wheel, that is, to reduce the spring constant of the coil spring. One way to reduce the spring constant of the coil spring is to increase the number of coil turns, that is, to increase the overall length of the coil spring.

[0011] However, in the structure described in International Publication No. 2019 / 189471, when considering the relative positions of the coil spring and the mounting plate of the support bracket in the vertical direction at the widthwise position where the coil spring is positioned, the upper end of the coil spring is located below the mounting plate of the support bracket. That is, at the widthwise position where the coil spring is positioned, both the upper end and the lower end of the coil spring are located below the mounting plate of the support bracket. Therefore, it is difficult to secure enough space to make the overall length of the coil spring sufficiently large.

[0012] The present invention aims to provide a steering device that can improve the operability when adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] A steering device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a steering column, a displacement bracket, a support bracket, an adjustment rod, a pair of pressing parts, an expansion / contraction device, and a coil spring.

[0014] The steering column is supported in a way that allows it to swing about a tilt axis in the width direction relative to the vehicle body.

[0015] The displacement bracket is provided on a part of the steering column and has a column-side through hole that penetrates in the width direction.

[0016] The support bracket comprises a mounting plate portion arranged in the width direction, a pair of support plate portions arranged on both sides of the displacement bracket in the width direction, with their respective upper ends connected to the widthwise intermediate portion of the mounting plate portion, and a pair of tilt elongated holes provided in the pair of support plate portions and extending in the vertical direction.

[0017] The adjustment rod is inserted in the width direction through the column-side through hole and the pair of tilt elongated holes.

[0018] The pair of pressing portions are positioned so as to sandwich the pair of support plate portions from both sides in the width direction with a part of the adjustment rod.

[0019] The expansion / contraction device expands or contracts the distance between the pair of pressing portions.

[0020] The coil spring is a spring for elastically supporting the steering column with respect to the support bracket. The coil spring can be positioned, for example, adjacent to the widthwise outer side of at least one of the pair of support plate portions. The coil spring can be positioned, for example, so as it is tilted upward, it is tilted forward.

[0021] In the steering device according to one aspect of the present invention, the support bracket includes a spring locking portion that is located above a portion of the mounting plate portion that exists at the widthwise position where the coil spring is disposed, and one end portion of the coil spring is locked to the spring locking portion. The other end portion of the coil spring is located below the mounting plate portion and is locked to a member that is integral with the steering column and swings about the tilt axis. As such a member, for example, any member constituting the telescopic device, any one of the pair of pressing portions, the adjustment rod, or the like can be employed.

[0022] In the steering device according to one aspect of the present invention, the support bracket includes a spring insertion portion formed by a notch or a hole through which an intermediate portion of the coil spring is inserted.

[0023] In the steering device according to one aspect of the present invention, the spring insertion portion is provided in the mounting plate portion.

[0024] In the steering device according to one aspect of the present invention, the spring locking portion is disposed adjacent to and above the mounting plate portion.

[0025] In the steering device according to one aspect of the present invention, the mounting plate portion and the spring locking portion are integrally formed by a single metal plate, and the spring locking portion exists so as to bend upward from a part of the mounting plate portion.

[0026] In the steering device according to one aspect of the present invention, a portion of the spring locking portion that locks one end portion of the coil spring is constituted by a locking groove that opens upward and / or forward.

[0027] In the steering device according to one aspect of the present invention, the spring locking portion has a return portion that projects toward the opening direction of the locking groove in a portion adjacent to the locking groove.

[0028] The present invention can be implemented by appropriately combining the configurations of the steering devices described above in each of the embodiments, as long as no inconsistencies arise. [Effects of the Invention]

[0029] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the operability when adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0030] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a rear and top perspective view of a steering device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a magnified view of a portion of Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a side view of the part shown in Figure 2, as seen from the adjustment lever side. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of AA in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a side view of the part shown in Figure 2, seen from the opposite side of the adjustment lever. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the support bracket of the first example, seen from the rear and above. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a side view of the spring locking portion that constitutes the support bracket in the first example. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a plan view showing the blank material for the mounting plate portion that constitutes the support bracket of the first example. [Figure 9] Figures 9(a) to 9(d) are diagrams corresponding to Figure 7, showing alternative shapes of the spring locking portion that can be adopted when implementing the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] [Example 1] A first example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8.

[0032] The steering device 1 in this example has a tilt function that allows the vertical position of the steering wheel to be adjusted, and comprises a steering column 2, a displacement bracket 3, a support bracket 4, an adjustment rod 5, a pair of pressing parts 6a and 6b, an expansion / contraction device 7, and a pair of coil springs 8a and 8b.

[0033] In the following description, with respect to the steering device 1, the longitudinal direction, the width direction, and the vertical direction refer to the longitudinal direction, width direction, and vertical direction of the vehicle on which the steering device 1 is mounted.

[0034] The steering column 2 rotatably supports the steering shaft 9 inside it. A steering wheel (not shown) is attached to the rear end of the steering shaft 9. The front end of the steering shaft 9 is connected to the left and right steering wheels via an intermediate shaft, a steering gear unit, etc. (not shown). This applies a steering angle to the left and right steering wheels according to the amount of rotation of the steering wheel.

[0035] The steering column 2 is supported relative to the vehicle body so as to be able to swing about a tilt axis 12 in the width direction. For this purpose, in this example, a gear housing 10, which constitutes an electric assist device, is fixed to the front end of the steering column 2. The gear housing 10 is supported relative to a lower bracket 11 that can be fixed to the vehicle body so as to be able to swing about a tilt axis 12 that is positioned in the width direction.

[0036] An electric motor (not shown) is supported in the gear housing 10, and the output torque of the electric motor is applied to the steering shaft 9 via a reduction mechanism housed inside the gear housing 10. This reduces the force required to rotate the steering wheel.

[0037] The steering system 1 in this example has a telescopic function that allows the fore-aft position of the steering wheel to be adjusted. For this purpose, the steering column 2 and the steering shaft 9 are configured to be extendable and retractable in length.

[0038] Specifically, the steering column 2 is formed by combining a lower column 13 located at the front and an upper column 14 located at the rear, allowing for relative axial displacement. In this example, the lower column 13 is an inner column located radially inward, and the upper column 14 is an outer column located radially outward. However, when implementing the present invention, the lower column can also be an outer column and the upper column an ​​inner column.

[0039] The steering shaft 9 consists of a lower shaft 15 located at the front and an upper shaft 16 located at the rear, which are spline-engaged to enable torque transmission and relative axial displacement. The lower shaft 15 is supported inside the lower column 13 by rolling bearings (not shown) to allow rotation only. The upper shaft 16 is supported inside the upper column 14 by rolling bearings (not shown) to allow rotation only.

[0040] Furthermore, when implementing the present invention, the telescopic function can be omitted. If the telescopic function is omitted, a configuration in which the steering column and steering shaft do not extend or retract can be adopted.

[0041] The displacement bracket 3 is provided on a part of the steering column 2. Specifically, in this example, the displacement bracket 3 is integrally formed with the upper column 14 on the lower part of the front side of the metal upper column 14. However, when implementing the present invention, a displacement bracket manufactured separately from the steering column can also be joined and fixed to a part of the steering column by welding or other means.

[0042] The displacement bracket 3 has a telescopic slot 17 that penetrates in the width direction and extends in the axial direction of the steering column 2. In this example, the telescopic slot 17 corresponds to the column-side through hole. When the telescopic function is omitted when implementing the present invention, the column-side through hole can be configured as a circular hole or the like that does not extend in the axial direction of the steering column.

[0043] The support bracket 4 is made of a metal plate such as steel and supports the axial middle portion of the steering column 2 relative to the vehicle body. The support bracket 4 has a mounting plate portion 18, a pair of support plate portions 19a and 19b, and a pair of tilt elongated holes 20a and 20b provided in the pair of support plate portions 19a and 19b.

[0044] The mounting plate portion 18 is positioned in the width direction above the front side of the upper column 14. In this example, the mounting plate portion 18 is locked to a locking capsule 21, which is supported and fixed to the vehicle body, allowing it to detach forward. Normally, the mounting plate portion 18 is supported by the vehicle body via the locking capsule 21, but in the event of a collision, it detaches forward from the locking capsule 21 based on the impact of a secondary collision, allowing the upper column 14 to be displaced forward.

[0045] The mounting plate portion 18 comprises a bridge portion 22 located in the center in the width direction and a pair of side plate portions 23a and 23b located on both sides in the width direction. The bridge portion 22 has an inverted U-shape in cross-section and is located above the front side portion of the upper column 14. Each of the pair of side plate portions 23a and 23b is constructed as a flat plate and has a locking notch 24 opening at its rear edge. The locking capsule 21 is locked into the locking notch 24. In this example, the front portions of the pair of side plate portions 23a and 23b are positioned to protrude forward of the bridge portion 22.

[0046] A pair of support plate sections 19a and 19b are arranged substantially parallel to each other on both sides in the width direction of the displacement bracket 3. The upper ends of the pair of support plate sections 19a and 19b are connected to the middle section in the width direction of the mounting plate section 18, and specifically, are fixed by welding to the ends on both sides in the width direction of the lower surface of the bridge section 22.

[0047] A pair of tilt slots 20a and 20b are provided at mutually aligned locations on a pair of support plate sections 19a and 19b, and extend in the vertical direction. In this example, the pair of tilt slots 20a and 20b have an arc shape centered on the tilt axis 12.

[0048] In this example, the support bracket 4 further includes a pair of spring locking portions 25a and 25b located above the portion of the mounting plate portion 18 that is present in the widthwise direction at the position where the pair of coil springs 8a and 8b are arranged.

[0049] A pair of spring locking portions 25a and 25b are for locking one end (upper end) of a pair of coil springs 8a and 8b. In this example, since there are two coil springs 8a and 8b, the support bracket 4 has the same number of spring locking portions 25a and 25b as there are coil springs 8a and 8b. When implementing the present invention, for example, one coil spring 8a and spring locking portion 25a, or the coil spring 8b and spring locking portion 25b in the other direction may be omitted. Alternatively, an additional coil spring may be installed at a position adjacent to one coil spring 8a and / or the other coil spring 8b, and a spring locking portion may be provided for locking one end of the additional coil spring.

[0050] In this example, a pair of spring locking portions 25a and 25b are arranged adjacent to and above the mounting plate portion 18. When implementing the present invention, the spring locking portions can also be arranged to protrude forward and upward from, for example, the front end of the mounting plate portion.

[0051] In this example, a pair of spring locking parts 25a and 25b and a mounting plate 18 are integrally formed from a single metal plate. Specifically, in this example, the pair of spring locking parts 25a and 25b are located on the front end of a pair of side plates 23a and 23b, and are bent upward at a right angle from the inner end in the width direction of the front end, which is located in front of the bridge part 22. In this example, the pair of spring locking parts 25a and 25b and the mounting plate 18 are formed by bending a single metal blank material 46 by pressing, as shown in Figure 8. By adopting this configuration, the material yield is improved, and the cost of the structure in this example is reduced. However, when implementing the present invention, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the spring locking parts, which are made separately from the mounting plate, are fixed to the mounting plate.

[0052] In this example, a pair of spring locking parts 25a and 25b have locking grooves 26 for locking one end of a pair of coil springs 8a and 8b. As shown in Figure 7, the locking grooves 26 have a concave arc shape that opens upward. In Figure 7, the left side is the front and the right side is the rear. The pair of spring locking parts 25a and 25b have a return portion 27 that protrudes upward in the portion adjacent to the rear side of the locking groove 26. The return portion 27 is provided to prevent one end of the coil springs 8a and 8b, which are locked in the locking groove 26, from falling out of the locking groove 26.

[0053] In this example, the support bracket 4 is provided with a pair of spring insertion portions 28a and 28b through which the intermediate portions of a pair of coil springs 8a and 8b are inserted. In this example, the pair of spring insertion portions 28a and 28b are provided on the mounting plate portion 18. Specifically, the pair of spring insertion portions 28a and 28b are located on the front side of a pair of side plate portions 23a and 23b, adjacent to the rear side of a pair of spring locking portions 25a and 25b. In this example, the pair of spring insertion portions 28a and 28b are each composed of notches that open inward in the width direction.

[0054] When implementing the present invention, the spring insertion portion may be provided on a part of the support bracket other than the mounting plate portion. For example, when implementing the present invention, if the support bracket has a reinforcing plate portion that extends downward from the front end of the mounting plate portion at the widthwise position where the coil spring is arranged, and a spring locking portion for locking one end of the coil spring is arranged to protrude forward and upward from the front end of the mounting plate portion, then the spring insertion portion through which the middle portion of the coil spring is inserted can be provided on the reinforcing plate portion. Furthermore, when implementing the present invention, the spring insertion portion may also be configured as a through hole.

[0055] The adjustment rod 5 is inserted in the width direction through the telescopic slot 17 and a pair of tilt slots 20a and 20b.

[0056] A pair of pressing portions 6a and 6b are positioned to sandwich a pair of support plate portions 19a and 19b from both sides in the width direction by a part of the adjustment rod 5. In this example, one pressing portion 6a is made up of a driven cam 31 that constitutes a cam device 29, and the other pressing portion 6b is made up of a pressing plate 32.

[0057] In this example, the adjustment rod 5 has a head 33 at its base end (left end in Figure 4). The cam device 29 is positioned around the adjustment rod 5, between the head 33 and one support plate portion 19a (left side in Figure 4). A nut 34 is screwed and fixed to the tip of the adjustment rod 5 (right end in Figure 4). The pressure plate 32 is positioned around the adjustment rod 5, between the nut 34 and the other support plate portion 19b (right side in Figure 4). The pressure plate 32 is fitted onto the adjustment rod 5, allowing for rotation and axial displacement. Furthermore, a thrust bearing 35 is positioned around the adjustment rod 5, between the nut 34 and the pressure plate 32.

[0058] The cam device 29 has a drive cam 30 located on the outside in the width direction and a driven cam 31 located on the inside in the width direction. The driven cam 31 is engaged with the tilt elongated hole 20a of one of the support plate portions 19a in a manner that prevents relative rotation. The driven cam 31 is fitted onto the adjustment rod 5 so that it can rotate and move in the axial direction. The drive cam 30 is fitted onto the adjustment rod 5 so that it cannot rotate or move in the axial direction. When the drive cam 30 and the driven cam 31 are rotated relative to each other, the axial dimension of the cam device 29, i.e., the width dimension, expands or contracts based on the pressing of the opposing sides (cam surfaces) of the drive cam 30 and the driven cam 31 against each other.

[0059] The expansion / contraction device 7 is a device that expands or contracts the distance between a driven cam 31 and a pressing plate 32, which constitute a pair of pressing parts 6a and 6b. In this example, the expansion / contraction device 7 is composed of a cam device 29 and an adjustment lever 36.

[0060] The base 37 of the adjustment lever 36 is fixed to the drive cam 30. That is, the adjustment lever 36 can rotate around the central axis of the adjustment rod 5, together with the drive cam 30 and the adjustment rod 5. Therefore, in the structure of this example, the operator can rotate the adjustment lever 36 to rotate the drive cam 30 and the driven cam 31 relative to each other, thereby expanding or contracting the widthwise dimension of the cam device 29.

[0061] In this example, when the adjustment lever 36 is rotated to the position shown in Figure 3, the width dimension of the cam device 29 expands. As a result, the distance between the driven cam 31 and the pressing plate 32 that constitute the pair of pressing parts 6a and 6b, and the distance between the pair of support plate parts 19a and 19b, decreases, resulting in a state where the clamping force of the pair of support plate parts 19a and 19b gripping the displacement bracket 3 from both sides in the width direction increases, i.e., a locked state. Conversely, when the adjustment lever 36 is rotated downward from the position shown in Figure 3, the width dimension of the cam device 29 expands. As a result, the distance between the driven cam 31 and the pressing plate 32 that constitute the pair of pressing parts 6a and 6b, and the distance between the pair of support plate parts 19a and 19b, expands, resulting in a state where the clamping force of the pair of support plate parts 19a and 19b gripping the displacement bracket 3 from both sides in the width direction decreases or is lost, i.e., an unlocked state.

[0062] In this example, the base 37 of the adjustment lever 36 has a locking hole 38 that penetrates in the width direction at the base end (front side in Figure 3) of the adjustment lever 36 in relation to its extension. The locking hole 38 is a portion for locking the other end (lower end) of one of the coil springs 8a (left side in Figure 4).

[0063] In this example, the pressing plate 32 comprises a ring-shaped plate body 39 positioned between the other support plate portion 19b and the thrust bearing 35, a connecting plate portion 40 bent outward in the width direction from the upper part of the front end of the plate body 39, and a locking plate portion 41 bent forward and upward from the outer end in the width direction of the connecting plate portion 40. The locking plate portion 41 has a locking hole 42 that penetrates in the width direction. The locking hole 42 is a portion for locking the other end (lower end) of the coil spring 8b on the other side (right side in Figure 4).

[0064] A pair of coil springs 8a and 8b are members for elastically supporting the steering column 2 with respect to the support bracket 4. In this example, the pair of coil springs 8a and 8b are arranged adjacent to each other on both sides in the width direction of a pair of support plate portions 19a and 19b of the support bracket 4.

[0065] In this example, a pair of coil springs 8a and 8b comprises U-shaped hook portions 43a and 43b located at one end, U-shaped hook portions 44a and 44b located at the other end, and coil portions 45a and 45b located in the middle.

[0066] One end of the coil spring 8a, the hook portion 43a, is located above the mounting plate portion 18 of the support bracket 4 and is locked into the locking groove 26 of the spring locking portion 25a on one side (left side in Figure 4) of the support bracket 4. The other end of the coil spring 8a, the hook portion 44a, is located below the mounting plate portion 18 of the support bracket 4 and is locked into the locking hole 38 provided in the base portion 37 of the adjustment lever 36. In this state, the coil spring 8a is inclined in a direction that moves forward as it moves upward, and the upper end of the coil portion 45a of the coil spring 8a is inserted inside the spring insertion portion 28a on one side (left side in Figure 4) of the mounting plate portion 18. Furthermore, in this state, the coil portion 45a of the coil spring 8a is elastically stretched. As a result, one coil spring 8a supports the steering column 2 relative to the support bracket 4 based on the elastic restoring force of its own coil portion 45a.

[0067] The hook portion 43b, which is one end of the other coil spring 8b, is located above the mounting plate portion 18 of the support bracket 4 and is locked into the locking groove 26 of the spring locking portion 25b on the other side (right side in Figure 4) of the support bracket 4. The hook portion 44b, which is the other end of the other coil spring 8b, is located below the mounting plate portion 18 of the support bracket 4 and is locked into the locking hole 42 provided in the locking plate portion 41 of the pressing plate 32. In this state, the other coil spring 8b is inclined in a direction that moves forward as it moves upward, and the upper end of the coil portion 45b of the other coil spring 8b is inserted inside the other spring insertion portion 28b provided on the mounting plate portion 18 (right side in Figure 4). Furthermore, in this state, the coil portion 45b of the other coil spring 8b is elastically stretched. As a result, the other coil spring 8b supports the steering column 2 relative to the support bracket 4 based on the elastic restoring force of its own coil portion 45b.

[0068] In this example, since the pair of coil springs 8a and 8b are inclined forward as they move upward, the adjustment rod 5 is biased forward inside the pair of tilt slots 20a and 20b by the pair of coil springs 8a and 8b. This prevents the adjustment rod 5 from rattling in the front-to-back direction inside the pair of tilt slots 20a and 20b.

[0069] In the structure of this example, when adjusting the fore-aft position and height of the steering wheel, the adjustment lever 36 is rotated downwards from the locked position shown in Figure 3 to the unlocked position (not shown).

[0070] This reduces or eliminates the clamping force between the pair of support plates 19a and 19b that grips the displacement bracket 3 from both sides in the width direction, thereby reducing or eliminating the frictional force acting between the inner surfaces of the pair of support plates 19a and 19b and the outer surfaces of the displacement bracket 3 in the width direction, as well as the frictional force acting between the outer surface of the lower column 13 and the inner surface of the upper column 14. In this state, by swinging the steering column around the tilt axis 12, the height position of the steering wheel can be adjusted within the range in which the adjustment rod 5 can move inside the pair of tilt slots 20a and 20b. Furthermore, by displacing the upper column 14 axially relative to the lower column 13, the fore-aft position of the steering wheel can be adjusted within the range in which the adjustment rod 5 can move inside the telescopic slot 17.

[0071] After adjusting the fore-aft position and height of the steering wheel, rotate the adjustment lever 36 upward from the unlocked position (not shown) to the locked position (shown in Figure 3).

[0072] This increases the clamping force with which the pair of support plates 19a and 19b grip the displacement bracket 3 from both sides in the width direction. In this state, the frictional force acting between the inner surfaces of the pair of support plates 19a and 19b and the outer surfaces of the displacement bracket 3 in the width direction increases, making it impossible to swing the steering column 2 around the tilt axis 12, i.e., to adjust the height position of the steering wheel. Also, the frictional force acting between the outer surface of the lower column 13 and the inner surface of the upper column 14 increases, making it impossible to displace the upper column 14 axially relative to the lower column 13, i.e., to adjust the fore-aft position of the steering wheel. As a result, the steering wheel is held in the adjusted fore-aft position and height position.

[0073] In the steering device 1 of this example, the steering column 2 is elastically supported by a pair of coil springs 8a and 8b on the support bracket 4 via an adjustment rod 5 and the base 37 and pressure plate 32 of the adjustment lever 36. Therefore, even when the clamping force is released during the adjustment of the steering wheel position, the steering column 2 is prevented from swinging in a way that would cause the steering wheel to fall, and the force required to adjust the vertical position of the steering wheel can be reduced.

[0074] In this example, as with the conventional structure described in International Publication No. 2019 / 189471, the total length of the coil portions 45a and 45b of the pair of coil springs 8a and 8b changes depending on the oscillation position of the steering column 2, i.e., the vertical position of the steering wheel. Therefore, the elastic force of the pair of coil springs 8a and 8b in the direction of pulling the steering column 2 upward changes depending on the vertical position of the steering wheel. Consequently, the operating force required by the driver to adjust the vertical position of the steering wheel changes depending on the vertical position of the steering wheel.

[0075] However, in the structure of this example, the hook portions 43a and 43b that constitute one end (upper end) of a pair of coil springs 8a and 8b are positioned above the mounting plate portion 18 of the support bracket 4. Therefore, compared to the conventional structure in which one end (upper end) of the coil spring is positioned below the mounting plate portion of the support bracket, the overall length of the coil portions 45a and 45b of the pair of coil springs 8a and 8b can be increased, that is, the number of turns of the coil portions 45a and 45b can be increased. Consequently, the spring constant of the pair of coil springs 8a and 8b can be reduced. Therefore, the amount of change in the elasticity of the pair of coil springs 8a and 8b due to changes in the vertical position of the steering wheel can be kept to a minimum. As a result, the operability when adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel can be improved.

[0076] In this example, the locking portion of the pair of spring locking portions 25a and 25b provided on the support bracket 4, which locks the hook portions 43a and 43b that constitute one end of the pair of coil springs 8a and 8b, is configured with a locking groove 26 that opens upward. Therefore, compared to the case where the locking portion is configured with a through hole, the work of locking one end of the pair of coil springs 8a and 8b can be made easier. However, when implementing the present invention, the locking portion can also be configured with a through hole.

[0077] When implementing the present invention, the shape of the spring locking portion for locking one end of the coil spring can be any shape that is appropriate, for example, the shapes shown in Figures 9(a) to 9(d) can be adopted. In Figures 9(a) to 9(d), the left side is the front side and the right side is the rear side.

[0078] In the spring locking portion 25c shown in Figure 9(a), the locking groove 26a has a 3 / 4 arc shape. In the spring locking portion 25d shown in Figure 9(b), the locking groove 26b has a U shape. In the spring locking portion 25e shown in Figure 9(c), the locking groove 26c has a V shape. Each of these locking grooves 26a, 26b, and 26c opens upward and forward. In the spring locking portion 25f shown in Figure 9(d), the locking groove 26d has a U shape and opens forward.

[0079] In this example, a combination of a drive cam and an adjustment lever of a cam mechanism is used as the expansion / contraction device, and a combination of a driven cam and a pressing plate of the cam mechanism is used as a pair of pressing parts. However, when implementing the present invention, an appropriate configuration can be adopted as the expansion / contraction device. For example, a bolt having a head at its base and a male thread at its tip can be used as the adjustment rod, and a nut having a female thread that can be screwed onto the male thread can be attached to the tip of the bolt, and a structure can be adopted in which the base of the bolt or the nut is rotated by the adjustment lever. In this case, the adjustment lever and the head of the bolt or the nut constitute the expansion / contraction device, and the head of the bolt and the nut constitute a pair of pressing parts.

[0080] In this example, the other ends of a pair of coil springs 8a and 8b are locked to the base 37 of the adjustment lever 36 and the pressing plate 32. However, when implementing the present invention, the other ends of the coil springs can also be locked to a part of the steering column or a member that pivots around the tilt axis in conjunction with the steering column, but is different from that in this example. For example, the other ends of the coil springs can be locked to either of the pair of pressing parts, a different part of the expansion / contraction device, an adjustment rod, a part of the steering column, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0081] 1. Steering system 2. Steering column 3. Displacement bracket 4. Support bracket 5 Adjustable Rod 6a, 6b Pressing part 7. Expanding / contracting device 8a, 8b Coil springs 9. Steering shaft 10 Gear Housing 11 Lower Bracket 12 Tilt axes 13 Roa Column 14 Upper Column 15 Lower Shaft 16 Upper Shaft 17 Telescopic elongated holes 18 Mounting plate section 19a, 19b Support plate part 20a, 20b Tilt elongated holes 21 Locking Capsule 22 Bridge section 23a, 23b Side panel section 24 Locking notch 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f Spring locking part 26, 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d locking groove 27 Return section 28a, 28b Spring insertion section 29 Cam mechanism 30 drive cam 31 Driven cam 32 Pressure Plate 33 Head 34 nuts 35 Thrust bearing 36 Adjustment lever 37 Base 38 Locking hole 39 Plate body 40 Connecting plate part 41 Locking plate section 42 Locking holes 43a, 43b Hook section 44a, 44b Hook section 45a, 45b Coil section 46 Blank Material

Claims

1. a steering column supported so as to be swingable about a tilt axis in the width direction relative to the vehicle body; a displacement bracket provided in a part of the steering column and having a column-side through-hole penetrating therethrough in the width direction; a support bracket including a mounting plate portion disposed in the width direction, a pair of support plate portions each having an upper end connected to a widthwise intermediate portion of the mounting plate portion and disposed on both sides of the displacement bracket in the width direction, and a pair of tilt elongated holes provided in the pair of support plate portions and extending in the up-down direction; an adjustment rod that is inserted in the width direction through the column-side through-hole and the pair of tilt elongated holes; a pair of pressing portions disposed at portions of the adjustment rod at positions sandwiching the pair of support plate portions from both sides in the width direction; an expansion / contraction device that expands and contracts the gap between the pair of pressing portions; a coil spring for elastically supporting the steering column relative to the support bracket, the support bracket includes a spring locking portion located at a widthwise position where the coil spring is disposed, the spring locking portion being located above a portion of the mounting plate portion that is located at the widthwise position, One end of the coil spring is engaged with the spring engaging portion, the other end of the coil spring is located below the mounting plate portion and is engaged with the steering column or a member that swings integrally with the steering column about the tilt axis; Steering device.

2. The steering device according to claim 1 , wherein the support bracket includes a spring insertion portion formed of a notch or a hole through which a middle portion of the coil spring is inserted.

3. The steering device according to claim 2 , wherein the spring insertion portion is provided on the mounting plate portion.

4. The steering device according to claim 1 , wherein the spring engaging portion is disposed adjacent to and above the mounting plate portion.

5. The mounting plate portion and the spring locking portion are integrally formed from a single metal plate, The spring locking portion is present so as to be bent upward from a part of the mounting plate portion. The steering device according to claim 4.

6. 2. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the spring engaging portion includes a portion that engages one end of the coil spring and that is configured as an engaging groove that opens upward and / or forward.

7. The steering device according to claim 6, wherein the spring engaging portion has a barb that protrudes toward an opening of the engaging groove at a portion adjacent to the engaging groove.

Images