Steering system

Abstract

The present invention provides a steering device that can suppress play between the fixed bracket and the link member without increasing the number of parts. [Solution] The steering device 1 comprises a fixed bracket 2 fixed to the vehicle body, a column jacket 3 pivotably supported by the fixed bracket 2, a steering shaft 7 housed within the column jacket 3, and a pivoting mechanism 10 for pivoting the steering shaft 7. The pivoting mechanism 10 has a link member 11 that connects the fixed bracket 2 and the column jacket 3, with a first joint portion 13 connected to the fixed bracket 2 and a second joint portion 14 connected to the column jacket 3 by a fastening member 15. A bush 30 is disposed on the link member 11, and the bush 30 has a main body portion 31 that fits into a fitting hole portion 18 formed in the link member 11, and a head portion 33 that is exposed from the fitting hole portion 18 and contacts the fixed bracket 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a steering device has been shown in which a bolt is engaged with a bracket via a slide shoe and a bush, and a plastic washer is disposed between the bracket and a link member (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a conventional steering device, by using a slide shoe or the like, the gap between the outer surface of the bracket and the bolt is eliminated, and by using a plastic washer, the play between the bracket and the link member is suppressed, but the number of parts has increased.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of such conventional technologies. The object of the present invention is to provide a steering device that can suppress the play between a fixed bracket and a link member without increasing the number of parts.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A steering device according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a fixed bracket fixed to the vehicle body, a column jacket pivotably supported by the fixed bracket, a steering shaft housed within the column jacket, and a pivoting mechanism for pivoting the steering shaft. The pivoting mechanism has a link member connecting the fixed bracket and the column jacket, with a first joint portion connected to the fixed bracket and a second joint portion connected to the column jacket by a fastening member. A bush is provided on the link member, and the bush has a main body portion that fits into a fitting hole formed in the link member, and a head portion that is exposed from the fitting hole portion and contacts the fixed bracket. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a steering device that can suppress rattle between the fixed bracket and the link member without increasing the number of parts. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing an example of a steering device according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a disassembled portion of the steering system. [Figure 3] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part, showing the cross-section along line AA in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part showing the cross-section along line BB. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The steering device according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0010] In Figure 1, arrow FR indicates the front of the vehicle, and arrow RR indicates the rear of the vehicle.

[0011] The steering device 1 according to this embodiment is also called an electric steering device and is used, for example, when installed in a vehicle. As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the steering device 1 is configured to include a fixed bracket 2 fixed to the vehicle body and a column jacket 3 that is supported by the fixed bracket 2 so as to be able to swing in the vertical direction of the vehicle body.

[0012] Furthermore, the steering device 1 includes a steering shaft 7 housed within the column jacket 3, to which a steering wheel (not shown) is connected at its rear end.

[0013] Furthermore, the steering device 1 includes a rocking mechanism 10 that rocks the steering shaft 7 and a tilt mechanism 50 driven by an electric motor 51.

[0014] The fixing bracket 2 is integrally composed of a bracket body 21 and a pair of side wall portions 23 that extend downward from the bracket body 21 and are positioned on both the left and right sides of the pivoting support portion of the column jacket 3. The bracket body 21 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and is fixed to the vehicle body. The side wall portions 23 extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, similar to the bracket body 21.

[0015] The column jacket 3 comprises a cylindrical column housing 4 and a cylindrical inner tube 5 inserted into the column housing 4 so as to be axially movable relative to it. The column housing 4 is also called the lower jacket and is located on the front side of the vehicle body relative to the fixing bracket 2. On the other hand, the inner tube 5 is also called the upper jacket and is housed within the column housing 4 and is supported so as to be axially movable relative to the column housing 4.

[0016] The oscillating mechanism 10 causes the steering shaft 7 to oscillate. This oscillating mechanism 10 has a link member 11 that connects the fixed bracket 2 and the column jacket 3, with a first joint portion 13 connected to the fixed bracket 2 and a second joint portion 14 connected to the column jacket 3 by a fastening member 15.

[0017] In the steering device 1, the shaft member 16 is press-fitted (inserted) and fixed into a through-hole portion 25 formed in the fixed bracket 2, and this shaft member 16 is inserted into an insertion hole portion 17 formed in the first joint portion 13. Thereby, the first joint portion 13 of the link member 11 is rotatably supported by the fixed bracket 2 by the shaft member 16.

[0018] A bush 30 is disposed on the link member 11. The bush 30 has a main body portion 31 fitted into a fitting hole portion 18 formed in the link member 11, and a head portion 33 exposed from the fitting hole portion 18 and contacting the fixed bracket 2. The head portion 33 of the bush 30 is pressed by the fixed bracket 2 and sandwiched between the fixed bracket 2 and the link member 11. The bush 30 is formed of an elastic material having a low coefficient of friction, such as fluororesin (PTFE), and has a predetermined shrinkage allowance (compression allowance).

[0019] In the steering device 1, the fastening member 15 has a large-diameter portion 15a that is press-fitted (inserted) and fixed into a fixing hole portion 19 formed in the second joint portion 14 of the link member 11. Note that the large-diameter portion 15a of the fastening member 15 may be fixed by, for example, screwing (threading) instead of press-fitting.

[0020] A recess 23a is formed on the inner surface of the side wall portion 2 of the fixed bracket 2, and the head portion 33 of the bush 30 is sandwiched between the recess 23a and the side wall 12 of the link member 11. Specifically, a gap C (see FIG. 3) between the recess 23a and the side wall 12 of the link member 11 is slightly smaller than the thickness T (see FIG. 4) of the head portion 33 of the bush 30. That is, the distance D (see FIG. 3) between the left and right recesses 23a is slightly smaller than the width W (see FIG. 4) including the head portions 33 of the left and right bushes 30.

[0021] On the outer surface of the column housing 4, a recess 4a is formed, and a sliding member (slider) 40 is disposed in the recess 4a. The material of the slider 40 is, for example, a hard resin, and the fastening member 15 can slide smoothly with respect to the outer surface of the column housing 4. And the tip end portion 15b of the fastening member 15 is rotatably supported by the slider 40.

[0022] In the steering apparatus 1, a bush 30 is assembled to the link member 11, the bush 30 is pushed in by the fixing bracket 2, and the fastening member 15 fixed to the link member 11 is pressed against the column housing 4 by the pushing force. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the play between the fixing bracket 2 and the link member 11 without increasing the number of parts. Further, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with a conventional general structure steering apparatus, and the assembly of the link member 11 and the fixing bracket 2 to the column jacket 3 can be facilitated.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1 and the like, the tilt mechanism 50 includes an electric motor 51, a screw shaft (not shown), and a screw nut (not shown). Further, the tilt mechanism 50 is formed including an L-shaped drive mechanism bracket (not shown) that supports the screw shaft and the screw nut. This drive mechanism bracket is fastened to the column housing 4 via a connecting bolt (not shown). Thereby, the main body portion of the tilt mechanism 50 is connected to the column housing 4.

[0024] In the steering apparatus 1, by pushing and pulling the link member 11 via the screw nut, the column jacket 3 and the steering shaft 7 are swung in the vehicle body vertical direction. By this swinging operation, the steering wheel connected to the rear end of the steering shaft 7 is swung in the vehicle body vertical direction to adjust the tilt position of the steering wheel.

[0025] The operation and effect of the present embodiment will be described below.

[0026] (1) The steering device 1 includes a fixed bracket 2 fixed to the vehicle body. The steering device 1 includes a column jacket 3 that is pivotably supported by the fixed bracket 2, a steering shaft 7 housed in the column jacket 3, and a pivoting mechanism 10 that pivots the steering shaft 7. The pivoting mechanism 10 has a link member 11 that connects the fixed bracket 2 and the column jacket 3, with a first joint portion 13 connected to the fixed bracket 2 and a second joint portion 14 connected to the column jacket 3 by a fastening member 15. A bush 30 is disposed on the link member 11, and the bush 30 has a main body portion 31 that fits into a fitting hole portion 18 formed in the link member 11, and a head portion 33 that is exposed from the fitting hole portion 18 and contacts the fixed bracket 2.

[0027] In the steering device 1, a bush 30 is assembled to the link member 11, and the fixing bracket 2 pushes the bush 30 in. This pushing force causes the fastening member 15, which is fixed to the link member 11, to press against the column jacket 3. This reduces play between the fixing bracket 2 and the link member 11 without increasing the number of parts. Furthermore, it reduces the number of parts compared to conventional steering devices and makes it easier to assemble the column jacket 3 to the link member 11 and the fixing bracket 2.

[0028] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a steering device 1 that can suppress rattle between the fixed bracket 2 and the link member 11 without increasing the number of parts.

[0029] (2) In the steering device 1, the head 33 of the bush 30 is pressed by the fixing bracket 2 and sandwiched between the fixing bracket 2 and the link member 11.

[0030] In the steering device 1, the head 33 of the bush 30 eliminates the gap between the fixed bracket 2 and the link member 11, thereby suppressing rattle between the fixed bracket 2 and the link member 11.

[0031] (3) In the steering device 1, the bush 30 is made of an elastic material with a low coefficient of friction.

[0032] In the steering device 1, the head 33 of the bush 30, which has a tightening allowance (compression allowance), is sandwiched between the fixed bracket 2 and the link member 11, thereby suppressing play between the fixed bracket 2 and the link member 11. Furthermore, since the bush 30 is made of a material with a low coefficient of friction, its influence on the operability of the link member 11 can be suppressed.

[0033] (4) In the steering device 1, the fastening member 15 has a large diameter portion 15a that is inserted into and fixed in a fixing hole portion 19 formed in the link member 11.

[0034] In the steering device 1, a bush 30 is assembled to the link member 11, and the fixing bracket 2 pushes the bush 30 in. This pushing force causes the fastening member 15, which is fixed to the link member 11, to press against the column housing 4. This makes it possible to suppress play between the fixing bracket 2 and the link member 11 without increasing the number of parts.

[0035] Although this embodiment has been described above, this embodiment is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of this embodiment. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1. Steering system 2 Fixing brackets 3 Column Jacket 7. Steering shaft 10. Oscillating mechanism 11 Link members 13 First joint section 14 Second joint part 15 Fastening member 15a Large-diameter part 18 Fitting hole part 19 Fixing hole part 30 Bush 31 Body part 33 Head

Claims

1. A mounting bracket that is fixed to the vehicle body, A column jacket swingably supported by the aforementioned fixed bracket, The steering shaft housed within the aforementioned column jacket, The steering shaft is oscillated by a rocking mechanism, The rocking mechanism has a link member connecting the fixed bracket and the column jacket, with a first joint portion connected to the fixed bracket and a second joint portion connected to the column jacket by a fastening member. The link member is provided with a bushing. The bush has a main body that fits into a fitting hole formed in the link member, and a head that is exposed from the fitting hole and contacts the fixing bracket. Steering system.

2. The head of the bush is pressed by the fixing bracket and sandwiched between the fixing bracket and the link member. The steering device according to claim 1.

3. The steering device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bush is formed of an elastic material with a low coefficient of friction.

4. The steering device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fastening member has a large-diameter portion that is inserted into and fixed in a fixing hole formed in the link member.

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