Steering system

Abstract

The present invention provides a steering device that can avoid thermal distortion and other factors affecting the dimensional accuracy of other components such as distance brackets and outer jackets. [Solution] The steering device 1 comprises an outer jacket 7 supported by the vehicle body, an inner tube 8 slidably fitted into the outer jacket, and a steering shaft 9 housed inside the outer jacket 7 and the inner tube 8. The outer jacket 7 is composed of a first metal plate 31 and has a cylindrical plate portion 30 having a slit 30a extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, a second metal plate 41 and has clamp plate portions 40 arranged on both the left and right sides of the cylindrical plate portion 30, and a resin portion 50 made of a resin material that covers and integrates the cylindrical plate portion 30 and the clamp plate portion 40.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] A steering apparatus includes an outer jacket supported on a vehicle body, an inner tube slidably fitted to the outer jacket, and a steering shaft accommodated inside the outer jacket and the inner tube (see Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, a lower portion of an outer jacket (upper jacket) is disposed between a pair of side brackets, and an upper end portion of a distance bracket formed by bending into a substantially U-shape is integrally coupled to a lower surface of a lower end portion of the outer jacket by welding.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the steering apparatus of Patent Document 1, since a separate component such as a distance bracket is coupled to the outer jacket by welding, implementation of the welding process increases manufacturing costs, and thermal distortion or the like may affect the dimensional accuracy of the separate component such as the distance bracket and the outer jacket.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the conventional art. An object of the present invention is to provide a steering apparatus that can prevent thermal distortion or the like from affecting the dimensional accuracy of separate components such as a distance bracket and an outer jacket.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] A steering device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises an outer jacket supported by the vehicle body, an inner tube slidably fitted into the outer jacket, and a steering shaft housed inside the outer jacket and inner tube. The outer jacket is composed of a first metal plate and has a cylindrical plate portion having a slit extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and a second metal plate and has clamp plate portions arranged on both the left and right sides of the cylindrical plate portion. The outer jacket is composed of a resin material and has a resin portion that covers and integrates the cylindrical plate portion and the clamp plate portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a steering device that can avoid thermal distortion and the like affecting the dimensional accuracy of other parts such as distance brackets and outer jackets. [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] This is a perspective view of an outer jacket. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the first metal plate section and the second metal plate section. [Figure 5] This is a front view of the first metal plate section and the second metal plate section. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram of the process of placing the first metal plate and the second metal plate into the molding die. [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 in the longitudinal direction, and arrow RR indicates the rear of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction.

[0011] The steering device 1 according to this embodiment, shown in Figure 1, is manually operated. As shown in Figure 1, the steering device 1 comprises a fixed bracket 2 fixed to the vehicle body and a steering column 3 supported by the fixed bracket 2 so as to be able to swing vertically (tilt position adjustable).

[0012] The fixing bracket 2 is equipped with a fixing portion 4 that is fixed to the ceiling surface (not shown) of the vehicle body. A pair of side wall portions 5 hang down from the fixing portion 4. Each side wall portion 5 has a tilt slot (not shown) that defines the tilt position adjustment range along the vertical direction (tilt direction). This tilt slot is composed of an arc-shaped slot centered on a pivot support portion (not shown).

[0013] The steering column 3 mainly consists of an outer jacket 7 disposed between a pair of side wall portions 5, and an inner tube 8 supported on the outer jacket 7 so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (telescopic position adjustment possible). The steering column 3 is provided with a locking mechanism 10 that integrally fastens the fixing bracket 2, the outer jacket 7, and the inner tube 8. This locking mechanism 10 includes, for example, an operating lever 11, a locking bolt 12, a fixing cam 13, a rotating cam 14, and a nut (not shown).

[0014] Furthermore, a steering shaft 9 is housed inside the outer jacket 7 and inner tube 8. This steering shaft 9 is made extendable and retractable by connecting an upper shaft 9a and a lower shaft (not shown) with serrations.

[0015] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the outer jacket 7 comprises a cylindrical portion 22 having a slit 21 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and a pair of clamp portions 23 hanging down from the cylindrical portion 22. The outer jacket 7 is located on the front side FR of the vehicle body relative to the fixing bracket 2, and the inner tube 8 is slidably fitted into the cylindrical portion 22 of the outer jacket 7. Further, each clamp portion 23 is provided with a hole 24 through which the lock bolt 12 is inserted.

[0016] The inner tube 8 is made of metal or synthetic resin and formed into a cylindrical shape, and a bearing 17 is attached to the rear end portion of the inner tube 8 (see Fig. 1). The cylindrically formed inner tube 8 is inserted inside the cylindrical portion 22 of the outer jacket 7 in the cylinder axial direction. Accordingly, the inner tube 8 is supported movably in the cylinder axial direction (the front-rear direction of the vehicle body) relative to the outer jacket 7.

[0017] In the present embodiment, the slit 21 is formed in the lower portion of the cylindrical portion 22 of the outer jacket 7, and the pair of clamp portions 23, the operation lever 11 and the like are arranged below the cylindrical portion 22. However, the present invention is not limited thereto: the slit 21 may be formed in the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 22 of the outer jacket 7, and the pair of clamp portions 23, the operation lever 11 and the like may be arranged above the cylindrical portion 22.

[0018] As shown in Figs. 2 to 5, the outer jacket 7 includes a cylindrical plate portion 30 formed of a first metal plate 31 and having a slit 30a extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and clamp plate portions 40 formed of a second metal plate 41 and respectively arranged on both left and right sides of the cylindrical plate portion 30. Further, the outer jacket 7 is configured to include a resin portion 50 which is made of a resin material, and covers and integrates the cylindrical plate portion 30 and the clamp plate portions 40. That is, the outer jacket 7 is formed by molding (insert-molding) the cylindrical plate portion 30 made of the first metal plate 31 and the clamp plate portions 40 made of the second metal plate 41 with resin.

[0019] The first metal plate 31 and the second metal plate 41 are, for example, steel plates (sheet metal), and the resin material described above is, for example, a thermoplastic resin. Note that the first metal plate 31 may also be a pipe material.

[0020] The cylindrical plate portion 30 is formed by pressing and bending a single metal plate (the first metal plate 31). Bent portions 32 are respectively formed on both left and right sides of the slit 30a of the cylindrical plate portion 30.

[0021] An upper slit 33 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is formed at an upper portion of the cylindrical plate portion 30, and a lower slit 34 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body is formed at a lower portion of the cylindrical plate portion 30 (see FIG. 4). Furthermore, a plurality of elongated hole portions 35 that can be filled with the resin material constituting the resin portion 50 are respectively formed on both left and right side portions of the cylindrical plate portion 30 (see FIG. 4).

[0022] The clamp plate portion 40 is formed by pressing and bending a single metal plate (the second metal plate 41). The clamp plate portion 40 has a front portion 42 extending in the vertical direction, a rear portion 43 disposed on the vehicle body rear side RR relative to the front portion 42 and extending in the vertical direction, and a connecting portion 44 extending in the vehicle body longitudinal direction and connecting the front portion 42 and the rear portion 43. This clamp plate portion 40 is formed in a U-shape when viewed from the left-right direction.

[0023] Protrusions 42a and 43a that engage with the bent portions 32 formed on the cylindrical plate portion 30 are respectively formed on the front portion 42 and the rear portion 43 of the clamp plate portion 40. Furthermore, a front curved surface 42b formed in accordance with the curvature of the outer periphery of the cylindrical plate portion 30 is formed at the upper end of the front portion 42, and a rear curved surface 43b formed in accordance with the curvature of the outer periphery of the cylindrical plate portion 30 is formed at the upper end of the rear portion 43. These front curved surface 42b and rear curved surface 43b are in contact with the outer periphery of the cylindrical plate portion 30 (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 5).

[0024] The resin portion 50 covers almost the entire cylindrical plate portion 30 and the clamp plate portion 40. In this embodiment, a portion of the bent portion 32 of the cylindrical plate portion 30 and the outer surface of the clamp plate portion 40 are exposed from the resin portion 50 (see Figures 2 and 3). The aforementioned hole portion 24 is provided at the lower part of the rear end portion of the resin portion 50 (see Figure 2).

[0025] Furthermore, multiple material-reducing sections 54 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body are formed at the rear end of the resin section 50 (see Figure 2). In other words, multiple material-reducing sections 54 recessed toward the front side FR of the vehicle body are formed at the rear end of the resin section 50.

[0026] Furthermore, multiple material-removing portions 55 extending in the left-right direction are formed on both the left and right sides of the resin portion 50. In other words, multiple material-removing portions 55 recessed inward on both the left and right sides are formed on both the left and right sides of the resin portion 50.

[0027] As shown in Figure 6, with the cylindrical plate portion 30 and the clamp plate portion 40 positioned in predetermined locations on the mold 100, the cylindrical plate portion 30 and the clamp plate portion 40 are integrated by molding (insert molding) with resin. This makes it possible to mold an outer jacket 7 that has a cylindrical plate portion 30, a clamp plate portion 40, and a resin portion 50.

[0028] Next, the tilt position adjustment operation and telescopic position adjustment operation of the steering device 1 of this embodiment will be described.

[0029] To fix the inner tube 8 in the desired position, first move the inner tube 8 to the desired position in the tilt direction (up and down direction) and the telescopic direction (front and rear direction of the vehicle body), and then swing the operating lever 11 upward. Swinging the operating lever 11 upward causes the lock bolt 12 to rotate around its axis in the fastening direction.

[0030] As the lock bolt 12 rotates in the fastening direction, the peaks of the fixed cam 13 and the rotating cam 14 overlap, increasing the axial dimension. This tightens the lock bolt 12, clamping the outer jacket 7's clamp portion 23 between the pair of side wall portions 5, and holding the inner tube 8 in any desired position.

[0031] Furthermore, to adjust the position of the inner tube 8, the fastening of the outer jacket 7 and the inner tube 8 to the fixing bracket 2 is released. To do this, first, the operating lever 11 is swung downward. Swinging the operating lever 11 downward causes the lock bolt 12 to rotate around its axis in the direction of release.

[0032] As the lock bolt 12 rotates in the unlocking direction, the peak of the fixed cam 13 and the valley of the rotating cam 14 overlap, narrowing the axial dimension. This loosens the lock bolt 12, widening the gap between the pair of side wall portions 5, relieving the pressure contact between the side wall portions 5 and the clamp portion 23 of the outer jacket 7, allowing the inner tube 8 to move in the tilt and telescopic directions relative to the fixed bracket 2.

[0033] The effects and advantages of this embodiment will be explained below.

[0034] (1) The steering device 1 comprises an outer jacket 7 supported by the vehicle body, an inner tube 8 slidably fitted into the outer jacket 7, and a steering shaft 9 housed inside the outer jacket 7 and the inner tube 8. The outer jacket 7 is composed of a first metal plate 31 and has a cylindrical plate portion 30 having a slit 30a extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, and a second metal plate 41 and has clamp plate portions 40 arranged on both the left and right sides of the cylindrical plate portion 30. The outer jacket 7 is composed of a resin material and has a resin portion 50 that covers and integrates the cylindrical plate portion 30 and the clamp plate portion 40.

[0035] Since the outer jacket 7 is constructed by molding a cylindrical plate portion 30 and a clamp plate portion 40 with resin and integrating them, it is possible to suppress the increase in manufacturing costs due to the increase in processes, and it is also possible to avoid thermal distortion and other factors affecting the dimensional accuracy of the outer jacket 7. Furthermore, since the clamp plate portion 40 is molded with resin to form the clamp portion 23 of the outer jacket 7, the rigidity of the clamp portion 23 of the outer jacket 7 can be ensured. Moreover, since the clamp portion 23 of the outer jacket 7 is formed by covering it with a resin portion 50 made of resin material, the degree of freedom in shape can be improved compared to when the entire outer jacket 7 is formed from a metal plate.

[0036] As described above, this embodiment provides a steering device 1 that can avoid thermal distortion and the like affecting the dimensional accuracy of other parts such as the distance bracket and the outer jacket 7.

[0037] (2) In the steering device 1, the clamp plate portion 40 has a front portion 42 that extends in the vertical direction and a rear portion 43 that is located on the rear side RR of the vehicle body relative to the front portion 42 and extends in the vertical direction. The clamp plate portion 40 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and has a connecting portion 44 that connects the front portion 42 and the rear portion 43, and is formed in a U shape when viewed from the left and right directions.

[0038] By forming the clamp plate portion 40 in a U-shape, the clamp plate portion 40 engages with the cylindrical plate portion 30 on the front side FR and the rear side RR of the vehicle body in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, thereby improving the rigidity of the clamp portion 23 of the outer jacket 7.

[0039] (3) In the steering device 1, bent portions 32 are formed on both the left and right sides of the slit 30a of the cylindrical plate portion 30, and protrusions 42a and 43a that engage with the bent portions 32 are formed on the clamp plate portion 40.

[0040] By engaging the bent portion 32 formed on the cylindrical plate portion 30 with the protrusions 42a and 43a formed on the clamp plate portion 40, the cylindrical plate portion 30 and the clamp plate portion 40 can be firmly engaged, thereby improving the rigidity of the clamp portion 23 of the outer jacket 7.

[0041] 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]

[0042] 1. Steering system 7 Outer Jacket 8 inner tubes 9. Steering shaft 30 Cylindrical plate section 30a Slit 31 First metal plate 32 Folding section 40 Clamp plate section 41 Second metal plate 42 Front part 42a Protrusion 43 Posterior part 43a Protrusion 44 Connecting part 50 Resin part

Claims

1. An outer jacket supported by the vehicle body, An inner tube slidably fitted to the outer jacket, The system comprises a steering shaft housed inside the outer jacket and the inner tube, The aforementioned outer jacket is A cylindrical plate portion made of a first metal plate and having a slit extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, It consists of a second metal plate, and clamp plate portions are arranged on both the left and right sides of the cylindrical plate portion, It is constructed having a resin part made of resin material that covers and integrates the cylindrical plate part and the clamp plate part, Steering system.

2. The clamp plate portion is The front portion extends in the vertical direction, A rear portion is positioned further rearward than the aforementioned front portion and extends vertically. It extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and has a connecting portion that connects the front portion and the rear portion, and is formed in a U-shape when viewed from the left and right directions. The steering device according to claim 1.

3. On both the left and right sides of the slit in the cylindrical plate portion, a bent portion is formed. The clamp plate portion has a projection that engages with the bent portion. The steering device according to claim 1 or 2.

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