Steering system

Abstract

The present invention provides a steering device that can ensure a sufficient fitting length between the upper jacket and the lower jacket, and that can ensure sufficient rigidity of the upper jacket and the lower jacket. [Solution] The steering device 1 comprises a fixed bracket 2 fixed to the vehicle body, an upper jacket 4 of a housing supported by the fixed bracket 2, a cylindrical lower jacket 5 fitted to the upper jacket 4 so as to be axially movable, and a swing mechanism 10 that swings the upper jacket 4 and the lower jacket 5. The swing mechanism 10 has a link member 11 that connects the fixed bracket 2 and the upper jacket 4, and a slider 40 connected to the link member 11. A groove 4b is formed on the outer surface of the upper jacket 4, extending in the axial direction of the upper jacket 4 and on which the slider 40 is positioned. A component mounting portion 4a for attaching components of the key lock device is formed on the upper jacket 4.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there has been disclosed a steering device having a structure in which an upper jacket is disposed on the inner side, a lower jacket is disposed on the outer side relative to the upper jacket, and components related to a key lock device are disposed on the outer lower jacket (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Literature

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Meanwhile, in the conventional steering device, since the key lock related components are disposed on the outer lower jacket, the layout conflicts arise between the key lock related components, the tilt drive mechanism, the telescopic drive mechanism, the link mechanism for swinging the upper jacket, and the like. Due to this layout conflict, the fitting length between the upper jacket and the lower jacket cannot be sufficiently secured, which may be disadvantageous in terms of rigidity.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of such conventional techniques. An object of the present invention is to provide a steering device that can sufficiently secure the fitting length between the upper jacket and the lower jacket, and can sufficiently secure the rigidity of the upper jacket and the lower jacket.

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, an upper jacket of a housing supported by the fixed bracket, a cylindrical lower jacket fitted to the upper jacket so as to be axially movable, and a swing mechanism for swinging the upper jacket and the lower jacket. The swing mechanism has a link member connecting the fixed bracket and the upper jacket, and a sliding member connected to the link member. A groove is formed on the outer surface of the upper jacket, extending in the axial direction of the upper jacket, where the sliding member is positioned. A component mounting portion is formed on the upper jacket for attaching components of a key lock device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a steering device that can ensure a sufficient fitting length between the upper jacket and the lower jacket, and that can ensure sufficient rigidity of the upper jacket and the lower jacket. [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 an exploded perspective view of the steering device according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a side view of the steering device according to this embodiment. [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 electrically operated and, for example, is installed and used in a vehicle. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the steering device 1 comprises a fixed bracket 2 fixed to the vehicle body and a column jacket 3 supported by the fixed bracket 2 so as to be able to swing in the vertical direction of the vehicle body.

[0012] The steering device 1 includes a steering shaft 7 housed within a column jacket 3, to which a steering wheel (not shown) is connected at its rear end. Furthermore, the steering device 1 includes a telescopic mechanism 20 driven by an electric motor (a telescopic drive motor (not shown)). In addition, 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 (a tilt drive motor 51).

[0013] The fixing bracket 2 is integrally composed of a bracket body 2a and a pair of side wall portions 2b that extend downward from the bracket body 2a and are positioned on both the left and right sides of the pivoting support portion of the column jacket 3. The bracket body 2a extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body and is fixed to the vehicle body. The side wall portions 2b extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, similar to the bracket body 2a.

[0014] The column jacket 3 comprises an upper jacket 4 of the housing and a cylindrical lower jacket 5 inserted into the upper jacket 4 so as to be axially movable relative to it. The upper jacket 4 constitutes an outer jacket located on the outer side (outer circumference side). On the other hand, the lower jacket 5 constitutes an inner tube located on the inner side (inner circumference side) relative to the outer jacket (upper jacket 4). This lower jacket 5 is housed within the upper jacket 4 and is supported so as to be axially movable relative to the upper jacket 4.

[0015] The column jacket 3 (lower jacket 5) is equipped with a pivot support portion 3a at its front end, and when the pivot support portion 3a is pivotally supported on the vehicle body, the rear end portion of the column jacket 3 swings in the vertical direction of the vehicle body.

[0016] On the radially outer side of the upper jacket 4, a telescopic mechanism 20 driven by a telescopic drive motor (not shown) and a tilt mechanism 50 driven by a tilt drive motor 51 are arranged. The telescopic mechanism 20 and the tilt mechanism 50 are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction of the upper jacket 4 (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 3).

[0017] Further, the upper jacket 4 is formed with a component mounting portion 4a for mounting a component of a key lock device.

[0018] The swing mechanism 10 swings the upper jacket 4 and the lower jacket 5. As shown in Fig. 2, the swing 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.

[0019] In the steering device 1, a shaft member 16 is press-fitted (inserted) and fixed into a through hole portion 2h formed in the fixed bracket 2, and this shaft member 16 is inserted through 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 on the fixed bracket 2 by the shaft member 16.

[0020] A bush 30 is disposed on the link member 11, and the bush 30 has a main body portion fitted into a fitting hole portion 18 formed in the link member 11, and a head portion exposed from the fitting hole portion 18 and in contact with the fixed bracket 2. The head portion of the bush 30 is pressed by the fixed bracket 2 and sandwiched between the fixed bracket 2 and the link member 11.

[0021] In the steering device 1, the fastening member 15 has a large-diameter portion that is press-fitted (inserted) into and fixed to a fixing hole portion 19 formed in the second joint portion 14 of the link member 11. Note that the large-diameter portion of the fastening member 15 may be fixed not by press-fitting but, for example, by screwing (threaded engagement) or the like.

[0022] A groove portion 4b is formed on the outer side surface of the upper jacket 4, and a sliding member (slider 40) is disposed in this groove portion 4b. The material of the slider 40 is, for example, a hard resin, which allows the fastening member 15 to slide smoothly relative to the outer side surface of the upper jacket 4. The distal end portion of the fastening member 15 is rotatably supported by the slider 40. As a result, the sliding member (slider 40) moves together with the column jacket 3 along the extending direction of the groove portion 4b, so that the trajectory difference between the tilt rotation center (shaft support receiving portion 3a) and the link rotation center (shaft member 16) when the column jacket 3 swings can be absorbed.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the telescopic mechanism 20 is configured to include a telescopic drive motor (not shown), a screw shaft 21, and a screw nut 23. The telescopic mechanism 20 is also formed to include a drive mechanism bracket 25 that supports the telescopic drive motor, the screw shaft 21, and the like. The drive mechanism bracket 25 is fastened to the lower jacket 5 via a connecting bolt. Thereby, the main body portion of the telescopic mechanism 20 is connected to and supported by the lower jacket 5. Further, the upper jacket 4 is provided with a telescopic bracket 27, and the screw nut 23 of the telescopic mechanism 20 and the upper jacket 4 are connected by the telescopic bracket 27.

[0024] In the steering device 1, the upper jacket 4 is moved in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body by pushing and pulling the upper jacket 4 via the screw nut 23 and the telescopic bracket 27. This movement operation moves the steering wheel, which is connected to the rear end of the steering shaft 7, in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, thereby adjusting the telescopic position of the steering wheel.

[0025] The tilt mechanism 50 comprises an electric motor (tilt drive motor 51), a screw shaft 52, and a screw nut 53. The tilt mechanism 50 is also formed by a drive mechanism bracket 54 that supports the tilt drive motor 51, the screw shaft 52, etc. The drive mechanism bracket 54 is fastened to the lower jacket 5 via connecting bolts. In this way, the main body of the tilt mechanism 50 is connected to and supported by the upper jacket 4. The upper jacket 4 is also provided with a link member 11, and the screw nut 53 of the tilt mechanism 50 is connected to and held by a holding portion 11h (see Figure 2) formed on the link member 11.

[0026] In the steering device 1, the column jacket 3 and the steering shaft 7 are swung vertically in the vehicle body direction by pushing and pulling the link member 11 via the screw nut 53. This swung operation causes the steering wheel, which is connected to the rear end of the steering shaft 7, to swing vertically in the vehicle body direction, thereby adjusting the tilt position of the steering wheel.

[0027] The effects and advantages of this embodiment will be explained below.

[0028] (1) The steering device 1 comprises a fixed bracket 2 fixed to the vehicle body, an upper jacket 4 of a housing supported by the fixed bracket 2, and a cylindrical lower jacket 5 fitted to the upper jacket 4 so as to be movable in the axial direction. The steering device 1 comprises a swing mechanism 10 that swings the upper jacket 4 and the lower jacket 5. The swing mechanism 10 has a link member 11 that connects the fixed bracket 2 and the upper jacket 4, and a sliding member (slider 40) connected to the link member 11. A groove 4b is formed on the outer surface of the upper jacket 4, extending in the axial direction of the upper jacket 4 and on which the sliding member (slider 40) is positioned. A component mounting portion 4a for attaching components of the key lock device is formed on the upper jacket 4.

[0029] In this embodiment, the upper jacket 4 is an outer jacket positioned on the outer side (outer circumference), and the lower jacket 5 is an inner tube positioned on the inner side (inner circumference) relative to the upper jacket 4. By configuring the upper jacket 4 and lower jacket 5 in this way, the mechanisms can be arranged in accordance with the layout constraints imposed by the component mounting portion 4a related to the key lock device, the swing mechanism 10, the tilt mechanism 50, and the telescopic mechanism 20. As a result, a sufficient fitting length between the upper jacket 4 and the lower jacket 5 can be secured, and the rigidity of the column jacket 3 (upper jacket 4 and lower jacket 5) can be sufficiently secured. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to form a slit that penetrates the outer jacket (upper jacket 4) and extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body for connection with the link mechanism (swing mechanism 10) as in the conventional method, the rigidity of the column jacket 3 (upper jacket 4) can be sufficiently secured.

[0030] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to provide a steering device 1 that can ensure a sufficient fitting length between the upper jacket 4 and the lower jacket 5, and that can ensure sufficient rigidity of the upper jacket 4 and the lower jacket 5.

[0031] (2) In the steering device 1, a tilt mechanism 50 driven by a tilt drive motor 51 and a telescopic mechanism 20 driven by a telescopic drive motor (not shown) are arranged radially outward of the upper jacket 4. The tilt mechanism 50 and the telescopic mechanism 20 are arranged at different circumferential positions of the upper jacket 4.

[0032] During energy absorption in a secondary collision, the upper jacket 4 does not interfere with the tilt mechanism 50 and the telescopic mechanism 20, thus suppressing the shortening of the stroke for energy absorption during a secondary collision. Furthermore, compared to cases where the tilt mechanism 50 and the telescopic mechanism 20 are set (installed) only on the upper jacket 4 or only on the lower jacket 5, the degree of freedom in installing the tilt mechanism 50 and the telescopic mechanism 20 is increased.

[0033] 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]

[0034] 1. Steering system 2 Fixing brackets 4 Upper Jackets 4a Component mounting section 4b Groove 5. Lower Jacket 10. Oscillating mechanism 11 Link members 20 Telescopic mechanism 40 Slider 50 Tilt mechanism 51. Motor for tilt drive

Claims

1. A mounting bracket that is fixed to the vehicle body, The upper jacket of the housing is supported by the aforementioned fixing bracket, A cylindrical lower jacket is fitted to the upper jacket so as to be movable in the axial direction, The system includes a rocking mechanism for rocking the upper jacket and the lower jacket, The rocking mechanism includes a link member connecting the fixed bracket and the upper jacket, and a sliding member connected to the link member. A groove is formed on the outer surface of the upper jacket, extending in the axial direction of the upper jacket, where the sliding member is positioned. The upper jacket has a mounting portion for attaching components of the key lock device. Steering system.

2. A tilt mechanism powered by a tilt drive motor and a telescopic mechanism powered by a telescopic drive motor are arranged radially outward of the upper jacket. The tilt mechanism and the telescopic mechanism are arranged at different positions in the circumferential direction of the upper jacket. The steering device according to claim 1.

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