Steering device

Abstract

To provide an extendable and compact steering device.SOLUTION: A steering device 100 holds a steering member 200 so as to be movable between a forward position where a driver can steer and a retract position at the front side of a vehicle. The steering device 100 includes: a fastening member 110 attached to a vehicle body; a movable member 120 attached to the fastening member 110 so as to be movable; a steering shaft body 130 attached to the movable member 120 and holding the steering member 200 so as to be rotatable; a reaction force device 140 attached to the movable member 120 and applying reaction force to the steering shaft body 130; a wiring member 180 electrically connected to the reaction force device 140; and a holding member 125 attached to the opposite side of the fastening member 110 to the movable member 120 and holding the wiring member 180.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering device for holding a steering member that is steered by a driver in a vehicle or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] A retractable steering device is known that improves the driver's comfort during autonomous driving by moving the steering member operated by the driver to the front of the vehicle. In some retractable steering devices, the steering shaft that holds the steering member is not mechanically connected to the steered wheels, and linkless steer-by-wire technology is used to steer the steered wheels by outputting steering information (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 005736 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in conventional steering systems that move the steering member forward and backward relative to the driver, wiring members are connected to electrical devices such as a reaction force device that moves forward and backward along with the steering member. These wiring members are long, and the wiring state changes as the steering member moves, so they can interfere with vehicle components such as brake-related components and air conditioning-related components.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has an object to provide a steering device that can avoid interference with vehicle components and the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the present invention is a steering device that holds a steering member so that it can be moved between an advanced position where the driver can steer and a reverse position in front of the vehicle, and includes a fixed member attached to the vehicle body, a movable member attached so as to be movable relative to the fixed member, a steering shaft attached to the movable member and rotatably holding the steering member, a reaction force device attached to the movable member and applying a reaction force to the steering shaft, a wiring member electrically connected to the reaction force device, and a holding member attached to the opposite side of the fixed member relative to the movable member and holding the wiring member. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the wiring member is held by a holding member attached to the movable member, so that even when the steering member is moved forward or backward, the wiring state of the wiring member changes in accordance with the movement of the movable member, making it possible to avoid interference with vehicle members. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a steering device holding a steering member. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a fixing member and a member attached to the fixing member. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a movable member and a member that moves together with the movable member. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a steering device with fixed members, movable members, etc. omitted. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the steering device in an advanced state with a portion thereof omitted. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the steering device in a reverse position with a portion thereof omitted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a steering device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiment is an example for explaining the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. For example, the shapes, structures, materials, components, relative positional relationships, connection states, numerical values, mathematical formulas, the content of each step in a method, and the order of each step shown in the following embodiment are examples and may include content not described below. Furthermore, while geometric expressions such as parallel and orthogonal may be used, these expressions do not indicate mathematical precision and include substantially allowable errors, deviations, etc. Furthermore, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also include substantially allowable ranges.

[0010] The drawings are schematic diagrams in which emphasis, omission, or adjustment of proportions is appropriately made for the purpose of explaining the present invention, and differ from the actual shapes, positional relationships, and proportions. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis shown in the drawings represent Cartesian coordinates arbitrarily set for the purpose of explaining the drawings. In other words, the Z-axis is not necessarily an axis along the vertical direction, and the X-axis and Y-axis are not necessarily located within a horizontal plane.

[0011] In addition, in the following, multiple inventions may be collectively described as one embodiment, and some of the contents described below may be described as optional components related to the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a steering device holding a steering member. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a fixed member. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a movable member. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the steering device with the fixed member, movable member, etc. omitted. The steering device 100 is a device that holds a steering member 200 so that it can move between an advanced position where the driver can steer and a reverse position which is a position in front of the vehicle, and includes a fixed member 110, a movable member 120, a steering shaft 130, a reaction force device 140, a wiring member 180, and a holding member 125. In this embodiment, the steering device 100 includes a support member 143, a control device 144, a torque detection device 150, a reaction force transmission device 160, a steering angle sensor 171, a reducer 172, and a rotation amount restriction device 173.

[0013] The fixed member 110 is a member fixedly attached to a reinforcement, which is one of the structural members of the vehicle body. The manner in which the fixed member 110 is attached to the vehicle body is not limited, but in this embodiment, the fixed member 110 is attached in a suspended state to a reinforcement that is stretched across the width direction of the vehicle body. The cross-sectional shape of the fixed member 110 perpendicular to the movement direction of the movable member 120 (X-axis direction in the figure) is an L-shape rotated 90 degrees to the right, and the fixed member 110 includes a plate-like fixed top panel portion 111 and a fixed wall portion 112 that extends downward from one side (Y+ side in the figure) of the fixed top panel portion 111 in the width direction (Y-axis direction in the figure). A first rail 113, which is a component of a rail mechanism, is fixedly attached to the underside (Z-side in the figure) of the fixed top panel portion 111 in a state in which it extends in the movement direction of the movable member 120. A second rail 114, which is another component of the rail mechanism, is fixedly attached to the other side in the width direction of the fixed wall portion 112 (Y-side in the figure) so as to extend in the direction in which the movable member 120 moves.

[0014] A moving device 115 for moving movable member 120 is attached below fixed member 110 (on the Z- side in the drawing). The type of moving device 115 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it includes a feed screw 117 fixedly attached to movable member 120 via a fixed bracket 116 so as to extend in the movement direction of movable member 120, a movable nut 128 that meshes with feed screw 117 and reciprocates in the movement direction of movable member 120 as the feed screw 117 rotates, and a rotation drive device 118 that includes a motor that rotates feed screw 117.

[0015] In this embodiment, a control device 144 is fixedly attached to the outside of the fixed wall portion 112 of the fixed member 110. The control device 144 is a so-called ECU (Electronic Control Unit) or the like, and is electrically connected to the reaction force device 140 via a wiring member 180 to control the reaction force device 140. The control device 144 may also be electrically connected to the torque detection device 150, the steering angle sensor 171, and the like. In this way, the control device 144 and the fixed member 110 are unitized, which eliminates the need to separately attach the control device 144 to the vehicle body and reduces the number of attachment steps. The control device 144 may also be equipped with a power source such as an inverter that supplies power to the reaction force device 140.

[0016] Movable member 120 is attached to fixed member 110 via a rail mechanism and moving device 115 so as to be reciprocable between an advanced position and a retracted position. The cross-sectional shape of movable member 120 perpendicular to the direction of movement (X-axis direction in the figure) is an L-shape rotated 90 degrees to the right, and includes plate-like movable top panel 121 and movable wall section 122 extending downward from one side (Y+ side in the figure) of movable top panel 121 in the width direction (Y-axis direction in the figure). A third rail 123, which is a component of the rail mechanism and moves along first rail 113, is fixedly attached to the top surface (Z-side in the figure) of movable top panel 121, extending in the movement direction. A fourth rail 124, which is another component of the rail mechanism and moves along second rail 114, is fixedly attached to one side (Y+ side in the figure) of movable wall section 122 in the width direction, extending in the movement direction. The first rail 113 and the third rail 123, and the second rail 114 and the fourth rail 124 are connected to each other so as to be freely linearly movable via two rows of balls held by a retainer.

[0017] The movable top plate portion 121 is provided with a cutout portion 129 (see FIG. 3) of a size corresponding to the extension region 139, above (on the Z+ side in the drawing) the extension region 139, which includes an area obtained by virtually extending the steering shaft 130 forward of the vehicle (on the X+ side in the drawing). By providing the cutout portion 129 in the movable top plate portion 121, it is possible to prevent the movable member 120 from interfering with vehicle members in the reverse position, and it is possible to position the reverse position in the front of the vehicle.

[0018] The steering shaft 130 is attached to the movable member 120 and rotatably holds the steering member 200. The shape of the steering shaft 130 is not particularly limited, and examples include a cylindrical shape and a hexagonal prism shape. The cross-sectional shape and cross-sectional area of ​​the steering shaft 130 may change in the axial direction. In this embodiment, the steering shaft 130 is attached to the movable member 120 rotatably about its axis via a first housing 131 that is fixedly attached to the movable member 120 in a hanging state. The first housing 131 is a housing that houses a part of the reaction force transmission device 160 and is equipped with a bearing (not shown) that rotatably holds the steering shaft 130. The axis of the steering shaft 130 and the direction of movement of the movable member 120 do not have to be parallel.

[0019] An extension region 139, which includes a region obtained by virtually extending the steering shaft 130 to the front side of the vehicle (X+ side in the drawing) and does not intersect with the reaction force device 140, is a region where no members that move with the movable member 120 exist. In other words, even if a vehicle member is disposed within the extension region 139, the movable member 120 and the members that move with the movable member 120 do not interfere with the vehicle member. This allows the retracted positions of the movable member 120 and the members that move with the movable member 120 to be disposed on the front side of the vehicle, and makes it possible to lengthen the stroke of the movable member 120 and the members that move with the movable member 120.

[0020] A steering angle sensor 171 is attached to the end of the steering shaft 130 on the driver's side (X-side in the figure). In the case of the steer-by-wire steering device 100, the rotation angle of the steering shaft 130, i.e., the steering angle of the steering member 200, is detected by the steering angle sensor 171, and the steered wheels are turned based on a signal from the steering angle sensor 171.

[0021] Furthermore, a rotation amount restricting device 173 is attached to the end of the steering shaft 130 on the vehicle front side (X+ side in the figure). The rotation amount restricting device 173 is a mechanism that restricts the rotation angle of the steering shaft 130 within a predetermined range. In the case of the linkless steer-by-wire steering device 100, there is no connection mechanism between the steering shaft 130 and the steered wheels to restrict the rotation angle of the steering shaft 130, so the rotation end of the steering member 200 is determined by software by controlling the reaction force device 140. However, in cases such as when power is not supplied to the reaction force device 140, a rotation amount restricting device 173 is provided that mechanically restricts the rotation of the steering member 200 within a predetermined angle range.

[0022] The reaction force device 140 is a device including a motor that applies a reaction force (torque) to the steering shaft 130 that is opposite to the force (torque) applied by the driver to the steering member 200, in order to impart the steering feel of the steering member connected to the steered wheels by a link to the steering member 200 held in the linkless steer-by-wire steering device 100. The reaction force device 140 is fixedly attached to the movable member 120 at a position that does not intersect with an extension region 139, which is a three-dimensional region that is a virtual extension of the steering shaft 130 to the front side of the vehicle. In the case of this embodiment, the reaction force device 140 is attached in a hanging manner to the movable member 120 via a movable bracket 141 and a second housing 142, and is disposed between the movable wall portion 122 and the extension region 139. An output shaft 149 of the motor included in the reaction force device 140 is disposed parallel to the steering shaft 130. By arranging the reaction force device 140 on the left side of the steering shaft 130 as seen from the driver, it is possible to avoid interference between the reaction force device 140 and brake-related vehicle components, and to arrange the movable member 120 and the members that move with it at the front of the vehicle.

[0023] The reaction force transmission device 160 is a device that transmits the reaction force generated by the reaction force device 140 to the steering shaft 130 that is arranged along the output shaft 149. The type of the reaction force transmission device 160 is not particularly limited, and examples include a transmission device that uses a belt and a transmission device that uses gears.

[0024] In this embodiment, the reaction force transmission device 160 includes a shaft side pulley 161, a reaction force side pulley 162, and a belt 163. The shaft side pulley 161 and the reaction force side pulley 162 have the same diameter. The shaft side pulley 161 is attached coaxially to the steering shaft 130, and the reaction force side pulley 162 is attached to the output shaft 149 of the reaction force device 140. The distance between the first housing 131 that holds the steering shaft 130 and the second housing 142 that holds the output shaft 149 is adjustable in the width direction (the Y-axis direction in the figure), and the tension of the belt 163 can be adjusted.

[0025] The reducer 172 is a device that reduces the rotation of the motor included in the reaction force device 140 at a predetermined reduction ratio and transmits the torque to the steering shaft 130. There is no particular limitation on the type of reducer 172, but in the present embodiment, a coaxial reducer is used and is connected to the output shaft 149 of the motor included in the reaction force device 140. In this embodiment, the output shaft of the motor included in the reaction force device 140 and the output shaft of the reducer 172 arranged coaxially are collectively referred to as the output shaft 149.

[0026] By arranging the reducer 172 on the reaction force device 140 side rather than on the steering shaft 130 side, an extension area 139 can be secured that extends long in front of the steering shaft 130 in the direction of movement of the movable member 120, and interference with vehicle members can be avoided and the retracted position of the steering member 200 can be positioned as far forward as possible on the vehicle.

[0027] Furthermore, by arranging the reducer 172 on the reaction force device 140 side, the reduction ratio of the reaction force transmission device 160 can be made 1:1, and the input torque from the steering member 200 can be accurately measured even if the torque detection device 150 is attached coaxially to the output shaft 149 of the reaction force device 140. Therefore, the extension region 139 can be made even longer in the movement direction of the movable member 120, and interference with vehicle members can be avoided, making it possible to position the retreat position of the steering member 200 further forward on the vehicle.

[0028] The wiring member 180 is a group of electric wires called a harness or the like that is electrically connected to the reaction force device 140. In the present embodiment, the wiring member 180 includes a power line 181 and a signal line 182, one end of which is connected to a fixed-side connector 184 and the other end of which is connected to a movable-side connector 185. The power line 181 is a group of electric wires that supplies power to the reaction force device 140, and the signal line 182 is a group of electric wires through which signals flow from the torque detection device 150, the steering angle sensor 171, etc. Both the power line 181 and the signal line 182 are flat cables, and the power line 181 is arranged outside the signal line 182 in the thickness direction. This allows the radius of curvature of the relatively thick power line 181 to be larger than the radius of curvature of the signal line 182, ensuring smooth movement of the power line 181 when the movable member 120 is extended or retracted.

[0029] The holding member 125 is attached to the movable member 120 on the opposite side of the fixed member 110, and holds the wiring member 180 in a suspended state. In this embodiment, the holding member 125 is formed integrally with the movable member 120, and holds the holding member 125 inserted into a hole that penetrates the movable member 120 in the movement direction (X-axis direction in the figure). The holding member 125 also has a plurality of holes lined up in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the movable member 120 (Z-axis direction in this embodiment), with a power line 181 inserted into the upper hole and a signal line 182 inserted into the lower hole. A movable-side connector 185 is attached to each hole of the holding member 125. The movable member 120, which is integral with the holding member 125, is made of metal, and the holding member 125 has a shielding function that protects the wiring member 180 from noise.

[0030] The holding member 125 is provided on the side of the reaction force device 140, between the movable wall portion 122 of the movable member 120 and the reaction force device 140, in a state of hanging down below the movable top plate portion 121. With this, even when the movable member 120 advances or retreats, the wiring member 180 is accommodated inside the steering device 100, between the movable wall portion 122 and the reaction force device 140, and therefore, the wiring member 180 can be prevented from interfering with vehicle components.

[0031] The support member 143 is attached to the fixed member 110 and supports a portion of the wiring member 180 from below. In this embodiment, the support member 143 is a groove-shaped member extending in the movement direction of the movable member 120, and houses and holds the wiring member 180 in the groove. The support member 143 is held by an L-shaped support bracket 186 fixed to the fixed member 110. The wiring member 180 is sandwiched between the support member 143 and the fixed member 110 and wired in a reciprocating manner. Even when the movable member 120 advances or retreats, the wiring member 180 remains inside the steering device 100, between the support member 143 and the fixed member 110. This prevents the wiring member 180 from interfering with vehicle components, ensuring smooth movement of the movable member 120. A fixed-side connector 184, to which the wiring member 180 is attached, is attached to the tip of the support member 143. The fixed-side connector 184 and the control device 144 are electrically connected by a fixed wiring 187.

[0032] According to the steering device 100 of the above embodiment, the wiring member 180 that electrically connects the control device 144 and the reaction force device 140 is wired inside the steering device 100, thereby making it possible to reduce the size of the steering device 100. Furthermore, since the wiring member 180 is wired between the reaction force device 140 on the left side of the steering shaft 130 as seen from the driver and the movable wall portion 122, interference between the wiring member 180 and vehicle components such as brake-related components and air conditioning-related components can be prevented even when the movable member 120 moves.

[0033] Furthermore, since there is no reaction force device on the vehicle front side of the steering shaft 130, interference with vehicle members on the front side of the steering shaft can be avoided when it is stored. Therefore, the retracted position of the movable member 120 can be located as far forward as possible of the vehicle, and it is possible to ensure a large space in front of the driver when the steering member 200 is located in the retracted position.

[0034] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the present invention may be embodied in another embodiment by arbitrarily combining the components described in this specification or by excluding some of the components. Furthermore, the present invention also includes various modifications that would occur to a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention, i.e., the meaning of the wording of the claims.

[0035] For example, the reaction force transmission device 160 may also function as a speed reducer by making the diameter of the shaft side pulley 161 different from the diameter of the reaction force side pulley 162. This makes it possible to remove the speed reducer 172 from the steering device 100. In this case, it is preferable to dispose the torque detection device 150 on the steering shaft 130. The torque input from the steering member 200 can be detected by the torque detection device 150 before it changes due to the speed reduction function, thereby improving the torque detection accuracy.

[0036] The steering device 100 may also be provided with a tilt mechanism that tilts the moving direction of the movable member 120. In this case, the fixed member 110 may be attached to the vehicle body so as to be swingable, or the movable member 120 may be attached to the fixed member 110 so as to be swingable. [Industrial Applicability]

[0037] The present invention can be used in a steer-by-wire type steering device for steering vehicles such as automobiles, buses, and trucks. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 100...Steering device, 110...Fixed member, 111...Fixed top plate portion, 112...Fixed wall portion, 113...First rail, 114...Second rail, 115...Moving device, 116...Fixed bracket, 117...Feed screw, 118...Rotation drive device, 120...Movable member, 121...Movable top plate portion, 122...Movable wall portion, 123...Third rail, 124...Fourth rail, 125...Retaining member, 128...Movable nut, 129...Notch portion, 130...Steering shaft body, 131...First housing, 139...Extension region, 140...Reaction force device positioning, 141...movable bracket, 142...second housing, 143...support member, 144...control device, 149...output shaft, 150...torque detection device, 160...reaction force transmission device, 161...shaft side pulley, 162...reaction force side pulley, 163...belt, 171...steering angle sensor, 172...reduction gear, 173...rotation amount regulating device, 180...wiring member, 181...power line, 182...signal line, 184...fixed side connector, 185...movable side connector, 186...support bracket, 187...fixed wiring, 200...steering member

Claims

1. A steering device that holds a steering member movably between an advanced position where the driver can steer and a reverse position in front of the vehicle, a fixing member attached to the vehicle body; a movable member attached to the fixed member so as to be movable, the movable member including a movable top plate portion and a movable wall portion extending downward from one side of the movable top plate portion in the width direction; a steering shaft attached to the movable member and rotatably holding the steering member; a reaction force device attached to the movable member and applying a reaction force to the steering shaft; a wiring member electrically connected to the reaction force device; a holding member attached to the movable member on the opposite side of the fixed member and holding the wiring member; a support member attached to the fixing member and supporting a part of the wiring member, The wiring member is The wire is wired back and forth between the movable wall portion and the reaction device while being sandwiched between the support member and the movable top plate portion. Steering device.

2. The holding member holds the wiring member in an inserted state and is integral with the movable member. The steering device according to claim 1 .

3. The holding members are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the movable member.

3. A steering device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a control device attached to the fixing member and electrically connected to the wiring member; A steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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