Support bracket for steering device and steering device

Abstract

To provide a support bracket for a steering device in which operability when adjusting a position of a steering wheel is easy to be secured even when accuracy of a vehicle body side attachment part is not preferable, and a steering device.SOLUTION: A support bracket 2 includes: an upper bracket 16 including an intermediate plate part 18, two inclined plate parts 19, and two attachment plate parts 20 attached to a vehicle side attachment part; and a lower bracket 17 including a coupling plate part 21 and two support plate parts 22 arranged at positions sandwiching a steering column from both sides in a width direction, the lower bracket 17 being coupled to the upper bracket 16. A target plate part that is at least one of the two support plate parts 22 is not coupled to any of the two inclined plate parts 19 and the two attachment plate parts 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a support bracket for a steering device, and to a steering device including a support bracket for a steering device. [Background technology]

[0002] FIG. 17 shows an example of a conventionally known steering device for an automobile. In the steering device 100, a steering wheel 101 operated by a driver is attached to the rear end of a steering shaft 102. The steering shaft 102 is rotatably supported inside a steering column 103 supported on the vehicle body. The rotational motion of the steering wheel 101 is transmitted to a pinion shaft 107 that constitutes a steering gear unit 106 via the steering shaft 102, a universal joint 104a, an intermediate shaft 105, and a universal joint 104b. The rotational motion of the pinion shaft 107 is converted into linear motion of a rack shaft (not shown) that constitutes the steering gear unit 106. This pushes and pulls a pair of tie rods 108, and a steering angle is applied to a pair of left and right steered wheels according to the amount of operation of the steering wheel 101.

[0003] A steering device typically includes a tilt mechanism for adjusting the height position of the steering wheel in accordance with the driver's physique and driving posture.

[0004] In the steering device 100 shown in FIG. 17, in order to configure a tilt mechanism, a steering column 103 is supported relative to the vehicle body so as to be able to swing about a tilt axis 109 extending in the width direction. The middle portion of the steering column 103 is supported by a support bracket 111 attached to a vehicle body-side mounting portion 110. Here, the vehicle body-side mounting portion 110 is configured by a part of the vehicle body or a member fixed to the vehicle body. The steering device 100 is equipped with a switching mechanism for switching between a locked state in which the steering column 103 is supported by the support bracket 111 so as not to swing, and an unlocked state in which the steering column 103 is supported so as to be able to swing. The unlocked state is used when adjusting the height position of the steering wheel 101, and the locked state is used when maintaining the steering wheel 101 at the adjusted height position.

[0005] The support bracket has a structure as shown in Figures 18 and 19. The illustrated support bracket 111a includes an upper bracket 112 and a lower bracket 113. Figure 18 is a view of the support bracket 111a as seen from the rear in the axial direction of the steering column 103 (see Figure 17), and Figure 19 is a perspective view of the support bracket 111a as seen from the rear and bottom.

[0006] The upper bracket 112 has an intermediate plate portion 114, two inclined plate portions 115, and two mounting plate portions 116. The intermediate plate portion 114 is located in the middle of the upper bracket 112 in the width direction (left-right direction in FIG. 18 ) and extends in the width direction. The two inclined plate portions 115 are connected to both widthwise ends of the intermediate plate portion 114 and extend downward from those ends toward the outside in the width direction. The two mounting plate portions 116 are connected to both widthwise outer ends of the two inclined plate portions 115 and extend from those ends toward the outside in the width direction.

[0007] The lower bracket 113 is disposed below the upper bracket 112 and has two support plate portions 117. In the illustrated example, the two support plate portions 117 are configured as separate components. The two support plate portions 117 are spaced apart in the width direction and disposed approximately parallel to each other, with their upper ends connected to the upper bracket 112.

[0008] In the illustrated example, the upper ends of the two support plate portions 117 are joined to the widthwise inner ends of the two mounting plate portions 116 that constitute the upper bracket 112 by weld bead portions 118, similar to the structure described in WO2018 / 193657 (Patent Document 1).

[0009] The support bracket 111a is attached to the vehicle body side attachment part 110 (see FIG. 17) using two attachment plate parts 116 that constitute the upper bracket 112. To this end, specifically, the two attachment plate parts 116 are attached to the vehicle body side attachment part 110 using connecting members such as bolts, with the upper surfaces of the two attachment plate parts 116 overlapping the lower surface of the vehicle body side attachment part 110. The middle part of the steering column 103 is disposed between the two support plate parts 117.

[0010] The switching mechanism presses the two support plate portions 117 inward in the width direction as shown by arrow F in Fig. 18, causing the two support plate portions 117 to tightly clamp the axially middle portion of the steering column 103 from both sides in the width direction, thereby establishing a locked state in which the steering column 103 is supported by the support bracket 111a so that it cannot swing.The switching mechanism releases the pressing force shown by arrow F in Fig. 18 to establish an unlocked state in which the steering column 103 is supported by the support bracket 111a so that it can swing.

[0011] In the support bracket 111b of a different structure shown in Figure 20, the upper ends of the two support plate portions 117 that make up the lower bracket 113a are connected by a connecting plate portion 119, as in the structure described in CN203544097 (Patent Document 2).

[0012] 21 shows a support bracket 111c with a different structure, in which two mounting plates 116 constituting the upper bracket 112 and two support plates 117 constituting the lower bracket 113a are connected by a connecting plate 120, as in the structure described in CN203544097. That is, in the example shown, the upper end of the connecting plate 120, which is inclined inward in the width direction as it extends downward, is connected to the lower surface of the mounting plate 116 by a weld bead 118, and the lower end of the connecting plate 120 is connected to the outer surface of the support plate 117 in the width direction by a weld bead 118. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0013] [Patent Document 1] WO2018 / 193657 publication [Patent Document 2] Publication number CN203544097 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0014] In conventional support brackets 111a, 111b, and 111c, two support plate portions 117 constituting lower brackets 113 and 113a are each joined to mounting plate portion 116 constituting upper bracket 112 by weld beads 118 or joining plates 120. Therefore, if the precision of the underside of vehicle body side mounting portion 110 is poor, this precision may affect the posture of the two support plate portions 117 in the unlocked state.

[0015] That is, if the lower surface of the vehicle-body mounting portion 110 is inclined downward as it extends outward in the width direction, as shown by the two-dot chain line α in FIG. 18 , the two mounting plates 116, which are attached so that their upper surfaces overlap the lower surface of the vehicle-body mounting portion 110, also incline as shown by the two-dot chain line α. Accordingly, in the free state, the two support plates 117 tend to incline inward in the width direction as they extend downward, as shown by the two-dot chain line β in FIG. 18 . As a result, even in the unlocked state, the inner side surfaces of the two support plates 117 tend to be pressed against both side surfaces in the width direction of the axially intermediate portion of the steering column 103. For this reason, conventional support brackets 111a, 111b, and 111c have room for improvement in terms of ensuring operability when adjusting the height position of the steering wheel 101.

[0016] An object of the present invention is to provide a steering device support bracket and a steering device that can easily ensure operability when adjusting the position of the steering wheel even if the accuracy of the vehicle body side mounting portion is poor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0017] A support bracket for a steering device according to one aspect of the present invention includes an upper bracket and a lower bracket.

[0018] The upper bracket has an intermediate plate portion extending in the width direction, two inclined plate portions connected to both widthwise ends of the intermediate plate portion and extending downward as they move outward in the width direction from the ends, and two mounting plate portions connected to both widthwise outer ends of the two inclined plate portions and extending outward in the width direction from the ends and mounted to mounting portions on the vehicle body side.

[0019] The lower bracket has a connecting plate portion whose upper surface is overlapped with the lower surface of the intermediate plate portion, and two support plate portions connected to the ends on both sides of the width of the connecting plate portion, extending downward from those ends, and positioned in a position to sandwich the steering column from both sides of the width, and is joined to the upper bracket.

[0020] A target plate portion, which is at least one of the two support plate portions, is not coupled to either the two inclined plate portions or the two mounting plate portions.

[0021] In one aspect of the steering device support bracket of the present invention, the connecting plate portion and the intermediate plate portion are joined by a weld bead portion.

[0022] In one aspect of the steering device support bracket of the present invention, the ends of the connecting plate portion and the intermediate plate portion on the same side in the front-rear direction are joined by the weld bead portion.

[0023] In one embodiment of the steering device support bracket of the present invention, one of the connecting plate portion and the intermediate plate portion has a through hole that penetrates in the thickness direction of the plate, and the inner peripheral edge of the through hole and the other of the connecting plate portion and the intermediate plate portion are joined by the weld bead portion.

[0024] In one embodiment of the steering device support bracket of the present invention, the upper bracket is connected to a portion of the widthwise end of the intermediate plate portion that is offset in the fore-and-aft direction from the portion to which at least one of the two inclined plate portions is connected, extends downward from that portion, and has an overlapping plate portion that overlaps its widthwise inner side with the widthwise outer side of the target plate portion, and the overlapping plate portion and the target plate portion are joined by a weld bead portion.

[0025] In one embodiment of the steering device support bracket of the present invention, the overlapping plate portion is connected to the middle portion in the fore-and-aft direction of the widthwise end portion of the intermediate plate portion, and at least one of the two inclined plate portions has a window hole that penetrates in the thickness direction of its own plate at the middle portion in the fore-and-aft direction, and two connecting plate portions positioned to sandwich the window hole on both sides in the fore-and-aft direction, and the inner widthwise ends of the two connecting plate portions are connected to the ends on both sides in the fore-and-aft direction of the widthwise end portion of the intermediate plate portion.

[0026] In one embodiment of the steering device support bracket of the present invention, the intermediate plate portion has a slit extending inward in the width direction from a portion of the widthwise end portion located between the portion to which the overlapping plate portion is connected and the portion to which at least one of the two inclined plate portions is connected.

[0027] In one aspect of the steering device support bracket of the present invention, the target plate portion has a spring portion in the vertically intermediate portion that is more easily bent and deformed than vertically adjacent portions.

[0028] In one embodiment of the steering device support bracket of the present invention, only one of the two support plate portions is the target plate portion, and the other of the two support plate portions and an attachment plate portion of the two attachment plate portions that is located on the same side in the width direction as the other of the two support plate portions are connected using a connecting plate.

[0029] A steering device of one embodiment of the present invention comprises a support bracket and a steering column arranged between two support plate portions that constitute the support bracket, and the support bracket is the support bracket for a steering device of the present invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0030] According to the steering device support bracket and steering device of one aspect of the present invention, even if the accuracy of the vehicle body side mounting portion is poor, operability when adjusting the position of the steering wheel can be easily ensured. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0031] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a steering device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, seen from above and behind. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the steering device of the first example, seen from above. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the steering device and the vehicle body side mounting portion of the first example, as viewed from the rear and above. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the support bracket of the first example. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the support bracket of the first example, seen from the rear and above. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the support bracket of the first example, seen from the rear and bottom. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a support bracket according to a second embodiment of the present invention, seen from above and behind. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a support bracket according to a modified example of the second embodiment, viewed from above and behind. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a support bracket according to a third embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the rear and bottom. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a support bracket according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, seen from above and behind. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a rear view of the support bracket of the fourth example. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a support bracket according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, seen from the rear and bottom. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a support bracket according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from above and behind. [Figure 16]FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the support bracket of the sixth example, seen from the rear and bottom. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a partially cutaway side view showing an example of a conventionally known steering device. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a view of a support bracket of a first example of a conventional structure, seen from the rear side. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a support bracket of a first example of a conventional structure, viewed from the rear and bottom. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a rear view of a support bracket of a second example of a conventional structure. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a rear view of a support bracket of a third example of a conventional structure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] [Example 1] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0033] The steering device 1 of this example includes a support bracket 2 attached to a mounting portion on the vehicle body side, and a steering column 3 disposed between two support plate portions 22 that constitute the support bracket 2.

[0034] The steering column 3 is cylindrical. The steering column 3 rotatably supports a steering shaft 4 inside the steering column 3 via a rolling bearing (not shown). A steering wheel 101 (see FIG. 17) operated by the driver is attached to the rear end of the steering shaft 4, which protrudes axially from the rear end of the steering column 3.

[0035] The front-rear direction, width direction, and up-down direction of the steering device 1 are the front-rear direction, width direction, and up-down direction of the vehicle body to which the steering device is attached.

[0036] In this example, a housing 6 constituting an electrically power-assisted device 5 is fixed to the front end of the steering column 3. The electrically power-assisted device 5 applies the output torque of an electric motor 7 supported by the housing 6 to the steering shaft 4 via a worm reducer (not shown) located inside the housing 6, thereby reducing the force required by the driver to operate the steering wheel 101. The housing 6 is supported on the vehicle body via a lower bracket 8.

[0037] The steering device of this example includes a telescopic mechanism for adjusting the front-rear position of the steering wheel 101 according to the driver's physique and driving posture, and a tilt mechanism for adjusting the height position of the steering wheel 101.

[0038] In this example, to configure a telescopic mechanism, the steering column 3 is configured by fitting the front portion of an inner column 10 disposed on the rear side into the rear portion of an outer column 9 disposed on the front side so as to allow relative displacement in the axial direction. In this example, the outer column 9 comprises a cylindrical main body 11 and an overhanging portion 12 that overhangs downward from the rear side of the main body 11. The overhanging portion 12 has an insertion hole 13 that penetrates in the width direction. The steering shaft 4 combines a lower shaft (not shown) disposed on the front side and an upper shaft 14 disposed on the rear side, by spline engagement or the like, so as to be capable of transmitting torque and to allow relative displacement in the axial direction. The lower shaft is supported inside the outer column 9 so as to be capable of rotation only, and the upper shaft 14 is supported inside the inner column 10 so as to be capable of rotation only.

[0039] To configure the tilt mechanism, the steering column 3 is supported relative to the vehicle body so as to be able to pivot about tilt shaft 15, which is an axis in the width direction. In this example, tilt shaft 15 pivotally connects housing 6 to lower bracket 8, and is disposed at two locations spaced apart in the width direction.

[0040] The support bracket 2 includes an upper bracket 16 and a lower bracket 17 .

[0041] The upper bracket 16 is made of a metal plate such as steel or aluminum alloy. The upper bracket 16 has an intermediate plate portion 18, two inclined plate portions 19, and two mounting plate portions 20. The intermediate plate portion 18 is located in the middle of the upper bracket 16 in the width direction and extends in the width direction. The two inclined plate portions 19 are connected to both widthwise ends of the intermediate plate portion 18 and extend downward from these ends toward the outside in the width direction. The two mounting plate portions 20 are connected to both widthwise outer ends of the two inclined plate portions 19 and extend from these ends toward the outside in the width direction.

[0042] The lower bracket 17 is made of a metal plate such as steel or aluminum alloy. The lower bracket 17 is positioned below the upper bracket 16 and is joined to the upper bracket 16 by a weld bead portion 23. The lower bracket 17 has a connecting plate portion 21 and two support plate portions 22. The connecting plate portion 21 has its upper surface overlapped on the lower surface of the intermediate plate portion 18. The two support plate portions 22 are connected to the ends of the connecting plate portion 21 on both sides in the width direction and extend downward from those ends. The two support plate portions 22 are positioned at the rear side of the outer column 9, that is, in positions that sandwich the rear side of the main body portion 11 and the overhang portion 12 from both sides in the width direction. The two support plate portions 22 are positioned parallel to each other in the free state. In the free state, the widthwise distance between the inner surfaces of the two support plate portions 22 is approximately the same as the widthwise dimension of the rear side of the outer column 9 or slightly larger than this widthwise dimension. The two support plate portions 22 are aligned with each other in the width direction and have tilt elongated holes 24 extending in the up-down direction at locations aligned with the insertion holes 13 of the outer column 9. Each of the tilt elongated holes 24 has an arc shape with the tilt axis 15 as its center.

[0043] 6 and 7, in this example, the front-to-rear width of connecting plate portion 21 of lower bracket 17 is slightly smaller than the front-to-rear width of intermediate plate portion 18 of upper bracket 16. With the upper surface of connecting plate portion 21 overlapping the lower surface of intermediate plate portion 18, the rear edge of intermediate plate portion 18 protrudes rearward beyond the rear edge of connecting plate portion 21, and the front edge of intermediate plate portion 18 protrudes forward beyond the front edge of connecting plate portion 21.

[0044] In this state, in this example, connecting plate 21 and intermediate plate 18 are joined by weld bead 23. Specifically, ends of connecting plate 21 and intermediate plate 18 on the same side in the front-to-rear direction are joined by weld bead 23. More specifically, the rear end face of connecting plate 21 and the underside of the rear end face of intermediate plate 18 are joined by weld bead 23 across the width direction. Furthermore, the front end face of connecting plate 21 and the underside of the front end face of intermediate plate 18 are joined by weld bead 23 across the width direction. When implementing the structure of this example, the longer the widthwise length of weld bead 23, i.e., the widthwise joining range of weld bead 23, the greater the joining strength; however, the widthwise length can be set to any length within a range that provides the required joining strength.

[0045] In this example, neither of the two support plate portions 22 constituting the lower bracket 17 is connected to either of the two inclined plate portions 19 or the two mounting plate portions 20 constituting the upper bracket 16. That is, in this example, both of the two support plate portions 22 correspond to the target plate portion in the present invention.

[0046] The support bracket 2 is attached to a vehicle body-side attachment portion using two attachment plate portions 20 that constitute the upper bracket 16. The vehicle body-side attachment portion is composed of a part of the vehicle body or a member fixed to the vehicle body. In this example, the vehicle body-side attachment portion 25 is composed of parts of two attachment brackets 26 that are arranged spaced apart in the width direction, as shown in FIG. 3. Each of the two attachment brackets 26 has a flat vehicle body-side attachment portion 25 that extends in the front-to-rear direction, and a flat front plate portion 27 that is bent upward at an obtuse angle from the front end of the vehicle body-side attachment portion 25. The tip end portion, i.e., the upper end portion, of the front plate portion 27 is fixed to a hanger beam 28 that is part of the vehicle body and extends in the width direction.

[0047] In this example, the support bracket 2 is attached to the two vehicle body side mounting portions 25 by joining the two mounting plate portions 20 to the two vehicle body side mounting portions 25 with the upper surfaces of the two mounting plate portions 20 overlapping the lower surfaces of the two vehicle body side mounting portions 25.

[0048] In this example, the two mounting plate portions 20 are supported relative to the two vehicle body mounting portions 25 so as to be able to detach forward due to the impact of a secondary collision. For this reason, in this example, each of the two mounting plate portions 20 has a notch 29 in the middle portion in the width direction that opens to the rear edge. Locking capsules 30 fixed to the vehicle body mounting portions 25 by mounting members such as mounting bolts are locked into these notches 29. As a result, the support bracket 2 is supported relative to the two vehicle body mounting portions 25 under normal conditions, and is allowed to detach forward due to the impact of a secondary collision in the event of a collision accident.

[0049] A switching mechanism 31 is attached to the support bracket 2. As shown in FIG. 4, the switching mechanism 31 includes a switching rod 32, a nut 33, a cam device , a switching lever 35, and a thrust bearing .

[0050] The switching rod 32 is inserted widthwise through the two tilt elongated holes 24 and the insertion hole 13. The switching rod 32 has a head 37 at its base end (left end in FIG. 4) and a male thread 38 at its tip end (right end in FIG. 4). The nut 33 is threaded onto the male thread 38.

[0051] The cam device 34 is disposed between the head portion 37 and one of the support plate portions 22 (the left one in FIG. 4). The cam device 34 has a drive cam 39 located on the outer side in the width direction and a driven cam 40 located on the inner side in the width direction. The drive cam 39 is fitted onto the switching rod 32 so as to prevent rotation and axial displacement. The driven cam 40 is engaged with the tilt elongated hole 24 of one of the support plate portions 22 so as to prevent relative rotation. The driven cam 40 is fitted onto the switching rod 32 so as to allow rotation and axial displacement. The base end of the switching lever 35 is fixed to the drive cam 39.

[0052] When the switching lever 35 is swung around the switching rod 32, the driving cam 39 and the driven cam 40 are rotated relative to each other, and the cam surfaces, which are the opposing sides of the driving cam 39 and the driven cam 40, press against each other, thereby expanding and contracting the axial dimension of the cam device 34. In this example, when the switching lever 35 is swung in a predetermined direction, the axial dimension of the cam device 34 decreases, and when the switching lever 35 is swung in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction, the axial dimension of the cam device 34 increases. The thrust bearing 36 is disposed between the nut 33 and the other support plate portion 22 (to the right in FIG. 4).

[0053] When adjusting the fore-aft position and height position of the steering wheel 101, the switching lever 35 is swung in a predetermined direction (for example, downward), thereby reducing the axial dimension of the cam device 34 and widening the gap between the driven cam 40 and the thrust bearing 36. This reduces or eliminates the frictional force acting between the widthwise inner surfaces of the two support plate portions 22 and the side surfaces on both sides in the widthwise direction of the rear part of the outer column 9, and also reduces or eliminates the frictional force acting between the inner circumferential surface of the outer column 9 and the outer circumferential surface of the inner column 10. In this state, the fore-aft position of the steering wheel 101 can be adjusted based on displacing the inner column 10 relative to the outer column 9 in the axial direction. Furthermore, by swungly displacing the steering column 3 around the tilt shaft 15, the height position of the steering wheel 101 can be adjusted within the range in which the switching rod 32 can move inside the two tilt elongated holes 24.

[0054] After adjusting the fore-aft position and height position of the steering wheel 101, the axial dimension of the cam device 34 is increased by swinging the switch lever 35 in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction (for example, upward), thereby shortening the distance between the driven cam 40 and the thrust bearing 36. This increases the frictional force acting between the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions 22 in the width direction and the side surfaces on both widthwise sides of the rear part of the outer column 9, and also increases the frictional force acting between the inner circumferential surface of the outer column 9 and the outer circumferential surface of the inner column 10 by pressing the rear part of the outer column 9 from both widthwise sides. This prevents the inner column 10 from being displaced axially relative to the outer column 9 and prevents the steering column 3 from being displaced by swinging about the tilt axis 15, thereby holding the steering wheel 101 in the adjusted fore-aft position and height position.

[0055] According to the steering device 1 of this embodiment, even if the accuracy of the vehicle body side mounting portion 25 is poor, it is easy to ensure operability when adjusting the position of the steering wheel 101.

[0056] That is, in this example, in order to join the upper bracket 16 and the lower bracket 17 that constitute the support bracket 2, the intermediate plate portion 18 of the upper bracket 16 and the connecting plate portion 21 of the lower bracket 17 are joined by a weld bead portion 23. In addition, neither of the two support plate portions 22 that constitute the lower bracket 17 is joined to either the two inclined plate portions 19 or the two mounting plate portions 20 that constitute the upper bracket 16.

[0057] Therefore, even if the positioning accuracy of the two vehicle body side mounting portions 25 is poor and the lower surfaces of the two vehicle body side mounting portions 25 are inclined downward as they move outward in the width direction as shown by the two-dot chain line α in Fig. 4, that is, even if the two mounting plates 20, which are attached so that their upper surfaces overlap the lower surfaces of the vehicle body side mounting portions 25, are inclined as shown by the two-dot chain line α, it is possible to sufficiently prevent this from affecting the postures of the two support plates 22 in the free state. Specifically, in the free state, it is possible to sufficiently prevent the two support plates 22 from inclining inward in the width direction as they move downward as shown by the two-dot chain line β in Fig. 4.

[0058] In other words, in this structure, the upper bracket 16 includes two inclined plate portions 19 connecting the intermediate plate portion 18 and the two mounting plate portions 20. Furthermore, because the angle between the underside of the intermediate plate portion 18 and the underside of each of the two inclined plate portions 19 is greater than 90°, the inclined plate portions 19 do not come into contact with the support plate portion 22 on the same side in the width direction, and a gap exists between the inclined plate portion 19 and the support plate portion 22. Furthermore, no components are present to connect the inclined plate portion 19 and the mounting plate portion 20 to the support plate portion 22. Therefore, even if the mounting plate portion 20 tilts as indicated by the two-dot chain line α, the effect can be absorbed by changing the bending angle of the inclined plate portion 19 relative to the intermediate plate portion 18 and the mounting plate portion 20 or by bending the inclined plate portion 19. Therefore, tilting of the support plate portion 22 as indicated by the two-dot chain line β can be sufficiently suppressed.

[0059] As a result, when adjusting the position of the steering wheel 101, the frictional force acting between the widthwise inner surfaces of the two support plate portions 22 and the side surfaces on both sides in the widthwise direction of the rear part of the outer column 9 can be sufficiently reduced or eliminated, and the frictional force acting between the inner circumferential surface of the outer column 9 and the outer circumferential surface of the inner column 10 can be sufficiently reduced or eliminated. This makes it easy to ensure operability when adjusting the fore-and-aft position and height position of the steering wheel 101.

[0060] [Example 2] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0061] In this example, the joining structure between upper bracket 16a and lower bracket 17 that constitute support bracket 2a is different from that of the first example. That is, in this example, intermediate plate portion 18a that constitutes upper bracket 16a has through hole 41 that penetrates it in the plate thickness direction. Upper bracket 16a and lower bracket 17 are joined by joining the inner peripheral edge of through hole 41 to connecting plate portion 21 that constitutes lower bracket 17 with weld bead portion 23a.

[0062] When implementing the present invention, the shape of the through hole, the position of the weld bead, and other factors can be determined as desired, as long as the inner peripheral edge of the through hole in the intermediate plate portion and the connecting plate portion can be appropriately joined by the weld bead. In this example, the through hole 41 has a rectangular shape extending in the width direction when viewed in the thickness direction of the intermediate plate portion 18a. In this example, two widthwise linear portions 42 located on both sides of the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 41 in the front-rear direction and extending in the width direction are each joined to the upper surface of the connecting plate portion 21 by the weld bead 23a across the width direction.

[0063] When implementing the present invention, as in the support bracket 2b shown in Figure 9, which is a modified example of this example, each of two longitudinal straight portions 43 located on both sides of the width direction on the inner surface of the through hole 41 and extending in the longitudinal direction can be joined to the upper surface of the connecting plate portion 21 in the longitudinal direction by a weld bead portion 23b.

[0064] In this example and the modified example of this example, the weight of the support brackets 2a, 2b can be reduced by the amount of the through-holes 41 formed in the intermediate plate portion 18a. The other configurations and effects are the same as those of the first example.

[0065] [Example 3] A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0066] In this example, the joining structure between upper bracket 16 and lower bracket 17a that constitute support bracket 2c is different from that of Example 1. That is, in this example, connecting plate portion 21a that constitutes lower bracket 17a has through hole 44 that penetrates it in the plate thickness direction. Upper bracket 16 and lower bracket 17a are joined by joining the inner peripheral edge of through hole 44 to intermediate plate portion 18 that constitutes upper bracket 16 with weld beads 23c and 23d.

[0067] When implementing the present invention, the shape of the through hole and the position of the weld bead can be determined as desired, as long as the inner peripheral edge of the through hole in the connecting plate portion and the intermediate plate portion can be appropriately joined by the weld bead. In this example, the through hole 44 has a rectangular shape extending in the width direction when viewed in the thickness direction of the connecting plate portion 21a. In this example, two widthwise linear portions 45 located on both sides of the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 44 in the front-rear direction and extending in the width direction are each joined to the underside of the intermediate plate portion 18 by the weld bead 23c along the width direction. In addition, two front-rear linear portions 46 located on both sides of the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 44 in the width direction and extending in the front-rear direction are each joined to the underside of the intermediate plate portion 18 by the weld bead 23d along the front-rear direction.

[0068] In the structure of this example, the weight of the support bracket 2c can be reduced by the amount of the through-hole 44 formed in the connecting plate portion 21a. The other configurations and effects are the same as those of the first example.

[0069] [Example 4] A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0070] In this example, the upper bracket 16b and the lower bracket 17 that constitute the support bracket 2d have a different joining structure in addition to the joining structure using the weld bead portion 23 in the first example.

[0071] In this example, the upper bracket 16b has two overlapping plate portions 47, each having its own inner widthwise surface overlapped with the outer widthwise surfaces of the upper ends of the two support plate portions 22 that constitute the lower bracket 17. The two overlapping plate portions 47 are connected to the middle portions in the front-to-rear direction of the ends on both sides of the width direction of the intermediate plate portion 18b, and extend downward from those portions. In this example, each of the two overlapping plate portions 47 has a rectangular shape when viewed in its own plate thickness direction.

[0072] In this example, each of the two inclined plate portions 19a constituting the upper bracket 16b has a window hole 48 penetrating through its own plate thickness direction in the middle portion in the front-to-rear direction, and two connecting plate portions 49 positioned on either side of the window hole 48 in the front-to-rear direction. In this example, the window hole 48 has a rectangular shape when viewed in the plate thickness direction of the inclined plate portion 19a. The inner widthwise ends of the two connecting plate portions 49 are connected to the widthwise ends of the intermediate plate portion 18b on both front-to-rear directions.

[0073] In this example, the widthwise formation range of the window hole 48 does not extend to the widthwise outer end of the inclined plate portion 19a. In other words, the widthwise outer end of the inclined plate portion 19a is connected to the widthwise inner end of the mounting plate portion 20 over the entire length in the front-to-rear direction. This ensures the rigidity of the connection between the widthwise outer end of the inclined plate portion 19a and the widthwise inner end of the mounting plate portion 20. However, when implementing the present invention, the widthwise formation range of the window hole can also extend to the widthwise outer end of the inclined plate portion, that is, it can also be possible to connect only the widthwise outer ends of the two connecting plate portions located on both sides of the window hole in the front-to-rear direction to the widthwise inner end of the mounting plate portion.

[0074] In this example, the intermediate plate portion 18b has slits 50 extending inward in the width direction from two portions located between the portion at each end on both sides of the width direction where the overlapping plate portion 47 is connected and the portion at which the two connecting plate portions 49 of the inclined plate portion 19a are connected.

[0075] In this example, when the intermediate plate portion 18b, inclined plate portion 19a, and mounting plate portion 20 that constitute the upper bracket 16b are formed by pressing the metal plate material, the overlapping plate portion 47, window hole 48, and slit 50 can be simultaneously formed by bending downward at a right angle the outer widthwise portion, which is the tip side of the inner portion of the U-shaped through hole that opens inward in the widthwise direction and that is formed near the end of the metal plate material in the widthwise direction.

[0076] In this example, the two overlapping plate portions 47 and the two support plate portions 22, both of which are target plate portions, are joined by weld beads 23e with the widthwise inner surfaces of the two overlapping plate portions 47 that constitute the upper bracket 16b overlapping the widthwise outer surfaces of the upper ends of the two support plate portions 22 that constitute the lower bracket 17. Specifically, in this example, the tip end surfaces of the overlapping plate portions 47, i.e., the lower end surfaces, which are part of the peripheral edges of the overlapping plate portions 47, and the widthwise outer surfaces of the support plate portions 22 are joined by weld beads 23e in the front-to-rear direction.

[0077] The structure of this example can provide the following effects.

[0078] The upper end of the lower bracket 17 is sandwiched from both sides in the width direction by the two overlapping plate portions 47 that constitute the upper bracket 16b. This improves the support rigidity of the lower bracket 17 relative to the upper bracket 16b in the width direction.

[0079] Two overlapping plate portions 47 and two support plate portions 22 are joined by weld bead portions 23e. This improves the joining strength of lower bracket 17 to upper bracket 16b. When implementing the present invention, if the joining structure using weld bead portions 23e can ensure the necessary amount of joining strength of lower bracket 17 to upper bracket 16b, the joining structure using weld bead portions 23 of the first example can be omitted from the structure of this example.

[0080] The lower end surfaces of the two overlapping plate portions 47 and the widthwise outer side surfaces of the two support plate portions 22 are joined by weld bead portions 23e. In other words, the two overlapping plate portions 47 are joined to the two support plate portions 22 by weld bead portions 23e at positions close to the outer column 9 in the up-and-down direction. For this reason, it is possible to sufficiently improve the rigidity with which the two support plate portions 22 support the outer column 9 from both sides in the width direction.

[0081] The widthwise inner surfaces of the two overlapping plate portions 47 are overlapped on the widthwise outer surfaces of the upper ends of the two support plate portions 22, and the two overlapping plate portions 47 and the two support plate portions 22 are joined by weld beads 23e. This improves the holding force of the bending angles of the two support plate portions 22 relative to the connecting plate portion 21. This makes it possible to make it less likely that the posture of the two support plate portions 22 will be affected by the tilt of the two mounting plate portions 20 as indicated by the two-dot chain line α (see FIG. 4).

[0082] Each of the two inclined plate portions 19a has a window hole 48 in the middle in the front-rear direction and two connecting plate portions 49 at positions sandwiching the window hole 48 on both sides in the front-rear direction, and the widthwise inner ends of the two connecting plate portions 49 are connected to the widthwise ends of the intermediate plate portion 18b. This reduces the rigidity of each of the two inclined plate portions 19a and the rigidity of the connection between each of the two inclined plate portions 19a and the intermediate plate portion 18b. As a result, the ability to absorb the influence of the inclination of the two mounting plates 20 as indicated by the two-dot chain line α (see FIG. 4) can be improved by changing the bending angle of the inclined plate portion 19a relative to the intermediate plate portion 18b and by bending the inclined plate portion 19a.

[0083] The intermediate plate portion 18b has slits 50 extending inward in the width direction from two portions of its widthwise ends located between the portion where the overlapping plate portion 47 is connected and the portion where the two connecting plate portions 49 of the inclined plate portion 19a are connected. Therefore, the slits 50 can reliably separate the overlapping plate portion 47 from the connecting plate portion 49. As a result, when the bending angle of the connecting plate portion 49 relative to the intermediate plate portion 18b changes as the two mounting plates 20 are inclined as shown by the two-dot chain line α (see FIG. 4), this change can be further suppressed from affecting the posture of the two support plates 22. Other configurations, functions, and effects are the same as those of the first example.

[0084] When implementing the present invention, a configuration can be adopted in which the overlapping plate portion constituting the upper bracket is connected to both front-to-rear ends of the widthwise end portion of the intermediate plate portion, and the inclined plate portion is connected to the middle portion of the widthwise end portion of the intermediate plate portion in the front-to-rear direction.

[0085] [Example 5] A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

[0086] In this example, each of the two support plates 22a constituting the lower bracket 17b of the support bracket 2f and serving as a target plate has a spring portion 51 in its vertically intermediate portion, more specifically, in the portion between the tilt slot 24 and the overlapping plate portion 47 of the upper bracket 16b. The spring portion 51 is more easily bent than its vertically adjacent portions. That is, the spring portion 51 is disposed in the portion of each support plate 22a between the overlapping plate portion 47 and its lower portion, which is pressed inward in the width direction when the steering wheel is held in the adjusted position. In this example, the spring portion 51 is configured as a partially cylindrical bent portion having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface in the width direction, provided in the vertically intermediate portion of the support plate 22a over the entire length in the front-to-rear direction. When implementing the present invention, the spring portion may have a different structure from this example, such as a thin-walled portion having a thickness thinner than its vertically adjacent portions.

[0087] In this example, like the structure of the fourth example, the structure can sufficiently ensure the holding force of the bending angle of the two support plate portions 22a relative to the connecting plate portion 21, but the two support plate portions 22a have spring portions 51 that are easily bent and deformed in their vertically intermediate portions. Therefore, when the lower portions of the two support plate portions 22a are pressed inward in the width direction based on swinging the switching lever 35 (see FIGS. 1 to 4) in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction to hold the steering wheel in the adjusted fore-aft and aft position, the lower portions of these two support plate portions 22a can be easily swung inward in the width direction, starting from the spring portions 51. Therefore, the lower portions of the two support plate portions 22a can easily press strongly against the outer column 9 from both sides in the width direction, making it easy to hold the steering wheel 101 in the adjusted fore-aft and aft position. The other configurations, functions, and effects are the same as those of the fourth example.

[0088] [Example 6] A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0089] In the support bracket 2e of this example, of the two support plates 22, 22b that constitute the lower bracket 17c, only the support plate 22 located on one side in the width direction (in this example, the right side in Figures 15 and 16) is used as the target plate. In other words, even if the mounting plate 20 located on the same side in the width direction tilts as shown by the two-dot chain line α (see Figure 4), only the support plate 22 located on this side is used as a support plate whose posture is less affected by this tilt. For this reason, in this example, the upper bracket 16c has an overlapping plate portion 47, a window hole 48, and a slit 50 only on one side in the width direction, and the overlapping plate portion 47 and the support plate 22 located on that side are joined by a weld bead portion 23e.

[0090] In this example, of the two support plates 22, 22b that constitute the lower bracket 17c, the support plate 22b located on the other side in the width direction (in this example, the left side in FIGS. 15 and 16) is connected to the mounting plate 20 located on the other side in the width direction using a connecting plate 52. Specifically, in this example, the connecting plate 52 extends outward in the width direction from the front edge of the vertically middle portion of the support plate 22b located on the other side, and the upper end of its rear side surface abuts against the front end surface of the mounting plate 20 located on the other side. In this state, the rear side of the connecting plate 52 and the lower surface of the mounting plate 20 located on the other side are connected across the width direction by a weld bead 23f.

[0091] When implementing the present invention, if a connecting plate is used to connect a support plate portion and an attachment plate portion that are located on the same side in the width direction, the shape, number, connecting position, and connecting method of the connecting plate relative to the support plate portion and the attachment plate portion can be determined arbitrarily.

[0092] In this example, the support plate 22b and the mounting plate 20, which are located on the other side of each other, are connected using the connecting plate 52, which makes it easy to ensure the rigidity of the support bracket 2e. The other configurations and effects are the same as those of the fourth example.

[0093] The present invention can be implemented by appropriately combining the configurations of the above-described embodiments within the scope of not causing any contradiction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0094] 1 Steering device 2, 2a~2e Support bracket 3. Steering column 4 steering shaft 5 Electric assist device 6. Housing 7 Electric motor 8 Lower bracket 9 Outer Column 10 Innacolumn 11 Main body 12 Overhang 13 Insertion hole 14 Upper shaft 15 Tilt Axis 16, 16a, 16b Upper bracket 17, 17a, 17b, 17c bottom bracket 18, 18a, 18b Intermediate plate part 19, 19a Slanted plate part 20 Mounting plate 21, 21a Connecting plate part 22, 22a, 22b Support plate part 23, 23a to 23f Weld bead area 24 Tilt slot 25 Vehicle body side mounting part 26 Mounting bracket 27 Front side plate 28 Hanger Beam 29 Notch 30 Locking Capsule 31 Switching mechanism 32 Switching rod 33 Nut 34 Cam device 35 Switching lever 36 Thrust bearing 37 Head 38 Male thread 39 Drive Cam 40 Driven cam 41 Through hole 42 Straight line in width direction 43 Front-rear straight section 44 through holes 45 Straight line in width direction 46 Front-rear straight section 47 Layered plate section 48 Window Hole 49 Communication Board Section 50 slits 51 Spring part 52 Connection plate 100 Steering device 101 Steering Wheel 102 steering shaft 103 Steering column 104a, 104b Universal joint 105 Intermediate shaft 106 Steering gear unit 107 Pinion shaft 108 tie rod 109 Tilt axis 110 Vehicle body side mounting part 111, 111a, 111b, 111c support brackets 112 Upper bracket 113, 113a Lower bracket 114 Intermediate plate 115 Inclined plate section 116 Mounting plate 117 Support plate part 118 Weld bead 119 Connecting plate part 120 Binding plate

Claims

1. an upper bracket having an intermediate plate portion extending in the width direction, two inclined plate portions connected to both widthwise end portions of the intermediate plate portion and extending downward as they move outward in the width direction from the end portions, and two mounting plate portions connected to both widthwise outer end portions of the two inclined plate portions and extending outward in the width direction from the end portions and mounted to a vehicle body side mounting portion; a lower bracket which is connected to the upper bracket and which has a connecting plate portion whose upper surface is superimposed on the lower surface of the intermediate plate portion, and two support plate portions which are connected to both widthwise ends of the connecting plate portion, extend downward from the ends, and are positioned to sandwich the steering column from both widthwise sides; Equipped with a target plate portion, which is at least one of the two support plate portions, is not coupled to either the two inclined plate portions or the two mounting plate portions; the upper bracket is connected to a portion of the widthwise end of the intermediate plate portion that is offset in the front-rear direction from a portion to which at least one of the two inclined plate portions is connected, extends downward from that portion, and has an overlapping plate portion whose widthwise inner surface overlaps with the widthwise outer surface of the target plate portion, The overlapping plate portion and the target plate portion are joined by a weld bead portion. Support bracket for steering gear.

2. The overlapping plate portion is connected to a middle portion in the front-rear direction of one of the width direction ends of the intermediate plate portion, At least one of the two inclined plate portions has a window hole penetrating in its plate thickness direction in the middle portion in the front-to-rear direction, and two connecting plate portions at positions sandwiching the window hole from both sides in the front-to-rear direction, and the widthwise inner ends of the two connecting plate portions are connected to the widthwise end portions of the intermediate plate portion on both sides in the front-to-rear direction. The steering device support bracket according to claim 1 .

3. 3. The steering device support bracket according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate plate portion has a slit extending inward in the width direction from a portion of the widthwise end portion that is located between a portion where the overlapping plate portion is connected and a portion where at least one of the two inclined plate portions is connected.

4. 4. The steering device support bracket according to claim 1, wherein the target plate portion has a spring portion in a vertically intermediate portion that is more easily bent and deformed than a vertically adjacent portion.

5. 5. The steering device support bracket according to claim 1, wherein the connecting plate portion and the intermediate plate portion are joined by a weld bead portion.

6. 6. The steering device support bracket according to claim 5, wherein the connecting plate portion and the intermediate plate portion have ends on the same side in the front-rear direction joined together by the weld bead portion.

7. One of the connecting plate portion and the intermediate plate portion has a through hole penetrating in a plate thickness direction thereof, an inner peripheral edge portion of the through hole and the other plate portion of the connecting plate portion and the intermediate plate portion are joined by the weld bead portion; 7. The steering device support bracket according to claim 5 or 6.

8. Only one of the two support plate portions is the target plate portion, The other of the two support plate portions is connected to an attachment plate portion of the two attachment plate portions that is located on the same side as the other of the two support plate portions in the width direction using a connecting plate. The steering device support bracket according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A support bracket; a steering column disposed between the two support plate portions constituting the support bracket, The support bracket is a support bracket for a steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. Steering device.

Images