JP2011111019A - Steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

[PROBLEMS] To suppress the axial movement of a steering shaft when an impact force is applied to the upper end of a steering shaft and the upper end of the steering shaft rotates forward of a vehicle while maintaining good operability, and cost. A steering column device capable of reducing the above is provided.
A resin guide having a lock tooth 7 having serrated portions 71 and 72 between a jacket bracket 40 and a jacket guide 3 and connecting pins 82 and 83 inserted into the lock tooth 7 and the jacket bracket 40. When the steering shaft 5 is rotated forward with a vehicle collision, the lock tooth 7 is rotated together with the jacket bracket 40 so that the serrated portions 71 and 72 are connected to the jacket guide 3. The lock tooth 7 is locked by being pressed and engaged.
[Selection] Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering column device including a jacket that rotatably supports a steering shaft.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a steering column device has been proposed that includes a jacket that rotatably supports a steering shaft, and a lock mechanism that fastens and holds the jacket to a mount bracket by tightening a clamp bolt (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  A steering column apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 9 includes a steering shaft 101 including an upper shaft 101a to which a steering wheel (not shown) is fixed at an axial upper end, a lower shaft 101b fitted to the upper shaft 101a, and a steering shaft 101. , A jacket bracket 103 attached to the jacket 102, a jacket guide 104 disposed between the jacket bracket 103 and the mount bracket 107, for guiding the jacket bracket 103, and a clamp. A lock mechanism 106 that fastens and holds the jacket bracket 103 and the jacket guide 104 to the mount bracket 107 by tightening the bolts 105 is provided. A toothed rail member 109 is connected to the jacket bracket 103 by an energy absorbing device 108. The clamp bolt 105 supports a lock tooth 110 provided at one end near the jacket 102.

  In the above configuration, when an operation lever (not shown) is rotated in the lock direction, the bolt 105 is pulled downward in FIG. 9 by the operation of the lock mechanism 106, and the jacket bracket 103 and the jacket guide 104 are in close contact with each other. At the same time, since the lock tooth 110 meshes with the toothed rail member 109, the jacket bracket 103 is locked in the telescopic direction with respect to the jacket guide 104. The jacket guide 104 is locked in the tilt direction by being pressed against the mount bracket 107. Next, when the operation lever is rotated in the unlocking direction, the state in which the jacket bracket 103 and the jacket guide 104 are in pressure contact with each other via the bolt 105 is released by unlocking the locking mechanism 106, so that the jacket bracket 103 is moved to the jacket guide 104. The locked state is released. Similarly, since the state in which the jacket guide 104 and the mount bracket 107 are pressed against each other is released, the state in which the jacket guide 104 is locked to the mount bracket 107 is released. At the same time, the lock tooth 110 is released from being engaged with the toothed rail member 109 and is urged in a direction away from the toothed rail member 109 by a spring member (not shown). As a result, the tilt / telescopic position of the steering shaft 101 can be adjusted.

  Further, another steering column device 120 shown in FIG. 10 includes an upper shaft 121 to which a steering wheel (not shown) is fixed at the upper end in the axial direction, and a lower shaft (not shown) fitted to the upper shaft 121. The jacket 122 that accommodates the upper shaft 121, the U-shaped mount bracket 123 that is attached to the vehicle body and supports the jacket 122, and the clamp bolt 124 are tightened to fasten and hold the jacket 122 to the mount bracket 123. And a lock mechanism 125. The mount bracket 123 has a pair of legs 126 that are suspended so as to sandwich the jacket 122. A thin plate set 127 composed of a plurality of thin plates 127a spaced apart from each other is provided outside each leg 126, and similarly, a thin plate set 128 composed of a plurality of thin plates 128a spaced apart from each other is also provided outside the jacket 122. Is provided. These thin plates 127a and 128a are stacked in an alternately arranged state.

  In the above configuration, when the operation lever 129 is rotated in the locking direction, the bolt 124 is pulled to the right in FIG. 10 by the operation of the locking mechanism 125 and is pressed by the plates 130 and 131 via the bolt 124. Since the jacket 122 is brought into close contact with the mounting bracket 123 by being in close contact with each other, the upper shaft 121 and the lower shaft are locked. Next, when the operation lever 129 is rotated in the unlocking direction, the state in which the thin plates 127a and 128a are brought into close contact with each other and released from the lock mechanism 125 is released, so that the jacket 122 is locked to the mount bracket 123. The released state is released. As a result, the tilt / telescopic position of the steering shaft 101 can be adjusted.

JP 2005-506245 A JP 10-35511 A

  By the way, in the technique described in Patent Document 1, in the configuration shown in FIG. 9, when the lock tooth 110 meshes with the toothed rail member 109 by the operation of the lock mechanism 106 during the lock operation, both tooth tips collide with each other. Therefore, there is a possibility that a so-called tooth tip lock state may occur. When this tooth tip lock state occurs, there is a problem that the lock tooth 110 does not mesh with the toothed rail member 109 and cannot be reliably locked. Further, since the lock tooth 110 is completely separated from the toothed rail member 109 when the lock is released, it is necessary to secure the release stroke of the lock tooth 110 beyond the height of the teeth, and the amount of operation of the operation lever increases, so that the operability is impaired. There was also a problem.

  Further, if the release stroke is large, the jacket 102 is tilted in the left-right direction by its own weight when the lock is released, and rattling occurs when adjusting the position of the jacket 102 up and down.

  In the technique described in Patent Document 2, in the configuration shown in FIG. 10, the thin plate sets 127 and 128 are provided and a plurality of the thin plates 127a and 128a are alternately stacked. There was a problem that the production cost increased as the performance decreased.

  Further, when the laminated structure of thin plates is used in the one-side lock structure as in Patent Document 1 as in Patent Document 2, the jacket tilts in the left-right direction under its own weight when unlocked, and therefore, between the thin plates. It is conceivable that no gap is formed, the jacket moves up and down, and the operability deteriorates.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention takes into account the steering shaft when the impact force is applied to the upper end of the steering shaft and the upper end of the steering shaft rotates forward of the vehicle while keeping the operability of the operation lever favorable. An object of the present invention is to provide a steering column device that can surely suppress the movement in the telescopic direction and can reduce the manufacturing cost.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mount bracket composed of a fixed portion fixed to the vehicle body, a suspension portion suspended from the fixed portion, a steering shaft having a steering wheel fixed at the upper end in the axial direction, and rotating the steering shaft. A jacket that is supported, a jacket bracket that is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the jacket, and a flat portion that is opposed to the suspension is integrally formed along the axial direction, and is disposed between the mount bracket and the jacket A front end of the vehicle is supported by a tilt shaft so as to be swingable in a vertical direction, and the mount bracket, the jacket guide, and a clamping bolt that passes through the jacket bracket are tightened. Steer for fastening and supporting the jacket to the mount bracket via the jacket guide In the column apparatus, the jacket guide has a base portion having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and includes a lock tooth disposed in the base portion of the jacket guide and fixed to a flat portion of the jacket bracket, and the lock tooth includes the clamp tooth. A slit is formed along the axial direction through which the bolt penetrates, and the amount of telescopic movement is regulated by the clamping bolt hitting the end of the slit, and an impact force is applied to the upper axial end of the steering shaft. When a rotational moment about the clamping bolt shaft acts on the jacket, the lock tooth is locked to the inner surface of the jacket guide, and the base of the jacket guide restricts the rotation of the jacket. And

  The invention according to claim 2 is the steering column device according to claim 1, wherein the lock tooth includes a sawtooth portion protruding toward a pair of upper and lower protrusions of the base, and the lock tooth is formed on an inner surface of the protrusion. When the is pressed, the serrated portion is bitten into the inner surface of the protruding portion and is locked.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the steering column device according to the first aspect, wherein a resin-made guide member is interposed between the lock tooth and the jacket guide, and the one side of the guide member Providing a plurality of connecting pins projecting in the direction of the jacket and connecting the lock tooth to the jacket bracket. When an impact force is applied to the upper axial end of the steering shaft and the lock tooth is locked to the jacket guide, the connecting pin And the jacket and the jacket bracket are movable forward in the axial direction of the steering shaft.

  A fourth aspect of the present invention is the steering column device according to the third aspect, wherein the lock tooth includes a sawtooth portion projecting toward a pair of upper and lower projecting portions of the base portion, and an inner surface of the projecting portion, A saw-tooth receiving portion that can mesh with the saw-tooth-like portion, and a partition plate that keeps the saw-tooth-like portion and the saw-tooth receiving portion in a separated state are provided on the guide member, and an impact force is applied to the upper end in the axial direction of the steering shaft. In addition, when a rotational moment around the clamping bolt shaft acts on the jacket, the saw-toothed portion crushes the partition plate and meshes with the saw-tooth receiving portion.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a force acts in a direction in which the steering shaft rotates around the clamping bolt in the forward direction of the vehicle due to the secondary collision, the lock tooth connected to the jacket bracket rotates integrally, and the lock tooth By locking the serrated portion of the jacket guide to the jacket guide, the jacket bracket is locked with respect to the jacket guide via the lock tooth, and the jacket bracket is engaged with the jacket guide to rotate the jacket and the jacket guide. Therefore, the impact when the impact force is applied to the upper end of the steering shaft reliably prevents the steering shaft from moving in the telescopic direction due to the sliding between the jacket guide that slides during telescopic adjustment and the lock tooth. it can. Therefore, a friction lock structure that tightens the jacket bracket, jacket guide, and mount bracket with a clamp bolt can be adopted for the lock mechanism, and the amount of operation of the operation lever can be reduced to operate the lock tooth. In addition, since the release stroke can be reduced, the inclination of the jacket at the time of unlocking can be reduced and the backlash of the jacket at the time of position adjustment can be suppressed, so that the operability of the operation lever can be kept good. . In addition, since the number of parts is reduced and the structure is simple as compared with the conventional structure in which a plurality of thin plates are alternately stacked, it is possible to improve the assembling property and reduce the manufacturing cost.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the steering shaft is rotated forward in the vehicle due to the secondary collision, the lock tooth connected to the jacket bracket is rotated integrally so that the serrated portion is a pair of upper and lower protrusions of the jacket guide. Because the jacket guide made of light metal material is deformed when pressed against the inner surface of the part, the sawtooth part is locked by the normal position adjustment operation. There is no operability.

  In the invention of claim 3, since the plurality of connecting pins of the guide member interposed between the lock tooth and the jacket guide couple the lock tooth to the jacket bracket, the lock tooth is connected to the jacket bracket via the plurality of connecting pins. Can be rotated together. Next, when a further load is applied via the steering shaft, the plurality of connecting pins are sheared, and can be relatively moved between the lock tooth and the jacket bracket, so that the steering shaft can be contracted. As a result, the amount of energy absorption and movement during the secondary collision can be increased, and energy absorption can be performed stably.

  In the invention of claim 4, since the partition plate of the guide member is interposed between the serrated portion of the lock tooth and the saw tooth receiving portion of the jacket guide, the lock tooth can smoothly travel in the telescopic direction without interfering with the jacket guide when unlocked. Move to. When a force acts in the direction in which the steering shaft rotates forward of the vehicle due to a secondary collision, the lock tooth connected to the jacket bracket rotates integrally with the jacket bracket to deform the partition plate of the guide member. Mesh with the sawtooth receiving part of the jacket guide. Accordingly, the serrated portion of the lock tooth can be more reliably locked by the jacket guide.

1 is a front view of a steering column device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention and follows the II-II line | wire of FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of a steering column device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention and follows the IV-IV line of FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a sawtooth portion of a lock tooth has bitten into a jacket guide in accordance with a vehicle collision according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention and shows the state by which the connection pin of the guide member was sheared. It is sectional drawing which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention and shows the principal part of a steering column apparatus. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows 2nd Embodiment of this invention and shows the principal part of a steering column apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the prior art example of a steering column apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the other conventional example of a steering column apparatus.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the steering column apparatus 1 of the first embodiment includes a jacket 2 that rotatably supports a steering shaft 5 including an upper shaft 50 and a lower shaft 51, and the jacket 2 in the axial direction. And a lock mechanism 4 for locking the jacket 2 with respect to a mount bracket 6 fixed to a vehicle body (not shown), and an impact force is applied to the upper end of the steering shaft in the event of a secondary collision. And a lock tooth 7 provided with serrated portions 71 and 72 that can be locked to the jacket guide 3 when the upper end of the gear is rotated forward of the vehicle. A steering wheel (not shown) is fixed to the upper end of the upper shaft 50 in the axial direction.

  The jacket guide 3 has a base portion 30 having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and is disposed between the mount bracket 6 and the jacket 2 so as to be opposed to a jacket bracket 40 described later, along the axial direction of the steering shaft 5 and the jacket 2. The lower end portion in the longitudinal direction of the jacket guide 3 which is an end portion on the front side of the vehicle is supported so as to be swingable in the vertical direction with respect to the vehicle body via the tilt shaft 3a. 3 is integrally formed with the electric power steering unit 36. Thereby, the jacket guide 3 and the jacket 2 as a whole can be rotated around the tilt shaft 3a.

  The jacket guide 3 is integrally formed with a relatively soft light metal material, such as an aluminum material, which can be deformed when sawtooth portions 71 and 72 described later are pressed into contact with each other, and is formed into a U-shaped cross section. 42, a base 30 that is slidably in contact with the mount bracket 6, and a pair of protrusions 31, 32 that protrude in the direction of the jacket bracket 40 from both ends of the base 30 in the short direction (ie, the vertical direction in FIG. 2). It consists of and. The base 30 is provided with a round hole 33 through which the clamp bolt 42 is inserted.

  The lock mechanism 4 is welded to the outer peripheral surface of the jacket 2 and extends in the axial direction of the jacket 2, the slit 41 formed in the flat portion 45 of the jacket bracket 40, and the round hole 33 of the jacket guide 3. A clamping bolt 42 having a shaft portion 42 a penetrating through and an operation lever 43 for operating the clamping bolt 42 described later, and the clamping bolt 42 is tightened by rotating the operation lever 43. The jacket 2 is fastened and fixed to the mount bracket 6 via the jacket guide 3 and the jacket bracket 40. The slit 41 extends in the axial direction of the jacket 2, and the shaft portion 42 a of the clamping bolt 42 is inserted therethrough.

  The jacket bracket 40 has a substantially C-shaped cross section disposed along the jacket 2, and is disposed between the projecting portions 31 and 32 and a joint portion 44 for joining the jacket 2 at both ends and is opposed to the base portion 30. And a flat portion 45. The flat portion 45 is formed with the slit 41 and a pair of round holes 46 into which connecting pins 82 and 83 of the guide member 8 described later are fitted.

  The lock tooth 7 is mounted on the jacket guide 3 side of the flat portion 45 within the U-shape of the jacket guide 3 and is fixed to the jacket bracket 40 via connecting pins 82 and 83 of the guide member 8 described later. . In the lock tooth 7, saw-toothed portions 71 and 72 that continuously protrude toward the inner surfaces of the protruding portions 31 and 32 of the jacket guide 3 are formed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the substantially rectangular plate-shaped base 70. At the same time, a slit 73 extending in the axial direction of the jacket 2 and through which the clamping bolt 42 is inserted, and round holes 74 and 75 into which the connecting pins 82 and 83 of the guide member 8 are respectively fitted, are formed in the base 70. Is formed. When the driver moves forward due to the impact and hits the steering wheel (secondary collision), an impact force is applied to the upper end of the steering shaft, and a rotational moment around the axis of the clamping bolt 42 acts. When 5 is rotated forward (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4), the lock tooth 7 is also integrally rotated so that a predetermined position at the upper rear of the base 70 and a predetermined position at the lower end of the base 70 at the front of the vehicle are respectively jacket guides. The sawtooth portions 71 and 72 are formed at the predetermined positions so that the lock tooth is pressed against the three projecting portions 31 and 32 and the lock tooth bites into the jacket guide 3 and engages in the axial direction of the steering shaft 5.

  The resin guide member 8 is interposed between the lock tooth 7 and the base portion 30 of the jacket guide 3, and is fixed to the flat portion 45 of the jacket bracket 40 together with the lock tooth 7. The substantially rectangular plate-like base 80 of the guide member 8 extends in the axial direction of the jacket 2, and has a slit 81 through which the clamping bolt 42 is inserted, and the direction of the jacket bracket 40 from one surface of the base 80. A pair of connecting pins 82 and 83 projecting from each other is formed. The length of the slit 81 is set substantially equal to the length of the slit 73 of the lock tooth 7 and is set shorter than the length of the slit 41 of the jacket bracket 40.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mount bracket 6 includes a fixing portion 60 fixed to the vehicle body, and a tilt bracket 61 (suspension portion) that is suspended from the fixing portion 60 and contacts the base portion 30 of the jacket guide 3. The tilt bracket 61 has a circular arc shape along the vertical direction of the vehicle, and includes a clamp tilt long hole 62 through which the shaft portion 42a of the clamp bolt 42 is inserted.

  In the above configuration, when the operating lever is rotated in the unlocking direction to loosen the clamping bolt 42 (unlocked state), the head portion 42b of the clamping bolt 42 moves in the direction of the jacket 2 and the jacket bracket 40 Since the fastening and holding are released, the jacket 2 can move in the vertical direction (tilt) and the axial direction (telescopic). At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, since the serrated portions 71 and 72 of the lock tooth 7 are separated from the protruding portions 31 and 32 of the jacket guide 3, respectively, the upper shaft 50, the jacket 2 and the jacket bracket are separated. 40, the lock tooth 7 and the guide member 8 move in the axial direction, and the guide member 8 slides relative to the jacket guide 3 at that time. At the same time, the clamping bolt 42 of the lock mechanism 4 slides in the slit 41 of the jacket bracket 40, the slit 73 of the lock tooth 7, and the slit 81 of the guide member 8. Thereafter, when the clamp bolts 42 abut against the slits 73 of the lock tooth 7 and the slits 81 of the guide member 8, the clamp bolts 42 are stopped and the telescopic movement amount is restricted.

  Further, when the driver of the vehicle turns the operating lever 43 in the locking direction and tightens the clamping bolt 42 (locked state), the head 42b of the clamping bolt 42 moves away from the jacket 2 (in FIG. 2). It moves to the left) and presses against the flat portion 45 of the jacket bracket 40. As a result, the jacket bracket 40 is fastened and fixed (locked) to the jacket guide 3 and the tilt bracket 61, so that the movement of the jacket 2 in the vertical direction (tilt) and the axial direction (telescopic) is restricted.

  When a secondary collision occurs in which the driver moves forward due to an impact accompanying a vehicle collision in the locked state and hits the steering wheel, the jacket 2 moves forward (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4) via the upper shaft 50. Since the lock tooth 7 is energized, the lock tooth 7 rotates together with the jacket 2 and the jacket bracket 40 around the clamping bolt 42 by a rotational moment acting counterclockwise in FIG. Each is in pressure contact with the protruding portions 31 and 32 of the jacket guide 3.

  As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the sawtooth portions 71 and 72 bite into the protruding portions 31 and 32 of the jacket guide 3 made of an aluminum material, so that these sawtooth portions 71 and 72 are locked. As a result, the movement of the upper shaft 50 in the telescopic direction is suppressed, and so-called slipping of the steering shaft 5 in the telescopic direction is prevented.

  Next, when a further load is applied via the upper shaft 50, the plurality of connecting pins 82 and 83 of the guide member 8 are sheared, and the lock tooth 7 and the jacket bracket 40 can be moved relative to each other, and the jacket bracket 40 can be moved to the jacket. Abutting against the protrusions 31 and 32 of the guide 3 and restricting the rotation of the jacket 2 to prevent the steering shaft 5 from being twisted, the upper shaft 50 moves in the axial direction and the steering shaft 5 contracts. At this time, after the clamping bolt 42 of the lock mechanism 4 slides in the slit 41 of the jacket bracket 40, the upper shaft 50 stops by abutting against the end of the slit 41.

  Since the slit 41 of the jacket bracket 40 is formed longer in the axial direction than the slit 73 of the lock tooth 7 that sets the telescopic movement amount and the slit 81 of the guide member 8, the energy absorption movement amount at the time of the secondary collision is increased. Can be set.

  According to the first embodiment, when the driver moves forward due to an impact due to a vehicle collision and hits the steering wheel, the force in the direction in which the steering shaft 5 rotates around the clamping bolt 42 in the forward direction of the vehicle is generated. When the action occurs, the lock tooth 7 connected to the jacket bracket 40 rotates integrally, and the serrated portions 71 and 72 are locked by the jacket guide 3, whereby the jacket bracket 40 is moved via the lock tooth 7 to the jacket guide 3. The jacket bracket 40 engages with the jacket guide 3 and the rotation of the jacket 2 and the jacket 3 is restricted. Therefore, the upper shaft 50 can be prevented from moving in the axial direction due to slippage between the jacket guide 3 and the lock tooth 7 that slides during telescopic adjustment due to an impact when an impact force is applied to the upper end of the steering shaft. Even if the friction lock structure is employed in the telescopic lock, the steering shaft 5 can be prevented from slipping in the telescopic direction.

  Thereby, in order to operate the lock tooth 7, the operation amount of the operation lever 43 can be reduced. Further, since the release stroke of the clamping bolt 42 can be reduced, the lateral inclination of the jacket when unlocking can be reduced, and rattling during position adjustment can be suppressed, so that the operability of the operation lever 43 is kept good. be able to.

  In addition, according to the first embodiment, compared to the conventional example in which a plurality of thin plates are alternately laminated, the number of parts is reduced and the structure is simple, so that the assembling property is improved and the manufacturing cost is reduced. Can be planned.

  Further, according to the first embodiment, since the lock tooth 7 and the resin guide member 8 are interposed between the jacket bracket 40 and the jacket guide 3, the guide member 8 is moved when the upper shaft 50 moves in the telescopic direction. By sliding with respect to the jacket guide 3, it is possible to prevent noise by avoiding direct contact between the metal materials of the lock tooth 7 and the jacket guide 3, and the friction resistance can be suppressed. Position adjustment can be performed smoothly.

  Further, when the steering shaft 5 is rotated forward in the vehicle due to the secondary collision, the lock tooth 7 connected to the jacket bracket 40 is rotated integrally so that the serrated portions 71 and 72 are paired with the upper and lower portions of the jacket guide 3. Since the jacket guide 3 made of light metal material is deformed when pressed against the inner surface of the protruding portion, the serrated portions 71 and 72 are locked. Therefore, the serrated portion 71 of the lock tooth 7 is obtained by a normal position adjusting operation. , 72 is not locked to the jacket guide 3 and the operability is good.

  In addition, since the plurality of connecting pins 82 and 83 of the guide member 8 interposed between the lock tooth 7 and the jacket guide 3 couple the lock tooth 7 to the jacket bracket 40, the plurality of connecting pins 82 and 83 are connected to each other. Thus, the lock tooth 7 can be rotated integrally with the jacket bracket 40. Next, when further load is applied via the steering shaft 5, the plurality of connecting pins 82 and 83 are sheared, and can be relatively moved between the lock tooth 7 and the jacket bracket 40, and the steering shaft 5 can be contracted. It becomes. As a result, the amount of energy absorption and movement during the secondary collision can be increased, and energy absorption can be performed stably.

  7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention. 7 and 8 that are the same as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 described above are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, in the steering column device 1 </ b> A of the second embodiment, the serrated portions 71 of the lock tooth 7 are respectively formed on the lower surface of the upper protruding portion 31 and the upper surface of the lower protruding portion 32 of the jacket guide 3. , 72 and a saw-tooth receiving portion 34, 35 that can mesh with each other, and a resin guide member 8 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section. In the guide member 8, a pair of partition plates 84 and 85 protrude in the direction of the jacket bracket 40 from both ends of the base portion 80 in the short direction. Since the upper partition plate 84 is interposed between the protruding portion 31 of the jacket guide 3 and the lock tooth 7, the serrated portion 71 of the lock tooth 7 and the saw tooth receiving portion 34 of the jacket guide 3 are partitioned. In addition, the lower partition plate 85 is interposed between the protruding portion 32 of the jacket guide 3 and the lock tooth 7, so that the serrated portion 72 of the lock tooth 7 and the saw tooth receiving portion 35 of the jacket guide 3 are partitioned. Yes.

  In the above configuration, the serrated portion 71 of the lock tooth 7 and the saw tooth receiving portion 34 of the jacket guide 3 are partitioned by the resin partition plate 84, and similarly, the serrated portion 72 of the lock tooth 7 and the saw tooth receiving portion 35 of the jacket guide 3. Is partitioned by the resin partition plate 85, the lock tooth 7 smoothly moves in the telescopic direction without interfering with the jacket guide 3 when unlocked. When the driver moves forward by impact and hits the steering wheel, an impact force is applied to the upper end of the steering shaft, and when a force acts in a direction in which the upper end of the steering shaft rotates forward of the vehicle, the jacket 2 When rotating around the clamping bolt 42 in front of the vehicle, the lock tooth 7 connected to the jacket bracket 40 rotates integrally, and the serrated portions 71, 72 crush the resin partition plates 84, 85, It meshes with the sawtooth receiving portions 34, 35 of the jacket guide 3, respectively. As a result, the lock tooth 7 can be locked by the jacket guide 3.

  According to the second embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment described above can be obtained. Further, in the second embodiment, the lock tooth 7 is integrally rotated together with the jacket bracket 40, and the sawtooth portions 71 and 72 are engaged with the sawtooth receiving portions 34 and 35 of the jacket guide 3, so that an impact force is applied to the upper end of the steering shaft. When the upper end of the steering shaft rotates forward of the vehicle, the sawtooth portions 71 and 72 of the lock tooth 7 can be locked by the jacket guide 3 even when a relatively small load is applied to the steering shaft 5. it can. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably prevent the steering shaft 5 from slipping in the telescopic direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,1A Steering column apparatus 2 Jacket 3 Jacket guide 4 Lock mechanism 5 Steering shaft 6 Mount bracket 7 Lock tooth 8 Guide member 34, 35 Saw tooth receiving part 40 Jacket bracket 42 Clamping bolt 42a Shaft part 60 Fixed part 61 Tilt bracket (Suspension part) )
71,72 Serrated portion 82,83 Connecting pin 84,85 Partition plate

Claims (4)

A mounting bracket composed of a fixed portion fixed to the vehicle body and a suspension portion depending from the fixed portion;
A steering shaft with a steering wheel fixed at the upper end in the axial direction;
A jacket for rotatably supporting the steering shaft;
A jacket bracket provided on the outer peripheral surface of the jacket, wherein a flat portion facing the suspension portion is integrally formed along the axial direction;
A jacket guide that is disposed between the mount bracket and the jacket and is supported so that a vehicle front side end portion can swing vertically through a tilt shaft;
In the steering column device for fastening and supporting the jacket to the mount bracket via the jacket guide by tightening the mount bracket, the jacket guide, and a clamping bolt penetrating the jacket bracket,
The jacket guide has a base with a substantially U-shaped cross section,
A lock tooth disposed in a base portion of the jacket guide and fixed to a flat portion of the jacket bracket;
In the lock tooth, a slit is formed along the axial direction through which the clamp bolt passes, and the amount of telescopic movement is regulated by the clamp bolt hitting the end of the slit,
When an impact force is applied to the upper end of the steering shaft in the axial direction and a rotational moment acts on the jacket around the clamping bolt shaft, the lock tooth is locked to the inner surface of the jacket guide, and the base of the jacket guide is A steering column device that restricts rotation of the jacket. The steering column device according to claim 1,
The lock tooth includes a serrated portion protruding toward a pair of upper and lower protrusions of the base,
A steering column device, wherein when the lock tooth is pressed against the inner surface of the protruding portion, the saw-toothed portion is bitten into the inner surface of the protruding portion and locked. The steering column device according to claim 1,
Between the lock tooth and the jacket guide, a resin guide member is interposed,
A plurality of connecting pins projecting from one side of the guide member toward the jacket and coupling the lock tooth to the jacket bracket;
When an impact force is applied to the upper end of the steering shaft in the axial direction, and the lock tooth is locked to the jacket guide, the connecting pin is cut, and the jacket and the jacket bracket can move forward in the axial direction of the steering shaft. Steering column device characterized by A steering column device according to claim 3,
To the lock tooth, a serrated portion protruding toward a pair of upper and lower protrusions of the base, and
On the inner surface of the projecting portion, a sawtooth receiving portion that can mesh with the serrated portion,
The guide member is provided with a partition plate that maintains the sawtooth portion and the sawtooth receiving portion in a separated state,
When an impact force is applied to the upper end of the steering shaft in the axial direction and a rotational moment around the clamping bolt shaft acts on the jacket, the saw-toothed portion crushes the partition plate and meshes with the saw-tooth receiving portion. Steering column device.

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