JP2521378B2 - Steering tilt device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering tilt device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional steering tilt device has the following drawbacks. (1) When moving the steering wheel to the flipped-up position, the steering wheel is moved after releasing the tube tightening with the tilt lever, so it is necessary to make a correction when returning the wheel to the original position. (2) In order to return the wheel to its original position and then fix it after flipping the wheel up, the tilt lever cannot be fixed until the tilt lever is tightened again.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a steering tilt device which eliminates the above drawbacks. As a prior art material of the present application, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-12
5963, JP 61-21860, JP 60-236875, and JP 60-37889.
Publication, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-2042, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-4
There is 1893 publication.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the steering tilt device of the present invention is a steering wheel.
The steering shaft with the wheel fixed to the upper end rotates
The tilt shaft is inserted so that it can be rolled and is supported by the vehicle body.
A tube that is rotatably supported below, and is fixed to the vehicle body side.
And having a partial arc groove centered on the tilt axis.
Can be moved along the circular arc groove of the guide member and the guide member.
It has a movable shaft that is inserted through the
A base that is movably supported and the movable shaft of the base
Fix or fix the guide member at any position of the partial arc groove.
Fixing mechanism to release the fixed axis and the tilt axis of the tube.
A biasing member that biases the center of rotation upward
It is characterized by having .

[0005]

The steering tilt of the present invention having the above structure
The device has the following actions. That is, the steering wheel
Position it in the desired vertical position (usually
When you change to a different driver)
With the base and tube connected, the fixing mechanism
A movable shaft on the base and a partial arc groove on the guide member
To release the fixing, and against the biasing force of the biasing member, steer
Place the ring wheel in the desired vertical position and use the fixing mechanism.
The movable shaft on the base and the partial arc on the guide member
Fix the groove and. This allows the base to move up and down
Since it is positioned on the
Tube is also positioned and inserted into the tube
The steering wheel is also positioned. In addition, this operation
The work is called a tilt operation. Splashing steering wheel
Raise (usually when a driver gets in or out of a car)
The steering wheel up or down as desired as described above.
With the positioning mechanism in place, the coupling mechanism
Uncouple the tube. Then, independent of the base
Only the tube is flipped up by the biasing member
It At this time, the base is fixed in a predetermined vertical position by the fixing mechanism.
Remains fixed to. This allows the tube to
The steering wheel pops up and the driver's knees and
The distance from the alling wheel is widened so that the driver can easily drive the vehicle.
You can get on and off. In addition, this operation
Operation. Based on the flipped steering wheel
Position (usually the driver leaving the car
Do this when driving) was spoiled as described above
Rotate the steering wheel in the state downward,
The connecting mechanism reconnects the base and the tube. Do
And, the base and the tube are integrated. At this time,
Is still in the predetermined vertical position
Therefore, the tube connected to the base by the connection mechanism
Is positioned in its original position and is inserted into the tube.
The alling wheel is also positioned in its original position.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing embodiments. In FIGS. 1 to 7, the upper bracket 13 is fixed to the tube portion 15 at the flange portion 14 with the bolts 51, and the steering shaft 12 has the bearings 55,
It is rotatably supported by the tube 15 and the upper bracket 13 via 56. Steering shaft 1
A steering wheel 11 is attached to the upper end of 2.

Bracket 1 provided at the lower end of the tube 15
7 is rotatably supported by a bracket 27 fixed to an instrument panel (not shown) by a bolt (tilt shaft) 52 and a nut 53 via a spacer 41 via a bracket 28, and at the same time, the base 21 is also bolted via the spacer 41. It is rotatably supported by a nut 52 and a nut 53.

An upper end of a U-shaped bracket 16 provided in the middle of the tube 15 is connected by a bolt 57 and a nut 58, and the bolt 57 rotatably supports a spacer 42 interposed between opposed pieces of the U-shaped bracket. are doing.

The bracket 29 (guide member) provided on the fixed bracket 27 has the other end of the base 21 at the spacer 3
3 through bolt 32 (movable shaft) , spring washer 3
5, liner 34, shaft 36 screwed into bolt 32
Is rotatably supported by a tilt lever 31 fixed to the tip of the shaft 36. Bracket 29
Is a partial arcuate slit 29 centered on the bolt 52.
a (partial arc groove) is provided, and this slit 29
The bolt 32 is inserted into a and is moved along the slit 29a to arrange the inclination angle of the base 21 at an arbitrary vertical position.
It is possible. For this reason, the base 21 can
If the tilt lever 36 is tightened with the
The base 21 is positioned. In addition, the tilt lever 31
Pacer 33, liner 34, spring washer 35,
The shaft 36 constitutes the fixing mechanism of the present invention.

As shown in FIG . 6, a substantially U-shaped lock plate 43 is attached to a bracket 22 provided on the base 21 by a pin 25 together with a return spring 45 so that the lock plate 43 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. It is biased by the return spring 45. Also bracket 2
2, a stopper plate 44, which is a set with a lock plate 43, is provided with a return spring 46 and a pin 2
6 and is biased by a return spring 46 so as to rotate clockwise in FIG.
Insert the bolt 57 into the U-shaped recess of the lock plate 43.
Enclosing spacers 42 are engaged. This bolt 57
As shown in FIG. 5, the spacer 42 and the spacer 42 are U-shaped brackets.
It is integrated with the tube 15 via a port 16. Ma
Also, the tube 15 includes the tube 15 and the fixing bracket 2.
By a spring 48 (see FIG. 1) stretched between 7
Rotate upward around the bolt 52 that is the tilt axis
Is urged to. Therefore, the bolt 57 and the bolt
The pacer 42 is also biased in the same direction by the spring 48.
I have. Here, the lock plate 43 is a stopper play.
Since it is locked in the position shown in FIG.
The tab 57 and the spacer 42 also resist the bias of the spring 48.
Locked in the position shown in FIG.

The flip-up lever 37 has a structure as shown in FIG.
Then, the return spring 47 is attached to the upper bracket 13.
It is attached together with a bolt 54, is urged to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2, and is always in contact with the stopper 18 provided on the upper bracket 13. A cushion rubber 39 is attached to a portion where the flip-up lever 37 contacts the stopper 18.
The sound and impact generated when the flip-up lever 37 and the upper bracket 13 come into contact with each other are reduced. A wire 38 is provided at the counter operation end of the flip-up lever 37, and one end of the wire 38 is locked to a stopper plate 44. In addition,
Lifting lever 37, wire 38, lock plate 43, sleeve
Topper plate 44, return spring 47, bolt
The slot 54 corresponds to the connecting mechanism of the present invention.

In the above structure, the flip-up lever 37
7 is operated (clockwise in FIG. 2), the wire 38 is pulled and the stopper plate 44 rotates counterclockwise.
Lock plate 43 and stopper plate 4 as shown in
4, the lock plate 43 is rotated counterclockwise by the elastic force of the return spring 45. At this time, the bolt 57 of the bracket 16 attached to the tube 15
Spacer 42 sealed axis is, the lock plate 43
Lock is released, and the spring 48 urges it upward.
Is rotated to. Along with this, the tube 15 also has bolts 52.
Is rotated upward by a spring 48 about
The contact piece 19 provided on the tube 15 is fixed to the fixed bracket 29.
It rotates until it abuts the stopper 30 provided at the lower end of the.
Therefore, the steering shaft 12 supported by the tube 15 and the upper bracket 13 tilts (tilt away) together with the steering wheel 11. In this way, the connection between the tube 15 and the base 21 is released by only one-touch operation of the flip-up lever 37, the tilt-away is facilitated, and the rideability of the driver is significantly improved.

When the flip-up lever 37 is opened in the tilt-away state, the return spring 47 causes the flip-up lever 37 to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2, the wire 38 is loosened, and the stopper plate 44 is rotated clockwise by the return spring 46. Rotating bracket 22
It rotates until it comes into contact with the stopper 23 provided on the. At this time, since the lock plate 43 is flipped up by the return spring 45, the stopper plate 44 and the lock plate 43 remain disengaged, and the bracket 1
6, and thus the steering wheel 11 connected to the tube 15 is held in the condition of being flipped up. Therefore, when the steering wheel 11 is pulled down, it moves easily.

When the driver re-rides the vehicle, if the tilted steering wheel 11 is pulled down against the resilience of the spring 48, the lock plate 43 is not fixed so that the bracket 16 and the spacer 42 can be used to easily lower the lower part. When the lock plate 43 rotates in the (clockwise) direction and reaches a predetermined position, the lock plate 43 starts to push the stopper plate 44 counterclockwise, and when the lock plate 43 returns by the same angle as the angle tilted by the tilt-away, the lock plate 43 43 is disengaged from the stopper plate 44, and the stopper plate 44 is rotated clockwise by the action of the spring 46 until it abuts on the stopper 23. At this time, the spacer 4 supported by the bracket 16 of the tube 15
2 contacts the stopper 24 provided on the base 21, the steering wheel 11 is not rotated downward, the lock plate 43 is engaged with the stopper plate 44 and cannot move upward, and the spacer 42 supported by the bracket 16 is Fixed. That is, the steering wheel 11 attached to the steering shaft 12 supported by the tube 15 is securely fixed, and the steering wheel 11 is surely returned to a predetermined position by a simple operation of simply pulling the steering wheel 11 downward. You can

As described above, the tilt-away and the return to the predetermined positions before the start of the tilt-away are completely performed by the simple one-touch operation of the flip-up lever 37 and the simple pull-down operation of the steering wheel 11.
It is possible to improve the entry / exitability and usability of the driver.

Next, a case where the steering wheel 11 is tilted according to the physique of the driver will be described with reference to FIGS. The position of the flip-up lever 37 in FIG. 2 is in a state where the lever 37 is opened (not operated), that is, the bracket 1
6 shows a state in which the spacer 42 supported by the bolt 57 of No. 6 is fixed by the lock plate 43. Tilt lever 31
2 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2, the tightening force of the base 21 by the bracket 29 provided on the fixed bracket 27 disappears, and the bolt 32 supporting the base 21 has the above-mentioned partial arc-shaped slit 2 provided on the bracket 29.
It is possible to move to the upper end along 9a, so that the base 21 can rotate together with the tube 15 about the bolt 52. Therefore, the steering wheel 11 fixed to the steering shaft 12 supported in the tube 15 moves upward and is held unfixed. Therefore, when the steering wheel 11 is pulled down, the steering wheel 11 is easily moved downward. At this time, the driver tilts the steering wheel to a desired position against the elastic force of the pair of springs 48 that tilts the steering wheel, and while holding the steering wheel at that position, the tilt lever 3 is held.
1 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1 to fasten and fix the upper end of the base 21 via the shaft 36, the spring washer 35, the liner 34, the spacer 33, the bracket 29, and the bracket 22. By fixing the base 21, the tube 15 is fixed via the stopper plate 44, the lock plate 43, the spacer 42, and the bracket 16, and accordingly, the steering wheel 11 is fixed.

As described above, the tilt angle of the steering wheel 11 can be adjusted according to the physique of the driver by rotating the flip-up lever 37 counterclockwise and moving the steering wheel 11 to a desired position. And rotation in the direction to improve usability for the driver.

In the above description, the tube 15 is locked to the base 21 through the bracket 16, the spacer 42, the lock plate 43, the stopper plate 44, and the bracket 22, but in addition to this, the tube 15 and the base 21 are locked.
As a method of locking and, in the embodiment of FIG.
The guide 71 is fixed to the bracket 16a of 5a, and the pin 72 passes through the guide 71 to lock the base 21a. This allows the handle to be tilted. When unlocked, the pin 72 retracts to the surface of the bracket 16a.
This allows for flipping.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the guide 71 is fixed to the bracket 22a provided on the base 21b, and the pin 72 passes through the guide 71 to lock the bracket 16b of the tube 15b. This allows tilting. When unlocked, the pin 72 retracts to the surface of the bracket 22a. This allows for flipping.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the pin 74 slidable with respect to the guide 73 provided on the base 21c has the tube 15c.
It engages with the bracket 16c of and locks the base 21c and the tube 15c. This allows tilting. When unlocked, the pin 74 retracts to the right side of the guide 73 in the figure. This allows for flipping.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the hook 43a is rotatably attached to the bracket 22b provided on the base 21d by the pin 25a to lock the pin 42a provided on the bracket 16d of the tube 15d. This allows tilting. When unlocked, the pin 43a rotates clockwise in the drawing. This allows for flipping.

In the embodiment of FIG. 13, the links 75a, 75b, 75c provided on the base 21e are the slide brackets 2.
Bracket 1 of tube 15e, held by 2c, 76
The link 75a penetrates the hole 6e to lock the base 21e and the tube 15e. This allows tilting. When unlocked, the link 75a retracts to the surface of the slide bracket 22c. This allows for flipping.

The connecting mechanism forming a part of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and all the mechanisms for locking and unlocking the base and the tube belong to the technical scope of the present invention.

[0024]

Since the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, it has the following excellent effects. (A) Unlike the conventional structure, since the base is interposed between the mounting bracket and the tube, a memory mechanism is provided when the steering wheel is flipped up. For this reason, it is easy to secure a space and reset the handle position when getting on and off, and the getting on and off property is improved. (B) Generally, in the case of a flip-up operation, a tilt operation
Since it rotates more upward than the
Other than the steering wheel and steering wheel
If so, a space for splashing the other members
Space (larger than the space for tilting)
There was a point. In this regard, in the present invention, at the time of splashing,
Other than the tube and steering wheel
Secure such space because it will not climb up
There is no need to
It can be effectively used as a space for installing equipment, resulting in
The habitability of the driver's seat is improved. (C) Independent of the base, the tube and steering wheel
The urging member that is necessary for the spring
The urging force of is reduced. Therefore, after splashing,
Great force is required to return the tearing wheel to its original position.
It is not necessary, and even women and elderly people can easily return to their original positions.
Can be returned. The tube and
In addition to the steering wheel, the base moves up and down, but chill
When operating the steering wheel
It is not necessary to rotate the wheel to the top (eg car
It may be enough to hang the tube on your body.)
It is necessary to increase the biasing force of the biasing member in consideration of the tilt operation.
It doesn't matter.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG.

5 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing an open state of the connecting mechanism of FIG.

7 is a side view showing a connected state of the connecting mechanism of FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a first alternative example of the connecting mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a second alternative example of the connecting mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a third alternative example of the connecting mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a fourth alternative example of the connecting mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a fifth alternative example of the connecting mechanism.

[Explanation of Codes] 11 Steering Wheel 12 Steering Shaft 15 Tube 21 Base 28 Fixed Bracket 37 Splashing Lever (Splashing Mechanism) 43 Lock Plate (Coupling Mechanism) 44 Stopper Plate (Coupling Mechanism) 52 Bolt (Tilt Shaft) 57 Bolt

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A steering wheel fixed to the upper end.
Steering shaft is inserted so that the shaft can rotate
It was supported up and down by a tilt shaft supported by
A tube and a partial arc centered on the tilt axis fixed to the vehicle body
A guide member having a groove and a guide member that is slidably inserted in the partial arc groove of the guide member.
It has a moving shaft and is supported by the tilt shaft so as to be vertically rotatable.
And a base for connecting or disconnecting the base and the tube.
The connection mechanism and the movable shaft of the base are connected to the partial arc groove of the guide member.
A locking mechanism that locks or unlocks the tube at the desired position, and rotates the tube upwards around the tilt axis.
And a biasing member for biasing the
Steering tilt device.