JPS6036513Y2 - Tail steering mechanism - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a tilt steering mechanism which is a steering device for an automobile.

The purpose of this invention is to simplify the adjustment operation of the front and rear and up and down positions of the steering wheel, and also to make it possible to adjust the clearance of the column support, which is one part of the tilt steering mechanism, at the fitting part with the column, so that the lower part of the column can be adjusted freely. The dust cover that surrounds the joint part functions as a retainer, and is made of synthetic resin to prevent metal contact noise and ensure smooth sliding.

2. Description of the Related Art Tilt steering, which freely adjusts the front and rear and up and down positions of a steering wheel according to the physique and preferences of a driver, is conventionally well known.

However, in the conventional tilt steering adjustment mechanism, the adjustment of the steering column in the front and back and up and down directions is performed using independent operation knobs, respectively, and the adjustment operation is time-consuming and requires a large amount of space.

Further, the lower part of the steering column is connected by a universal joint, and a dust cover surrounds the universal joint.

A retainer was attached to the column as a member to stop the upper end of this dust cover.

This invention can be adjusted in any direction, forward or backward or up and down using a single operating knob, and also uses the component parts to form a dust cover retainer, reducing the number of separate dedicated retainer parts. The structure has been improved so that it is easy to compensate for variations in the outer diameter of the column, wear, etc., and to ensure that the column is properly held at all times.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a steering column (hereinafter simply referred to as column), which is connected to the steering mechanism of the enclosure by a universal joint and a spline mechanism so as to be movable in the front and rear and up and down directions.

An upper support 2 is fitted in the upper position of this column 1, and a lower support 3 is fitted in the lower position.

As is clear from FIG. 2, the upper support 2 has a split groove 2a and bolt holes perpendicular to the axis of the column 1.

In addition, the lower support 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3,
It consists of a cylindrical holding part 3a that fits around the outer periphery of the column 1, and a retainer 3f that is integral with this holding part 3a and that fits the upper end of the dust cover 15.

The holding part 3a has a vertical groove 3b parallel to the axis of the column 1, and a part of the circumference of the holding part 3a on the side connected to the retainer 3f intersects with the lower end of the vertical groove 3b. A horizontal groove 3c cut out in the circumferential direction is provided so that the diameter of the holding portion 3a can be expanded or contracted.

Furthermore, the holding part 3a holds the column 1 in the front and rear positions.
A pair of bolt holes 3 in a direction perpendicular to the axis of column 1
e, 3h are provided.

The lower support 3 is attached to the bracket 5 by a bolt 11 that passes through this bolt hole 3e together with the bracket 5, which will be described later.
A bolt 13 is inserted through the six bolts perpendicularly to the longitudinal groove 3b, and a nut 14 is used to tighten and loosen the holding portion 3a.

Note that 3d is a flexible bridge that connects a part of the vertical grooves 3b.

Further, the retainer 3f has an engaging protrusion 3g formed on the outer circumferential surface to engage the dust cover 15, and this lower support 3
is molded from synthetic resin material.

Both sides of the upper support 2 and lower support 3 are in contact with a pair of brackets 5 fixed to the cab.

That is, the upper support 2 and the lower support 3 are sandwiched between the pair of brackets 5.

Guide holes 6 long in the front-rear direction are formed at positions where the bracket 5 faces both sides of the upper support 2, and bolt insertion holes 7 are formed at positions where the bracket 5 faces both sides of the lower support 3.

A bolt 8 having a detent head 9 is inserted into the guide hole 6 and a bolt hole 2b formed in the upper support 2, and is tightened and fixed by an operation knob 10.

Further, a bolt 11 is inserted into the lower support 3 through the bolt insertion hole 7 and the collar 16, and the lower support 3 is pivotally fixed with a nut 12.

By strongly tightening the nut 12, the bracket 5
The lower support 3 is supported by the bracket 5 so as to allow rotation about the collar 16, while the collar 16 is firmly pivoted and fixed.

Since the present invention has the structure as described above, by tightening the operation knob 10, the upper support 2 firmly tightens the outer periphery of the column 1, restricts movement in the longitudinal and vertical directions, and completely locks the steering wheel position.

Furthermore, when the operating knob 10 is loosened, the tightening of the column 1 by the upper support 2 is released, and adjustment in the vertical direction can be freely obtained, as well as adjustment in the longitudinal direction along the guide hole 6 of the bracket 5.

This adjustment movement in the longitudinal direction is performed by bolt 11 of lower support 3.
It will be centered around.

Also, when fitting the lower support 3 to the column 1,
Fit the column 1 with the nut 14 loosened, and then tighten the nut 1
After tightening the holding portion 3a to the outer periphery of the column 1 using the bolts 4, the clearance is adjusted by slightly loosening the nut 14 in order to form an appropriate clearance that allows the column 1 to slide in the vertical direction.

Furthermore, a flexible bridge 3 connects a part between the vertical grooves 3b.
d is to prevent the inner diameter dimension of the holding part 3a from going out of order due to shrinkage after molding, since the lower support 3 itself is molded from synthetic resin. This does not impede the tightening function.

Furthermore, a retainer 3f formed on the lower support 3
In this case, the upper end of the dust cover 15 surrounding the lower universal joint portion of the column 1 is engaged with the engagement protrusion 3g.

As described above, according to the present invention, both vertical and longitudinal adjustment of the steering column can be achieved using a single operating knob provided on the upper support, so the advantage is that adjustment operations can be performed quickly and easily with a so-called one-touch operation. The main components of the adjustment mechanism are also made up of a very small number of parts, making assembly easy and requiring only a small installation space.Additionally, the radial direction of the column holding part of the lower support can be adjusted using bolts and nuts. Therefore, even if there are variations in the outer diameter of the column or wear of the fitting part, the clearance with the column can be adjusted appropriately, and smooth sliding can be maintained when adjusting the column in the vertical direction. Moreover, since the dust cover retainer is integrally formed with this lower support, a separate retainer part can be omitted, which has the advantage of reducing costs. There is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the mechanism of this invention, Figure 2 is Figure 1
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line ■--■ in FIG. 1.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a steering column connected to a steering mechanism so as to be movable vertically and longitudinally, an upper support tightens and loosely holds the outer periphery of the steering column, and a lower support holds the steering column slidably in an axial direction. is fitted into the steering column, and the upper support is tightened and fixed with a bolt and an operation knob so as to be movable in the front and back direction through a long guide hole in the front and back direction opened in a pair of left and right brackets fixed to the cab, Further, the lower support is pivotally fixed to the bracket with bolts, and the lower support is provided with a split groove that allows the diameter of the fitting hole with the steering column to be expanded or contracted, and the fitting part with the steering column is fixed with an adjustment bolt. A tilt steering mechanism characterized by being provided with a holding part whose clearance can be adjusted, and a dust cover mounting retainer formed integrally with the holding part.