JP2013028298A - Electric tilt steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric tilt steering column device for reducing its frictional force during tilt adjustment while increasing its supporting rigidity.SOLUTION: A lower jacket 4a is rockably supported at its front end side via a bolt while being held at its rear end side between a pair of clamp parts 11a, 11b of a vehicle body mounting bracket, to construct a tilt mechanism which is moved up and down by a motor. On the outer peripheral face of the lower jacket 4a opposed to one clamp part 11a, a mounting part 23 is provided which has a fixed tapered face 23a inclined to the axial center of a steering shaft. On the mounting part 23, a wedge member 24 is mounted which has a movable tapered face 24a opposed to the fixed tapered face 23a and a sliding face 24b for sliding along an inner wall face 11d of one clamp part 11a. A positioning means 25 is provided for positioning the wedge member 23 along the axial center of the steering shaft so that a contact pressure between each of the clamp parts 11a, 11b and the lower jacket 4a is an adequate value.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric tilt steering column apparatus, which has increased rigidity so as not to cause a back and forth play between a jacket that tilts between a pair of clamps and a side wall of the clamp.

  As conventional electric tilt steering column devices, for example, those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are known.

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, the steering column 1 is inserted into the electric box 8, and a block 23 is provided between the inner wall surface of the electric box 8 and the outer surface of the steering column 1. The block 23 is pressed against the outer surface of the steering column 1 by the tightening bolts 26 screwed in, thereby increasing the support rigidity in the left-right direction of the steering column 1 inside the electric box 8.

  In the invention described in Patent Document 2, the housing 5 is disposed between the pair of rigid brackets 14, and the leaf spring 11 or the coil spring 32 as a pressure member is interposed between the rigid bracket 14 and the housing 5. The support rigidity in the left-right direction of the steering column 3 is increased.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-2503 JP-A-2006-795

  However, in the configuration in which the tightening bolt 26 is screwed into the electric box 8 as in the electric tilt steering column device described in Patent Document 1, the tightening force is managed by the magnitude of the tightening torque. Since the frictional force is not stable, it is necessary to take measures such as providing a roller 25 between the steering column 1 and the block 23 to reduce the frictional force as shown in FIG.

  The electric tilt steering column device described in Patent Document 2 uses a leaf spring or the like as a pressurizing member. However, if an attempt is made to increase the support rigidity in the left-right direction, the elastic force of the spring increases, and tilt adjustment is performed. The frictional force also increases. Conversely, if the frictional force during tilt adjustment is reduced, the support rigidity in the left-right direction also decreases, so there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the frictional force during tilt adjustment while increasing the support rigidity in the left-right direction. .

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an electric tilt steering column apparatus that solves the above-described problems.

In the invention according to claim 1, the front end side of the jacket that rotatably supports the steering shaft is supported by the vehicle body so as to be swingable in the vertical direction via the tilt shaft, while the rear end side of the jacket is interposed via the vehicle body mounting bracket. Supported by the car body,
The vehicle body mounting bracket is provided with a pair of clamp portions that sandwich the rear end side of the jacket and guide it in the vertical direction. The rear end side of the jacket is raised and lowered with respect to the vehicle body mounting bracket by the driving force of the motor. In the electric tilt steering column device provided with a tilt mechanism,
A sliding surface that slides with one clamp portion is provided on one side surface of the jacket that faces either one of the pair of clamp portions, and a mounting portion is provided on the other side surface of the jacket that faces the other clamp portion. Providing a wedge member between the mounting portion and the other clamp portion;
The mounting portion is provided with a fixed taper surface as a vertical surface inclined with respect to the axis of the steering shaft, and the wedge member has a movable taper surface opposite to the fixed taper surface and an inner portion of the other clamp portion. A wall surface and a sliding surface that slides are formed, and the wedge member is mounted on the mounting portion via an adjusting unit that positions and adjusts the wedge member in a direction along the axis of the steering shaft. .

  According to this invention, when the wedge member is moved in the direction along the axis of the steering shaft, the contact pressure between the inner wall surface of the clamp portion and the sliding surface of the wedge member increases and decreases, and the contact pressure is appropriately adjusted by the adjusting means. On the other hand, when the rear end of the jacket is raised and lowered during tilt adjustment, a load in the direction along the axis of the steering shaft, which is a direction substantially perpendicular to the raising and lowering direction, is applied to the wedge member. Since it does not act, the wedge member does not move relative to the mounting part, and the contact pressure between the inner wall surface of the clamp part and the sliding surface of the wedge member does not increase or decrease, and the frictional force increases or decreases during tilt adjustment. There is no.

The invention according to claim 2 is the electric tilt steering column apparatus according to claim 1,
The adjusting means passes through the wedge member and the mounting portion in a direction along the axis of the steering shaft, and sets a relative position between the wedge member and the mounting portion in the axial direction. And an urging means provided around the connecting shaft and urging the wedge member in a direction to bite between the mounting portion and the other clamp portion.

  According to this invention, the contact pressure is applied to the inner wall surface of the clamp portion and the sliding surface of the wedge member by the biasing means in a state where the axial position of the wedge member and the mounting portion is set by the connecting shaft. It is easy to set the right and left rigidity of the jacket to an appropriate value.

The invention according to claim 3 is the electric tilt steering column apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
Around the axis of the virtual axis in the vertical direction perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft, around the axis of the virtual axis along the axis of the steering shaft, or around the axis of the virtual axis The wedge member is configured to be swingable with respect to the mounting portion.

  According to the present invention, even when the inner wall surface of the clamp portion and the sliding surface of the wedge member are not parallel, the automatic adjustment function operates, and the wedge member swings with respect to the mounting portion and returns to an appropriate posture. As a result, the inner wall surface of the clamp portion and the sliding surface of the wedge member become parallel and come into uniform contact.

The invention according to claim 4 is the electric tilt steering column apparatus according to claim 3,
At least one of the fixed taper surface and the movable taper surface is formed in an arc shape.

  According to this invention, the wedge member swings in the direction formed in the arc shape with respect to the mounting portion, and the inner wall surface of the clamp portion and the sliding surface of the wedge member become parallel.

The invention according to claim 5 is the electric tilt steering column apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
Around the axis of the virtual axis in the vertical direction perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft, around the axis of the virtual axis along the axis of the steering shaft, or around the axis of the virtual axis The mounting portion is configured to be swingable with respect to the jacket.

  According to the present invention, even when the inner wall surface of the clamp portion and the sliding surface of the wedge member are not parallel, the automatic adjustment function operates, the attachment portion swings with respect to the jacket, and is attached to the attachment portion. The wedge member returns to an appropriate posture, so that the inner wall surface of the clamp portion and the sliding surface of the wedge member become parallel and come into uniform contact.

  According to the electric tilt steering column apparatus of the first aspect, the adjusting means is provided for adjusting the contact pressure between the inner wall surface of the clamp portion and the sliding surface of the jacket by moving the wedge member in the axial direction of the steering shaft. Therefore, the rigidity of the jacket in the left-right direction is increased, and when the rear end side of the jacket is raised and lowered during tilt adjustment, the direction is substantially perpendicular to the raising and lowering direction along the axis of the steering shaft. Since the load does not act on the wedge member, the wedge member does not move relative to the jacket during tilt adjustment, and the frictional force during tilt adjustment is stabilized.

  According to the electric tilt steering column apparatus of the second aspect, since the biasing force of the biasing means appropriately maintains the lateral rigidity of the jacket and the frictional force during the tilt adjustment, the lateral rigidity of the jacket can be increased. The frictional force when raising and lowering the jacket during tilt adjustment is stabilized.

  According to the electric tilt steering column apparatus of the third aspect, the wedge member swings with respect to the mounting portion and returns to an appropriate posture, whereby the inner wall surface of the clamp portion and the sliding surface of the wedge member are parallel to each other. Therefore, the frictional resistance between the inner wall surface of the clamp portion and the sliding surface of the wedge member is increased and the wedge member is prevented from moving up and down, and the rigidity of the jacket in the left-right direction is reduced. The frictional force when raising and lowering the jacket during tilt adjustment is stabilized.

  According to the electric tilt steering column apparatus of the fourth aspect, since only one of the fixed taper surface and the movable taper surface is formed in an arc shape, the configuration is simple.

  According to the electric tilt steering column device of the fifth aspect, the mounting portion swings with respect to the jacket, and the wedge member mounted on the mounting portion returns to an appropriate posture, whereby the inner wall surface of the clamp portion and Since the sliding surface of the wedge member is parallel and uniformly contacted, the frictional resistance between the inner wall surface of the clamp portion and the sliding surface of the wedge member is increased and the wedge member is prevented from moving up and down. The rigidity of the left and right sides of the arm and the frictional force when raising and lowering the jacket during tilt adjustment are stabilized.

The expanded sectional view of the principal part of FIG. 5 (Embodiment 1). FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the adjusting means (first embodiment). 1 is a perspective view of an electric tilt steering column device (Embodiment 1). FIG. 1 is a front view of an electric tilt steering column device (Embodiment 1). AA arrow line view of FIG. 4 (Embodiment 1). BB arrow line view of Embodiment 4 (Embodiment 1). CC arrow figure of Embodiment 4 (Embodiment 1). The expanded sectional view of the principal part corresponding to FIG. 1 (Embodiment 2). The expanded sectional view of the principal part corresponding to FIG. 1 (Embodiment 3).

Embodiments of an electric tilt steering column apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.
(Constitution)
The electric tilt steering column apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, a solid lower shaft 1a and a hollow upper shaft 1b are slidably provided in the axial direction via a spline coupling portion 1c to constitute a steering shaft 1, which is formed at the right end of the upper shaft 1b. Is attached with a steering wheel (not shown). The lower shaft 1a is connected to a steering mechanism (not shown) through a universal joint 2. On the other hand, a jacket 4 for rotatably supporting the steering shaft 1 is provided. The jacket 4 includes a lower jacket 4a and an upper jacket 4b that is press-fitted and held in the lower jacket 4a with a predetermined press-fitting load. The upper jacket 4b is slidable into the lower tube 4c and the lower tube 4c. And the upper tube 4d inserted into the. A bearing 5 is interposed between the lower shaft 1a and the lower jacket 4a, and a bearing 6 is interposed between the upper tube 4d and the upper shaft 1b. A panel 7 for mounting a combination switch such as a turn lever or a wiper is integrally coupled to the rear end portion of the upper tube 4d.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a bifurcated lower bracket 9 is rotatably attached to the vehicle body via a rotation shaft 8 at the front end portion of the lower jacket 4a, and a tilt shaft is provided below the lower bracket 9 as a tilt shaft. The front end portion of the lower jacket 4a is supported through two bolts 10 so as to be swingable in the vertical direction.

  On the other hand, the rear end side of the lower jacket 4 a is supported by the vehicle body via the vehicle body mounting bracket 11. In other words, the vehicle body mounting bracket 11 is provided with a pair of clamp portions 11a and 11b that sandwich the rear end side of the lower jacket 4a and guide it in the vertical direction. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a long hole 11c is formed in the pair of clamp portions 11a and 11b along an arc centered on the bolt 10, and the side surface of the lower jacket 4a is formed in the long hole 11c. The bolt 13 attached to the is inserted. A tilt mechanism 12 is provided that raises and lowers the rear end side of the lower jacket 4a with respect to the vehicle body mounting bracket 11 by a driving force of a motor and raises and lowers a steering wheel (not shown).

  The configuration of the tilt mechanism 12 will be described below. As shown in FIG. 7, a gear case 15 is rotatably coupled to the vehicle body mounting bracket 11 via a bolt 14 screwed in a state of penetrating the clamp portions 11a and 11b. A long tilt screw 15a is rotatably supported. A worm wheel 16 is fixed to the lower end of the tilt screw 15 a, and the worm wheel 16 is supported by a thrust bearing 17 at the upper and lower positions on both sides in the axial direction, and is held at a lower portion of the gear case 15 by a fixing nut 18. On the other hand, a recess 4e that opens downward is formed in the lower portion of the lower end side of the lower jacket 4a. A nut case 19 is disposed in the recess 4e, and the nut case 19 is connected via two bolts 21. The lower jacket 4a is rotatably coupled. A pair of nuts 20 are held inside the nut case 19 in a state where rotation and axial movement are constrained, and the upper ends of the tilt screws 15 a are screwed into the pair of nuts 20. In order to rotationally drive the worm wheel 16, the gear case 15 is provided with a tilt motor 22, and a worm (not shown) fixed to the output shaft of the tilt motor 22 meshes with the worm wheel 16.

  As a cross-sectional view of a portion where the rear end side of the lower jacket 4a moves up and down between the pair of clamp portions 11a and 11b, there are FIG. 5 in a plan cross-sectional view and FIG. 6 in an axial cross-sectional view. FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of an axial section of the shaft. When the tilt motor 22 is rotated, the rear end side of the lower jacket 4a moves up and down between the pair of clamp portions 11a and 11b. As shown in FIG. 1, a sliding described later provided on the left side surface of the lower jacket 4 a with respect to the left clamp portion 11 a which is the lower side of the pair of clamp portions 11 a and 11 b in the drawing. The surface 24b slides, and the sliding surface 4f provided on the right side surface of the lower jacket 4a slides with respect to the right clamp portion 11b which is the upper side in the drawing.

  A mounting portion 23 having a fixed taper surface 23a as a vertical surface inclined with respect to the axial direction of the steering shaft 1 on the left side surface on the rear end side of the lower jacket 4a facing the left clamp portion 11a. Is provided. A wedge member 24 is disposed between the mounting portion 23 and the one clamp portion 11 a, and the wedge member 24 is mounted on the mounting portion 23. The wedge member 24 includes a movable tapered surface 24a facing the fixed tapered surface 23a, and a sliding surface 24b that slides on the inner wall surface 11d of the one clamp portion 11a.

  Positioning adjustment of the wedge member 24 in the direction along the axis of the steering shaft 1 so that the contact pressure between the respective clamp portions 11a, 11b and the sliding surfaces 24b, 4f of the lower jacket 4a becomes an appropriate value. An adjusting means 25 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the adjusting means 25 forms insertion holes 23c, 24c penetrating in the direction along the axis of the steering shaft 1 in the wedge member 24 and the mounting portion 23, and the insertion holes 23c, A bolt 26 as a connecting shaft that is inserted through 24c, a nut 26a that is screwed into the tip of the bolt 26, and a large-diameter portion 26b that is formed on the head side of the bolt 26. It comprises a spring 27 as a biasing means for biasing in the direction of biting between the mounting portion 23 and the other clamp portion 11a. Here, the adjustment of the positioning of the wedge member 24 by the adjusting means 25 is performed by screwing the bolts 26 inserted through the insertion holes 23c and 24c into the nuts 26a and tightening them, and tightening the end surfaces of the large-diameter portions 26b of the bolts 26 and After the wedge member 24 and the mounting portion 23 are tightened with a predetermined torque, the bolt 26 is loosened by a predetermined angle, whereby a predetermined distance is provided between the end surface of the large-diameter portion 26b and the end surface of the mounting portion 23. The relative position in the axial direction of the wedge member 24 and the mounting portion 23 is set by the bolt 26 and the nut 26a so that a gap is generated. As the nut 26a, a locking nut having a structure in which a female thread portion is molded with a resin for locking is used. In order to guide the wedge member 24 with respect to the fixed taper surface 23a of the mounting portion 23, guide portions 23b are integrally formed on both sides of the fixed taper surface 23a.

  Next, the telescopic mechanism 28 for sliding a steering wheel (not shown) in the axial direction will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, a support portion 29 is formed in the middle portion of the lower jacket 4a so as to project sideways so as to be orthogonal to the axis of the steering shaft 1. A nut member (not shown) is provided on the support portion 29. A front end portion of a telescopic screw 30 disposed in parallel with the axial center of the steering shaft 1 is screw-coupled to the nut member in a state where the movement in the axial direction is restricted. The rear end portion of the telescopic screw 30 is connected to the lower tube 4c. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower jacket 4a is formed with an opening 4g that opens obliquely downward, and the arm shown in FIG. 5 protrudes radially outward from the lower tube 4c through the opening 4g. A portion 31 is provided, and a rear end portion of the telescopic screw 30 is coupled to an outer end portion of the arm portion 31. In order to perform telescopic adjustment by rotating the nut member and moving the telescopic screw 30 and the lower tube 4c (upper jacket 4b) in the axial direction, a telescopic motor 32 that rotationally drives the nut member is provided.

The lower tube 4c and the upper tube 4d constituting the upper jacket 4b are fitted to each other in the axial direction with a predetermined press-fitting load, and when a secondary collision occurs, the upper tube 4d is against the lower tube 4c. Is provided with an impact absorbing mechanism that absorbs an impact by relatively moving forward in the axial direction and contracting the upper jacket 4b.
(Function)
Next, the operation of the electric tilt steering column device will be described. In order to raise or lower a steering wheel (not shown), when the tilting motor 22 of the tilt mechanism 12 in FIG. 7 is rotated, the tilt screw 15a is rotated via a worm and a worm wheel 16 (not shown) and screwed to the tilt screw 15a. The rear end side of the nut case 19 and the lower jacket 4a is moved up and down together with the pair of nuts 20 formed. For this reason, the lower jacket 4a rotates around the bolt 10, and a steering wheel (not shown) moves up and down.

  When it is desired to move a steering wheel (not shown) in the axial direction, the telescopic motor 32 of the telescopic mechanism 28 is rotated in FIG. Then, a nut member (not shown) rotates, and the lower tube 4 c (upper jacket 4 b) connected to the telescopic screw 30 via the arm portion 31 is connected to the steering shaft 1 together with the telescopic screw 30 screwed to the nut member. It slides in the direction along the axial center, and a steering wheel (not shown) moves in the axial direction.

  According to the present invention, when the wedge member 24 is moved in the direction along the axis of the steering shaft 1, the contact pressure between the inner wall surface 11d of the clamp portion 11a and the sliding surface 24b of the wedge member 24 in FIG. While the contact pressure is set to an appropriate value by the adjusting means 25, when the tilt adjustment is performed and the rear end side of the lower jacket 4a is raised and lowered, the steering shaft is in a direction substantially perpendicular to the raising and lowering direction. Since the load in the direction along the axis of 1 does not act on the wedge member 24, the wedge member 24 moves relative to the mounting portion 23, and the sliding surface of the inner wall surface 11d of the clamp portion 11a and the wedge member 24 The contact pressure with 24b does not increase or decrease, and the frictional force does not increase or decrease during tilt adjustment.

  According to this electric tilt steering column device, the wedge member 24 is moved in the axial direction of the steering shaft 1 so that the inner wall surfaces 11d and 11e of the clamp portions 11a and 11b and the sliding surfaces 4f and 24b of the lower jacket 4a contact each other. Since the adjustment means 25 for adjusting the pressure is provided, the rigidity of the lower jacket 4a in the left-right direction is increased, and when the rear end side of the lower jacket 4a is moved up and down at the time of tilt adjustment, it is substantially the same as the direction of moving up and down. Since the load in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft 1 does not act on the wedge member 24, the wedge member 24 does not move with respect to the lower jacket 4a at the time of tilt adjustment. The frictional force is stabilized.

  According to the present invention, the inner surface 11d of the clamp portion 11a and the sliding surface 24b of the wedge member 24 are set by the spring 27 in a state where the axial positions of the wedge member 24 and the mounting portion 23 are set by the bolt 26 and the nut 26a. Therefore, it is easy to set the height of the rigidity of the lower jacket 4a in the left-right direction to an appropriate value.

According to this electric tilt steering column device, the urging force of the spring 27 keeps the right and left rigidity of the lower jacket 4a and the frictional force at the time of tilt adjustment properly, so that the right and left rigidity of the lower jacket 4a can be increased. The frictional force when raising and lowering the lower jacket 4a during tilt adjustment is stabilized.
(B) Embodiment 2
Next, a second embodiment will be described. In addition, since this Embodiment changes a part of Embodiment 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part, description is abbreviate | omitted, and only a different part is demonstrated.

  In this embodiment, the wedge member 24 is configured to be swingable with respect to the mounting portion 23 around the axis of the vertical virtual axis perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft 1.

  The configuration of the portion corresponding to FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 8, and the movable tapered surface 24a of the fixed tapered surface 23a and the movable tapered surface 24a has a radial dimension R in the direction of the axial center of the steering shaft 1. It is formed in an arc shape.

  According to the present invention, even when the inner wall surface 11d of the clamp portion 11a and the sliding surface 24b of the wedge member 24 are not parallel in the axial direction of the steering shaft 1, the automatic adjustment function acts and the wedge member 24 is attached to the mounting portion 23. On the other hand, the wedge member 24 returns to an appropriate posture by swinging around the center of the arc of the radial dimension R around the axis of the vertical virtual axis perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft 1, As a result, the inner wall surface 11d of the clamp portion 11a and the sliding surface 24b of the wedge member 24 become parallel and come into uniform contact.

  According to this electric tilt steering column device, the wedge member 24 swings with respect to the mounting portion 23 and returns to an appropriate posture, whereby the inner wall surface 11d of the clamp portion 11a and the sliding surface 24b of the wedge member 24 Are parallel to each other and contact with each other uniformly, so that the frictional resistance between the inner wall surface 11d of the clamp portion 11a and the sliding surface 24b of the wedge member 24 is increased, and the wedge member 24 is prevented from moving up and down, and the lower jacket 4a Thus, the frictional force when raising and lowering the lower jacket 4a during tilt adjustment is stabilized.

  According to the present invention, the wedge member 24 swings with respect to the mounting portion 23 in a direction formed in an arc shape, and the inner wall surface 11d of the clamp portion 11a and the sliding surface 24b of the wedge member 24 become parallel. .

According to this electric tilt steering column apparatus, since only one of the fixed taper surface 23a and the movable taper surface 24a is formed in an arc shape, the configuration is simple.
(C) Embodiment 3
Finally, Embodiment 3 will be described. In addition, since this Embodiment changes a part of Embodiment 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part, description is abbreviate | omitted, and only a different part is demonstrated.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the configuration corresponding to FIG. 1 is configured by dividing the mounting portion 23 with respect to the lower jacket 4a, and the mounting portion 23 with respect to the lower jacket 4a. 1 is configured to be swingable around the axis of a virtual axis in the vertical direction perpendicular to one axis.

  That is, an arcuate recess 4h is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lower jacket 4a along the axis of the steering shaft 1, while the mounting portion 23 is a circle that fits into the recess 4h along the axis of the steering shaft 1. An arc-shaped convex portion 23c is formed, and the convex portion 23c is fitted into the concave portion 4h.

  According to the present invention, even when the inner wall surface 11d of the clamp portion 11a and the sliding surface 24b of the wedge member 24 are not parallel to the axial direction of the steering shaft 1, the automatic adjustment function operates and is attached to the lower jacket 4a. The portion 23 swings around the axis of the vertical virtual axis perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft 1, and the wedge member 24 mounted on the mounting portion 23 returns to an appropriate posture, thereby the clamp portion 11a. The inner wall surface 11d and the sliding surface 24b of the wedge member 24 are parallel to each other and come into uniform contact.

  According to this electric tilt steering column device, the mounting portion 23 swings around the axis of the virtual axis in the vertical direction perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft 1 with respect to the lower jacket 4 a and is mounted on the mounting portion 23. The wedge member 24 returns to an appropriate posture, and thereby the inner wall surface 11d of the clamp part 11a and the sliding surface 24b of the wedge member 24 are in parallel contact with each other, so that the inner wall surface 11d of the clamp part 11a is in contact with the inner wall surface 11d. When the frictional resistance with the sliding surface 24b of the wedge member 24 is increased and the wedge member 24 is prevented from moving up and down, the height of the lower jacket 4a in the horizontal direction and the lower jacket 4a are raised and lowered during the tilt adjustment. The frictional force is stabilized.

  According to the present invention, when the arcuate convex portion 23c slides with respect to the arcuate concave portion 4h, the mounting portion 23 and the wedge member 24 swing with respect to the lower jacket 4a, and the inner portion of the clamp portion 11a. The wall surface 11d and the sliding surface 24b of the wedge member 24 are parallel to each other.

  According to this electric tilt steering column device, it is only necessary to form the arc-shaped concave portion 4h and the convex portion 23c in the lower jacket 4a and the mounting portion 23, so that the configuration is simple.

  In the first and second embodiments, the mounting portion 23 is formed integrally with the lower jacket 4a, but may be configured separately from the lower jacket 4a and coupled to the lower jacket 4a. Also, other configurations can be adopted as the adjusting means.

  Furthermore, in Embodiment 2, the movable tapered surface 24a is formed in an arc shape, but the fixed tapered surface 23a may be formed in an arc shape, or both tapered surfaces may be formed in an arc shape. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the case where the tapered surface is formed in an arc shape in the direction around the axis of the vertical virtual axis perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft 1 is shown. The taper surface may be formed in an arc shape in the direction around the axis of the virtual axis that follows. In this case, the wedge member 24 is arranged in the direction around the axis of the virtual axis perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft 1, the direction of the axis of the virtual axis along the axis of the steering shaft 1, or both directions. Swings and returns to the proper posture.

  Furthermore, in Embodiment 3, since the mounting portion 23 is configured to be swingable with respect to the lower jacket 4a, an arc-shaped concave portion 4h is formed in the lower jacket 4a, and an arc-shaped convex portion 23c is formed in the mounting portion 23. However, the formation member of the concave portion and the convex portion may be reversed. Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the mounting portion 23 is configured to be swingable with respect to the lower jacket 4a around the axis of the vertical virtual axis perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft 1. The mounting portion 23 may be configured to be swingable with respect to the lower jacket 4a about the axis of the virtual axis in the direction along the center, or the mounting portion 23 may be configured to be lower about the axis of both of these virtual axes. It may be configured to be swingable with respect to the jacket 4a, or alternatively, the convex portion 23c and the concave portion 4h may be formed on a spherical surface so as to be swingable in any direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steering shaft 4a ... Lower jacket 4h ... Recessed part 10 ... Bolt (tilt axis)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Car body mounting bracket 11a, 11b ... Clamp part 12 ... Tilt mechanism 22 ... Motor 23 ... Mounting part 23a ... Fixed taper surface 23c ... Convex part 24 ... Wedge member 24a ... Movable taper surface 24b ... Sliding surface 25 ... Adjustment means 26 ... Bolt (connection shaft)
27 ... Spring (biasing means)

Claims (5)

The front end side of the jacket that rotatably supports the steering shaft is supported by the vehicle body so as to be swingable in the vertical direction via the tilt shaft, while the rear end side of the jacket is supported by the vehicle body via the vehicle body mounting bracket,
The vehicle body mounting bracket is provided with a pair of clamp portions that sandwich the rear end side of the jacket and guide it in the vertical direction. The rear end side of the jacket is raised and lowered with respect to the vehicle body mounting bracket by the driving force of the motor. In the electric tilt steering column device provided with a tilt mechanism,
A sliding surface that slides with one clamp portion is provided on one side surface of the jacket that faces either one of the pair of clamp portions, and a mounting portion is provided on the other side surface of the jacket that faces the other clamp portion. Providing a wedge member between the mounting portion and the other clamp portion;
The mounting portion is provided with a fixed taper surface as a vertical surface inclined with respect to the axis of the steering shaft, and the wedge member has a movable taper surface opposite to the fixed taper surface and an inner portion of the other clamp portion. A wall surface and a sliding surface that slides are formed, and the wedge member is mounted on the mounting portion via an adjusting unit that positions and adjusts the wedge member in a direction along the axis of the steering shaft. Electric tilt steering column device. In the electric tilt steering column apparatus according to claim 1,
The adjusting means passes through the wedge member and the mounting portion in a direction along the axis of the steering shaft, and sets a relative position between the wedge member and the mounting portion in the axial direction. And an urging means for encircling the connecting shaft and urging the wedge member in a direction to bite between the mounting portion and the other clamp portion. In the electric tilt steering column device according to claim 1 or 2,
Around the axis of the virtual axis in the vertical direction perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft, around the axis of the virtual axis along the axis of the steering shaft, or around the axis of the virtual axis An electric tilt steering column apparatus, wherein the wedge member is configured to be swingable with respect to the mounting portion. In the electric tilt steering column apparatus according to claim 3,
An electric tilt steering column apparatus, wherein at least one of the fixed taper surface and the movable taper surface is formed in an arc shape. In the electric tilt steering column device according to claim 1 or 2,
Around the axis of the virtual axis in the vertical direction perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft, around the axis of the virtual axis along the axis of the steering shaft, or around the axis of the virtual axis An electric tilt steering column apparatus, wherein the mounting portion is configured to be swingable with respect to the jacket.

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