JP7593208B2 - Steering column device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a steering column device related to steering of a vehicle.

Conventionally, there are steering column devices that have a telescopic structure and can be extended and retracted. Such steering column devices may employ a so-called positive lock structure in which one jacket has teeth aligned in the direction of extension and retraction, and the other jacket has second teeth that mesh with the teeth, and these mesh together to fix the positions of the two jackets at the desired position.

Patent Document 1 discloses a steering column device that employs a positive lock structure, and describes a technology that suppresses the generation of hitting noises caused by contact between metal members when unlocking.

JP 2018-103763 A

The positive lock structure described in Patent Document 1 separates and engages one tooth by rotating the other tooth relative to the other.

The present invention aims to provide a steering column device that employs a positive lock structure in which one tooth is brought into contact with the other tooth by linearly moving the other tooth relative to the other tooth, and that suppresses the hammering noise caused by contact between metal members.

In order to achieve the above object, a steering column device according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical inner tube that rotatably holds a column shaft connected to a steering member, a housing that movably holds the inner tube in the axial direction of the inner tube, and a locking mechanism that can restrict movement of the inner tube relative to the housing at a plurality of points, the locking mechanism comprising a first engagement member that is fixedly provided on the outer circumferential surface of the inner tube and has a plurality of first teeth that are arranged in the axial direction of the inner tube, and a shock absorbing member that is fixed to the housing in the axial direction, the first engagement member a second engaging member that moves toward and away from the first engaging member and has second teeth that mesh with the first teeth; a first biasing member that biases the second engaging member outward from the inner tube; a pressing mechanism that presses the second engaging member toward the first engaging member against the biasing force of the first biasing member so that the first teeth and the second teeth mesh with each other; a restricting member that restricts the movement of the second engaging member to a release position where the first teeth and the second teeth do not mesh with each other; and a striking sound suppressing member that is disposed between the second engaging member and the restricting member and moves with the movement of the second engaging member in the moving toward and away direction and whose movement in the axial direction is restricted by the housing.

A hammering sound prevention member is disposed between the second engagement member and the regulating member, and as the second engagement member moves in conjunction with the engagement and disengagement movement of the second engagement member, direct contact between the second engagement member and the regulating member is eliminated, thereby suppressing hammering sounds.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a steering column device. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the lock mechanism. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the lock mechanism in a locked state. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the lock mechanism in an unlocked state. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a first biasing member. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a striking sound suppression member. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a striking sound suppression member in a see-through state. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the second engagement member is slipped into the retaining member when a secondary collision occurs. FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of the striking sound suppression member. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another example of the striking sound suppression member.

The following describes an embodiment of a steering column device according to the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiment is an example to explain the present invention, and is not intended to limit the present invention. For example, the shapes, structures, materials, components, relative positional relationships, connection states, numerical values, mathematical expressions, the contents of each step in the method, and the order of each step shown in the following embodiment are examples, and may include contents not described below. In addition, geometric expressions such as parallel and orthogonal may be used, but these expressions do not indicate mathematical strictness, and include substantially acceptable errors, deviations, etc. In addition, expressions such as simultaneous and identical also include substantially acceptable ranges.

The drawings are schematic diagrams in which emphasis, omissions, or proportions have been appropriately adjusted in order to explain the present invention, and may differ from the actual shapes, positional relationships, and proportions.

In addition, multiple inventions may be collectively described below as a single embodiment. Some of the content described below is also described as an optional component of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a steering column device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The steering column device 100 is a device that rotatably holds a steering member (not shown) such as a steering wheel steered by a driver via a column shaft (not shown) and can change the position of the steering member, and includes an inner tube 120, a housing 130, a locking mechanism 150, and a shock absorbing member 170 (see Figure 2). Note that the steering column device 100 may include a column shaft, a shaft member such as an intermediate shaft connected to the column shaft, and a steering mechanism such as a rack-and-pinion mechanism, but these are not shown and will not be described.

When the steering column device 100 is in normal use and no collision has occurred, the position of the steering member can be changed according to the physique of the driver by rotating the operating lever 156 (described later) to the release side and sliding the inner tube 120 axially (Y-axis direction in the figure) relative to the housing 130. In addition, the position of the inner tube 120 can be fixed by the locking mechanism 150 by rotating the operating lever 156 to the fixed side.

In this embodiment, the steering column device 100 can reduce the diameter of the housing 130 and tighten the inner tube 120 by rotating the operating lever 156 to the fixed side. The steering column device 100 is also attached to the vehicle body in a suspended state by the mounting member 200, and the inclination of the housing 130 relative to the vehicle body can be changed. The device is also equipped with a mechanism that can fix and release the inclination of the housing 130 using the operating lever 156.

The column shaft held by the inner tube 120 is a member to which the steering member steered by the driver is attached at its tip (the tip on the Y- side in the figure), and is rotatably held in a state inserted inside the housing 130 via the inner tube 120, and is a member that transmits the steering angle of the steering member to a steering mechanism such as a rack and pinion. In the case of this embodiment, the column shaft is held by the inner tube 120 via a bearing (not shown), and is fixed axially relative to the inner tube 120 and rotatable circumferentially. The column shaft is equipped with a spline fitting structure, and is configured to expand and contract as the inner tube 120 appears and disappears from the housing 130, while maintaining the transmission of the steering angle.

The inner tube 120 is a member called a column jacket, upper tube, etc., that rotatably holds the column shaft, and is held in a housing 130 attached to the vehicle body, thereby rotatably positioning the steering member in a predetermined position via the column shaft. The shape of the inner tube 120 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is cylindrical (tubular) and is inserted and held in the housing 130 that has a through hole in the axial direction (Y-axis direction in the figure). The inner tube 120 also holds the column shaft inside via at least one bearing, and moves axially (Y-axis direction in the figure) with the held column shaft relative to the housing 130.

The housing 130 is a member having a cylindrical portion that holds the inner tube 120 movably in the axial direction (Y-axis direction in the figure) relative to the vehicle body. The housing 130 also has a first slit 131 that extends axially from one end face on the steering member side and penetrates in the radial direction (Z-axis direction in the figure), and fastened portions 133 that protrude radially from both sides of the first slit 131 in the circumferential direction. One end of the first slit 131 on the steering member side is open, but the other end on the opposite side is closed.

The clamped portions 133 are provided with through holes 134 that are perpendicular to the axial direction of the inner tube 120. The through holes 134 are disposed on the outside of the inner tube 120. The shaft 157 that serves as the rotation axis of the operating lever 156 described later is inserted through the through holes 134. The two clamped portions 133 are engaged with both ends of the shaft 157 in the axial direction of the shaft 157. One of the clamped portions 133 is engaged with the end of the shaft 157 via an expansion/contraction mechanism 144 having a cam that changes the distance in the axial direction of the shaft 157 by the rotation of the operating lever 156. With the above structure, the distance between the two clamped portions 133 arranged opposite to each other can be narrowed by the rotation of the operating lever 156. By narrowing the gap between the clamped portions 133, the housing 130 is reduced in diameter, and the pierced inner tube 120 is clamped from all sides by the housing 130 and fixedly held in place by the housing 130.

The housing 130 also has a second slit 132 that allows a first engagement member 151 (described below), which is part of the locking mechanism 150, to move axially together with the inner tube 120, and allows the locking mechanism 150 to be operated from the outside. In this embodiment, the second slit 132 penetrates the housing 130 in the radial direction (X-axis direction in the figure). The penetration direction of the second slit 132 intersects (orthogonal in this embodiment) with the penetration direction of the first slit 131. Both ends of the second slit 132 in the axial direction are not released.

The operating lever 156 is a member operated by the driver or the like on the outside of the inner tube 120 (outside the housing 130 in this embodiment) to switch between locking and unlocking the locking mechanism 150. Details of the locking mechanism 150 will be described later. In this embodiment, the operating lever 156 can lock and unlock the locking mechanism 150, as well as tighten the two tightening portions 133 of the housing 130 to position and release the inner tube 120. The operating lever 156 has a shaft 157 that is inserted into the through-holes 134 that are integrally extended on both sides of the first slit 131 of the housing 130, and rotates around the axis of the shaft 157. One side of the shaft 157 is provided with a flange portion 158, and the other side is provided with a thrust bearing and a nut (not shown).

An expansion/contraction mechanism 144 is provided between one of the flanges 158 and the fastened parts 133. The expansion/contraction mechanism 144 is a mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the operating lever 156 into linear motion that expands and contracts the distance between the fastened parts 133, with one part rotating with the operating lever 156 and functioning as a driving link, and the other part functioning as a follower link that moves along the shaft 157 without rotating. By rotating the operating lever 156 around the shaft 157 as described above, in addition to locking the locking mechanism 150, the distance between the pair of fastened parts 133 can be narrowed to fix the inner tube 120 to the housing 130.

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the locking mechanism. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism. The locking mechanism 150 is a mechanism that can restrict movement of the inner tube 120 relative to the housing 130 at multiple locations, and includes a first engagement member 151, a second engagement member 152, a first biasing member 153, a pressing mechanism 105, a restricting member 137, and a striking sound suppression member 190. In this embodiment, the locking mechanism 150 includes a retaining member 135 and an operating lever 156.

The first engagement member 151 is fixedly provided on the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 120, and is a member in which a plurality of first teeth 161 are arranged in the axial direction of the inner tube 120. In the present embodiment, the first engagement member 151 is a band-shaped sheet metal member, and the first teeth 161 are arranged in the axial direction of the inner tube 120 on one surface of the first engagement member 151. The shape of the first teeth 161 is not particularly limited as long as it engages with the second teeth 162 described below, and may be, for example, a groove or a depression provided at a predetermined interval. In the present embodiment, the cross section of the first teeth 161 is sawtooth-shaped, and is a protrusion extending in a direction (width direction of the first engagement member 151) perpendicular to the arrangement direction of the first teeth 161 (Y-axis direction in the figure).

4, the first engaging member 151 has an abutment portion 177 that protrudes to a position where it abuts the axial end of the second engaging member 152 (Y-axis direction in the figure) even when the second engaging member 152 is separated from the first engaging member 151. The abutment portion 177 is integrally provided in an upright position on the end of the first engaging member 151 on the steering member side (Y-side in the figure) in the axial direction. Note that a cushioning member such as rubber may be attached to at least one of the abutment portion 177 and the abutting portion of the second engaging member 152 to reduce collision when the abutment portion 177 abuts against the second engaging member 152.

In this embodiment, wall portions 163 that stand outward from the inner tube 120 are provided on both ends of the width direction (Z-axis direction in the figure) of the first engagement member 151. In the width direction of the first engagement member 151, first biasing members 153 abut between both ends of the first tooth portion 161 and each wall portion 163, and band-shaped sliding portions 164 that slide against the first biasing members 153 when the inner tube 120 moves in the axial direction are provided.

During normal use before a secondary collision occurs, the second engagement member 152 is fixed to the housing 130 via the impact absorbing member 170 in the axial direction of the inner tube 120, linearly moves toward and away from the first engagement member 151 along the radial direction of the inner tube 120 (X-axis direction in the figure), and has a second tooth portion 162 that meshes with the first tooth portion 161. In the case of this embodiment, the second engagement member 152 is fixed to the housing 130 via the impact absorbing member 170, and is movable relative to the impact absorbing member 170 in the moving direction (X-axis direction in the figure). Specifically, the second engagement member 152 has an engagement groove portion 166 that is recessed from the surface facing the first engagement member 151 in a direction away from the first engagement member 151 and extends in the width direction of the first engagement member 151. The shock absorbing member 170 fixed to the housing 130 fits into the engagement groove 166, restricting the movement of the second engagement member 152 in the axial direction of the inner tube 120 and allowing radial movement.

The shape of the second teeth portion 162 is not particularly limited as long as it can engage with the first teeth portion 161. In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the second teeth portion 162 is a sawtooth shape that corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the first teeth portion 161, and is a protrusion that extends in the width direction of the first engagement member 151. In addition, to prevent half-locking, the pitch (spacing) of the teeth of the second teeth portion 162 may be staggered.

The second engagement member 152 has a retaining groove 167 in the axial middle portion that is recessed from the surface facing the first engagement member 151 in a direction away from the first engagement member 151 and extends in the width direction of the first engagement member 151. The retaining groove 167 is a portion that retains the first biasing member 153. In the present embodiment, a pair of second teeth 162 are provided on each side of the retaining groove 167.

The second engagement member 152 has a step portion 159 at one axial end portion that drops from the surface opposite the first engagement member 151 toward the first engagement member 151. The step portion 159 is a portion that engages with the impact sound suppression member 190 described below.

5 is a perspective view showing the first biasing member. The first biasing member 153 is a member that biases the second engagement member 152 outward from the inner tube 120 in the approach/removal direction. The shape of the first biasing member 153 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the first biasing member 153 has a pair of elastic parts 168 extending in the axial direction of the inner tube 120 and a holding part 169 that connects the central parts of the pair of elastic parts 168 in a bridging manner, and is H-shaped in a plan view. The elastic parts 168 are curved so as to protrude radially outward (negative direction in the X-axis direction in the figure) of the inner tube 120, and have the elasticity of the material constituting the first biasing member 153 and the function of a leaf spring that exerts a biasing force due to the curvature. The pair of elastic parts 168 are arranged to straddle the first tooth part 161 and abut against the sliding part 164 of the first engagement member 151. The retaining portion 169 is fitted into the retaining groove 167 of the second engaging member 152. The first biasing member 153 biases the second engaging member 152 radially outwardly of the inner tube 120 by balancing the biasing forces of the pair of elastic portions 168.

The pressing mechanism 105 is a mechanism that presses the second engagement member 152 toward the first engagement member 151 against the biasing force of the first biasing member 153 so that the first tooth portion 161 and the second tooth portion 162 mesh with each other. In the present embodiment, the pressing mechanism 105 includes a second biasing member 154 and a cam member 155.

The second biasing member 154 biases the second engagement member 152 in a direction opposite to the biasing direction of the first biasing member 153. In this embodiment, the second biasing member 154 is arranged on the same line as the second engagement member 152 and the first biasing member 153, and biases the second engagement member 152 via the impact sound suppression member 190. The biasing axis indicating the biasing direction of the first biasing member 153 and the biasing axis of the second biasing member 154 are arranged on a straight line. As a result, the second engagement member 152 sandwiched between the first biasing member 153 and the second biasing member 154 can move in the arrangement direction of the first biasing member 153 and the second biasing member 154 based on the relationship between the biasing force of the first biasing member 153 and the biasing force of the second biasing member 154.

The shape of the second biasing member 154 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is a spring that expands and contracts in the direction in which the first biasing member 153, the second engagement member 152, and the second biasing member 154 are arranged. Specifically, the second biasing member 154 is a coil spring.

In addition, in the present embodiment, the second biasing member 154 is fixed to the housing 130 and is guided by a guide mechanism 107 that guides the expansion/contraction and movement of the second biasing member 154 in the direction in which the first biasing member 153 and the second biasing member 154 are aligned. The structure of the guide mechanism 107 is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, the guide mechanism 107 includes a holder 172 and a guide member 171 that guides the holder 172 in the direction in which the first biasing member 153 and the second biasing member 154 are aligned.

The shape of the retaining body 172 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is a cylinder that holds the second biasing member 154, which is a coil spring, housed inside. One end of the retaining body 172 has a flange that protrudes inward and engages with the second biasing member 154, and the other end is an opening through which the second biasing member 154 in an uncompressed state protrudes. The length of the retaining body 172 is set shorter than the second biasing member 154 in an uncompressed state.

The shape of the guide member 171 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the guide member 171 is provided with a guide hole 173 that guides the holder 172 that houses the second biasing member 154 in the arrangement direction of the first biasing member 153 and the second biasing member 154, a base 174 that holds the guide hole 173 in a predetermined position, and a guide portion 180 that extends from the base 174 in the axial direction of the shaft 157. The shaft 157 that serves as the rotation axis of the operating lever 156 is pierced through the base 174, and the guide portion 180 is engaged with the mounting member 200, thereby fixing the base 174 to the vehicle body side. In addition, an annular cam that is one of the expansion/contraction mechanisms 144 is provided around the base 174 through which the shaft 157 is pierced. In other words, the base 174 is movable along the shaft 157 by the rotation of the operating lever 156.

The cam member 155 is disposed on the outside of the inner tube 120 (outside of the housing 130 in this embodiment) and changes the distance of the second biasing member 154 to the first engagement member 151, changing the magnitude relationship between the biasing force of the first biasing member 153 and the biasing force of the second biasing member 154. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the cam member 155 has a near surface 175 that faces the first engagement member 151 and is close to the first engagement member 151, and a far surface 176 that is farther from the first engagement member 151 than the near surface 175. The near surface 175 and the far surface 176 are connected by a smooth surface. The near surface 175 or the far surface 176 abuts against the second biasing member 154 via the retainer 172 of the guide mechanism 107, and the second biasing member 154 functions as a follower.

In this embodiment, the cam member 155 is attached integrally to the operating lever 156, and the cam member 155 also moves in response to the operation of the operating lever 156. Specifically, by rotating the operating lever 156, the cam member 155 rotates about the shaft 157 aligned in the direction in which the first and second biasing members 153 and 154 are arranged, and the second biasing member 154 moves in a direction (separation direction) perpendicular to the rotation direction (torque direction) of the operating lever 156.

The restricting member 137 is a plate-shaped member that restricts the movement of the second engaging member 152 to a release position where the first tooth portion 161 and the second tooth portion 162 do not mesh when the lock is released. In the present embodiment, the restricting member 137 is fixed to the housing 130 so as to cover at least the second engaging member 152, and is provided with a through hole through which the second biasing member 154 passes.

The shock absorbing member 170 is a member fixed to the housing 130, and is a member that fixes the second engaging member 152 in the axial direction of the inner tube 120 during normal use. In addition, in the event of a secondary collision, the second engaging member 152 moves relative to the housing 130 as the inner tube 120 sinks into the housing 130, causing the shock absorbing member 170 to deform and absorb the shock caused by the secondary collision. In the present embodiment, the shock absorbing member 170 is a rod-shaped member bent into an M shape. The shock absorbing member 170 is fixed to the housing 130 in a state where it is hung on the holding protrusions 138 provided on the housing 130 at positions on both sides of the first engaging member 151 in the width direction (Z-axis direction in the figure). The center of the shock absorbing member 170 is fitted into the engaging groove portion 166 of the second engaging member 152, so that the second engaging member 152 is fixed to the housing 130 in the axial direction.

The retaining member 135 is a member that maintains the meshed state between the first engaging member 151 and the second engaging member 152. In this embodiment, the retaining member 135 is a metal plate attached to the housing 130 so as to cover at least a part of the second slit 132. The retaining member 135 does not normally overlap with the second engaging member 152 in the contact direction, and is arranged in the direction in which the second engaging member 152 moves when a secondary collision occurs. The distance between the first engaging member 151 and the regulating member 137 that covers the second engaging member 152 during normal use is set to a distance that allows the second engaging member 152 to move to a position where the first tooth portion 161 and the second tooth portion 162 do not mesh. The distance between the retaining member 135 and the first engaging member 151 is set to a distance that allows the second engaging member 152 to move together with the first engaging member 151 while the first tooth portion 161 and the second tooth portion 162 mesh with each other.

Between the retaining member 135 and the restricting member 137, there is provided an inclined portion 136 that integrally connects the retaining member 135 and the restricting member 137. When a secondary collision occurs, the inclined portion 136 allows the second engaging member 152 to move smoothly from the restricting member 137 to the retaining member 135. In addition, a taper corresponding to the inclined portion 136 is also provided at the end of the second engaging member 152, and the taper comes into contact with the inclined portion 136 of the retaining member 135, allowing the second engaging member 152 to move more smoothly.

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the hammering suppression member. The hammering suppression member 190 is disposed between the second engagement member 152 and the regulating member 137, and moves with the movement of the second engagement member 152 in the contact and separation direction (the X-axis direction in the figure), and its movement in the axial direction (the Y-axis direction in the figure) is regulated by the housing 130. The material of the hammering suppression member 190 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, the hammering suppression member 190 is made of resin.

In this embodiment, the impact suppression member 190 has an engagement protrusion 191 that protrudes in both width directions (Z-axis direction in the figure) and engages with the retaining protrusion 138 in the axial direction (Y-axis direction in the figure). By engaging with the retaining protrusion 138 that protrudes in the contact and separation direction, the movement of the impact suppression member 190 in the axial direction is restricted by the housing 130 via the retaining protrusion 138. As a result, during normal use, the impact suppression member 190 moves in conjunction with the movement of the second engaging member 152 in the contact and separation direction when locked or unlocked, and stops without following the axial movement of the second engaging member 152 when a secondary collision occurs. Therefore, the impact suppression member 190 does not get between the second engaging member 152 and the retaining member 135, and does not affect the impact absorption profile achieved by the impact absorbing member 170.

The impact suppression member 190 is provided with a second engagement protrusion 192 at the end opposite the engagement protrusion 191 in the axial direction. The impact suppression member 190 also has a positioning protrusion 193 that protrudes toward the second engagement member 152 between the engagement protrusions 191 and engages with the step portion 159 of the second engagement member 152. The second engagement protrusion 192 engages with the holding protrusion 138 and the positioning protrusion 193 engages with the second engagement member 152, making it easy to align the second engagement member 152 when assembling the lock mechanism 150. The impact suppression member 190 can also stably move in the contact and separation directions by sandwiching the holding protrusion 138 between the engagement protrusion 191 and the second engagement protrusion 192.

The impact suppression member 190 has an insertion portion 194 that protrudes from the tip of the engagement protrusion 191 toward the housing 130 in the contact/separation direction. The housing 130 has an engagement hole portion 139 that is located to the side of the first engagement member 151 in the width direction (Z-axis direction in the figure) and is recessed in the contact/separation direction. By inserting the insertion portion 194 of the impact suppression member 190 into the engagement hole portion 139 of the housing 130, the position of the impact suppression member 190 relative to the housing 130 (other than the insertion direction) can be fixed, and positioning can be easily performed when assembling the impact suppression member 190.

Next, the operation of the steering column device 100 will be described. During normal use, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second engagement member 152 moves linearly in the direction of contact between the regulating member 137 and the first engagement member 151, and the lock mechanism 150 switches between a locked state in which the movement of the inner tube 120 relative to the housing 130 is locked and an unlocked state. Specifically, when the close-distance surface 175 of the cam member 155, the second biasing member 154, the second engagement member 152, and the first biasing member 153 are aligned in a straight line, the close-distance surface 175 of the cam member 155 presses the second biasing member 154 toward the first biasing member 153. As a result, the biasing force of the second biasing member 154 becomes stronger than the biasing force of the first biasing member 153, and the first tooth portion 161 of the first engagement member 151 and the second tooth portion 162 of the second engagement member 152 engage with each other to enter a locked state. The movement of the second biasing member 154 is guided by the guide mechanism 107 in the alignment direction of the first biasing member 153 and the second biasing member 154, and the biasing axis of the second biasing member 154, which is a coil spring, is restricted by a cylindrical holder 172 so as to coincide with the alignment direction of the first biasing member 153 and the second biasing member 154. In addition, the holder 172 does not contact the second engagement member 152.

Next, the driver or the like rotates the operating lever 156 around the shaft 157, so that the far-distance surface 176 of the cam member 155, which rotates with the operating lever 156, is aligned in a straight line with the second biasing member 154, the second engagement member 152, and the first biasing member 153. Even in this state, the far-distance surface 176 of the cam member 155 presses the second biasing member 154 toward the first biasing member 153, but the position of the second biasing member 154 moves in a direction away from the first engagement member 151 and becomes relatively extended. As a result, the biasing force of the second biasing member 154 becomes weaker than the biasing force of the first biasing member 153. The second engagement member 152 is lifted by the biasing force of the first biasing member 153, and the meshing between the first tooth portion 161 of the first engagement member 151 and the second tooth portion 162 of the second engagement member 152 is released.

The movement of the second engagement member 152 by the first biasing member 153 is restricted by the restricting member 137, but a resin impact sound suppression member 190 is interposed between the second engagement member 152 and the restricting member 137 to prevent impact sounds caused by metal members coming into contact with each other.

By equipping the steering column device 100 with the locking mechanism 150 of the above structure, the entire steering column device 100 can be made smaller (the inner tube 120 can be made thinner in the radial direction), and the freedom of the mounting position and posture of the steering column device 100 within the vehicle body can be improved.

In the event of a secondary collision, the second engaging member 152 moves together with the first engaging member 151 toward the front side of the vehicle while deforming the impact absorbing member 170. The movement of the impact sound suppression member 190 is restricted by the retaining protrusion 138 of the housing 130, and the member remains in the same position. As the second engaging member 152 moves, as shown in FIG. 8, the second engaging member 152 is inserted into the retaining member 135, and the engagement state between the first engaging member 151 and the second tooth portion 162 is maintained even if the pressing force of the second biasing member 154 is no longer applied. As a result, the second engaging member 152 moves together with the first engaging member 151 and the inner tube 120 while deforming the impact absorbing member 170, and can absorb the impact of the secondary collision. In addition, since the impact absorbing member 170 does not impede the movement of the second engaging member 152, the impact absorption profile is not adversely affected. In addition, the parts of the locking mechanism 150 and the shock absorbing mechanism can be made common, making it possible to reduce the number of parts in the entire steering column device 100.

According to the steering column device 100 of the above embodiment, the resin impact sound suppression member 190 prevents direct contact between the restricting member 137 and the second engaging member 152 when the lock is released, thereby making it possible to prevent the occurrence of impact sounds.

In addition, when a secondary collision occurs, the impact noise suppression member 190 does not move axially, so there is no adverse effect on the impact absorption profile achieved by the deformation of the impact absorbing member 170.

In addition, a striking sound suppression member 190 is interposed between the second engagement member 152 and the second biasing member 154, and also functions as a receiving plate for the second biasing member 154, which is a coil spring. This makes it possible to prevent abnormal noise (metal contact noise) that occurs due to direct contact between the second biasing member 154 and the second engagement member 152.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the components described in this specification may be combined in any way, or some of the components may be removed to create another embodiment of the present invention. The present invention also includes modifications that are made to the above-described embodiment by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention, i.e., the meaning of the words in the claims.

For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the striking sound suppression member 190 may not have a second engagement protrusion 192. In addition, the striking sound suppression member 190 may have an abutment protrusion 195 at the tip of the engagement protrusion 191, which protrudes in the axial direction in the opposite direction to the holding protrusion 138 and abuts the housing 130 at its tip. This restricts the axial movement of the striking sound suppression member 190 in both directions, and the position of the striking sound suppression member 190 can be stabilized.

10, the impact sound suppression member 190 may include a fixed portion 196 fixed to the housing 130 and a claw portion 197 that elastically flexes and deforms with respect to the fixed portion 196. The fixed portion 196 may be fixed to the housing 130, for example, by being pressed between a holding protrusion 138 and a second protrusion 140 provided on the housing 130. The claw portion 197 moves by rotational oscillation due to flexure in association with the linear movement of the second engagement member 152 in the contact/separation direction. As a result, by flexing and deforming the claw portion 197, the entire impact sound suppression member 190 is not moved in the contact/separation direction, but a portion of it is allowed to move by flexure deformation, so that impact sounds can be suppressed with minimal deformation.

In addition, the first engaging member 151 is a separate member from the inner tube 120, and in the embodiment described above, the first engaging member 151 is fixedly attached to the first engaging member 151 by welding or the like, but the first engaging member 151 may be formed integrally with the inner tube 120.

In addition, we have described a case where the locking mechanism 150 can be locked and unlocked by rotating the operating lever 156, and the inner tube 120 can be tightened and unlocked by narrowing the gap between the tightened portions 133 of the housing 130, but it is not necessary to provide a tightening structure for the inner tube 120.

In addition, although a case has been described in which one of the expansion/contraction mechanisms 144 is integrally provided with the guide member 171, the guide mechanism 107 and the expansion/contraction mechanism 144 may be separate mechanisms.

This invention can be used in devices related to vehicle steering.

100...Steering column device, 105...Pressing mechanism, 107...Guide mechanism, 120...Inner tube, 130...Housing, 131...First slit, 132...Second slit, 133...Tightened portion, 134...Through hole, 135...Maintenance member, 136...Inclined portion, 137...Regulation member, 138...Retaining protrusion, 139...Engagement hole portion, 140...Second protrusion, 144...Expansion/contraction mechanism, 150...Lock mechanism, 151...First engagement member, 152...Second engagement member, 153...First biasing member, 154...Second biasing member, 155...Cam member, 156...Operation lever, 157...Shaft body, 1 58...flange portion, 159...step portion, 161...first tooth portion, 162...second tooth portion, 163...wall portion, 164...sliding portion, 166...engagement groove portion, 167...retaining groove, 168...elastic portion, 169...retaining portion, 170...shock absorbing member, 171...guide member, 172...retaining body, 173...guide hole, 174...base body, 175...near surface, 176...far surface, 177...contact portion, 180...guide portion, 190...striking noise suppression member, 191...engagement protrusion, 192...second engagement protrusion, 193...protrusion, 194...insertion portion, 195...contact protrusion, 196...fixing portion, 197...claw portion, 200...mounting member

Claims (5)

a cylindrical inner tube that rotatably holds a column shaft that is connected to a steering member;
a housing that holds the inner tube movably in an axial direction of the inner tube;
a lock mechanism capable of restricting movement of the inner tube relative to the housing at a plurality of points,
The locking mechanism includes:
a first engagement member fixedly provided on an outer circumferential surface of the inner tube, the first engagement member having a plurality of first teeth arranged side by side in an axial direction of the inner tube;
a second engagement member fixed to the housing via a shock absorbing member in the axial direction, the second engagement member moving in and out of contact with the first engagement member, and having a second tooth portion meshing with the first tooth portion;
a first biasing member that biases the second engagement member outward from the inner tube;
a pressing mechanism that presses the second engagement member toward the first engagement member against the biasing force of the first biasing member so that the first tooth portion and the second tooth portion mesh with each other;
a restricting member that restricts movement of the second engagement member to a release position where the first tooth portion and the second tooth portion do not mesh with each other;
a striking noise suppression member that is disposed between the second engagement member and the regulating member, that moves in conjunction with movement of the second engagement member in the contact/separation direction, and whose movement in the axial direction is regulated by the housing. The housing includes:
a holding protrusion on which the shock absorbing member is hung on both sides of the first engaging member in a width direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the contact direction,
The impact sound suppression member is
The steering column device according to claim 1 , further comprising an engagement protrusion that protrudes in both directions in the width direction and abuts against the holding protrusion in the axial direction. The impact sound suppression member is
3. The steering column device according to claim 1, further comprising a contact protrusion that protrudes in the axial direction and has a tip that abuts against the housing. The housing includes:
an engagement hole portion recessed in the contact direction on a side of the first engagement member in a width direction perpendicular to the axial direction and the contact direction,
The impact sound suppression member is
The steering column device according to claim 1 , further comprising an insertion portion that is inserted into the engagement hole. The impact sound suppression member is
A fixing portion fixed to the housing;
The steering column device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a claw portion that is elastically flexibly deformed relative to the fixed portion.

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