JP2016064807A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device which can reduce a size while reducing operating force of an operation member.SOLUTION: A steering device 1 includes: a rotation shaft 35 supported by an upper bracket 6; a plurality of engaged teeth 56 fixed to an upper jacket 17; a lock member 49 having an engaging tooth 73 engaging with the engaged teeth 56; and a support shaft 48 which is supported by a lower jacket 18 in a position separating from the engaged teeth 56 than the rotation shaft 35. When the rotation shaft 35 rotates in response to operation of an operation member 36, a first rotation member 50 supported by the rotation shaft 35 rotates in synchronization with the rotation shaft 35. A second rotation member 52 supported by the support shaft 48 moves a lock member 49 to a release position by interlocking with rotation of the first rotation member 50. The lock member 49 is biased by a biasing member 53 to an engagement position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering device.

  In the steering device described in Patent Document 1 below, the steering shaft is inserted through a cylindrical steering column. In the steering column, the position of the steering wheel in the axial direction can be adjusted by combining the upper column and the lower column in a telescopic manner. A clamp part is attached to the upper column. The clamp portion is supported by the second vehicle body side bracket via the first vehicle body side bracket so that the tilt position can be adjusted. A first through hole and a second through hole are formed in the clamp portion.

  A tightening rod is inserted through the first through hole, and a rotating shaft is inserted through the second through hole. An operation lever is attached to one end of the tightening rod. A telescopic holding toothed cam having an eccentric tooth portion is rotatably connected to the tightening rod, and a rotation transmitting portion engaging with the telescopic holding toothed cam is non-rotatably connected to the rotating shaft. Yes. The rotating shaft and the operation lever are connected by a torsion coil spring.

  When the operating lever is operated in the clamping direction, the rotation of the operating lever is transmitted to the rotating shaft via the torsion coil spring, and the rotating shaft rotates. As a result, the contact piece of the rotation transmission portion comes into contact with the upper side of the telescopic holding toothed cam while elastically deforming, so that the telescopic holding toothed cam rotates and the eccentric tooth portion of the telescopic holding toothed cam becomes Bit into the outer periphery of the upper column. Thereby, the position of the steering wheel is fixed.

  The steering device described in Patent Document 2 below includes an outer column and an inner column inserted through the outer column. A through hole and a through hole are formed in the outer column. A hook-shaped member is inserted through the through hole. An adjustment lever is fixed to the base end portion of the bowl-shaped member. A lock release lever is fitted to the hook-shaped member. A support shaft that is disposed in parallel with the bowl-shaped member is inserted through the through hole. A telescopic lock eccentric cam is fitted on the center of the support shaft. The tip of the lock release lever faces the stepped surface of the telescopic lock eccentric cam. The telescopic lock eccentric cam faces the upper surface of the inner column. When the adjustment lever is rotated, the tip of the lock release lever pushes the receiving step surface downward, and the telescopic locking eccentric cam rotates. As a result, the telescopic lock concave / convex portion formed on the telescopic lock eccentric cam abuts against the upper surface of the inner column, thereby fixing the position of the steering wheel.

JP 2009-90856 A JP 2010-254204 A

In the steering device of Patent Document 1, an operation member such as an operation lever and a rotating shaft are connected by a torsion coil spring. For this reason, since the biasing force of the torsion coil spring acts on the operation lever, there is a possibility that the operation force required when operating the operation lever increases. When the operating force increases, the operability of the operating lever decreases.
In the steering device of Patent Document 2, the hook-like member and the support are provided so that the tip of the lock release lever fitted to the hook-like member and the receiving step surface of the telescopic lock eccentric cam fitted to the support shaft face each other. The distance between the axes must be kept at a predetermined distance. Therefore, in a state where the hook-shaped member and the support shaft are arranged side by side in the axial direction, it is difficult to reduce the interval between the hook-shaped member and the support shaft in the axial direction.

On the other hand, if an operation member such as an adjustment lever is disposed at a position away from the upper surface of the inner column, the rigidity of the steering device is lowered. Therefore, in the steering device disclosed in Patent Document 2, the gap between the hook-shaped member and the support shaft in the axial direction can be reduced by arranging the hook-shaped member provided with the adjustment lever at a position away from the upper surface of the inner column. Have difficulty.
Therefore, there is a limit to reducing the distance between the flange-shaped member and the support shaft in the axial direction of the inner column, and it is difficult to reduce the size of the steering device.

  The present invention has been made under such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering device that can reduce the operating force of the operating member and reduce the size.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a steering member (8) is connected to one end (3A), and the steering shaft (3) can be expanded and contracted in the axial direction (X), and the upper jacket (17) on the steering member side (X1). ) And a lower jacket (18) on the opposite side (X2) to the steering member, and can be expanded and contracted in the axial direction together with the steering shaft by moving the upper jacket in the axial direction relative to the lower jacket A column jacket (4), a bracket (6) that supports the lower jacket and is fixed to the vehicle body (2), and extends in a direction (Y) perpendicular to the axial direction and is supported by the bracket; A rotating shaft (35) that rotates according to the operation of the operating member (36) attached to (35B), and is fixed to the upper jacket, A plurality of engaged teeth (56) arranged in the direction and an outer peripheral surface (49A) formed with engaging teeth (73) that mesh with the engaged teeth in order to lock the position of the upper jacket in the axial direction Between the engagement position where the engagement teeth and the engaged teeth mesh with each other, and the release position where the engagement between the engagement teeth and the engagement teeth is released The lock member (49) that can rotate relative to the rotation shaft and the rotation shaft are provided separately from each other, extend in parallel with the rotation shaft, and away from the engaged teeth than the rotation shaft. A support shaft (48) supported by the lower jacket, a first rotation member (50) supported by the rotation shaft so as to rotate synchronously with the rotation shaft, and the first rotation supported by the support shaft. In conjunction with the rotation of the member A second rotating member (52) that abuts on the lock member and moves the lock member to the release position by rotating about a holding shaft, and is supported by the second rotation member and directed toward the meshing position. And a biasing member (53) for biasing the lock member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the steering device according to the first aspect, the rotation direction (S1, S2) of the lock member is opposite to the rotation direction (S2, S1) of the rotation shaft. It is.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the first rotating member has a cylindrical surface (76B) extending along a circumferential direction (S) of the outer peripheral surface (35A) of the rotating shaft, and the biasing member is The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the steering device is in contact with the cylindrical surface from a normal direction (Q) of the cylindrical surface.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of the engaging teeth are provided on the outer peripheral surface (69) of the lock member along the creeping direction (R) of the outer peripheral surface, and the rotation center ( 49B) and a portion (D) between the outer peripheral surface and the portion where the engaging teeth are provided, the distance (D) increases as the distance from the engaged teeth increases, so that the lock member is at the engagement position. In a certain state, a gap (93) is provided between the second rotating member and the locking member, and when a vehicle collision occurs, the upper jacket is moved toward the opposite side in the axial direction. The said locking member moves, narrowing the said clearance gap so that the number of the said engagement teeth which mesh | engage with these to-be-engaged several to-be-engaged teeth may increase, The any one of Claims 1-3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Steering equipment It is.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the second rotating member protrudes toward the rotating shaft, and the first projecting portion (84) and the second projecting portion (the second projecting portion) are disposed apart from each other in the extending direction of the support shaft. 85), the first rotating member includes a protrusion (78) protruding toward the support shaft and capable of contacting the first protrusion, and the lock member protrudes toward the support shaft, The steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a protrusion (62) capable of contacting the second convex portion.

The invention according to claim 6 includes a positioning mechanism (96) provided on the lower jacket and configured to position the first rotating member when the lock member is in the meshing position or the release position. A steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the steering member (8) is connected to one end (3A), the steering shaft (3) can be expanded and contracted in the axial direction (X), and the upper jacket (17) on the steering member side (X1). ) And a lower jacket (18) on the opposite side (X2) to the steering member, and can be expanded and contracted in the axial direction together with the steering shaft by moving the upper jacket in the axial direction relative to the lower jacket A column jacket (4), a bracket (6) that supports the lower jacket and is fixed to the vehicle body (2), and extends in a direction (Y) perpendicular to the axial direction and is supported by the bracket; A rotating shaft (35) that rotates according to the operation of the operating member (36) attached to (35B), and is fixed to the upper jacket, A plurality of engaged teeth (56) arranged in the direction and an outer peripheral surface (49A) formed with engaging teeth (73) that mesh with the engaged teeth in order to lock the position of the upper jacket in the axial direction Between the engagement position where the engagement teeth and the engaged teeth mesh with each other, and the release position where the engagement between the engagement teeth and the engagement teeth is released And a lock member (49) rotatable relative to the rotation shaft, and supported by the lower jacket in a state of being engaged with the lock member, and urging the lock member toward the meshing position. The urging member (53) and the urging member supported by the rotating shaft so as to rotate in synchronization with the rotating shaft and in a direction (Z1) from the meshing position toward the releasing position according to the rotation of the rotating shaft. Rotate to move Characterized in that it comprises a timber (50), and a steering system (1).

8. The steering device according to claim 7, wherein the rotation direction (S1, S2) of the lock member is opposite to the rotation direction (S2, S1) of the rotation shaft. It is.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the rotating member has a pressing portion (99) that protrudes from the rotating member and presses the urging member, and the lock member engages with the urging member. The steering apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising an engaging portion (98).

The invention according to claim 10 includes a positioning mechanism (96) provided on the lower jacket and positioning the rotating member when the lock member is in the meshing position or the release position. Item 10. The steering device according to any one of Items 7 to 9.
In addition, in the above, the numbers in parentheses represent reference numerals of corresponding components in the embodiments described later, but the scope of the claims is not limited by these reference numerals.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the steering device, the column jacket includes the upper jacket on the steering member side and the lower jacket on the side opposite to the steering member. The lower jacket is supported by a bracket fixed to the vehicle body. Since the upper jacket moves relative to the lower jacket, the column jacket expands and contracts together with the steering shaft, so that the axial position of the steering member connected to the steering shaft can be adjusted. The rotating shaft supported by the bracket supports the lock member and the first rotating member. A support shaft provided separately from the rotation shaft is supported by a lower jacket and supports the second rotation member.

  When the lock member is in the meshing position, the engagement teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface mesh with the engaged teeth fixed to the upper jacket, so that the position of the upper jacket in the axial direction of the steering shaft is locked. . Thereby, the position of the steering member in the axial direction is locked. The lock member is rotatable relative to the rotation shaft between the meshing position and the release position where the meshing between the engaging tooth and the engaged tooth is released.

When the operating member attached to one end of the rotating shaft is operated to rotate the rotating shaft, the first rotating member rotates synchronously with the rotating shaft, and the second rotating member interlocks with the rotation of the first rotating member. , The second rotating member comes into contact with the lock member. The lock member moves to the release position by being in contact with the second rotation member.
The lock member is biased toward the meshing position by the biasing member. Therefore, the lock member can be moved from the release position to the meshing position without operating the operation member with a large operation force. On the other hand, although the urging member urges the lock member, the urging force of the urging member does not directly act on the operation member because the lock member can rotate relative to the rotation shaft. Therefore, when the operation member is operated to move the lock member from the release position to the meshing position, the influence of the urging force of the urging member is not so much affected. Therefore, the operating force of the operating member when the lock member is moved between the release position and the meshing position can be reduced.

Further, since the support shaft is supported by the lower jacket at a position farther from the engaged tooth than the rotation shaft, the support shaft is disposed in a direction inclined in the axial direction of the steering shaft with respect to the rotation shaft. In this case, the interval between the support shaft and the rotation shaft in the axial direction can be reduced. Therefore, the steering device can be downsized in the axial direction of the steering shaft.
As described above, it is possible to reduce the size of the steering device while reducing the operating force of the operating member.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the rotation direction of the lock member is opposite to the rotation direction of the rotation shaft. Therefore, the direction in which the operation member attached to the rotating shaft is operated can be intentionally converted to the reverse direction and transmitted to the lock member.
According to the invention of claim 3, the first rotating member has a cylindrical surface extending along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft, and the biasing member is a cylindrical surface from the normal direction of the cylindrical surface. Is in contact with In this case, since the urging force of the urging member acts on the cylindrical surface of the first rotating member from the normal direction, the urging force of the urging member is applied from the rotating direction to the first rotating member that rotates synchronously with the rotation shaft. I hardly receive it. Therefore, the operation member fixed to the rotating shaft can be operated with almost no influence of the urging force of the urging member. As a result, the operating force of the operating member can be further reduced.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of engaging teeth are provided along the creeping direction of the outer peripheral surface of the lock member. The distance between the rotation center of the lock member and the portion where the engagement teeth are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lock member increases as the distance from the engaged teeth increases. A gap is provided between the second rotating member and the lock member in a state where the lock member is in the meshing position.

  When a vehicle collision occurs, the lock member moves while narrowing the gap with the second rotating member so that the number of engaging teeth that mesh with the plurality of engaged teeth that move together with the upper jacket increases. For this reason, the engagement between the engaging teeth of the lock member and the engaged teeth is strengthened. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the upper jacket from moving more than necessary relative to the lower jacket at the time of a vehicle collision. Further, the presence of this gap makes it possible to increase the number of engaging teeth that mesh with a plurality of engaged teeth at the time of a vehicle collision.

  According to invention of Claim 5, the 2nd rotation member contains the 1st convex part and 2nd convex part which were spaced apart and arrange | positioned in the direction where a support shaft is extended. The protrusion of the first rotating member can abut on the first protrusion, and the protrusion of the lock member can abut on the second protrusion. Therefore, the rotation of the rotation shaft can be reliably transmitted to the lock member via the first rotation member and the second rotation member, and the lock member can be rotated from the meshing position to the release position.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, since the positioning mechanism positions the first rotating member when the lock member is in the meshing position or the release position, positioning of the first rotating member becomes easy. Therefore, the man-hours required for positioning the first rotating member can be reduced.
According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the steering device, the column jacket includes the upper jacket on the steering member side and the lower jacket on the side opposite to the steering member. The lower jacket is supported by a bracket fixed to the vehicle body. Since the upper jacket moves relative to the lower jacket, the column jacket expands and contracts together with the steering shaft, so that the axial position of the steering member connected to the steering shaft can be adjusted. The rotating shaft supported by the bracket has an operation member attached to one end, and supports the lock member and the rotating member.

  When the lock member is in the meshing position, the engagement teeth formed on the outer peripheral surface mesh with the engaged teeth fixed to the upper jacket, so that the position of the upper jacket in the axial direction of the steering shaft is locked. . Thereby, the position of the steering member in the axial direction is locked. The lock member is rotatable relative to the rotation shaft between the meshing position and the release position where the meshing between the engaging tooth and the engaged tooth is released.

The lock member is biased toward the meshing position by the biasing member. Therefore, the lock member can be moved from the release position to the meshing position without operating the operation member with a large operation force. Therefore, the operating force of the operating member when the lock member is moved between the release position and the meshing position can be reduced.
Further, the rotating member rotates in synchronization with the rotating shaft according to the rotation of the rotating shaft, thereby moving the biasing member in a direction from the meshing position toward the releasing position. The urging member is supported by the lower jacket while being engaged with the lock member. Therefore, the rotation member can transmit the rotation of the rotation member to the lock member by moving the biasing member, and can move the lock member from the meshing position to the release position. In this case, since it is not necessary to provide another component other than the biasing member in order to transmit the rotation of the rotating member to the lock member, the number of components can be reduced. Further, if the urging member is supported by the lower jacket, the position and method for supporting the urging member can be freely selected.

According to the invention described in claim 8, the rotation direction of the lock member is opposite to the rotation direction of the rotation shaft. Therefore, the direction in which the operation member attached to the rotating shaft is operated can be intentionally converted to the reverse direction and transmitted to the lock member.
According to the invention of claim 9, the rotating member has a pressing portion that protrudes from the rotating member and presses the biasing member. Further, the lock member has an engaging portion that engages with the urging member. Therefore, the rotation member can reliably transmit the rotation of the rotation shaft to the lock member via the biasing member, and rotate the lock member from the meshing position to the release position.

  According to the tenth aspect of the invention, the positioning mechanism positions the rotating member when the lock member is in the meshing position or the release position, so that the positioning of the rotating member is facilitated. Therefore, the man-hours required for positioning the rotating member can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a steering device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the steering device 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the locking mechanism in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the lock mechanism of the steering device 1. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the lock mechanism when the rotation shaft is rotated clockwise from the state of FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the lock mechanism when the steering device 1 is in the released state. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the lock mechanism 7 when the rotation shaft is rotated counterclockwise from the state of FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state of the lock mechanism after the vehicle collision in FIG. FIG. 12 is a diagram in which the first modification of the present invention is applied to FIG. FIG. 13 is a diagram in which the first modification is applied to FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram in which the first modification is applied to FIG. FIG. 15 is a diagram in which the first modification is applied to FIG. FIG. 16 is a diagram in which the first modification is applied to FIG. FIG. 17 is a diagram in which the second modification of the present invention is applied to FIG. FIG. 18 is a diagram in which the third modification of the present invention is applied to FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a schematic configuration of a steering device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the left side of the drawing is the front side of the vehicle body 2 to which the steering device 1 is attached, the right side of the drawing is the rear side of the vehicle body 2, the upper side of the drawing is the upper side of the vehicle body 2, and the lower side of the drawing is the lower side of the vehicle body 2. It is. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the steering device 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, steering device 1 mainly includes a steering shaft 3, a column jacket 4, a lower bracket 5, an upper bracket 6 (bracket), a position adjustment mechanism 14, and a lock mechanism 7. Yes.
In the steering shaft 3, a steering member 8 is connected to one end 3A that is the rear end. The other end 3B, which is the front end of the steering shaft 3, is connected to the pinion shaft 12 of the steering mechanism 13 through the universal joint 9, the intermediate shaft 10, and the universal joint 11 in this order. The steered mechanism 13 includes a rack and pinion mechanism. The steered mechanism 13 steers steered wheels such as tires (not shown) in response to the rotation of the steering shaft 3 being transmitted.

  The steering shaft 3 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 2. Hereinafter, the direction in which the steering shaft 3 extends is referred to as an axial direction X. The axial direction X is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction so that the other end 3B is lower than the one end 3A. In the axial direction X, the rear side, which is the steering member 8 side, is denoted by reference numeral “X1”, and in the axial direction X, the front side opposite to the steering member 8 is denoted by reference numeral “X2”.

Of the directions orthogonal to the axial direction X, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1 is referred to as the left-right direction Y, and the direction extending substantially up and down in FIG. In the left-right direction Y, the back side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 is the right side Y1, and the near side of the paper surface is the left side Y2. In the vertical direction Z, a sign “Z1” is attached to the upper side, and a sign “Z2” is attached to the lower side.
In the drawings other than FIG. 1, the directions corresponding to the axial direction X, rear side X1, front side X2, left and right direction Y, right side Y1, left side Y2, up and down direction Z, upper side Z1 and lower side Z2 in FIG. The same reference numerals as those in FIG.

The steering shaft 3 has an upper shaft 15 and a columnar lower shaft 16 that are at least partially cylindrical. The upper shaft 15 is arranged coaxially on the rear side X1 with respect to the lower shaft 16.
A rear end 15A of the upper shaft 15 is one end 3A of the steering shaft 3, and the steering member 8 is connected to the rear end 15A of the upper shaft 15.

  A front end 16 </ b> A of the lower shaft 16 is the other end 3 </ b> B of the steering shaft 3. The rear end of the lower shaft 16 is inserted into the front end 15B of the upper shaft 15 from the front side X2. The lower shaft 16 is connected to the front end 15B of the upper shaft 15 by being fitted to the upper shaft 15 by spline fitting or serration fitting. Therefore, the upper shaft 15 and the lower shaft 16 can rotate together and can relatively move along the axial direction X. The steering shaft 3 can be expanded and contracted in the axial direction X by the movement of the upper shaft 15 in the axial direction X with respect to the lower shaft 16.

The column jacket 4 is a hollow body that extends in the axial direction X as a whole. A steering shaft 3 is accommodated in the column jacket 4. The column jacket 4 includes an upper jacket 17 and a lower jacket 18 that extend in the axial direction X.
The upper jacket 17 is located on the rear side X1 with respect to the lower jacket 18. The upper jacket 17 is fitted into the lower jacket 18. Specifically, the front end 17A of the upper jacket 17 is inserted into the rear end 18A of the lower jacket 18 from the rear side X1. In this state, the upper jacket 17 can move in the axial direction X with respect to the lower jacket 18. By this movement, the entire column jacket 4 can be expanded and contracted along the axial direction X.

Since the column jacket 4 is connected to the steering shaft 3 by the bearing 19 and the bearing 20, the column jacket 4 supports the steering shaft 3 rotatably.
Specifically, the rear end 17 </ b> B of the upper jacket 17 is connected to the upper shaft 15 by a bearing 19. The upper jacket 17 supports the upper shaft 15 rotatably. The front end of the lower jacket 18 is connected to the lower shaft 16 by a bearing 20. The lower jacket 18 rotatably supports the lower shaft 16.

Therefore, the group of the upper shaft 15 and the upper jacket 17 can move in the axial direction X with respect to the group of the lower shaft 16 and the lower jacket 18. Thereby, the column jacket 4 can be expanded and contracted together with the steering shaft 3.
The expansion / contraction of the steering shaft 3 and the column jacket 4 here is called “telescopic”, and this expansion / contraction adjustment, that is, the position adjustment of the steering member 8 in the axial direction X by telescopic is called telescopic adjustment.

The lower bracket 5 supports a portion on the front side X <b> 2 of the lower jacket 18 and connects the steering device 1 to the vehicle body 2.
The lower bracket 5 includes a pair of movable brackets 5A (see FIG. 2) fixed to the lower jacket 18, a fixed bracket 5B fixed to the vehicle body 2, and a central shaft 5C extending in the left-right direction Y.

  The movable bracket 5A is rotatably supported by the fixed bracket 5B via the central shaft 5C. Therefore, the entire column jacket 4 can be rotated up and down around the central axis 5 </ b> C with the steering shaft 3. The rotation here is called “tilt”, and the substantially vertical direction around the central axis 5C is called the tilt direction. Further, the direction adjustment of the steering member 8 by tilt is referred to as tilt adjustment.

The upper bracket 6 supports a portion on the rear side X <b> 1 of the lower jacket 18 and connects the steering device 1 to the vehicle body 2.
Referring to FIG. 2, the upper bracket 6 has a groove shape that opens downward, and is symmetrical with respect to the column jacket 4 so as to form a substantially U shape that is upside down when viewed in the axial direction X. Is formed. More specifically, the upper bracket 6 includes a pair of side plates 21 which are opposed to each other with the column jacket 4 being thin in the left-right direction Y, and a connecting plate 22 which is thinly connected in the vertical direction Z connected to the respective upper ends of the pair of side plates 21. Is integrated.

  In the pair of side plates 21, a tilt groove 23 is formed at the same position when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The tilt groove 23 extends in the up-down direction Z, strictly speaking, the tilt direction that is the circumferential direction around the central axis 5C (see FIG. 1). The connection plate 22 has, for example, portions extending outward in the left-right direction Y from the pair of side plates 21, and the entire upper bracket 6 is secured to the vehicle body 2 (FIG. 1) by bolts (not shown) inserted through the portions. Reference) is fixed.

  In the upper Z1 portion of the lower jacket 18, a slit 24 extending in the entire axial direction X and penetrating the lower jacket 18 in the vertical direction Z is formed. In addition, a pair of support portions 25 that extend from the left and right direction Y to the upper side Z1 while partitioning the slit 24 are integrally provided at the rear end 18A of the lower jacket 18. The support portion 25 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped extending in the axial direction X and the vertical direction Z.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the periphery of the lock mechanism 7 in FIG. In FIG. 3, the illustration of the upper bracket 6 is omitted for convenience of explanation. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.
With reference to FIG. 3, a step 25 </ b> A is formed in a portion that divides the slit 24 in the support portion 25. The slit 24 is narrowed in the left-right direction Y on the way from the upper end of the lower jacket 18 to the lower side Z2 due to the step 25A. A first through hole 31 and a second through hole 32 penetrating the support portion 25 in the left-right direction Y are formed in each of the portions Z1 above the step 25A in the pair of support portions 25.

The first through holes 31 of the pair of support portions 25 are at the same position when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The second through holes 32 of the pair of support portions 25 are at the same position when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The second through hole 32 is located on the front side X2 and on the upper side Z1 than the first through hole 31.
Referring to FIG. 4, the first through holes 31 of the pair of support portions 25 overlap with part of the tilt grooves 23 of the pair of side plates 21 of the upper bracket 6 when viewed from the left-right direction Y.

The position adjustment mechanism 14 is a mechanism that enables tilt adjustment and telescopic adjustment of the steering member 8 (see FIG. 1), and locks the position of the steering member 8.
The position adjusting mechanism 14 includes a rotation shaft 35, an operation member 36, a ring-shaped cam 37 and a cam follower 38, a nut 39, a ring-shaped interposition member 40, a needle roller bearing 41, and a thrust washer 42. Including.

The rotation shaft 35 is made of metal and has a rod shape extending in the left-right direction Y. The rotation shaft 35 has a central axis C1 extending in the left-right direction Y.
The rotation shaft 35 is inserted through a portion where the first through hole 31 and the tilt groove 23 overlap when viewed in the left-right direction Y. The rotating shaft 35 is supported by the pair of side plates 21 of the upper bracket 6. The rotation shaft 35 is located on the upper side Z1 from the column jacket 4.

Referring to FIG. 3, the rotation shaft 35 rotates around the central axis C1. The rotation direction of the rotation shaft 35 is denoted by “S”. The rotation direction S is also the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 35 </ b> A of the rotation shaft 35. Further, when viewed from the left side Y2, the direction rotating clockwise in the rotation direction S is defined as clockwise S1, and the direction rotating counterclockwise in the rotation direction S is defined as counterclockwise S2.
Referring to FIG. 4, the left end portion 35 </ b> B that is one end of the rotating shaft 35 is located on the left side Y <b> 2 with respect to the side plate 21 on the left side Y <b> 2. The right end, which is the other end of the rotating shaft 35, is located on the right side Y <b> 1 with respect to the side plate 21 on the right side Y <b> 1 of the upper bracket 6.

A head portion 35C having a diameter larger than that of the rotation shaft 35 is provided at the left end portion 35B of the rotation shaft 35, and a screw groove is provided at the right end portion of the outer peripheral surface 35A of the rotation shaft 35.
The operation member 36 is a lever that can be gripped, for example. The operation member 36 is attached in the vicinity of the left end 35 </ b> B of the rotation shaft 35. Specifically, the base end portion 36A on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the operation member 36 is fixed to the rotating shaft 35 adjacent to the right side Y1 of the head portion 35C.

  The driver of the vehicle grips the grip portion 36B on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the operation member 36 and operates it in the clockwise direction S1 (the push side when viewed from the driver), thereby moving the rotating shaft 35 in the clockwise direction S1. Can be rotated. In addition, the driver can rotate the rotating shaft 35 to the counterclockwise side S2 (the pull side as viewed from the driver) by gripping the gripping portion 36B and operating it to the counterclockwise side S2. As described above, the rotation shaft 35 rotates in accordance with the operation of the operation member 36.

The left end portion of the rotating shaft 35 is inserted through a cam 37 and a cam follower 38. A cam 37 and a cam follower 38 are arranged in this order from the left side Y2 between the base end portion 36A of the operation member 36 and the side plate 21 on the left side Y2. The rotating shaft 35 is inserted through each of the cam 37 and the cam follower 38.
The cam 37 can rotate integrally with the rotation shaft 35, whereas the cam follower 38 can rotate relative to the rotation shaft 35 and move in the left-right direction Y. However, since the two-sided width is formed in the portion of the cam follower 38 that is inserted into the tilt groove 23 of the left side Y2 side plate 21, idling of the cam follower 38 is prevented by the tilt groove 23.

A nut 39 is attached to the thread groove at the right end of the rotary shaft 35. Between the nut 39 and the right side plate 21, an interposed member 40, a needle roller bearing 41, and a thrust washer 42 are arranged in this order from the left side Y2. The rotating shaft 35 is inserted through each of the interposed member 40, the needle roller bearing 41, and the thrust washer 42.
The rotation shaft 35 is movable in the tilt direction described above in each tilt groove 23 of the upper bracket 6. When the driver moves the steering member 8 in the vertical direction Z for tilt adjustment, the entire column jacket 4 is tilted relative to the upper bracket 6 as described above. The tilt adjustment of the steering member 8 is performed within a range in which the rotation shaft 35 can move in the tilt groove 23.

  After a telescopic adjustment or a tilt adjustment is performed by a user such as a driver, when the operation member 36 is rotated counterclockwise S2 (see FIG. 2) by grasping the grip portion 36B of the operation member 36, the cam 37 rotates. Then, the cam protrusions 43 formed on the cam 37 and the cam follower 38 ride on each other. Thereby, the cam follower 38 moves to the right side Y1 along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 35 and is pressed against the side plate 21 of the left side Y2. The pair of side plates 21 are fastened from both sides in the left-right direction Y between the cam follower 38 and the interposition member 40 by being pressed by the cam follower 38.

As a result, the pair of side plates 21 pinches the support portions 25 of the lower jacket 18 from both sides in the left-right direction Y, so that a frictional force is generated between the side plates 21 and the support portions 25. The position of the column jacket 4 is locked by the frictional force, and the steering member 8 is locked at the position after the tilt adjustment and cannot move in the tilt direction.
Further, the pair of support portions 25 of the lower jacket 18 are sandwiched between the side plates 21, whereby the distance between the pair of support portions 25 is narrowed. As a result, the inner peripheral portion of the lower jacket 18 is narrowed, and the lower jacket 18 comes into pressure contact with the upper jacket 17 in the lower jacket 18. As a result, a frictional force is generated between the upper jacket 17 and the lower jacket 18.

Due to the friction between the upper jacket 17 and the lower jacket 18, the position of the upper jacket 17 is locked, and the steering member 8 is locked at the position after the telescopic adjustment and cannot move in the axial direction X.
As described above, the state of the steering device 1 when the position of the steering member 8 is fixed in the tilt direction and the axial direction X is referred to as a “lock state”.

  In the steering device 1 in the locked state, when the operation member 36 is rotated clockwise S1, the cam 37 rotates with respect to the cam follower 38, and the cam follower 38 moves to the left side Y2 along the axial direction of the rotation shaft 35. To do. Then, the tightening of the pair of side plates 21 between the cam follower 38 and the interposition member 40 is released. Therefore, since the frictional force between each side plate 21 and the support portion 25 and the frictional force between the lower jacket 18 and the upper jacket 17 are eliminated, the steering member 8 can move in the axial direction X and the tilt direction. . Thereby, telescopic adjustment and tilt adjustment of the steering member 8 can be performed again.

Thus, the state of the steering device 1 when the fixing of the position of the steering member 8 in the tilt direction and the axial direction X is released is referred to as a “released state”.
Next, the lock mechanism 7 will be described in detail.
The lock mechanism 7 is a mechanism for fixing the positions of the upper jacket 17 and the lower jacket 18 in the axial direction X by a lock (positive lock) by meshing teeth.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the lock mechanism 7 of the steering device 1. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG.
Referring to FIG. 5, the lock mechanism 7 includes a lock plate 47, a support shaft 48, a lock member 49, a first rotation member 50, a second rotation member 52, and an urging member 53.
The lock plate 47 has a plate shape that is long in the axial direction X and thin in the vertical direction Z. Specifically, the lower surface 47A of the lock plate 47 is concavely curved to the upper side Z1 along the outer peripheral surface 17C of the upper jacket 17 (see FIG. 3). The lock plate 47 is disposed in the slit 24 of the lower jacket 18. The lock plate 47 is provided with a plurality of substantially triangular engaged teeth 56 protruding toward the upper side Z1. Each engaged tooth 56 protrudes obliquely so as to go to the front side X2 as it goes to the upper side Z1 when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The plurality of engaged teeth 56 extend in the left-right direction Y and are arranged adjacent to each other in the axial direction X.

Referring to FIG. 3, for example, resin pins 47 </ b> B are inserted between the rear end of the lock plate 47 and the upper Z <b> 1 portion of the upper jacket 17. The lock plate 47 is fixed to the upper jacket 17 by pins 47B. When viewed from the vertical direction Z, a part of the lock plate 47 overlaps a part of the rotation shaft 35.
The support shaft 48 is provided separately from the rotation shaft 35 and has a rod shape extending in parallel with the rotation shaft 35, that is, in the left-right direction Y. The support shaft 48 has a central axis C2 extending in the left-right direction Y. The outer diameter of the support shaft 48 is smaller than the outer diameter of the rotating shaft 35. In the circumferential direction around the support shaft 48, a symbol “T” is given. Further, when viewed from the left side Y2, the direction toward the clockwise direction in the circumferential direction T is defined as a clockwise direction T1, and the direction toward the counterclockwise direction in the circumferential direction T is defined as a counterclockwise direction T2.

At both ends in the left-right direction Y of the support shaft 48, one flange portion 48 </ b> A that extends outward in the radial direction of the support shaft 48 is provided.
Since the support shaft 48 is inserted in the second through hole 32 of the support portion 25 of the lower jacket 18 in a press-fitted state, it does not rotate. Further, in this state, the flange portion 48A on the right side Y1 is in contact with the support portion 25 on the right side Y1 from the right side Y1, and the flange portion 48A on the left side Y2 is from the left side Y2 with respect to the support portion 25 on the left side Y2. Therefore, the movement of the support shaft 48 in the left-right direction Y is restricted.

  As described above, the second through hole 32 is located on the front side X2 and on the upper side Z1 with respect to the first through hole 31 of the support portion 25. For this reason, the support shaft 48 is supported by the pair of support portions 25 of the lower jacket 18 at positions farther from the plurality of engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47 than the rotation shaft 35 toward the upper side Z1. It is arranged in a direction inclined in the axial direction X with respect to 35.

  Further, as described above, the operation member 36 is attached to the rotating shaft 35 (see FIG. 4). Thereby, since the operation member 36 can be disposed near the upper jacket 17 regardless of the position of the support shaft 48, the rigidity of the steering device 1 does not decrease. In other words, the arrangement of the support shaft 48 can be determined without reducing the rigidity of the steering device 1. Therefore, the freedom degree of arrangement | positioning of the support shaft 48 is high.

Referring to FIG. 5, the lock member 49 integrally includes a cylindrical portion 60, a first protrusion 61, and a second protrusion 62 (protrusion). The cylindrical portion 60 extends in the left-right direction Y.
The cylindrical portion 60 includes a first portion 63 on the right side Y1 and a second portion 64 extending continuously from the first portion 63 to the left side Y2. The outer peripheral surface 64A of the second portion 64 has a circular shape when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The cylindrical portion 60 has a circular insertion hole 60A that penetrates the cylindrical portion 60 in the left-right direction Y.

At the boundary between the first portion 63 of the cylindrical portion 60 and the second portion 64 of the cylindrical portion 60, a groove 65 recessed in a substantially semicircular arc shape extends radially inward of the cylindrical portion 60 over the entire region in the rotational direction S. Is formed. The cylindrical portion 60 is disposed coaxially with the rotation shaft 35. The circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 60 coincides with the rotation direction S.
Referring to FIG. 6, the first protruding portion 61 protrudes from the first portion 63 of the cylindrical portion 60 toward the rear side X1 and has a substantially triangular shape when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The first protrusion 61 has a flat surface 68 on the upper side Z1 and a curved surface 69 on the lower side Z2. The flat surface 68 is a surface on the counterclockwise side S2 of the first protrusion 61, and the curved surface 69 is a surface on the clockwise side S1 of the first protrusion 61.

  The flat surface 68 is a plane along the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface 64 </ b> A of the second portion 64 of the cylindrical portion 60. The curved surface 69 is convexly curved toward the lower side Z2. The radius of curvature of the curved surface 69 is larger than the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface 64 </ b> A of the second portion 64 of the cylindrical portion 60. The flat surface 68 and the curved surface 69 are part of the outer peripheral surface 49 </ b> A of the lock member 49. The apex where the rear end portion of the flat surface 68 and the rear end portion of the curved surface 69 are connected is denoted by reference numeral “61A”.

The second projecting portion 62 projects from the first portion 63 of the cylindrical portion 60 toward the front side X2, and has a substantially triangular shape when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The second protrusion 62 has a curved surface 70 on the upper side Z1 and a flat surface 71 on the lower side Z2. The curved surface 70 is the surface on the clockwise side S1 of the second protrusion 62, and the flat surface 71 is the surface on the counterclockwise side S2 of the second protrusion 62.
The curved surface 70 is convexly curved toward the front side X2 and the upper side Z1. The curved surface 70 of the 2nd protrusion part 62 and the front-end parts of the flat surface 71 are connected smoothly. The curved surface 70 is a part of the outer peripheral surface 49 </ b> A of the lock member 49.

The positions of the first protrusion 61 and the second protrusion 62 in the left-right direction Y coincide. The entirety of the first portion 63, the first projecting portion 61, and the second projecting portion 62 of the cylindrical portion 60 is substantially diamond-shaped when viewed from the left-right direction Y.
Referring to FIG. 4, the lock member 49 is disposed in the slit 24 of the lower jacket 18. A portion of the rotating shaft 35 located in the slit 24 is inserted through the insertion hole 60 </ b> A of the cylindrical portion 60 of the lock member 49.

  With reference to FIG. 6, the lock member 49 is supported by the rotation shaft 35. The lock member 49 is rotatable relative to the rotation shaft 35 in the rotation direction S. When viewed from the left-right direction Y, the rotation center 49 </ b> B of the lock member 49 coincides with the center axis C <b> 1 of the rotation shaft 35. The lock member 49 is disposed on the upper side Z <b> 1 of the lock plate 47. In this state, the second protrusion 62 of the lock member 49 is directed to the support shaft 48 on the front side X2.

  The position in the axial direction X of the center of curvature 69A of the curved surface 69 of the lock member 49 substantially coincides with the position in the axial direction X of the rotation center 49B of the lock member 49. The center of curvature 69A is on the upper side Z1 with respect to the rotation center 49B. That is, the center of curvature 69A is at a position offset from the rotation center 49B to the upper side Z1. Further, as described above, the curvature radius of the curved surface 69 of the lock member 49 is larger than the curvature radius of the outer peripheral surface 64 </ b> A of the second portion 64 of the cylindrical portion 60 of the lock member 49. Therefore, the distance D from the rotation center 49B to the curved surface 69 becomes larger toward the rear side X1.

  The curved surface 69 of the lock member 49 is provided with a plurality of substantially triangular engaging teeth 73 when viewed from the left-right direction Y. Each engagement tooth 73 protrudes in an inclined manner toward the apex 61 </ b> A of the first protrusion 61 with respect to the radial direction of the curved surface 69 when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The plurality of engagement teeth 73 extend in the left-right direction Y. The plurality of engaging teeth 73 are arranged adjacent to each other along the creeping direction R of the curved surface 69 when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The plurality of engaging teeth 73 (curved surface 69) are provided to engage with the plurality of engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47 on the rear side X <b> 1 from the rotation center 49 </ b> B of the lock member 49.

As described above, the lock member 49 is located on the upper side Z <b> 1 of the lock plate 47. The creeping direction R of the curved surface 69 is separated from the lock plate 47 toward the rear side X1. Therefore, the distance D from the rotation center 49 </ b> B to the curved surface 69 increases as the distance from the plurality of engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47 increases.
Referring to FIG. 5, the first rotating member 50 includes a cylindrical portion 76, a first protrusion 77 and a second protrusion 78 (protrusions) that are spaced apart from each other in the rotation direction S, and a positioning portion 94. Including.

  The cylindrical portion 76 extends in the left-right direction Y. The cylindrical portion 76 is disposed coaxially with the rotation shaft 35. The cylindrical portion 76 has an insertion hole 76 </ b> A that penetrates the cylindrical portion 76 in the left-right direction Y, and an outer peripheral surface 76 </ b> B as a cylindrical surface that extends along the rotation direction S of the rotation shaft 35. A female spline 79 extending in the left-right direction Y is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 76 over the entire circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the first protrusion 77 extends from the left Y2 portion of the cylindrical portion 76 to the upper side Z1 and the front side X2. Specifically, the first protrusion 77 includes a proximal end portion 80 extending from the cylindrical portion 76 to the upper side Z1 and a distal end portion 81 extending from the upper end portion of the proximal end portion 80 to the front side X2. The direction in which the base end portion 80 extends is also radially outward of the cylindrical portion 76, and the direction in which the tip end portion 81 extends is also the counterclockwise side S <b> 2 with respect to the base end portion 80.

Reference numeral “80A” is attached to the surface of the front side X2 of the base end portion 80. Reference numeral “81A” is attached to the front X2 and lower Z2 surfaces of the tip 81. The surface 80A and the surface 81A are smoothly connected by a surface curved concavely on the rear side X1. The surface 80A is a surface on the counterclockwise side S2 of the base end portion 80, and the surface 81A is a surface on the counterclockwise side S2 of the distal end portion 81.
The second protrusion 78 protrudes from the left Y2 portion of the cylindrical portion 76 toward the front side X2. The second protrusion 78 has a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape that narrows toward the front side X2 when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The direction in which the second protrusion 78 protrudes is also the radially outer side of the cylindrical portion 76.

When viewed from the left-right direction Y, the surface 78A of the upper Z1 forming the substantially isosceles trapezoidal leg of the second protrusion 78 and the surface 78B forming the upper base of the approximately isosceles trapezoid of the second protrusion 78 are smoothly connected. Yes. The surface 78A is a surface on the clockwise side S1 of the second protrusion 78.
The second protrusion 78 is located on the lower side Z <b> 2 than the first protrusion 77. The positions of the first protrusion 77 and the second protrusion 78 in the left-right direction Y coincide.

A recess 82 is provided between the first protrusion 77 and the second protrusion 78. The recess 82 is sandwiched between the surface 80A and the surface 81A of the first protrusion 77 and the surface 78A of the second protrusion 78 from the up-down direction Z (rotation direction S).
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. Further, in FIG. 7, although it does not actually exist, the operation member 36 is illustrated by a two-dot chain line for convenience of explanation.

  Referring to FIG. 7, the positioning portion 94 protrudes from the right end portion of the cylindrical portion 76 to the upper side Z1 and the front side X2, and extends in the rotation direction S. The positioning portion 94 is substantially fan-shaped when viewed from the right side Y1. The positioning part 94 has a positioning surface 94A. The first positioning surface 94A is an end surface of the positioning portion 94 on the counterclockwise side S2. The first positioning surface 94A is a plane orthogonal to the rotation direction S.

  Referring to FIG. 4, the first rotating member 50 is disposed on the right side Y <b> 1 from the lock member 49 in the slit 24 of the lower jacket 18. A portion of the rotation shaft 35 located in the slit 24 is inserted through the insertion hole 76 </ b> A of the cylindrical portion 76 of the first rotation member 50. A male spline 54 extending in the left-right direction Y is formed across the entire circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 35A at a portion of the outer peripheral surface 35A of the rotating shaft 35 inserted through the insertion hole 76A. In this state, the male spline 54 of the rotating shaft 35 and the female spline 79 of the first rotating member 50 are spline-fitted. Therefore, the first rotating member 50 is supported by the rotating shaft 35 so as to rotate in synchronization with the rotating shaft 35 in the rotation direction S. In this state, the second protrusion 78 of the first rotating member 50 is directed to the support shaft 48 (see FIG. 6).

Referring to FIG. 5, in relation to the positioning portion 94 of the first rotating member 50, the support portion 25 on the right side Y <b> 1 protrudes from the step 25 </ b> A of the support portion 25 on the right side Y <b> 1 to the upper side Z <b> 1 and extends in the axial direction X. A substantially rectangular step 95 is provided. The surface on the upper side Z1 of the step portion 95 will be referred to as a second positioning surface 95A. The second positioning surface 95A is orthogonal to the vertical direction Z.
With reference to FIG. 7, the first positioning surface 94 </ b> A of the first rotating member 50 and the second positioning surface 95 </ b> A of the step portion 95 are opposed to each other in the vertical direction Z. When the steering device 1 is in the locked state, the first positioning surface 94A is in contact with the second positioning surface 95A from the upper side Z1.

  When the operating member 36 is rotated toward the clockwise side S1 in order to change the steering device 1 from the locked state to the released state, the first rotating member 50 moves to the clockwise side S1 according to the operation of the operating member 36. To do. On the other hand, even if the operation member 36 is to be rotated counterclockwise S2 from the locked state, the operation member 36 is rotated because the first positioning surface 94A and the second positioning surface 95A are in contact with each other. I can't. Thereby, the rotation of the operation member 36 can be limited to a necessary range.

Referring to FIG. 5, the second rotating member 52 includes a cylindrical portion 83, a first convex portion 84 and a second convex portion 85 which are disposed apart from each other in the left-right direction Y in which the support shaft 48 extends. Are integrally included.
The cylindrical portion 83 extends in the left-right direction Y. The cylindrical portion 83 has a circular insertion hole 83A that penetrates the cylindrical portion 83 in the left-right direction Y.

With reference to FIG. 6, the first protrusion 84 protrudes from the portion on the right side Y <b> 1 toward the rear side X <b> 1 from the approximate center in the left-right direction Y of the cylindrical portion 83. The first convex portion 84 has a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape that becomes narrower toward the rear side X1 when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The direction in which the first convex portion 84 protrudes is also the radially outer side of the cylindrical portion 83.
The surface of the lower Z2 forming the substantially isosceles trapezoidal leg of the first convex portion 84 as viewed from the left-right direction Y is denoted by reference numeral “84A”, and the substantially isosceles trapezoidal leg of the first convex portion 84 is attached. The surface of the upper side Z <b> 1 formed is denoted by “84B”. The surface forming the upper base of the substantially isosceles trapezoid of the first convex portion 84 is denoted by reference numeral “84C”. Each of surface 84A and surface 84B and surface 84C are smoothly connected by a curved surface. The surface 84A is a surface on the clockwise side T1 of the first convex portion 84, and the surface 84B is a surface on the counterclockwise side T2 of the first convex portion 84.

The second convex portion 85 protrudes from the left side Y2 toward the rear side X1 and the lower side Z2 from the approximate center of the cylindrical portion 83 in the left-right direction Y (see FIG. 3). The second convex portion 85 has a substantially triangular shape when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The direction in which the second convex portion 85 protrudes is also the radially outer side of the cylindrical portion 83.
The second convex portion 85 has a flat surface on the front side X2 and a curved surface 85A on the rear side X1. The curved surface 85A is convexly curved toward the rear side X1. The lower end portion of the flat surface and the lower end portion of the curved surface 85A are smoothly connected. The curved surface 85A is a surface on the counterclockwise side T2 of the cylindrical portion 83.

  The second rotating member 52 is disposed in the slit 24 on the front side X2 relative to the lock member 49 and the first rotating member 50 (see FIG. 3). A portion of the support shaft 48 located in the slit 24 is inserted into the insertion hole 83 </ b> A of the cylindrical portion 83 of the second rotating member 52. The second rotating member 52 is supported by the support shaft 48 so as to rotate relative to the support shaft 48 in the circumferential direction T of the support shaft 48. The second rotating member 52 rotates around the center axis C <b> 2 of the support shaft 48, that is, around the support shaft 48. In this state, the first convex portion 84 and the second convex portion 85 of the second rotating member 52 are directed to the rotating shaft 35.

The positions of the first protrusions 84 of the second rotating member 52 in the left-right direction Y coincide with the positions of the first protrusions 77 and the second protrusions 78 of the first rotating member 50 in the left-right direction Y (see FIG. 3). .
The first convex portion 84 of the second rotating member 52 is located in the recess 82 of the first rotating member 50. The lower Z2 surface 84A of the first protrusion 84 and the upper Z1 surface 78A of the second protrusion 78 of the first rotating member 50 face each other in the vertical direction Z. The surface 84B on the upper side Z1 of the first protrusion 84 and the surface 80A and the surface 81A on the lower side Z2 of the first protrusion 77 are opposed to each other in the vertical direction Z.

The position in the left-right direction Y of the 2nd convex part 85 corresponds with the position in the left-right direction Y of the 1st protrusion part 61 and the 2nd protrusion part 62 of the locking member 49 (refer FIG. 3). The curved surface 85A of the second convex portion 85 of the second rotating member 52 and the curved surface 70 of the second projecting portion 62 of the lock member 49 are opposed to each other in the axial direction X.
The support shaft 48 may be rotatably supported by the support portion 25 of the lower jacket 18, and the second rotating member 52 may rotate integrally with the support shaft 48. Even in this case, the second rotating member 52 rotates around the support shaft 48.

Referring to FIG. 5, the urging member 53 is a spring formed by bending a single wire or the like. The urging member 53 integrally includes a first coil-shaped portion 88, a second coil-shaped portion 89, a pair of holding portions 90, a pair of deformation portions 91, and a connecting portion 92.
The first coil-shaped portion 88 and the second coil-shaped portion 89 have a spiral shape along the left-right direction Y. The first coil-shaped part 88 and the second coil-shaped part 89 are coaxially arranged with a space in the left-right direction Y. The first coiled portion 88 is disposed on the right side Y <b> 1 with respect to the second coiled portion 89.

The left Y2 holding portion 90 and the deforming portion 91 extend from the second coil-shaped portion 89 to the rear side X1 and the lower side Z2. The holding portion 90 and the deforming portion 91 on the right side Y1 extend from the first coil-shaped portion 88 to the rear side X1 and the lower side Z2. The connecting portion 92 connects the rear end portions of the pair of deformable portions 91.
Referring to FIG. 3, the urging member 53 is supported by the second rotating member 52 with the pair of holding portions 90 and the pair of deforming portions 91 facing the rotation shaft 35. The first coiled portion 88 of the urging member 53 is wound more loosely around the cylindrical portion 83 of the second rotating member 52 at the right side Y1 than the first convex portion 84 of the second rotating member 52. The second coiled portion 89 of the urging member 53 is loosely wound around the cylindrical portion 83 on the left side Y2 with respect to the second convex portion 85 of the second rotating member 52. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the entire urging member 53 from rotating with the second rotating member 52.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the urging member 53 sandwiches the lock member 49 and the first rotating member 50 from the up-down direction Z between the pair of holding portions 90 and the pair of deformable portions 91 and connecting portions 92. Specifically, the rear end portion of the holding portion 90 on the left side Y2 of the urging member 53 is fitted into the groove 65 of the lock member 49 from the lower side Z2. The rear end portion of the holding portion 90 on the left side Y2 is in contact with the portion defining the groove 65 on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 60 of the lock member 49 from the lower side Z2. The rear end portion of the holding portion 90 on the right side Y1 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 76B of the cylindrical portion 76 of the first rotating member 50 from the lower side Z2 (see FIG. 4).

Referring to FIG. 3, the deformed portion 91 on the left Y2 and the left Y2 portion of the connecting portion 92 are in contact with the flat surface 68 of the first projecting portion 61 of the lock member 49 from the upper side Z1. The deformed portion 91 on the right side Y1 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 76B from the normal direction Q of the outer peripheral surface 76B of the cylindrical portion 76 of the first rotating member 50.
With reference to FIG. 6, in a state where the urging member 53 is assembled to the lock mechanism 7 as shown in FIG. 6, the pair of deforming portions 91 of the urging member 53 are elastically deformed to the upper side Z1. Therefore, in the urging member 53, a force that the pair of deforming portions 91 tries to move to the lower side Z <b> 2 toward the pair of holding portions 90 in the vertical direction Z is always generated, and this force is the entire locking member 49. Is an urging force F that urges toward the clockwise side S1.

When the state of the steering device 1 is the above-described locked state, as shown in FIG. 6, at least the foremost X2 engagement tooth 73 of the lock member 49 meshes with the plurality of engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47. Yes. The position in the rotation direction S of the lock member 49 at this time is referred to as “meshing position”.
When the lock member 49 is in the meshing position in the locked state, a gap 93 in the axial direction X is provided between the curved surface 85A of the second protrusion 85 and the curved surface 70 of the second protrusion 62 of the lock member 49. It has been.

Further, the lock member 49 is urged toward the engagement position by the urging force F in a state where the lock member 49 is in the engagement position. Therefore, the state where the lock member 49 is in the meshing position is maintained.
As described above, the lock plate 47 is fixed to the upper jacket 17, and the lock member 49 is fixed to the lower jacket 18 via the rotation shaft 35.

Therefore, when the lock member 49 is in the meshing position, the relative movement of the upper jacket 17 with respect to the lower jacket 18 is restricted. As a result, the position of the upper jacket 17 in the axial direction X is more firmly locked.
That is, in addition to the frictional force between the lower jacket 18 and the upper jacket 17, the plurality of engaging teeth 73 of the lock member 49 on the lower jacket 18 side are engaged with the plurality of engaged portions of the lock plate 47 on the upper jacket 17 side. Engages with teeth 56. Thereby, the position of the upper jacket 17 in the axial direction X can be firmly locked.

Further, as described above, the outer diameter of the rotation shaft 35 is larger than the outer diameter of the support shaft 48. Therefore, the strength of engagement between the plurality of engaging teeth 73 of the lock member 49 supported by the rotating shaft 35 and the plurality of engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47 is improved.
Further, when the operation position of the operation member 36 when the lock member 49 is moved to the meshing position varies, the relative position in the rotation direction S between the operation member 36 and the rotation shaft 35, that is, the lever operation angle varies. There is. However, regardless of the lever operation angle of the operation member 36, the lock member 49 is always in the meshing position in the locked state. Therefore, when the lever operating angle varies, the size of the gap 93 between the second rotating member 52 and the lock member 49 changes due to the variation, but the position of the lock member 49 does not change. That is, the gap 93 absorbs the variation.

Next, the operation of the lock mechanism 7 when the operation member 36 is rotated clockwise S1 from the locked state will be described in detail (see FIG. 2).
In the steering apparatus 1 in the locked state, when the operation member 36 (see FIG. 2) is rotated in the clockwise direction S1, the rotating shaft 35 is rotated in the clockwise direction S1. At this time, the 1st rotation member 50 which can be rotated synchronously with the rotating shaft 35 also rotates clockwise S1. Accordingly, the second protrusion 78 of the first rotating member 50 moves to the upper side Z1.

  As described above, the surface 78A of the second protrusion 78 of the first rotating member 50 and the surface 84A of the first convex portion 84 of the second rotating member 52 face each other in the vertical direction Z. Therefore, the surface 78A abuts on the surface 84A as the rotation shaft 35 rotates. The second protrusion 78 moves the first convex portion 84 to the upper side Z1 while bringing the surface 78A into contact with the surface 84A. Since the second rotating member 52 is rotatable relative to the support shaft 48, the second rotating member 52 whose first protrusion 84 is pushed to the upper side Z <b> 1 by the second protrusion 78 is counterclockwise around the support shaft 48. Rotate to the turning side T2. Thus, when the operating member 36 (see FIG. 2) is operated to rotate the rotating shaft 35 to the clockwise side S1, the second rotation is performed in conjunction with the rotation of the first rotating member 50 to the clockwise side S1. The member 52 rotates about the support shaft 48 toward the counterclockwise direction T2 in the circumferential direction T. When the second rotating member 52 rotates counterclockwise T2, the second convex portion 85 of the second rotating member 52 moves to the rear side X1.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the lock mechanism 7 when the rotary shaft 35 is rotated clockwise S1 from the state of FIG.
Referring to FIG. 8, the movement of the second rotating member 52 to the rear side X <b> 1 of the second convex portion 85 gradually decreases the gap 93, and the curved surface 85 </ b> A of the second convex portion 85 eventually becomes the lock member 49. It contacts the curved surface 70 of the second protrusion 62.

  From the state in which the curved surface 85A of the second rotating member 52 and the curved surface 70 of the lock member 49 are in contact with each other, the operating member 36 (see FIG. 2) is operated to further rotate the rotating shaft 35 clockwise S1. Then, the 2nd convex part 85 of the 2nd rotation member 52 starts moving the 2nd protrusion part 62 of the lock member 49 to the back side X1, making the curved surface 85A contact | abut to the curved surface 70. FIG. As a result, the lock member 49 rotates counterclockwise S2 and starts moving from the meshing position.

  As described above, in order to transmit the rotation of the rotating shaft 35 to the lock member 49 via the first rotating member 50 and the second rotating member 52, the protrusion amount of the second protrusion 78 of the first rotating member 50, The amount of protrusion of the first protrusion 84 and the second protrusion 85 of the two-rotation member 52 and the amount of protrusion of the second protrusion 62 of the lock member 49 need to be greater than or equal to a predetermined value. For this purpose, the distance A1 between the center axis C1 of the rotating shaft 35 that supports the first rotating member 50 and the lock member 49 and the center axis C2 of the supporting shaft 48 that supports the second rotating member 52 is set to a predetermined distance. It is necessary to make it above.

As described above, the support shaft 48 is disposed in a direction inclined in the axial direction X with respect to the rotation shaft 35. Therefore, the distance A2 between the center axis C2 of the support shaft 48 and the center axis C1 of the rotation shaft 35 in the axial direction X can be reduced. Therefore, the steering device 1 can be downsized in the axial direction X.
When the lock member 49 is rotated counterclockwise S2, the plurality of engagement teeth 73 of the lock member 49 are moved counterclockwise S2. When the lock member 49 rotates counterclockwise S2, the connecting portion 92 of the biasing member 53 is moved to the upper side Z1 by the flat surface 68 of the first protrusion 61 of the lock member 49. Thereby, a pair of deformation | transformation part 91 of the biasing member 53 further elastically deforms to the upper side Z1.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the lock mechanism 7 when the steering device 1 is in the released state.
Referring to FIG. 9, when the operation member 36 (see FIG. 2) is fully rotated to the clockwise side S <b> 1 from the state shown in FIG. 8, the steering device 1 reaches the release state.
In the released state, the lock member 49 is located at the position rotated most counterclockwise S2. At this time, the plurality of engagement teeth 73 of the lock member 49 are separated from the plurality of engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47 to the upper side Z1. That is, the meshing between the plurality of engaging teeth 73 and the plurality of engaged teeth 56 is released. The position in the rotation direction S of the lock member 49 at this time is referred to as a “release position”. Thus, the lock member 49 is brought into contact with the second rotating member 52 and moved from the meshing position to the release position.

As described above, the rotation of the rotation shaft 35 is reliably transmitted to the lock member 49 via the first rotation member 50 and the second rotation member 52, and the lock member 49 can be rotated from the meshing position to the release position. it can.
Since the rotation direction of the lock member 49 that moves from the meshing position to the release position is the counterclockwise direction S2, it is opposite to the clockwise direction S1 in which the rotation shaft 35 rotates. As described above, the rotation of the rotation shaft 35 is converted into the rotation in the reverse direction by the second rotation member 52.

Therefore, when operating the operation member 36 fixed to the rotation shaft 35, when the operation member 36 is rotated clockwise S1, the lock member 49 rotates counterclockwise S2. Thus, the direction in which the operation member 36 is operated can be intentionally converted to the reverse direction and transmitted to the lock member 49.
When the lock member 49 is in the release position, the position in the axial direction X of the upper jacket 17 to which the lock plate 47 is fixed is not restricted by the lock member 49. Therefore, the lock of the position of the upper jacket 17 in the axial direction X is released, and the telescopic adjustment of the steering member 8 is possible.

  When the lock member 49 is in the release position, the first convex portion 84 of the second rotating member 52 is detached from the recess 82, and the surface 78 </ b> B of the second protrusion 78 of the first rotating member 50 is the second rotating member 52. Is in contact with the surface 84A from the lower side Z2. Further, in the released state, the first protrusion 77 of the first rotating member 50 is located substantially on the upper side Z <b> 1 of the cylindrical portion 76 of the first rotating member 50. In the released state, the curved surface 85A of the second convex portion 85 of the second rotating member 52 and the curved surface 70 of the second projecting portion 62 of the lock member 49 are kept in contact with each other.

Since the urging member 53 urges the lock member 49 from the upper side Z1 even in the released state as in the locked state, the lock member 49 receives a load on the clockwise side S1. Thus, the lock member 49 is always urged toward the meshing position by the urging member 53.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the periphery of the lock mechanism 7 when the rotary shaft 35 is rotated counterclockwise S2 from the state of FIG.

  When the operating member 36 (see FIG. 2) is rotated toward the counterclockwise side S2 from the released state, the rotating shaft 35 rotates to the counterclockwise side S2. As described above, since the first rotating member 50 rotates in synchronization with the rotating shaft 35, the first rotating member 50 rotates counterclockwise S2. Thereby, the surface 78B of the second protrusion 78 of the first rotating member 50 is separated from the surface 84A of the first convex portion 84 of the second rotating member 52 to the lower side Z2. Further, when the rotating shaft 35 is rotated counterclockwise S2, the surface 81A of the tip 81 of the first protrusion 77 of the first rotating member 50 comes into contact with the surface 84B of the first convex portion 84.

  When the rotating shaft 35 is further rotated counterclockwise S2, the first convex portion 84 of the second rotating member 52 slides the surface 84B and the surface 84C on the surface 80A and the surface 81A of the first protrusion 77. , Rotate clockwise T1. As described above, when the operation member 36 (see FIG. 2) is operated to rotate the rotation shaft 35 to the counterclockwise side S2, the first rotation member 50 rotates in the counterclockwise direction S2, and the first rotation member 50 rotates in the counterclockwise direction S2. The two-rotating member 52 rotates around the support shaft 48 toward the clockwise side T1 in the circumferential direction T.

  As described above, the urging member 53 urges the lock member 49 from the upper side Z1 toward the meshing position. Therefore, when the rotation shaft 35 rotates counterclockwise S2, the lock member 49 is urged by the urging member 53 toward the meshing position and rotates clockwise S1. Therefore, the curved surface 70 of the lock member 49 rotates to the clockwise side S1 while maintaining a state in contact with the curved surface 85A of the second rotating member 52.

  Therefore, the lock member 49 can be moved from the release position to the meshing position without operating the operation member 36 with a large operation force. On the other hand, although the urging member 53 urges the lock member 49, the urging force F of the urging member 53 is applied to the operation member 36 because the lock member 49 can rotate relative to the rotation shaft 35. It does not work directly. Therefore, when the operation member 36 is operated to move the lock member 49 from the release position to the meshing position, the influence of the urging force F of the urging member 53 is less affected. Therefore, the operating force of the operating member 36 when moving the lock member 49 between the release position and the meshing position can be reduced.

As described above, the steering device 1 can be reduced in size while reducing the operating force of the operating member 36.
Since the rotation direction of the lock member 49 when moving from the release position to the meshing position is the clockwise side S1, it is opposite to the counterclockwise side S2 where the rotating shaft 35 rotates. Therefore, when the operation member 36 fixed to the rotation shaft 35 is rotated counterclockwise S2, the lock member 49 is rotated clockwise S1.

When the operation member 36 is fully rotated to the counterclockwise side S2, the lock mechanism 7 returns to the state of FIG. 6 through the state of FIG. 8 in which the lock member 49 is located at the meshing position. At this time, the state of the steering device 1 has reached the locked state again.
As described above, the lock member 49 can rotate relative to the rotation shaft 35 between the meshing position and the release position in accordance with the operation of the operation member 36.

  Further, as described above, the deformed portion 91 on the right side Y1 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 76B from the normal direction Q of the outer peripheral surface 76B of the cylindrical portion 76 of the first rotating member 50. In this case, since the urging force F of the urging member 53 acts on the outer peripheral surface 76B of the cylindrical portion 76 of the first rotating member 50 from the normal direction Q, the first rotating member 50 is urged from the rotating direction S. The urging force F is hardly received. Therefore, the movement of the urging member 53 is not synchronized with the movements of the rotating shaft 35 and the operation member 36. Therefore, the operation member 36 fixed to the rotating shaft 35 can be operated with almost no influence of the urging force F of the urging member 53. As a result, the operating force of the operating member 36 can be further reduced.

  In addition, during the change from the released state to the locked state, the engaging teeth 73 of the lock member 49 and the engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47 do not mesh well, and the teeth of the engaging teeth 73 and the engaged teeth 56 are crested. Half-lock may occur where they touch each other. When the lock member moves from the release position to the meshing position, the urging member 53 rotates the lock member 49 to the clockwise side S1, and the operation force of the operation member 36 is not transmitted to the lock member 49. Therefore, even if the operating member 36 is operated during half-locking, the engaging teeth 73 are not forcibly pressed against the engaged teeth 56, so that the operating force of the operating member 36 does not increase even if half-locking occurs.

  When the operation member 36 is rotated counterclockwise S2 by pulling the operation member 36 to the rear side X1, the lock member 49 moves toward the meshing position and the steering member 8 ( A configuration in which the position (see FIG. 1) is locked (a so-called pull lock configuration) is employed. In the pull lock, when the operation member 36 is rotated to the clockwise side S1 by pushing the operation member 36 to the front side X2, the lock member 49 moves toward the release position.

  Further, the first rotating member 50 is placed on the lock mechanism 7 so that the first positioning surface 94A of the first rotating member 50 is brought into contact with the second positioning surface 95A of the support portion 25 in a state where the lock member 49 is located at the meshing position. By assembling, the first rotating member 50 can be positioned when the lock member 49 is in the meshing position. Thus, the first positioning surface 94A and the second positioning surface 95A constitute a positioning mechanism 96 that positions the first rotating member 50 in the rotation direction S. Thereby, positioning of the 1st rotation member 50 becomes easy. Therefore, the man-hours required for positioning the first rotating member 50 can be reduced.

Next, the operation of the lock mechanism 7 at the time of a vehicle collision will be described.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the state of the lock mechanism 7 after the vehicle collision in FIG.
Referring to FIG. 1, a so-called secondary collision in which a driver collides with steering member 8 occurs in a vehicle collision. When the steering device 1 is in the locked state, the impact due to the secondary collision is transmitted to the upper jacket 17 on the front side X <b> 2 via the steering member 8 and the upper shaft 15. When a secondary collision occurs, the lock plate 47 fixed to the upper jacket 17 moves together with the upper jacket 17 toward the front side X2. Therefore, the plurality of engaged teeth 56 provided on the lock plate 47 also move toward the front side X2.

  Referring to FIG. 6, in the locked state, lock member 49 is in the meshing position, and therefore, engaged tooth 56 of lock plate 47 and engagement tooth 73 of lock member 49 are meshed. Therefore, when the plurality of engaged teeth 56 move to the front side X2, the engaging teeth 73 are dragged by the engaged teeth 56 and are caught between the upper surface 47C of the lock plate 47 and the curved surface 69 of the lock member 49. .

  As described above, since the gap 93 is provided between the curved surface 70 of the second projecting portion 62 of the lock member 49 and the curved surface 85A of the second convex portion 85 of the second rotating member 52, the lock 93 is locked. The member 49 rotates clockwise S1 while narrowing the gap 93. Further, as described above, the distance D from the rotation center 49B of the lock member 49 to the curved surface 69 of the first protrusion 61 of the lock member 49 becomes larger toward the rear side X1.

  Therefore, referring to FIG. 11, when the lock member 49 rotates from the meshing position to the clockwise side S <b> 1, the plurality of engaging teeth 73 of the curved surface 69 become the plurality of engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47. Get closer. As a result, the number of engaging teeth 73 that mesh with the plurality of engaged teeth 56 increases. Therefore, the performance of locking by meshing teeth, so-called positive locking performance is improved.

As a result, the engagement between the engagement teeth 73 of the lock member 49 and the engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47 is strengthened. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the upper jacket 17 from moving more than necessary relative to the lower jacket 18 at the time of a vehicle collision. A position in the rotation direction S of the lock member 49 at this time is referred to as a “lock position”.
After the vehicle collision, the relative movement of the upper jacket 17 with respect to the lower jacket 18 is restricted while the lock member 49 is moved to the lock position. Thereafter, the pin 47B penetrating the lock plate 47 and the upper jacket 17 in the vertical direction Z is sheared, whereby the upper jacket 17 is detached to the front side X2. The upper jacket 17 slides with respect to the lower jacket 18 by the separation of the upper jacket 17 toward the front side X2. By the separation of the upper jacket 17 and the sliding of the upper jacket 17 with respect to the lower jacket 18, the impact energy of the secondary collision is absorbed (EA: Energy Absorption).

The distance D from the rotation center 49B of the lock member 49 to the curved surface 69 of the first protrusion 61 of the lock member 49, the number of engagement teeth 73 of the lock member 49 that mesh with the engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47, and the like. By adjusting, a desired EA can be generated.
In addition, it is assumed that the above-described half lock occurs in the locked state. In this case, when the upper jacket 17 moves to the front side X <b> 2 due to the secondary collision, the engaged teeth 56 slide to the front side X <b> 2 by the slip amount corresponding to the pitch P of the plurality of engaging teeth 73 and the plurality of engaged teeth 56. After the engaged teeth 56 slide by the pitch P and the engaging teeth 73 and the engaged teeth 56 mesh with each other, the lock member 49 moves from the meshing position to the lock position.

Therefore, the slip amount of the plurality of engaged teeth 56 can be adjusted by adjusting the pitch P of the plurality of engaging teeth 73 of the lock member 49 and the plurality of engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47.
Further, when the lock member 49 is in the locked position, the curved surface 85A of the second convex portion 85 of the second rotating member 52 and the connecting portion of the curved surface 70 and the flat surface 71 of the second protrusion 62 of the lock member 49. And abut. Therefore, even when the lock member 49 is in the locked position, the rotation of the rotation shaft 35 is caused to rotate the first rotation member 50 by operating the operation member 36 clockwise S1 and rotating the rotation shaft 35 clockwise S1. And it can be transmitted to the lock member 49 via the second rotating member 52. Specifically, the second rotating member 52 to which the rotation of the clockwise side S1 is transmitted from the rotating shaft 35 rotates counterclockwise T2, and the lock member 49 is counteracted while the curved surface 85A is in contact with the curved surface 70. It can be rotated clockwise S2. When the lock member 49 rotates counterclockwise S2, the lock member 49 pushes the plurality of engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47 to the rear side X1 with the plurality of engagement teeth 73, and then goes through the meshing position to the release position. Move to.

Thus, even when the plurality of engagement teeth 73 of the lock member 49 are wound between the upper surface 47C of the lock plate 47 and the curved surface 69 of the lock member 49, the operation member 36 is operated to operate the lock member 49. Can be moved to the release position.
As described above, since the rotating shaft 35 is made of metal, even if an impact is transmitted from the upper jacket 17 to the rotating shaft 35 via the lock member 49 during telescopic adjustment and vehicle collision, the rotating shaft 35 35 does not break.

Next, a first modification of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 12 is a diagram in which the first modification of the present invention is applied to FIG. In FIG. 12, the same members as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted (the same applies to FIGS. 13 to 18 described later). FIG. 13 is a diagram in which the first modification is applied to FIG. FIG. 14 is a diagram in which the first modification is applied to FIG.

  With reference to FIGS. 5 and 12, the steering device 1 of the first modified example does not include the second rotating member 52 unlike the steering device 1 of the present embodiment. The lock member 49 of the first modification includes a protrusion 97 and an engagement part 98 instead of the first protrusion 61 and the second protrusion 62. The first rotating member (rotating member) 50 of the first modification includes a pressing portion 99 instead of the first protrusion 77 and the second protrusion 78.

Referring to FIG. 13, the protruding portion 97 of the lock member 49 is obtained by cutting the rear end portion of the first protruding portion 61 of the present embodiment. Specifically, the protrusion 97 has a substantially trapezoidal shape that becomes narrower toward the rear side X1 when viewed from the left side Y2.
The protrusion 97 has a flat surface 100 on the upper side Z1, a curved surface 101 on the lower side Z2, and a connecting surface 102 on the rear side X1. The flat surface 100 is a surface on the counterclockwise side S2 of the protrusion 97, and the curved surface 101 is a surface on the clockwise side S1 of the protrusion 97.

The flat surface 100 is a plane along the tangential direction of the outer peripheral surface 64 </ b> A of the second portion 64 of the cylindrical portion 60. The curved surface 101 is convexly curved toward the lower side Z2. The connecting surface 102 extends in the up-down direction Z, and connects the rear end portion of the flat surface 68 and the rear end portion of the curved surface 69. The flat surface 100, the curved surface 101, and the connecting surface 102 are part of the outer peripheral surface 49A of the lock member 49.
The position in the axial direction X of the center of curvature 103 of the curved surface 101 of the lock member 49 substantially coincides with the position in the axial direction X of the rotation center 49B of the lock member 49. The center of curvature 103 is on the upper side Z1 with respect to the rotation center 49B. That is, the curvature center 103 is at a position offset from the rotation center 49B to the upper side Z1. Further, the radius of curvature of the curved surface 101 of the lock member 49 is larger than the radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface 64 </ b> A of the second portion 64 of the cylindrical portion 60 of the lock member 49. Therefore, the distance d from the rotation center 49B to the curved surface 101 becomes larger toward the rear side X1. Similar to the curved surface 69 of the present embodiment, the curved surface 101 is provided with a plurality of engaging teeth 73.

The engaging portion 98 extends from the rear end portion of the flat surface 100 of the projecting portion 97 toward the upper side Z1, and toward the front side X2 while projecting from the upper end portion of the base end portion 104 toward the upper side Z1. And an extending tip 105. The lower surface 106 of the distal end portion 105 is substantially opposite to the flat surface 100 in the vertical direction Z.
A space surrounded by the lower surface 106 of the front end portion 105 of the engaging portion 98, the front X2 surface of the base end portion 104, and the flat surface 100 of the protruding portion 97 of the lock member 49 is denoted by reference numeral “107”. . The space 107 is open to the front side X2.

  The pressing portion 99 of the first rotating member 50 protrudes from the left Y2 portion of the cylindrical portion 76 toward the front side X2 and the upper side Z1. The pressing portion 99 has a substantially trapezoidal shape that becomes narrower toward the front side X2 when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The direction in which the pressing portion 99 protrudes is also the radially outer side of the cylindrical portion 76. Hereinafter, the surface of the rear side X1 and the upper side Z1 forming the substantially trapezoidal leg of the pressing portion 99 will be referred to as a pressing surface 108, and the front side X2 and the upper side Z1 of the pressing portion 99 forming the upper base of the substantially trapezoidal shape are supported. This will be referred to as surface 109.

The pressing surface 108 is also a surface on the clockwise side S1 of the pressing portion 99. The support surface 109 is substantially orthogonal to the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 76. The pressing surface 108 and the support surface 109 are smoothly connected by a curved surface 110 that is convexly curved upward Z1.
As described above, in the first modification, the second rotating member 52 (see FIG. 6) is not provided, and therefore the urging member 53 is supported by the lower jacket 18 via the support shaft 48. A pair of holding | maintenance part 90 and a pair of deformation | transformation part 91 are orient | assigned to the rotating shaft 35 (refer FIG. 14). The first coiled portion 88 and the second coiled portion 89 are loosely wound around the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft 48. As a result, the entire biasing member 53 can rotate relative to the support shaft 48.

The urging member 53 sandwiches the lock member 49 and the first rotating member 50 from the up-down direction Z between the pair of holding portions 90 and the pair of deforming portions 91 and the connecting portion 92.
Specifically, the rear end portion of the holding portion 90 on the left side Y2 of the urging member 53 is fitted into the groove 65 of the lock member 49 from the lower side Z2. The rear end portion of the holding portion 90 on the left side Y2 is in contact with the portion defining the groove 65 on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 60 of the lock member 49 from the lower side Z2. The rear end portion of the holding portion 90 on the right side Y1 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 76B of the cylindrical portion 76 of the first rotating member 50 from the lower side Z2 (see FIG. 14).

When the steering device 1 is in the locked state, the lock member 49 is in the meshing position. In this state, the rear end portion of the deformable portion 91 on the right side Y1 is in contact with the outer peripheral surface 76B from the normal direction Q of the outer peripheral surface 76B of the cylindrical portion 76 of the first rotating member 50. In addition, the substantially central portion in the axial direction X of the deformed portion 91 on the right side Y <b> 1 is not in contact with the pressing surface 108 of the pressing portion 99 of the first rotating member 50.
With reference to FIG. 14, in this state, the deformed portion 91 on the left side Y2 and the left side Y2 portion of the connecting portion 92 are in contact with the flat surface 100 of the protruding portion 97 of the lock member 49 from the upper side Z1. The flat surface 100 and the pair of deformation portions 91 are parallel when viewed from the left-right direction Y (see FIG. 13). A portion on the left side Y <b> 2 of the connecting portion 92 is located in the space 107. The urging member 53 is engaged with the engaging portion 98 of the lock member 49 by positioning the connecting portion 92 in the space 107. The urging member 53 is supported by the lower jacket 18 while being engaged with the lock member 49.

Next, the operation of the lock mechanism 7 when the operation member 36 is rotated clockwise S1 from the locked state will be described in detail (see FIG. 2).
Referring to FIG. 13, in the steering apparatus 1 in the locked state, when the operation member 36 (see FIG. 2) is rotated clockwise S1, the rotation shaft 35 rotates clockwise S1. At this time, the 1st rotation member 50 which can be rotated synchronously with the rotating shaft 35 also rotates clockwise S1. Therefore, the pressing portion 99 of the first rotating member 50 moves to the upper side Z1. Therefore, the pressing surface 108 of the pressing portion 99 of the first rotating member 50 is in contact with the substantially central portion in the axial direction X of the deforming portion 91 on the right side Y1 from the lower side Z2. Therefore, the pressing portion 99 of the first rotating member 50 starts to press the substantially central portion in the axial direction X of the deforming portion 91 on the right side Y1 of the urging member 53 toward the upper side Z1. Thereby, a pair of deformation | transformation part 91 is elastically deformed to the upper side Z1.

  From the state in which the pressing portion 99 of the first rotating member 50 is in contact with the substantially central portion in the axial direction X of the deforming portion 91 on the right side Y1 of the biasing member 53, the operating member 36 (see FIG. 2) is operated to rotate the rotating shaft. 35 is further rotated clockwise S1. Then, a pair of deformation | transformation part 91 further elastically deforms to the upper side Z1. With the elastic deformation of the pair of deformation portions 91, the connecting portion 92 moves to the upper side Z1. As a result, the connecting portion 92 of the urging member 53 contacts the lower surface 106 of the distal end portion 105 of the engaging portion 98 of the lock member 49 from the lower side Z2.

  From the state where the connecting portion 92 of the urging member 53 and the distal end portion 105 of the engaging portion 98 of the lock member 49 are in contact with each other, the operating member 36 (see FIG. 2) is operated to move the rotary shaft 35 to the clockwise side S1. Rotate further. Then, the pair of deforming portions 91 of the urging member 53 are further elastically deformed to the upper side Z1 by the pressing surface 108 of the pressing portion 99 of the first rotating member 50. Therefore, the connecting portion 92 of the urging member 53 is moved to the upper side Z1. Accordingly, the biasing member 53 starts to move to the upper side Z1 so as to lift the protruding portion 97 of the lock member 49 while bringing the upper side Z1 portion of the coupling portion 92 into contact with the lower surface 106 of the tip end portion 105 of the engaging portion 98. . Therefore, the lock member 49 rotates counterclockwise S2 and starts to move from the meshing position.

When the rotating shaft 35 is further rotated clockwise S1, the pressing portion 99 of the first rotating member 50 slides the deformed portion 91 on the right side Y1 in this order on the pressing surface 108, the curved surface 110, and the support surface 109. Rotate clockwise S1.
FIG. 15 is a diagram in which the first modification is applied to FIG. In FIG. 15, the positioning mechanism 96 is not shown for convenience of explanation (the same applies to FIGS. 16 and 17 described later).

Referring to FIG. 15, when the operating member 36 (see FIG. 2) is fully rotated clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 14 to the clockwise side S1, the steering device 1 reaches the released state. When the steering device 1 is released, the rotation of the first rotating member 50 toward the clockwise side S1 is stopped. In this state, the lock member 49 is located at the release position.
While the lock member 49 moves from the meshing position to the release position, the connecting portion 92 of the biasing member 53 is moved to the upper side Z1 that is the direction from the meshing position to the release position in accordance with the rotation of the first rotation member 50. .

  In the state where the lock member 49 is in the release position, the support surface 109 of the pressing portion 99 of the first rotating member 50 supports the deformed portion 91 on the right side Y1 from the lower side Z2. In a state where the lock member 49 is in the release position, the linking member 92 of the urging member 53 continues to be located in the space 107, so that the urging member 53 is engaged with the lock member 49. Specifically, the lock member 49 is maintained in a state where the upper side Z1 portion of the connecting portion 92 of the biasing member 53 is in contact with the lower surface 106 of the distal end portion 105 of the engaging portion 98. Therefore, the protrusion 97 is maintained in a state where it is lifted to the upper side Z1.

In addition, the urging member 53 does not urge the lock member 49, unlike the urging member 53 in the locked state, with the lock member 49 in the release position.
Thus, the first rotation member 50 can reliably transmit the rotation of the rotation shaft 35 to the lock member 49 via the biasing member 53 and rotate the lock member 49 from the meshing position to the release position. .

Further, since the rotation direction of the lock member 49 that moves from the meshing position to the release position is the counterclockwise direction S2, it is opposite to the clockwise direction S1 in which the rotation shaft 35 rotates. In this way, the rotation of the rotating shaft 35 is converted into a reverse rotation by the urging member 53.
Therefore, when operating the operation member 36 fixed to the rotation shaft 35, when the operation member 36 is rotated clockwise S1, the lock member 49 rotates counterclockwise S2. Thus, the direction in which the operation member 36 is operated can be intentionally converted to the reverse direction and transmitted to the lock member 49.

  When the operating member 36 (see FIG. 2) is rotated toward the counterclockwise side S2 from the released state, the rotating shaft 35 rotates to the counterclockwise side S2. Moreover, since the 1st rotation member 50 rotates synchronously with the rotating shaft 35, the 1st rotation member 50 rotates counterclockwise side S2. Therefore, the pressing portion 99 of the first rotating member 50 is counterclockwise S2 so that the deformed portion 91 (see FIG. 14) on the right side Y1 slides in this order on the support surface 109, the curved surface 110, and the pressing surface 108. Rotate to.

As described above, the pair of deformation portions 91 of the urging member 53 is elastically deformed to the upper side Z1. Therefore, the deformation portion 91 (see FIG. 14) on the right side Y1 moves to the lower side Z2 while returning to the shape before the deformation by sliding the support surface 109, the curved surface 110, and the pressing surface 108 in order. Along with this, the connecting portion 92 of the urging member 53 gradually moves to the lower side Z2.
As the connecting portion 92 gradually moves to the lower side Z2, the projecting portion 97 lifted to the upper side Z1 by the connecting portion 92 is brought into contact with the lower surface 106 of the distal end portion 105 of the engaging portion 98 and the connecting portion 92. Gradually move downward Z2 while maintaining the contact state.

When the deforming portion 91 on the right side Y1 is no longer pressed by the pressing portion 99, the urging member 53 is released from the pressing portion 99, and the connecting portion 92 is in contact with the flat surface 100 of the lock member 49. In this state, since the connecting portion 92 is located in the space 107, the urging member 53 is engaged with the lock member 49.
In a state where the lock member 49 is engaged by the biasing member 53, the flat surface 100 of the lock member 49 is pressed against the lower side Z <b> 2 by the connecting portion 92 of the biasing member 53. That is, the lock member 49 is urged toward the meshing position while being engaged by the urging member 53.

Therefore, when the operation member 36 is fully rotated to the counterclockwise side S2, the lock mechanism 7 returns to the state of FIG. 13 in which the lock member 49 is located at the meshing position. At this time, the state of the steering device 1 has reached the locked state again.
Thus, since the lock member 49 is biased toward the meshing position by the biasing member 53, the lock member 49 is moved from the release position to the meshing position without operating the operation member 36 with a large operating force. Can be moved. Therefore, the operating force of the operating member 36 when moving the lock member 49 between the release position and the meshing position can be reduced.

  Further, the first rotation member 50 can transmit the rotation of the first rotation member 50 to the lock member 49 by moving the biasing member 53, and can move the lock member 49 from the meshing position to the release position. In this case, since it is not necessary to provide another component other than the urging member 53 in order to transmit the rotation of the first rotation member 50 to the lock member 49, the number of components can be reduced. Further, if the urging member 53 has a structure supported by the lower jacket 18, a position and a method for supporting the urging member 53 can be freely selected.

Further, since the rotation direction of the lock member 49 when moving from the release position to the meshing position is the clockwise side S1, it is opposite to the counterclockwise side S2 where the rotating shaft 35 rotates. Therefore, when the operation member 36 fixed to the rotation shaft 35 is rotated counterclockwise S2, the lock member 49 is rotated clockwise S1.
Further, in the steering device 1 of the first modification, unlike the steering device 1 of the present embodiment, it is not necessary to provide the second rotating member 52. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced compared to the steering device 1 of the present embodiment. Can be reduced. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to consider the distance A1 (see FIG. 6) between the support shaft 48 and the rotation shaft 35, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the rotation shaft 35 and the urging member 53 is improved.

  As described above, referring to FIG. 8, in the present embodiment, the second rotating member 52 rotates counterclockwise T2 so that the second rotating member 52 causes the curved surface 85A to lock the locking member 49. The lock member 49 can be rotated counterclockwise S2 while being in contact with the curved surface 70. Therefore, depending on the manner in which the curved surface 85A and the curved surface 70 come into contact with each other, the curved surface 70 does not slide well on the curved surface 85A, so that the operability of the operation member 36 is reduced, or the lock member 40 is It is assumed that the release position cannot be reached.

On the other hand, referring to FIG. 13, in the first modified example, the lock member 49 is not moved to the release position by sliding the curved surfaces 85 </ b> A and the curved surfaces 70 (see FIG. 8). The operability of the operation member 36 when the lock member 49 is changed from the meshing position to the release position is improved, and the lock member 49 can be reliably moved to the release position.
In addition, during the change from the released state to the locked state, the engaging teeth 73 of the lock member 49 and the engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47 do not mesh well, and the teeth of the engaging teeth 73 and the engaged teeth 56 are crested. Half-lock may occur where they touch each other. When the lock member moves from the release position to the meshing position, the urging member 53 rotates the lock member 49 to the clockwise side S1, and the operation force of the operation member 36 is not transmitted to the lock member 49. Therefore, even if the operating member 36 is operated during half-locking, the engaging teeth 73 are not forcibly pressed against the engaged teeth 56, so that the operating force of the operating member 36 does not increase even if half-locking occurs.

Next, the operation of the lock mechanism 7 at the time of a vehicle collision will be described.
FIG. 16 is a diagram in which the first modification is applied to FIG.
Referring to FIG. 14, in the first modification, as in the present embodiment, when a secondary vehicle collision occurs, the lock plate 47 fixed to the upper jacket 17 is directed toward the front side X2 together with the upper jacket 17. Move. Therefore, the plurality of engaged teeth 56 provided on the lock plate 47 also move toward the front side X2.

  Referring to FIG. 16, in the locked state, lock member 49 is in the meshing position, and therefore, engaged tooth 56 of lock plate 47 and engagement tooth 73 of lock member 49 are meshed. Therefore, when the plurality of engaged teeth 56 move to the front side X <b> 2 in the secondary collision, the engaging teeth 73 are dragged by the engaged teeth 56, and the upper surface 47 </ b> C of the lock plate 47 and the curved surface 101 of the lock member 49. Get caught in between.

  Further, as described above, the distance d from the rotation center 49B of the lock member 49 to the curved surface 101 of the protruding portion 97 of the lock member 49 increases toward the rear side X1. Therefore, when the lock member 49 rotates from the meshing position to the clockwise side S <b> 1, the plurality of engaging teeth 73 of the curved surface 69 approach the plurality of engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47. As a result, the number of engaging teeth 73 that mesh with the plurality of engaged teeth 56 increases. Therefore, the positive lock performance is improved.

Next, a second modification of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 17 is a diagram in which the second modification of the present invention is applied to FIG.
Referring to FIG. 17, the steering device 1 of the second modification differs from the steering device 1 of the first modification in that the support portion 25 of the lower jacket 18 has a pair of hook portions 111. . The pair of hooks 111 are, for example, rod-shaped extending in the left-right direction Y. Each of the pair of hook portions 111 is provided integrally with each of the pair of support portions 25, for example. The hook portion 111 on the right side Y1 extends from the left side Y2 surface of the support portion 25 on the right side Y1 toward the left side Y2, and the hook portion 111 on the left side Y2 extends to the right side from the right side Y1 surface of the support portion 25 on the left side Y2. It extends toward Y1.

  The pair of hooks 111 overlap when viewed from the left-right direction Y. The pair of hooks 111 are located on the lower side Z <b> 2 of the support shaft 48 and the upper side Z <b> 1 of the lock plate 47. The rear end portions of the pair of holding portions 90 of the urging member 53 are hooked by contacting the pair of hook portions 111 from the lower side Z2 and the front side X2. Thus, the urging member 53 can be reliably held by hooking the holding portion 90 on the hook portion 111 that is integral with the lower jacket 18.

Next, a third modification of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 18 is a diagram in which the third modification of the present invention is applied to FIG.
Referring to FIG. 18, the steering device 1 of the third modified example does not include the support shaft 48 unlike the steering device 1 of the first modified example. The steering device 1 of the third modified example includes a pair of protrusions 112 instead of the support shaft 48. The protrusion 112 is provided integrally with the support portion 25. The protrusion 112 has a cylindrical shape extending in parallel with the rotation shaft 35, that is, in the left-right direction Y. The pair of protrusions 112 overlap each other when viewed from the left-right direction Y. A gap 113 is provided in the left-right direction Y between the protrusions 112.

The protrusion 112 is located on the front side X2 and on the upper side Z1 with respect to the first through hole 31 of the support portion 25. Therefore, the protrusion 112 is fixed to the pair of support portions 25 of the lower jacket 18 at a position farther from the plurality of engaged teeth 56 of the lock plate 47 to the upper side Z1 than the rotation shaft 35. Are arranged in a direction inclined in the axial direction X.
The first coiled portion 88 of the urging member 53 is attached to the protrusion 112 on the right side Y1 from the left side Y2. The second coiled portion 89 of the urging member 53 is attached to the protrusion 112 on the left side Y2 from the right side Y1.

Thus, by providing the pair of protrusions 112 integrally with the support portion 25, the number of parts can be further reduced.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.
For example, the steering device 1 is a so-called lever-mounted steering device in which the base end portion 36A of the operation member 36 is disposed on the upper side Z1 from the upper jacket 17, but the base end portion 36A of the operation member 36 is the upper portion. The lock mechanism 7 can also be applied to a so-called lever-lowering type steering device that is disposed on the lower side Z <b> 2 from the jacket 17.

  In this case, the entire lock mechanism 7 is disposed on the lower side Z2 of the upper jacket 17, and in the locked state, the members of the lock mechanism 7 are upside down in FIG. 6, FIG. 13, FIG. 17, or FIG. The lock mechanism 7 is configured by the positional relationship. Therefore, when the lock mechanism 7 rotates the operation member 36 clockwise S1 by pushing the operation member 36 to the front side X2, the lock member 49 moves toward the meshing position, and the position of the steering member 8 is changed. It constitutes a so-called push lock to be locked. In the push lock, when the operation member 36 is rotated counterclockwise S2 by pulling the operation member 36 to the rear side X1, the lock member 49 moves toward the release position.

  The positioning mechanism 96 may be for positioning the first rotating member 50 when the lock member 49 is in the release position. In this case, the protrusion (not shown) that protrudes inward in the left-right direction Y from each of the pair of support portions 25 and faces the surface S1 of the positioning portion 94 of the first rotation member 50 in the rotation direction S is described above. It is necessary to provide instead of 95.

Further, the method of fixing the lock plate 47 to the upper jacket 17 is not limited to the pin 47B. In other words, the lock plate 47 may be fixed to the upper jacket 17 in a normal state, and the lock plate 47 may be detached from the upper jacket 17 in a secondary collision so that the two can be moved relative to each other.
For example, there is a configuration in which the lock plate 47 is fixed to the upper jacket 17 via an EA member. According to this configuration, the lock plate 47, the EA member, and the upper jacket 17 are integrally moved in the normal state, and the upper jacket 17 can be moved relative to the lock plate 47 by the deformation of the EA member in the secondary collision. be able to.

  The steering device 1 is not limited to a manual type steering device in which steering of the steering member 8 is not assisted, but is also a column assist type electric power steering device (C-EPS) in which steering of the steering member 8 is assisted by an electric motor. Good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steering device, 2 ... Vehicle body, 3 ... Steering shaft, 3A ... One end, 4 ... Column jacket, 6 ... Upper bracket, 8 ... Steering member, 17 ... Upper jacket, 18 ... Lower jacket, 35 ... Rotating shaft, 35A ... Outer peripheral surface, 35B ... end, 36 ... operating member, 48 ... support shaft, 49 ... lock member, 49A ... center of rotation, 49B ... outer peripheral surface, 50 ... first rotating member, 52 ... second rotating member, 53 ... attached Force member, 56 ... engaged tooth, 62 ... second protrusion, 69 ... curved surface, 73 ... engaging tooth, 76B ... outer peripheral surface, 78 ... second projection, 84 ... first convex portion, 85 ... second Protruding part, 93 ... gap, 96 ... positioning mechanism, 98 ... engaging part, 99 ... pressing part, D ... distance, R ... creeping direction, Q ... normal direction, S ... rotating direction, S1 ... clockwise side, S2 ... counterclockwise side, X ... axial direction, X1 ... rear side, X2 Front, Y ... left and right direction, Z1 ... upper

Claims (10)

A steering member connected to one end and capable of extending and contracting in the axial direction;
An upper jacket on the steering member side; and a lower jacket on the opposite side of the steering member; Column jacket,
A bracket that supports the lower jacket and is fixed to the vehicle body;
A rotating shaft that extends in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, is supported by the bracket, and rotates according to an operation of an operating member attached to one end;
A plurality of engaged teeth fixed to the upper jacket and arranged in the axial direction;
An outer peripheral surface formed with engagement teeth meshing with the engaged teeth to lock the position of the upper jacket in the axial direction, supported by the rotary shaft, and the engagement teeth and the engaged teeth; A lock member that is rotatable relative to the rotation shaft between a meshing position where the teeth mesh with each other and a release position where the meshing between the engaging teeth and the engaged teeth is released;
A support shaft that is provided separately from the rotation shaft, extends parallel to the rotation shaft, and is supported by the lower jacket at a position farther from the engaged tooth than the rotation shaft;
A first rotating member supported by the rotating shaft so as to rotate synchronously with the rotating shaft;
A second rotating member that is supported by the support shaft and rotates about the support shaft in conjunction with the rotation of the first rotating member, thereby abutting the lock member and moving the lock member to the release position. When,
An urging member supported by the second rotating member and urging the lock member toward the meshing position;
A steering apparatus comprising:   The steering device according to claim 1, wherein a rotation direction of the lock member is opposite to a rotation direction of the rotation shaft. The first rotating member has a cylindrical surface extending along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft,
The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member is in contact with the cylindrical surface from a normal direction of the cylindrical surface. A plurality of engagement teeth are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lock member along the creeping direction of the outer peripheral surface, and the engagement teeth are provided on the rotation center of the lock member and on the outer peripheral surface. The distance between the portions increases as the distance from the engaged tooth increases.
In a state where the lock member is in the meshing position, a gap is provided between the second rotating member and the lock member,
When a vehicle collision occurs, the lock member moves while narrowing the gap so that the number of engaging teeth that engage with the plurality of engaged teeth moving together with the upper jacket toward the opposite side increases. The steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein The second rotation member includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion that protrude toward the rotation shaft and are spaced apart from each other in a direction in which the support shaft extends.
The first rotating member includes a protrusion that protrudes toward the support shaft and is capable of contacting the first protrusion.
The steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lock member includes a protrusion that protrudes toward the support shaft and is capable of contacting the second protrusion.   6. The positioning device according to claim 1, further comprising: a positioning mechanism that is provided in the lower jacket and positions the first rotating member when the lock member is in the meshing position or the release position. Steering device. A steering member connected to one end and capable of extending and contracting in the axial direction;
An upper jacket on the steering member side; and a lower jacket on the opposite side of the steering member; Column jacket,
A bracket that supports the lower jacket and is fixed to the vehicle body;
A rotating shaft that extends in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, is supported by the bracket, and rotates according to an operation of an operating member attached to one end;
A plurality of engaged teeth fixed to the upper jacket and arranged in the axial direction;
An outer peripheral surface formed with engagement teeth meshing with the engaged teeth to lock the position of the upper jacket in the axial direction, supported by the rotary shaft, and the engagement teeth and the engaged teeth; A lock member that is rotatable relative to the rotation shaft between a meshing position where the teeth mesh with each other and a release position where the meshing between the engaging teeth and the engaged teeth is released;
A biasing member that is supported by the lower jacket in a state of being engaged with the lock member, and biases the lock member toward the meshing position;
A rotating member that is supported by the rotating shaft so as to rotate synchronously with the rotating shaft, and that moves the urging member in a direction from the meshing position toward the releasing position according to the rotation of the rotating shaft;
A steering apparatus comprising:   The steering device according to claim 7, wherein a rotation direction of the lock member is opposite to a rotation direction of the rotation shaft. The rotating member has a pressing portion that protrudes from the rotating member and presses the urging member;
The steering device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the lock member has an engaging portion that engages with the biasing member.   The steering according to any one of claims 7 to 9, further comprising a positioning mechanism that is provided in the lower jacket and positions the rotating member when the lock member is in the meshing position or the release position. apparatus.

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