Steering column device

• US 10,246,119 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2016
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jtekt Column Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Fuji KIKO Company Limited
• Inventors: Uesaka, Yota
• Primary Examiner(s): Gooden, Jr., Barry
• Application Number:
  US15/084,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20160288819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/16 Steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/185 adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/189 the entire column being tiltable as a unit

Abstract

A steering column device includes a cylindrical inner jacket; a cylindrical outer jacket in which the inner jacket is slidably inserted; and a steering shaft rotatably supported in the inner jacket and the outer jacket. The outer jacket is divided into a molded first half member and a molded second half member at a plane including an axis of the outer jacket. According to this steering column device, in molding the outer jacket, it is not necessary to set a draft for a core along the axial direction on the inner circumferential surface of the outer jacket.

Claims

1. A steering column device comprising:

a cylindrical inner jacket;

a cylindrical outer jacket in which the inner jacket is slidably inserted; and

a steering shaft rotatably supported in the inner jacket and the outer jacket,

wherein the outer jacket is divided into a molded first half member and a molded second half member at a plane including an axis of the outer jacket,

wherein the outer jacket comprises a particular groove on an inner circumferential surface of the outer jacket, and

the particular groove receives a particular member that limits an axial movement of the inner jacket relative to the outer jacket, the particular member setting a limit position in a rearward side of a vehicle in the axial movement of the inner jacket and being provided on the inner jacket, and

wherein the particular groove has a structure that does not directly communicate with an outside and is formed along an axial direction of the outer jacket.

2. The steering column device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer jacket comprises a second groove on an inner circumferential surface of the outer jacket, the second groove extending along an axial direction of the outer jacket and providing weight reduction of the outer jacket.

3. The steering column device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer jacket comprises a plurality of second grooves on an inner circumferential surface of the outer jacket, the plurality of second grooves being arranged at intervals along a circumferential direction of the outer jacket, each of the plurality of second grooves extending along an axial direction of the outer jacket and providing weight reduction of the outer jacket.

4. The steering column device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer jacket comprises a first groove on an inner circumferential surface of the outer jacket along a circumferential direction of the outer jacket, the first groove receiving therein a first member.

5. The steering column device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first member is a bearing that supports the steering shaft in the outer jacket.