Steering wheel position adjustment device

• US 20060219043A1
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yamada Manufacturing Company Limited (Fujimak Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamada Manufacturing Company Limited (Fujimak Corporation)
• Inventors: Takakusaki, Minoru, Fujiu, Isao
• Granted Patent: US 7,469,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/493
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions

Abstract

To provide a steering wheel position adjustment device in a steering device comprising a tilt telescopic adjustment mechanism, in which there is almost no change in operation feeling, particularly prior or posterior to telescopic adjustments, and that can maintain good operation feeling. A column housing, through which a column pipe passes and is fixed thereto, is fitted to a fixed bracket so that the column housing can either freely move or be fixed in the axial direction. The column pipe is inserted slidably in an insertion hole of a pivot housing that is fitted to be able to swing freely and be fixed freely to the front of the column housing in the axial direction. An upper shaft is provided, within the column pipe, that moves together with the column pipe in the axial direction. A lower shaft is provided in the pivot housing. The upper shaft transmits rotation to the lower shaft, and the upper shaft and the lower shaft are connected to be able to slide freely relative to each other.

Claims

1. A steering wheel position adjustment device,

wherein a column housing through which a column pipe passes and is fixed thereto is fitted to a fixed bracket so that the column housing can either freely move or be fixed in the axial direction;

the column pipe is inserted slidably in an insertion hole of a pivot housing that is fitted to be able to swing freely and be fixed freely to the front of the column housing in the axial direction;

an upper shaft is provided, within the column pipe, that moves together with the column pipe in the axial direction;

a lower shaft is provided in the pivot housing;

the upper shaft transmits rotation to the lower shaft, and the upper shaft and the lower shaft are connected to be able to slide freely relative to each other.

5. The steering wheel position adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein a slit-shaped cut-out is formed in the axial direction of the insertion hole of the fastening part of the pivot housing, and on both sides of the cut-out in the width direction fastening bolt holes are formed through which the second fastening adjustment fitting passes.

2. A steering wheel position adjustment device, comprising:

a fixed bracket having fixed support side parts on both sides in the width direction;

a column housing fitted to the fixed bracket so that the column housing can move freely in the axial direction or be fixed as appropriate;

a column pipe that passes through and is fixed to the column housing;

an upper shaft having a transmission shaft part at an end in the axial direction and that is fitted within the column pipe so as to be able to rotate freely;

a pivot housing, through which the column pipe is slidably inserted, and which has an insertion hole provided with a fastening part that fastens and fixes the column pipe at the appropriate position, and which is supported to pivot so as to swing freely and to be fixed freely in the fixed bracket; and

a lower shaft, connected to a transmission shaft part of the upper shaft, having a transmission shaft part to which rotation is transmitted, wherein the lower shaft is fitted to be able to freely rotate within the pivot housing, and

the transmission shaft part of the lower shaft and the transmitted shaft part of the upper shaft are connected to be able to freely slide.

3. The steering wheel position adjustment device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a first fastening adjustment fitting that passes through a set of tilt adjustment elongated holes formed in the fixed support side parts of the fixed bracket and a telescopic elongated hole formed in the column housing for carrying out fastening; and

a second fastening adjustment fitting that passes through another set of tilt adjustment elongated holes and fastening bolt holes formed in the fastening part of the pivot housing for carrying out fastening.

4. The steering wheel position adjustment device according to claim 3, wherein

a link is provided between the first fastening adjustment fitting and the second fastening adjustment fitting, and further comprising a locking lever for fastening, provided on either the first fastening adjustment fitting or the second fastening adjustment fitting.

6. The steering wheel position adjustment device according to claim 2, wherein a slit-shaped cut-out is formed in the axial direction of the insertion hole of the fastening part of the pivot housing, and on both sides of the cut-out in the width direction fastening bolt holes are formed through which the second fastening adjustment fitting passes.

7. The steering wheel position adjustment device according to claim 3, wherein a slit-shaped cut-out is formed in the axial direction of the insertion hole of the fastening part of the pivot housing, and on both sides of the cut-out in the width direction fastening bolt holes are formed through which the second fastening adjustment fitting passes.

8. The steering wheel position adjustment device according to claim 4, wherein a slit-shaped cut-out is formed in the axial direction of the insertion hole of the fastening part of the pivot housing, and on both sides of the cut-out in the width direction fastening bolt holes are formed through which the second fastening adjustment fitting passes.