TELESCOPIC ADJUSTING ELECTRIC POWER STEERING APPARATUS

• US 20080079253A1
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NSK Limited
• Original Assignee: NSK Limited
• Inventors: SEKII, Yoshiyuki, CHIKARAISHI, Kazuo, TATEWAKI, Osamu
• Application Number:
  US11/779,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20080079253A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/195 Yieldable supports for the steering column

Abstract

A telescopic adjusting electric power steering apparatus has a steering column 12 having an outer column 12a and an inner column 12b connected so as to be relatively extended and contracted, and rotatably supporting a steering shaft attaching a steering wheel 13 thereto; and an electric actuator 50 having one end portion attached to the outer column 12a and the other end portion attached to the inner column 12b, and extending and contracting the outer column 12a and the inner column 12b; wherein the electric actuator 50 has a rotation obstructing member 59 for obstructing relative rotation of the outer column 12a and the inner column 12b.

Claims

1. A telescopic adjusting electric power steering apparatus comprising:

a steering shaft to which a steering wheel is attached;

a steering column which rotatably supports the steering shaft, and comprises an outer column and an inner column connected each other so as to be relatively extended and contracted; and

an electric actuator which extends and contracts the outer column and the inner column, wherein

one end of the electric actuator is attached to the outer column, and the other end of the electric actuator is attached to the inner column, and

the electric actuator comprises a rotation obstructing member that obstructs relative rotation between the outer column and the inner column.

2. The telescopic adjusting electric power steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric actuator comprises:

a connecting plate fixed to one of the outer column and the inner column; and

a linear motion mechanism that converts a rotational motion into a linear motion and fixed to the other of the outer column and the inner column, wherein

the linear motion mechanism comprises a rod of which one end is supported in the connecting plate, and

the rotation obstructing member comprises a rotation obstructing plate that is engaged with the rod and is fixed to the other of the outer column and the inner column.

3. The telescopic adjusting electric power steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the rotation obstructing plate comprises a backlash restraining mechanism that restrains a radial backlash generated between the rotation obstructing plate and the rod, and

the backlash restraining mechanism is provided in an engaging portion which engages with the rod.

4. The telescopic adjusting electric power steering apparatus according to claim 3, wherein

the backlash restraining mechanism is arranged in the rotation obstructing plate in a direction perpendicular to a plane passing a column center line and a connecting rod center line.

5. The telescopic adjusting electric power steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the motor drives the rod so as to be advanced and retreated in an axial direction,

a contracting portion, which is capable of being contracted when impact load is transmitted, is formed between a free end of the rod and the connecting plate fixed to one of the inner column and the outer column, and

the rotation obstructing plate is engaged with an outer circumferential face of the contracting portion.

6. The telescopic adjusting electric power steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

a lower end of the rod supported by the connecting plate is protruded lower side from the rotation obstructing member,

a C-ring is fixed to the lower end of the rod, and

the C-ring abuts with the rotation obstructing member so as to prevent the rod from failing off from the rotation obstructing plate.