STEERING DEVICE

• US 20150251684A1
• Filed: 08/23/2013
• Published: 09/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KYB Corp.
• Original Assignee: Kayaba Industry Company Limited (KYB Corp.)
• Inventors: Chiba, Shuhei
• Granted Patent: US 9,533,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/05 associated with the steering wheel, steering hand lever or steering column yieldable steering columns B62D1/18
• 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 1/192 Yieldable or collapsible columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/195 Yieldable supports for the steering column

Abstract

An impact absorbing device includes an impact absorbing plate provided integrally with the second column tube, the impact absorbing plate being configured to absorb the impact energy, and a pressing member provided integrally with the first column tube, the pressing member being configured to generate deformation resistance by pressing and deforming the impact absorbing plate. A guide hole extending in the axial direction of the steering shaft is formed on the impact absorbing plate, and a guide that relatively moves along the guide hole upon relative movement in the axial direction of the first column tube and the second column tube is provided integrally with the first column tube.

Claims

1. A steering device that includes an impact absorbing device for absorbing impact energy applied to a steering shaft via a steering wheel comprising,

a steering column that rotatably supports the steering shaft inserted into an interior thereof,

wherein the steering column has a first column tube and a second column tube that are relatively movable in the axial direction,

the impact absorbing device comprises:

an impact absorbing plate provided integrally with the second column tube, the impact absorbing plate being configured to absorb the impact energy; and

a pressing member provided integrally with the first column tube, the pressing member being configured to generate deformation resistance by pressing and deforming the impact absorbing plate,

a guide hole extending in the axial direction of the steering shaft is formed on the impact absorbing plate, and

a guide that relatively moves along the guide hole upon relative movement in the axial direction of the first column tube and the second column tube is provided integrally with the first column tube.

2. A steering device according to claim 1, wherein,

the impact absorbing plate is supported by a supporting portion that moves together with the second column tube at one-end side and is supported by the guide that moves together with the first column tube in a manner that allows relative movement at other-end side.

3. A steering device according to claim 2, wherein,

the impact absorbing plate is a substantially S-shaped member that has linear first, second, and third straight portions, a first circular-arc portion having a semi-circular shape that connects the first straight portion and the second straight portion, and a second circular-arc portion having a semi-circular shape that connects the second straight portion and the third straight portion,

the supporting portion has a pair of flat-surface portions that extend in the axial direction of the steering shaft and a curved-surface portion that is formed on tip ends of the pair of flat-surface portions and that has the outer-circumference shape corresponding to an inner-circumference shape of the first circular-arc portion of the impact absorbing plate, and

the impact absorbing plate is supported by the supporting portion such that the pair of flat-surface portions are sandwiched by the first straight portion and the second straight portion and that the first circular-arc portion faces against the curved-surface portion.

4. A steering device according to claim 3, wherein,

the pressing member has a pair of flat-surface portions that extend in the axial direction of the steering shaft and a curved-surface portion that is formed on the tip ends of the pair of flat-surface portions and that has the outer-circumference shape corresponding to an inner-circumference shape of the second circular-arc portion of the impact absorbing plate, and

the pressing member is arranged such that the curved-surface portion faces against the second circular-arc portion of the impact absorbing plate.

5. A steering device according to claim 1, wherein,

relative movement of the first column tube and the second column tube in detaching direction at or greater than a predetermined level is restricted by bringing the guide into contact with an end portion of the guide hole.