JP2014201268A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device which can achieve miniaturization in the view-point of telescopic adjustment.SOLUTION: In a steering device 1, an outer tube 13 can relatively move to an inner tube 14 along the telescopic direction X. A first guide groove 25 is formed on a fixed bracket 18. A guide shaft 40 fitted with a control lever 48 and connected to the outer tube 13 is inserted in a second guide groove 45 of a guide member 39. The second guide groove 45 guides the guide shaft 40 in one of the telescopic direction X and the tilt direction Z, and the first guide groove 25 guides the guide member 39 in the other of the telescopic direction X and the tilt direction Z.

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering device.

  For example, the steering device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a steering column that rotatably supports a steering shaft to which a steering wheel is fixed. The steering column includes an upper jacket and a lower jacket. The lower end of the lower jacket in the axial direction is supported so as to be rotatable around the tilt center axis. Thereby, it is possible to perform tilt adjustment in which the entire steering column is rotated around the center of the tilt axis. Further, the upper jacket moves relative to the lower jacket in the axial direction (telescopic direction), so that the telescopic adjustment of the steering column is possible.

Further, the steering device includes an upper clamp fixed to the vehicle body, a distance bracket fixed to the upper jacket and disposed inside the upper clamp, a support shaft, and an operation lever connected to an end of the support shaft. And a cam mechanism for achieving tilt lock and telescopic lock in accordance with the turning operation of the operation lever.
The elongated elongated hole forming body attached to the upper clamp is formed with a vertically elongated elongated elongated hole, and the elongated telescopic hole formed body attached to the distance bracket has a long telescopic elongated hole in the telescopic direction. Is formed. The support shaft is inserted into both the long slot for tilting and the long hole for telescopic. As the support shaft moves vertically in the long slot for tilting, the steering column rotates (tilts) together with the support shaft. On the other hand, since the support shaft inserted through the elongated tilt elongated hole cannot move in the telescopic direction, the distance bracket having the telescopic elongated hole (with the support shaft inserted) is attached to the support shaft with the upper jacket. On the other hand, the telescopic adjustment can be performed by relatively moving in the telescopic direction.

JP 2007-137180 A

  A general steering apparatus includes a column cover that covers a steering column, an upper clamp, a distance bracket, and the like. The column cover is formed with an insertion hole through which the end of the support shaft on the operation lever side is inserted. From the column cover, an operation lever attached to the end of the spindle is exposed to the driver side. The column cover is fixed to an upper jacket that moves during tilt adjustment and telescopic adjustment.

  Here, in the case of the steering device of Patent Document 1, the upper jacket moves relative to the support shaft in the telescopic direction during telescopic adjustment. That is, at the time of telescopic adjustment, the support shaft does not follow the upper jacket or the column cover and is stationary. Therefore, in the column cover, in order to avoid interference with the support shaft during telescopic adjustment, an insertion hole through which the support shaft is inserted must be formed long in the telescopic direction. In order to maintain the strength of the column cover, etc., the column cover must be enlarged according to the length of the insertion hole. This makes it difficult to reduce the size of the steering device. Further, if a long (large) insertion hole is formed in the column cover, the design of the column cover may be impaired.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a steering device that can be reduced in size from the viewpoint of telescopic adjustment.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the steering shaft (4) to which the steering member (2) is attached, the hollow inner tube (14), and the inner tube are inserted and parallel to the axial direction (X) of the steering shaft. A hollow outer tube (13) that can move relative to the inner tube along a telescopic direction (X), and is tiltable in a tilt direction (Z) that vertically intersects the telescopic direction. The column tube (5) through which the steering shaft is inserted extends in the intersecting direction (Y) intersecting both the telescopic direction and the tilt direction, and an operation lever (48) is attached to be integrated with the outer tube A guide shaft (40) that is movably connected, and a fixed bracket (18) that is formed with a first guide groove (25) and is fixed to the vehicle body (100). The guide shaft is inserted, and a second guide groove (45) for guiding the guide shaft along one of the telescopic direction and the tilt direction is formed. The first guide groove allows the telescopic direction and the tilt direction. A steering device (1) comprising a guide member (39) guided along one of the other.

The invention according to claim 2 further includes a column cover (6) that covers the column tube, the fixing bracket, and the guide member from the outside in a state where the operation lever is exposed to the outside, and is fixed to the outer tube. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
According to a third aspect of the present invention, the first guide groove extends along the tilt direction, the second guide groove extends along the telescopic direction, and the guide member includes the first guide groove. The guide shaft is guided along the tilt direction while being positioned in the telescopic direction, and the guide shaft is guided along the telescopic direction while being positioned in the tilt direction by the second guide groove. The steering apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the first guide groove extends along the telescopic direction, the second guide groove extends along the tilt direction, and the guide member includes the first guide groove. The guide shaft is guided along the telescopic direction while being positioned in the tilt direction, and the guide shaft is guided along the tilt direction while being positioned in the telescopic direction by the second guide groove. The steering apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.

The invention according to claim 5 further includes a lock / release mechanism (38) for locking the posture of the column tube and releasing the lock in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever. A steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
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, when the telescopic adjustment is performed by moving the outer tube in the telescopic direction, the guide shaft to which the operation lever is attached is fixed in a state of being inserted through the second guide groove of the guide member. It is guided in the telescopic direction by the first guide groove of the bracket. Alternatively, the guide shaft itself is guided in the telescopic direction by the second guide groove of the guide member. In any case, when the column cover is fixed to the outer tube as in the second aspect of the invention, the guide shaft moves integrally with the column cover and the outer tube in the telescopic direction during telescopic adjustment. Thereby, it is not necessary to form a long hole (long in the telescopic direction) for the guide shaft, which is necessary when the guide shaft and the column cover do not move together, in the column cover. Therefore, since the column cover can be made small, the steering device can be downsized from the viewpoint of telescopic adjustment.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the guide member is guided along the tilt direction by the first guide groove of the fixed bracket, and the guide shaft is guided along the telescopic direction by the second guide groove of the guide member. Also good.
The guide member is guided along the telescopic direction by the first guide groove of the fixed bracket, and the guide shaft is guided along the tilt direction by the second guide groove of the guide member. Also good.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the column tube posture can be locked in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever attached to the guide shaft, or the lock can be released for tilt adjustment or telescopic adjustment. it can.

FIG. 1 is a view of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the left side of a vehicle body, and is a schematic view partially showing a cross section. FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a main part of the steering device. FIG. 3 is a schematic left side view of the steering device. FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a main part of a steering device according to a modification of the present invention.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a view of a steering device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the left side of a vehicle body 100, and is a schematic view partially showing a cross section. FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a main part of the steering device 1. FIG. 3 is a schematic left side view of the steering device 1.
In FIGS. 1 and 3, the left side of the drawing is the front side of the vehicle body 100 on which the steering device 1 is provided, and the right side of the drawing is the rear side of the vehicle body 100 (the driver side in the vehicle). 2 and 4, the left rear side of the drawing is the front side of the vehicle body 100, and the right front side of the drawing is the rear side of the vehicle body 100. 1 to 4, the upper side of the drawing is the upper side of the steering device 1, and the lower side of the drawing is the lower side of the steering device 1. The left-right direction described below is based on the left-right direction when the front side is viewed from the rear side of the vehicle body 100 (driver side in the vehicle).

Referring to FIG. 1, a steering device 1 includes a steering member 2 such as a steering wheel, a steering mechanism 3 that steers steered wheels (not shown) in conjunction with steering (rotation) of the steering member 2, A steering shaft 4, a cylindrical column tube 5 and a column cover 6 are mainly included.
For example, a rack and pinion mechanism can be used as the steering mechanism 3.
The steering member 2 and the steering mechanism 3 are mechanically connected via a steering shaft 4, a universal joint 7, an intermediate shaft 8, and the like. The rotation of the steering member 2 is transmitted to the steering mechanism 3 after passing through the steering shaft 4, the universal joint 7, the intermediate shaft 8 and the like in this order. The rotation transmitted to the steering mechanism 3 is converted into an axial movement of a rack shaft (not shown) in the rack and pinion mechanism described above. As a result, the steered wheels connected to the rack shaft are steered.

  The steering shaft 4 extends so as to incline to the rear upper side with respect to the horizontal direction. The direction in which the steering shaft 4 extends is the axial direction X of the steering shaft 4. The steering shaft 4 has an upper shaft 9 and a lower shaft 10 that are coaxially arranged along the axial direction X. The steering member 2 is attached to a rear end portion (also an upper end portion) of the upper shaft 9. A steered mechanism 3 side (strictly speaking, a universal joint 7) is connected to a front end portion (also a lower end portion) of the lower shaft 10. Thereby, the position of the lower shaft 10 is fixed. In this embodiment, the front end portion of the upper shaft 9 is cylindrical, and the lower shaft 10 is inserted into the front end portion of the upper shaft 9 from the front lower side. The upper shaft 9 and the lower shaft 10 are, for example, spline fitted or serrated fitted. Therefore, when the upper shaft 9 slides relative to the lower shaft 10 in the axial direction, the entire steering shaft 4 can expand and contract.

The steering shaft 4 is coaxially inserted (accommodated) in the column tube 5 and is rotatably supported by the column tube 5 via a plurality of bearings 11 and 12.
The column tube 5 includes an outer tube 13 that is also an upper tube and an inner tube 14 that is also a lower tube. The outer tube 13 and the inner tube 14 are hollow, and in this embodiment, are circular. The inner tube 14 has a smaller diameter than the outer tube 13 and is coaxially inserted into the hollow portion of the outer tube 13 from the lower front side. Thereby, the outer tube 13 and the inner tube 14 are fitted so as to be slidable in the axial direction X of the steering shaft 4.

The outer tube 13 rotatably supports the upper shaft 9 via the bearing 11 at the rear end. Further, the outer tube 13 is connected to the upper shaft 9 via the bearing 11 and can move integrally with the upper shaft 9.
The inner tube 14 rotatably supports the lower shaft 10 via a bearing 12 at its front end. A lower tube bracket 15 extending upward is fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the inner tube 14. The lower tube bracket 15 is rotatably supported via a tilt center shaft 17 by a lower fixed bracket 16 fixed to the vehicle body 100. As a result, the entire column tube 5 (including the steering shaft 4) can rotate in the vertical direction of the steering member 2 (referred to as “tilt direction Z”) about the tilt center shaft 17. Hereinafter, the rotation of the column tube 5 may be expressed as “tilt”. By tilting the entire column tube 5 and changing the inclination of the entire column tube 5 with respect to the horizontal direction, the vertical position of the steering member 2 can be adjusted (tilt adjustment).

  In the column tube 5, the position of the inner tube 14 (in the axial direction X) supported by the lower fixing bracket 16 is fixed, and the outer tube 13 is axially moved with respect to the inner tube 14 with the upper shaft 9. Relative movement (slidable) along X is possible. By the relative movement of the outer tube 13, each of the column tube 5 and the steering shaft 4 can expand and contract in the axial direction X. Hereinafter, this expansion and contraction may be expressed as “telescopic”. Telescopic adjustment (telescopic adjustment) is possible by adjusting the amount of expansion / contraction (sometimes referred to as “telescopic amount”) of the column tube 5 (including the steering shaft 4) in the axial direction X. The position of the steering member 2 in the axial direction X can be adjusted by telescopic adjustment. Here, the direction in which the outer tube 13 moves relative to the inner tube 14 is referred to as a telescopic direction. The telescopic direction is a direction parallel to the axial direction X and is the same as the axial direction X. Therefore, the same sign “X” as the axial direction X is given to the telescopic direction. When viewed from the side of the steering device 1 (left-right direction with respect to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body 100), the tilt direction Z intersects the telescopic direction X (axial direction X) vertically. Further, the left-right direction of the vehicle body 100 is referred to as a crossing direction Y. The intersecting direction Y is a direction that intersects (in this embodiment, “orthogonal”) both the telescopic direction X and the tilt direction Z, and is a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG.

The steering device 1 includes a fixed bracket 18 fixed to the vehicle body 100 and a support bracket 19 fixed to the outer tube 13 by welding or the like.
Referring to FIG. 2, the fixing bracket 18 has a substantially U-shaped cross section that is opened downward (upside down) when viewed from the telescopic direction X. The fixed bracket 18 integrally includes a first side plate 21, a second side plate 22, and a connecting plate 23.

  The first side plate 21 and the second side plate 22 have a plate shape that is thin in the intersecting direction Y and extends in the up-down direction (tilt direction Z), and is opposed to each other with an interval in the intersecting direction Y. In this embodiment, the first side plate 21 is disposed on the left side of the second side plate 22. A first guide groove 25 is formed in each of the first side plate 21 and the second side plate 22 so as to penetrate in the cross direction Y. The outline of the first guide groove 25 is a quadrangular shape having two sides extending along the telescopic direction X and two sides extending along the tilt direction Z when viewed from the intersecting direction Y. The first guide groove 25 in FIG. 2 is long in the tilt direction Z. Note that the two sides extending in the tilt direction Z in the quadrangular outline of the first guide groove 25 may not be a perfect straight line, but may be an arc shape along the rotation trajectory of the column tube 5. When viewed from the cross direction Y, the first guide groove 25 of the first side plate 21 and the first guide groove 25 of the second side plate 22 completely coincide.

  Rack teeth 26 extending linearly in the telescopic direction X are formed on the outer side surface (left side surface in FIG. 2) 21A of the first side plate 21 and the outer side surface (right side surface in FIG. Many are formed. When viewed from the telescopic direction X, the individual rack teeth 26 are thinned toward the outside in the cross direction Y (the left side is the rack teeth 26 of the first side plate 21 and the right side is the rack teeth 26 of the second side plate 22). It has a triangular cross section. The rack teeth 26 are formed on both sides of the first guide groove 25 in the telescopic direction X on each of the outer surfaces 21A and 22A. On both sides of the first guide groove 25 in the telescopic direction X, a plurality of rack teeth 26 are formed side by side. That is, on both sides of the first guide groove 25 in the telescopic direction X, one row of rack teeth 26 arranged in the vertical direction is provided.

  In each of the outer side surfaces 21A and 22A, rows of rack teeth 26 on both sides of the first guide groove 25, and first guide grooves 25 (strictly, edges extending in the tilt direction Z in the first guide grooves 25), A flat surface (referred to as a friction surface 27) along the tilt direction Z is formed in between. The friction surface 27 has a belt shape extending in the tilt direction Z, and has at least the same dimensions as the first guide groove 25 in the tilt direction Z. In each of the outer side surfaces 21A and 22A, a pair of friction surfaces 27 is provided so as to edge the first guide groove 25 from both sides in the telescopic direction X.

  The connecting plate 23 extends in the intersecting direction Y and connects the upper ends of the first side plate 21 and the second side plate 22 to each other. The connecting plate 23 is fixed from below with respect to the vehicle body 100 via bolts or the like (see FIG. 1). As a result, the entire fixing bracket 18 is fixed to the vehicle body 100 in a state of being suspended from the vehicle body 100. In this embodiment, the connecting plate 23 is directly fixed to the vehicle body 100, but may be indirectly fixed to the vehicle body 100 via a relay part such as a mounting stay.

The support bracket 19 is also called a distance bracket, and has a U-shaped cross section that opens upward as viewed from the telescopic direction X. The support bracket 19 integrally includes a third side plate 33, a fourth side plate 34, and a connecting plate 35.
The third side plate 33 and the fourth side plate 34 have a plate shape that is thin in the intersecting direction Y and extends in the up-down direction (tilt direction Z), and are disposed to face each other with an interval in the intersecting direction Y. In this embodiment, the third side plate 33 is disposed on the left side of the fourth side plate 34. A round hole 36 is formed in each of the third side plate 33 and the fourth side plate 34 so as to penetrate in the cross direction Y. In FIG. 2, since the round hole 36 of the fourth side plate 34 is hidden, it is indicated by a dotted line. When viewed from the crossing direction Y, the round hole 36 of the third side plate 33 and the round hole 36 of the fourth side plate 34 completely coincide.

  The third side plate 33 and the fourth side plate 34 are disposed between the first side plate 21 and the second side plate 22 of the fixed bracket 18. Specifically, the third side plate 33 is along the inner side surface (right side surface) 21B of the first side plate 21, and the fourth side plate 34 is along the inner side surface (left side surface) 22B of the second side plate 22 of the fixing bracket 18. ing. When viewed from the crossing direction Y, the fixing bracket 18 and the fixing bracket 18 are arranged so that the round holes 36 of the third side plate 33 and the fourth side plate 34 are located inside the first guide grooves 25 of the first side plate 21 and the second side plate 22. A relative position with respect to the support bracket 19 is determined.

  The outer tube 13 of the column tube 5 is disposed between the third side plate 33 and the fourth side plate 34. The upper ends of the third side plate 33 and the fourth side plate 34 are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the outer tube 13 by welding or the like. The outer tube 13 in this state is disposed inside a substantially U-shaped fixing bracket 18 that is upside down. Further, the round holes 36 of the third side plate 33 and the fourth side plate 34 are located at positions shifted downward from the outer tube 13.

The connecting plate 35 extends in the intersecting direction Y, and connects the lower ends of the third side plate 33 and the fourth side plate 34 to each other. The connecting plate 35 faces the outer tube 13 from below at a predetermined interval.
In addition, the steering device 1 includes a lock / release mechanism 38. The lock / release mechanism 38 locks the posture of the column tube 5 in order to fix the adjusted position of the steering member 2, or releases the lock of the column tube 5 in order to adjust the position of the steering member 2 from now on. To do.

The lock / release mechanism 38 includes a guide member 39, a guide shaft 40, a pressure contact / release mechanism 41, and a nut 42.
One guide member 39 is provided on each side of the fixed bracket 18 in the intersecting direction Y (two in total).
Each guide member 39 integrally includes a base portion 43 and a guide portion 44. The base portion 43 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is thin in the intersecting direction Y and elongated in the telescopic direction X.

  The base portion 43 has an outer side surface 43A and an inner side surface 43B that form both side surfaces in the cross direction Y. In the left guide member 39, the left side surface is the outer side surface 43A, and the right side surface is the inner side surface 43B. In the right guide member 39, the right side surface is the outer side surface 43A and the left side surface is the inner side surface 43B. Each of the outer side surface 43A and the inner side surface 43B is flat along the telescopic direction X and the tilt direction Z.

  The guide portion 44 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is shorter than the base portion 43 in the telescopic direction X and thin in the intersecting direction Y. In the telescopic direction X, the guide portion 44 is substantially the same as the dimension (groove width) of the first guide groove 25 of the fixed bracket 18. The guide portion 44 is provided at the center portion in the telescopic direction X on the inner side surface 43 </ b> B of the base portion 43, and protrudes in a direction away from the base portion 43 in the intersecting direction Y.

In each guide member 39, the upper surface (one end surface in the tilt direction Z) of the base portion 43 and the upper surface of the guide portion 44 are flush with each other, and the lower surface (the other end surface in the tilt direction Z) of the base portion 43 and the guide portion. The lower surface of 44 is flush.
Each guide member 39 is formed with a second guide groove 45 that penetrates both the base portion 43 and the guide portion 44 in the intersecting direction Y at a time. The second guide groove 45 extends along the telescopic direction X and is long in the telescopic direction X. In the telescopic direction X, the second guide groove 45 is slightly shorter than the guide portion 44. Both ends of the second guide groove 45 in the telescopic direction X are rounded in an arc shape.

  A plurality of rack teeth 46 extending linearly in the telescopic direction X are formed on the inner side surface 43 </ b> B of the base portion 43 in each guide member 39. Each rack tooth 46 has a substantially triangular cross-section that narrows in a direction away from the base portion 43 in the intersecting direction Y (same as the direction in which the guide portion 44 protrudes from the inner side surface 43B) when viewed from the telescopic direction X. Have. The rack teeth 46 are formed on both sides of the guide portion 44 in the telescopic direction X on the inner side surface 43B. On both sides of the guide portion 44 in the telescopic direction X, a plurality of (here, three on one side) rack teeth 46 are formed side by side. In other words, on both sides of the guide portion 44 in the telescopic direction X, one row of rack teeth 46 arranged in the vertical direction is provided. On the inner side surface 43B, a flat surface (referred to as a friction surface 47) along the tilt direction Z is formed between the row of rack teeth 46 on each side of the base portion 43 and the base portion 43. (See the guide member 39 on the right side). The friction surface 47 has a belt-like shape extending in the tilt direction Z and has substantially the same dimensions as the base portion 43 in the tilt direction Z. On the inner side surface 43B of the base portion 43, a pair of friction surfaces 47 are provided so as to sandwich the guide portion 44 from both sides in the telescopic direction X.

  Such guide members 39 are arranged one by one on both sides (that is, both right and left sides) of the fixing bracket 18 in the cross direction Y. In the left guide member 39, the inner side surface 43B of the base portion 43 is opposed to the outer side surface 21A of the first side plate 21 of the fixing bracket 18 from the intersecting direction Y (left side), and the guide portion 44 is It is fitted in the first guide groove 25 of the side plate 21. In the right guide member 39, the inner side surface 43B of the base portion 43 is opposed to the outer side surface 22A of the second side plate 22 of the fixing bracket 18 from the cross direction Y (right side), and the guide portion 44 is the second side. The side plate 22 is fitted in the first guide groove 25. Since the guide portion 44 can move in the first guide groove 25 along the tilt direction Z, each guide member 39 is guided along the tilt direction Z by the first guide groove 25 in which the guide portion 44 is fitted. . Accordingly, each guide member 39 can slide in the tilt direction Z with respect to the fixed bracket 18. Note that, as described above, the guide portion 44 fitted in the first guide groove 25 in the guide member 39 is substantially the same as the groove width of the first guide groove 25 in the telescopic direction X. Therefore, the guide member 39 is positioned (fixed) with respect to the fixed bracket 18 by the first guide groove 25 in the telescopic direction X.

  The positional relationship between each guide member 39 and the fixed bracket 18 is determined so that the second guide groove 45 of each guide member 39 is always located inside the first guide groove 25 when viewed from the crossing direction Y. Yes. Further, when viewed from the crossing direction Y, each guide member 39 and the fixing bracket 18 are arranged so that each round hole 36 of the support bracket 19 is always overlapped with each first guide groove 25 and each second guide groove 45. The positional relationship with the support bracket 19 is determined.

The relationship between the rack teeth 26 and the friction surface 27 of the fixed bracket 18 and the rack teeth 46 and the friction surface 47 of the guide member 39 will be described later.
The guide shaft 40 includes a shaft portion 40A extending in the intersecting direction Y, and a circular flange-shaped (flat disk shape along the telescopic direction X and tilt direction Z) head portion 40B provided at the right end of the shaft portion 40A. It is the bolt shape which has integrally. A screw portion 40C is formed at the left end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 40A.

  The shaft portion 40A of the guide shaft 40 is overlapped when viewed from the crossing direction Y, and each of the round holes 36 (of the support bracket 19), each of the first guide grooves 25 (of the fixed bracket 18) and each of the first guide grooves 25 (of each guide member 39). The two guide grooves 45 are inserted at a time from the right side. The size (diameter) of the round hole 36 is substantially the same as the diameter of the shaft portion 40A. Therefore, the shaft portion 40A (guide shaft 40) is connected to the support bracket 19 and the outer tube 13 so as to be integrally movable. Further, the groove width (dimension in the tilt direction Z) of the second guide groove 45 is substantially the same as the diameter of the shaft portion 40A. Therefore, the shaft portion 40 </ b> A inserted through the second guide groove 45 can move only in the telescopic direction X within the second guide groove 45. That is, the shaft portion 40A (guide shaft 40) is guided along the telescopic direction X while being positioned in the tilt direction Z by the second guide groove 45.

  The shaft portion 40 </ b> A is spaced downward from the outer tube 13 between the third side plate 33 and the fourth side plate 34 of the support bracket 19. Therefore, the entire guide shaft 40 is not in contact with the outer tube 13. The entire guide shaft 40 is spaced upward from the connecting plate 35 between the lower end portions of the third side plate 33 and the fourth side plate 34, and does not contact the connecting plate 35.

In the guide shaft 40, the head portion 40B is in contact (surface contact) from the right side with respect to the outer surface 43A of the base portion 43 in the right guide member 39, and the left end portion (the screw portion 40C and the screw portion 40C and the shaft portion 40A). A portion adjacent to the screw portion 40C) protrudes to the left of the second guide groove 45 of the left guide member 39.
A nut 42 is assembled to the screw portion 40C from the left side. Although not shown, a configuration (such as a washer) that prevents the nut 42 from loosening may be provided.

In the shaft portion 40A of the guide shaft 40, the pressure contact / release mechanism 41 and the operation lever 48 described above are attached to a portion located between the nut 42 and the left guide member 39. The operation lever 48 can be regarded as a part of the lock / release mechanism 38.
The operation lever 48 will be described first. The operation lever 48 is thin and thin in the intersecting direction Y and has a long and thin plate shape in the telescopic direction X (in FIG. 2, a direction inclined in both the telescopic direction X and the tilt direction Z). In the operation lever 48, a through hole 48A that penetrates the operation lever 48 in the cross direction Y is formed at the front end portion, and a grip (gripping portion) 48B is provided at the rear end portion. The shaft portion 40A is inserted through the through hole 48A. Since the operation lever 48 has a two-sided width (not shown) formed on the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 48A and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 40A inserted through the through-hole 48A, the guide shaft 40 The operation lever 48 is prevented from idling. Therefore, when the driver grasps the grip 48B and moves it up and down, the operation lever 48 and the guide shaft 40 are integrally rotated around the central axis of the guide shaft 40 (rotation of less than 360 degrees).

  The pressure contact / release mechanism 41 is disposed between the operation lever 48 (the portion through which the guide shaft 40 is inserted) and the left guide member 39. The pressure contact / release mechanism 41 includes a first cam 49 on the operation lever 48 side (left side) and a second cam 50 engaged with the first cam 49 from the right side (guide member 39 side). The first cam 49 and the second cam 50 are ring-shaped and are externally fitted to the shaft portion 40 </ b> A of the guide shaft 40.

The inner circumferential surface that defines the hollow portion (not shown) in the first cam 49 and the outer circumferential surface of the portion that is inserted through the hollow portion of the first cam 49 in the shaft portion 40A have a two-sided width (not shown). Etc., the idle rotation of the first cam 49 with respect to the guide shaft 40 is prevented. Therefore, the first cam 49 rotates integrally with the operation lever 48 and the guide shaft 40.
On the other hand, the guide shaft 40 inserted through the hollow portion of the second cam 50 (the portion denoted by reference numeral 50 </ b> A) can rotate relative to the second cam 50. That is, the second cam 50 is prevented from rotating together with the guide shaft 40. Further, the second cam 50 can be moved relative to the guide shaft 40 in the intersecting direction Y (sliding) while being externally fitted to the guide shaft 40.

  The same number (three in FIG. 2) of cam protrusions 51 is formed on the opposing surfaces of the first cam 49 and the second cam 50 (the right side surface of the first cam 49 and the left side surface of the second cam 50). Yes. The cam protrusion 51 of the first cam 49 protrudes to the right toward the second cam 50, and the cam protrusion 51 of the second cam 50 protrudes to the left toward the first cam 49. When a plurality of cam protrusions 51 are provided in each of the first cam 49 and the second cam 50, these cam protrusions 51 are formed side by side at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the first cam 49 and the second cam 50. .

In the state where the column tube 5 is locked, the cam projections 51 of the first cam 49 and the second cam 50 face each other in the intersecting direction Y (climb each other), and the second cam 50 is the first cam. It is away from 49 to the right. Thereby, the space | interval of the 2nd cam 50 in the cross direction Y and the head 40B of the guide shaft 40 is narrowed.
In this state, the second cam 50 is pressed against the outer surface 43A of the base portion 43 of the left guide member 39 from the intersecting direction Y (left side) (which is strongly frictionally engaged, the same applies hereinafter). Yes. Also, the friction surfaces 47 on the inner side surface 43B of the base portion 43 of the left guide member 39 are at the same positions as viewed from the friction surfaces 27 (the cross direction Y) on the outer side surface 21A of the first side plate 21 of the fixed bracket 18. It is pressed against the friction surface 27) from the cross direction Y (left side). Further, each rack tooth 46 of the left guide member 39 meshes with the corresponding rack tooth 26 (at the same position as viewed in the cross direction Y) on the first side plate 21.

  In this state, the head 40B is in pressure contact with the outer side surface 43A of the base portion 43 of the right guide member 39 from the intersecting direction Y (right side). Further, the friction surfaces 47 on the inner side surface 43B of the base portion 43 of the right guide member 39 are at the same positions as viewed from the friction surface 27 (the cross direction Y) on the outer side surface 22A of the second side plate 22 of the fixing bracket 18. It is pressed against the friction surface 27) from the cross direction Y (right side). Further, each rack tooth 46 of the right guide member 39 meshes with the corresponding rack tooth 26 (at the same position as viewed from the cross direction Y) in the second side plate 22.

  Each guide member 39 (the guide inserted into the second guide groove 45 of each guide member 39 by pressure contact between the friction surface 47 of each guide member 39 and the friction surface 27 of the fixed bracket 18 or the meshing of the rack teeth 26 and 46). The movement in the tilt direction Z (including the axis 40) is locked (prohibited). As a result, the outer tube 13 and the support bracket 19 that move together with the guide shaft 40 cannot move in the tilt direction Z, so that the tilt adjustment described above is prohibited. Further, the movement of the guide shaft 40 in the telescopic direction X in the second guide groove 45 of each guide member 39 is locked by the pressure contact between each of the second cam 50 and the head 40B and the outer surface 43A of each guide member 39. Has been. As a result, the outer tube 13 and the support bracket 19 that move together with the guide shaft 40 cannot move in the telescopic direction X, and thus the telescopic adjustment described above is prohibited.

Thus, the posture of the column tube 5 is locked by prohibiting both the tilt adjustment and the telescopic adjustment.
When the operation lever 48 is operated in this state to rotate the guide shaft 40 in one direction (one of clockwise and counterclockwise directions around the guide shaft 40), the first cam 49 and the first cam 49 The cam projections 51 of the two cams 50 do not face each other in the cross direction Y, and the second cam 50 is shifted to the left so as to approach the first cam 49. Thereby, the space | interval of the 2nd cam 50 and the head 40B in the cross direction Y spreads. Then, the pressure contact described above (the pressure contact between the friction surface 47 of each guide member 39 and the friction surface 27 of the fixed bracket 18, the pressure contact between the second cam 50 and the head 40B and the outer side surface 43A of each guide member 39) and The meshing of the rack teeth 26 and 46 is released. As a result, the column tube 5 is unlocked, so that the guide shaft 40 is allowed to move along the first guide groove 25 and the second guide groove 45 on both the left and right sides.

  Specifically, when the column tube 5 is unlocked, the guide shaft 40 (specifically, the guide member 39 in which the guide shaft 40 is inserted into the second guide groove 45) extends along the first guide groove 25. Suppose that it moved in the tilt direction Z. Then, the support bracket 19 and the outer tube 13 move together with the guide shaft 40, so that the entire column tube 5 is tilted. Thereby, the tilt adjustment described above can be performed. Note that the dimension of the first guide groove 25 in the tilt direction Z is a range in which the column tube 5 can be tilted.

  When the guide shaft 40 moves relative to each guide member 39 along the longitudinal direction (telescopic direction X) of the second guide groove 45 in each guide member 39, the guide shaft 40, the support bracket 19, the outer tube 13, Moves along the telescopic direction X. As a result, the entire column tube 5 telescopically enables the telescopic adjustment described above. The dimension of the second guide groove 45 in the telescopic direction X is within a range where the column tube 5 can be telescopic.

Then, after performing the tilt adjustment and the telescopic adjustment, the operation lever 48 is operated to rotate the guide shaft 40 in the direction opposite to the one direction. Then, as described above, the cam protrusions 51 of the first cam 49 and the second cam 50 face each other in the cross direction Y, and the second cam 50 moves away from the first cam 49 to the right side. Thereby, the posture of the column tube 5 is locked again.
As described above, the pressure contact / release mechanism 41 including the guide member 39, the guide shaft 40 and the pressure contact / release mechanism 41 (the first cam 49 and the second cam 50) is interlocked with the operation of the operation lever 48 and the column tube 5. Lock the posture and unlock it. In this case, the posture of the column tube 5 can be locked in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever 48 attached to the guide shaft 40, and the tilt adjustment or telescopic adjustment can be performed by releasing the lock.

As shown in FIG. 1, the column cover 6 is, for example, a resin cylinder, and includes a column tube 5 (driver side portion), a fixing bracket 18, a support bracket 19, and a guide member 39. Most parts of the lock / release mechanism 38 (except for the operation lever 48) are covered from the outside.
The column cover 6 is fixed to the outer tube 13 with screws or the like. Therefore, the column cover 6 can be moved in the telescopic direction X and the tilt direction Z while being integrated with the outer tube 13 during telescopic adjustment and tilt adjustment.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the column cover 6 is formed with an insertion hole 60. The insertion hole 60 penetrates the column cover 6 in the intersecting direction Y at a position overlapping the guide shaft 40 when viewed from the intersecting direction Y, and communicates the inside and the outside of the column cover 6. The insertion hole 60 is a round hole that is slightly larger than the guide shaft 40 (black circle in FIG. 3), the first cam 49, and the second cam 50. The threaded portion 40C of the shaft portion 40A of the guide shaft 40 is inserted into the insertion hole 60 and protrudes outside the column cover 6. Since the nut 42 is assembled to the screw portion 40C and the operation lever 48 is located next to the nut 42, the nut 42 and the operation lever 48 are exposed to the outside from the column cover 6.

FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a main part of a steering device according to a modification of the present invention. 4, the same members as those described in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof may be omitted.
In the embodiment described above, each guide member 39 is guided along the tilt direction Z by the first guide groove 25 of the fixed bracket 18, and the guide shaft 40 is aligned along the telescopic direction X by the second guide groove 45 of each guide member 39. (See FIGS. 1 to 3), but the reverse configuration is also possible.

  Specifically, as shown in the modified example of FIG. 4, the guide members 39 are arranged to be long in the tilt direction Z. In this case, the second guide groove 45 of each guide member 39 extends along the tilt direction Z and is long in the tilt direction Z. Therefore, the guide shaft 40 inserted through the second guide groove 45 is guided along the tilt direction Z while being positioned in the telescopic direction X by the second guide groove 45. In addition, the guide portion 44 in each guide member 39 is smaller than the first guide groove 25 in the telescopic direction X and has substantially the same dimensions as the first guide groove 25 in the tilt direction Z. Therefore, each guide member 39 in which the guide portion 44 is fitted in the first guide groove 25 is guided along the telescopic direction X while being positioned in the tilt direction Z by the first guide groove 25. That is, in the modified example, the guide member 39 is movable in the telescopic direction X.

  In the case of the modified example, portions of the outer surface 21A of the first side plate 21 and the outer surface 22A of the second side plate 22 of the fixed bracket 18 that edge the first guide groove 25 from both sides in the tilt direction Z are the friction surfaces 27 described above. It becomes. In FIG. 4, the rack teeth 26 of the fixed bracket 18 and the rack teeth 46 (see FIG. 2) of the guide member 39 are omitted. In the base portion 43 of the guide member 39, the entire area of the inner side surface 43B has been described above. A friction surface 47 is formed.

  Further, the configuration of the lock / release mechanism 38 may differ in detail from the configuration of the above-described embodiment. For example, in the modification, the direction of the guide shaft 40 is opposite to that of the above-described embodiment, the head portion 40B is located at the left end portion of the shaft portion 40A, and the screw portion 40C and the nut are located at the right end portion of the shaft portion 40A. 42 is located. The lock / release mechanism 38 of the modification further includes a pressing member 70, a bearing 71, and a pressing sleeve 72.

  The pressing member 70 integrally includes an annular main body portion 70A and a circular tubular boss portion 70B that extends to the left while surrounding the hollow portion of the main body portion 70A. The hollow part of the main body part 70 </ b> A and the hollow part of the boss part 70 </ b> B are arranged along the intersecting direction Y, and these hollow parts are the hollow part 70 </ b> C of the entire pressing member 70. The pressing member 70 is attached to the right guide member 39 from the right side. In the pressing member 70, the boss portion 70 </ b> B is fitted into the second guide groove 45 of the right guide member 39 from the right side. The shaft portion 40A of the guide shaft 40 is inserted into the hollow portion 70C of the pressing member 70. In the second guide groove 45 of the right guide member 39, the guide shaft 40 is guided along the tilt direction Z by the second guide groove 45 while being covered with the boss portion 70 </ b> B of the pressing member 70. . In this case, the outer diameter (diameter) of the boss portion 70B and the groove width (dimension in the telescopic direction X) of the second guide groove 45 are substantially the same. Accordingly, the guide shaft 40 is guided along the tilt direction Z while being positioned in the telescopic direction X by the second guide groove 45 of the right guide member 39.

  Also, the second cam 50 described above is integrally provided with a boss portion 50B similar to the boss portion 70B. The hollow portion of the boss portion 50B is a part of the hollow portion 50A of the entire second cam 50. In the second cam 50, the boss 50B is fitted into the second guide groove 45 of the left guide member 39 from the left side. In the second guide groove 45 of the left guide member 39, the guide shaft 40 is guided along the tilt direction Z by the second guide groove 45 in a state of being covered by the boss portion 50B of the second cam 50. Yes. In this case, the outer diameter (diameter) of the boss portion 70B and the groove width (dimension in the telescopic direction X) of the second guide groove 45 are substantially the same. Accordingly, the guide shaft 40 is guided along the tilt direction Z while being positioned in the telescopic direction X by the second guide groove 45 of the left guide member 39.

The bearing 71 is, for example, a needle roller bearing and has an annular shape. A bearing 71 is interposed between the nut 42 assembled to the screw portion 40 </ b> C of the guide shaft 40 and the main body portion 70 </ b> A of the pressing member 70. Thereby, the friction between the nut 42 and the pressing member 70 when the guide shaft 40 rotates can be reduced.
Even in the case of the modification, in the state where the column tube 5 is locked, the cam projections 51 of the first cam 49 and the second cam 50 are opposed to each other in the cross direction Y, and the second cam 50 is the first cam. It is away from 49 to the right. Thereby, the space | interval of the 2nd cam 50 and the main-body part 70A of the press member 70 in the cross direction Y is narrowed.

  In this state, the second cam 50 (portion other than the boss portion 50B) is in pressure contact with the outer side surface 43A of the base portion 43 of the left guide member 39. Further, the friction surface 47 on the inner side surface 43B of the base portion 43 of the left guide member 39 is the friction surface 27 on the outer side surface 21A of the first side plate 21 of the fixed bracket 18 (the friction surface at the same position as viewed from the cross direction Y). 27) is in pressure contact with the cross direction Y (left side).

  In this state, the main body portion 70 </ b> A of the pressing member 70 is in pressure contact with the outer side surface 43 </ b> A of the base portion 43 of the right guide member 39. Further, the friction surface 47 on the inner side surface 43B of the base portion 43 of the right guide member 39 is the friction surface 27 on the outer side surface 22A of the second side plate 22 of the fixing bracket 18 (the friction surface at the same position as viewed from the cross direction Y). 27) is in pressure contact with the cross direction Y (right side).

  By the pressure contact of the friction surface 47 of each guide member 39 against the friction surface 27 of the fixed bracket 18, the movement of each guide member 39 (that is, the guide shaft 40, the outer tube 13 and the support bracket 19) in the telescopic direction X is locked. Yes. Further, the guide shaft 40 (that is, the outer tube 13 and the support bracket 19) in the second guide groove 45 of each guide member 39 in the tilt direction Z by the press contact of the second cam 50 and the pressing member 70 to each guide member 39. The movement of is locked. Thereby, both the telescopic adjustment and the tilt adjustment described above are prohibited, and the posture of the column tube 5 is locked.

  When the operation lever 48 is operated in this state to rotate the guide shaft 40 in the one direction, the cam projections 51 of the first cam 49 and the second cam 50 do not face each other in the cross direction Y, and the second cam 50 shifts to the left so as to approach the first cam 49. Thereby, since the space | interval of the 2nd cam 50 and the main-body part 70A of the press member 70 in the cross direction Y spreads, the press-contact mentioned above is cancelled | released. As a result, the column tube 5 is unlocked, and the guide shaft 40 is allowed to move along the first guide groove 25 and the second guide groove 45 on both the left and right sides.

  With the column tube 5 unlocked, the guide shaft 40 (specifically, the guide member 39 with the guide shaft 40 inserted through the second guide groove 45) is guided by the first guide groove 25 in the telescopic direction X. Suppose you move along. Then, the support bracket 19 and the outer tube 13 move together with the guide members 39 and the guide shaft 40, so that the entire column tube 5 telescopes. Thereby, the telescopic adjustment described above becomes possible. In addition, the dimension in the telescopic direction X of the 1st guide groove 25 is the range which can telescope the column tube 5. FIG.

  Further, when the guide shaft 40 moves relative to each guide member 39 along the longitudinal direction (tilt direction Z) of the second guide groove 45 in each guide member 39, the guide shaft 40, the support bracket 19, the outer tube 13, Moves along the longitudinal direction of the second guide groove 45. As a result, the entire column tube 5 is tilted, so that the tilt adjustment described above can be performed. Note that the dimension of the second guide groove 45 in the tilt direction Z is a range in which the column tube 5 can be tilted.

When the operation lever 48 is operated to rotate the guide shaft 40 in the direction opposite to the one direction, the cam protrusions 51 of the first cam 49 and the second cam 50 are in the cross direction Y as described above. The second cam 50 moves away from the first cam 49 to the right. Thereby, the posture of the column tube 5 is locked again.
The aforementioned pressing sleeve 72 has a cylindrical shape. The pressing sleeve 72 is connected to the outer periphery of the guide shaft 40 (the portion between the third side plate 33 and the fourth side plate 34 of the support bracket 19) so as to be integrally rotatable by spline fitting or the like. On the outer periphery of the pressing sleeve 72, a pressing portion 72A formed of a cam-like protrusion is provided so as to be integrally rotatable. As described above, in the state where the column tube 5 is in the locked position, the pressing portion 72A pushes up the inner tube 14 through an opening (not shown) provided on the lower outer peripheral surface of the outer tube 13. Yes. Thereby, since the upper outer peripheral surface of the inner tube 14 is pressed against the upper inner peripheral surface of the outer tube 13 from below, the radial play of the inner tube 14 with respect to the outer tube 13 is suppressed, Relative movement of the outer tube 13 with respect to the inner tube 14 is prohibited. On the other hand, when the operation lever 48 is operated to release the lock of the column tube 5 and the guide shaft 40 is rotated in one direction as described above, the pressing portion 72A is released from the opening (not shown) of the outer tube 13 described above. Shift downwards. Thereby, the pressing of the inner tube 14 against the outer tube 13 is released, so that the telescopic adjustment described above can be performed.

  As described above, in any of the above-described embodiments and modifications, in the steering apparatus 1, the second guide groove 45 guides the guide shaft 40 along one of the telescopic direction X and the tilt direction Z, and instead Further, the first guide groove 25 guides the guide member 39 along one of the telescopic direction X and the tilt direction Z. In the case of the above-described embodiment (see FIGS. 1 to 3), the second guide groove 45 guides the guide shaft 40 along the telescopic direction X, and instead, the first guide groove 25 guides the guide member 39 in the tilt direction Z. Guide along. In the modified example (see FIG. 4), the second guide groove 45 guides the guide shaft 40 along the tilt direction Z, and instead the first guide groove 25 guides the guide member 39 along the telescopic direction X. .

  Therefore, when the telescopic adjustment is performed by moving the outer tube 13 in the telescopic direction X, the guide shaft 40 to which the operation lever 48 is attached is inserted into the second guide groove 45 of the guide member 39 and the fixed bracket 18. The first guide groove 25 guides in the telescopic direction X (in the case of a modification). Alternatively, the guide shaft 40 itself is guided in the telescopic direction X by the second guide groove 45 of the guide member 39 (in the case of the above-described embodiment). In any case, the guide shaft 40 moves integrally with the column cover 6 and the outer tube 13 in the telescopic direction X during telescopic adjustment. Thereby, it is not necessary to lengthen the insertion hole 60 (see FIG. 3) of the column cover 6 in the telescopic direction X. That is, it is not necessary to form in the column cover 6 a long hole (long in the telescopic direction X) for the guide shaft 40 that is necessary when the guide shaft 40 and the column cover 6 do not move together. Therefore, since the column cover 6 can be made small, the size of the steering device 1 can be reduced from the viewpoint of telescopic adjustment.

Further, since the guide shaft 40 moves integrally with the column cover 6 and the outer tube 13 not only in the telescopic direction X but also in the tilt direction Z, the insertion hole 60 of the column cover 6 is inserted in both the telescopic direction X and the tilt direction Z. It doesn't have to be long. As a result, the column cover 6 and the steering device 1 can be further reduced in size.
Further, the space in the vehicle can be widened as the column cover 6 becomes smaller.

  Furthermore, since the guide shaft 40 moves integrally with the outer tube 13, referring to FIG. 1, the steering member 2 attached to the upper shaft 9 that moves integrally with the outer tube 13 and the guide shaft 40 The distance (the distance in the telescopic direction X) is always constant. As a result, the moment acting on the steering shaft 4 and the column tube 5 with the guide shaft 40 as a fulcrum is always constant regardless of the telescopic adjustment content (the telescopic amount described above). The vibration characteristics can be stabilized, and the collision load in the secondary collision can be stably 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, in the above-described embodiment, the telescopic lock and the tilt lock are achieved mainly using friction. Therefore, necessary frictional force is obtained from the friction engaging portions (contact portions between the friction surfaces 27 and 47 and the second cam 50 and the head 40B of the guide shaft 40 and the outer surface 43A of the guide member 39). As shown in FIG. This also applies to the modified example. That is, in the modified example, the contact portions between the friction surfaces 27 and 47, the second cam 50 and the pressing member 70, and the outer surface 43A of the guide member 39 may be roughened.

  Further, since telescopic locking and tilt locking are achieved mainly using friction, the rack teeth 26 and 46 (so-called tooth lock structure) described above can be omitted as necessary. The friction and the tooth lock structure may be used in combination, and the same rack teeth may be provided at a portion where the second cam 50 or the head 40B (of the guide shaft 40) and the guide member 39 face each other. This also applies to the modified example. In other words, in the modified example, a tooth lock structure may be provided in the facing portion between each guide member 39 and the fixed bracket 18, or in the facing portion between each of the second cam 50 and the pressing member 70 and the outer surface 43 </ b> A of the guide member 39. Good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steering device, 2 ... Steering member, 4 ... Steering shaft, 5 ... Column tube, 6 ... Column cover, 13 ... Outer tube, 14 ... Inner tube, 18 ... Fixed bracket, 25 ... First guide groove, 38 ... Lock Release mechanism, 39 ... guide member, 40 ... guide shaft, 45 ... second guide groove, 48 ... operating lever, 100 ... vehicle body, X ... axial direction (telescopic direction), Y ... crossing direction, Z ... tilt direction

Claims (5)

A steering shaft to which a steering member is attached;
A hollow inner tube, and a hollow outer tube through which the inner tube is inserted and movable relative to the inner tube along a telescopic direction parallel to the axial direction of the steering shaft. A column tube that can be tilted in a tilt direction that intersects vertically and through which the steering shaft is inserted;
A guide shaft extending in a crossing direction intersecting both the telescopic direction and the tilting direction, to which an operation lever is attached, and connected to the outer tube so as to be integrally movable;
A fixed bracket formed with a first guide groove and fixed to the vehicle body;
The guide shaft is inserted, a second guide groove for guiding the guide shaft along one of the telescopic direction and the tilt direction is formed, and the other one of the telescopic direction and the tilt direction is formed by the first guide groove. And a guide member guided along the steering wheel.   The steering according to claim 1, further comprising a column cover that covers the column tube, the fixing bracket, and the guide member from outside with the operation lever exposed to the outside, and is fixed to the outer tube. apparatus. The first guide groove extends along the tilt direction, and the second guide groove extends along the telescopic direction.
The guide member is guided along the tilt direction while being positioned in the telescopic direction by the first guide groove,
The steering apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide shaft is guided along the telescopic direction while being positioned in the tilt direction by the second guide groove. The first guide groove extends along the telescopic direction, and the second guide groove extends along the tilt direction;
The guide member is guided along the telescopic direction while being positioned in the tilt direction by the first guide groove,
The steering apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide shaft is guided along the tilt direction while being positioned in the telescopic direction by the second guide groove.   5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lock / release mechanism that locks or releases the column tube in conjunction with the operation of the operation lever. Steering device.

Images