Nsk Corporation

Makoto Nagasawa

Suguru Sugishita

Naoto Akutsu

Takahiro Maniwa

Ryoichi Suzuki

Kiyoshi Sadakata

Shuhei Ikeda

A guide memberincludes a cylindrical portionfitted to a front end of a pinion shaftand extending on the side of an opposite yoke and a slit engagement plateextending on the side of the pinion shaftfrom a portion, on the side of the pinion shaft, of the cylindrical portionand engaging with a slitof a yoke, the cylindrical portionbeing inserted first in a clamp portionof the yokeupon the yokebeing fitted to the pinion shaft, the yokebeing rotatably guided by the cylindrical portion

Steering apparatus

In an upper end portion of a front end portion of an outer column, a cutout which is opened to a front end edge of the outer column is provided in a state of being overlapped on a front end portion of an outer shaft in a radial direction. Accordingly, during insertion work, a state of core dislocation can be visually confirmed through the cutout.

Telescopic steering device

Construction is achieved that is capable of maintaining overall strength of a cylindrical-shaped steering column, while at the same time making it possible to make the thickness part of the steering column thin. An outer column, which is a column member of a steering column is formed by connecting in the axial direction a main portionmade using a light metal alloy with a cylindrical membermade of an iron-based alloy. A ringmade using a metallic material is fitted and fastened to the inner diameter side of the cylindrical memberin the connecting section between the main portionand the cylindrical member. The inner diameter of the ringis equal to or greater than the inner diameter of the portion of the main portionthat is separated in the axial direction from the connecting section with the cylindrical member, and is equal to or less than the inner diameter of the cylindrical member

Steering column and manufacturing method thereof, and steering apparatus using this steering column

A steering column has an overall hollow and cylindrical shape at least part of which is formed using a column member. The column member includes a main body portion having one-side end section and the other-side end section and a cylindrical member having one-side end section and the other-side section. The cylindrical member is joined in the axial direction with respect to the main body portion by fitting and fastening the other-side end section of the cylindrical member inside the one-side end section of the main body portion. The inner diameter of the end surface of the other-side end section of the cylindrical member is smaller than the inner diameter of a portion of the other-side end section of the cylindrical member. The portion of the other end section of the cylindrical member constitutes a joined section between the main body and the cylindrical member.

Steering column and manufacturing method thereof

Construction of an outer column for a telescopic steering apparatus is achieved in which sufficient strength is maintained even when a steering lock apparatus is assembled, and smooth operation is maintained when making it possible to adjust the forward/backward position of a steering wheel, and when maintaining the adjusted position. Of the end sectionsof the sub slit sectionsof an approximately H-shaped slitfor expanding or contracting the inner diameter of a fitting support portionof an outer column, the rigidity of the nearest end sectionportion that exists in the location closest to a lock through holeand of the furthest end sectionportion that exists in a location diagonally from the nearest end section, is greater than the rigidity of the end sectionsin the remaining two locations. Moreover, convex sectionsare provided at two locations in the up/down direction on the outside surfaces of each of a pair of held plate sections

Telescopic steering apparatus and outer column

Construction of an outer column for a telescopic steering apparatus is achieved that maintains sufficient strength, and maintains smooth operation of the work of making it possible to adjust the forward-backward position of a steering wheel and maintaining the steering wheel at the adjusted position even when a steering-lock apparatus is assembled. An approximately H-shaped slitfor expanding or contracting the inner diameter of a fitting-holding portionof an outer columncomprises a main-slit sectionand a pair of sub-slit sections. Of the slit-end sectionsof the sub-slit sections, the rigidity in the direction of expansion or contraction of the width of the slitin at least the portion where the closest-end sectionthat is located in a portion closest to a lock through holeis formed is greater than the rigidity in the direction of expansion or contraction of the width of the slitin the portions where the other slit-end sections 41are formed.

Outer column for telescopic steering apparatus

Construction is achieved wherein a steering wheel can displace smoothly in the forward direction during a secondary collision, even when an electric motorof an electric power steering apparatus protrudes to the side. The distances from the center axis of the steering columnto the connecting sections between the installation plate sectionsand a portionfastened to the vehicle body are different from each other on both sides of the steering column, such that the distance Le for the installation plate sectionlocated on the side where the electric motoris located is shorter than the distance Lf for the installation plate sectionthat is located on the opposite side from the electric motor. The ratio of a separation load that is applied to the installation plate sectionon the side where the electric motoris located is made to be large. The tendency for the dropping away toward the front on the side where the electric motor, having a large inertial mass, is located, being difficult, is cancelled out by the ease of the dropping away of the installation plate section

Impact absorbing steering apparatus

Construction is achieved that is capable of maintaining overall strength of a cylindrical-shaped steering column, while at the same time making it possible to make the thickness part of the steering column thin. An outer column, which is a column member of a steering column is formed by connecting in the axial direction a main portionmade using a light metal alloy with a cylindrical membermade of an iron-based alloy by a concave groovethat is formed around the outer circumferential surface of the front end section of the cylindrical memberengaging with a protrusionthat is formed around the inner circumferential surface of the rear end section of the main portion. A ringmade using a metallic material is fitted and fastened inside the inner diameter side of the cylindrical memberin the connecting section between the main portionand the cylindrical member

Manufacturing method for a steering column, and steering apparatus that uses that steering column

Construction is achieved wherein the rear section of a steering columncan be prevented from displacing upward regardless of the occurrence of a secondary collision, and thus can effectively protect the driver. Capsulesare supported by a bracket on the vehicle body side. An installation plate sectionof a bracketon the housing side is held between a top plate sectionand bottom plate sectionof each of the capsulesso that the installation plate sectioncan displace in the forward direction during a secondary collision. The top and bottom plate sectionsextend forward to a position where they can support the installation plate sectioneven when the bracketon the housing side has displaced in the forward direction due to a secondary collision. Alternatively, a suspended arm that functions in the same way is provided on the bracket on the vehicle body side.

Construction is achieved wherein a steering wheel can displace smoothly in the forward direction during a secondary collision, even when an electric motorof an electric power steering apparatus protrudes to the side. Members are located between a pair of left and right installation plate sections, which are provided on a bracketon the column side that is supported by a steering column, and a portion that is fastened to the vehicle body, and connected and fastened to both of these; and by making the rigidity or friction coefficient of these members different from each other, the load required for the installation plate sectionsto drop away toward the front from the portion fastened to the vehicle body is made to be large on the side far from the electric motorand less on the side near to the electric motor. Therefore, the tendency for the dropping away toward the front on the side where the electric motor, having a large inertial mass, is located, being difficult, is cancelled out by the ease of the dropping away of the installation plate section

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Gunma, Japan

Makoto Nagasawa