Nsk Corporation

Satoru Nagasawa

Masaya Jouta

Masaharu Igarashi

Shinichi Fuchigami

A steering device contains a rolling bearing that axially supports a steering shaft to allow rotation, and whose upper column and lower column engage along the axis in a sliding motion in order to provide improved steering wheel operating stability during high-speed driving. The elastic force of an O-ring tightens the outer circumferential surface of a female steering shaft against the cylindrical surface of a bushing. A specific frictional force therefore occurs between the cylindrical surface of the bushing and the outer circumferential surface of the female steering shaft so that handling stability of the steering wheel during high-speed driving is improved. Moreover, vehicle vibrations are prevented from being conveyed to the steering wheel by the O-ring crushed due to the pressing force of the inner circumferential surface of the first lower column and that absorbs the vibration of the female steering shaft.

Steering device

End portions of lower-side telescopic friction plateswhich lie to face a front side of a vehicle body are connected integrally by a connecting portion, and a lower endof the connecting portionis fixed to an outer circumference of an upper-side lower columnA by means of welding. When an upper columnis fastened on to a vehicle body mounting bracketfor tilt and telescopic positioning of the upper column, the lower-side telescopic friction platesand upper-side telescopic friction platesare fastened together. The upper columnand the lower columnare connected together via the lower-side telescopic friction platesand the upper-side telescopic friction plates, whereby the rigidity and vibration properties of a steering apparatus as a whole are enhanced.

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Maebashi, Japan

Satoru Nagasawa