Patent ID: 7412911
Filing Date: 2008-08-19
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A steering column apparatus comprising: a stationary column member having a body mount section by means of which the steering column apparatus is attached to a vehicle body; a movable column member whose one end is supported on the stationary column member nonrotatably about a center axis and movably along the center axis; a column head disposed on the other end of the movable column member; a wheel shaft which is supported rotatable on the column head and which fixes a steering wheel on one end; a column clamp for clamping and unclamping the movable column member in relation to the stationary column member at two or more points which are spaced along the center axis of the movable column member; and a control lever whose operation lever end is positioned in the vicinity of the steering wheel and which is capable of operating the column clamp, wherein the column clamp has a first wedge, a second wedge, and a column clamp shaft; the first wedge and the second wedge are separated in a direction along the center axis of the movable column member, and are supported on the stationary column member movably in a direction parallel to and a direction orthogonal to the center axis of the movable column member; tilt faces to be engaged with other tilt faces disposed on the stationary column member are formed on one end of the first wedge and one end of the second wedge, respectively; clamping surfaces for clamping the movable column member are disposed on the other ends of the first wedge and the second wedge, respectively; the column clamp shaft is disposed on the stationary column member rotatably about an axis which is parallel to the center axis of the movable column member, or movably in a direction parallel to the center axis; rotation or displacement of the column clamp shaft allows the first wedge and the second wedge to move in a direction parallel to the center axis of the movable column member so as to narrow or widen a gap between the first wedge and the second wedge when the column clamp shaft is rotated or displaced; and the movable column member is clamped to the stationary column member such that the clamping surfaces on the other ends of the first wedge and the second wedge clamp the movable column member by narrowing or widening the gap between the first wedge and the second wedge.