Tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus for vehicle

The present invention relates to a tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus for use in a vehicle. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a conventional structure, which should be provided with both of tilting fixing gears and telescopic fixing gears for locking after a tilt or tilt and telescopic operation, is improved in such a manner that the tilt or tilt and telescopic operation may be locked by a locking member and a linear protruding portion. As a result, an improper tooth-engagement phenomenon (tooth-on-tooth phenomenon) between gear teeth can be prevented, the tilt operation and the telescopic operation can be simultaneously locked, and required components can be reduced such that material costs can be reduced.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0061784, filed on May 30, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus for use in a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus for use in a vehicle, in which a conventional structure, which should be provided with both of tilting fixing gears and telescopic fixing gears for locking after a tilt or tilt and telescopic operation, is improved in such a manner that the tilt or tilt and telescopic operation may be locked by a locking member and a linear protruding portion, so that an improper tooth-engagement phenomenon (tooth-on-tooth phenomenon) between gear teeth can be prevented, the tilt operation and the telescopic operation can be simultaneously locked, and required components can be reduced such that material costs can be reduced.

2. Description of the Prior Art

FIG. 1is a partial exploded perspective view of a tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus for a vehicle.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, a conventional tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus100for a vehicle includes: an outer tube105positioned outside an inner tube103to enclose a part of the inner tube103; the inner tube103configured to enclose a steering shaft101and to be movable inside the outer tube105; a mounting bracket107installed to be capable of supporting the outer tube105on a vehicle body; a support portion108formed with a slit125being provided on a lower portion of the mounting bracket107; a hinge bracket109installed to interconnect a hinge117connected with the inner tube103and the vehicle body; a lower support member111fixedly installed on a lower part of the outer tube105; slots119being formed on both sides of the lower support member111; an adjustment bolt127connected through the slots119of the lower support member111and through an adjustment nut123; a cam131fixedly installed on a moving gear block129and fitted on the adjustment bolt127; a protrusion being provided on a front surface of the cam to form a space for tilt and telescopic adjustment at the time of release action; an adjustment lever133provided with a structure corresponding to the cam131and fitted on the adjustment bolt127; and the adjustment nut123fitted on an end of the adjustment bolt127together with a bush135and provided outside the adjustment lever133.

Meanwhile, the tilt and telescopic locking apparatus includes the moving gear block129, a first telescopic fixing gear113, a second telescopic fixing gear115, a first tilting fixing gear137, and a second tilting fixing gear139.

The moving gear block129is fitted on the adjustment bolt127, and the first telescopic fixing gear113is fixedly installed on the outside of the lower support member111. The second telescopic fixing gear115is installed widthwise on the inside of the moving gear block129to be correspondingly tooth-engaged with the teeth of the first telescopic fixing gear113. The first tilting fixing gear137has an arc shape and is fixedly installed on the outside of the support portion108of the mounting bracket107, and the second tilting fixing gear139is fixedly installed widthwise on the outside of the moving gear block129to be correspondingly tooth-engaged with the teeth of the first tilting fixing gear137.

However, since the conventional tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus for a vehicle which is configured as described above requires all of the moving gear block, the telescopic fixing gears, and the tilting fixing gears for locking after the tilt operation and the telescopic operation, the conventional tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus has problems in that its structure is complicated, a lot of components are required and, thus, the material costs are high.

In addition, there is a problem in that, since an improper tooth-engagement phenomenon (tooth-on-tooth phenomenon) ocurres and thus, the gear teeth are not smoothly tooth-engaged with each other at the time of locking after the tilt operation and the telescopic operation, the tilt and telescopic locking is not smoothly completed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in this background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus for a vehicle, and more particularly, a tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus which improves a conventional structure—which should be provided with both of tilting fixing gears and telescopic fixing gears for locking after a tilt or tilt and telescopic operation in such a manner that the tilt or tilt and telescopic operation may be locked by a locking member and a linear protruding portion, so that an improper tooth-engagement phenomenon (tooth-on-tooth phenomenon) between gear teeth can be prevented, the tilt operation and the telescopic operation can be simultaneously locked, and required components can be reduced such that the material costs can be reduced.

The object of present invention is not limited to the above-described object and other objects not described herein will be clearly understood from the following description by a person ordinarily skilled in the art.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus for use in a vehicle. The steering wheel includes: a plate bracket extending on both sides of a telescopic guide portion protruding on an outer circumferential surface of an outer tube, the telescopic guide portion being formed with an axial telescopic elongated hole and the plate bracket being formed with tilt elongated holes which face each other; a cam member including a fixed cam which is coupled to one side of the plate bracket and formed with several first protrusions on one side thereof, and an operating cam which is coupled to a control lever and formed with several second protrusions, the second protrusions correspondingly abutting on the first protrusions; an adjustment bolt extending through the telescopic elongated hole and the tilt elongated holes, the cam member being coupled to one end of the adjustment bolt and a head portion being formed on the other end of the adjustment bolt; a linear protruding portion formed on an outer surface of the telescopic guide portion along the telescopic elongated hole; and a locking member coupled to one side of the plate bracket facing the linear protruding portion, the locking member being formed with a slot in a tilt direction and several rolling members being provided in the slot such that, when the control lever is locked, the linear protruding portion is inserted between the rolling members to lock the tilt or tilt and telescopic operation.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a conventional structure—which should be provided with both tilting fixing gears and telescopic fixing gears for locking after a tilt or tilt and telescopic operation—is improved in such a manner that the tilt or tilt and telescopic operation may be locked by a locking member and a linear protruding portion. As a result, an improper tooth-engagement phenomenon (tooth-on-tooth phenomenon) between gear teeth can be prevented, the tilt operation and the telescopic operation can be simultaneously locked, and required components can be reduced such that material costs can be reduced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, some exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to illustrative drawings. In the description of the elements of the present invention, terms “first”, “second”, “A”, “B”, “(a)”, “(b)” and the like may be used. These terms are merely used to distinguish one structural element from other structural elements, and a property, an order, a sequence and the like of a corresponding structural element are not limited by the term. It should be noted that if it is described in the specification that one component is “connected,” “coupled” or “joined” to another component, a third component may be “connected,” “coupled,” and “joined” between the first and second components, although the first component may be directly connected, coupled or joined to the second component.

FIG. 2is a perspective view illustrating a tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3is a perspective view illustrating a part ofFIG. 2.FIG. 4is an exploded perspective view ofFIG. 3.FIG. 5is a side view ofFIG. 2.FIG. 6is an enlarged view of a part ofFIG. 2.FIG. 7is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ inFIG. 6.

As illustrated in the drawings, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus200for use in a vehicle includes: a plate bracket237extending on both sides of a telescopic guide portion233protruding on outer circumferential surface of an outer tube211, the telescopic guide portion233being formed with an axial telescopic elongated hole321and the plate bracket233being formed with tilt elongated holes235which face each other; a cam member including a fixed cam251, which is coupled to one side of the plate bracket237and formed with several first protrusions451on one side thereof, and an operating cam255, which is coupled to a control lever253and formed with several second protrusions455, the second protrusions455correspondingly abutting on the first protrusions451; an adjustment bolt401extending through the telescopic elongated hole231and the tilt elongated holes235, the cam member being coupled to one end of the adjustment bolt401and a head portion301being formed on the other end of the adjustment bolt401; a linear protruding portion239formed on an outer surface of the telescopic guide portion233along the telescopic elongated hole231; and a locking member310coupled to one side of the plate bracket237facing the linear protruding portion239, the locking member310being formed with a slot303in a tilt direction and several rolling members305being provided in the slot303such that, when the control lever253is locked, the linear protruding portion239is inserted between the rolling members305to lock the tilt or tilt and telescopic operation.

An inner tube203is formed in a hollow tube shape and a steering shaft201is inserted into the inner tube203.

The outer tube211is formed in a hollow tube shape, and the inner tube203is inserted into the outer tube211.

Meanwhile, the telescopic guide portion233protrudes on the outer circumferential surface of the outer tube211, and the telescopic elongated hole231is formed in the telescopic guide portion233in the axial direction. The plate bracket237extends on the both sides of the telescopic guide portion233.

That is, the plate bracket237is formed in a substantially “∩” shape to wrap around the outer circumferential surface of the outer tube211and extend on the both sides of the telescopic guide portion233. The tilt elongated holes235which face with each other are formed in the plate bracket237. The plate bracket237is coupled with a mounting bracket271, and the mounting bracket271is coupled to a vehicle body via capsules273.

The cam member includes the fixed cam251and the operating cam255in which the fixed cam251is coupled to one side of the plate bracket237and has a structure in which several first protrusions451are formed on one surface of the fixed cam251.

In addition, the operating cam255is provided with second protrusions455which correspondingly abut on the first protrusions451of the fixed cam251, and the operating cam255is coupled with the control lever253. Thus, when a driver rotates the control lever253in one direction to lock the control lever253, the second protrusions455of the operating cam255move along the first protrusions451of the fixed cam251such that the operating cam255and the fixed cam251are spaced apart from each other and the fixed cam251compresses and tightens the plate bracket237, thereby locking the tilt or telescopic operation.

On the contrary, when the driver rotates the control lever253in the other direction to release the control lever253, the operating cam255and the fixed cam251, which have been spaced apart from each other, are returned to the original positions thereof such that the plate bracket237, which has been compressed and tightened, are expanded, thereby allowing the tilt or telescopic operation.

Subsequently, the adjustment bolt401is coupled through the telescopic elongated hole231and the tilt elongated holes235. The adjustment bolt401has a structure in which the cam member, a bearing411, and a fixing nut413are sequentially fitted on one end of the adjustment bolt401, and the head portion301is formed on the other end.

Meanwhile, the adjustment bolt401may be further provided with a support tube330. That is, the support tube330is provided between the opposite portions of the plate bracket237and the adjustment bolt401is coupled through the support tube330.

In addition, an elastic member430may be provided between the other surface of the fixed cam251and the support tube330.

That is, the support tube330functions to support the elastic member430. When the driver releases the control lever253, the elastic member430pushes the fixed cam251outwardly in relation to the plate bracket237such that the plate bracket237is smoothly expanded. As a result, the linear protruding portion239is released from the rolling members305of the locking member310such that the linear protruding portion239and the rolling members305do not interfere with each other during the tilt or telescopic operation.

Meanwhile, the support tube330may be further formed with a stepped support recess421such that one end of the elastic member430is inserted into and supported in the support recess421. In addition, on the other surface of the fixed cam251, a stepped accommodation recess453may also be formed such that the other end of the elastic member430is inserted into and supported in the accommodation recess453. When the support recess421and the accommodation recess453which support the opposite ends of the elastic member430are respectively formed on the support tube330and the other surface of the fixed cam251as described above, the elastic member430may be stably positioned between the fixed cam251and the support tube330.

The linear protruding portion239is formed on the outer surface of the telescopic guide portion233along the telescopic elongated hole231. When the driver locks the control lever253, the linear protruding portion239is inserted between the rolling members305of the locking member310which will be described later, thereby locking the tilt operation.

That is, when the driver places the steering shaft201at a desired position and locks the control lever253, the space between the opposite portions of the plate bracket237are narrowed by the action of the cam member and the linear protruding portion239is inserted between the rolling members305of the locking member310. Accordingly, since the linear protruding portion239is fixedly positioned between the rolling members305such that the steering shaft201cannot move in the tilt direction any more, the tilt operation is locked.

In addition, when the tilt operation is locked by the linear protruding portion239and the rolling members305of the locking members310, it is possible to solve the problem in the conventional tilt locking structure using gear teeth in which tooth-engagement between the gear teeth is not smoothly performed (tooth-on-tooth phenomenon) and, thus, tilt locking is not smoothly performed.

Meanwhile, as illustrated inFIG. 5, the linear protruding portion239may be formed to be inclined by a predetermined angle θ in relation to the longitudinal direction of the telescopic elongated hole231. When the linear protruding portion239is formed to be inclined, the telescopic operation may be locked simultaneously when the driver locks the tilt operation. The predetermined angle θ may range, for example, 3° to 5°.

That is, when the linear protruding portion239is formed to be inclined by the predetermined angle θ in relation to the longitudinal direction of the telescopic elongated hole231, the linear protruding portion239is inserted between the rolling members305of the locking member310such that the tilt operation is locked when the driver locks the control lever253. Then, since the outer tube211which comes into close contact with the plate bracket237coupled with the locking member310to be positionally fixed cannot move in the telescopic direction any more, the telescopic operation is also automatically locked.

The linear protruding portion239may have a cross-section of a rounded curve shape. For example, the linear protruding portion239may be fabricated as a separate component and press fitted to the outer surface of the telescopic guide portion233.

Subsequently, the locking member310is coupled to one side of the plate bracket237which faces the linear protruding portion239, and the several rolling members305are provided in the slot303formed in the tilt direction. Thus, when the control lever253is locked, the linear protruding portion239is inserted between the rolling members305to lock the tilt or tilt and telescopic operation.

An example of such a locking member310will be described in more detail. The locking member310includes: a support portion313closely contacted with an inner surface of one side of the plate bracket237, the support portion313including a through-hole311formed at a center of the support portion313to correspond to the tilt elongated holes235, and a slot303formed on a side of the through-hole311and provided with rolling members305; and an elongated rib415formed to extend around the through-hole311to be inserted into the telescopic elongated hole235.

The support portion313may be formed in a plate shape which is formed with the through-hole311at the center thereof, in which the support portion313is closely contacted with an inner surface of one side of the plate bracket237and the slot303provided with the rolling members305is formed on a side of the through-hole311.

Here, as illustrated inFIG. 7, the slot303is formed such that its width W is gradually reduced toward the telescopic guide portion233(i.e., in the direction indicated by arrow B inFIG. 7). Therefore, the rolling members305provided in the slot303are not released to the outside of the slot303but are partially exposed to the outside of the slot303. The rolling members305are formed, for example, in a spherical shape.

When the slot303is formed as described above, the linear protruding portion239may be smoothly inserted between the rolling members305, which are partially exposed to the outside of the slot303at the time of locking the tilt or telescopic operation.

Meanwhile, an elastic support307is further provided in one side or each side of the slot303in the tilt direction, in which such an elastic support307may be formed in a block shape of an elastic material to be coupled to each side or one side of the slot303in the tilt direction. The drawings illustrate an example in which the elastic support307is provided in each side of the slot303in the tilt direction.

When the elastic support307is provided in each side or one side of the slot303in the tilt direction, the rolling members305may be smoothly moved along the slot303when the linear protruding portion239is inserted between the rolling members305at the time of locking the tilt or telescopic operation, and the shock may be absorbed when the rolling members305hit either side of the slot303in the tilt direction.

An operation example of the tilt or tilt and telescopic steering apparatus for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

When the driver locks the control lever253, the operating cam255and the fixed cam251are spaced apart from each other, and the adjustment bolt401is pulled in one direction (i.e. in the direction where the head portion301compresses the plate bracket237). As a result, the space between the opposite portions of the plate brackets237is narrowed, and the linear protruding portion239is inserted between the rolling members305of the locking member310so that tilt operation is completed and locked.

At this time, when the linear protruding portion239is formed to be inclined by a predetermined angle θ in relation to the longitudinal direction of the telescopic elongated hole231, the telescopic operation is also completed and locked.

On the contrary, when the driver releases the control lever253, the operating cam255and the fixed cam251, which have been spaced apart from each other, are returned to the original positions thereof, and the adjustment bolt401is moved in the other direction. As a result, the narrowed space between the plate brackets237is expanded, and the linear protruding portion239, which has been inserted between the rolling members305of the locking member310, is released. At the same time, the fixed cam251is moved to the outside of the corresponding plate bracket237by the elastic force of the elastic member430, one end of which is supported on the support tube330. As a result, the linear protruding portion239may be easily released from the rolling members305, and thus, the tilt or tilt and telescopic operation can be performed.

As described above, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a conventional structure, which should be provided with both of tilting fixing gears and telescopic fixing gears for locking after a tilt or tilt and telescopic operation, is improved in such a manner that the tilt or tilt and telescopic operation may be locked by a locking member and a linear protruding portion. As a result, an improper tooth-engagement phenomenon (tooth-on-tooth phenomenon) between gear teeth can be prevented, the tilt operation and the telescopic operation can be simultaneously locked, and required components can be reduced such that material costs can be reduced.

Even if it was described above that all of the components of an embodiment of the present invention are coupled as a single unit or coupled to be operated as a single unit, the present invention is not necessarily limited to such an embodiment. That is, among the components, one or more components may be selectively coupled to be operated as one or more units. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the present invention shall be construed on the basis of the accompanying claims in such a manner that all of the technical ideas included within the scope equivalent to the claims belong to the present invention.