Steering column structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10894557-B2
Application number	US-201816106868-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2018
Priority date	Feb 22, 2016
Publication date	Jan 19, 2021
Grant date	Jan 19, 2021

Abstract

A steering column structure includes a rotary connector, a steering column cover, and a steering lower cover attached with a gap defined between the steering lower cover and the steering column cover. The steering column cover includes a first side wall portion defining the gap, and a first insertion hole that is disposed in the first side wall portion and into which the rotary connector is inserted. The steering lower cover includes a second side wall portion facing the first side wall portion and defining the gap together with the first side wall portion, and a second insertion hole that is disposed in the second side wall portion and into which the rotary connector is inserted. The first side wall portion includes a first dam portion disposed in a position corresponding to the rotary connector above the rotary connector.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A steering column structure comprising:
a rotary connector attached to an end portion of a steering shaft in a surrounding manner;
a steering column cover configured to house the end portion of the steering shaft; and
a steering lower cover configured to house a central portion of a steering wheel connected with the end portion of the steering shaft, the steering lower cover being attached with a gap defined between the steering lower cover and the steering column cover in an axial direction of the steering shaft,
the steering column cover comprising a first side wall portion defining the gap, and a first insertion hole disposed in the first side wall portion, the rotary connector being inserted into the first insertion hole,
the steering lower cover comprising a second side wall portion facing the first side wall portion and defining the gap together with the first side wall portion, and a second insertion hole disposed in the second side wall portion, the rotary connector being inserted into the second insertion hole,
at least one of the first side wall portion of the steering column cover and the second side wall portion of the steering lower cover comprising a first dam portion disposed in a position above the rotary connector and corresponding to the rotary connector,
wherein the first dam portion is a protrusion portion disposed on one of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion and protruding toward the other of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion, and
wherein the protrusion portion disposed on one of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion is inserted into the first insertion hole or the second insertion hole of the other of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion.

2. The steering column structure according to claim 1 , wherein a length between end points of the first dam portion which extends along a periphery of the rotary connector is equivalent to a length of an outer diameter of the rotary connector.

3. The steering column structure according to claim 2 , wherein the first dam portion is a groove portion disposed in one of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion.

4. The steering column structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first dam portion extends along a periphery of at least one of the first insertion hole and the second insertion hole.

5. The steering column structure according to claim 4 , wherein the first dam portion is a groove portion disposed in one of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion.

6. The steering column structure according to claim 1 , wherein the first dam portion is a groove portion disposed in one of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion.

7. The steering column structure according to claim 1 , wherein:
the rotary connector comprises a stationary case and a rotary case rotatably joined to the stationary case, and is arranged so that the rotary case is positioned on a side closer to the steering wheel; and
the rotary case comprises an upper end surface positioned on an upper side in the axial direction of the steering shaft with respect to the second side wall portion of the steering lower cover.

8. The steering column structure according to claim 7 , wherein:
the rotary connector comprises a slide surface in an in-plane direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the rotary connector, the stationary case and the rotary case sliding on the slide surface; and
the slide surface is positioned on an upper side in the axial direction of the steering shaft with respect to the second side wall portion of the steering lower cover.

9. The steering column structure according to claim 7 , wherein:
the rotary connector further comprises a rotary case post portion disposed on the upper end surface of the rotary case and adapted to be electrically connected with an external device; and
with the steering wheel in a neutral position, the rotary case post portion is in a 6 o'clock position on the rotary connector.

10. A steering column structure comprising:
a rotary connector attached to an end portion of a steering shaft in a surrounding manner;
a steering column cover configured to house the end portion of the steering shaft; and
a steering lower cover configured to house a central portion of a steering wheel connected with the end portion of the steering shaft, the steering lower cover being attached with a gap defined between the steering lower cover and the steering column cover in an axial direction of the steering shaft,
the steering column cover comprising a first side wall portion defining the gap, and a first insertion hole disposed in the first side wall portion, the rotary connector being inserted into the first insertion hole,
the steering lower cover comprising a second side wall portion facing the first side wall portion and defining the gap together with the first side wall portion, and a second insertion hole disposed in the second side wall portion, the rotary connector being inserted into the second insertion hole,
at least one of the first side wall portion of the steering column cover and the second side wall portion of the steering lower cover comprising a first dam portion disposed in a position above the rotary connector and corresponding to the rotary connector;
wherein
the first dam portion extends along a periphery of at least one of the first insertion hole and the second insertion hole,
the first dam portion is a protrusion portion disposed on one of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion and protruding toward the other of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion, and
the protrusion portion disposed on one of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion is inserted into the first insertion hole or the second insertion hole of the other of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion.

11. A steering column structure comprising:
a rotary connector attached to an end portion of a steering shaft in a surrounding manner;
a steering column cover configured to house the end portion of the steering shaft; and
a steering lower cover configured to house a central portion of a steering wheel connected with the end portion of the steering shaft, the steering lower cover being attached with a gap defined between the steering lower cover and the steering column cover in an axial direction of the steering shaft,
the steering column cover comprising a first side wall portion defining the gap, and a first insertion hole disposed in the first side wall portion, the rotary connector being inserted into the first insertion hole,
the steering lower cover comprising a second side wall portion facing the first side wall portion and defining the gap together with the first side wall portion, and a second insertion hole disposed in the second side wall portion, the rotary connector being inserted into the second insertion hole,

at least one of the first side wall portion of the steering column cover and the second side wall portion of the steering lower cover comprising a first dam portion disposed in a position above the rotary connector and corresponding to the rotary connector,
wherein
the rotary connector comprises a stationary case and a rotary case rotatably joined to the stationary case, and is arranged so that the rotary case is positioned on a side closer to the steering wheel, and
the rotary case comprises an upper end surface positioned on an upper side in the axial direction of the steering shaft with respect to the second side wall portion of the steering lower cove

Assignees

• Furukawa Electric Co Ltd
• Furukawa Automotive Systems Inc

Inventors

• Utsunomiya Hirofumi
• Ushiyama Masatoshi

Classifications

• F16J1/00

  Pistons; Trunk pistons; Plungers (bellows pistons F16J3/06; piston-rings or seats therefor F16J9/00; {manufacture of pistons B23P15/10}; rotary pistons, e.g. for "Wankel" type engines F01C; specific for combustion engines, i.e. constructed to withstand high temperature or modified for guiding, igniting, vaporising or otherwise treating the charge F02F; {pistons for hydraulic engines F03C}; pumps F04B; floats F16K33/00) · CPC title

• B62D1/04

  Hand wheels · CPC title

• B62D1/16 Primary

  Steering columns · CPC title

• B60R16/027

  between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column {(devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00)} · CPC title

• H01R39/00

  Rotary current collectors, distributors or interrupters · CPC title