Steering apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016280159-A1
Application number	US-201515033631-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 19, 2015
Priority date	Sep 16, 2014
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A steering apparatus ( 2 ) is disclosed, which includes: a steering shaft ( 3 ) having a conductive property and transferring a steering force; an outer column ( 10 ) having a conductive property and supporting the steering shaft ( 3 ) rotatably; an inner column ( 11 ) having a conductive property, being fitted in the outer column ( 10 ) to enable a relative movement in an axial direction supporting the steering shaft ( 3 ) rotatably together with the outer column ( 10 ); a bracket ( 12 ) having a conductive property, retaining the outer column ( 10 ) and being fixed to a vehicle body; and an electrifying lead ( 17 ) having a conductive property and configuring a part of an electrifying path leading to the vehicle body from the inner column ( 11 ).

First claim

1 . A steering apparatus comprising:
a steering shaft having a conductive property and transferring a steering force; an outer column having a conductive property supporting the steering shaft rotatably; an inner column having a conductive property, being fitted in the outer column to enable a relative movement in an axial direction and supporting the steering shaft rotatably together with the outer column; a bracket having a conductive property, retaining the outer column and being fixed to a vehicle body; and an electrifying lead having a conductive property and configuring a part of an electrifying path leading to the vehicle body from the inner column.

2 . The steering apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the outer column is formed therethrough in a radial direction with a guide groove extending in the axial direction, and
the electrifying lead is connected through the guide groove.

3 . The steering apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a guide member being received within the guide groove and attached to the inner column; and a fixing means having a conductive property and fixing the guide member to the inner column, wherein one end of the electrifying lead is fixed to the inner column by the fixing means.

4 . The steering apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the other end of the electrifying lead is connected to the bracket.

5 . The steering apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the other end of the electrifying lead is connected to the outer column.

6 . The steering apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the fixing means has a bolt, and
the electrifying lead includes an annular portion receiving insertion of a screw shaft of the bolt.

7 . The steering apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the electrifying lead is fixed to the inner column via an electrifying terminal fixed to the inner column by the fixing means.

8 . The steering apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electrifying lead includes a rising portion rising outward in the radial direction of the inner column.

9 . The steering apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the bracket includes an upper plate being disposed upward of the outer column,
the rising portion is disposed upward of the outer column, and the upper plate has a recessed portion being recessed in the axial direction to avoid interfering with the electrifying lead.

10 . The steering apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a low friction material is coated over an inner peripheral surface of the outer column or an outer peripheral surface of the inner column.

11 . The steering apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the steering shaft is configured by fitting an upper steering shaft being disposed on a rear side of a vehicle to a lower steering shaft being disposed on a front side of the vehicle, and
resin coating is applied to the upper steering shaft or the lower steering shaft at the fitted portion.

12 . The steering apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the relative movement in the axial direction between the inner column and the outer column is enabled when making a telescopic adjustment and upon a secondary collision, and
the electrifying lead has a length sufficient for configuring a part of the electrifying path at least in an adjustment range of the telescopic adjustment and in a movement range upon the secondary collision.

Assignees

• Nsk Ltd

Inventors

• Kakita Hiroshi
• Orihara daiki
• Kurihara Osamu

Classifications

• B62D1/187

  with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment (B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R16/03 Primary

  for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} · CPC title

• B62D1/19

  incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible (shock absorbers using plastic deformation of members in general F16F7/12) · CPC title

• B62D1/185 Primary

  adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically (B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence) · 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