Telescopic steering apparatus and outer column

摘要

Construction of an outer column for a telescopic steering apparatus is achieved in which sufficient strength is maintained even when a steering lock apparatus is assembled, and smooth operation is maintained when making it possible to adjust the forward/backward position of a steering wheel, and when maintaining the adjusted position. Of the end sections 58a, 58b, 59a, 59b of the sub slit sections 52a, 52b of an approximately H-shaped slit 19a for expanding or contracting the inner diameter of a fitting support portion 31a of an outer column 11b, the rigidity of the nearest end section 58a portion that exists in the location closest to a lock through hole 37a and of the furthest end section 59a portion that exists in a location diagonally from the nearest end section 58a, is greater than the rigidity of the end sections 58b, 59b in the remaining two locations. Moreover, convex sections 61a, 61b are provided at two locations in the up/down direction on the outside surfaces of each of a pair of held plate sections 20a, 20b.

主权项

1. An outer column for a telescopic steering apparatus, comprising:
a slit formed in one end section in an axial direction of the outer column; a pair of held plate sections provided at positions on both sides of the slit in a width direction of the outer column, and provided with long holes that extend in the axial direction and are formed in portions that are aligned with each other; and a lock through hole formed in a portion that is separated in the axial direction from the pair of held plate sections, with a phase of the portion in a circumferential direction of the outer column being shifted from a center axis of the slit, the slit having an approximately H shape as seen from a radial direction of the outer column, and comprising: a main slit section formed in the axial direction; and a pair of sub slit sections formed in the circumferential direction on both end sections in the axial direction of the main slit section, with middle sections in the circumferential direction of the sub slit sections being continuous with the end sections in the axial direction of the main slit section, lengths in the circumferential direction from the main slit section, of a nearest end section that is one of two end sections of one sub slit section of the pair of sub slit sections on a side nearer in the axial direction to the lock through hole and that exists in a position in the circumferential direction near the lock through hole, and of a furthest end section that is one of two end sections of another sub slit section on a side farther in the axial direction from the lock through hole and that exists in a position located diagonally from the nearest end section and that is separated most from the lock through hole, being shorter than lengths in the circumferential direction from the main slit section, of another end section of the one sub slit section, and of another end section of the other sub slit section, and rigidities in a direction of expansion or contraction of a width of the slit of portions where the nearest end section and the furthest end section are formed being greater than rigidities in the direction of expansion or contraction of the width of the slit of portions where the other end section of the one sub slit section and the other end section of the other sub slit section are formed, and convex sections protruding outward in the width direction and extending in the axial direction being provided at two locations on outside surfaces of the pair of held plate sections that are separated in an up/down direction of the outer column, and a support section protruding outward in the width direction being provided in a portion between the convex sections in the up/down direction of an end section on the side farther in the axial direction from the lock through hole of one of the outside surfaces of the pair of held plate sections that is on a side farther in the circumferential direction from the lock through hole.