Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus capable of being both lightweight and rigid. A lightweight electric power steering apparatus is achieved wherein a gear housing (45) that houses an electric assist mechanism, a lower support bracket (54) for fastening the gear housing (45) to the vehicle body, a sensor housing (56) that houses a torque sensor (57), an outer column (30) of a steering column (6c), and an upper support bracket (59a) for fastening the middle section of the outer column (30) to the vehicle body can all be integrally formed of synthetic resin, improving the strength of the joined sections of these members.

Abstract: Construction is achieved that makes it possible to stably and sufficiently increase support rigidity of a column-side bracket with respect to a vehicle-side bracket. The vehicle-side bracket and a locking capsule that is fastened to the column-side bracket are connected with synthetic resin locking pins so as to be able to break away during a secondary collision. Concave sections are formed on the bottom surface of the vehicle-side bracket, and together with one end being connected to small through holes in which the locking pins are located, the other end is open to the external space side. Part of the synthetic resin of the locking pins is exposed to the external space side through these concave sections.

Abstract: Provided is steering column support construction that together with eliminating strong rubbing between the bottom surface of a vehicle-side bracket 23a and the top surface of a column-side bracket 22a, and keeping the absolute value and fluctuation in the break away load small, more completely protects the driver during a collision accident without lowering the freedom of design of the steering apparatus. An adjustment rod 27 for adjusting the position of a steering wheel is provided on the top side of a steering column 6b. During a secondary collision, a moment that is applied to the column-side bracket 22a is kept small, friction at the area of rubbing between the column-side bracket 22a and the vehicle-side bracket 23a is reduced, and the break away load is kept low. Moreover, the driver's knees are protected by eliminating the portion that protrudes further downward than the steering column 6b.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus capable of being both lightweight and rigid. A lightweight electric power steering apparatus is achieved wherein a gear housing (45) that houses an electric assist mechanism, a lower support bracket (54) for fastening the gear housing (45) to the vehicle body, a sensor housing (56) that houses a torque sensor (57), an outer column (30) of a steering column (6c), and an upper support bracket (59a) for fastening the middle section of the outer column (30) to the vehicle body can all be integrally formed of synthetic resin, improving the strength of the joined sections of these members.

Abstract: A protruding wall section 17 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of a steering column 2b around a lock hole 11a, a concave groove 20 that engages with the protruding wall section 17 is provided in a portion that surrounds a guide section 13a of a butting surface 19 of a lock unit 12a, and by engaging the protruding wall section 17 with the concave groove 20, and preferably, by engaging concave sections 18 that are provided in the steering column 2b with convex sections 21 that are provided on the lock unit 12a so that the lock unit 12a is supported by and fastened to the steering column 2b, the occurrence of damage such as cracking of the steering column 2b is prevented even when there is an attempt to rotate a steering wheel by large force when an ignition key is turned OFF.

Abstract: A steering column has an overall hollow and cylindrical shape at least part of which is formed using a column member. The column member includes a main body portion having one-side end section and the other-side end section and a cylindrical member having one-side end section and the other-side section. The cylindrical member is joined in the axial direction with respect to the main body portion by fitting and fastening the other-side end section of the cylindrical member inside the one-side end section of the main body portion. The inner diameter of the end surface of the other-side end section of the cylindrical member is smaller than the inner diameter of a portion of the other-side end section of the cylindrical member. The portion of the other end section of the cylindrical member constitutes a joined section between the main body and the cylindrical member.

Abstract: A protruding wall section 17 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of a steering column 2b around a lock hole 11a, a concave groove 20 that engages with the protruding wall section 17 is provided in a portion that surrounds a guide section 13a of a butting surface 19 of a lock unit 12a, and by engaging the protruding wall section 17 with the concave groove 20, and preferably, by engaging concave sections 18 that are provided in the steering column 2b with convex sections 21 that are provided on the lock unit 12a so that the lock unit 12a is supported by and fastened to the steering column 2b, the occurrence of damage such as cracking of the steering column 2b is prevented even when there is an attempt to rotate a steering wheel by large force when an ignition key is turned OFF.

Abstract: When adjusting the forward-backward position of a steering wheel, together with reducing any uncomfortable feeling experienced by the driver, a support bracket is prevented from breaking away toward the front due to an extremely large force applied during the adjustment operation. Elastic sleeves 35 are mounted inside the long holes 25a in the forward-backward direction, and an adjustment rod 19a is inserted through the inside of the elastic sleeves 35. Gaps 36 located between the outer circumferential surface of both end portions in the forward-backward direction of the elastic sleeves 35 and the inner circumferential surface of the both end portions in the forward-backward direction of the long holes 25a in the forward-backward direction.

Abstract: Provided is construction of a steering apparatus for an automobile that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing forward displacement in the forward direction of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, and preventing damage to the component members of the section that supports a bracket 12b on the column side with respect to the bracket 11 on the vehicle side. In construction where the bracket on the vehicle side 11 and the bracket 12b on the column side are connected at only one location in the center section in the width direction of the both brackets by a locking capsule, the top edges of a pair of protruding sections 63 that protrude to both the left and right sides of the bracket 12b on the column side closely face the bottom edge of a bent section 56 of the bracket 11 on the vehicle side.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus capable of being both lightweight and rigid. A lightweight electric power steering apparatus is achieved wherein a gear housing (45) that houses an electric assist mechanism, a lower support bracket (54) for fastening the gear housing (45) to the vehicle body, a sensor housing (56) that houses a torque sensor (57), an outer column (30) of a steering column (6c), and an upper support bracket (59a) for fastening the middle section of the outer column (30) to the vehicle body can all be integrally formed of synthetic resin, improving the strength of the joined sections of these members.

Abstract: Structure of a cross universal joint is achieved in which the fact that an excessive torque was applied to a universal joint due to a collision accident or mishandling can be easily determined afterwards. Protrusions 20, which are straight lines as seen from the outside surface sides of linking arm sections 15c of a yoke 12c, are formed on the outside surfaces of the linking arm sections 15c. When an excessive torque acts and the linking arm sections 15c are plastically deformed, the protrusions 20 change from a straight line to a non-straight line. From this change it is possible to easily confirm that an excessive torque has been applied to a cross universal joint that includes this yoke 12c. Moreover, when the space between the inside surfaces of the linking arm sections 15c is taken to be D, and the length in the axial direction of the linking arm sections 15c is taken to be L, the dimensions of the parts of the yoke 12c are regulated so that the relation 3<L/D?4 is satisfied.

Abstract: Construction is achieved wherein upward displacement of a steering column 6c during a secondary collision is prevented, and the distance D between the steering column 6c and the tip end section of an adjustment lever 18b is kept the same regardless of the up/down position of the steering wheel 1. The position of the adjustment lever 18b after rotation is maintained by the tip end section of a locking arm 40 that is provided on the base end section of the adjustment arm 18b engaging with a locking groove 42 of a locking piece 41 that is provided on a support plate section 23a. The direction of formation of the locking groove 42 is such that when the up/down position of the steering wheel 1 is in an upward position, the top end section of the locking groove 42 engages with the tip end section of the locking arm 40, and when the up/down position of the steering wheel 1 is in a downward position, the bottom end section of the locking groove 42 engages with the tip end section of the locking arm 40.

Abstract: When adjusting the forward-backward position of a steering wheel, together with reducing any uncomfortable feeling experienced by the driver, a support bracket is prevented from breaking away toward the front due to an extremely large force applied during the adjustment operation. Elastic sleeves 35 are mounted inside the long holes 25a in the forward-backward direction, and an adjustment rod 19a is inserted through the inside of the elastic sleeves 35. Gaps 36 located between the outer circumferential surface of both end portions in the forward-backward direction of the elastic sleeves 35 and the inner circumferential surface of the both end portions in the forward-backward direction of the long holes 25a in the forward-backward direction.

Abstract: Provided is an electric power steering apparatus that is both lightweight and rigid. A lightweight electric power steering apparatus is achieved wherein a gear housing 45 that houses an electric assist mechanism, a lower support bracket 54 for fastening the gear housing 45 to the vehicle body, a sensor housing 56 that houses a torque sensor 57, an outer column 30 of a steering column 6c, and an upper support bracket 59a for fastening the middle section of the outer column 3 to the vehicle body are all integrally formed of synthetic resin with glass fibers, improving the strength of the joined sections of these members.

Abstract: A steering column has an overall hollow and cylindrical shape at least part of which is formed using a column member. The column member includes a main body portion having one-side end section and the other-side end section and a cylindrical member having one-side end section and the other-side section. The cylindrical member is joined in the axial direction with respect to the main body portion by fitting and fastening the other-side end section of the cylindrical member inside the one-side end section of the main body portion. The inner diameter of the end surface of the other-side end section of the cylindrical member is smaller than the inner diameter of a portion of the other-side end section of the cylindrical member. The portion of the other end section of the cylindrical member constitutes a joined section between the main body and the cylindrical member.

Abstract: Provided is steering column support construction that together with eliminating strong rubbing between the bottom surface of a vehicle-side bracket 23a and the top surface of a column-side bracket 22a, and keeping the absolute value and fluctuation in the break away load small, more completely protects the driver during a collision accident without lowering the freedom of design of the steering apparatus. An adjustment rod 27 for adjusting the position of a steering wheel is provided on the top side of a steering column 6b. During a secondary collision, a moment that is applied to the column-side bracket 22a is kept small, friction at the area of rubbing between the column-side bracket 22a and the vehicle-side bracket 23a is reduced, and the break away load is kept low. Moreover, the driver's knees are protected by eliminating the portion that protrudes further downward than the steering column 6b.

Abstract: The present invention provides construction that keeps the load required for a locking capsule 50d that is supported by the steering column to come out in the forward direction from a locking hole 48b that is formed in a fastening bracket 11e on the vehicle side low. Small through holes 52e are formed in a flange section 51d of the locking capsule 50d. Small notch sections 62a that are each open toward the inside of the locking hole 48b are formed in portions of the fastening bracket 11e on the vehicle side around the locking hole 48b that are aligned with each of the small through holes 52e. Injection molding is performed to inject synthetic resin 72 such that the synthetic resin 72 spans between these small through holes 48b and small notch sections 62a, and connects the locking capsule 50d and the fastening bracket 11e on the vehicle side.

Abstract: Structure of a cross universal joint is achieved in which the fact that an excessive torque was applied to a universal joint due to a collision accident or mishandling can be easily determined afterwards. Protrusions 20, which are straight lines as seen from the outside surface sides of linking arm sections 15c of a yoke 12c, are formed on the outside surfaces of the linking arm sections 15c. When an excessive torque acts and the linking arm sections 15c are plastically deformed, the protrusions 20 change from a straight line to a non-straight line. From this change it is possible to easily confirm that an excessive torque has been applied to a cross universal joint that includes this yoke 12c. Moreover, when the space between the inside surfaces of the linking arm sections 15c is taken to be D, and the length in the axial direction of the linking arm sections 15c is taken to be L, the dimensions of the parts of the yoke 12c are regulated so that the relation 3<L/D?4 is satisfied.

Abstract: Provided is a steering column support apparatus that simplifies tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel during a secondary collision, and suppresses the absolute value and variation of the break away load without strong rubbing between the bracket 11 on the vehicle side and the bracket 33 on the column side. By forming an extending section 57 on the top plate section 55 of the bracket 33 on the column side, and a convex curved surface 58 on the top surface of the front end section of that extending section 57, a rise in contact pressure at the area of contact that occurs when the edge on the front end of the top surface of the top plate section 55 is pressed against the bottom surface of the bracket 11 on the vehicle side by a moment that is applied from the steering column 6c to the bracket 33 on the column side during a secondary collision is suppressed.

Abstract: An assembly method for a steering column support apparatus is achieved that simplifies tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, eliminates space in the engagement section between a bracket 11 on the vehicle side and a locking capsule 47a, and suppresses rocking displacement of the steering column due to that space. Of a plurality of small through holes 49a, 49b on the capsule side and a plurality of small notch sections 55a, 55b, part of the small through holes 49a and the small notch sections 55a are aligned, and pin shaped members 58 are formed so as to span these small through holes and small notch sections. After that, the locking capsule 47a and bracket 11 on the vehicle side are put into the final assembled position, shearing the pin shaped members 58 in the process.