Abstract: A steering device for steering a vehicle includes a movable member, a holding member, an impact absorbing member, a movement driving unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform first control and second control by which the movement driving unit is controlled. The first control is a control for moving the movable member along an axial direction of a shaft member within such a range that a front end of at least one of the shaft member and the movable member is located rearward of a space for movement in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The second control is a control for moving the movable member along the axial direction within such a range that the front end portion is located inside the space for movement.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for use in steering a vehicle includes: a movable body to which an input device is attached, the movable body configured to move back and forth in an extend-retract direction between a first position closer to the front of the vehicle and a second position closer to the driver; an intermediate guide that guides the movable body in the extend-retract direction, and moves back and forth in the extend-retract direction; a base guide that is attached to the vehicle and guides the intermediate guide in the extend-retract direction; a first extend-retract mechanism including an extend-retract drive source that causes the intermediate guide to move back and forth relative to the base guide; and a second extend-retract mechanism that causes the movable body to move back and forth relative to the intermediate guide by using driving force of the extend-retract drive source.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for use in steering a vehicle includes: a movable body to which an input device is attached, the movable body configured to move back and forth in an extend-retract direction between a first position closer to the front of the vehicle and a second position closer to the driver; an intermediate guide that guides the movable body in the extend-retract direction, and moves back and forth in the extend-retract direction; a base guide that is attached to the vehicle and guides the intermediate guide in the extend-retract direction; a first extend-retract mechanism including an extend-retract drive source that causes the intermediate guide to move back and forth relative to the base guide; and a second extend-retract mechanism that causes the movable body to move back and forth relative to the intermediate guide by using driving force of the extend-retract drive source.

Abstract: A steering device for steering a vehicle includes a movable member, a holding member, an impact absorbing member, a movement driving unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform first control and second control by which the movement driving unit is controlled. The first control is a control for moving the movable member along an axial direction of a shaft member within such a range that a front end of at least one of the shaft member and the movable member is located rearward of a space for movement in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The second control is a control for moving the movable member along the axial direction within such a range that the front end portion is located inside the space for movement.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes a steering operation mechanism configured to steer a steered wheel, and a steering operation motor configured to apply a drive force for steering the steered wheel to the steering operation mechanism. The steering operation mechanism includes an input shaft to which the drive force from the steering operation motor is input, an output shaft configured to output the drive force from the input shaft to the steered wheel, and a coupling mechanism configured to couple the input shaft and the output shaft to each other. The coupling mechanism includes a first universal joint and a second universal joint that transmit the drive force from the input shaft to the output shaft in a state in which the output shaft is angularly offset from the input shaft. The output shaft constitutes a part of a suspension.

Abstract: A vehicle steering system includes a steering operation mechanism configured to steer a steered wheel, and a steering operation motor configured to apply a drive force for steering the steered wheel to the steering operation mechanism. The steering operation mechanism includes an input shaft to which the drive force from the steering operation motor is input, an output shaft configured to output the drive force from the input shaft to the steered wheel, and a coupling mechanism configured to couple the input shaft and the output shaft to each other. The coupling mechanism includes a first universal joint and a second universal joint that transmit the drive force from the input shaft to the output shaft in a state in which the output shaft is angularly offset from the input shaft. The output shaft constitutes a part of a suspension.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an intermediate shaft including: an internal shaft having an external spline; a tubular external shaft having on an inner circumference thereof an internal spline; and a resin coating provided on the external spline, a central axis line of an internal shaft manufacturing intermediate product and a central axis line of an external shaft manufacturing intermediate product are aligned with each other, and the internal shaft manufacturing intermediate product and the external shaft manufacturing intermediate product are held in such a way that the central axis lines thereof can be adjusted, in a heating adaptation step. In this state, the internal shaft manufacturing intermediate product and the external shaft manufacturing intermediate product slide relatively in an axial direction. In the heating adaptation step, a grease is interposed between the internal shaft manufacturing intermediate product and the external shaft manufacturing intermediate product.

Abstract: There is provided a spline telescopic shaft having first and second shafts that are fitted to each other slidably in an axial direction. First and second splines that engage with each other are respectively provided in the first and second shafts. A resin coating that is provided on at least a tooth surface of the first spline is fitted to a tooth surface of the second spline. The resin coating is subjected to heat fitting processing for sliding the first and second shafts in the axial direction under predetermined conditions, to fit a surface of the resin coating to the tooth surface of the second spline.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing an intermediate shaft including: an internal shaft having an external spline; a tubular external shaft having on an inner circumference thereof an internal spline; and a resin coating provided on the external spline, a central axis line of an internal shaft manufacturing intermediate product and a central axis line of an external shaft manufacturing intermediate product are aligned with each other, and the internal shaft manufacturing intermediate product and the external shaft manufacturing intermediate product are held in such a way that the central axis lines thereof can be adjusted, in a heating adaptation step. In this state, the internal shaft manufacturing intermediate product and the external shaft manufacturing intermediate product slide relatively in an axial direction. In the heating adaptation step, a grease is interposed between the internal shaft manufacturing intermediate product and the external shaft manufacturing intermediate product.

Abstract: A spline telescopic shaft includes an inner shaft having an outer tooth surface, and a cylindrical outer shaft having an inner tooth surface and arranged to fit to the inner shaft slidably in an axial direction of the inner shaft. Either one of the outer tooth surface and the inner tooth surface includes a first resin coating. The other of the outer tooth surface and the inner tooth surface includes a second resin coating. The second resin coating is formed by processing for sliding an intermediate member for manufacturing the inner shaft and an intermediate member for manufacturing the outer shaft in the axial direction, to transfer a part of a resin material provided in the intermediate member for manufacturing the shaft including the one tooth surface for forming the first resin coating to the intermediate member for manufacturing the shaft including the other tooth surface.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft (5) has an inner shaft (12) and a tubular outer shaft (13) that are fitted to each other so that they can move relative to each other in the axial direction and that they can transmit torque to each other. A plurality of balls (14) are aligned between respective raceway grooves (15; 16) of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13). Limiting mechanisms (20A; 20B) are provided that limit the amount of relative rotation to not more than a predetermined amount of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13) when a ball (14) comes off the raceway grooves (15; 16). The limiting mechanisms (20A; 20B) include a pair of engagement sections (21, 22; 23, 24) engageable with each other in a circumferential direction (C1). The engagement sections (21, 22; 23, 24) are provided at ridges (25, 26) and recesses (27, 28) that are adjacent to the raceway grooves (15; 16) of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13), respectively.

Abstract: A spline telescopic shaft includes an inner shaft and a tubular outer shaft fitted slidably in an axial direction, outer splines provided on an outer periphery of the inner shaft, inner splines provided on an inner periphery of the outer shaft, a resin coating provided on at least one of the outer splines and the inner splines, and a lubricant retaining groove formed on the resin coating by using any of a laser, water jet, and compressed air, and extending in a direction crossing the axial direction.

Abstract: There is provided a spline telescopic shaft having first and second shafts that are fitted to each other slidably in an axial direction. First and second splines that engage with each other are respectively provided in the first and second shafts. A resin coating that is provided on at least a tooth surface of the first spline is fitted to a tooth surface of the second spline. The resin coating is subjected to heat fitting processing for sliding the first and second shafts in the axial direction under predetermined conditions, to fit a surface of the resin coating to the tooth surface of the second spline.

Abstract: A spline telescopic shaft includes an inner shaft having an outer tooth surface, and a cylindrical outer shaft having an inner tooth surface and arranged to fit to the inner shaft slidably in an axial direction of the inner shaft. Either one of the outer tooth surface and the inner tooth surface includes a first resin coating. The other of the outer tooth surface and the inner tooth surface includes a second resin coating. The second resin coating is formed by processing for sliding an intermediate member for manufacturing the inner shaft and an intermediate member for manufacturing the outer shaft in the axial direction, to transfer a part of a resin material provided in the intermediate member for manufacturing the shaft including the one tooth surface for forming the first resin coating to the intermediate member for manufacturing the shaft including the other tooth surface.

Abstract: A telescopic shaft (5) has an inner shaft (12) and tubular outer shaft (13) that are fitted to each other so that they can move relative to each other in the axial direction and that they can transmit torque to each other. A row of balls (14) is placed in respective raceway grooves (15; 16) of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13). Limiting mechanisms (20A; 20B) are provided in the telescopic shaft (5), and the mechanisms limit the amount of relative rotation of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13) when a ball (14) comes off the raceway grooves (15; 16). The limiting mechanisms (20A; 20B) include a pair of engagement sections (21, 22; 23, 24) engaging with each other in a circumferential direction (C1). The engagement sections (21, 22; 23, 24) are provided at ridges (25, 26) and recesses (27, 28), and the ridges (25, 26) and recesses (27, 28) are adjacent to the raceway grooves (15; 16) of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13), respectively.

Abstract: An extendable shaft (5), comprising an inner shaft (12) and a tubular outer shaft (13) fitted axially relatively movable so that a torque can be transmitted to each other. A plurality of balls (14) aligned are interposed between the corresponding raceway grooves (15, 16) of the inner shaft (12) and the outer shaft (13). Each of the raceway grooves (15, 16) has a predetermined cross section. As a result, the contact angle (A1) of the balls (14) to the raceway grooves (15, 16) is zero at no-load and can be gradually increased according to an increase in load torque.

Abstract: There is provided a collapsible steering apparatus, which includes a steering column having a movable part capable of moving upon collision of a vehicle. The main part of a bracket is fixed to the movable part. Extended pieces are extended from the main part, and each extended piece is folded back into a U shape to superimpose the extension end of the bent extended piece on the main part. A fixing member is inserted into each insertion hole of the main part and of the extension end of the extended piece, and is fixed to a vehicle body member. As a result, the extension end is fixed to the vehicle body member. The insertion hole of the main part includes an open part for allowing the fixing member to come off upon collision. Upon collision, the main part of the bracket and the base end of the extended piece move along with the movable part. As a result, the base end and the extension end of the extended piece move relative to each other to deform the extended piece to absorb the impact of the collision.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a massaging apparatus that faithfully incorporates the rhythm or melody of a music source and performs massage with accents arranged more effectively based on these. A massaging apparatus of the present invention comprises massaging mechanisms (4, 5) that give mechanical impulses to a body by driving motors (5a, 10, 11), and a control device (13) that controls operations of the motors. The control device (13) comprises a waveform converter (18) having a waveform converting circuit for converting a waveform of an audio signal input from a sound source (A), such as a smoothing circuit, a differentiating circuit, or an integrating circuit, and a specific frequency band signal selecting unit (17) having a low pass filter, a high pass filter, and a band pass filter. In accordance with a control signal output from the waveform converter (18) and the specific frequency band signal selecting unit (17), the operations of the motors are controlled.

Abstract: There is provided a collapsible steering apparatus, which includes a steering column having a movable part capable of moving upon collision of a vehicle. The main part of a bracket is fixed to the movable part. Extended pieces are extended from the main part, and each extended piece is folded back into a U shape to superimpose the extension end of the bent extended piece on the main part. A fixing member is inserted into each insertion hole of the main part and of the extension end of the extended piece, and is fixed to a vehicle body member. As a result, the extension end is fixed to the vehicle body member. The insertion hole of the main part includes an open part for allowing the fixing member to come off upon collision. Upon collision, the main part of the bracket and the base end of the extended piece move along with the movable part. As a result, the base end and the extension end of the extended piece move relative to each other to deform the extended piece to absorb the impact of the collision.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a massaging apparatus that faithfully incorporates the rhythm or melody of a music source and performs massage with accents arranged more effectively based on these. A massaging apparatus of the present invention comprises massaging mechanisms (4, 5) that give mechanical impulses to a body by driving motors (5a, 10, 11), and a control device (13) that controls operations of the motors. The control device (13) comprises a waveform converter (18) having a waveform converting circuit for converting a waveform of an audio signal input from a sound source (A), such as a smoothing circuit, a differentiating circuit, or an integrating circuit, and a specific frequency band signal selecting unit (17) having a low pass filter, a high pass filter, and a band pass filter. In accordance with a control signal output from the waveform converter (18) and the specific frequency band signal selecting unit (17), the operations of the motors are controlled.