Abstract: The present invention provides a steering apparatus having simple construction, and good left and right balance of the clamping force, such that the clamping force does not fluctuate depending on the forward-backward position of the steering wheel 103. When fastening the tilt and telescopic function, by rotating an operation lever 349, the peak of a movable cam 344 runs over the peak of a stationary cam 343, which pushes the stationary cam 343 to the right side, and pulls a clamping rod 34 to the left side at the same time, so as to clamp side plates 32A, 32B. The inside surfaces 321A, 321B of the side plates 32A, 32B clamp flat surface section 61A, 62B of a distance bracket 6. The flat surface sections 62A, 62B elastically deform toward the inside in the width direction of the vehicle, and a pair of left and right clamping sections 66A, 66B of bent sections 64A, 64B clamp the outer circumferential surface of an inner column 2 from both the left and right sides.

Abstract: An electric power steering apparatus has a first rolling bearing and a second rolling bearing rotatably supporting an output shaft. The first rolling bearing is provided between an inner peripheral surface of a through-hole of a gear housing and an outer peripheral surface of the output shaft. The second rolling bearing is provided between an inner peripheral surface of an intermediate plate press-fitted and fixed in an opening portion of the gear housing and the outer peripheral surface of the output shaft. An outer peripheral portion of the intermediate plate has alternately arranged large diameter portions and small diameter portions, and the large diameter portions are press-fitted in the gear housing.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing member 18a comprises combined held sections 33 that are located at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction and that comprise paired held sections 25a, 25b that each have a mirror symmetry about an imaginary plane that passes through the center axis of the shock-absorbing member 18a and that are inclined in a direction toward the imaginary plane with respect to the radial direction as going toward the outside in the radial direction.

Abstract: When an adjustment lever 32 is rotated in order to adjust the position of a steering wheel 1, the adjustment lever 32 is prevented from vigorously rotating, which prevents making the driver who operates the adjustment lever 32 feel discomfort. An expandable damper 35 that provides resistance to the rotation of the adjustment lever 32 is provided between a protrusion 34 that rotates together with the adjustment lever 32 centered around an adjustment rod and an extending portion 37 that is provided on a support-plate portion 15c. The expandable damper 35 has a cylinder portion 38 and a damper rod 39 that are combined so as to be able to displace relative to each other in the axial direction by way of grease 40.

Abstract: A telescopic steering apparatus includes a steering column having an outer column and an inner column. An inner peripheral surface of the outer column has a supporting portion that supports the inner column. An inner peripheral surface of the outer column further has a shock absorbing portion at a location shifted toward one side in an axial direction from an axial end face of the inner column, a diameter of an inscribed circle of the shock absorbing portion being smaller than an outer diameter of the inner column. The outer column, including the supporting portion and the shock absorbing portion, and a movable bracket are integrally formed by an expansion forming.

Abstract: Construction is achieved that is capable of maintaining the holding force by which a support bracket 12a holds an outer column 13a. One pivoting friction plate 25 for telescopic mechanism is held between the inside surface of a support plate section 20a of the support bracket 12a and the outside surface of a displacement bracket 18a that is fastened to the outer column 13a. When adjusting the forward-backward position of a steering wheel, the pivoting friction plate 25 for telescopic mechanism pivots around a support pin 33 as an adjustment rod 22a displaces along a long hole 19a for telescopic mechanism and a long guide hole 32.

Abstract: A steering apparatus includes an inner column, an outer column fitted onto the inner column, a vehicle body mounting bracket, a distance bracket fixed to the outer circumference of the outer column and slidably held between left and right side plates of the vehicle body mounting bracket, and a tightening rod. The distance bracket is formed with telescopic slots through which the tightening rod is inserted. The distance bracket includes left and right front tightening portions and left and right rear tightening portions. The axial distance between the pair of left and right front tightening portions and the pair of left and right rear tightening portions is shorter than the axial length of each telescopic slot. The outer column is formed with a pair of left and right through-holes into which the left and right front tightening portions or the left and right rear tightening portions is inserted.

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 of a steering column apparatus used in a tilt steering apparatus is achieved that is capable of reducing impact applied to the driver's body even when an adjustment rod is forcibly pressed against the front edges of long holes in the up-down direction during a secondary collision. Through holes that are continuous along the long holes in the up-down direction from the top end portion to the bottom end portion of the long holes in the up-down direction, and are formed in portions of a pair of left and right support plate portions of the support bracket that are further toward the front side than the long holes in the up-down direction. Bridge portions are provided between the front side edges of the long holes in the up-down direction and the rear side edges of the through holes.

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: A tilt-type steering apparatus includes a tilt lever, an expandable mechanism having a driving cam rotated by the tilt lever and a driven cam engaged with the driving cam, and a telescopic damper arranged to apply resistance against the rotation of the tilt lever in a direction allowing a position of a steering wheel to be adjusted. The telescopic damper is provided between a lever-side engaging portion which rotates together with the tilt lever and a cam-side engaging part of the driven cam.

Abstract: A tilt-type steering apparatus includes a tilt lever, an expandable mechanism having a driving cam rotated by the tilt lever and a driven cam engaged with the driving cam, and a telescopic damper arranged to apply resistance against the rotation of the tilt lever in a direction allowing a position of a steering wheel to be adjusted. The telescopic damper is provided between a lever-side engaging portion which rotates together with the tilt lever and a cam-side engaging part of the driven cam.

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 yoke is provided in which damage such as bending of a bolt for joining and fastening the base section of the yoke to the end section of a rotating shaft does not easily occur even when that bolt is excessively tightened. In the present invention, a force is applied to both a first flange section and a second flange section in a direction toward each other, and with the inner diameter of the base section elastically reduced, a through hole, screw hole and seating surface section are formed. After that, the force is released and the inner diameter of the base section expands by its own elastic force. Alternatively, with the inner diameter of the base section reduced, the through hole, screw hole and seating surface section are formed, after which the first flange section and second flange section are plastically deformed in the direction away from each other to expand the inner diameter of the base section.

Abstract: Construction of a steering column apparatus used in a tilt steering apparatus is achieved that is capable of reducing impact applied to the driver's body even when an adjustment rod is forcibly pressed against the front edges of long holes in the up-down direction during a secondary collision. Through holes that are continuous along the long holes in the up-down direction from the top end portion to the bottom end portion of the long holes in the up-down direction, and are formed in portions of a pair of left and right support plate portions of the support bracket that are further toward the front side than the long holes in the up-down direction. Bridge portions are provided between the front side edges of the long holes in the up-down direction and the rear side edges of the through holes.

Abstract: A steering apparatus includes an inner column, an outer column fitted onto the inner column, a vehicle body mounting bracket, a distance bracket fixed to the outer circumference of the outer column and slidably held between left and right side plates of the vehicle body mounting bracket, and a tightening rod. The distance bracket is formed with telescopic slots through which the tightening rod is inserted. The distance bracket includes left and right front tightening portions and left and right rear tightening portions. The axial distance between the pair of left and right front tightening portions and the pair of left and right rear tightening portions is shorter than the axial length of each telescopic slot. The outer column is formed with a pair of left and right through-holes into which the left and right front tightening portions or the left and right rear tightening portions is inserted.

Abstract: Construction is achieved capable of stably maintaining an inner column 43 on the inner diameter side of an outer column 42. The outer column 42, including a support section 46 is formed by using hydroforming to swell a hollow tube outward in the radial direction. A displacement bracket 34 is also integrally formed with the outer column 42 by tube swelling. Furthermore, raised sections 47a, 47b of the support section 46 are formed at three or more location in the circumferential direction on the inner circumferential surface of the outer column 42, and these raised sections 47a, 47b and the outer circumferential surface of the inner column 43 come in contact with each other at three or more locations in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: Construction is achieved that more completely protects the driver of a vehicle during a secondary collision by gradually increasing the impact load that is absorbed by an energy absorbing member 22b the more the steering wheel displaces in the forward direction. The energy absorbing member 22b comprises a base section 27a that is provided in the center section, and a pair of impact absorbing sections 28b that extend in the forward direction from both ends of the base section 27a and have U-shaped bent back curved sections 29b in the middle section. Of these impact absorbing sections 28b, at least the portions that are nearer the tip end side than the bent back curved sections 29b are pressed so that the height of the energy absorbing member 22b with respect to a stroking section 32 gradually increases going in a direction from the bent back curved sections 29b toward the tip end side of the energy absorbing sections 28b.

Abstract: The invention provides a steering apparatus which includes: an inner column 3; an outer column 4 fitted with the inner column 3 in such a manner that it is movable in a telescopic manner; a steering shaft 102 which is rotatably supported on the inner column 3 and outer column 4, and on the vehicle body rearward side of which a steering wheel 103 can be mounted; a lock apparatus 7 including a lock pin 73A which can be operated by an actuator to thereby prevent the rotation of the steering shaft 102; and, a lock housing 71 which is formed integrally with the outer column 4 and stores the lock apparatus 7 therein.

Abstract: Provided is a telescopic shaft having a coated section that reduces sliding resistance, with fluctuation of the sliding resistance according to sliding position of the telescopic shaft being reduced. A female shaft 16B is fitted onto a male shaft in a state of interference, and by causing the male shaft 16A to slide back-and-forth a specified number of times in the axial direction with respect to the female shaft 16B while applying, for example, a load in a direction that bends the male shaft 16A with respect to the female shaft 16B, friction heat is generated between side surfaces 411 of grooves 41 in the female shaft 16B and the coated section 61, which heats the coated section 61 and causes the coated section 61 to expand along the entire length in the axial direction of teeth 51 of the male shaft 16A. Therefore, the coated section 61 plastically deforms along the entire length in the axial direction of the teeth causing compressive strain to occur.