JP2000118417A - Steering device and supporting device used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To move a housing in the radial direction at the time of primary collision and to satisfactorily prevent it from falling off from a support device. SOLUTION: A support device 5 supporting a housing movably in the radial direction comprises an insert part 51 having an inserting hole 51a into which the housing is inserted, a guide part 52 having a guide path 52a communicating with the inserting hole 51a to allow the housing to be moved in the radial direction, and a receiving part 53 which is disposed in the guide path 52a through a bent part 52c connected continuously with the guide part 52 and deforms in the movement direction of the housing when it is moved so as to receive the housing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering device for a vehicle and a support used for the steering device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art To steer a vehicle, the steering operation of a steering wheel disposed inside a vehicle compartment is arranged outside the vehicle compartment for steering a steering wheel (generally, a front wheel). The information is transmitted to the steering mechanism.

FIG. 13A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a steering device is mounted on a vehicle body, and FIG. 13B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which impact energy acts on the steering device mounted on the vehicle body. For example, a steering device for a light truck in a vehicle includes a steering wheel 100.
A housing 101 for rotatably housing the steering shaft 101, and a support 103 for supporting the lower side of the housing 102 so as to be movable in the radial direction. Then, the support member 103 is
Attached to the vehicle body 104 is a mounting bracket 105 having an impact energy absorber for absorbing the impact energy of a secondary collision. Further, the steering device mounted on the vehicle body 104 is such that a joint 106 connecting the steering shaft 101 and the steering mechanism is connected to the dash panel 1 of the vehicle body 104.
07.

[0004] When the dash panel 107 of the vehicle body 104 is deformed toward the interior of the passenger compartment due to a frontal collision of the light truck or the like (primary collision), impact energy acts on the joint 106 and a rudder connected to the joint. Impact energy acts on the housing 102 via the shaft 101, and the impact energy causes the housing 102 to move in the radial direction with respect to the support 103. In addition, the shock caused by the primary collision causes the driver to steer the steering wheel. When the impact energy acts on the housing 102 due to a collision (secondary collision) with the housing 100, the housing 102 is pressed in the axial direction and the mounting bracket 1 is pressed.
The impact energy absorber 05 is destroyed, and the impact energy of the secondary collision is absorbed.

[0005]

However, when the housing 102 moves in the radial direction with respect to the support 103 due to the primary collision as described above, the housing 102 may fall off from the support 103. When the housing 102 comes off as described above, the position on the lower side of the housing 102 is not stable, so that there is a problem that the impact energy due to the secondary collision cannot be favorably absorbed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and comprises a supporting member for supporting a housing so as to be able to move in a radial direction, an insertion portion having an insertion hole into which the housing is inserted, and an insertion hole. A guide section having a guide path that allows the housing to move in the radial direction in communication with the guide section, and is disposed on the guide path via a bent portion that is continuous with the guide section, and when the housing moves. And a receiving portion for receiving the housing by deforming the housing, it is possible to move the housing in the radial direction at the time of a primary collision, and moreover, it is possible to favorably prevent the housing from falling off. It is an object of the present invention to configure a steering device that can be used and a support tool used for the steering device.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering apparatus having a housing for rotatably housing a rudder shaft and a support for supporting the rotatable shaft so as to be movable in a radial direction. In the apparatus, the supporter has an insertion portion having an insertion hole into which the housing is inserted, a guide portion having a guide passage communicating with the insertion hole and enabling movement of the housing in a radial direction, A receiving portion that is disposed on the guide path via a bent portion that is continuous with the guide portion and that receives the housing by deforming in the direction of movement when the housing moves. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a support for rotatably supporting a housing for rotatably housing a rudder shaft, the insertion portion having an insertion hole into which the housing is inserted; A guide portion having a guide passage communicating with the insertion hole and allowing the housing to move in the radial direction; and a guide portion disposed on the guide passage via a bent portion continuous with the guide portion, and the housing moves. And a receiving portion that receives the housing by being deformed in the moving direction when receiving.

A support according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is a support for rotatably supporting a cylindrical housing for rotatably housing a rudder shaft, wherein one of the metal plates bent in an L-shape. The insertion portion of the support body serving as an attachment portion having an attachment hole for attaching the side plate portion to the vehicle body, and the other side plate portion being an insertion portion having an insertion hole into which the housing is inserted,
A guide path communicating with a peripheral surface of the insertion hole opposite to the mounting portion to guide movement of the housing in a radial direction, and the housing enters the guide path from a side opposite to the insertion hole and moves the housing. A receiving piece that is deformed in the direction of movement when the receiving piece is received, the receiving piece being opened on the opposite side to the insertion hole when the receiving piece is deformed. A communication path communicating with the guide path is provided.

In the first invention, the fourth invention and the sixth invention, when impact energy acts on the housing due to a primary collision, the housing moves from the insertion hole to the guide path and the housing is connected to the receiving portion ( The receiving portion (the receiving portion) is brought into contact with the receiving portion and the receiving portion (the receiving portion) is deformed to the side opposite to the insertion hole. With the deformation of the receiving portion (receiving portion piece), the amount of movement of the housing in the guide path, in other words, the amount of movement in the radial direction increases, and the amount of deformation of the receiving portion (receiving portion piece) is maximized. The movement of the housing is restricted when it comes close to the above, and the housing is received by the receiving portion (receiving portion piece). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the housing from falling off the vehicle body due to the primary collision, and it is possible to increase the amount of movement of the housing in the radial direction.

In addition, since the support has a receiving portion (receiving portion) which is deformed by the radial movement of the housing in the guide path, the length of the support in the radial direction is reduced. And the support can be downsized.

[0012] In the steering device according to the second aspect of the invention, the bent portion side of the guide portion and the receiving portion is bent to one side in the axial direction of the insertion hole, and the bent portion of the receiving portion is formed. And the other side is bent to the other side in the axial direction of the insertion hole.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the support device, the bent portion side of the guide portion and the receiving portion is bent to one side in the axial length direction of the insertion hole. The opposite side is bent to the other side in the axial direction of the insertion hole.

In the second invention and the fifth invention, the bent portion side of the guide portion and the receiving portion is directed to one side in the axial length direction of the insertion hole, and the opposite side of the receiving portion is opposite to the bent portion. Since each of the insertion holes is bent toward the other side in the axial direction, the length of the support in the radial direction can be further reduced without reducing a predetermined amount of movement of the housing in the radial direction, The support can be further miniaturized.

A steering device according to a third aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a side of the receiving portion opposite to the bent portion is connected to the housing.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the impact energy of the secondary collision acts on the housing and the housing moves in the axial direction, the receiving portion connected to the housing and the guide continuous thereto. Since the portion can be deformed in the axial direction, the impact energy of the secondary collision can be favorably absorbed.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a front view of a steering device, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the steering device. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a steering device mainly used for a light truck includes a rudder shaft 1 connected to a steering wheel for steering, and a cylindrical housing that rotatably stores and supports the rudder shaft 1. 2 is provided. One end of the rudder shaft 1 is rotatably supported on one end of the housing 2 via a ball bearing 3 so that impact energy due to a secondary collision is transmitted from the rudder shaft 2 and the ball bearing 3 to the housing 2. Yes,
The other end of the rudder shaft 1 is rotatably supported by the other end of the housing 2 via a slide bearing 4.

A support member 5 for supporting the housing 2 movably in the radial direction is fitted around the outer periphery of the other end of the housing 2. A mounting bracket 7 having a shock energy absorber 6 for absorbing shock energy is mounted.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support, FIG. 3 is a side view of the support, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the support in a deformed state. The support 5 has a mounting portion 50 having mounting holes 56 for mounting one side plate portion of a metal plate bent in an L shape to the vehicle body.
And a support body 5a whose other side plate portion is an insertion portion 51 having an insertion hole 51a into which the housing 2 is inserted.
It has.

The insertion portion 51 communicates with the peripheral surface of the insertion hole 51a on the side opposite to the mounting portion 50, and has a guide portion 52a having a guide path 52a for guiding the movement of the housing 2 in the radial direction.
2 and a bent portion 52 from the opposite side of the insertion hole 51a.
c, a receiving portion 5 having a receiving piece 53a for receiving the housing 2 by deforming in the moving direction when the housing 2 is moved into the guide path 52a through the guide passage 52c.
The receiving portion 53 includes a receiving portion piece 53.
A communication passage 53b is provided between the a and 53a, which is open to the opposite side to the insertion hole 51a, and communicates with the guide path 52a when the receiving piece 53a, 53a is deformed.

The insertion hole 51a is formed in a C-shape whose peripheral surface opposite to the mounting portion 50 is open.
The communication portions 55, 55 with the guide path 52a, which are formed wider than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 51a, have dimensions smaller than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 51a. The communication portion 55 of the insertion portion 51 is deformed so as to expand by the energy, and the housing 2 in the insertion hole 51a moves to the guide path 52a.

The guide portion 52 includes a pair of guide portion pieces 52b, 52.
b, and the receiving portion 53 is provided with the guide piece 5
A pair of receiving portion pieces 5 extending in the guide path 52a toward the insertion hole 51a through the bent portions 52c, 52c continuous with the insertion holes 51b, and coupled at positions facing the insertion hole 51a.
3a and 53a, when the housing 2 inserted into the insertion hole 51a moves toward the guide path 52a as described above, the housing 2 comes into contact with the distal end of the receiving portion 53, and the receiving portion 53 is moved. The bent portions 52c, 52c are forcibly deformed to allow the housing 2 to move within the guide path 52a.

The receiving portion 53 twists the bent portions 52c, 52c as shown in FIG.
b is communicated with the guideway 52a, and the guideway 5
The movement within 2a is allowed. For more information,
When the housing 2 moves to the end of the guide path 52a, the pair of receiving pieces 53a, 53a facing each other with a dimension smaller than the width dimension of the guide path 52a are deformed so as to increase the distance between the receiving sections and receive. Communication path 53 between pieces 53a, 53a
b moves the housing 2.

The mounting portion 50 is provided with a pair of mounting holes 56,56. The large-diameter holes 5 inserted into the flanges of the flanged fixing pins provided on the vehicle body are provided with these mounting holes 56.
6a, 56a and the small-diameter holes 56a, which are in communication with the large-diameter holes 56a, 56a, and which are inserted into the shafts of the fixing pins.
b, 56b, and after inserting the large-diameter holes 56a, 56a into the flanges of the fixing pins,
By moving the small-diameter hole portion 56b,
56b is inserted into the shaft of the fixing pin, and the flange is
The supporting member 5 can be attached by hooking on the peripheral edges of b and 56b.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a mounting bracket attached to a vehicle body. The mounting bracket 7 includes a mounting piece 71 that is mounted to the housing 2 by mounting means such as welding, and a fixing piece 72 that is fixed to the vehicle body via the impact energy absorber 6. The fixing piece 72 is provided with recessed grooves 73, 73 extending in the axial direction of the housing 2, and holds the spacers 8, 8 having bolt holes 81 in the recessed grooves 73, 73. The mounting bracket 7 is fixed to the vehicle body by bolts 9, 9 inserted into the bolt holes 81.
Further, an impact energy absorbing mechanism is provided between the fixed piece 72 and the spacers 8 to absorb impact energy due to a secondary collision acting on the steering wheel from the driver.

The impact energy absorbing mechanism is provided by filling a plurality of filling holes 74, 82 provided in the fixing pieces 72, 72 and the spacers 8, 8 with a molten synthetic resin and curing the resin. Is formed.
Then, the impact energy absorber 6 breaks between the fixed piece 72 and the spacers 8 to absorb the impact energy.

The steering apparatus constructed as described above is shown in FIG.
As in the case of the steering device shown in (a), it is disposed inside the vehicle compartment, the mounting portion 50 of the support tool 5 is hooked on a fixing pin of the vehicle body, and the other end of the housing 2 is supported by the vehicle body. At the same time, the fixing piece 72 of the mounting bracket 7 is fixed to the vehicle body using the bolts 9, 9, and the axially central portion of the housing 2 is mounted to the vehicle body via the mounting bracket 7. Further, in the steering device mounted on the vehicle body, a joint connecting the rudder shaft and the steering mechanism is arranged to penetrate a dash panel of the vehicle body.

In this case, the support 5 is provided with a guide path 52a for guiding the movement of the housing 2 in the radial direction, and the guide path 52a.
Since the receiving portion 53 which is disposed in the inside and is deformed by the radial movement of the housing 2 is provided, the radial length of the support 5 can be shortened, and the support 5 can be downsized. be able to.

When the dash panel of the vehicle body is deformed toward the interior of the passenger compartment due to, for example, a front collision of a light truck (primary collision), impact energy acts on the joint and the rudder shaft 1 connected to the joint.
Impact energy acts on the housing 2 in the insertion hole 51a of the support tool 5 through this, and the communication parts 55, 55 between the insertion hole 51a of the support tool 5 and the guide path 52a are deformed by the impact energy. , Housing 2 has an insertion hole 5
1a to the guide path 52a, the housing 2 comes into contact with the distal end of the receiving portion 53 with this movement, and the receiving portion 53 is inserted from the bent portions 52c, 52c into the insertion hole 51.
a, and the housing 2 is moved along the guide path 52a.

When the housing 2 moves to the end of the guide path 52a, the pair of receiving pieces 53a, 53a are deformed so as to increase the distance between the receiving pieces 53a, 53a.
The housing 2 will move in the space between a.
The housing 2 comes into contact with the distal end of the receiving portion 53 to restrict its movement. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the housing 2 from falling off from the support member 5, and it is possible to increase the amount of movement of the housing 2 in the radial direction.

Further, when the driver collides with the steering wheel (secondary collision) due to the shock due to the primary collision and the impact energy acts on the housing 2 from the rudder shaft 1 and the ball bearing 3, the housing 2 is pressed in the axial direction. The mounting bracket 7
Is destroyed, and the impact energy of the secondary collision is absorbed.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 8 is a front view of a steering device, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a support, and FIG.
0 is a side view of the support, FIG. 11 is a front view of the support, FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the steering device. In the steering device according to the second embodiment, the bent portions 52 c and 52 of the receiving portion 53 of the support 5 are provided.
The c side is inserted into the insertion hole 51 through a curved portion 57 that is curved in a semicircular shape in the axial length direction of the insertion hole 51a and opposite to the mounting portion 50.
a is bent at right angles to one side in the axial direction (the side of the mounting portion 54), and the opposite side of the receiving portion 53 to the bent portions 52c, 52c is bent to the other side in the axial direction of the insertion hole 51a. Since other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, common components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description, operations, and effects are omitted.

The support 5 includes a guide portion 52 for guiding the housing 2 in the radial direction, and a guide path 52 for the guide portion 52.
a of the receiving portion 53 disposed inside the insertion hole 51a is bent to one side in the axial length direction of the insertion hole 51a,
Further, since the insertion hole 51a side of the receiving portion 53 is bent toward the other axial side of the insertion hole 51a, the length of the support 5 in the radial direction is further shortened as compared with the first embodiment. Therefore, the size of the support 5 can be further reduced.

In the second embodiment, the distal end of the receiving portion 53 may be connected to the housing 2 by welding. With this configuration, when the impact energy acts on the housing 2 due to the primary collision, the receiving portion 5
Embodiment 1 in a state in which 3 is connected to the housing 2
Will be deformed to the opposite side of the insertion hole 51a in the same manner as
When the impact energy of the secondary collision acts on the housing 2 and the housing 2 is pressed in the axial direction, the receiving portion 53 connected to the housing 2 and the guide portion 52 continuous with the receiving portion 53 Since it can be deformed in the axial direction, the impact energy of the secondary collision can be favorably absorbed.

[0035]

As described in detail above, according to the first, fourth and sixth aspects of the present invention, when impact energy acts on the housing due to primary collision, the housing moves from the insertion hole to the guide path, The housing comes into contact with the receiving portion (receiving piece) and deforms the receiving portion (receiving piece) to the side opposite to the insertion hole. This receiving part (receiving part piece)
The amount of movement of the housing in the guide path, in other words, the amount of movement in the radial direction, increases with the deformation of the housing, and the movement of the housing is limited when the amount of deformation of the receiving portion (receiving portion piece) approaches the maximum. Then, the housing is received by the receiving portion (receiving portion piece). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the housing from falling off the vehicle body due to the primary collision, and it is possible to increase the amount of movement of the housing in the radial direction.

In addition, since the support has a receiving portion (receiving portion piece) which is deformed by the radial movement of the housing in the guide path, the length of the support in the radial direction is reduced. And the support can be downsized.

According to the second and fifth aspects of the invention, the bent portion side of the guide portion and the receiving portion is directed to one side in the axial direction of the insertion hole, and the opposite side of the receiving portion to the bent portion is the insertion hole. Are bent to the other side in the axial length direction of the housing, the length of the support in the radial direction can be further reduced without reducing the predetermined amount of movement of the housing in the radial direction. Can be further miniaturized.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the impact energy of the secondary collision acts on the housing and the housing moves in the axial direction, the receiving portion connected to the housing and the guide portion continuous with the receiving portion. Can be deformed in the axial direction, so that the impact energy of the secondary collision can be favorably absorbed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a steering device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of Embodiment 1 of the support according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the first embodiment of the support according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state where the support according to the present invention is deformed.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the steering device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the mounting bracket of the steering device according to the present invention on the mounting side to the vehicle body.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a steering device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of Embodiment 2 of the support according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side view of a second embodiment of the support according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front view of a second embodiment of the support according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a steering device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

13A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the steering device is mounted on the vehicle body, and FIG. 13B is a schematic diagram showing a state in which impact energy acts on the steering device mounted on the vehicle body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 rudder shaft 2 housing 5 support 50 mounting part 51 insertion part 51a insertion hole 52 guide part 52a guide path 52b guide part piece 52c bending part 53 receiving part 53a receiving part piece 53b communication path

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A steering apparatus comprising: a housing for rotatably housing a rudder shaft; and a support for supporting the rotatable shaft so as to be able to move in a radial direction, wherein the support is inserted with the housing. An insertion portion having an insertion hole, a guide portion having a guide passage communicating with the insertion hole and allowing movement of the housing in a radial direction, and a guide portion connected to the guide passage through a bent portion continuous with the guide portion. And a receiving portion which is disposed and deforms in the moving direction when the housing moves to receive the housing. 2. The bent portion side of the guide portion and the receiving portion is bent to one side in the axial length direction of the insertion hole, and the opposite side of the receiving portion from the bent portion is formed of the insertion hole. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the steering device is bent to the other side in the axial direction. 3. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein a side of the receiving portion opposite to the bent portion is coupled to the housing. 4. A supporter for rotatably supporting a housing for rotatably housing a rudder shaft, wherein said insertion portion has an insertion hole into which said housing is inserted, and said insertion portion communicates with said insertion hole. A guide portion having a guide path that allows the housing to move in the radial direction, and a guide portion that is disposed on the guide path via a bent portion that is continuous with the guide portion, and is deformed in the moving direction when the housing moves. And a receiving portion for receiving the housing. 5. The bending portion side of the guide portion and the receiving portion,
The support tool according to claim 4, wherein the insertion hole is bent to one side in the axial direction, and a side of the receiving portion opposite to the bent portion is bent to the other side in the axial direction of the insertion hole. 6. A mounting tool for rotatably supporting a cylindrical housing for rotatably storing a rudder shaft, wherein one side plate of a metal plate bent in an L-shape is mounted on a vehicle body. The insertion portion of the support body, which is a mounting portion having a hole and the other side plate portion is an insertion portion having an insertion hole into which the housing is inserted, communicates with a peripheral surface of the insertion hole opposite to the mounting portion. A guide path for guiding the radial movement of the housing, and a guide for receiving the housing by deforming in the moving direction when the housing is moved into the guide path from the side opposite to the insertion hole and is moved. And a communication passage communicating with the guide path when the receiving piece is deformed by being opened on the side opposite to the insertion hole, wherein the receiving piece is provided. And support.