JP2006327261A - Steering member for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering member for a vehicle capable of mounting peripheral parts without using a bracket. <P>SOLUTION: It is not necessary to previously mount the bracket on a steering member body 2 and it is possible to reduce the number of parts and working manhours as it is devised so that bead parts 6, 9 are formed bulged on a steering member body 2 and the peripheral members such as a vent grill 7, a meter 13, etc. are mounted on top surfaces of the bead parts 6, 9. It is possible to improve rigidity of a periphery of the bead parts 6, 9 on the steering member main body 2 and to improve mounting rigidity of the peripheral parts against the bead part 6, 9 as the bead parts 6, 9 are continuously formed in the cross-section circumferential direction of the steering member body 2. It is possible to compensate lowering of rigidity of the steering member body 2 due to formation of an opening 5 by the bead part 6 as the bead part 6 is formed at a proximate position of the opening 5. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle steering member.

  A steering member main body is disposed inside the instrument panel of the automobile in a state along the vehicle width direction. This steering member body is generally made of a metal cylinder and is essentially used to support a steering column, an air conditioning unit, and the like, but is also used as an air conditioning duct because of its cylindrical shape.

  When used as an air conditioning duct, an opening for introducing or blowing air conditioning air is formed in the steering member body. Further, in order to prevent dew condensation on the metal steering member main body, a resin duct is generally provided in the interior, thereby constituting a steering member having a double cylinder structure as a whole.

Various peripheral parts (meters, vent grills, etc.) are attached to the surface of the steering member body. If it is mounted directly on the surface of the steering member body using screws or other mounting means, a hole is formed in the internal duct and air leaks from it. Conventionally, the surface of the steering member body has a cross-sectional hat shape. These brackets were previously fixed by welding or the like, and various peripheral parts were attached to the top surface of the brackets using attachment means such as screws (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-1687 A

  However, in such a conventional technique, a bracket is fixed to the surface of the steering member main body, and peripheral parts are attached to the bracket. Therefore, the number of parts and work man-hours are increased.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to such a conventional technique, and provides a vehicle steering member in which peripheral parts can be attached without using a bracket.

  The invention according to claim 1 is for a vehicle in which a peripheral part is attached to the surface of the steering member main body in a double cylinder structure in which a duct portion is provided inside a cylindrical steering member main body arranged along the vehicle width direction. A steering member is characterized in that a bead portion having a top surface spaced apart from a duct portion is formed to bulge in the steering member main body, and peripheral parts can be attached to the top surface of the bead portion.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that the bead portion is formed continuously in the circumferential direction of the cross section of the steering member main body.

  The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that the bead portion is formed at a position close to an opening formed in the steering member main body and the duct portion.

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the bead portion is formed at a position close to the steering column mounting portion.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the bead portion is formed to bulge in the steering member main body and the peripheral parts are attached to the top surface of the bead portion, it is not necessary to attach a bracket to the steering member main body in advance. In addition, the number of parts and work man-hours can be reduced.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the bead portion is continuously formed in the circumferential direction of the cross section of the steering member main body, the rigidity around the bead portion in the steering member main body can be increased, and the peripheral parts relative to the bead portion can be improved. Mounting rigidity is also improved.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the bead portion is formed in the vicinity of the opening, the bead portion can compensate for the decrease in rigidity of the steering member main body due to the opening formation.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the bead portion is formed at a position close to the steering column mounting portion, thereby increasing the rigidity of the steering column mounting portion and improving the support rigidity of the steering column supported there. it can.

  The present invention has an object of providing a vehicle steering member in which peripheral components can be attached without using a bracket, and a duct portion is provided inside a cylindrical steering member main body arranged along the vehicle width direction. A vehicle steering member having a double cylinder structure and peripheral parts attached to the surface of the steering member main body, wherein a bead portion having a top surface spaced apart from the duct portion is bulged and formed on the steering member main body. Realized by enabling peripheral parts to be attached to the top surface. Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 3 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention. A steering member 1 is arranged along the vehicle width direction inside an instrument panel (not shown) installed in front of the vehicle interior. FIG. 1 shows only the driver's seat side of the steering member 1. The steering member 1 is made of a metal-made cylindrical steering member body 2 and a resin-made hollow duct provided therein. It has a double cylinder structure composed of the portion 3.

  Both ends of the steering member main body 2 are coupled to the side wall of the vehicle body by the bracket 4. Since the steering member 1 has a cylindrical shape, it is also used as a passage for air-conditioned air. That is, air conditioning air is sent from an air conditioning unit (not shown) to the vehicle width direction central portion of the steering member 1, and the air conditioning air is shown from the openings 5 formed at both ends in the vehicle width direction of the steering member 1. It is supplied to the passenger compartment side through the outlet of the instrument panel.

  In the opening 5 formed at the right end of the steering member 1, a pair of bead portions 6 that are continuous in the circumferential direction of the cross section of the steering member main body 2 are formed at adjacent positions on both the left and right sides. The bead portion 6 is formed by bulging only the steering member main body 2 of the steering member 1. A vent grill 7 corresponding to the opening 5 is attached to the top surface of the bead portion 6 with screws 8. The protruding amount of the screw 8 into the bead portion 6 is smaller than the height of the bead portion 6, and the tip of the screw 8 is not in contact with the duct portion 3.

  A pair of bead portions 9 that are wider than the previous bead portion 6 are formed in a portion located slightly in front of the driver's seat slightly to the left of the opening 5. The bead portion 9 is also continuously formed in the circumferential direction of the cross section of the steering member main body 2. A steering column mounting portion 10 having a U-shaped cross section is integrally formed below the bead portion 9, and a steering column 12 is supported on the steering column mounting portion 10 from below by a holding metal fitting 11.

  A support piece 14 of a meter 13 as a peripheral part is attached to the top surface of the bead portion 9 obliquely rearward by a screw 15. As in the case of the previous vent grill 7, the protruding amount of the screw 15 into the bead portion 9 is smaller than the height of the bead portion 9, and the clearance C (see FIG. 2) is provided between the tip of the screw 15 and the duct portion 3. ) Is secured and the duct portion 3 is not damaged. Accordingly, no air leakage from the duct portion 3 occurs.

  According to this embodiment, as described above, the bead portions 6 and 9 are bulged and formed on the steering member main body 2, and the vent grill 7 and the meter 13 are attached to the top surfaces of the bead portions 6 and 9. Therefore, it is not necessary to previously attach a bracket to the steering member body 2 in advance, and the number of parts and the number of work steps can be reduced.

  Further, since the bead portions 6 and 9 are continuously formed in the circumferential direction of the cross section of the steering member main body 2, the rigidity around the bead portions 6 and 9 in the steering member main body 2 can be increased. That is, the bead portion 6 formed in the vicinity of the opening 5 can compensate for the decrease in rigidity of the steering member main body 2 due to the formation of the opening 5.

  Further, the bead portion 9 is formed at a position close to a portion where rigidity is required, such as the steering column mounting portion 10, thereby reliably increasing the rigidity of the steering column mounting portion 10 and improving the support rigidity of the steering column 12. be able to.

  In addition, since the bead portions 6 and 9 are formed to bulge in a state of being separated from the duct portion 3, even if other parts are welded to the top surfaces of the bead portions 6 and 9, the internal duct portion 3 is heated. Will not be affected.

  In the above embodiment, the bead portions 6 and 9 are provided at the air conditioning opening 5 in the steering member main body 2 and the proximity position of the steering member mounting portion 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this. You may provide in proximity positions, such as an attachment site | part. Moreover, although the example which forms the steering member main body 2 with a metal was shown, the steering member main body 2 may be formed with a highly rigid resin.

The disassembled perspective view which shows the steering member which concerns on one Example of this invention, and the member supported by the periphery. Sectional drawing after the assembly in the state which follows the arrow SA-SA line in FIG. Sectional drawing after the assembly in the state which follows the arrow SB-SB line | wire in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering member 2 Steering member main body 3 Duct part 5 Opening 6, 9 Bead part 7 Vent grill (peripheral parts)
10 Steering column mounting part 12 Steering column 13 Meter (peripheral parts)
C Clearance

Claims (4)

Vehicle in which peripheral parts are attached to the surface of the steering member body (2) with a double cylinder structure in which a duct portion (3) is provided inside a cylindrical steering member body (2) arranged along the vehicle width direction Steering member for
A bead portion (6, 9) whose top surface is spaced from the duct portion (3) is formed to bulge in the steering member body (2), and peripheral parts (7, 13) are formed on the top surface of the bead portion (6, 9). ) Can be mounted. A vehicle steering member characterized in that The vehicle steering member according to claim 1,
A vehicle steering member, wherein the bead portions (6, 9) are formed continuously in the circumferential direction of the cross section of the steering member body (2). A vehicle steering member according to claim 1 or claim 2,
A vehicle steering member, wherein the bead portion (6) is formed at a position close to an opening (5) formed in the steering member main body (2) and the duct portion (3). A vehicle steering member according to claim 1 or claim 2,
A vehicle steering member, wherein the bead portion (9) is formed at a position close to the steering column mounting portion (10).

Images