JP2007062441A - Steering column device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering column device for a vehicle capable of always ensuring safety of a driver by certainly absorbing impact energy regardless of the driver's physique and scale of collision. <P>SOLUTION: In the steering column device 1 for the vehicle, a second energy absorption member 15 separately from a first energy absorption member 14 is provided, one end of the second energy absorption member 15 is fixed to a removal bracket 4 and the other end is disengageably connected to a vehicle body mounting bracket 5. A pyro-actuator 11 for engaging/disengaging the other end of the second energy absorption member 15 relative to the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 is fixed to the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 by a fixing bracket 12 and a plate part 12b is integrally provided on the fixing bracket 12. A circular hole (pin support part) 12c for supporting a pin of the pyro-actuator 11 and a guide part 12d for guiding the second energy absorption member 15 are provided on the plate part 12b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a variable energy absorption type vehicle steering column device capable of absorbing impact energy applied to a vehicle body at the time of a vehicle collision and impact energy applied to a swinging wheel by a driver in two steps according to a driving state of the driver. Is.

As a measure for ensuring the safety of the driver in the event of a car collision, a structure is adopted in which the steering column contracts in the axial direction when the driver collides with the steering wheel, or moves away from the vehicle body and moves forward. In particular, in the latter structure in which the steering column is detached from the vehicle body, the energy absorbing member made of a metal plate is torn by the movement of the steering column to the front of the vehicle body in the event of a collision, and the energy consumed by this tearing is used to reduce the impact energy. Absorption and the impact received by the driver are reduced to ensure the driver's safety (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-217981

  However, in the conventional steering column device, when the impact load on the vehicle body and the impact load greater than the preset size from the driver are not applied to the steering wheel at the time of the vehicle collision, the axial contraction of the steering column or the energy Since the tearing of the absorbing member is not started, there is a problem that the impact energy cannot be absorbed when an impact load equal to or lower than a set value is applied. For this reason, for example, with a light female driver, the impact load acting on the steering wheel does not reach the set value, and depending on the driver or the degree of collision, the driver's safety during the collision cannot be ensured. There is a fear.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is that the impact energy applied to the vehicle body at the time of a vehicle collision and the impact energy applied to the swinging wheel by the driver in two steps according to the driving state of the driver. An object of the present invention is to provide a steering column device for a vehicle that can absorb and reliably absorb impact energy regardless of the physique of the driver and the degree of collision, and can always ensure the safety of the driver.

In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a steering column jacket and a detachable bracket that supports the steering column jacket, which are detachably attached to a vehicle body mounting bracket fixed to the vehicle body, and can be torn. In the vehicle steering column device, wherein one end of the absorbing member is fixed to the vehicle body mounting bracket and the other end is fixed to the release bracket.
A second energy absorbing member different from the first energy absorbing member is provided, one end of the second energy absorbing member is fixed to the release bracket, and the other end is detachably connected to the vehicle body mounting bracket. And fixing a pyroactuator that engages and disengages the other end of the second energy absorbing member with respect to the vehicle body mounting bracket to the vehicle body mounting bracket by a fixing bracket,
The fixed bracket is provided with a pin support portion for supporting the pin of the pyroactuator and a guide portion for guiding the second energy absorbing member,
When the load is low, the pyroactuator disengages the second energy absorbing member from the vehicle body mounting bracket. When the load is high, the pyroactuator engages the second energy absorbing member with the vehicle body mounting bracket. It is characterized by having comprised as follows.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the fixing bracket is provided with a plate portion having the pin support portion and the guide portion, and the plate portion is disposed in the vicinity of the fixing bracket body. It is characterized by being formed vertically and integrally with the vehicle body mounting bracket.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the pin support portion provided on the plate portion of the fixed bracket is configured with a hole having the same shape as the cross-sectional shape of the pin of the pyroactuator. It is characterized by.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, a recess for receiving a lower portion of the pyroactuator is formed in the vehicle body mounting bracket, and the pyroactuator is formed by the recess and the fixed bracket. It is characterized by sandwiching.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pyroactuator is installed horizontally on the vehicle body mounting bracket.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, a guide portion for guiding the release bracket is formed on the vehicle body mounting bracket.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the second energy generated by the pyroactuator is low during a low load, such as when the impact on the vehicle body at the time of a vehicle collision is small or when the impact on the steering wheel by the driver from the driving state is small. Since the engagement of the absorbing member with the vehicle body mounting bracket is released, the release bracket is detached from the vehicle body mounting bracket and moved forward of the vehicle body, and the second energy absorbing member is separated from the vehicle body mounting bracket together with the separation bracket, Only the first energy absorbing member is torn by the release bracket, and the relatively small impact energy is absorbed by the tearing energy to protect the driver from the impact.

  In addition, when the vehicle impact is high or when the load is high, such as when the driver has a large impact on the steering wheel from the driving state, the pyroelectric actuator causes the second energy absorbing member to engage the vehicle mounting bracket. Therefore, both the first energy absorbing member and the second energy absorbing member are torn by the separation bracket, and a relatively large impact energy is absorbed by the large energy consumed for the tearing, thereby ensuring the driver's safety.

  Thus, according to the invention of claim 1, the impact energy applied to the vehicle body at the time of a vehicle collision and the impact energy applied to the swinging wheel by the driver can be absorbed in two stages according to the driving state of the driver, Regardless of the driver's physique and the degree of collision, the driver can always absorb the impact energy to ensure the driver's safety.

  In addition, the pyroactuator is fixed to the vehicle body mounting bracket that remains on the vehicle body side in the event of a vehicle collision, and the pyroactuator does not move even if the steering column jacket and the release bracket are detached from the vehicle body mounting bracket in the event of a vehicle collision. The operational stability and safety can be improved.

  According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the plate portion is provided integrally with the fixing bracket for fixing the pyroactuator to the vehicle body mounting bracket, and the pin for supporting the pin of the pyroactuator on the plate portion. Since the support portion is provided, when the pin of the pyroactuator is engaged with the second energy absorbing member at a high load, the pin is supported in a state of being supported with the pin support portion of the fixed bracket, and the second energy The impact load acting on the absorbing member is reliably received by the pin support portion, the second energy absorbing member is reliably torn and the impact energy is absorbed. Further, since the guide portion for guiding the second energy absorbing member is provided in the plate portion of the fixing bracket, the pin and the pin support portion of the pyroactuator are accurately positioned, and the positional deviation between them is prevented.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the lower part of the pyroactuator is received by the recess formed in the vehicle body mounting bracket, and the pyroactuator is sandwiched between the recess and the fixed bracket. Can be fixed, and the installation height of the pyroactuator can be kept low, and a large space can be secured above the pyroactuator.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the pyroactuator is installed horizontally on the vehicle body mounting bracket, the pyroactuator is arranged sideways with respect to the occupant, so that safety is improved and the pyroactuator is provided. A large space above can be secured.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the separation bracket can be separated and smoothly moved to the front of the vehicle body while being guided by the guide portion formed on the vehicle body mounting bracket at the time of a vehicle collision. The first energy absorbing member can be reliably torn when the load is high.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 is a perspective view of a steering column device for a vehicle according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of an apparatus.

  In the vehicle steering column apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 2 denotes a cylindrical steering column jacket. A steering shaft 3 is inserted into the cylindrical steering column jacket, and one end (upper end) of the steering shaft 3 is not inserted. The illustrated steering wheel is attached.

  The steering column jacket 2 is supported by a release bracket 4 made of sheet metal, and the steering column jacket 2 and the release bracket 4 are attached to the vehicle body by a vehicle body mounting bracket 5 made of sheet metal.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, substantially V-shaped slits 4 a that open toward the rear of the vehicle body are formed on the left and right sides of the separation bracket 4. A slide plate 6 having a U-shape when viewed from the side is fitted into each slit 4 a of the detachment bracket 4, and a long hole-like bolt insertion hole 6 a is formed in each slide plate 6.

  Further, the central portion in the width direction of the separation bracket 4 is raised upward, and a channel-like support bracket 7 for supporting the steering column jacket 2 is attached to the lower surface of the raised portion. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, a channel-shaped mounting bracket 8 is attached to an axially middle lower portion of the steering column jacket 2, and the steering column jacket 2 connects the mounting bracket 8 between the support bracket 7. The bolts 9 are inserted into the circular holes 7a and 8a formed in the two, respectively, and bolts 9 are passed from the lateral direction, and nuts 10 are screwed onto the ends of the bolts 9 to be attached to the release bracket 4.

  Further, a key-like hook portion 4b is projected horizontally toward the front of the vehicle body at the raised central portion in the width direction of the release bracket 4, and a rectangular shape is formed at the front end portions on both the left and right sides of the release bracket 4. Cutouts 4c are respectively formed. The left and right end edges of the detachable bracket 4 are bent at a right angle downward as shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, a bulging portion is formed at the central portion in the width direction of the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 so as to bulge upward in accordance with the bulging portion of the detaching bracket 4. As shown in FIG. The holes 5a are formed apart from each other in the width direction, and an arcuate curved recess 5b (see FIG. 3) is formed between them. A total of three screw holes 5 c are formed before and after the recess 5 a of the vehicle body mounting bracket 5.

  Also, long hole-shaped bolt insertion holes 5d are formed in the front-rear direction on the left and right sides of the raised portion of the vehicle body mounting bracket 5, and both left and right edges of the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 are bent downward at right angles to guide portions 5e. Is forming. In the assembled state of the steering column device 1, as shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 is superimposed on the release bracket 4 from above so as to cover the release bracket 4 from above, and is formed at both end edges thereof. The guide portion 5e thus fitted is fitted to both end edges of the release bracket 4 and functions to guide the release bracket 4 when the release bracket 4 is detached.

  Thus, a pyroactuator 11 is installed horizontally on the vehicle body mounting bracket 5, and the pyroactuator 11 is fixed to the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 by a semi-cylindrical fixing bracket 12 that covers from above. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the pyroactuator 11 is placed horizontally on the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 so that the lower portion thereof is received by the recess 5b formed in the vehicle body mounting bracket 5, and then the fixed The screw hole 5c formed in the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 is covered with a bracket 12 from above, and a screw 13 inserted into a circular hole 12a formed in a flange on both sides of the fixed bracket 12 (only one is shown in FIG. 4). The pyroactuator 11 is clamped and fixed by the fixing bracket 12 and the vehicle body mounting bracket 5.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the pyroactuator 11 is configured such that a piston 11b is slidably inserted into a cylinder 11a, and a cylindrical pin 11c projects integrally with the piston 11b. Has been.

  Incidentally, in the fixed bracket 12, as shown in FIG. 4, a plate portion 12b is provided in the vicinity of the semi-cylindrical main body 12A so as to be perpendicular to and integrated with the vehicle body mounting bracket 5, and the plate portion 12b A circular hole 12c having the same shape as the cross-sectional shape (circular shape) of the pin 11c of the pyroactuator 11 is formed at the center, and this circular hole 12c is a pin support for supporting the pin 11c of the pyroactuator 11. Part. The upper and lower edges of the plate portion 12b are bent inward at right angles to form a guide portion 12d. The guide portion 12d is for receiving the upper and lower end surfaces of a support portion 15c of the second energy absorbing member 15 described later and guiding the second energy absorbing member 15.

  A first energy absorbing member 14 made of sheet metal is provided on both the left and right sides of the steering column jacket 2 below the release bracket 4, and at the center in the width direction on the release bracket 4. One second energy absorbing member 15 made of sheet metal is provided.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 4, each first energy absorbing member 14 is configured by forming support portions 14 b and 14 c bent at right angles in the front-rear direction on an upper portion of a plate-like main body 14 a extending vertically. A wide engaging portion 14d in the width direction is formed at the front end of one support portion 14b, and a long hole-like bolt insertion hole 14e is formed in the other support portion 14c. The main body 14a is preliminarily engraved with a tear induction line L1 extending vertically downward from the boundary portion between the support portions 14b and 14c.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the second energy absorbing member 15 is formed by forming support portions 15b and 15c bent back and forth at one end of a plate-like main body 15a that is long in the lateral direction. An engagement portion 15d that is wide in the front-rear direction is formed at the lower end of one support portion 15b, and a circular hole 15e is formed in the other support portion 15c. The main body 15a is preliminarily engraved with a tear guide line L2 extending in the lateral direction from the boundary between the support portions 15b and 15c.

  The tear induction lines L1 and L2 are configured by continuous or discontinuous notches having a substantially V-shaped cross section.

  Thus, the left and right slide plates 6 are fitted into the left and right slits 4a of the release bracket 4 from the rear side, and as shown in FIG. One support portion 14c of one energy absorbing member 14 is overlapped from below. The separation bracket 4 and the steering column jacket 2 and one support portion 14c of the first energy absorbing member 14 supported by the separation bracket 4 are formed on the vehicle body mounting bracket 5, the slide plate 6 and the first energy absorbing member 14, respectively. The bolts 16 are inserted into the bolt insertion holes 5d, 6a, and 14e, and are attached to the vehicle body via the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 by nuts 17 screwed to the bolts.

  The other support portion 14b of the first energy absorbing member 14 has an engagement portion 14d formed at the front end thereof engaged with the notch 4c formed at the left and right front end portions of the release bracket 4, respectively. It is being fixed to the detachment bracket 4 by.

  Furthermore, one support portion 15b of the second energy absorbing member 15 has an engaging portion 15d formed at the lower end thereof engaged with the hook portion 4b protruding from the front end portion in the width direction of the detachable bracket 4. It is being fixed to the detachment bracket 4 by. Further, the other support portion 15c of the second energy absorbing member 15 is fitted into a gap between the main body 12A of the fixed bracket 12 and the plate portion 12b, and the circular hole 15e formed therein is a plate of the fixed bracket 12. It communicates with a circular hole 12c formed in the portion 12b, and the pin 11c is engaged with and disengaged from the circular holes 15e and 12c by turning on / off the pyroactuator 11 as will be described later. As described above, since the upper and lower end surfaces of the support portion 15c of the second energy absorbing member 15 are guided by the guide portion 12d formed on the plate portion 12b of the fixed bracket 12, the pin of the pyro actuator 11 11c and the circular holes 15e and 12c are accurately positioned, and the positional deviation between them is prevented.

  By the way, ON / OFF control of the pyroactuator 11 is performed by ignition control by an ECU (electronic control unit) (not shown).

Therefore, the ECU is connected to a seat position sensor, a weight sensor that detects the weight of the driver, a vehicle speed sensor, an occupant position sensor, a seat belt wearing sensor, and other driving state detection sensors and a collision detection sensor that detects an impact applied to the steering wheel. The information signals from these sensors are input. Based on these pieces of information, the ECU sends a current to the pyroactuator 11 and controls the pyroactuator 11 to be turned on and off. Note that a collision detection sensor may be used in combination with the driving state detection sensor to improve detection accuracy.

  Next, the operation of the vehicle steering column apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration will be described separately for low load and high load based on FIGS. 5 and 6. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing states of the vehicle steering column device 1 at each action, FIG. 5 is a state after a collision at a low load, and FIG. 6 is a state after a collision at a high load. Respectively.

  In the state before the vehicle collision, as shown in FIG. 1, the pyroactuator 11 is in an OFF state, and its pin 11c is immersed in the cylinder 11a as shown by a solid line in FIG. They are not fitted in the circular holes 15e and 12c formed in the absorbing member 15 and the fixing bracket 12, respectively. Accordingly, the support portion 15 c of the second energy absorbing member 15 is not connected to the vehicle body mounting bracket 5.

  Thus, the vehicle decelerates when the vehicle collides, but the impact applied to the steering wheel by the driver when the degree of vehicle collision is relatively small, or when the weight of the driver is small, or because the vehicle deceleration is relatively small. When the load is relatively small, such as when the load is relatively small, the pyroactuator 11 maintains the OFF state. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, the detachment bracket 4 is detached from the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 and moves forward along with the steering column jacket 2 (not shown in FIG. 5), and the support bracket 14 b is attached to the detachment bracket 4. Only the left and right first energy absorbing members 14 to be engaged are torn along the tear guide line L1. In contrast, the second energy absorbing member 15 is disengaged from the plate portion 12b of the fixing bracket 12 provided on the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 side, and the engaging portion 15d is engaged with the hook portion 4b of the detaching bracket 4. In this state, the vehicle is detached from the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 together with the separation bracket 4. The impact energy is absorbed by the relatively small energy consumed for tearing the left and right first energy absorbing members 14 at this time, and the safety of the driver at a low load is ensured.

  On the other hand, when the degree of vehicle collision is relatively large, when the driver's weight is large, or when the impact load applied to the steering wheel by the driver is relatively large because the vehicle deceleration is relatively large, When the pyroactuator 11 is turned on and explosive explosive explodes, the piston 11b and the pin 11c move in the cylinder 11a as shown by a chain line in FIG. 2, and the tip of the pin 11c is connected to the second energy absorbing member 15. In order to fit into the circular holes 15 e and 12 c of the fixing bracket 12, the support portion 15 c of the second energy absorbing member 15 is connected to the vehicle body mounting bracket 5.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, the detachment bracket 4 is detached from the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 and moves forward of the vehicle body, and the left and right first energy absorbing members 14 and second energy members 15 connected thereto are connected. Tear along each guide line L1, L2. For this reason, at the time of high load, in addition to the left and right first energy absorbing members 14, the second energy absorbing member 15 is also torn, and a relatively large impact energy is absorbed by the large energy consumed when tearing them. This ensures the safety of the driver under heavy loads.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the impact energy applied to the vehicle body in the event of a vehicle collision and the impact energy applied to the swinging wheel by the driver can be absorbed in two steps according to the degree of the impact. Regardless of the physique and the degree of collision, the driver can always absorb the impact energy and ensure the safety of the driver.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the pyroactuator 11 is fixed to the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 that remains on the vehicle body side when the vehicle collides, and even if the steering column jacket 2 and the release bracket 4 are detached from the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 at the time of the vehicle collision, Since 11 employs a structure that does not move, the operational stability and safety of the pyroactuator 11 can be improved.

  Then, a plate portion 12b is integrally provided on a fixing bracket 12 for fixing the pyroactuator 11 to the vehicle body mounting bracket 5, and a circle as a pin support portion for supporting the pin 11c of the pyroactuator 11 on the plate portion 12b. Since the hole 12c is provided, when the pin 11c of the pyroactuator 11 is fitted into the circular hole 15e of the support portion 15c of the second energy absorbing member 15 at a high load, the pin 11c and the circular hole 12c of the fixed bracket 12 are both As a result, the impact load acting on the second energy absorbing member 15 is reliably received by the circular hole 12c, and the second energy absorbing member 15 is surely torn and the impact energy is absorbed. The

  In the present embodiment, the lower portion of the pyroactuator 11 is received by the recess 5b formed in the vehicle body mounting bracket 5, and the pyroactuator 11 is sandwiched between the recess 5b and the fixed bracket 12, so that the axial direction of the pyroactuator 11 is In addition, the movement in the rotation direction can be fixed, and the installation height of the pyroactuator 11 can be kept low, and a large space can be secured above it.

  Furthermore, since the pyroactuator 11 is installed horizontally on the vehicle body mounting bracket 5, the pyroactuator 11 is disposed sideways with respect to the occupant, so that safety is improved and the pyroactuator 11 is located above the pyroactuator 11. A large space can be secured.

  In addition, in this embodiment, since the guide portion 5e for guiding the detachment bracket 4 is formed on the vehicle body mounting bracket 5, the detachment bracket 4 detaches while being guided by the guide portion 5e of the vehicle body mounting bracket 5 at the time of a vehicle collision. The detachable bracket 4 can reliably tear the first energy absorbing member 14 when the load is low and the first and second energy absorbing members 14 and 15 when the load is high. .

  The present invention is applicable to a vehicle steering column apparatus that employs a safety measure for absorbing an impact load by tearing a plate-shaped energy absorbing member at the time of a collision.

It is a perspective view of the steering column device for vehicles concerning the present invention. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG. It is the BB sectional view taken on the line of FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a vehicle steering column device according to the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state after the collision at the time of the low load of the steering column apparatus for vehicles which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state after the collision at the time of high load of the steering column apparatus for vehicles which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle steering column apparatus 2 Steering column jacket 3 Steering shaft 4 Detaching bracket 4a Slit 4b Hook part 4c Notch 5 Car body mounting bracket 5b Recessed part 5e Guide part 6 Slide plate 7 Support bracket 8 Mounting bracket 9 Bolt 10 Nut 11 Pyroactuator 11c Pin 12 Fixing bracket 12b Plate part 12c Circular hole (pin support part)
12d Guide portion 13 Screw 14 First energy absorbing member 15 Second energy absorbing member 15e Circular hole 16 Bolt 17 Nut

Claims (6)

A steering column jacket and a detachable bracket that supports the steering column jacket are detachably attached to a vehicle body mounting bracket fixed to the vehicle body, and one end of the first energy absorbing member that can be torn is fixed to the vehicle body mounting bracket. In the vehicle steering column device, which is fixed to the release bracket,
A second energy absorbing member different from the first energy absorbing member is provided, one end of the second energy absorbing member is fixed to the release bracket, and the other end is detachably connected to the vehicle body mounting bracket. And fixing a pyroactuator that engages and disengages the other end of the second energy absorbing member with respect to the vehicle body mounting bracket to the vehicle body mounting bracket by a fixing bracket,
The fixed bracket is provided with a pin support portion for supporting the pin of the pyroactuator and a guide portion for guiding the second energy absorbing member,
When the load is low, the pyroactuator disengages the second energy absorbing member from the vehicle body mounting bracket. When the load is high, the pyroactuator engages the second energy absorbing member with the vehicle body mounting bracket. A vehicle steering column device having the above-described configuration.   The fixed bracket is provided with a plate portion having the pin support portion and the guide portion, and the plate portion is formed vertically and integrally with the vehicle body mounting bracket in the vicinity of the fixed bracket body. The vehicle steering column device according to claim 1.   The vehicle steering column device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pin support portion provided on the plate portion of the fixed bracket is configured with a hole having the same shape as a cross-sectional shape of the pin of the pyroactuator.   4. The vehicle steering according to claim 1, wherein a recess for receiving a lower portion of the pyroactuator is formed in the vehicle body mounting bracket, and the pyroactuator is sandwiched between the recess and the fixed bracket. Column device.   The vehicle steering column device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pyroactuator is installed horizontally on the vehicle body mounting bracket.   6. The vehicle steering column device according to claim 1, wherein a guide portion for guiding the detaching bracket is formed on the vehicle body mounting bracket.

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