JP2007269092A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering wheel of structure possible to adjust a characteristic for absorbing impact energy when moving a ring surface along the nearly vertical direction. <P>SOLUTION: The steering wheel W1 is structured of a ring part to be held when steering, a boss part arranged near the central part of the ring part and fastened to a steering shaft, and a spoke part for connecting the ring part and the boss part to each other. The steering wheel W1 absorbs the kinetic energy of a driver when the steering wheel abuts on the driver moving forward, while plastically deforming a deforming part 20, to move the ring surface formed on the top surface side of the ring part along the nearly vertical direction. The deforming part 20 is provided with a resistor 45 pinched between a shaft side part 22 and a ring side part 25, and an actuator 42 for moving the resistor 45 to adjust a plastically deforming load. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering wheel that steers a vehicle, and in particular, a steering that moves a ring surface formed on an upper surface side of a ring portion along a substantially vertical direction when contacting a driver in a vehicle collision. Regarding the wheel.

Conventionally, a steering wheel includes a ring portion that is gripped during steering, a boss portion that is disposed near the center of the ring portion and fastened to a steering shaft, and a spoke portion that connects the ring portion and the boss portion. It was. And as a steering wheel, at the time of contact with the driver in the collision of the vehicle, the entire ring surface constituted by the upper surface side of the ring portion is deformed and moved so as to be substantially along the vertical direction, and the ring surface is moved to the driver. There was something that self-aligned along the front of the upper body. That is, in this self-aligning steering wheel, when contacting the driver moving forward, the entire ring surface formed on the upper surface side of the ring portion is lowered after the front side is raised and the rear side is lowered. From a tilted state, the predetermined deformation planned portion is plastically deformed while moving along a substantially vertical direction to absorb impact energy (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-277783

  However, in the conventional steering wheel, the part that undergoes plastic deformation during self-alignment has a constant absorption characteristic of impact energy, the difference in the physique of the driver's large and small handles, the driver's difference from the steering wheel The absorption characteristics of impact energy could not be adjusted according to the difference in seating position and the difference in vehicle speed.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel capable of adjusting the absorption characteristics of impact energy when the ring surface is moved along the substantially vertical direction.

A steering wheel according to the present invention includes a ring portion that is gripped during steering, a boss portion that is disposed near the center of the ring portion and fastened to a steering shaft, and a spoke portion that connects the ring portion and the boss portion. And configured
A steering wheel that plastically deforms a deformation planned portion and moves a ring surface formed on the upper surface side of the ring portion along a substantially vertical direction at the time of contact with a driver moving forward,
The planned deformation portion includes an adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the plastic deformation load.

  In the steering wheel according to the present invention, the plastic deformation load of the portion to be deformed when the ring surface is moved along the substantially vertical direction can be adjusted by the adjusting mechanism. Therefore, if the plastic deformation load of the part to be deformed when moving the ring surface is increased, the amount of impact energy absorbed can be increased when the ring surface is moved, and the plasticity of the part to be deformed when moving the ring surface is also increased. If the deformation load is reduced, the amount of impact energy absorbed can be reduced when the ring surface moves.

  Therefore, in the steering wheel according to the present invention, by adjusting the plastic deformation load of the portion to be deformed by the adjustment mechanism, it is possible to adjust the absorption characteristic of the impact energy when moving the ring surface along the substantially vertical direction. it can.

  The adjustment mechanism is configured so that the operation is controlled by a control device that can determine the magnitude of the kinetic energy of the driver in contact with the ring portion, and the plastic deformation load corresponding to the magnitude of the kinetic energy of the driver by the control device. It is desirable to configure so as to increase or decrease the value.

  In such a configuration, when the kinetic energy of the driver is large, for example, when the driver is large, the driver is heavy, the driver is sitting away from the steering wheel, the vehicle speed is fast, etc. If the mechanism is adjusted by the control device to increase the plastic deformation load and plastically deform the planned deformation part, when the ring surface moves, the amount of shock energy absorbed increases and the kinetic energy of the driver increases. Since it can reduce, the impact at the time of receiving with the ring surface along a substantially perpendicular direction can be relieved. On the other hand, when the driver's kinetic energy is small, for example, when the driver is small, the driver's weight is light, the driver is sitting close to the steering wheel, the vehicle speed is slow, etc., the adjustment mechanism is By adjusting the plastic deformation load to be plastically deformed by the control device, the ring surface can be easily moved without unnecessarily pressing the driver at the ring portion. A driver with small kinetic energy can be softly received by the ring surface substantially along the vertical direction.

  In this case, the control device can detect the weight of the driver, such as an image sensor or camera installed on the instrument panel / instrument panel or roof in front of the driver's seat so that the size of the driver can be detected. A weight sensor attached to the seat, a position sensor provided on the seat that can detect the distance of the driver's seating position from the steering wheel, a distance sensor provided on the meter cluster or roof, a signal from a speedometer that can detect the vehicle speed, etc. If the vehicle collision is detected from the collision detection sensor, it is possible to determine the magnitude of the kinetic energy of the driver and control the operation of the adjustment mechanism.

  In addition, the steering wheel includes a plastically deformable cored bar that connects the ring part, the boss part, and the spoke part, and the shaft to be deformed is close to the steering shaft side of the cored bar at the time of plastic deformation When the bending mechanism is arranged to bend and deform so that the ring side portion close to the ring portion approaches the side portion, the adjustment mechanism is configured such that the shaft side portion and the ring at the time of plastic deformation of the portion to be deformed The shaft is formed by providing a resistor interposed between the side portions and a moving means for moving the resistor, and moving the resistor by the moving means to plastically deform the portion to be deformed. It is desirable to arrange so as to adjust the plastic deformation load according to the sandwiched state of the resistor between the side portion and the ring side portion.

  In such a configuration, the holding state of the resistor between the shaft side portion and the ring side portion at the time of plastic deformation of the portion to be deformed is changed according to whether or not the resistor is moved by the moving means, the moving amount, and the moving direction. Thus, it is possible to adjust the plastic deformation load of the portion to be deformed when the ring surface moves. In other words, the impact energy absorption characteristic can be easily changed by simply adjusting the presence / absence, movement amount, and movement direction of the resistor by the resistor moving means.

  In this case, when adjusting the plastic deformation load to the minimum value, the moving means moves the resistor to a position where it cannot be clamped between the shaft side and the ring side during plastic deformation of the portion to be deformed. In this case, it is a movement to remove the resistor from the position where the shaft side portion and the ring side portion can be sandwiched, and the placement accuracy of the resistor at the removed position is required to be high. It can be adjusted easily.

  Of course, there is provided a changing portion capable of changing the load value when the resistor is sandwiched between the shaft side portion and the ring side portion when the resistor is plastically deformed along the moving direction of the moving means. If configured, the plastic deformation load can be accurately adjusted in accordance with the change site at the position where the resistor is moved.

  Further, when the resistor is formed in a rod shape in which the axial direction is arranged in a direction substantially orthogonal to the approaching direction of the ring side part to the shaft side part at the time of plastic deformation of the planned deformation part, the shaft side part It is desirable that the ring side portion is provided with a contact support portion that can be sandwiched at two locations along the axial direction of the resistor, with a space therebetween along the axial direction of the resistor.

  In such a configuration, at the time of plastic deformation of the portion to be deformed, two locations along the axial direction of the resistor can be sandwiched between the contact support portions of the shaft side portion and the ring side portion, respectively, so that the resistor is integrated. Compared with the case where it is clamped at a location, the clamping of the resistor can be stabilized, and the bending deformation portion including each contact support portion can be stably plastically deformed.

  Further, if the moving means is configured to move the resistor so that the resistor can be returned to the initial position, the resistor is moved when the vehicle collision is predicted, and the vehicle collision is detected. When avoided, the resistor can be returned to the initial position. That is, when a vehicle collision is avoided, the resistor can be restored and reused.

  Further, the bending deformation portion of the portion to be deformed is arranged at a portion of the boss core metal disposed in the boss portion of the core metal, and the boss core metal has a cylindrical cylindrical portion along the axial direction of the steering shaft. And a plate portion extending outward in a direction substantially orthogonal to the steering shaft from the upper side of the cylindrical portion, and the shaft side portion is disposed on the outer peripheral surface side of the cylindrical portion, and the ring side The portion can be disposed on the lower surface side of the plate portion.

  In such a configuration, the bending deformation portion of the planned deformation portion is disposed on the lower surface side of the boss core in the vicinity of the steering shaft that supports the steering wheel, so that deformation during normal steering is performed. Even if the rigidity of the core of the steering wheel is increased so as to prevent the bending, the bending deformation acting on the ring part during the movement of the ring surface can be easily concentrated on the bending deformation, so that the entire steering wheel has the appropriate strength. Can be secured.

  A plurality of planned deformation parts including a shaft side part, a ring side part, and an adjustment mechanism provided between the shaft side part and the ring side part are arranged at positions around the steering shaft. The deformation planned portion located on the rear side of the steering shaft during steering may be configured to be plastically deformed by the plastic deformation load adjusted by the adjusting mechanism.

  In the steering wheel having such a configuration, not only when the vehicle is steered straight, but also when the vehicle collides during steering by rotating the steering wheel, the rear side of the ring portion that contacts the abdomen of the driver is close to the rear side. The ring surface can be moved by plastically deforming the bending deformation site, and the ring surface can be moved in a substantially vertical direction by adjusting the plastic deformation load so as to correspond to the kinetic energy of the driver by adjusting the adjustment mechanism. It can be moved along.

  If the ring surface can be moved so that the absorption characteristics of the impact energy can be adjusted during plastic deformation, the planned deformation portion can be at least the ring portion without moving the entire ring surface along the substantially vertical direction. It is good also as a structure which moves a ring surface of a rear part side so that a substantially vertical direction may be followed. However, when the ring part in contact with the driver moves the entire area of the ring surface along the substantially vertical direction and performs self-alignment, the driver's upper body is covered with a wide flat ring surface. It can be received and the driver can be received with reduced reaction force.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A steering wheel W1 according to a first embodiment includes a steering wheel body 1 and a central boss portion of the steering wheel body 1, as shown in FIGS. And an airbag device M disposed on an upper part of B. The steering wheel body 1 connects an annular ring portion R that is gripped during steering, a boss portion B that is disposed at the center of the ring portion R and fastened to the steering shaft SS, and the boss portion B and the ring portion R. And four spoke portions S. The four spoke portions S are arranged on the left and right sides, two on each side. A lower cover 11 made of a synthetic resin that covers the lower portion of the boss portion B is disposed at the lower portion of the steering wheel body 1.

  In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, the vertical direction corresponds to the vertical direction along the axial direction of the steering shaft SS, and the longitudinal direction is orthogonal to the axial direction of the steering shaft SS during straight-ahead steering of the vehicle. The front-rear direction corresponds to the left-right direction, and the left-right direction corresponds to the left-right direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the steering shaft SS during straight-ahead steering of the vehicle. Incidentally, if the ring surface RP on the upper surface side of the ring portion R is described without using the steering shaft SS as a reference, the steering wheel W1 is fastened to the steering shaft SS with the ring surface RP inclined downward from the horizontal plane. It will be in the state.

  The airbag device M is folded and stored, the inflator 14 that supplies the inflation gas to the airbag 13, and the airbag 13 that is inflated to cover the upper side of the folded airbag 13. And a pad 15 that opens and accommodates and holds the airbag 13 and the inflator 14 and a case 16 that holds the pad 15. The case 16 is attached to the airbag apparatus M with respect to the steering wheel body 1 with a horn switch mechanism 17 (see FIG. 13) interposed therebetween. The operation of the inflator 14 is controlled by a control device 66 (see FIG. 3) that receives a signal from the collision detection sensor 67 and detects a vehicle collision. When the inflator 14 is actuated, the airbag 13 projects by pushing open the pad 15 and expands into a disk shape having an outer diameter larger than the outer diameter of the ring portion R and a thicker center. Thus, it is disposed on the upper surface side of the ring portion R of the steering wheel W1.

  Further, the steering wheel body 1 is disposed so as to connect the ring part R, the boss part B, and the spoke part S, and is made of a die-cast made of a metal material that can be plastically deformed, for example, a light alloy such as aluminum. A cored bar 2 is provided. The cored bar 2 includes a ring cored bar 3 disposed in the ring part R, a bossed cored bar 4 disposed in the boss part B, and a spoke cored bar 7 disposed in each spoke part S. A synthetic resin coating layer 9 is coated on the ring core 3 and the ring part R side of each spoke core 7. The airbag apparatus M is configured to be attached to a mounting seat (not shown) connected to the front and rear spoke core bars 7 on the left and right.

Further, the boss core 4 includes a steel boss 4a for inserting the steering shaft SS and fixing the nut N, and is disposed around the boss core 4a along the axial direction of the steering shaft SS. And the like, and a plate portion 6 extending outwardly in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft SS from the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 5. . Each spoke mandrel 7 is disposed so as to extend from the outer peripheral edge of the plate portion 6.

  And in the steering wheel W1 of 1st Embodiment, when pushing the rear part RB of the ring part R to the front side of a horizontal direction, when moving the whole surface of the ring surface RP along a substantially vertical direction, ie, Bending deformation part so that the part 20 to be deformed at the time of self-aligning (hereinafter abbreviated as "cellar") extends over the rear part 5a of the cylindrical part 5 and the rear part 6a of the plate part 6 in the boss cored bar 4 during straight steering 21 is provided. In other words, in this bending deformation portion 21, the rear portion 5 a of the cylindrical portion 5 constitutes the shaft side portion 22 close to the steering shaft SS side and the rear portion 6 a of the plate portion 6 is close to the ring portion R at the time of the cellular arrear. The portion 25 is configured and undergoes bending plastic deformation so that the ring side portion 25 is brought closer to the shaft side portion 22 at the time of the cellular arrangement.

  Between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25, an adjusting mechanism 40 that adjusts the plastic deformation load at the time of the cellular arrangement is disposed. The adjustment mechanism 40 includes a resistor 45 interposed so as to be sandwiched between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 at the time of the cellular ale, and a moving means 41 that moves the resistor 45. .

  In the case of the embodiment, the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 are provided with the contact support portions 23 and 26 that strongly contact the resistor 45 when sandwiched so that they are close to each other with the resistor 45 interposed therebetween. Further, these corresponding abutting support portions 23 and 26 are arranged on the left and right sides of the rear portion of the boss core metal 4 so as to be arranged at two places along the axial direction of the resistor 45, respectively. It is set up. Further, in the case of the embodiment, the corresponding abutting support portions 23 and 26 are configured as a single rectangular plate-like support wall 30, and the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 are formed of these support walls 30. The structure is connected to each other with the intervening. Each support wall 30 is formed with a through hole 31 through which the resistor 45 is inserted. And the rear part 5a side of the cylindrical part 5 in the inner peripheral side of the through-hole 31 comprises the contact support part 23 of the shaft side part 22, and the rear part 6a side of the plate part 6 in the inner peripheral side of the through-hole 31 is a ring side. The contact support part 26 of the part 25 will be comprised (refer FIG.3, 4).

  The moving means 41 of the first embodiment is composed of an actuator 42 composed of an electromagnetic solenoid or the like that enables a return operation after moving the resistor 45. The actuator 42 is configured to be attached to a mounting portion 33 extending from the peripheral edge of the rear portion 6a of the plate portion 6 so that the operation is controlled by a control device 66 that operates the inflator 14 of the airbag device M. The actuator 42 holds the resistor 45 by a drive unit (not shown) so as to move the resistor 45 along the left-right direction. Further, the actuator 42 protrudes from the initial position shown in FIG. 4A with a stroke slightly larger than the thickness dimension of the support wall 30 (see FIG. 5A) or retracts (see FIG. 6A). The resistor 45 is movable to the left and right sides. Incidentally, when the resistor 45 is disposed at the initial position, a medium load portion 51 of a changing portion 48 described later is disposed between the contact support portions 23 and 26, and as shown in FIG. When the resistor 45 is protruded, a low load portion 50 of a changing portion 48 described later is disposed between the contact support portions 23 and 26, and the resistor 45 is pulled in as shown in FIG. 6A. In this case, a high load portion 49 of the changing portion 48 described later is arranged between the contact support portions 23 and 26.

  In the case of the embodiment, the resistor 45 is formed in a columnar rod shape, and is held by a drive unit (not shown) of the actuator 42 so as to be moved along the rod-shaped axial direction by the operation of the actuator 42. In the deformation part 21, the axial direction is arranged along the left-right direction behind the rear part 5 a of the cylindrical part 5 and below the rear part 6 a side of the plate part 6. Furthermore, in the case of the embodiment, the resistor 45 can be adjusted in three stages of large, medium, and small plastic deformation loads of the deformation-determined portion 20 when the resistor 45 is sandwiched between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 and cellularly. As described above, the compression load value in the direction perpendicular to the axis can be changed to large, medium and small load values. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, a changing portion 48 provided with a high load portion 49, a medium load portion 51, and a low load portion 50 is disposed along the axial direction. Furthermore, in the case of the embodiment, corresponding to the two support walls 30, 30, the change portions 48 are disposed in the resistor 45 at two locations along the axial direction.

  As a configuration for changing the compression load value to a large, medium, and small load value, in the case of the embodiment, the compression load value is set according to the cross-sectional area of the rigid member. That is, in the embodiment, the resistor 45 includes a rod-shaped core material 46 made of metal such as steel, and a covering portion 47 made of aluminum or the like disposed around the core material and having lower rigidity than the core material 46. The core material 46 is provided with a large-diameter portion 46a, a medium-diameter portion 46c, and a small-diameter portion 46b that have large, medium, and small outer diameters corresponding to the large, medium, and small load values of the changing portion 48. is doing. And the coating | coated part 47 is arrange | positioned so that the outer diameter dimension of the medium diameter part 46c and the small diameter part 46b may be made equal.

  In this resistor 45, when the ring side portion 25 approaches the shaft side portion 22 at the time of the cell arrear and is sandwiched between the contact support portions 23 and 26 between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25, For example, if the high load portion 49 having a lot of rigid parts is sandwiched, the deformation load when approaching the shaft side portion 22 of the ring side portion 25 is high as shown in FIGS. The contact support portions 23 and 26 cause the resistor 45 to undergo compressive plastic deformation in the direction perpendicular to the axis or bending plastic deformation at a site away from the contact support portions 23 and 26. The plastic deformation load is increased by a plastic deformation such as compression / bending / buckling of the body 26 itself, a bending plastic deformation at the intersecting portion 28 of the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 of the bending deformation portion 21, and the like. Will be.

  If the low load portion 50 is sandwiched between the contact support portions 23 and 26 between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 as shown in FIGS. The intermediate load portion 51 is sandwiched between the contact support portions 23 and 26 between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. If it is done, the plastic deformation load will be set to a medium level and the cell will be removed.

  In addition, if the deformation load and displacement at the time of these cellular arrangements are shown on a graph, it will be in the state shown in FIG. By the way, this graph shows the displacement that becomes the load value and the horizontal movement amount of the rear part RB when the steering wheel W1 is fastened to the steering shaft SS and a load is applied in the horizontal direction to the rear part RB of the ring part R. Is shown.

  The operation of the actuator 42 of the first embodiment is controlled by the control device 66 that controls the operation of the inflator 14 of the airbag device M. The control device 66 determines the magnitude of the kinetic energy of the driver and controls the operation of the actuator 42. The control device 66 is a driver detection sensor 56 that can detect the physique and weight of the driver, for example, the driver's large scale. Physique detection sensor 57 such as an image sensor or a camera provided on the instrument panel / instrument panel or roof in front of the driver's seat so that the physique such as small and small can be detected, or the weight attached to the seat so that the weight of the driver's weight can be detected A signal from the sensor 58 is input. Further, the control device 66 is configured to input a signal from a position sensor provided on a seat capable of detecting the distance of the driver's seating position from the steering wheel, a distance sensor 60 provided on the meter cluster, or the roof. Yes. Furthermore, the control device 66 is configured to input a signal from a vehicle speed detection sensor disposed on an axle, a speedometer, or the like that can detect the vehicle speed. Further, the control device 66 also receives signals from a collision detection sensor 67 including an acceleration sensor that can detect a vehicle collision, and a collision prediction sensor 68 including a radar provided on a front bumper that can predict a vehicle collision. It is configured to be input.

  And in the steering wheel W1 of 1st Embodiment, when the control apparatus 66 can predict the collision of a vehicle with the signal from the collision prediction sensor 68, it judges the magnitude of a driver | operator's kinetic energy. That is, the control device 66 that has received signals from the physique detection sensor 57, the weight sensor 58, the distance sensor 60, and the vehicle speed detection sensor 62 has a large driver, heavy driver weight, and a steering wheel W1. If it is detected that the vehicle speed is high when the vehicle is sitting away from the vehicle, it can be determined that the kinetic energy of the driver moving forward so as to hit the steering wheel W1 is large. In this case, the actuator 42 is operated. Then, as shown in FIG. 6A, the resistor 45 is arranged between the contact support portions 23 and 26 between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 in the bending deformation portion 21. Move. After that, when the vehicle collides and the driver abuts against the ring portion R and the steering wheel W1 becomes cellular (see B in FIG. 6 and the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2), the plastic deformation load is increased. The adjustment mechanism 40 is adjusted so that the deformation target portion 20 is plastically deformed, and the amount of impact energy absorbed is increased at the time of cellular aeration, so that the kinetic energy of the driver can be greatly reduced. The impact at the time of receiving with the ring surface RP can be relieved.

  At the time of a vehicle collision, the control device 66 detects a vehicle collision based on a signal from the collision detection sensor 67. Therefore, the inflator 14 of the airbag device M is operated to cause the inflated airbag 13 to move to the ring portion R. Therefore, the steering wheel W1 is operated in a cellular manner with the airbag 13 interposed between the driver and the ring portion R.

  In addition, if a vehicle collision signal from the collision detection sensor 67 is not input after a certain time has elapsed after the collision prediction of the vehicle from the collision prediction sensor 68 is predicted, the control device 66 causes the vehicle collision to occur. Since it is possible to determine that it has been avoided, the actuator 42 is operated to return the resistor 45 to the initial position shown in FIG. 4A and wait for the next vehicle collision.

  Furthermore, the control device 66 predicts a vehicle collision based on a signal from the collision prediction sensor 68, and further inputs signals from the physique detection sensor 57, the weight sensor 58, the distance sensor 60, and the vehicle speed detection sensor 62. If the driver is small, the driver's weight is light, the driver is seated close to the steering wheel, and the vehicle speed is low, the driver moves forward to hit the steering wheel W1. Since it can be determined that the kinetic energy is small, in that case, the actuator 42 is operated, and between the contact support portions 23 and 26 between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 in the bending deformation portion 21, as shown in FIG. As shown to A, the resistor 45 is moved so that the low load part 50 may be arrange | positioned. After that, when the vehicle collides and the driver abuts against the ring portion R and the steering wheel W1 becomes cellular (see B in FIG. 5 and the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2), the plastic deformation load is reduced. The adjustment mechanism 40 is adjusted so that the deformation target portion 20 is plastically deformed, and can be easily operated without pressing the driver unnecessarily by the ring portion R, and operation with low kinetic energy. The person can be softly received by the ring surface RP along the substantially vertical direction.

  Of course, in this case as well, since the inflated airbag 13 is disposed on the upper surface side of the ring portion R, the steering wheel W1 has a cellular alarm with the airbag 13 interposed between the driver and the ring portion R. To do. If the vehicle collision is avoided, the control device 66 operates the actuator 42 to return the resistor 45 to the initial position shown in FIG. 4A and waits for the next vehicle collision.

  Furthermore, in the case of the first embodiment, when the control device 66 determines that the kinetic energy of the driver is medium even if the vehicle collision is predicted, the actuator 42 is not operated. 3A, the intermediate load portion 51 is arranged between the contact support portions 23 and 26 between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 in the bending deformation portion 21 at the initial position shown in A of FIG. The plastic deformation load is moderate. Of course, in this case, even if the collision of the vehicle is avoided, the resistor 45 is stopped and kept in the initial position.

  Therefore, in the steering wheel W1 of the first embodiment, the adjustment mechanism 40 can adjust the plastic deformation load of the deformation planned portion 20 when the cellaring is performed, and the plastic deformation load of the deformation planned portion 20 when the cellaring is increased. The impact energy absorption amount can be increased at the time of cellular arrearation, and if the plastic deformation load of the deformation-deformable portion 20 at the time of cellular aeration is reduced, the absorption amount of the impact energy can be reduced at the time of the cellular aerial. It is possible to adjust the absorption characteristics.

  In the first embodiment, the control device 66 that receives signals from the driver detection sensor 56 (physique detection sensor 57, weight sensor 58), distance sensor 60, and vehicle speed detection sensor 62 abuts on the ring portion of the driver. Although the magnitude of kinetic energy is judged and the adjustment mechanism 40 is adjusted to correspond to the impact energy absorption characteristics, the adjustment mechanism 40 is manually set before being mounted on the vehicle, even if not controlled by the control device 66. The plastic deformation load may be adjusted according to the vehicle to be mounted, and the adjusted steering wheel may be mounted on the vehicle. In this case, the same steering wheel is used to make various vehicles. In addition, a steering wheel in which the plastic deformation load at the time of cellular arring is adjusted can be mounted. In this case, since the resistor 45 is moved and fixed manually, the actuator 42 becomes unnecessary.

  In the first embodiment, the adjustment mechanism 40 includes a resistor 45 interposed so as to be sandwiched between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 at the time of cellular ale, and a moving means 41 that moves the resistor 45. The actuator 45 is provided, and the resistor 45 is moved by the actuator 42, and the plastic deformation load is adjusted by the sandwiched state of the resistor 45 between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 at the time of cellular arrear. It is arranged like this.

  Therefore, in the first embodiment, the holding state of the resistor 45 by the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 at the time of cellular change is changed according to whether or not the resistor 45 is moved by the actuator 42, the moving amount, and the moving direction. Since it is possible to adjust the plastic deformation load of the deformation planned portion 20 at the time of cellular arrearance, the impact energy absorption characteristics can be changed simply by adjusting the presence / absence of the resistor 45, the amount of movement, and the direction of movement. can do.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the changing portion 48 capable of changing the load value when the resistor 45 is sandwiched between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 during the cellular arr along the moving direction of the actuator 42. The plastic deformation load can be accurately adjusted according to the high load portion 49, the low load portion 50, and the medium load portion 51 of the changed portion 48 at the position where the resistor 45 is moved. .

  In the first embodiment, the resistor 45 is always arranged between the contact support portions 23 and 26 between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 to adjust the plastic deformation load. When the plastic deformation load is adjusted to the minimum value as in the case of the actuator 42A of the moving means 41A shown in A and B of FIG. 8, the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 cannot be clamped at the time of the self-alignment. For example, the resistor 45 may be moved so as to be pulled into the actuator 42A. In this case, the resistor 45 is moved from the position where the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 can be clamped, and the position accuracy of the resistor 45 at the removed position is required to be high. It can be easily adjusted. Further, the moving direction of removing the resistor 45 from the position where the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 can be clamped is not only the movement along the axial direction of the resistor 45 but also between the contact support portions 23A and 26A. If the opening 35 is formed so that the resistor 45 can be moved downward in the direction perpendicular to the axis, the resistor 45 is moved in the direction perpendicular to the axis as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Thus, the resistor 45 may be removed from a position where the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 can be clamped.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the resistor 45 is formed in a rod shape in which the axial direction is disposed along the left-right direction substantially orthogonal to the approaching direction of the ring side portion 25 to the shaft side portion 22 at the time of the cellular arrangement. The shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 are respectively provided with contact support portions 23 and 26 that can be sandwiched at two locations along the axial direction of the resistor 45 using the support walls 30 and 30. Are arranged with a space H along the axial direction of the resistor 45. In such a configuration, the two locations along the axial direction of the resistor 45 can be sandwiched by the contact support portions 23 and 26 between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 during the cellular arrangement, respectively. Can be stabilized, and the bending deformation portion 21 including the respective abutment support portions 23 and 26 can be stably plastically deformed as compared with the case where the resistor 45 is clamped at one location. .

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the actuator 42 of the moving unit 41 is configured to move the resistor 45 so that the resistor 45 can be returned to the initial position. When the body 45 is moved and the collision of the vehicle is avoided, the resistor 45 can be returned to the initial position. That is, when the collision of the vehicle is avoided, the resistor 45 can be returned and reused.

  If the return to the initial position after the movement is not taken into consideration, it is composed of an actuator 42B such as a micro gas generator that uses the pressure of the combustion gas generated by ignition as in the moving means 41B shown in FIG. The resistor 45B may be moved. The resistor 45B has two types of a high load portion 49 and a low load portion 50 arranged at the changing portion 48B, and an adjustment mechanism 40B including the moving means 41B and the resistor 45B is provided. You may arrange | position between the shaft side part 22 and the ring side part 25 so that the resistor 45B can be clamped. Incidentally, unlike the resistor 45 of the first embodiment, the resistor 45 </ b> B is configured without the covering portion 47. Further, the actuator 42B has a high load portion 49 disposed between the contact support portions 23, 26 between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25 in a state before operation, and the contact support portion in a state after operation. The low-load portion 50 is arranged between 23 and 26.

  Further, as in the case of the resistor 45C of the adjusting mechanism 40C shown in FIG. 10, even when two types of the high load portion 49 and the low load portion 50 are arranged in the change portion 48C, an electromagnetic solenoid or the like that can return to the initial position is used. The actuator 42C of the moving means 41C to be used may be used.

  Further, like the adjusting mechanism 40D shown in FIG. 11, moving means 41D using an actuator 42D such as a micro gas generator that uses the pressure of combustion gas generated by ignition is arranged on both ends of the resistor 45D. For example, although it is not possible to return to the initial position, a change portion 48D that can be adjusted to three load values of the high load portion 49, the low load portion 50, and the middle load portion 51 is provided in the resistor 45D. Is also possible. In the case of the illustrated example, when the actuator 42D is not operated, the middle load portion 51 is arranged between the contact support portions 23 and 26 between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25, and the right side shown in FIG. When the side actuator 42D is actuated (see B in FIG. 11), the low load portion 50 is disposed between the contact support portions 23 and 26 between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25, and the left side shown in FIG. When the actuator 42D is operated (see C in FIG. 11), the high load portion 49 is arranged between the contact support portions 23 and 26 between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25.

  Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the bending deformation part 21 of the planned deformation part 20 is arranged in the part of the boss core 4 and the shaft side part 22 is the boss core 4 along the axial direction of the steering shaft SS. The ring side portion 25 is disposed on the lower surface side of the plate portion 6 that extends from the upper portion side of the tubular portion 5 outward in a direction substantially orthogonal to the steering shaft SS. ing.

  In such a configuration, the bending deformation portion 21 of the deformation planned portion 20 is disposed on the lower surface side of the boss core 4 near the steering shaft SS that supports the steering wheel W1, Even if the rigidity of the metal core 2 of the steering wheel W1 is increased so as to prevent deformation during normal steering, the bending deformation load acting on the ring portion R at the time of the cellular arrangement can be easily concentrated on the bending deformation portion 21. The entire wheel W1 can secure an appropriate strength.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the deformation side portion 20 including the shaft side portion 22, the ring side portion 25, and the adjustment mechanism 40 disposed between the shaft side portion 22 and the ring side portion 25, Although the case where only one was arranged on the rear side of the boss core 4 around the steering shaft SS during straight steering was shown, like the steering wheel W2 of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. A plurality of planned deformation portions 20 may be provided. In the second embodiment, a total of three deformable portions 20A, 20B, and 20C are arranged on the left and right spoke cores 7 on the lower surface side of the boss core 4 and the front side. Yes. Each deformation | transformation scheduled part 20A, 20B, 20C is set as the structure similar to the deformation | transformation scheduled part 20 of 1st Embodiment, attaches | subjects the same code | symbol to the same site | part, and abbreviate | omits description.

  And in the steering wheel W2 of 2nd Embodiment, the control apparatus 66 which controls the action | operation of the actuator 42 which comprises the moving means 41 of each adjustment mechanism 40 can detect the steering angle of the steering wheel W2, and the lower end of steering shaft SS A signal from a rudder angle sensor 64 disposed on the side is input. Then, according to the steering angle based on the signal from the steering angle sensor 64, the control device 66 adjusts one of the planned deformation portions 20A, 20B, and 20C located at the most rear side of the steering shaft SS during the steering. In the mechanism 40, the amount of impact energy absorbed corresponding to the kinetic energy of the driver is set by adjusting the presence / absence and direction of movement of the resistor 45 and adjusting the plastic deformation load.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 13, when the steering wheel W2 is operated in a state where the steering wheel W2 is rotated 90 degrees to the left side, in the deformation planned portion 20A arranged on the left side in the straight traveling state, Since the deformation planned portion 20A is plastically deformed so that the portion 25 approaches the shaft side portion 22 and the resistor 45 is sandwiched between the contact support portions 23 and 26, the plastic deformation load of the deformation planned portion 20A is reduced. It will be adjusted. Needless to say, when the vehicle is operated during straight-ahead steering of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 14, the ring side portion 25 approaches the shaft side portion 22 in the planned deformation portion 20B arranged on the rear side, and the contact support portion Since the deformation planned portion 20B is plastically deformed so that the resistor 45 is sandwiched between 23 and 26, the plastic deformation load of the deformation planned portion 20B is adjusted.

  In the steering wheel W2 according to the second embodiment, the rear portion of the ring portion R that is in contact with the driver's abdomen not only during straight-ahead steering of the vehicle but also when the vehicle collides during steering with the steering wheel W2 rotated. The bending deformation portion 21 on the rear side close to the RB can be plastically deformed and cell-aligned, and by adjusting the adjusting mechanism 40, the plastic deformation load is adjusted and cell-aligned so as to correspond to the kinetic energy of the driver. be able to.

  In the first and second embodiments, the resistor 45 using the cylindrical solid core material 46 is shown. However, a cylindrical material provided with a hollow portion inside, or a channel material or an angle material. A resistor may be formed from a bar having a V-shaped cross section or a U-shaped cross section. And when providing the change site | part of the plastic deformation load at the time of clamping by the contact support parts 23 and 26 of the shaft side part 22 and the ring side part 25, it is a cross section along the axial direction which moves those resistors. A filling material or a covering material that changes the wall thickness or changes the load during plastic deformation may be provided.

  Further, in the steering wheels W1 and W2 of the first and second embodiments, when the pressing force is applied to the rear portion RB of the ring portion R, the entire area of the ring surface RP is moved along the substantially vertical direction to perform self-alignment. The case where it was made to show was shown. However, as in the modification shown in FIG. 15, if the ring surface RP can be moved so that the absorption characteristics of the impact energy can be adjusted during the plastic deformation of the planned deformation portion 20 </ b> B, the entire area of the ring surface RP is substantially vertical. Even if the ring portion R is not moved along the ring portion R, at least the entire ring surface RP (b) on the rear RB side or a part of the ring surface RP (b) is moved along the substantially vertical direction. It is good also as a state which f) does not follow along a perpendicular direction.

  However, when the ring portion R in contact with the driver moves the entire ring surface RP along the substantially vertical direction and makes a cellar, the upper flat body of the driver is formed with a wide planar ring surface RP. The driver can be received with a reduced reaction force.

  Furthermore, in the steering wheels W1 and W2 of the first and second embodiments, the ring surface RP is moved along the vertical direction at the time of the cellular arr. However, the ring surface RP at the time of the cellular aer does not exactly follow the vertical direction. In addition, a portion on the front side of the ring portion R may be disposed slightly on the front side or the rear side from directly above the rear portion RB of the ring portion R. However, if the ring surface RP after movement is arranged as much as possible along the vertical direction, the ring surface RP should be orthogonal to the movement direction along the horizontal direction when the upper body of the driver moves forward in the event of a vehicle collision. Since the ring surface RP having a wide flat surface along the vertical plane can be arranged and the ring surface RP itself after the cellar can be directly opposed to the front side of the upper body of the driver, the upper body of the driver It is easy to secure the effect of suppressing the reaction force and receiving it evenly over the entire ring surface RP.

1 is a partially omitted plan view showing a steering wheel of a first embodiment according to the present invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vehicle mounted state of the steering wheel of the first embodiment. It is the perspective view seen from the bottom side which shows the boss core metal vicinity of the metal core of the steering wheel of a 1st embodiment. It is a figure explaining the action | operation of the adjustment mechanism used for the steering wheel of 1st Embodiment, Comprising: It is a schematic sectional drawing along the axial direction of the resistor in the periphery of the axis of a resistor, IV-IV part of FIG. The state in which the plastic deformation load is a medium load is shown. It is a figure explaining the action | operation of the adjustment mechanism used for the steering wheel of 1st Embodiment, Comprising: It is a schematic sectional drawing along the axial direction of the resistor in the periphery of the axis of a resistor. Shows the state. It is a figure explaining the action | operation of the adjustment mechanism used for the steering wheel of 1st Embodiment, Comprising: It is a schematic sectional drawing along the axial direction of the resistor in the direction around the axis of a resistor, and a plastic deformation load is a high load. Shows the state. It is a graph which shows the change of the load value and displacement at the time of making plastic deformation load high when adjusting the adjustment mechanism of 1st Embodiment, and making it self-align. It is the perspective view seen from the bottom face side which shows the boss | hub metal core vicinity of the metal core in the steering wheel of the modification of 1st Embodiment, and is a figure explaining the movement state of a resistor. It is a figure explaining the action | operation of the adjustment mechanism of the modification of 1st Embodiment, Comprising: It is a schematic sectional drawing in alignment with the axial direction of the resistor in the circumference direction of a resistor. It is a figure explaining the action | operation of the adjustment mechanism in the other modification of 1st Embodiment, Comprising: It is a schematic sectional drawing in alignment with the axial direction of the resistor in the circumference direction of a resistor. It is a figure explaining the action | operation of the adjustment mechanism in the further another modification of 1st Embodiment, Comprising: It is a schematic sectional drawing in alignment with the axial direction of the resistor in the circumference direction of a resistor. It is a bottom view which shows the boss | hub metal core vicinity of the metal core of the steering wheel of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the time of the self-alignment at the time of steering to the left side of the steering wheel of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure explaining the time of the self-alignment at the time of the straight steering of the steering wheel of 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the modification of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... Core,
4 ... Boss metal
5 ... Cylindrical part,
6 ... Plate part,
20, 20A, 20B, 20C ... deformation part,
21 ... bending deformation part,
22: Shaft side,
23, 23A ... contact support part,
25 ... Ring side,
26 ... abutting support,
40 / 40B ... adjustment mechanism,
41, 41A, 41B, 41C, 41D ... moving means,
42, 42A, 42B, 42C, 42D ... Actuator,
45 / 45B / 45C / 45D ... resistor,
48 · 48B · 48C · 48D ... change site,
66 ... control device,
R ... Ring part,
B ... Boss
S ... Spoke part,
RP ... Ring surface,
SS ... Steering shaft W1 / W2 ... Steering wheel.

Claims (11)

A ring portion that is gripped during steering, a boss portion that is disposed near the center of the ring portion and fastened to a steering shaft, and a spoke portion that connects the ring portion and the boss portion are configured. ,
A steering wheel that plastically deforms the deformation-determined portion at the time of contact with the driver moving forward, and moves the ring surface formed on the upper surface side of the ring portion along a substantially vertical direction,
The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the planned deformation portion includes an adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting a plastic deformation load.   As the configuration in which the adjustment mechanism is controlled by a control device capable of determining the magnitude of the kinetic energy of the driver in contact with the ring portion, the control device corresponds to the magnitude of the kinetic energy of the driver, The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel is configured to adjust the plastic deformation load to be large or small. The steering wheel includes a plastically deformable cored bar that connects the ring part, the boss part, and the spoke part.
The deformation planned portion is arranged at a bending deformation portion that bends and deforms so that a ring side portion close to the ring portion approaches a shaft side portion close to the steering shaft side of the core metal during plastic deformation. ,
The adjusting mechanism includes a resistor interposed so as to be sandwiched between the shaft side portion and the ring side portion during plastic deformation of the planned deformation portion, and a moving means for moving the resistor body. The resistor is moved by the moving means, and the plastic deformation load is adjusted according to the sandwiched state of the resistor between the shaft side portion and the ring side portion during the plastic deformation of the planned deformation portion. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel is disposed on the steering wheel.   When the moving means adjusts the plastic deformation load to the minimum value, the resistor is moved to a position where it cannot be clamped between the shaft side and the ring side during plastic deformation of the planned deformation portion. The steering wheel according to claim 3, wherein the steering wheel is configured so as to be made to be.   A change portion is provided that can change a load value when the resistor is clamped between the shaft side portion and the ring side portion during plastic deformation of the planned deformation portion along the moving direction of the moving means. The steering wheel according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the steering wheel is provided. The resistor is formed in a rod shape in which the axial direction is disposed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the approaching direction of the ring side portion to the shaft side portion at the time of plastic deformation of the planned deformation portion,
The said shaft side part and the said ring side part are comprised by arrange | positioning the contact | abutting support part which can be clamped in two places along the axial direction of the said resistor, respectively. The steering wheel according to claim 5.   The steering wheel according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the moving means is configured to move the resistor so that the resistor can be returned to an initial position. . The bending deformation part of the planned deformation part is disposed at a part of the boss cored bar arranged in the boss part of the cored bar,
The boss cored bar includes a cylindrical cylindrical portion that extends along the axial direction of the steering shaft, and a plate portion that extends outward from the upper side of the cylindrical portion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the steering shaft. And
The shaft side portion is disposed on an outer peripheral surface side of the cylindrical portion, and the ring side portion is disposed on a lower surface side of the plate portion. The steering wheel according to any one of the above.   The deformation planned portion comprising the shaft side portion, the ring side portion, and the adjusting mechanism disposed between the shaft side portion and the ring side portion is positioned around the steering shaft. A plurality of the planned deformation portions positioned on the rear side of the steering shaft during steering are configured to be plastically deformed by a plastic deformation load adjusted by the adjusting mechanism. The steering wheel according to claim 8.   10. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the portion to be deformed is configured to move the ring surface at least on the rear side of the ring portion so as to be substantially along a vertical direction during plastic deformation. The steering wheel according to item 1.   The steering wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the portion to be deformed is configured to move the entire area of the ring surface along a substantially vertical direction during plastic deformation. .

Images