JP2010155475A - Steering device in vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate unnecessary interference of a steering column with a driver at primary collision, when reaction force given from the steering column to the driver is adapted to relax at secondary collision in front collision of a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: The steering column 10 extending from a front end side of a cabin 3 and a bracket 16 fixed to a vehicle body portion 12 forming a front end side of the cabin 3 and supporting the steering column 10 are provided. Based on impact force F at front collision of the vehicle 1, the steering column 10 is forwardly downwardly moved to the vehicle body portion 12 and the bracket 16 is plastically deformed. a projection 29 is formed on at least one of the steering column 10 and the bracket 16. Based on the impact force F' at the front collision, when the steering column 10 is rearwardly upwardly moved relative to the vehicle body portion 12, the projection 29 is abutted on the bracket 16 by this movement and the plastic deformation of the bracket 16 is restricted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus for a vehicle in which a bracket that is fixed to a vehicle body part and supports a steering column is plastically deformed based on an impact force at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle and absorbs energy based on the impact force. It is.

  Conventionally, there is a steering device in the vehicle described in Patent Document 1 below. According to this publication, the steering device in the vehicle is fixed to a steering column that extends rearward and upward from the front end side of the vehicle compartment, and a vehicle body portion that forms the front end side of the vehicle compartment, and the steering device And a bracket for supporting the column.

  When the vehicle collides with an object in front of it when the vehicle travels forward, that is, at the time of a front collision, the driver moves forward due to its inertial force, and the vehicle collides with the steering column via the steering handle etc. There are things to do. In this case, the driver applies an impact force from behind to the steering column, and based on the impact force, the steering column moves forward and downward relative to the vehicle body portion and the bracket is plastically deformed. Thus, energy based on the impact force is absorbed and the impact force is alleviated, that is, a reaction force applied to the driver from the steering column is alleviated.

JP 61-57462 A

  By the way, at the time of the front collision, usually, as the primary collision, an impact force is applied to the steering column from the vehicle body side that forms the front end side of the passenger compartment. In this case, the steering column moves rearward and upward with respect to the vehicle body portion, but it is considered that the bracket is also plastically deformed by this movement.

  For this reason, if the steering column is supported by the vehicle body only by the bracket described above and the impact force is large, the bracket is greatly plastically deformed, and the steering column is rearward and upward. There is a risk of moving significantly. In this case, the steering column is not preferable because it may cause unnecessary interference with the driver.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above situation, and the object of the present invention is to reduce the reaction force applied to the driver from the steering column at the time of the secondary collision of the front collision of the vehicle. In this case, the steering column should not interfere with the driver unnecessarily at the time of the primary collision.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a steering column 10 extending from the front end side of the vehicle compartment 3 toward the rear upper side and a vehicle body portion 12 forming the front end side of the vehicle compartment 3 are fixed to and support the steering column 10. The steering column 10 moves forward and downward relative to the vehicle body portion 12 based on the impact force F at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle 1, and the bracket 16 is plastically deformed (one point in FIGS. 3 and 5). In a steering device in a vehicle that is made to be a chain line)
When a projection 29 is formed on at least one of the steering column 10 and the bracket 16 and the steering column 10 moves rearward and upward with respect to the vehicle body portion 12 based on the impact force F ′ at the time of the front collision. By this movement, the projection 29 comes into contact with the bracket 16 (a chain line in FIGS. 1 and 7), and the plastic deformation of the bracket 16 is restricted.

  In addition, in this section, the reference numerals and drawing numbers appended to the above terms are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the “Example” section and the contents of the drawings described later.

  The effects of the present invention are as follows.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, as preconditions thereof, a steering column extending from the front end side of the passenger compartment toward the rear upper side and a vehicle body portion forming the front end side of the passenger compartment are fixed to support the steering column. And a bracket that plastically deforms the steering column while moving the steering column forward and downward relative to the vehicle body portion based on the impact force at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle.

  That is, it is assumed that at the time of the frontal collision of the vehicle, the driver moves forward due to the inertial force and has a secondary collision with the steering column. In this case, the driver gives an impact force to the steering column from behind. Then, the steering column moves forward and downward with respect to the vehicle body portion, and at this time, the bracket undergoes plastic deformation. Thereby, energy based on the impact force is absorbed and the impact force is alleviated, that is, the reaction force applied to the driver from the steering column is alleviated.

  In the above configuration, when a protrusion is formed on at least one of the steering column and the bracket, and the steering column moves rearward and upward relative to the vehicle body portion based on the impact force at the time of the front collision, By movement, the protrusion comes into contact with the bracket so that plastic deformation of the bracket is restricted.

  That is, as a primary collision at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, when an impact force is applied to the steering column from the front, the steering column moves rearward and upward with respect to the vehicle body portion. At this time, the protrusion comes into contact with the bracket, and plastic deformation of the bracket is restricted. For this reason, the steering column is restricted from moving rearward and upward. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the steering column from unnecessarily interfering with the driver at the time of the primary collision of the front collision of the vehicle, and the protection of the driver is more reliably achieved.

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention, wherein the reaction force applied to the driver from the steering column is reduced at the time of the secondary collision of the frontal collision of the vehicle. The best mode for carrying out the present invention is as follows in order to realize the object of preventing unnecessary interference.

  That is, a steering device for a vehicle includes a steering column that extends rearward and upward from the front end side of the passenger compartment, and a bracket that is fixed to a vehicle body portion that forms the front end side of the passenger compartment and supports the steering column. Prepare. Based on the impact force at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the steering column moves forward and downward with respect to the vehicle body portion, and the bracket is plastically deformed.

  A protrusion is formed on at least one of the steering column and the bracket. When the steering column moves rearward and upward with respect to the vehicle body portion based on the impact force at the time of the front collision, the protrusion abuts the bracket due to this movement, and plastic deformation of the bracket is restricted.

  In order to explain the present invention in more detail, Example 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  2-4, the code | symbol 1 is a vehicle illustrated by the motor vehicle, The arrow Fr has shown the front of the advancing direction of this vehicle 1. As shown in FIG.

  The interior of the vehicle body 2 of the vehicle 1 is a casing 3. The vehicle body 2 includes a passenger compartment floor 4 that forms the lower surface of the passenger compartment 3. A driver seat 5 is supported on the passenger compartment floor 4, and a driver 6 can sit on the seat 5 in a forward-facing posture. ing.

  A steering device 9 is provided in front of the seat 5. This steering device 9 forms a circular pipe-shaped steering column 10 extending rearward and upward from the front end side of the passenger compartment 3, and forms the front end side of the passenger compartment 3, and the lower vehicle body portions 11 and 12 respectively. It is fixed by fasteners 13, 14, and includes upper and lower brackets 15, 16 made of sheet metal that supports the upper and lower portions of the steering column 10.

  Further, the steering device 9 is inserted into the steering column 10, the relative movement in the axial direction with respect to the steering column 10 is prevented, and the steering column can be rotated around the axis 17. 10, a steering shaft 19 supported by the rear end portion of the steering shaft 18, and a universal joint 20 that interlocks and connects the front end portion of the steering shaft 18 and the front wheel side. Yes. When the driver 6 steers the steering handle 19, the vehicle 1 can be steered.

  The upper vehicle body portion 11 is a pillar-to-pillar member that is installed on the left and right front pillars of the vehicle body 2 and has high strength and rigidity. The upper bracket 15 includes projecting pieces 23 and 23 projecting left and right from the upper portion of the steering column 10 and a support piece 24 projecting from the upper body portion 11 and in surface contact with the upper surface of each projecting piece 23. I have.

  In the above case, the contact surface between each projecting piece 23 and the support piece 24 extends substantially parallel to the axis 17. Although not shown, a resin plate or the like having a small friction coefficient is interposed between the contact surfaces of the protrusions 23 so that the protrusions 23 can easily slide with respect to the support piece 24. In addition, the fastener 13 includes a pair of left and right bolts 26 that pass through the bolt holes 25 formed in the protrusions 23 and the support pieces 24. Each bolt hole 25 formed in each projecting piece 23 has a notch shape formed in the rear upper edge of each projecting piece 23 and is open toward the rear upper side.

  The lower vehicle body portion 12 is a stay protruding from the dash panel of the vehicle body 2. The lower bracket 16 has a strip shape, one end side 16a in the longitudinal direction is fixed to the lower vehicle body portion 12 by the fastener 14, and the other end side 16b is fixed to the lower end surface of the steering column 10. ing. The one end side 16 a is located above the lower portion of the steering column 10 and extends substantially parallel to the axis 17. Further, the other end 16 b of the lower bracket 16 is bent downward from the one end 16 a and extends so as to be substantially orthogonal to the axis 17. Further, the bent part 16c between the one end part side 16a and the other end part side 16b is substantially L-shaped in a side view (FIG. 3).

  A protrusion 29 that protrudes upward from the lower upper surface of the steering column 10 is provided. The protrusion 29 is located on the axis 17 in a plan view of the vehicle 1. Further, the protruding end of the protrusion 29 is located in the vicinity of the lower side of the one end side 16 a of the lower bracket 16. An opening 30 that is a through hole is formed in the bent portion 16 c of the lower bracket 16. The opening 30 is located in the vicinity of the front of the protruding end of the protrusion 29 in the direction along the axis 17.

  It is assumed that the driver 6 moves forward by the inertia force at the time of the front collision of the vehicle 1 and has a secondary collision with the steering column 10 through the steering handle 19 and the steering shaft 18 sequentially. In this case, the driver 6 applies an impact force F to the steering column 10 from behind. 3 and 4, the steering column 10 moves forward and downward with respect to the vehicle body portions 11 and 12. At this time, first, the support piece 24 in the upper bracket 15 is moved to the support piece 24. On the other hand, the protrusions 23 slide forward and downward, and the support of the steering column 10 to the upper body portion 11 is released. Second, the lower bracket 16 undergoes plastic deformation due to bending. As a result, energy based on the impact force F is absorbed and the impact force F is relieved, that is, the reaction force applied to the driver 6 from the steering column 10 is relieved.

  As described above, when the steering column 10 moves forward and downward and the lower bracket 16 is plastically deformed, the protrusion 29 enters the opening 30 and the protrusion 29 interferes with the lower bracket 16. It is avoided. That is, the plastic deformation of the lower bracket 16 is prevented from being hindered by the protrusions 29, whereby the steering column 10 moves smoothly forward and downward.

  On the other hand, when an impact force F ′ is applied from the front side to the steering column 10 from the side of the vehicle body 2 forming the front end side of the passenger compartment 3 as a primary collision at the time of the frontal collision of the vehicle 1, As shown, the steering column 10 moves rearward and upward relative to the vehicle body portions 11 and 12. At this time, first, the lower bracket 16 starts plastic deformation due to bending, whereby energy based on the impact force F ′ is absorbed to some extent, and the impact force applied to the vehicle body 2 is reduced.

  Second, as the plastic deformation of the lower bracket 16 due to the rearward upward movement of the steering column 10 described above, the protrusion 29 comes into contact with the one end side 16a of the lower bracket 16 and further increases. Plastic deformation of the lower bracket 16 is restricted. For this reason, the steering column 10 is restricted from moving further rearward and upward. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the steering column 10 from unnecessarily interfering with the driver 6 at the time of the primary collision of the front collision of the vehicle 1, and the protection of the driver 6 can be achieved more reliably.

  Although the above is based on the illustrated example, a pair of left and right projections 29 are provided, and the opening 30 is formed as a notch formed on each of the left and right side edges of the lower bracket 16 instead of the illustrated through hole. Also good. Further, in FIG. 1, the protruding end portion of the protrusion 29 is brought closer (including abutting) to the one end portion side 16a of the lower bracket 16 to steer the vehicle body portion 12 at the time of the primary collision. When the column 10 is about to move rearward and upward, the protrusion 29 may immediately come into contact with the one end side 16a of the lower bracket 16. In this way, at the time of the primary collision, the lower bracket 16 hardly undergoes plastic deformation, that is, remains in the range of substantially elastic deformation, so that the steering column 10 hardly moves rearward and upward. it can.

  The following FIGS. 5 to 7 show Example 2. FIG. The second embodiment is common in many respects to the configuration and operational effects of the first embodiment. Therefore, regarding these common items, common reference numerals are attached to the drawings, and redundant description thereof is omitted, and different points are mainly described. In addition, the configuration of each part in these embodiments may be variously combined in light of the object and operational effects of the present invention.

  In order to explain the present invention in more detail, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  5 and 6, a pair of left and right projections 29 and 29 are formed on the other end side 16 b of the lower bracket 16, and the projections 29 are positioned on the outer side of the steering column 10 in a plan view of the vehicle 1. is doing.

  It is assumed that the steering column 10 has moved forward and downward due to a secondary collision at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle 1 as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIGS. In this case, with the plastic deformation of the lower bracket 16, the protrusions 29 are positioned on the left and right outer sides of the steering column 10, and the interference of the protrusions 29 with the lower bracket 16 is avoided.

  On the other hand, it is assumed that the steering column 10 is moved rearward and upward due to the primary collision at the time of the frontal collision of the vehicle 1 as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. In this case, with the plastic deformation of the lower bracket 16, the protrusions 29 come into contact with the one end side 16 a of the lower bracket 16 to prevent further plastic deformation of the lower bracket 16.

  In FIG. 5, the protruding end portions of the protrusions 29 may be brought closer (including abutting) to the one end portion side 16 a of the bracket 16.

FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment and is an explanatory diagram of a partial enlargement operation of FIG. 2. 1 is a side view of a steering device according to a first embodiment. FIG. FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment and is an explanatory diagram of a partial enlargement operation of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 shows Example 1 and is a view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating Example 2 and corresponding to FIG. 3. Example 2 is shown, which is taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment and corresponds to FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Car body 3 Car interior 5 Seat 6 Driver 9 Steering device 10 Steering column 12 Car body part 14 Fastener 16 Bracket 16a One end side 16b The other end side 16c Bending part 17 Axis 29 Projection 30 Opening F Impact force F ' Impact force

Claims (1)

A steering column that extends rearward and upward from the front end side of the passenger compartment, and a bracket that is fixed to a vehicle body portion that forms the front end side of the passenger compartment and that supports the steering column, is provided at the time of a vehicle front collision. In the steering device for a vehicle in which the steering column moves forward and downward relative to the vehicle body portion based on the impact force and the bracket is plastically deformed,
A protrusion is formed on at least one of the steering column and the bracket, and when the steering column moves rearward and upward with respect to the vehicle body portion based on the impact force at the time of the front collision, the protrusion causes the protrusion to move. A steering apparatus for a vehicle, wherein the bracket is brought into contact with the bracket to restrict plastic deformation of the bracket.

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