JP2010159029A - Power steering system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relax a reaction applied to a driver from a steering column side more securely in a head-on crash of a vehicle in a power steering device. <P>SOLUTION: The power steering device 9 includes a steering column 10 supported to vehicle bodies 11, 12, a power assist motor 29 reducing steering torque required for a steering wheel 19, and a control device 30 electronically controlling the motor 29. The steering column 10 moves forward and downward with respect to the vehicle bodies 11, 12 by an impact force F applied to the steering column 10 side by the driver 6 at the head-on crash of the vehicle 1. The motor 29 is arranged projectively from the steering column 10 toward one side, whereby the control device 30 is arranged projectively from the steering column 10 toward the other side. Respective rear faces 29a, 30a of the motor 29 and control device 30 are made generally symmetrical to each other with respect to an axis 17 of the steering column 10 in a plan view of the steering column 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a power steering device in a vehicle in which a power assist motor that reduces steering torque to a steering handle and a control device that controls the motor are respectively attached to a steering column.

  Conventionally, there is a power steering device in the vehicle described in Patent Document 1 below. According to this publication, the power steering device extends from the front end side of the passenger compartment toward the rear upper side, and is supported by a vehicle body portion that forms the front end side of the passenger compartment, and the steering column. A steering handle supported on the steering column, a power assist motor attached to the steering column and reducing steering torque to the steering handle, and a control attached to the steering column and electronically controlling the electric motor and other devices. Device.

  More specifically, the electric motor protrudes from the steering column toward one side, and the control device protrudes upward from the steering column. In this case, normally, the electric motor is arranged so as to be separated from the driver's knee seated on the seat behind the steering column so that the electric motor does not interfere with the driver's knee.

  On the other hand, there is a conventional steering apparatus in a vehicle as disclosed in Patent Document 2 below. According to this publication, a steering column that extends from the front end side of the passenger compartment toward the rear upper side and is supported by a vehicle body portion that forms the front end side of the passenger compartment, and a steering handle that is supported by the steering column. The steering column is moved forward and downward with respect to the vehicle body portion by an impact force applied from the driver to the steering column side at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle.

  More specifically, when the vehicle collides with an object in front of the vehicle, that is, when the vehicle collides forward, the driver moves forward by the inertial force, and the steering handle A secondary collision may occur through the steering column. In this case, the driver applies an impact force from behind to the steering column side, and based on the impact force, the steering column moves forward and downward with respect to the vehicle body portion as described above. As a result, 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.

JP 2007-276742 A JP 61-57462 A

  By the way, as described above, according to the power steering device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the electric motor is located away from the driver's knees. However, at the time of frontal collision of the vehicle, the driver tends to move forward with respect to the steering column due to the inertial force. For this reason, at the time of the front collision, the driver may move forward, the knee may collide with the electric motor, and the reaction force may be given to the driver.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to apply the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 to that of Patent Document 2. In this way, even if the driver's knee collides with the electric motor of Patent Document 1 at the time of the front collision, the steering column is caused by the impact force applied to the steering column side through the electric motor. It is considered that the impact force is mitigated by moving forward and downward with respect to the vehicle body portion.

  However, as described above, the electric motor protrudes from the steering column to one side. For this reason, when an impact force is applied to the steering column via the electric motor at the time of a front collision, a bending moment based on the impact force is applied to the steering column. At this time, the steering column is directed in the radial direction. A load is applied to the vehicle body portion. Therefore, in this case, it may be difficult to smoothly move the steering column forward and downward with respect to the vehicle body portion. As a result, relaxation of the impact force is hindered, which is not preferable.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above situation, and an object of the present invention is a power steering apparatus in a vehicle in which a power assist motor is attached to a steering column. The reaction force applied to the driver from the side is to be more reliably mitigated.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a steering column 10 that extends from the front end side of the passenger compartment 3 toward the rear upper side and is supported by the vehicle body portions 11 and 12, is attached to the steering column 10, and is steered to the steering handle 19. A power assist electric motor 29 for reducing torque and a control device 30 attached to the steering column 10 and electronically controlling the electric motor 29 are provided, and from the driver 6 to the steering column 10 side at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle 1. In a power steering device in a vehicle in which the steering column 10 is moved forward and downward with respect to the vehicle body portions 11 and 12 by an applied impact force F,
The electric motor 29 protrudes from the steering column 10 toward one side, the control device 30 protrudes from the steering column 10 toward the other side, and a plan view of the steering column 10 (FIG. 1). Thus, the rear surface 29a, 30a of the electric motor 29 and the control device 30 is substantially left-right symmetric with respect to the axis 17 of the steering column 10 as a power steering device in a vehicle.

  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, there is provided a steering column that extends from the front end side of the passenger compartment toward the rear upper side and is supported by the vehicle body, and a power assist motor that is attached to the steering column and reduces steering torque to the steering handle. And a control device that is attached to the steering column and electronically controls the electric motor. The steering column is applied to the vehicle body part by an impact force applied to the steering column side from the driver at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle. On the other hand, in the power steering device in the vehicle that is moved forward and downward,
The electric motor projects from the steering column toward one side, the control device projects from the steering column toward the other side, and each of the electric motor and the control device is seen in plan view of the steering column. The rear surface is substantially symmetrical with respect to the axis of the steering column.

  For this reason, when the driver moves forward due to the inertial force at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, and the left and right knees of the driver have a secondary collision with the motor and the control device, the motor and the control device The knees collide with each other almost simultaneously, and give impact forces of almost the same magnitude.

  Therefore, since a bending moment is prevented from being applied to the steering column based on the impact force, an external force mainly directed only in the axial direction is applied to the steering column. As a result, the steering column is smoothly moved toward the front and lower side in the axial direction with respect to the vehicle body portion, so that the energy based on the impact force is effectively absorbed and the impact force is reduced, that is, The reaction force applied to the driver from the steering column side is effectively reduced.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line I-I in FIG. 3. It is a side view of a power steering device. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a partial enlargement operation of FIG.

  The power steering device for a vehicle according to the present invention relates to a power steering device for a vehicle in which a power assist motor is attached to a steering column, and the reaction force applied to the driver from the steering column side is more reliably generated when the vehicle collides. In order to realize the purpose of mitigating, the mode for carrying out the present invention is as follows.

  In other words, a power steering device for a vehicle extends from the front end side of the passenger compartment to the rear upper side, and is supported by the vehicle body portion, and is attached to the steering column and power for reducing steering torque to the steering handle. An assist motor and a controller attached to the steering column and electronically controlling the motor. The steering column is moved forward and downward with respect to the vehicle body portion by an impact force applied to the steering column side from the driver at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle.

  The electric motor protrudes from the steering column toward one side, and the control device protrudes from the steering column toward the other side. In a plan view of the steering column, the rear surfaces of the electric motor and the control device are substantially symmetrical with respect to the axis of the steering column.

  In order to explain the present invention in more detail, an embodiment thereof will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a vehicle exemplified by an automobile, and an arrow Fr indicates the front in the traveling direction of the vehicle 1. The left and right described below refer to the width direction of the vehicle 1 toward the front of the vehicle 1.

  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. .

  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 applies steering torque to the steering handle 19 and 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 thereof is fixed to the lower vehicle body portion 12 by the fastener 14, and the other end side 16b is a lower end surface in the axial direction of the steering column 10. It is fixed to. 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 power assist motor 29 attached to the steering column 10 for reducing the steering torque to the steering handle 19 and a motor-assisted motor 29 attached to the steering column 10 and electronically controlling the electric motor 29 to control the steering torque in a timely manner. And a control device 30 that can be appropriately reduced. The control device 30 electronically controls each device constituting the vehicle 1 other than the electric motor 29.

  Specifically, the electric motor 29 is projected from a portion 10a which is the lower end portion in the axial direction of the steering column 10 toward one side (left side). Further, the control device 30 projects from a portion 10a of the steering column 10 toward the other side (right side). The electric motor 29 and the control device 30 are arranged so as to be separated from the front of the left and right knees 6 a of the driver 6 seated on the seat 5.

  In the above case, the electric motor 29 is a concept including an electric motor main body, a bracket for attaching the electric motor main body to the portion 10a of the steering column 10, and the like. The control device 30 is a concept including a box having a circuit board such as a CPU and a bracket for attaching the box to a part 10 a of the steering column 10.

  Further, the rear surfaces 29a and 30a of the electric motor 29 and the control device 30 in the plan view (FIG. 1) of the steering column 10 viewed from a line of sight orthogonal to the axis 17 of the steering column 10 It is almost symmetrical as a reference.

  According to the above configuration, the electric motor 29 protrudes from the portion 10a in the axial direction of the steering column 10 toward one side, and the control device 30 protrudes from the portion 10a of the steering column 10 toward the other side. In the plan view of the steering column 10 (FIG. 1), the rear surfaces 29a and 30a of the electric motor 29 and the control device 30 are substantially symmetrical with respect to the axis 17 of the steering column 10. ing.

  For this reason, when the driver 6 moves forward due to the inertial force at the frontal collision of the vehicle 1 and the left and right knees 6a of the driver 6 collide with the motor 29 and the control device 30 in a secondary collision, these motors 29 and the control device 30, the knees 6 a collide with each other almost simultaneously and give impact forces F having substantially the same magnitude.

  Therefore, since it is possible to prevent a bending moment from being applied to the steering column 10 based on the impact force F, an external force mainly directed only in the axial direction is applied to the steering column 10. As a result, as indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 3, the steering column 10 is smoothly moved toward the front lower side in the axial direction with respect to the vehicle body portions 11 and 12. At this time, first, the projections 23 slide forward and downward with respect to the support piece 24 in the upper bracket 15, 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. Thereby, the energy based on the impact force F is effectively absorbed and the impact force F is relieved, that is, the reaction force applied from the steering column 10 to the driver 6 is effectively relieved.

  Although the above is based on the illustrated example, the driver 6 moves forward by the inertial force when the vehicle 1 collides, and the driver 6 sequentially passes the steering handle 19 and the steering shaft 18 to the steering column 10. In the case of a secondary collision, first, each projection piece 23 slides forward and downward with respect to the support piece 24, and secondly, the bracket 16 is plastically deformed, and thus the steering column 10 The reaction force applied to the driver 6 from the side is alleviated.

  Further, the impact force F applied to the steering handle 19 may cause the steering shaft 18 to buckle in the axial direction so that the impact force F is alleviated.

  The vehicle 1 is not limited to an automobile, but can be applied to a construction machine or an agricultural machine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Car body 3 Car interior 5 Seat 6 Driver 6a Knee 9 Power steering apparatus 10 Steering column 10a Part 11 Car body part 12 Car body part 13 Fastening tool 14 Fastening tool 15 Bracket 16 Bracket 16a One end part 16b Other end part 16c Bending Part 17 Axis 29 Electric motor 29a Rear surface 30 Control device 30a Rear surface F Impact force

Claims (1)

A steering column that extends from the front end side of the passenger compartment toward the rear upper side and is supported by the vehicle body, a power assist motor that is attached to the steering column and reduces steering torque to the steering wheel, and is attached to the steering column. And a control device for electronically controlling the electric motor so that the steering column moves forward and downward with respect to the vehicle body portion by an impact force applied to the steering column side from the driver when the vehicle is front-enhanced. In the power steering device in the vehicle,
The electric motor projects from the steering column toward one side, the control device projects from the steering column toward the other side, and each of the electric motor and the control device is seen in plan view of the steering column. A power steering device for a vehicle, characterized in that the rear surface is substantially symmetrical with respect to the axis of the steering column.

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