JP2019156167A - Instrument panel periphery structure - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an instrument panel periphery structure which can inhibit reduction of a space in a vehicle cabin while securing a distance of forward movement of a column unit.SOLUTION: A column unit is provided in a manner that the column unit can move forward in a vehicle fore and aft direction. A meter cluster 13 includes a lower structure part 13a located below a meter in a vehicle vertical direction. Switch means 16 of the column unit is disposed so as to be located adjacent to the lower structure part 13a in the vehicle fore and aft direction. The lower structure part 13a has a fragile part 40 which is broken by a load applied when the switch means 16 contacts with the lower structure part 13a. Breakage of the fragile part 40 allows the switch means 16 to become able to move to the front side relative to a front surface part 32 which is a rear end part of the lower structure part 13a as seen in the fore and aft direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a peripheral structure of an instrument panel having a meter cluster and a column unit.

  The structure around the instrument panel of the vehicle includes a meter, a meter cluster surrounding the meter, a steering column disposed below the meter cluster in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. And a column unit provided at the rear of the direction. The column unit includes switch means that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the steering column, and a column cover that covers the steering column and the switch means. The column unit receives a load from the rear in the front-rear direction due to a frontal collision of the vehicle and moves forward. At this time, by sufficiently securing the amount of forward movement of the column unit, the impact received by the occupant on the vehicle is absorbed.

  In the instrument panel peripheral structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, the meter is attached to the instrument panel. The meter cluster has an upper structure portion disposed above the meter in the vertical direction and a lower structure portion disposed below the meter. The front edge part of the upper structure part is connected to the instrument panel. When the column unit receives a load from the rear due to a frontal collision of the vehicle and moves forward, and the column cover of the column unit contacts the meter, the meter is not attached to the instrument panel, and the meter moves upward and forward To do. Then, the moved meter comes into contact with the upper structure portion of the meter cluster, and the upper structure portion rotates upward from the connection portion with the instrument panel. Thereby, the amount of forward movement of the column unit is ensured, and the impact received by the occupant riding in the vehicle is absorbed.

JP 2011-184006 A

  By the way, in the instrument panel peripheral structure disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to secure a space for the meter to move in front of the meter at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle. However, since parts such as a harness are arranged in front of the meter, a sufficient space may not be ensured.

  In this case, it is conceivable to secure a sufficient amount of forward movement of the column unit by changing the mounting position of the column unit in the front-rear direction in the passenger compartment. However, since the column unit is arranged adjacent to the lower structure portion of the meter cluster in the front-rear direction, if the column unit moves forward and contacts the lower structure portion due to a frontal collision of the vehicle, the lower structure There is a possibility that further forward movement of the column unit may be hindered by the portion. For this reason, it is necessary to ensure a sufficient distance between the lower structure portion of the meter cluster and the column unit in the front-rear direction. As a result, the amount of protrusion of the column unit to the rear portion (vehicle interior) with respect to the lower structure portion increases, and the space on the driver's seat side in the vehicle interior decreases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an instrument panel peripheral structure that can suppress a reduction in space in the vehicle compartment while securing a forward movement amount of the column unit. There is to do.

  An instrument panel peripheral structure for solving the above problems includes a meter fixed to the instrument panel, a meter cluster surrounding the meter and fixed to the instrument panel, and disposed below the meter cluster. A steering column that extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and a column unit that is attached to a portion of the steering column that is rearward of the meter cluster in the front-rear direction and has switch means that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the steering column. In the instrument panel peripheral structure provided, the column unit is provided so as to be movable forward in the front-rear direction, and the meter cluster is positioned below the meter in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The switch hand Is arranged to be adjacent to the lower structure part in the front-rear direction, the lower structure part has a fragile part that is broken by a load when the switch means contacts the lower structure part, and the switch The gist of the means is that the fragile portion is destroyed, so that it can move forward from the rear end portion in the front-rear direction of the lower structure portion.

  According to this, when the column unit receives a load from the rear in the front-rear direction, the column unit moves forward, and the switch means of the column unit contacts the lower structure portion of the meter cluster. The fragile portion of the lower structure portion is destroyed by a load when the switch means contacts the lower structure portion. Therefore, the switch means can move forward from the rear end portion of the lower structure portion, and the amount of forward movement of the column unit including the switch means can be secured. In addition, since the lower structure portion of the meter cluster is unlikely to prevent further movement of the column unit forward, it is less necessary to secure a sufficient distance between the lower structure portion of the meter cluster and the column unit in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the reduction of the space in the vehicle interior due to the column unit protruding rearward (vehicle interior) with respect to the lower structure portion can be suppressed.

  In the instrument panel peripheral structure, the switch means protrudes from the steering column to one side in the left-right direction of the vehicle and from the steering column to the other side in the left-right direction of the vehicle. A second switch part, and the lower structure part includes a first part adjacent to the first switch part in the front-rear direction and a second part adjacent to the second switch part in the front-rear direction. The fragile portion includes a first fragile portion disposed on a side opposite to the steering column with respect to the first portion in the left-right direction; and the steering column with respect to the second portion in the left-right direction. It is preferable to have the 2nd weak part arrange | positioned on the opposite side.

  According to this, the portion located between the first fragile portion and the second fragile portion in the left-right direction in the lower structure portion is destroyed by the destruction of the first fragile portion and the second fragile portion. Broken from the part. A 1st site | part and a 2nd site | part are contained in the part located between the fracture | ruptured 1st weak part and the 2nd weak part. Therefore, the column unit including the first switch portion and the second switch portion can move smoothly when moving forward from the rear end portion of the lower structure portion.

  In the instrument panel peripheral structure, the lower structure portion includes an upper surface portion extending in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and a front surface as the rear end portion extending downward from the upper surface portion in the vertical direction. Preferably, the switch means is disposed adjacent to the front portion in the front-rear direction, and the fragile portion is not provided on the upper surface portion but is provided on the front portion. .

  According to this, even if the weak part provided in the front part is destroyed, the lower structure part is held in the meter cluster by the upper surface part. Therefore, when a weak part is destroyed, it can suppress that a lower structure part isolate | separates from a meter cluster, and is scattered in a vehicle interior.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the reduction | decrease of the space in a vehicle interior can be suppressed, ensuring the movement amount to the front of a column unit.

The perspective view of the instrument panel periphery structure of embodiment. The perspective view of a meter cluster, a steering column, and a switch means. (A) is a front view of a meter cluster, (b) is the 3b-3b sectional view taken on the line in (a). The perspective view which shows the state which the switch means contacted the meter cluster. The perspective view which shows the effect | action of a weak part.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment in which an instrument panel peripheral structure is embodied will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, “front”, “rear”, “right”, “left”, “upper” and “lower” are “front”, “rear” and “right” when the vehicle driver is facing forward. "Left" "Up" "Down".

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle surrounds an instrument panel 11 provided in front of the passenger compartment, a meter 12 fixed to the upper part of the driver panel side of the instrument panel 11, and the meter 12. And a meter cluster 13 fixed to the panel 11. The meter 12 is, for example, a speedometer or a tachometer.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the meter cluster 13 has a lower structure portion 13 a located below the meter 12. The lower structure portion 13a has a shape that extends in the left-right direction. The lower structure portion 13a of the present embodiment has an upper surface portion 31 that extends in the left-right direction and has a short width in the front-rear direction, and a front portion 32 that extends downward from the rear edge portion of the upper surface portion 31 in the vertical direction, It has the lower surface part 33 (refer Fig.3 (a)) extended toward the front of the front-back direction from the lower edge part of the front part 32. FIG. The front portion 32 is a rear end portion in the front-rear direction of the lower structure portion 13a. In addition, a meter-side recess 34 that is recessed upward is formed in the lower structure portion 13 a of the meter cluster 13.

  The vehicle includes a steering column 14 disposed below the meter cluster 13. The steering column 14 extends in the axial direction in the front-rear direction and is inclined so that the rear end portion in the axial direction is located above the front end portion in the vertical direction. A front end portion of the steering column 14 in the axial direction is inserted into the instrument panel 11. A steering wheel 15 is attached to the rear end of the steering column 14 in the axial direction.

  The vehicle also includes switch means 16. The switch means 16 has a box-shaped first switch portion 61, a box-shaped second switch portion 62, and the first switch portion 61 and the second switch portion 62 positioned behind the meter cluster 13 in the steering column 14. And an attachment member 63 for attaching to the portion.

  The attachment member 63 has a column insertion hole 63a into which the steering column 14 is inserted at the center in the left-right direction, while the longitudinal direction extends in the left-right direction. The first switch portion 61 is connected to one end portion (left end portion) in the left-right direction of the attachment member 63, and the second switch portion 62 is connected to the other end portion (right end portion) in the left-right direction of the attachment member 63. . The switch means 16 protrudes from the first switch part 61 toward one side (left side) in the left-right direction, and protrudes from the second switch part 62 toward the other side (right side) in the left-right direction. And a second lever portion 65. Therefore, the switch means 16 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the steering column 14.

  The switch means 16 is disposed so as to be adjacent to the front portion 32 of the lower structure portion 13a of the meter cluster 13 on the rear side in the front-rear direction. In the front part 32 of the lower structure part 13a, a part adjacent to the first switch part 61 in the front-rear direction is referred to as a first part 32a, and a part adjacent to the second switch part 62 in the front-rear direction is referred to as a second part 32b. In addition, the 1st site | part 32a and the 2nd site | part 32b are each shown by the dot in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle includes a substantially cylindrical column cover 17 that covers a portion of the steering column 14 that is located behind the meter cluster 13 in the front-rear direction. The column cover 17 is located between the meter cluster 13 and the steering wheel 15 in the front-rear direction. The column cover 17 has a column-side recess 17 a in a portion located above the steering column 14. In the front-rear direction, a gap exists between the meter-side recess 34 of the meter cluster 13 and the column-side recess 17 a of the column cover 17. This gap is shielded by the shielding member 18.

  Further, the column cover 17 has an accommodation space on the rear side of the column-side recess 17a. The first switch portion 61, the second switch portion 62, and the attachment member 63 of the switch means 16 are accommodated in the accommodation space. Therefore, the first switch portion 61, the second switch portion 62, and the attachment member 63 are covered from the front by the column cover 17. The first lever portion 64 and the second lever portion 65 of the switch means 16 are exposed from the lever insertion hole 17 b formed in the column cover 17 to the vehicle interior.

  The switch means 16 and the column cover 17 constitute a column unit 19. The column unit 19 moves forward by receiving a load from behind due to a frontal collision of the vehicle or the like. The column unit 19 that has moved forward contacts the front portion 32 of the lower structure portion 13 a of the meter cluster 13.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the lower structure part 13 a of the meter cluster 13 has two weak parts 40. Each weak part 40 is destroyed by the load when the 1st switch part 61 and the 2nd switch part 62 contact the front part 32 of the lower structure part 13a. Of the two fragile portions 40, the fragile portion 40 disposed on the opposite side of the steering column 14 with respect to the first portion 32a of the front portion 32 in the left-right direction is referred to as a first fragile portion 41, and the front portion 32 in the left-right direction. The second weakened portion 42 is the weakened portion 40 disposed on the opposite side of the steering column 14 with respect to the second portion 32b. That is, the first part 32 a and the second part 32 b of the front part 32 are arranged between the first fragile part 41 and the second fragile part 42 in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the fragile portion 40 is not provided on the upper surface portion 31.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, in the present embodiment, the first fragile portion 41 and the second fragile portion 42 are each recessed from the front surface 32c of the front portion 32 toward the rear surface 32d exposed in the vehicle interior. It is a groove and extends in the vertical direction. The groove has a V shape when the front portion 32 is viewed in the vertical direction.

  The front portion 32 and the lower surface portion 33 of the lower structure portion 13a have a central portion 35 at a portion located between the first fragile portion 41 and the second fragile portion 42 in the left-right direction. The center part 35 includes a first part 32a and a second part 32b. Further, the front surface portion 32 and the lower surface portion 33 have one end portion 36 at a portion located on the opposite side of the central portion 35 with respect to the first fragile portion 41 in the left-right direction, and are formed on the second fragile portion 42 in the left-right direction. On the other hand, the other end portion 37 is provided at a portion located on the opposite side to the central portion 35.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the vehicle receives a load from the rear during a frontal collision of the vehicle, the column unit 19 moves forward and contacts the lower structure portion 13 a of the meter cluster 13. In FIG. 4, only the switch means 16 is shown in the column unit 19, and the column cover 17 is not shown. In the present embodiment, the first switch part 61 contacts the first part 32 a of the front part 32 of the lower structure part 13 a via the column cover 17, and the second switch part 62 is connected to the lower structure via the column cover 17. It contacts the second part 32b of the front part 32 of the part 13a. Then, the 1st weak part 41 formed in the front part 32 is destroyed by the load when the 1st switch part 61 contacts the 1st site | part 32a of the front part 32, and the 2nd weak part 42 is a 2nd switch. The part 62 is destroyed by a load when it comes into contact with the second part 32b of the front part 32. Accordingly, the central portion 35 and the one end portion 36 are broken at the first fragile portion 41 as a boundary, and the central portion 35 and the other end portion 37 are broken at the second fragile portion 42 as a boundary. The column unit 19 moves forward while pushing the central portion 35 forward. Therefore, the column unit 19 including the switch means 16 can move forward from the front portion 32 of the lower structure portion 13a. In the present embodiment, the lower structure portion 13 a is held by the meter cluster 13 by the upper surface portion 31 in a state where the first fragile portion 41 and the second fragile portion 42 are destroyed.

Next, the effect of this embodiment will be described.
(1) When the column unit 19 receives a load from the rear in the front-rear direction, for example, at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the column unit 19 moves forward, and the switch means 16 of the column unit 19 contacts the lower structure portion 13a of the meter cluster 13. . The weak part 40 of the lower structure part 13a is destroyed by a load when the switch means 16 contacts the lower structure part 13a. Therefore, the switch means 16 can move forward from the front part 32 of the lower structure part 13a, and the amount of forward movement of the column unit 19 including the switch means 16 can be secured. As a result, the impact received by the passenger boarding the vehicle is absorbed. Further, since the lower structure portion 13a is unlikely to hinder further movement of the column unit 19 forward, it is less necessary to secure a sufficient distance between the lower structure portion 13a of the meter cluster 13 and the column unit 19 in the front-rear direction. Become. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the space in the vehicle interior due to the column unit 19 protruding rearward (in the vehicle interior) with respect to the lower structure portion 13a.

  (2) The 1st weak part 41 is arrange | positioned on the opposite side to the steering column 14 with respect to the 1st site | part 32a of the front part 32 in the left-right direction, and the 2nd weak part 42 is the 1st part 32a of the front part 32 in the left-right direction. The two parts 32b are disposed on the opposite side of the steering column 14. Therefore, when the first fragile portion 41 and the second fragile portion 42 are broken, the central portion 35 of the lower structure portion 13 a is broken from the one end portion 36 and the other end portion 37. The first portion 32 a and the second portion 32 b are included in the central portion 35. Therefore, the column unit 19 including the first switch portion 61 and the second switch portion 62 can move smoothly when moving forward from the front portion 32 of the lower structure portion 13a at the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle.

  (3) The weak part 40 is provided in the front part 32 of the lower structure part 13a. For this reason, even if the weak part 40 is destroyed, the lower structure part 13a is hold | maintained at the meter cluster 13 by the upper surface part 31. FIG. Therefore, when the weak part 40 is destroyed, it can suppress that the lower structure part 13a isolate | separates from the meter cluster 13, and is scattered in a vehicle interior.

In addition, you may change the said embodiment as follows.
The column cover 17 may be configured not to cover the first switch portion 61, the second switch portion 62, and the attachment member 63 from the front. In this case, the first switch portion 61 and the second switch portion 62 of the switch means 16 are in direct contact with the front portion 32 of the lower structure portion 13a without passing through the column cover 17.

In the switch means 16, the attachment member 63 may be the part that first contacts the lower structure portion 13 a of the meter cluster 13 during a frontal collision of the vehicle.
In the front part 32 of the lower structure part 13a, the part with which the column unit 19 contacts may be one place or three places or more. Moreover, in the front part 32 of the lower structure part 13a, the part which the column unit 19 contacts may be a part different from the 1st site | part 32a and the 2nd site | part 32b.

The switch unit 16 may have a configuration in which the first switch unit 61 and the first lever unit 64 or the second switch unit 62 and the second lever unit 65 are omitted.
O The weak part 40 may be provided in the upper surface part 31 of the lower structure part 13a of the meter cluster 13.

(Circle) you may change suitably the structure of the lower structure part 13a. For example, the lower structure portion 13a may have a configuration in which the lower surface portion 33 is omitted.
○ The position of the fragile portion 40 in the left-right direction may be changed as appropriate. For example, you may provide the weak part 40 in the 1st site | part 32a and the 2nd site | part 32b of the front part 32 of the lower structure part 13a.

  The number of the weak parts 40 formed in the lower structure part 13a of the meter cluster 13 may be changed as appropriate. That is, the weak part 40 may be provided at one place with respect to the lower structure part 13a, or may be provided at three or more places.

  The central portion 35 of the front portion 32 may be broken from the upper end portion 31 after being broken from the one end portion 36 and the other end portion 37 by the fragile portion 40. That is, the central portion 35 may be separated from portions other than the central portion 35 in the meter cluster 13.

  The fragile portion 40 may be provided on the lower surface portion 33 in addition to the front surface portion 32. The weakened portion 40 provided on the lower surface portion 33 is, for example, continuous with the groove recessed from the front surface 32c of the front portion 32 toward the rear surface 32d and recessed from the upper surface of the lower surface portion 33 toward the lower surface. It may be a groove. In this case, as compared with the case where the fragile portion 40 is provided only on the front portion 32, the fragile portion 40 of the lower structure portion 13a is further destroyed by the load when the switch means 16 contacts the lower structure portion 13a. It becomes easy.

The shape of the groove that is the fragile portion 40 is not limited to the V shape, and may be a U shape having a bottom surface, for example.
The weak part 40 may be a thin part in which the thickness of the front part 32 is made thinner than other parts.

(Circle) the weak part 40 may be a bellows part extended in the front-back direction. In addition, it is set as destruction to compress a bellows part in the front-back direction and to plastically deform.
Next, a technical idea that can be grasped from the above embodiment and another example will be added below.

(A) The fragile portion is a thin portion.
(B) The fragile portion is a groove.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Instrument panel, 12 ... Meter, 13 ... Meter cluster, 13a ... Lower structure part, 14 ... Steering column, 16 ... Switch means, 19 ... Column unit, 31 ... Upper surface part, 32 ... Front part as rear end part , 32a ... first part, 32b ... second part, 40 ... fragile part, 41 ... first fragile part, 42 ... second fragile part, 61 ... first switch part, 62 ... second switch part.

Claims (3)

A meter fixed to the instrument panel;
A meter cluster surrounding the meter and secured to the instrument panel;
A steering column disposed below the meter cluster and extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle;
A column unit that is attached to a portion of the steering column that is behind the meter cluster in the front-rear direction, and that has switch means that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the steering column;
In the structure around the instrument panel with
The column unit is provided to be movable forward in the front-rear direction,
The meter cluster includes a lower structure portion located below the meter in the vertical direction of the vehicle,
The switch means is disposed adjacent to the lower structure portion in the front-rear direction,
The lower structure portion has a fragile portion that is broken by a load when the switch means contacts the lower structure portion,
An instrument panel peripheral structure characterized in that the switch means is movable forward from the rear end portion in the front-rear direction of the lower structure portion when the fragile portion is destroyed. The switch means includes a first switch portion projecting from the steering column to one side in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and a second switch portion projecting from the steering column to the other side in the left-right direction of the vehicle,
The lower structure portion includes a first portion adjacent to the first switch portion in the front-rear direction and a second portion adjacent to the second switch portion in the front-rear direction,
The fragile portion is opposite to the steering column with respect to the second portion in the left-right direction and a first fragile portion disposed on the opposite side of the steering portion with respect to the first portion in the left-right direction. The instrument panel peripheral structure according to claim 1, further comprising a second fragile portion disposed on the side. The lower structure part has an upper surface part extending in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and a front part as the rear end part extending downward from the upper surface part in the up-down direction,
The switch means is disposed adjacent to the front portion in the front-rear direction,
The instrument panel peripheral structure according to claim 1, wherein the fragile portion is not provided on the upper surface portion but is provided on the front portion.