JP2531086Y2 - Steering column tilt device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a tilt device for a steering column in which the vertical position of a steering wheel of an automobile can be adjusted.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a tilt device for a steering column of this type, as shown in FIG. 6, a lower portion of the steering column 1 is rotatable with respect to a vehicle body 2 so that an upper portion of the steering column 1 can be moved up and down. A pin 4 supported by the shaft 3 and extending in the vehicle width direction is provided on an upper portion of the steering column 1, and a tilt bracket 5 is provided on the vehicle body 2 near the upper portion of the steering column 1. There is one in which the pin 4 is movably inserted to form an elongated hole 6 whose center of curvature is the fulcrum of the shaft 3 of the steering column 1. Then, the pin 4 is connected to the operation lever 7.
The vertical position of the steering column 1 is adjusted by fixing the elongated hole 6 at a desired position by the operation described above (for example, see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-126171).

Also, at the time of a vehicle collision, as shown in FIG.
Upon detecting this collision, the airbag 8 is inflated from the steering wheel 1a, and before the occupant makes a secondary collision with the steering wheel 1a, the airbag 8 is applied to the steering wheel 1a so as to receive and protect the occupant with the inflated airbag 8. 2. Description of the Related Art Automobiles employing a bag system are known.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-described conventional tilting device for a steering column, as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), when the occupant M collides with the steering wheel 1a in a primary collision at the time of collision of the automobile, the steering wheel is tilted. The column 1 is inclined upward from the bottom in the rearward direction of the vehicle body, and the long hole 6 of the tilt bracket 5 is opened with the pivot point of the steering column 1 as the center of curvature.
6a is located on the rear side of the vehicle body, and the upper end 6b of the long hole 6 is located on the front side of the vehicle body and is inclined. Therefore, a predetermined load F input to the front of the vehicle body due to the collision of the occupant M into the steering column 1 is input. In this case, the load F causes the steering column 1 to move upward.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), the column angle θ1 at the time of collision is larger than the column angle θ at the normal state (θ ≦ θ1), whereby the airbag 8 moves upward. Therefore, in the event of a secondary collision, the occupant M is received below the airbag 8, whereby the airbag 8 is easily pushed upward. There may be a problem that it is out of place.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to prevent the steering column from moving upward during a primary collision.

[Means for solving the problem]

The technical means of the present invention for solving such a problem includes a support portion for supporting the lower portion of the steering column to the vehicle body so that the upper portion of the steering column can move up and down, and an upper portion of the steering column. A pin extending in the width direction of the vehicle, a tilt bracket provided near the upper portion of the steering column and fixed to the vehicle body, and an elongated hole formed in the tilt bracket and through which the pin is movably inserted. In the tilting device for a steering column in which the pin is fixed to a desired position of the long hole and the vertical position of the steering column is adjusted, when a predetermined load is input to the front of the vehicle body to the steering column, The long hole is formed so as to be inclined so that the steering column moves downward due to the load. The Philippines is fitted is obtained by forming a groove to restrain the movement of the pin.

[Action]

According to this means, usually, the pin is fixed at an appropriate position in the long hole, and the steering column is positioned at a desired position.

In this state, when the vehicle collides, for example, when the occupant collides with the steering column, the pin moves downward along the elongated hole due to the load applied to the front of the vehicle body due to the occupant collision. The column will also move down. Further, the pins are fitted into the grooves to restrict the vertical movement.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, a tilt device for a steering column according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In an automobile to which the embodiment is applied, as shown in FIG.
A so-called airbag system is used to inflate the airbag. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steering column 1 includes a steering shaft 1b having a steering wheel 1a attached to an upper end thereof, and is inclined upward from the bottom toward the rear of the vehicle.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steering column tilt device according to the embodiment includes a lower portion of the steering column 1 such that an upper portion 10a (upper tube) of the steering column 1 can move up and down. A support portion 20 for supporting the lower tube 10b on the vehicle body 2 and a pin 11 provided on the upper portion 10a of the steering column 1 and extending in the vehicle width direction.
A tilt bracket 12 provided near the upper part 10a of the steering column 1 and fixed to the vehicle body 2, and an elongated hole 13 formed in the tilt bracket 12 and through which the pin 11 is movably inserted. .

The tilt bracket 12 includes a pair of hanging side plates 12a and 12b.
And a long hole 13 is formed in each of the side plates 12a and 12b. The pin 11 is composed of a bolt rotatably held on the steering column 1, the bolt head 11a is located outside one side plate 12a, and the male screw portion 11b projects from the other side plate 12b. ing. The protruding male screw portion 11b is provided with an operation lever 15 integrally having a nut 14 screwed to the male screw portion 11b. This operation lever
The nut 15 is tightened with the nut 14 on the male screw portion 11b by the rotation operation, and cooperates with the bolt head 11a.
Between the side plates 12a and 12b, and
Is fixed.

As shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b),
When a predetermined load F is input to the front of the vehicle body due to the collision of the occupant M on the steering column 1, the steering column 1 is inclined so as to move downward by the load F. That is, in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the lower end 13a of the long hole 13 of the tilt bracket 12 is located on the front side of the vehicle body, and the upper end 13b of the long hole 13 is located on the rear side of the vehicle body and is inclined. . A groove 16 is formed substantially perpendicularly and upward from the lower end 13a of the elongated hole 13 so that the pin 11 is fitted by the load F and restricts the movement of the pin 11.

Further, the support portion 20 of the steering column 1 has a lower portion 10b of the steering column 1,
A link mechanism is provided so as to be able to follow up and down movements of the upper part 10a of the steering column 1, that is, so that the lower part 10b of the steering column 1 can follow movement of the pin 11 along the long hole 13 and the groove. ing. In this link mechanism, a column bracket 21 is projected from the lower end of the steering column 1, while a fixed bracket 22 is fixed to the vehicle body 2, and the column bracket 21 and the fixed bracket 22 are connected by a connecting rod 23. . One end of the connecting rod 23 is supported by the column bracket 21, and the other end of the connecting rod 23 is supported by the fixed bracket 22.

Therefore, according to the steering column tilt device of this embodiment, the pin 11 is normally positioned at an appropriate position in the long hole 13 and the male screw portion is operated by rotating the operation lever 15.
Tighten the nut 14 to 11b and insert the pin 1
1 is fixed.

In this state, when the vehicle is suddenly braked, for example, as shown in FIGS.
Is the steering column 1 via the steering wheel 1a
In the case of a primary collision, a load F applied to the front of the vehicle body due to the collision of the occupant M is input to the steering column 1. In this case, if the load F has a predetermined magnitude against the tightening force of the nut 14, the steering column 1 tilts upward from the bottom in the rearward direction of the vehicle body, and the long hole 13 of the tilt bracket 12 Since the lower end 13a is located on the front side of the vehicle body and the upper end 13b of the elongated hole 13 is located on the rearward side of the vehicle body and is inclined, the pin 11 moves downward along the elongated hole 13 and thereby the steering column 1 Will also move downward. Furthermore,
The pin 11 is fitted into the groove 16 to restrict the vertical movement. Further, at the time of a vehicle collision, the airbag 8 is inflated from the steering wheel 1a upon detecting the collision, and receives the occupant M who makes a secondary collision with the steering wheel 1a.

In this case, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), since the steering column 1 is moving downward, the column angle θ2 at the time of the collision becomes smaller than the column angle θ at the normal state (θ ≧ θ2), whereby the inflated airbag 8 also moves downward. Therefore, since the center of the airbag 8 approaches the abdomen of the occupant M, the airbag 8 is not biased with respect to the occupant M, is prevented from being pushed up and escaped by the occupant M, and the entire airbag 8 receives the occupant M. Can be. Further, since the pin 11 is restrained by the groove 16, the steering column 1 does not rattle due to the secondary collision, and therefore, the occupant M is securely attached to the airbag 8.
Can be received.

In the above embodiment, the support portion 20 is configured by a link mechanism, but is not necessarily limited to this.
For example, as shown in FIG.
26, the column bracket 21 is supported by the shaft 27 in the elongated hole 26, and the lower portion 10b of the steering column 1 can be moved by the movement of the pin 11 as appropriate. In addition, although described as the occupant M, luggage or the like may be used.

[Effect of the invention]

As described above, according to the steering column tilt device of the present invention, when the vehicle collides and the occupant collides with the steering wheel, the pin is elongated by the load applied to the steering wheel toward the front of the vehicle body. , Whereby the steering column can also be moved downward. For this reason, in a vehicle that employs an airbag system, the airbag moves downward, and the center of the airbag moves closer to the abdomen of the occupant,
Since the vehicle is not biased toward the occupant, it is possible to prevent the occupant from being pushed up. Further, since the pins are fitted into the grooves and the vertical movement is restricted, the steering column does not rattle due to the secondary collision, so that the occupant can be reliably received by the airbag. For this reason, the occupant in the secondary collision can be received by the entire airbag, and safety is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a tilt device of a steering column according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
3 (a) is a diagram showing an input state at the time of a collision, FIG. 3 (b) is a diagram showing an operation at the time of a collision, and FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are diagrams showing a relationship between an airbag and an occupant at the time of a collision. FIG. 5 is a partial view showing another example of the support portion, FIG. 6 is a side view showing an example of a conventional tilting device for a steering column, and FIG. Diagram showing input state, seventh
FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a conventional operation at the time of a collision, and FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing a relationship between an airbag and an occupant at the time of a collision. 1 ... steering column 2 ... body 11 ... pin 12 ... tilt bracket 13 ... slot 16 ... groove 20 ... support

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A support portion for supporting a lower portion of a steering column to a vehicle body so that an upper portion of the steering column can move up and down, a pin provided on an upper portion of the steering column and extending in a vehicle width direction, and a steering device. A tilt bracket provided in the vicinity of the upper portion of the column and fixed to the vehicle body; and a long hole formed in the tilt bracket and through which the pin is movably inserted. The pin is provided at a desired position of the long hole. In a tilting device for a steering column fixed to adjust the vertical position of the steering column, when a predetermined load is input to the front of the vehicle body, the steering column is moved downward by the load. The elongated hole is formed to be inclined, and a pin is fitted into the lower end of the elongated hole by the load to restrain the movement of the pin. Tilting device of a steering column, characterized in that the formation of the.