JP2566171Y2 - Steering column support structure - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering column support structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional steering column support structure 1, as shown in FIG. 4 (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-41078 or Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-44871), a cowl upper panel 2 and a cowl are shown. Both ends of a reinforcing member 4 which is formed in a box shape by the lower panel 3 and which is formed in the box, and the vertical wall 3a and the substantially horizontal wall 3b of the cowl lower panel 3 each have a substantially right angle shape as viewed from the side of the automobile. An air box 5 having fixed 4a, 4b and a steering member 6 bridged between front side panels (not shown) are fixed to the air box 5 by welding means. A substantially U-shaped mounting bracket 17 as viewed from the driver's seat of an automobile
The upper mount bracket 8, which is fixed by bolts 17a and nuts 17b, is formed between the upper mount bracket 8 and a substantially V-shape when viewed from the side of the vehicle, and both ends 9a thereof. , 9b are provided at the tips.
The cowl lower panel 3 is fixed to the cowl lower panel 3 via a flange, and the rear surface 9c of the rear column 9 is fixed to the steering column 7 by a bolt 10a and a nut 10b via a mounting bracket 10 having a substantially U-shape as viewed from the driver's seat of the vehicle. And a lower mount bracket 9. Reference numeral 13 is the dash lower panel 14 is an engine room, 15 Pas Tsu Sen <br/> jars rooms, 16 joint point between the Inter-Mi Day Eight shaft, 11 denotes a front window panel, which is supported by the air box 5.

[0003]

However, according to the steering column support structure 1, it is difficult to secure the support rigidity of the steering column. That is, in order to prevent the shaking phenomenon of the steering column 7, rigidity in a direction perpendicular to the axis 7 a of the steering column 7 is required for the support portion of the lower mount bracket 9 of the steering column 7. 9a is formed at a substantially right angle, and the vertical wall 3a of the cowl lower panel 3 is formed.
It is fixed to. However, since the other end portion 9b is fixed to the substantially horizontal wall 3b of the cowl lower panel 3 so as to be inclined in the opening direction with respect to this direction, there is a problem that it is difficult to secure rigidity.

Further, according to the steering column support structure 1, it is difficult to suppress the rearward movement of the steering column 7. That is, when the engine unit 19 in the engine room 14 that has moved rearward due to a vehicle collision interferes with the air box 5 and is directly input to move the cowl upper panel 2, the cowl lower panel 3 and the dash lower panel 13 rearward. The other end 9b of the lower mount bracket 9 is easily pushed rearward together with these members 2, 3, and 13. Therefore, in order to suppress this backward movement, it is necessary to increase the diameter of the steering member 6 to increase the cross-sectional area, or to increase the thickness of the lower mount bracket 9 itself. However, such measures are:
There is a problem that it has a direct effect on the weight increase of a car and is one of the causes of soaring fuel consumption and manufacturing cost.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a support structure for a steering column that can secure the support rigidity of the steering column and suppress the rearward movement of the steering column.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a steering column support structure includes:
A bridge formed between a front side panel and an air box formed in a box shape by the cowl upper panel and the cowl lower panel and having one end of a reinforcing member fixed to the inside wall of the cowl lower panel on the passenger compartment side; An upper mount bracket bridged between the air box and the steering column via the provided steering member, a substantially U-shaped side view and both ends of which are fixed to the cowl lower panel and a back surface thereof. And a lower mount bracket fixed to the steering column. One end of the lower mount bracket is fixed to a vertical wall on the passenger compartment side of the cowl lower panel, and the other end is aligned with the axis of the steering column. The cowl lower panel is formed so as to be substantially at a right angle and fixed to a substantially horizontal wall of the cowl lower panel. Becomes, the other end portion of the reinforcing member is characterized by comprising fixed to the upper portion of the box with forming the extending direction approximately straight line of the other end of the lower mount bracket.

[0007]

[Operation] Therefore, according to the present invention, the support rigidity of the steering column can be ensured. That is, since both ends of the lower mount bracket are formed substantially at right angles to the axis of the steering column, a shake phenomenon of the steering column can be prevented.

Further, the rearward movement of the steering column can be suppressed. That is, when the engine unit moves rearward due to a vehicle collision or the like and interferes with the air box and is directly input to move the cowl upper panel, the cowl lower panel and the dash lower panel rearward, the other end of the lower mount bracket Since the part is fixed to the rear part of the cowl lower panel, it is less susceptible to the interference.
Further, the portion of the cowl lower panel on the front side of the position where the other end of the lower mount bracket is supported is deformed and crushed, so that the collision energy is absorbed there and it becomes difficult for the cowl lower panel itself to move rearward.

[0009]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention, and the same members as those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. The steering column support structure 20 includes an air box 5 formed in a box shape by a cowl upper panel 2 and a cowl lower panel 3, and a steering member 6 bridged between front side panels (not shown).
Are fixed to the air box 5 by welding means, and the steering column 7 is fixed to the steering column 7 by bolts 17a and nuts 17b through a mounting bracket 17 having a substantially U-shape as viewed from the driver's seat of the automobile. The upper cowl lower panel 8 is formed through an upper mount bracket 8 bridged between them and a flange formed with a substantially U-shaped shape as viewed from the side of the vehicle and one end 21a of which is provided at the tip. The other end 21b is formed substantially perpendicular to the axis 7a of the steering column 7 and is provided at the tip thereof.
The mounting bracket 10 is fixed to the substantially horizontal wall 3b of the cowl lower panel 3 through the provided flange , and further has a rear portion 21c of the rear surface 21c of the steering column 7 which is substantially U-shaped when viewed from the driver's seat of the vehicle. Through the bolt 10
a) and a lower mount bracket 21 fixed by the nut 10b. Reference numeral 22 denotes a reinforcing member. The reinforcing member 22 has one end portion 22a in the air box 5 and is fixed to the outer surface of the passenger compartment side vertical wall 3a of the cowl lower panel 3 by welding. The other end 22b is fixed to the upper surface of the substantially horizontal wall 3b and the lower mount bracket 2
1 and is substantially linear with the extending direction of the other end 21b.
It is fixed to the corner 2a of the cowl upper panel 2 by welding via a flange provided at the tip .

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the support rigidity of the steering column 7 can be ensured. That is, both ends 21a and 21b of the lower mount bracket 21 are formed substantially perpendicular to the axis 7a of the steering column 7,
Moreover, the corner portion 2a of the cowl upper panel 2 having high strength
Is fixed by welding to the steering column 7
Can be prevented.

Further, the rearward movement of the steering column 7 can be suppressed. That is, when the engine unit 19 moves rearward due to a vehicle collision or the like and interferes with the air box 5 and is directly input to move the cowl upper panel 2, the cowl lower panel 3 and the dash lower panel 13 rearward, the lower Since the other end 21b of the mount bracket 21 is fixed to the rear portion of the substantially horizontal wall 3b of the cowl lower panel 3, it is hardly affected by the interference. The substantially horizontal wall 3b of the cowl lower panel 3 on the front side of the position where the other end 21b of the lower mount bracket 21 is supported.
Is deformed and crushed, so that the collision energy is absorbed there, and the cowl lower panel 3 itself becomes difficult to move rearward. The cowl lower and the upper panel are not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the cowl lower panel may have a V-shape, or the cowl upper panel may have a horizontal upper surface wall and an engine room side vertical wall formed separately. .

[0012]

[Effect of the invention] As described above, according to the invention,
As a support structure of the steering column, an air box is formed in a box shape by a cowl upper panel and a cowl lower panel, and one end of a reinforcing member is fixed to a vertical wall on the passenger compartment side of the cowl lower panel inside the box. And an upper mount bracket bridged between the air box and the steering column via a steering member bridged between front side panels;
A lower mount bracket formed in a substantially U-shape in side view and having both ends fixed to the cowl lower panel and a rear surface fixed to the steering column; one end of the lower mount bracket; Is fixed to a vertical wall of the cowl lower panel on the passenger compartment side, the other end is formed to be substantially perpendicular to the axis of the steering column, and is fixed to a substantially horizontal wall of the cowl lower panel, The other end of the reinforcing member is substantially aligned with the extending direction of the other end of the lower mount bracket and is fixed to an upper portion of the box. Having. (A) The support rigidity of the steering column can be secured.
That is, since both ends of the lower mount bracket are formed substantially at right angles to the axis of the steering column, a shake phenomenon of the steering column can be prevented. (B) The backward movement of the steering column can be suppressed. That is, when the engine unit moves rearward due to a vehicle collision or the like and interferes with the air box and is directly input to move the cowl upper panel, the cowl lower panel and the dash lower panel rearward, the other end of the lower mount bracket Since the part is fixed to the rear part of the cowl lower panel, it is less susceptible to the interference. Also,
Since the portion of the cowl lower panel on the front side of the position where the other end of the lower mount bracket is supported is deformed and crushed, the collision energy is absorbed there and it becomes difficult for the cowl lower panel itself to move rearward.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the structure around the steering column support of the present invention including the engine room and the passenger room of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a relationship between a crushed state of the vehicle body and a steering column when an engine unit interferes with the vehicle body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 steering column support structure 20 steering column support structure 2 cowl upper panel 3 cowl lower panel 3a vertical wall of cowl lower panel 3b substantially horizontal wall of cowl lower panel 4 reinforcing member 22 reinforcing member 4a one end of reinforcing member 22a one end of reinforcing member 4b Other end of reinforcing member 22b Other end of reinforcing member 5 Air box 6 Steering member 7 Steering column 7a Steering column axis 8 Upper mount bracket 9 Lower mount bracket 21 Lower mount bracket 9a One end of lower mount bracket 21a Lower mount One end of bracket 9b The other end of lower mount bracket 21b The other end of lower mount bracket 9c The back of lower mount bracket 21c The back of lower mount bracket

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. An air box which is formed in a box shape by a cowl upper panel and a cowl lower panel, and one end of a reinforcing member is fixedly provided in a vertical wall of the cowl lower panel on the vehicle interior side in the box. An upper mount bracket bridged between the air box and the steering column via a steering member bridged between the side panels; and an upper U-shaped bracket formed in a substantially U-shape when viewed from the side, and both ends of which are fixed to the cowl lower panel. In a steering column support structure comprising a lower mount bracket fixed to the steering column and a rear part thereof fixed to the steering column, one end of the lower mount bracket is fixed to a vertical wall of the cowl lower panel on the passenger compartment side. , The other end of which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the steering column. And the other end of the reinforcing member is substantially linear with the extending direction of the other end of the lower mount bracket, and is fixed to an upper portion of the box. A steering column support structure characterized by being provided.