JP2586833Y2 - Column hole cover 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 structure of a column hole cover.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A dash panel or a floor panel which defines a front portion of a vehicle compartment of an automobile is formed with a column hole through which a steering shaft is inserted.

[0003] The column hole is provided in a penetrating manner in an engine room or below a vehicle body. For this reason, the engine sound or road noise enters the vehicle cabin as it is. Further, there is a possibility that dust or the like may enter.

[0004] In order to avoid the inconvenience, a column hole cover is provided so as to cover a clearance between the column hole and the steering shaft.

[0005] Conventional column hole covers are often formed entirely of rubber and have a cylindrical shape that rises toward the cabin, so that errors in mounting the steering shaft and the like can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the rubber. ing.

[0006]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Since the column hole cover is provided so as to stand up to the cabin at the feet of the driver, the feet of the driver are likely to abut. Therefore, the column hole cover integrally formed of rubber is easily deformed when the driver's foot comes into contact. In addition, there is a risk that the above-mentioned deformation may cause the column hole to come off.

In order to solve the above problem, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 3-100571, a cylindrical main body is formed of a steel plate, and a rubber cap is provided at a portion where the steering shaft is inserted. Are proposed.

In the device disclosed in the above publication, the cap is elastically deformed, so that a mounting error of the steering shaft can be absorbed.

Further, since the portion where the driver's foot may come into contact is formed of a steel plate, there is no possibility that the column hole cover will be deformed or come off the column hole.

However, in the device described in the above publication, when the cap is deformed by absorbing the mounting error of the steering shaft, the cap comes into elastic contact with the outer peripheral portion of the steering shaft.
Therefore, when the steering shaft rotates, the rubber cap and the steering shaft rub against each other, generating an unpleasant friction sound in the vehicle interior.

The present invention has been conceived in view of the above circumstances, and solves the above-mentioned conventional problems. The invention does not deform even when the driver's foot abuts, and the mounting of the steering shaft is performed. An object of the present invention is to provide a structure of a column hole cover that can absorb an error and does not generate annoying friction noise.

[0012]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following technical means.

That is, the invention of the present application is a structure of a column hole cover attached to a column hole provided for inserting a steering shaft into a dash panel or a floor panel, wherein the column hole cover is connected and fixed to a peripheral portion of the column hole. From the lower edge to the cabin side,
A tubular cover body having an upper wall having an opening, a center hole through which the steering shaft is inserted, and playably fitted to the upper wall so as to sandwich an edge of the opening; and a bush to be worn, at the upper wall
The opening is formed in a circular shape with a notch
Radially outward from the edge of the opening
A plurality of extending locking ridges are provided on the inner surface of the upper wall portion.
Cage, said bush, on the surface of the upper wall portion of the cover body
Disc-shaped flange to be attached and below the flange
A cylindrical body extending integrally from the surface in the axial direction;
Extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the part,
And a locking piece that can be inserted through the notch.
In the assembled state, the locking piece is
Engage with the inner surface to prevent the bush from coming off
The locking ridge prevents rotation of the bush.
Characterized in that it is configured to.

[0014]

In the structure of the column hole cover according to the present invention, a cover body connected to the peripheral portion of the column hole and a bush mounted on the cover body and through which a steering shaft is inserted are provided. . B
The barrel of the brush is an opening in the upper wall provided on the cover.
Can be inserted into
Since the bush can be inserted through the cutout, cover the bush
-It is easy to attach to the body. Rotate bush
And the locking piece is elastic with the locking ridge provided on the inner surface of the upper wall.
Overcome. Since there are locking ridges, the locking pieces
Even if it turns, it does not return to the position of the notch. Person in charge
Since the stopper is always engaged with the inner surface of the upper wall, the bush
Does not come off the opening and is completely assembled to the cover
Attached.

By forming the cover body from a hardly deformable material such as a hard resin, the cover body is hardly deformed even when the driver's foot or the like comes into contact with the cover body, and there is no possibility of the cover body coming off the column hole.

On the other hand, an opening is provided in the upper wall of the cover body, and the steering shaft is inserted through a bush fitted into the opening.

The bush has a center hole through which the steering shaft is inserted, and is fitted to the upper wall so as to be playable so as to sandwich an edge of an opening of the cover.

[0018] Therefore, the relative movement between the bush and the cover body can absorb mounting errors and the like of the steering shaft.

Further, since the bush can play while being fitted into the opening of the upper wall, elastic force acts on the steering shaft from the bush as in a conventional rubber hole cover. I will not do it. Therefore, the steering shaft and the bush are not rubbed, and no unpleasant fricative noise is generated.

Further, similarly to the conventional column cover, the clearance between the column hole and the steering shaft can be sealed, so that noise and dust do not enter the passenger compartment.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a column hole cover 3 which covers a column hole 2 provided in a floor panel 1.

The column hole cover 3 according to the present embodiment comprises:
A cover body 4 connected and fixed to the peripheral edge of the column hole 2, and an opening 9
And a bush 5 to be fitted to the main body.

The cover body 4 is integrally formed of a hard resin, and a mounting flange 6 extending from a lower end is connected and fixed to a peripheral edge of the column hole 2 by a mounting bolt 7. .

The cover body 4 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, the upper portion is tapered in diameter, and an upper wall portion 8 having an opening 9 is integrally formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the opening 9 is formed in a circular shape having a pair of rectangular notches 10 and 10 at the opposing portion.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, on the inner surface of the upper wall portion 8, the notches 10, 10 are sandwiched so as to extend radially outward from the edge of the opening portion 9. Extending locking ridges 11a and 11b are provided, respectively.

On the other hand, the bush 5 is integrally formed of resin, and has a disk-shaped flange portion 12 attached to the surface of the upper wall portion 8 of the cover body 4, and a shaft extending from the lower surface of the flange portion 12. A cylindrical body 13 integrally formed in the direction of the cylinder body; and a pair of locking pieces 14, 14 extending radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the cylindrical body 13. A central hole 16 through which the steering shaft 15 is inserted is formed through the portion 12 and the cylinder body 13.

The flange 12 and the locking pieces 14,
A clearance corresponding to the thickness of the upper wall portion 8 of the cover body 4 is provided between the cover member 4 and the cover 14.

The locking pieces 14, 14 are formed in a planar shape corresponding to the notches 10, 10, and are formed in the openings 9 through the notches 10, 10, respectively.
The cylindrical body 13 and the locking pieces 14 are configured to be fitted therein.

The cylinder body 13 and the locking pieces 14, 14
Is inserted into the opening 9 or the notch 10 , 10 and rotated, the locking pieces 14, 14 elastically lock the locking ridges 11a, 11b provided on the inner surface of the upper wall 8. The locking pieces 14, 14 are positioned between the locking ridges 11a and 11a and between 11b and 11b , respectively. With the above configuration, the locking pieces 14, 14 do not naturally rotate to the positions of the notches 10 , 10 , and the bush 5 does not come off from the opening 9.

The outer diameter of the cylindrical body 13 according to this embodiment is
As shown in FIG. 1, the opening 9 is set smaller than the inner diameter. For this reason, an annular clearance is formed between the outer periphery of the cylinder body 13 and the inner periphery of the opening 9.
Therefore, as shown in FIG.
The bush 5 can move relative to the cover body 4. As a result, the mounting error of the steering shaft 15 and the like can be absorbed.

In the structure of the column hole cover according to the present embodiment, the bush 5 through which the steering shaft 15 is inserted is sealed so as to play with respect to the cover body 4 while sealing the opening 9. ing. Therefore, noise and the like do not enter the vehicle interior.

As shown in FIG. 3, since the bush 5 is fitted to the cover body 5 so as to be playable, even if the steering shaft 15 is misaligned, the bush 5 can be moved. There is no elastic contact with the steering shaft 15. For this reason, even in a state in which the shaft misalignment is absorbed, rubbing or the like does not occur between the outer peripheral surface of the steering shaft and the inner peripheral surface of the center hole 16 of the bush 5, and no unpleasant friction noise is generated.

With the above configuration, it is possible to provide a column hole cover that covers the column hole 2 while absorbing the mounting error of the steering shaft 15 and that does not generate frictional noise.

The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the embodiment, the floor panel 1
Although the column hole cover according to the present embodiment is attached to the column hole 2 provided in the dash panel, the present invention can be applied to a column hole provided in a dash panel.

Although the cover 4 of the column hole cover is connected to the floor panel 1 using the bolts 7, other methods such as elastic fitting may be adopted.

Further, the shape of the bush 5 is not limited to the embodiment, and other shapes can be adopted.

The locking pieces 14, 14 of the bush 5
The shape and number of are not limited to the examples.

Further, the locking projections 11a and 11b are provided on the back surface of the upper wall of the cover body 4 to prevent the bush 5 from coming off the opening 9, but other means can be adopted. For example, a fan-shaped concave portion may be formed on the back surface of the upper wall portion 8, and the bush may be provided with a protrusion that is engaged with the concave portion so as to allow play.

Further, in the embodiment, both the cover body and the bush are formed of resin. However, it is sufficient that the cover body and the bush are formed of a material which is hardly deformed. May be formed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part showing a structure of a column hole cover according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the column hole cover according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 1;
It is a figure showing the state where the error of the steering shaft was absorbed.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Floor panel 2 Column hole 3 Column hole cover 4 Cover body 5 Bush 8 Upper wall 9 Opening 15 Steering shaft 16 Center hole

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A structure of a column hole cover mounted on a column hole provided for inserting a steering shaft into a dash panel or a floor panel, wherein a lower edge portion is fixedly connected to a peripheral edge portion of the column hole. A cylindrical cover body provided with an upper wall having an opening, and a center hole through which the steering shaft is inserted,
So as to sandwich the edge of the opening, and a bushing which is play rotatably to fit to the upper wall, the opening in the upper wall is circular with a cut-out portion
And radially outward from the edge of the opening
A plurality of locking ridges extending radially toward the upper wall portion
Is provided on the inner surface, the bush is affixed on a surface of the upper wall portion of the cover body
From the disc-shaped flange part and the lower surface of the flange part
A cylindrical body integrally formed in the axial direction and a lower part of the cylindrical body.
It is formed to extend radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the end, and
The serial notch includes a can be inserted locking piece, in assembled state, the locking piece of the upper wall inner surface
To prevent the bush from coming off,
The locking ridge prevents rotation of the bush.
Is characterized in that is, the structure of the column hole cover.