JP2677651B2 - Car knee protector structure - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an automobile knee protector structure.

[Prior Art] As is well known, when a knee of a front occupant collides with an instrument panel or the like in a front portion of a vehicle compartment during a vehicle collision,
It is common practice to provide a knee protector at the front of the passenger compartment to reduce the impact load applied to the knees.
In the Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-36434, a knee protector composed of two left and right members arranged on both sides of a steering column and a central member connecting these left and right members is supported by a member on the vehicle body side. It is disclosed.

By the way, as a steering device of an automobile, when an axial load of a predetermined value or more acts on the steering shaft due to forward movement of an occupant during a vehicle collision, both the steering shaft and a steering column that rotatably supports the shaft are provided together. A so-called shock energy absorption type, which is designed to absorb the shock energy used for the steering system at the time of a collision by contracting in the axial direction and being collapsed, is generally well known.

In particular, in an airbag-equipped vehicle in which an airbag device is attached to the steering wheel, by using the impact energy absorption type steering device, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an airbag when an occupant moving forward at the time of collision collides with the airbag. The repulsive force is suppressed, and the occupant protection performance of the airbag at the time of a vehicle collision can be fully exerted.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, an ignition key is usually inserted in the steering column by inserting an ignition switch.
A key cylinder for ON-OFF operation is provided so as to project laterally, and when the steering collapses during a vehicle collision, the key cylinder is a knee protector disposed on the vehicle compartment side of the steering column. In particular, it is conceivable that the collapse of the steering column is hindered because the left and right protector members are connected and interfere with the guide member that guides the occupant's knees to the left and right protector members.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a knee protector structure for an automobile, which can prevent the collapse of the steering wheel due to the interference between the knee protector and the key cylinder. To do.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, the present invention is directed to a guide member that is disposed on the vehicle compartment side of the steering column and is supported by a vehicle body side member, and protectors that are disposed on both left and right sides of the guide member. In a knee protector structure of an automobile including a member, the guide member, when an impact load of a predetermined value or more acts on the guide member in the axial direction of the steering shaft,
The vehicle body-side member is supported by the vehicle body-side member via an impact load absorbing means for releasing the support of the vehicle body-side member with respect to the guide member.

Further, another invention of the present application is characterized in that, in the above invention, a key cylinder attached to the steering column is located behind the guide member.

[Effect of the Invention] According to the present invention, the guide member is supported by the member on the vehicle body side through the impact load absorbing means. Therefore, when the steering column collapses, the key cylinder interferes with the guide member. When an impact load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the guide member, the guide member is released from being supported by the vehicle body side member.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the collapsing of the steering column from being obstructed by the interference between the key cylinder and the guide member, so that in the event of a vehicle collision, the steering is collapsed without bearing, and the axial impact of the steering shaft acting on the steering system is impaired. The load can be sufficiently absorbed, and the impact load applied to the occupant's chest and the like can be alleviated. Particularly, in an air bag-equipped vehicle, the repulsive force due to the air bag when the occupant moving forward at the time of collision abuts on the air bag is suppressed, and the occupant protection performance of the air bag can be improved.

Further, according to the other invention of the present application, basically, the same effect as the above invention can be obtained. In particular, a key cylinder attached to the steering column is located behind the guide member, and the key cylinder moves forward due to the collapse of the steering during a vehicle collision, so that the key cylinder and the guide member do not interfere with each other. In a case where the guide member is apt to occur, when the impact load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the guide member, the support of the guide member by the vehicle body side member is released, so that the interference between the key cylinder and the guide member is prevented. It is possible to prevent the collapsing of the steering column from being hindered.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the steering shaft 1 is inserted through an opening 11a of an instrument panel 11 in which a meter set 12 including various meters is attached to a front portion of a vehicle compartment of an automobile according to the present embodiment. A steering column 2 for rotatably supporting the steering shaft 1 is extended, and the steering column 2 is supported by a pipe-shaped steering support member 13 extending in the vehicle width direction via a mounting bracket 9. There is.

Although not specifically shown, both ends of the steering support member 13 are fixed to the cowl side panels extending forward from the left and right front door opening ends through brackets. In addition, the substantially middle portion is connected to the tunnel portion of the floor panel via the reinforcing stay. Further, as will be described in detail later, the steering shaft 1 and the steering column 2 are collapsed when an impact load in the axial direction of a predetermined value or more is applied to the steering shaft 1 at the time of a vehicle collision, and the impact energy is collapsed. Is able to absorb.

Further, a column cover 4 that covers the periphery of the steering column 2 is provided between the steering wheel 3 and the opening 11a of the instrument panel 11.

A steering wheel 3 is attached to a rear end of the steering shaft 1, and an airbag device is attached to a central portion of the steering wheel 3. As is well known, the airbag is normally folded and stored in the central portion of the steering wheel 3. When the collision detection sensor (not shown) detects a collision, the airbag is internally stored. The gas fills and instantly expands and deploys to regulate the forward movement of the occupant and windshield
The occupant can be protected from collision with the steering wheel 3 or the steering wheel 3.

Further, the above-mentioned automobile is provided with a knee protector 20 on the inner surface side of the instrument panel 11 for reducing an impact load applied to the above-mentioned knee when the occupant's knee collides with the instrument panel 11 during a vehicle collision. Have been.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the knee protectors 20 are arranged on both left and right sides of the steering column 2 and are flat plates that receive and protect the knees of an occupant when they move forward. When the protector members 22 and 22 are arranged on the vehicle compartment side of the steering column 2 to connect the protector members 22 and 22, and the knees of the occupant move forward toward the steering column 2, The protector members 22 and 22 are provided with a guide member 21 for guiding them.

The left protector member 22 is fixed to a bracket 15 for fixing the left end of the steering support member 13 to a vehicle body (a cowl side panel), while the right protector member 22 connects the steering support member 13 to the vehicle floor. Is fixed to a side surface of a reinforcing stay 16 for connecting to a tunnel portion of the vehicle. Also, the left and right protector members
The middle of 22,22 is supported by the steering support member 13 by the left and right arm members 23, 23 formed in a substantially V shape.

The boss portion provided on the front portion of the steering column 2 has a change lever 5 extending to the left and right sides, respectively.
Also, a blinker lever 6 is attached, and an ignition key (not shown) is inserted through a bracket 7 into a portion of the steering column 2 immediately in front of the levers 5 and 6 to turn on an ignition switch (not shown). -OF
A key cylinder 8 for F operation is provided so as to project laterally.

By the way, the steering shaft 1 and the steering column 2 according to the present embodiment are collapsed when an axial impact load of a predetermined value or more acts on the steering shaft 1 at the time of a vehicle collision so that the impact energy can be absorbed. Has become.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the steering shaft 1 is divided into a rear shaft 1b to which the steering wheel 3 is attached and a front shaft 1a connected to an intermediate shaft (not shown). front and rear shaft portions 1a, 1b are arranged coaxially at a predetermined longitudinal distance L _1. One end of a hollow cylindrical sleeve 31 is fixed to the front end of the rear shaft 1b, and the other end of the sleeve 31 is slidably fitted to the outer periphery of the front shaft 1a. On the outer peripheral portion of the front shaft 1a, circumferential grooves 32, 33 having an arc-shaped cross section are provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, while portions corresponding to the grooves 32, 33 of the sleeve 31 are provided. A plurality of holes 31c and 31d are provided in the circumferential direction, and a resin material is injected from the plurality of holes 31c and 31d to connect the sleeve 31 and the front shaft 1a. 34,3
5 are formed in plurality. Therefore, at normal times, the front and rear shaft portions 1a and 1b are
And the connecting pins 34 and 35 are integrally connected to each other.

On the other hand, a hollow cylindrical steering column 2 that covers the steering shaft 1 has a front column 2a rotatably supporting a front shaft 1a via a bearing 36, and a rear shaft 1b rotatably via a bearing 37. Supporting rear column 2b
Is divided into two parts, and the rear end side of the front column 1a and the front end side of the rear column 1b are slidably fitted. A mounting bracket 9 for connecting the steering column 2 to the steering support member 13 is fixed to the outer periphery of the rear column 1b.

In the above-mentioned configuration, when an axial impact load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the steering shaft 1 from the rear during a vehicle collision, a shearing force of a predetermined value or more acts on the coupling pins 34, 35, and the pins 34, ... , 34 and 35, ..., 35 are all broken, and the connection between the sleeve 31 and the front shaft 1a is released. As a result, the sleeve 31 and the rear shaft 1b are attached to the outer periphery of the front shaft 1a until the front end of the sleeve 31 rides on and is stopped by a stopper second stopper portion 38 formed near the front end of the front shaft 1a. Slide forward along. At this time, the rear column 1b also slides forward along the outer periphery of the front column 1a. That is, the steering shaft 1 and the steering column 2 collapse when an axial impact load of a predetermined value or more acts on the steering shaft 1, and can absorb the impact energy.

The distance L ₁ between the front end of the rear portion and the rear shaft 1b of the front shaft 1a, in the normal state where the front shaft 1a and the sleeve 31 are coupled, the front end portion and the stopper sleeve 31 part 38 is set larger than the distance L ₂ between, before the collapse stroke of a predetermined amount can be obtained, the rear shaft portion 1b is adapted to never in contact with the front shaft 1a. The mounting bracket 9 for fixing the steering column 2 to the steering support member 13 includes a bracket 9a made of a steel plate having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and one end of the bracket 9a is fixed to the steering support member 13. At the same time, the other end is fixed to the outer peripheral portion of the rear column 2b, so that when the steering column 2 is collapsed, the impact load can be more effectively absorbed by the elastic action of the bracket 9a. It has become.

By the way, in the present embodiment, when the steering shaft 1 and the steering column 2 are collapsed, the key cylinder 8 attached to the steering column 2 interferes with the guide member 21 of the knee protector 20 to prevent the collapse of the steering column 2. In order to prevent the guide member 21 from being hindered, the guide member 21 is attached to the left and right protector members 22, 22 via an impact load absorbing means.

Hereinafter, a mounting structure of the guide member 21 to the protector member 22 will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, bolt mounting portions 21a, 21a projecting upward are formed on the mounting surface (upper surface) of the guide member 21 to the protector member 22.
The elongated holes 21b and 21b which are opened rearward are provided in the 1a and 21a. On the other hand, the protector member 22 has the elongated hole 21b,
Circular mounting holes 22b, 22b are provided in a portion corresponding to 21b, and the bolts 25, 25 are attached to the elongated holes 21b, 21b and the mounting holes 22b, 22.
The guide member 21 and the protector member 22 are fastened and fixed by tightening the nuts 26, 26 after inserting the guide member 21 into the b member.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, at the time of a vehicle collision, an airbag device attached to the steering wheel 3 operates to deploy the airbag 10, and the steering shaft is passed through the airbag 10. When an axial impact load acts on the steering shaft 1, the steering shaft 1 and the steering column 2 are collapsed. When the key cylinder 8 moved forward by this collapse interferes with the guide member 21, an axial impact load of a predetermined value or more acts on the guide member 21 to cause the bolts 25, 25 to move. A slip occurs between the guide member 21 and the protector member 22 against the tightening force between the guide member 21 and the nuts 26, 26, so that the guide member 21 is moved forward. as a result,
The bolts 25, 25 are detached from the elongated holes 21b, 21b, and the coupling between the guide member 21 and the protector member 22 is released.

Further, in this embodiment, more preferably, at the time of a vehicle collision,
Particularly, in order to prevent the knee portion of the occupant from entering between the knee protector 22 and the key cylinder 8 and obstructing the collapse of the steering column 2 after the support of the guide member 21 by the protector member 22 is released. A shielding plate that prevents the knees from entering is provided. That is, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the key cylinder 8 is provided with a shield plate 28 having one end fixed to the key cylinder 8 and extending forward substantially parallel to the steering column 2. Therefore, when the knees of the occupant have entered, the knees can be guided to the protector member 22 side by the shielding plate 28.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the guide member 21 is disengaged when an impact load of a predetermined value or more is applied in the axial direction of the steering shaft 1, and the impact load absorbing means (bolt 25, nut). 26 and slot 21b)
Since it is supported by the protector member 22 fixed to the vehicle body side, when the steering column 2 collapses, due to the interference between the key cylinder 8 and the guide member 21, the impact of a predetermined value or more on the guide member 21 is caused. When a load is applied, the guide member 21 is released from being supported by the protector member.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the collapsing of the steering column 2 from being hindered by the interference between the key cylinder 8 and the guide member 21. Therefore, when the vehicle collides, the steering column 2 is collapsed without any trouble and the steering shaft that acts on the steering system. The impact load in the axial direction of 1 can be sufficiently absorbed, and the impact load applied to the occupant's chest and the like can be mitigated. In particular, in a vehicle equipped with an air bag, the repulsive force of the air bag 10 when a forward moving occupant comes into contact with the air bag 10 is suppressed, and the occupant protection performance of the air bag 10 can be improved. is there.

In the above embodiment, the long holes 21b, 21b are provided on the guide member 21 side, but instead of this, the long holes may be formed on the protector member side.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described below. That is, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, in the present embodiment, the mounting surface (lower surface) of the protector member 52 to which the guide member 51 is mounted is provided with screw mounting portions 52a, 52a projecting downward, Elongated holes 52b, 52b that open to the front are formed in the screw mounting portions 52a, 52a. And the screw member 5
The guide member 51 and the protector member 52 are connected to each other by inserting 5,55 into the nut members 56, 56 having a substantially U-shaped cross section through the elongated holes 52b, 52b.
In this combined state, when an impact load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the guide member 51, the screw member 55 and the nut member 56.
Is slipped forward, the support by the protector member 52 is released, and the guide member 51 is dropped.

[Brief description of the drawings]

The drawings are all for explaining the embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view of a front part of a passenger compartment of an automobile, FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a knee protector, and FIG. 3 is a steering column. And FIG. 4 is a side view of the knee protector, FIG. 4 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of the steering column and steering shaft, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mounting portion of the guide member, and FIG. Sectional explanatory views, FIGS. 7 and 8 are side sectional explanatory views of the steering column and knee protector showing a state where the knee protector and the key cylinder interfere with each other, and FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional explanatory view of the protector member and the key cylinder, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a protector member mounting portion according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is taken along line CC of FIG. FIG. 1 ... Steering shaft, 2 ... Steering column, 20 ... Knee protector, 21 ... Guide member, 21b
...... Oval hole, 22 ...... Protector member, 25 ...... Bolt, 26
……nut.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A steering column is disposed on a vehicle compartment side,
In a knee protector structure of an automobile comprising a guide member supported by a member on the vehicle body side and protector members arranged on both left and right sides of the guide member, the guide member is an axis line of a steering shaft with respect to the guide member. A vehicle body side member is supported via an impact load absorbing means for releasing the support of the vehicle body side member with respect to the guide member when an impact load of a predetermined value or more acts in the direction. Knee protector structure. 2. A knee protector structure for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein a key cylinder attached to the steering column is located behind the guide member.