JP2692398B2 - Steering wheel - 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 wheel for an automobile or the like which has a hollow portion inside the member to reduce the weight thereof and absorbs / relaxes an impact load applied to a human body when the automobile collides.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a structure of a steering wheel 40 for an automobile or the like, as shown in FIG. 4 to FIG.
A steering wheel 40 having a structure in which a boss portion 45 is provided via a cylindrical boss 44 which is fitted and fixed to a steering shaft (not shown) on the lower surface of the boss portion 45 is used. . As a matter of course, the cylindrical boss 44 is provided with a through hole 47 for fitting and fitting in the axial center thereof.

[0003]

However, in the above structure, it is difficult to reduce the weight because of the airless shape.
Since the annular rim portion 1 cannot be unnecessarily thick, and when the vehicle collides with the vehicle or other objectives, the steering wheel instantaneously retracts in the direction of arrow P and does not have the function of absorbing and cushioning the impact. The driver had a serious problem of being directly injured by the impact load through the steering wheel and being injured or even being killed. The use of an airbag is recommended to prevent the above-mentioned injury or death, but the cost is high and it has not spread to all vehicle types. In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a steering wheel that has a function of absorbing and reducing impact and realizes weight reduction.

[0004]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the structure of the steering wheel of the present invention is a hollow injection molding technique applied to the inside of an annular rim part, a spoke part or a boss part. A unitary structure in which individual hollow portions are arranged in a predetermined manner is used as a means for one-shot molding, or one injection molding die and a fixed side and a movable side of the injection molding die are mutually slid to each other. The steering wheel is made lighter by the molding means. During addition of the annular rim portion and a cylindrical boss, the cross-sectional shape that easily elastically deformed upon receipt of an impact load, and the like dogleg or bellows
A thin bent portion is provided. Alternatively, between the annular rim portion and the cylindrical boss, a thin-walled portion that breaks easily when an impact load is applied is formed and a cylindrical boss whose outer shape is inversely tapered or a skirt-shaped rib is arranged on the outer peripheral portion. By arranging the boss in the lower part of the thin portion, it has a function of absorbing and mitigating impact at the time of collision.

[0005]

The present invention provides a steering wheel with a simple structure which is light in weight and can absorb and mitigate the impact at the time of a collision without changing the shape of the conventional steering wheel with the above-mentioned structure.

[0006]

1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention.
Will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show two embodiments of the present invention, the steering wheel of the illustrated embodiment is a one-shot molding means, or one injection mold and the injection mold is slid. It is formed as a one-piece structure having a hollow portion by subsequent molding, and does not require joining or assembling parts after being removed from the molding machine.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a steering wheel 15 according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cutting line S1 shown in FIG.
~ Shows a cross-sectional view from the side viewed from the S1 direction. 1 and 2, the steering wheel 15 of the first embodiment
Is a plurality of spoke portions 2, at the center of the annular rim portion 1.
A boss portion 5 is provided via On the upper surface side of the boss portion 5, a member (not shown) in which a horn switch, a hazard, a rear window heat wire drive switch, and the like are incorporated in a predetermined manner is mounted in a predetermined manner. Also, a through hole 7 is provided on the lower surface side of the boss portion 5.
The cylindrical boss 4 is disposed via a thin portion 6 formed by arranging the annular recess 14 concentrically with a predetermined depth. A through hole 7 that fits into a steering shaft (not shown) is provided at the shaft core of the cylindrical boss 4, that is, at a portion corresponding to the hub shaft of the bicycle. Four skirt-shaped ribs 8 that spread toward each other are arranged at equal intervals. The thin portion 6 is configured so as to be easily broken when the annular rim portion 1 receives an impact load of a set value or more in the arrow P direction, and absorbs the impact. Furthermore, when the thin-walled portion 6 is broken and the annular rim portion 1 moves toward the boss tip direction, the skirt-shaped rib 8 brakes the annular rim portion 1 by the taper portion of the rib 8 and absorbs the shock one more step.・ It is designed to be relaxed. Furthermore, the steering wheel 15
By incorporating a plurality of independent hollow parts, weight reduction is achieved. Ie steering wheel 1
A plurality of independent hollow portions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 having different sizes are symmetrically arranged inside the annular rim portion 1, the spoke portions 2, 3 or the boss portion 5 Then, the integral structure of the embodiment is formed by one-shot molding,
Alternatively, it is a single injection molding die and is secondary-molded by sliding this injection molding die. In the case of the first embodiment, the hollow portion built in the boss portion is not shown. The hollow portions 9, 10, 11 are arc-shaped with a circular cross section,
The hollow portions 11 and 12 have a substantially rectangular cross section. In automobiles, reducing the weight of parts such as the steering wheel greatly contributes to increasing the mileage, and reducing the weight is also important for environmental protection.

In the first embodiment, the hollow portions 9 and 1
The total occupied volume of 0, 11, 12 or 13 is set to 20% to 70% of the volume occupied by the outer shape of the steering wheel. The total volume occupied by the hollow portion may be determined according to the purpose of use, the required strength, and the members constituting the steering wheel. That is, even if the wall thickness is reduced, the rigidity equal to or higher than that of the conventional structure may be secured. Further, when the weight of the steering wheel having the predetermined hollow portion is set to be the same as that of the conventional configuration, the outer shape of the grip portion of the annular rim portion 1 can be increased by the weight reduction, and as a result, the driving can be improved. Easier and more comfortable,
As a result, safety is also improved. The same effect can be obtained by using a cylindrical boss in which the skirt-shaped rib 8 is provided on the outer peripheral portion instead of the cylindrical boss, and the skirt-shaped rib is not provided and the outer shape is a reverse tapered shape with a widened hem. Foam resin members and synthetic resin members such as epoxy, ABS, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyurethane, and other various synthetic rubbers are generally used as the members constituting the steering wheel, but ceramic members are used in relation to the fracture characteristics. May be. Further, it is possible to use an injection-moldable arbitrary member such as metal powder kneaded with a predetermined binder or glass powder kneaded with a predetermined binder.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a steering wheel 20 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The basic function of the steering wheel 20 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the annular rim portion 1 bends toward the end of the cylindrical boss 24 to absorb / absorb the impact. . The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in terms of shape in the configuration of the lower surface of the boss portion. That is, the cylindrical boss 24 is provided via the thin-walled bent portion 25 that easily elastically deforms in the direction of arrow A when the annular rim portion 1 receives an impact load of a set value or more in the direction of arrow P. The thin bent portion 25 has a V-shaped cross section,
Or, a bellows shape (not shown) in which a dogleg shape is continuous,
Alternatively, a plurality of rectangular plate members are arranged on the circumference at equal intervals. (Not shown) Hollow parts 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 provided inside the annular rim part 1 and the spoke parts 2, 3 or the boss part 5 are constructed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. In this case, an integral structure in which a plurality of hollow portions are independently arranged is formed by one-shot molding, or one injection mold and the injection mold are slid to be secondarily molded. As for the material, similarly to the first embodiment, it is possible to use an arbitrary member that can be injection-molded, such as a rubber member, various synthetic resins, or metal powder kneaded with a predetermined binder.

As described above, in the steering wheel of the present invention, the cylindrical boss in which the skirt ribs are arranged at equal intervals through the thin portion on the lower surface of the boss, or the cylindrical boss whose outer shape is tapered is arranged. By adopting the above configuration or the configuration in which the cylindrical boss is disposed in a predetermined manner through the thin-walled bent portion, the impact load at the time of collision can be absorbed and alleviated. Further, by disposing a plurality of independent hollow portions, the weight of the member can be significantly reduced, the materials used can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. In the embodiment of the present invention, the columnar example is described as the cross-sectional shape of the steering wheel, but it is needless to say that another shape may be used, as to the position and the number / shape of arranging the hollow portion. Is also optional. Of course,
The same applies to the configuration shapes of the cylindrical boss and the thin bent portion.

[0011]

As described above, according to the steering wheel of the present invention, the impact load at the time of a collision is absorbed and alleviated, and the traveling distance is increased with the weight reduction, the comfort of gripping is improved, the environmental protection is improved and the cost is reduced. Many effects such as reduction can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a steering wheel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 as viewed from a cutting line S1 to S1 direction.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a steering wheel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a conventional steering wheel.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view from the side view of FIG. 4 viewed from the direction of cutting lines S2 to S2.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Annular rim part 2 Spoke part 3 Spoke part 4 Cylindrical boss 5 Boss part 6 Thin part 7 Through hole 8 Skirt rib 9 Hollow part 10 Hollow part 11 Hollow part 12 Hollow part 13 Hollow part 14 Annular recess 15 Steering wheel 20 Steering wheel 24 Cylindrical boss 25 Thin bending part 27 Through hole

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A steering wheel having a boss portion for mounting on a steering shaft via a plurality of spoke portions at a central portion of an annular rim portion, wherein a lower surface of the boss portion is easily subjected to an impact load. contour via a thin portion to rupture provided a tapered cylindrical boss, further wherein
Partition the ring of the annular rim at multiple points to
A steering wheel having an integrated structure in which a plurality of independent hollow portions are built in a circular arc shape in the vicinity of the axial center of the cross section . 2. A steering wheel having a boss portion for mounting on a steering shaft via a plurality of spoke portions at a central portion of an annular rim portion, wherein a lower surface of the boss portion is easily subjected to an impact load. Providing a cylindrical boss with tapered ribs on the outer peripheral surface through a thin portion that breaks,
Furthermore, the ring of the annular rim part is partitioned at multiple points,
An independent hollow part in the shape of an arc near the axial center of the annular rim
A steering wheel characterized by having a plurality of built-in parts as a unitary structure. 3. A plurality of spokes in the central portion of the annular rim portion.
The boss for attaching to the steering shaft through the
In the steering wheel provided, the boss portion
There is a thin part on the bottom surface that breaks easily when an impact load is applied.
Then, a cylindrical boss with a tapered outer shape is provided to create an integrated structure.
A steering wheel that is characterized by 4. A plurality of spokes in the central portion of the annular rim portion.
The boss for attaching to the steering shaft through the
In the steering wheel provided, the boss portion
There is a thin part on the bottom surface that breaks easily when an impact load is applied.
Then, provide a cylindrical boss with tapered ribs on the outer peripheral surface,
Steering wheel characterized by being an integrated structure
Le . 5. A steering wheel having a boss portion for mounting on a steering shaft via a plurality of spoke portions in a central portion of an annular rim portion.
The bottom surface is thin and easily elastically deformed when subjected to an impact load.
A cylindrical boss is provided through the curved part to make it an integrated structure.
The characteristic steering wheel . 6. The steering wheel according to claim 5, wherein the thin-walled bent portion has a V-shaped or bellows-shaped cross section. 7. A resin or rubber, or ceramics also
Of the metal powders were kneaded with binder, any one of the preceding claims consisting of one of <br/> injection moldable member
Steering wheel described in one .