JP3022046B2 - Steering column shock absorber - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is intended to reduce the impact when a driver hits a steering wheel at the time of a collision. And a shock absorber for a steering column that operates reliably.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in order to protect a driver from an impact at the time of a vehicle collision, a curling type is often used to absorb the impact. Complex and
In addition to being expensive, the complicated structure increases the possibility of failure and also affects reliability.

[0003] Incidentally, the applicant has already filed Japanese Patent Application No. 4-231.
557, the shortcomings of the above-mentioned prior art are substantially solved, and the contents thereof will be briefly described. The structure is mainly a steering which can be moved together with a steering column by receiving an impact at the time of a collision, and is provided with a crush-through portion. It comprises a column supporting bracket and an energy absorber having a crushable swelling strip which can be crushed at a crushing penetration portion of the bracket.

The energy absorbing member penetrates through the crushing penetrating portion of the bracket and is immovably mounted at a predetermined location in the vehicle. Only when the vehicle moves in an emergency such as at the time of a vehicle collision, the crushable bulging strips are crushed by the crushing penetrations to absorb the impact energy at the time of collision. It is.

[0005]

As described above, the disadvantages of the prior art have been solved in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-231557. The conditions vary depending on various conditions, and it is also desired to reduce the deformation load at the time of initial movement.

Further, it is desired to increase the variation of the load characteristics without largely changing the basic structure of the shock absorbing structure according to the size of the vehicle body.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems Accordingly, the inventor of the present invention has conducted intensive studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, and as a result, the present invention
A crushable portion is formed on a bracket that moves together with the steering column, and the crushable bulging streak crushed by the crushing portion, a flat plate-shaped portion continuous on both sides in the width direction, and a longitudinal direction of the crushable bulging streak. A fragile portion is formed at the start end of the crushable swelling strip so that the energy crushable swelling strip of the energy absorber consisting of a fixed part that is continuous with the flat plate-shaped part at the end is more easily crushed than other parts. The fixed portion of the energy absorber is immovably attached to the vehicle body, and the crushable bulging strip of the energy absorber is provided to protrude outward from the crushable portion toward the front side of the vehicle body. By using a shock absorbing device or the like for the steering column in which the start end of the bulging strip and the crushed portion are locked, it is possible to appropriately set the shock load for absorbing shock at the time of a collision with a very simple structure. Can be It is those that can be adapted to the terms and conditions of the country.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a steering shaft 1 provided with a steering wheel W at an axial end is mounted on a steering column 2, The column 2 is supported by the bracket A.

The bracket A is configured to support the steering column 2 as shown in FIGS. 1 (a), 1 (b) and 2, and is used for raising and lowering the steering column 2 during a tilt operation. It is composed of a bracket 3 and a fixed bracket A1 for fixing the steering column 2 at a predetermined position. The elevating bracket 3 moves up and down with respect to the fixed bracket A1, sets the steering shaft 1 at an appropriate position, and sets the appropriate position for each driver. The steering wheel W is aligned with the position.

Fixing bracket A1 of the bracket A
The mounting fixing portions 5, 5 are formed outward from the upper ends of the supporting side portions 4, 4, and the mounting fixing portions 5, 5 have the same shape which is symmetrical in the left-right direction. 5,5
In FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 1 (a), an edge portion is a slope 5a.

As shown in FIG. 2, a crushed portion A2 is formed at the slope 5a. The crushed portion A2 is composed of a crushed edge 6, a lower support edge 7, and a crushed through hole 8. The upper portion of the crushing through hole 8 is a crushing edge 6, and the lower end of the crushing through hole 8 is formed as a lower support edge 7.

The crushing portion A2 is for crushing the crushable bulging strip B2 of the energy absorber B, which will be described later, and is for absorbing energy at the time of collision during the crushing process of the crushing bulging strip B2. .

The crushing through hole 8 is formed in a rectangular shape such as a substantially rectangular shape. As shown in FIG. 4, an appropriate portion of the slope 5a of the mounting and fixing portion 5 is cut out in a streak shape. The through hole formed by bending the portion outward is used as the crushing through hole 8, and the bent piece cut and raised outward at that time becomes the crushing edge 6.

As shown in FIG. 12, the front end of the crushing edge 6 and the lower supporting edge 7 are formed so as to be substantially at the same position when the bracket A is viewed from the side. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6 and the like, there is an embodiment in which the tip end of the crushing edge 6 is formed closer to the front wheel side than the lower supporting edge 7. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the latter embodiment has a lower support edge 7 located closer to the steering wheel W than the crushed edge 6.

Since a predetermined space can be provided between the front end portion of the crushing edge 6, that is, the crushing front edge 6a and the lower supporting edge 7, the shape of the crushing edge 6 as shown in FIG. Is formed in the front wheel side of the bracket A (left side in FIG. 1) so that the crushing end edge 6a of the crushing edge 6 is more front wheel than the lower supporting edge 7. A protruding position configuration can be provided so as to be closer to the side.

Since the crushing edge 6 is formed in a convex shape, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a cutout mark is formed at the center of the lower supporting edge 7 at the crushing front edge 6a. Therefore, the lower supporting edge 7 has a cutout portion at the center, but the lower surface of the energy absorber B can be supported by the both sides of the cutout portion of the lower support edge 7.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, etc., the energy absorber B is composed of a flat plate-like portion B1 and a crushable bulging strip B2. , And a substantially rectangular flat plate portion B made of a metal band plate material.
1 is formed, and along the longitudinal direction of the flat plate-shaped portion B1,
A crushed bulging strip B2 is formed.

The flat plate-shaped portion B1 has a crushable swelling strip B2 formed on a rectangular flat support plate 9 along its longitudinal direction, and the flat plate portion has a triangular or arc-shaped mountain shape in cross section. And formed by pressing or the like on the flat plate-shaped portion B1, and the front end of the crushable bulging strip B2 is located behind the front end of the flat plate-shaped portion B1. ing.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5 and the like, a flat support plate 9 is formed around the width of the crushed and swelled ridge B2. A fixing portion 10 is formed, and a fixing hole 10a through which a fixing tool such as a bolt penetrates is formed in the fixing portion 10, and the energy absorber B is immovable by the fixing tool so that the energy absorbing member B cannot move. It can be attached.

The swelled strip B of the energy absorber B
The fragile portion 1 is located at the front end (starting end) of the bulging strip 11 of FIG.
2 are provided, and the fragile portion 12 is a crushed bulging strip B.
In FIG. 2, it is much easier to crush than the other parts. When an impact such as a vehicle collision occurs, the impact load acts intensively on the fragile portion 12, and when the impact load is applied, first the impact load is applied. The fragile portion 12 starts to collapse.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and the like, the embodiment of the fragile portion 12 is formed in the shape of a through hole. At the front end portion (starting end portion), it is formed on both sides in the width direction, and more specifically, is formed in a long hole shape. The longitudinal direction matches.

The shape of the crushable through-hole 12a may be a circular or square through-hole. The shape of the through-hole 12a is not limited to the above embodiment as long as it is easily crushed. Absent.

Next, in another embodiment of the fragile part 12, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
b, the thickness of the bulging strip portion 11 is made thinner than other portions, and the crushable through hole 12a
As in the embodiment of the fragile portion 12 described above, the structure is easily crushed.

In an embodiment in which the fragile portion 12 is formed as a thin portion 12b, as shown in FIG.
9A and 9B, there is an embodiment formed on the back side as shown in FIG. 9B, and the shape of the fragile portion 12 in the embodiment having the thin portion 12b is as follows. , A rectangle, an ellipse, or the like.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the width of the flat support plate 9 is gradually increased from the front side to the rear side at an appropriate position in the longitudinal direction of the flat support plate 9. The crushable inclined side edges 9a, 9a are formed on both sides. That is, the flat plate-shaped portion B1 is formed with crushable inclined side edges 9a, 9a on both sides in the width direction so that the width increases as the distance from the fixing portion 10 increases at an appropriate location in the longitudinal direction. The inclination of the crushable inclined side edges 9a, 9a is extremely gentle, and is preferably about 10 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction of the flat support plate 9.

The energy absorber B includes an embodiment in which only the fragile portion 12 is provided (see FIG. 8) and an embodiment in which only the crushable inclined side edges 9a, 9a are provided (see FIG. 10).

In the energy absorber B, ten fixing portions penetrate through the crushing through hole 8 of the crushing portion A2 formed in the bracket A, and the flat plate-like portion B1 has a back surface side of the top surface of the mounting fixing portion 5. Further, the crushable swelling strip B2 is configured to protrude outward from the front wheel side of the mounting and fixing part 5 through the crushing through hole 8, and as shown in FIGS. It is immovably fixed at a predetermined position in the vehicle via a sliding plate 13 described later.

The swellable strip B of the energy absorber B
In FIG. 6, as shown in FIG. 6, a crushing front edge 6a at the front end of the crushing edge 6 is in contact, and the lower surface of the energy absorber B is supported by a lower supporting edge 7.

The steering column 2 can be set at an appropriate position for the driver by appropriately operating the operating lever 14 with the bracket 3 for raising and lowering the bracket A.

In the present invention, the operating state at the time of shock absorption is as follows. First, when a vehicle collides, a driver hits the steering wheel W and an impact is transmitted to the steering shaft 1 and the steering column 2 via the steering wheel W. As shown in FIG.
Moves to the front of the vehicle body.

At this time, the sliding plate 13 and the energy absorbing member B are mounted so as to be immovable with respect to the vehicle body. Even if the bracket A moves together with the steering column 2, the energy absorbing member B does not move. First, before the impact occurs, as shown in FIG. 6, the tip of the crushing edge 6 of the crushing portion A2 (the end of the crushing tip edge 6a) is the front end of the crushable bulging strip B2 of the energy absorber B (see FIG. 6). The bracket A is in contact with the flat support plate 9), and the bracket A moves forward of the vehicle body when an impact occurs.

Then, when the bracket A moves to the front wheel side, the crushing operation of the energy absorber B into the crushable bulging strip B2 is started.

Then, the crushed swelling strip B2 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), as the bracket A moves to the front wheel side while being crushed by the tip of the crushing edge 6 of the crushing portion A2 (crushing tip edge 6a), the crushed bulging strip B2 is moved.
Is continuously performed, the impact energy received by the bracket A via the steering wheel W is smoothly absorbed, and the impact when the driver hits the steering wheel W can be favorably reduced.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a crushable portion A2 is formed on a bracket A which moves together with the steering column 2, and the crushable bulging strip B2 crushed by the crushable portion A2.
And a flat plate-shaped portion B1 continuous on both sides in the width direction, and the flat plate-shaped portion B1 at the longitudinal end of the crushable bulging strip B2.
The fragile portion 1 is formed at the starting end of the crushable bulging strip B2 so that the energy crushing bulging strip B2 of the energy absorber B, which is composed of a fixed portion 10 continuous with the crushable swelling strip B2, is more easily crushed than other portions.
2, the fixed portion 10 of the energy absorber B is immovably attached to the vehicle body, and the crushable bulging strip B2 of the energy absorber B is directed toward the front side of the vehicle body.
2 to the outside, and the crushed and swelled strip B
The shock absorbing device for the steering column, in which the start end of the steering column 2 and the crushed portion A2 are locked, allows the first
In addition, various effects such as an energy absorption state at the time of collision can be appropriately selected, and secondly, the structure can be made extremely simple.

The above effect will be described in detail. The fixing portion 10 of the energy absorber B having the crushable swelling strip B2 which can be crushed is formed.
Is fixed to a predetermined portion of the vehicle body, and a lower supporting edge 7 is provided below the crushing through hole 8 and an energy absorber B is provided in the crushing through hole 8 of the crushing portion A2 having the crushing edge 6 formed above.
, The energy absorber B is crushed edge 6
When the bracket A moves to the front wheel side in the event of an impact, the crushing edge 6 starts crushing the crushable bulging strip B2 of the energy absorber B from the crushing starting edge. At that time, first, as shown in FIG. 7 (a), the crushing action occurs very smoothly centering on the 12 weakened portions.

Therefore, the fragile portion 1 of the crushed bulging strip B2
2 can be formed in an appropriate shape, and the load when the collapse occurs can be selected to a desired size.
Can determine the magnitude of the impact load that begins to collapse at the crushed portion A2.

By forming the above-described fragile portion 12 on the crushable swelling ridge B2, when the crushable swelling ridge B2 is crushed by the crushable portion A2, the fragile portion 12 first absorbs a large amount of impact energy. Since the other portion of the crushed and bulging strip B2 is gradually crushed, the shock is absorbed well, and the initial shock absorbing state is selected from various states depending on the strength of the fragile portion 12. be able to.

Next, in the second embodiment, a crushable portion A2 is formed in the bracket A which moves together with the steering column 2, and the crushable bulging strip B which is crushed by the crushable portion A2.
2, a flat plate-shaped portion B1 continuing on both sides in the width direction, and the flat plate-shaped portion B1 at the longitudinal end of the crushable bulging strip B2.
Energy absorber B consisting of a fixed portion 10 continuous with 1
The flat plate-shaped portion B1 which is crushed by the crushing portion A2 is provided with inclined side edges 9a, 9a for crushing on both sides in the width direction at appropriate locations in the longitudinal direction such that the width increases as the distance from the fixing portion 10 increases. The fixed portion 10 of the energy absorber B is immovably attached to the vehicle body, and the crushable bulging ridge B2 of the energy absorber B is provided so as to protrude outward from the crushable portion A2 toward the front side of the vehicle body. By using a shock absorbing device for a steering column in which the start end of the crushable bulging strip B2 and the crushing section A2 are always locked,
A large deformation load can be obtained without greatly changing the thickness or the like of the energy absorber B.

The above effect will be described in detail. The flat plate-shaped portion B1 of the energy absorber B is provided with a crushable inclined shape on both sides in the width direction such that the width increases at an appropriate position in the longitudinal direction as the distance from the fixing portion 10 increases. The side edges 9a, 9a are formed, and the energy absorbing body B penetrates through the crushed portion A2 so as to be immovably attached, so that when the impact occurs, the crushable inclined side edges 9a, 9a become crushed portions A2. As shown in FIG. 11, the crushing portion A2 presses and crushes the crushable inclined side edges 9a, 9a to absorb energy. The side edges 9a, 9a and the crushed swelling ridge B2 oppose the crushing action of the crushed portion A2, so that they are crushed by a relatively large load at the moment of impact, and a large shock set value is obtained. Can be.

Next, in the third aspect, a crushable portion A2 is formed in the bracket A which moves together with the steering column 2, and the crushable bulging strip B2 crushed by the crushable portion A2.
And a flat plate-shaped portion B1 continuous on both sides in the width direction, and the flat plate-shaped portion B1 at the longitudinal end of the crushable bulging strip B2.
The fragile portion 1 is formed at the starting end of the crushable bulging strip B2 so that the energy crushing bulging strip B2 of the energy absorber B, which is composed of a fixed portion 10 continuous with the crushable swelling strip B2, is more easily crushed than other portions.
2 and the flat plate-like portion B1 which is crushed by the crushing portion A2 has a crushable sloping strip on both sides in the width direction such that the width increases at an appropriate position in the longitudinal direction as the distance from the fixing portion 10 increases. Forming side edges 9a, 9a, the fixing portion 10 of the energy absorber B is immovably attached to the vehicle body, and the crushable bulging strip B2 of the energy absorber B is directed toward the front side of the vehicle body with the crushable portion A2. From the outside, and a shock absorbing device for the steering column in which the start end of the crushed and swelled strip B2 and the crushed portion A2 are always locked, so that the shock load at the time of occurrence of a shock is extremely reduced. It can be set precisely.

In detail, the effect of the energy absorber B is to form a fragile portion 12 on the crushable swelling strip B2 and to fix the fixing portion 10 on a flat plate-like portion B1 at an appropriate position in the longitudinal direction. The crushable sloped side edges 9a, 9a are formed on both sides in the width direction so that the width increases as the distance increases, and the crushable bulges are so formed that the crushable bulges B2 are more easily crushed than other portions. Due to the fragile portion 12 formed at the start end of the protruding portion B2, the crushable bulging portion B2 is changed to the crushable portion A2
The impact load to be crushed is reduced, and the crushable portion 12 is crushed by a relatively large load than the crushed portion A2 by the crushable inclined side edges 9a, 9a formed on the flat plate portion B1. The load can be adjusted by the crushable inclined side edges 9a, 9a, and conversely, the crush load of the crushable inclined side edges 9a, 9a can be adjusted by the fragile portion 12.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a side view of a steering device using the present invention. FIG. 1B is a front view of a steering device using the present invention with a part thereof omitted.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a main part of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the assembled state of the crushing part and the energy absorber;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of the present invention.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a main part of an energy absorber, and FIG.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a main part of the present invention.

FIG. 7 (a) is a vertical sectional side view showing a state where the energy absorber has been crushed at a crushed portion. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an energy absorber provided only with a fragile portion.

FIG. 9A is a longitudinal sectional front view of an energy absorber having a fragile portion having a thin portion on the surface. FIG. 9B is a longitudinal sectional front view of an energy absorber having a fragile portion having a thin portion on the back surface.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of an embodiment in which only an inclined side edge for crushing is formed on the energy absorber.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged schematic view showing a state in which the crushed inclined side edge is crushed at the crushed portion.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional side view of an embodiment in which an energy absorber is provided in a crushed portion of another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 ... Steering column A ... Bracket A2 ... Crushed part B ... Energy absorber B1 ... Flat plate-shaped part B2 ... Crushed bulging strip 9a ... Crushed inclined side edge 10 ... Fixed part 12 ... Fragile part

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-50-132624 (JP, A) JP-A-58-157767 (JP, U) JP-A-58-69 (JP, U) JP-A 52-157 14645 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B62D 1/04-1/20 F16F 7/00

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A crushable portion is formed on a bracket that moves together with a steering column, and the crushable swelling strip crushed by the crushing portion, a flat plate-shaped portion continuous on both sides in the width direction , and the crushable swelling The flat plate at the longitudinal end of the strip
The energy absorbing body comprising a fixed portion
So that it can be more easily crushed than other parts
Forming a fragile portion at the starting end of the crushable bulging streak , mounting the fixed portion of the energy absorber immovably on the vehicle body,
The crushable swelling strip of the energy absorber is provided so as to protrude outward from the crushable portion toward the front side of the vehicle body, and the start end of the crushable swelling strip and the crushable portion are always locked. A shock absorbing device for a steering column. Wherein the crushing part is formed in the bracket to move together with the steering column, and the crush bulging strip which is crushed by the piezoelectric壊部, a flat plate-shaped portion continuous to the both sides in the width direction, the object to be crushed bulge The flat plate at the longitudinal end of the strip
The pressure of the energy absorber consisting of
The flat plate-shaped portion to be crushed by the crushed portion has inclined side edges for crushing on both sides in the width direction so that the width increases at an appropriate position in the longitudinal direction as the distance from the fixing portion increases, and And the fixed portion are immovably attached to the vehicle body, and the crushable bulging strip of the energy absorber is provided so as to protrude outward from the crushable section toward the front side of the vehicle body, and is always a starting end of the crushable bulging strip. And the crushing portion is locked. 3. A crushable portion is formed on a bracket which moves together with the steering column, and the crushable bulge strip crushed by the crushable portion, a flat plate-shaped portion continuous on both sides in the width direction , and the crushable bulge. The flat plate at the longitudinal end of the strip
The energy absorbing body comprising a fixed portion
So that it can be more easily crushed than other parts
A fragile portion is formed at the starting end of the crushable bulging strip, and the flat plate-shaped portion crushed by the crushing portion has a width at an appropriate location in the longitudinal direction such that the width increases as the distance from the fixing portion increases. A sloping side edge for crushing is formed on both sides in the direction, and the fixed portion of the energy absorber is immovably attached to the vehicle body, and the crushable bulging strip of the energy absorber is directed toward the front side of the vehicle body. A shock absorbing device for a steering column, wherein the shock absorbing device is provided so as to protrude outward from a portion, and a start end of the crushable bulging strip and the crushable portion are always locked.