JP3219861B2 - Vehicle shock absorber - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shock absorbing device for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a shock absorbing device for a vehicle for protecting a knee of a front seat occupant in a vehicle collision.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various devices have been developed and put into practical use in automobiles for protecting occupants in the event of a collision.

[0003] For example, as an apparatus for protecting a knee of a front seat occupant in the event of a vehicle collision, a knee protector having a shape that is easily deformed is provided in an instrument panel.
2. Description of the Related Art There is known a knee protector that receives a knee portion of an occupant at the time of a collision so that the collision energy can be absorbed by deformation of the knee protector.

Attempts have been made to further improve the operability of the key cylinder by disposing the key cylinder on the instrument panel side.
Since it is necessary to lock the steering column by operating the key cylinder, the layout position of the key cylinder and the layout position of the steering column must be brought close to each other and they must be connected via a connecting member. There are restrictions.

Therefore, the proper disposition of the key cylinder and the proper disposition of the knee protector often overlap, and the key cylinder may hinder the deformation of the knee protector.

Therefore, a key cylinder is inserted through an insertion hole formed in the knee protector.
There has been proposed a structure in which a weak portion which is cut or deformed in accordance with the deformation of the knee protector is provided in a mounting portion of the key cylinder to secure the occupant protection function of the knee protector (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-95546). Reference).

[0007]

In the case of the above-mentioned known example, depending on the shape of the knee protector, it may not be possible to sufficiently obtain the shock absorbing performance due to deformation. For example, when a knee protector having a shape in which one end is supported by a vehicle body-side member, is curved in an upward U-shape, and has a tip extending toward the front of the vehicle (i.e., a horn shape) is used, an insertion hole formed in the knee protector is used. If a structure is adopted in which the key cylinder is inserted, the key cylinder will be interposed between the free end of the knee protector and the support, so that when the knee protector is deformed, it must be deformed with the key cylinder sandwiched. Will be done. Therefore, in order to obtain sufficient shock absorbing performance by the knee protector, it is necessary to increase the distance between the knee protector and the key cylinder, which is disadvantageous in layout.

On the other hand, the steering column is provided with a collapse mechanism constituted by an inner and outer cylinder which relatively moves when a passenger's chest load is applied by the operation of an airbag device attached to the steering wheel. However, if the key cylinder and the steering column are connected via the connecting member as described above, the operation of the collapse mechanism may be restricted.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has a structure in which a key cylinder is arranged on an instrument panel side, and operates a collapse mechanism in a steering column in a compact layout and absorbs shock by a knee protector. The purpose is to ensure the effect.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as one of the means for solving the above-mentioned problems, one end is supported by a vehicle body-side member, curved downward in a U-shape, and the other end extends toward the occupant. the knee protector within said knee protector adjacent to and steering column provided in the instrument panel, the key cylinder is disposed in a state where the end portion of the occupant side is closed faces to the formed instrument panel opening The key cylinder with its front end at the front.
Insertion hole provided in the vehicle front part of the knee protector
While the end on the occupant side of the knee protector
A weak portion that is cut or deformed when the knee protector is deformed is formed at a connecting portion between the key cylinder and the steering column when the knee protector is arranged so as to be spaced upward from the end on the occupant side .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, in the shock absorbing device for a vehicle according to the first aspect, the key cylinder and the steering column are connected to each other in the connecting portion, and A rod member that locks the steering column by operating the cylinder is provided so as to penetrate, and a joint portion that is separated by a collapse operation of the steering column is provided at a portion of the rod member corresponding to the weak portion.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, as a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, in the impact absorbing device for a vehicle according to the first or second aspect, a rigidity reducing portion is provided at a position above the opening in the instrument panel. Provided .

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained by the above means.

That is, in the event of a vehicle collision, the knees of the occupant of the front seat are brought into contact with the knee protector. At this time, the knee protector is deformed under the load of the occupant's knee, thereby attempting to perform an impact absorbing function. . In the course of this deformation, the key cylinder disposed in the knee protector is moved upward due to the cut or deformation of the weak portion formed at the connection between the key cylinder and the steering column, and the knee protector absorbs the shock. There is no loss of performance. Further, at the time of a vehicle collision, the airbag device attached to the steering wheel is activated to receive the occupant's chest load. At this time, the steering column collapses to perform the load absorbing function.
Also at this time, the collapse operation is properly ensured by the cut or deformation of the weak portion formed at the connection between the key cylinder and the steering column.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained by the above means.

That is, the middle of the rod member at the connecting portion between the key cylinder and the steering column (that is, the joint corresponding to the weak portion) is separated during the collapse operation, and the collapse operation is further ensured. It will be.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained by the above means.

That is, when the key cylinder moves upward due to the contact load of the knee portion of the occupant against the knee protector at the time of a vehicle collision, the key cylinder interferes with the reduced rigidity portion of the instrument panel, and the upward movement of the key cylinder becomes easy. Will be allowed .

[0019]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a knee protector is provided in an instrument panel, one end of which is supported by a vehicle body-side member, is curved downward in a U-shape, and the other end is extended toward an occupant. A key cylinder is disposed in the knee protector adjacent to the key cylinder with one end facing an opening formed in the instrument panel, and a connecting portion between the key cylinder and the steering column is provided with the key cylinder. The knee protector forms a weak part that is cut or deformed when the knee protector is deformed, and in the event of a vehicle collision, the knee portion of the front seat occupant is brought into contact with the knee protector, and the knee protector is deformed to perform an impact absorbing function. In such a case, the key cylinder can be easily cut or deformed by a weak portion formed at a connecting portion between the key cylinder and the steering column. When the airbag device attached to the steering wheel is actuated and the steering column attempts to collapse due to the chest load of the occupant, the collapse operation is good due to the cut or deformation of the weak portion. Therefore, the key cylinder can be disposed on the instrument panel side without deteriorating the shock absorbing function by the knee protector and the shock absorbing function by the collapse operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle shock absorbing device of the first aspect, the steering column is locked by operating the key cylinder by connecting the key cylinder and the steering column in the connecting portion. The rod member is disposed so as to penetrate, and a joint portion that is separated by a collapse operation of the steering column is provided at a portion corresponding to a weak portion of the rod member, so that the joint is separated from the rod member during the collapse operation of the steering column. (Joint part corresponding to the part) can be easily separated, so that the collapse operation of the steering column can be further ensured, and an excellent effect that the occupant protection can be sufficiently achieved can be expected. There is.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle impact absorbing device according to the first or second aspect, a stiffness reducing portion is provided at a position above the key cylinder opening in the instrument panel, so that the key can be used in a vehicle collision. Since the upward movement of the cylinder can be easily allowed, there is an excellent effect that the shock absorbing function of the knee protector can be sufficiently exhibited .

[0022]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a shock absorbing device for a left-hand drive vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1, a column cover 2 is provided on the left side of the instrument panel 1 so as to protrude.
A column insertion hole 2a for inserting a steering column 3 (see FIG. 2) is formed in the column cover 2, and an instrument panel 1 located near the right side of the column cover 2 is provided with an ignition key. An opening 5 is formed for facing the occupant-side end of the key cylinder 4 to be operated. The position of the opening 5 is a position where the driver can easily operate the ignition key.

On the vehicle body side, an instrument panel main frame 6 for mounting the instrument panel 1 is provided.
The support member 7 on the left side of the instrument panel main frame 6 is located at a position corresponding to the left and right knees 8 of the driver (see FIG. 2) to protect the driver's knees 8 in the event of a vehicle collision. And a pair of left and right knee protectors 9 and 10 are fixed to the support member 11 on the right side.
A pair of left and right knee protectors 12, 13 for protecting the knees of the passenger seat occupant in the event of a vehicle collision are fixed at positions corresponding to the left and right knees of the passenger seat occupant. Here, the support members 7 and 11 constitute a vehicle body side member.

The knee protectors 9,10 and 12,1
3 has a shape in which one end is supported by the support members 7 and 11, is curved in a downward U-shape, and the other end is extended toward the occupant.

Then, the knee protector 9.1 on the driver's seat side is provided.
In the right side of the knee protector 10, an insertion hole 10 a corresponding to the key cylinder opening 5 (that is, through the vehicle front end of the key cylinder 4) is formed in the right side of the knee protector 10. In this embodiment, the width of the portion of the knee protector 10 excluding the insertion hole 10a is substantially equal to the width of the knee protector 9, and the shock absorbing performance of the knee protectors 9, 10 is approximately equal.

A bracket 14 for mounting the steering column 3 is fixed between the mounting portions of the knee protectors 9 and 10 in the support member 7, and a pair of left and right bolt holes 14a,
14b is formed. Reference numerals 15 and 16 denote brackets for attaching the instrument panel main frame 6 to the vehicle body.

In the middle part of the steering column 3,
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the steering column 3
To be attached to the bracket 14,
A bolt hole 14a, 14b of the bracket 14 is provided on the occupant side of each of the attached members 17, 18.
The bolt holes 17a and 18a corresponding to are formed. Then, the steering column 3 is attached to the attached member 17,
18 is fixed to the bracket 14 by fastening with bolts. A fixing portion 1 having a pair of front and rear bolt holes 19a and 19b is provided on the vehicle front side of the right mounted member 18 among the mounted members 17 and 18.
9 are formed integrally.

The key cylinder 4 has a cylinder portion 21 having an operation portion 20 for mounting an ignition key at an end portion of the occupant, extends leftward from an intermediate portion of the cylinder portion 21, and is connected to the steering column 3. And a connecting portion 22. The connecting portion 22 includes a cylindrical outer cylinder 23 and a rod member 24 penetrating through the outer cylinder 23, and the rod member 24 is moved to the steering column 3 side by operating the key cylinder 4. The position can be switched between a protruding lock position and a lock release position retracting into the outer cylinder 23.

The outer cylinder 23 has a pair of front and rear fastening portions 2.
5 and 26 are integrally formed, and the fastening portions 25 and 26 are formed with bolt holes 25 a and 26 a corresponding to the bolt holes 19 a and 19 b of the fixing portion 19.

The key cylinder 4 has a front end on the vehicle side inserted into the insertion hole 10a of the knee protector 10 and an end on the occupant side (namely, an operation side) through a key cylinder opening 5 formed in the instrument panel 1. The fastening portions 25 and 26 are attached to the fixing portion 19 by bolting in a state where the portion 20) is facing. As a result, the key cylinder 4 is disposed inside the knee protector 10.

The connecting portion 22 is located at a position closer to the key cylinder 4 than the fastening portion 25 located on the right side of the fastening portions 25 and 26. A part 27 is formed. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the weak portion 27 includes a thin portion 28 formed on the outer cylinder 23 and a joint portion 29 provided at an intermediate portion of the rod member 24. The joint portion 29 connects the rod member 24 to the left and right split rods 24a,
The rod member 24 is divided into two parts, and is formed as a hook-shaped joint formed at the connecting portion between the two divided rods 24a and 24b. The key member 4 does not separate when the rod member 24 advances or retreats by operating the key cylinder 4, but separates by the collapse operation of the steering column 3. It has a structure to be.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, an opening 30 serving as a rigidity reducing portion is provided above the key cylinder opening 5 in the instrument panel 1. In the case of the present embodiment, the rigidity reduction portion is formed by the opening 30.
However, since the opening 30 is covered by the meter panel 31, there is no risk of impairing the appearance. In the case where the reduced rigidity portion is formed at a position where there is no meter panel 31, the instrument panel 1
May be thin.

As described above, the steering column 3 and the key cylinder 4 are mounted, and the other auxiliary members are mounted.
After attaching the steering column 3 to the column insertion hole 2a, the operation unit 20 of the key cylinder 4 is made to face the opening 5 and a vehicle front side of the key cylinder 4 is attached. The instrument panel 1 is attached to the instrument panel main frame 6 by disposing the end portion so as to be inserted into the insertion hole 10 a of the knee protector 10, and then the steering column 3 is provided with a steering wheel 33 having an airbag device 32.
Attach.

The operation of the thus configured vehicle shock absorbing device will be described.

At the time of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the knee 8 of the occupant (eg, driver) is pushed forward from the lower side of the instrument panel 1 toward the instrument panel 1 as shown by a chain line P in FIG. The occupant moves, and the right knee 8 of the occupant enters the vicinity of the key cylinder opening 5. Then, the knee protector 10 is deformed by the impact load by the knee 8, and the impact energy is absorbed.

At this time, since the load of the knee portion 8 also acts on the key cylinder 4, the load is applied to the key cylinder 4 by the load.
Is rocked upward with the insertion hole 10a of the knee protector 10 as a fulcrum due to a cut or deformation at the weak portion 27 of the connecting portion 22. In addition, as shown by reference numeral 4 'in FIG. 2, the key cylinder 4 swings upward to open the opening 30 formed in the instrument panel 1.
Will be entered. Accordingly, there is no possibility that the deformation of the knee protector 10 is hindered, and the shock absorbing function is sufficiently ensured.

As described above, even when the proper disposition position of the knee protector 10 and the proper disposition position of the key cylinder 4 overlap, the key cylinder 10 does not impair the shock absorbing function of the knee protector 10. 4 can be properly arranged.

The operation of the airbag device 32 allows
Even when the steering column 3 attempts to perform the collapse operation under the occupant's chest load, the weak portion 27 of the connecting portion 22 is cut or deformed, so that the collapse operation of the steering column 3 can be ensured. In the case of the present embodiment, since the middle of the rod member 24 in the connecting portion 22 (that is, the joint portion 29 corresponding to the weak portion 27) is to be separated during the collapse operation, the collapse operation of the steering column 3 is performed. Is more preferably secured.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to a left-hand drive vehicle, but the present invention is of course applicable to a right-hand drive vehicle.

The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and it is needless to say that the design can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the invention.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a structure of a front part of a cabin of a vehicle including a shock absorbing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a vehicle compartment front portion of a vehicle provided with the shock absorbing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an essential part of the vehicle shock absorbing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a main part of the vehicle shock absorbing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional plan view showing a structure of a connecting portion in the vehicle shock absorbing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of an instrument panel in the shock absorbing device for a vehicle according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is an instrument panel, 3 is a steering column, 4 is a key cylinder, 5 is an opening, 6 is a vehicle body side member (instrument main frame), 8 is a knee, 9, 10 are knee protectors, 10a is a through hole, 12, 13 is a knee protector,
Reference numeral 20 denotes an operation unit, 22 denotes a connection unit, 23 denotes an outer cylinder, 24 denotes a rod member, 27 denotes a weak portion, 28 denotes a thin portion, 29 denotes a joint portion,
0 is a reduced rigidity portion (opening).

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-63745 (JP, A) JP-A-4-129858 (JP, A) JP-A-4-95546 (JP, A) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B60R 21/045-21/05

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An end is supported by a vehicle body-side member and has a downward U-shape.
Knee protector and the other end bent to shape extends toward the occupant side is provided on the instrument panel, inside the knee protector adjacent the steering column, multiply the formed instrument panel opening
A key cylinder is disposed in a state in which the member-side end is in a closed state, and the key cylinder has an end on the vehicle front side with the knee.
Insert into the insertion hole provided on the front side of the protector
While the end on the occupant side is connected to the occupant side of the knee protector.
Of which from the end portion are disposed apart from upward, the connecting portion between the key cylinder and the steering column, characterized in that the weak portion for Setsuson or deformed when the deformation of the knee protector are formed Vehicle shock absorber. 2. A rod member for connecting the key cylinder and the steering column and locking the steering column by operating the key cylinder is provided in the connecting portion, and the rod member includes the weak portion. The impact absorbing device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a joint portion that is separated by a collapse operation of the steering column is provided at a portion corresponding to (i). 3. The impact absorbing device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a rigidity reducing portion is provided at a position above the opening in the instrument panel .