JP3440746B2 - Steering shaft support 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 for supporting a steering shaft in an instrument panel device in which a structural member having a closed cross section is attached to the back surface of an instrument panel member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A steering shaft connected to a steering wheel of a vehicle is supported by a member on the vehicle body side through a steering column. For example, JP-A-7-52
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 809, a steering column that rotatably supports a steering shaft is supported across a dashboard on the vehicle body side and a deck cross member. The steering column is supported on the vehicle body side with a predetermined strength while ensuring a rigidity that can withstand its own weight and an input load.

In recent years, an instrument panel device in which a resin structural member made of a structure having a closed cross section is attached to the back surface of an instrument panel member has come to be used in a vehicle, and a structure having a closed cross section is used. The member consisting of becomes a strength member, and the rigidity on the front side of the vehicle can be improved. Even in such an instrument panel device, it is necessary to support the steering column while ensuring a predetermined rigidity.

In this case, for example, a thick metal reinforcement material (cast or pressed product) extending in the vehicle width direction and having an L shape is provided at a steering column supporting portion of a resin structure.
It is conceivable that the end portion of the reinforcement material is fixed over the pillars and the floor member of the vehicle body by adding. By supporting the steering column with a thick metal reinforcement member interposed, sufficient supporting rigidity is obtained, and the steering column does not drop or the structure is damaged by its own weight or input load.

[0005]

When a steering column is supported by an instrument panel device made of a resin structure by fixing a thick metal reinforcement material over the pillars of the vehicle body and the floor member, the instrument panel is used. The weight around the device increases and the cost increases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a support structure for a steering shaft capable of supporting a steering column at a low cost on an instrument panel device made of a structure.

[0007]

The structure of the present invention for attaining the above-mentioned object is an instrument panel member arranged on the inside of a vehicle compartment, and a closed cross-sectional shape attached to the back surface of the instrument panel member. A structural member molded into a vehicle body and attached to the vehicle body, and a bracket member fixed to the structural member and having side portions fixed to the dash panel of the vehicle body,
The steering column is mounted on the bracket member, and the steering shaft is rotatably mounted on the steering column.

A pedal device supporting portion for supporting a pedal device of the vehicle is provided at a front portion of the bracket member.

Since the steering column is attached to the bracket member, the input load of the steering shaft is distributed to the side wall member of the vehicle and the dash panel side, for example, the pedal device supporting portion.

[0010]

1 is an exploded perspective view of an instrument panel member showing a steering shaft support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a line II-II in FIG.
A line arrow view, FIG. 3 shows a III-III line arrow view in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 shows a IV-IV line arrow view in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, an instrument panel structure 3 as a structural member made of a resin structure having a closed cross section is provided on the vehicle interior 2 side of a dash panel 1 of a vehicle body. An instrument panel member 4 serving as a skin member is provided on the front surface of the panel structure 3 (on the side of the passenger compartment 2). Both ends of the instrument panel structure 3 are fixed to the pillar 5 as a side wall surface of the vehicle,
On the surface of the instrument panel structure 3, an electric wire member 6 used for wiring electrical components and instruments is installed, for example, integrally formed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the instrument panel structure 3 includes a rear panel 7 (front side of the vehicle: FIG. 2).
To the left side in FIG. 4 and the front panel 8 (cabin 2 side: FIG. 2)
To the right side in FIG. 4), the rear panel 7 and the front panel 8 are fastened by screws or the like to be integrally joined. Instrument panel structure 3
The duct is integrally formed with the defroster nozzle 9a and the blowout port 9b.
The rear panel 7 and the front panel 8 are formed by, for example, pressing a resin sheet mixed with glass or by injection molding.

As the structure of the instrument panel structure 3, a structure in which the duct part is formed separately, a structure in which the rear panel 7 and the front panel 8 are integrally formed, and further, a rear panel 7, a front panel 8 and It is also possible to use one in which all parts of the duct are integrally molded.

As shown in FIG. 2, the instrument panel structure 3 has a closed cross-sectional shape capable of accommodating an air conditioner therein. That is, the heater core 11 and the cooler core 12 are arranged inside the instrument panel structure 3 including the rear panel 7 and the front panel 8, and the heater core 11 and the cooler core 12 are fixed to the rear panel 7 side to accommodate the air conditioner. It has become. Also,
As shown in FIG. 4, a blower 10 is provided inside the instrument panel structure 3 on the passenger side.
The air that has been blown by the air conditioner to reach the predetermined temperature through the air conditioner is defroster nozzle 9a and blowout port 9
sent to b.

As the instrument panel structure 3,
When the rear panel 7 and the front panel 8 are integrally molded, or the rear panel 7, the front panel 8 and the duct 9 are all integrally molded, the heater core 11 and the cooler core 12 are supported by the cassette member, and the cassette member The heater core 11 and the cooler core 12 are arranged inside the instrument panel structure 3 by mounting the heater core 11 and the cooler core 12 on the instrument panel structure 3. By using the cassette member, the heater core 11 and the cooler core 12 can be maintained without disassembling the instrument panel structure 3.

Even when the instrument panel structure 3 shown in FIG. 2 is composed of the rear panel 7 and the front panel 8, the heater core 11 and the cooler core 12 are connected to the instrument panel structure by using a cassette member. It may be mounted inside the body 3.

In the above-described instrument panel device, the rear panel 7 and the front panel 8 are integrally molded to form the instrument panel structure 3, and inside the instrument panel structure 3, the heater core 11 and the cooler core 12 which are air conditioners are provided. By arranging
It is possible to increase the rigidity by enlarging the closed cross section of the instrument panel structure 3. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the torsional rigidity and the rigidity against the input from the side surface without using the deck cross member. Also, no special space for the air conditioner is required.

Further, the air conditioner case, the blower case, the duct, etc. are not required, and the duct and the air conditioner are integrated to prevent air leakage, and space can be saved. Interference can be prevented. Furthermore, the gap between the dash panel 1 and the air conditioner can be enlarged, and the amount of protrusion of the steering wheel toward the vehicle interior can be reduced.

Next, the support structure of the steering shaft in the instrument panel device having the instrument panel structure 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3.

The steering wheel 1 is attached to the column supporting portion 13 on the driver side of the instrument panel structure 3.
A steering column 15 for rotatably supporting the steering shaft connected to the steering shaft 4 is attached. That is, a bracket member 16 such as a sheet metal or aluminum die cast is arranged below the instrument panel structure 3 in the column support portion 13, and a steering member is mounted on the column mounting portion 25 of the bracket member 16 via mounting tools 26a and 26b. The column 15 is attached.

The bracket member 16 extends in the vehicle width direction, a side portion (one end) 17 is fixed to the pillar 5, and the other end is bent downward along the shape of the instrument panel structure 3. Further, a central portion 18 which is a front portion of the bracket member 16 is extended toward the vehicle front side, and the central portion 1
The tip of 8 is attached to a pedal bracket 19 on the side of the dash panel 1 of the vehicle body. The central portion 18 is provided adjacent to the column mounting portion 25. The pedal bracket 19 is fixed to the dash panel 1, and a brake pedal 20 is supported on the pedal bracket 19 via a pedal pivot shaft 20a. Reference numeral 21 in FIG. 3 is a brake booster of the brake device.

It is also possible to extend the other end of the bracket member 16 bent downward to the floor surface and fix the other end to a structure on the floor surface. Also, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to form the flange portion 22 at the tip of the central portion 18, directly attach the flange portion 22 to the dash panel 1 of the vehicle, and provide the pedal pivot shaft 20a on the flange portion 22 to support the brake pedal 20.

In the steering shaft support structure described above, the bracket member 1 has one end 17 attached to the pillar 5 and the central portion 18 near the column attachment portion 25 attached to the pedal bracket 19 on the dash panel 1 side.
Since 6 is used to support the steering column 15, high supporting rigidity can be obtained without using the bracket member 16 as a heavy weight. Therefore, it is possible to support the steering column 15 with high support rigidity without increasing the weight and cost in combination with the instrument panel structure 3 having a large closed cross section and increased rigidity. Further, a flange portion 22 is formed at the tip of the central portion 18 of the bracket member 16, the flange portion 22 is directly attached to the dash panel 1 of the vehicle, and the pedal pivot shaft 20 is attached to the flange portion 22.
By providing a and supporting the brake pedal 20, it is possible to eliminate the pedal bracket 19 and reduce the number of parts.

[0024]

According to the steering shaft support structure of the present invention, an instrument panel member is attached to a structural member formed in a closed cross section, a bracket member to which a steering column is attached is fixed to the structural member, and further,
The bracket member has a side portion fixed to the side wall member of the vehicle body and a front portion attached to the dash panel of the vehicle body, thus increasing the weight and cost in combination with the structural member having the closed cross section. Without using the bracket member, a high support rigidity of the steering column can be obtained. As a result, it becomes possible to support the steering column at a low cost on the instrument panel device composed of structural members.

Further, since the front part of the bracket member is provided with a pedal device supporting part for supporting the pedal device of the vehicle, the bracket member is attached to the dash panel side by connecting the bracket device to the pedal device supporting part. be able to. As a result, the bracket member is downsized, and the steering column can be supported at a lower cost by the instrument panel device including the structure.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an instrument panel member showing a steering shaft support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

3 is a view taken along the line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another shape of the bracket member.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Dash panel 2 passenger compartment 3 Instrument panel structure 4 Instrument panel members 5 pillars 6 Electric wire members 7 Rear panel 8 front panel 10 Blower 11 heater core 12 Cooler core 14 steering wheel 15 Steering column 16 Bracket member 17 side (one end) 18 Central 19 pedal bracket 20 brake pedal 20a Pedal pivot

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An instrument panel member disposed inside a vehicle compartment, a structural member mounted on the back surface of the instrument panel member and molded into a closed cross-section and mounted on a vehicle body, and fixed to the structural member. A steering shaft support structure comprising: a bracket member having a side portion fixed to a dash panel of the vehicle body; and a steering column mounted on the bracket member and rotatably mounted on a steering shaft. 2. The steering shaft support structure according to claim 1, wherein a pedal device support portion for supporting a pedal device of a vehicle is provided at a front portion of the bracket member.