JP3749419B2 - Steering device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a steering device for an automobile, and more particularly, to a steering device having a shock absorbing function against a secondary collision.
[0002]
The secondary collision generally means that an occupant collides with a vehicle structure in the passenger compartment following a vehicle collision (primary collision), but in this specification, following the primary collision, It means that the driver collides with the steering wheel of the steering device.
[0003]
[Prior art]
As is well known, when designing and manufacturing a steering apparatus for an automobile, it is required to minimize the impact of the driver that is received during a secondary collision. Therefore, conventionally, there are steering devices as described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-19057 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-29050. In this steering device, when the driver collides with the steering wheel and the steering wheel is pressed toward the front of the vehicle with a force greater than a certain value, the fixed state of the steering column that supports the steering shaft at that time is released. Thereafter, the steering column is configured to move forward while deforming a plastic deformation member such as a metal belt-like member. According to such a steering device, since the steering shaft can be advanced while absorbing the energy at the time of the secondary collision by the deformation of the plastic deformation member, the impact when the driver collides with the steering shaft can be reduced. Is possible.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned conventional means, a steering device is provided with an energy absorbing mechanism having a complicated structure in which a plastic deformation member for absorbing energy at the time of a secondary collision or a dedicated member for deforming the plastic deformation member is combined. Must be assembled. For this reason, conventionally, there has been a problem that the manufacturing cost of the vehicle becomes expensive. Conventionally, since it is necessary to secure a space for assembling the energy absorbing mechanism in the periphery of the steering column, there has been a problem that the degree of freedom in designing the vehicle is reduced.
[0005]
The present invention has been conceived under such circumstances, and eliminates the need to additionally provide a dedicated mechanism for reducing the impact at the time of a secondary collision, and has a simple structure. The problem is to be able to moderate the impact at the time of secondary collision by means.
[0006]
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention takes the following technical means.
[0007]
A steering device provided by the present invention includes a steering shaft on which a steering wheel is mounted, and a steering column that supports the steering shaft and is supported by a fixed member. A steering device in which the steering column is allowed to move forward when a pressing force of a certain value or more is received, and an electric power steering motor that forms a convex portion is provided on an outer surface portion of the steering column. together we are, in front of the motor, in contact with the motor when the steering column moves forward, and capable stay deformed due to the contact, the pillar-to-pillar connecting a pair of left and right pillars each other, The upper end is supported by the member and the floor panel Is characterized in that end is disposed so as to be supported.
[0008]
In the steering apparatus having such a configuration, a secondary collision occurs following the primary collision of the vehicle, and when the steering column moves forward by pressing the steering wheel toward the front of the vehicle with a force greater than a certain value, An electric power steering motor attached to the steering column comes into contact with a stay arranged in front of the motor . The steering column moves forward while deforming the stay . Therefore, the steering wheel can be advanced while absorbing the impact energy at the time of the secondary collision by the deformation of the stay , and the impact received by the driver can be reduced.
[0010]
Conventionally, when the steering column is moved forward at the time of a secondary collision, if the steering column comes into contact with the vehicle body structure, the idea that the forward movement of the steering column is hindered is dominant. In contrast, the present invention is under the steering column comprising seeks to absorb the energy of collision by deforming the stay actively the contacted to the stay, completely different concept from the conventional The technical value of the invention was great.
[0012]
In the present invention , the stay is supported at its upper end by a pillar-to-pillar member connecting the pair of left and right pillars, and at its lower end by a floor panel . Therefore, the amount of movement at the time of the primary collision can be reduced, which is convenient for making sure contact with the motor for electric power steering. Further, the stay may be formed so as to bend and deform when it comes into contact with the electric power steering motor, and its design and manufacture are easy.
[0013]
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments of the invention.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
[0015]
1 to 3 show an example of a steering device according to the present invention. In these drawings, the arrow Fr indicates the front of the vehicle, the arrow w indicates the vehicle width direction, and the arrow Up indicates the upper side in the vehicle height direction.
[0016]
As clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steering device according to the present embodiment includes a steering shaft 2 with a steering wheel 1 mounted at the upper end, a steering column 3, a motor M for electric power steering, and It comprises a fixing bracket 5 that is fixedly attached by being welded to a pillar-to-pillar member 4 (hereinafter abbreviated as “PP member”). The PP member 4 is a member that connects a pair of left and right front pillars (not shown) of the automobile, and is also called instrument panel reinforcement. The PP member 4 corresponds to an example of a fixing member referred to in the present invention, and is made of, for example, a metal round pipe material. The PP member 4 is arranged behind the cowl 60 and extends in the vehicle width direction. ing. Like the PP member 4, the cowl 60 is a member that connects a pair of front pillars, and the upper portion of the dash panel 61 is joined to the cowl 60.
[0017]
The steering shaft 2 is supported by the steering column 3 so that it can rotate around its axis. However, the steering shaft 2 has a structure that cannot move relative to the steering column 3 in the longitudinal direction. The motor M for electric power steering generates torque for assisting the operation when the steering wheel 1 is rotated. As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the motor M is fixedly attached to the steering column 3 so as to protrude from the outer surface of the steering column 3 toward the inside in the vehicle width direction by an appropriate dimension S. In the present embodiment, the motor M provided in a convex shape on the outer surface of the steering column 3 constitutes the convex portion 8 provided in the steering column 3 in the present invention.
[0018]
The steering column 3 is supported by the PP member 4 via a fixed bracket 5. More specifically, as clearly shown in FIG. 1, an upper bracket 30 and a lower bracket 31 are attached to the outer periphery of the steering column 3 by welding or the like. Are fixedly attached to the fixing bracket 5 by fastening bolts 32 and nuts 32a. However, the fixed state of the steering column 3 and the fixed bracket 5 is configured to be released when a pressing force F of a certain value or more acts on the steering wheel 1 from the rear of the vehicle, and the fixed state is released. After that, the steering column 3 can be slid forward of the vehicle while being held by the fixed bracket 5. The mounting structure of the steering column 3 that enables such an operation is conventionally known. For example, the bolt insertion hole of the fixing bracket 5 through which the bolt 32 is inserted is made a long hole, and a pressing force F of a certain value or more is applied. A structure in which the steering column 3 moves forward without releasing the tightening state between the bolt 32 and the nut 32a can be employed when acted. Of course, in the present invention, various other means can be used. For example, a means for positioning and fixing the steering column 3 and the fixing bracket 5 using a pin that breaks when subjected to a certain shear load. Can also be adopted.
[0019]
In the present invention, the steering column 3 may be detached from the fixed bracket 5 when a pressing force F of a certain value or more is applied to the steering wheel 1, but the steering column 3 is greatly lowered by this separation. That is not preferable. Therefore, it is preferable that the steering column 3 is attached to the fixed bracket 5 so that the steering column 3 is moved forward while being held by the fixed bracket 5.
[0020]
A stay 7 is disposed in front of the motor M for electric power steering. The stay 7 is formed of, for example, a metal round pipe material, and its upper end is joined to the PP member 4 and its lower end is joined to the floor panel 62. The stay 7 essentially serves to increase the strength of the vehicle body by stretching between the PP member 4 and the floor panel 62, but in this embodiment, in addition to this, a secondary collision is performed. It is supposed that the energy absorption function of time is also demonstrated. That is, when the steering column 3 moves forward, the stay 7 is disposed at a position where the stay 7 comes into contact with the motor M for electric power steering. When a pressing force is applied, it is formed so as to cause bending deformation while exhibiting an appropriate resistance.
[0021]
In the steering device having the above-described configuration, when a secondary collision occurs following the primary collision of the vehicle and the steering wheel 1 is pressed toward the front of the vehicle with a pressing force F of a certain value or more, the steering column against the fixed bracket 5 3 is released. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the steering column 3 moves forward while being held by the fixed bracket 5, and the motor M for electric power steering comes into contact with the stay 7. The steering column 3 advances while the stay 7 is bent and deformed by the motor M. The stay 7 is deformed, for example, by pulling a part of the floor panel 62 upward. Therefore, the steering shaft 2 and the steering wheel 1 can be moved forward together with the steering column 3 while absorbing the impact energy at the time of the secondary collision by the deformation of the stay 7, and the impact received by the driver colliding with the steering wheel 1 is reduced. It becomes possible.
[0022]
In the steering device according to the present embodiment, the motor M for electric power steering is brought into contact with the stay 7, but both the motor M and the stay 7 have different functions for absorbing impact energy. They have their original functions. Therefore, in the present embodiment, compared with the case where a dedicated member or device for absorbing impact energy is separately provided, the manufacturing cost of the vehicle can be reduced, and the dedicated member or device is provided. Therefore, it is not necessary to secure the space, and the vehicle design is facilitated.
[0023]
The upper end of the stay 7 is supported by the PP member 4, and as shown in FIG. 3, even if the dash panel 61 is deformed or displaced rearward due to the input of the load Fa at the time of the primary collision, Accordingly, it is difficult to be displaced or deformed. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the positional relationship between the stay 7 and the electric power steering motor M from changing greatly during the primary collision, and to ensure that the motor M comes into contact with the stay 7. In addition, the stay 7 is essentially required to have a strength in a direction in which the PP member 4 and the floor panel 62 are stretched to each other. When the stay 7 is in contact with the motor M, it is bent and deformed. Can be easily generated. Accordingly, the stay 7 can be easily designed and manufactured so that the stay 7 can be bent and deformed so as to absorb impact energy at the time of the secondary collision. On the other hand, since the motor M has high rigidity and the motor M itself is hardly deformed, the operation of deforming the stay 7 by the motor M can be performed more suitably.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an essential part showing an example of a steering device according to the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.
3 is an operation explanatory diagram of the steering device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
M Motor 1 for electric power steering 1 Steering wheel 2 Steering shaft 3 Steering column 4 Pillar-to-pillar member 7 Stay (body structure)
8 convex part 60 cowl

Claims (1)

A steering shaft having a steering wheel mounted thereon, and a steering column that supports the steering shaft and is supported by a fixed member; A steering device in which the steering column is capable of moving forward,
On the outer surface of the steering column, a motor for electric power steering that forms a convex portion is provided,
At the front of the motor , a stay that contacts the motor when the steering column moves forward and can be deformed by the contact is supported by a pillar-to-pillar member that connects the pair of left and right pillars. And a steering device characterized in that the lower end is supported by the floor panel .

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