JP4035432B2 - Steering column support structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a steering column for rotatably supporting a steering shaft having a steering wheel, while supporting the steering hanger over via the attachment member, the steering column provided with a position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the position of the steering wheel It relates to the support structure.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 16 shows a conventional tilt type steering apparatus. A hanger bracket 02 having a U-shaped cross section is welded to a hanger beam 01 extending in the left-right direction inside the instrument panel, and a first steering column support bracket 03 provided at the front of the hanger bracket 02 is welded. The front portion of the steering column 05 is supported through the pivot 04 so as to be swingable. The rear portion of the steering column 05 is supported by a rear portion of the hanger bracket 02 via a second steering column support bracket 07 and a tilt mechanism 08 provided via an impact absorbing mechanism 06 so as to be vertically movable. Therefore, the steering wheel 09 can be tilted up from the solid line position to the chain line position by raising the rear part of the steering column 05 and swinging it around the pivot 04 by the tilt mechanism 08.
[0003]
FIG. 17 shows another conventional tilt type steering apparatus. A hanger bracket 012 is welded to a hanger beam 011 extending in the left-right direction inside the instrument panel, and a front portion of the steering column 014 is supported by a steering column support bracket 013 provided at a front portion of the hanger bracket 012. The rear part of the steering column 014 is supported by the rear part of the hanger bracket 012 via an impact absorbing mechanism 015, and the steering wheel 018 is swung around the pivot 017 of the tilt mechanism 016 provided at the rear end of the steering column 014. The wheel 018 can be tilted up from the solid line position to the chain line position.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the above conventional one, since the hanger brackets 02 and 012 and the shock absorbing mechanisms 06 and 015 are fixed to the hanger beams 01 and 011, the tilt-up angles of the steering wheels 09 and 018 are increased to increase the driver seat. When trying to form a wide space in front of the sheet, the following inconvenience occurs.
[0005]
That is, in the case of FIG. 16, it is difficult to ensure a large tilt-up angle because the upper surface of the steering column 05 interferes with the rear upper surface of the hanger bracket 02. In FIG. 17, it is possible to secure a large tilt-up angle of the steering wheel 018 as shown by a chain line, but as shown in FIG. 18, the pivot 017 is located at the rear, so that the tilt-up angle is increased. As a result, there is a problem that the lower surface of the column cover 019 protrudes rearward and narrows the space in front of the driver's seat.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to form a wide space in front of a driver's seat by moving a steering wheel greatly.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a steering column that rotatably supports a steering shaft provided with a steering wheel is supported on a hanger beam via an attachment member, and the steering wheel is provided. In the steering column support structure having a position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the position of the steering column, the position adjusting mechanism rotates the mounting member around the hanger beam and steers by a universal joint provided on the wheel side of the hanger beam. A steering column support structure is proposed in which the position of the steering wheel is adjusted by bending the shaft and adjusting the relative position of the mounting member to the hanger beam.
[0008]
According to the above configuration, the position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the position of the steering wheel rotates the mounting member around the hanger beam, and bends the steering shaft with the universal joint provided on the wheel side of the hanger beam. Since the relative position of the member to the hanger beam is adjusted, it is possible to avoid a situation where a member such as a column cover protrudes toward the driver's seat when adjusting the position of the steering wheel. A large space can be secured in between to allow passengers to pass and get on and off easily.
[0009]
According to the second aspect of the invention, the steering column that includes the steering wheel and rotatably supports the steering shaft that is connected to the intermediate shaft via the universal joint is provided with the hanger beam that extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle body. In the steering column support structure, which is supported via a mounting member and includes a position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the steering wheel, the position adjustment mechanism is supported via a single pivot on an auxiliary bracket fixed to the hanger beam. are, by adjusting the relative position with respect to the hanger beam mounting member is rotated about the pivot, which adjusts the position of the steering wheel, the universal joint is arranged on the wheel side of the steering column is, the Bot supporting structure of the steering column, characterized in that in the position of twist with respect to the hanger beams is proposed.
[0010]
According to the above configuration, the position adjustment mechanism that adjusts the position of the steering wheel adjusts the relative position with respect to the hanger beam by rotating the mounting member around one pivot that is twisted with respect to the hanger beam. By swinging the steering wheel diagonally upward and leftward or leftward and rightward, a large space can be secured between the steering wheel and the seat of the driver's seat, and passengers can easily pass and get on and off .
[0011]
According to the invention described in claim 3 , in addition to the configuration of claim 1 or claim 2 , a passage formed between a seat other than the driver's seat or a luggage compartment and the driver's seat is provided. A steering column support structure is proposed, which is applied to a vehicle equipped with the steering column.
[0012]
According to the above configuration, the vehicle has a seat other than the seat of the driver's seat or a passage formed between the luggage compartment and the seat of the driver's seat, so that the driver moves to another place through the passage. In addition, it is easy for passengers other than the driver to pass through the driver's seat and get on and off the driver's seat door, and convenience is improved.
[0013]
Incidentally, the hanger bracket 14 of the real施例corresponds to the position adjusting mechanism of the present invention, the first embodiment, the second steering column supporting bracket 20, 22 corresponds to the mounting member of the present invention.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0015]
1 to 7 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a mobile steering device, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are explanatory diagrams when the passenger is getting on and off, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a use form of the space in the passenger compartment, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the passenger compartment of the RV vehicle.
[0016]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a hanger beam 13 is fixed to a frame 11 arranged in the left-right direction of the vehicle body on an instrument panel via brackets 12... A character-shaped hanger bracket 14 is supported in a swingable manner. A pair of left and right support plates 15, 15 arranged along the inner surfaces of the left and right side walls 14a, 14a of the hanger bracket 14 are welded to the hanger beam 13, and the left and right directions of the hanger bracket 14 are supported by these support plates 15, 15. The position of is regulated. The support plates 15 and 15 are formed with arc-shaped elongated holes 15a and 15a centering on the hanger beam 13, and both ends of the pipe member 16 having the elongated holes 16a having the same cross section as the elongated holes 15a and 15a are left and right. The support plates 15 and 15 are welded to the inner surface. One bolt 17 passes through the bolt holes 14b, 14b formed in the left and right side walls 14a, 14a of the hanger bracket 14, the long holes 15a, 15a of the support plates 15, 15, and the long hole 16a of the pipe member 16. The tilt lever 19 is fixed at the base end to the nut 18 screwed into the end portion of the bolt 17.
[0017]
Accordingly, when the tilt lever 19 is pushed down in the direction of the arrow A to loosen the nut 18, the bolts 17 supported between the bolt holes 14 b and 14 b of the left and right side walls 14 a and 14 a of the hanger bracket 14 are elongated holes of the support plates 15 and 15. By moving along the long holes 16 a of the pipe members 16, the hanger bracket 14 can swing up and down around the hanger beam 13. When the tilt lever 19 is pushed up in the direction of arrow B with the hanger bracket 14 being swung to a desired position, the nut 18 is tightened and the hanger bracket 14 is fastened to the support plates 15, 15. Fixed. At this time, since the pipe member 16 receives the tightening force of the bolt 17 and the nut 18, there is no possibility that the hanger bracket 14 and the support plates 15 and 15 are deformed.
[0018]
The first steering column support bracket 20 is fixed to the front portion of the bottom wall 14c of the hanger bracket 14 with bolts 21 and 21, and the second steering column support bracket 22 is fixed to the rear portion of the bottom wall 14c with bolts 23 and 23. A cylindrical steering column 24 is supported by the first and second steering column support brackets 20 and 22. An impact absorbing mechanism 25 is provided between the hanger bracket 14 and the steering column 24.
[0019]
A steering wheel 27 is provided at the rear end of the steering shaft 26 rotatably supported by the steering column 24, and a rear intermediate shaft 29 is connected to the front end of the steering shaft 26 via a universal joint 28. The front intermediate shaft 30 splined to the rear intermediate shaft 29 is connected to the steering gear box via a universal joint (not shown) provided at the front end thereof.
[0020]
The shock absorbing mechanism 25 is a well-known one, and a J-shaped shock absorbing member 31 having one end fixed to the hanger bracket 14 and a pressing member 32 fixed to the steering column 24 and engaged with a bent portion of the shock absorbing member 31. When the steering column 24, which is pushed forward by a load in which a passenger collides against the steering wheel 27, is guided forward by the first and second steering column support brackets 20, 22, and moves forward, the steering column The pressing member 32 integrated with the member 24 plastically deforms the bent portion of the shock absorbing member 31 toward the other end of the shock absorbing member 31 to exert the shock absorbing effect.
[0021]
As described above, the steering column 24 is swung around the hanger beam 13 integrally with the shock absorbing mechanism 25, the first and second steering column support brackets 20 and 22, and the hanger bracket 14, and the steering wheel 27 is moved in the direction of arrow C. By tilting up, the steering column 24 can sufficiently secure the tilt-up angle of the steering wheel 27 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A without interfering with the hanger bracket 14. At this time, the rear intermediate shaft 29 and the front intermediate shaft 30 extend at the spline fitting portion, and the universal joint 28 at the rear end of the rear intermediate shaft 29 and the universal joint at the front end of the front intermediate shaft 30 ( As the steering wheel 27 is bent, the steering wheel 27 can be tilted up without any trouble.
[0022]
Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4A, the hanger beam 13 that is the pivot of the steering column 24 is located on the front side of the vehicle body as compared with the conventional pivot 017 (see FIG. 18). The amount protruding to the passenger side can be reduced. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the occupant gets on and off, the body does not easily interfere with the steering wheel 27 and the column cover 33, and it is possible to get on and off in an easy posture.
[0023]
Further, in the walk-through type RV vehicle shown in FIG. 7, a path through which an occupant can move between the left and right seats 34 and 35 in the front row, the left and right seats 36 and 36 in the center row, and the seat 37 in the rear row (or the rear luggage compartment). 38 is provided, passengers other than the driver's seat 35 can get on and off the driver's seat side door Dd through the driver's seat 35 (see FIG. 4B). At this time, when the occupant passes the seat 35 of the driver's seat, the body does not easily interfere with the steering wheel 27 and the column cover 33, and the passenger can get on and off in an easy posture.
[0024]
As a result, as shown in FIG. 5A, even when only the driver's seat side door Dd is opened in a narrow parking lot, passengers other than the driver's seat can easily get on and off the driver's seat side door Dd. It becomes possible to improve convenience. On the other hand, when the occupant cannot pass through the driver's seat 35, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), both the driver's seat side door Dd and the passenger's seat side door Dp are installed in the narrow parking lot. Since it is necessary to open the doors Dd and Dp, it is very difficult to get on and off.
[0025]
Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, by using the space formed by tilting up the steering wheel 27, the table 40 is pulled out from the dashboard 39 to perform office work, or as shown in FIG. As described above, the seat 35 of the driver's seat can be rotated by 180 ° using the space formed by tilting up the steering wheel 27 to face the seat 36 in the center row.
[0026]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0027]
In the first embodiment, the hanger bracket 14 is swingably supported on the hanger beam 13, but in the second embodiment, a small auxiliary bracket 41 is fixed to the hanger beam 13, and the auxiliary bracket 41 is connected via a pivot 42. The hanger bracket 14 is swingably supported. The axis of the pivot 42 is as close as possible to the axis of the hanger beam 13 and the axes are in a twisted position relative to each other. Therefore, when the hanger bracket 14 is swung around the pivot 42 and the steering wheel 27 is tilted up, the steering wheel 27 moves to the left while moving forward and upward.
[0028]
Also according to the present embodiment, a sufficient space is formed between the tilted-up steering wheel 27 and the seat 35 of the driver's seat, and it is possible to easily pass and get on and off passengers.
[0029]
Next, a first reference example will be described based on FIG. 10 and FIG.
[0030]
In the first embodiment, the hanger bracket 14 is swingably supported by the hanger beam 13, and in the second embodiment, the hanger bracket 14 is swingably supported by the auxiliary bracket 41 fixed to the hanger beam 13 . In one reference example , elongated holes 43a, 43a extending in the axial direction of the steering shaft 26 are formed in the auxiliary bracket 43 welded to the hanger beam 13, and pins 44, 44 provided on the hanger bracket 14 are slid into the elongated holes 43a, 43a. It fits freely. Accordingly, by advancing the pins 44, 44 along the long holes 43a, 43a, the steering column 24 is advanced together with the hanger bracket 14 and the shock absorbing mechanism 25, and there is sufficient space between the steering wheel 27 and the seat 35 of the driver's seat. It is possible to easily pass and get on and off passengers by forming a space.
[0031]
In the first reference example , the elongated holes 43a and 43a of the auxiliary bracket 43 are formed in the axial direction of the steering shaft 26. However, the elongated holes 43a and 43a may be formed horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.
[0032]
Next, a second reference example of the present invention will be described based on FIG. 12 and FIG.
[0033]
In the second embodiment, the hanger bracket 14 is movable forward with respect to the hanger beam 13. In the second reference example , a rail-shaped guide fixed to the lower surface of the auxiliary bracket 45 welded to the hanger beam 13 in the left-right direction. By slidably engaging a slider 47 fixed on the upper surface of the hanger bracket 14 with the member 46, the hanger bracket 14 is moved in parallel to the passenger seat 34 side.
[0034]
According to the second reference example , the steering wheel 27 can be moved between the driver seat 35 and the passenger seat 34 so that the passenger can easily pass and get on and off.
[0035]
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0036]
In the second embodiment, the hanger bracket 14 is swingably supported by a pivot 42 that is twisted with respect to the hanger beam 13, and the steering wheel 27 is moved to the left while moving forward and upward . In the third embodiment , the hanger bracket 14 is swung toward the passenger seat 34 by supporting the hanger bracket 14 via a pivot 49 extending in the vertical direction on a cylindrical auxiliary bracket 48 fixed to the hanger beam 13. ing.
[0037]
With this third embodiment, by moving the steering wheel 27 between the seat 34 of the seat 35 and the passenger seat in the driver's seat, it is possible to perform the occupant passing or getting on and off easily.
[0038]
In the first to third embodiments described above, the shock absorbing mechanism 25 and the first and second steering column support brackets 20 and 22 are attached to the hanger bracket when the steering handle 27 is moved to a position that does not disturb the occupant. 14, the shock absorbing mechanism 25 is prevented from interfering with the hanger bracket 14 and the column cover 33 is prevented from protruding toward the seat 35 of the driver's seat, and a large space is provided in front of the seat 35 of the driver's seat. Can be secured.
[0039]
As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention can perform a various design change in the range which does not deviate from the summary.
[0040]
For example, in the embodiment, the shaft type steering device that transmits the rotation of the steering handle 27 to the steering gear box via the steering shaft 26 has been described. However, the present invention allows the rotation of the steering handle 27 via a flexible cable such as a Bowden cable. The present invention can also be applied to a cable-type steering device that transmits to a steering gear box.
[0041]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the steering wheel rotates the mounting member around the hanger beam and is provided on the wheel side of the hanger beam. Since the steering shaft is bent at the joint to adjust the relative position of the mounting member to the hanger beam, it is possible to avoid a situation where a member such as a column cover protrudes to the seat side of the driver's seat when adjusting the position of the steering wheel. In addition, a large space can be secured between the steering wheel and the driver's seat so that passengers can easily pass and get on and off.
[0042]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the position adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the steering wheel rotates the mounting member around one pivot that is twisted with respect to the hanger beam to Since the relative position is adjusted, the steering wheel can be swung obliquely upward or leftward or leftward or rightward to secure a large space between the steering wheel and the seat of the driver's seat so that passengers can pass and get on and off easily. .
[0043]
According to the invention described in claim 3 , since the vehicle includes a seat other than the seat of the driver's seat or a passage formed between the luggage compartment and the seat of the driver's seat, the vehicle is driven through the passage. It is easy for the driver to move to another place, and passengers other than the driver pass through the driver's seat and get on and off the driver's seat door, and convenience is improved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall side view of a mobile steering device. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which a steering handle is moved. [FIG. 5] Explanatory view when passengers get on and off. [FIG. 6] Explanatory view of use form of space in vehicle interior. [FIG. 7] Perspective view of vehicle interior of RV vehicle. [FIG. 8] Mobile type according to second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a state where the steering handle is moved. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a side view of the mobile steering device according to the first reference example . FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state where the steering handle is moved. FIG. 12 is an overall side view of a mobile steering device according to a second reference example . FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which a steering handle is moved. FIG. 14 is an overall view of the mobile steering device according to a third embodiment . Side view [Fig. 15 The figure which shows the state which moved the steering handle. FIG. 16 The whole side view of the tilt type steering apparatus which concerns on a 1st prior art example. FIG. 17 The whole side view of the tilt type steering apparatus which concerns on a 2nd prior art example. 18] Operation explanatory diagram of second conventional example [Explanation of symbols]
13 hanger beam 14 hanger bracket (position adjustment mechanism)
20 First steering column support bracket (mounting member)
22 Second steering column support bracket (mounting member)
24 steering column 26 steering shaft 27 steering wheel 28 universal joint 34 seat 35 seat 36 seat 37 seat 38 passage
41 auxiliary bracket 42 Pivot
48 pivot
49 auxiliary bracket

Claims (3)

A steering column (24) that rotatably supports a steering shaft (26) provided with a steering wheel (27) is supported on the hanger beam (13) via mounting members (20, 22), and the steering wheel (27). In the steering column support structure having a position adjusting mechanism (14) for adjusting the position of the steering column,
The position adjusting mechanism (14) rotates the mounting members (20, 22) around the hanger beam (13) and a steering shaft by a universal joint (28) provided on the wheel side of the hanger beam (13). A steering column support structure, wherein the position of the steering wheel (27) is adjusted by bending (26) and adjusting the relative position of the mounting members (20, 22) to the hanger beam (13). A hanger that includes a steering wheel (27) and that rotatably supports a steering shaft (26) connected to an intermediate shaft (26) via a universal joint (28) and that extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle body In the steering column support structure including the position adjustment mechanism (14) for adjusting the position of the steering wheel (27) while supporting the beam (13) via the mounting members (20, 22) ,
Said position adjusting mechanism (14) via a single pivot (42, 48) to support brackets fixed to the hanger beams (13) (41, 49) is supported, said mounting member (20, 22) The position of the steering wheel (27) is adjusted by rotating relative to the hanger beam (13) by rotating about the pivots (42 , 48 ), and the universal joint (28) (24) A steering column support structure characterized in that the pivot (42 , 48 ) is disposed at a wheel side with respect to the hanger beam (13) . The present invention is applied to a vehicle having a seat (34, 36, 37) other than the driver seat (35) or a passage (38) formed between the luggage compartment and the driver seat (35). The support structure for a steering column according to claim 1 or 2 .

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