JP5799839B2 - Steering device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement of a steering device for giving a steering angle to a front wheel based on an operation of a steering wheel.

  The steering device is configured as shown in FIG. 6, for example. A steering shaft 2 having a steering wheel 1 fixed to the rear end portion is rotatably supported inside a cylindrical steering column 3. An intermediate portion of the steering column 3 is supported by a support bracket 4. The support bracket 4 supports a vehicle body (not shown) so as to be detachable forward by a secondary collision caused by a collision accident. The front end portion of the steering column 3 is coupled and fixed to a gear box 5 for an electric power steering device, for example. Further, the gear box 5 supports the vehicle body so as to be able to swing and displace around the horizontal axis passing through the mounting hole 6 to constitute a tilt mechanism capable of adjusting the vertical position of the steering wheel 1. . The steering apparatus shown in FIG. 6 incorporates a telescopic mechanism for adjusting the front-rear position of the steering wheel 1 in addition to the tilt mechanism.

  In order to configure this telescopic mechanism, the steering column 3 is formed by combining the inner column 7 and the outer column 8 in a telescopic manner. That is, the rear portion of the inner column 7 is fitted into the front portion of the outer column 8 corresponding to the column housing described in the claims. Further, an axial slit 9 is provided at the lower end portion of the front half of the outer column 8 as shown in FIGS. 7 to 8 and FIGS. Further, a pair of clamped bracket portions 10 and 10 are provided at a portion where the slit 9 is sandwiched from both the left and right sides. In addition, longitudinally long holes 11 and 11 that are long in the axial direction of the outer column 8 are formed in portions of the sandwiched bracket portions 10 and 10 that are aligned with each other. Further, the steering shaft 2 is a combination of an outer tube and an inner shaft that can transmit torque by spline engagement or the like and can extend and contract. On the other hand, a pair of support plate portions 12 and 12 that constitute the support bracket 4 and clamp the both clamped bracket portions 10 and 10 from both the left and right sides are formed in a partial arc shape centering on the horizontal axis. Are formed in the vertical direction long holes 13 and 13.

  In order to assemble a steering device provided with the tilt mechanism and the telescopic mechanism, a part of the front and rear direction long holes 11 and 11 and a part of the both vertical direction long holes 13 and 13 are aligned. The adjustment rod 14 which is the support rod described in the claims is inserted into each of the long holes 11 and 13. And the head 15 of this adjustment rod 14 is made into this up-and-down direction long hole 13 in the up-and-down direction long hole 13 formed in one support plate part 12 (right side of FIG. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8). Engagement is possible only along movement. The nut 16 is screwed to the tip of the adjusting rod 14 (the left end in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8) and the other (the left side in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 8). A cam device 19 comprising a driving cam 17 and a driven cam 18 each loosely fitted on the adjusting rod 14 is provided between the outer surface of the support plate portion 12 and the adjusting plate 14. Of these, the driven cam 18 is engaged with an up-and-down direction long hole 13 formed in the other support plate portion 12 so as to be movable only along the up-and-down direction long hole 13. Further, a base end portion of the adjusting lever 20 is coupled and fixed to the driving cam 17 so that the driving cam 17 can be driven to rotate around the adjusting rod 14.

  In the steering device provided with the tilt mechanism and the telescopic mechanism as described above, the vertical position of the steering wheel 1 can be adjusted within a range in which the adjustment rod 14 can be displaced in the vertical holes 13 and 13. Similarly, the front-rear position can be adjusted within a range that can be displaced within the front-rear direction long holes 11, 11. During this adjustment operation, the adjustment lever 20 is oscillated and displaced downward to reduce the axial dimension of the cam device 19. In this state, the contact pressure between the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions 12 and 12 and the outer side surfaces of the both supported bracket portions 10 and 10 is reduced or lost, and the adjustment work can be performed with a light force. Yes. After the steering wheel 1 is moved to a desired position, the adjustment lever 20 is pivoted and displaced upward to increase the axial dimension of the cam device 19, so that the surface pressure of each contact portion increases. The steering wheel 1 can be held in the adjusted position.

  For the purpose of preventing theft, the steering device as described above is generally incorporated with a steering lock device that is widely known, for example, as described in Patent Document 1. For example, in order to incorporate a steering lock device into the steering device shown in FIG. 6, a cylinder having a key lock pin is assembled in the mounting hole 21 formed in the rear portion of the middle portion of the outer column 8. Further, a key lock collar is assembled to a portion of the intermediate portion of the steering shaft 2 where the phase in the axial direction coincides with the mounting hole 21. Such a steering lock device operates with the ignition switch turned off, and engages the key lock pin and the key lock collar to prevent the steering shaft 2 from rotating in the outer column 8.

  When the steering wheel 1 is rotated with a large force in a state where the steering lock device as described above is operated, the torque of the steering shaft 2 is transmitted to the outer via the key lock collar and the key lock pin. It is transmitted to the column 8 and the outer column 8 is deformed in the twisting direction. That is, in the normal state, as shown in FIG. 7, the outer column 8 is located substantially at the center of the support plate portions 12, 12, while the steering wheel 1 is in an operating state. Is rotated with a large force, it is displaced to one side in the width direction as shown in FIG. For example, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 8, when a clockwise torque is applied in the figure, the outer column 8 is displaced in a direction approaching the right support plate part 12 in the figure. The outer column 8 is an aluminum alloy casting or the like. If the outer column 8 is excessively deformed by a large force, damage such as a crack may occur.

  In Patent Document 2, as shown in FIG. 9, for the purpose of improving the support rigidity of the outer column 8a with respect to the support bracket 4a, the inner side surfaces of a pair of left and right support plate portions 12a and 12a constituting the support bracket 4a are described. A structure is described in which the left and right outer surfaces of the outer column 8a are brought into contact with each other at two upper and lower positions of the lower end portion of the outer column 8a and the intermediate portion in the vertical direction.

  However, in the case of the second example of the conventional structure shown in FIG. 9, the upper side of the contact portions between the inner side surfaces of the support plate portions 12a and 12a and the left and right outer side surfaces of the outer column 8a is used. Even in the abutting portion, the steering shaft 2 is present at a position sandwiching the steering shaft 2 from both sides in the width direction. For this reason, when the steering wheel 1 (see FIG. 6) is operated with a large force while the key lock device is activated, and a large torque is applied to the outer column 8a, the upper contact portion causes the torque to move. The function to support is weak. This is because the torque acts on the upper contact portion in the direction in which the inner side surfaces and the left and right outer sides rub against each other (up and down direction in FIG. 9) and presses (left and right direction in FIG. 9). It is because it does not act so much.

  As far as the lower contact portion is concerned, the torque acts in the direction of pressing the left and right outer surfaces of the outer column 8a against the inner surfaces of the support plate portions 12a and 12a. However, although the support bracket 4a is supported by a fixed bracket 22 having an upper end fixed to the vehicle body, the lower end is not particularly supported. Therefore, the lower end of the support plate portions 12a and 12a is not supported. The rigidity in the width direction is low. For this reason, the function of suppressing the deformation of the outer column 8a is poor.

JP 2008-265646 A JP 2007-223383 A

  In view of the circumstances as described above, the present invention improves the support rigidity in the torsional direction of the column housing such as the outer column, so that the column housing is not easily damaged even when an excessive force is applied. It was invented to realize.

The steering device of the present invention includes a support bracket and a column housing, similarly to the steering device known from the prior art. And this column housing is supported with respect to the said support bracket by the support rod which penetrated the up-down direction edge part of this column housing to the width direction.
In particular, in the steering device of the present invention, a pair of left and right supports that form the support bracket at the end of the column housing in the vertical direction opposite to where the support rod is installed. A pair of left and right projecting protrusions that protrude toward the inner surface of the plate portion are provided. The distance between the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions and the tips of the two projecting protrusions is made shorter than the distance between the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions and the left and right side surfaces of the column housing body. .
Further, a steering lock device is provided between the column housing and the steering shaft, which operates with the ignition switch turned off to prevent the steering shaft from rotating in the column housing. The distance between the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions and the tips of the two projecting projections is such that the inner side surfaces and the tip do not come into contact with each other when the steering lock device is inactive. In a state where the steering wheel fixed to the rear end portion of the steering shaft is operated, the column housing is a size that comes into contact with the column housing before a stress is applied to the column housing.

  When implementing the steering device of the present invention as described above, preferably, the upper end portion of the support bracket is coupled and fixed to the vehicle body as in the invention described in claim 2. The support rod is provided at the lower end of the column housing. Further, the both projecting projections are provided on the upper end portion of the column housing so as to extend from the front side portion of the vehicle body to the rear side portion (over the axial direction of the steering shaft).

Preferably, as in the invention described in claim 3 , the support plates are pressed in the direction approaching each other by the support rods, and the inner side surfaces of both the support plate portions are part of the column housing. Press against both outer sides. Then, the center of the contact portion between the inner side surface and the outer side surface and the center of the portion where the both projecting protrusions and the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions face each other sandwich the central axis of the column housing. It exists on the opposite side in the radial direction. The opposite side in the radial direction refers to a state in which the angle of the line connecting both the centers and the center of the column housing is within a range of 180 ± 20 degrees, preferably within a range of 180 ± 10 degrees.

Further, preferably, as in the invention described in claim 4 , the support rod is installed in the rear half in the front-rear direction of the both support plate portions, preferably as close to the rear end as possible. Further, the both projecting projections are opposed to the front half in the front-rear direction of the both support plate portions, preferably the inner side surface of the portion near the front end as much as possible.

According to the present invention configured as described above, by improving the support rigidity in the torsional direction of the column housing such as the outer column, the steering device is less likely to be damaged even when an excessive force is applied. realizable.
That is, when a large torque is applied to the column housing in the twisting direction by rotating the steering wheel with a strong force while the steering lock device is operated, a pair of left and right provided on the column housing is provided. The tip of one of the tension protrusions abuts on the inner surface of one of the left and right support plate parts. In this state, the one support plate portion supports most of the torque. In particular, according to the structure of the invention described in claim 2, the rigidity of the portion that supports the torque in the one support plate portion is sufficiently increased, and the torque is caused by the one support plate portion, Can be supported effectively. As a result, even if an inappropriate operation is performed with the structure provided with the steering lock device as in the present invention , it is possible to prevent excessive stress from being applied to the column housing and to prevent damage to the column housing. .

Further, according to the structure of the invention described in claim 3 , the interval (span) between the portions supporting the torque by the two support plate portions is lengthened to sufficiently increase the support rigidity related to the torque, and the column. The damage prevention function of the housing can be more fully achieved.
Furthermore, according to the structure of the invention described in claim 4 , the rigidity related to suppressing the rear end portion of the column housing from shifting in the width direction is increased, and the shifting movement of the steering wheel in the left-right direction is suppressed. The effect can be increased.

The figure equivalent to the AA cross section of FIG. 6 which shows the 1st example of embodiment of this invention in a neutral state. FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing a state where a large torque is applied to an outer column which is a column housing. The top view shown in the state which abbreviate | omitted one part in order to demonstrate about ensuring rigidity regarding supporting the force added to the left-right direction at the rear-end part of a steering shaft. The figure similar to FIG. 1 which shows the 2nd example of embodiment of this invention. Similarly, the same figure as FIG. The side view which shows an example of the steering apparatus used as the object of this invention. The figure equivalent to the AA cross section of FIG. 6 which shows the 1st example of conventional structure in a neutral state. FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, showing a state where a large torque is applied to the outer column which is also a column housing. The figure equivalent to the AA cross section of FIG. 6 which shows the 2nd example of a conventional structure.

[First example of embodiment]
1 and 2 show a first example of an embodiment of the present invention. The support bracket 4 is attached to the lower surface of a fixed bracket 22 fixed to a vehicle body (not shown), and can be detached forward during a secondary collision in which the driver's body hits the steering wheel 1 (see FIG. 6) in the event of a collision. I support it. The support bracket 4 includes a pair of left and right support plate portions 12 and 12 arranged in parallel to each other, and an upper plate portion 23 that connects the upper end edges of both support plate portions 12 and 12. The portion 23 is supported with respect to the fixed bracket 22. Further, a pair of left and right sandwiched bracket portions 10 and 10 provided at the lower end portion of the outer column 8b as a column housing are provided between the support plate portions 12 and 12 with an adjustment rod 14 and a cam as a support rod. The device 19 and the like are supported so that the vertical position and the front-back position can be adjusted. A steering shaft 2 (see FIG. 6) is rotatably supported inside the outer column 8b.

  A well-known steering lock device is provided in the mounting hole 21 (see FIG. 6) provided in the outer column 8b. This steering lock device operates with the ignition switch turned off, and elastically displaces the key lock pin radially inward of the outer column 8b, and a key lock collar assembled to the key lock pin and the steering shaft 2. And the steering shaft 2 is prevented from rotating in the outer column 8b. Since the structure and operation of these parts are the same as those of the first example of the conventional structure shown in FIGS. 6 to 7 described above, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  In particular, in the steering apparatus of the present example, the front end portion and the upper end portion of the outer column 8b are long in the front-rear direction (in the axial direction of the outer column 8b, extending from the front side portion to the rear side portion). A pair of left and right projecting protrusions 24, 24 are provided in a state of projecting toward the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions 12, 12. In the case of this example, the adjustment rod 14 is provided at the lower end portion of the outer column 8b, and the both projecting protrusions 24, 24 are provided at the upper end portion. The center of the contact portion between the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions 12 and 12 and the outer side surfaces of the two supported bracket portions 10 and 10, the tips of the both projecting protrusions 24 and 24, and the two support plates 12 and 12 The center of the portion facing the inner side surface of the outer column 8b exists on the opposite side in the radial direction across the central axis of the outer column 8b. It should be noted that both ends of the projecting protrusions 24 and 24 and the inner side surfaces of the support plate portions 12 and 12 are always opposed to each other regardless of the front / rear position adjustment of the outer column 8b. The longitudinal lengths of the support plate portions 12 and 12, the longitudinal lengths of the both projecting protrusions 24 and 24, and the positions and lengths of the longitudinal longitudinal holes 11 and 11 formed in the sandwiched bracket portions 10 and 10. It regulates.

  Further, the installation position of the adjusting rod 14 and the installation position of the front end portions of the both projecting protrusions 24, 24 are shifted in the front-rear direction as much as possible. In the case of this example, a telescopic mechanism for adjusting the front-rear position of the steering wheel 1 is incorporated. Accordingly, the front / rear position of the adjusting rod 14 hardly changes except for a slight change based on the tilt mechanism, but the front / rear positions of the both projecting protrusions 24, 24 change. However, even in the state where the front and rear positions of the both projecting protrusions 24, 24 are at the rearmost side, the front end portions of the both projecting protrusions 24, 24 are located sufficiently in front of the adjusting rod 14, and The front ends of the both projecting protrusions 24 and 24 are arranged so as to be close to and opposed to the inner side surfaces of the support plate portions 12 and 12. For example, the chain line α in FIG. 3 is the front-rear position of the adjustment rod 14, and the chain line β is the front-rear position of the front end portions of the two projections 24, 24 with the front-rear position of the steering wheel 1 being the central position. Each position is shown. The installation position of the adjustment rod 14 indicated by the chain line α is the rear half in the front-rear direction of the support plate portions 12 and 12. On the other hand, the front / rear position of the front end portion of the both projecting protrusions 24, 24 facing the inner side surfaces of the support plate portions 12, 12, regardless of the front / rear position of the steering wheel 1, It is located in the front-rear direction front half part of both the support plate parts 12 and 12. Accordingly, the position of the adjusting rod 14 that is the distance between the chain lines α and β, and the front end of the portion of the two projecting protrusions 24 and 24 that faces the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions 12 and 12. The distance L in the front-rear direction from the installation position is always sufficiently secured. When the cross-sectional shape of the pair of projecting protrusions as viewed from the radial direction of the steering shaft is circular, the chain line β indicates the entire length of both projecting protrusions (the middle of these projecting protrusions in the axial direction of the steering shaft). Part). Even when the front-rear position of the steering wheel 1 is the frontmost side, the both projecting protrusions are positioned rearward of the front end sides of the pair of left and right support plates.

  Further, the distance Ls between the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions 12 and 12 and the tips of the two projecting protrusions 24 and 24 is determined by the distance between the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions 12 and 12 and the main body portion 25 of the outer column 8b. It is sufficiently shorter than the distance Lb between the left and right side surfaces (Ls << Lb). Specifically, the distance Ls between the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions 12 and 12 and the tips of the both projecting protrusions 24 and 24 is determined by operating the steering wheel 1 when the steering lock device is not operated. The size is set so that the inner surface and the tip do not come into contact with each other. That is, when the steering shaft 2 is rotated by the operation of the steering wheel 1, the outer column 8b has some torque based on the dynamic torque of the bearing provided between the steering shaft 2 and the outer column 8b. Is added, and the outer column 8b is displaced in the rotational direction even if somewhat. The distance Ls is large enough that the inner surface and the tip do not come into contact with each other with this slight displacement. On the other hand, when the steering wheel 1 is operated in a state where the steering lock device is operated, as described above, a large torque is applied to the outer column 8b. The distance Ls is such that the inner side surface and the tip abut before the outer column 8b is subjected to such a large torque and before the outer column 8b is subjected to a stress that may lead to breakage. Yes.

  According to the steering apparatus of the present example configured as described above, the outer column 8b can be prevented from being damaged even when an excessive force is applied by improving the support rigidity in the torsional direction of the outer column 8b. . That is, when the steering wheel 1 is rotated with a strong force in a state where the steering lock device is operated, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 2, a large torque is applied to the outer column 8b in the twisting direction, and the outer column 8b Is displaced in the direction of rotation. Of the pair of left and right extension protrusions 24, 24 provided at the upper end of the outer column 8b, the front end of the extension protrusion 24 on the front side in the rotation direction is opposite to the end of the extension protrusion 24. Abuts against the inner surface. In this state, the support plate portion 12 supports most of the torque.

  In particular, in the case of this example, a pair of abutment portions existing at two positions on the diametrically opposite side of the outer column 8b, that is, the front ends of the projecting protrusions 24 and the supporting portions respectively present on the front side in the rotational direction. The torque is supported by a contact portion between the inner surface of the plate portion 12 and a contact portion between the outer surface of the sandwiched bracket portion 10 and the inner surface of another support plate portion 12. For this reason, the interval (span) of the portion that supports this torque can be lengthened to sufficiently increase the support rigidity related to this torque, and the damage prevention effect of the outer column 8b can be enhanced. In the case of this example, the both projecting protrusions 24, 24 are provided on the upper end portion of the outer column 8b so as to extend in the axial direction of the outer column 8b and extend from the front side portion to the rear side portion. Yes. Therefore, when the steering wheel 1 is rotated with a large force in a state where the steering lock device provided in the mounting hole 21 (see FIG. 6) formed in the rear portion of the middle part of the outer column 8b is operated. In addition, the force due to the torque applied to the outer column 8b is applied to the rear portion of the projecting protrusions 24, 24, which are portions near the steering wheel 1, after the portions facing the inner side surfaces of the support plate portions 12, 12. It can be transmitted to the vehicle body efficiently (with a short distance) via the end. Therefore, based on the rotational force applied from the steering wheel 1 to the outer column 8b, the stress generated in the outer column 8b can be kept low, and the damage preventing effect of the outer column 8b can be improved. In addition, when the steering lock device is not in operation, the tips of the projecting protrusions 24 and 24 do not come into contact with the inner surfaces of the support plate portions 12 and 12, so that the position adjustment function of the tilt mechanism or telescopic mechanism can be achieved. There is no hindrance.

  Further, in the case of this example, as indicated by chain lines α and β in FIG. 3, the position of the adjusting rod 14 and the inside of the supporting plate portions 12 and 12 among the protruding projections 24 and 24 are the same. Since the front-rear direction distance L from the installation position of the front end portion of the portion facing the side surface is sufficiently secured, the rigidity related to suppressing the rear end portion of the outer column 8b from shifting in the width direction is increased. it can. That is, when a lateral force is applied to the steering wheel 1, the rear end portion of the outer column 8b tends to shift in the width direction. Works in the direction. And this function (rigidity) becomes so high that the said front-back direction distance L becomes large. In the case of this example, this longitudinal distance L can be secured and the attitude of the steering wheel 1 can be stabilized.

[Second Example of Embodiment]
4 to 5 show a second example of the embodiment of the present invention. In the case of this example, the lower plate portions 26 connect the lower end portions of a pair of left and right support plate portions 12b, 12b constituting the support bracket 4b. Further, the upper end portions of both the support plate portions 12b and 12b are bent at right angles toward opposite sides to form attachment plate portions 27 and 27, respectively. Such a support bracket 4b supports the fixed bracket 22 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) by these two mounting plate portions 27 and 27 so as to be detachable forward in a secondary collision.

  The support bracket 4b as described above can increase the rigidity in the width direction as compared with the support bracket 4 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) incorporated in the first example of the embodiment described above, and the support rigidity of the outer column 8b. Can be high. Since the configuration and operation of the other parts are the same as those of the first example of the above embodiment, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  When implementing the present invention, it is free to install a tilt mechanism or a telescopic mechanism. Of course, the present invention can be implemented with a structure having only a tilt mechanism or a telescopic mechanism, and can also be implemented with a structure having none.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering wheel 2 Steering shaft 3 Steering column 4, 4a, 4b Support bracket 5 Gear box 6 Mounting hole 7 Inner column 8, 8a, 8b Outer column 9 Slit 10 Clamped bracket part 11 Longitudinal direction longitudinal holes 12, 12a, 12b Support plate portion 13 Vertical hole 14 Adjustment rod 15 Head 16 Nut 17 Drive side cam 18 Drive side cam 19 Cam device 20 Adjustment lever 21 Mounting hole 22 Fixing bracket 23 Upper plate portion 24 Stretch projection 25 Body portion 26 Lower plate Part 27 Mounting plate

Claims (4)

A support bracket having a pair of left and right support plate portions and having an upper portion supported by the vehicle body, and a column housing having a steering shaft inserted therein while being sandwiched between the support plate portions. In the steering apparatus in which the column housing is supported with respect to the support bracket by the support rod inserted in the width direction at the vertical end of the column housing.
A pair of left and right projecting protrusions projecting toward the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions are provided on the opposite end of the column housing in the vertical direction from where the support rods are installed. The distance between the inner side surface of the support plate part and the tips of the two protruding projections is shorter than the distance between the inner side surface of both the support plate parts and the left and right side surfaces of the body portion of the column housing ,
Between the column housing and the steering shaft, a steering lock device is provided that operates with the ignition switch turned off, and prevents rotation of the steering shaft in the column housing,
The distance between the inner side surfaces of the two support plate portions and the front ends of the both projecting protrusions is such that the inner side surface and the front end do not come into contact with each other when the steering lock device is not operated. A steering device characterized in that, in a state in which a steering wheel fixed to a rear end portion of a shaft is operated, the column housing comes into contact with the column housing before a stress sufficient to cause destruction of the column housing is applied .   The upper end portion of the support bracket is fixedly coupled to the vehicle body, the support rod is provided at the lower end portion of the column housing, and the both projecting projections are formed on the upper end portion of the column housing and at the front side portion of the vehicle body. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the steering apparatus is provided so as to extend from the rear to a rearward portion. The two support plate portions are pressed in a direction approaching each other by the support rod, and the inner side surfaces of both support plates are pressed against both outer side surfaces of the column housing, and the inner side surface and the outer side surface are in contact with each other. The center of the contact portion and the center of the portion where the both projecting protrusions and the inner side surfaces of the two support plates face each other exist on the opposite side in the radial direction across the central axis of the column housing. steering apparatus according to any one of 1-2. Wherein and supporting rod is disposed in the front-rear direction rear half of the two support plate portions, wherein both strut protrusion is opposed to the inner surface of the front-rear direction front half portion of both the support plate portions, according to claim 1 to 3 The steering device according to any one of the above.

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