JP6859786B2 - Vehicle steering column mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle steering column mounting structure.

A steering support member extending in the vehicle width direction is arranged at the front of the vehicle. A steering column with a fixed steering wheel is attached to the steering support member. As a result, the steering is supported by the steering support member via the steering column.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a steering support member including a pipe having a triangular cross section. In Patent Document 1, a steering shaft to which a steering wheel is connected is included in a steering column. Then, the steering column is attached to the pipe via the steering support bracket.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-203907

Since the steering wheel is heavy, the bracket supporting the steering wheel and the steering support member are required to have high fixing strength. As a method for increasing the fixing strength, it is conceivable to increase the contact area between the bracket and the steering support member, for example, the welding area when welding them. However, if the contact area is increased, surface deformation may occur in the contact area. Then, the support of the steering column, the steering shaft, and the steering wheel may become unstable.

In view of such a problem, the present invention can suppress the occurrence of surface deformation at the contact point between the steering support member and the column bracket, and can stably support the steering column and thus the steering hole. It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering column mounting structure for a vehicle.

In order to solve the above problems, a typical configuration of the vehicle steering column mounting structure according to the present invention is a column bracket fixed to the vehicle steering column and a steering support member that supports the steering column via the column bracket. In a vehicle steering column mounting structure comprising, the steering support member includes a first support member that is longitudinal in the vehicle width direction to which the column bracket is mounted, and the first support member is a mounting surface on which the column bracket is mounted and mounting. It is characterized by having a concave recess formed on the surface in the vehicle width direction.

According to the present invention, the occurrence of surface deformation at the contact point between the steering support member and the column bracket can be suppressed, and the steering column and thus the steering hole can be stably supported by mounting the steering column for a vehicle. It is possible to provide a structure.

It is a figure which shows the Example of the steering column mounting structure for a vehicle which concerns on this invention. It is a detailed view of the mounting structure of this Example.

The vehicle steering column mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a vehicle steering column mounting including a column bracket fixed to the vehicle steering column and a steering support member that supports the steering column via the column bracket. In the structure, the steering support member includes a first support member that is longitudinal in the vehicle width direction to which the column bracket is mounted, and the first support member is formed on the mounting surface on which the column bracket is mounted and on the mounting surface in the vehicle width direction. It is characterized by having a recessed recess.

According to the above configuration, in the first support member to which the column bracket is attached, a closed cross section is formed in the recess and the column bracket. This makes it possible to suitably suppress surface deformation on the mounting surface to which the column bracket is mounted. Further, when a load is applied to the first support member from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction thereof, the recess is in a stretched state. Therefore, the support strength of the first support member can be increased.

Further, according to the above configuration, in the first support member, the rigidity of the region provided with the recess is lower than that in the case where the recess is not provided. This makes it possible to avoid resonance vibration when the steering wheel vibrates.

The mounting surface of the first support member is a surface facing downward, the first support member has a rear surface that bends from the rear edge of the vehicle and extends upward, and the column bracket has a mounting surface. Of these, it is preferable that the vehicle is joined to the area in front of the vehicle and the rear surface of the vehicle rather than the recess.

Since the first support member and the column bracket are joined on the mounting surface, the joining strength against the load in the direction perpendicular to the surface can be obtained. Then, since the first support member and the column bracket are joined on the rear surface, the joining strength against the load in the shear direction can be obtained. Therefore, in the first support member, it is possible to improve the support strength of the column bracket against loads from more directions.

The column bracket is formed on a box-shaped portion having a box-shaped shape that is open to the mounting surface of the first support member and a surface opposite to the opening side of the box-shaped portion to steer the column bracket. It has a bolt insertion hole through which a fixing bolt for fixing to the column is inserted, and the width of the recess in the vehicle front-rear direction overlaps with at least the entire width of the bolt insertion hole in the lateral view, and the depth of the recess. Should be greater than half the height of the first support member.

Since the recess is larger than the area overlapping the bolt insertion hole as in such a configuration, the bolt insertion hole is covered with the recess. As a result, it is possible to suitably reinforce the region of the column bracket in which the load from the steering wheel is applied through the fixing bolt. Further, since the depth of the recess is larger than half the height of the first support member, it is possible to improve the rigidity of the recess.

The recess may be formed in at least a region of the mounting surface of the first support member that overlaps with the column bracket. According to such a configuration, the above-mentioned effect can be obtained in the area where the column brackets overlap, that is, the area where the column brackets are attached, among the first support members. When the recess is not formed in the region that does not overlap with the column bracket, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in design, such as providing a shape for attaching another member.

The steering support member includes a second support member extending over the entire vehicle width, and the first support member may be located behind the second support member and attached to the second support member.

Of the steering support members, a load in the twisting direction acts on the second support member that extends over the entire vehicle width. According to such a configuration, since the load in the twisting direction applied to the second support member can be received by the first support member, the influence of the load in the twisting direction on the second support member can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to clarify the functions of each support member, such as making the first support member a load receiver and specializing the second support member in supporting parts such as instrument panel support parts and optional parts. ..

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, and other specific numerical values shown in the examples are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are designated by the same reference numerals to omit duplicate description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown. To do.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a vehicle steering column mounting structure (hereinafter, referred to as mounting structure 100) according to the present invention. FIG. 1A is an overall view of the mounting structure 100, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the first support member 130 of FIG. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the mounting structure 100 of this embodiment includes a column bracket 110 and a steering support member 120. In the mounting structure 100 of this embodiment, the column bracket 110 is fixed to the steering column (not shown) of the vehicle, and the steering support member 120 supports the steering column via the column bracket 110.

The steering support member 120 includes a first support member 130 and a second support member 140. The first support member 130 is a long member extending in the vehicle width direction in front of the driver's seat (not shown), and a column bracket 110 is attached to the first support member 130. The second support member 140 is a member that extends over the entire width of the vehicle, and the first support member 130 is attached to a region that is in front of the driver's seat in the vehicle width direction. In particular, in the mounting structure 100 of the present embodiment, the first support member 130 is located behind the second support member 140 and is mounted on the second support member 140 via the brackets 102a, 102b, and 102c.

Both ends of the second support member 140 extending over the entire width of the vehicle are fixed to members (not shown) constituting the side portion of the vehicle. Therefore, a load in the twisting direction is likely to be applied to the second support member 140. On the other hand, by attaching the first support member 130 to the rear side of the second support member 140 as in the above configuration, the load in the twisting direction applied to the second support member 140 can be received by the first support member 130. it can. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the influence of the load in the twisting direction on the second support member 140.

That is, according to the above configuration, the functions of each support member are clarified, such that the first support member 130 is used as a load receiver and the second support member 140 is specialized for supporting parts such as instrument panel support parts and optional parts. It becomes possible to change. Further, the first support member 130 and the second support member 140 form a closed cross section in the vehicle front-rear direction. Thereby, the support strength of the steering column in the steering support member 120 can be improved.

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the mounting structure 100 of this embodiment. 2 (a) is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the column bracket 110 of FIG. 1 (b), and FIG. 2 (b) is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 (b). As shown in FIG. 2B, the column bracket 110 is attached to the first support member 130 on the attachment surface 132. As a feature of the mounting structure 100 of this embodiment, the mounting surface 132 of the first support member 130 is formed with a recess 134 recessed upward in the vehicle width direction.

According to the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 2B, in the first support member 130 to which the column bracket 110 is attached, a closed cross section is formed in the recess 134 and the column bracket 110. Then, in the mounting structure 100 of the present embodiment, the first support member 130 and the column bracket 110 are not joined to the entire surface but are joined across the recess 134. As a result, surface deformation of the joint portion, which tends to occur when the support member and the column bracket are joined on the entire surface, can be suitably suppressed.

Further, according to the above configuration, the recess 134 is in a stretched state when a load is applied to the first support member 130 from a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction thereof. Therefore, the support strength of the column bracket 110 and thus the steering column in the first support member 130 can be increased.

Further, since the recess 134 is formed in the first support member 130, the rigidity of the region where the recess 134 is provided is lower than that when the recess 134 is not provided. As a result, the vibration of the steering wheel can be absorbed, so that the generation of resonance vibration can be suppressed.

See FIG. 2B again. As shown in FIG. 2B, in the first support member 130, in the first support member 130, the mounting surface 132 is a surface facing downward, and the mounting surface 132 is bent upward from the rear edge of the vehicle. An extending rear surface 136 is provided. In such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 2B, the column bracket 110 may be joined to the region 132a in front of the vehicle and the rear surface 136 of the mounting surface 132 with respect to the recess 134.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2B, the column bracket 110 has a box-shaped box-shaped portion 112 that is open to the mounting surface 132 of the first support member 130. As shown in FIG. 2A, flanges 114a and 114b are formed on both sides of the box-shaped portion 112 in the vehicle width direction, and the column bracket 110 is attached to the mounting surface 132 of the first support member 130 on the flanges 114a and 114b. Is joined to. As a result, the joint strength with respect to the load in the direction perpendicular to the surface can be obtained.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the box-shaped portion 112 of the column bracket 110 is a surface opposite to the opening side and faces the mounting surface 132 of the first support member 130. Has. A vertical surface portion 118 extending from the rear end of the facing surface 116 to the rear surface 136 of the first support member 130 is provided, and the column bracket 110 is joined to the rear surface 136 of the first support member 130 at the vertical surface portion 118. As a result, the joint strength with respect to the load in the shear direction can be obtained. Therefore, according to the above configuration, it is possible to increase the support strength of the column bracket 110 with respect to the load from more directions in the first support member 130.

The steering shaft (not shown) may receive a load from the steering wheel on the rear side in the direction of tilting to the rear of the vehicle, and the load is transmitted to the column bracket 110 through the fixing bolt 150. According to the above configuration, by receiving the load on the two surfaces of the facing surface 116 and the vertical surface portion 118, it is possible to increase the resistance of the column bracket 110 to the load in the direction of falling backward of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 2B, a bolt insertion hole 116a is formed in the facing surface 116 of the column bracket 110, which is the surface opposite to the opening side of the box-shaped portion 112. A fixing bolt 150 for fixing the column bracket 110 to the steering column (not shown) is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 116a.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the width W1 of the recess 134 in the vehicle front-rear direction may overlap with at least the entire width W2 of the bolt insertion hole 116a in the lateral view. As a result, the recess 134 is arranged on the extension of the fixing bolt 150, and the bolt insertion hole 116a is covered with the recess 134. Therefore, in the column bracket 110, the region near the bolt insertion hole 116a where the load from the steering wheel is applied through the fixing bolt 150 can be suitably reinforced.

More preferably, as shown in FIG. 2B, the depth D of the recess 134 is larger than half the height H of the first support member 130. As a result, in the recess 134, the rigidity of the erection surface 134a and the erection surface 134b orthogonal to the mounting surface 132 can be increased.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, in the first support member 130, the recess 134 may be formed in at least a region 130a of the mounting surface 132 that overlaps with the column bracket 110. That is, in the first support member 130, the recess 134 does not necessarily have to be provided in the region that does not overlap with the column bracket 110.

According to the above configuration, the effect of the recess 134 described above can be obtained in the region 130a overlapping the column bracket 110. Then, in a region that does not overlap with the column bracket 110, it is possible to increase the degree of freedom in design, such as providing a shape for attaching another member. Therefore, the support strength and the steering vibration rigidity can be adjusted according to the vehicle type.

When the recess 134 is not provided in the region that does not overlap with the column bracket 110, the depth of the recess 134 gradually becomes shallower from the region 130a that overlaps with the column bracket 110 toward the region that does not overlap, that is, gradually changes. The shape is good.

For example, the first support member 130 is made of a resin composite material such as carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), or a relatively molded material such as magnesium or aluminum alloy, instead of a material such as iron that is difficult to process in depth. When a material having excellent properties is used, it is considered that the depth of the recess 134 can be locally changed in the longitudinal direction. At this time, by gradually changing the depth of the recess 134, the above-mentioned effect can be obtained without causing a load concentration portion.

In the embodiment described above, the steering support member 120 exemplifies a configuration including two support members, a first support member 130 and a second support member 140, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the steering support member 120 may have only the first support member 130, and the first support member 130 may extend over the entire vehicle width. Even in this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained by providing the recess 134 in the first support member 130 extending over the entire vehicle width.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modifications or modifications within the scope of the claims, which naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Understood.

The present invention can be used for a vehicle steering column mounting structure.

100 ... Mounting structure, 102a ... Bracket, 102b ... Bracket, 102c ... Bracket, 110 ... Column bracket, 112 ... Box-shaped part, 114a ... Flange, 114b ... Flange, 116 ... Facing surface, 116a ... Bolt insertion hole, 118 ... Vertical Face, 120 ... Steering support member, 130 ... First support member, 130a ... Area, 132 ... Mounting surface, 134 ... Recess, 134a ... Standing surface, 134b ... Standing surface, 136 ... Rear surface, 140 ... Second support member , 150 ... Fixing bolt

Claims (4)

In a vehicle steering column mounting structure including a column bracket fixed to a vehicle steering column and a steering support member that supports the steering column via the column bracket.
The steering support member includes a first support member that is longitudinal in the vehicle width direction to which the column bracket is attached.
The first support member is
The mounting surface to which the column bracket is mounted and
Possess a concave recess is formed over the vehicle width direction to the mounting surface,
The column bracket
A box-shaped portion having a box-shaped shape that is open to the mounting surface of the first support member,
It has a bolt insertion hole formed on a surface opposite to the opening side of the box-shaped portion and into which a fixing bolt for fixing the column bracket to the steering column is inserted.
The width of the recess in the vehicle front-rear direction overlaps with at least the entire width of the bolt insertion hole in the lateral view, and the depth of the recess is larger than half the height of the first support member. Steering column mounting structure for vehicles. The mounting surface of the first support member is a surface facing downward.
The first support member has a rear surface that bends from the rear edge of the vehicle on the mounting surface and extends upward.
The vehicle steering column mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the column bracket is joined to a region of the mounting surface in front of the vehicle and the rear surface of the mounting surface. The vehicle steering column mounting structure according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the recess is formed in at least a region of the mounting surface of the first support member that overlaps with the column bracket. The steering support member includes a second support member extending over the entire vehicle width.
The vehicle steering column according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the first support member is located behind the second support member and is attached to the second support member. Mounting structure.

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