JPH011657A - steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to the structure of a steering wheel.
In particular, the present invention relates to a steering wheel using a fiber-reinforced resin core material.

L Prior Art] A conventional steering wheel equipped with this type of 41i fiber reinforced resin core material is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 115117/1983.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 55-91453 can be cited.

The technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 55-115117 is as follows:
This handle is constructed by winding long fibers bound by a suitable binder around an arm and a rim, and absorbs the impact load on the rim by absorbing the energy of deformation occurring in the arms.

In addition, the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 55-91453 is
At least the core portion (spoke portions and ring portion core material) is placed in a steering wheel made of a thermosetting resin containing non-natural fibers.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the case where the spoke parts and the ring part core material are integrally formed with continuous long fibers as described above, in order to maintain the shape of the ring part core material, a large A mold was required. Moreover, a heating furnace for curing the thermosetting resin as a binder that binds the long fibers also necessarily requires large equipment.

In addition, in order to obtain sufficient strength as a core material for the ring, it is necessary to wrap the fiber bundle densely impregnated with resin in more turns than in the spokes, and as a result, the ring becomes stronger than when using a conventional core. It became thicker and I was worried that it would be limited to V1 due to the design.

Furthermore, it takes a long time to harden the thermosetting resin of the thick ring core material to the inside, resulting in poor productivity.

Since this core material is faithfully formed from fiber bundles and thermosetting resin to the inside, it is possible to reduce weight by using a hollow pipe of a light alloy such as aluminum when used as the core material for the ring part. There is also.

Furthermore, when attaching weights to the core material of the ring part in order to adjust the moment of inertia of the steering wheel, it is difficult to place the weights in the middle of winding the fiber bundle. Post-processing such as drilling makes the base material weaker, making it difficult to adjust the 1d moment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention was developed to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel that does not require a large mold, is lightweight, and allows easy adjustment of a predetermined moment of inertia.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The steering wheel according to the present invention has a structure in which a non-natural fiber bundle is hardened with a binding synthetic resin between the ring core metal and the central member disposed in the center thereof. The spoke portions are formed by reinforced resin stretched between the ring core metal and the center member.

[Operation] In the present invention, between the ring core metal and the center member,
The non-natural fiber bundles are hardened using synthetic resin for binding, and the spokes are formed by reinforced resin stretched between the ring core and the center member.Since the spokes are the only reinforced resin, large metals are required. No mold is required, and the weight of the steering wheel can be reduced if a hollow pipe made of light alloy is used as the ring core.

In addition, the strength of the reinforced resin spokes, which are formed by hardening non-natural LLI fibers with a binding synthetic resin, allows the space between the ring core and the center member to be fixed to the energy absorber. can.

[Example] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire steering wheel body according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is an assembled view of the steering wheel main body used in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. FIG. 3 is a front view including a partial sectional view.

In the figure, a steering wheel core metal 10 includes a center member 11, a ring portion core metal 12, and spoke portions 13.

The central member 11 is composed of an upper flange portion 11A, a lower flange portion 11B, and a cylindrical portion 11C, and has a substantially reel shape. A plurality of N through holes 11a are bored in the central member 11, and the core member 11 is screwed into the core side plate 21 of the boss energy absorber 20 with screws 14. Further, a locking hole 11b is formed in the center thereof, into which a locking bottom portion 15a of the horn switch 15 is inserted and locked.

The spoke portion 13 is a concave portion 12 formed in the ring portion core metal 12.
a and the cylindrical portion 11C of the center member 11, and the recess 12a of the ring core 12 and the cylindrical portion 11 of the center member 11.
It is made of reinforced resin that answers G.

That is, the recess 12a of the ring core metal 12 and the center member 1
The spoke part 13, which is disposed between the cylindrical part 11C of 1 and made of a reinforced resin that contains both parts, is made of a non-natural fiber such as glass fiber or carbon fiber, and polyester as a binder. , vinyl ester, epoxy, or other synthetic resin for binding is applied, and is wound around the concave portion 12a of the ring core bar 12 and the cylindrical portion 11C of the center member 11, and both are alternately and continuously stretched to form a predetermined non-natural fiber. It is cured as a bundle. To form this reinforced resin, one or more glass fibers or carbon fibers are passed through a tank containing a binding synthetic resin such as polyester, vinyl ester, or epoxy, and then passed through a recess in the ring core 12. 12a and the cylindrical portion 11G of the central member 11, the fibers are wound as many times as necessary and repeatedly wound to a predetermined thickness to form a non-natural fiber bundle, which is then placed in a heating furnace and cured.

Therefore, as long as there is a jig that can maintain the relative position of the center member 11 and the ring core metal 12, it is possible to carry out zesty molding without the need of a mold, and it is also possible to carry out compact heating in which only the spoke parts can be inserted. The resin can be cured in a furnace, and the thickness of the non-natural fiber bundle can be made thinner than that used as the ring core material, so the curing time can be shortened.
Productivity can be improved.

Note that in this embodiment, the recess 12a is removed once every multiple times.
Non-natural fibers are also wound around the ring portion core metal 12.

This spoke part 13 is the steering shirt of the ring part core metal 12! A large number of non-natural fiber bundles adhesively bound with a binding synthetic resin are
The binding synthetic resin is destroyed, separated, and broken. That is,
When an external force is applied to the spoke portion 13, the reinforced resin is broken by a large number of bound non-natural m string bundles that break the binding synthetic resin and separate into a small number of non-natural fiber bundles or a single non-natural fiber. By being broken, it absorbs the energy of the applied external force.

The energy absorber 20 is the steering wheel core metal 10
between the core metal side plates 1 to 21 to which the center member 11 is attached, the boss side plays 1 to 22 having the boss portion 22b into which the steering shaft 30 is inserted, and the core metal side plate 21 and the boss side plate 22. The core side plate 21 and the boss side plates 1 to 22 are fixed together at the end.
It is composed of a reinforced resin part 23 that is S-shaped.

More specifically, the core metal side plate 21 to which the center member 11 of the steering wheel core metal 10 is attached has an approximately disk shape, and has a convex portion 21a continuous approximately in the shape of a gear on its outer periphery. At the inner periphery, screw holes 21b are bored corresponding to the plurality of through holes 11a of the center portion 11 of the steering wheel core metal 10. Further, a fitting hole 21c is bored in the center thereof to accommodate the locking bottom portion 15a of the horn switch 15.

The boss side plate 22 having a boss portion 22b into which the steering shaft 30 is inserted has a substantially gear-shaped convex portion 22a on its upper disc-shaped outer periphery corresponding to the core metal side plays 1 to 21. A steering shaft insertion hole 22C in which a serration hole is formed is bored in the central axis of the lower part.

Similar to the spoke parts 13, the reinforced resin part 23, which is disposed between the core metal side plate 21 and the boss side plate 22 and fixes them together, is made of one or more glass fibers, carbon fibers, etc. A binding synthetic resin such as polyester, vinyl ester, or epoxy is applied as a binder to the non-natural fiber, and the fiber is wound around the convex portion 21a of 21 on the core metal side play 1 and the convex portion 22a of the boss side plate 22, and both are wrapped. The fibers are stretched alternately and continuously to form a predetermined non-natural fiber bundle and cured. Similar to the spoke parts 13, this reinforced resin part 23 is formed by infiltrating one or more glass fibers, carbon fibers, etc. into an S-immersion tank containing a binding synthetic resin such as polyester, vinyl ester, or epoxy. It is passed through and wound around the protrusion 21a of the core side plate 21 and the protrusion 111522a of the boss side plays 1 to 22 in predetermined steps, and is repeatedly wound to a predetermined thickness to form a non-natural fiber bundle, which is then hardened. It is.

This energy absorber 20 resists an external force applied in one direction from the core side plate 21 to the boss side plate 22, and the reinforced resin part 23 is made up of a large number of non-natural fiber bundles that are adhesively bound with synthetic resin for binding. The synthetic resin is broken and separated and broken. That is, when an external force is applied to the energy absorber 20, the reinforced resin part 23 breaks the binding synthetic resin by a large number of bound non-natural fiber bundles, and breaks down into a small number of non-natural fiber bundles or a single non-natural fiber. By separating and breaking, it absorbs the energy of the applied external force.

The ring portion core metal 12, the spoke portions 13, and the center member 11 are entirely covered with a coating layer 40 made of a soft synthetic resin such as foamed polyurethane resin. Note that the outer periphery of the energy absorber 20 is covered with a soft synthetic resin cover. Furthermore, steering wheel core metal 10
The horn switch 1 is inserted into the locking hole 11b of the center member 11.
5 is inserted into the locking state. In addition,
The ring portion core bar 12 covered with a coating layer 40 made of a soft synthetic resin such as foamed polyurethane resin constitutes a ring portion.

The steering wheel body of this embodiment configured as described above has a boss side play 1 at the lower end of the energy absorber 20.
-22, the steering shaft 30 is inserted into the steering shaft insertion hole 22C of the boss portion 22b, and the serrations of the steering shirts 1 to 30 are parked in the serration holes. stick. The core metal side plays 1 to 21 at the upper end of the energy absorber 20 are inserted into the N through-holes 11a of the center member 11 of the steering wheel core metal 10 on which the coating layer 40 is formed with a soft synthetic resin such as foamed polyurethane resin. The center member 11 is screwed with the screw 14. Furthermore, in the locking hole 11b of the center member 11 of the steering wheel core metal 10,
The locking bottom portion 15a of the small switch 15 is inserted and brought into a locked state.

Steering wheel core metal 10 with the outer surface configured as described above covered with a coating layer 40 @ constituting ring part core metal 1
2, the spoke portions 13, and the center member 11, the steering wheel body can have a steering function as a normal steering wheel.

Further, when a large external force parallel to the length direction of the steering shaft 30 is applied to the ring part core metal 12 of the steering wheel core metal 10 of the steering wheel body, the reinforced resin of the spoke parts 13 is A large number of non-natural fiber bundles bound with resin separate into a small number of non-natural fiber bundles or a single non-natural fiber, and eventually break, absorbing external energy.

In addition, the reinforced resin part 23 of the boss part energy absorber 20 is constructed such that a large number of non-natural fiber bundles bound with a synthetic resin for binding can withstand the above-mentioned force, and a small number of non-natural fiber bundles or a single non-natural fiber bundle can be It separates into fibers and eventually breaks down, absorbing external energy.

As described above, in the steering wheel of this embodiment, synthetic resin for binding is used between the ring part core metal 12 of the steering wheel core metal 10 and the central member 11 attached to the boss part 22b into which the steering shirts i to 30 are inserted. In J, the non-natural fiber bundle is cured, and the ring part core metal 12 and the center member 11 are cured.
The spoke portions 13 are formed of reinforced resin stretched between the two.

Therefore, when a large external force parallel to the length direction of the steering shaft 30 is applied to the ring part core metal 12 of the steering wheel core metal 10 of the steering wheel body, the components of the external force applied to the center member 11 and the ring part core metal 12 As a result, the reinforced resin of the spoke portion 13 absorbs external energy by causing a large number of bound non-natural fiber bundles to break the binding synthetic resin and separate into a small number of non-natural fiber bundles or a single non-natural fiber. do.

Similarly, due to the component of the external force applied to the central member 11 and the boss portion 22b, the boss portion energy absorber 20 causes a large number of bound non-natural fibers to break the binding synthetic resin in response to the force. , separates into a small number of non-natural fiber bundles or a single non-natural fiber to absorb the energy of this external force.

In addition, in the steering wheel body, since the non-natural fiber bundles adhesively bound with synthetic resin for binding are arranged only in the spoke parts 13, a small mold or a small mold to maintain the shape of the spoke part core material or the center member 11 If there is a jig that can maintain the relative position of the ring part core metal 12, the spoke part can be formed, and furthermore, the resin can be cured in a small heating furnace that can only accommodate the spoke part. Since the thickness of the non-natural fiber bundle can be made thinner than that used as the core material of the ring part, the curing time of the resin can be shortened and productivity can be improved.

Furthermore, since the ring portion core metal 12 is made of metal, it can be easily processed after attaching a weight or the like, and the shape of the steering wheel can be arbitrarily and easily adjusted.

Spoke portion 1 of the steering wheel body of the above embodiment
3 and the boss energy absorber 20 are made by curing a large number of non-natural fiber bundles such as glass m fibers or carbon fibers with synthetic resin for binding. It is not limited to natural fiber bundles cured with synthetic resin for binding, but also monofilaments such as glass l1fi fibers or carbon fibers, or fabrics or non-woven fabrics woven from multiple glass fibers or carbon fibers. It is possible to use a filament mat formed by adhesion to a filament mat, or a laminate mat in which the filament mat is integrated with a large number of single H & string bundles such as glass fibers or carbon fibers.
ed plastics: This refers to materials r1 called ed plastics, which are synthetic resins with added reinforcing materials and are a type of composite materials.

Furthermore, although the central member 11 in the above embodiment was integrated with the core side plate 21 of the boss energy absorber 20 by screwing, in the case of implementing the present invention, a metal energy absorber may be used. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3, the core side plate 41 of the boss energy absorber 20 can be used in common.

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional view showing another embodiment of the steering wheel according to the present invention, and a front view taken along the line M. FIG.

In the figure, the core side plate 41 (center member 11) of the boss energy absorber 20 is composed of an upper flange portion 41A, a lower flange portion 41B, and a cylindrical portion 41C, and has a substantially reel shape. Cylindrical portion 4 at the center of the core side plate 41
10 is provided with a fitting hole for accommodating the locking bottom portion of the horn switch shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The lower flange portion 41B has a convex portion 41a that is continuous in the shape of a gear on its outer periphery. To be sure, the convex portion 41a that is continuous in the shape of a substantially gear becomes a concave portion that is continuous in the shape of a substantially gear.

Similarly, the boss side plate 42 of the boss energy absorber 20 has an upper flange 42A and a lower flange 42A.
B and a cylindrical portion 42C, and has a substantially reel shape. The upper flange portion 42A of the boss side plate 42, which has a boss portion into which the steering shaft is inserted, has a substantially disk shape, and a substantially gear wheel is formed on the outer periphery of the boss side plate 42 in correspondence with the lower seven run portions 41B of the core metal side plate 41. It has a convex portion 42a that is continuous in a shape. A steering shaft insertion hole in which a serration hole is formed is bored in the central axis of the cylindrical portion 42C.

The core side plate 41 and the boss side plate 42 of the boss energy absorber 20 configured in this manner can be covered with non-natural fiber bundles using synthetic resin for binding as follows.

First, the core side plate 4 of the boss energy absorber 20
1 lower 7 run part 41B and upper 7 of boss side plate 42
With the run-off portions 42A facing each other, a single or a plurality of convex portions 418, which are continuous in a predetermined substantially gear-like shape, are placed at predetermined positions between convex portions 42a, which are continuous in a substantially gear-like shape, are made to face each other. Non-natural M&fibers such as glass fibers or carbon fibers are stretched with synthetic resin for binding as a binder, and are passed through the lower surface of the upper 7 run section 42A of the boss side plate 42 and deviated by a predetermined pitch. The suspension is repeatedly stretched from the position to a predetermined position on the lower flange portion 41B, and further, from a position shifted by a predetermined pitch through the upper surface of the lower seven run portion 41B of the core side plate 41, to a predetermined position on the upper flange portion 42A. This is repeated a predetermined number of times to harden. As a result, the lower 7 run portions 4 of the core metal side plate 41
1B and the upper flange portion 42A of the boss side plate 42 are formed with a reinforced resin portion 43. Further, if necessary, non-natural fibers coated with a binding synthetic resin are wound in an annular shape around the non-natural fibers to form reinforcing resin portions 43. That is, in this case, the annular reinforced resin part wound around the inter-flange reinforced resin part breaks the binding synthetic resin and separates the inter-flange reinforced resin part, which increases the mechanical strength until it breaks. can be increased.

Then, using the cylindrical portion 41C of the core metal side plate 41, insert one or more non-natural fibers such as glass fibers or carbon fibers between it and the recess 12a of the ring portion core metal 12.
Spoke portions 13 are formed by stretching a material to which a binding synthetic resin as a binder is applied.

In this embodiment, a large number of non-natural fiber bundles adhesively bound with the binding synthetic resin of the reinforced resin part 43 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Unlike the case of the embodiment shown in the figure, the convex convex FA=
118 or the convex portion 42a. Therefore, the lower flange portion 41B of the boss energy absorber 20 or the upper seven rank portions 42A of the boss side plate 42, together with the reinforced resin wound around the cylindrical portion 41G forming the spoke portion 13, bind the reinforced resin portion 43. The reinforced resin wound around the cylindrical portion 41C reinforces the end portion of the reinforced resin portion 43 forming the reinforced resin portion 43.

By the way, the steering wheel core metal 10 of the above embodiment
The ring core bar 12 has a non-natural fiber bundle stretched between it and the center member 11 or 41 which forms a recess 12a and is attached to a boss part 22b into which the steering shaft 30 is inserted. However, when carrying out the present invention, an engaging protrusion may be formed in place of the recess 12a of the ring core 12, or an engaging part etc. may be attached using another member. . In any case, ring part core metal 1
When a non-natural fiber bundle is stretched with a binding synthetic resin at a specific location in 2, the ring part core bar 12 and the non-natural l! It is sufficient to adopt a structure that does not deviate from the position where the fiber bundle is stretched.

Further, the recess 12a of the ring portion core 12 of the steering wheel core 10 of the above embodiment and the center member 11 or 4
1, the non-natural fiber bundle was stretched around the cylindrical part 11G or 41C of the central member 11 or 41, but when carrying out the present invention,
It may be stretched along the cylindrical portion 11G or 41C of the center member 11 or 41, or the concave portion 12a of the ring portion core bar 12.
It may be wound around. Alternatively, the cylindrical portion 11C or 41G of the center member 11 or 41 and the concave portion 12a of one ring portion core metal 12 are continuously wound, and the concave portion 12a of the other ring portion core metal 12 is continuously wound. The winding may be repeated or may be performed alternately every predetermined number of windings.

Therefore, the tension of the non-natural fiber bundle with synthetic resin for binding between the recess 12a of the ring core 12 of the steering wheel core 10 of the above embodiment and the center member 11 or 41 is carried out in the recess. 12a and the center member 11 or 41; however, when carrying out the present invention, the periphery of the non-natural fiber bundle stretched between the recess 12a and the center member 11 or 41 is It can be rolled into a fiber bundle of a predetermined thickness. Furthermore, in this case, the width of the reinforcing fiber bundles forming the spoke portions 13 can be narrowed.

Furthermore, the central member 11 of this embodiment is similar to the core side plate 21 of the boss energy absorber 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
The description has been made of the one that is integrated with the core metal side plate 41 of the boss energy absorber 20 shown in FIG. omitting the energy absorber 20,
It can also be used in common with the boss portion 22b into which the steering shaft 30 is inserted.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the steering wheel of the present invention has a non-natural taA miscellaneous material formed using a binding synthetic resin between the ring core of the steering wheel core and the central member disposed at the center of the steering wheel core. Since the spokes are made of reinforced resin stretched between the ring core metal and the center member while avoiding hardening of the bundle, when external force is applied to the ring part of the steering wheel, the non-stick parts that make up the spoke parts will The natural fiber bundle tries to separate into each non-natural fiber, acting against the binding force of the binding synthetic resin, and the l of the non-natural 1i1i fiber bundle! The energy of external force can be absorbed by the fiber strength and the breakage of the binding synthetic resin. In addition, since the reinforced resin part formed by curing non-natural fiber bundles with synthetic resin for binding is provided only between the ring core metal and the center member of the steering wheel body, the shape of the spoke part is The spokes can be formed using a jig or a small mold to hold the spokes, and the resin can be cured in a small heating furnace that can accommodate only the spokes, so large equipment is not required.

Furthermore, since the thickness of the non-natural fiber bundle can be made thinner than that used as the ring core material, curing time can be shortened and productivity can be improved.

Furthermore, since the core material of the ring portion is made of metal, processing such as adding weight is easy, and the moment of inertia of the steering wheel can be arbitrarily and easily adjusted.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire steering wheel body according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 includes a partial sectional view of the assembled steering wheel main body used in the embodiment of Fig. 1. FIG. 3 is a partially sectional front view showing another embodiment of the steering wheel according to the embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 Steering wheel core metal, 11: Center member, 12: Ring part core metal, 12a: Recessed part, 13 Varnish bore part, 20: Boss part energy absorber, 21.41: Core metal side plate, 22 .42: Boss side plate, 22b = Boss portion, 30 Nisteering shaft, 40: Covering layer. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals and the same symbols indicate the same or equivalent parts.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A non-natural fiber bundle is hardened with synthetic resin for binding between the ring core and the central member placed in the center.
A steering wheel characterized in that spoke portions are formed of reinforced resin stretched between a ring portion core metal and a center member. (2) The central member disposed at the center of the ring core metal is
The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel is a substantially reel-shaped member having flanges on both sides. (3) The central member disposed at the center of the ring core metal is
The steering wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that the steering wheel has a boss portion into which a steering shaft is inserted.