JPH011659A - 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 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering wheel equipped with an energy absorber.

[Prior Art] A conventional steering wheel equipped with this type of energy absorber is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1983-1999. -156453 publication,
JP-A-59-14573, JP-A-59-2308
For example, the technique disclosed in Publication No. 49 can be mentioned.

The technique described in JP-A-58-156453 is as follows:
A boss plate is disposed on the boss portion of the steering wheel, and an energy absorber that can be deformed into a flat shape by external force is disposed on the boss plate.

Further, the technique described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-14573 is a steering wheel in which a shock absorber is interposed between a boss of the steering wheel and a pad, in which the shock absorber is connected to an outer @1 shock absorber. It has a double structure consisting of a second buffer that is housed inside the first buffer and deforms after the first buffer is deformed.

The technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 59-230849 provides an energy absorber structure in which a horn switch body is disposed between an integral cover and an energy absorber made of brittle synthetic resin. The energy absorber is integrated by injecting a brittle synthetic resin material into the cover whose body is sealed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the case of a substantially flat steering wheel body such as a sports type steering wheel, it is difficult to arrange an energy absorber in the pad portion, and the above-mentioned conventional example is taken as a countermeasure. I couldn't do that.

Therefore, it is conceivable to adopt a structure in which the boss portion of the steering wheel body absorbs the energy applied from the outside. However, when considering the mechanical strength of the boss,
Normally, sheet metal or the like must be used, which increases the weight of the steering wheel, resulting in an increase in the overall weight of the steering wheel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel that does not significantly increase the weight and can absorb energy at the boss portion.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The steering wheel according to the present invention has a structure in which a steering wheel is provided between a core-side plate to which spokes of a steering wheel core are attached and a boss-side plate having a boss into which a steering shaft is inserted. The non-natural fiber bundle is cured using a synthetic resin for binding, and an energy absorber that integrates the core side plate and the boss side plate is disposed at the boss portion.

[Function] In the present invention, between the core side plate to which the spoke portion of the steering wheel core material is attached and the boss side plate having the boss portion into which the steering shaft is inserted,
An increase in the weight of the steering wheel body is suppressed by disposing an energy absorber formed by curing a non-natural fiber bundle in a binding synthetic resin. In addition, the distance between the core material side plate and the boss side plate is the distance over which the energy absorber formed by hardening the non-natural fiber bundle with synthetic resin for binding can change, and the amount of energy absorbed is determined by the size of the distance that can be displaced. optionally, and
Can be easily adjusted.

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

In the figure, a steering wheel core 10 as a steering wheel core material includes a center portion 11, a ring portion 12 that is entirely covered with a coating layer 12a made of a soft synthetic resin such as foamed polyurethane resin, and spoke portions 1 that are partially covered.
3, with a plurality of n through holes 1 in the central part 11.
1a is bored and screwed to the core side plate 21 of the energy absorber 20 with a screw 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 energy absorber 20 also includes a core side plate 21 to which the center portion 11 of the steering wheel core 10 is attached;
A boss side plate 22 having a boss portion 22b into which the steering shaft 30 is inserted is disposed between the core side plate 21 and the boss side plate 22, and the core side plate 21 and the boss side plate are connected at the end. 22 is integrally fixed with the reinforced resin part 23.

More specifically, the core side plate 21 to which the center portion 11 of the steering wheel core metal 10 is attached has a substantially disk shape, and has a convex portion 21a continuous in a substantially gear shape on its outer periphery. At the inner periphery, screw holes 21b are bored corresponding to the plurality of through holes 11a in 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.

When screwing the center part 11 of the steering wheel core metal 10 to the core plate 21 of the energy absorber 20 with the screw 14, the spacer 16 is attached to the convex portion 2 of the core plate 21.
The thickness of the non-natural fiber bundle wound around 1a is reduced, and the center part 11 of the steering wheel core bar 10 can be firmly attached. The spacer 16 includes a plurality of through holes 16a through which the screws 14 pass, and the horn switch 1.
A fitting hole 16b for accommodating the locking bottom portion 15a of No. 5 is bored.

The boss side plate 22, which has a boss portion 22b into which the steering shaft 30 is inserted, has a convex portion 22a that corresponds to the core side plate 21 and is continuous in the shape of a gear on its upper disc-shaped outer periphery. A steering shaft insertion hole 22d in which a serration hole is formed is formed in the central axis of the lower part.

The reinforced resin part 23, which is disposed between the core material side plate 21 and the boss side plate 22 and which fixes them together, is made by adding a binder to one or more non-natural fibers of the glass fiber or carbon fiber shade. ) A binding synthetic resin such as polyester, vinyl ester, or epoxy is applied to the convex portion 21a of the core side plate 21 and the boss side plate 2.
The non-natural fiber bundle is wound around two convex portions 22a, and both are alternately and continuously stretched to form a predetermined non-natural fiber bundle. The reinforced resin portion 23 is formed by passing one or more glass fibers or carbon fibers through an impregnated tank containing a binding synthetic resin such as polyester, vinyl ester, or epoxy. It is wound around the convex portion 21a and the convex portion 22a of the boss side plate 22 in predetermined steps and repeatedly wound to a predetermined thickness to form a non-natural fiber bundle, which is then cured.

This energy absorber 20 resists external forces applied in the direction from the core side plate 21 to the boss side plate 22, and the reinforced resin part 23 has a large number of non-natural fiber bundles adhesively bound with a binding synthetic resin. It destroys the resin, separates it, deforms it outwards, and breaks it.

In the steering wheel body of this embodiment configured as described above, the boss side plate 22 at the lower end of the energy absorber 20 is inserted into the steering shaft insertion hole 22d of the boss portion 22b, and the steering shaft 30 is inserted into the serration hole. Then, the serrations of the steering shafts 1 to 30 are set to a stopped state, and the tip of the steering shaft 30 is fixed with a nut (not shown). and,
The core material side plate 21 at the upper end of the energy absorber 20 is covered with a coating layer 12 made of a soft synthetic resin such as foamed polyurethane resin.
Center part 1 of steering wheel core metal 10 forming a
The center part 11 is screwed with the screw 14 pushed through the through hole 11a of the first part. Further, the locking bottom portion 15a of the horn switch 15 is inserted into the locking hole 11b of the center portion 11 of the steering wheel core member 10 to be in a locked state.

Steering wheel core metal 10 configured as described above, the outer surface of which is covered with a coating layer '12a. The steering wheel body composed of the energy absorber 20 can have a steering function as a normal steering wheel via the steering shaft 30 connected to the lower part of the steering wheel body.

Further, when a large external force parallel to the length direction of the steering shaft 30 is applied to the steering wheel core 10 of the steering wheel body, the reinforced resin portion 23 of the energy absorber 20 is bound with the binding synthetic resin against the force. The resulting large number of non-natural fiber bundles is transformed into a force that destroys the binding synthetic resin, and is separated into a small number of non-natural fiber bundles or a single non-natural fiber, and is destroyed.

In this way, the steering wheel of this embodiment has the steering wheel core 10 of the steering wheel body.
The steering wheel absorbs external energy applied to the steering wheel, and includes a core side plate 21 to which the spoke portions 13 of the steering wheel core metal 10 are attached, and a boss side plate 22 having a boss portion 22b into which the steering shaft 30 is inserted. A reinforced resin part 23 is disposed between the core material side plate 21 and the boss side plate 22, and is integrated with the non-natural fiber bundles by hardening them with synthetic resin for binding.
It is equipped with an energy absorber 20 consisting of.

Therefore, the steering wheel of this embodiment has a steering wheel core 10 of the steering wheel body.
When a large external force is applied to the energy absorber 20, a large number of bound non-natural fibers break the binding synthetic resin in response to the force, and a small number of non-natural fiber bundles or a single non-natural fiber The energy of this external force can be absorbed by being separated and destroyed. In addition, since the energy absorber 20 is disposed in the boss portion below the steering wheel body, the energy absorber 20 may be destroyed, that is, when a large external force is applied to the energy absorber 20.
Since the stroke at which the reinforcing resin portion 23 breaks can be adjusted as desired, and can also be increased, the amount of energy absorbed can be increased.

Furthermore, the steering wheel of this embodiment can accommodate even a substantially flat steering wheel body by increasing the length of the energy absorber 20.
Since the reinforced resin portion 23 can be adapted to various types of steering wheel bodies depending on its length, even if a wide variety of steering wheel bodies are required, its component parts can be standardized.

As described above, the energy absorber 20 for carrying out the present invention is made by hardening the non-natural fiber bundle with the synthetic resin for binding, and by hardening the non-natural fiber bundle with the synthetic resin for binding. ! ! , the fiber bundle may have any shape as long as it can be set substantially parallel to the direction in which a large external force is applied to absorb the fiber bundle. More specifically, the reinforced resin portion 23 of the energy absorber 20 may be configured such that the non-natural fiber bundle is approximately parallel to the direction in which a large external force is applied, that is, a component perpendicular to the direction in which a large external force is applied.

Further, the energy absorber 20 of the above embodiment is made by curing a large number of non-natural fiber bundles such as glass fibers or carbon fibers with a synthetic resin for binding. It is not limited to non-natural fiber bundles cured with synthetic resin for binding, but also single fibers such as glass fibers or carbon fibers, woven fabrics or non-woven fabrics woven from multiple glass fibers or carbon fibers, etc. It is possible to use a filament mat formed by adhesion, or a filament mat in which a large number of single fiber bundles such as glass fibers or carbon fibers are integrated with the filament mat.
err plastics: Refers to materials called err plastics, which are synthetic resins with added reinforcing materials and are a type of composite material.

The core side plate 21 constituting the energy absorber 20 of the above embodiment has a substantially disk shape, and has a convex portion 21a continuous in a substantially gear shape on its outer periphery, and a plurality of screw holes on its inner periphery. 21b, which has a fitting hole 2IC in the center. Further, the boss side plate 22 has a boss portion 22b. However, when carrying out the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. It is also possible to have a substantially reel shape in which the flange portions have different diameters.

3 and 4 are front views showing other examples of the energy absorber 20 used in the steering wheel according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the core side plate 41 of the energy absorber 20 is composed of an upper 7 flange portion 41A, a lower flange portion 41B, and a cylindrical portion 41G, and has a substantially reel shape in which the diameters of the 7 flange portions on both sides are equal. It shows. The upper flange portion 41A has a plurality of through holes 11a around its inner side to which the center portion 11 of the steering wheel core metal 10 is directly attached.
A screw hole is drilled correspondingly. Further, a fitting hole having a diameter equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 410 that accommodates the locking bottom portion 15a of the horn switch 15 is bored in the center thereof. In addition, the lower flange portion 41B is
It has a continuous convex portion 41a in the shape of a gear on its outer periphery. To be sure, the convex portion 4 continuous in the shape of a gear
1a is a concave portion that is continuous and substantially gear-shaped.

Similarly, the boss side plate 42 of the energy absorber 20 is composed of an upper flange portion 42A, a lower flange portion 42B, and a cylindrical portion 42C, and has a substantially reel shape in which the diameters of the flange portions on both sides are equal.

The upper flange portion 42A of the boss side plate 42, which has a boss portion that holds the steering shaft 4g, has a substantially disk shape, and a substantially gear-shaped upper flange portion 42A is formed on the outer periphery of the boss side plate 42 in correspondence with the lower flange portion 41B of the core side plate 41. It has a continuous protrusion 428. A steering shaft l-insertion hole in which a serration hole is formed is bored in the center axis of the cylindrical portion 42C.

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

First, the lower flange portion 4.1B of the core side plate 41 of the energy absorber 20 and the upper flange portion 42A of the boss side plate 12 are made to face each other, and the convex portions 41a continuous in a predetermined approximate wheel shape are spaced between each other. From the position, a single or a plurality of non-natural fibers such as glass fibers or carbon fibers are placed at predetermined positions between the convex portions 42a that are continuous in a similar schematic wheel shape.
A binding synthetic resin such as polyester, vinyl ester, or epoxy is stretched as a binder, and the lower flange portion 41B is passed through the lower surface of the upper 7 flange portions 42A of the boss side plate 42 from a position shifted by a predetermined pitch. Repeatedly tension it at a predetermined position, and further tension it from a position shifted by a predetermined pitch through the upper surface of the lower 7 flange part 41B of the core-3 phase open plate 41 to a predetermined position of the upper flange part 42A. This is then repeated a predetermined number of times to harden. As a result, the lower 7 flange portion 41B of the core side plate 41 and the upper flange portion 4 of 42 are connected to the boss side plate 1.
A reinforced resin portion 43 is formed at 2A.

The energy absorber 20 configured as described above resists an external force applied in the direction from the core side plate 41 to the boss side plate 42. The fiber bundle breaks the binding synthetic resin and absorbs the energy of the applied large external force.

At this time, unlike in the embodiments shown in Figs. It is not wound around the convex portion 42a. Therefore, the lower flange portion 41 of the core side plate 41 of the energy absorber 20
The upper flange portion 42A of the B or boss side plate 42 is
This will be assimilated by the binding synthetic resin of the reinforced tree fingers 43. Core side plate 41 of energy absorber 20
In the state where the lower 7 run 9 portion 41B or the upper flange portion 42A of the boss side plate 42 is solidified by the binding synthetic resin of the reinforced resin portion 43, the core material side plate 4
1 to the boss side plate 42, the reinforced resin part 43 has a large number of non-natural fiber bundles adhesively bound with synthetic resin for binding, which destroys the synthetic resin for binding and absorbs the energy of the external force. Absorb. However, during this time, the lower flange portion 41 of the core side plate 41 of the energy absorber 20
B or when the fixed part between the upper flange part 42A of the boss side plate 42 and the reinforced resin part 43 comes off, the upper flange part 41A of the core material side plate 41 of the energy absorber 20 or the lower 7 run 9 part of the boss side plate 42 comes off. 42B, the reinforced resin part 43 is compressed, and as a result, a large number of non-natural fiber bundles adhesively bound with the binding synthetic resin break the binding synthetic resin, and the reinforced resin part 43 absorbs the energy of the external force. will be absorbed. Therefore, a large number of non-natural atii bundles adhesively bound with the binding synthetic resin of the reinforced resin part 43 are continuous in a gear-like shape of the lower flange part 41B of the core side plate 41 or the upper flange part 42A of the boss side plate 42. It can be configured without winding around the protrusion 41a or 42a.

However, in reality, adhesive horns of synthetic resin are used to bind a large number of non-natural fiber bundles stretched along the surfaces of the lower flange portion 41B of the core side plate 41 and the upper flange portion 42A of the boss side plate 42. , it is possible to firmly bond the non-natural fiber bundle to the lower flange portion 41B of the core side plate 41 and the upper flange portion 42A of the boss side plate 42.

Alternatively, as a modification of this kind of embodiment, the reinforced resin part 43
A large number of non-natural fiber bundles adhesively bound with a synthetic resin for binding are wound around the cylindrical part 41C of the core side plate 41 and the cylindrical part 42C of the boss side plate 42 of the energy absorber 20, and then used for binding. It may be solidified with synthetic resin.

As shown in FIG. 4, the reinforced resin portion 43 includes an inter-flange reinforced resin portion 43a stretched between the lower flange portion 41B of the core side plate 41 and the upper flange portion 42A of the boss side plate 42, and a lower Flange part 41B and upper 7 run 9 part 4
The inter-flange reinforced resin part 43 is arranged in parallel around 2A.
It may be constructed from a reinforced reinforced resin portion 43b wound around a.

That is, in this type of embodiment, the reinforced reinforced resin portion 43b wound around the inter-flange reinforced resin portion 43a increases the mechanical strength until the inter-flange reinforced resin portion 43a breaks the binding synthetic resin. be able to.

The convex portion 21a of the core side plate 21 or the convex portion 22a1 of the boss side plate 22 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 above, and the core side plate shown in FIGS. 3 and 3 above. 41 lower flange portion 41B, boss side plate 4
2 upper flange part ・42A is a convex part 4 continuous in a gear shape
1a or a convex part 42a, but when carrying out the present invention, as shown in the main part perspective view of a modified example of the convex part of the core side plate used in this embodiment in FIG. The outer peripheral end of the convex part is widened and the outer peripheral tip is rounded, and a large number of non-natural fiber bundles adhesively bound with synthetic resin for binding are stretched between the convex parts 21a1 of the core side plate 21. It can also be made easy to hang and difficult to detach. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, a spoke-shaped convex portion 21a2 may be used. Alternatively, the tips of the spoke-like protrusions 21a2 may be bent upward. In any case, when carrying out the present invention, continuous repeated convex portions are used so that a large number of non-natural fiber bundles can be stretched between the core side plate 21 and the boss side plate 22 at a predetermined pitch. In other words, continuous repeating recesses may be formed. Preferably, the structure is such that the bond between the large number of stretched non-natural fiber bundles and the core side plate 21 or the boss side plate 22 is not easily broken.

Furthermore, in the steering wheel of the above embodiment, the means for attaching the steering wheel main body and the steering shaft 30 to each other is shown as a means for attaching the steering wheel body to the steering shaft 30. The serration holes provided in the steering shaft insertion hole 22d are engaged with the serrations of the steering shaft 30, and the lock screw is screwed into the screw hole perpendicularly intersecting the steering shaft insertion hole 22d. It is also possible to use an attachment means in which the tip of the lock screw is engaged with a groove cut in the steering shaft 30, and when the present invention is carried out, the attachment can be carried out behind the steering wheel body. It may be a means.

Further, in the above embodiments, a metal core is used as the steering wheel core material, but the core material may be made of FRP or wood with a portion of metal, and is not limited to the specific embodiments.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the steering wheel of the present invention is arranged between the core-side plate to which the spokes of the steering wheel core are attached and the boss-side plate having the boss into which the steering shaft is inserted. The non-natural fiber bundle is hardened using synthetic resin for binding, and the energy absorber is made by integrating the core side plate and the boss side plate, so that the steering wheel core material does not receive external force. When the non-natural fiber bundle of the energy absorber tries to separate into individual non-natural fibers, it acts against the binding force of the binding synthetic resin, and due to the fiber strength of the non-natural fiber bundle and the binding force of the binding synthetic resin, Energy absorption of external force can be set arbitrarily. Furthermore, since relatively thin materials are sufficient for the non-natural fibers and the synthetic resin for binding, the increase in the number of fibers by 11 can be suppressed. Since it is disposed in the boss portion below the steering wheel body, it is possible to increase the change in the energy absorber due to external force.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire steering wheel body showing a steering wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view including a partial sectional view of the assembled steering wheel body used in the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show other energy absorbers used in the embodiment of the present invention. 5 and 6 are perspective views of essential parts of modified examples of the convex portion of the core side plate used in this embodiment. In the figure, 10: steering wheel core material, 13: varnish box part, 20: energy absorber, 21:
: Core material side plate. 22: Boss side plate, 22b: Boss portion, 23: Reinforced resin portion, 30 Nisteering shaft. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals and the same symbols indicate the same or equivalent parts. Patent applicant Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] (1) A steering wheel that absorbs external energy applied to the steering wheel, which includes: a core-side plate to which the center of the steering wheel core is attached; a boss-side plate having a boss into which the steering shaft is inserted; and the core. An energy absorber comprising a reinforced resin part disposed between the side plate and the boss side plate, hardening the non-natural fiber bundles with a binding synthetic resin, and integrating the non-natural fiber bundles. steering wheel. (2) The energy absorber is a non-natural fiber bundle stretched between a core side plate, a boss side plate, and a core side plate and a boss side plate. Steering wheel as described in section. (3) The energy absorber includes a core side plate, a boss side plate, a non-natural fiber bundle stretched between the core side plate and the boss side plate, and a non-natural fiber bundle wound around the non-natural fiber bundle. The steering wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of a non-natural fiber bundle. (4) The non-natural fiber bundle stretched between the core side plate and the boss side plate is stretched along the surface of the core side plate or the boss side plate. The steering wheel according to item 2 or 3. (5) The non-natural fiber bundle stretched between the core side plate and the boss side plate is stretched along the surfaces of the core side plate and the boss side plate. The steering wheel according to item 2 or 3. (6) The steering wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the core side plate of the energy absorber has a substantially disk shape. (7) The steering wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the core side plate of the energy absorber has a substantially reel shape. (8) The steering wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the boss side plate of the energy absorber has a substantially reel shape.