JPH0347968Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a steering support structure for attaching a steering device to a vehicle body.

(Prior Art) A steering device for a vehicle is provided with a steering column into which a steering shaft is rotatably inserted, and the steering column is fixed to a vehicle body, and a portion including a steering shaft and a steering wheel attached thereto is provided with a steering column. It is attached to the vehicle body. A steering support structure for attaching a portion including a steering shaft and a steering wheel to a vehicle body in such a steering device is usually such that the steering column is The intermediate portion and the lower end portion thereof are respectively attached to two brackets provided on an upper dashboard panel forming a cowl box located at the front of the vehicle interior, and are fixed to the vehicle body, or The steering column is fixed to the vehicle body by being attached to a bracket extending from an upper dash panel that forms a cowl box located at the front of the vehicle interior and a bracket extending from a lower dash panel that partitions the vehicle interior and engine room. shall be done. In the latter case,
For example, a configuration as shown by a solid line in FIG. 4 is adopted, and in such a configuration, a steering column 70 is provided, into which a steering shaft 74 to which a steering wheel 72 is attached is rotatably inserted. The intermediate portion is attached to an upper bracket 60 extending from the upper dash panel 62 toward the rear of the vehicle compartment,
Further, the lower end portion thereof is attached to a bracket 64 extending from a lower dash panel 68 toward the vehicle interior through a lower bracket 66 further provided thereon, thereby fixing the steering column 70 to the vehicle body.

In addition, in adopting a steering support structure having these configurations, support members are provided that extend in the vehicle width direction and have both ends fixed to the cowl side panels arranged on both sides of the front part of the vehicle compartment, respectively. The supporting member supports a bracket provided on the upper dash panel and to which the intermediate portion of the steering column is attached;
It has also been proposed to more firmly fix the steering column to the vehicle body.

(Problem that the invention aims to solve) By the way, various standards have been established for vehicles, and among them, the amount of movement of the steering wheel toward the rear of the cabin in the event of a collision (rearward movement of the steering wheel) There is something that regulates the quantity. The amount of rearward movement of the steering wheel is such that in the event of a collision from the front of the vehicle, etc.
This corresponds to the horizontal movement distance of the steering wheel toward the rear of the vehicle interior when the engine, etc. located at the front of the vehicle moves backward toward the vehicle interior.For example, the allowable value varies depending on the country. It is set. And each vehicle, along with other standards required respectively. It is necessary to comply with standards regarding the amount of rearward movement of such a steering wheel.

However, in the conventional steering support structure configured as described above, the brackets to which the middle and lower ends of the steering column are attached are firmly attached to the upper dash panel and the lower dash panel. As a result, in the event of a head-on collision, the entire steering column will move parallel to the rear of the passenger compartment as the engine, etc. located at the front of the vehicle moves backward toward the passenger compartment. Therefore, the amount of backward movement of the steering wheel may become relatively large. For example, if the configuration shown in FIG. 4 is adopted, in the event of a head-on collision of the vehicle, the lower dash panel 68 will move toward the passenger compartment side, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. As the steering column 70 moves, the entire steering column 70 moves in parallel toward the rear of the vehicle interior together with the steering wheel 72, and the horizontal movement distance L of the steering wheel 72 toward the rear of the vehicle interior becomes relatively large. There is a possibility.

For this reason, for vehicles that have adopted the conventional steering support structure that is configured as described above, the allowable value for the amount of rearward movement of the steering wheel set by the standard is relatively small. In this case, there is a possibility that the steering wheel does not comply with the standards regarding the amount of backward movement of the steering wheel.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a steering column through which a steering shaft is rotatably inserted, the steering column is fixed to the vehicle body, and a portion including the steering shaft and the steering wheel attached thereto is attached to the vehicle body. It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering support structure for a vehicle, which is capable of making the amount of movement of the steering wheel toward the rear of the vehicle cabin relatively small when the vehicle collides.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a steering support structure for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a steering column into which a steering shaft to which a steering wheel is attached is rotatably inserted; a steering bracket having one end fixed to an upper dashboard panel forming at least a wall surface located on the passenger compartment side of a cowl box disposed at the front of the passenger compartment and extending in the width direction of the vehicle, and a steering column attached to the other end; A steering column support member that is fixed to the vehicle body and extends in the vehicle width direction supports the other end of the steering bracket, and a steering column support member that extends toward the steering bracket from the lower dash panel that partitions the vehicle interior and the engine room. A first link member that supports the lower part, and a second link member that extends from the steering bracket in a direction along the first link member and whose other end engages with the end of the first link member, The second link member allows the first link member to displace when the vehicle body receives an impact load exceeding a predetermined value, causing rotation of the steering column about the support portion of the steering column support member. and configured.

(Function) In the steering support structure for a vehicle according to the present invention configured as described above, the steering column is attached to the other end of the steering bracket, one end of which is fixed to the upper dash panel, and the steering column is attached to the other end of the steering bracket. The other end is supported by a steering column support member fixed to the vehicle body, and the lower part of the steering column is supported by a first link member extending from the lower dash panel. An end of the link member is supported by a second link member extending from the steering bracket to secure the steering column to the vehicle body. The support of the end of the first link member by the second link member is such that when the vehicle body receives an impact load exceeding a predetermined value, the steering column is moved upward using the support portion of the steering column support member as a fulcrum. The first link member is allowed to be displaced in the direction of movement.

Therefore, in the event of a vehicle collision, the steering column rotates in a direction that moves the steering wheel upward, using the support provided by the steering column support member as a fulcrum, and as a result, the steering wheel moves toward the rear of the passenger compartment. Therefore, a vehicle adopting the vehicle steering support structure according to the present invention complies with the standard regarding the rearward movement of the steering wheel, which has a relatively small tolerance value. become something that can be done.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a steering support structure for a vehicle according to the present invention, together with a part of a vehicle body to which the structure is applied. In FIG. 1, a cowl panel 8 extending in the vehicle width direction is disposed between the bonnet 2 and the lower end of the front window 4. As shown in FIG. An upper dash panel 10 extends from the lower end of the cowl panel 8 toward the passenger compartment.
The cowl panel 8, upper dashboard panel 10, etc. form a cowl box 12 extending in the vehicle width direction. Cowl side panels (not shown) are arranged on both sides of the vehicle where both ends of the cowl box 12 are located. A steering column support bar 14 is provided that extends in the vehicle width direction and has both ends fixed to cowl side panels arranged on both sides.

Cowl panel 8 and top dash panel 10
A lower dash panel 16 that partitions the engine room 7 and the vehicle compartment 9 extends downward from the connection part. A bracket 18 is fixed to the surface of the lower dash panel 16 on the side of the vehicle interior 9,
A brake pedal 20 is attached to this bracket 18 via a shaft 19 and is swingable. In addition, a brake pedal 2 is located near the lower dashboard panel 16 in the engine room 7.
A doubling device 24 for doubling the 0 pedal operation force and a brake master cylinder 22 are arranged,
One end of the brake master cylinder 22 is supported by the bracket 18, extends into the vehicle interior 9, and is connected to the brake pedal 20.

One end of an upper steering bracket 26 is fixed to the upper dash panel 10.
An intermediate portion of the steering column 30 is attached to the other end. steering column 30
The steering wheel 32 is attached to one end of its interior.
The steering shaft 28 to which the steering shaft 28 is attached is rotatably inserted through the steering shaft 28. The steering shaft 28 is connected to the steering wheel 32
The rotation is transmitted to a steering gear (not shown) via the intermediate shaft 36. The steering shaft 28 and the intermediate shaft 36 are connected via a cross joint or the like, and the intermediate shaft 36 is curved with a predetermined curvature.

And upper steering bracket 26
The other end to which the middle part of the steering column 30 is attached is attached to the steering column support bar 1.
4 via a bracket 34 and supported by the steering column support bar 14. Therefore, the middle portion of the steering column 30 is fixed to the upper dash panel 10 via the upper steering bracket 26 and is further supported by the steering column support bar 14. Note that the steering column support bar 14 is attached to the steering column 30.
The steering column support bar 14 and the bracket 34
This means that the bracket 34 can rotate relative to the steering column support bar 14 when a force greater than a predetermined value is applied.

A lower steering bracket 38 having a pair of opposing arms is attached to the lower end of the steering column 30. Further, as clearly shown in FIG. 2, which shows a cross section taken along the - line in FIG. The opposing plate-like bodies 40a and 40b forming the link member 40 extend toward the upper steering bracket 26, respectively, and are fixed by bolts 41.
The respective ends of the opposing arm portions of the lower steering bracket 38 are connected to each intermediate portion via a connecting member 50. And these opposing arm portions 4
A long hole 43 is formed at the other end of each of Oa and 40b.

Furthermore, the upper steering bracket 26
As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the connecting portion 42c, which is one end of the link member 42, is made up of a pair of opposing arm portions 42a and 42b and a connecting portion 42c connecting them. There is. A pair of opposing arms 42a and 42b of the link member 42
extend in the direction along the opposing plate-like bodies 40a and 40b forming the link member 40, respectively, and are inserted into elongated holes 43 formed at the other ends of the opposing plate-like bodies 40a and 40b, respectively. They are connected via bolts 44 that are connected to each other. Further, an engagement pin 46 is provided upright at the other end of each of the opposing arms 42a and 42b, and this engagement pin 46 is connected to the link member 4.
The notch portion 48, which is formed in the vicinity of the long hole 43 in each of the opposing plate-like bodies 40a and 40b forming the 0, is engaged with a notch portion 48 that opens toward the lower dash panel 16 side.

In this way, the link member 40 and the link member 42 are connected at two points via the bolt 44 and the engagement pin 46, so that the upper dash panel 16 and the upper dash panel 16 are connected via the link members 40 and 42. The connection with the purse steering bracket 26 is
It will be made with a relatively large support rigidity. As described above, the lower steering bracket 3 attached to the lower end of the steering column 30 is attached to the intermediate portion of the link member 40.
8 are connected to each other via a connecting member 50, and therefore, the link member 40 has, at its intermediate portion,
The lower end of the steering column 30 is supported via the lower steering bracket 38. Therefore, the steering column 30 has an intermediate portion attached to the other end of the upper steering bracket 26 whose one end is fixed to the upper dash panel 10, and is supported by the steering column support bar 14. , its lower end is supported by a link member 40 which has one end fixed to the lower dash panel 16 and the other end supported by a link member 42, thereby being fixed to the vehicle body.

In this example, the engagement pin 46 erected at the other end of the link member 42 that is engaged with the notch 48 of the link member 40 has a structure in which the link member 40 receives a predetermined impact load or more. When pressed toward the rear side of the vehicle compartment 9, the link member 42 is detached from the notch 48. Therefore, in such a case, the link member 42 engages with the elongated hole 43 of the link member 40. The rearward rotation of the vehicle compartment 9 using the bolts 44 as fulcrums is not hindered.
Therefore, when an impact load of more than a predetermined value is applied to the vehicle body, such as in the event of a collision, the first link member 40 that supports the lower end of the steering column 30 at its intermediate portion is moved through the elongated hole formed at its end. 4
With the bolt 44 engaged with 3 as a fulcrum, the elongated hole 43
The steering column support bar rotates toward the rear side of the vehicle interior 9 within the length range of , thereby supporting the steering column 30 and the other end of the upper steering bracket 26 to which the middle portion of the steering column 30 is attached. 14 as a support shaft, the steering wheel 32 is rotated so as to move upward.

If a collision occurs from the front of a vehicle to which the steering support structure according to the present invention configured as described above is applied, for example, an engine (not shown) may be moved from the engine room 7 to the passenger compartment 9. The lower dash panel 16 is moved backward to the side, for example, from the position shown by the solid line in FIG.
is moved to a rear position. As a result, the link member 40 receives an impact load exceeding a predetermined value and is pressed toward the rear side of the vehicle compartment 9. Therefore, the other end of the link member 42 that is engaged with the notch 48 of the link member 40 is erected. The engaged pin 46 is removed from the notch 48, and the link member 40
is rotated about the bolt 44 engaged in the elongated hole 43 from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 3 to the position on the rear side of the vehicle compartment 9 shown by the dashed line. At this time, the steering column 30
is supported at its intermediate portion by the steering column support bar 14 via the other end of the upper steering bracket 26 and the bracket 34, and the link member 40 has an elongated hole 43 that engages with a bolt 44. Since the link member 4 can be extended within the length range, the link member 4 as described above
The rotation of the steering column 30 at the position indicated by the arrow S in FIG.
This will cause it to rotate in the direction shown.

Therefore, as the steering column 30 rotates, the steering wheel 32 is rotated upward from the position shown by the solid line in FIG. 3 to the position shown by the dashed line, and as a result,
The distance that the steering wheel 32 moves toward the rear of the vehicle compartment 9 is significantly reduced. In this way, for example, even if a collision occurs from the front side of the vehicle and the impact load received by the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value, the steering wheel 32
The horizontal movement distance toward the rear of the vehicle interior, that is, the amount of backward movement is effectively reduced.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above explanation, according to the vehicle steering support structure according to the present invention, the steering column into which the steering shaft is rotatably inserted is connected to the steering bracket extending from the upper dash panel and the vehicle body. The steering column support member fixed to the steering column support member is fixed to the vehicle body, and the lower part of the steering column support member is further supported by a link member to securely attach the part including the steering shaft and the steering wheel attached to the vehicle body. Moreover, it is possible to effectively reduce the amount of backward movement of the steering wheel in the event of a collision in the passenger compartment. Therefore, in a vehicle to which the vehicle steering support structure according to the present invention is applied, the allowable rearward movement amount of the steering wheel is set to be relatively small.

In addition, since the link member that supports the lower part of the steering column is supported by another link member extending from the steering bracket, the support of the steering column to the vehicle body is strong, and the steering system is supported when the vehicle is running. vibration is reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an example of a vehicle steering support structure according to the present invention together with a part of a vehicle body to which the structure is applied; FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 1; The figure is a diagram used to explain the displacement of the steering wheel during a collision of a vehicle to which the example shown in Figure 1 is applied, and Figure 4 is a diagram used to explain the steering support structure of a conventional vehicle. . In the figure, 10 is an upper dash panel, 12 is a cowl box, 14 is a steering column support bar, 16 is a lower dash panel, 26 is an upper steering bracket, 28 is a steering shaft, 30 is a steering column, and 32 is a steering wheel. , 38 is a lower steering bracket, 40 and 42 are link members, 46
48 is an engagement pin, 48 is a notch, and 50 is a connecting member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A steering column into which a steering shaft to which a steering wheel is attached is rotatably inserted; and an upper dash that forms at least a wall surface on the side of the vehicle interior of a cowl box that is arranged at the front of the vehicle interior and extends in the width direction of the vehicle. a steering bracket having one end fixed to the panel and the steering column attached to the other end; a steering column support member supporting the other end of the steering bracket with a part fixed to the vehicle body and extending in the vehicle width direction; A first link member having one end fixed to a lower dash panel that partitions the vehicle interior and the engine room and extending toward the steering bracket to support the lower part of the steering column, and one end fixed to the steering bracket. and extends in a direction along the first link member, and when the other end engages with the other end of the first link member and the vehicle body receives an impact load of a predetermined amount or more, the steering A steering support structure for a vehicle, comprising: a second link member that allows displacement of the first link member that causes rotation of the steering column about the support portion of the column support member.