JPH0510117U - Steering wheel device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The main object of the present invention is to provide a safe steering wheel device having a high energy absorption effect. [Construction] The horn pad 85 comprises a pad main body 86 made of a soft synthetic resin and an insert member 87 superposed on the back surface side of the pad main body 86. A hat-shaped energy absorbing plate 30 is provided between the horn pad 85 and the wheel core metal 15. The insert member 87 is
The opening 96 is made of a material harder than the pad main body 86, and is provided at a portion facing the energy absorbing plate 30. A contact plate 41 having a contact member 51 is fixed to the energy absorbing plate 30. Notch 52 provided in contact plate 41
Are supported so that they can be detached from the support portion 23 when the energy absorption plate 30 is largely deformed.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

  The present invention relates to a steering wheel device used in a steering system of a vehicle such as an automobile. To do.

[0002]

[Prior art]

  A horn pad is provided at the center of the steering wheel of the car. When the horn pad is pushed by hand, the horn switch circuit turns on and the horn It sounds. The material of the horn pad protects the driver in the event of a collision. Therefore, a relatively soft resin such as urethane foam is used.

[0003]   In the conventional steering wheel device, the pad body made of soft synthetic resin And an insert member made of hard resin provided on the back side of the pad body A horn pad consisting of is known.

[0004]   This type of horn pad is a well-known fastener that is molded integrally with the insert member. The horn is held by the wheel core metal so that it can move with a predetermined stroke. The movable side contact contacts the fixed side contact when the pad is pushed by hand. This horn pad uses a return spring to separate the movable contact from the fixed contact. Is urged in the direction of.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

  In the steering wheel device described above, the head of the occupant is detected in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle. In order to alleviate some of the energy when a vehicle hits the horn pad, An energy absorbing plate may be installed inside the pad.

[0006]   However, if a hard resin insert member is on the back side of the pad body, It is not preferable because the insert member may be cracked by the force of. That's right If the insert member is made of sheet metal, the horn pad can be attached with one touch It becomes difficult to integrally form such a fastener with the insert member.   Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to absorb the energy at the time of collision effectively and It is to provide a steering wheel device.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

  The steering wheel device of the present invention, which was developed to achieve the above object, is A hat-shaped metal plate energy absorption plate between the wheel core and the horn pad Is equipped with. The horn pad is located on the part facing the energy absorption plate. An insert member having an opening and a soft resin covering the outside of this insert member And a pad main body of the present invention.

[0008]

[Action]

  When a large load is applied in the direction of crushing the horn pad, such as during a frontal collision, the horn Energy applied to the pad is transmitted to the energy absorption plate through the pad body. Instead, a part of the energy is absorbed by the plastic deformation of the energy absorption plate. Is absorbed. The center part of the insert member, that is, the pair with the energy absorption plate Since the opening is provided in the facing part, the load applied to the horn pad is The energy absorbing plate is deformed without using the sart member. Because of this, The insert member does not participate in the absorption of collision energy, and the relatively soft The load applied to the pad body can be directly transmitted to the energy absorbing member.

[0009]

【Example】

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.   The steering wheel device 10 for an automobile shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has an annular rim. Portion 11, a center boss portion 12 located at the center of rotation of the rim portion 11, and the rim portion 11 consists of a spoke part 13 connecting the boss part 12 and the like, and a wheel core metal 1 inside 5 is provided. In the illustrated example, the spoke portion 13 includes the boss portion 12 and the rim portion. Three are provided radially toward 11.

[0010]   The rim portion 11 includes a rim core metal 15a and a covering material 17 that covers the entire circumference of the rim core metal 15a. Consists of. A part of the spoke core metal 15b is also covered with the covering material 17. Coating The material 17 is made of an appropriate synthetic resin such as soft vinyl chloride or urethane foam. . The serration hole 18 provided in the boss core bar 15c is a steering wheel (not shown). It is fixed to the end of the shaft.

[0011]   Each spoke core metal 15b is fixed to form a part of the horn switch circuit. A side contact member 21 is provided. Also fixed to the rising part 15d of the boss core 15c A side contact member 22 is provided. The support portion 2 is provided near the contact members 21 and 22. 3, 24 are provided. The support portions 23 and 24 are replaced by one support portion 23 in FIG. As shown, the collar 26 and washer 27 are threaded onto the wheel core by screws 25. It is fixed to gold 15.

[0012]   The energy absorbing plate 30 is supported by the supporting portions 23 and 24. It The energy absorption plate 30 is formed by press-forming a metal plate such as an iron plate into the following shape. The thickness is about 1.2 mm.

[0013]   As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, etc., the energy absorption plate 30 is a washbasin. It has a shape like a face down (hat shape) and has a disk-shaped main portion 31 and this main portion. The rising wall 32 provided all around the edge of 31 and the rising wall 32 It is composed of a flange portion 33 connected to the base portion.

[0014]   The main portion 31 and the rising wall 32 are smoothly connected to each other via the curved portion 35. ing. A curved portion 36 is also formed between the rising wall 32 and the flange portion 33. It In addition, an opening through which the center boss 12 can be exposed in a part of the main portion 31. 37 is provided.

[0015]   As shown in FIG. 5, the energy absorbing plate 30 is attached to the first component made of sheet metal. The tact plate 41 and the second contact plate 42, which is also made of sheet metal, are welded together. The horn bracket 43 is fixed to the flange portion 33 by an appropriate fixing means such as Are configured.

[0016]   The first contact plate 41 includes a pair of left and right arm portions 45, and 5, the plate 41 is spotted on the flange portion 33 at an appropriate place 47. It is integrally joined by welding or the like. At the end of the arm 45, a horn switch circuit Is provided with a movable contact member 51 and a notch 52. Also, A movable side contact member 51 and a cutout 52 are also provided in the central portion of the arm 45.

[0017]   The cutout portion 52 is engaged with the collar 26 of the support portion 23 described above. this Causes the first contact plate 41 to move a predetermined stroke in the axial direction of the collar 26. It is movably supported within the roque range.

[0018]   The second contact plate 42 is a mounting base fixed to the flange 33. 60, a bent end portion 63 having a movable side contact member 61 and a through hole 62, and a leg portion 6 It is equipped with 4. The leg portion 64 connects the mounting base portion 60 and the bent end portion 63. The attachment base portion 60 is fixed to the flange portion 33 at an appropriate place 67.

[0019]   The through hole 62 provided in the second contact plate 42 is inserted into the through hole 62 of the support portion 24. The collar 26 is inserted. As a result, the second contact plate 42 Is movably supported within a predetermined stroke range in the axial direction of the collar 26. It

[0020]   Therefore, the energy absorbing plate 30 and the contact plates 41 and 42 are included. The horn bracket 43 comes into contact with and separates from the wheel core metal 15 with a predetermined stroke. It can move in any direction. Moreover, in the above-mentioned support structure, the When the gee absorption plate 30 is largely deformed in the crushing direction, three notches 52 are formed. At least one of them is adapted to fall off the support portion 23.

[0021]   The movable side contact members 51 and 61 are located at positions facing the fixed side contact members 21 and 22 apart from each other. And a movable side contact member when a horn pad 85 described later is pressed. At least one of 51 and 61 is in contact with the fixed side contact members 21 and 22. is there.

[0022]   As shown in FIG. 1, a resin lower cover 70 is provided on the rear surface side of the wheel core metal 15. Are fixed to the wheel core metal 15 by screws 71. On the lower cover 70, A well-known slip ring 72 as a conductive path of a horn switch is provided with a center boss. It is provided concentrically with the portion 12.

[0023]   The fastening boss 75 is formed integrally with the lower cover 70. Fasnin A receiving hole 76 is provided in the gboss 75. Also, a spring support is provided on the lower cover 70. A portion 79 is provided, and a compression coil spring or the like is used for this spring support portion 79. A return spring 80 is provided. The return spring 80 is used for the horn bracket 4. 3 away from the wheel core 15, that is, the movable side contact members 51 and 61 are fixed. The constant side contact members 21, 22 are urged in a direction away from each other.

[0024]   The horn pad 85 is the upper surface side of the wheel core metal 15, that is, the side facing the driver. It is located in. The horn pad 85 is composed of the pad body 86 and the pad body 86. The insert member 87 is provided on the back surface side. The pad body 86 is For example, soft polyvinyl chloride or relatively dense polyurethane foam Made of soft synthetic resin.

[0025]   The insert member 87 is made of a synthetic resin harder than the pad body 86, such as ABS. Made of resin, etc. In the space between the insert member 87 and the wheel core 15 The energy absorption plate 30 described above is housed.

[0026]   As a means for integrating the insert member 87 and the pad body 86 with each other, an example For example, when the pad body 86 is foam-molded, the insert member 87 is previously set inside the mold. A method is adopted in which the pad main body 86 is injection-molded after being put on. In addition, after the pad body 86 and the insert member 87 are manufactured in separate steps, They may be fixed to each other with an adhesive.

[0027]   On the back surface side of the insert member 87, the convex portions 90, 91 and the fastener 92 are inserted. It is formed integrally with the member 87. The convex portions 90 and 91 are energy absorbing plates It projects toward the flange portion 33 of 30. The fastener 92 is a lower cover 70. Protruding towards.

[0028]   A connection hook 93 is provided at the tip of the fastener 92. This connection hook 93 is inserted into the receiving hole 76 of the fastening boss 75, and is arranged in the axial direction of the boss 75. It can be moved with a certain amount of stroke, and it does not come out of the receiving hole 76. Is held as.

[0029]   As shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the central portion of the insert member 87, that is, the energy A circular opening 96 is provided at a position facing the main portion 31 of the absorption plate 30. There is. The pad main body 86 has a plurality of central portions, that is, a portion covering the opening 96. Several reinforcing ribs 97 are provided integrally with the pad body 86. In Figure 7, A portion of the lobe 97 is shown.

[0030]   Next, the operation of the steering wheel device 10 having the above configuration will be described.   When the horn pad 85 is pressed by hand, the horn bracket 4 3 is pushed in the direction of the wheel core 15 so that the contact plate 41, 42 moves toward the fixed-side contact members 21, 22. Therefore, the movable contact member 51, When at least one of the 61 contacts the fixed side contact members 21 and 22, The horn switch circuit closes and the horn rings.

[0031]   When you release your hand from the horn pad 85, the elasticity of the return spring 80 While the bracket 43 moves in the direction away from the wheel core metal 15, Since the door 85 also moves in the same direction, all the movable side contact members 51 and 61 are fixed side contact parts. The horn stops ringing away from the materials 21 and 22. The horn pad 85 of this embodiment is a flow Since it is a touching type, pressing any part of the horn pad 85 Can ring.

[0032]   In an impact test or the like using a head form, the horn pad 85 When a load is applied in the direction of crushing the When it reaches the seat 30, the energy absorbing plate 30 is plastically deformed and The collision energy is absorbed by the deformation of the contact plates 41, 42 as well. According to the hat-shaped sheet metal energy absorbing plate 30 as shown in the drawing, at the time of collision The load can be evenly distributed.

[0033]   When the energy absorbing plate 30 is largely deformed, the magnitude of the load or the change Depending on the degree of shape, the notch 52 of the first contact plate 41 may be the support portion 23. It will be in a state of being dropped from. Therefore, the metal energy absorption plate 30 is completely The peak of the load-deformation characteristic that is seen when fixed to all is relaxed, Collision objects are effectively reduced without deforming a certain wheel core metal 15 more than necessary. The speed is increased and the stroke required to absorb the energy is obtained.

[0034]   The insert member 87 of this embodiment faces the energy absorbing plate 30. An opening 96 is provided in the portion, and only the pad main body 86 made of soft resin is Since the energy absorbing plate 30 faces the energy absorbing plate 30, a colliding object is intensely applied to the horn pad 85. At the time of collision, the location where the rib 97 of the pad main body 86 is provided directly causes energy. It comes into contact with the absorption plate 30.

[0035]   For this reason, the hard insert member 87 may be cracked or colliding objects may be bounced back. The condition can be suppressed, and the energy absorption plate 30 and the contact plate can be Energy is effectively absorbed by deforming the rates 41 and 42.

[0036]   The fastener 92 can be integrally molded with the resin insert member 87. Therefore, the fastening boss 75 can be attached to the receiving hole 76 with one touch. And the assemblability is good.

[0037]   Further, the energy absorbing plate 30 supports the contact plates 41 and 42. It is supported on the side of the wheel core metal 15 through the portions 23 and 24, and the inserter Since the opening 96 is provided in the central portion of the belt member 87, the quality of the horn pad 85 is improved. The amount can be made as small as possible. Therefore, the vibration characteristics are good and at the time of collision Suitable for floating type, such as the horn pad 85 does not come off easily The obtained horn pad 85 is obtained.

[0038]

[Effect of device]

  According to the steering wheel device of the present invention, it is possible to effectively use a limited stroke. It can absorb energy and improve safety.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a steering wheel device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the device shown in FIG. 1 with a horn pad removed.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an energy absorbing plate used in the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an energy absorbing plate used in the device shown in FIG.

5 is a front view showing a state where a contact plate is attached to the energy absorption plate shown in FIG.

6 is a front view showing a part of a horn pad used in the apparatus shown in FIG.

7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... Steering wheel device, 12 ... Center boss part, 13 ... Spoke part, 15 ... Wheel core metal, 30 ... Energy absorption plate, 41, 42 ... Contact plate, 43 ... Horn bracket, 52 ... Notch part, 85 ... Horn pad , 86 ... Pad body, 87 ... Insert member, 96 ... Opening portion, 97 ... Rib.

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A steering wheel device comprising: a wheel core metal; and a horn pad which is disposed on a driver side of the wheel core metal and is movably held in a direction of approaching and separating from the wheel core metal. And a hat-shaped metal plate energy absorbing plate is provided between the wheel core metal and the horn pad, and the horn pad has an insert member having an opening at a portion facing the energy absorbing plate, and the insert. A steering wheel device, comprising: a pad body made of a soft resin that covers the outside of the member. 2. The steering wheel device according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing rib is provided on a back surface side of the pad body at a portion covering the opening of the insert member. 3. A contact plate is fixed to the energy absorbing plate, and a notch portion is provided in the contact plate. The notch portion is provided from a supporting portion on the wheel core metal side when the energy absorbing plate is deformed. The steering wheel device according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel device is engaged with the support portion so as to be detachable.