JPH0526717U - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a steering device in which a column cover can be easily assembled to a steering column without using a mounting screw. [Structure] Column cover 2 that covers the steering column 6
2 is formed of a right cover 23a and a left cover 23b that are integrally formed of a synthetic resin material and have the same shape. Then, the side edges of the right cover 23a and the left cover 23b located on the upper surface of the steering column 6 are integrally rotatably formed by a thin hinge portion 24 formed in the front-rear direction, and the lower surface of the steering column 6 is formed. That is, the right cover 23a and the left cover 23b located at the position are integrally provided with a connecting portion 27 for connecting the side edges of both covers.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a steering device for a vehicle having a steering column with a column cover.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a vehicle steering system having a steering column with a column cover is configured as shown in FIGS. That is, 1 is a deck cross member, which is fixed to the left and right front pillars (not shown).

An instrument panel core 2 made of a metal plate is fixed to the deck cross member 1, and an instrument panel 3 is attached to the instrument panel core 2. At the lower edge of the instrument panel core 2, a protruding core portion 4 that protrudes toward the vehicle interior side is integrally provided.

A bracket 5 is provided on the deck cross member 1, and a steering column 6 is fixed to the bracket 5. A steering shaft 7 is rotatably supported on the steering column 6, a steering wheel 8 is provided at one end thereof, and the other end is interlocked with a steering unit (not shown).

At the upper end of the steering column 6, a winker lever and a base end of a wiper lever are attached, and devices such as various switches operated by these levers are provided. Therefore, the column cover 9 that includes these devices is provided.

The column cover 9 is made of a synthetic resin molded product, and is basically divided into an upper cover 10a and a lower cover 10b which are divided into upper and lower parts. A notch 12 is provided at a side edge portion of the upper cover 10a and the lower cover 10b so as to fit with the lever 11 such as the winker lever or the wiper lever.

Further, a semi-circular cutout 13 that fits with the column shaft 6a is provided at the front ends of the upper cover 10a and the lower cover 10b. Further, pillars 14 and 14 are integrally projectingly provided at portions located on both sides of the notch 13 inside the upper cover 10a, and a screw hole 15 is provided at a tip portion thereof.

In addition, inside the lower cover 10b, support cylinders 16 and 16 facing the above-mentioned support columns 14 and 14 are integrally projectingly provided at portions located on both sides of the cutout portion 13, and at the tip end portion thereof. A screw insertion hole 18 for inserting the screw 17 is formed.

Therefore, the upper cover 10a and the lower cover 10b are fitted to the steering column 6, and the opening edges of both covers 10a and 10b are aligned. Then, when the screws 17 are inserted into the screw insertion holes 18 of the support cylinders 16 and 16 and tightened in the screw holes 15 of the columns 14 and 14, both covers 10a and 10b are coupled, and the steering column 6 is covered by the column cover 9. Be seen.

Further, a concave portion is provided on an upper surface portion of the column cover 9 to prevent interference with the protruding core portion 4 of the instrument panel core 2, and the protruding core portion 4 is formed on the column cover 9 by the concave portion. Is formed with a step portion 20 facing the.

Further, the steering column 6 configured as described above has a shock absorbing function for the purpose of protecting an occupant in the event of a collision. That is, when an occupant's chest collides with the steering wheel 8 and an impact force A is applied during a collision, the steering column 6 receives the impact and moves in the direction of arrow B to absorb the impact energy. There is.

[0012]

However, in the steering device configured as described above, when the chest of the occupant collides with the steering wheel 8 at the time of a collision and an impact force A is applied thereto, the steering column 6 is released. When the column cover 9 receives the impact and moves in the direction of arrow B, the column cover 9 also moves in the same direction.

Therefore, the step portion 20 of the column cover 9 collides with the projecting core portion 8 of the instrument panel core 6 having high rigidity, the collapse load value becomes high, and the impact energy cannot be sufficiently absorbed. There is.

The conventional column cover 9 is composed of an upper cover 10a and a lower cover 10b which are divided into upper and lower parts. The upper cover 10a is fitted to the upper surface of the steering column 6, and the lower surface of the steering column 6 is fitted. With the lower cover 10b fitted in the lower cover 10b and the both covers 10a, 10b positioned so as to face each other, the screw 17 is inserted into the screw insertion hole 18 of the support cylinder 16, 16 of the lower cover 10b, and the support of the upper cover 10a is supported. The steering column 6 is covered with a column cover 9 by tightening the screw holes 15 of 14 and 14 and connecting both covers 10a and 10b.

Therefore, the work of assembling the column cover 9 to the steering column 6 is troublesome, and the column cover 9 is a two-part type, which causes an increase in cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a steering column and a column cover when an occupant collides with the steering wheel at the time of a collision and an impact force A is applied. It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering device that receives an impact and moves in the direction of arrow B to absorb impact energy, and can sufficiently exert an impact absorbing function, and that a column cover can be easily attached to a steering column.

[0017]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a column cover for covering a steering column fixed to a deck cross member, the column cover being made of a synthetic resin material and having the same shape. The right cover and the left cover of the right cover and the left cover of the left cover are formed integrally rotatably by the thin-walled hinge portions formed in the front-rear direction at the side edges of the right cover and the left cover located on the upper surface of the steering column. The connecting portions for connecting the side edges of both the right cover and the left cover located on the lower surface of the steering column are integrally provided. According to a second aspect of the present invention, the rear end of the thin hinge portion of the column cover of the first aspect and the protruding portion provided on the instrument panel face each other.

[0018]

[Action]

 The thin hinge part of the column cover is located on the top surface of the steering column, and the left and right covers are pivoted downward with the thin hinge part as a fulcrum. Can be fixed with.

When the occupant's body collides with the steering wheel at the time of a vehicle collision and an impact force A is applied to the steering column and the steering column moves in the direction of arrow B due to the impact, the column cover moves in the same direction. Move to. Therefore, when the thin hinge portion of the column cover collides with the protrusion of the instrument panel core, the column cover is split left and right from the thin hinge portion by the protrusion to absorb the shock.

[0020]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the same components as those of the related art will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the instrument panel core 2 made of a metal plate fixed to the deck cross member 1 is integrally provided with a protrusion 21 protruding toward the vehicle interior. The protrusion 21 has a sharp tip, and is located above the steering column 6 and in the center of its upper surface.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 to 7, the steering column 6 is covered with a column cover 22 integrally formed of a synthetic resin material such as PVC. The column cover 22 includes a right cover 23a and a left cover 23b, which have the same arcuate left and right shape, and side edges of the right cover 23a and the left cover 23b located on the upper surface of the steering column 6 are thin hinges. It is integrally connected to the rotating unit by the portion 24.

The thin hinge portion 24 is formed over the entire front-rear direction of the column cover 22, and the rear end of the thin hinge portion 24 faces the tip of the protrusion 21 of the instrument panel core 2 with a space therebetween.

Further, a locking claw 25 is projectingly provided on a side edge portion of the right cover 23a located on the lower surface portion of the steering column 6 of the column cover 22, and a side edge portion of the left cover 23b facing the locking claw 25 is provided. An engaging hole 26 with which the locking claw 25 is engaged is provided. Then, the engaging claw 25 is engaged with the engaging hole 26 to form a connecting portion 27 for connecting the right cover 23a and the left cover 23b.

Further, on the inner surface of the upper portion of the right cover 23a and the inner surface of the lower portion of the left cover 23b, a plurality of positioning pins 28 ... Abutting on the upper surface portion and the lower surface portion of the steering column 6 are provided so as to project. The space between the upper and lower surfaces and the column cover 22 is kept constant.

Positioning ribs 29, 29 that abut against both sides of the column shaft 6a are provided on the inner side surface of the right cover 23a and the inner side surface of the left cover 23b. The space between the column cover 22 and the column cover 22 is kept constant.

Further, the right cover 23a and the left cover 23b are provided with notches 30 at the side edges thereof to be fitted with the lever 11 such as a winker lever and a wiper lever. Further, a semicircular notch 31 that fits with the column shaft 6a is provided at the front ends of the right cover 23a and the left cover 23b.

Therefore, when the steering column 6 is covered with the column cover 22, the positioning pins 28 are brought into contact with the upper surface of the steering column 6, and the thin hinge portion 24 of the column cover 22 is placed at the center of the upper surface of the steering column 6. Position on the section. Then, the right cover 23a and the left cover 23b are rotated downward about the thin hinge portion 24, and the positioning ribs 29, 29 are brought into contact with the column shaft 6a to be positioned.

Further, when the right cover 23a and the left cover 23b are pivoted downward and the locking claws 25 are engaged with the engagement holes 26 on the lower surface of the steering column 6, both covers 23a, 23b are joined together. The steering column 6 is covered with a column cover 22. Therefore, the column cover 22 can be assembled to the steering column 6 without using a mounting screw, and the assembling work can be easily performed.

Further, according to such a configuration, when the body of the occupant collides with the steering wheel 8 at the time of the collision of the vehicle and the impact force A is applied, the steering column 6 receives the impact and the impact absorption function is provided. It acts and moves in the direction of arrow B, and the column cover 22 also moves in the same direction.

In this case, since the thin-walled hinge portion 24 of the column cover 22 faces the projection 21 of the instrument panel core 2 at a distance, when the column cover 22 moves, the front end of the thin-walled hinge portion 24 projects. Collide with 21. Since the protrusion 21 has a sharp tip, the right cover 23a and the left cover 23b of the column cover 22 can be torn from the thin hinge portion 24.

As a result, the shock absorbing function of the steering column 6 is sufficiently operated to move in the arrow B direction, and the column cover 22 is moved in the same direction while being broken, so that the shock absorbing function is sufficiently exerted and the shock is absorbed. It will absorb energy.

[0033]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to claim 1 of the present invention, the column cover for covering the steering column is composed of a right cover and a left cover that are formed of a synthetic resin material and have the same shape. The side edge portion located on the upper surface of the steering column is integrally rotatably formed by a thin hinge portion formed in the front-rear direction, and the side of the right cover and the left cover located on the lower surface of the steering column. Since the joint part that connects the side edges of both covers is integrally provided at the edge, the column cover can be easily assembled to the steering column without using a mounting screw, and the column cover is an integrally molded product. Therefore, there is an effect that it can be provided at a low price.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the thin hinge portion of the column cover is torn by the protrusion of the instrument panel core when the vehicle collides, so that the occupant collides with the steering wheel at the time of the collision and an impact force is applied. The steering column and column cover receive the impact and move to absorb the impact energy. Therefore, there is an effect that the shock absorbing function can be fully exerted and the safety can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional front view of a column cover according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing a partial cross section of the steering device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a protrusion of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional front view showing a state in which the column cover according to the embodiment is assembled to the steering column.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of the thin hinge portion of the column cover according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a connecting portion of the column cover according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a partially sectional side view of a conventional steering device.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional steering device.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional front view of a conventional column cover assembled to a steering column.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Instrument panel core, 6 ... Steering column, 8 ... Steering wheel, 21 ... Protrusion, 22
... column cover, 23a ... right cover, 23b ... left cover, 24 ... thin hinge part, 27 ... coupling part.

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A steering column fixed to a deck cross member, a steering shaft rotatably supported by the steering column, having a steering wheel at one end, and the other end interlocking with a steering unit, and the steering wheel. In a steering device including a column cover that is provided in a column and includes devices, the column cover includes a right cover and a left cover that are formed of a synthetic resin material and have the same shape. Side edges of the right cover and the left cover located on the lower surface of the steering column are integrally rotatably formed by thin hinges formed in the front-rear direction on the upper surface of the steering column. The cover is integrally provided with a connecting portion for connecting the side edges of both covers. Tearing device. 2. A steering column fixed to a deck cross member, a steering shaft which is rotatably supported by the steering column, has a steering wheel at one end, and has the other end interlocked with a steering unit, and the steering wheel. In a steering device including a column cover provided on a column and containing devices, an instrument panel core having a protrusion projecting forward is provided on the deck cross member, while the column cover is made of a synthetic resin material. The right and left covers having the same shape are formed, and the side edges of the right and left covers located on the upper surface of the steering column are integrally rotatable by a thin hinge formed in the front-rear direction. And is located on the lower surface of the steering column. The right cover and the left cover are integrally provided with a connecting portion for connecting the side edges of both covers, and the rear end of the thin hinge portion of the column cover and the protruding portion of the instrument panel are opposed to each other. A steering device characterized by the above.