JPH0529185Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) This invention relates to an energy absorption device for a tilted steering column that allows the position (height) and angle of the steering wheel to be adjusted according to the physique and preferences of the driver. It is.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, various structures have been devised as this type of energy absorbing device, and the present applicant has also proposed an energy absorbing device having the structure shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 60-6670, for example. has already been proposed.
To explain the outline of the structure shown in this publication, among the upper bracket and lower bracket that support the column tube against the vehicle body,
The attenuation bracket has a function for tilt operation and locking, and an energy absorption function. Further, the lower bracket supports the column tube by means of a tail shaft so that the column tube can be tilted.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) In the above conventional structure, the atsupa bracket has both a function for tail operation and a function for energy absorption, so the structure of the atsupa bracket itself It gets very complicated. At the same time, since the atsupah bracket is structured to have an energy absorption function, it becomes difficult to ensure the support rigidity of the column tube by the atsupah bracket. Furthermore, it is difficult to ensure a sufficient energy absorption stroke for the upper bracket, which must adopt such a complicated structure, and as a result, there are cases where a sufficient energy absorption function cannot be obtained.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the energy absorbing device for the tilted steering column according to the present invention is configured as follows.

That is, the column tube through which the main shaft on the steering wheel side is rotatably inserted is separate from the lower tube through which the intermediate shaft on the steering gear housing side is rotatably inserted. In a tail steering column in which a joint connecting the shaft to the shaft is located in the lower tube, the upper part of the column tube is supported by an upper bracket so as to be able to operate and lock the tail, and the lower part is supported by a lower bracket. has been done.

The upper bracket is fixed to the vehicle body by a breakaway member that is sheared when an impact load is applied to the column tube in a downward direction along its axis. Further, one end of the lower bracket is fixed to the vehicle body,
The other end is rotatably connected to the column tube by a tail shaft disposed on an extension of the intermediate shaft for tilt operation. A deformable portion is provided near the location where the lower bracket is fixed to the vehicle body and absorbs impact energy by bending and deforming when the column tube moves along its axis under the impact load.

(Function) In the above configuration, when an excessive impact load is applied to the column tube 3 in the direction of pushing it down, the breakaway member 11 fixing the above-mentioned upper bracket 10 to the vehicle body 7 side
is sheared. At the same time, the column tube 3 moves downward along the axis while deforming the deformable portion 19 of the lower bracket 15. Due to this deformation of the deformable portion 19, the impact energy applied to the column tube 3 is absorbed.

In this way, by providing the lower bracket 15 with the function of absorbing energy, it is possible to secure a sufficient stroke for absorbing energy. On the other hand, the above-mentioned atsupah bracket 10 mainly has a column tube 3.
By providing support rigidity and a function for tailing operation, the structure of each bracket 10, 15 is simplified, and the support rigidity of the column tube 3 is increased while avoiding any influence on the energy absorption characteristics. becomes possible.

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

First Embodiment In FIG. 1, which shows a partial cross-section of the column portion of the tail steering, a hollow column tube 3 is attached to a top bracket 10 with respect to a vehicle body 7.
and is supported by the lower bracket 15. A steering main shaft 1 is rotatably incorporated into the column tube 3. A steering wheel 2 is attached to the upper end of the main shaft 1, and
An intermediate shaft 6 extending toward a steering gear housing (not shown) is connected to the lower end by a hook joint 5.

The above-described attachment bracket 10 supports the column tube 3 in a tiltable manner. That is, by operating the tail lever 12 provided on the upper bracket 10, the lock of the column tube 3 with respect to the upper bracket 10 is released, as is generally well known. In this state, the column tube 3 can be tilted using a later-described tilt shaft 21 of the lower bracket 15 as a rotation axis, and a stopper operates at the tilted position.

In addition, the heat bracket 10 is attached to the vehicle body 7,
It is fixed by a breakaway member 11 such as a shear pin. This breakaway member 1
1 is sheared when an excessive impact load is applied to the column tube 3 in a downward direction along its axis.

As is clear from FIG. 2, which is an exploded perspective view of the main part of FIG. The arm portion 17 is formed in a bent manner. This mounting part 16
Two bolt insertion holes 16a are formed in the mounting portion 16, and the mounting portion 16 is fixed to the vehicle body 7 side by bolts 20 inserted through these bolt insertion holes 16a. Further, a cylindrical shaft support 18 for supporting the tail shaft 21 is integrally bent at the tip of the arm portion 17. In addition,
A shaft support 18 for supporting this tail shaft 21
Alternatively, a collar formed separately from the lower bracket 15 may be welded to the tip of the arm portion 17.

The boundary between the mounting part 16 and the arm part 17 in the lower bracket 15 is the lower bracket 1.
5 serves as a deformable portion 19 that bends and deforms when subjected to an excessive impact load and absorbs the impact energy. Then, the deformed portion 1 of the lower bracket 15
Parts other than 9, that is, arm part 17 and mounting part 1
A reinforcing flange 22 is integrally formed on each of the arms 1 and 6, and a reinforcing flange 22 is formed integrally with the arm 1.
7, reinforcing ribs 23 are formed.
As a result, both the mounting portion 16 and the arm portion 17 have a highly rigid structure.

On the other hand, the column tube 3 has a tail shaft 2.
A support member 4 through which the holder 1 is inserted is fixed. The support member 4 of the column tube 3 and the shaft support 18 of the lower bracket 15 are connected to each other by a tail shaft 21 using a bolt and nut. As a result, column tube 3
is supported by the lower bracket 15 so as to be able to tilt around the tail shaft 21 as a rotation axis.

Incidentally, the above-mentioned tail shaft 21 is arranged on an extension line of the above-mentioned intermediate shaft 6, as is clear from FIG. Therefore, for the movement of the main shaft 1 due to the tilt operation of the column tube 3,
The amount of displacement of the hook joint 5 connecting the main shaft 1 and the intermediate shaft 6 can be suppressed to a small value.

In the energy absorption device for the tail steering column configured as described above, when an excessive impact load is applied from the steering wheel 2 side shown in FIG. The breakaway member 11 fixed to the vehicle body 7 side is sheared, and the column tube 3 moves downward along its axis. At this time, on the lower bracket 15 side, an impact load is transmitted from the support member 4 of the column tube 3 to the arm portion 17 of the roller bracket 15 through the tail shaft 21. As a result, the column tube 3 moves while bending and deforming the deformed portion 19 of the lower bracket 15, thereby absorbing the impact energy applied from the steering wheel 2 side.

In this way, since the lower bracket 15 has the above-mentioned energy absorption function, it is possible to secure a sufficient stroke for energy absorption, and the degree of freedom regarding tuning of the energy absorption characteristics is also increased. In addition, the upper bracket 10 does not need to have an energy absorption function, and can have a structure mainly having only a function for tailing operation. Therefore, it is possible to ensure sufficient support rigidity of the column tube 3 by the attenuation bracket 10.

Second Embodiment The embodiment shown in FIG.
A cylindrical shaft support 18 formed at the front end of the arm portion 17 of No. 5 (including those to which a separate collar is welded)
Instead, a flange-shaped shaft support 38 having a shaft support hole 38a through which the tail shaft 21 is inserted is formed by bending it integrally with the arm portion 17. In addition, in this way, the shaft support 3 of the lower bracket 15
8 is shaped like a flange, the supporting member 34 of the column tube 3 connected thereto is shaped like a collar, and is fixed to the column tube 3 by a retainer 34a.

Third Embodiment The arm portion 47 of the lower bracket 45 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has a shape that is bent upward from its middle portion into a substantially V-shape. A shaft support 48 using a collar is fixed to the tip (upper end) of this arm portion 47 by welding or the like. Also in this embodiment, the boundary between the mounting portion 46 of the lower bracket 45 fixed to the vehicle body 7 side and the arm portion 47 is easily bent and deformed when an excessive impact load is applied to the arm portion 47. Section 49. Note that the lower bracket 45 in this third embodiment
A window 47a through which the column tube 3 is inserted is formed in the arm portion 47.

Fourth Embodiment In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the shape of the lower bracket 45 in the third embodiment is changed.
A flange-shaped shaft support 58 is provided at the tip of the arm portion 47.
is formed. Correspondingly, a cylindrical support member 34 is fixed to the column tube 3 by a retainer 34a, as in the case of the second embodiment already described (see FIG. 3).

In addition, in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 above, members that are considered to have the same or equivalent configuration as the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given the same reference numerals in the drawings. Duplicate explanations will be omitted.

(Effect of the invention) As described above, in the present invention, both the upper bracket and the lower bracket support the column tube, and the upper bracket has a function for tilt operation and a function for supporting the column tube. On the other hand, the lower bracket is deformed by the movement of the column tube itself due to the impact load, and thus can effectively absorb impact energy.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a tail steering column equipped with an energy absorbing device, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a lower bracket, and FIG. 3 is a second embodiment. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the correspondence with Figure 2.
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the third embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment, corresponding to a part of FIG. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view corresponding to FIG. 2; 3...Column tube, 7...Car body, 10...
Atsupah bracket, 11... Breakaway member, 15, 45... Lower bracket, 19, 49
... Deformed part of lower bracket, 21 ... Tail shaft.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claim for utility model registration] A column tube through which the main shaft on the steering wheel side is rotatably inserted,
A tail steering wheel that is separate from a lower tube through which an intermediate shaft on the steering gear housing side is rotatably inserted, and a joint that connects the main shaft and the intermediate shaft is located within the lower tube. In the column, the upper part of the column tube is supported by an upper bracket so as to be tiltable and lockable, and the lower part is supported by a lower bracket,
The upper bracket is fixed to the vehicle body by a breakaway member that is sheared when a downward impact load is applied to the column tube along its axis, and the lower bracket has one end attached to the vehicle body. The lower bracket is fixed to the vehicle body side, and the other end is rotatably connected to the column tube by a tail shaft disposed on an extension line of the intermediate shaft for tilt operation, and the lower bracket is located near a fixed point on the vehicle body side. An energy absorption device for a tilted steering column, comprising a deformable portion that bends and deforms to absorb impact energy when the column tube moves along its axis in response to the impact load.