JPH0534303Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a steering column hole cover that covers a space between a column hole formed in a vehicle dash panel and a steering main shaft.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, this type of steering column hole cover has a relatively high rigidity cover between the column hole of the dash panel and the steering main shaft, as disclosed in Utility Model Application No. 57-120162. Some have a structure covered with a cover body made of material. In this configuration, if the assembly position of the steering main shaft to the column hole side deviates from the normal position due to dimensional tolerances of each part, the cover body cannot absorb the deviation, and the In such cases, it becomes difficult to assemble the cover body.

Therefore, as a countermeasure to this problem, a structure has been proposed in which the cover body C is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and a bellows-shaped portion C1 is formed near the contact portion with the steering main shaft S, as shown in FIG. There is.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the cover body C shown in FIG. 2, even if the steering main shaft S is deviated from its normal position at the time of assembly, the bellows-shaped portion C1 is deformed. This allows the deviation to be absorbed. However, on the other hand, the deformation of the bellows-shaped portion C1 increases the sliding resistance at the contact area between the steering main shaft S and the cover body C, which not only deteriorates the steering feeling but also affects the steering stability of the vehicle. There are negative effects.

In addition, since the sealing function between the steering main shaft S and the cover body C is performed by the cover body C itself, the above-mentioned bellows-shaped portion C
Due to the deformation of 1, the sealing performance also becomes insufficient.

Furthermore, since the deformation function of the bellows-shaped portion C1 described above decreases as the thickness of that portion increases,
The thickness cannot be set too large. Therefore, there remains the problem that the sound insulation against engine room noise and outside vehicle noise is insufficient.

(Means for solving the problem) The present invention consists of a hole cover body having a through hole with a diameter larger than the diameter of the steering main shaft, and a sealing feature that allows the main shaft to rotate around the axis as the steering operation is performed. A seal member made of synthetic resin is inserted through the main shaft, and a seal member made of rubber is attached to the seal member so as to be in rotatable sealing contact with the main shaft. The seal body is attached to the hole cover main body so as to be movable in the radial direction of the through hole while closing the through hole.

(Function) According to the above configuration, when the assembly position of the steering main shaft is offset in the radial direction, the above sealing body moves this with respect to the hole cover body according to the offset of the main shaft. It works to absorb. Therefore, the hole cover main body in this case is not deformed at all. Further, since both the seal body and the seal member are always in stable contact with the main shaft, the sealing performance between the hole cover and the main shaft is sufficient and stable.

(Example) Next, an example of the present invention will be described based on FIG.

The seal body 1 is an annular member made of synthetic resin, and a steering main shaft S is inserted into the center hole 1a. In addition, this seal body 1
An annular flange 4 is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the flange 4 over the entire circumference.

The seal members 2, 2 are annular members made of rubber,
They are fitted on opposite sides of the seal body 1 with an annular flange 4 in between. The inner diameters of the free edges (lip portions) 2a, 2a of these seal members 2, 2 are set smaller than the outer diameter of the steering main shaft S, and perform a sealing function between the seal body 1 and the outer periphery of the main shaft S. .

The hole cover main body 3 is a cup-shaped member having a through hole 6. The inner diameter of the through hole 6 in the hole cover main body 3 is set to be larger than the outer diameter of the seal members 2 by 2×f and smaller than the outer diameter of the annular flange 4.

Further, an annular groove 5 communicating with the through hole 6 is formed at the peripheral edge of the through hole 6 over the entire circumference. The annular flange 4 of the seal body 1 is engaged with the annular groove 5. Note that the diameter (inner diameter) of the bottom surface of the annular groove 5 is set larger than the outer diameter of the annular flange 4 by 2×f'. In addition,
The dimensions f and f' above are approximately the same.

Further, the groove width of the annular groove 5 is set to be slightly larger than the thickness of the annular flange 4 so that the annular flange 4 can freely slide along the annular groove 5 and the sealing performance between the two is not impaired. It's getting old.

Next, the effect will be explained. First, the steering main shaft S inserted through the center hole 1a of the seal body 1 is rotated by a steering operation. Further, the sealing property between the seal body 1 and the steering main shaft S is maintained by the free edges 2a, 2a of the seal members 2, 2 coming into close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the steering main shaft S, as described above. There is.

Now, when the steering main shaft S is assembled with deviation in the radial direction (direction perpendicular to the axis) due to the dimensional tolerance of its bearing members, etc.,
When assembling the hole cover body 3 to a dash panel (not shown), the annular flange 4 of the seal body 1
slides along the annular groove 5 of the hole cover main body 3 in accordance with the amount of deviation of the main shaft S. In other words, the seal body 1 moves to compensate for the deviation of the steering main shaft S while closing the through hole 6 with respect to the hole cover body 3.

From the above, the steering main shaft S
is within the allowable range (distance f in the radial direction from the normal position of the steering main shaft S,
f'), no load due to the deviation will be applied to the steering main shaft S. Therefore, the steering main shaft S
The relationship between the seal body 1 and the seal members 2, 2 is as follows:
The steering main shaft S is maintained in the same state as in the normal position. As a result, an increase in the sliding resistance between the steering main shaft S and the seal body 1 during steering operation can be avoided, and the sealing performance between the seal members 2, 2 and the steering main shaft S can also be maintained appropriately. be done.

(Effects of the invention) The invention has a hole cover main body having a through hole with a diameter larger than the diameter of the steering main shaft;
Similarly, this main shaft is in contact with the main shaft with a rotatable sealing property with a synthetic resin seal body inserted through the main shaft with a sealing property that allows rotation around the axis as the steering operation is performed. a rubber seal member attached to the seal body, with the seal body closing the through hole with respect to the hole cover body,
By assembling this through hole so that it can move in the radial direction, even if the steering main shaft is assembled with deviation in the radial direction, the main shaft can be moved by sliding the seal body against the hole cover body. Not only can the amount of deviation be absorbed, but also the sealing performance between the seal body and the main shaft is sufficiently improved and stabilized.
Therefore, the sliding resistance between the steering main shaft and the contact member does not increase, improving the steering feel and steering stability, and maintaining an appropriate seal between the hole cover body and the steering main shaft. be done. Furthermore, since the present invention compensates for the deviation of the steering main shaft by moving the seal body relative to the hole cover body, the thickness of the hole cover body and seal body can be adjusted to reduce engine room noise and noise. The dimensions can be set to obtain a desired sound insulation effect against sounds from outside the vehicle.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a steering column hole cover showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a conventional steering column hole cover. 1...Seal body, 3...Hole cover body, 6
...Through hole, S...Steering main shaft.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A hole cover body having a through hole with a diameter larger than the diameter of the steering main shaft, and a synthetic resin seal body through which the main shaft is inserted with a sealing property that allows the main shaft to rotate around the axis as the steering operation is performed. , a rubber seal member attached to the seal body so as to be in rotatable sealing contact with the main shaft, and the seal body is connected to the hole cover body to connect the through hole to the hole cover body. A steering column hole cover characterized in that it is assembled so that it can move in the radial direction of the through hole in a closed state.