JPH0537641U - Support device for steering column - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] The sliding plate 8 is easily and reliably positioned with respect to the mounting plate portion 6. Further, in the event of a collision, the sliding plate 8 and the mounting plate portion 6 are lightly separated. [Structure] An engaging piece 14 is integrally formed on the front edge of a sliding plate 8. After mounting the sliding plate 8 on the mounting plate portion 6, the locking piece 14 is bent toward the mounting plate portion 6.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The steering column support device according to the present invention is a cylindrical steering column that is supported on the lower surface of the dashboard of an automobile, etc., and through which the steering shaft that constitutes the automobile steering device is inserted. By supporting the above, the life of the occupant in the event of a collision is protected.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 When a vehicle collides, a so-called secondary collision occurs in which the vehicle collides with another vehicle or the like, which is a so-called primary collision, and then the driver collides with the steering wheel. In the event of this secondary collision, the steering shaft that secures the steering wheel at one end is shortened for the purpose of minimizing the impact on the driver and protecting the driver's life. Generally, a so-called collapsible steering shaft is used, and a steering column having the steering shaft inserted therein is of a shock absorbing type.

When a shock-absorbing steering column used for such a purpose is supported on a vehicle body, the structure is configured to allow the steering column to displace forward when a strong shock is applied, and the support is disengaged. There is a need. Therefore, conventionally, the steering column has been supported by the vehicle body on the lower surface of the dashboard or the like by the structure shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 12, reference numeral 1 denotes a steering shaft having a steering wheel 2 fixed to an upper end thereof and rotated in a twisting direction by operating the steering wheel 2. The steering shaft 1 has a collapsible structure (not shown). This allows the entire length to be freely contracted. Reference numeral 3 denotes a cylindrical steering column having the steering shaft 1 inserted therein, the middle portion of which is supported by a part of the vehicle body 4, such as the lower surface of the dashboard. Again, due to the collapsible structure (not shown), an axial impact is applied. In this case, the entire length is shortened while absorbing this shock.

On the other hand, a support bracket 5 formed by bending a metal plate is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate portion of the steering column 3 by welding or the like. Mounting plates 6, 6 for mounting the supporting bracket 5 on the vehicle body 4 are formed on both sides of the support bracket 5, and U-shaped cuts as shown in FIG. 14 are formed in the respective mounting plate parts 6, 6. 7 is formed so as to be open to one end edge (the end edge on the steering wheel 2 side) of each mounting plate portion 6, 6.

Reference numeral 8 denotes a sliding plate made by folding a metal plate into a U shape, and covers the notch 7 so as to cover one end edge of each of the mounting plate portions 6, 6 from the steering wheel 2 side. It is fitted (from the upper right side of FIG. 12). The sliding plate 8 is provided so that the supporting of the steering column 3 can be disengaged by a light force in the event of a collision. 10 is provided, and a sliding layer made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or the like is formed on inner surfaces 9a and 9a of the flat plate portions 9 and 9 which face each other and contact the mounting plate portion 6. There is.

When the intermediate portion of the steering column 3 is supported by the vehicle body 4 via the support bracket 5 as described above, the through holes 10 and 10 formed in the sliding plate 8 and the notches formed in the mounting plate portion 6 The bolt 11 inserted through the screw 7 is screwed into a screw hole 12 provided on the side of the vehicle body 4 and tightened, so that the mounting plate portion is mounted via the seat plate 13 mounted on the head of the bolt 11 and the sliding plate 8. 6 is strongly sandwiched, and the support bracket 5 is supported on the vehicle body 4.

As a result of supporting the intermediate portion of the steering column 3 on the vehicle body 4 as described above, in the case of a collision accident, the displacement of the steering column 3 to the front (to the left in FIG. 12) is allowed as described below. The safety of the driver's life is ensured. When an impact is applied to the steering wheel 2 due to a secondary collision due to a collision accident, the impact is immediately transmitted to the steering column 3, and the steering column 3 is strongly pushed in the axial direction thereof, so that a collapsible (not shown) is provided. The structure tends to reduce its overall length. At the same time, the bolt 11 comes out of the notch 7 formed in the mounting plate portions 6 and 6, and the steering column 3 becomes displaceable.

A slide plate 8 is provided between the bolt 11 and the mounting plate portion 6, and a part of the flat plate portions 9, 9 of the slide plate 8 contact an inner surface 9 a of the mounting plate portion 6. Since a slipping layer is formed on 9a, a relatively small force is required when the bolt 11 comes out of the notch 7 formed in the mounting plate portion 6, and is generated by disengaging the support portion. The impact force can be kept low.

[0010]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 By the way, the sliding plate 8 constituting the steering column supporting device as described above is attached to the mounting plate portions 6 and 6 before the bolt 11 is inserted into the through holes 10 and 10 in order to assemble the supporting device. It is necessary to mount them so that the through holes 10 and 10 and the notches 7 are aligned with each other.

Further, after the sliding plate 8 is mounted on the mounting plate portion 6, if the sliding plate 8 is displaced, the bolt 11 cannot be inserted, so that the sliding plate 8 and the mounting plate portion 6 cannot be inserted. In between, it is necessary to provide a locking means for preventing the sliding plate 8 from being accidentally displaced.

Therefore, conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication Nos. 56-25981, 60-174667, 63-22279, etc., various structures of locking means have been proposed. It is actually used.

However, in the case of these conventional structures, the structure is complicated and the manufacturing cost is increased, or it becomes a resistance against the displacement of the steering column at the time of a collision, and it is added to the driver's body at the time of a secondary collision. It is not always satisfactory because it causes a large impact.

The support device for a steering column according to the present invention eliminates all such inconveniences.

[0015]

[Means for solving the problem]

 The steering column supporting device of the present invention has a steering column into which a steering shaft for fixing a steering wheel can be inserted at one end, and a mounting plate portion for mounting to a vehicle body, like the conventional supporting device described above. A support bracket fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the steering column, a notch formed in the mounting plate portion in a state of opening to one end side, and a pair of upper and lower flat plate portions by folding the metal plate in a U shape. A through hole is provided in each flat plate portion, and a slide plate attached to the mounting plate portion from the side of the steering wheel, and the through hole and the notch of the slide plate are inserted and provided on the vehicle body side. It is composed of a bolt that supports the support bracket to the vehicle body by being screwed into the screw hole.

Further, in the support device for a steering column of the present invention, a part of the sliding plate is bent toward the mounting plate portion to prevent the sliding plate from slipping on the mounting plate portion. It is characterized by things.

[0017]

[Action]

 In the case of the steering column supporting device of the present invention configured as described above, a part of the sliding plate is bent toward the mounting plate portion to prevent the sliding plate from slipping relative to the mounting plate portion. Therefore, the structure for preventing the shift is simple and the supporting device can be manufactured at low cost. Moreover, since the anti-slip part provides almost no resistance when the steering column is displaced, it is possible to prevent a large impact on the driver's body due to a secondary collision.

[0018]

【Example】

 Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The present invention is characterized by the structure of the portion that prevents the sliding plate from slipping while the sliding plate is attached to the mounting plate portion of the support bracket. However, other configurations and operations are the same as those of the conventional structure described above, and therefore, redundant description will be omitted, and the characteristic part of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention. A narrow locking piece 14 is formed integrally with the sliding plate 8 at the center of the front edge (the left edge in FIG. 1A) of the sliding plate 8. Further, when the through holes 10, 10 of the sliding plate 8 and the notch 7 of the mounting plate portion 6 are aligned at the front end edge portion of the mounting plate portion 6 (the left end edge portion of FIG. 1A), the above An engaging recess 15 is formed at a position aligned with the stopper 14.

When mounting the sliding plate 8 on the mounting plate portion 6 as described above, the sliding plate 8 is mounted so as to cover the mounting plate portion 6 before the locking piece 14 is bent. , The through holes 10 and 10 and the notch 7 are aligned. Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, the locking piece 14 is bent toward the mounting plate portion 6 to engage the locking piece 14 with the engaging recessed portion 15.

As a result, the sliding plate 8 slips out from the rear end edge (the right end edge in FIGS. 1A and 1B) of the mounting plate portion 6 or the width direction of the mounting plate portion 6 (see FIG. 1). It is prevented from slipping out in the vertical direction (A) and coming out from the outer edge (lower edge in FIG. 1A) side. At the time of collision, the locking piece 14 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 1B to allow the mounting plate portion 6 to be pulled out from the inside of the sliding plate 8. Since the locking piece 14 has a low rigidity, the locking piece 14 hardly acts as a resistance against the attachment plate 6 coming off.

Next, FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the case of this embodiment, a U-shaped through groove 16 having an open rear (right side in FIG. 2) is formed in a part of the sliding plate 8, and the inside of this through groove 16 is used as a locking piece 17. Further, when the through holes 10 and 10 of the sliding plate 8 and the notches 7 of the mounting plate portion 6 are aligned at the substantially central portion of the mounting plate portion 6, the position where the locking piece 17 is aligned is set to A joint hole 18 is formed.

When the sliding plate 8 as described above is attached to the mounting plate portion 6, the sliding plate 8 is attached to the mounting plate portion 6 before the locking piece 17 is bent. From the rear edge side, it is mounted so as to cover it, and the through holes 10 and 10 and the notch 7 are aligned. Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (B), the locking piece 17 is bent toward the mounting plate portion 6 to engage the locking piece 17 with the engagement hole 18.

As a result, the sliding plate 8 slips out from the rear end edge side of the mounting plate portion 6 or shifts in the width direction of the mounting plate portion 6 (vertical direction in FIG. 2A), and It is prevented from coming out from the edge. At the time of a collision, the locking piece 17 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 2B to allow the mounting plate portion 6 to be pulled out from the inside of the sliding plate 8. Since the locking piece 17 has a low rigidity, the locking piece 17 hardly acts as a resistance against the detachment of the mounting plate portion 6.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment described above, the locking piece 14 is formed on the front end edge of the upper flat plate portion 9 which is located on the vehicle body 4 side at the time of assembly, whereas in the case of this embodiment. Forms the locking piece 14 on the lower flat plate portion 9.

As a result, in the case of the present embodiment, in order to prevent the sliding plate 8 from coming off, the locking piece 14 is sufficiently bent as shown by the chain line in FIG. When the mounting plate portion 6 is fixed to the vehicle body 4, the tip of the locking piece 14 is pushed against the lower surface of the vehicle body 4 and rotated counterclockwise in FIG. Similarly, the bending angle is small.

Therefore, when the sliding plate 8 comes out from the rear end edge side of the mounting plate portion 6 in the event of a collision accident, a smaller force is required to deform the locking piece 14. The other structure and operation are the same as those of the first embodiment described above.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In each of the first to third embodiments described above, only one slide plate 8 is attached to the mounting plate portion 6, whereas in the case of this embodiment, two slide plates 8 are used. , 8a are attached to the mounting plate portion 6 so as to be superposed. Then, the locking piece 14 formed on the outer slide plate 8 is bent toward the inner slide plate 8a and the mounting plate portion 6 to prevent the both slide plates 8 and 8a from falling off the mounting plate portion 6. ing. Other configurations and operations are similar to those of the first embodiment described above.

Next, FIG. 5 shows two examples of the shape of the through hole 10 formed in the flat plate portion 9 of the sliding plate 8. That is, in the conventional structure, since the position of the sliding plate 8 is not stable, the through hole 10 is a long hole which is long in the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. 5 (A). Since the position of the sliding plate 8 does not shift, a circular hole as shown in FIG. If a long hole is used, assembly error can be absorbed, and if a circular hole is used, assembly error cannot be absorbed. Instead, the front part of the vehicle body will be crushed due to a collision and the steering column 3 ( It is possible to prevent the steering column 3 from being displaced rearward, that is, so-called push-up even when (see FIG. 12) is pushed rearward.

Further, by forming the through hole 10 as a circular hole, the mounting plate portion 6 of the support bracket 5 can be used as a reference for mounting on the vehicle body. As a result, the assembling accuracy of the instrument panel and the column (column cover or cowl) is improved, the gap between the two becomes smaller, the appearance performance is improved, and the noise caused by the interference between them is eliminated. There is.

Next, FIGS. 6 to 11 show examples of locking pieces and through holes formed in the sliding plate 8. First, as shown in FIG. 6, the locking piece 14 is formed in the central portion of the front edge of the sliding plate 8 as used in the first, third and fourth embodiments, and the through hole 10 is formed. In each of the flat plate portions 9 and 9, one circular hole is formed, and in the flat plate portion 9 and 9 shown in FIG. 7, two circular through holes 10 and 10 are formed in each flat plate portion 9 and 9. As shown in FIG. 8, locking pieces 14 and 14 are formed on the left and right ends of the front edge of the sliding plate 8, and one flat hole is formed in each flat plate portion 9 as the through hole 10. The one shown in FIG. 9 is the one shown in FIG. 6 in which the locking piece 14 is a purse-shaped one, and the one shown in FIG. 10 is the one surrounded by the U-shaped through groove 16. The one shown in FIG. 11 is one in which two locking holes 17 are provided in each of the flat plate portions 9 1 and 9 9 Two locking pieces 17 and 1 each surrounded by U-shaped through grooves 16 and 16 are provided, and two circular through holes 10 and 10 are formed in each flat plate portion 9 and 9. Is. Which of the sliding plates 8 having such various shapes should be adopted is determined by design consideration in accordance with the size of the steering column 3 to be supported and the like.

[0032]

[Effect of the device]

 Since the steering column support device of the present invention is constructed and operates as described above, it can be manufactured with a simple structure at low cost, and it is possible to reliably prevent the sliding plate from slipping relative to the mounting plate portion, and at the time of a collision. In that case, there is almost no resistance against displacement of the steering column.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a partial plan view and FIG.

2A and 2B show a second embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a partial plan view, and FIG.

3A and 3B show a third embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 3A is a partial plan view, and FIG.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial plan view showing two examples of shapes of through holes.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a first example of the shape of a sliding plate.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a second example of the same.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a third example of the same.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a fourth example of the same.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a fifth example of the same.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a sixth example of the same.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing a support device for a steering column, which is an object of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line Ni of FIG.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a mounting plate portion and a sliding plate.

[Explanation of sign]

 1 Steering Shaft 2 Steering Wheel 3 Steering Column 4 Car Body 5 Support Bracket 6 Mounting Plate 7 Cuts 8 and 8a Sliding Plate 9 Flat Plate 9a Inner Surface 10 Through Hole 11 Bolt 12 Screw Hole 13 Seat Plate 14 Engagement Recess 16 Through hole 17 Locking piece 18 Engagement hole

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A steering column at one end of which a steering shaft for fixing a steering wheel can be inserted, and a support bracket having an attachment plate portion for attaching to a vehicle body and fixed to an outer peripheral surface of the steering column.
The mounting plate portion is provided with a notch formed so as to open to one edge side and a pair of upper and lower flat plate portions by folding the metal plate in a U shape, and through holes are formed in each flat plate portion. By inserting the sliding plate mounted on the mounting plate portion from the wheel side, the through hole and the notch of the sliding plate, and screwing into the screw hole provided on the vehicle body side, the support bracket is attached to the vehicle body. In a supporting device for a steering column including a supporting bolt, a part of the sliding plate is bent toward the mounting plate portion to prevent the sliding plate from slipping relative to the mounting plate portion. Steering column support device.