JPH0560980U - Automotive steering member - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] The rigidity of the steering support bracket welded to the steering member arranged on the instrument panel of the automobile is not increased, and the second moment of the steering support bracket with respect to load variation is increased. It is intended to provide an enhanced steering member. A steering support bracket 7 welded to a steering member 1 includes a base portion 7a located above a steering column 13, an inner wall portion 7b extending vertically downward from both end portions of the base portion 7a, and a lower end of the inner wall portion 7b. A nut support portion 7c extending in the horizontal direction, and an outer wall portion 7d extending vertically upward from both end portions of the nut support portion 7c. Further, the outer wall portion 7d is bent vertically downward from the upper end of the outer wall portion 7d. The structure is that of a steering member for an automobile in which a bent reinforcing piece 7f is integrally provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a steering member mounted on an instrument panel of an automobile.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 Generally, an instrument panel of a vehicle has a steering member that supports a steering column and has a cushioning function in the event of a vehicle collision, and a vibration preventing function of the instrument panel. ing.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, in the steering member 1, both ends 1a and 1b are fixed to the front pillars 3a and 3b which are members on the vehicle body side by fixing means 5 and 5, or by means such as welding or bolting. While fixed, the steering support bracket 7 is welded to a portion of the steering member 1 near the driver's seat. Reference numeral 9 denotes a lower bracket which is fixed by tightening bolts 11 and 11 and nuts 12 and 12 from the lower surface of the steering support bracket 7, and a steering column 13 is inserted between the lower bracket 9 and the steering support bracket 7. It is supported. Reference numeral 15 is a steering wheel, and 17 and 17 are instrument stays arranged between the steering member 1 and the floor. The upper ends of the instrument stays 17 and 17 are welded to the steering member 1 and the lower ends thereof are the same as those of the vehicle body. It is bolted to the floor.

The steering member 1 is usually formed of a tubular body having a circular cross section, and has a tube diameter and a plate thickness for maintaining a predetermined rigidity.

The steering support bracket 7 is made of a steel material, and the steering support bracket 7 has a base portion 7a located above the steering column 13 and a base portion 7a as shown in FIG. Inner wall portions 7b, 7b extending vertically downward from both end portions, nut support portions 7c, 7c extending horizontally from the lower end portions of the inner wall portions 7b, 7b, and vertical portions extending from both end portions of the nut support portions 7c, 7c. The outer wall portions 7d and 7d extend upward, and the flange portions 7e and 7e extend horizontally from the upper ends of the outer wall portions 7d and 7d. There is also known an example in which an upper plate (not shown) is fixed to the upper surface of the steering support bracket 7 to further enhance the steering support rigidity.

By fixing the steering support bracket 7 and the lower bracket 9 with bolts and nuts as described above, it is possible to stably support the substantially middle portion of the steering column 13 with respect to the steering member 1.

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the case of such a conventional steering member, when it is required to further increase the rigidity of the steering support bracket 7 itself as the weight of the steering column 13 increases, the steel material forming the steering support bracket 7 is used. The plate thickness of the steering support bracket 7 must be increased, but with such a countermeasure, the weight of the steering support bracket 7 itself increases, and the space occupancy rate of the steering support bracket 7 also increases, resulting in interference with other members. There was a problem that we had to suffer from layout to avoid the problem.

That is, in the case of the steering support bracket 7, the weight of the steering column 13 is mainly supported by the inner wall portion 7b and the outer wall portion 7d which are vertical walls, but when the weight of the steering column 13 increases, In order to increase the sectional secondary moment per constant weight, it is necessary to increase the plate thickness of the steel material mainly constituting the inner wall portion 7b and the outer wall portion 7d or increase the number of these vertical walls. Therefore, the steering support bracket 7 itself becomes large, and as described above, the weight and the plate thickness increase, and at the same time, the material cost tends to increase.

Therefore, the present invention solves the problems that the conventional steering member for an automobile has and eliminates the need for increasing the size of the steering support bracket itself and increasing the rigidity and cross-section of the steering support bracket. The purpose is to provide a steering member with an increased second moment.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a steering support bracket including a base portion located above a steering column, an inner wall portion extending vertically downward from both end portions of the base portion, and a lower end portion of the inner wall portion. A reinforcing piece provided with a nut support portion extending in the horizontal direction and outer wall portions extending vertically upward from both end portions of the nut support portion, and further being bent on the outer wall portion vertically downward from the upper end of the outer wall portion. Are integrated.

[0011]

[Action]

 According to such a steering member, the weight of the steering column is mainly supported by the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion which are the vertical walls of the steering support bracket, and the cross-section 2 of the steering support bracket is provided by the reinforcing piece provided on the outer wall portion. The secondary moment is increased, and the support rigidity of the outer wall portion itself is improved.

Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the thickness of the steel material in order to increase the rigidity of the steering support bracket, the relative weight of the steering support bracket with respect to the weight of the steering column is reduced, and the member can be downsized. This has the effect of facilitating the layout for avoiding interference with peripheral members.

[0013]

【Example】

 An embodiment of an automotive steering member according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which the same components as those of the conventional configuration are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, in which reference numeral 1 denotes a steering member, which is an instrument panel of an automobile and which supports a steering column. It has a cushioning function in the event of a vehicle collision, and is also provided laterally in the vehicle width direction so as to have a vibration preventing function for the instrument panel. The above-mentioned steering member 1 is usually made of a tubular body having a circular cross section, and has a tube diameter and a plate thickness for maintaining a predetermined rigidity.

A fixture 5 is connected to one end 1a of the steering member 1, and an instrument stay 17 is fixed to the other end 1b. The lower end of the instrument stay 17 is bolted to the floor surface of the vehicle body.

A steering support bracket 7 is welded to a portion of the steering member 1 near the driver's seat. Reference numeral 9 denotes a lower bracket having a substantially U-shaped cross section, which is fastened and fixed from the lower surface of the steering support bracket 7 by bolts 11 and 11 and nuts 12 and 12, and between the lower bracket 9 and the steering support bracket 7. The steering column 13 is inserted and supported. A steering shaft (not shown) is rotatably supported on the steering column 13.

The steering support bracket 7 is made of steel, and as shown in the cross-sectional view of the main part of FIG. 2, the base portion 7 a located above the steering column 13 and both end portions of the base portion 7 a. From the inner wall portions 7b, 7b extending vertically downward from the inner wall portions 7b, 7b, the nut support portions 7c, 7c extending horizontally from the lower end portions of the inner wall portions 7b, 7b, and the outer wall extending vertically upward from both end portions of the nut support portions 7c, 7c. It is provided with parts 7d and 7d. The outer wall portions 7d, 7d are integrally provided with reinforcing pieces 7f, 7f, which are the characteristic features of the present invention.

The reinforcing pieces 7f, 7f are bent vertically downward from the upper ends of the outer wall portions 7d, 7d, and can be formed by using a well-known hemming processing means.

It is possible to further improve the rigidity by fixing an upper plate (not shown) from the upper surface of the steering support bracket 7.

By tightening the steering support bracket 7 and the lower bracket 9 with the bolts 11 and 11 and the nuts 12 and 12, a substantially intermediate portion of the steering column 13 is stable with respect to the steering member 1. Can be supported.

According to the support structure of the steering member 1, the weight of the steering column 13 is mainly supported by the inner wall portion 7b and the outer wall portion 7d which are the vertical walls of the steering support bracket 7, and the outer wall portion 7d is reinforced. Since the piece 7f is provided, the rigidity of the outer wall portion 7d itself is improved, and at the same time, the second moment of area of the steering column 13 against a load change can be increased.

Therefore, since it is not necessary to increase the thickness of the steel material in order to increase the rigidity of the steering support bracket 7, the relative weight of the steering support bracket 7 with respect to the weight of the steering column 13 is reduced and the member is downsized. Is possible. In other words, even if it is required to increase the rigidity of the steering support bracket 7 itself as the weight of the steering column 13 increases, the weight of the steering support bracket 7 itself does not increase. Be done.

Further, in addition to the effect of miniaturization, there is an advantage that a layout for avoiding interference with peripheral members is facilitated because there is no flange 7e (see FIG. 5) in the conventional example. ..

Next, FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the case of this embodiment, the base portion 7a constituting the steering ring support bracket 7 is removed, and instead the inner wall portion 7b is formed. The reinforcing member 7g is bent vertically downward from the upper end of the steering member by a hemming means, and the pair of steering support brackets 7'and 7'obtained in this manner are separately provided to the steering member 1. Is welded in place. The configurations of the reinforcing piece 7f, the retainer 19 and the nut 12 provided on the outer wall portion 7d side are the same as those in the first embodiment.

According to the second embodiment, since the steering support bracket 7 is divided into the two members 7'and 7 ', the overall weight saving is promoted and the members 7'and 7'are made lighter. It is possible to adopt an automated method such as pressing at the time of processing, which enables mass production and increases the material yield.

[0026]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above in detail, the vehicle steering member according to the present invention is characterized in that the reinforcing member bent vertically downward is integrally provided from the upper end of the outer wall portion constituting the steering support bracket. With this structure, the reinforcing piece provided on the outer wall portion of the steering support bracket that supports the weight of the steering column can improve the rigidity of the outer wall portion itself and increase the second moment of area. it can.

Therefore, in order to increase the rigidity of the steering support bracket, it is not necessary to particularly increase the thickness of the steel material, the relative weight of the steering support bracket with respect to the weight of the steering column is reduced, and the member can be downsized. This has the great effect of reducing the cost and facilitating the layout for reducing the space occupancy rate of the steering support bracket and avoiding the interference with peripheral members.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of an automobile steering member according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of the steering support bracket shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an essential part of a steering support bracket showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional steering member.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional steering support bracket.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steering member, 5 ... Fixing device, 7, 7 '... Steering support bracket, 7a ... Base part, 7b ... Inner wall part, 7c ... Nut support part, 7d ... Outer wall part, 7f, 7g
... Reinforcement piece, 9 ... Lower bracket, 13 ... Steering column, 17 ... Instrument stay, 19 ... Retainer.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A steering member having an anti-vibration function of the instrument panel is laterally provided in a vehicle width direction on an instrument panel of a vehicle, and a steering column is formed by a steering support bracket and a lower bracket welded to the steering member. In the supported structure, the steering support bracket includes a base portion located above the steering column, an inner wall portion extending vertically downward from both end portions of the base portion, and a nut support portion extending horizontally from a lower end portion of the inner wall portion. An outer wall portion that extends vertically upward from both ends of the nut support portion, and further, in the outer wall portion,
A steering member for an automobile, comprising: a reinforcing piece integrally formed by bending the upper end of the outer wall portion vertically downward.