JPH05672A - Core bar of steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a core bar of a steering wheel having the small fluctuation in the diameter of a ring part. CONSTITUTION:Spokes S1, S2, S3 and S4 made of die casting metal are formed intergrally of a pipe ring part 10 formed of a pipe interconnecting the tips of the spokes S1, S2, S3 and S4 and flattened to be closed at both ends 2. A die casting ring part 11 made of a die casting metal interconnecting the tips of the spoke is also provided so that both flattened ends 2 of the pipe ring part 10 are enclosed by the tips of die casting metal spokes S1, S4 to form an annular ring part of the pipe ring part 10 and die casting ring part 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering wheel core metal embedded in a steering wheel of a vehicle, and more particularly to a steering wheel core metal partially made of die-cast metal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a steering wheel core metal of this type has a ring portion 1 made of an aluminum pipe and spokes S1, S made of aluminum die cast, as shown in FIG.
It was formed by casting around the T-shaped tip of 2, S3, S4. In addition, 3 is a boss that is cast in a die-cast metal.

In order to form this steering wheel core metal, an aluminum pipe is first bent into an annular shape, and both ends 4
The ring portion 1 is formed by butt welding. Next, the ring portion 1 and the boss 3 are set in a die casting mold, the molten metal is injected from the vicinity of the boss 3, and the spokes S1 and S
2, S3 and S4 are molded. Thereby, the ring portion 1,
A steering wheel core metal in which the spokes S1, S2, S3, S4 and the boss 3 are integrated is obtained.

[0004]

However, in the above steering wheel core metal, since the ring portion 1 is obtained by welding after bending the pipe, variations in pipe length and variations in length change during butt welding are caused. Ring part 1 as it is
It becomes the dispersion of the diameter of. Therefore, in order to keep the diameter of the ring portion 1 within the tolerance, it is necessary to strictly control the pipe length and the butt welding.

The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and it is possible to manage the pipe length without strict control.
An object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel core metal having a ring portion diameter within a predetermined tolerance range.

[0006]

A steering wheel core metal of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is to connect a plurality of die-cast metal spokes extending from a boss and the tips of the plurality of die-cast metal spokes, and to connect both end portions. A pipe ring portion formed from a crushed and closed pipe, and integrally formed with the plurality of die-cast metal spokes,
It has a die cast metal die cast string portion connecting between the tips of the plurality of die cast metal spokes, both crushed ends of the pipe ring portion are cast around the tips of the die cast metal spokes, An annular ring portion is formed by the pipe ring portion and the die cast ring portion.

The material of the pipe is not particularly limited, but is preferably made of aluminum from the viewpoint of weight reduction. In particular, when manufacturing the steering wheel core metal of the present invention, the special technique of welding aluminum, which has been an obstacle to adopting an aluminum pipe in the related art, is not required, and thus the aluminum pipe can be easily adopted.

The material of the die casting metal is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy from the viewpoint of weight reduction.

The shape of both ends of the pipe ring portion is not particularly limited as long as it is crushed and closed, but it is desirable to provide a so-called barb at the leading edge in consideration of retaining from the die-cast metal spokes.

The die cast string portion is formed by die casting at the same time as the die cast metal spokes, and connects the die cast metal spokes.

[0011]

In the steering wheel core metal of the present invention, both ends of the pipe ring portion formed of the pipe are cast around the tips of the die-cast metal spokes. Therefore, even if the total length of the pipe ring portion varies, only the length of the portion around which the casting is performed changes, and the length of the exposed pipe ring portion does not change much.

Further, the steering wheel core metal of the present invention has a die-cast metal die-cast string portion which constitutes an annular ring portion together with the pipe ring portion. Since the die cast string portion is formed at the same time when the die cast metal spokes are die cast, it is always formed in a constant shape.

Therefore, the total length of the ring portion composed of the pipe ring portion and the die cast ring portion is small in variation. Therefore, even if the control of the length of the pipe forming the pipe ring portion is made as lenient as possible, a steering wheel core metal having a ring portion diameter within a predetermined tolerance range can be obtained.

Both ends of the pipe ring portion are crushed and closed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the die-cast metal from entering the pipe ring portion without using an extra member.

[0015]

1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention, in which four spokes S1, S2, S3, S4 made of die-cast metal extend from a central boss 3. Between each spoke, the pipe ring part 10 or the die cast string part 11
To form an annular ring portion.

The boss 3 is made of iron and is used for fixing the steering wheel to the tip of the steering shaft, and its periphery is surrounded by the roots of the spokes S1, S2, S3, S4. Each spoke S1, S2, S3, S4
Is made of aluminum alloy and extends radially from the boss 3,
The tip is T-shaped.

The pipe ring portion 10 is formed by bending an aluminum pipe and has a space S1-S2 between the spokes.
-S3-S4 are connected. Both ends 2 (only one is shown) of the pipe ring portion 10 are crushed to form the spoke S1,
It is cast on the tip of S4. The middle of the pipe ring portion 10 is cast around and supported by the tips of the spokes S2 and S3. Inside the pipe ring portion 10, a solid deformation preventing member 5 is arranged. This deformation prevention member 5
Are caulked and fixed to the pipe ring portion 10. As shown in FIG. 2, both ends 2 are crushed and closed so that the tip ends spread like a funnel. Both ends 2 are located on extensions of the portions of the spokes S1 and S4 that extend in the radial direction.

The die cast string portion 11 is a spoke S.
It is die-cast at the same time as 1, S2, S3, S4, and connects S4-S1 between the spokes. The die cast ring portion 11 and the pipe ring portion 10 form an annular ring portion that connects S1-S2-S3-S4-S1 between all the spokes.

Next, a method of manufacturing the steering wheel core metal of this embodiment will be described.

First, an aluminum pipe having a predetermined length is bent into an arc shape, and then the deformation preventing member 5 is arranged in a predetermined position of the pipe, and the deformation preventing member 5 is fixed by caulking and deforming the pipe. Then, in order to close both ends of the pipe, the pipe is crushed as shown in the figure to obtain the pipe ring portion 10.

The boss 3 and the pipe ring portion 10 are placed in a die casting mold, and a molten aluminum alloy is poured from near the boss 3. The die casting mold has spokes S
Since cavities corresponding to 1, S2, S3, S4 and the die cast string portion 11 are provided, a steering wheel core metal in which the boss 3 and the pipe ring portion 10 are integrated as shown in FIG. 1 is obtained.

In this embodiment, both ends 2 of the pipe ring portion 10 are cast around the tips of the spokes S1 and S4, and the die cast string portion 11 is formed. Therefore, the operation and effect of the invention have been described. As a result, there is an effect that a steering wheel core metal having a ring portion diameter within a predetermined tolerance range can be obtained.

Further, since both ends 2 are crushed and closed, the pipe ring portion 1 can be used without using an extra member.
This has the effect of preventing the die-cast metal from entering into the inside of zero.

Further, since the tip ends of the both ends 2 are spread like a funnel and are so-called return, the spokes S1 and S4 are formed.
The pipe ring portion 10 is prevented from coming out of the pipe.

Further, since the deformation preventing member 5 is arranged in the pipe ring portion 10 corresponding to the spokes S2 and S3, the pipe ring portion 10 is deformed by the impact of the molten metal flowing through the spokes S2 and S3. Can be prevented.

Further, the pipe ring portion 10 and the spokes S
As the material for 1, S2, S3, S4 and die cast string portion 11 are all made of aluminum,
The steering wheel core metal can be made light.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment, in which the ring portion is formed by two pipe ring portions 12 and 13 and two die cast string portions 14 and 15. The steering wheel core metal of this embodiment is also made of the same material and manufacturing method as in the first embodiment. Here, the die cast string portions 14 and 15 are formed in the spaces S1-S2 and S3-S4 between the spokes having a short span in order to reduce the weight. This embodiment also has the same effect as the first embodiment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a steering wheel core metal according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the steering wheel core metal shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional front view of a steering wheel core metal according to another embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional front view of a steering wheel core metal in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

S1, S2, S3, S4 ... Die-cast metal spokes 10, 12, 13 ... Pipe ring part 11, 14, 15 ... Die-cast string part 2 ... Both ends 3 ... Boss

Claims (1)

1. A pipe formed by connecting a plurality of die-cast metal spokes extending from a boss and tips of the plurality of die-cast metal spokes, and crushing and closing both ends of the spokes. A pipe ring portion and a plurality of die cast metal spokes are formed integrally with each other, and have die cast metal die cast string portions that connect the tips of the plurality of die cast metal spokes, and the pipe ring portion is crushed. The both ends of the steering wheel are cast around the ends of the spokes made of die-cast metal to form an annular ring portion by the pipe ring portion and the die cast ring portion.