JPH057902Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an energy-absorbing steering column that protects a driver by absorbing energy when an excessive impact is received from the driver.

[Conventional technology]

Utility Model Application No. 60-81068 describes vehicle frontal collision,
An impact energy absorbing steering device has been proposed to protect a driver from a so-called secondary collision in which the driver collides with the steering wheel due to inertia during a so-called primary collision.

Conventionally, when the steering column stands at a relatively steep inclination, the energy absorbing steering column has been designed to reduce the lower end of the steering column 2 by a primary collision, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (disclosed in the above-mentioned publication). The steering column is supported at the front part 4 of the vehicle body, which is affected by Ta.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in the conventional energy-absorbing steering column support structure, the lower end of the steering column is supported by the front of the vehicle body, so it is directly affected by the primary collision, which may have a negative impact on the secondary collision protection function. In particular, the upper end support structure of the steering column has low rigidity due to the long rod extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the steering column becomes a flexible support structure, resulting in poor vibration characteristics of the steering column during normal driving.

This problem is true of any conventional energy absorbing steering system in which the steering column stands at a relatively steep slope.

The present invention is an energy-absorbing steering column that protects the driver by absorbing impact energy when the steering column receives an excessive impact from the driver for some reason. Another object of the present invention is to provide an energy-absorbing steering column that provides a steering column support structure with high rigidity in terms of vibration characteristics during normal operation.

[Means for solving problems]

The energy absorbing steering column according to the present invention for achieving the above object consists of the following steering column. That is, a steering column extends rearward and diagonally upward with respect to the vehicle, and is connected to the steering column at a lower part and extends upward, and has a first bent part at the upper part and a second bent part at the lower part.
an energy absorption bracket having a bent portion; and an energy absorption bracket that is fixed to the steering column above a connecting portion between the energy absorption bracket and the steering column, extends forward from there with respect to the vehicle, and is fixed to the upper part of the energy absorption bracket. a breakaway bracket that cooperates with the steering column and the energy absorbing bracket to form a generally triangular rigid assembly; a first column support disposed near the top of the energy absorbing bracket; a second column support provided near a lower part of the energy absorbing bracket and connected to the lower part of the energy absorbing bracket; and an upper part of the energy absorbing bracket and the first column support.
and a pin that connects the bracket to the column support and is cut when an excessive impact load is applied to allow the energy absorbing bracket to undergo plastic deformation using the second bent portion as a fulcrum. Energy absorbing steering column.

In the above device, in front of the first column support disposed above the energy absorption bracket, a vehicle member located in front of the energy absorption bracket is moved relative to the energy absorption bracket side when the vehicle receives an impact. It is desirable to provide a stopper to prevent this from happening.

[Effect]

In the device of the present invention, when the steering column receives an excessive impact from the driver, the energy absorption bracket separates from the first column support at the upper part and the upper part tilts forward with respect to the vehicle.
At this time, the impact energy is absorbed by the plastic deformation that occurs in the energy absorbing bracket. The first column support and the second column support are independent members from the front part of the body, so even if the front part of the body deforms during a vehicle impact, it will not be directly affected by the deformation, and the steering column and energy absorption Forward tilting of the bracket is not adversely affected.

When a stopper is provided in front of the first column support, a space for the stopper is always secured in front of the energy absorption bracket, and the reliability of the tilting movement of the energy absorption bracket is further improved.

During normal operation, a triangular high-rigidity assembly consisting of a steering column, an energy absorption bracket, and a breakaway bracket is supported at both ends by a first column support and a second column support above and below. The rigidity of the support structure is extremely high compared to the case where an energy absorption bracket or a similar member is supported at one end, or the case where the rod support is inevitably a flexible structure as mentioned in the prior art. The vibration characteristics of the steering column also become better.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the energy absorbing steering column according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 5 show embodiments of the invention. The steering column 10 rotatably supports a steering shaft 12 extending through the inside thereof around its axis, and a steering handle 14 is provided at the tip of the steering shaft 12, and a rotation joint 16 is provided at the lower end. The steering column 10 stands relatively steeply rearward relative to the vehicle at an angle of 25 degrees or more from the horizontal, typically 40 to 50 degrees.

A bracket 18 is fixed to the lower part of the steering column 10, and the bracket 18 is connected to an energy absorbing bracket 20 by bolts 22 or the like. The energy absorption bracket 20 includes a belly plate 24 that extends substantially in the vertical direction, and a first energy absorption bracket mounting portion 28 that is bent at a first bending portion 26 at the top of the belly plate 24 and extends toward the front of the vehicle.
and a second energy absorption bracket mounting portion 32 that is bent at a second bent portion 30 at the bottom of the belly plate 24 and extends toward the front of the vehicle.Flanges 34 are provided on both sides of the belly plate 24 as necessary. The second energy absorption bracket attachment part 3 is inserted from the lower part of the belly plate 24.
A rib 36 formed by molding is provided over two parts. The first bent portion 26 and the second bent portion 30 are portions that plastically deform and absorb a large amount of energy when the upper portion of the energy absorbing bracket 20 tilts forward during an excessive impact.

A breakaway bracket 38 is fixed above the attachment point of the steering column 10 to the energy absorption bracket 20 via the bracket 18, and the breakaway bracket 38 extends from the steering column 10 toward the front of the vehicle.
It is fixed to the upper part of the energy absorbing bracket 20, for example, to the first energy absorbing bracket mounting portion 28 of the energy absorbing bracket 20, by welding or the like. The breakaway bracket 38, steering column 10, and energy absorbing bracket 20 thus form a generally triangular rigid assembly 40 in side view (FIG. 1).

The energy absorbing bracket 20 is supported by the vehicle body above and below the energy absorbing bracket 20 by supporting the high rigidity assembly 40 above and below it.
Above and below the energy absorption bracket 20 are a first column support 42 and a second column support 44.
These column supports are constructed from a member independent of the front member 46 of the vehicle. Therefore, even if the front member 46 deforms, the first column support 42 and the second column support 44 will not deform accordingly.

First column support 42 of rigid assembly 40
The capsule 50 is fixed to the first column support 42 by bolts 48 in grooves 52, 5.
4, the breakaway bracket 38 is supported, and the capsule 50 and the breakaway bracket 38 are inserted into a hole 56 formed in the capsule 50 and a hole formed in the breakaway bracket 38 with a resin pin that can be cut in the event of an excessive impact. This is done by letting Therefore, during normal operation, the breakaway bracket 3 is connected via the resin pin.
8 and the capsule 50, and therefore the first column support 42, are coupled, and in the event of an excessive impact, the resin pin shears off, causing the breakaway bracket 38 to separate from the capsule 50, and the energy absorbing bracket 20 and the breakaway bracket to be separated from each other. 3
8 is plastically deformed and tilts forward. An escape hole 58 is formed in the breakaway bracket 38 at the rear of the fixed part with the capsule 50 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so that when the breakaway bracket 38 moves relative to the front in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with respect to the capsule 50 during an excessive impact, , breakaway bracket 3 of capsule 50 and bolt 48
It is possible to escape relative movement to the rear with respect to 8. The rigid assembly 40 is attached to the second column support 44 by attaching the second energy absorbing bracket attachment portion 32 of the energy absorbing bracket 20 to the second column support 44 with bolts 60.

A stopper 62 is disposed in front of the first column support 42 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. stoppa 62
consists of a member independent of the vehicle front member 46,
Even if the vehicle front member 46 deforms during a vehicle impact, the stopper 62 does not deform. The stopper 62 prevents excessive relative movement of the vehicle front member 46 even if the vehicle front member 46 attempts to move relative to the steering column 10 side, and provides space for the steering column 10 and the energy absorption bracket 20 to tilt forward. established in

Further, in FIG. 1, 64 indicates an instrument panel of the vehicle, and 66 indicates instruments.

Next, the operation of the energy absorbing bracket of the present invention constructed as described above will be explained.

During normal operation, steering column 1
0 is a steering column 10, a breakaway bracket 38, an energy absorption bracket 20
A highly rigid assembly 40 consisting of the following is supported by a vehicle by being supported by a first column support 42 and a second column support 44 provided above and below the energy absorbing bracket 20. High rigidity assembly 4
Since 0 is a highly rigid body forming a triangle, the support structure of the steering column 10 is formed by directly supporting the upper and lower parts of the steering column 10 on the highly rigid first column support 42 and second column support 44.
The rigidity is higher than when the energy absorbing bracket 20 is supported by a cantilever beam or when supported via a soft rod as shown in the conventional examples shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Therefore, from a vibration point of view, the vibration characteristics are improved, and shaking during idling is less likely to occur.

Next, a case will be described in which the steering wheel 14 receives an excessive forward impact from the driver for some reason.

When the steering column 10 receives an excessive forward impact load, the capsule 50 and the breakaway bracket 38 are separated by the resin pin being cut, and the steering column 10 is separated from the high-rigidity assembly 40.
and tilt forward. The high-rigidity assembly 40 has high rigidity when supported vertically, but has low rigidity when supported at one point by the second column support 44, and the energy absorption bracket 20
The second bent portion 30 is plastically deformed and easily deformed as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, and the triangular shape is also deformed due to the plastic deformation of the first bent portion 26. The deformation of the first bent portion 26 and the second bent portion 30 at this time is plastic deformation and absorbs a large amount of energy, so that the impact reaction force that the driver receives from the steering wheel 14 is greatly alleviated, and the driver protect

When the steering column 10 is tilted forward, since the stopper 62 is provided in front of the first column support 42, even if the vehicle front member 46 is deformed, a space for forward tilt is secured and the energy absorption bracket 20 is Deformation is not inhibited. Therefore, reliability is high.

Further, the steering column 10 is controlled by the first column support 42 and the second column support 44.
Therefore, even if the vehicle front member 46 is deformed during a vehicle impact, the driver can be protected without being directly affected by the deformation of the vehicle front member 46.

[Effect of idea]

According to the energy absorbing steering column according to the present invention, the steering column is supported by providing first and second column supports above and below a substantially triangular highly rigid body composed of the steering column, the energy absorbing bracket, and the breakaway bracket. Since the upper part of the energy absorbing bracket and the first column support are connected by a pin that is sheared when an excessive impact occurs, the vibration characteristics of the steering column can be improved.

Further, if a stopper is provided in front of the first column support, a space for the column support and the energy absorption bracket to tilt forward can be secured, and the reliability of operation in the event of an impact is increased.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 is a side view of an energy absorbing steering column according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a side view of the energy absorbing bracket in FIG. Fig. 4 is a front view of the energy absorption bracket shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the capsule in Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a side view of the conventional energy absorption steering column, and Fig. 7 is the Fig. FIG. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Steering column, 14... Steering handle, 20... Energy absorption bracket, 26... First bent portion, 30... Second
38... Breakaway bracket, 40... High rigidity assembly, 42... First column support, 44... Second column support, 46... Vehicle front member, 50... Capsule,
62...stoppa.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) A steering column that extends rearward and diagonally upward with respect to the vehicle; and a steering column that is connected to the steering column at a lower part and extends upward, with a first bent part at the upper part and a second bent part at the lower part. an energy absorbing bracket having an upper portion of the energy absorbing bracket, the bracket being fixed to the steering column above a connecting portion between the energy absorbing bracket and the steering column, extending forward from there with respect to the vehicle, and being fixed to the upper part of the energy absorbing bracket; a breakaway bracket that cooperates with the steering column and the energy absorbing bracket to form a generally triangular rigid assembly; a first column support located near the top of the energy absorbing bracket; and the energy absorbing bracket. a second column support provided near the bottom of the bracket and connected to the lower part of the energy absorption bracket; and a second column support that connects the upper part of the energy absorption bracket to the first column support, and when an excessive impact load is applied. An energy absorbing steering column comprising: a pin that is cut to allow the energy absorbing bracket to undergo plastic deformation using the second bent portion as a fulcrum. (2) A vehicle member located in front of the first column support disposed above the energy absorption bracket and in front of the energy absorption bracket moves relative to the energy absorption bracket when the vehicle receives an impact. An energy absorbing steering column according to claim 1, which is provided with a stopper for preventing the energy absorption.