JPH0745403Y2 - Impact energy absorption steering device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention relates to an impact energy absorbing steering device.

[Prior Art] Generally, in a steering apparatus for a vehicle, a column jacket is detachably supported from a vehicle body by a bracket, and the column jacket is configured to be contractible in an axial direction. We are trying to protect you from as much as possible. In this case, the bracket has a U-shaped groove that opens to the rear end side, and is fixed to the vehicle body with a bolt that fits in the groove. When the column jacket receives an impact from an occupant, the bracket is bolted. Is left to slide forward. However,
It is difficult for this bracket to be smoothly removed from the vehicle body when an impact other than the axial direction is applied to the column jacket.

Therefore, considering the typical secondary collision in which a force that pushes the rear end of the column jacket toward the front of the vehicle body is taken into consideration, a substantially horizontal notch that intersects the column jacket is formed in the bracket in advance, and the column jacket is oversized. When a strong force is applied, the notch tears and absorbs energy,
A shock absorption type steering device was provided in which the column jacket could be contracted in the axial direction (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 52-55535), but in this case, the bracket that connects the column jacket is a clamp that is fixed to the vehicle body. It is supported only by multiple spot welds.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, according to the above-described conventional shock absorbing steering device, if the spot welding is separated due to the impact at the time of a collision, the bracket is disengaged from the clamp and the original tearing is caused. The energy absorption effect may be impaired.

Therefore, the present invention has been made for the purpose of providing an impact energy absorbing steering device that is not likely to impair the tearing effect.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a rear wall that connects a column jacket to a clamp that is fixed to a vehicle body so that the column jacket is orthogonal to the clamp, and the column jackets are provided on both sides of the rear wall. A shock energy absorption steering device in which a substantially U-shaped bracket having side walls extending parallel to each other is fixed, and a notch is formed in the side wall of the bracket in a direction intersecting with the column jacket. In which a protrusion is provided below the notch of the bracket, the protrusion penetrates the clamp and engages with the clamp, and the clamp engages with the bottom and front of both side walls of the bracket. A shock energy absorbing steering device having a section is constructed.

[Operation] According to the present invention having the above configuration, even if the load of the occupant is applied to the rear end of the column jacket at the time of the secondary collision, and the spot welding between the clamp and the bracket is separated due to the impact at the time of the collision, The protrusion of the bracket that penetrates the clamp and the claws that engage the bottom and the front of both sides of the bracket prevent this, and the notch is torn without the bracket coming off the clamp, impact energy Absorbs.

[Embodiment] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First
FIG. 1 is a half sectional side view of an impact energy absorbing steering device embodying the present invention, in which an upper jacket 1 and a lower jacket 2 are axially contractably engaged with each other via a pressure contact portion 3, and the jacket is coaxial. The upper shaft 4 and the lower shaft 5 are axially engaged with each other by a deformed cross section fitting such as an oval cross section so as to be contractible in the axial direction, and a universal joint 6 is connected to a front end portion of the lower shaft 5. A bracket 7 having a substantially U-shaped plane is connected to the upper jacket 1 and is joined to the wall 7a by welding or the like so that the upper jacket 1 is orthogonal to the rear wall 7a. Bracket 7 is then the wall
Curl portions 7b and 7b are formed on both side portions of 7a, and side wall portions 7c and 7c extending in parallel from the curl portions 7b and 7b along the upper jacket 1 are provided at the rear ends of the both side wall portions. The cut portions 7d, 7d are formed. Curl section 7b, 7b
Rollers 8, 8 each having a flat-headed pin shape are press-fitted into each.
The bracket 7 is a clamp 9 fixed to the vehicle body.
The front end of the side walls 7c, 7c with the hooks 10, 10 that are bent in a key shape so as to project inward, and the bottoms of the side walls 7c, 7c with the similar hooks 11, 11. The protrusions 7f, 7f provided below the cutouts 7d, 7d penetrate through the long holes 9b, 9b of the stepped portions 9a, 9a formed in the clamp 9 and protrude to the outside (see FIG. 3). And, it is connected to the clamp 9 by the spot welds 12, 12. The clamp 9 is fixed to the vehicle body so as not to come off. As shown in FIG. 2, the bracket 7 has a cover body 13 coated on the upper surface thereof. The front end portions 13a, 13a of the cover body 13 project in the shape of legs and are inserted into the lower portions of the column jacket push-up prevention portions 14, respectively, and are arranged so as to be curved upward as a whole. Further, holes 13b, 13b for inserting the rollers 8, 8 are formed in the rear corner portion. The material of the cover body 13 is thin metal or resin, such as vinyl chloride, which is flexible and excellent in deformability.

Therefore, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. When a secondary collision occurs, the driver's load is applied to the steering wheel, and when the upper jacket 1 and the upper shaft 4 receive the load in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. The curled portions 7b, 7b of the rear wall 7a of the blocked bracket 7 absorb the energy while curling through the rollers 8, 8 without changing the curvature, and finally the cut portions 7d, 7d rip. Then, the bracket 7 breaks to absorb the impact energy. At this time, the bracket 7 receives the rotational force in the direction of the arrow with the claws 10, 10 as the fulcrum, and even if the spot welding with the clamp 9 is separated, the protrusions 7f, 7f engage with the clamp 9 and , It is engaged with the claw portions 11 and 11, so that it is blocked. Since the bracket 7 is completely covered with the cover body 13, foreign matter enters the inside of the bracket 7 and
The impact energy absorption structure is completely prevented from being adversely affected. In addition, the hole 13b of the cover body 13 has a roller 8
Since the bracket 7 itself functions as a so-called backlash killing function because it functions as a holder for holding the vehicle, and is arranged so as to be curved upward as a whole, the bracket 7 does not vibrate when the vehicle is traveling, and therefore, an abnormal noise is generated. Is prevented.

[Advantages of the Invention] According to the invention described above, a protrusion is provided below the notch of the bracket, the protrusion penetrates the clamp and is engaged with the both side walls of the bracket. Since the bottom part and the front part of the bracket are formed with the claws that engage with each other, even if the spot welding between the clamp and the bracket is separated due to the impact of the secondary collision, the protrusion of the bracket penetrates the clamp. , The claws of the clamp engage with the bottom and front of both side walls of the bracket to prevent it and prevent the bracket from coming off the clamp, thus impairing the tearing effect of the notch it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of an essential part showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the essential part, and FIG. 3 is a partially omitted sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 1 …… Upper jacket, 7 …… Bracket, 7a ……
Rear wall, 7c ... Side wall, 7d ... Notch, 7f ... Protrusion, 9
...... Clamp, 9a …… Step, 10,11 …… Claw, 12 …… Spot weld

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A substantially U-shaped structure comprising a rear wall connecting a column jacket to a clamp fixed to a vehicle body so as to be orthogonal to each other, and side wall parts extending in parallel to both side parts of the rear wall along the column jacket. In a shock energy absorption steering device in which a bracket is fixed and a cut portion is formed in the side wall portion of the bracket in a direction intersecting with the column jacket, a protrusion is provided below the cut portion of the bracket. An impact energy absorption steering device characterized in that the protrusion is engaged with the clamp so as to be engaged therewith, and the clamp is formed with a claw portion with which a bottom portion and a front portion of both side wall portions of the bracket engage.