JPH08295249A - Shock absorbing steering system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a shock absorbing steering system that is excellent in assembling properties, a simple in structure and also capable of securing a stable ironing action. CONSTITUTION: In this shock absorbing steering system where a strip flexible member being locked to either member of both steering system side and body side members extending in the traveling direction, in time of relative movements between both these members, is ironed by a pressing means installed in the other member and thereby any impact to be added to the steering system side member is absorbed, it adopts a flexible member 16, having a curbed part 16b in an intermediate part as a flexible member, and this curved part 16b is fitted in a closed-form opening 12b installed the other side member (a brakeaway bracket 12). In addition, it adopts a clip member 30 being fitted in the curved part 16b and the opening 12b as pressing means, engaging with the end of the opening 12b at both sides, and being supported with both ends by the other side member 12 and pinching the flexible member 16.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shock absorbing steering device configured to absorb a shock applied to a steering device in a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As one of shock absorbing steering devices, when a steering device side member and a vehicle body side member are moved relative to each other, they are fixed to either one of the steering device side member and the vehicle body side member and move in the moving direction. There is one in which an extending belt-shaped flexible member is squeezed by a pressing means provided on the other member to absorb an impact applied to the steering device side member. For example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-30599 and Japanese Utility Model Publication No. It is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 49-68127.

In the shock absorbing steering device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-30599, a clamp bracket as a steering device side member is provided with a pair of parallel slits, one end of which is open. A strip-shaped flexible member that is provided on the side member and extends in the column axial direction is inserted, and when the clamp bracket and the vehicle body-side member move relative to each other, the clamp bracket can squeeze the flexible member. ing.

In the shock absorbing steering device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 49-68127, a shock absorbing plate as a flexible member having an arcuate bulge is provided on a steering column as a steering device side member. Three rolling rollers that are fixedly provided at both ends and that sandwich the arc-shaped bulge of the shock absorbing plate are supported by a support bracket serving as a vehicle body side member through a support shaft. The ironing action of the impact absorbing plate is obtained by the three rolling rollers when the supporting bracket is relatively moved.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
In the shock absorbing steering device of Japanese Patent No. 0599, since the flexible member is inserted into the pair of parallel slits whose one ends are open, the assembling property is good, and the clamp bracket itself can squeeze the flexible member. Although the structure is simple because it is designed to be clamped, the clamp bracket in the part weakened by the pair of parallel slits may be deformed by a large load (ironing load) when the ironing action is obtained, and it is stable. The ironing effect may not be obtained.

Further, in the shock absorbing steering device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. Sho 49-68127, the shock absorbing is carried out by three rolling rollers which are axially supported by the supporting bracket through the supporting shafts. Since the plate is squeezed, a stable squeezing action can be obtained,
Since it is necessary to assemble each of the three rolling rollers to the support bracket by using each supporting shaft, the assembling property is poor, and at least three rolling rollers and three supporting members are used as members for obtaining the ironing action. A shaft is required, the number of parts is large, and it is disadvantageous in terms of cost. The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an impact absorbing steering device which has a good assembling property, a simple structure, and a stable ironing action. .

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, one of the steering device side member and the vehicle body side member is moved when the steering device side member and the vehicle body side member are relatively moved. In the shock absorbing steering device, a belt-shaped flexible member fixed to the member of FIG. 2 is squeezed by a pressing means provided on the other member to absorb the shock applied to the steering device side member, As the flexible member, a flexible member having a curved portion at an intermediate portion and fitted in an opening having a closed shape provided in the other member is used, and the flexible member is used as the pressing unit. A clip member that is fitted into the curved portion and the opening, is engaged at both ends with the end portion of the opening, is supported by the other member, and sandwiches the flexible member with the other member. (Configuration of Claim 1).

The clip member has an engaging surface that slidably engages with the flexible member and extends across the flexible member, and both extending end portions of the pressing portion. A pair of arm portions that extend from each of the arm portions and elastically engage with the opening, and a regulating portion that is provided at the base portion of each of the arm portions and that regulates the movement in the detaching direction by the engagement with the end portion of the opening. It is desirable that the clip member is provided (configuration of claim 2), and it is desirable to provide the restriction portion (configuration of claim 3) on the moving direction side of the flexible member with respect to the clip member.

Further, the pressing portion is arranged substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the flexible member, and the both arm portions are flexible in the arrangement direction of the pressing portion (claim 4). Configuration) is desirable. Furthermore, it is desirable that each outer side surface of both extending end portions of the pressing portion be an inclined surface that is inclined outward toward the respective arm portions (configuration of claim 5), and one of the inclined surfaces is the other. It is desirable that the inclination angle is smaller than that of the above (configuration of claim 6). Further, the pressing portion is formed in a ship bottom shape with the both arm portions facing upward, and slidably engages with the flexible member at a bottom surface having a substantially U-shaped cross section (configuration of claim 7). It is desirable that the wall length of the pressing portion located on the opposite side is higher than the wall length of the pressing portion located on the moving direction side of the flexible member with respect to the clip member (configuration of claim 8). Further, it is desirable that a guide made of hard resin is provided at a portion where the flexible member and the other member are engaged (configuration of claim 9).

[0010]

In the shock absorbing steering device according to the present invention, the curved portion of the flexible member is fitted into the closed opening provided in the other one of the steering device side member and the vehicle body side member. When the clip member is fitted into the curved portion and the opening of the flexible member and assembled, the clip member engages with the end portion of the opening at both ends and is supported by the other member so as to be supported by the other member. The flexible member is sandwiched.
Therefore, when the flexible member fixed to any one of the steering device side member and the vehicle body side member and the other member move relative to each other, the flexible member is squeezed by the other member and the clip member and the steering device. The shock applied to the side member is absorbed.

As described above, in the shock absorbing steering device according to the present invention, the curved portion of the flexible member is fitted into the closed opening provided in the other member, and the clip member is connected to the curved portion of the flexible member. By being fitted into the opening of the other member, a part that absorbs a shock is formed, so that the assembling property is good, and the structure of the part that absorbs a shock depends on the other member, the flexible member, and the clip member. Since it is configured, it is simple, and the flexible member is squeezed by the other member having a closed shape and high strength and the clip member having both ends supported by the other member at both ends. Therefore, a stable ironing action (ironing load) is obtained and a stable shock absorption is obtained (the action and effect of claim 1).

Further, the clip member has a pressing portion having an engaging surface for slidably engaging the flexible member and extending across the flexible member, and both extending end portions of the pressing portion. A pair of arms that extend respectively and elastically engage with the opening, and a restricting portion that is provided at the base of each of the arms and restricts the movement in the detaching direction by engaging with the end of the opening. With such a configuration, the pressing force applied from the flexible member to the pressing portion of the clip member is transmitted from the restriction portion of the clip member to the other member and is received, so that the pressing force from the flexible member is reliably received. It is possible to stabilize the shock absorption (the effect of claim 2). Further, when the restriction portion is provided on the moving direction side of the flexible member with respect to the clip member, that is, on the side that receives a large amount of load, the pressing force from the flexible member can be more reliably received, and shock absorption is further stabilized. This can be done (the effect of claim 3).

When the pressing portion of the clip member is arranged substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the flexible member and both arms are flexible in the arrangement direction of the pressing portion, the clip member Both arms can be bent and fitted into the opening to improve the assembling property of the clip member, and the pressing force acting from the flexible member to the pressing part of the clip member can be applied substantially evenly. Can be achieved (the effect of claim 4). Furthermore, when the outer side surfaces of both extending ends of the pressing portion are inclined surfaces that incline outward toward each arm portion, push the clip member along the inclined surfaces when fitting the clip member into the opening. Can be assembled more easily (the effect of claim 5), and when one of the inclined surfaces has a smaller inclination angle than the other, the larger inclination angle of the inclined surface is opened first. By fitting it, it is possible to effectively utilize the flexure of the arm portion with a small inclination angle to obtain good assembling property and suppress the occurrence of backlash between the clip member and the opening after assembling. In addition, the length of the portion that receives the pressing force from the flexible member can be sufficiently secured (the effect of claim 6). If the angle of inclination of both slopes is large,
Although it is possible to sufficiently secure the length of the portion that receives the pressing force from the flexible member, it is not possible to effectively utilize the bending of the arm portion. Also, when the inclination angle of both inclined surfaces is small,
Although the flexure of the arm portion can be effectively utilized, the length of the portion that receives the pressing force from the flexible member cannot be sufficiently ensured.

Further, when the pressing portion is formed in a ship bottom shape with both arms side facing upward and slidably engages with the flexible member at the bottom surface having a substantially U-shaped cross section, the rigidity of the pressing portion. It is possible to increase the size of the clip member and reduce the size of the clip member (the effect of claim 7). In this case, the clip member is located on the opposite side of the wall length of the pressing portion located on the moving direction side of the flexible member with respect to the clip member. When the wall length of the pressing portion located is high, when the flexible member is squeezed by the clip member, the flexible member does not interfere with the upper end edge of the pressing portion and is not scraped, so that the smooth ironing action is hindered. (The ironing load becomes abnormally higher than the set value) (function and effect of claim 8). Also,
In the case where a hard resin guide is interposed at a position where the flexible member and the other member (both members are usually made of iron-based metal) are engaged, two of the three positions of the flexible member are used. The sliding friction is stabilized and a stable ironing action (ironing load) is obtained (the effect of claim 9).

[0015]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a main part (a left side portion of an upper support part) of a shock absorbing steering device according to the present invention. In this shock absorbing steering device, as a steering device side member welded to an outer periphery of a column tube 11. Breakaway bracket 12 is capsule 13
Is assembled to the support bracket 15 as a vehicle body side member by the bolt 14 and the belt-shaped flexible member 16 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is clamped at the base end by the capsule 13 and the support bracket 15. It is attached to the support bracket 15.

The breakaway bracket 12 is made of a steel plate and is press-molded. The breakaway bracket 12 has a substantially U-shaped opening 12a which is open at the vehicle rear (right side in FIGS. 1 and 2) for mounting the capsule 13, and will be described later. It has an opening 12b (see FIG. 3) of a substantially square shape for mounting the guide 20 and the clip member 30, that is, a closed shape. Capsule 13
Has a bolt insertion hole 13a in the center, and four connecting pins 17 injected with resin (see FIG. 1).
Is fixed to the breakaway bracket 12 by means of, and when a load greater than a set value acts on the column tube 11 toward the front of the vehicle, the connecting pin 17 is sheared and separated from the breakaway bracket 12 toward the support bracket 15 side. It is supposed to be left behind.

The flexible member 16 is made of a thin steel plate and has a bolt insertion hole 16a at its base end and a U-shaped curved portion 16b at its intermediate portion.
Breakaway bracket 12 through guide 20
1 and 2, the breakaway bracket 12 is squeezed by the clip member 30 when the breakaway bracket 12 is moved toward the front of the vehicle relative to the support bracket 15. It is designed to absorb the shock applied to.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 4 to 6, the guide 20 is formed of a hard resin in a substantially U shape, and has a notch 21 that engages with the front surface of the opening 12b and the opening 1.
2b, a projection 22 that engages with the lower end of the rear surface portion, a pair of arms 23 and 24 that engages with the left and right surfaces of the opening 12b, and two pairs of holding claws 25 that engage with the left and right end surfaces of the flexible member 16, respectively. Two
6, 27, and 28, the flexible member 16 and the clip member 30 are assembled by fitting from above into the opening 12b of the breakaway bracket 12 prior to assembly.

As shown in detail in FIGS. 7-10, the clip member 30 has an engaging surface for slidably engaging the flexible member 16 and traverses the flexible member 16 at a substantially right angle. And a notch 12b formed in the opening 12b extending upward from both extending ends of the pressing portion 31.
A pair of arm portions 32, 33 that elastically engage with 1, 12b2
And regulating portions 34 and 35 which are provided at the bases of the arm portions 32 and 33 and regulate the movement in the detaching direction by engaging with the left and right lower end portions of the opening 12b.

The pressing portion 31 is formed in a ship bottom shape with both arm portions 32 and 33 on the upper side, and is slidably engaged with the upper surface of the flexible member 16 by the bottom surface having a substantially U-shaped cross section. And the outer side surfaces of the extending end portions that extend to the left and right have the arm portions 32, 3 respectively.
3 are inclined surfaces S1 and S2 that are inclined outward, and the inclination angle θ1 of the inclined surface S1 on the left side is the inclined surface S on the right side.
It is made smaller than the inclination angle θ2 of 2. The front wall height H1 arranged on the vehicle front side of the pressing portion 31 is made higher than the rear wall height H2 arranged on the vehicle rear side, that is, on the moving direction side of the flexible member 16.

The ends of the arms 32 and 33 are bent outward and are flexible in the left-right direction of the vehicle, that is, in the arrangement direction of the pressing part 31, and the width of the left arm 32 is the right arm 33. The width of the cutouts 12b1 and 12b2 formed in the opening 12b is also formed in accordance with the width, and mis-assembly is prevented. Each regulatory department 3
4, 35 are long provided on the vehicle rear side of the arm portions 32, 33, that is, on the moving direction side of the flexible member 16 with respect to the clip member 30, and the load when squeezing the flexible member 16 mainly extends rearward. The protrusions 34a and 35a can be received.

By the way, in this embodiment, after the guide 20 is fitted into the opening 12b of the breakaway bracket 12, the flexible member 16 has the curved portion 16b with the opening 1b.
2b is assembled so as to be fitted therein, and then the clip member 30 is assembled by the procedure shown in FIG. In the state of FIG. 11A, the right arm 33 is inserted in the notch 12b2 of the opening 12b, the upper end of the right regulating portion 35 is in contact with the lower right end of the opening 12b, and the left The inclined surface S1 is in contact with the upper left side of the opening 12b. In addition, FIG.
In the state of (a), the left arm portion 32 is pushed by the force in the arrow direction. In the state of (b), the right arm portion 33 bends due to elastic deformation and the left inclined surface S1.
Slides at the contact portion with the upper left side of the opening 12b, and the opening 12b
Fit in. Further, FIG. 11C shows a state in which the clip member 30 is assembled to the opening 12b after the state of FIG. 11B. In this state of FIG.
33 is resiliently engaged with the deep portions of both notches 12b1 and 12b2, and the upper ends of both restricting portions 34 and 35 are resiliently engaged with the lower ends on both sides of opening 12b.

In the present embodiment constructed as described above, the curved portion 1 of the guide 20 and the flexible member 16 is provided in the closed opening 12b formed in the breakaway bracket 12.
If the clip member 30 is fitted in the curved portion 16b and the opening 12b of the flexible member 16 as shown in FIG.
The upper ends of 4, 35 are elastically engaged with the lower ends of both sides of the opening 12b, supported by the breakaway bracket 12 on both sides, and sandwich the flexible member 16 with the breakaway bracket 12. Therefore, when the breakaway bracket 12 moves forward of the vehicle with respect to the support bracket 15, the flexible member 16 is squeezed by the breakaway bracket 12 and the clip member 30 to absorb the impact applied to the column tube 11.

As described above, in the shock absorbing steering system of this embodiment, the breakaway bracket 12 is used.
The guide 20 and the bending portion 16 of the flexible member 16 in the opening 12b of the
By inserting b, and by inserting the clip member 30 into the curved portion 16b and the opening 12b of the flexible member 16, a portion for absorbing impact is configured, so that the assembling property is good and the impact is absorbed. The structure of the part to be formed is simple because it is composed of the breakaway bracket 12, the guide 20, the flexible member 16, and the clip member 30,
In addition, the breakaway bracket 12 having a closed opening 12b having a high strength and the clip member 30 having both ends supported by the breakaway bracket 12 and having a high supporting rigidity squeeze the flexible member 16 so that a stable ironing operation is achieved. (Ironing load) is obtained and stable shock absorption is obtained.

Further, in this embodiment, the flexible member 16
A pressing portion 31 having an engaging surface slidably engaged with the flexible member 16 and extending from both extending ends of the pressing portion 31 and repelling to the opening 12b. Pair of arm portions 32, 33 that are engaged with each other, and these arm portions 32, 33
The clip member 30 provided with the restricting portions 34 and 35 provided on the base portion of the flexible member 16 for restricting the outward movement by engaging with the end of the opening 12b is employed. Since the pressing force acting on the pressing portion 31 is transmitted to and received by the breakaway bracket 12 from the restricting portions 34 and 35 of the clip member 30, the pressing force from the flexible member 16 can be reliably received and the shock absorption is stabilized. Can be made. Also, the clip member 30
Since the protrusions 34a and 35a of the restricting portions 34 and 35 are provided on the moving direction side of the flexible member 16 with respect to, that is, on the side that receives a large amount of load, the pressing force from the flexible member 16 can be more reliably received. The shock absorption can be further stabilized.

Further, in the present embodiment, the pressing portion 31 of the clip member 30 is arranged substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the flexible member 16, and the both arm portions 32 and 33 have the pressing portion 31.
Since it is flexible in the arrangement direction, the both arm portions 32 and 33 of the clip member 30 can be bent and fitted into the opening 12b, and the assembling property of the clip member 30 can be improved. The pressing force acting on the pressing portion 31 of the clip member 30 from the flexible member 16 can be applied substantially evenly. Further, since the outer side surfaces of both extending end portions of the pressing portion 31 are the inclined surfaces S1 and S2 that are inclined outward toward the arm portions 32 and 33, the clip member 30 is opened to the opening 12b.
It can be easily assembled by pushing it along the inclined surfaces S1 and S2 when it is fitted in the
Since the inclination angle of 1 is smaller than that of the right inclined surface S2, the bending of the right arm portion 33 is effectively utilized by fitting the clip member 30 into the opening 12b first from the right inclined surface S2 side. It is possible to obtain a good assembling property, suppress the occurrence of backlash between the clip member 30 and the opening 12b after the assembling, and to receive the pressing force from the flexible member 16, the straight part of the pressing part 31. Can secure a sufficient length.

Further, in the present embodiment, the pressing portion 31 of the clip member 30 is formed in the shape of a ship bottom with both arms 32 and 33 as the upper side, and the flexible member 1 has a bottom surface having a substantially U-shaped cross section.
6 is slidably engaged, the rigidity of the pressing portion 31 can be increased, the clip member 30 can be downsized, and the flexible member 16 is positioned on the moving direction side of the clip member 30. Since the wall height H1 of the pressing portion 31 located on the opposite side from the wall height H2 of the pressing portion 31 is made higher,
When the flexible member 16 is squeezed by the clip member 30, the flexible member 16 does not interfere with the upper edge of the pressing portion 31 and is not scraped, so that the smooth squeezing operation is hindered (the squeezing load becomes abnormal from the set value. It will never get higher). Also,
Since the guide 30 made of hard resin is interposed in the portion where the flexible member 16 and the breakaway bracket 12 are engaged with each other, the sliding friction is stabilized at two of the three positions of the flexible member 16 and is stable. An ironing action (ironing load) can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an essential part showing an embodiment of a shock absorbing steering device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a closed-shaped opening provided in the breakaway bracket shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

4 is a side view of the guide shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

5 is a plan view of the guide shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

6 is a rear view of the guide shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

7 is a rear view of the clip member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

8 is a plan view of the clip member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

9 is a left side view of the clip member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

10 is a right side view of the clip member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory diagram when the clip member is assembled in the opening of the breakaway bracket.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 ... Column tube, 12 ... Breakaway bracket (steering device side member), 12b ... Closed shape opening, 15 ... Support bracket (vehicle body side member), 16 ...
Flexible member, 16b ... Curved portion, 20 ... Guide, 30 ... Clip member, 31 ... Pressing portion, 32, 33 ... Arm portion, 34, 3
5 ... Regulator, 34a, 35a ... Projection, S1, S2 ... Slope, H1, H2 ... Wall length.

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A belt-shaped flexible member that is fixed to one of the steering device side member and the vehicle body side member and extends in the moving direction when the steering device side member and the vehicle body side member are relatively moved. In a shock absorbing steering device in which a pressing means provided on a member is squeezed to absorb a shock applied to the steering device side member, the flexible member has a curved portion at an intermediate portion and has the curved portion. A flexible member that is fitted into a closed-shaped opening provided in the other member is adopted, and the bending portion and the opening of the flexible member that are fitted as the pressing means are fitted to both ends of the opening. A shock absorbing steering device is characterized in that a clip member that is engaged with and supported by the other member is sandwiched between the other member and the flexible member. 2. A pressing portion, wherein the clip member has an engaging surface slidably engaged with the flexible member, and extends across the flexible member, and both of the pressing portions extend. A pair of arm portions that respectively extend from the end portions and elastically engage with the opening,
2. The shock absorbing steering device according to claim 1, wherein the clip member is provided with a restricting portion that is provided at a base portion of each of the arm portions and that restricts movement in an outward direction by engaging with an end portion of the opening. . 3. The shock absorbing steering device according to claim 2, wherein the restriction portion is provided on a moving direction side of the flexible member with respect to the clip member. 4. The pressing portion is arranged substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the flexible member, and the both arm portions are flexible in the arrangement direction of the pressing portion. Item 2
Alternatively, the shock absorbing steering device according to the item 3. 5. The impact according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein each of the outer side surfaces of both extending end portions of the pressing portion is an inclined surface which is inclined outward toward each of the arm portions. Absorption steering device. 6. The shock absorbing steering device according to claim 5, wherein one of the inclined surfaces has a smaller inclination angle than the other. 7. The pressing portion is formed in a ship bottom shape with both arms side facing upward, and slidably engages with the flexible member at a bottom surface having a substantially U-shaped cross section. Claim 2,
The shock absorbing steering device according to 3, 4, 5 or 6. 8. The wall length of the pressing portion located on the opposite side is higher than the wall length of the pressing portion located on the moving direction side of the flexible member with respect to the clip member. Shock absorption steering device. 9. A guide made of a hard resin is interposed at a portion where the flexible member and the other member engage with each other. The shock absorbing steering device described.