JPH08324440A - Column hole cover - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To ensure stable seal property for the displacement of a steering gear box, on a column hole cover for sealing the periphery of a steering shaft arranged by penetrating a dash panel. CONSTITUTION: A steering device is assembled by penetrating a joint 50 connected to a steering wheel 40 in the through hole 58a of a dash panel 58. The space in the engine room side of the through hole 58a is blocked by a column hole cover 10 stuck to the dash panel 58 for sticking and holding the outer periphery of a steering gear box 52. A projection part is provided on the inner wall of an opening end 34a for holding the steering gear box 52 by a column hole cover 10. The projection part is formed higher as the load received from the steering gear box 52 is positioned in a position liable to change.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a column hole cover, and more particularly to a column hole cover which seals the periphery of a steering force transmitting member which is arranged to penetrate a dash panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a steering device is mounted on a vehicle, a steering force transmitting member such as a steering shaft is provided so as to penetrate a dash panel that separates a vehicle interior from an engine room. At this time, if the seal around the through hole (hereinafter referred to as a column hole) provided in the dash panel is insufficient, heat, noise, dust and the like easily enter the vehicle compartment from the engine room. For this reason, conventionally, a vehicle uses a column hole cover that seals the dash panel and the steering force transmission member in the vicinity of the column hole.

As such a column hole cover, for example, the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-254056 is known. The column hole cover disclosed in the above publication has a flat portion that contacts the dash panel and a cylindrical portion that surrounds the tip portion of the steering shaft and that holds the outer periphery of the steering gear box that is connected to the tip of the steering shaft. I have it.

Further, in the column hole cover disclosed in the above publication, several annular projections having a uniform height over the entire circumference are formed in the portion of the cylindrical portion that comes into contact with the steering gear box. . With this configuration, it is possible to easily obtain high adhesion between the flat portion of the column hole cover and the dash panel, and
It is possible to secure high adhesion even at the contact portion between the cylindrical portion of the column hole cover and the steer gear box.

Therefore, if the column hole cover of the dash panel and the vicinity of the tip of the steering shaft are sealed using the column hole cover disclosed in the above publication, the steering shaft penetrates the dash panel. Therefore, the vehicle compartment can be well shielded from the engine compartment.

[0006]

When the steering wheel is steered, the steering force is converted into a steering force in the left and right directions by the steering gear box and transmitted to the steered wheels. At this time, the steering gear box
A steering reaction force that urges the steering gear box in either the left or right direction acts. Further, when torque in the steering direction is input to the steered wheels from the road surface side while the vehicle is traveling, thrust corresponding to the torque is transmitted to the steering gear box, and the steering gear box is also directed to either the left or right direction. Be energized. Therefore, while the vehicle is traveling, the steering gear box is slightly displaced in the left-right direction.

In such a situation where the steering gear box is displaced, the convex portion is high in order to maintain a stable close contact between the convex portion of the conventional column hole cover and the steering gear box. Is more advantageous. This is because the higher the convex portion, the larger the amount of elastic deformation that can be applied to the convex portion in a steady state, and the better the followability of the convex portion with respect to the displacement of the steering gear box.

On the other hand, in order to secure a high sealability between the column hole cover and the steering gear box, it is advantageous that the adhesion force acting between the convex portion of the cylindrical portion and the steering gear box is large. The lower the convex portion is, the more advantageous it is, in order to secure high durability while ensuring a large adhesion between the convex portion and the steering gear box. This is because the lower the convex portion is, the larger the adhesive force can be secured with the smaller elastic deformation amount.

As described above, in the structure in which the steering gear box is gripped by the elastic convex portion like the conventional column hole cover, the case where the stable shielding property is maintained and the durability is high. There is a requirement that the height of the convex portion is contrary to the case of ensuring the height. Therefore, depending on the structure of the conventional column hole cover, it is difficult to achieve both stable shielding and high durability.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and the height of the convex portion provided at the portion for gripping the steering force transmitting member is determined depending on the magnitude of the load received from the steering force transmitting member. It is an object of the present invention to provide a column hole cover that solves the above-mentioned problems by making them different from each other.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above object is to provide a column hole cover that seals between a vehicle body side member and a steering force transmission member that penetrates the vehicle body side member. A column hole having a convex portion having elasticity in a portion in contact with the member, and the convex portion is formed higher in a portion where a load received from the steering force transmitting member is easily displaced than in other portions. Achieved by the cover.

The above object is as described in claim 2.
2. The column force cover according to claim 1, wherein the steering force transmitting member is a component of a rack and pinion type steering device, and the convex portion has the convex portion from the axial side of the rack bar. This can also be achieved by a column hole cover that is formed higher in the portion that comes into contact with.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the convex portion of the column hole cover is high in a portion where the load received from the steering force transmitting member is likely to change, and is low in a portion where the load received from the steering force transmitting member is difficult to vary. Has been formed.
The load that the column hole cover receives from the steering force transmission member fluctuates as the steering force transmission member is displaced in the vertical direction with respect to the column hole cover. Therefore, in the present invention, the convex portion of the column hole cover is high at a portion where the steering force transmitting member is easily displaced in the vertical direction with respect to the column hole cover, and the steering force transmitting member is displaced in the vertical direction with respect to the column hole cover. That is, it is formed to be low at a portion that is difficult to perform.

If a high convex portion is formed in a portion where the steering force transmitting member is easily displaced in the vertical direction with respect to the column hole cover, even when the steering force transmitting member is displaced, the convex portion and the steering force are generated in that portion. Good adhesion with the transmission member is maintained. On the other hand, in the portion where the steering force transmitting member is difficult to be displaced in the vertical direction with respect to the column hole cover, the displacement of the steering force transmitting member does not impair the adhesion between the steering force transmitting member and the protrusion. Therefore, at that portion, even if the convex portion is low, the adhesion between the convex portion and the steering force transmitting member is always maintained in good condition. Therefore, in the present invention, regardless of whether or not the steering force transmitting member is displaced,
Good adhesion is secured between the convex portion of the column hole cover and the steering force transmission member.

Further, in the present invention, as described above, the low convex portion is formed in the portion where the load received from the steering force transmitting member is unlikely to change. For this reason, at that portion, a large adhesion force can be secured between the convex portion and the steering force transmitting member without causing unnecessary large elastic deformation of the convex portion. Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to secure a high adhesion force between the convex portion and the steering force transmission member while suppressing the elastic deformation amount of the convex portion.

Therefore, in the present invention, the contact portion between the convex portion and the steering force transmitting member is provided with both excellent sealing property and high durability. In the invention according to claim 2, the convex portion of the column hole cover is formed high at a portion where the convex portion comes into contact with the steering force member from the axial direction side of the rack bar, and is formed low at other portions. In the rack-and-pinion type steering device, steering reaction force or the like is input to the steering force transmission member via the rack bar. Therefore, the displacement of the steering force transmitting member occurs in the axial direction of the rack bar. Therefore, as in the present invention, if a high convex portion is formed corresponding to the axial direction of the rack bar, the displacement of the steering force transmitting member is appropriately absorbed by the convex portion.

[0017]

1 is a front view of a column hole cover 10 which is an embodiment of the present invention. Column hole cover 10
Is a member used to seal the periphery of a steering force transmission member that is disposed so as to penetrate a dash panel of the vehicle when the steering device is assembled to the vehicle. In this embodiment, the column hole cover 10 has a two-layer structure including a cover body 20 made of hard resin or metal and an elastic body 30 made of rubber or soft resin.

The cover body 20 of the column hole cover 10
Includes a plane portion 22 that covers the dash panel and a three-dimensional portion 24 that covers the steering force transmission member. Bolt holes 22a used when bolting the column hole cover 10 to the dash panel are formed in the flat surface portion 22. The three-dimensional part 24 has a lower end in FIG.
The opening end 24a has a semicircular shape for holding a steering gear box which is a part of the steering force transmission member.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of the elastic body 30. Like the cover body 20, the elastic body 30 includes a flat portion 32 that is a portion that covers the dash panel and a three-dimensional portion 34 that is a portion that covers the steering force transmission member. The flat surface portion 32 has a bolt hole 32a corresponding to the bolt hole 22a of the cover body 20, and has a convex portion 32b on its back surface for increasing the adhesion to the dash panel.

The lower end of the three-dimensional portion 34 of the elastic body 30 in FIG. 1 is an opening end 34a for gripping the steering gear box, like the lower end of the cover body 20.
The column hole cover 10 according to the present embodiment has the elastic body 30.
It is characterized in that the inner wall of the opening end of the is provided with a convex portion for enhancing the adhesion with the steering gear box. The specifications of the convex portion will be described in detail later.

In addition, the three-dimensional portion 34 of the elastic body 30 has convex portions 34b, 34c, 34d which come into contact with the inner wall of the cover body 20.
Are provided at a predetermined distance from each other. That is, the cover body 20 and the elastic body 30 are entirely in contact with the plane portion 22 and the plane portion 32, and the three-dimensional portion 24 and the three-dimensional portion 34 are only in contact with the convex portions 34b, 34c, 34d. Is configured. With this structure, an air layer is formed between the three-dimensional portion 24 of the cover body 20 and the three-dimensional portion 34 of the elastic body 30 of the column hole cover 10. As described above, when the air layer is formed between the three-dimensional portions 24 and 34, the vibration and heat propagated to the three-dimensional portion 24 of the cover body 20 are less likely to be transmitted to the three-dimensional portion 34 of the elastic body 30 and are high. Sound insulation and heat insulation are realized.

The function of the column hole cover 10 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows a side view of the rack-and-pinion type steering device to which the column hole cover 10 is attached. Also,
FIG. 4 is a front view of the rack-and-pinion type steering device to which the column hole cover 10 is attached.

As shown in FIG. 3, in a rack and pinion type steering device (hereinafter simply referred to as a steering device), a steering wheel 40 is fixed to a main shaft 42. The main shaft 42 is
It is rotatably held inside the column tube 44. The column tube 44, via a bracket not shown,
It is fixed in place in the passenger compartment. Main shaft 42
Is connected to an intermediate shaft 48 via a joint 46. Further, the intermediate shaft 48 is connected via a joint 50 to an input shaft 54 mounted on a steering gear box 52. The portion from the steering wheel 40 to the steering gear box 52 described above constitutes a steering force transmission member in this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, the steering gear box 52 has a pinion housing 54a having therein a pinion shaft (not shown) connected to the input shaft 54.
And a rack bar housing 54b having a rack bar (not shown) incorporated therein. Rack bar
It is a rod-shaped member having a plurality of teeth (rack teeth) on its side surface, and is connected to the tie rods 56L and 56R at both ends of the rack bar housing 54b.

A pinion gear (not shown) is formed on the above-mentioned pinion shaft. The pinion shaft is assembled so that the pinion gear engages with the rack teeth.
Therefore, when the steering force is input to the input shaft 54 of the steering gear box 52, the steering force is converted into a force in the axial direction of the rack bar by the pinion gear and the rack bar and is transmitted to the left and right tie rods 56L and 56R. It

The left and right tie rods 56L and 56R are respectively connected to the left and right front wheels which are steering wheels of the vehicle.
The left and right front wheels are configured so that the steering angle changes as the tie rods 56L and 56R are displaced in either the left or right direction. With this configuration, when the steering wheel 40 is steered, displacements corresponding to the steering angle and the steering direction are generated in the tie rods 56L and 56R, and proper steering angles are given to the left and right front wheels.

In this embodiment, the steering device is
It is arranged so as to pass through a dash panel 58 that separates the vehicle compartment and the engine room. In the present embodiment, the dash panel 58 constitutes the vehicle body side member described above. The dash panel 54b is provided with a through hole 58a through which a joint 50 connecting the intermediate shaft 48 and the input shaft 54 can pass. Among the constituent elements of the steer gear device, the steering wheel 40 to the intermediate shaft 48 are arranged in the vehicle compartment, and the steering gear box 52 is arranged in the engine room.

In this way, when the steering device is arranged so as to penetrate the dash panel 58, in order to prevent the inflow of noise, heat, dust and the like from the engine room to the vehicle interior, the through hole 58a is formed. The perimeter needs to be properly sealed. The column hole cover 10 of the present embodiment is a member arranged to ensure the sealing property.

That is, in the column hole cover 10, as shown in FIG. 3, the flat portion 32 of the elastic body 30 is in close contact with the outer portion of the through hole 58a of the dash panel 58, and the inner wall of the opening end 34a of the elastic body 30. Is attached so as to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the steering gear box 52. With this configuration, the space on the engine room side of the through hole 58a can be sealed by the column hole cover 10 and the steering gear box 52, and the vehicle compartment and the engine room can be appropriately shielded.

By the way, the steering gear box 52
As described above, the left and right front wheels are connected to the. Therefore, the steering reaction force and the force in the steering direction acting on the left and right front wheels from the road surface side are input to the steering gear box 52 via the rack bar. For this reason,
The steering gear box 52 has a
A slight displacement occurs in the axial direction of the rack bar, that is, in the left-right direction.

In this way, the steering gear box 52
In order to exert the stable shielding ability of the column hole cover 10 under the condition that the steering gear box 5 is displaced, the steering gear box 5 is provided at the opening end 34a of the column hole cover 10.
It is necessary to provide enough flexibility to follow two displacements.

On the other hand, the opening end 3 of the column hole cover 10
In order to secure a high sealing property between the steering gear box 52 and the steering gear box 52, the higher the initial load applied between the inner wall of the opening end 34a and the outer peripheral surface of the steering gear box 52, the more advantageous. Then, in order to ensure excellent durability while applying a high initial load, it is necessary to impart high rigidity to the inner wall of the column hole cover 10.

Therefore, in order to achieve both stable shielding ability against the displacement of the steering gear box 52 and excellent durability, the inner wall of the opening end 34a has a characteristic capable of satisfying both of the above two requirements. It is necessary to give it. The column hole cover of the present embodiment achieves such a characteristic by providing a protrusion having a predetermined shape on the inner wall of the opening end 34a.

With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, a convex portion 34e formed on the inner wall of the opening end 34a of the column hole cover 10 will be described.
The shape and the effect of forming the convex portion 34e will be described. 5 to 7 show V shown in FIG. 1, respectively.
Sectional drawing when the column hole cover 10 is cut along -V, VI-VI, and VII-VII is shown. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, in this embodiment, the inner wall of the opening end 34a has three
The convex portion 34e of the book is formed. Further, these convex portions 34e are low at a portion 34ea (hereinafter, referred to as a vertical contact portion) that comes into contact with the steering gear box 52 from a direction perpendicular to the rack bar, and the protrusion 34e of the rack bar with respect to the steering gear box 52. The portion 34eb that contacts from the axial side (hereinafter referred to as the axial contact portion) is formed high.

According to this structure, the contact portion 34e in the axial direction of the protrusion 34e formed on the inner wall of the opening end 34a.
High flexibility can be imparted to b. Therefore, at the axial contact portion 34eb, even if the steering gear box 52 is displaced by a steering reaction force or the like input from the rack bar, good adhesion between the convex portion 34e and the steering gear box 52 should be maintained. You can

Further, of the protrusions 34e formed on the inner wall of the opening end 34a, the vertical contact portion 34ea can be provided with high rigidity. This vertical contact portion 34
Convex portion 34e and steering gear box 5 at ea
The contact pressure with 2 does not fluctuate significantly even if the steering gear box 52 is displaced in the axial direction of the rack bar. Therefore, even if the vertical contact portion 34ea has high rigidity, the adhesion between the convex portion 34e and the steering gear box 52 does not deteriorate when the steering gear box 52 is displaced.

Further, as described above, the vertical contact portion 34e
Since a has a high rigidity, according to the column hole cover 10 of the present embodiment, by applying a high initial load between the vertical contact portion 34ea and the steering gear box 52, the convex portion 34e is provided. A large adhesive force can be secured between the convex portion 34e and the steering gear box 52 without causing an unnecessary large elastic deformation.

Therefore, the column hole cover 1 of the present embodiment.
According to 0, while the steering gear box 52 is displaced, a high shielding ability can be stably exhibited, and the shielding ability can be maintained for a long period of time with high durability. .

Further, the column hole cover 10 of the present embodiment.
According to the above, the protrusion 34e can absorb the displacement of the steering gear box 52 without difficulty. For this reason,
When the steering gear box 52 is displaced, a large stress does not act on the column hole cover 10. Therefore, according to the column hole cover 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to enjoy the effect that it is possible to avoid undue deformation, damage, and the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the axial contact portion 34eb has the above-mentioned "portion where the load received from the steering force transmitting member is likely to vary" and "the convex portion has the steering force from the axial side of the rack bar. The "contact portion with the member", and the vertical contact portion 34ea is the "other portion" described above.
Equivalent to.

[0041]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the convex portion is provided with a high followability at the portion where the load received from the steering force transmitting member is likely to change, while the load is received from the steering force transmitting member. High rigidity is imparted to the convex portion in the portion where the load is unlikely to change. Therefore, according to the column hole cover of the present invention, it is possible to always exhibit a stable sealing ability even under the situation where the steering force transmitting member is displaced in a specific direction while the vehicle is traveling, and at the same time, the sealing ability is improved. Can be maintained under high durability.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the rack-and-pinion type steering device, the steering force transmitting member is formed with a high convex portion in the direction in which it is displaced in response to a steering reaction force or the like. Therefore, according to the column hole cover according to the present invention, when combined with the rack and pinion type steering device, it is possible to always exhibit a stable sealing ability and to keep the sealing ability under high durability. Can be maintained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a column hole cover that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an elastic body used for the column hole cover of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a steering device equipped with a column hole cover of the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a steering device equipped with a column hole cover of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows the column hole cover of this embodiment shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view when cut along −V.

FIG. 6 is a VI showing the column hole cover of this embodiment shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view when cut along the line VI.

FIG. 7 shows a column hole cover of this embodiment shown in FIG.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-VII.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 column hole cover 20 cover body 22, 32 flat surface portion 24, 34 three-dimensional portion 24a, 34a open end 34e convex portion 34ea vertical contact portion 34eb axial contact portion 40 steering wheel 42 main shaft 48 intermediate shaft 50 joint 52 steering gear Box 54b Rack bar housing 58 Dash panel 58a Through hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A column hole cover that seals between a vehicle body-side member and a steering force transmission member that penetrates through the vehicle body-side member, and has elasticity at a portion in contact with the steering force transmission member. A column hole cover comprising a convex portion, wherein the convex portion is formed higher in a portion where a load received from the steering force transmitting member is likely to change than in other portions. 2. The column hole cover according to claim 1, wherein the steering force transmitting member is a component of a rack-and-pinion steering device, and the convex portion has the convex portion from the axial side of the rack bar. A column hole cover, which is formed to have a higher height in a portion in contact with a steering force transmission member than in other portions.