JPH0872728A - Support structure of steering column and its manufacture and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To set freely outer force absorption load in the case of the support structure of a steering column. CONSTITUTION: Cutouts 23 and oblong holes 24 are provided at a breakaway bracket 22 (a bracket 22 hereafter) fixed at the column tube 7 of a steering column. Each breakaway capsule 25 (a capsule 25 hereafter) having groove portions 26 to receive the edge portions of a cutout 23 and long holes 27 to communicate with oblong holes 24 is inserted into a cutout 23. Synthetic resin is injected into the oblong holes 24, 27 crossingly, and is hardened, and shorn members (not shown in the drawing) are formed, and the bracket 22 and the capsules 25 are coupled mutually. The capsules 25 are fixed on a vehicle body side, and the column tube 7 is supported. When the steering column receives large outer force, the shorn members are shorn, and the bracket 22 is separated from the capsules 25, and outer force is absorbed. Shearing load can be set freely by adjusting the longitudinal size of the shorn members by means of the injection quantity of synthetic resin.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering column support structure for absorbing a large external force applied to a steering wheel, a method of manufacturing the same, and an apparatus for manufacturing the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A support structure for a steering column of an automobile will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 5, in the steering column 1, a lower main shaft 5 is connected to an upper main shaft 4 which is connected to a steering wheel 2 via a tilt mechanism 3, and an intermediate shaft 6 is further connected. Cage,
The rotational force applied to the steering wheel 2 is transmitted via these to a steering gear (not shown) connected to the tip of the intermediate shaft 6.

Upper and lower main shafts 4, 5
Are rotatably supported by being inserted into the column tube 7. A breakaway bracket 8 (hereinafter referred to as bracket 8) is fixed to the column tube 7, and the bracket 8 is mounted on a support member 10 on the vehicle body side by bolts and nuts 9a and 9b. , Capsule 11), and is coupled to the vehicle body side. The column tube 7 is connected to the support member 10 by bolts and nuts 13a and 13b via a bending bracket 12.

The upper main shaft 4 and the lower main shaft 5 are connected so as to be capable of expanding and contracting, and are usually supported by the column tube 7 in a state of being fixed in an extended position by a shear pin 14 made of resin. In the figure, 15 is an instrument panel.

When a large external force is applied to the front portion of the vehicle, the upper main shaft 4 and the lower main shaft 5 are compressed and the column tube 7 is compressed and deformed as shown in FIG. The external force from is absorbed.

At the same time, when a large external force F acts on the steering wheel 2, the connecting portion between the capsule 11 and the bracket 8 is broken, the bracket 8 is disengaged from the support member 10, and the entire steering column 1 is moved to bend the bending bracket 12. Bend and deform. At this time, the external force acting on the steering wheel 2 is absorbed by the shearing of the joint between the capsule 11 and the bracket 8 and the deformation of the bending bracket 12.

Next, the steering column 1 as described above
Conventional bracket 8 and capsule applied to the support structure of
The coupling structure with 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

As shown in FIG. 7, the bracket 8 has a notch 16 formed at the rear end thereof, and a communication hole is formed at the edge of the notch 16.
17 is provided. The capsule 11 is formed with a groove portion 18 for receiving the edge portion of the notch 16 on both left and right side surfaces, and a mounting hole 18 is provided in the center portion. In addition, a communication hole 20 that communicates with the communication hole 17 is provided in the sidewall above the groove portion 18.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the capsule 11 is inserted into the notch 16 so that the communication hole 17 and the communication hole 20 are communicated with each other, and a synthetic material such as polyacetal resin is formed across the communication hole 17 and the communication hole 20. The capsule 11 and the bracket 8 are joined by injecting, filling and hardening the resin to form the member to be sheared 21.

Further, a bolt 9a provided upright on the support member 10
Through the mounting hole 19 of the capsule 11 and attach the nut to the tip.
The bracket 8 is joined to the support member 10 by screwing 9b.

With this configuration, the communication holes 17,
The bracket 8 is coupled to the support member 10 via the capsule 11 by the member to be sheared 21 inserted in 20. The steering column 1 is supported on the vehicle body side with the column tube 7 fixed to the support member 10. Has been done.

When a large external force acts on the steering column 1 to move it forward, the members to be sheared 21 inserted in the communication holes 17 and the communication holes 20 are sheared and the bracket 8 is fixed to the vehicle body side. The steering column 1 moves forward as it disengages from the capsule 11. At this time, the external force acting on the steering column 1 is absorbed by the shear load of the sheared member 21 and the friction load when the bracket 8 is separated from the capsule 11.

A support structure for such a steering column 1 is described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 52-16129.

[0014]

By the way, in the above-described conventional steering column support structure, the shear load of the sheared member 21 that absorbs an external force is its total cross-sectional area, that is, the cross-sectional area of the communication holes 17 and 20, It is proportional to the product of that number.
Further, since the behavior when an external force acts is different for each vehicle type, it is necessary to set the shear load of the sheared member 21 loaded in the communication holes 17, 20 for each vehicle type. Therefore, conventionally, the communication holes 17 and 20 are provided for the external force absorption load required for each vehicle type.
The cross-section area and the number of the cross-sections were changed so as to cope with the situation. Therefore, the capsules 11 have to be prepared for each vehicle model, so that the types of capsules are increased, which is a problem in manufacturing cost and parts management.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a support structure for a steering column, which is capable of freely adjusting an external force absorbing load.

[0016]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 provides a communication hole provided in a support body on the vehicle body side and a communication hole provided in the support body on the steering column side. A support structure for a steering column, wherein the steering column is fixed to the vehicle body by connecting the holes to each other and inserting the members to be sheared into the holes, the member to be sheared is provided in the communication hole. It is characterized in that its cross-sectional area is adjusted by being charged into a part of the.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the support structure for a steering column according to the first aspect, the communication holes provided in the support bodies on the vehicle body side and the steering column side are elongated holes.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a support structure for a steering column according to the first aspect, wherein an adjusting member is inserted into the communication holes of the support bodies on the vehicle body side and the steering column side which are communicated with each other. Then, a cavity is formed in a part of the communication hole, and the member to be sheared is filled in the cavity.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering column support structure manufacturing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the steering column support structure is inserted into the communicating holes of the support bodies on the vehicle body side and the steering column side which are communicated with each other. It is characterized by comprising an adjusting member for forming a cavity in a part of the communication hole, and a nozzle for filling the cavity with a member to be sheared.

[0020]

According to the steering column support structure of the first aspect, the vehicle-body-side support body and the steering-column-side support body are usually connected to each other via the members to be sheared that are inserted in the communication passages that communicate with each other. When the steering column receives a large external force, the member to be sheared breaks and the supporting body on the vehicle body side and the supporting body on the steering column side are separated, and the steering column is fixed to the steering column. Moves. At this time, the shear load is adjusted by the cross-sectional area of the member to be sheared that is inserted into a part of the communication hole.

According to the support structure of the steering column of the second aspect, in addition to the above, in addition to the above, the cross-sectional area of the member to be sheared loaded in the elongated hole changes in the longitudinal direction, and the shear load is changed. Is adjusted.

According to the method of manufacturing a support structure for a steering column according to the third aspect, the cross-sectional area of the member to be sheared is adjusted by the adjusting member inserted into the communication hole, and the cross-sectional area of the member to be sheared is adjusted in the cavity formed in a part of the communication hole. A member to be sheared is formed.

According to the apparatus for manufacturing a support structure for a steering column according to a fourth aspect, the adjusting member is inserted into the communication hole to form the cavity in a part of the communication hole, and the member to be sheared is filled in the cavity by the nozzle. To do.

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The structure for supporting the steering column according to the present embodiment is the same as the above-described conventional example except for the configuration other than the breakaway bracket, the breakaway capsule and the member to be sheared. The same numbers are used for the members, and only different parts will be described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the breakaway bracket 22 (hereinafter, referred to as the bracket 22) is a support member fixed to the column tube 7 on the steering column side.
Is formed with trapezoidal notches 23 at the rear ends of the left and right sides. A pair of elongated holes 24 (communication holes) that extend in the front-rear direction along the two sides of the trapezoid that are not parallel to each other penetrate through the opposite edges of each notch 23.

A breakaway capsule 25 (hereinafter referred to as a capsule 25), which is a support body fixed to the support member 10 on the vehicle body side, is formed in a trapezoidal shape in accordance with the cutout 23, and the edge portions of the cutout 23 are formed on the left and right side surfaces. A groove portion 26 for receiving the is formed so that it can be inserted into the notch 23 from the rear side of the bracket 22. Further, on one of the side walls facing each other forming the groove portion 26 (the upper side wall of the groove portion 26 in the figure), a long hole 27 (communication hole) having an opening extended to face the long hole 24 is formed. It is penetrated. Slot 27 cuts out capsule 25
With it inserted in 23, align with the long hole 24 on the bracket 22 side,
It is designed to communicate. In addition, capsule 25 has
A mounting hole 28 for inserting the bolt 9a of the support member 10 is provided in the central portion.

Then, the capsule 25 is inserted into the notch 23 to communicate with the long hole 24 on the bracket 22 side and the long hole 27 on the capsule 25 side, and a polyacetal resin or the like is spread over the long hole 24 and the long hole 27. The capsule 25 and the bracket 22 are joined by injecting a synthetic resin and hardening it to form a member to be sheared 29 in a part of the long holes 24 and 27.

At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,
By adjusting the injection amount of the synthetic resin and setting the dimension L in the longitudinal direction of the sheared member 29 to be cured in the long holes 24, 27, the cross-sectional area of the sheared member 29 corresponding to the desired shear load can be set. You can get it.

Then, similarly to the conventional example shown in FIG. 8, the bracket 22 is fixed by inserting the bolt 9a erected on the support member 10 into the mounting hole 28 of the capsule 25 and screwing the nut 9b at the tip. It is connected to the support member 10.

The operation of the support structure for the steering column according to this embodiment having the above structure will be described below.

Similar to the conventional example shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, normally, the member to be sheared 29 inserted across the long holes 24 and 27 is inserted.
The capsule 25 and the bracket 22 are joined together by, and the steering column 1 is supported on the vehicle body side with the column tube 7 fixed to the support member 10. Since the pair of long holes 24 and 27 are arranged so as not to be parallel to each other along the edge of the trapezoidal notch 23, the member to be sheared 29 is not completely filled in the long holes 24 and 27. However, there is no play in the connection between the bracket 22 and the capsule 25.

When a large external force is applied to the steering wheel 2, the member to be sheared 29 is sheared and the bracket
22 disengages from the capsule 25 fixed to the vehicle body side and the steering column 1 moves forward. At this time, the external force is absorbed by the shear load of the member to be sheared 29 and the friction load when the bracket 22 separates from the capsule 25.

Also, since the cross-sectional area can be adjusted by changing the longitudinal dimension L of the member to be sheared 29 depending on the injection amount of the synthetic resin, one bracket 22 and capsule 25 can be used depending on the vehicle model to be applied. The shear load can be set arbitrarily. As a result, the versatility of the bracket 22 and the capsule 25 can be expanded, and the manufacturing cost and the labor of parts management can be significantly reduced.

Further, since the member to be sheared 29 is inserted into one long hole, the fluctuation of the shear load is less than that of the conventional structure having a plurality of communication holes for filling the member to be sheared. Stable absorption of external force can be performed.

In this embodiment, a pair of long holes 24, 27
Are arranged along the edges of the trapezoidal notches 23, but the arrangement is not limited to this, that is, the members to be sheared 29 are not completely filled in the long holes 24, 27. However, it is sufficient if the arrangement is such that the bracket 22 and the capsule 25 are not loosely coupled.

Further, in this embodiment, the bracket 22 and the capsule are made so that the sectional area of the member to be sheared 29 can be easily adjusted.
Although the communication holes of 25 are elongated holes 24 and 27, the communication holes may have other shapes. For example, as in the conventional example shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the communication hole is circular and a part thereof is to be sheared. It is also possible to insert a member and adjust the shear load by the cross-sectional area.

Next, a method of injecting the synthetic resin (member to be sheared 29) into the long holes 24 and 27 of the bracket 22 and the capsule 25 and an apparatus for injecting the resin will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4, the nozzle body 30 of the injection device (not shown) for injecting the synthetic resin is inserted into the long holes 24, 27 in the vicinity of the nozzle 31 for injecting the synthetic resin. A resin control weir 32 is projected as an adjusting member.

The resin control weir 32 is fitted in the elongated holes 24, 27 with a predetermined clearance in the width direction so as to partition the inside of the elongated holes 24, 27 in the longitudinal direction. Then, with the resin control weir 32 inserted in the long holes 24, 27, the nozzle body 30
The facing surface 33 of the capsule 25 abuts on the opening of the long hole 27 of the capsule 25,
The resin control weir 32 and the facing surface 33 of the nozzle body 30 define a cavity C for filling the long holes 24 and 27 with synthetic resin. The clearance between the resin control weir 32 and the facing surface 33 and the long holes 24, 27 is determined in consideration of the penetration of the molten resin according to the injection conditions such as the viscosity of the molten resin and the injection pressure.

The nozzle body 30 is provided so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the long holes 24 and 27 into which the synthetic resin is to be injected, and the dimension of the cavity C, that is, the member to be sheared 29. The dimension L in the longitudinal direction can be adjusted. The movement of the nozzle body 30 can be automatically performed by connecting an actuator (not shown).

Next, using the nozzle body 30, the long holes 24 and 27 are formed.
The step of injecting the synthetic resin into will be described.

First, the resin control weir 32 of the nozzle body 30 is inserted into the long holes 24 and 27 which are communicated by inserting the capsule 25 into the notch 24, and the facing surface 33 is brought into contact with the opening of the long hole 27. Then, the nozzle body 30 is moved along the longitudinal direction of the elongated holes 24, 27 to be positioned according to the dimension L of the member to be sheared 29, and the cavity C is formed.

Next, the synthetic resin B is injected from the nozzle 31 into the cavity C and filled, and when the internal pressure of the cavity C becomes constant, the filling is finished, and then the synthetic resin is cured to obtain a predetermined size L. The member to be sheared 29 is formed.

Since the communication holes of the bracket 22 and the capsule 25 are the long holes 24 and 27, the resin control weir 32 inserted in the long holes 24 and 27 can be easily moved by positioning along the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal dimension L of the member to be sheared 29 can be adjusted, and the shear load can be set freely.

According to the above-mentioned filling method, since it can be carried out by slightly modifying the nozzle body of the injection device as compared with the conventional one, the conventional equipment can be diverted and the equipment cost can be reduced.

In the manufacturing method and the manufacturing apparatus of the above-described embodiment, the resin control weir 32 is inserted into the elongated holes 24 and 27 as an adjusting member and positioned, so that the cavity C is formed in a part of the elongated holes 24 and 27. Is defined to adjust the cross-sectional area of the member to be sheared 29, the adjusting member is not limited to this, as long as it can be inserted into a part of the communication hole to form a cavity in the other part. Alternatively, the cross-sectional area of the member to be sheared may be adjusted by changing the size, shape, mounting position, and the like. In this case, the shape of the communication hole does not have to be a long hole. However, by making the communication hole a long hole, the cross-sectional area of the sheared member can be easily adjusted only by moving and positioning the adjusting member along the longitudinal direction as described above.

In the above embodiment, the member to be sheared 29
Is made of synthetic resin, but the cavity C
Other materials such as metal can be used as long as they can be hardened after being filled.

[0048]

As described above in detail, according to the steering column supporting structure of the present invention, the member to be sheared is inserted into a part of the communication holes provided in the support bodies on the vehicle body side and the steering column side. Therefore, the shear load can be arbitrarily set according to the cross-sectional area of the member to be sheared. As a result, the versatility of the support bodies on the vehicle body side and the steering column side can be expanded, and the manufacturing cost and the labor of parts management can be significantly reduced.

Further, by making the communication hole a long hole, the cross-sectional area of the member to be sheared can be easily changed by changing the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the member to be sheared, and the shear load can be adjusted.

According to the manufacturing method of the steering column support structure of the present invention, the cross-sectional area of the member to be sheared can be adjusted by the adjusting member inserted into the communication hole, and the sheared member is sheared in the cavity formed in the communication hole. By filling the member, it is possible to easily form a member to be sheared having a desired shear load.

According to the manufacturing apparatus for a steering column supporting structure of the present invention, the cross-sectional area of the member to be sheared can be adjusted by inserting the adjusting member into the communication hole to form the cavity, and the nozzle to be covered can be adjusted by the nozzle. By filling the shearing member in the cavity, it is possible to easily form a member to be sheared having a desired shearing load.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a support structure for a steering column according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a state in which a breakaway capsule and a breakaway bracket, which are essential parts of the structure of FIG. 1, are combined.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a breakaway capsule and a breakaway bracket showing a step of filling a synthetic resin into a communication hole of the device of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a support structure for a steering column of an automobile.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the steering column is moved by receiving an external force from the steering wheel in the structure of FIG.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of a conventional steering column support structure.

8 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a state in which a breakaway capsule and a breakaway bracket, which are essential parts of the structure of FIG. 7, are joined together.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Steering column 22 Breakaway bracket (support) 24 Long hole (communication hole) 25 Breakaway capsule (support) 27 Long hole (communication hole) 29 Shear member 31 Nozzle 32 Resin control weir (adjustment member) C cavity

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A communication hole provided in a support on the vehicle body side,
A steering column support structure in which a communication hole provided in a support on the steering column side is communicated with each other, and a member to be sheared is inserted into these communication holes to fix the steering column to a vehicle body. The support structure for a steering column, wherein the cross-sectional area of the member to be sheared is adjusted by being inserted into a part of the communication hole. 2. The steering column support structure according to claim 1, wherein the communication holes provided in the support bodies on the vehicle body side and the steering column side are elongated holes. 3. A communication hole provided in a support on the vehicle body side,
The steering column is fixed to the vehicle body by connecting the communication holes provided in the support on the side of the steering column to each other and inserting a sheared member into a part of these communication holes. A method for manufacturing a support structure, wherein an adjusting member is inserted into the communication holes of the support bodies on the vehicle body side and the steering column side which are communicated with each other to form a cavity in a part of the communication hole, and the cavity is formed in the cavity. A method of manufacturing a support structure for a steering column, comprising the step of filling the member to be sheared. 4. A communication hole provided in a support on the vehicle body side,
The steering column is fixed to the vehicle body by connecting the communication holes provided in the support on the steering column side to each other, and inserting a sheared member into a part of these communication holes. An apparatus for manufacturing a support structure, comprising: an adjusting member that forms a cavity in a part of the communication hole by inserting the communication member into a communication hole of the support bodies on the vehicle body side and the steering column side that are in communication with each other; An apparatus for manufacturing a steering column support structure, comprising: a nozzle for filling a member to be sheared.