JPH09292025A - Boots installing structure for automobile shaft - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent slip-off of boots, improve installing workability, and hold high sealing property. SOLUTION: Upper and lower lips 19, 20 for holding a circumferential rim part 15 and a flange 16 are formed on a holding main body 18, the lower lip 20 is formed in a nearly cylindrical shape so as to bend inward while striding over the top end part 16a of the flange 16, the upper lip 19 is formed in a nearly circular cone shape whose top end side is enlarged, and user and lower annular grooves 21, 22 are formed on the root part of the upper lip 19 in the holding main body 18. Elastic force is acted between the upper and lower lips 19, 20 in a bonded condition, the root part of the lower lip 20 is engaged with the flange 16, and the upper lip 19 is bonded to a floor panel 2. It is thus possible to prevent slip-off of the boots 17 by holding the boots 17 with large force, and it is also possible to ensure good sealing property.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a boot mounting structure used for a vehicle shaft such as a vehicle steering shaft or a transmission shift lever.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a boot is provided at a portion where an automobile shaft such as a steering shaft and a shift lever for a transmission penetrates a floor panel (vehicle body panel) from the indoor to the outdoor, so that water, dust or noise is indoors. I try to prevent it from invading. An example of such a boot mounting structure is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 (Japanese Utility Model Application No. 54-8).
There is a microfilm of 1660 (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 56-334). This boot mounting structure is intended for the transmission shift lever 1 and includes the floor panel 2
A cylindrical flange 5 extending upward by burring is formed on the peripheral edge portion 4 of the hole 3 into which the shift lever 1 is inserted.

The rubber boot 6 having a substantially bellows shape is
One end of the shift lever 1 is inserted into the peripheral portion 4 and the other end thereof is inserted into the shift lever 1. On one end side of the boot 6, a substantially tubular holding body 7 to be inserted into the flange 5 is provided.
Is formed. Substantially ring-shaped upper and lower lips 8 and 9 extending outward in the radial direction of the holding body 7 are formed on the base side and the tip of the holding body 7.

In this boot mounting structure, the flange 5 is
By fitting the groove 10 between the upper and lower lips 8 and 9, the boot 6 is held, and the tip portion of the lower lip 9 is brought into contact with the lower surface side of the floor panel 2 to provide a sealing function. I am trying to have it. Moreover, since the boot 6 is required to have a sealing function, it is not desirable that the boot 6 easily comes off the vehicle body. Therefore, in this boot mounting structure, the vertical dimension G of the gap between the tip portions (outer peripheral portions) 8a, 9a of the upper and lower lips 8, 9 is shorter than the height M of the flange 5 ( G <M) is set, and the boot 6 is securely fitted to the floor panel 2 to maintain the sealing function.

However, as described above, the vertical dimension G of the gap between the tip portions (outer peripheral portions) 8a, 9a of the upper and lower lips 8, 9 is set shorter than the height M of the flange 5. Therefore, in order to fit the boot 6 to the flange 5, the upper and lower lips 8 and 9 are locally spread in the vertical direction to push the flange 5 between the upper and lower lips 8 and 9. Furthermore, this pushing operation must be performed over the entire circumference of the hole 3, resulting in poor mounting workability.

In order to improve the mounting workability described above, FIG.
Alternatively, it can be considered to configure as shown in FIG.
The boot mounting structure shown in FIG. 6 has the upper and lower lips 8,
The vertical dimension of the gap between the tip portions (outer peripheral portions) 8a and 9a of 9 is set to be substantially equal to the height of the flange 5.

Further, in the boot mounting structure shown in FIG. 7, the length of the lower lip 9 (in the radial direction) is set to be significantly longer than the length of the upper lip 8 (in the radial direction). In this boot mounting structure, the rubber boot 6 is easily crushed,
In addition, the fact that the boot 6 is restored to its original shape when the pressing force is released is used to temporarily crush the boot 6 so that the upper and lower lips 8 and 9 are outdoors R _O (the lower side of the floor panel 2).
(Step), the boot 6 is pulled back to the room R _I (upper side of the floor panel 2) as indicated by the arrow S (step), the lower lip 9 is pressed against the floor panel 2, and at the same time the upper side is lifted. The inner surface of the lip 8 is brought into contact with the tip end of the flange 5 to be sandwiched (step), thereby facilitating the mounting work.

[0008]

However, in the boot mounting structure shown in FIG. 6 described above, there is a problem that the boot 6 is likely to come off, and in the boot mounting structure shown in FIG. 7, the floor panel 2 and the lower side are attached. There is a problem that the contact area with the lip 9 increases, which causes a decrease in surface pressure and deteriorates the sealing performance. In any case, the above-mentioned demand for improving the mounting workability can be appropriately met. It wasn't a thing.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a boot mounting structure for a motor vehicle shaft, in which the boot does not come off easily, the mounting workability is excellent, and a high sealing property can be maintained. To do.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A boot made of a substantially bellows-like elastic material, in which a tubular flange extending downward is formed at the peripheral edge of a shaft insertion hole formed in the floor panel, and one end is sandwiched by the peripheral edge and the other end is inserted into the shaft. Having a substantially tubular holding body to be inserted into the flange on one end side of the boot, and at the base and tip of the holding body, the upper and lower sides holding the peripheral portion and the flange. A pair of lips are formed, the lower lip is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape so as to wrap around the tip end portion of the flange and wrap around inward, and the upper lip is formed in a substantially conical shape with the tip end side expanded in diameter. In addition, annular grooves are formed in the upper side and the lower side of the root portion of the upper lip of the holding body.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the structure according to the first aspect, the thickness of the holding body is set smaller than the thicknesses of the upper and lower lips.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the configuration described above, the length between the roots of the upper and lower lips is set shorter than the length from the upper surface of the floor panel 2 to the tip of the flange.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claims 1 to 3.
In any one of the configurations described above, an upper side of the holding body has a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, and a lower side has a shape in which the diameter is expanded toward the tip side.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A boot mounting structure for an automobile shaft according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. It should be noted that the illustration and description of the members and parts equivalent to the members and parts shown in FIGS.
Omit it.

As shown in FIG. 1, this boot mounting structure is intended for the steering shaft 13, and has a hole (shaft insertion hole) 14 formed in the floor panel 2 for inserting the steering shaft 13. A cylindrical flange 16 extending downward is formed on the peripheral edge portion 15 by burring.

A boot 17 made of an elastic material such as rubber in a substantially bellows shape is provided by sandwiching the one end side with the peripheral edge portion 15 and inserting the other end side with the shift lever 1. On one end side of the boot 17, a substantially tubular holding body 18 to be inserted into the flange 16 is formed.

Upper side (base side) 18a of the holding body 18
1 has a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and the lower side 18b has a shape in which the diameter is increased toward the tip side. Base side 1 of the holding body 18
8a and the lower side 18b, on the outer side in the radial direction of the holding body 18, as will be described later, a peripheral portion 15 and a flange 16
Upper and lower lips 19 and 20 for sandwiching are formed.

The lower lip 20 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape so as to extend inwardly over the tip end 16a of the flange 16. The upper lip 19 is formed in a substantially conical shape with the diameter of the tip side expanded. Further, upper and lower annular grooves 21 and 22 are formed in the upper and lower portions of the root portion of the upper lip 19 of the holding body 18, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3, the thickness D _K of the holding body 18 is set thinner (D _K <D _L ) than the thickness D _L of the upper and lower lips 19, 20. . The length h _L between the roots of the upper and lower lips 19, 20 is determined by the floor panel 2
Is set to be shorter (h _L <h _F ) than the length h _F from the upper surface 2a to the tip 16a of the flange 16.

The boot 17 is made of an elastic material such as rubber and has a characteristic that "it is easily deformed when an external force is applied, and it is easily restored when the external force is released." It is attached as shown in FIG.

First, the boot 17 is crushed and one end side is extruded from the room R _I to the room R _O (direction opposite to the arrow S),
After projecting the upper and lower lips 19 and 20 into the outdoor R _O , the external force is released, and the boot 17 is placed in the indoor R with the upper and lower lips 19 and 20 restored (step).
_{Pull to the I} side (direction of arrow S). Then, the upper lip 19 is pushed radially inward by the inner peripheral surface of the flange 16 to reduce its diameter, while the lower lip 20 slides the inner peripheral side of the lower lip 20 onto the flange 16. Contact and flange 1
6 is started to be fitted (step). At this time, since the lower side 18b of the holding body 18 has a conical shape, it performs a guiding function for fitting the lower lip 20 to the tip end 16a of the flange 16 and is shown in the step description part of the step. As shown in FIG.
With respect to a, the groove 23 between the lower lip 20 and the holding body 18 fits well.

Further, the thickness D _K of the holding body 18 is as follows:
It is thinner than the thickness D _L of the lower lips 19 and 20 (D _K
Since <D _L ) is set, when a tensile force is applied to the boot 17 toward the room R _I side (direction of arrow S), the holding body 18 is held.
Will grow. A tip portion 16a of the flange 16;
After the lower lip 20 and the groove 23 between the holding body 18 are fitted, the boot 17 is placed on the indoor R _I side (direction of arrow S).
When fully pulled, the tip 1 of the upper lip 19
9a projects on the upper surface of the floor panel 2 and rides on it. Then, when the pulling force of the boot 17 in the direction of the arrow S is released with the tip end portion 19a of the upper lip 19 riding on the upper surface portion 2a of the floor panel 2, the gripping body 1 that has been stretched
8 starts to be restored by the elastic force, whereby the upper lip 19 spreads radially outward (step) on the upper surface portion 2a of the floor panel 2, and the inner peripheral surface of the upper lip 19 is the upper surface of the floor panel 2. It comes into close contact with the portion 2a (step).

As mentioned above, the upper and lower lips 1
The length h _L between the roots of 9 and 20 is the length h _F from the upper surface 2a of the floor panel 2 to the tip 16a of the flange 16.
By setting the length shorter (h _L <h _F ) than that of the above, an elastic force acts between the upper and lower lips 19 and 20 even in a close contact state, and the root portion of the lower lip 20 is Bites into the flange 16, and the upper lip 19 is brought into close contact with the floor panel 2, so that good sealing performance can be secured. Further, since the root portion of the lower lip 20 bites into the flange 16 and the upper lip 19 is brought into close contact with the floor panel 2, the boot 17 is held with a large force and is hard to come off.

After the upper and lower lips 19 and 20 are placed under the floor panel 2 through the flange 16,
When the boot 17 is pulled to the upper side of the floor panel 2, the upper lip 19 is slidably guided by the inner peripheral surface of the flange 16, while the lower lip 20 slidably contacts the inner peripheral surface of the flange 16 and the flange 16. On the upper lip 1
When the tensile force is released in the state where the tip end portion 19a of 9 reaches the upper surface portion 2a of the floor panel 2, the upper lip 19 spreads radially outward due to the restoring force of the holding body 18 and the upper surface of the floor panel 2. Since the attachment is performed by being closely attached to the portion 2a, compared with the conventional technique shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in which the upper and lower lips 19 and 20 are locally expanded in the vertical direction to perform the attachment work, Installation workability can be improved.

Further, since the upper annular groove 21 is formed in the upper portion of the root portion of the upper lip 19 and the lower annular groove 22 is formed in the lower portion, the upper lip 19 is
When receiving an external force, the root part (upper and lower annular grooves 21,
It will be easily deformed around 22). Therefore, the upper lip 19 is prevented from being deformed in the middle thereof, and the adhesion to the floor panel 2 can be improved.

In the above embodiment, the case where the automobile shaft is the steering shaft 13 is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a shift lever for a transmission may be applied.

[0027]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the upper and lower lips are passed through the tubular flange to the lower side of the floor panel and the boot is pulled to the upper side of the floor panel, the upper lip is flanged. While being guided by sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface of the, the lower lip starts to be fitted into the flange by sliding the inner peripheral side of the flange into contact with the flange, and the tip of the upper lip reaches the upper surface of the floor panel. When the tensile force is released, the restoring force of the clamping body causes the upper lip to spread radially outward and adhere to the upper surface of the floor panel for attachment, so that the upper and lower lips are locally attached. It is possible to improve the mounting workability, as compared with the conventional technique in which the mounting work is performed by pushing and expanding in the vertical direction. By forming the annular groove,
It is possible to prevent the upper lip from being deformed at the root portion and the upper lip from being deformed in the middle, so that the upper lip can be closely adhered to the floor panel.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the lower lip is engaged with the flange and a tensile force is applied to the inside of the boot, the holding body is easily extended.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the elastic force acts between the upper and lower lips in a closely contacted state, the root of the lower lip bites into the flange, and the upper lip has the floor panel. Since the boot is held in close contact with the boot, the boot is held with a large force and is unlikely to come off, and a good sealing property can be secured.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the lower side of the holding body has a conical shape, the tip of the flange serves as a guide function for fitting the lower lip, and the lower lip of the flange and the holding body are held. It is possible to smoothly fit the groove with the main body.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a boot mounting structure for an automobile shaft according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part B in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a process drawing showing a mounting procedure of the boot mounting structure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a conventional boot mounting structure for an automobile shaft.

5 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 4. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example in which a gap between tip portions of upper and lower lips is made substantially equal to a flange height.

FIG. 7 is a process diagram showing a mounting procedure of a conventional example in which a lower lip length is set to be significantly longer than an upper lip length.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Floor panel 13 Steering shaft 14 Shaft insertion hole 15 Peripheral part 16 Flange 17 Boots 19,20 Upper and lower lips 21,22 Upper and lower annular grooves

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A substantially bellows-shaped member having a cylindrical flange extending downward at a peripheral edge of a shaft insertion hole formed in a floor panel, the one end being sandwiched by the peripheral edge and the other end being inserted through the shaft. Having a boot made of an elastic material, and forming a substantially cylindrical holding body to be inserted into the flange on one end side of the boot, at the base portion and the tip portion of the holding body,
An upper side and a lower side pair of lips that sandwich the peripheral edge portion and the flange are formed, and the lower lip is formed in a substantially tubular shape so as to wrap around the tip end portion of the flange and go inward.
It is characterized in that the upper lip is formed in a substantially conical shape in which the tip side is expanded in diameter, and further, annular grooves are formed in the upper portion and the lower portion of the root portion of the upper lip of the holding body. Boot mounting structure for automobile shafts. 2. The thickness of the holding body is set to be smaller than the thicknesses of the upper and lower lips.
The boot mounting structure for the automobile shaft described. 3. The length between the roots of the upper and lower lips is set shorter than the length from the upper surface of the floor panel to the tip of the flange. Boot mounting structure for automobile shafts. 4. The holding body has an upper side having a cylindrical shape extending in the vertical direction, and a lower side having a shape in which the diameter is increased toward the tip side.
The boot mounting structure for a shaft for an automobile according to any one of the above.