JPH10181612A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering wheel with improved assembling accuracy. SOLUTION: A pressfit collar 21 is pressfitted into each of a pair of sandwiched parts 25 formed on a core of spoke. Each sandwiched part 25 is sandwiched by a pair of sandwiching ribs 24 formed opposite on a boss plate 7 to constitute a bolt fastening part 35. A collar 22 and a collar 34 having a female thread cut on the inner peripheral surface are inserted into both sides of each bolt fastening part 35 from the outside. A through bolt 33 having a male thread 33a at the tip end thereof is inserted into the bolt fastening part 35 and the male thread 33a is screwed into the female thread. Both end surfaces of sandwiched parts 25 are sandwiched and pressed between both inside surfaces of sandwiching ribs 24 and fastened by screwing the through bolt 33 via the collars 22, 24.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering wheel, and more particularly, to a steering wheel with improved assembling accuracy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a steering wheel comprises an annular ring portion, a plurality of spoke portions extending from the ring portion to the center, and a pad portion connected to the ring portion at the center by the spoke portion. . A spoke core is embedded in the ring and the spoke, and a boss plate for attaching a steering shaft to the spoke core is coupled below the pad. Actual Kaihei 2-
As disclosed in JP-A-133955, in a steering wheel in which a pad portion is integrally formed with a cover of a ring portion, a method in which a contact surface between a spoke portion core metal and a boss plate is fastened in a lateral direction by a bolt one by one at a time. Are used. For this reason, there has been a problem that the dimensional accuracy in the bolted portion tends to vary. This variation in dimensional accuracy causes play between the spoke core metal and the boss plate, which impairs comfortable operability of the steering wheel.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to provide a steering wheel with improved assembling accuracy.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an annular ring portion, a plurality of spoke cores extending from the ring portion, a covering body for covering these, and a substantially central upper portion of the ring portion. A steering wheel having a pad portion integrally formed with the covering member, and a boss plate for attaching a steering shaft, which is fastened to the spoke portion core using a bolt member, The plurality of spoke cores are connected below the pad in an integrated state, and a clamping portion formed at the coupling portion and opposing clamping ribs standing on the boss plate are provided. The clamping portion is pressed and clamped on the inner peripheral surface of each opposing clamping rib,
In this state, the gist is that the holding portion and each holding rib are fastened by the bolt member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the steering wheel according to the first aspect, the bolt member is inserted into each of the opposed fastening ribs and the fastening portion from the front direction of the steering wheel. The gist is that the bolt insertion holes are formed so that the bolt insertion holes are provided on the coaxial line.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the steering wheel according to the first or second aspect, further comprising a collar inserted into at least one of the clamping ribs, and formed on an inner peripheral surface of the collar. The gist is that the holding portion and each holding rib are fastened by screwing the set female screw and the bolt member.

In the embodiments of the invention described below, the “bolt member” described in the claims or the means for solving the problems corresponds to the through bolt 33.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the steering wheel 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the steering wheel 1 in the present embodiment as viewed from the front, and corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the steering wheel 1 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the side, which corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows only the main part of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 also show members not shown in FIG.

The steering wheel 1 includes an annular ring portion 2 and a pad portion 3 disposed at the center of the ring portion 2.
And four spokes 4 connecting the ring 2 and the pad 3. Ring part 2 and spoke part 4
Is integrally formed with a spoke core 5 made of a light-weight die-cast metal such as an aluminum alloy. The ring part 2 and the spoke part 4 are covered with a covering 6. The cover 6 and the pad portion 3 are integrally formed of a soft synthetic resin (for example, polyurethane foam). Below the spoke core 5, a steering shaft 20 that transmits the operation of the steering wheel 1 to the tire and a boss plate 7 that connects the spoke core 5 are assembled.

[0010] A storage recess 11 is formed below the pad portion 3. The storage recess 11 is provided with a membrane switch 12 and an airbag device 13. The membrane switch 12 has upper and lower thin plates forming part of a horn switch circuit (not shown), and the thin plates come into contact with each other when the pad portion 3 is pressed, and the horn sounds in accordance with the contact.

An airbag device 13 is provided on the back surface of the pad portion 3. The airbag device 13 includes a bag-shaped airbag 14 which is folded and stored, and an inflator 15 for supplying an inflation gas to the airbag 14.
And an airbag 14 and a bag holder 16 for holding and fixing the inflator 15. The bag holder 16 is fixed to the spoke core 5 via an iron plate 17 bent and formed into a substantially L-shape.

The spoke core 5 extends from the ring portion 2 toward the center of the steering wheel 1, and extends from the portion covered by the covering 6 to the center of the steering wheel 1. (Hereinafter, referred to as a connecting portion 5a). A nut through hole 8 for a nut 9 for fastening the boss plate 7 and the steering shaft 20 is provided at the center of the connecting portion 5a. On both sides of the nut through hole 8, there are formed holding portions 25 into which through bolts 33 used when assembling the spoke portion core metal 5 and the boss plate 7 are inserted. Each of the holding portions 25 has a cylindrical shape in which a bolt insertion hole 23a is formed in a horizontal direction, and is disposed in parallel with each other.

The boss plate 7 includes a cylindrical portion 7a for fastening to the steering shaft 20, and a top plate portion 7b provided on the top of the cylindrical portion 7a for fastening to the connecting portion 5a. On the top plate 7b, two pairs of opposing sandwiching ribs 24 are provided upright in parallel. Bolt insertion holes 2 are provided at the centers of the pair of pinching ribs 24, respectively.
3b is provided on the coaxial line.

Next, the assembly of the boss plate 7 and the steering shaft 20 will be described. A male thread (not shown) is provided at the tip of the steering shaft 20, and a serration 18 and a tapered surface 1 are provided below the male thread.
9 are provided. The serration 18 of the steering shaft 20 is formed with a predetermined number (generally, about 30) of teeth. The cylindrical portion 7a of the boss plate 7
A serration and a tapered surface corresponding to the serration 18 and the tapered surface 19 of the steering shaft 20 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the steering shaft 20. The boss plate 7 is inserted through the tip of the steering shaft 20. The boss plate 7
The steering shaft 20 is fastened to the steering shaft 20 by a nut 9 screwed to the male screw portion at the distal end. On the outer periphery of the steering shaft 20, a spiral cable 10 for relaying electric power to the airbag device 13 and the like is provided.

Next, the spoke core 5 and the boss plate 7
Will be described. Fig. 4 shows the spoke core 5
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a bolt fastening portion 35 that fastens the holding portion 25 and the holding rib 24 when the boss plate 7 and the boss plate 7 are assembled, and corresponds to a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of an assembly portion of the spoke portion core metal 5 and the boss plate 7.

First, press-fit collar 2 is inserted into bolt insertion hole 23a.
1 is press-fitted. The press-fit collar 21 is made of a cylindrical iron-based metal, and has a length equal to the thickness of the holding portion 25. Next, the clamping portions 25 are respectively fitted between the two pairs of clamping ribs 24, and the spoke portion core metal 5 is fitted to the boss plate 7 so that the bolt insertion holes 23a and 23b respectively overlap the coaxial lines. There is a projection 5b on the bottom surface of the connecting portion 5a of the spoke core 5.
The spoke core 5 is supported on the upper surface of the top plate 7b of the boss plate 7 by the projections 5b. Further, the bolt insertion holes 23a and 23b constitute an integral bolt insertion hole 23 that penetrates the bolt fastening portion 35.

Next, the collars 22 are inserted from outside the two sets of bolt insertion holes 23, respectively. Each collar 22 is made of an iron-based metal, and has a cylindrical portion 22a and a plate-like flange portion 22b, respectively.
It is composed of The length of the cylindrical portion 22a is formed to the same size as the thickness of the clamping rib 24b. Collar 2
2b is larger than the diameter of the cylindrical portion 22a, and
a is formed integrally with one end face of the end face a. Thereby, when the collar 22 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 23,
b is locked on the outer wall of the clamping rib 24 to prevent the cylindrical portion 22a from entering deeper than the thickness of the clamping rib 24. The collar 34 is inserted from the outside of the other bolt insertion hole 23. The collar 34 also has a cylindrical portion 34a having the same length as the thickness of the clamping rib 24b, and a flange portion 34b larger than the diameter of the cylindrical portion 34a and integrally formed on one end surface of the cylindrical portion 34a. I have. A female screw portion 34 c is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the collar 34.

An external thread 33a is formed at the tip of the shaft of the through bolt 33. The through bolt 33 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 23 from the side of the collar 22. And
The male screw portion 33a of the through bolt 33 penetrating the inside of the bolt fastening portion 35 and the female screw portion 34c of the collar 34 on the opposite side are screwed together, and the collars 22 and 34 are tightened with the through bolt 33 from both outer sides. For this reason, both end surfaces of the clamping portion 25 are pressed and clamped between the inner surfaces of the clamping ribs 24 by the collars 22 and 34 and fastened. At this time, inside the bolt insertion hole 23, both end faces of the press-fitting collar 21 and each collar 2
The end faces of the cylindrical portions 22a and 34a of the cylindrical portions 2 and 34 are in contact with each other.

Next, attachment of the lower cover 26 will be described. The lower cover 26 includes a first lower cover 26a and a second lower cover 26b. Two lower cover mounting ribs 27 are protruded in the horizontal direction from one side surface of the top plate 7 a of the boss plate 7. Each lower cover mounting rib 27 is provided with a through hole 28 for a lower cover fixing bolt in the vertical direction. On the upper surface inside the first lower cover 26a, two insertion holes 30 for lower cover fixing bolts each having a female screw portion formed on the inner periphery are formed. The first lower cover 26a is fastened to the boss plate 7 by two lower cover fixing bolts 29 which are screwed through the respective lower cover mounting ribs 27. Claws 31a and 31b are formed at the center of the bottom plate and the end of the side plate of the second lower cover 26b, respectively. Also, at the center of the end of the bottom plate and the side plate of the first lower cover 26a, each claw holder 32a,
32b are formed. By engaging the claws 31a, 31b with the corresponding claw holders 32a, 32b, respectively, the second lower cover 26b becomes the first lower cover 26a.
Assembled in Thus, the periphery of the boss plate 7 is covered by the lower cover 26.

Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described. O Both end faces of the clamping portion 25 of the spoke core metal 5 are clamped and fastened between the inner surfaces of the clamping ribs 24. Therefore, the assembling of the spoke portion core metal 5 and the boss plate 7 can be strengthened, and the assembling accuracy can be increased. As a result, comfortable operability of the steering wheel can be realized without causing play between the spoke core 5 and the boss plate 7.

The bolt insertion hole 23 is provided so that the through bolt 33 is inserted from the front direction of the steering wheel. Therefore, the bolt fastening work below the boss plate 7 (that is, below the steering wheel 1) is not forced, and the fastening work is facilitated. More specifically, the operation of attaching or detaching the steering wheel 1 can be performed without obstructing the arrangement of the spiral cable 10 on the outer periphery of the steering shaft 20, and the workability can be further improved. Became.

In the bolt insertion hole 23a of the holding portion 25 formed of a lightweight die-cast metal such as an aluminum alloy,
A press-fit collar 21 made of an iron-based metal was press-fitted. Further, the through bolt 33 penetrating through the bolt insertion hole 23 a is provided with a collar 2 made of the same ferrous metal from both outer sides of the clamping rib 24.
Fastened at 2,34. Thereby, the spoke portion core metal 5
The two members of the boss plate 7 are bolted together with the high-hardness ferrous metal in contact with each other. Therefore,
The mutual contact surfaces do not undergo plastic deformation, and no problems such as sagging or deformation occur.

The above embodiment may be modified as follows, and the same operation and effect can be obtained in such a case. In the above embodiment, the top plate 7 of the boss plate 7
Although a soft aluminum alloy is used for b, an iron-based metal may be used. By doing so, a female screw portion can be formed directly in the bolt insertion hole 23b of the clamping rib 24, and the through bolt 33 can be fastened. As a result, it is not necessary to use the collar 34 having the female thread formed on the inner peripheral surface, and the number of components constituting the steering wheel 1 can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the structure in which the spoke core 5 is sandwiched between the boss plates 7 is shown. However, the structure in which the boss plate 7 is sandwiched between the spoke cores 5 may be changed.

The spoke core 5 and the bolt fastening portion 35 of the boss plate 7 may be provided at other than two locations. In the above embodiment, the spoke core 5 is made of an aluminum alloy (aluminum die-cast) as a light metal. However, another light metal may be used, for example, a magnesium alloy. Further, as a specific example of the iron-based metal referred to in this specification, a hot-rolled mild steel sheet (JIS G
3131), a cold-rolled steel sheet (JIS G3141), an electrogalvanized steel sheet (JIS G3313), and the like.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is embodied in a four-spoke steering wheel 1, but may be embodied in a steering wheel having another appearance such as a two-spoke type or a three-spoke type.

While the present embodiment has been described above, technical ideas other than the claims that can be grasped from the embodiment will be described below together with their effects. The steering wheel according to claim 3, wherein each of the clamping ribs is formed of a die-cast metal made of a light alloy, and the collar is formed of an iron-based metal.

The steering wheel according to claim 3, wherein each of the clamping ribs is formed of a die-cast metal made of an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy, and the collar is made of an iron-based metal.

According to the above-mentioned two items, even a soft pinching rib can be firmly fastened by a ferrous metal collar. The steering wheel according to claim 3, further comprising: a collar inserted into each of the clamping ribs; and a female screw formed on an inner peripheral surface of one of the collars.

[0030] With this configuration, the holding portion can be firmly fastened from both sides.

[0031]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a steering wheel with improved assembling accuracy.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the assembly of the spoke core and the boss plate can be strengthened and the assembly accuracy can be increased. As a result, without play between the spoke core and the boss plate,
Comfortable operability of the steering wheel can be realized.

According to the invention described in claim 2, according to claim 1
In addition to the effects of the invention described in (1), since the bolt insertion holes are provided coaxially from the front direction of the steering wheel, the fastening by the bolt members can be easily performed with high accuracy.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
Alternatively, in addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 2, by screwing the collar and the bolt member, the clamping portion and each clamping rib can be firmly fastened.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a main part according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a main part of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Steering wheel, 2 ... Ring part, 3 ... Pad part, 5 ... Spoke part, 6 ... Coating body, 7 ... Boss plate,
Reference numeral 20: steering shaft, 23: bolt insertion hole, 2
Reference numeral 4 denotes a clamping rib, 25 represents a clamping portion, 33 represents a through bolt as a bolt member, and 34 represents a collar.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An annular ring portion, a plurality of spoke cores extending from the ring portion, a cover covering these, and a substantially central upper portion of the ring portion, and integrally formed with the cover. In a steering wheel including a steering wheel having a pad portion, and a boss plate for attaching a steering shaft fastened to the spoke portion core using a bolt member, the plurality of spoke portion cores are integrated. A connecting portion formed below the pad portion, and a holding portion formed at the connecting portion; and opposing fixing ribs provided upright on the boss plate. A steering wheel which is pressed and held on an inner peripheral surface of a wearing rib, and in which state, a holding portion and each holding rib are fastened by the bolt member. 2. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein a bolt insertion hole is formed in each of the opposed clamping ribs and the clamping portion so that the bolt member is inserted from a front direction of the steering wheel. A steering wheel that is formed and has these bolt insertion holes provided on a coaxial line. 3. The steering wheel according to claim 1, further comprising a collar inserted into at least one of the clamping ribs, and a female screw formed on an inner peripheral surface of the collar and the bolt member. The steering wheel in which the clamping portion and each clamping rib are fastened by screwing.