JPH10310024A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device by which a bag body can be arranged between a steering wheel and the abdomen or the breast of an occupant. SOLUTION: In this steering device 10, a column tube 16 is connected to a piston 62, and when the piston 62 is raised by the pressure of gas from a gas generator 70, a stopper 50 of a pin 44 provided at a holder 40 fractures to lift up the column tube 16. Thus, a steering shaft 12 is oscillated beyond the ordinary oscillation range limited by the stopper 50 to oscillate a steering wheel 20 and a steering column 10A upward. Since the space between the outer peripheral part (namely, the outer peripheral part of a rim part) of the steering wheel 20, the steering column 10A and an occupant is widened, a bag body can thus be unfolded between the steering wheel 20 and the breast or the abdomen of the occupant.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle steering system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, an airbag device is provided on a steering wheel of a general passenger car such as a coupe or a sedan. To expand to.

[0003] Such an airbag device is also mounted on a vehicle such as a bus or a truck. In such a vehicle, the mounting angle of a steering shaft is large, and the axis of the steering wheel is higher than that of other passenger vehicles. It is suitable for For this reason, an airbag device adopted in such a vehicle is generally used for protecting an occupant's head. When the above load is applied to the outer peripheral portion of the rim, the rim is plastically deformed, and the impact is absorbed by the structure.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a steering apparatus which can dispose a bag between a steering wheel and an abdomen or a chest of an occupant in consideration of the above fact.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering apparatus including an angle adjusting means for adjusting a mounting angle of a steering column to a vehicle within a predetermined range, and an adjusting range of the angle adjusting means when the vehicle suddenly decelerates. A driving means for moving the steering column in the direction of increasing the mounting angle, and an airbag bag provided to the steering column and deployed toward the occupant when the vehicle suddenly decelerates.

According to the steering apparatus having the above-described structure, the steering column in the normal state can be swung within a swing range limited by the angle adjusting means.
The occupant can adjust the tilt angle of the steering wheel.

Here, when the vehicle is suddenly decelerated, the driving means raises the steering column beyond the adjustment angle of the steering column by the angle adjusting means. As a result, the outer peripheral portion of the steering wheel and the gap between the steering column and the occupant are widened, and the airbag bag is deployed in this portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the steering apparatus according to the first aspect, the driving means deforms at least a part of the angle adjusting means to move the steering column. .

According to the steering apparatus having the above-described structure, the driving means deforms at least a part of the angle adjusting means to increase the mounting angle of the steering column. The column angle is adjusted, and the mounting angle of the steering column is increased beyond the normal adjustment range when the vehicle suddenly decelerates.

[0010] The deformation of the angle adjusting means by the driving means may be plastic deformation or elastic deformation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the steering apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the driving means is housed in a cylinder and connected to a piston connected to the steering column, and the vehicle is rapidly decelerated. And a piston moving means for moving the piston in a direction to increase the steering column mounting angle at times.

According to the steering apparatus having the above-described structure, when the piston moving means operates under predetermined conditions, for example, when the vehicle is suddenly decelerated, and the piston moves in the cylinder, the steering column connected to the piston is raised.
As a result, the outer periphery of the steering wheel connected to the steering shaft and the distance between the steering column and the occupant are increased.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a steering apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In this steering device 10, a steering shaft 12 is journaled on the axis of a steering column 10A, similarly to a general vehicle. A steering wheel 20 is fixed to the upper end of the steering shaft 12 and is used for steering operation by an occupant 24 (see FIG. 4).

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, in the present steering apparatus 10, the mounting angle θ of the steering shaft 12 with respect to the horizontal plane is larger than that of a normal passenger car, and the vertical direction of the vehicle (the direction of arrow Y in FIG. (Opposite direction). This steering shaft 12 has a base end (lower end) centered on a universal joint 14 as indicated by an arrow A in FIG.
Mounting angle can be changed in the direction (so-called tilt steering)
And connected to a steering mechanism (not shown) such as a steering rack bar of the vehicle via the universal joint 14.

A cylindrical column tube 16 for supporting the steering shaft 12 is provided on the upper end side of the steering shaft 12, and a column cover 18 is provided above the column tube 16. .

As shown in FIG. 2, an airbag device 30 in which a bag body 32 is accommodated in a folded state is provided inside the column cover 18. The column cover 18 is provided with an inflator 34 in which a gas generating material, a starting device, and the like are accommodated inside the bag body 32. When the starting device of the inflator 34 operates, the gas generated by the inflator 34 is released from the bag body. The inside of the column cover 18 is expanded by the pressure of the gas, the thin break portion 22 of the column cover 18 shown in FIG. 18 is bent outward and the occupant 24 is turned off as shown in FIG.
The bag 32 is deployed between the steering wheel 20 and the steering wheel 20.

Above the inflator 34, there is provided an acceleration sensor 36 as acceleration detecting means for detecting a deceleration (negative acceleration) at the time of rapid deceleration of the vehicle and activating a starter of the inflator 34. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a block-shaped holder 40 is fixed to an intermediate portion of the column tube 16 in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction). As shown in the plan view of FIG. 3, a circular hole 42 is formed in the holder 40, and the holder 40 is fixed to the column tube 16 by fixing means (not shown) such as bolts in a state where the column tube 16 penetrates. .

Further, as shown in FIG.
The pins 44 protrude from both side surfaces of the. These pins 44 are connected to a pair of stays 4 fixed to the vehicle body 26.
6 are inserted into long holes 48 (see FIG. 1) formed respectively. These long holes 48 are formed in an arc shape centering on the universal joint 14, and the steering shaft 1
When 2 swings, the pin 44 moves while being guided by the long hole 48. Further, a pair of stoppers 50 as angle adjusting means is formed so as to protrude inward in the width direction of the long hole 48 from an intermediate portion in a circumferential direction (longitudinal direction) of each of the long holes 48. The movement range of the pin 44 in the state, that is, the swing range of the steering shaft 12 is one of the long holes 48 (that is, the column tube 1).
It is limited between the end 48A on the (sixth side) and the stopper 50. In addition, the strength of these stoppers 50 is designed to be broken by a pressing force equal to or greater than a predetermined value.
When the pin 44 presses the stopper 50 with a pressing force greater than a predetermined value, the stopper 50 is broken and the stopper 50
0 (ie, the column tube 1)
6 (the opposite side to 6). Here, the stopper 50 can restrict the movement of the pin 44 in the normal state,
If the pin 44 is deformed to the extent that the pin 44 can pass when the stopper 50 is pressed with a pressing force equal to or greater than a predetermined magnitude, the pin 44 does not necessarily need to break the stopper 50.

The steering device 10 is provided with a lock means (not shown) for fixing the steering shaft 12 after adjusting the mounting angle θ of the steering shaft 12. As an example, the locking means has a screw or a handle for holding the pair of stays 46 and holding the holder 40 therebetween, and increases the frictional force between the holder 40 and the stay 46 to increase the stay 46 of the holder 40. There is something that blocks movement against.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Above 6, a cylinder 60 is provided. The cylinder 60 has a vertically long internal space and a lower end bent at a right angle toward the column tube 16, and a piston 62 is slidable upward (in the direction of the arrow Y in FIG. 1). Is housed in The piston 62 is connected to the column tube 16 via a flexible wire 64, and as shown in FIG.
6 can be pulled.

A pulley 66 is provided at a bent portion inside the cylinder 60. A wire 64 is wound around the pulley 66, and thereby the piston 62
When the column moves upward, the column tube 16 can be pulled smoothly.

Further, a gas generator housing 68 is formed below the bent portion of the cylinder 60.
The gas generator 70 is housed. Inside the gas generator 70, a gas generating material, a starting device, and the like are housed similarly to the inflator 34, and the piston 62 is driven by the pressure of the gas generated by the gas generator 70.
Move upward. Here, the pressure of the gas generated by the gas generator 70 is set such that the column tube 16 is pulled by the rise of the piston 62, whereby the pin 44 can break the stopper 50.

The gas generator 70 is connected to the airbag device 3 by connecting means (not shown) such as a cable.
When the acceleration sensor 36 detects the deceleration (negative acceleration) during rapid deceleration of the vehicle, the activation device of the gas generator 70 operates simultaneously with the activation device of the inflator 34. It has become.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. In the present steering device 10, when the steering wheel 20 is pushed and pulled in the vehicle front-rear direction after unlocking by a locking means (not shown), as shown in FIG.
2 swings. Here, in this state, the moving range of the pin 44 of the holder 40 fixed to the column tube 16 is limited between the end 48A and the stopper 50 by the stopper 50, and accordingly, the steering shaft 12 is moved in accordance with this moving range. Can be swung from the state shown by the dashed line to the state shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1, whereby the inclination angle of the steering wheel 20 changes. Therefore, for example, occupant 2
4, the inclination angle of the steering wheel 20 can be adjusted according to the driving posture and the like. Also, the steering wheel 20
After the inclination angle is adjusted, the steering device 10 is locked again by locking means (not shown). Note that the wire 64 is slightly bent depending on the change angle of the steering device 10.

Next, when the vehicle is suddenly decelerated and the deceleration (negative acceleration) at this time is detected by the acceleration sensor 36 (see FIG. 2) of the airbag device 30, the starting device of the gas generator 70 is operated. As a result, the gas generating material of the gas generator 70 burns, and a large amount of gas is rapidly generated. This gas is fed into the cylinder 60, and as shown in FIG. 1, the piston 62 rises due to the pressure of the gas, and the column tube 16 is pulled via the wire 64 connected to the piston 62, so that the universal joint 14
, The steering shaft 12 swings.

Here, the gas pressure at this time is
4 is set to be large enough to break the stopper 50, so that the pin 44 rocked together with the column tube 16 breaks the stopper 50 and moves to the end 48B side of the stopper 50 (FIG. 5). Solid line state). As a result, the steering wheel 20 swings beyond the normal adjustment range and is pulled upward and forward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer peripheral portion of the steering wheel 20 (that is, the outer peripheral portion of the rim portion) and the distance between the steering column 10A and the occupant 24 are increased.

The deceleration (negative acceleration) when the vehicle is suddenly decelerated is determined by the airbag device 3 shown in FIG.
When the zero acceleration sensor 36 detects, the inflator 34
Is activated simultaneously with the gas generator 70. As a result, the gas generating material of the inflator 34 burns and a large amount of gas is rapidly generated. This gas is in the bag 32
And the bag body 32 is inflated by the pressure of the gas.

Further, the breaking portion 22 of the column cover 18 is broken by the inflation force of the bag body 32 and the bent portion 23
6, a part of the column cover 18 is bent outward, and FIG.
As shown in FIG.
0 and the occupant 24. Therefore, when the occupant 24 falls forward due to sudden deceleration of the vehicle, the occupant 24
Kinetic energy is absorbed by the air cushion of the bag body 32 and the steering wheel 20 and the occupant 2
The occupant 24 does not come into direct contact with the outer periphery of the steering wheel 20 due to the interposed bag body 32 that has been inflated and deployed between the occupant 24 and the steering wheel 20.

In the present embodiment, the column tube 16 is provided with the airbag device 30 and the airbag device 30 is provided.
Although the bag 32 prevents the occupant 24 from directly contacting the outer periphery of the steering wheel 20, if it is sufficient to simply prevent the abdomen of the occupant 24 from contacting the outer periphery of the steering wheel 20. The airbag device 30 may not be provided.

In the present embodiment, the piston 62 as the driving means is connected to the steering wheel 20 via the wire 64, the column tube 16, and the steering shaft 12, but the piston 62 is directly or indirectly connected. What is necessary is just to be connected to the steering wheel 20.

Further, in this embodiment, the swing of the steering shaft 12 causes the steering wheel 20 to swing.
The present invention is applied to a steering device configured to adjust the inclination angle of the steering wheel 20. However, the steering wheel 20 is swingable at a connection portion between the steering shaft 12 and the steering wheel 20 (ie, the upper end of the steering shaft 12). The present invention may be applied to a steering device having a configuration or a steering device in which the steering shaft 12 is designed to be swingable at the lower end of the column cover 18, and the present invention is applied to such a steering device. The holder 40, the stay 46, and the cylinder 60 may be provided at a position different from the installation position in the embodiment.

Further, in this embodiment, the gas generator 70 is connected to the acceleration sensor 36 of the airbag device 30. However, an acceleration sensor for the gas generator 70 may be provided separately from the acceleration sensor 36. Good.

In the present embodiment, the gas generator 70 and the inflator 34 of the airbag device 30 are operated at the same time. However, either the gas generator 70 or the inflator 34 is operated earlier than the other. It may be.

Further, in this embodiment, the release of the movement restriction of the pin 44 by the stopper 50 as the angle adjusting means is a break of the stopper 50 by the pin 44. It is not necessary to be broken, and for example, another plastic deformation such as compression or bending may be used, or another mode other than the plastic deformation may be used. As another example of the plastic deformation, for example, an elastic member such as a compression coil spring is used as the angle adjusting means so as to protrude into the long hole 48 by an urging force. Piston 62 which is limited by the spring force of
As a result, the protrusion may be removed from the elongated hole 48 against the spring force of the compression coil spring or the like so that the pin 44 can be moved.

In this embodiment, the condition that the steering wheel 20 swings beyond the normal moving range and the bag 32 of the airbag device 30 expands and deploys is determined by the deceleration at the time of sudden deceleration of the vehicle. Although the condition was detected by the acceleration sensor 36, this condition is not limited to the case where the acceleration sensor 36 detects the deceleration at the time of rapid deceleration of the vehicle. For example,
Another example of this condition may be a case where the impact detection sensor detects an impact from behind the vehicle.

[0038]

As described above, according to the steering apparatus of the present invention, even when the mounting angle of the steering shaft is large, the bag can be arranged between the steering wheel and the abdomen or chest of the occupant.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view in which a column cover showing the airbag device is partially broken.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the holder taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a positional relationship between an occupant and a steering wheel in a normal state.

FIG. 5 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 1, showing a state in which a pin has broken and moved a stopper (angle adjusting means).

FIG. 6 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a positional relationship between the occupant and the steering wheel when the driving means and the airbag device are activated.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 steering device 10A steering column 20 steering wheel 26 vehicle 30 airbag device 32 bag body 36 acceleration sensor (acceleration detecting means) 50 stopper (angle adjusting means) 60 cylinder (driving means) 62 piston (driving means) 64 wire (driving means) ) 70 Gas generator (piston moving means, driving means)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An angle adjusting means for adjusting a mounting angle of a steering column to a vehicle in a predetermined range, and a drive for moving the steering column in an increasing direction of the mounting angle beyond an adjusting range of the angle adjusting means when the vehicle is suddenly decelerated. A steering device provided on the steering column and deployed toward the occupant during the rapid deceleration of the vehicle. 2. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit deforms at least a part of the angle adjusting unit to move the steering column. 3. A piston housed in a cylinder and connected to the steering column, a piston moving means for moving the piston in a direction to increase the steering column mounting angle when the vehicle suddenly decelerates. The steering device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: