JPS581079Y2 - Energy-absorbing 2-joint type steering device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] The present invention is a two-joint type steering device for use in vehicles such as automobiles, in which an intermediate shaft is interposed between the steering shaft and the steering gear shaft via two universal joints. In particular, the present invention relates to an energy-absorbing two-joint type steering device that is capable of absorbing inertial energy of a driver in the event of a secondary collision that occurs as a result of a vehicle collision.

Generally, a two-joint type steering device is used in automobiles in which the engine is placed at the front of the vehicle body to drive the front wheels, but in this device, the steering wheel is attached to the rear end of the steering shaft and the One end of an intermediate shaft extending diagonally forward is connected to the front end via a universal joint, and the other end of the intermediate shaft is connected to an end of the steering gear shaft via a universal joint.

A steering shaft is inserted into the hollow part of the column pipe to hold the steering shaft.

By the way, in conventional two-joint type steering devices of this type, the column pipe is firmly attached to the inside of the vehicle using, for example, two brackets. In the event of a collision, inertial energy is not effectively absorbed by the plastic deformation of the column pipe, resulting in injury to the driver.

The present invention aims to solve these problems by plastically deforming both sides of the column pipe in the vehicle width direction during a vehicle collision, thereby efficiently absorbing inertial energy even when the impact force is small. let it be done,
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an energy-absorbing two-joint type steering device that ensures driver safety.

Therefore, in the device of the present invention, one end of the intermediate shaft, which extends obliquely laterally when viewed from the plane, is connected to the tip of the steering shaft of the vehicle via the first universal joint, and the other end of the intermediate shaft is connected to the tip of the steering shaft of the vehicle via the first universal joint. In a two-joint type steering device in which a steering gear shaft is connected to an end via a second universal joint, a column pipe into which the steering shaft is inserted and held engages with both side surfaces in the vehicle width direction of the column pipe. It is attached to the vehicle via a bracket having local protrusions.

The present invention is characterized in that both side surfaces of the column pipe in the vehicle width direction are slidably held by the bracket in order to absorb energy due to plastic deformation by the local protrusions when a passenger collides with the vehicle.

Below, an energy absorbing two-joint type steering device as an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
The figure is an enlarged perspective view of the bracket, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a modified example of the bracket.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in an automobile, one end 2a of an intermediate shaft 2 extending obliquely forward and downward is connected to the front end (tip) la of a steering shaft 1 via a first universal joint 3. The other end 2b of this intermediate shaft 2 is connected to the other end 2b of the intermediate shaft 2 via a second universal joint 4.
It is connected to a steering gear shaft 5a in a steering gear box 5.

Further, a steering wheel 6 is attached to the rear end portion 1b of the steering shaft 1.

Furthermore, the column pipe 7 fits and holds the steering shaft 1, and the front part of this column pipe 7 is
It is held by a bracket 10 attached to the vehicle body 9 with a plastic holding pin 8, and the rear part of the column pipe I has an edge-shaped U-shaped local projection 1 as shown in FIG.
1a is held by a fixed bracket 11,
This fixing bracket 11 is firmly fixed to the vehicle body 9 via fixing means such as bolts, rivets, or welding.

Then, the local protrusions 11a of the fixing bracket 110 engage with both side surfaces of the column 71170, and when the column pipe 7 slides with respect to the fixing bracket 11 in the event of a collision of this automobile, the local protrusions 11a engage with the vehicle width of the column pipe 7. Dynamic energy can be absorbed by plastically deforming both side surfaces.

Note that the bracket 10 is formed with a notch 10a that opens rearward and engages with a stopper pin 7a protruding from the column pipe I, thereby preventing the column pipe 7 from slipping down in the axial direction. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, the fixing bracket 11 is formed with a pair of notches 11b that engage with a pair of stopper pins 7a protruding from the column pipe 7, with each opening facing forward. This prevents the column pipe 7 from pushing up.

As shown in FIG. 4, instead of the edge-shaped U-shaped local protrusion 11a of the fixing bracket 11, a column 711 is used.
Short and small local protrusions 11a' are formed at mutually opposing positions on the left and right sides of the fixing bracket 11 to engage with both side surfaces of the column pie differential 70 and apply plastic deformation to both side surfaces in the vehicle width direction in the event of a collision of the automobile. You can.

Also, without installing the bracket 10, the fixed bracket 1
It is also possible to arrange the first bar at the front portion of the column pipe 7.

Since the energy absorbing two-joint type steering device of the present invention is configured as described above, when the driver hits the steering wheel 6 during a car collision,
The front end of the steering shaft 1 drives the intermediate shaft 2,
Since this intermediate shaft 2 performs circular arc motion around the second universal joint 4, the steering shaft 1
The front end of the column moves forward while being deflected laterally as shown by the dotted line, and at this time, the bracket 10 comes off from the vehicle body 9 due to the cutting of the shaft pin 8, and the column pipe T is held by the fixing bracket 11 as shown by the dotted line. It will move forward while rotating around the part that is being moved.

In this way, when the column pipe 7 moves forward while sliding with respect to the fixed bracket 11, the column pipe 7 is moved forward by the edge-shaped U-shaped local protrusion 11a of the fixed bracket 11 that engages with both side surfaces of the column pipe 7, or by a plurality of short and small protrusions. Local protrusion 11a'
As a result, the vehicle undergoes plastic deformation, which allows the driver's inertial energy to be sufficiently absorbed even when the impact force is small.

Further, in the above embodiment, the bracket 10 and the dawning bracket 11 are used, but the fixed bracket 11 is provided instead of the same bracket 10, and the two fixed brackets 1
1 can also be arranged.

When the fixing brackets 11 are provided at two places in this way, the column pipe 7 slides relative to the fixing bracket 11 and moves forward while being supported by the two fixing brackets 11. Since the column pipe 7 undergoes plastic deformation and dynamic energy is absorbed by the edge-shaped U-shaped local protrusions 11a or the short and small local protrusions 11a', substantially the same effect as in the previous embodiment is achieved in this case as well.

As detailed above, in the energy absorbing two-joint type steering device of the present invention, the column pipe into which the steering shaft is inserted and held is a bracket provided with local protrusions that engage with both side surfaces of the column pipe in the vehicle width direction. Since it is attached to the vehicle through the
Both sides of the column pipe in the vehicle width direction are plastically deformed by the local protrusions, which makes it possible to absorb the energy efficiently and sufficiently even in the case of a low-load impact, and the structure is simple. This has the advantage that driver protection can be achieved at low cost.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 3 show an energy absorbing two-joint type steering device as an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a plan view thereof, FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the bracket, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a modified example of the bracket. 1...Steering shaft, 1a, 1b...
End of curved steering shaft, 2...Curved intermediate shaft, 2a
......One end of the intermediate shaft, 2b...The other end of the curved intermediate shaft,
3...First universal joint, 4...
...Second universal joint, 5...
・Steering gear box, 5a... Steering gear shaft, 6... Steering wheel, 7... Curved column via", 7at 7b...
...Stochachin, 8...Shapin 9...
...Vehicle body, 10...Bracket, 10a...
...Notch part of bracket 10, 11... Fixed bracket, 11a... Edge-shaped U-shaped local protrusion of fixed bracket, 11a'... Local part of fixed bracket Projection, 11b... Notch of fixing bracket 11.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] One end of an intermediate shaft that runs obliquely laterally when viewed from the plane is connected to the tip of the steering/yaft of the vehicle via a first universal joint, and a second universal joint is connected to the other end of the intermediate shaft. In a two-joint type steering device in which a steering gear/yaft is connected via a joint, a column pipe into which the steering shaft is inserted and held is provided with local projections that engage with both side surfaces of the column pipe in the vehicle width direction. The column pipe is attached to the vehicle via a bracket, and is slidably held by the bracket so that when the vehicle collides, both side surfaces of the column pipe in the vehicle width direction are plastically deformed by the local protrusion and absorb energy. Energy absorption type 2 characterized by
Joint type steering wheel included