JPS5946826B2 - Steering column support device with energy absorption function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a steering column support device having an energy absorption function as a driver protection device in the event of an automobile collision.

Conventional steering devices capable of absorbing energy during a collision include those in which a bellows tube is compressed by a steering shaft and the energy is absorbed by the resistance at that time (U.S. Pat. No. 3,621,732), or a steering column that is bolted to the vehicle body. It is known that a steering column support bracket for fixing the steering column is provided with a function that allows movement in only one direction (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 49-70336 and Patent Application Publication No. 49-1413).

According to the device known by Shikajinari et al., the number of parts used is h3.
Therefore, the assembly process is complicated, the number of assembly steps is increased, and it is significantly more expensive than a normal steering device that does not take into account energy absorption during a collision. There is a disadvantage that there are variations in the target and shape, and it is not possible to obtain the cushioning properties for driver protection as designed.

As shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 49-85726,
Column bracket brackets are known that have long holes that create a large resistance to bolt movement when the steering column is pushed against the front blade. It is impossible to increase the length, and it cannot sufficiently correspond to the movement stroke of the steering column in the event of a car collision, and at most it can be used as an additional auxiliary device for the shock-absorbing steering column. It's something that doesn't exist.

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks and provides an effective energy absorption function that allows the support bracket portion of the steering column to sufficiently absorb energy in response to the entire stroke of the steering column during a collision of an automobile. The purpose of this invention is to provide a new steering column support device that has the following features.

The present invention will be described in detail based on drawings showing embodiments thereof.

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing an energy absorbing steering device according to the present invention.

A steering wheel 6 (hereinafter referred to as a wheel) 3 is connected to the upper end of the steering shaft 7 (hereinafter referred to as a shaft), and a steering gear mechanism 9 (hereinafter referred to as a gear) b'5 is connected to a lower end thereof.

This shaft 1 is housed in a steering shaft column 8 (hereinafter referred to as column), rotatably and fixedly fitted in the direction of the axial force of the shaft 7 or column 8.

As is conventionally known, the shaft I may be divided into two parts in the length direction and each part 5 may be configured to be relatively movable.

The column 8 is integrated with a support member 2, which will be described later, by means such as welding or bolting (not shown), and is further attached to the vehicle body by fixing the support member 2 to the vehicle body using mounting bolts 5.

The vehicle body here refers to the instrument stand above the steering wheel in the driver's seat.

The energy absorbing member 1 of the present invention is interposed between a support member attachment part formed on the vehicle body side and a flat part of the support member 2, and when absorbing energy, in other words, it is pulled in the direction of the axial force of the column. The substantial portion along the axial force direction of the column is formed in a meandering manner so as to cause bending elastic deformation and plastic deformation when the column is subjected to bending, and a deformation promoting hole 1a is punched inside to form the substantial portion. It consists of a frame body formed by

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the energy absorbing member 1 having the deformation promoting hole 1a is supported by the inner edge 1cb5 of the substantial part forming one side of the handle wheel side of the frame body on the mounting bolt 5 to the vehicle body. One side 1d corresponding to the steering gear side is integrally fixed to a part of the support member 2 that fixedly holds the column 8.

In FIG. 2, which is a perspective view of the energy absorbing member 1 and the supporting member 2, bolts for mounting the energy absorbing member 1 to the vehicle body, which are omitted, are attached to the energy absorbing member 1 through bolt grooves 2b provided in the planar part of the supporting member 2. It is passed through so as to be in contact with one end of the deformation promoting hole 1a (the inner edge IC of the substantial part) and is tightened to the vehicle body with a nut.

When a load f) S on the upper left force surface in FIG. 2 is applied to the column 8, the support member 2 moves to the left together with the column 8.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the energy absorbing member 1, whose one side 1d is fixed to the supporting member 2 by welding, is held between the mounting bolt 5 attached to the vehicle body and the supporting member 2, which moves to the left due to the impact. subject to tension.

The energy absorbing member 1 is stretched in the upper left blade direction 6' with the mounting bolt 5 as a starting point, and the meandering substantial portion first undergoes bending elastic deformation due to the stretching Cj, and then undergoes plastic deformation. Absorb energy.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the one shown in FIG. 2.

The support member 2 is made by bending a steel plate into a U-shaped cross section, and the flat portions 2a at both ends have bolts that are wider than the outer diameter of the bolts 5 for attaching to the vehicle body and extend parallel to the column 8. A groove 2b is formed.

As shown in the figure, this bolt groove 2b is provided so as to open toward the upper edge of the column 8, that is, toward the axis of the bundle wheel 6 of the shaft 1.
connected to the edge of

The central curved surface portion 2c of the support member 2 has a size capable of supporting approximately half of the circumference of the column 8.

The energy absorbing member 1 is formed by punching out a flat steel plate, and deformation promoting holes 1a are formed in the portions overlapping the flat portions 2a on both sides of the supporting member 2, respectively.

An embodiment of this deformation assisting hole 1a is shown in FIG. 2, and in the embodiment shown in FIG. ing.

The outer edge of the deformation-promoting hole 1a, that is, the substantial part of the absorbing member 1, has a meandering shape that follows the deformation-promoting hole 1a.

Furthermore, a weak part 1b which is narrower than other parts may be formed by a notch at a position facing both ends of the gear 9 side part of the deformation promoting hole 1a in the outer edge part. 1b may be provided at both end portions of the wheel 6 side portion instead of the gear 9 side portion.

This weak. The need for this section will be made clear in the discussion below.

The portion of the deformation promoting hole 1a corresponding to the H-shaped horizontal stroke has the same width as the bolt groove 2b.

Therefore, the supporting member 2 and the energy absorbing member 1 are arranged such that the space between the bolt groove 2b and the portion corresponding to the horizontal stroke is made to coincide with the space of the member 1.
and 2), the energy absorbing member 1 is attached to the supporting member 2 by a method such as spot welding.
It is fixed to the upper blade of.

Due to the above-described shape and material characteristics, when a load is applied to the energy absorbing member 1 in the direction of expanding the deformation promoting hole 1a in the axial direction of the column 8, the energy absorbing member 1 expands in the load direction and plastically deforms the outer edge portion h1.

Further, in the case of a type in which the load is extremely large, the weak portion 1b described above may be cut off.

Next, 3 is a ring seat as a reinforcing member for the mounting bolt 5 that supports the energy absorbing member 1, and its thickness is the total thickness of the absorbing member 1 and the supporting member 2 that are overlapped and fixed as described above. Mounting bolt 5 is too tightened! This is to prevent an increase in frictional resistance between the absorbing member 1 and the supporting member 2 and the spacer 4 described later, and the outer diameter is slightly smaller than the width dimension of the bolt ll2b, and the inner diameter is designed to allow the attachment bolt 5 to pass through. The dimensions are such that this is possible.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a spacer made of synthetic resin or metal, and the spacer has, for example, a flat U-shaped side surface, and has holes 4a in the upper and lower flat plate portions through which the mounting bolts 5 can be inserted.
is drilled.

The support member 2 and energy absorption member 1 integrated with the column 8 are assembled using two mounting bolts 5, two ring seats 3 and two spacers 4 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. Attached to the vehicle body.

That is, the ring seat 3 is placed inside the bolt groove 2b and the deformation promoting hole 1a of the support member 2, and a part of its outer peripheral surface h5 is placed in such a way that it abuts against the edge 1c of the deformation promoting hole 1a of the energy absorbing member 1 on the foil 6 side. 5, and place the spacer 4 over the energy absorbing member 1 and the support member 2 from the foil 6 side ends as shown in FIG. The mounting bolt 5 inserted through the hole is inserted into a hole formed in a predetermined part of the instrument panel of the vehicle body, and a nut is screwed onto the tip of the mounting bolt 5 to fix it.

The energy absorbing means of the present invention configured as described above and attached to the vehicle body operates as follows when the driver collides with the wheel 6 secondarily due to a collision of the vehicle.

The impact force due to the above-mentioned secondary collision is transmitted from the wheel 6 to the column 8 via the shaft 1, and the column 8 attempts to move together with the support member 2 toward the gear 9 side.

However, the ring seat 3f) 5 is in contact with the edge of the deformation promoting hole 1a of the energy absorbing member 1 on the wheel 6 side, and since the relative position of the ring seat 3 with respect to the vehicle body is fixed by the mounting bolt 5, the energy A load is applied to the absorbing member 1 toward the gear 9 side, that is, a load in a direction that widens the deformation promoting hole 1a in the direction of the axial force of the column 8.

Therefore, the energy absorbing member 1 first undergoes bending elastic deformation, then bending plastic deformation, and then tensile plastic deformation, and in the process of exhibiting this plastic deformation, the impact energy 733 given by the driver is absorbed by the absorbing member 1. Ru.

In the case where excessive impact energy is applied, when the load h5 applied to the energy absorbing member 1 exceeds a certain value, the energy absorbing member 1 exceeds the limit of plastic deformation, and as a result, the energy absorbing member 1 is deformed as shown in FIG. The absorbent member 1 is cut at the weak portion 1b.

This cutting prevents excessive force from being generated and absorbs the remaining energy.

Note that under normal conditions, the ring seat 3 and spacer 4 act to securely fix the column 8 and the vehicle body due to static frictional resistance between the spacer 4 and the energy absorbing member 1 and supporting member 2, and also prevent secondary collisions. When this occurs, a predetermined dynamic frictional resistance is applied between the spacer 4 and both members 1 and 2 to assist in the energy absorption action and to assist the deformation of the energy absorbing member 1.

As described above, the device of the present invention absorbs the energy of the secondary collision of the driver against the wheel 6 at the time of a car collision during the plastic deformation process described above.

In order to absorb the energy of this secondary collision, there is a necessary force 5 to make the stroke of the axial movement of the steering column considerably large, and the present invention aims to reduce the amount of deformation of this energy absorbing member to a meandering direction along the direction of the axial force. It is possible to make the body part sufficiently large, and it is possible to obtain an effective energy absorbing action that sufficiently corresponds to the stroke with this member alone.

Therefore, when using this device, there is no need to provide a buffer member such as a bellows tube at the lower end of the shaft for energy absorption.

This device is composed of two members with a simple structure, and requires only simple parts for installation.
It is possible to provide a compact and inexpensive energy absorbing steering device that can absorb collision energy with a small number of parts, has various practical benefits such as simplifying parts processing and reducing assembly man-hours.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the energy absorbing member 11 is provided with one deformation promoting hole 11a in the center thereof, and a bolt hole 11b for penetrating the mounting bolt.
A separate hole is provided in the support member 2 at a position corresponding to the bolt groove 2b.

The energy absorbing member 11 and the supporting member 2 are welded at the lid portion.

FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment of the present invention, in which the left and right energy absorbing members 21 are separated. It is located on the lower surface of the holder and is firmly attached at 21d.

FIG. 8 shows that the energy absorbing member 31 is provided with a deformation promoting hole 31a in which a plurality of meandering parts are symmetrically formed, and a deformation promoting hole 31d is provided in the energy absorbing member 31.
The part shown in FIG.

The brackets having the configurations shown in FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are also attached to the column 8 to the vehicle body in the same manner as the embodiment shown in FIG. It is.

The deformation promoting holes can be arbitrarily designed and a plurality of them may be provided, and by designing these shapes and the cross-sectional area of the meandering substantial part of the energy absorbing member to a predetermined value, the uncertainties of conventional ones in the energy absorbing action can be eliminated. It exhibits the characteristic of being able to remove

It goes without saying that the device of the present invention does not preclude the use of conventional shock absorbing members such as bellows tubes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the steering column support device according to the present invention. I
Figure i and Figure 2 are perspective views showing the fitted state of the energy absorbing member of the present invention, the support member, and the column, Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the device of the present invention, and Figure 4 is the support member of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation view showing how the energy absorbing member is attached to the vehicle body; FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the energy absorbing member in a cut state; FIG.
1 and 8 are perspective views showing other embodiments of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the operation of the present invention. 1.11, 21, 31...Energy absorption member,
2...Supporting member, 1a, lla, 21 a, 3
1a... Deformation promoting hole, 3... Ring seat, 4
...Spacer, 5...Mounting bolt.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A device for supporting a steering column, which has a handle wheel at its upper end and houses a steering shaft connected to a caster steering gear at its lower end, on a vehicle body via a support member fixed to the column, An energy absorbing member formed in a frame shape is interposed between a support member attachment portion formed on the vehicle body side and the flat portion of the support member having a flat portion facing the attachment portion. includes a substantial portion meandering along the direction of the axial force of the steering column so as to generate elastic and plastic deformation accompanied by dimensional changes extending in the direction of the axial force of the steering column when energy is absorbed, and a frame body having the meandering substantial portion. a deformation-enhancing hole punched out to facilitate deformation, the substantial part forming one side on the steering gear side is fixed to the flat part of the support member, and the substantial part forming one side of the deformation-facilitating hole on the steering wheel wheel side. A steering column support device having an energy absorbing function, characterized in that an energy absorbing member is positioned on an inner edge of the support member so as to be in contact with a mounting member h5 including a mounting bolt for mounting the support member to a vehicle body. 2. The energy absorbing member is struck so that its meandering substantial portion and deformation promoting hole b3 undergo a dimensional change extending in the direction of the axial force of the steering column when energy is absorbed, and exhibit tensile plastic deformation through bending elastic deformation, bending plastic deformation, and bending plastic deformation. A steering column support device having an energy absorption function according to claim 1, which is formed by cutting out the steering column support device. 3. According to claim 1 or 2, a weak portion is formed in a part of the meandering substantial portion of the energy absorbing member to extend in the direction of the axial force of the steering column of the substantial portion 51 and to break. Steering column support device with energy absorption function. 4. Claims 1 to 4, in which a long hole-shaped bolt groove for mounting to the vehicle body is formed in the flat part of the support member fixed to the steering column, with one end open on the steering wheel wheel side. A steering column support device having an energy absorption function according to any one of items 3 to 3. 5. Any one of claims 1 to 4, including the mounting member, 6t, the mounting bolt, and a spacer arranged between the energy absorbing member and the vehicle body and through which the mounting bolt is inserted. A steering column support device having an energy absorption function as described in . 6. The mounting member bS includes a spacer interposed between the support member and the head of the mounting bolt and through which the mounting bolt is inserted, as described in any one of claims 1 to 5. Steering column support device with energy absorption function. 1 Spacer h5 Formed in a clip shape to sandwich the energy absorbing member and the supporting member Claims 5 or 6
Steering column support device with energy absorption function as described in Section 2. 8 the mounting member b5 is inserted through the mounting bolt,
Claims 1 to 7 include an inner edge of the substantial portion forming one side of the energy absorbing member on the handle wheel side, and a ring seat in contact with a bolt groove for attaching the support member to the vehicle body. A steering column support device having an energy absorption function according to any one of the above.