KR101408421B1

KR101408421B1 - Steering Column For Vehicle

Info

Publication number: KR101408421B1
Application number: KR1020100103575A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 김정훈
Original assignee: 주식회사 만도
Priority date: 2010-10-22
Filing date: 2010-10-22
Publication date: 2014-06-17
Also published as: KR20120042086A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steering column of an automobile. According to the present invention, in a steering column of an automobile, it is possible to absorb primary and secondary impact energy transferred to a steering column when a vehicle collides, And the impact energy pattern can be adjusted by adjusting the impact absorption performance according to the type of the vehicle, so that the impact performance is improved, and the effect of reducing the number of parts, assembling process and cost can be obtained.

Description

[0002] Steering Column For Vehicle [

The present invention relates to a steering column of an automobile. More particularly, in a steering column of an automobile, it is possible to absorb primary and secondary impact energy transferred to a steering column at the time of a collision of an automobile, thereby minimizing injury to the driver. The present invention relates to a steering column of an automobile which can adjust the pattern of collision energy by adjusting the collision performance, thereby improving the collision performance and reducing the number of components, assembly process and cost.

Generally, the steering column is configured to surround the steering shaft that transmits the rotational force generated by the steering wheel operation of the driver to the rack-pinion mechanism unit and supports the rotation of the steering shaft, and is fixed to the vehicle body through the bracket to fix the position of the steering shaft .

Such a steering column is provided with a collapse function in which both the steering column and the steering shaft are contracted in the axial direction in order to prevent the driver's upper body from being hit by the steering wheel in the event of an automobile crash or the like, A shock absorbing steering column is being applied. That is, when a collision occurs during the operation of the vehicle, the upper body of the driver collides with the steering wheel due to inertia. When the driver's upper body hits the steering wheel, the steering column and the steering shaft provided at the lower portion of the steering wheel contract, Thereby reducing the impact on the user.

However, depending on the condition of the driver and the condition of the vehicle, the impact of the driver on the steering wheel may be different. For example, when the vehicle speed is high, the impact is large. When the vehicle speed is low, have. In addition, the amount of impact applied to the steering wheel may vary depending on various situations such as whether the driver wears the seatbelt or whether the airbag is operated.

Accordingly, in order to cope with such a situation, a steering apparatus having a capsule for absorbing the primary impact energy and a tearing plate for absorbing the secondary impact energy has been developed and used.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a steering column of an automobile according to the prior art, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a tearing plate of a steering column of an automobile according to the prior art.

As shown in these drawings, the steering column 100 of the automobile according to the prior art includes a steering shaft 102 whose upper end is connected to a steering wheel (not shown) and whose lower end is connected to a rack-and-pinion mechanism (not shown) An inner tube 110 surrounding the shaft 102, an outer tube 120 surrounding the inner tube 110, a telescopic bush 125 inserted between the inner tube 110 and the outer tube 120, The upper mounting bracket 130 and the lower mounting bracket 180 which are coupled to the vehicle body 104 through the capsule 140 and the lower mounting bracket 180 and the fixing bolts 185 while supporting the outer circumferential surface of the body 120, A collar bracket 190 having a long hole 195 serving as a guide to be collapsed and a collar bracket 190 having one end fixed to the capsule 140 by the fixing means 150 and the other end being fixed to the upper mounting And a tearing plate 170 fixed to the bracket 130.

The steering column 100 may be configured such that when the driver's upper body impacts the steering wheel in a forward collision of the automobile and the steering column 100 contracts in the impact movement direction, The upper mounting bracket 130 moves in the collapsing direction together with the outer tube 120 to absorb the primary impact energy. That is, when the impact is applied, the upper mounting bracket 130 is separated from the capsule 140, and the upper mounting bracket 130 is easily detached from the vehicle body 104 to move in the collapsing direction, And contracts along the elongated hole 195 of the collapsed bracket 190. [

The tearing plate 170 is fixed to the upper mounting bracket 130 through the fixing member 160 and has a fixing hole 160 formed at the other end thereof through the fixing unit 150 And a tearing groove 210 having grooves with a predetermined depth is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the fastening hole 204,

When the upper mounting bracket 130 and the capsule 140 move relative to each other and the upper mounting bracket 130 moves downward when the steering column 100 collapses due to a collision of the vehicle, And the upper mounting bracket 130, as shown in FIG. The tearing groove 210 formed on the tearing plate 170 is torn along the moving direction of the upper mounting bracket 130 to absorb the impact. That is, as the fixing member 160 provided on the upper mounting bracket 130 deforms the tearing plate 170, the secondary impact energy is absorbed.

However, as described above, in the case of an automotive steering column according to the related art, there is a problem in that a secondary impact energy absorbing part such as a tearing plate is separately required in case of an automobile crash, and an increase in the number of parts There is a problem such as an increase in work process.

In addition, the shock absorbing method by fracture of the tearing groove, which forms a groove having a constant depth when the secondary impact energy is absorbed by the tearing plate after absorption of the primary impact energy by the capsule, So that there is a problem that a lateral deviation of the load occurs due to interference with peripheral components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the background described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a steering column for an automobile, capable of absorbing primary and secondary impact energy transferred to a steering column at the time of a collision of an automobile, The present invention aims to provide a steering column of an automobile which can adjust the pattern of impact energy by adjusting the impact absorbing performance according to the impact absorbing performance, thereby improving crashworthiness, reducing the number of components, and reducing the assembling process and cost.

In order to accomplish the above object, an embodiment of the present invention provides a steering apparatus, comprising: a steering shaft coupled with a steering wheel; a hollow shape having the steering shaft incorporated therein; And a column tube to which a plurality of column tubes are connected.

According to the present invention, in a steering column of an automobile, it is possible to absorb primary and secondary impact energy transferred to a steering column when a vehicle collides, thereby minimizing injury to the driver. It is possible to adjust the pattern of the impact energy by adjusting the absorption performance, thereby improving the impact performance, reducing the number of parts, reducing the assembling process and cost.

1 is a side view showing a steering column of an automobile according to the prior art,
2 is a perspective view showing a tearing plate of a steering column of an automobile according to the prior art,
3 is a perspective view showing a steering column of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a column tube absorbs shocks when a vehicle collides,
5 is a cross-sectional view of Fig. 3,
6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a deformation sustaining member is coupled to a column tube to absorb a shock,
7 is a perspective view showing a modified embodiment of a steering column of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to exemplary drawings. It should be noted that, in adding reference numerals to the constituent elements of the drawings, the same constituent elements are denoted by the same reference symbols as possible even if they are shown in different drawings. In the following description of the present invention, a detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when it may make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

In describing the components of the present invention, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are intended to distinguish the constituent elements from other constituent elements, and the terms do not limit the nature, order or order of the constituent elements. When a component is described as being "connected", "coupled", or "connected" to another component, the component may be directly connected to or connected to the other component, It should be understood that an element may be "connected," "coupled," or "connected."

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a steering column of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a column tube absorbs impacts when a vehicle collides, Fig. 5 is a sectional view of Fig. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified embodiment of a steering column of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG.

As shown in these drawings, the steering column of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a steering shaft 310 coupled with a steering wheel 305, And a column tube 320 having a deformed portion 330 that is contracted in the axial direction and absorbs impact energy.

The steering column of the automobile according to the embodiment of the present invention is calabrated in the axial direction of the steering column while plastic deforming the column tube 320 in the event of a collision of the automobile to absorb the impact energy of the automobile.

That is, the steering column is fixed to the vehicle body by a mounting bracket (not shown), and when the collision of the vehicle occurs, the steering column is collapsed in the axial direction to absorb the impact energy. And a structure capable of determining the absorption pattern of the impact energy through the deforming unit 330 set in advance.

The column tube 320 constituting the steering column is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape surrounding the steering shaft 310 that transmits the steering force when the steering wheel 305 is operated by the driver and is fixed to the vehicle body by the mounting bracket.

The column tube 320 has a deformation part 330 which is contracted in the axial direction when the vehicle is collided and is convexly formed on the outer circumference so as to absorb the impact energy. When the impact is transmitted in the axial direction, Is contracted in the axial direction while plastic deformation is caused to expand in the radial direction.

A slit hole 335 cut in the axial direction is formed in the deformation part 330 so that plastic deformation of the deformation part 330 is facilitated in the event of an automobile collision. May be formed more than two radially from the central axis of the deformable part 320 and are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction so that a constant plastic deformation of the deformable part 330 is achieved.

Therefore, when a collision occurs in an automobile, an impact load is transmitted to the column tube 320 in the axial direction. At this time, since the portion where the slit hole 335 is formed is relatively less rigid than the other portions, It is easy to deform.

In addition, by adjusting the number and size of the slit holes in accordance with the collision characteristics of each vehicle type, the absorption pattern of the impact energy can be easily adjusted.

4 (a) to 4 (b), when a certain impact load is transferred to the steering column 300, the state in which the deformed portion 330 absorbs the impact energy in the collision of the vehicle, Among the deformed portions 330 of the tube 320, the vicinity of the slit hole 335 is first plastic-deformed to absorb the primary impact energy.

A deformation sustaining member 350 is coupled to the outer circumferential surfaces of the deformation portion 330 and the column tube 320 to absorb the secondary impact energy. The deformation portion 330 is plastically deformed to absorb the primary impact energy. The deformation sustaining member 350 is continuously damaged by the expansion of the deformation portion 330 and absorbs the secondary impact energy.

In other words, unlike the column tube 320 formed of a steel material and plastically deformed, the deformation sustaining member 350 may be made of polyacetal (POM), polyamide (PA), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide Butylene terephthalate (PBT), and the like, and is damaged by the expansion of the deformed part 330, thereby continuously absorbing secondary impact energy.

The deformation sustaining member 350 may be connected to the column tube 320 by press fitting, fusion bonding, bonding or the like. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The deforming sustaining member 350 may be formed by forming a recess (not shown) on the outer circumferential surface of the column tube 320, A protrusion (not shown) may be formed at the end of the member 350 so that the protrusion may be seated in the recess.

The notch 355 may be formed at the end of the deformation part 330 on the side of the deformation part 330 so that the deformation part 330 can be easily broken when the deformation part 330 is expanded. And is formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction so as to continuously absorb the impact while the fracture of the deformable member 350 is constant.

In addition, by adjusting the number and size of the buttocks according to the collision characteristics of each type of vehicle, it is possible to easily adjust the absorption pattern of the impact energy.

6 (a) to 6 (b), when the impact load is transferred to the steering column more than a predetermined amount, the state in which the deformation sustaining member 350 absorbs the impact energy in the collision of the vehicle, The deformation portion 330 of the deformation sustaining member 350 is first plastically deformed and the notch 355 portion of the deformation sustaining member 350 is torn according to the amount of expansion so that the deformation sustaining member 350 is continuously damaged, .

7, when the slit hole 335 is formed in the circumferential direction, the slit hole 335 may be formed in two or more of the slit holes 335 in the circumferential direction They may be spaced apart from each other in the axial direction while being spaced apart in the circumferential direction.

When the slit hole 335 is formed in the circumferential direction, the state in which the deformed portion 330 absorbs the impact energy in the event of an automobile collision is as shown in FIG. 7 (a) to FIG. 7 (b) When transferred to the steering column, the periphery of the slit hole 335 formed in the circumferential direction is first plastically deformed to absorb the primary impact energy.

The deformation part 330 formed with the circumferential slit hole 335 and the outer circumferential surface of the column tube 320 may be combined with the deformation sustaining member 350 to absorb the secondary impact energy. Do.

According to the present invention having such a structure and configuration, in a steering column of an automobile, it is possible to absorb primary and secondary impact energy transferred to a steering column at the time of a collision of an automobile, , The impact energy pattern can be adjusted by adjusting the shock absorbing performance according to the vehicle type, so that the crashworthiness is improved, and the number of components, the assembling process, and the cost can be reduced.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. That is, within the scope of the present invention, all of the components may be selectively coupled to one or more of them.

It is also to be understood that the terms such as " comprises, "" comprising," or "having ", as used herein, mean that a component can be implanted unless specifically stated to the contrary. But should be construed as including other elements. All terms, including technical and scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs, unless otherwise defined. Commonly used terms, such as predefined terms, should be interpreted to be consistent with the contextual meanings of the related art, and are not to be construed as ideal or overly formal, unless expressly defined to the contrary.

The foregoing description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are intended to illustrate rather than limit the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The scope of protection of the present invention should be construed according to the following claims, and all technical ideas falling within the scope of the same shall be construed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

305: Steering wheel 310: Steering axis
320: Column tube 330:
335: Slit hole 350: Deformation sustaining member
355: Notch

Claims

A steering shaft coupled with the steering wheel; And
And a column tube having a hollow shape in which the steering shaft is embedded and having a deformed portion that is contracted in an axial direction upon impact of an automobile to absorb impact energy,
And a deformation sustaining member is coupled to the outer circumferential surface of the deformable portion and the column tube.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the deformed portion is formed with a slit hole cut in the axial direction.

3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the slit holes are formed in two or more radial directions from the central axis of the column tube, and are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

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The method according to claim 1,
Characterized in that the deformation-sustaining member has a notch formed at the end of the deformation portion.

6. The method of claim 5,
Characterized in that at least two of the nods are formed radially from the central axis and are equally spaced in the circumferential direction.

The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the deformed portion is formed with a slit hole cut in the circumferential direction.

8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the slit holes are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction and formed at least two of them.

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