JPH02234877A - Support structure of tilt steering - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase the safety at the time of collision by providing a movement permitting leans for making possible to relatively move both brackets of the column side and the vehicle body side when a determined or more external force acts on the vehicle body, and also providing a rotation regulating means for regulating the relative movement after the relative movement is conducted. CONSTITUTION:In a tilt steering, a movement permitting means 11 for making possible to relatively move both brackets 4 and 51, 52 in the axial direction of a steering column 2 when a determined or mole external force acts on the vehicle body 3 side is applied between the column side bracket 4 and the vehicle body side brackets 51, 52 provided on the lower end parts 2A of the steering column 2 so that the upward rotation of the steering column 2 can be regulated at the time of collision. The movement permitting means 11 is formed by caulking and fixing a support shaft inserted through the small hole part of a gound-shaped through hole formed on one bracket to the other bracket. Further, a rotation regulating means 12 consisting of gears 17, 16 for regulating the relative movement of the both brackets after their relative movement is provided.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a support structure for a tilt-type steering wheel in a vehicle such as an automobile. The present invention relates to a support structure for a tilt-type steering wheel.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, the support structure of a tilt-type steering wheel in a vehicle such as an automobile is such that the lower end of the steering column is pivoted to a frame on the vehicle body side so that it can tilt up and down or back and forth, while the upper part of the steering column can be moved in a variable position. There is known a structure in which the tilt angle of the steering column can be adjusted by attaching it to the vehicle body through an engaging locking means and changing the locking position. For example, in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-99867, as a locking means for adjusting the tilt angle, one support piece attached to the vehicle body side or the column side has a plurality of locks connected to each other by grooves. A locking hole is formed in the front-rear direction, a bottle attachment hole is formed in the other support piece, and a stepped bottle corresponding to the groove and the locking hole is provided so that it can be inserted and removed, and the stepped pin is normally attached to the stopper. An example is described in which a large diameter portion is biased by a spring so as to engage with a locking hole.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

By the way, it is known that when a driver leans forward due to a collision or the like, the impact is effectively alleviated by having his or her upper body caught by the steering wheel. For example, when the driver's chest hits the wheel, the impact is most effectively mitigated because the wheel is circular and supported by the column via the rim.

In order for the driver's upper body to be received by the steering wheel in the event of a collision, it is desirable that the steering column be fixedly supported on the vehicle body side so as not to rotate upward. However, in the conventional tilt-type steering support structure as described above, the upper part of the steering column is supported so that the tilt angle can be adjusted, while the lower end is pivotally connected to the lower part of the vehicle body and connected to the wheels via tie rods etc. connected. Therefore, in the event of a collision, the lower end of the steering column is pushed backwards and rotates to stand up, causing the steering wheel to move upwards. There are concerns that the vehicle may not be able to receive drivers in such a condition.

The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a tilt-type steering support structure that prevents the steering column from rotating upward in the event of a collision.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the present invention, brackets are fixedly attached to the lower end of the steering column and the corresponding vehicle body side, each of the brackets is provided with a shaft insertion hole, and a support is inserted through the shaft insertion hole. In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, in the support structure of a tilt-type steering wheel, in which the steering column is supported by a shaft so as to be able to tilt up and down with respect to the vehicle body side, in order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a is provided with a movement permitting means that allows both brackets to move relative to each other in the axial direction of the steering column when an external force of a predetermined amount or more is applied to the vehicle body. Rotation regulating means is provided for regulating the relative rotation of.

[Function] When an external force exceeding a predetermined level is applied to the vehicle body during a collision, etc., the movement permitting means provided between the column side bracket and the vehicle body side bracket causes both brackets to move relative to each other in the axial direction of the steering column. Move to. Then, the relative rotation of both brackets is restricted by the rotation restriction means, the steering column is fixed to the vehicle body side, and upward rotation is restricted, so that the driver's upper body is supported by the steering wheel. It will be done.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The tilt type steering support structure of the present invention has a structure between the column side bracket and the vehicle body side bracket. In addition to providing a movement permitting means to allow movement, a rotation restriction means is provided to restrict relative rotation of both brackets after they have moved relative to each other, so that the upward rotation of the steering column in the event of a collision is provided. is regulated. As a result, the driver's upper body is supported by the steering wheel, effectively mitigating the impact and improving safety.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained in detail below based on examples thereof. The tilt type steering support structure shown in this embodiment is designed to maintain the steering column fixed to the vehicle body in the event of a collision in order to improve safety, and is configured as follows.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lower end portion 2A of the steering column 2 that supports the steering wheel 1;
A column side bracket 4 and a vehicle body side bracket 51, 52 are fixedly provided on the corresponding vehicle body 3 side, respectively. These brackets 4.51.52 include:
A shaft insertion hole is formed in each shaft insertion hole, and the column side bracket 4 is rotatably supported with respect to the vehicle body side bracket 51 and 52 by support shafts 7 and 8 inserted through the shaft insertion holes. On the other hand, a tilt angle adjusting means 10 is provided between the upper part 2B of the steering column 2 and the vehicle body 3 side, and the tilt angle of the steering column 2 can be selectively adjusted by the driver's operation. ing.

In order to improve safety, a space between the column side bracket 4 and the vehicle body side brackets 51 and 52 provided at the lower end 2A of the steering column 2 is provided so that the upward rotation of the steering column 2 can be restricted in the event of a collision. , a movement permitting means 11 is provided that allows both brackets 4 and 51 to move relatively in the axial direction of steering column 2 when an external force of a predetermined level or more is applied to the vehicle body 3 side, and both brackets 4 and 51 After the relative movement of the brackets 4 and 51, a rotation restriction means l2 is provided to restrict the relative rotation of both brackets 4 and 51.

More specifically, the steering column 2 consists of a main shaft 2a and a main tube 2b that covers and rotatably supports the main shaft 2a. The rotational force is transmitted to the steering gear 2c attached to the lower end portion 2A, and the front wheels are steered via a tie rod or the like. Although not shown, this steering column 2 is equipped with an energy absorption mechanism to prevent the main shaft 2a from being ejected into the passenger compartment due to the primary impact, and to reduce the shock to the driver due to the secondary impact. ing.

The column side bracket 4 is formed in a substantially U-shape and is attached to the lower end portion 2A of the main tube 2b, and its both sides are connected to the abbreviated vehicle body side brackets 51 and 52 that are attached to the vehicle body 3 side, respectively. It is rotatably supported, and movement permitting means l1 are formed on both supporting parts. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, one side of the column side bracket 4 is formed with a gourd-shaped through hole 13 having a small hole 13a and a large hole 13b lined up in the column axis direction. small hole 1
3a is a shaft insertion hole through which the support shaft 7 is rotatably inserted, and the support shaft 7 inserted into the small hole 13a is held down by a deformable insertion member 14 fitted into the large hole 13b on the rear side. One of the movement permitting means 11 is formed by supporting the support shaft 7 and caulking and fixing the support shaft 7 to a round shaft insertion hole of the vehicle body side bracket 51. On the other side of the column side bracket 4, only a round shaft insertion hole for fixing the support shaft 8 by caulking is formed.
As shown in the figure, a gourd-shaped through hole 15 is formed which has a large hole 15b and a small hole 15a that are lined up oppositely to the above in the column axis direction, and the small hole 15a on the rear side is used as the shaft insertion hole. , a fitting member 16 is fitted into the large hole 15b side to rotatably press and support the support shaft 8, and the other movement permitting means I
1 is formed. In other words, the fitting members 14, 16 are formed of a flexible synthetic resin material such as polyacetal material, and the support shafts 7, 8 are normally connected to the small holes 13a,
15a, and as shown in FIG. 1, when an external force of a predetermined amount or more is applied to the vehicle body 3 in the direction of arrow C due to the primary impact during a collision, the support shafts 7 and 8 are supported by the insertion members 14. 16 is deformed so as to be able to move into the large bows 13b, 15b, and the column side bracket 4 is moved relative to the vehicle body side brackets 51, 52 in the axial direction thereof. In addition, in Figures 2 to 4, 51a
, 5lb and 52a, 52b are mounting flanges to the vehicle body side.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rotation restricting means l2 is fixed to an engaging gal l7 formed at the rear end of the vehicle body side bracket 51, and correspondingly to the inside of one side of the column side bracket 4. As mentioned above, the movement permitting means 1l moves the vehicle body side bracket l-51.
．． When the column side bracket 4 moves relative to 52 in its axial direction, both meshing gears 17 and 18 are configured to mesh with each other. In other words, this double meshing gear 16,
17 are formed so as to share a pitch circle radius R centered on the center of the support shaft 7 so that a stable meshing state can be obtained at any tilt angle.

On the other hand, on the upper part 2B of the steering column 2, a tilt lever 19 as shown in FIG.
The tilt angle can be adjusted as desired. That is, the substantially U-shaped fixing bracket 2
The upper flange 20b of 0 is supported at the lower part of the instrument panel 24 (see FIG. 6) on the vehicle body 3 side, and the support shaft 21 is inserted into the long hole 20a formed on both sides of the fixing bracket 20. The tilt opening lever 19 is attached to a nut 22 that is screwed onto the outer side of one end. On the other hand, a substantially M-shaped lower bracket 23 fixed to the main chain 21b is fitted inside the fixing bracket 20, and is supported through the support shaft 2l. With this configuration, when the tilt lock lever I9 is rotated downward (see FIG. 1), the nut 22 is unfastened from the support shaft 21, and the elongated hole 20
The steering column 2 becomes freely movable within the range in which the support shaft 21 can move within a, and when the chino lever 19 is returned to the upper position shown by the solid line, the steering column 2 is fixed at that position. This fixed state is stable, and the upper part of the steering column 2 is firmly supported by the vehicle body 3 even in the event of a collision. In addition, in Figure 5, 2
6 is the sleeve. Therefore, as described above, the movement permitting means l1 is activated by the primary impact at the time of a collision, and the steering column 2
When the rotation of the lower end 2A of the steering column 2 is restricted by the rotation restriction means 12, the steering column 2 is moved upwardly and downwardly.
It is fixed to the vehicle body 3 at the point. Therefore, the position of the steering wheel 1 with respect to the vehicle body 3 does not change, for example, as shown by two points txis in FIG.
The upper body of the driver 25, which jumps forward, is received by the entire steering wheel l, so that the so-called secondary impact can be most effectively alleviated, and safety is improved.

In the embodiment, a gourd-shaped through hole constituting the movement permitting means is formed in each of the column side bracket and the vehicle body side bracket, but a pair may be formed in only one of the brackets. In addition, a pair of meshing gears constituting rotation restriction means are provided on one side of the column side bracket and the vehicle body side bracket. A pair may be provided in each section. Further, as the insertion member, reinforced rubber, a thin metal plate material, or the like may be used instead of a synthetic resin material such as polyacetal material.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a front view showing the support structure of the steering column, FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 3 is a movement permitting means and a meshing gear forming the rotation regulating means. FIG. 4 is a front view of the movement permitting means formed on the vehicle body side bracket, a view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 2, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-V of FIG. 2 - Steering column, 2 people - Lower end, 3...
Vehicle body, 4--Column side bracket, 51.52--Vehicle side bracket, 7.8--One support shaft, 11 movement permitting means, 12--One rotation regulating means, 13a, 15a--
Shaft insertion hole (small hole).

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) Brackets are fixedly attached to the lower end of the steering column and the corresponding vehicle body side, and both brackets are each provided with a shaft insertion hole, and a support shaft is inserted into the shaft insertion hole. Therefore, in the support structure of a tilt type steering wheel in which the steering column is supported so that it can freely tilt up and down with respect to the vehicle body side, an external force exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the vehicle body side between the column side bracket and the vehicle body side bracket. A movement permitting means is provided that allows both brackets to move relative to each other in the axial direction of the steering column when actuated, and a rotation restriction means that restricts relative rotation of both brackets after the brackets have moved relative to each other. A support structure for a tilt type steering, characterized in that a means is provided.