JPH0435261Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] A. Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to a support structure for an automobile steering column.

B. Prior Art In general, a steering column for an automobile has a structure in which a jacket tube is fitted into a shock absorbing lower tube fixed to a dash panel, and a steering wheel is attached to the tip of a steering shaft provided within this jacket tube. It is becoming. In such a configuration, the above-mentioned jacket tube is supported by an upper clamp as shown in FIG.
(Refer to Publication No. 157580).

In FIG. 6, the upper clamp 10 consists of a recess 11 having a substantially U-shaped cross section and a pair of projecting parts 12 integrally formed in the recess.
A jacket tube 21 is inserted through and welded to the jacket tube 21. A pair of overhangs 12 have slide blocks 2
2 are respectively fitted from the rear side of the vehicle, and the upper clamp 10 is attached via these slide blocks 22 to a steering member whose both ends are fixed to the left and right front pillars with bolts. The slide block 22 and the projecting portion 12 are connected by resin molding filled in holes 222, 122 of each member.

In such a configuration, when a vehicle has a frontal collision (temporary collision), the dash panel moves rearward due to the impact force, but since the upper clamp 11 does not move, the jacket tube 21 contracts into the lower shock absorbing tube. It absorbs the stroke during a collision, thereby preventing the steering wheel from moving toward the rear of the vehicle. Furthermore, when the driver collides with the steering wheel following the primary collision (secondary collision), the resin molding is sheared and the overhanging portion 12 is pushed against the slide block 2.
2 to the front of the vehicle, the jacket tube 21 moves to the front of the vehicle together with the upper clamp 10, and is retracted into the lower tube. Accordingly, the steering wheel also moves forward. This reduces the impact force of a secondary collision and improves driver safety.

C. Problems to be solved by the invention However, the above-mentioned configuration requires man-hours to weld the upper clamp 10 to the jacket tube 21, and in addition, it requires correction when the tube is deformed by the heat during welding. Additional work is required, increasing the number of manufacturing steps.

An object of the present invention is to provide a support structure for an automobile steering column that eliminates welding and reduces manufacturing man-hours.

D Means for Solving the Problems To explain with reference to FIGS. 1a and 1b showing one embodiment, the present invention is such that a jacket tube 30 is press-fitted into a shock absorbing lower tube 20 fixed to a dash panel 41, ass tube 30
The present invention is applied to a support structure for a steering column for an automobile, which is fixed to a steering member 42 suspended horizontally on a vehicle body via an uppark clamp 50. The problem mentioned above is that the jacket tube 30 has a tapered portion 32 that tapers from the front to the rear of the vehicle.
is formed, and the taper portion 3 is formed in the upper clamp 50.
A tapered hole 51 having a complementary shape to 2 is bored, and the upper clamp 50 is fitted into the jacket tube 30, and the engagement of the tapered portion 32 and the taper hole 51 prevents the jacket tube 30 from moving toward the rear of the vehicle. However, this problem can be solved by allowing the vehicle to move forward.

E Function The jacket tube 30 is formed with a tapered portion 32 that tapers from the front to the rear of the vehicle. has been done. These tapered parts 32
The engagement of the jacket tube 30 with the tapered hole 51 prevents the jacket tube 30 from moving toward the rear of the vehicle, and allows the jacket tube 30 to move toward the front of the vehicle. Therefore, welding is not required, and the number of man-hours required for this can be reduced, and the up-up clamp itself can be downsized.

F. Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1a, b to 3.

Fig. 1a is a schematic diagram showing the support structure of an automobile steering column, Fig. 1b is a sectional view showing the fitted state of the upper clamp and the jacket tube, Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof, and Fig. 3 1b is a sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 1b.

In FIG. 1, a steering column 100
has a lower tube 20 and a jacket tube 30 press-fitted into the lower tube 20, the lower tube 20 is fixed to a dash panel 41,
Jacket tube 30 is upper clamp 50
It is fixed to the steering member 42 via.
Both ends of the steering member 42 are fixed to the front pillar.

As shown in FIG. 1b, the jacket tube 30 is formed by integrally forming a small diameter portion 31, a tapered portion 32, and a large diameter portion 33, and the tip of the large diameter portion 33 is press-fitted into the lower tube 20. In addition, the tapered portion 32
is tapered toward the rear of the vehicle.

The upper clamp 50 is made of a material with low specific gravity and low hardness such as aluminum, and has a tapered hole 5 having a complementary shape to the tapered portion 32 and large diameter portion 33 of the jacket tube 30.
1. A straight hole 52 is bored. This upper clamp 50 is press-fitted in advance to the jacket tube 30 from the rear of the vehicle, and as shown in FIG. This increases the support rigidity of the steering wheel 45. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper clamp 50 is screwed onto the steering member 42 with bolts 46 through holes 53 at both ends.

When the vehicle has a frontal collision (primary collision), the dash panel 41 and the lower tube 20 move in the direction C in FIG. Since the upper clamp 50 is not moved, movement toward the rear of the vehicle is prevented. As a result, the tip of the large diameter portion 33 contracts into the lower tube 20, thereby absorbing its stroke.

When a secondary collision occurs, the jacket tube 30
moves in direction B while sliding within the upper clamp 50, and the tip of the large diameter portion 33 further contracts into the lower tube 20, thereby absorbing the impact force caused by the secondary collision. At this time, when the jacket tube 30 moves in the direction B by the distance d shown in FIG. The jacket tube 30 can move forward of the vehicle against only the resistance force of the lower tube 20, and the energy absorption performance of the lower tube 20 is efficiently exhibited.

As described above, since the jacket tube 30 is fitted into the upper clamp 50 and connected in a tapered manner, there is no need for welding as in the conventional method, and therefore deformation of the jacket tube 30 due to welding heat is corrected. The number of manufacturing steps can be reduced without any problems. Furthermore, since the slide block can be eliminated, there is no need for a cutout for mounting the block, and the upper clamp 50 can also be made smaller. Furthermore, since the upper clamp 50 is made of aluminum or resin, weight can be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of protrusions 54 are provided on the inner surface of the upper clamp 50, which allows the jacket tube 30 and the upper clamp 50 to
You may adjust the pressing force with. Alternatively, the jacket tube 30 may be fitted into the upper clamp 50 in the form shown in FIG.

G. Effects of the invention According to the invention, a tapered portion is formed in the jacket tube and a taper hole is bored in the upper clamp to connect the two in a tapered manner, thereby restraining the movement of the jacket tube toward the rear of the vehicle. Since forward movement is allowed, the number of man-hours involved in welding is reduced compared to the conventional support structure using an upper clamp, and the upper clamp itself can be made smaller, contributing to cost reduction.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate one embodiment.
Figure 1a is a front view of the steering column support structure, Figure 1b is a sectional view showing the fitted state of the upper clamp and jacket tube, Figure 2 is its perspective view, and Figure 3 is the figure 1. 4 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a modification, FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1b showing a modification, and FIG. FIG. 20... Lower tube, 30... Jacket tube, 32... Taper portion, 41... Dash panel, 42... Steering member, 50... Upper clamp, 51... Taper hole, 100...
steering column.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claim for utility model registration] For automobiles in which a jacket tube is press-fitted into a shock absorbing lower tube fixed to a darts panel, and this jacket tube is fixed to a steering member horizontally mounted on the vehicle body via an upper clamp. In the steering column support structure, the jacket tube has a tapered portion tapered from the front to the rear of the vehicle, the upper clamp has a tapered hole having a complementary shape to the tapered portion, and the upper clamp has a tapered hole having a complementary shape to the tapered portion. is fitted into the jacket tube, and the engagement between the tapered portion and the taper hole prevents the jacket tube from moving toward the rear of the vehicle and allows the jacket tube to move toward the front of the vehicle. Steering column support structure.