JPH0441012Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a closed type column boot mounted on a steering column or the like.

BACKGROUND ART As a conventional mounting structure for a boot mounted on a steering column, etc., a structure generally shown in FIG. 4 and a structure shown in FIG. 5 showing an enlarged view of its main parts are generally used. . That is, a circumferential groove 5 into which the tightening band 4 is fitted is provided on the outer circumferential surface 3 of the opening edge 2 of the column boot 1, which is made of an elastic material such as rubber and has a substantially cylindrical shape. A notch 7 is provided at a portion of the surface 6 corresponding to the inside of the circumferential groove 5.
is formed. On the other hand, a hard hole cover 8 is fitted and fixed to the opening edge 2 of the column boot 1.
A protrusion 11 is provided on the outer peripheral surface 10 of the opening edge 9 of the column boot 1, and the protrusion 11 is engaged with the notch 7 of the column boot 1. Said notch 7
and protrusion 11 are column boots 1 and hole covers 8
One hole cover is provided on each side of the column boot 1, and has the function of accurately aligning the hole cover 8 when fitting and fixing the hole cover 8 to the column boot 1.

Problems that the invention attempts to solve However, such conventional column boots 1
Regarding the mounting structure of the hole cover 8, the circumferential groove 5 of the column boot 1 and the protrusion 11 of the hole cover 8
5 and 6, the column boot 1 and the hole cover 8 rotate in the circumferential direction, that is, the fitted and fixed portions of the two rotate. There is a problem in that when a deviation occurs in the direction, a hollow space is created between the column boot 1 and the hole cover 8, which deteriorates the sealing performance. Originally, the column boot 1 and hole cover 8 are required to be perfectly aligned from a three-dimensional perspective, but after alignment, depending on the dimensional accuracy of the mating vehicle body when assembling the vehicle, This may result in the screw being twisted, resulting in a shift in the direction of rotation as described above. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the alignment between the notch 7 on the column boot 1 side and the protrusion 11 on the hole cover 8 side deteriorates, and the tightening band 4 fixed on the column boot 1 also has a convex shape. A deformed portion 4a is generated, and a space 12, 12 is formed between the column boot 1 and the hole cover 8.
occurs. These hollow portions 12, 12 deteriorate the sealing performance between the column boot 1 and the hole cover 8, resulting in oil leakage and other problems.

Therefore, the present invention solves the problems that occur with the conventional column boot mounting structure, makes it difficult for the column boot and hole cover to shift in the rotational direction, and even if misalignment occurs, The purpose of the present invention is to provide a mounting structure for a closed type column boot in which the above-mentioned void is not formed, and the occurrence of such deviation in the rotational direction can be visually recognized from the outside and corrected immediately. It is.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a circumferential groove for fitting a tightening band on the outer peripheral surface of the opening edge of a column boot made of an elastic material such as rubber. A closed type column having a notch formed in the opening edge, and a protrusion that is engaged with the notch formed in the column boot provided on the opening edge of a hard hole cover that is fitted and fixed to the column boot. In the boot mounting structure, the column boot is provided with an engaging part that projects in the longitudinal direction of the column boot from a predetermined location on the opening edge of the column boot, and the engaging part engages with the protrusion of the hole cover. The circumferential groove for fitting the tightening band is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the column boot at a position offset by a predetermined distance from the notch toward the column boot.

According to this structure, the notch of the column boot and the protrusion of the hole cover are engaged, and the tightening band is fitted into the circumferential groove provided on the outer circumferential surface of the column boot to be tightened and fixed. As a result, the column boot and the hole cover are fitted and fixed in a sealed state.

During such fitting and fixing, the tightening position of the column boot by the tightening band is offset by a predetermined length along the longitudinal direction of the column boot with respect to the engagement position of the notch and the protrusion, so the tightening is difficult. Even if the band is firmly tightened, the state of engagement between the notch and the protrusion is not affected, and this state of engagement will not come off.

In addition, even if the column boot and hole cover are misaligned in the rotational direction and the notch and protrusion come off, the sealed state of the column boot and hole cover can be maintained by the tightening force of the tightening band. Therefore, there is no risk of creating a void between them, and since it is easily visible from the outside that the column boot and hole cover have come off, it can be corrected immediately.

Embodiments Hereinafter, a mounting structure for a closed type column boot according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view of the main parts of the above-mentioned mounting structure according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the same line. They are indicated with symbols. 1 in the figure is a roughly cylindrical column boot made of an elastic material such as rubber.
The column boot 1 is integrally provided with an engaging portion 1a that projects in the longitudinal direction from a predetermined location on the opening edge 2 of the column boot 1. A notch 7a is formed in this engaging portion 1a, with which a projection of a hole cover to be described later is engaged.

Furthermore, a circumferential groove 5a into which the tightening band 4 is fitted is provided on the outer circumferential surface 3 of the opening edge 2 at a position offset by a predetermined distance from the notch 7a toward the column boot 1 side.

On the other hand, 8 is a hole cover made of a hard material, and a protrusion 11a is provided at a predetermined position on the opening edge 9 of this hole cover 8. This protrusion 11
a is the notch 7a on the column boot 1 side when the hole cover 8 is fitted and fixed to the column boot 1.
It is set to be in a position where it can be engaged with.

According to the configuration of this embodiment, as shown in the figure, the notch 7a of the column boot 1 and the hole cover 8
By engaging the projections 11a of the column boot 1 and further fitting the tightening band 4 into the circumferential groove 5a provided on the outer circumferential surface 3 of the column boot 1 and tightening and fixing the column boot 1 and the hole cover 8, the column boot 1 and the hole cover 8 are and can be fitted and fixed in a sealed state.

During such fitting and fixing, the notch 7a and the protrusion 1
Since the tightening position of the column boot 1 by the tightening band 4 is offset by a predetermined length along the longitudinal direction of the column boot 1 with respect to the engagement position with the tightening band 1a, the tightening band 4 can be made stronger. Even when tightened, there is no effect on the state of engagement between the notch 7a and the protrusion 11a, and a mounting structure is obtained in which the state of engagement between the two does not come off.

Furthermore, since the tightening force by the tightening band 4 is constant, even if it is assumed that the column boot 1 and the hole cover 8 are misaligned in the rotational direction and the notch 7a and the protrusion 11a come off. The sealed state between the column boot 1 and the hole cover 8 is maintained by the tightening force of the tightening band 4, and therefore there is no air space between them.
There is no risk of this occurring.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, since it is easily visible from the outside that the column boot 1 and the hole cover 8 have come off, it can be immediately corrected by loosening the tightening band 4 or the like.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part showing another embodiment of the present invention, in which the same components as in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the case of this embodiment, the hole cover 8 is provided with a protrusion 11a as described above, and this protrusion 11
a is engaged with a notch 7a formed in the engagement part 1a of the column boot 1, and a bent piece 13 toward the column boot 1 is formed at the end of the hole cover 8. A bent piece 13 is fitted into a groove 14 formed in the column boot 1. A circumferential groove 5a is provided on the outer circumferential surface at a position offset by a predetermined length toward the column boot 1 from the notch 7a, and the tightening band 4 is fitted into this circumferential groove 5a.

Even in this embodiment, the position where the column boot 1 is tightened by the tightening band 4 and the position where the protrusion 11a and the notch 7b engage are offset by a predetermined length along the longitudinal direction of the column boot 1. Because there are
In addition to obtaining the same effect as explained in FIGS. 1 and 2 above, the fitting between the bent piece 13 and the groove 14 improves the positioning accuracy and rotation prevention effect between the column boot 1 and the hole cover 8. can be increased.

Effects of the Invention As explained in detail above, the present invention provides an engaging portion that protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the column boot from a predetermined location on the opening edge of the column boot, and this engaging portion engages with the protrusion of the hole cover. At the same time, a circumferential groove for fitting the tightening band was provided on the outer peripheral surface of the column boot at a position offset by a predetermined distance from the notch toward the column boot side. The engagement state between the notch and the protrusion on the hole cover 8 side becomes difficult to disengage, and the three-dimensional positioning of the column boot and the hole cover can be performed correctly. Furthermore, even in the unlikely event that the notch of the column boot and the protrusion of the hole cover come off and the fitting and fixing part of both is rotated, a void will be created because the hole protrudes in the longitudinal direction of the column boot. There is only the engaging part and the protrusion of the hole cover that engages with this engaging part, and it does not have any effect on the tightening force of the tightening band fitted into the circumferential groove, so the column boot and hole It is possible to maintain airtightness with the cover and the sealing performance will not deteriorate. Moreover, it has the advantage that it is easily visible from the outside that the notch of the column boot and the protrusion of the hole cover have come off, and correction can be made immediately, so it is useful when attached to an automobile steering column. It is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view of essential parts showing one embodiment of a mounting structure for a closed type column boot according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line - - of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is another embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of main parts showing an example of a conventional column boot mounting structure, Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of main parts showing a conventional example, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of -
A line sectional view, FIG. 7 is a similar sectional view showing a modified state of the conventional example shown in FIG. 1... Column boot, 1a... Engaging portion, 2...
Opening edge, 4... Tightening band, 5a... Circumferential groove, 7
a... Notch, 8... Hole cover, 9... Opening edge, 11a... Protrusion, 13... Bent piece, 14...
...Mizobe.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A circumferential groove for fitting a tightening band is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the opening edge of a column boot made of an elastic material such as rubber, and a notch is formed in the opening edge. In a mounting structure for a closed type column boot, the opening edge of a hard hole cover that is fitted and fixed to the boot is provided with a protrusion that engages with a notch formed in the column boot. An engaging part is provided that projects in the longitudinal direction of the column boot from a predetermined location on the opening edge of the column boot, and a notch that engages with the protrusion of the hole cover is formed in the engaging part. A mounting structure for a closed type column boot, characterized in that the circumferential groove for fitting a tightening band is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the column boot at a position offset by a predetermined length toward the column boot side.