JPH0516062Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an energy-absorbing steering column that protects a driver by absorbing energy when an excessive impact is received from the driver.

[Conventional technology]

Utility Model Application No. 60-81068 describes vehicle frontal collision,
An impact energy absorbing steering device has been proposed to protect a driver from a so-called secondary collision in which the driver collides with the steering wheel due to inertia during a so-called primary collision.

Conventionally, an energy absorbing steering column has a rotating joint 3 at the lower end of the steering column 2 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (disclosed in the above-mentioned publication) when the steering column stands at a relatively steep slope. The intermediate shaft 5, which is connected via It was supported on both sides of the vehicle body.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, in the conventional energy-absorbing steering column support structure, the steering column is supported at upper and lower support points that are separated from each other. The problem was that the measures to prevent this were not sufficient. Furthermore, since the lower end of the steering column is supported at the front of the vehicle body, it is directly affected by a primary collision, which may adversely affect the secondary collision protection function. In addition, if the upper end support structure of the steering column is based on a rod that extends long in the left-right direction of the vehicle, the support rigidity is low, and the steering column becomes a flexible support structure, which deteriorates the vibration characteristics of the steering column during normal driving and causes vibration. There was a problem that occurred.

This problem is true of any conventional energy absorbing steering system in which the steering column stands at a relatively steep slope.

This invention is an energy-absorbing steering column that protects the driver by absorbing impact energy when the steering column receives an excessive impact from the driver for some reason. You can prevent this from happening,
Another object of the present invention is to provide an energy-absorbing steering column in which deformation of the front portion of a vehicle does not adversely affect the movement of the steering column, and furthermore, a steering column support structure with high rigidity in terms of vibration characteristics can be obtained during normal driving.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the energy absorbing steering column according to the present invention includes a column support made of a rigid support independent from a vehicle front member, a steering column supported on the column support via an energy absorbing bracket, and an energy absorbing steering column. The absorption bracket is connected to a pair of left and right column support mounting portions extending in the vertical direction which constitute a fastening portion to the column support, a first steering column attachment portion which constitutes an attachment portion to the steering column, and a first steering column attachment portion. A second steering column mounting part is located below the steering column and constitutes a mounting part to the steering column, and a column support part extends from the left and right column support mounting parts to the first steering column mounting part to connect the two, and a column support is provided in the middle. A pair of left and right first curling parts each having a first curling part that is inclined from the mounting part toward the first steering column mounting part and has a bending part that undergoes plastic deformation and moves toward the front side of the vehicle when subjected to an excessive load.
The connecting part extends from the left and right column support mounting parts to the second steering column mounting part, connects the two, and in the middle, it slopes from the column support mounting part to the second steering column mounting part and receives an excessive load. and a pair of left and right second communication parts each having a second curling part having a bending part that moves toward the front side of the vehicle while causing plastic deformation when it is bent.

In the above, a buckling prevention plate may be attached to a portion of the first communication portion other than the first curling portion.

[Effect]

In the device of the present invention, when the steering wheel receives an excessive impact from the driver and the steering column is pushed forward with respect to the vehicle, the first curling portion and the second curling portion of the energy absorption bracket
The curling part curls to allow the steering column to move forward, and the plastic deformation of the curling absorbs a large amount of impact energy, protecting the driver from the impact reaction force of the steering wheel. In curling, the bent part moves, so the entire area through which the bent part passes works effectively to absorb energy, and the area that works effectively to absorb energy is different from normal bending deformation where the bent part does not move. This increases dramatically, and the protection of drivers becomes more effective. Also, in curling,
A phenomenon in which the reaction force on the driver is almost constant, but the maximum and minimum values of the reaction force (the reaction force is small after the bending occurs) are significantly different, as in normal bending deformation where the bending part does not move. is unlikely to occur. Therefore, the maximum value of the reaction force can be reduced even though the same amount of energy is absorbed, and the driver is protected.

Since the energy absorbing bracket is located in front of the driver, even if the front member of the vehicle deforms significantly and protrudes toward the driver, the energy absorbing bracket will hit and protect the driver.

The column support that supports the energy absorption bracket is a rigid support that is independent of the vehicle component located in front of the steering column, so even if the front component of the steering column deforms during a vehicle impact, it will not be directly affected by that deformation. First, movement of the steering column toward the front of the vehicle is not obstructed.

The energy absorption bracket is made of an integrally molded product and has a rigid frame structure that has a first communication part and a second communication part that cooperate with the steering column, so its rigidity is comparable to that of a conventional support structure with rods. It is comparatively high, has improved vibration characteristics, and does not shake during normal operation.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the energy absorbing steering column according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 show embodiments of the present invention. The steering column 10 supports a steering shaft 12 extending through the inside of the column so as to be rotatable about its axis, and a steering handle 14 is provided at the upper end of the steering shaft 12, and a fixing joint serving as a rotating joint is provided at the lower end of the steering column 10. provided. Steering shaft 12 is connected to an intermediate shaft via a fixture joint. steering column 1
0 stands on a relatively steep slope behind the vehicle at an angle of 25 degrees or more from the horizontal, usually 40 to 50 degrees.

The steering column 10 is supported by column supports 18 and 20 located forward of the steering column 10 via an energy absorbing bracket 16.

The column supports 18 and 20 are rigid supports arranged vertically and extending in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and are members independent of vehicle members located in front of the steering column 10.

The energy absorbing bracket 16 is made of a one-piece body formed by molding a plate or a plate member welded together. The energy absorption bracket 16 has a pair of left and right column support mounting portions 22, 22 that extend in the vertical direction and whose width direction extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle. etc. concluded.

The energy absorption bracket 16 includes one first steering column attachment part 24 that constitutes an attachment part to the steering column 10, and a first steering column attachment part 24 that is located below the first steering column attachment part 24 and constitutes an attachment part to the steering column 10. and one second steering column mounting portion 26 that constitutes the second steering column mounting portion 26.
Both of the first steering column attachment parts 24 have a concave surface having a substantially semicircular horizontal surface and extending diagonally in the vertical direction along the semi-outer circumferential surface of the steering column 10 that extends diagonally. It is attached to the steering column 10 by fitting and welding or the like.

The first steering column mounting portion 24 is
The left and right first communication portions 2 extend between the steering column attachment portion 24 and the column support attachment portion 22 so as to be inclined from the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
8 and 28, it is connected to the column support mounting portion 22. The first communication portion 28 is composed of a plate extending in the vertical plane. At least the first steering column attachment part 2 of the first communication part 28
4 is a first curling portion 3 that is inclined in the left-right direction of the vehicle from the column support attachment portion 22 toward the first steering column attachment portion 24 side.
It constitutes 0. The first curling section 30 is
A bent portion 32 constitutes a connection portion between the first communication portion 28 that extends in an inclined and substantially linear shape and the first steering column mounting portion 24 that extends in a substantially semicircular shape.
This is a portion that allows the vehicle to move forward from the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3 to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line while causing curling in the event of an excessive impact.

Similarly, the second steering column mounting portion 26
is connected to the column support mounting portion 22 by left and right second communication portions 34, 34 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle between the second steering column mounting portion 26 and the column support mounting portion 22. Ru. The second communication part 34 is shorter in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the first communication part 28 and is composed of a plate that extends in the vertical plane. At least a portion of the second communication portion 34 that is close to the second steering column attachment portion 26 has a second contact portion that is inclined in the left-right direction of the vehicle from the column support attachment portion 22 toward the second steering column attachment portion 26 side. A curling section 36 is configured. The second curling portion 36 includes a second communication portion 34 that is inclined and extends in a substantially straight line, and a second steering column mounting portion 2 that extends in a substantially semicircular shape.
A portion where the bending portion 38 forming the connecting portion with 6 is allowed to move forward of the vehicle from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in Fig. 3 while causing curling in the event of an excessive impact. It is.

First communication section 28 (and second communication section 34)
, anti-buckling plates 40, 40 are attached along the surface of the parts other than the first curling part 30 and the second curling part 36, and the anti-buckling plates 40 are attached to the column support attachment. 22 or column supports 18,20. The anti-buckling plate 40 may be arranged inside the pair of left and right connecting parts 28, 34, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, or it may be arranged outside, as shown by the two-dot chain line. good. A reinforcing rib 42 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is also formed in a portion of the first communication portion 28 other than the first curling portion 30 as required.

Although FIGS. 1 to 3 show the case where the energy absorption bracket 16 is formed as a whole from a single metal plate molding, as shown in FIG. Part 28 and 2nd
The communication portion 34 may be integrally attached to the steering column attachment portion 26 and the column support attachment portion 22 by welding. In Figure 4, parts corresponding to Figures 1 to 3 are shown in Figures 1 to 3.
The same reference numerals as in the figure are given.

Next, the operation of the embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

During normal operation, steering column 1
0 is supported from column supports 18 and 20 via an energy absorbing bracket 16, and the energy absorbing bracket 16 is not connected to the buckling prevention plate 40 or the reinforcing rib 42 except for the first curling part 30 and the second curling part 36. Therefore, since it can be appropriately reinforced, the rigidity can be considerably increased compared to the conventional flexible rod support structure, and the vibration characteristics are improved. This prevents the steering column 10 from vibrating during driving, for example when idling.

If an excessive impact is applied to the vehicle for some reason, the driver receives a forward inertia force against the vehicle body, and the steering wheel 14 is pushed forward by the driver with an impactful excessive load, the steering column 10 is subjected to an excessive forward impact load, but at this time, the energy absorption bracket 16 undergoes plastic curling deformation at the first curling section 30 and the second curling section 36, causing the steering column 10 to move forward. The driver is protected by absorbing impact energy and preventing the driver from receiving excessive impact reaction force from the steering handle 14. First communication section 28 and second communication section 3
In No. 4, since the buckling prevention plate 40 is attached to the portions other than the curling portions 30 and 36, buckling does not occur, and curling can effectively progress and energy can be absorbed.

Even if the steering column 10
Even if a vehicle member in front of the vehicle deforms significantly and tries to protrude toward the driver, the energy absorbing bracket 16 will stop it and protect the driver.

Furthermore, since the column supports 18 and 20 are independent members of the vehicle component located in front of the steering column 10, even if the vehicle component located in front of the steering column 10 is deformed, the deformation will be directly affected by the deformation of the vehicle component located in front of the steering column 10. 10, and the forward movement of the steering column 10 upon impact is highly reliable.

Furthermore, since the energy absorbing bracket 16 is formed from an integrally molded plate, the number of parts and cost can be reduced.

[Effect of idea]

According to the energy-absorbing steering column of the present invention, the energy-absorbing bracket that absorbs energy by curling as described above can absorb the impact energy at the time of vehicle impact with stable reaction force, and even if the front of the steering column Even if a certain vehicle member abnormally protrudes toward the driver, this can be prevented. Furthermore, the rigidity of the energy absorbing bracket is higher than that of conventional structures, and vibration characteristics can be improved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a side view of an energy absorbing steering column according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the energy absorbing bracket and anti-buckling plate in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a side view of the energy absorbing bracket in a welded integral structure, Figure 5 is a side view of a conventional energy absorbing steering column, and Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of the device shown in Figure 5. . 10...Steering column, 16...Energy absorption bracket, 18...Column support, 2
0... Column support, 22... Column support attachment part, 24... First steering column attachment part, 26... Second steering column attachment part,
28... first communication part, 30... first curling part, 32... bending part, 34... second communication part,
36...Second curling part, 38...Bending part.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) The column support is composed of a rigid support independent from the vehicle front member, the steering column is supported on the column support via an energy absorption bracket, and the energy absorption bracket is connected to the column support. a pair of left and right column support mounting parts extending in the vertical direction forming a fastening part to the steering column; a first steering column mounting part forming a mounting part to the steering column; a second steering column attachment part that forms an attachment part to the steering column; a pair of left and right first communication parts each having a first curling part that is inclined toward the steering column attachment part and has a bending part that undergoes plastic deformation and moves toward the front of the vehicle when subjected to an excessive load; It extends from the column support attachment part to the second steering column attachment part, connects the two, and is inclined halfway from the column support attachment part to the second steering column attachment part, and causes plastic deformation when subjected to an excessive load. An energy-absorbing steering column comprising a pair of left and right second communication parts each having a second curling part having a bending part that moves toward the front side of the vehicle. (2) The energy absorbing steering column according to claim 1, wherein a buckling prevention plate is attached to a portion of the first communication portion other than the first curling portion.