JPH07304457A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an inexpensive steering wheel capable of being easily fitted to a vehicle and capable of reducing the possibility that the body of a driver is brought into contact with the steering wheel and damaged in an emergency such as a vehicle collision. CONSTITUTION:A compression coil spring 50 is arranged between a hub section 20 rotated integrally with a handle main body 10 and a fitting boss 30 coupled with the hub section 20 relatively displaceably in the axial direction of the handle main body 10 and integrally rotatably in the peripheral direction and integrally rotatably fitted to a steering shaft 1 to absorb the shock energy applied to a steering wheel 100.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering wheel for steering an automobile, and more particularly, it has been improved to reduce the damage of the driver's body coming into contact with the steering wheel in an emergency such as a vehicle collision. Regarding the steering wheel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, as shown in FIG. 5, a steering shaft 1 for steering the traveling direction of an automobile is rotatably supported by a bearing 3 inside a cylindrical column tube 2 fixed to a structural portion of a vehicle body. While being supported, the end portion on the base end side is connected to a steering gear box (not shown), and the steering shaft 1 is rotated around its axis to change the direction of the wheels to steer the traveling direction of the automobile. It is supposed to do. The steering wheel 110 is for rotating the steering shaft 1, and has an annular rim portion (not shown) that is gripped by a driver of an automobile by hand, and a spoke portion 112 that extends radially inward from the rim portion.
A hub portion 114 for fixing the spoke portion 112 to the steering shaft 1 is provided.

The female spline 11 is engraved on the inner peripheral surface of a through hole 115 penetrating the hub portion 114.
6 is engaged with the male spline provided on the steering shaft 1, and then the tightening nut 5 that is in close contact with the bottom surface 117 of the tightening nut housing recess formed in the hub portion 114 is tightened. The end surface 118 on the opposite side of the portion 114 is in close contact with the step surface of the steering shaft 1,
Is attached so as to rotate integrally with the steering shaft 1. In addition, a shock absorbing mechanism (not shown) is incorporated in the steering shaft 1 and the column tube 2 so that the steering shaft 1 and the rim portion do not project rearward toward the driver when the vehicle collides, and the driver is not seriously damaged. Has been.

[0004]

However, when the vehicle is suddenly decelerated in an emergency such as a collision accident, the steering shaft 1
Even if the vehicle does not project rearward toward the driver, the body of the occupant will move largely forward due to inertia and contact the steering wheel. Further, in the conventional steering wheel 110, the rigidity of the hub portion 114 is sufficiently enhanced so that the operating force applied by an occupant for changing the traveling direction of the vehicle can be reliably transmitted to the steering shaft 1. . Therefore, the impact when the body of the occupant comes into contact with the steering wheel becomes considerably strong.

On the other hand, in recent years, in order to prevent the body of an occupant from moving forward in the traveling direction and hitting the steering wheel to be injured in an emergency such as a collision accident, various safety measures such as an airbag and a seat belt tightening device are required. Devices are becoming installed in automobiles. However,
Since such a device is expensive, it has not been widely spread to general automobiles. In addition, since such a safety device is configured to be integrally incorporated when manufacturing a vehicle, if the above-described safety device is attached to the vehicle after purchasing the vehicle, the vehicle is significantly modified. As a result, there is a problem that the cost will increase significantly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and it is possible to reduce the damage of the driver's body coming into contact with the steering wheel and being damaged in an emergency such as a vehicle collision, and the vehicle is easily It is to provide an inexpensive steering wheel that can be attached to.

[0007]

The above object of the present invention is to provide a first boss that rotates integrally with a handle body of a steering wheel and a relative displacement in the axial direction of the handle body with respect to the first boss. A second boss, which is possible but engaged so as to rotate integrally in the circumferential direction and is mounted so as to rotate integrally with the steering shaft, and the first boss for absorbing impact energy acting on the steering wheel. Can be achieved by a steering wheel provided with an energy absorbing means provided between the boss and the second boss.

As the energy absorbing means, one that elastically deforms a spring member such as a compression coil spring, one that absorbs a shock by crushing a bellows-shaped, mesh-shaped or honeycomb-shaped plastic deformation member, both bosses By engaging through a steel ball or folds and absorbing impact energy by frictional resistance, or by forming a sealed chamber between both bosses and enclosing a liquid inside it.
When both bosses are displaced relative to each other and the volume of the sealed chamber decreases and the pressure of the sealed liquid rises above a predetermined value, the sealed liquid jets out of the sealed chamber through an orifice and absorbs impact by orifice resistance. Can be used.

[0009]

According to the above construction, when the driver's body hits the steering wheel in an emergency such as a collision accident, the first boss can be displaced relative to the second boss in the axial direction. The steering wheel is rapidly displaced forward in the axial direction of the steering shaft. At this time, the energy absorbing means absorbs the impact energy on the second boss of the handle body, so that the impact when the driver's body hits the steering wheel is softened, and the damage to the driver can be reduced.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an automobile steering wheel according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. First, a vehicle steering wheel according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the steering wheel 100 of the first embodiment is
A hub portion 20 that is a first boss that rotates integrally with the handle body 10, and a relative displacement of the hub portion 20 in the axial direction of the handle body 10 with respect to the hub portion 20, but in the circumferential direction it is possible to rotate integrally. Mounting boss 30, which is a second boss mounted so as to rotate integrally with the steering shaft 1, and the hub portion 20 and the mounting so as to absorb impact energy acting on the steering wheel 100. A compression coil spring 50 as an energy absorbing means is provided between the boss 30 and the boss 30.

The handle body 10 has an annular rim portion (not shown) which is gripped by a driver's hand, and a core bar 12 of a spoke portion extending radially inward from the rim portion.
And a core 13 and a cover portion 13 formed of urethane foam that covers the periphery of the portion attached to the steering shaft 1. The hub portion 20 is supported by the cored bar 12 at the center of the spoke portion extending inward in the radial direction from the rim portion, and the cylindrical portion 21 is coaxial with the axis of the handle body 10, and the outer circumference of the cylindrical portion 21. A flange portion 22 that is erected on the entire surface in the circumferential direction, and the cylindrical portion 21.
The inner peripheral surface of the No. 3 is provided with four concave grooves 23, 24, 25 formed so as to extend in the axial direction at equal intervals along the circumferential direction.

These recessed grooves 23, 24, 25 are formed so as to have different lengths extending from an end surface (driver side end surface) 27 on the opposite side of the mounting boss 30 of the cylindrical portion 21 to the end of the recessed groove. ing. Further, four engaging projections 35 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting boss 30 at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. The hub portion 2 fitted with the heel
0 is slidable in the axial direction with respect to the mounting boss 30, but is engaged in the circumferential direction so as to rotate integrally. Thereby, when the mounting boss 30 is assembled to the hub portion 20, the engaging convex portion 35 is formed in the concave grooves 23, 24,
The mounting boss 30 depends on which of the 25 is fitted.
The axial mounting position of the steering wheel 100 on the hub portion 20 changes, and the axial mounting position of the steering wheel 100 on the steering shaft 2 can be adjusted.

The mounting boss 30, which is a thick-walled substantially cylindrical member, has a spline 33 engraved on the inner peripheral surface of the center hole 31 of the mounting boss 30 on the outer side of the spline engraved at the tip of the steering shaft 1. After fitting, the tightening nut 5 is tightened so as to be in close contact with the bottom surface 34 of the recessed portion provided on the end face on the driver side.
And is fixed so as to rotate integrally with the steering shaft 1. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting boss 30, a male screw 37 is engraved from the central portion in the longitudinal direction to the end portion on the steering shaft 1 side, and a flange member 40 is screwed. The flange member 40 has a screw portion 41 that is screwed into a male screw 37 engraved on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting boss 30.
And a flange portion 42 vertically extending on the outer peripheral surface of the screw portion 41 and extending outward in the radial direction, and from the peripheral end of the flange portion 42 toward the hub portion 20 side along the axis of the mounting boss 30. And a cylindrical wall 43 that is extended. The cylindrical wall 44 is fitted in the cylindrical recess 14 provided in the cover portion 13 of the handle body 10. And
The flange member 40 has a male screw 37 of the mounting boss 30.
It is configured so that the position in the axial direction with respect to the hub portion 20 can be adjusted to a predetermined value by being rotated around.

Therefore, the compression coil spring 50 is sandwiched between the flange portion 42 of the flange member 40 and the flange portion 22 of the hub portion 20, and the hub portion 20 is separated from the flange member 40 in the axial direction. Is always energized. As a result, the hub portion 20 is attached to the mounting boss 30.
Although it is always urged in the axial direction away from the hub 2, in the state shown in FIG.
Since it is fitted in the recessed groove 23 of 0 and is locked at the end portion thereof, it is not displaced further from the illustrated state to the driver side (right side in the figure).

Next, a procedure for assembling the steering wheel 100 of the first embodiment to the steering shaft 1 will be described. First, when the steering wheel 100 is assembled to the steering shaft 1, one of the concave grooves 23, 24, 25 of the hub portion 20 is arranged so that the tip of the cover portion 13 does not come into contact with the column cover 4. Select a set of recessed grooves to fit the engagement protrusions 35 of the mounting boss 30. Then, by screwing the flange member 40 into the male screw 37 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the mounting boss 30, the axial interval between the flange portion 42 of the flange member 40 and the flange portion 22 of the hub portion 20 is predetermined. Adjusted to the distance. As a result, the compression coil spring 50 is always compressed in an appropriate state regardless of the selected combination of the concave grooves, and the hub portion 2
0 (that is, the handle body 10) is always urged toward the driver side opposite to the steering shaft 1 with substantially the same spring force. Therefore, the steering wheel 100 has the steering shaft 1
In addition to being mounted at an appropriate position in the axial direction, it is possible to always absorb a constant impact energy.

Next, the operation of the steering wheel 100 of the first embodiment constructed as described above at the time of a vehicle collision will be described. First, when the driver rotates the handle body 10 during normal traveling, the hub portion 20 also rotates integrally. Since the hub portion 20 and the mounting boss 30 are engaged with each other in the rotational direction to rotate integrally, the rotation of the handle body 10 is transmitted to the steering shaft 1 via the hub portion 20 and the mounting boss 30. , The direction of travel of the car changes. Further, the compression coil spring 50 has a sufficient spring force that it does not contract with a force acting during normal steering wheel operation, and the steering wheel 100 is not displaced in the axial direction during traveling.

In an emergency such as a collision accident, when the driver's body hits the steering wheel 100 and an excessive impact is applied to the handle body 10, the handle body 1
The hub portion 20 of 0 is abruptly displaced relative to the steering shaft 1 along the axial direction of the mounting boss 30. At this time, the compression coil spring 50 as the energy absorbing means contracts,
The hub portion 20 absorbs impact energy while being displaced forward relative to the mounting boss 30 in the axial direction. Further, the cover portion 13 of the handle body 10 also collides with the column cover 4 and is deformed, so that a part of the impact energy can be absorbed. As a result, the impact when the driver's body hits the steering wheel is softened, and the driver's body damage can be reduced.

Although the compression coil spring 50 is used as the energy absorbing means in the steering wheel 100 of the first embodiment, the energy absorbing means is not necessarily limited to this, and for example, the energy absorbing means may be bellows, mesh or honeycomb. The compression coil spring 50 may be replaced with a structure that absorbs a shock by crushing a plastic deformable member. Alternatively, the hub portion 20 and the mounting boss 30 may be engaged with each other, for example, via a steel ball or a fold, and the impact energy may be absorbed by the frictional resistance during relative displacement in the axial direction. Furthermore,
By forming a sealed chamber between the hub portion 20 and the mounting boss 30 and enclosing a liquid such as silicone oil inside the sealed chamber, the hub portion 20 and the mounting boss 30 are displaced relative to each other in the axial direction, and the sealed chamber is sealed. When the volume decreases and the pressure of the enclosed liquid rises above a predetermined value, the enclosed liquid may be ejected to the outside of the sealed chamber through the orifice and the impact may be absorbed by the orifice resistance.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a main part of a steering wheel for an automobile according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The steering wheel 200 is fastened to a handle body 120 and bolts 121 to the handle body 120. A hub portion 60, which is a first boss that rotates integrally, is engaged with the hub portion 60 such that the hub portion 60 can be displaced relative to the hub portion 60 in the axial direction but rotates integrally in the circumferential direction. Between the mounting boss 70, which is a second boss mounted so as to rotate integrally with the steering shaft 1, and between the hub 60 and the mounting boss 70 so as to absorb impact energy acting on the steering wheel 200. The compression spring device 80 is provided as an energy absorbing means.

The hub portion 60 includes the handle body 12
A cylindrical portion 61 extending coaxially with the axis of 0, and the cylindrical portion 61
A flange portion 65 that is erected on the outer peripheral surface of the flange over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction, and spring locks that are radially outwardly disposed at four circumferentially equidistant intervals on the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 65. And a section 62. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the mounting is provided in the four recessed grooves 64 having a substantially rectangular cross section that is formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 61 and extends in the axial direction. Engagement protrusions 74 projectingly provided on the outer peripheral surface of the boss 70 are fitted, and the hub portion 60 is slidable in the axial direction of the handle body 120 with respect to the mounting boss 70, but in the circumferential direction. Are configured to engage and rotate integrally.

As shown in FIG. 4, an engaging convex portion 67 having a substantially rectangular cross section extending in the axial direction is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 61 of the hub portion 60, and the boss portion 71 of the mounting boss 70 is provided. A concave groove 77 extending in the axial direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface, and the concave groove 77 and the engaging convex portion 67 are fitted to each other, whereby the hub portion 60 is attached to the mounting boss 70 in the axial direction of the handle body 120. Although it is slidable, it may be configured to engage in the circumferential direction and rotate integrally.

The mounting boss 70 has a thick-walled cylindrical boss portion 71 which is externally fitted to the tip portion of the steering shaft 1, and a circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the boss portion 71 on the steering shaft 1 side. A flange portion 73 is provided upright over the entire circumference, and further four points are provided upright on the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 73 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and extend outward in the radial direction, and the spring locking portion of the hub portion 60 is provided. 62
And a engaging projection 74 having a substantially rectangular cross section which is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the boss 71 and projects in the axial direction. And the mounting boss 7
0 is a recess formed in the end face of the driver side after the spline 72 engraved on the inner peripheral surface of the central hole 77 of the boss portion 71 is externally fitted to the spline engraved on the tip of the steering shaft 1. By tightening the tightening nut 5 so as to be in close contact with the bottom surface 75 of the recessed portion, the end surface 78 on the steering shaft 1 side abuts on the step surface of the steering shaft 1 and rotates integrally with the steering shaft 1. Fixed to.

As shown in FIG. 2, the compression spring device 80 includes a first compression coil spring 84 sandwiched between a flange portion 65 of the hub portion 60 and a flange portion 73 of the mounting boss 70, and a hub. Spring locking portion 62 of portion 60 and mounting boss 70
The second compression coil spring 81 is sandwiched between the spring locking portion 76 and the second compression coil spring 81 and is arranged at four equal intervals along the circumferential direction. Then, a pair of snap rings 83 are attached to both ends of the four guide stays 82 that penetrate the spring locking portion 62 and the spring locking portion 76 in the axial direction. The distance between the hub portion 60 and the mounting boss 70, which are urged by the spring 84 and the second compression coil spring 81 in directions away from each other, is kept at a predetermined value. The compression spring device 80 is covered with a cover 90.

Next, the operation of the steering wheel 200 of the second embodiment having the above-described structure during a vehicle collision will be described. First, when the driver rotates the handle body 120 during normal traveling, the hub portion 60 also rotates integrally. Since the hub portion 60 and the mounting boss 70 are engaged with each other in the rotational direction to rotate integrally, the rotation of the handle body 120 is transmitted to the steering shaft 1 via the hub portion 60 and the mounting boss 70. , The direction of travel of the car changes. When the driver's body hits the steering wheel 200 and an excessive shock is applied to the steering wheel body 120 in an emergency such as a collision accident, the hub portion 60 of the steering wheel body 120 causes the steering shaft 1 to move along the axial direction of the mounting boss 70. Relative displacement to the side suddenly. At this time,
The first compression coil spring 84 and the second compression coil spring 81 constituting the compression spring device 80 contract, and the hub portion 60 relatively displaces forward relative to the mounting boss 70 in the axial direction to absorb impact energy. To do. As a result, the impact when the body of the driver hits the steering wheel is softened, and the damage to the body of the driver can be reduced.

That is, in the steering wheel 200 of the second embodiment, the handle body 120 and the hub portion 60 are included.
Since the and are configured to be detachable by the bolts 121, the handle body 120 can be easily replaced with a handle body having a different shape. Thus, for example, even when the owner of the automobile replaces the steering wheel that is standardly attached to the automobile with a steering wheel having a completely different design, the impact absorbing mechanism portion as described above can be left on the steering shaft 1 as it is. . In addition, if a boss unit including the hub portion 60, the mounting boss 70, the compression spring device 80, etc. is mounted on the steering shaft 1 as an adapter boss on the existing vehicle, the shock absorbing mechanism can be installed without modifying the vehicle body. Can be mounted on a car.
Furthermore, the shock absorbing mechanism as described above and other safety mechanism such as an airbag system can be combined. The steering wheel of the present invention is not limited to the configuration of each of the above embodiments, and the engagement structure of the first boss and the second boss, the shape of each boss, and the like are the gist of the present invention. It goes without saying that various forms can be adopted based on the above.

[0026]

According to the steering wheel for an automobile of the present invention, when the driver's body hits the steering wheel in an emergency such as a collision accident, the first boss fixed to the steering wheel main body is fixed to the steering shaft. Since the steering wheel is configured to be relatively displaceable in the axial direction with respect to the two bosses, the steering wheel is promptly displaced forward in the axial direction of the steering shaft. At this time, the energy absorbing means absorbs the impact energy on the second boss of the handle body, so that the impact when the driver's body hits the steering wheel is softened, and the damage to the driver can be reduced. Further, since the automobile steering wheel of the present invention only needs to be attached to the steering shaft, even after purchasing the automobile, it can be replaced with the steering wheel that is standardly attached to the automobile and these shock absorbing mechanisms can be attached to the automobile. it can. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the damage of the driver's body coming into contact with the steering wheel and being damaged during an emergency such as a vehicle collision, and it is possible to provide an inexpensive steering wheel that can be easily attached to the vehicle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an essential part of a steering wheel according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a steering wheel according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the steering wheel shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line A.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modified example in which a part of the configuration of the steering wheel shown in FIG. 3 is modified.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a conventional steering wheel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Steering Shaft 5 Tightening Nut 10 Handle Main Body 20 Hub Part 23 Recessed Groove 24 Recessed Groove 25 Recessed Groove 30 Mounting Boss 35 Engagement Convex 40 Flange Member 50 Compression Coil Spring 100 Steering Wheel

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first boss that rotates integrally with a steering wheel handle main body, and a relative displacement with respect to the first boss in the axial direction of the handle main body, but a single rotation in the circumferential direction. Between the first boss and the second boss so as to absorb impact energy acting on the steering wheel, and a second boss that is engaged so as to integrally rotate with the steering shaft. A steering wheel provided with an energy absorbing means provided in the.