JPH07304458A - Steering column - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure the required rigidity of the lower cover of a steering column, form a steering post fixing work hole on the lower cover to make the interior directly inconspicuous, and form an integral and continuous external appearance of the lower cover and an instrument cover. CONSTITUTION:The lower end edge 3a of a lower cover 3 integrated with an upper cover 2 is extended to be continued to the lower edge 10a of the instrument panel 10 of a vehicle, and a flat section 4 having a nearly L-shaped bottom face is formed on the lower face of the lower cover 3. A fitting work hole 5 having a nearly rectangular bottom face is formed on the flat section 4, and a wall face section 6 'is formed on the inner edge of the work hole 5. The wall face section 6 is assembled to a steering post 18 (stanchion), then it is fixed to a pedal bracket with bolts and nuts while an impact wrench R is inserted through the work hole 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering column of a vehicle, and more particularly to a steering column in which the lower cover of the steering column has improved rigidity and appearance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional steering column 11 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 13 are integrally attached to the steering post 18, and the steering post 18 is attached to the instrument panel 1.
0 is inserted into a notch K formed in the lower edge 10a and is fixed to a pedal bracket B on the vehicle body side by a bolt 20 and a nut 21.

An impact wrench R is attached to the steering post 18 at the lower edge of the lower cover 13, as shown in FIG.
In order to make it easy to insert up to the attachment work hole 19, the inverted U-shaped notch 14 is generally formed.

Instead of the notch 14, the lower cover 13
In some cases, the lower end edge 13a of the tool is cut short upward as a whole to secure an insertion space for the tool tip and a working space.

Further, when a steering tilt mechanism is provided as an optional specification, an inverted U-shaped notch 16 is formed in addition to the above-mentioned notch 14 in order to avoid interference with the tilt lever 15 which moves up and down. Was there.

[0006]

However, the lower cover 1
As shown in FIG. 6, the lower end edge 13a of 3 is located somewhat above the lower edge 10a of the instrument panel 10, and the notch 14 is formed by scooping in an inverted U shape. Therefore, the internal organs of the lower cover 13 are fully visible even from the normal line-of-sight direction, impairing aesthetics. In order to correct this, a lower finish cover (not shown) may be attached to the instrument panel 10 as a separate assembly so as to close the notches 14 and 16 or the attachment work hole 19. Will be more troublesome.

Further, since the lower cover 13 has a thin wall thickness in order to reduce the weight thereof, the formation of the notch 14 reduces the surface rigidity of the lower cover 13 and possibly causes a defective installation on the pedal bracket B side. Get higher

Further, if the lower finish cover is omitted in order to reduce the cost, the panel lower edge 10a of the instrument panel 10 and the lower end edge 13a of the lower cover 13 do not coincide with each other as described above. Lacks continuity with.

On the other hand, in order to maintain continuity with the instrument panel 10 without using the lower finish cover, when the lower end edge 13a of the lower cover 13 is formed up to the lower edge 10a of the instrument panel 10, the impact wrench R However, there is a problem that it is difficult to secure the insertion space and the work space. If a large round hole is formed in the center of the lower cover 13 to secure these spaces,
The inner visceral portion of the lower cover 13 is ugly because it does not significantly affect the appearance of the eyes.

In addition, in a so-called tilt specification vehicle in which the steering tilts, the notch 14 for protruding the tilt lever 15 must be separately formed in the lower cover 13, and the surface rigidity of the lower cover 13 is further weakened. Become.

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above circumstances, and achieves an integrated appearance with an instrument panel of a vehicle, while at the same time securing a space for inserting a tool and a working space, which is different from a tilt specification vehicle. It is intended to provide a steering column applicable to both vehicles.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve the object, the steering column of the present invention has a steering post inserted through a notch formed in a lower edge of an instrument panel and the steering wheel described above. The post is fixed to the pedal bracket protruding from the vehicle body side with a bolt, and in the steering column in which the outer circumference of the steering post is covered with the upper cover and the lower cover,

The lower edge of the lower cover is extended to close the opening side of the notch of the instrument panel, and a working hole through which the bolt for fixing the steering post can be seen is provided in the central portion of the lower cover. It is characterized in that a wall portion is formed on the inner edge of the work hole and extends inside the lower cover.

Further, the steering column of the present invention is
The feature is that the tilt lever is projected from the above-mentioned working hole.

[0015]

When the steering column is assembled to the steering post, it is arranged on the vehicle side so that the lower end edge of the lower cover is aligned with the lower edge of the instrument panel.
Insert the installation tool through the work hole formed in the lower cover, and bolt the steering post to the vehicle. At the time of this mounting, the mounting tool can be moved relatively freely within the working hole, so that the mounting work becomes easy.

After the mounting, the wall surface prevents the lower cover from bending from the working hole. Further, in the case of a tilt specification vehicle, the position of the steering can be changed by vertically moving the tilt lever protruding from the work hole along the wall surface portion.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this steering column 1, an upper cover 2 and a lower cover 3 are integrally attached to a steering post 18, and the steering post 18 is inserted into a notch K formed in a lower edge 10a of an instrument panel 10 to be attached to a pedal bracket B. The entire structure is formed by fixing the bolts 20 and nuts 21. The steering post 18, the instrument panel 10, and the like are the same as those in the conventional example, but the lower end edge of the lower cover 3 is further extended and formed so as to be continuous with the lower edge 10a of the instrument panel 10. Also, on the lower surface of the lower cover 3,
A substantially L-shaped flat portion 4 is formed so as to be recessed slightly inward of the lower surface of the lower cover 3 (upward after being mounted on the vehicle side) toward at least the steering side.

A rectangular working hole 5 through which the above-mentioned bolt 20 for fixing the steering post 18 can be seen is formed in a part of the flat portion 4, and an inner edge of the working hole 5 is formed as shown in FIG. , The inside of the lower cover 3 is extended to form the wall surface portion 6 to constitute the whole.

In this steering column 1, an upper cover 2 and a lower cover 3 are integrated to form a steering post 1.
After assembling to No. 8, it is attached to the pedal bracket B so as to close the opening side of the notch K of the instrument panel. That is, the impact wrench R is inserted from the work hole 5 of the lower cover 3 toward the mounting hole 19 formed in the steering post 18, and the steering post 18 is fixed to the pedal bracket B with the bolt 20 and the nut 21.

At this time, the work hole 5 is formed in the steering post 1.
Since it is formed horizontally so that the fixing bolt 21 of No. 8 can be seen, the impact wrench R can be easily inserted, and the pedal wrench B can be moved horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the steering column quickly and with the bolt 20 and the nut 21. It can be easily fixed (see FIGS. 1 and 3).

Since the lower end edge 3a of the lower cover 3 matches the lower edge 10a of the instrument panel 10, the steering column 1 thus constructed is excellent in continuity and integrity with the instrument panel 10.

The working hole 5 is formed horizontally in the flat portion 4 which is recessed upward (inward) from the lower surface of the lower cover 3, and the wall portion 6 is further formed at the inner edge of the flat portion 4, so that the internal portion of the steering column is formed. It is possible to improve the appearance of the lower cover 3 with little inconspicuousness, and it is possible to improve the surface rigidity in which the lower cover 3 is unlikely to be twisted or distorted.

Since the surface rigidity is enhanced without making the working hole 5 stand out in this manner, there is an effect that it is not necessary to attach the lower finish cover to the instrument panel as a separate assembly as in the conventional example.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, with the steering column 1 of the first embodiment mounted on the vehicle side, the tilt lever 15 of the steering is projected from the mounting work hole 5 formed in the lower cover 3, and the tip of the tilt lever 15 is projected. It is configured to be housed in the flat portion 4 described above. The other configurations are similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

Similar to the first embodiment, this embodiment can also achieve continuity and integrity with the instrument panel 10, eliminates the need for a lower finish cover, and allows the tilt lever 15 to escape for a vehicle with tilt specifications. It is not necessary to separately form a notch portion or the like.

Further, the tip of the tilt lever 15 does not project downward from the lower surface of the lower cover 3, the appearance is improved, and the risk of accidentally touching the tilt lever 15 is reduced, which further improves safety. Also effective.

[0027]

As described above, according to the steering column of the present invention, the workability of mounting can be improved by forming the working hole in the lower cover, and the surface rigidity is enhanced by the wall surface portion formed in the working hole. The lower internal organs of the lower cover can be made difficult to see.

Therefore, after the steering post and the cover of the steering column are attached to the pedal placket on the vehicle body side with the bolts, the defective installation on the vehicle body side hardly occurs. Also, since the lower edge of the instrument panel and the lower edge of the lower cover are aligned, the design continuity between the instrument panel and the steering column cover can be achieved, and the lower finish cover is not required, which contributes to cost reduction. Play.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a vehicle side.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line VV of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which a conventional example is attached to a vehicle side.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a conventional example attached to a vehicle side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Steering column 2 Upper cover 3 Lower cover 3a Lower end edge of lower cover 4 Flat part 5 Working hole 6 Wall surface part 10 Instrument panel 10a Lower edge of instrument panel 15 Tilt lever 18 Steering post B Pedal bracket K Notch

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A steering post is inserted into a notch formed in a lower edge of an instrument panel, the steering post is fixed to a pedal bracket projecting from a vehicle body side by a bolt, and an outer periphery of the steering post. In a steering column in which is covered with an upper cover and a lower cover, a lower end edge of the lower cover is extended to close an opening side of a notch of the instrument panel, and the steering post is fixed to a central portion of the lower cover. The steering column is characterized in that a working hole through which the bolt is viewed is formed, and a wall surface portion that extends inside the lower cover is formed at an inner edge of the working hole. 2. The steering column according to claim 1, wherein a tilt lever is projected from the working hole.