JPH0761308A - Impact absorbing structure for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively absorb the impact load from a driver seat occupant at the time of a head-on collision by a steering shaft by forming a support part, which can positively move an instrument panel upward. CONSTITUTION:A steering shaft 1 arranged under an instrument panel 2 is turnably supported on a dash lower panel 11 through a turning support part 14 and turnably supported on a support member 17 through a U-shape plate 22 so as to receive the impact load exerted from a driver seat occupant at the time of head-on collision to move the rear end of the steering shaft 1 upward. The instrument panel 2 is supported on a cowl panel through a front support part, which enables the upward movement of the instrument panel 2 through the steering shaft 1, and supported by the support member 17 through a first and a second rear support parts, which enables the upward movement of the rear end of the instrument panel 2 through an occupant side of the steering shaft 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shock absorbing structure for an automobile, and more particularly to a structure in which a steering shaft absorbs a shock load applied from a driver seat occupant during a frontal collision.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an automobile shock absorbing structure,
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 61-247567, an instrument panel is arranged above a steering shaft extending in the front-rear direction of a vehicle body, and the steering shaft impacts a driver's seat occupant during a frontal collision. It is known that an instrument panel is supported so as to move the steering shaft forward in the axial direction under load. In this case, the impact load from the driver's seat occupant during a frontal collision is effectively absorbed by the collapsible structure of the steering shaft that moves the steering shaft forward in the axial direction, and safety measures for the driver's seat occupant during a frontal collision are taken. It has become so.

[0003]

By the way, from recent years,
The moving parts of automobiles are being automated, and even in the case of a steering shaft equipped with a tilt mechanism or a telescopic mechanism, the tilt mechanism and the telescopic mechanism are being automated. On the other hand, automobiles tend to have short noses.

In this case, in the steering shaft of the automobile with a short nose, the length in the axial direction is shortened, and automation devices such as a tilt mechanism and a telescopic mechanism are arranged on the shortened steering shaft. In this case, it is not possible to secure a sufficient amount of collapsing movement of the steering shaft to absorb the impact load from the driver's seat occupant that acts during a head-on collision. It was not possible to adopt a different collapsible structure.

Therefore, the steering shaft is rotatably supported on the vehicle body so as to move the occupant side of the steering shaft upward under the impact load from the driver's seat occupant in a frontal collision, and the vehicle body side support is supported. It is possible to effectively absorb the impact load from the driver's seat occupant acting on the steering shaft during a frontal collision by rotating the steering shaft to move the occupant side upwards. Since the instrument panel is installed in the vehicle, the occupant side of the steering shaft that tries to move upward due to the impact load from the driver's occupant during a frontal collision interferes with the instrument panel, and the occupant side of the steering shaft above Will be regulated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points. An object of the present invention is to improve the supporting rigidity of the instrument panel with respect to the vehicle body and to positively move the instrument panel upward. The steering shaft effectively absorbs the impact load from the occupant in the driver's seat at the time of a frontal collision, even if the steering shaft cannot secure a sufficient amount of collapse.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a means for solving the problems according to the invention described in claim 1 is a shock absorbing structure for an automobile, in which an instrument panel is provided above a steering shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle body. It is premised on the car being distributed. Then, the steering shaft is rotatably supported on the vehicle body so as to move an occupant side of the steering shaft upward by receiving an impact load from a driver's seat occupant acting in a frontal collision,
The instrument panel is configured to be supported by the vehicle body via a support portion having a support rigidity weakened against upward movement of the instrument panel via the steering shaft.

Further, the solution means taken by the invention of claim 2 specifies the steering shaft and the instrument panel of the invention of claim 1, and the steering shaft extends in the vehicle width direction and is connected to the vehicle body. While supporting the steering support member so as to be rotatable about the axis of the steering support member, the instrument panel is weakened in support rigidity with respect to upward movement of the instrument panel through the occupant side of the steering shaft. The steering support member is supported through the section.

[0009]

With the above construction, in the invention according to claim 1,
When the impact load from the driver's seat occupant acts on the occupant side of the steering shaft during a frontal collision, the steering shaft rotates so as to move the occupant side upward with the support portion on the vehicle body side that retracts during a frontal collision as a fulcrum. . When the steering shaft comes into contact with the instrument panel due to the rotation of the steering shaft,
The instrument panel is supported by the vehicle-body-side support portion of the instrument panel to allow the instrument panel to move upwards on the occupant side through the steering shaft, so that the steering-shaft rotation around the vehicle-body-side support portion serves as a fulcrum. The movement is performed without being restricted, and the upward movement of the steering shaft is continued while moving the instrument panel upward without being restricted by the instrument panel.

Therefore, an automatic device such as a tilt mechanism and a telescopic mechanism is arranged on the steering shaft whose length in the axial direction is shortened by a vehicle with a short nose to ensure a sufficient amount of collapse movement. Even on steering shafts that cannot be
The steering shaft can be moved upward on the occupant side, and the impact load from the driver's occupant acting on the steering shaft during a frontal collision is absorbed.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, when an impact load from the driver's seat occupant acts on the occupant side of the steering shaft during a frontal collision, the steering shaft uses the support portion on the vehicle body side, which is retracted due to the frontal collision, as a fulcrum. The steering support member is rotated around the axis so as to move the passenger side upward. When the occupant side of the steering shaft comes into contact with the instrument panel due to the rotation of the steering shaft, the instrument panel is moved upward by the occupant side of the instrument panel by the support portion of the instrument panel on the vehicle body side. In a state where the movement is allowed, the steering shaft can be moved upward by the occupant side of the steering shaft through the occupant side of the steering shaft, and the steering shaft is supported by the vehicle body side fulcrum. Is smoothly performed without being restricted, and the upward movement of the steering shaft on the occupant side is continued while the occupant side of the instrument panel is moved upward without being restricted by the instrument panel. It will be.

Therefore, even in a steering shaft in which an automatic device is arranged on the steering shaft shortened due to the short nose of the automobile and a sufficient amount of movement of the collapse cannot be ensured, the movement of the steering shaft to the upper side on the occupant side is an instrument. This is done positively without being blocked by the panel, and the impact load from the driver's occupant acting on the steering shaft during a frontal collision is effectively absorbed.

[0013]

As described above, according to the shock absorbing structure for an automobile in the first aspect of the present invention, the steering shaft for moving the occupant side upward with the support portion on the vehicle body side that retreats during a frontal collision as a fulcrum is used. The rotation can be continued without being restricted by the support portion on the vehicle body side that allows the upward movement of the instrument panel by abutting on the instrument panel, and by the short nose and the arrangement of the automation device. Even if the steering shaft is shortened and cannot secure a sufficient amount of collapse movement, the steering shaft can be moved upward on the occupant side to absorb the impact load from the driver's occupant acting on the steering shaft during a frontal collision. can do.

According to the shock absorbing structure for an automobile in the second aspect of the present invention, the steering support member of the steering shaft for moving the occupant side upward with the support portion on the vehicle body side retracted in the case of a frontal collision as a fulcrum. A support portion on the vehicle body side that allows the rotation around the axis to contact the instrument panel and allow the instrument panel to move upward, and a steering that enables the instrument panel passenger to move upward. It can be performed smoothly without being restricted by the support part on the support member side.
Even with a steering shaft that cannot secure a sufficient amount of collapse movement, it is possible to positively move the steering shaft upwards on the occupant side, and the impact load from the driver's occupant acting on the steering shaft during a frontal collision is effective. Can be absorbed.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2 show a shock absorbing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention applied to a front portion of an automobile having a short nose. In each of the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a steering shaft extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body. An automation device such as a tilt mechanism or a telescopic mechanism, which is not shown, is attached to the steering shaft 1 so that the axial length of the automobile is short. Together with the nose, it is short. An instrument panel 2 is arranged above the steering shaft 1. The instrument panel 2 has a windshield W fixed to an upper end portion of a cowl panel 4 as a vehicle body which extends in a vehicle width direction at a front end portion of a vehicle compartment 3 and is connected between left and right front pillars (not shown). An instrument panel core 5 made of a hard resin, which extends rearward from the vicinity of the lower end and then extends downward, a soft resin skin material 6 that forms a surface layer, and the instrument described above. It is basically configured by the foamed resin material 7 filled between the ment panel core 5 and the skin material 6. A meter mounting opening 9 for mounting various meters 8 is provided on the vertical surface of the instrument panel 2 facing the driver's seat side on the front left side in the vehicle compartment 3, and this instrument panel mounting opening 9 is provided.
Various meters 8 are attached to the meter via a meter hood 10. The lower part of the instrument panel 2 on the driver's seat side corresponding to the periphery of the meter mounting opening 9 and the lower part of the meter hood 10 is composed of only the instrument panel core 5. Further, the peripheral portion of the instrument panel 2 is also composed of only the instrument panel core 5.

A front end portion of the steering shaft 1 in the vehicle compartment 3 has an upper end portion joined and fixed to a lower end portion of the cowl panel 4 to form a lower portion of a front wall of the vehicle compartment 3 as a dash lower panel 11 as a vehicle body. A lower bracket 12 fixedly mounted on the lower bracket 12 is rotatably supported via a horizontal shaft 13, and a rear end portion of the steering shaft 1 on the occupant side is vertically movable about a rotation support portion 14 as a fulcrum. There is. The rear end side of the steering shaft 1 is
The lower portion of the instrument panel 2 (instrument panel core 5) corresponding to the lower portion of the meter hood 10 is projected into the vehicle interior 3 through a notch opening 2a that is notched in a substantially U shape, and its protruding end is A steering wheel 15 for rotating the steering shaft 1 around its axis is attached via a column cover 16. In addition, a support member 17 (steering support member) having a cylindrical cross-section that extends in the vehicle width direction above the steering shaft 1 is provided on the instrument panel 2 corresponding to the position directly below the various meters 8. The support member 1
The left and right ends of the frame member 7 are fastened and fixed to cowl side panels (not shown) on the left and right sides of the vehicle body through brackets 18 and 18, and the upper end is joined and fixed to the left and right positions of the central portion and extends downward. , 19, the central portion of the floor panel 20 is joined and fixed to the vertical surface of the tunnel portion (not shown) extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. A support bracket 21 is joined and fixed to a position of the support member 17 corresponding to the driver's seat.
The rear portion of the steering shaft 1 has a cross section of approximately U.
It is supported via a U-shaped plate 22 having a U shape. The U
The upper surface of the character plate 22 that forms one piece is fastened and fixed to the lower surface of the support bracket 21 by bolts 23 and nuts 24, while the lower surface that forms the other piece is joined and fixed to the rear upper surface of the steering shaft 1. , The U-shaped plate 2 on the rear of the steering shaft 1.
By the deformation of 2, the supporting member 17 is rotatably supported around the axis line m, and the rear end portion (steering wheel 15) of the steering shaft 1 is rotated under the impact load from the occupant in the driver's seat acting in a frontal collision. The support portion 14 is used as a fulcrum to move upward. In this case, the steering shaft 1 employs a collapsible structure for moving the steering shaft 1 forward in the axial direction in response to an impact load from an occupant in the driver's seat, which is exerted in the case of a frontal collision.

As shown in FIG. 3, the instrument panel core 5 at the peripheral edge of the front end of the upper portion of the instrument panel 2 has a step portion 31 extending stepwise obliquely downward and forward, and a lower end of the step portion 31. The horizontal portion 32 is integrally formed with a horizontal portion 32 extending substantially horizontally forward, and the horizontal portion 32 is bolted to the rear end of a support bracket 33 which is fixedly joined to the rear end of the upper end of the cowl panel 4 and extends rearward. Three
4 and a nut 35. The step portion 31 is formed to have a thickness of about 2 mm, which is half the thickness of the normal instrument panel core 5 and the horizontal portion 32, and acts at the time of a frontal collision. When the rear end of the steering shaft 1 moves upward due to the impact load from the driver seat occupant,
A front support portion F is provided which has weakened support rigidity with respect to the upward movement of the rear end portion side of the instrument panel 2 via the steering shaft 1.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the instrument panel core 5 in the lower portion of the instrument panel 2 corresponding to the lower side of the meter hood 10 on the driver seat side is provided on the left and right sides of the support member 17 on the driver seat side. Hat-shaped bracket 3 having a substantially hat-shaped cross section that is fixedly joined to the position 3
It is fastened and fixed to the bottom of 6, 36 with screws 37, 37. The screws 37 are fastened and fixed to the hat-shaped brackets 36 through the upper ends of cutouts 38 that are formed by cutting out portions corresponding to the bottoms of the hat-shaped brackets 36 in a substantially inverted T shape. By the cutout portion 38 and each screw 37 inserted into each cutout portion 38,
When the rear end portion of the steering shaft 1 moves upward due to the impact load from the driver's seat occupant acting at the time of a frontal collision, the cutout portions 3 of the instrument panel core 5 described above.
Each hat-shaped bracket 36 via each screw 37 from 8
In order to enable the above-mentioned detachment of the instrument panel core 5 with respect to the support member 17 by the disengagement (on the side of the support member 17), the instrument panel core 5 is moved upward through the rear end of the steering shaft 1. Rear side first support portion R having weakened support rigidity against movement of
Make up one.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the instrument panel core 5 at the vehicle width direction substantially intermediate position of the instrument panel 2 corresponding to the side of the meter mounting opening 9 projects forward. The boss 39, a pin 40 projecting forward from a lower position of the boss 39, and having a projecting length longer than that of the boss 39, are continuously provided between the boss 39 and the pin 40 to reinforce the boss 39 and the pin 40. A rib 41 having a shorter projecting length than the boss 39 is integrally formed. And the meter mounting opening 9
A notch hole portion 42 corresponding to the boss 39 and opening upward and a hole portion 43 corresponding to the pin 40 are provided at a substantially middle position in the vehicle width direction of the support member 17 corresponding to the lateral side. The lower end portion of the support bracket 44 included in the support panel 44 is joined and fixed, and the instrument panel core 5 at the substantially intermediate position in the vehicle width direction of the instrument panel 2 is formed by the screw 45 inserted into the cutout hole portion 42 of the support bracket 44. Fastening and fixing via boss 39, and hole 43
The supporting member 17 is supported and fixed by the pin 40 inserted through the support member. In this case, the boss 39 and the pin 40 on the instrument panel 2 (instrument panel core 5) side, the cutout hole portions 42 and 43 of the support bracket 44 on the support member 17 side, and the cutout hole portion 42 are inserted. With the screw 45, when the rear end portion of the steering shaft 1 moves upward due to an impact load from a driver's seat occupant that acts at the time of a frontal collision, the support bracket 4 on the support member 17 side.
Of the boss 39 through the screw 45 from the notch hole 42 of FIG. 4, and the rib 4 of the pin 40 reinforced by the rib 41.
1 By disconnecting from the front end position (the position indicated by the alternate long and two short dashes line in FIG. 6), the rear end of the instrument panel 2 can be moved upward by the rear end of the instrument panel 2 at a substantially intermediate position in the vehicle width direction. As described above, the rear second support portion R2 has a structure that weakens the support rigidity with respect to the upward movement of the instrument panel 2 via the rear end portion of the steering shaft 1.

In addition, the instrument panel core 5 in the peripheral portion of the front end of the upper portion of the instrument panel 2,
The support bracket 33 and the upper end rear portion of the cowl panel 4 are covered with the bolt 34 by a garnish 45 from the vehicle interior 3 side. Further, the instrument panel core 5 in the lower portion of the instrument panel 2 on the driver's seat side is covered by the lower end of the meter hood 10 together with the screw 37 from the passenger compartment 3 side.

In this case, as a shock absorption measure in the case of a frontal collision of the passenger on the passenger seat side, a conventionally known airbag device (not shown) provided on the instrument panel 2 corresponding to the passenger seat side is used. It is like this.

Reference numeral 51 in FIG. 1 denotes a lower panel which covers the cutout opening 2a of the instrument panel core 5 from below.

Therefore, in the above embodiment, the impact load from the driver's seat occupant during a frontal collision is the steering wheel 1.
When the steering shaft 1 acts on the rear end portion of the steering shaft 1 via 5, the steering shaft 1 collapses forward by a predetermined amount by its own collapse structure, and then retreats together with the dash lower panel 11 at the time of a frontal collision. The U-shaped plate 22 so that the rear end of the lower bracket 12) is moved upward with the horizontal axis 13 of the lower bracket 12) as a fulcrum.
While being deformed, the support member 17 is rotated about the axis m. The rotation of the steering shaft 1 causes the rear end of the steering shaft 1 to move to the meter hood 1.
0 When the notch opening 2a of the instrument panel core 5 corresponding to the lower side is contacted from below, the instrument is in a state where the rear end side is allowed to move upward due to the thin step portion 31 as the front support portion F. The instrument panel core 5 includes the instrument panel 2, which is fastened and fixed to the hat-shaped brackets 36 at the left and right positions on the driver's seat side of the support member 17 by the screws 37 of the rear first support portion R1. Of the pin 40 by the screw 45 of the rear second support portion R2 that fastens and fixes the instrument panel 2 to the support bracket 44 of the support member 17 at a substantially intermediate position in the vehicle width direction. When the support bracket 44 is detached from the notch hole portion 42 due to the disconnection of, the rear end side of the support member 17 can be detached upward. The rotation of the steering shaft 1 with the rotation support portion 14 as a fulcrum is smoothly performed without being restricted, and the upward movement of the rear end portion of the steering shaft 1 is caused by the cutout opening 2a of the instrument panel core 5. Without being restricted by the above, the operation is continued while moving the instrument panel 2 upward through the rear end side of the steering shaft 1.

As a result, an automated device such as a tilt mechanism or a telescopic mechanism is arranged on the steering shaft 1 whose axial length has been shortened due to the short nose of the automobile, and a sufficient amount of collapse movement is secured. Even in the steering shaft 1 which is not mounted, the rearward end of the steering shaft 1 is positively moved without being obstructed by the instrument panel 2, and the impact from the driver's seat occupant acting on the steering shaft 1 at the time of a frontal collision. The load can be effectively absorbed.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but includes various other modifications.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the screws 37 that are fastened and fixed to the hat-shaped brackets 36 at the driver seat side left and right positions of the support member 17 are separated from the cutout portions 38 of the instrument panel core 5. Instead of the hat-shaped bracket, a substantially L-shaped bracket is joined and fixed to the left and right positions on the driver's seat side of the support member, and the deformation of each bracket itself allows the instrument panel core to move upward through the steering shaft. You may make it possible.

Further, in the above embodiment, the shock absorbing structure is applied to the steering shaft 1 whose axial length is shortened due to the short nose of the automobile. However, the impact is applied to the steering shaft of the ordinary or long nose automobile. An absorbent structure may be applied. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the automation device such as the tilt mechanism or the telescopic mechanism is attached to the steering shaft 1, but a manual tilt mechanism or the telescopic mechanism may be attached to the steering shaft.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of a front portion of a vehicle cut on a driver's seat side.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an instrument panel viewed from a vehicle compartment side with a steering shaft removed.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional side view of a front support portion.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional side view in the vicinity of a cutout cut at one of the left and right positions on the driver's seat side of a support member.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the vicinity of the cutout portion according to FIG. 4 as viewed from the vehicle compartment side.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of the vicinity of the support bracket, which is cut at a substantially middle position of the support member in the vehicle width direction.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the support bracket according to FIG. 6 as viewed from the front of the vehicle body.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Steering shaft 2 Instrument panel 4 Cowl panel (car body) 11 Dash lower panel (car body) 17 Support member (steering support member) F Front support part (support part) R1, R2 Rear support part (support part) m Support member Axis

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. In a vehicle in which an instrument panel is arranged above a steering shaft extending in the front-rear direction of a vehicle body, the steering shaft receives a shock load from a driver seat occupant acting in a frontal collision. The instrument panel is rotatably supported by the vehicle body so as to move the occupant side upward, and the instrument panel has a supporting portion whose support rigidity is weakened against upward movement of the instrument panel via the steering shaft. A shock-absorbing structure for an automobile, which is supported by a vehicle body via a. 2. A steering shaft is supported rotatably around an axis of a steering support member that extends in the vehicle width direction and is connected to a vehicle body.
The steering support member is supported by a steering support member via a support portion whose support rigidity is weakened with respect to upward movement of the instrument panel via the occupant side of the steering shaft. Shock absorption structure of automobile.