JP2009202700A - Shock absorbing type steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

An impact absorption type steering column device capable of preventing a change in absorption characteristics of an impact load while reducing weight and processing cost is provided.
An energy absorbing member is a steel rod-shaped member having a rectangular cross-sectional shape. One end side 48b and the other end side 48c in the longitudinal direction of the energy absorbing member are placed on the placement surface 30g. One end side in the longitudinal direction of the energy absorbing member is held by holding members 30h and 30i arranged on one side in the vehicle width direction from the vehicle front-rear direction, and the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the energy absorbing member is placed in the vehicle width direction. Fixing members 30h and 30i arranged on the other side are sandwiched and held from the vehicle front-rear direction. And the moving member 32d has opposed the center part 48a of the longitudinal direction of an energy absorption member in the back position of the vehicle front-back direction.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an impact absorption type steering column device that relieves an impact force applied to a driver during a secondary collision.

  In the event of a collision accident, a secondary collision in which the driver's body collides with the steering wheel occurs following a primary collision in which the automobile collides with another automobile or the like. A driver protection device called an impact-absorbing steering column device is used to alleviate the impact on the driver's body during this secondary collision and prevent serious damage to the driver's body. However, various types have been conventionally considered.

Various members that absorb impact load in the event of a secondary collision are also known. Of these, the energy absorbing member is plastically deformed at the same time as the steering column strokes forward in the vehicle front-rear direction during a secondary collision. Has been generally used as a member that can obtain a shock absorbing steering device that is relatively simple, small and inexpensive (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). .
JP 63-046972 A JP-T-9-501369

By the way, the apparatus of patent document 1 and patent document 2 requires the guide member which guides plastic deformation of an energy absorption member, and there exists a problem in terms of weight increase and processing cost.
Further, in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, the plastic deformation portions of the energy absorbing member are in contact with each other, and in the apparatus of Patent Document 2, impact energy is absorbed by nonuniform contact with the guide member when the energy absorbing member is plastically deformed. The characteristics may change.

Therefore, in the apparatus of Patent Document 2, it is conceivable that the energy absorbing member is plastically deformed without using the guide member. However, without using the guide member, the energy absorbing member reduces the plastic region in the latter half of the stroke of the steering column. As a result, as shown by the broken line in FIG.
Therefore, the present invention has been made paying attention to the unsolved problems of the conventional example described above, by making the energy absorbing member a simple structure and eliminating the need for a guide member when the energy absorbing member is plastically deformed. An object of the present invention is to provide an impact-absorbing steering column device that can prevent a change in absorption characteristics of an impact load while reducing weight and processing cost.

  In order to achieve the above object, an impact absorption type steering column apparatus according to claim 1, a steering column that rotatably supports a steering shaft inside and strokes forward in a vehicle longitudinal direction at the time of a secondary collision, A fixed member that is fixed to the vehicle body side member and does not displace in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle even when an impact load at the time of a secondary collision is input, a moving member that is fixed to the steering column, and plastic deformation that accompanies the stroke of the steering column An energy absorbing member that absorbs an impact load at the time of a secondary collision, wherein the energy absorbing member is a rod-like member extending linearly, and the moving member and the fixed member One of the members is two pairs of members formed on the mounting surface so as to be separated from each other in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The material includes two members that are separated from each other in the vehicle width direction, holds the energy absorbing member that is arranged to extend in the vehicle width direction on the mounting surface from the vehicle front-rear direction, and moves the material. The other member of the member and the fixing member is disposed to face the energy absorbing member at a position between one of the two pairs of members in the vehicle width direction.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the shock absorbing steering column device according to the first aspect, wherein the energy absorbing member moves the two members constituting one member of the moving member and the fixed member. A curvature increase preventing portion is provided that deforms without increasing the curvature of the energy absorbing member when the member and the other member of the fixed member are bent and plastically deformed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the shock absorbing steering column device according to the second aspect, wherein two pairs of members constituting one member of the moving member and the fixed member are one of the two pairs of members. Are formed on the mounting surface with a predetermined vehicle width direction distance L1, and the other pair of the two pairs of members has the energy with respect to one pair of the two pairs of members. The distance between the absorbing member is different in the vehicle front-rear direction and has a predetermined distance L2 in the vehicle width direction that is larger than the distance L1 in the vehicle width direction of one of the two pairs of members. Is formed on the surface,
The other pair of the two pairs of members functions as the curvature increase preventing unit that does not increase the curvature of the region that is bending plastically deformed by restricting the movement of the region where the energy absorbing member is not plastically deformed. I made it.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the shock absorption type steering column device according to any one of the first to third aspects, a surface of the moving member and the fixed member that contacts the energy absorbing member is an arc surface. Formed.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the shock absorbing steering column device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the mounting surface described above or the lower surface of the energy absorbing member that contacts the mounting surface. The protrusions for reducing the mutual contact area were provided.

  Further, the invention according to claim 6 is the shock absorption type steering column device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the energy absorbing member is a first energy that is plastically deformed from an initial stroke of the steering column. The moving member includes an absorbing member and a second energy absorbing member that starts plastic deformation in the latter half of the stroke of the steering column, and holds each of the first and second energy absorbing members from the vehicle front-rear direction. And one member of the said fixing member is arrange | positioned.

  According to the shock absorbing steering column device of the present invention, the rod-shaped energy absorbing member extending linearly is held with one pair of members, the moving member and the fixed member, sandwiched from the vehicle longitudinal direction. The other member of the moving member and the fixed member plastically deforms the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the energy absorbing member, so that the impact load at the time of the secondary collision can be absorbed. Therefore, it is possible to reliably absorb the impact load at the time of the secondary collision while reducing the weight and manufacturing cost.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as an embodiment) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an embodiment of a vehicle according to the present invention.
In the shock absorbing steering column apparatus denoted by reference numeral 12, a steering shaft 11 having a steering wheel 13 mounted at the rear end in the vehicle front-rear direction is rotatably supported. An intermediate shaft 15 that can be expanded and contracted is connected to the front end of the steering shaft 11 in the vehicle longitudinal direction via a universal joint 14.

  A rack and pinion type steering gear 17 is connected to the lower end of the intermediate shaft 15 via a universal joint 16, and a steered wheel 19 is connected to the steering gear 17 via a tie rod 18 and the like. The steered wheel 19 can be steered by steering. Note that peripheral components P such as a combination switch and a column cover are disposed behind the shock absorbing steering column device 12 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

(First embodiment)
2 to 4 show the shock absorption type steering column device 12 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing the shock absorbing steering column device 12 of the present embodiment from the vehicle width direction. FIG. 3 is a view taken along line AA in FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrows BB in FIG.

  The shock absorbing steering column device 12 of the present embodiment is fixed to an inner column 20 extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and a vehicle body side member 22, and a front end portion of the inner column 20 in the vehicle front-rear direction is connected to a pivot pin 24. Are fixed to the vehicle body side member 22, the column connection bracket 26 connected via the outer column 28, the outer column 28 slidably fitted in the axial direction on the rear side of the inner column 20 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. A support bracket 30, a moving bracket 32 supported by the support bracket 30 so as to surround the upper and side portions of the outer column 28, and movable in the vehicle front-rear direction, and bulges below the cylindrical outer column 28. Column-side through-hole 36 formed in the distance bracket 34 formed in this manner, and the side plate 3 of the moving bracket 32 that contacts the distance bracket 34. The bracket side through hole 40 formed in a, the tilt rod 42 inserted through the column side through hole 36 and the bracket side through hole 40, and the movable bracket 32 via the tilt rod 42 by the swinging operation of the operation lever 44. A lock mechanism 46 for coupling to or releasing from the outer column 28, and a rectangular bar-shaped energy absorbing member 48 mounted between the support bracket 30 and the movable bracket 32 are provided. A steering shaft 11 on which the above-described steering wheel 13 is mounted is rotatably supported on the outer column 28 on the rear side of the outer column 28 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

The column side through hole 36 is formed in a long hole shape such that the long axis of the distance bracket 34 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction.
The bracket side through hole 40 is formed in a long hole shape on the side plate 32a of the moving bracket 32 that contacts the distance bracket 34 so that the long axis extends in the vehicle vertical direction.
Next, specific configurations of the moving bracket 32, the support bracket 30, and the energy absorbing member 48 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the moving bracket 32 is formed integrally with the upper plate 32 b from both edges in the width direction of the upper plate 32 b so as to have a U-shaped cross section, and extends in parallel with each other. Side plate 32a. A pair of guide rails 32c are formed on both sides of the upper plate 32b so as to be engaged with a pair of guide grooves 30c (to be described later) of the support bracket 30 so that the entire moving bracket 32 is movable in the vehicle longitudinal direction. Match. A first convex portion 32d protrudes from the upper surface of the upper plate 32b disposed above the outer column 28 in the vehicle vertical direction by the engagement of the support bracket 30 and the pair of guide rails 32c. As shown in FIG. 4, the first convex portion 32d has a surface facing forward in the vehicle front-rear direction as an arc surface 32d1 formed with a predetermined curvature.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the support bracket 30 is integrally formed with a bracket body 30 a having a rectangular appearance and the bracket body 30 a, and is fixed by a fixing bolt 50 via a connection linear portion 26 a of the column connection bracket 26. A connecting straight portion 30b connected to the vehicle body side member 22 and a pair of guide grooves 30c provided extending in the vehicle front-rear direction so that the pair of guide rails 32c of the moving bracket 32 described above are fitted thereinto. I have.

  The bracket main body 30a fixed to the vehicle body side member 22 is formed with an opening hole that opens in communication with the vehicle in the vertical direction. This opening hole has a large vehicle width direction length on the front side in the vehicle front-rear direction. A first opening hole 30d that opens in a region, and a second opening hole 30e that is provided continuously to the first opening hole 30d and opens in a region that is smaller in the vehicle width direction than the first opening hole 30d. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a step surface 30g lower than the contact surface 30f that contacts the vehicle body side member 22 is formed around the second opening hole 30e, and a cylindrical shape is formed on the step surface 30g. A pair of second convex portions 30h and a pair of third convex portions 30i are formed. The pair of second convex portions 30h are positions close to the second opening hole 30e, and are formed apart from each other in one and the other in the vehicle width direction. Here, the distance between the outermost circumferences of the pair of second convex portions 30h in the vehicle width direction is set to L1. Further, the pair of third convex portions 30i are positioned rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction by substantially the same dimension as the width of the energy absorbing member 48 (that is, the width in the vehicle front-rear direction) with respect to the pair of second convex portions 30h. And it forms so that it may be located in the outward of a vehicle width direction with respect to a pair of 2nd convex part 30h. That is, the distance L2 between the innermost circumferences in the vehicle width direction of the pair of third convex portions 30i is set to a larger value than the distance L1 between the outermost circumferences in the vehicle width direction of the pair of second convex portions 30h. (L2 ≧ L1).

And the 1st convex part 32d formed in the upper board 32b of the movable bracket 32 enters the 2nd opening hole 30e of the bracket main body 30a from below, and it is located above the step surface 30g in the vehicle up-down direction. It protrudes.
The energy absorbing member 48 is a bar-shaped member having a rectangular cross section made of steel or aluminum alloy.

  The energy absorbing member 48 extends in the vehicle width direction so as to cross the second opening hole 30e, and one end side and the other end side in the longitudinal direction are placed on the step surface 30g. Then, the one end side 48b in the longitudinal direction of the energy absorbing member 48 is sandwiched and held from the vehicle front-rear direction by the second convex portion 30h and the third convex portion 30i arranged on one side in the vehicle width direction. The second convex portion 30h and the third convex portion 30i arranged on the other side 48c in the direction are sandwiched and held from the vehicle front-rear direction. And the 1st convex part 32d of the movement bracket 32 has opposed the center part 48a of the longitudinal direction of the energy absorption member 48 in the back position of the vehicle front-back direction.

  The outer column 28 of this embodiment corresponds to the steering column of the present invention, the step surface 30g corresponds to the mounting surface of the present invention, the second convex portion 30h corresponds to the fixing member of the present invention, and the third The convex portion 30i corresponds to the fixing member of the present invention, the first convex portion 32d corresponds to the moving member of the present invention, and the pair of third convex portions 30i corresponds to the curvature increase preventing portion of the present invention.

Next, with respect to the operation of the shock absorbing steering column device 12 of the present embodiment, refer to FIGS. 5 and 6 which are simplified main portions of the present embodiment, and FIG. 7 which shows the impact load characteristics of the present embodiment. I will explain.
The shock absorption type steering column device 12 of the present embodiment acts as follows in the event of a collision to alleviate the impact applied to the driver's body that hits the steering wheel 13. At the time of the secondary collision, the moving bracket 32 is displaced forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction together with the outer column 28. On the other hand, the support bracket 30 fixed to the vehicle body side member 22 is not displaced in the vehicle front-rear direction and remains in the position as it is.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the pair of second convex portions 30h and the pair of third convex portions 30i on the step surface 30g hold the energy absorbing member 48 that is plastically deformed.
And the 1st convex part 32d of the movement bracket 32 which faced the center part 48a of the energy absorption member 48 in the rear position of the vehicle front-back direction is displaced forward of the vehicle front-back direction, and the arc surface 32d1 is energy. The absorber 48 abuts against the central portion 48a. At this time, as shown in FIG. 6, the energy absorbing member 48 is plastically deformed into a circular arc shape with the central portion 48a being handled by the first convex portion 32d, and extends linearly near the central portion 48a. The part which is present is also handled by the pair of second convex portions 30h and is plastically deformed (range from the initial position in FIG. 7 to the stroke S1).

  When the first convex portion 32d is further displaced forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the energy absorbing member 48 is handled by the pair of second convex portions 30h and continues to be plastically deformed. Here, when both end sides in the longitudinal direction of the energy absorbing member 48 are plastically deformed rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction, there are regions that are plastically deformed into the pair of second convex portions 30 h by plastic deformation toward the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction. There is a possibility that the curvature decreases away from the curved surface of the pair of second convex portions 30h, and the amount of plastic deformation decreases. However, in the present embodiment, the pair of third convex portions 30i positioned rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the pair of second convex portions 30h has both ends in the longitudinal direction of the energy absorbing member 48 in the vehicle front-rear direction. Restrain the displacement to the rear side.

Therefore, by making constant the increase in curvature of the region where the pair of third convex portions 30i are plastically deformed by the pair of second convex portions 30h of the energy absorbing member 48, the amount of plastic deformation becomes constant without decreasing, Even in the latter half of the stroke, it is possible to prevent the impact absorbing performance from being lowered (in the direction in which the stroke increases from the stroke S1 in FIG. 7).
In addition, the energy absorbing member 48 of the present embodiment is a bar-shaped member having a simple structure and does not require a guide member when plastically deforming, so that an increase in weight and a reduction in manufacturing cost can be achieved.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, what is shown in FIG. 8 is a simplified view of the main part of the shock absorbing steering column device of the second embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component as the structure shown in FIGS. 1-6, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

The energy absorbing member 48 of the present embodiment is a steel rod-shaped member having a rectangular cross section similar to the energy absorbing member of the first embodiment.
A raised pin 49a protrudes and is fixed to a position between the second convex portion 30h and the third convex portion 30i on the step surface 30g on one side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the second opening hole 30e. Further, the raised pin 49b protrudes and is fixed to the position between the second convex portion 30h and the third convex portion 30i also on the step surface 30g on the other side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the second opening hole 30e. .

The energy absorbing member 48 arranged so as to extend in the vehicle width direction so as to cross the second opening hole 30e is placed on the raising pin 49a at one end side in the longitudinal direction and raised at the other end side in the longitudinal direction. The second convex portion 30h and the third convex portion 30i that are placed on the step surface 30g via the pin 49b and are arranged on one side in the vehicle width direction, and the second convex portion 30h and the third convex portion that are arranged on the other side in the vehicle width direction. The protrusion 30i is held while being sandwiched from the vehicle front-rear direction.
In addition, the raising pins 49a and 49b of this embodiment correspond to the convex part of this invention.

In the shock absorbing steering column device 12 of the present embodiment, the center portion 48a of the energy absorbing member 48 is plastically deformed by the first convex portion 32d of the moving bracket 32 that moves forward in the vehicle front-rear direction during a secondary collision. .
At this time, the lower surface of the energy absorbing member 48 slides on the raising pins 49a and 49b protruding from the stepped surface 30g, so that the friction at the portion in contact with the energy absorbing member 48 is reduced.

Therefore, the present embodiment can achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment, and the friction of the portion in contact with the energy absorbing member 48 is reduced when the energy absorbing member 48 performs the operation of absorbing the impact. As a result, it is possible to prevent a change in shock absorption characteristics.
In the present embodiment, the raised pins 49a and 49b are integrally fixed on the step surface 30g. However, the gist of the present invention is not limited to this, and the raised pins 49a and 49b are formed on the lower surface of the energy absorbing member 48. A convex portion or the like having the same function as 49b (reducing friction at the contacting portion) may be provided integrally.

(Third embodiment)
Next, what is shown in FIG. 9 is a simplified view of the main part of the shock absorbing steering column device of the third embodiment.
In the present embodiment, a first energy absorbing member 51 having the same shape as the energy absorbing member 48 used in the first and second embodiments, and a second energy absorbing member 52 disposed in front of the vehicle from the first energy absorbing member 51. Is used. In addition, in this embodiment, although the cross-sectional area of the 2nd energy absorption member 52 is smaller than the 1st energy absorption member 51, the summary of this invention is not limited to this, The cross-sectional area of the 2nd energy absorption member 52 is May be the same as the first energy absorbing member 51 or larger than the cross-sectional area of the first energy absorbing member 51.

Similarly to the first embodiment, the first energy absorbing member 51 is held while being sandwiched from the vehicle front-rear direction by the pair of second convex portions 30h and the pair of third convex portions 30i formed on the step surface 30g.
A pair of fourth convex portions 30j having a cylindrical shape is formed on a step surface 30g positioned forward in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the pair of second convex portions 30h, and the pair of fourth convex portions 30j. A pair of cylindrical fifth convex portions 30k is formed between the front and rear direction of the vehicle and the pair of second convex portions 30h. Here, although not shown in detail, the pair of fifth convex portions 30k is approximately the same size as the width of the second energy absorbing member 52 (that is, the width in the vehicle longitudinal direction) with respect to the pair of fourth convex portions 30j. It is formed so as to be located only rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction and outside the pair of fourth convex portions 30j in the vehicle width direction.

Further, a raised pin 53a protrudes and is fixed to a position between the fourth convex portion 30j and the fifth convex portion 30k on the step surface 30g on one side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the second opening hole 30e. Further, the raised pin 53b protrudes and is fixed to a position between the fourth convex portion 30j and the fifth convex portion 30k also on the step surface 30g on the other side in the vehicle width direction with respect to the second opening hole 30e. .
The second energy absorbing member 52 arranged so as to extend in the vehicle width direction so as to cross the second opening hole 30e is placed on the raised pin 53a at one end in the longitudinal direction, and the other end in the longitudinal direction. The fourth convex portion 30j and the fifth convex portion 30k, which are placed on the step surface 30g via the raising pin 53b and arranged on one side in the vehicle width direction, the fourth convex portion 30j arranged on the other side in the vehicle width direction, and The fifth convex portion 30k is held while being sandwiched from the vehicle front-rear direction. Here, the lower surface of the second energy absorbing member 52 placed on the raising pins 53a and 53b is disposed at a position higher than the upper surface of the first energy absorbing member 51 placed on the step surface 30g.

  In addition, the 4th convex part 30j of this embodiment is equivalent to the fixing member of this invention, the 5th convex part 30k is equivalent to the fixing member of this invention, and the raising pins 53a and 53b are equivalent to the convex part of this invention. The pair of fifth convex portions 30k corresponds to the curvature increase preventing portion of the present invention.

Next, the operation of the shock absorbing steering column device 12 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10 showing the shock load characteristics of the present embodiment.
The shock absorbing steering column device 12 of the present embodiment has a moving bracket 32 that is opposed to the longitudinal center portion 51a of the first energy absorbing member 51 at the rear position in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at the time of a secondary collision. The first convex portion 32d is displaced forward in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the arc surface 32d1 comes into contact therewith.
And the center part 51a of the 1st energy absorption member 51 is handled by the 1st convex part 32d, and plastically deforms to circular arc shape. At this time, the pair of second convex portions 30h and the pair of third convex portions 30i on the step surface 30g are held while sandwiching the energy absorbing member 48 that is plastically deformed.

In addition, the pair of third protrusions 30 i positioned rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction with respect to the pair of second protrusions 30 h are plastically deformed to the pair of second protrusions 30 h of the first energy absorbing member 51. Keep the area that is constant.
In the second half of the stroke, when the first convex portion 32d of the moving bracket 32 is further displaced forward in the vehicle front-rear direction, the arc surface 32d1 of the first convex portion 32d is formed at the central portion 52a in the longitudinal direction of the second energy absorbing member 52. Will contact and be handled and plastically deformed.

At this time, the pair of fourth convex portions 30j and the pair of fifth convex portions 30k on the step surface 30g are held while sandwiching the energy absorbing member 52 that is plastically deformed. In addition, the pair of fifth protrusions 30k positioned rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the pair of fourth protrusions 30j is plastically deformed to the pair of fourth protrusions 30j of the second energy absorbing member 52. Keep the area that is constant.
As described above, in the present embodiment, the second energy absorbing member 52 is plastically deformed in the second half of the stroke in which the first convex portion 32d of the moving bracket 32 is displaced forward in the vehicle front-rear direction. In addition, the impact load gradually increases until just before the outer column 28 reaches the bottom.

Therefore, in the apparatus of this embodiment, the impact load does not increase abruptly until just before the bottoming out as in the conventional apparatus (the state indicated by the broken line in FIG. 10), and the impact load increases gently until just before the bottoming out. Therefore, even if an impact load is applied to the driver at the time of a secondary collision, a sudden change in the impact load can be reduced.
In the present embodiment, the raising pins 53a and 53b are integrally fixed on the step surface 30g. However, a raised convex portion or the like is integrally provided on the lower surface of the second energy absorbing member 52, and is mounted on the step surface 30g. The second energy absorbing member 52 may be disposed at a position higher than the bottom surface of the placed first energy absorbing member 51.

  Further, a step-up surface 30g on which both the first energy absorbing member 51 and the second energy absorbing member 52 are placed is provided with a pin for raising, or the lower surfaces of both the first energy absorbing member 51 and the second energy absorbing member 52 A convex portion for raising the height may be provided. At this time, the height of the pin or the height of the convex portion may be set so that both the first energy absorbing member 51 and the second energy absorbing member 52 do not come into contact with each other during plastic deformation. At this time, the pin height or the convex portion height may be set such that the first energy absorbing member 51 and the second energy absorbing member 52 come into contact with each other. Thus, by setting the height of the pin for raising or the height of the convex portion on the lower surface of each energy absorbing member 51, 52, the step surface 30g with the first energy absorbing member 51 and the second energy absorbing member 52 is set. Since the contact area with is reduced, the shock absorption characteristics are more stable.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the first convex portion 32d is fixed to the moving bracket 32 and displaced forward in the vehicle longitudinal direction at the time of the secondary impact, and the pair of second convex portions 30h and the pair of third convex portions 30i ( In the third embodiment, the pair of fourth convex portions 30j and the pair of fifth convex portions 30k) are fixed to the support bracket 30 so as not to move in the vehicle front-rear direction when a secondary collision occurs. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first convex portion 32d is fixed to the support bracket 30 so as not to move in the vehicle front-rear direction when a secondary collision occurs, and the pair of second convex portions 30h and the pair of third convex portions 30i (a pair of fourth protrusions 30j and a pair of fifth protrusions 30k in the third embodiment) is fixed to the moving bracket 32 and is displaced forward in the vehicle front-rear direction at the time of a secondary impact, and is engaged with these A rod-shaped energy absorbing member Be arranged so as to extend in the vehicle width direction, it is possible to achieve the same effect.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the surface which faced the front of the vehicle front-back direction was formed in the 1st convex part 32d of the movement bracket 32 as the circular arc surface 32d1, a cylindrical member may be sufficient. In addition, the pair of second protrusions 30h, the pair of third protrusions 30i, the pair of fourth protrusions 30j, and the pair of fifth protrusions 30k are cylindrical members. You may form in a curved surface.

Further, when the curvature radii of the curved surfaces of the first convex portion 32d, the pair of second convex portions 30h, the pair of third convex portions 30i, the pair of fourth convex portions 30j, and the pair of fifth convex portions 30k are changed, the energy absorbing member Since the degree of plastic deformation is changed, the impact load absorption characteristic can be changed as appropriate.
Then, the portions of the first convex portions 32d, the pair of second convex portions 30h, the pair of third convex portions 30i, the pair of fourth convex portions 30j, and the pair of fifth convex portions 30k that are in contact with the energy absorbing member are coated. When the treatment is applied or the grease is applied to reduce the friction at the time of contact, it is possible to further prevent the change in the impact load absorption characteristics of the energy absorbing member.

Moreover, although the cross-sectional shape of each energy absorption member was made into the rectangle, a perfect circle, an ellipse, a polygonal shape, and a hollow shape may be sufficient.
Furthermore, in each embodiment, the shock absorption characteristics can be appropriately changed by changing the distance between the energy absorbing members 48 and 51 and the arc surface 32d1 of the first convex portion 32d.
Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, by appropriately changing the cross-sectional shape of the energy absorbing member 48, it is possible to easily set the shock absorbing characteristics that match the characteristics of each vehicle. In the third embodiment, by appropriately changing the cross-sectional shape of the first energy absorbing member 51 and the second energy absorbing member 52 and the distance between the first and second energy absorbing members 51 and 52, the characteristics of each vehicle can be obtained. The combined shock absorption characteristics can be set easily.

It is the schematic of the steering mechanism part of the motor vehicle carrying the shock absorption type steering column apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is the figure which showed the shock absorption type steering column apparatus which concerns on this invention from the vehicle width direction. It is an AA arrow directional view of FIG. It is a BB arrow directional view of Drawing 2, and shows the energy absorption member of a 1st embodiment concerning the present invention. It is the figure which simplified and showed the structure of the energy absorption member of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention, and its periphery. It is a figure which shows the state which the energy absorption member of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention deforms plastically. It is a graph which shows the shock absorption characteristic of the shock absorption type steering column apparatus using the energy absorption member of 1st Embodiment. It is the figure which simplified and showed the energy absorption member of 2nd Embodiment which concerns on this invention, and its surrounding structure. It is the figure which simplified and showed the structure of the energy absorption member of 3rd Embodiment which concerns on this invention, and its periphery. It is a graph which shows the impact-absorbing characteristic of the impact-absorption type steering column apparatus using the energy-absorbing member of 3rd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Steering shaft, 12 ... Shock absorption type steering column apparatus, 13 ... Steering wheel, 14 ... Universal joint, 15 ... Intermediate shaft, 16 ... Universal joint, 17 ... Steering gear, 18 ... Tie rod, 19 ... Steering wheel, 20 ... Inner column, 22 ... body side member, 24 ... pivot pin, 26 ... column connecting bracket, 26a ... connecting linear part, 28 ... outer column (steering column), 30 ... support bracket, 30a ... bracket body, 30b ... connecting linear part , 30c ... guide groove, 30d ... first opening hole, 30e ... second opening hole, 30f ... contact surface, 30g ... step surface (mounting surface), 30h ... second convex portion (fixing member), 30i ... first 3 convex portions (fixing member: curvature increase preventing portion), 30j ... fourth convex portion (fixing member), 30k ... fifth convex portion (fixing member: curvature increasing preventing portion), 3 ... moving bracket, 32a ... side plate, 32b ... upper plate, 32c ... guide rail, 32d ... first projection (moving member), 32d1 ... circular surface, 34 ... distance bracket, 36 ... column side through hole, 40 ... bracket side Through hole, 42 ... tilt rod, 44 ... operating lever, 46 ... lock mechanism, 48 ... energy absorbing member, 48a ... center portion of energy absorbing member, 48b ... one end side of energy absorbing member, 48c ... other end of energy absorbing member Side, 49a, 49b ... raising pin (convex part), 50 ... fixing bolt, 51 ... first energy absorbing member, 51a ... central part of the first energy absorbing member, 52 ... second energy absorbing member, 52a ... second energy Central part of the absorbing member, 53a, 53b ... Raising pin (convex part), P ... peripheral parts, L1 ... distance between outermost circumferences in the vehicle width direction of the pair of second convex parts, L2 ... pair The distance between the innermost vehicle width direction of the third convex portion

Claims (6)

A steering column that supports the steering shaft in a rotatable manner and strokes forward in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle at the time of a secondary collision, and the longitudinal direction of the vehicle even if an impact load at the time of the secondary collision is input by being fixed to a vehicle body side member A shock absorbing device comprising: a fixed member that is not displaced in a direction; a moving member that is fixed to the steering column; and an energy absorbing member that absorbs a shock load at the time of a secondary collision by plastic deformation accompanying a stroke of the steering column. Type steering column device,
The energy absorbing member is a rod-like member extending linearly,
One member of the moving member and the fixed member is two pairs of members formed on the mounting surface so as to be separated in the vehicle front-rear direction, and these two pairs of members are separated from each other in the vehicle width direction. Two members are provided, and the energy absorbing member arranged extending in the vehicle width direction on the placement surface is sandwiched and held from the vehicle front-rear direction,
The other member of the moving member and the fixed member is disposed so as to be opposed to the energy absorbing member at a position between one of the two pairs of members in the vehicle width direction. Steering column device.   Two pairs of members constituting one member of the moving member and the fixed member are configured to absorb the energy when the energy absorbing member is bent and plastically deformed by contacting the other member of the moving member and the fixed member. 2. The shock absorbing steering column device according to claim 1, further comprising a curvature increase preventing portion that deforms without increasing the curvature of the member. The two pairs of members constituting one member of the moving member and the fixed member are formed on the mounting surface, with one pair of the two pairs of members having a predetermined vehicle width direction distance L1. The other pair of the two pairs of members is positioned differently in the vehicle front-rear direction by the distance of the width of the energy absorbing member with respect to the one pair of the two pairs of members, and the two pairs of members A pair of vehicle width direction distances L2 greater than a pair of vehicle width direction distances L1 is formed on the mounting surface, and
The other pair of the two pairs of members functions as the curvature increase preventing unit that does not increase the curvature of the region that is bending plastically deformed by restricting the movement of the region where the energy absorbing member is not plastically deformed. The shock-absorbing steering column device according to claim 2.   4. The shock absorbing steering column apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the moving member and the fixed member that contacts the energy absorbing member is formed as an arc surface. 5.   The convex part which reduces a mutual contact area is provided in the lower surface of the said mounting surface or the said energy absorption member contact | abutted to this mounting surface, The any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4 characterized by the above-mentioned. Shock-absorbing steering column device.   The energy absorbing member includes a first energy absorbing member that plastically deforms from the initial stroke of the steering column, and a second energy absorbing member that starts plastic deformation in the latter half of the stroke of the steering column. The member according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein one member of the moving member and the fixed member that hold each of the second energy absorbing members sandwiched from the vehicle front-rear direction is disposed. Shock absorbing steering column device.

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