JP2006192971A - Shock absorbing type steering column device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the absorbing amount of collision energy due to deformation of an energy absorbing member by increasing stroke to deform the energy absorbing member. <P>SOLUTION: In the case of a collision of a vehicle when a driver larger than a standard body size drives the vehicle, an actuator B is operated before the operation of an air bag device, and a column side bracket 31 is retreated and moved by prescribed amount L from a fixed position toward the driver by load more than a set value in relation to a vehicle body side bracket 32. At the fixed position, the energy absorbing member 34 is engaged to a first plate stopper 35 to enable deformation of the energy absorbing member 34 at the time of a secondary collision. At the rear moving position, the energy absorbing member 34 is engaged to a second plate stopper 36 to enable deformation of the energy absorbing member 34 at the time of the secondary collision, and thereby moving amount (stroke) of the column side bracket 31 in front of the vehicle in relation to the vehicle body side bracket 32 is increased by prescribed amount L. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an impact absorption type steering column apparatus provided with an energy absorbing member that absorbs a driver's secondary collision energy (hereinafter simply referred to as collision energy) at the time of a vehicle collision.

As one of this type of shock absorbing steering column device, a vehicle body side bracket that is integrally assembled to a part of the vehicle body, and the vehicle body side bracket that is integrally assembled to the steering column. The column side bracket that is assembled so that it can move in the vehicle longitudinal direction at a fixed position and moves from the fixed position in the direction of the load when a load greater than the set value is applied in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the column side bracket A steering wheel that includes an energy absorbing member that absorbs collision energy by being deformed by movement of the vehicle body side bracket forward of the vehicle, and that is rotatably supported by the steering column and is mounted on a steering shaft that cannot move in the column axial direction. Some wheels are equipped with an airbag device that is activated in the event of a vehicle collision (for example, References 1).
JP 2004-122856 A

  In the shock absorbing steering column device described in Patent Document 1 described above, a moving means is provided that sets the distance between the driver and the steering wheel to a predetermined distance before the operation of the airbag device in the event of a vehicle collision. . For this reason, at the time of a vehicle collision, it is possible to improve the initial restraint in the airbag device equipped on the steering wheel.

  However, the moving means described above uses, for example, a telescopic mechanism and does not move the column side bracket backward with respect to the vehicle body side bracket toward the driver. For this reason, in this apparatus, the amount of movement of the column side bracket relative to the vehicle body side bracket to the front of the vehicle (stroke capable of deforming the energy absorbing member) does not change, and the energy of the driver is larger than the standard body shape. There is a possibility that the amount of collision energy absorbed by the absorbing member is insufficient.

  Therefore, the present invention can improve the initial restraint in the airbag device installed in the steering wheel at the time of a vehicle collision, and when the driver's physique is larger than the standard body shape, Compared to the case where the driver's physique is below the standard, the stroke that can deform the energy absorbing member can be increased, and the impact energy that can be absorbed by the deformation of the energy absorbing member can be increased. An object of the present invention is to provide an absorption type steering column device.

  In order to achieve such an object, in the present invention, the impact absorption type steering column device includes a collision detection means for detecting a collision of a vehicle, and a physique detection means for detecting whether or not a driver's physique is larger than a standard physique. When the collision detection means detects a vehicle collision and the physique detection means detects that the driver's physique is larger than the standard body shape, the column side bracket is attached to the vehicle body side bracket before the operation of the airbag device. The reversing means for reversing a predetermined amount from the fixed position toward the driver with a load greater than the set value, and the energy absorbing member can be deformed when the column side bracket moves from the fixed position toward the front of the vehicle. When the first functional means and the column side bracket move toward the front of the vehicle from the backward movement position where the column side bracket moves backward by a predetermined amount from the home position toward the driver, And a second functional unit that allows the deformation of the absorbing member.

  In this shock-absorbing steering column device, when a driver whose body size is less than the standard body type is driving and the vehicle collides, in the initial stage, the airbag device equipped on the steering wheel is activated, but the reverse means is activated. Instead, the column side bracket is held at a fixed position with respect to the vehicle body side bracket. For this reason, at this time, at the time of the secondary collision, the airbag device functions to absorb the collision energy. Also, at this time, when a load greater than the set value is applied to the column side bracket at the fixed position in front of the vehicle, and the column side bracket moves from the fixed position toward the vehicle front with respect to the vehicle body side bracket, One functional means enables deformation of the energy absorbing member. Therefore, even when the energy absorbing member is deformed, the collision energy at the time of the secondary collision is absorbed.

  In addition, when a driver with a larger physique is driving and the vehicle collides, at the initial stage, the airbag device equipped on the steering wheel is activated, and the reverse means is activated before the airbag device is activated. Then, the column side bracket is moved backward by a predetermined amount from the fixed position toward the driver with a load greater than the set value with respect to the vehicle body side bracket. For this reason, at this time, at the time of the secondary collision, the airbag device functions to absorb the collision energy. Further, at this time, a load acts on the column side bracket in the backward movement position that is retracted by a predetermined amount from the fixed position toward the driver, so that the column side bracket moves from the backward movement position to the vehicle body side bracket. When moving forward, the second functional means allows the energy absorbing member to be deformed. Therefore, even when the energy absorbing member is deformed, the collision energy at the time of the secondary collision is absorbed.

  By the way, when the second functional means enables the energy absorbing member to be deformed, the column side bracket is in a backward movement position that is retracted by a predetermined amount from the fixed position toward the driver, and the first functional means absorbs the energy. Compared to the case where the member can be deformed, the amount of movement of the column side bracket relative to the vehicle body side bracket to the front of the vehicle (stroke capable of deforming the energy absorbing member) is increased by a predetermined amount. It is possible to increase the amount of absorbed collision energy. Therefore, when a driver whose size is larger than the standard body type is driving and the vehicle collides, compared to when a driver who is driving below the standard body type is driving and the vehicle collides, secondary deformation is caused by deformation of the energy absorbing member. It is possible to sufficiently absorb the collision energy at the time of collision.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows a vehicle equipped with an impact absorption type steering column apparatus according to the present invention. In this shock absorption type steering column apparatus, as shown in FIGS. An upper shaft 11 and a lower shaft 12 that can be expanded and contracted in the direction and transmit torque are provided, and a steering column 20 that supports the steering shaft 10 rotatably and can expand and contract in the axial direction includes an outer tube 21 and an inner tube. 22.

  The upper shaft 11 is supported by an outer tube 21 via a bearing (not shown) so as to be rotatable and immovable in the axial direction, and a steering wheel 13 equipped with an airbag device A at the upper right end of FIG. Are assembled so that they can rotate together. On the other hand, the lower shaft 12 is rotatably supported on the inner tube 22 via a bearing (not shown), and is an intermediate shaft capable of expanding and contracting and transmitting torque via the universal joint 14 at the lower end portion at the left end of FIG. The intermediate shaft 15 is connected to a steering gear box 17 via a universal joint 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the outer tube 21 is fitted and connected to the upper end portion of the inner tube 22 at the lower end portion so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and is tilted and telescopically fixed by a bracket 21a fixed to the lower end portion. It is assembled to a vehicle body side bracket (also referred to as a steering support bracket) 32 that is integrally assembled to a part of the vehicle body (not shown) via an adjustable upper support mechanism US and a column side bracket 31. On the other hand, the inner tube 22 is assembled to the column side bracket 31 via a support pin 29 by a bracket 22a fixed to the lower end portion so as to be tiltable.

  The upper support mechanism US includes a bracket 23 that supports the bracket 21a fixed to the outer tube 21 so that the bracket 21a can be tilted (tilted) in the vertical direction, and the bracket 21a fixed to the outer tube 21 is fixed to the bracket 23. A releasable tilt mechanism and a telescopic mechanism capable of fixing / releasing the outer tube 21 with respect to the inner tube 22 are provided. The bracket 23 is formed in an inverted U shape, and is integrally fixed to the lower surface of the rear end portion of the column side bracket 31 on the upper surface.

  The tilt mechanism is known per se and can be fixed and released by rotating the handle 24. In the released state, the steering shaft 10 and the steering column 20 are tilted up and down integrally with the bracket 23. Make it possible. The telescopic mechanism is known per se and can be fixed and released by rotating the handle 24. In the released state, the upper shaft 11 and the outer tube 21 are connected to the lower shaft 12 and the inner tube 22 with a column axis. Telescopic adjustment in the direction.

  The column side bracket 31 has two left and right four slider portions 31a, and these slider portions 31a are assembled to the pair of left and right rail portions 32a of the vehicle body side bracket 32 so as to be movable in the vehicle longitudinal direction. ing. Further, the column side bracket 31 is connected via two shearable resin pins 33 provided so as to penetrate each slider portion 31a and the rail portion 32a of the vehicle body side bracket 32 at a fixed position. Thereby, the column side bracket 31 is assembled to the vehicle body side bracket 32 so as to be movable in the vehicle front-rear direction at the fixed position shown in FIG. ) When moving in the vehicle longitudinal direction, it is configured to move from a fixed position in the direction of load application.

  The column side bracket 31 is assembled with a band-plate-shaped energy absorbing member 34. The energy absorbing member 34 is pushed and deformed by the plate portion 31b of the column side bracket 31 by the movement of the column side bracket 31 forward of the vehicle with respect to the vehicle body side bracket 32 during the secondary collision, and absorbs the collision energy. It is a plate and has a T-shaped protrusion 34a and an engagement hole 34b (not shown in FIG. 4).

  The T-shaped protrusion 34a engages with the first plate stopper 35 provided on the vehicle body side bracket 32 when the column side bracket 31 moves from the fixed position indicated by the solid line in FIG. The first functional means that allows the energy absorbing member 34 to be deformed when the column side bracket 31 moves from the fixed position toward the front of the vehicle is constituted by the first plate stopper 35.

  The engagement hole 34b is a second plate stopper 36 provided in the vehicle body side bracket 32 when the column side bracket 31 moves from the fixed position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2 to the rearward movement position indicated by the phantom line in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the second functional means that enables the energy absorbing member 34 to be deformed when the column side bracket 31 moves from the rearward movement position toward the front of the vehicle. 2 plate stoppers 36. The second plate stopper 36 is pushed upward by the energy absorbing member 34 and temporarily retracts against the spring 37 when the energy absorbing member 34 moves from the home position to the rearward moving position. It is configured.

  The vehicle body side bracket 32 includes a rail portion 32a that supports the column side bracket 31 so as to be movable in the vehicle front-rear direction, and restricts the movement of the column side bracket 31 toward the rear of the vehicle by contact with the rear slider portion 31a. The column-side bracket 31 is moved forward by restricting the movement of the column-side bracket 31 to the front of the vehicle by the abutting contact with the rear stopper 32b for stopping the column-side bracket 31 at the rearward movement position. It has the front stopper 32c stopped by. An actuator B is assembled to the vehicle body side bracket 32.

  The actuator B pushes the column side bracket 31 from the fixed position toward the rearward movement position, and the inside thereof is filled with explosives (not shown) for obtaining a pressing force. Further, the actuator B is restricted from moving forward by the holding pin 39, and is configured to be allowed to move forward by the vehicle when the holding pin 39 is lifted and retracted by the electromagnetic solenoid D. .

  The electric control unit ECU controls each operation of the airbag device A, the actuator B, and the electromagnetic solenoid D according to the driver's physique and the driver's wearing / non-wearing of the seat belt when the vehicle collides. A collision detection sensor S1 that is electrically connected to the bag device A, the actuator B, and the electromagnetic solenoid D and outputs a detection signal for detecting a vehicle collision, and whether or not the driver's physique is larger than the standard body shape Electrically connected to a seat position sensor S2 that outputs a detection signal for detecting whether or not the driver is wearing the seat belt device C, and a seat belt sensor S3 that outputs a detection signal for detecting whether or not the driver is wearing the seat belt device C. Has been.

  The electric control unit ECU includes a control program for controlling the operations of the airbag device A, the actuator B, and the electromagnetic solenoid D based on the detection signals from the sensors S1 to S3. Constitutes a collision detecting means for detecting a vehicle collision, and a seat position sensor S2 constitutes a physique detecting means for detecting whether or not the physique of the driver is larger than the standard body shape. With the rear stopper 32b provided, the column side bracket 31 is placed on the vehicle body side bracket 32 with a load (load that shears the resin pin 33) from the fixed position to the driver before the operation of the airbag apparatus A. A reverse means for moving backward by a predetermined amount L is formed.

  In the electric control unit ECU, a control program for operating the airbag device A is executed based on a detection signal from the collision detection sensor S1 at the time of a vehicle collision, and the collision detection sensor S1, the seat position sensor S2, and the seat A control program for controlling each operation of the actuator B and the electromagnetic solenoid D is executed based on a detection signal from the belt sensor S3.

  Specifically, the control program for controlling each operation of the actuator B and the electromagnetic solenoid D is a secondary program when the driver H having a standard physique is driving with the seat belt device C and the vehicle collides. Although the electromagnetic solenoid D is activated after the airbag device A is prepared for the collision, the actuator B is set not to be activated. Further, when the driver H having a standard physique is driving without wearing the seat belt device C and the vehicle collides, the actuator B is activated before the airbag device A is activated, and the airbag device A is activated. The electromagnetic solenoid D is set to operate later.

  Further, when the driver Hr having a larger physique is driving and the vehicle collides, the actuator B is activated before the airbag apparatus A is activated regardless of whether the seat belt apparatus C is worn or not. The electromagnetic solenoid D is set to operate after the operation of the device A. In addition, when the driver Hf whose physique is smaller than the standard body type is driving and the vehicle collides, the electromagnetic solenoid D operates after the operation of the airbag device A regardless of whether or not the seat belt device C is worn, but the actuator B Is set to not work.

  In this embodiment configured as described above, in the event of a vehicle collision, the airbag device A, the operation of which is controlled by the electric control unit ECU, is activated to prepare for a secondary collision of the driver (Hf, H or Hr). At the same time, the actuator B and the electromagnetic solenoid D are controlled by the electric control unit ECU to prepare for a secondary collision of the driver (Hf, H or Hr).

  By the way, when the driver H having a standard physique is driving while wearing the seat belt device C and the vehicle collides, the airbag device A is activated prior to the secondary collision. The electromagnetic solenoid D operates after the operation, but the actuator B does not operate. Therefore, the column side bracket 31 can move forward from the fixed position to the forward movement position, and the energy absorbing member 34 is deformed during this movement, and the collision energy Absorbs. Therefore, at this time, the collision energy at the time of the secondary collision is absorbed by the airbag device A and the seat belt device C, and the energy absorbing member 34 is deformed along with the movement of the column side bracket 31 from the fixed position to the forward movement position. Is absorbed by.

  When the driver H having a standard physique is driving without wearing the seat belt device C and the vehicle collides, the actuator B is activated before the airbag device A is activated, and the airbag device A is activated. Since the electromagnetic solenoid D is actuated later, the column side bracket 31 can be moved forward from the backward movement position to the forward movement position. During this movement, the energy absorbing member 34 is deformed to absorb the collision energy. Therefore, at this time, the collision energy at the time of the secondary collision is absorbed by the airbag device A and is also absorbed by the deformation of the energy absorbing member 34 accompanying the movement of the column side bracket 31 from the rearward movement position to the forward movement position. .

  Further, when the driver Hr having a larger physique is driving and the vehicle collides, the actuator B is activated before the airbag apparatus A is activated regardless of whether the seat belt apparatus C is worn or not. Since the electromagnetic solenoid D is actuated after the device A is actuated, the column side bracket 31 can be moved forward from the rearward movement position to the forward movement position. During this movement, the energy absorbing member 34 is deformed to absorb the collision energy. .

  Therefore, when the seat belt device C is worn, the collision energy at the time of the secondary collision is absorbed by the airbag device A and the seat belt device C, and accompanying the movement of the column side bracket 31 from the rearward movement position to the forward movement position. It is absorbed by the deformation of the energy absorbing member 34. Further, when the seat belt apparatus C is not worn, the collision energy at the time of the secondary collision is absorbed by the airbag apparatus A, and the energy absorbing member 34 accompanying the movement of the column side bracket 31 from the rearward movement position to the forward movement position. Absorbed by the deformation of

  In addition, when the driver Hf whose physique is smaller than the standard body type is driving and the vehicle collides, the electromagnetic solenoid D operates after the operation of the airbag device A regardless of whether or not the seat belt device C is worn, but the actuator B Therefore, the column side bracket 31 can move forward from the fixed position to the forward movement position, and the energy absorbing member 34 is deformed and absorbs the collision energy during this movement.

  Therefore, when the seat belt device C is worn, the collision energy at the time of the secondary collision is absorbed by the airbag device A and the seat belt device C, and the energy associated with the movement of the column side bracket 31 from the fixed position to the forward movement position. It is absorbed by the deformation of the absorbing member 34. Further, when the seat belt device C is not worn, the collision energy at the time of the secondary collision is absorbed by the airbag device A, and the energy absorbing member 34 accompanying the movement of the column-side bracket 31 from the fixed position to the forward movement position. Absorbed by deformation.

  As is apparent from the above description, in this embodiment, when the second plate stopper 36 engages with the engagement hole 34b of the energy absorbing member 34 and the energy absorbing member 34 can be deformed, the column side The bracket 31 is in a backward movement position where the bracket 31 is moved backward by a predetermined amount L from the fixed position toward the driver, and the first plate stopper 35 is engaged with the T-shaped protrusion 34 a of the energy absorbing member 34 to thereby move the energy absorbing member 34. Compared with the case where the deformation is possible, the amount of movement of the column side bracket 31 forward of the vehicle relative to the vehicle body side bracket 32 (stroke capable of deforming the energy absorbing member 34) is increased by a predetermined amount L, and the energy absorbing member It is possible to increase the amount of collision energy absorbed by the deformation of 34. Therefore, when the driver Hr who is larger than the standard body type is driving and the vehicle collides, when the drivers H and Hf of the standard body type or less are driving with the seat belt device C and the vehicle collides, Or, compared with the case where the driver Hf having a physique smaller than the standard body is driving without wearing the seat belt device C and the vehicle collides, the energy absorption member 34 is deformed to sufficiently increase the collision energy at the time of the secondary collision. It is possible to absorb.

  In the above embodiment, the actuator (drive means) that pushes the column side bracket from the fixed position toward the backward movement position is adopted by adopting the actuator B containing the explosive, but in carrying out the present invention, As the actuator, other driving means, for example, an electric motor may be adopted, and the actuator is not limited to the above embodiment.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, it is not equipped with the collision energy absorption mechanism which can absorb a driver | operator's collision energy at the time of a vehicle collision by the axial direction contraction of the outer tube 21 and the inner tube 22 of the steering column 20. Although the present invention has been implemented, the present invention can also be implemented in a similar manner to those equipped with the collision energy absorbing mechanism.

1 is a side view schematically showing an embodiment of a vehicle including an impact absorption type steering column device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of the shock absorbing steering column device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged side view showing a relationship among a column side bracket, a vehicle body side bracket, an energy absorbing member, a first plate stopper, a second plate stopper and the like shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Steering shaft, 13 ... Steering wheel, 20 ... Steering column, 31 ... Column side bracket, 31a ... Slider part, 31b ... Plate part, 32 ... Car body side bracket, 32a ... Rail part, 32b ... Back stopper, 32c ... Forward Stopper, 33 ... resin pin, 34 ... energy absorbing member, 34a ... T-shaped protrusion, 34b ... engagement hole, 35 ... first plate stopper, 36 ... second plate stopper, A ... airbag device, B ... Actuator, C ... Seat belt device, D ... Electromagnetic solenoid, ECU ... Electric control device, S1 ... Collision detection sensor, S2 ... Seat position sensor, S3 ... Seat belt sensor

Claims (2)

A vehicle body side bracket that is integrally assembled with a part of the vehicle body, and a vehicle body side bracket that is assembled to the steering column so as to be movable in the vehicle longitudinal direction at a fixed position with respect to the vehicle body side bracket. When a load greater than the set value is applied in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the column side bracket moves from a fixed position in the applied direction of the load, and the column side bracket is deformed by the forward movement of the column side bracket relative to the vehicle body side bracket. The steering wheel that includes an energy absorbing member that absorbs collision energy and that is rotatably supported by the steering column and is not movable in the column axial direction has an airbag device that operates in the event of a vehicle collision. A shock-absorbing steering column device equipped,
A collision detection means for detecting a vehicle collision, a physique detection means for detecting whether or not the driver's physique is larger than a standard physique, and a collision of the vehicle is detected by the collision detection means and driving by the physique detection means When it is detected that the person's physique is larger than the standard body shape, the column side bracket is moved from a fixed position toward the driver with a load greater than a set value with respect to the vehicle body side bracket before the operation of the airbag device. Retracting means for moving the fixed amount backward, first functional means for enabling deformation of the energy absorbing member when the column side bracket moves from the fixed position toward the front of the vehicle, and the column side bracket from the fixed position Second function means is provided that enables the energy absorbing member to be deformed when moving toward the front of the vehicle from a backward movement position that has moved backward by a predetermined amount toward the driver. Shock absorbing steering column apparatus, characterized in that there. 2. The shock absorbing type steering column apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the retreating means stops the column side bracket at the rearward movement position and an actuator that pushes the column side bracket from a fixed position toward the rearward movement position. An impact-absorbing steering column device characterized by comprising a rear stopper.

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