JPH0995244A - Tilt steering column - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a tilt steering column, which is provided with a ripping member in a foot tilt type. SOLUTION: At the time of secondary collision, a steering column is moved forward of a car body and a ripping bracket 17, which forms a lower bracket 1, is broken at a previously formed notch part 22 so as to absorb the impact energy. In this case, a car body fitting hole 26 is drilled near the axis of a tilt hinge 24 of the lower bracket 1, and while an upper part of a hinge bracket 18, which is connected to the ripping bracket 17 freely to be turned and which supports a jacket tube 4, works as a stopper part 25, which can abut on a lower surface of the ripping bracket 17 near the axis of the tilt hinge 24 at the time of primary collision.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tilt steering column of an automobile, and more particularly, to a shock energy which can be absorbed by breaking (ripping) a ripping bracket constituting a lower bracket.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A tilt steering column is a tilt steering column which has a tilt angle which can be adjusted by rotating a steering wheel in a vertical direction so as to ensure an optimum driving posture of a driver. By operating the levers, the tilt column at the top that allows the upper part of the steering column to rotate about the upper bracket as the center of rotation, and the entire steering column centered at the lower part of the steering column, that is, the lower bracket near the feet of the driver. There is a foot tilt type that rotates. The upper bracket is a fitting for fixing the upper part of the steering column, and the lower bracket is for fixing the lower part of the steering column to the vehicle body.

By the way, it is well known that a steering column is provided with a means for absorbing impact energy when a driving occupant collides with a steering wheel in order to ensure the safety of the driving occupant in the case of a frontal collision of an automobile.
This impact energy absorption structure is basically a structure in which the upper bracket separates from the vehicle body and the steering column contracts in the axial direction, but a ripping member is used for the upper bracket and the lower bracket that are permanently fixed to the vehicle body. , A ripping method adapted to absorb energy (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-79689),
Alternatively, the lower bracket is deformed to absorb energy (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-29185, Japanese Utility Model Publication 5-6).
No. 5747) is also provided.

[0004]

However, a tilt steering column (actual flat type 6-7968) having a ripping member in the lower tilt type lower bracket is used.
In Japanese Patent No. 9), as shown in FIG. 7, the ripping member a may be bent by the thrust force F ₁ from the gear at the time of the primary collision. In the case of such a large bend, the column b may tilt and affect the energy absorption performance during a secondary collision.

Further, the dimension L ₁ from the vehicle body mounting portion c to the tilt hinge d is distant, and the portion e of the ripping member a is pushed upward by the input at the time of the primary collision, and the whole is bent into a "V" shape. It was easy.

In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is intended to improve a tilt steering column provided with a ripping member in a foot tilt type.

[0007]

In the tilt steering column according to the present invention, the steering column moves to the front of the vehicle body at the time of a secondary collision, and the ripping bracket constituting the lower bracket is broken from the notch formed in advance. In the tilt steering column that absorbs impact energy by doing so, the vehicle body mounting hole of the ripping bracket is formed near the axis of the tilt hinge of the lower bracket, and is rotatably connected to the ripping bracket to form a jacket tube. The upper end portion of the hinge bracket that supports the lower end of the hinge bracket serves as a stopper portion that can come into contact with the lower surface of the ripping bracket near the axis of the tilt hinge during a primary collision.

With the above construction, when the intermediate shaft is pushed up due to the retreat of the gear during the primary collision, a part of the hinge bracket of the lower bracket collides with the lower surface of the ripping bracket near the axis of the tilt hinge to prevent the thrust up. , Prevents deformation that changes the breaking function of the ripping bracket.

At the time of a secondary collision, the steering column moves downward and the ripping bracket curls to reach the cut portion and break, thereby absorbing impact energy.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a steering column 3 supported by a vehicle body by a lower bracket 1 and an upper bracket 2 which are fixed to the vehicle body is provided with a jacket tube 4 and a bearing 5, which is inserted coaxially with the jacket tube 4 near both ends thereof. A steering shaft 7 rotatable via 6;
An intermediate shaft 9 connected to the steering shaft 7 through a universal joint 8.

In the upper bracket 2, a tightening bolt 11 is passed through a distance bracket 10 fixed to a jacket tube 4, and both ends of the tightening bolt 11 are fitted into long holes 12 formed in a side wall of the upper bracket 2. A tightening member (not shown) capable of sliding contact with the edge of the long hole 12 is fitted to the bolt head side, and the nut 1 is attached to the other end side.
3 and the tightening member and the rotation stopping member 14 are fitted to each other, and the tilt lever 15 is connected to the nut 13 thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, a wing-shaped plate 16 which is orthogonal to the upper bracket 2 and serves as a stopper at the time of collision is attached to the upper portion of the jacket tube 4.

Therefore, when the tilt lever 15 is rotated to release the tightening of the nut 13, the side wall portion of the upper bracket 2 is released from tightening the distance bracket 10, and the distance bracket 10 and the jacket tube 4 integrated with the distance bracket 10 are released. It can be moved up and down within the range of the elongated hole 12 into which the tightening bolt 11 is fitted. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper bracket 2 is fixed to the vehicle body via a slide block 31 so as to be detachable from the vehicle body.

The lower bracket 1 forms a hinge serving as a tilt center of the steering column 3, and includes a ripping bracket 17 fixed to the vehicle body and a hinge bracket 18 surrounding and connecting the lower end of the jacket tube 4. As shown in FIG. 3, the ripping bracket 17 has a substantially rectangular main body 19 having a substantially U-shaped cross section by bending the left and right ends at substantially right angles and one side thereof (on the jacket tube 4 side).
And an overhanging portion 20 formed so as to project from the substantially central portion of
The overhanging portion 20 is bent downward in a substantially U shape, and hinge portions 21 are formed integrally on both left and right sides thereof. A cutout portion 22 cut into the main body portion 19 with a predetermined size is formed at the base portion of the overhang portion 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the hinge bracket 18 is formed with hinge portions 23 projecting upward corresponding to the hinge portion 21 on the left and right sides, and these hinge portions 21 and 23 are formed. The pins 24 (tilt hinges) are overlapped with each other, and the ends are caulked to be pivotally coupled. In addition, the upper end portion of the hinge portion 23 extends to near the lower surface of the main body portion 19 of the ripping bracket 17,
At the time of a primary collision, it projects as a stopper portion 25 that can come into contact with the lower surface of the main body 19. Then, the stopper portion 25 and the vehicle body mounting hole 26 of the ripping bracket 17
Is the position of the dimension L that is close to the axis C of the pin 24 in FIG. This body mounting hole 26
Bolts or the like are inserted through and the left and right ends of the ripping bracket 17 are fixed to the vehicle body post 32.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate shaft 9 comprises a tube 27 connected to the universal joint 8 and a rod shaft 28 slidably fitted in the tube 27 in the axial direction. A ring 29 for tightening the outer peripheral portion of the tube 27 in order to suppress the rotational play (misalignment) at the joint.
And a bolt 30 for contracting the ring 29 in the radial direction. Therefore, since the intermediate shaft 9 absorbs the gear retreat of the primary collision, the intermediate shaft 9 has a structure capable of contracting in the axial direction and a stroke at the time of the secondary collision.
The lower end of the rod shaft 28 is connected to a gear (steering gear box) via a universal joint (not shown).

The operation of the above embodiment will be described below.
As described above, the tilt adjustment is performed by rotating the tilt lever 15 so that the upper bracket 2 is moved to the distance bracket 1.
Release the force to tighten 0 and tighten the tightening bolt 11 into the long hole 12
The steering column 3 can be rotated about the pin 24 (tilt hinge) of the lower bracket 1 by moving the tilt column 15 in the opposite direction with the steering column 3 tilted at a desired angle. When the upper bracket 2 is moved and tightened to the distance bracket 10, the state is locked.

When the gear is retracted and the intermediate shaft 9 is pushed up at the time of the primary collision, as shown in FIG. 6, the component force of the pushing force F ₁ is applied to the column axial direction input F ₂ to the airfoil plate 16 Is abutted on the upper bracket 2 to receive pressure in the axial direction of the column, and the bearing component 6 has an upward component force F ₃
The stopper 25 of the hinge bracket 18 is the main body 1
9 is brought into contact with the lower surface of the vehicle body 9 and supported by the vehicle body post 32,
Prevents the ripping bracket 17 from deforming into a "V" shape.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the force F caused by the driving occupant colliding with the steering wheel at the time of the secondary collision is input to the jacket tube 4 from the steering shaft 7, whereby the upper bracket 2 is bolted to the vehicle body. When the jacket tube 4 is released from the slide block 31 and the lower end of the jacket tube 4 serves as a force to push down the hinge bracket 18, the overhanging portion 20 curls, and then the notches 22 and 22 of the ripping bracket 17 are torn to thereby save energy. Absorbs. Since the ripping bracket 17 is fixed to the vehicle body post 32 through the vehicle body mounting hole 26 on the side close to the cut portion 22, the body portion 19 is firmly deformed downward when the cut portion 22 starts to tear. Can support.

Thus, when the intermediate shaft 9 is pushed up by the primary collision, the stopper portion 25 of the lower bracket 1 hits the ripping bracket 17 and is stopped by the vehicle body post 32, and the ripping bracket 17 is not bent, and the column is moved. Inclination can also be prevented, and thus the fear of impairing the energy absorption performance due to a secondary collision is eliminated.

Although the intermediate shaft 9 adopts the serration-fitting axial contraction method, the same effect can be obtained by using other contraction methods such as a bellows shaft.

[0021]

According to the present invention described above, the stopper portion abuts against the lower surface of the ripping bracket against the input at the time of the primary collision, and the ripping bracket is supported by the stopper portion and the vehicle body post, and the lower bracket is The intermediate shaft can be effectively contracted by the reaction force of the primary collision without bending in a letter shape, and therefore, the function for absorbing the energy of the secondary collision is not significantly affected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a half sectional side view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the upper bracket.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a lower bracket.

4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

[Fig. 5] An explanatory view of action

FIG. 6 is an operation explanatory diagram

FIG. 7 is an operation explanatory view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lower bracket 2 ... Upper bracket 3 ... Steering column 4 ... Jacket tube 9 ... Intermediate shaft 15 ... Tilt lever 17 ... Ripping bracket 18 ... Hinge bracket 20 ... Overhang part 21,23 ... Hinge part 22 ... Notch part 24 ... Pin (tilt hinge) 25 ... Stopper part 26 ... Vehicle mounting hole

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A steering column adapted to absorb impact energy by moving a steering column forward of a vehicle body at the time of a secondary collision and breaking a ripping bracket constituting a lower bracket from a notch formed in the lower bracket in advance. In the above, the vehicle body mounting hole of the ripping bracket is formed near the axis of the tilt hinge of the lower bracket, and the upper end portion of the hinge bracket that is rotatably connected to the ripping bracket and supports the jacket tube has the above-mentioned structure when the primary collision occurs. A tilt steering column, which is a stopper portion that can come into contact with the lower surface of the ripping bracket near the axis of the tilt hinge. 2. The lower bracket comprises a hinge bracket which surrounds and is connected to a lower end portion of a jacket tube, and a ripping bracket which is fixed to a vehicle body and is rotatably connected through a pin. A part of the hinge bracket extends to near the lower surface of the ripping bracket, and the ripping bracket is composed of a substantially rectangular main body portion and an overhanging portion formed to project from a substantially central portion of one side thereof, The overhanging portion is bent downward in a substantially U shape, and hinge portions are integrally formed on both left and right sides thereof, and the base portion of the overhanging portion is cut into the main body portion with a predetermined size. The tilt steering column according to claim 1, wherein the tilt steering column is formed.