Steering column device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steering column device (1) for a vehicle, the steering column device comprising a steering column (3) and a support member (7) configured to support the steering column (3). The support member (7) comprises a first plate portion (71) attached to the attachment member, a second plate portion (72) attached on one side of the steering column (3), and a receiving portion (73) arranged between the first plate portion (71) and the second plate portion (72). The receiving portion (73) is arranged at a position where a member collides with the receiving portion (73) when a vehicle collision occurs, and the member is arranged to be located in front of the support member 7 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The receiving portion (73) is configured to reduce the impact applied to the first plate portion (71) and the second plate portion (72) when the receiving portion (73) collides with the member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering column device for a vehicle, the steering column device being configured to support a steering shaft to which a steering wheel is attached. Background Art

[0002] A steering column device for a vehicle is attached to a steering support member connected to a vehicle body and supports a steering shaft so that the steering shaft can rotate. For example, as described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 9-221042 (JP 9-221042A), the steering column device may be disposed behind a brake pedal arm in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. In this case, when a vehicle collision occurs, the brake pedal arm collides with a support member (e.g., a lower bracket) supporting the steering column.

[0003] The steering column device described in JP 9-221042 A is configured so that: the collision position where the brake pedal arm may collide with the lower bracket in the event of a vehicle collision is shifted rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction to extend the rearward movable distance, that is, the distance the brake pedal arm can move rearward. This reduces the possibility of a collision between the brake pedal arm and the lower bracket. Summary of the invention

[0004] However, even if the rearward movable distance for the brake pedal arm is extended, the brake pedal arm may collide with the support member supporting the steering column, depending on the magnitude of the impact when the vehicle collides. In addition, due to the restrictions of the layout of the vehicle, there may be a case where a sufficient rearward movable distance of the brake pedal arm cannot be ensured. If the support member for the steering column is damaged by the collision with the brake pedal arm, the steering column device may fall off.

[0005] The present invention provides a steering column device which makes it possible to reduce the possibility of a support member for a steering column being damaged during a vehicle collision or even when the member collides with the support member, the member being arranged to be located in front of the support member in the front-rear direction of the vehicle when the steering column device is installed in the vehicle.

[0006] Aspects of the present invention relate to a steering column device for a vehicle. The steering column device includes: a steering column configured to support a steering shaft to which a steering wheel is attached; and a support member configured to support the steering column so that the steering column can swing relative to an attachment member located on the vehicle body side. The support member includes a first plate portion attached to the attachment member, a second plate portion attached on one side of the steering column, and a receiving portion arranged between the first plate portion and the second plate portion. The receiving portion is arranged at a position where a member collides with the receiving portion when a vehicle collision occurs, and the member is arranged to be located in front of the support member in the front-rear direction of the vehicle when the steering column device is installed in the vehicle. The receiving portion is configured to reduce the impact applied to the first plate portion and the second plate portion when the receiving portion collides with the member.

[0007] The steering column device according to the above aspect of the invention makes it possible to reduce the possibility of a support member supporting a steering column being damaged due to a collision between the support member for the steering column and a member arranged to be located forward of the support member in the vehicle front-rear direction when the steering column device is installed in the vehicle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements, and in which:

[0009] Figure 1 is a configuration diagram showing a steering column device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a steering column device;

[0011] Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a portion of a steering column assembly and a brake pedal and a brake pedal arm;

[0012] Figure 4A is a perspective view showing a support member; and

[0013] Figure 4B This is a front view of the support member when viewed from the front side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] Will refer to Figure 4A and Figure 4B This embodiment is described below as an example of implementing the present invention, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

[0015] Figure 1 : is a configuration diagram showing a steering column device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the configuration of a steering column device mounted on a vehicle. Figure 3 It is a perspective view showing a part of a steering column device and a brake pedal and a brake pedal arm.

[0016] The steering column device 1 is configured as a column-assisted power steering device that assists a steering operation performed by a driver. In the following description, the left-right direction (width direction), the up-down direction (height direction), and the front-back direction (longitudinal direction) represent the left-right direction (width direction), the up-down direction (height direction), and the front-back direction (longitudinal direction) relative to the vehicle when the steering column device 1 is installed on the vehicle.

[0017] The steering column device 1 includes a steering shaft 2, a steering column 3, a gear housing 4, a steering assist mechanism 5, a first support member 6 and a second support member 7, and a locking mechanism 8. The steering shaft 2 is coupled to a steering wheel 10 (see FIG. 1 ) as a steering member. Figure 2 ), the driver performs steering operations using the steering wheel 10. The steering column 3 supports the steering shaft 2. The gear housing 4 is attached to the steering column 3. The steering assist mechanism 5 assists the driver in steering operations on the steering wheel 10. The first support member 6 and the second support member 7 support the gear housing 4 so that the gear housing 4 can swing relative to the pillar of the steering member 13 serving as an attachment member on the vehicle body side (i.e., an attachment member connected to the vehicle body). The locking mechanism 8 is capable of fixing the steering column 3 relative to the pillar attachment portion 132 of the steering member 13. The steering member 13 includes a pair of pillars, and the gear housing 4 is placed between the pair of pillars in the vehicle width direction. Figure 2 A pillar (ie, pillar 131 ) among the pillars to which the second supporting member 7 is attached is shown.

[0018] The steering shaft 2 rotates integrally with the steering wheel 10. When the steering shaft 2 rotates, a rack shaft (not shown) moves in the vehicle width direction, and steering wheels (front wheels) of the vehicle are steered via tie rods coupled to respective ends of the rack shaft.

[0019] The steering shaft 2 includes a tubular upper shaft 21 and a lower shaft 22, one end of the upper shaft 21 having the steering wheel 10 fixed thereto, and the lower shaft 22 including a spline fitting portion 20 fitted to the upper shaft 21. The lower shaft 22 includes a first shaft portion 221 close to the upper shaft 21, a second shaft portion 222 coaxially arranged with the first shaft portion 221, and a torsion bar 223 coupling the first shaft portion 221 and the second shaft portion 222. The torsion bar 223 is twisted by the steering torque applied to the steering wheel 10, and the twisting amount of the twisted torsion bar 223 is detected by a torque sensor (not shown). The intermediate shaft 24 is connected to the steering wheel 10 via a universal joint 23 ( Figure 1 ) is connected to the second shaft portion 222.

[0020] The steering column 3 includes an outer tube 31 and an inner tube 32, one end of which is accommodated in the outer tube 31. The lower shaft 22 is inserted into the inner tube 32. A bearing 33 is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the end portion of the outer tube 31 located on the steering wheel 10 side and the outer peripheral surface of the upper shaft 21.

[0021] The gear housing 4 includes a main body portion 41, a tubular portion 42, a first arm portion 43, and a second arm portion 44. The main body portion 41 accommodates a worm gear 52 of a steering assist mechanism 5 to be described later. The inner tube 32 is fitted to the tubular portion 42 from the outside. The first support member 6 is attached to the first arm portion 43, and the second support member 7 is attached to the second arm portion 44. The first arm portion 43 is provided on the right side of the main body portion 41, and the second arm portion 44 is provided on the left side of the main body portion 41. The first support member 6 is attached to the first arm portion 43 by using a tilting bolt 91 and a bushing 92. Similarly, the second support member 7 is attached to the second arm portion 44 by using a tilting bolt 93 and a bushing 94.

[0022] The tilt bolts 91 and 93 are screwed into the first arm portion 43 and the second arm portion 44, respectively. The center axis of each of the tilt bolts 91 and 93 serves as a tilt center axis C used when adjusting the inclination of the steering wheel 10 to adjust the position of the steering wheel 10 in the vehicle up-down direction. When the inclination is adjusted, the gear housing 4 and the steering column 3 swing around the tilt center axis C. The bushing 92 is fitted to the first tilt bolt 91 from the outside, and the bushing 94 is fitted to the second tilt bolt 93 from the outside, so that the gear housing 4 and the steering column 3 swing smoothly.

[0023] The first support member 6 includes a flat plate portion 61 and a side plate portion 62. The flat plate portion 61 and the side plate portion 62 are provided integrally with each other (i.e., the flat plate portion 61 and the side plate portion 62 constitute an integral unit). The flat plate portion 61 is attached to a pillar (not shown) of the steering member 13. The side plate portion 62 is attached to the first arm portion 43. The flat plate portion 61 has a through hole 610 for inserting a bolt for attaching the flat plate portion 61 to the pillar. The side plate portion 62 has a through hole for inserting a tilting bolt 91 and a bushing 92. The second support member 7 will be described later.

[0024] The steering assist mechanism 5 includes an electric motor 51 and a worm gear 52, which reduces the speed of the output rotation of the electric motor 51 and transmits the reduced speed rotation as a steering assist force to the second shaft portion 222 of the lower shaft 22. A motor current is supplied to the electric motor 51 from a controller (not shown). The motor current corresponds to the steering torque detected by the torque sensor. The worm gear 52 includes a turbine shaft 521 that rotates integrally with the output shaft of the electric motor 51 and a worm wheel 522 that meshes with the turbine shaft 521. The worm wheel 522 is fixed to the second shaft portion 222.

[0025] The locking mechanism 8 includes a column bracket 81, a clamp bracket 82, an attachment bracket 83, a pair of capsules 84, an operating lever 85, and a tightening shaft 86. The column bracket 81 is fixed to the outer tube 31 of the steering column 3 by welding, for example. The clamp bracket 82 includes a pair of side walls 821, between which the column bracket 81 is placed, and a top plate 822 connecting the side walls 821. The attachment bracket 83 extends in the vehicle width direction and is fixed to the top plate 822 of the clamp bracket 82. The capsule 84 is attached to the respective ends of the attachment bracket 83. The operating lever 85 is operated by the driver. The tightening shaft 86 presses the side walls 821 of the clamp bracket 82 against the column bracket 81 according to the operation of the operating lever 85. The tightening shaft 86 is inserted through the elongated hole 810 formed on the column bracket 81.

[0026] When the side wall 821 of the clamp bracket 82 is pressed by the take-up shaft 86 to clamp the column bracket 81, the steering column 3 is locked (fixed) to the steering member 13. When the lock is unlocked, the steering column 3 and the gear housing 4 are allowed to swing around the tilt center axis C.

[0027] The bag-like member 84 is fixed to the column attachment portion 132 of the steering member 13 by bolts (not shown) respectively inserted through the bolt insertion holes 840. The attachment bracket 83 includes an engagement portion, each of which has a U-shape open toward the steering wheel 10. Each bag-like member in the bag-like member 84 is engaged with the corresponding engagement portion. In a secondary collision in which the vehicle collides with an obstacle or the like, when the vehicle travels forward and causes the driver to collide with the steering wheel 10, the attachment bracket 83 is detached from the bag-like member 84 and moves forward in the vehicle together with the outer tube 31. During this period, the lower shaft 22 enters the interior of the upper shaft 21 and simultaneously absorbs the impact caused by the secondary collision. This reduces the impact received by the driver during the secondary collision.

[0028] When a vehicle collision occurs, there may be a case where the brake pedal arm 12 provided in front of the second support member 7 moves rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction and collides with the second support member 7. In this case, since the attachment bracket 83 is detached from the bag-shaped member 84 as described above, if the second support member 7 is damaged due to the collision of the brake pedal arm 12 with the second support member 7 and the first support member 6 is also damaged, the steering column 3 may fall off together with the gear housing 4 and the steering assist mechanism 5.

[0029] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the fall-off of the steering column 3 at the time of a vehicle collision is restricted by utilizing the structure of the second support member 7 to be described below. The structure will be described in detail. In the following description, the second support member 7 will be referred to as the support member 7. In addition, in the following description, an example will be described in which the brake pedal arm 12 collides with the support member 7 at the time of a vehicle collision. However, when the steering column device is installed in the vehicle, the brake pedal arm 12 is only an example of a member disposed in front of the support member 7 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Therefore, it is also assumed that, at the time of a vehicle collision, members other than the brake pedal arm 12 may collide with the support member 7.

[0030] Figure 4A is a perspective view showing the supporting member 7 . Figure 4B It is a front view of the supporting member 7 when viewed from the front side.

[0031] The support member 7 includes a first plate portion 71, a second plate portion 72, and a receiving portion 73. The first plate portion 71 is attached to the support column 131 of the steering member 13. The second plate portion 72 is attached on the steering column 3 side. The receiving portion 73 is provided between the first plate portion 71 and the second plate portion 72 and faces the brake pedal arm 12 in the vehicle front-rear direction. Figure 4B , the receiving portion 73 is surrounded by a dotted line. When the receiving portion 73 collides with the brake pedal arm 12 at the time of a vehicle collision, the receiving portion 73 reduces the impact to be applied to the first plate portion 71 and the second plate portion 72.

[0032] The second plate portion 72 is arranged to face the vehicle width direction, and the first plate portion 71 extends from the upper end portion of the second plate portion 72 in the vehicle width direction. The receiving portion 73 has a rectangular shape, and each of the long sides of the receiving portion 73 extends in the vehicle width direction. That is, the long side direction of the receiving portion 73 (i.e., the direction in which the long side of the receiving portion 73 extends) is the vehicle width direction. The length of the receiving portion 73 in the long side direction, i.e., the vehicle width direction, is shorter than the length of the first plate portion 71 in the same direction (i.e., the vehicle width direction). Each of the short sides of the receiving portion 73 extends in the vehicle height direction (vehicle up and down direction). That is, the short side direction of the receiving portion 73 (i.e., the direction in which the short side of the receiving portion 73 extends) is the vehicle height direction. The length of the receiving portion 73 in the short side direction, i.e., the vehicle height direction, is shorter than the length of the second plate portion 72 in the same direction (i.e., the vehicle height direction). The length of the receiving portion 73 in the long side direction is shorter than the length of the first plate portion 71 in the same direction, and the length of the receiving portion 73 in the short side direction is shorter than the length of the second plate portion 72 in the same direction. This allows the receiving portion 73 to be easily deformed when the receiving portion 73 collides with the brake pedal arm 12. That is, the strength of the receiving portion 73 is set to be relatively low in the support member 7. Since the receiving portion 73 collides with the brake pedal arm 12, the impact transmitted to the first plate portion 71 and the second plate portion 72 is reduced.

[0033] The first plate portion 71 includes a flat plate portion 711 having a flat plate shape (i.e., the flat plate portion 711 in the form of a flat plate), a front curved portion 712, and a rear curved portion 713. The front curved portion 712 extends downward from a front end portion of the flat plate portion 711 in the vehicle front-rear direction. The rear curved portion 713 extends downward from a rear end portion of the flat plate portion 711 in the vehicle front-rear direction. When the first plate portion 71 is viewed in the vehicle width direction, the front curved portion 712 and the rear curved portion 713 are curved to form a substantially U-shape together with the flat plate portion 711. The flat plate portion 711 has bolts 95 (see FIG. 1 ) for attaching the flat plate portion 711 to the support column 131. Figure 2 ) is inserted into the through hole 710. The flat plate portion 711 of the first plate portion 71 is an example of a first flat plate portion according to the present invention, and the front curved portion 712 is an example of a first curved portion according to the present invention.

[0034] The second plate portion 72 includes a flat plate portion 721 having a flat plate shape (i.e., a flat plate portion 721 in the form of a flat plate), a front curved portion 722, and a rear curved portion 723. The front curved portion 722 extends from the front end portion of the flat plate portion 721 in the vehicle front-rear direction toward the first plate portion 71 in the vehicle width direction (i.e., toward the left side in the vehicle width direction in this embodiment). The rear curved portion 723 extends from the rear end portion of the flat plate portion 721 in the vehicle front-rear direction toward the first plate portion 71 in the vehicle width direction. When the second plate portion 72 is viewed from below, both the front curved portion 722 and the rear curved portion 723 are curved to form a substantially U-shaped shape together with the flat plate portion 721. The flat plate portion 721 has a through hole 720 for attaching a bushing 94 and inserting a tilt bolt 93. In the second plate portion 72, the flat plate portion 721 is an example of a second flat plate portion according to the present invention, and the front curved portion 722 is an example of a second curved portion according to the present invention.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the flat plate portion 711 of the first plate portion 71 forms a right angle with the flat plate portion 721 of the second plate portion 72, and the flat plate portion 711 of the first plate portion 71 is arranged to extend horizontally. However, the angle formed by the flat plate portions 711 and 721 is not limited to a right angle, and may be an obtuse angle or an acute angle. In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the length of the front curved portion 722 in the vertical direction is shorter than the length of the rear curved portion 723 in the vertical direction. However, the length of the front curved portion 722 in the vertical direction may be the same as the length of the rear curved portion 723 in the vertical direction.

[0036] The receiving portion 73 is provided between the front curved portion 712 of the first plate portion 71 and the front curved portion 722 of the second plate portion 72. According to the embodiment of the present invention, the receiving portion 73 has a flat plate shape and forms a right angle with the flat plate portion 711 of the first plate portion 71 and forms a right angle with the flat plate portion 721 of the second plate portion 72. The receiving portion 73 is provided to face the brake pedal arm 12 in the vehicle front-rear direction when the steering column device 1 is installed in the vehicle.

[0037] The second plate portion 72 is formed by punching a steel plate. The thickness of each of the first plate portion 71, the second plate portion 72, and the receiving portion 73 is, for example, 3.2 mm. Figure 4BAn example of the size of each portion is: D11 is 36 mm, D12 is 28 mm, D13 is 10 mm, D21 is 30 mm, D22 is 20 mm, and D23 is 10 mm. The length (LH) of the receiving portion 73 in the horizontal direction may be one-third to one-half of the length (D11) of the first plate portion 71 in the horizontal direction. The length (LV) of the receiving portion 73 in the vehicle height direction may be one-quarter to one-half of the length (D21) of the front curved portion 722 of the second plate portion 72 in the vehicle height direction. Figure 4B In the illustrated example, the length (LH) of the receiving portion 73 in the horizontal direction is half the length (D11) of the first plate portion 71 in the horizontal direction, and the length (LV) of the receiving portion 73 in the vehicle height direction is one third the length (D21) of the front curved portion 722 of the second plate portion 72 in the vehicle height direction.

[0038] The lower side 73a is a straight line portion located at the lower end portion of the receiving portion 73 in the vertical direction. The lower side 73a extends in parallel with the flat plate portion 711 of the first plate portion 71. The lower side 73a extends in the horizontal direction. The lower end portion of the receiving portion 73 in the vertical direction is the portion where the brake pedal arm 12 first collides with the support member 7 when the vehicle collides.

[0039] The effect of the embodiment will be described. According to the above-mentioned embodiment, even if the brake pedal arm 12 collides with the support member 7 supporting the steering column 3 when a vehicle collision occurs, the receiving portion 73 is subjected to the impact caused by the collision with the brake pedal arm 12, so that the impact applied to the first plate portion 71 and the second plate portion 72 is reduced. This, for example, reduces the possibility that the portion between the first plate portion 71 and the second plate portion 72 in the support member 7 may be damaged. In addition, in the embodiment of the present invention, the strength of the receiving portion 73 is reduced due to the dimensional relationship as described above. Therefore, the impact caused by the collision with the brake pedal arm 12 is dispersed, and therefore, the stress concentration on a portion in the support member 7 is reduced. More specifically, the stress concentration on the front curved portion 712 of the first plate portion 71 and the front curved portion 722 of the second plate portion 72 is reduced.

[0040] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment. It should be noted that not all combinations of the features described in the embodiment are essential to solving the problems of the present invention.

[0041] The embodiment can be modified in various ways within the scope of the present invention. For example, the shape of the receiving portion 73 is not limited to a rectangle, and the shape of the receiving portion 73 can be, for example, a trapezoidal shape in which the lower side 73a is inclined relative to the first plate portion 71. In addition, the size and thickness of the portion of the support member 7 including the receiving portion 73 are not limited to the size and thickness described above as examples. In the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is applied to the steering column device 1 configured as a power steering device including a steering assist mechanism 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The present invention can be applied to a steering column device that does not include a steering assist mechanism 5.

Claims

1. A steering column device (1) for a vehicle, characterized in that: The steering column device (1) comprises: a steering column (3) configured to support a steering shaft (2) to which a steering wheel is attached; and A support member (7) configured to support the steering column (3) so that the steering column (3) can swing relative to an attachment member located on a vehicle body side, wherein: The support member (7) includes a first plate portion (71) attached to the attachment member, a second plate portion (72) attached to one side of the steering column (3), and a receiving portion (73) provided between the first plate portion (71) and the second plate portion (72); The second plate portion (72) is arranged to face the vehicle width direction; The first plate portion (71) extends from an upper end portion of the second plate portion (72) in a vehicle width direction; The receiving portion (73) has a length in the vehicle height direction shorter than the length of the second plate portion (72) in the vehicle height direction, and a length in the vehicle width direction shorter than the length of the first plate portion (71) in the vehicle width direction; The receiving portion (73) is provided at a position where the member collides with the support member (7) when a vehicle collision occurs, and the member is provided so as to be located in front of the support member (7) in the vehicle front-rear direction when the steering column device (1) is installed in the vehicle; and The receiving portion (73) is configured to reduce an impact applied to the first plate portion (71) and the second plate portion (72) when the supporting member (7) collides with the member.

2. The steering column device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The receiving portion (73) has a rectangular shape, and the direction in which the long sides of the receiving portion (73) extend is the vehicle width direction.

3. A steering column device (1) for a vehicle, characterized in that: The steering column device (1) comprises: a steering column (3) configured to support a steering shaft (2) to which a steering wheel is attached; and A support member (7) configured to support the steering column (3) so that the steering column (3) can swing relative to an attachment member located on a vehicle body side, wherein: The support member (7) includes a first plate portion (71) attached to the attachment member, a second plate portion (72) attached to one side of the steering column (3), and a receiving portion (73) provided between the first plate portion (71) and the second plate portion (72); The first plate portion (71) includes a first flat plate portion having a flat plate shape and a first curved portion extending downward from a front end portion of the first flat plate portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle; The second plate portion (72) includes a second flat plate portion having a flat plate shape and a second curved portion extending from a front end portion of the second flat plate portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle toward the first plate portion (71); The receiving portion (73) is disposed between the first curved portion and the second curved portion at a position where the member collides with the support member (7) when a vehicle collision occurs, and the member is disposed so as to be located in front of the support member (7) in the vehicle front-rear direction when the steering column device (1) is installed in the vehicle; and The receiving portion (73) is configured to reduce an impact applied to the first plate portion (71) and the second plate portion (72) when the supporting member (7) collides with the member.

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