Steering structure

Abstract

To facilitate work for fitting a steering column.SOLUTION: A steering structure includes an instrument panel R / F 12 and a steering column 20. The instrument panel R / F 12 includes a column fastening portion 15 and a column tilt support portion 16. The steering column 20 includes: an instrument panel fastening portion 21 that is fastened to the column fastening portion 15 of the instrument panel R / F 12; and an electric portion 32 that extends and contracts a rod 30 connected to the instrument panel fastening portion 21 via a link mechanism 24. The column tilt support portion 16 of the instrument panel R / F 12 has a stopper 19 that prevents a tilt shaft portion 22 of the steering column 20 from moving to a position deviated from a tilt shaft receiving portion 18 of the instrument panel R / F 12 before the steering column 20 is connected to the column tilt support portion 16 after the instrument panel fastening portion 21 of the steering column 20 is fastened to the column fastening portion 15, in work for fitting the steering column 20 to the instrument panel R / F 12.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering structure, and more particularly to a steering structure having power tilt. [Background technology]

[0002] Some vehicles are equipped with a tilt steering wheel as an angle position adjustment mechanism and a telescopic steering wheel as a front-rear position adjustment mechanism. The term "tilt-telescopic" is a combination of the two mechanisms: tilt and telescopic.

[0003] In the past, manually adjustable tilt telescopic or tilt-only vehicles were common, and electric tilt telescopic (hereinafter referred to as electric tilt telescopic) vehicles were only used in some luxury vehicles. However, in recent years, the range of electric tilt telescopic vehicles has expanded to include relatively inexpensive vehicles.

[0004] For example, with regard to tilt, a manual adjustment system releases the lock, moves the steering wheel up and down, stops it at the appropriate position, and then locks it to adjust the angle of the steering wheel, whereas an electric system automatically moves the steering wheel up and down by operating a switch, and then stops the switch operation to adjust the angle of the steering wheel.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses an example of a structure in which a steering column is supported by an instrument panel reinforcement. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-137253 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] As tilt-telescopic steering shifts from manual adjustment to electric adjustment, the connection position of the steering column shifts from the connected position of the instrument panel reinforcement during the work of connecting the steering column to the instrument panel reinforcement (assembly work), making the connection difficult. This will be explained in detail below.

[0008] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view that shows a schematic diagram of a part of a steering structure of an automobile. Note that a stopper 19 is present in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 described below, but the stopper 19 is not present in the structure in which the problem occurs (comparative technology). Also, Fig. 1 omits structures such as a link mechanism 24 (see Fig. 2) of a steering column 20 and an electric motor unit 32, which will be described below.

[0009] 1, the steering structure includes an instrument panel reinforcement 12 (hereinafter, referred to as instrument panel R / F 12) and a steering column 20. The instrument panel R / F 12 includes a column fastening portion 15 and a column tilting support portion 16. The steering column 20 includes an instrument panel fastening portion 21 that is fastened to the column fastening portion 15 of the instrument panel R / F 12, and a tilt shaft portion 22 that is supported by the column tilting support portion 16 of the instrument panel R / F 12.

[0010] When assembling the steering column 20 to the instrument panel R / F 12, first the instrument panel fastening portion 21 of the steering column 20 is fastened to the column fastening portion 15 of the instrument panel R / F 12, and then the tilt shaft portion 22 (hole 74) of the steering column 20 is aligned with the tilt bearing portion 18 (two holes 50) of the instrument panel R / F 12 and a long bolt 52 is inserted from the side to connect them.

[0011] 2(A), the steering column 20 includes an electric motor 32 that extends and retracts a rod 30 connected to the instrument panel fastening portion 21 via a link mechanism 24. The link mechanism 24 includes a straight link 25 and a bell crank 26. As shown in FIGS. 2(B) and 2(C), the steering column 20 is configured such that the steering column main body (the inner column 71 and the outer column 72) excluding the instrument panel fastening portion 21 can be tilted relative to the instrument panel R / F 12 around the tilt shaft portion 22 supported by the column tilt support portion 16 by the electric motor 32 extending and retracting the rod 30.

[0012] 4 is a schematic side view showing a part of the steering structure of the comparative technology, in which the state after the instrument panel fastening portion 21 is fastened to the column fastening portion 15, i.e., the state before the tilt shaft portion 22 (hole 74) of the steering column 20 is connected to the tilt bearing portion 18 (two holes 50) of the instrument panel R / F 102 with the bolts 52 (see FIG. 1), is shown.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 4(A), before the tilt shaft portion 22 of the steering column 20 is connected to the tilt bearing portion 18 of the instrument panel R / F 102, the weight of the steering column body (the inner column 71 and the outer column 72) causes the steering column body to lower relative to the instrument panel R / F 102 as shown in FIG. 4(B). That is, the tilt shaft portion 22 (hole 74) of the steering column 20 moves to a position offset from the tilt bearing portion 18 (two holes 50) of the instrument panel R / F 102. This is because the rod 30 can freely extend and retract (the rod 30 is not locked) because no power is supplied to the electric unit 32. Note that in the manual adjustment type, the user releases the lock to adjust the position of the steering wheel, so the rod 30 is locked during assembly, and the steering column body does not lower relative to the instrument panel R / F 102.

[0014] Therefore, in an electric steering column as shown in Fig. 4(B), an operator must lift the steering column body up to a position where tilt shaft portion 22 (hole 74) of steering column 20 aligns with tilt bearing portion 18 (two holes 50) of instrument panel R / F 102, and then connect them with bolts 52 (see Fig. 1). This poses a problem of imposing a heavy burden on the operator, since, as shown in Fig. 4(B), the amount of misalignment L between tilt shaft portion 22 (hole 74) and tilt bearing portion 18 (two holes 50) is large, and the weight of the steering body is also large.

[0015] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a steering structure having an electric tilt that facilitates the assembly work of a steering column to an instrument panel reinforcement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] The steering structure according to the present invention includes an instrument panel reinforcement and a steering column. The instrument panel reinforcement includes a column fastening portion and a column tilt support portion. The steering column includes an instrument panel fastening portion fastened to the column fastening portion of the instrument panel reinforcement, a tilt shaft portion supported by the column tilt support portion of the instrument panel reinforcement, and an electric unit that extends and retracts a rod connected to the instrument panel fastening portion via a link mechanism. The steering column is configured such that a steering column main body excluding the instrument panel fastening portion can be tilted relative to the instrument panel reinforcement around the tilt shaft portion supported by the column tilt support portion by the electric unit extending and retracting the rod. The column tilt support portion of the instrument panel reinforcement is provided with a stopper for preventing the tilt axis portion of the steering column from moving to a position deviated from the tilt bearing portion of the instrument panel reinforcement after the instrument panel fastening portion of the steering column is fastened to the column fastening portion of the instrument panel reinforcement during an assembly operation of the steering column to the instrument panel reinforcement and before the steering column is connected to the column tilt support portion of the instrument panel reinforcement. Effect of the Invention

[0017] According to the present invention, the amount of misalignment between the tilt shaft portion of the steering column and the tilt bearing portion of the instrument panel reinforcement is reduced, making it possible to facilitate the assembly work of the steering column to the instrument panel reinforcement. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic view of a part of a steering structure of an automobile; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a schematic view of a part of the steering structure. [Diagram 3] 11A to 11C are diagrams for explaining an assembly operation of the steering column to the instrument panel reinforcement. [Figure 4] 11 is a diagram for explaining an assembly operation of a steering column to an instrument panel reinforcement in a steering structure of a comparative technology. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described here. The same elements in all the drawings are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0020] Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a schematic diagram of a part of a steering structure of an automobile. Only a part of an instrument panel reinforcement 12 (instrument panel R / F 12) is shown in the figure. Note that structures such as a link mechanism 24 (see Fig. 2) of a steering column 20 and an electric motor unit 32 are omitted in the figure.

[0021] The steering structure includes an instrument panel R / F 12 and a steering column 20. The instrument panel R / F 12 is a member extending in the vehicle width direction and is connected to, for example, each of a pair of front pillars (not shown). The instrument panel R / F 12 supports the steering column 20.

[0022] The instrument panel R / F 12 includes an instrument panel R / F main body 14, a column fastening portion 15, and a column tilting support portion 16. The column fastening portion 15 is a metal plate-like member joined to the instrument panel R / F main body 14, and is provided with two stud bolts 40. The column tilting support portion 16 is a metal member having a generally U-shaped cross section that is open on the steering column 20 side. The column tilting support portion 16 is joined to the instrument panel R / F main body 14 by bolt fastening or welding.

[0023] The column tilt support part 16 includes a pair of side walls 46 and a connecting wall 48 that connects the pair of side walls 46 at their lower parts. The pair of side walls 46 include two holes 50 that function as the tilt bearing part 18. A nut is fixed to the outer surface of one of the side walls 46 (the side wall 46 on the right side in FIG. 1). A stopper 19 is attached to the connecting wall 48. The stopper 19 is joined to the connecting wall 48 by, for example, welding.

[0024] The steering column 20 includes an inner column 71 and an outer column 72. Inside the inner column 71, a steering shaft 70 is disposed.

[0025] 1 shows a portion of the steering shaft 70 extending from the bottom of the steering column 20, but in reality, the steering shaft 70 is connected to an intermediate shaft (not shown) via a cross joint. That is, the steering column 20 has a long shaft connected to its bottom. Also, another shaft that is coupled to a steering wheel is connected to the top of the steering column 20, but at the stage of assembling the steering column 20 to the instrument panel R / F 12, the other shaft is not connected to the steering column 20.

[0026] The steering column 20 includes an instrument panel fastening portion 21 that is fastened to a column fastening portion 15 of the instrument panel R / F 12, and a tilt shaft portion 22 that is supported by a column tilt support portion 16 of the instrument panel R / F 12. The tilt shaft portion 22 has a cylindrical shape and includes a hole 74 through which the bolt 52 passes.

[0027] Here, the work of assembling the steering column 20 to the instrument panel R / F 12 will be described. First, the instrument panel R / F 12 is placed on a jig in the position shown in Fig. 1. After that, the instrument panel fastening portion 21 of the steering column 20 is fastened to the column fastening portion 15 of the instrument panel R / F 12. This is done by passing the two stud bolts 40 of the column fastening portion 15 through the two holes 78 of the instrument panel fastening portion 21 and tightening two nuts 76 on them.

[0028] Thereafter, the tilt shaft portion 22 of the steering column 20 is disposed between the two side walls 46 of the instrument panel R / F 12, the hole 74 of the tilt shaft portion 22 is aligned with the tilt bearing portion 18 (two holes 50) of the instrument panel R / F 12, and the long bolt 52 is inserted laterally into the holes 50, 74 to connect them. The long bolt 52 is screwed into a nut on the outer surface of one of the side walls 46 (the right side wall 46 in FIG. 1). In this way, the tilt shaft portion 22 is attached to the instrument panel R / F 12 so as to be rotatable about the long bolt 52. Note that a cylindrical member may be disposed inside the hole 74 of the tilt shaft portion 22, and the cylindrical member may be fixed to the bolt 52, so that the outer wall of the tilt shaft portion 22 can rotate relative to the cylindrical member.

[0029] Thereafter, as shown by the white arrow in FIG. 1, the instrument panel R / F 12 is rotated until the column tilt support portion 16 of the instrument panel R / F 12 is nearly horizontal, for example, until the tip of the column tilt support portion 16 points slightly downward, and then the instrument panel R / F 12 is assembled to the vehicle body.

[0030] Fig. 2 is a schematic side view showing a part of the steering structure, showing the state after the steering column 20 is assembled to the instrument panel R / F 12. Note that the steering structure has both tilt and telescopic mechanisms, but Fig. 2 shows only the tilt mechanism. The telescopic mechanism is realized by moving the inner column 71 back and forth relative to the outer column 72 (moving up and down in Fig. 2) by an electric unit (not shown).

[0031] 2(A), the steering column 20 includes a rod 30 connected to the instrument panel fastening portion 21 via a link mechanism 24, and an electric motor 32 that extends and retracts the rod 30. The link mechanism 24 includes a straight link 25 and a bell crank 26.

[0032] One end of straight link 25 is rotatably attached to instrument panel fastening portion 21 to form connecting shaft 80. The other end of straight link 25 is rotatably attached to the tip of one arm of bell crank 26 to form movable shaft 84. The bent portion of bell crank 26 is rotatably attached to outer column 72 to form support shaft 82. The tip of the other arm of bell crank 26 is rotatably attached to the tip of rod 30 to form movable shaft 86.

[0033] As shown in Figures 2(B) and (C), the steering column 20 is configured so that the steering column body (the inner column 71 and the outer column 72) excluding the instrument panel fastening portion 21 can be tilted relative to the instrument panel R / F 12 around the tilt axis portion 22 supported by the column tilt support portion 16 by the electric unit 32 extending and contracting the rod 30.

[0034] 3 shows a state in the middle of the assembly work of the steering column 20. This figure shows the state after the instrument panel fastening portion 21 is fastened to the column fastening portion 15, that is, the state before the tilt shaft portion 22 of the steering column 20 is connected to the tilt bearing portion 18 (two holes 50) of the instrument panel R / F 12 with the bolts 52 (see FIG. 1).

[0035] As shown in Fig. 3(A), before the tilt shaft portion 22 of the steering column 20 is connected to the tilt bearing portion 18 (two holes 50) of the instrument panel R / F 12, the weight of the steering column body (inner column 71 and outer column 72) causes the steering column body to lower relative to the instrument panel R / F 12, as shown in Fig. 3(B). This is because the motor included in the electric unit 32 is not energized, so the rod 30 can freely extend and retract (the rod 30 is not locked).

[0036] However, in this embodiment, since the instrument panel R / F 12 has the stopper 19, as shown in FIG. 3(B), it is possible to prevent the tilt shaft portion 22 of the steering column 20 from hitting the stopper 19 and causing the steering column body to drop significantly. That is, it is possible to reduce the amount of misalignment L between the tilt shaft portion 22 (hole 74) and the tilt bearing portion 18 (two holes 50). Therefore, by simply lifting the steering column body slightly, the worker can align the tilt shaft portion 22 (hole 74) of the steering column 20 with the tilt bearing portion 18 (two holes 50) of the instrument panel R / F 12 and connect them with the bolt 52 (see FIG. 1). This allows the burden on the worker to be significantly reduced.

[0037] In the embodiment described above, the stopper 19 is joined to the connecting wall 48 of the instrument panel R / F 12 as a separate member, but the stopper 19 may be provided, for example, by expanding the connecting wall 48 to form a receiving shape. Also, the stopper 19 may be provided, for example, by bending the side wall 46 to form a receiving shape.

[0038] In addition, by providing the stopper 19, the rigidity of the instrument panel R / F 12 around the steering column 20 is increased, so that improvement in vehicle performance such as driving stability can be expected. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 12 instrument panel reinforcement (instrument panel R / F), 14 instrument panel reinforcement main body (instrument panel R / F main body), 15 column fastening portion, 16 column tilt support portion, 18 tilt bearing portion, 19 stopper, 20 steering column, 21 instrument panel fastening portion, 22 tilt axis portion, 24 link mechanism, 25 straight link, 26 bell crank, 30 rod, 32 electric portion, 40 stud bolt, 46 side wall, 48 connecting wall, 50 hole, 52 bolt, 70 steering shaft, 71 inner column, 72 outer column, 74 hole, 76 nut, 78 hole, 80 connecting axis, 82 support axis, 84, 86 movable axis, 102 instrument panel reinforcement.

Claims

[Claim 1] Equipped with instrument panel reinforcement and steering column, The instrument panel reinforcement includes a column fastening portion and a column tilt support portion, The steering column includes: an instrument panel fastening portion fastened to the column fastening portion of the instrument panel reinforcement; a tilt shaft portion supported by the column tilt support portion of the instrument panel reinforcement; an electric motor that extends and retracts a rod connected to the instrument panel fastening portion via a link mechanism, The steering column is configured so that a steering column body excluding the instrument panel fastening portion can be tilted relative to the instrument panel reinforcement around the tilt shaft portion supported by the column tilt support portion by the electric unit extending and contracting the rod, The column tilt support portion of the instrument panel reinforcement includes a stopper for suppressing the tilt shaft portion of the steering column from moving to a position displaced from the tilt bearing portion of the instrument panel reinforcement before connecting the steering column to the column tilt support portion of the instrument panel reinforcement after fastening the instrument panel fastening portion of the steering column to the column fastening portion of the instrument panel reinforcement in an assembly operation of the steering column to the instrument panel reinforcement. A steering structure characterized by:

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