Handle device

Abstract

To provide a handle device which has a simple structure and can properly protect an operator.SOLUTION: A handle device S includes a handle 15 and a steering column 45. A column shaft 48 in the steering column includes: a shaft body 55 disposed at the front side; and a cylinder part 49 disposed at the handle side. The shaft body has, at the rear end 55b side, a gas enclosing part 57 which is disposed slidably with respect to the cylinder part and may supply an expansion gas to an airbag 26. The gas enclosing part includes, on a rear end surface located at the handle side, a gas outflow hole closed by the a seal part. At a region of the boss part in the handle, a projection part 21 which may cleave the seal part when contacting with the seal part is disposed. The shaft body is configured to move rearward during a frontal collision of a vehicle. During the frontal collision of the vehicle, the gas enclosing part causes the seal part to contact with the projection part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering wheel device mounted on a vehicle, comprising a rotatable steering wheel and a steering column for pivotally supporting the steering wheel, and having an airbag folded and stored in a region of a boss portion of the steering wheel.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a steering wheel device, an inflater is disposed near a tubular steering column. When a frontal collision of the vehicle is detected, the inflater is activated, and inflation gas discharged from the inflater flows into the airbag through the steering column to inflate the airbag (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this steering wheel device, the inflation gas discharged from the inflater is also used to pull the steering wheel toward the vehicle body side.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional steering wheel device, in order to activate the inflater, it is necessary to dispose a collision detection sensor on the vehicle, which increases the number of parts and the cost.

[0005] The present invention solves the above problems and aims to provide a steering wheel device with a simple configuration that can accurately protect the driver.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The steering wheel device according to the present invention is mounted on a vehicle and includes a rotatable steering wheel and a steering column that pivotally supports the steering wheel. The steering wheel device has a configuration in which an airbag is folded and stored in a region of a boss portion of the steering wheel. The steering column is attached to a region of the boss portion of the steering wheel and includes a column shaft that constitutes the rotation center axis of the steering wheel. The column shaft includes a shaft body disposed on the front side separated from the steering wheel and a cylinder portion disposed on the steering wheel side and configured to be slidable with respect to the shaft body. The shaft body is disposed slidably with respect to the cylinder portion within the cylinder portion on the rear end side on the steering wheel side, and has a gas enclosure portion configured to enclose compressed gas therein and supply inflation gas to the airbag. The gas enclosure portion includes a gas outflow hole closed by a seal portion at the rear end surface on the steering wheel side. A protrusion that protrudes forward on the side of the gas enclosure portion in a region of the boss portion of the steering wheel and is capable of cleaving the seal portion when contacting the seal portion is disposed. The shaft body is configured to move rearward when receiving an impact force acting on the vehicle during a frontal collision of the vehicle. It is characterized in that, during the rearward movement of the shaft body during a frontal collision of the vehicle, the gas enclosure portion is configured to bring the seal portion into contact with the protrusion.

[0007] In the steering wheel device of the present invention, when a frontal collision of the vehicle occurs, the shaft body of the steering column itself is configured to move rearward upon receiving the impact force acting on the vehicle. And when a frontal collision of the vehicle occurs, along with the rearward movement of this shaft body, the gas-filled portion provided on the rear end side of the shaft body also moves rearward toward the steering wheel side. The rearward-moved gas-filled portion comes into contact with a protrusion provided in a region on the boss portion side of the steering wheel at a seal portion provided on the rear end surface. At this time, the protrusion causes the seal portion to crack, and the gas-filled portion causes the inflation gas to flow out from a gas outflow hole formed by cracking the seal portion. And the inflation gas flowing out from the gas-filled portion flows into the inside, and the airbag inflates. That is, in the steering wheel device of the present invention, even if a sensor for operating a member corresponding to an inflater for supplying inflation gas to the airbag is not provided in the vehicle, when a frontal collision of the vehicle occurs, by using the impact force acting on this vehicle, the inflation gas is caused to flow out from the gas-filled portion, so that the airbag can be inflated. Therefore, a simple configuration can be achieved, and the driver sitting in the driver's seat can be protected by the inflated airbag.

[0008] Therefore, in the steering wheel device of the present invention, with a simple configuration, the driver can be accurately protected.

[0009] Also, in the steering wheel device of the present invention, if the protrusion is formed in a cylindrical shape through which the inflation gas can pass and at least the tip side can be inserted into the gas outflow hole, the inflation gas flowing out from the gas outflow hole that is opened by cracking the seal portion can be smoothly made to flow into the airbag through the protrusion, which is preferable.

[0010] Furthermore, in the steering wheel device having the above configuration, if a cushioning material that can be plastically deformed when the shaft body moves rearward is interposed between the gas-filled portion and the boss portion, rattling around the gas-filled portion and generation of abnormal noises and the like during normal vehicle driving and the like can be accurately suppressed, which is preferable.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steering wheel device S of the embodiment is mounted on a single-seater vehicle V. This vehicle V is an electric vehicle powered by electricity. In the embodiment, the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions coincide with the front-rear, up-down, and left-right directions of the vehicle V unless otherwise specified.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 3, the steering wheel device S of the embodiment includes a rotatable steering wheel 15 and a steering column 45 that pivotally supports the steering wheel 15.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the steering wheel 15 includes a steering wheel body 16 and an airbag device 25 disposed above (rearward) the boss portion 16b at the center of the steering wheel body 16.

[0015] In the case of the embodiment, the steering wheel body 16 includes a substantially annular ring portion 16a that is gripped when the driver D steers, a boss portion 16b disposed substantially at the center of the ring portion 16a and connected to a column shaft 48 described later, and a plurality of spoke portions 16c that connect the boss portion 16b and the ring portion 16a. Further, the steering wheel body 16 includes a core metal 19 made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy and disposed so as to connect each of the ring portion 16a, the boss portion 16b, and the spoke portion 16c. A coating layer (not shown) made of a synthetic resin is coated on the portion of the core metal 19 corresponding to the ring portion 16a. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, the steering wheel body 16 also includes a lower cover 18 made of a synthetic resin that covers the outer peripheral side of the region in front of the core metal 19 (the region between a column cover 46 described later and the core metal 19) when mounted on the vehicle.

[0016] In the core metal 19, at the center of the boss part core metal 19a that constitutes the region of the boss part 16b, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a protrusion 21 that protrudes forward (toward the gas filling part 57 described later) is disposed. This protrusion 21 is configured to be able to crack the seal part 62 when contacting the seal part 62 that closes the gas outflow hole 60a described later at the rear end surface 57a of the gas filling part 57 (see A and B in FIG. 7). Further, in the case of the embodiment, the protrusion 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape through which the expansion gas G flowing out from the gas outflow hole 60a opened when the seal part 62 is cracked can pass. Specifically, in the case of the embodiment, the protrusion 21 has a through-hole part 22 penetrating through the center, and the outer shape is formed in a substantially frustum of a cone shape with a narrow width from the tip 21a (front end) side on the gas filling part 57 side, and the tip 21a (front end) has an acute-angled cross-section so as to be able to break through the seal part 62 when contacting the seal part 62. The through-hole part 22 disposed in the protrusion 21 is formed so as to penetrate through the entire front and rear regions including the boss part core metal 19a. This protrusion 21 is disposed so as to enter the cylinder part 49 of the column shaft 48 described later in the vehicle-mounted state (so as to protrude forward from the rear wall part 53 in the cylinder part 49) (see A in FIGS. 6 and 7). The outer diameter dimension in the vicinity of the base part 21b (rear end) of the protrusion 21 is set smaller than the inner diameter dimension of the gas outflow hole 60a formed in the gas filling part 57, and after the seal part 62 is cracked, it is configured to be insertable into the gas outflow hole 60a up to the region in the vicinity of the base part 21b (see B in FIG. 7). And in the embodiment, the compressed gas G0 (expansion gas G) sealed in the gas filling part 57 flows into the airbag 26 through the through-hole part 22 of the protrusion 21 penetrating through the gas outflow hole 60a and the gas flow path part 37 described later after the seal part 62 is cracked (see B and 8 in FIG. 7). The length dimension in the front-rear direction of the protrusion 21 (the protruding amount from the rear wall part 53 of the cylinder part 49 when the vehicle is mounted) is set slightly smaller than the length dimension in the front-rear direction of the cushioning material 65 described later, and the protrusion 21 is arranged so as to have a gap with the gas filling part 57 in the vehicle-mounted state (in a state of non-contact with the seal part 62) (see A in FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0017] In the embodiment, the handle body 16 (handle 15) is attached to the column shaft 48 of the steering column 45 by being connected to the region around the protrusion 21 in the boss part core metal 19a on the rear end face side of the cylinder part 49 (the rear face side of the rear wall part 53).

[0018] As shown in FIG. 6, the airbag device 25 includes an airbag 26 that is folded and stored, a case 28 as a storage part that stores and holds the airbag 26, an airbag cover 33 that covers the folded airbag 26, and a retainer 30 for attaching the airbag 26 to the case 28.

[0019] The airbag 26 is formed in a bag shape from a flexible sheet body (specifically, a woven fabric made of polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, etc.) that can be inflated by allowing inflation gas to flow into it. In the case of the embodiment, the airbag 26 is configured to inflate into a substantially disc shape that can cover the rear face side of the ring part 16a over the front face (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3). In the airbag 26, an inflow opening 26a for allowing the inflation gas G flowing out from the gas enclosure part 57 to flow into the inside is formed at the center on the front face side (front wall part) when inflation is completed (see FIG. 6). The inflow opening 26a is formed to have a substantially circular opening, although detailed illustration is omitted.

[0020] The case 28 for housing the folded airbag 26 has a substantially box shape with an opening at the rear side (driver's side), and includes a bottom wall portion 28a disposed at the front end side and a substantially rectangular tube-shaped peripheral wall portion 28c extending rearward from the bottom wall portion 28a. A through hole 28b is formed at substantially the center of the bottom wall portion 28a corresponding to the inflow opening 26a formed in the airbag 26 (see FIG. 6). The airbag 26 has the peripheral edge portion of the inflow opening 26a attached to the peripheral edge portion of the through hole 28b in the bottom wall portion 28a of the case 28 using a retainer 30. The retainer 30 is capable of pressing the peripheral edge portion of the inflow opening 26a in the airbag 26, and has bolts 30a protruding at a plurality of radially arranged positions around the inflow opening 26a (specifically 4 positions, detailed illustration is omitted). Using these bolts 30a and nuts 31, the peripheral edge of the inflow opening 26a of the airbag 26 is connected to the peripheral edge portion of the through hole 28b in the bottom wall portion 28a of the case 28 and the rear end 37b of a gas flow path portion 37 described later.

[0021] The airbag cover 33 is made of synthetic resin and, as shown in FIG. 6, includes a ceiling wall portion 33a that covers the rear of the airbag 26 housed in the case 28, and a side wall portion 33b that extends forward from near the outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion 33a and is attached to the peripheral wall portion 28c of the case 28. A door portion (reference numeral omitted) that is pushed open by the expanding airbag 26 is formed in the ceiling wall portion 33a.

[0022] This airbag device 25 is attached to the boss part inner core 19a using mounting bolts 35 (see FIG. 6) for attaching a horn switch (not shown). Although detailed illustration is omitted, these mounting bolts 35 are arranged at a plurality of radially radiating locations centered around the center of the case 28 (through-hole 28b). Also, between the airbag device 25 and the inner core 19 (boss part inner core 19a), a gas flow path part 37 for flowing the inflation gas G flowing out from the gas enclosure part 57 toward the airbag 26 side is arranged (see FIG. 6). The gas flow path part 37 is formed from a cylindrical body made of a flexible sheet body (specifically, in the case of the embodiment, a woven fabric made of polyester yarn, polyamide yarn, etc., similar to the airbag 26). The rear end 37b side of the gas flow path part 37 is attached, as described above, together with the periphery of the inflow opening 26a of the airbag 26 using the retainer 30, to the periphery of the through-hole 28b in the bottom wall part 28a of the case 28. The front end 37a side of the gas flow path part 37 is attached using bolts 38 to a region near the protrusion part 21 in the boss part inner core 19a (specifically, the periphery of the through-hole part 22 passing through the protrusion part 21). The bolts 38 for attaching the front end 37a side of the gas flow path part 37 to the periphery of the through-hole part 22 in the boss part inner core 19a are arranged at 4 radially radiating locations, although detailed illustration is omitted.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the steering column 45 includes a column shaft 48 that constitutes the rotation center axis of the steering wheel 15, and a column cover 46 that covers the periphery of the region on the rear end side of the column shaft 48. The column cover 46 is made of synthetic resin and is configured to cover substantially the entire outer peripheral side of the region that protrudes rearward from the instrument panel (hereinafter abbreviated as "IP") 5 in the column shaft 48.

[0024] The column shaft 48 is arranged to be inclined downward to the front, and as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes a shaft body 55 arranged on the front side separated from the steering wheel 15, and a cylinder part 49 arranged on the steering wheel 15 side and configured to slidably support the shaft body 55.

[0025] Specifically, the cylinder part 49 is configured to be slidable with respect to a gas enclosure part 57 disposed on the rear end 55b side of the shaft body 55. As shown in FIGS. 4, 6, and 8, it has a cylindrical peripheral wall part 50, and a front wall part 51 and a rear wall part 53 that close the front end side and the rear end side of the peripheral wall part 50, and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with both front and rear end sides closed. In the case of the embodiment, an insertion hole 52 for inserting a main body shaft part 56 of the shaft body 55, which will be described later, is formed to open in a substantially hexagonal shape (see FIG. 5). An insertion hole 53a through which a protrusion part 21 protruding from the boss part core metal 19a can be inserted is formed in the rear wall part 53 (see A in FIGS. 6 and 7).

[0026] The shaft body 55 includes a main body shaft part 56 and a gas enclosure part 57 disposed on the rear end 55b side on the handle 15 side. In the case of the embodiment, the main body shaft part 56 is formed in a substantially hexagonal prism shape that can be inserted into an insertion hole 52 formed in the front wall part 51 of the cylinder part 49 (see FIG. 5). By inserting the hexagonal prism-shaped main body shaft part 56 of this shaft body 55 into the insertion hole 52 that opens in a hexagonal shape formed in the front wall part 51 of the cylinder part 49, when the cylinder part 49 rotates during the rotation operation of the handle 15, they can rotate together. Further, the shaft body 55 is inserted into the insertion hole 52 with the main body shaft part 56 so as to be slidable with respect to the cylinder part 49.

[0027] The gas enclosure part 57 provided on the rear end 55b side of the shaft body 55 is disposed slidably with respect to the cylinder part 49 within the cylinder part 49. This gas enclosure part 57 is for supplying the inflation gas G to the airbag 26, and is configured with its outer shape in a substantially cylindrical shape with both end sides closed and compressed gas G0 enclosed inside. Specifically, the gas enclosure part 57 includes a cylindrical peripheral wall part 58, a front wall part 59 that closes the front end side of the peripheral wall part 58, and a rear wall part 60 that closes the rear end side of the peripheral wall part 58. The outer diameter dimension of the peripheral wall part 58 of this gas enclosure part 57 is set to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter dimension of the peripheral wall part 50 in the cylinder part 49 and to be a dimension slidable within the cylinder part 49.

[0028] On the rear wall portion 60 on the side of the rear end face 57a of the gas enclosure portion 57, a gas outflow hole 60a through which the inflation gas G can flow out is provided, and this gas outflow hole 60a is closed by a seal portion 62 (see A in FIGS. 6 and 7). The seal portion 62 is formed of a metal foil and is configured to be cleavable so that when it comes into contact with the protrusion portion 21 during the rearward movement of the gas enclosure portion 57, it is pierced by the protrusion portion 21 (see B in FIG. 7). The gas outflow hole 60a is formed to open in a substantially circular shape at one location at the center of the rear wall portion 60. The inner diameter dimension of this gas outflow hole 60a is set to a dimension that allows the protrusion portion 21 to be inserted up to the region on the base portion 21b side, as described above. Further, in the embodiment, the gas enclosure portion 57 is housed in the cylinder portion 49 such that a gap is provided between it and the rear wall portion 53 of the cylinder portion 49. Specifically, the rear wall portion 60 is disposed so as to be positioned in front of the tip end 21a (front end) of the protrusion portion 21 (so as to provide a gap between it and the protrusion portion 21). When the shaft body 55 moves rearward, the gas enclosure portion 57 moves rearward within the cylinder portion 49, and such movement is completed by the contact between the inner peripheral edge of the gas outflow hole 60a formed by cleaving the seal portion 62 and the outer peripheral surface of the base portion 21b side of the protrusion portion 21 (see B in FIG. 7).

[0029] Within the cylinder part 49, a buffer material 65 is interposed between the gas enclosure part 57 and the rear wall part 53 (that is, between the gas enclosure part 57 and the boss part 16b disposed adjacent to the rear of the rear wall part 53) (see A in FIGS. 6 and 7). This buffer material 65 is configured not to deform in the vehicle-mounted state and to be plastically deformable while being compressed when pressed by the rear wall part 60 of the gas enclosure part 57. In the case of the embodiment, it is composed of a hard foam such as foamed polyurethane. Further, in the case of the embodiment, the buffer material 65 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that can cover the outer peripheral side of the protrusion part 21 over the entire circumference (the protrusion part 21 can be inserted therein), and is disposed so as to fill the gap between the gas enclosure part 57 and the rear wall part 53. Also, as described above, the buffer material 65 is set such that the length dimension in the front-rear direction is slightly larger than the length dimension in the front-rear direction of the protrusion part 21 (the amount of protrusion from the rear wall part 53 of the cylinder part 49 when mounted on the vehicle), and the front end face and the rear end face are respectively configured to abut against the rear end face 57a of the gas enclosure part 57 (the rear surface of the rear wall part 60) and the front surface of the rear wall part 53 of the cylinder part 49. This buffer material 65, after the rearward movement of the gas enclosure part 57 (when the inner peripheral edge of the gas outflow hole 60a comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the base part 21b side of the protrusion part 21 as described above), is configured to be crushed while reducing the width dimension in the front-rear direction, and will be disposed in the widened state between the rear wall part 60 of the gas enclosure part 57 and the rear wall part 53 of the cylinder part 49 (see B in FIG. 7).

[0030] In the embodiment, the column shaft 48 is supported by a bearing 70 in a region of the cylinder portion 49 (specifically, a region that protrudes rearward from the instrument panel 5 and is covered by the column cover 46 on the outer peripheral side) (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The bearing 70 is connected to a reinforcement 2, which is a member on the vehicle body 1 side, using a bracket 3. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, an intermediate shaft 9 is connected to the front end 55a side of the shaft body 55 via a universal joint 8. The intermediate shaft 9 is disposed so as to extend downward from the front end 55a of the shaft body 55, and a gearbox 12 is connected to the lower end side of the intermediate shaft 9 via a universal joint 11. The gearbox 12 is connected to the vehicle body 1 side of the vehicle V via a bracket (not shown) and is also connected to the front wheels (reference numerals omitted) of the vehicle V via a ball joint or the like (not shown). When the shaft body 55 receives an impact force F (see FIGS. 2 and 3) acting on the vehicle V during a frontal collision of the vehicle V, it will move rearward (see B in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8).

[0031] In the steering wheel device S of the embodiment, when a frontal collision of the vehicle V occurs, the shaft body 55 of the steering column 45 itself is configured to move rearward in response to the impact force F acting on the vehicle V. Then, when a frontal collision of the vehicle V occurs, along with the rearward movement of the shaft body 55, the gas-filled portion 57 provided on the rear end 55b side of the shaft body 55 also moves rearward toward the steering wheel 15 side. The rearward-moved gas-filled portion 57 comes into contact with a protrusion 21 disposed in a region on the boss portion 16b side of the steering wheel 15 at a seal portion 62 provided on the rear end surface 57a. At this time, the protrusion 21 causes the seal portion 62 to split, and the gas-filled portion 57 causes the inflation gas G to flow out from a gas outflow hole 60a formed by splitting the seal portion 62 (see B in FIG. 7). Then, the inflation gas G flowing out from the gas-filled portion 57 flows into the interior, and the airbag 26 expands as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 8 and 3. That is, in the steering wheel device S of the embodiment, even if a sensor for operating a member corresponding to an inflater for supplying inflation gas to the airbag is not provided in the vehicle, when a frontal collision of the vehicle V occurs, by utilizing the impact force acting on this vehicle V, the inflation gas G is caused to flow out from the gas-filled portion 57, so that the airbag 26 can be inflated. Therefore, a simple configuration can be achieved, and the driver D seated in the driver's seat DS can be protected by the inflated airbag 26.

[0032] Therefore, in the steering wheel device S of the embodiment, with a simple configuration, the driver D can be accurately protected.

[0033] In the steering wheel device S of the embodiment, the rearward movement of the gas-filled portion 57 is completed by the contact between the inner peripheral edge of the gas outflow hole 60a formed by splitting the seal portion 62 and the outer peripheral surface on the base portion 21b side of the protrusion 21. When the impact force F acting from the front is large, after the rearward movement of the gas-filled portion 57, the column shaft 48 itself moves rearward together with the steering wheel 15.

[0034] Further, in the steering wheel device S of the embodiment, the protrusion 21 is formed in a cylindrical shape through which the inflation gas G can pass, and is configured such that at least the tip 21a side can be inserted into the gas outflow hole 60a. Therefore, the inflation gas G flowing out from the gas outflow hole 60a that is opened by splitting the seal portion 62 can smoothly flow into the airbag 26 through the protrusion 21. If such a point is not considered, instead of forming the protrusion in a cylindrical (hollow) shape, a configuration may be adopted in which a flow path for flowing the inflation gas flowing out from the gas outflow hole is separately provided by simply making the protrusion needle-shaped that can pierce the seal portion.

[0035] In particular, in the steering wheel device S of the embodiment, since the protrusion 21 is configured to be insertable into the gas outflow hole 60a up to the vicinity of the base portion 21b, compared with the case where only the tip side of the protrusion is configured to be insertable into the gas outflow hole, the amount of movement of the shaft body 55 relative to the cylinder portion 49 of the shaft body 55 corresponding to the protruding amount (front-rear length) of the protrusion 21 can be ensured. After the rearward movement of the gas enclosure portion 57, the amount of rearward movement when the steering column 45 and the steering wheel 15 move rearward can be reduced. If such a point is not considered, the protrusion may be configured such that only the tip side can be inserted into the gas outflow hole.

[0036] Furthermore, in the steering wheel device S of the embodiment, a cushioning material 65 that can be plastically deformed when the shaft body 55 moves rearward is interposed between the gas enclosure portion 57 and the boss portion 16b (the rear wall portion 53 of the cylinder portion 49). Therefore, rattling around the gas enclosure portion 57 and the generation of abnormal noises can be accurately suppressed during normal vehicle driving. In particular, in the steering wheel device S of the embodiment, the cushioning material 65 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that can cover the outer peripheral side of the protrusion 21 over the entire circumference, and is disposed so as to fill the gap between the rear end surface 57a of the gas enclosure portion 57 and the rear wall portion 53 of the cylinder portion 49. Therefore, in the vehicle-mounted state, contact between the protrusion 21 and the cylinder portion 49 can be reliably prevented, and rattling around the gas enclosure portion 57 can be stably suppressed.

[0037] Note that, without disposing such a buffer material, as shown in A and B of FIG. 9, on the outer peripheral side near the rear end of the gas filling portion 57 (between the peripheral wall portion 50 in the cylinder portion 49), the movement with respect to the cylinder portion 49 during normal running or the like is restricted, and an O-ring 75 that deforms when an impact force F acts on the shaft body 55 and allows the rearward movement of the gas filling portion 57 (shaft body 55) may be arranged. Even with such a configuration using the O-ring 75, the generation of rattling around the gas filling portion 57 during normal running can be accurately suppressed.

[0038] The steering device S of the present invention is mounted on a single-seater electric vehicle. The single-seater electric vehicle has a body that is made as small and lightweight as possible, the distance from the front end of the body to the steering wheel is short, and there is no engine disposed in front of the driver's seat. However, even in such a vehicle, if the steering device S of the present invention is mounted, when a frontal collision occurs with an oncoming vehicle or an object, the airbag 26 can be inflated by using the shaft body 55 that moves rearward. At the same time, a large rearward movement of the shaft body 55 can be suppressed, and the driver D can be accurately protected by the inflated airbag 26. Of course, the steering device S of the present invention is not limited to a single-seater electric vehicle and can also be mounted on a multi-seater electric vehicle or the like.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0039] 15... Steering wheel, 16... Steering wheel body, 16b... Boss portion, 19... Shaft core, 19a... Boss portion shaft core, 21... Protrusion, 21a... Tip, 22... Through hole portion, 25... Airbag device, 26... Airbag, 45... Steering column, 48... Column shaft, 49... Cylinder portion, 55... Shaft body, 55b... Rear end, 57... Gas filling portion, 57a... Rear end face, 60a... Gas outflow hole, 62... Seal portion, 75... Buffer material, S... Steering device.

Claims

1. A steering wheel device mounted on a vehicle, comprising a rotatable steering wheel and a steering column that pivotally supports the steering wheel, wherein an airbag is folded and stored in a region of a boss portion of the steering wheel. The steering column is attached to a region of the boss portion of the steering wheel and includes a column shaft that constitutes a rotation center axis of the steering wheel. The column shaft includes a shaft body disposed on the front side separated from the steering wheel, and a cylinder portion disposed on the steering wheel side and configured to be slidable with respect to the shaft body. The shaft body is disposed slidably with respect to the cylinder portion within the cylinder portion on the rear end side toward the steering wheel, and has a gas enclosure portion configured to enclose compressed gas therein and supply inflation gas to the airbag. The gas enclosure portion includes a gas outflow hole closed by a seal portion on a rear end surface toward the steering wheel side. A protrusion is disposed in a region of the boss portion of the steering wheel, protruding forward toward the gas enclosure portion side and configured to be able to tear the seal portion when contacting the seal portion. The shaft body is configured to move rearward when receiving an impact force acting on the vehicle during a frontal collision of the vehicle. A steering wheel device, characterized in that, during rearward movement of the shaft body during a frontal collision of the vehicle, the gas enclosure portion is configured to bring the seal portion into contact with the protrusion.

2. The steering wheel device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is cylindrical and configured to be able to insert at least the tip end side into the gas outflow hole so that the inflation gas can pass through.

3. The steering wheel device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a buffer material that can be plastically deformed during rearward movement of the shaft body is interposed between the gas enclosure portion and the boss portion.

Images