Steering beam support structure

Abstract

To provide a steering beam supporting structure suppressing damage to an occupant by a steering device at a collision.SOLUTION: A steering beam supporting structure that is provided at a coupling place between a front pillar lower 10 and a steering beam 110 laid between left and right front pillars, includes: a first surface portion 121 that is united with the steering beam and is disposed at an interval from the front pillar lower; a second surface lower 123 that couples the first surface portion and the front pillar lower on the vehicle front side with respect to the steering beam; a third surface portion 124 that couples the first surface and the front pillar lower on the vehicle rear side with respect to the steering beam; and a load input portion that inputs a local load in a lower area in a joint portion of the first surface portion and the second surface portion and a joint portion of the first surface portion and the third surface portion, according to the deformation of the front pillar lower at a collision.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering beam support structure provided at a connection between a front pillar lower and a steering beam of a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In a vehicle such as an automobile, a steering column that holds an upper steering shaft to which a steering wheel is connected is supported by a steering beam. The steering beam is a beam-like member that spans between the left and right front pillar lowers. The front pillar lowers are columnar members that are provided on the left and right sides of the front part of the vehicle compartment and extend vertically.

[0003] As a technology relating to such a vehicle body structure around a steering beam, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a front body structure for an automobile that reduces vehicle weight and costs and transmits input during a vehicle collision from an apron member to the rear of the vehicle via a front pillar, in which the input during a vehicle collision is transmitted rearward through the axis of the side member and from the side member to the apron member and front pillar via a connecting member. It also describes that the load transmitted to the front pillar is absorbed in the buckling area, and is then distributed and transmitted from the pillar reinforcement in the load transmission area to the belt line reinforcement via a bead 15, and is also distributed and transmitted to the roof rail and rocker panel. Patent Document 2 describes a vehicle underbody structure that prevents the B-pillar from tipping toward the interior of the vehicle cabin and the cross member from breaking during a side collision, by providing a reinforcing member at the bottom of the B-pillar to absorb the collision load during a side collision and reducing the moment M1 generated at the B-pillar toward the interior of the vehicle cabin.It also describes that the flange of the floor cross member and the top of the connecting protrusion are offset in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle body, and the collision load acting on the rocker is transmitted to the floor cross member via the connecting protrusion and the vertical wall of the reinforcing member. Patent Document 3 describes a steering column support structure that efficiently supports a steering column, in which a pair of upper and lower circular bolt insertion holes are formed in the rear wall portions of the left and right front pillars at positions corresponding to the upper and lower bolt insertion holes. It also describes that weld nuts are welded to the front surface of rear wall portion A coaxially with the bolt insertion holes, and that the instrument panel reinforcement is fastened to the front pillar by overlapping the mounting portion with the rear wall portion of the front pillar from the rear side of the vehicle and threading bolts into the pair of upper and lower bolt insertion holes and the weld nuts. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-148745 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-120525 [Patent Document 3] International Publication No. WO2011 / 155031A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a small overlap offset collision, in which an object strikes the front of the vehicle only in a small area near the side edge in the vehicle width direction, there is a concern that a relatively large load will be transmitted to the passenger compartment, causing deformation of the passenger compartment, without being able to fully absorb the collision energy, as opposed to an offset collision or full overlap collision, in which the overlap is relatively large. In particular, if the steering beam supporting the steering device approaches the front seat due to deformation of the vehicle body, there is concern about the impact of the steering device on the occupants. In view of the above-mentioned problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a steering beam support structure that reduces the harm caused to an occupant by the steering device during a collision. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a steering beam support structure according to one aspect of the present invention is a steering beam support structure provided at a connection point between a front pillar lower that is provided at a side in the front part of a vehicle interior in which an occupant is accommodated and that extends in the vertical direction, and a steering beam that is provided between the left and right front pillar lowers and to which a steering column of a steering device is attached, the steering beam support structure comprising: a first surface portion that is connected to an end of the steering beam in the vehicle width direction and that is spaced apart from the front pillar lower; and a joint portion of the first surface portion with the steering beam. a second surface portion that is provided further forward of the vehicle than the joint between the first surface portion and the steering beam and connects the first surface portion and the front pillar lower; a third surface portion that is provided further rearward of the vehicle than the joint between the first surface portion and the steering beam and connects the first surface portion and the front pillar lower; and a load input portion that inputs a local load to at least one of a region below the steering beam at the joint between the first surface portion and the second surface portion and a region below the steering beam at the joint between the first surface portion and the third surface portion, depending on deformation of the front pillar lower during a collision. According to this, in response to the deformation of the front pillar lower during a collision, at least one of the ridge lines (corner-shaped joint lines) between the first and second surface portions and the ridge lines between the first and third surface portions is collapsed, thereby deforming the area of ​​the first surface portion where the steering beam is joined in the direction of swinging up the steering beam. This allows the steering device to be raised in the event of a collision, thereby preventing the steering wheel and other components from injuring the occupant's thighs, lower abdomen, etc.

[0007] In the present invention, the region of the first surface to which the steering beam is connected can be configured to generate a moment in a direction that causes the middle portion of the steering beam to rise relative to the end portion in response to destruction of at least one of the ridges of the joint between the first surface and the second surface and the joint between the first surface and the third surface by the load input portion. This makes it possible to reliably obtain the above-mentioned effects.

[0008] In the present invention, the front pillar lower exhibits torsional deformation in a direction in which the rear portion is displaced outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front portion during a small overlap offset collision, and the load input portion can have at least one of a first member connecting the joint between the first surface portion and the second surface portion to the front portion of the front pillar lower, and a second member connecting the joint between the first surface portion and the third surface portion to the rear portion of the front pillar lower. This allows at least one of the ridge lines between the first and second surface portions and the ridge line between the first and third surface portions to collapse in response to the deformation of the front pillar lower that is specific to the occurrence of a small overlap offset collision.

[0009] In the present invention, the first surface portion may be formed in a planar shape extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction and the vertical direction, and the second surface portion and the third surface portion may be formed in a planar shape extending in the vehicle width direction and the vertical direction. In the present invention, the first surface portion may be configured to be formed in a curved shape that is curved in a direction that convexly faces inward in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the vehicle longitudinal direction. According to these inventions, the above-mentioned effects can be appropriately obtained with a simple configuration. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a steering beam support structure that reduces the harm caused to an occupant by the steering device during a collision. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic plan view showing a vehicle body structure having a first embodiment of a steering beam support structure to which the present invention is applied, as viewed from above the vehicle. [Figure 2]1 is a schematic side view showing a vehicle body structure of a vehicle having a steering beam support structure of a first embodiment as viewed from the vehicle width direction. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic external perspective view of a steering beam support structure according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating deformation of the steering beam support structure of the first embodiment during a small overlap offset collision. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a steering beam support structure to which the present invention is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] First Embodiment A first embodiment of a steering beam support structure to which the present invention is applied will be described below. The steering beam support structure of the first embodiment is provided in an automobile such as a passenger car in which a power unit compartment 3 is provided on the front side of a passenger compartment 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a vehicle body structure having a steering beam support structure according to a first embodiment, as viewed from above the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the vehicle body structure of FIG. 1 as viewed from the vehicle width direction.

[0013] The vehicle body structure 1 is characterized by the configuration of the periphery of the joint between the vehicle interior 2 and the power unit compartment 3. The passenger compartment 2 is a space for accommodating passengers and the like (not shown). The power unit compartment 3 is a space that accommodates a power unit such as an engine, a transmission, a motor generator, and their accessories (not shown). The power unit compartment 3 is formed to protrude from the front end of the passenger compartment 2 toward the front side of the vehicle.

[0014] The vehicle body structure 1 is formed by having a front pillar lower 10, a front pillar upper 20, a toe board 30, a toe board cross member 40, a floor panel 50, a front side frame 60, an upper frame 70, a strut housing 80, a suspension cross member 90, etc.

[0015] The front pillar lowers 10 are columnar members provided on the left and right sides at the front end of the vehicle interior. The lower front pillar 10 extends in the vertical direction. The front pillar lower 10 is formed so that the cross section thereof, when cut along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, has a closed cross section. The front pillar lower 10 is provided in an area below the lower ends of the front window glass and the front door glass (not shown) (below the so-called greenhouse).

[0016] The upper front pillar 20 is a columnar member that protrudes upward from the upper end of the lower front pillar 10. The front pillar lower 10 and the front pillar upper 20 together form a front pillar (A pillar) of the vehicle. The upper front pillar 20 is tilted backward so that the upper end is located toward the rear of the vehicle relative to the lower end. The upper front pillar 20 is disposed so as to be inclined inward so that its upper end is located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction relative to its lower end. The front pillar upper 20 is formed so that the cross section thereof when cut along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof has a closed cross section. The front pillar upper 20 is disposed along the side edges of the front window glass and the front edges of the front door glass. The rear end of the front pillar upper 20 is continuously connected to a roof side frame (not shown) that extends along the side of the roof (not shown). The roof side frames are connected to the upper ends of center pillars (A pillars) and rear pillars (C pillars, D pillars, etc.) not shown.

[0017] The toe board 30 is a panel-like member provided between the left and right front pillar lowers 10. The toe board 30 is a part that constitutes the front part of the lower half of the passenger compartment 2. The upper portion 31 of the toe board 30 extends in the up-down direction when viewed in the vehicle width direction. The lower portion 32 of the toe board 30 is formed to extend downward from the lower end of the upper portion 31. The lower portion 32 is disposed tilted forward so that its lower end is located on the rear side of the vehicle relative to its upper end (the portion connected to the upper portion 31).

[0018] The toe board cross member 40 is disposed between the upper portions of the left and right front lower pillars 10. The toe board cross member 40 is formed to protrude toward the front side of the vehicle relative to the upper portion 31 of the toe board 30. The toeboard cross member 40 extends along the lower edge of the front windshield.

[0019] The floor panel 50 is a panel-shaped member that constitutes the floor surface of the vehicle interior 2. The floor panel 50 is formed to protrude from the lower end of the lower portion 32 of the toe board 30 toward the rear of the vehicle. A side sill 51 is provided at the side end of the floor panel 50. The side sill 51 is a structural member that has a closed cross section and extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The front end of the side sill 51 is connected to the lower end of the front pillar lower 10 .

[0020] The front side frame 60 is a structural member of the vehicle body that supports a power unit (not shown) and part of the front suspension. The front side frame 60 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle from the front of the passenger compartment 2 to the power unit compartment 3. The front side frame 60 is configured so that its cross section when viewed from the vehicle longitudinal direction is a closed cross section.

[0021] A front portion 61 of the front side frame 60 is formed to protrude toward the front side of the vehicle from near the joint between the upper portion 31 and the lower portion 32 of the toe board 30. The middle portion 62 of the front side frame 60 is disposed along the front surface (lower surface) of the lower portion 32 of the toe board 30. A rear portion 63 of the front side frame 60 extends along the lower surface of the floor panel 50 in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle. The middle portion 62 and the rear portion 63 are fixed to the toe board 30 and the floor panel 50, respectively, by welding or the like.

[0022] The front side frame 60 is disposed on the inner side of the front lower pillar 10 in the vehicle width direction. A pair of front side frames 60 are provided spaced apart in the vehicle width direction. The main engine of the power unit and other components are disposed between the left and right front side frames 60. On the outer side of the front side frame 60 in the vehicle width direction, a front wheel FW and part of a suspension device (not shown) that supports the front wheel FW are arranged.

[0023] The upper frame 70 is a structural member that protrudes from the front of the lower front pillar 10 toward the front side of the vehicle. The upper frame 70 has a rectangular closed cross section when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction. The front end of the upper frame 70 protrudes toward the front of the vehicle relative to the strut housing 80. The rear end of the upper frame 70 is joined to the front portion of the lower front pillar 10 near the upper end of the lower front pillar 10 by, for example, welding.

[0024] The strut housing 80 is a part that houses part of the suspension device. The strut housing 80 can be formed, for example, as a box-like structure that is open on the lower side. For example, if the suspension device is a McPherson strut type, the strut housing 80 houses the upper part of the strut (not shown). The strut has a shock absorber and a coil spring wound around the outer diameter side of the shock absorber. The lower end of the shock absorber is fastened to a hub bearing housing (hub knuckle) (not shown) to which a front wheel FW is rotatably attached. The strut housing 80 is formed with a strut top mount portion (not shown) to which the upper end of the strut is fastened.

[0025] The lower portion of the strut housing 80 is joined by welding or the like to the outer portion of the front portion 61 of the front side frame 60 in the vehicle width direction. The joint between the strut housing 80 and the front side frame 60 is located on the vehicle front side of the joint between the front side frame 60 and the toe board 30 with a gap between them. The upper portion of the strut housing 80 is joined by welding or the like to the inner side portion of the upper frame 70 in the vehicle width direction.

[0026] The suspension cross member 90 is a beam-shaped structural member that is provided between the front portions 61 of the left and right front side frames 60 . The suspension cross member 90 is disposed adjacent to the strut housing 80 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. For example, when the power unit of the vehicle has an engine as a power source for running, the suspension cross member 90 is provided with an engine mount that supports the main engine via an elastic body. Furthermore, suspension cross member 90 is fitted with components of a suspension device, such as a transverse link (lower arm).

[0027] In the first embodiment, the vehicle further includes a steering device 100 . The steering device 100 steers the vehicle by applying a steering angle to the front wheels FW. The steering device 100 includes a steering wheel 101, a steering column 102, a bracket 103, and the like.

[0028] The steering wheel 101 is a member through which a driver (not shown) inputs steering operations. The steering wheel 101 is formed, for example, in a circular ring shape. The central axis of the steering wheel 101 is arranged along the front-rear direction of the vehicle in a plan view seen from above. The central axis of the steering wheel 101 is inclined so that the rear side of the vehicle is higher than the front side in a side view seen from the vehicle width direction.

[0029] The steering column 102 is a portion that houses a steering shaft (not shown) in a state in which the steering shaft can rotate around a central axis. The steering shaft is a rotation shaft that transmits the rotation of the steering wheel 101 to a steering gear box (not shown). The bracket 103 is a member that fixes the steering column 102 to the lower part of the middle part of the steering beam 110 .

[0030] A steering column 102 of the steering device 100 is attached to the vehicle body structure 1 via a steering beam 110, which will be described below. The steering beam 110 is a beam-shaped member that is provided between the left and right front pillar lowers 10. The main body of the steering beam 110 is formed, for example, from a round steel pipe material. The steering beam 110 is configured by arranging a straight round pipe material so that its central axis is aligned along the vehicle width direction.

[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the steering beam support structure of the first embodiment, showing a state before a collision. Both ends of the steering beam 110 in the vehicle width direction are attached to the left and right front pillar lowers 10 via a steering beam fixing box 120 and a fixing plate 130, which will be described below. The bracket 120 and the fixing plate 130 cooperate with the front pillar lower 10 to function as the steering beam support structure of the present invention.

[0032] The steering beam fixing box 120 is configured to have an inner side surface portion 121, an outer side surface portion 122, a front surface portion 123, and a rear surface portion . The inner side surface portion 121, the outer side surface portion 122, the front surface portion 123, and the rear surface portion 124 are formed from a material that is capable of elastic deformation and regenerative deformation, such as steel or an aluminum alloy.

[0033] The inner side surface portion 121 is a flat surface portion (first surface portion) that protrudes from the end portion of the steering beam 110 in the vehicle width direction in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction of the vehicle. The inner side surface portion 121 is formed to have a rectangular planar shape when viewed from the inside in the vehicle width direction. The outer side surface portion 122 is a flat surface portion disposed on the outer side of the inner side surface portion 121 in the vehicle width direction.

[0034] The outer side surface portion 122 is formed in a rectangular shape in plan view as seen in the vehicle width direction, similar to the inner side surface portion 121. The outer side surface portion 122 is disposed opposite to the inner side surface portion 121 with a gap therebetween in the vehicle width direction. The outer side surface portion 122 is joined to the inner surface portion of the fixing plate 130 in the vehicle width direction by mechanical fastening means such as bolts, welding, or the like.

[0035] The front surface portion 123 is a surface portion (second surface portion) that connects the front edge portion of the inner side surface portion 121 and the front edge portion of the outer side surface portion 122. The front surface 123 is formed in a flat plate shape that is rectangular when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The rear surface portion 124 is a surface portion (third surface portion) that connects the rear edge portion of the inner side surface portion 121 and the rear edge portion of the outer side surface portion 122. The rear surface portion 124 is formed in a flat plate shape that is rectangular when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle. With the above-described configuration, the steering beam fixing box 120 is formed in the shape of a square pipe whose cross section when cut along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is rectangular. The front surface 123 and the rear surface 124 extend along the width direction and the up-down direction of the vehicle.

[0036] The fixing plate 130 is a member that fixes the steering beam fixing box 120 to the inner surface of the front pillar lower 10 in the vehicle width direction. The fixing plate 130 is formed in a flat plate shape that is rectangular when viewed from the vehicle width direction. The outer surface of the fixing plate 130 in the vehicle width direction is in contact with the inner surface of the front pillar lower 10 in the vehicle width direction, and is joined by mechanical fastening means such as welding or bolts. The fixing plate 130 is coupled to a surface portion of the fixing plate 130 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction.

[0037] The fixing plate 130 has a protrusion 131 and an engaging claw 132 . The protrusion 131 protrudes inward in the vehicle width direction from the fixing plate 130 along the front surface 123 of the steering beam fixing box 120 . The protrusion 131 is locally joined, for example by spot welding, near the outer edge of the front portion 123 in the vehicle width direction, in an area below the joint between the inner side portion 121 of the steering beam fixing box 120 and the steering beam 110.

[0038] The engaging claw portion 132 protrudes from the fixing plate 130 inward in the vehicle width direction along the front surface 123 of the steering beam fixing box 120 . The tip of the engaging claw portion 132 is bent so as to fit along the surface of the inner side surface portion 121 . The engaging claw portion 132 is configured to be able to locally pull the rear edge portion of the inner side surface portion 121 outward in the vehicle width direction in an area below the joint between the inner side surface portion 121 of the steering beam fixing box 120 and the steering beam 110.

[0039] Hereinafter, a state after a small overlap offset collision in a vehicle having the steering beam support structure of the first embodiment will be described. In a small overlap offset collision in which an object such as another vehicle collides mainly in an area outside the front side frame 60 in the vehicle width direction, the front wheel FW collides with the front part of the front pillar lower 10, causing local deformation in the middle part of the front pillar lower 10. This local deformation acts as a starting point for bending deformation of the front pillar lower 10. Furthermore, the input force to the upper frame 70 is greater than in other collision modes, causing the upper frame 70 to move backward relative to the vehicle interior 2, and the strut housing 80 to collapse, causing the front end of the upper frame 70 to be pulled inward in the vehicle width direction. Due to the behavior of each member, the vicinity of the upper end of the front pillar lower 10 (near the joint with the upper frame 70) exhibits tilt deformation (tilting deformation in the direction of arrow A1 in FIG. 1) in a direction in which the upper end is displaced outward in the vehicle width direction. Further, the vicinity of the upper end of the front pillar lower 10 exhibits torsional deformation (rotational behavior, in the direction of arrow A2 in FIG. 1) in which the rear portion is swung outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front portion.

[0040] Such torsional deformation (rotational behavior) is transmitted to the protrusion 131 and the engaging claw 132 via the fixed plate 130. The protrusion 131 protrudes inward in the vehicle width direction against the ridgeline (joint provided at the corner) between the inner side surface 121 and the front surface 123 of the steering beam fixing box 120, and inputs a local load F1. This causes local deformation at the ridgeline between the inner side surface portion 121 and the front surface portion 123, causing the ridgeline to collapse. The engaging claw portion 132 pulls the ridgeline between the inner side surface portion 121 and the rear surface portion 124 of the steering beam fixing box 120 outward in the vehicle width direction, and inputs a local load F2. This causes local deformation at the ridgeline between the inner side surface portion 121 and the rear surface portion 124, causing the ridgeline to collapse. The protrusion 131 and the engaging claw 132 function as a load transmitting portion of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing deformation of the steering beam support structure of the first embodiment during a small overlap offset collision. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the steering beam support structure as viewed from the rear side of the vehicle (the interior side of the vehicle compartment 2). In the event of a small overlap offset collision, the ridge between the inner side portion 121 and the front portion 123 of the steering beam fixing box 120, and the ridge between the inner side portion 121 and the rear portion 124 collapse below the joint with the steering beam 110. Due to the tilting deformation of the front pillar lower 10, the inner side surface portion 121 of the steering beam fixing box 120 receives a tensile force from the steering beam 110 inward in the vehicle width direction. Such a tensile force causes the inner side surface portion 121 to bend and deform in a direction that makes the inner side in the vehicle width direction convex when viewed from the vehicle longitudinal direction, with the deformation starting from the point where the ridge line collapses. Due to such bending deformation, a moment M is generated at the outer end of the steering beam 110 in the vehicle width direction in a direction that swings the middle portion of the steering beam 110 upward.

[0042] According to the first embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In response to the deformation of the front pillar lower 10 during a collision, at least one of the ridges between the inner side portion 121 and the front portion 123 of the steering beam fixing box 120 and the ridges between the inner side portion 121 and the rear portion 124 is collapsed, thereby deforming the area of ​​the inner side portion 121 to which the steering beam 110 is connected in the direction of swinging up the steering beam 110. This allows the steering device 100 to be raised in the event of a collision, thereby preventing the steering wheel 102 and other components from injuring the thighs, lower abdomen, and other parts of the occupant. (2) The region of the inner side surface portion 121 of the steering beam fixing box 120 to which the steering beam 110 is connected is configured so that a moment M is generated in a direction in which the middle portion of the steering beam 110 rises relative to the end portion in response to destruction of at least one of the ridges at the joint between the inner side surface portion 121 and the front surface portion 123 by the protrusion 131 and the engaging claw portion 132 and at the joint between the inner side surface portion 121 and the rear surface portion 123, thereby ensuring the above-mentioned effect. (3) The front pillar lower 10 exhibits torsional deformation when a small overlap offset collision occurs, and has the protrusions 131 and engaging claws 132 that connect the ridges of the inner side surface 121, front surface 123, and rear surface 124 of the front pillar lower 10 and the steering beam fixing box 120 via the fixing plate 130. This allows the ridges to collapse appropriately in response to the torsional deformation of the front pillar lower 10 when a small overlap offset collision occurs.

[0043] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of a steering beam support structure to which the present invention is applied will be described. In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used to designate parts common to the first embodiment, and explanations thereof will be omitted, and differences will be mainly described. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the steering beam support structure of the second embodiment, showing a state before a collision. In the second embodiment, a steering beam fixing box 140 and a crush belt 150, which will be described below, are provided in place of the steering beam fixing box 120, the protrusion 131, and the engaging claw 132 of the first embodiment.

[0044] The steering beam fixing box 140 is formed in a D-shape when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The steering beam fixing box 140 has a peripheral portion 141 , a front portion 142 , and a rear portion 143 . The peripheral surface portion 141 is a convex curved surface portion that is formed in a circular arc shape that is convex inward in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The peripheral surface portion 141 has a continuous, uniform cross-sectional shape from the front end to the rear end. An end of the steering beam 110 is joined by welding or the like to a region that is an intermediate portion of the peripheral surface portion 141 in the front-rear direction and above the intermediate portion in the up-down direction. The front surface portion 142 and the rear surface portion 143 are flat plate-like members provided to close the openings at the front end and rear end of the peripheral surface portion 141. The front surface 142 and the rear surface 143 are formed along planes extending in the vehicle width direction and the up-down direction.

[0045] The crushing belt 150 is a member that locally collapses the ridge line between the peripheral portion 141 and the front portion 142 of the steering beam fixing box 140, and the ridge line between the peripheral portion 141 and the rear portion 143, below the steering beam 110. The crush belt 150 has a belt portion 151 and protruding portions 152 and 153 that are integrally formed from a metal material such as steel. The belt portion 151 is a belt-shaped member that extends along the lower half of the circumferential surface portion 141 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The protrusions 152 and 153 protrude inward in the vehicle width direction from the fixing plate 130 along the front surfaces 142 and 143 of the steering beam fixing box 140 . The tip ends of the protrusions 152 and 153 are connected to the front end and rear end of the belt part 151, respectively. The belt portion 151 has the function of collapsing the ridge line between the peripheral portion 141 and the front portion 142 of the steering beam fixing box 140 and the ridge line between the peripheral portion 141 and the rear portion 143 when a small overlap offset collision occurs. When a tensile force is applied from the steering beam 110 to the peripheral surface portion 141 in a state where the ridgeline is collapsed, the peripheral surface portion 141 generates a moment in a direction that swings up the middle portion of the steering beam 110. In the second embodiment described above, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

[0046] (Variation) The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and variations are possible, and these are also within the technical scope of the present invention. (1) The steering beam support structure and the vehicle body structure are not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified as appropriate. The shape, structure, material, manufacturing method, arrangement, quantity, and joining method of each of the components constituting these are not limited to the configurations of the embodiments and can be modified as appropriate. (2) The configurations of the first to third surfaces (steering beam fixing boxes) and the configuration of the load input section in each embodiment are examples, and the arrangement, shape, material, manufacturing method, etc. of each surface section can be changed as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1 Body structure 2 Vehicle compartment 3 Power unit compartment 10 Front pillar lower 20 Front pillar upper 30 Toe board 31 Upper part 32 Lower 40 Toeboard cross member 50 Floor panel 51 Side sill 60 Front side frame 61 Front 62 Middle section 63 Rear section 70 Upper frame 71 Top surface 72 Bottom part 73 Inner side part 74 outer side portion 80 strut housing 90 suspension cross member 100 Steering device 101 Steering wheel 102 Steering column 102 Bracket 110 Steering beam 120 Steering beam fixing box 121 Inner side part 122 Outer side part 123 Front part 124 Rear part 130 Fixing plate 131 Protrusion 132 Engagement claw FW Front wheel 140 Steering beam fixing box 141 Peripheral section 142 Front section 143 Rear part 150 Crushing belt 151 Belt portion 152, 153 Protrusion portion

Claims

1. a front pillar lower that is provided on a side of a front portion of a vehicle interior in which occupants are accommodated and that extends in a vertical direction and is located rearward of the front wheels; a steering beam provided between the left and right front pillar lowers and to which a steering column of a steering device is attached; A steering beam support structure provided at a connection point of a first surface portion to which an end portion of the steering beam in the vehicle width direction is joined and which is disposed with a gap between the first surface portion and the front pillar lower; a second surface portion that is provided on the front side of the vehicle with respect to a joint portion of the first surface portion with the steering beam and that connects the first surface portion and the front pillar lower; a third surface portion that is provided rearward of a joint portion of the first surface portion with the steering beam and connects the first surface portion with the front pillar lower; a load input section that inputs a local load to at least one of a region below the steering beam at the joint between the first surface section and the second surface section and a region below the steering beam at the joint between the first surface section and the third surface section in response to deformation of the front pillar lower during a collision; A steering beam support structure characterized by:

2. The region of the first surface to which the steering beam is joined generates a moment in a direction in which the middle portion of the steering beam rises relative to the end portion in response to destruction of at least one ridge line of the joint between the first surface and the second surface and the joint between the first surface and the third surface by the load input portion.

2. The steering beam support structure according to claim 1, wherein:

3. the front pillar lower exhibits torsional deformation in a direction in which the rear portion is displaced outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front portion during a small overlap offset collision, The load input portion has at least one of a first member that connects a joint between the first surface portion and the second surface portion and a front portion of the front pillar lower, and a second member that connects a joint between the first surface portion and the third surface portion and a rear portion of the front pillar lower.

3. The steering beam support structure according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

4. The first surface portion is formed in a planar shape extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and the vehicle up-down direction, The second surface portion and the third surface portion are formed in a planar shape extending in the vehicle width direction and the up-down direction.

4. The steering beam support structure according to claim 1, wherein:

5. The first surface portion is formed in a curved shape that is curved in a direction that convexly faces inward in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction.

4. The steering beam support structure according to claim 1, wherein:

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