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 100 laid between left and right front pillar lowers and attached with a steering column 102 of a steering device 100, includes: a first surface portion 121 that is formed so as to bulge out in a vertical direction and a fore-and-aft direction from an end portion in a vehicle width direction of the steering beam and is disposed at an interval from the front pillar lower; a second surface portion 123 that couples a front portion of the first surface portion and the front pillar lower; and a third surface portion 124 that couples a rear portion of the first surface portion and the front pillar lower. An extending direction when the second and third surfaces are viewed from the vehicle width direction are disposed so as to incline forward.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering beam support structure provided at a connection between a lower front pillar 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-shaped 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 a vehicle body structure around a front pillar, for example, Patent Document 1 describes a vehicle side structure that suppresses deformation of the vehicle frame during a frontal collision, in which when the front pillar attempts to rotate around the door hinge toward the interior of the vehicle due to a frontal collision load, the other end of the load transmission member penetrates an opening formed in the rear end surface of the front pillar before the rear part of the door hinge bottoms out against the front end surface of the front side door, and the rotational displacement of the front pillar is stopped when the other end of the load transmission member has penetrated a predetermined length into the periphery of the opening. Patent Document 2 describes a vehicle body side structure that suppresses deformation of the vehicle frame during a frontal collision, in which the other end of a load transfer member is positioned close to the interior side of the rear flange of the front pillar, and when the front pillar rotates during a frontal collision, the rear flange interferes with the other end of the load transfer member. In this case, even if the front side door attempts to displace outward in the vehicle width direction, the other end of the load transfer member is engaged with the rear flange of the front pillar, thereby suppressing lateral movement of the front side door. Patent Document 3 describes that when positioning a steering member on a vehicle body, mounting brackets at both ends of the steering member are fixed to the left and right front pillars with bolts. It also describes that the mounting brackets at both ends of the steering member have two notched grooves, one above the other, for inserting a positioning pin. It also describes that the width of the pin insertion portion of each notched groove is smaller than the width of the pin abutment portion, and that the inlet of each notched groove is tapered to allow for smooth insertion of the positioning pin. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-184672 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-232052 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-52828 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 a first 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 is located behind the front wheels and 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 is a hollow cylindrical body, The steering beam has a first surface portion that is formed by extending in the vertical and longitudinal directions from the end portion of the steering beam in the vehicle width direction and is arranged with a gap between it and the front pillar lower, a second surface portion that is arranged further forward of the vehicle than the joint portion of the first surface portion with the steering beam and connects the first surface portion to the front pillar lower, and a third surface portion that is arranged further rearward of the joint portion of the first surface portion with the steering beam and connects the first surface portion to the front pillar lower, and the second surface portion and the third surface portion extend in a direction tilted forward so that the upper portion is closer to the front of the vehicle than the lower portion when viewed from the vehicle width direction. According to this, when a small overlap offset collision occurs and the front pillar lower undergoes torsional deformation (rotation) in a direction that displaces the rear part of the front pillar lower outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front part, the second surface portion buckles and collapses, and the third surface portion supports the first surface portion while collapsing so that the end portion on the first surface portion side moves forward, thereby absorbing the torsional deformation of the front pillar lower and preventing the steering beam from retreating toward the interior of the vehicle cabin. Furthermore, by positioning the second and third surfaces at a forward inclination when viewed from the vehicle width direction, in the event of a full-wrap frontal collision in which the influence of longitudinal loads is dominant, the first to third surfaces can maintain their shape, thereby ensuring the support rigidity of the steering beam.

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a steering beam support structure according to a second aspect of the present invention is a steering beam support structure provided at a connection between a front pillar lower that is located at the side of the front part of the passenger compartment where occupants are accommodated, rearward of the front wheels and 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, characterized in that a hollow cylindrical body is fixed to the inner surface of the front pillar lower in the vehicle width direction with its cylindrical axis tilted forward so that its upper part is located closer to the front of the vehicle than its lower part, and the end of the steering beam in the vehicle width direction is joined to the inner surface of the cylindrical body in the vehicle width direction. In the present invention, the same effects as those of the first aspect of the invention described above can be obtained.

[0008] In the second aspect of the invention, the cylindrical body has a rectangular cross-sectional shape when cut along a plane perpendicular to the cylindrical axis direction, and one of a pair of opposing surface portions is fixed to the front pillar lower, and the other surface is connected to the steering beam. According to this, the above-mentioned effects can be reliably obtained by causing the front and rear portions of the cylindrical body having a rectangular cross section to collapse or buckle in the vehicle width direction. In each of the above aspects of the invention, the cylindrical body may be formed in the shape of a square pipe having a rectangular cross section when cut along a plane perpendicular to the cylindrical axis direction.

[0009] In each of the above aspects of the invention, the front pillar lower can be configured to exhibit torsional deformation in a direction in which the rear portion is displaced outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front portion, and tilting deformation in a direction in which the upper portion is displaced outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the lower portion, during a small overlap offset collision. Both the torsional deformation and tilting deformation of the front pillar lower can be absorbed by the configurations of the first and second aspects of the invention, and therefore, according to the present invention, when deformation of the front pillar lower occurs, which is specific to a small overlap offset collision, it is possible to effectively suppress rearward movement of the steering beam. [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 an 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 according to an embodiment, as viewed from the vehicle width direction. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic side view of a steering beam support structure according to an embodiment, as viewed from the inside in the vehicle width direction. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3. [Figure 5] FIG. 4 is a view taken along the arrow VV in FIG. 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing a state after a small overlap offset collision in the steering beam support structure of the embodiment, as viewed from above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a steering beam support structure to which the present invention is applied will be described. The steering beam support structure of the 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 an 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 front lower 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 forms the front part of the lower half of the passenger compartment 2. An 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 rearward 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 window glass.

[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 front-rear direction of the vehicle. 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 an embodiment, the vehicle further comprises 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] An end of the steering beam 110 in the vehicle width direction is attached to the upper part of the lower front pillar 10 via a steering beam fixing box 120, which will be described below. FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the steering beam support structure of the embodiment as seen from the inside in the vehicle width direction. 4 is a view (schematic front view) taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 5 is a view (schematic plan view) taken along the arrow VV in FIG.

[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 long sides of the rectangular shape of the inner side surface portion 121 are disposed as the front edge and rear edge of the inner side surface portion 121 . The long sides of the rectangular shape of the inner side surface portion 121 are inclined (tilted forward) so that the upper portion is closer to the front of the vehicle than the lower portion.

[0034] 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. The outer side surface portion 122 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed in the vehicle width direction, similar to the inner side surface portion 121, and is arranged with the long side of the rectangle tilted forward, 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 front pillar lower 10 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.

[0036] The front surface 123 and the rear surface 124 are arranged along the vehicle width direction when viewed from the cylindrical axis direction of the steering beam fixing box 120. In addition, the front surface portion 123 and the rear surface portion 124 are arranged at an incline (forward tilt) in the vertical direction so that the upper end is closer to the front of the vehicle than the lower end when viewed from the vehicle width direction as shown in Figure 3.

[0037] The state of a vehicle having the steering beam support structure of the embodiment after a small overlap offset collision will now 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 in this way, the vicinity of the upper end of the front pillar lower 10 (near the joint with the upper frame 70) exhibits tilting deformation (tilting deformation, in the direction of arrow A1 in Figures 1 and 6) 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 FIGS. 1 and 6) in a direction in which the rear portion is swung outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front portion.

[0038] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view showing a state after a small overlap offset collision in the steering beam support structure of the embodiment, as viewed from above. In response to the above-mentioned tilting and twisting deformation of the upper portion of the front pillar lower 10, the steering beam fixing box 120 undergoes buckling deformation such that the front portion 123 is compressed in the vehicle width direction. Further, rear surface portion 124 is deformed so that the end portion on the inner side surface portion 121 side moves forward toward the front side of the vehicle relative to the end portion on the outer side surface portion 122 side, and is tilted in the vehicle width direction. In addition, in response to the displacement of the front pillar lower 10 outward in the vehicle width direction, the inner side surface portion 121 undergoes deformation in which the vicinity of the joint with the steering beam 110 bulges outward so that the inner side in the vehicle width direction becomes convex. This deformation of the steering beam fixing box 120 absorbs the tilting and twisting deformation of the front pillar lower 10 that is specific to the occurrence of a small overlap offset collision, and also makes it possible to suppress the amount of retreat of the steering beam 110 relative to the passenger compartment 2 relative to the amount of retreat of the front pillar lower 10.

[0039] According to the present embodiment described above, the following effects can be obtained. (1) In the event of a small overlap offset collision, when the front pillar lower 10 is twisted (rotated) in a direction that displaces the rear part of the front pillar lower 10 outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front part, the front part 123 of the steering beam fixing box 120 buckles and collapses, and the rear part 124 supports the inner side part 121 while collapsing so that the end part on the inner side part 121 side moves forward relative to the end part on the outer side part 122 side, thereby absorbing the torsional deformation of the front pillar lower 10 and preventing the steering beam 110 from retreating toward the interior of the vehicle cabin. In addition, since the front portion 123 and rear portion 124 of the steering beam fixing box 120 are positioned at a forward tilt when viewed from the vehicle width direction, in the event of a full-wrap frontal collision in which the influence of longitudinal loads is dominant, the steering beam fixing box 120 can maintain its shape, thereby ensuring the support rigidity of the steering beam 110. (2) The steering beam fixing box 120 is formed as a cylindrical body having a rectangular cross section, and the front portion 123 and the rear portion 124 are caused to collapse or buckle in the vehicle width direction, thereby ensuring the above-mentioned effects. (3) During a small overlap offset collision, the front pillar lower 10 undergoes torsional deformation in a direction in which the rear portion is displaced outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the front portion, and tilting deformation in a direction in which the upper portion is displaced outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the lower portion. As a result, both of these torsional deformations and tilting deformations of the front pillar lower 10 can be absorbed by the deformation of the front portion 123 and the rear portion 124 of the steering beam fixing box 120. Therefore, when deformation of the front pillar lower 10, which is specific to a small overlap offset collision, occurs, it is possible to effectively suppress the rearward movement of the steering beam 110.

[0040] (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 changed as appropriate. (2) The configurations of the first to third surfaces (steering beam fixing boxes) in each embodiment are examples, and the arrangement, shape, material, manufacturing method, etc. of each surface can be changed as appropriate. For example, the first to third surface portions may be configured as continuous convex curved surfaces. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 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 FW front wheel

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 the steering beam support structure is a hollow cylindrical body, a first surface portion formed to protrude in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction from an end portion of the steering beam in the vehicle width direction and disposed with a gap between it 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; and and The second surface portion and the third surface portion are disposed so that their extending directions when viewed from the vehicle width direction are inclined forward so that their upper portions are closer to the front of the vehicle than their lower portions. A steering beam support structure characterized by:

2. 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 hollow cylindrical body is fixed to the inner surface of the front pillar lower in the vehicle width direction with the cylindrical axis tilted forward so that the upper portion is closer to the front of the vehicle than the lower portion, and the end portion of the steering beam in the vehicle width direction is connected to the inner surface of the cylindrical body in the vehicle width direction. A steering beam support structure characterized by:

3. the cylindrical body has a rectangular cross-sectional shape when cut along a plane perpendicular to the cylindrical axis direction, One of a pair of opposing surface portions is fixed to the front pillar lower, and the other is connected to the steering beam.

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

4. The cylindrical body is formed into a square pipe shape whose cross section when cut along a plane perpendicular to the cylindrical axis direction is rectangular.

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

5. 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 tilt deformation in a direction in which the upper portion is displaced outward in the vehicle width direction relative to the lower portion.

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

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