JP2993382B2 - Steering column support structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering column support structure for supporting a steering column of a steering device by utilizing a pedal support for suspending a pedal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a passenger car (vehicle) in which a traveling engine is mounted on a front side, a front deck extending in a vehicle width direction which divides an engine room accommodating the engine and a cabin adjacent to the engine room, and a lower part from the front deck. A steering column and a pedal assembly (a clutch pedal and a brake pedal are suspended from a pedal support and assembled) are installed using a toe board extending along the floor panel.

[0003] Generally, a column support made of a steel plate extending downward is projected from a lower portion of a front deck serving as a frame of a vehicle body, a steering column is supported at the tip of the support, and a toeboard cabin serving as a partition wall is provided. A steel plate pedal support is installed on the facing side.

[0004] Incidentally, the pedal support needs a supporting rigidity to withstand the force applied from each pedal, and the column support needs a supporting rigidity to withstand the force applied from the column.

However, since the supports for supporting the pedal and the steering column are arranged in a concentrated manner in front of the driver's seat, it is difficult to separately provide a reinforcing material for increasing the support rigidity due to space restrictions. .

Therefore, there is one that employs a structure that utilizes a nearby pedal support and column support to increase the support rigidity of both. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, as a pedal support 3 for suspending the clutch pedal 1 and the brake pedal 2, a wall having walls in both directions (left and right) and upper three directions in the vehicle width direction. A rectangular box-shaped member (substantially box-shaped) is adopted, and is fixed to the upper part of the toe board 5 with bolts or the like so that the tip is directed to the cabin 4 side.

As the column support 6, a U-shaped box member (substantially box-shaped) having walls in three directions on both sides (left and right) in the vehicle width direction and on the rear side of the vehicle body is employed. The pedal support 3 is fixed in a diagonally rearward direction with a U-shaped part in the middle so as to surround the tip of the pedal support 3 with a bolt or the like at the corner part.

Then, the tip of the pedal bracket 3 and the column support surrounding the tip of the pedal bracket 3 are bolted to each other. Specifically, a support plate 8 overlapping with the upper wall 3a of the pedal support 3 is fixed to the inner surface of the column support 6 so as to close the lumen of the column support portion, and the support plate 8 and the upper wall 3a are fixed. The penetrating bolt 9 is used to fasten the distal end portion of the pedal bracket 3 and the column support portion in the middle. Numeral 10 is a nut screwed to the bolt end.

[0009] A steering column 12 is supported at the tip (lower end) of the column support 6 via a bracket 11. With the pedal support 3 and the column support 6 assembled in a truss-like manner between the front deck 7 and the toe board 5, the necessary support rigidity of the pedal support 3 is secured without requiring any additional reinforcing material (the front end of the support is supported). And the required support rigidity of the column support 6 (because the support middle is supported).

[0010]

Although such a structure is excellent in that the support rigidity is reasonably secured, the posture of the steering handle 14 may be stabilized depending on the deformation (front portion) of the vehicle body 12 when absorbing the collision energy. May be impaired.

That is, the steering handle is displaced upward with the base end of the steering shaft 15 as a fulcrum when an impact force is applied from the front part of the vehicle body 12 to deform the front part of the vehicle body. 14
Regulate the behavior of

However, as shown in FIG. 9, the engine 17 in the engine room 16 retreats and the toe board 5
When the body 12 is deformed until the vehicle retreats, the column support 6 is moved rearward (rear side with the point supported by the front deck 7 as a fulcrum) due to the behavior of the pedal support 3 which retreats.
Will be displaced.

In other words, depending on the degree of impact applied, the behavior of the column support 6 cannot be supported due to the influence of the behavior of the column support 6 and the base end of the steering shaft 15 cannot be supported.
The support angle of the steering shaft 15 may be displaced upward of the vehicle body.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering column support structure for stabilizing the attitude of a steering handle.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an engine room and a casing for achieving the above object.
The pedal is hung on the toe board that separates the bottle
The size increases from the tip of
A rust-shaped pedal support and the toebo
From the front deck that is fixed to the
The pedal support for supporting the lowered steering column
A column support having a wall facing the tip of the column support;
On the wall of the column support facing the pedal support
The pedals formed and moved by an impact force applied to the vehicle body
Opening into which the pedal support can be inserted, and the pedal support
While allowing relative movement of both the
Connecting means for connecting the pedals, wherein the opening is the pedal.
The tip of the support is formed in a size that can be inserted.
An approximately L-shaped claw is formed on the entire periphery of the opening edge of the opening.
When the pedal support moves more than a predetermined amount,
The outer surface of the pedal support comes into sliding contact with the pawl,
The port is configured to be fixed to the column support.
That is .

[0016]

[0017]

[Operation] It is assumed that an impact is received from the front of the vehicle body such that the deformation of the vehicle body progresses until the toe board is retracted (deformed). Then, only the pedal support is displaced rearward according to the behavior of the toeboard.

Thus, the tip of the pedal support is
It is inserted into the opening provided in the column support. By this insertion, the displacement of the pedal support is released.

Therefore, even when the deformation extends to the toe board, displacement of the support angle of the steering shaft is suppressed.

[0020]

Further, when the distal end of the pedal support is inserted into the opening of the column support by a predetermined amount or more , the pedal support is disengaged.
The outer surface of the port slides against the pawl at the opening to secure the pedal support to the column support . In other words, pedal support
After missing the behavior of the port, in the middle of the column support
The pedal support is connected, and the column support
Increase durability. This allows the support rigidity of the column support
Use of the steering shaft support angle
Displacement can be prevented.

[0022]

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to one embodiment shown in FIGS. However, in the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions as those of the conventional example described above, and the description thereof will be omitted. In this section, different portions (portions which are essential portions of the invention) will be described.

That is, in the present embodiment, the behavior of the pedal support 3 which adversely affects the column support 6 which occurs at the time of a collision is released, and the steering column 1 is fixed by fixing the pedal support 3 to the column support 6.
The difference is that 3 is held firmly.

More specifically, the distal end portion of the pedal support 3 and the column support portion surrounding the distal end portion are connected by a connection structure that can be relatively displaced in the vehicle longitudinal direction.
Specifically, for example, a bolt insertion hole (not shown) is provided in the center portion of the support plate 8 as in the related art, and a nut 10 is provided on the upper surface of the plate 8 corresponding to the bolt insertion hole. Is stuck.

An elongated hole 20 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body is formed at the tip end of the upper wall 3a of the pedal support 3 corresponding to the bolt insertion hole. Then, the bolt 9 is screwed into the nut 10 from the rear end of the elongated hole 20 to connect the tip end of the pedal support 3 to the column support 6 so as to be slidable (displaceable) in the rearward direction of the vehicle body. is there.

With this connection structure, when the vehicle body 12 receives an impact such that the pedal support 3 moves backward, the bolt 9 shifts (slides) forward from the rear end of the elongated hole 20 which is the originally fixed position. . In addition, the long hole 20 is set to have such a length as to allow most of the retraction displacement of the pedal support 3 which retreats by an impact, for example.

A rectangular opening 21 is cut out in the wall 6a of the column support 6 facing the tip of the pedal support 3. The opening 21 has such a size that the distal end side of the pedal support 3 can be inserted. When the pedal support 3 is retracted, the distal end side of the pedal support 3 is made to penetrate the column support 6. It is.

With such a connection structure and an opening structure, it is possible to connect both the pedal support 3 and the column support 6 while escaping the backward displacement (behavior) of the pedal support 3 which adversely affects the column support 6 in the event of a collision. is there.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5, for example, the entire periphery of the edge of the opening 21 is raised in the shape of a cone, and the peripheral wall 2 that is obliquely inclined.
Claw 23 formed by bending the tip of 2 in parallel with the wall 6a, for example.
(Corresponding to a restraining portion) is formed.

With the pawls 23, the distal end side of the pedal support 3 inserted into the opening 21 can be fixed at a predetermined position by utilizing the outer shape of the pedal support 3 as it is.

That is, the outer shape of the pedal support 3 is formed in a wedge shape in which the height dimension increases from the tip to the root, and when the tip of the pedal support 3 is inserted to a predetermined position, the claw is formed by the wedge effect. The distal end side of the pedal support 3 can be restrained and fixed while exhibiting such a behavior that the 23 bites into the outer surfaces of the upper wall 3a and the left and right walls 3b of the pedal support 3.

Thus, together with the connecting structure, the intermediate portion of the column support 6 is supported by the pedal support 3, and the column support 6 can have a high support rigidity against a force for displacing the support angle of the steering shaft 15. It is like that.

Needless to say, the structure is such that the impact energy can be absorbed by utilizing friction and claw displacement until the claw 23 bites. In addition, the shape of the claw 23 is used as a kind of rib to compensate for the rigidity of the column support 3 which is reduced by forming the opening.

The left and right walls 3b of the column support 3 are provided with a pedal support shaft 24 (a shaft for rotatably supporting the clutch pedal 1 and the brake pedal 2) protruding from the left and right walls 3b of the pedal support 3. A triangular recess 25 is formed.

In this structure, it is now assumed that an impact is applied from the front of the vehicle body 12, for example, from the state shown in FIG. At this time, the pedal support 3 and the column support 6 are normally immovably connected by the bolts 6 and the nuts 10 so that a truss is formed in cooperation with the front deck 7 and the toe board 5, and the pedals and the steering are firmly mounted on the vehicle 12 supported.

Then, the front side of the vehicle body 12 is deformed and absorbs impact energy. At this time, if the impact force is large, as shown in FIG.
The engine 17 housed in the engine 1 retreats and the engine 1
The toe board 5 located immediately after 7 is pressed and deformed, and absorbs impact energy.

At this time, the distal end of the pedal support 3 is connected to the vehicle body rearward by the elongated hole 20 and the bolt 6 so as to be displaceable in the rearward direction of the vehicle body. Only pedal support 3 is shown in FIG.
From the state of (a), as shown in the state of FIG.

In accordance with this rearward displacement, the tip of the pedal support 3 is guided to the point where the opening 21 of the column support 6 is located by using the inner surface of the peripheral wall 22 in which the claw 23 is inclined as a guide. It is inserted and penetrated.

As the insertion proceeds, the outer surfaces of the upper wall 3a and the left and right walls 3b of the pedal support 3 gradually come into sliding contact with the tips of the claws 23 (the outer shape decreases as the pedal support 3 moves toward the tips). Depending on what you are doing). Of course, even at this time friction and claw displacement,
Impact energy is absorbed.

When the pedal support 3 penetrates the column support 6, the displacement of the pedal support 3 accompanying the deformation of the toe board 5 is released. Pedal support 3
When the toe board 5 is inserted to a position where the toe board 5 is completely deformed, the tips of the claws 23 bite into the outer surfaces of the upper wall 3a and the left and right walls 3b of the pedal support 3, and the tip side of the pedal support 3 passes through the opening 21 to the column support. It is fixed to 6.

At this time, the shaft of the bolt 6 also reaches the end of the elongated hole 20, and the pedal support 3 and the column support 6
And fix it. Then, the intermediate portion of the column support 6 from which the fixing has been released is again supported by the pedal support 6.

Thus, the column support 6 is again provided with high support rigidity due to the truss structure reassembled (because the pedal support 3 and the column support 6 are assembled in a truss-like manner between the front deck 7 and the toe board 5). (Return of support rigidity).

With the escape of the pedal support 3 and the restoration of the support rigidity of the column support 6, the behavior of effectively displacing the steering handle 14 upward can be suppressed.

Therefore, even if the vehicle body 12 is subjected to an impact such that the deformation affects the toe board 5, the support angle of the steering shaft 15 is prevented from being changed. As a result, the behavior in which the attitude of the steering handle 14 is disturbed is suppressed, and the attitude of the steering handle 14 can be stabilized.

Moreover, the structure in which the claw 23 having a substantially L-shaped cross section is formed on the entire periphery of the opening edge of the opening 21 not only fixes the pedal support 3 but also forms the claw 23 as a kind of rib. Since there is also a function of compensating for the rigidity of the column support 6 which is reduced by the formation, and a function of guiding the pedal support end to the opening 21, high reliability can be obtained comprehensively.

In the embodiment, the distal end of the pedal support and the intermediate portion of the column support are connected so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body by using a long hole. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, both members may be movably connected by using a bolt that shears when subjected to an impact.

[0048]

[0049]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the behavior of the pedal support, which adversely affects the column support, is released. Even so, unnecessary displacement of the support angle of the steering shaft is prevented.

As a result, the behavior in which the attitude of the steering handle is disturbed is suppressed, and the attitude of the steering handle can be stabilized. Moreover, after missing the behavior of the pedal support, the pedal support in the middle portion of the column support is connected, because again increasing the support rigidity of the column support, using a support rigidity of the column support, one layer, of the steering shaft There is an effect that unnecessary displacement of the support angle can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a steering column support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially sectional perspective view showing the periphery of a pedal support and a column support of the support structure.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining the behavior of the steering column support structure when the vehicle body receives an impact that deforms the toeboard in the support structure.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing a portion around a connecting portion between a pedal support and a column support before an impact is applied. (B)
Means that the pedal support is displaced in the front-back direction due to the impact,
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the tip is fixed by an opening of a column support.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a steering column support structure in which a pedal support and a column support used in a conventional passenger car are assembled in a truss shape.

FIG. 7 is a partially sectional perspective view showing the periphery of a pedal support and a column support of the support structure.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the same.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the behavior of the steering column support structure when the vehicle body receives an impact that deforms the toeboard in the support structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Clutch pedal 2: Brake pedal
3: Pedal support 5: Toe board 6: Column support
7 Front deck 8 Support plate 9 Bolt 1
0: Nut 13: Steering column 14: Steering handle 15: Steering shaft 17: Engine
20 ... long hole 21 ... opening 23 ... claw (restraint part).

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-207770 (JP, A) JP-A-4-85172 (JP, A) JP-A-7-267099 (JP, A) JP-A-1- 136872 (JP, A) JP-A-8-158538 (JP, A) JP-A-56-89779 (JP, U) JP-A-57-141173 (JP, U) JP-A-58-112641 (JP, U) Shokai 61-169867 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B62D 1/04-1/28

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fixed to the toe board partitioning the engine room and the cabin pedal from tip formed by suspended
Formed in a wedge shape that increases in size as it approaches the base
A pedal support which faces the front end of the pedal support that supports the pendent steering column from the front deck extending fixation has been the vehicle width direction to the toe board
A column support having a wall, and the pedal support
An opening formed in a wall portion of the opposing column support, into which the pedal support moved by an impact force applied to the vehicle body can be inserted , the pedal support and the column support;
A connecting hand that connects the two while allowing relative movement
And a step, wherein the opening can be inserted at the tip side of the pedal support.
It is formed in a size that is approximately
An L-shaped claw is formed on the surface of the pedal support.
When moving up, the outer surface of the pedal support is
Slide and fix the pedal support to the column support.
The steering column support structure is characterized in that it is configured to be fixed .