JP4045490B2 - Connection structure between steering column and electrical junction box - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a connection structure between a steering column and an electric junction box, and more particularly to an improved technique that allows the steering column to be easily detached from the vehicle body side.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a steering column is externally attached to a steering shaft that projects to the front of a vehicle compartment, and a steering wheel is attached to the vehicle compartment end. As shown in FIG. 5, the steering column 1 is attached by extrapolating a through hole (not shown) provided in the body 3 to the steering shaft 5.
A turn lever switch 7 for operating a head lamp, a turn lamp, and the like, and a wiper lever switch 9 for operating a wiper, a washer, and the like are mounted on the body 3 from the outside in the radial direction. In the figure, 11 denotes a steering wheel attached to the steering shaft 5, 13 denotes a control unit in which a control circuit is formed, and 15 denotes a meter case.
[0003]
Prior art document information related to the invention of this application includes the following.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-055733
By the way, an electric connection box 17 is electrically connected to the steering column 1.
As shown in FIG. 6, the electrical junction box 17 is disposed in the gap 19 between the steering shaft 5 and the meter case 15 and connected to the rear surface of the steering column 3.
As shown in FIG. 7, a pair of box-side connectors 21 are fixed to the lower surface of the front portion of the electrical connection box 17. These box-side connectors 21 are fitted into a pair of column-side connectors 23 (see FIG. 6) provided on the body 3 of the steering column 1 as shown in FIG.
[0005]
As shown in FIG. 9, for example, a frame-like locking portion 25 is formed on the box-side connector 21, and an elastic lock piece 27 is formed on the column-side connector 23.
As shown in FIG. 10, the locking portion 25 and the elastic locking piece 27 lock the box-side connector 21 and the column-side connector 23 in a state where the fitting is completed, and lock the two connectors so that they cannot be detached. Further, when the elastic lock piece 27 is pressed, the claw portion 27a of the elastic lock piece 27 is detached from the engaging portion 25, and the lock is released.
[0006]
Conventionally, in order to connect the electrical junction box 17 to the steering column 1, the meter case 15 is attached, and the steering shaft 5 and the meter case 15 are connected with the steering column 1 and the steering wheel 11 attached. The electrical connection box 17 was inserted into the gap 19 and moved along the steering shaft 5 in this state, thereby fitting the box side connector 21 and the column side connector 23 together.
Then, after the connectors are fitted and locked, the electric junction box 17 is further fixed to the vehicle body side with bolts or the like.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when a turn lever switch or a wiper lever switch (hereinafter referred to as a “lever switch”) to be mounted on the steering column is exchanged, these lever switches must be detached and a new one must be mounted again.
At this time, as the most efficient replacement work, it is desirable to first remove the steering wheel, remove the steering column from the steering shaft, and then attach / detach the lever switch.
Note that it is difficult to replace the lever switch with the steering column attached to the steering shaft due to interference with other members.
[0008]
However, in the conventional connection structure between the steering column and the electric junction box, the fitting portion between the box side connector and the column side connector is covered below the meter case 15 as shown in FIG. As a result, the meter case 15 has to be removed, and a great deal of labor is required to replace the lever switch.
[0009]
For this problem, it can be assumed that the fitting lock means of the connector is abolished, but in this case, contact failure is likely to occur due to mutual disconnection, vibration, etc., and the electrical connection reliability is lowered. became.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to release a connector in a state covered with a meter case or the like so that a steering column can be detached from a steering shaft and a lever. It is an object of the present invention to provide a connection structure between a steering column and an electric junction box that facilitates switch replacement.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, according to the present invention, as described in claim 1, the present invention includes a steering column that is extrapolated from a front end of a steering shaft and fixed to the steering shaft; And a connection structure for electrically connecting an electric connection box fixed along the steering shaft at a rear position of the steering shaft, the column side connector fixed to the steering column, and the electric connection box A box-side connector that is electrically connected to the column-side connector from the axial direction of the steering shaft and locked with the column-side connector; Allowing the connector to move in the axial direction of the steering shaft, and the box-side connector And a box connector movement restricting means for preventing the moving more than a predetermined distance behind the tearing shaft, the steering column extrapolated to the steering shaft is moved in a fixed direction of the electric connection box Te, the box connector the fitting lock column connector to the box connector which rearward movement is prevented the steering shaft by the movement restricting means is characterized Rukoto performed.
[0012]
Further, according to the present invention, as described in claim 3 , a meter case is disposed with a gap from the steering shaft at a position behind the steering shaft with respect to the steering column. It is characterized by being fixed in the gap.
[0013]
Here, as the steering column, a steering column unit including a lever switch can be exemplified. Moreover, as an electrical connection box, what accommodates a control board and a fuse other than what accommodates a bus bar, a relay, etc. can be illustrated.
[0014]
In the connection structure of the steering column and the electrical junction box configured in this way, when the lever switch of the steering column is exchanged, the steering wheel is removed and the steering column is pulled out to the vehicle compartment end. Slides in the same direction with respect to the electric junction box and is pulled out to the vehicle compartment end side together with the steering column.
[0015]
That is, the part hidden in the meter case is exposed. Therefore, the locking means between the box side connector and the column side connector can be easily released manually from the passenger compartment side. Thereby, maintenance workability | operativity can be improved compared with the case where a meter case is removed like before.
[0016]
Therefore, in this connection structure between the steering column and the electric junction box, it is possible to solve the problem that the conventional meter case must be removed in order to replace the lever switch of the steering column.
[0018]
In addition , when the box-side connector that is slidably mounted along the steering shaft is mounted, sliding in the direction receiving the reaction force from the column-side connector is restricted (escape due to the reaction force from the column-side connector is restricted). And can be fitted with the column side connector.
[0019]
Further , according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering column that is extrapolated from a vehicle compartment end in front of the steering shaft and fixed to the steering shaft, and a rear position of the steering shaft relative to the steering column. A connection structure for electrically connecting the electrical connection box fixed along the steering shaft, a column-side connector fixed to the steering column, and an electric wire having a surplus length with respect to the electrical connection box A box-side connector that is electrically connected to the column-side connector and is fitted and locked in the axial direction of the steering shaft; and the axis of the steering shaft of the box-side connector with respect to the electric connection box And allowing the box-side connector to move behind the steering shaft. In and a box connector movement restricting means for preventing the moving more than a predetermined distance, with the forward movement of the steering shaft of the steering column to be pulled out from the steering shaft, fits into the column side connector The box-side connector that is locked together moves to a position where the work for releasing the fitting lock is performed.
[0020]
In the connection structure between the steering column and the electrical junction box configured as described above, the box-side connector that is slidable with respect to the electrical junction box is always stably electrically connected to the electrical junction box.
That is, for example, the electrical connection reliability is improved as compared with a slide connection structure in which the sliding contact is brought into contact with the exposed bus bar.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
1 is a side view showing a connection structure between a steering column and an electric junction box according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a slide structure of a box side connector, and FIG. 3 is a box side connector shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a process explanatory diagram showing the attachment procedure of the electric junction box and the removal procedure of the steering column.
In the embodiments described below, members and the like already described in the drawings are denoted by the same or corresponding reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof is simplified or omitted.
[0022]
As shown in FIG. 1, an electrical connection box 31 is disposed between the steering shaft 5 and the meter case 15, and the electrical connection box 31 is electrically connected to the steering column 1 via a box-side connector 33. It is connected.
The electrical connection box 31 is fixed to the vehicle body (for example, the lower surface of the meter case 15 or the outer periphery of the steering shaft 5).
[0023]
The box connector 33 is slidably attached to the electrical connection box 31 in the direction along the steering shaft 5.
As this slide mechanism, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, a rail-shaped protrusion 35 having an inverted T-shaped cross section is provided on the lower surface 31 a of the electrical connection box 31, and this rail-shaped protrusion is formed on the upper surface of the connector housing 37. A box-shaped engaging portion 39 that accommodates 35 and is slidably engaged is provided. At this time, the insertion direction of the box-side connector 33 with respect to the electrical connection box 31 may be from either direction, but an insertion direction that shortens the extra length of the electric wire is desirable.
The rail-shaped protrusion 35 and the engaging portion 39 may be provided on the electrical connection box 31 and the connector housing 37 in reverse.
[0024]
The box-side connector 33 inserts the rail-shaped protrusion 35 into the rear opening 33 a of the engaging portion 39, thereby engaging the leg portion 35 a of the rail-shaped protrusion 35 with the guide groove 39 a, so that the length of the rail-shaped protrusion 35 is increased. The connector housing 37 is slidably supported on the electrical connection box 31 in a direction along the direction.
[0025]
A plurality of terminals (not shown) are accommodated in the connector housing 37, and each terminal is electrically connected to the electrical connection box 31 via an electric wire 41 (see FIG. 1) having a surplus length.
Further, a locking protrusion 43 as a slide restricting means is formed at the front part of the engaging part 39 and is engaged with an engaging hole 35 c formed in the rail-like protrusion 35. When the box-side connector 33 receives a pressing force from the steering column 1 side, the lock protrusion 43 and the engagement hole 35c are engaged to prevent further sliding. .
[0026]
Next, a procedure for attaching / detaching the electrical connection box 31 in the connection structure of the steering shaft 5 and the electrical connection box 31 configured as described above will be described.
First, when attaching the electric connection box 31, as shown in FIG. 4, the electric connection box 31 is fixed to the steering shaft 5, and the electric connection box 31 is fixed to the vehicle body side by a bolt or the like (not shown).
Next, the assembly is completed by sequentially attaching the steering column 1 and the steering wheel 11.
[0027]
On the other hand, when a failure occurs in the lever switch and it is necessary to replace the lever switch, the connector 33 is first unlocked and slid backward as shown in FIG.
As a result, the lock between the connectors is released. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the lever switch 40 can be detached from the steering column, and the lever switch is exchanged.
[0028]
Further, after replacing the lever switch, the replacement is completed by inserting the connector 33 to the lever switch side.
[0029]
Further, since the connector housing 37 and the electrical connection box 31 are connected by the electric wire 41, the box-side connector 33 that is slidable with respect to the electrical connection box 31 is always stably connected to the electrical connection box 31. Is done.
That is, for example, the electrical connection reliability is improved as compared with a slide connection structure in which the sliding contact is brought into contact with the exposed bus bar.
[0030]
Note that the connection structure between the steering column and the electric junction box of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate modifications, improvements, and the like are possible.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the rail-like protrusion 35 is provided in the electrical connection box 31 and the engagement portion 39 is provided in the connector housing 37. On the contrary, the engagement portion 39 is provided in the electrical connection box 31. The rail-shaped protrusion 35 may be provided on the connector housing 37. The slide restricting means may be provided on the rail-shaped protrusion 35 side.
[0031]
In addition, the shape, form, and the like of the electrical junction box 31 and the connector housing 37 exemplified in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary and are not limited as long as the present invention can be achieved.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the box-side connector fitted and locked to the column-side connector is in a direction along the steering shaft with respect to the electric connection box as the steering column is pulled out to the vehicle compartment end side. When the lever switch of the steering column is exchanged, the steering wheel is removed and the steering column is pulled out to the passenger compartment. The maintenance workability can be greatly improved as compared with the conventional case where the meter case is removed together with the steering column.
[0033]
In addition, according to the present invention , the meter case is disposed with a gap along the steering shaft, and the electrical junction box is fixed in the gap, so that space efficiency is improved.
[0034]
Further, according to the present invention, when the connector and the column side connector are fitted, the slide restricting means for preventing the slide on the side opposite to the fitting direction of the box side connector is either the electric connection box or the box side connector. The box-side connector that is slidably mounted along the steering shaft is restricted from escaping due to reaction force from the column-side connector and can be fitted to the column-side connector. it can. In addition, the same effect can be obtained at the time of remounting after desorption during maintenance.
[0035]
Further, according to the present invention, since the box-side connector and the electrical junction box are electrically connected by the electric wire having a surplus length , the box-side connector that is slidable with respect to the electrical junction box is always electrically connected. Stable electrical connection to the junction box. That is, for example, electrical connection reliability can be improved as compared with a slide connection structure in which a sliding contact is brought into contact with the exposed bus bar.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a connection structure between a steering column and an electric junction box according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a slide structure of a box-side connector.
3A and 3B are operation explanatory views showing the box-side connector shown in FIG. 2 before sliding (a) and after sliding, respectively (b).
FIG. 4 is a process explanatory diagram showing a procedure for attaching an electrical junction box and a procedure for removing a steering column.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a connection structure between a conventional steering column and an electric junction box.
6 is a side view of the connection structure shown in FIG. 5. FIG.
7 is a rear view of the electrical junction box shown in FIG. 6. FIG.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an electric junction box and a steering column.
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a box-side connector and a column-side connector.
10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the connector shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering column 5 Steering shaft 15 Meter case 19 Gap 23 Column side connector 31 Electrical connection box 33 Box side connector 41 Electric wire 43 Lock protrusion (slide control means)

Claims (3)

A steering column that is extrapolated from the front end of the steering shaft and fixed to the steering shaft; and an electric junction box that is fixed along the steering shaft at a position behind the steering shaft relative to the steering column. A connection structure for electrical connection,
A column-side connector fixed to the steering column;
A box-side connector that is electrically connected to the electrical connection box by an electric wire having a surplus length, and is fitted and locked to the column-side connector from the axial direction of the steering shaft;
Box-side connector movement restricting means that allows the box-side connector to move in the axial direction of the steering shaft with respect to the electric connection box and prevents the box-side connector from moving beyond a predetermined distance behind the steering shaft. When,
With
The box side in which the steering column extrapolated to the steering shaft is moved in the direction of the fixed electric connection box, and the box side connector movement restricting means prevents the steering shaft from moving backward. connection structure between the steering column and the electric connection box wherein the mating locking column connector to the connector is made, characterized in Rukoto. A steering column that is extrapolated from the front end of the steering shaft and fixed to the steering shaft; and an electric junction box that is fixed along the steering shaft at a position behind the steering shaft relative to the steering column. A connection structure for electrical connection,
A column-side connector fixed to the steering column;
A box-side connector that is electrically connected to the electrical connection box by an electric wire having a surplus length, and is fitted and locked to the column-side connector from the axial direction of the steering shaft;
Box-side connector movement restricting means that allows the box-side connector to move in the axial direction of the steering shaft with respect to the electric connection box and prevents the box-side connector from moving beyond a predetermined distance behind the steering shaft. When,
With
The position at which the box-side connector fitted and locked to the column-side connector is released from the fitting lock as the steering column is removed from the steering shaft and moved forward. connection structure between the steering column and the electric connection box, wherein that you move in. 3. The connection structure according to claim 1, wherein a meter case is disposed at a position rearward of the steering shaft with respect to the steering column with a gap from the steering column, and the electric connection box is disposed in the gap. A connection structure between the steering column and the electric junction box, which is fixed to the electric column.

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