JP4538902B2 - Control device for vehicle steering mechanism - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a control device for a vehicle steering mechanism.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, for example, when a passenger car collides, in order to improve the rescue performance of the driver from the passenger compartment, the driver's seat of the passenger car when the impact detection unlock system detects the impact at the time of the passenger car collision. Some unlock the door to allow the driver to open the door for rescue.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above configuration, even if the door is opened, if the distance between the steering wheel and the backrest portion of the driver's seat is narrow, the steering wheel becomes obstructive and difficult to escape when the driver leaves the driver's seat. There is a bug.
[0004]
In view of the above, the present invention provides a vehicle steering mechanism that controls the position of the steering wheel of the steering mechanism so that the driver can easily escape from the driver's seat in the event of a vehicle collision. An object is to provide a control device.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In solving the above problems, in the control device for a vehicle steering mechanism according to the invention of claim 1,
Position change means (which is provided in a steering mechanism (10) provided in front of the driver's seat (20) in the vehicle and operates to change the position of the steering wheel (10b) of the steering mechanism in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction ( 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d),
An impact detection means (30, 100) for detecting an impact caused by a vehicle collision;
Stop detection means (50, 110) for detecting the stop of the vehicle;
When the impact detection means detects an impact and the stop detection means detects the stop of the vehicle, the control means (111, 111) controls the operation of the position changing means so that the position of the steering wheel becomes the uppermost position and the last retracted position . 112).
[0006]
In this way, by controlling the operation of the position changing means so that the position of the steering wheel becomes the uppermost position and the last retracted position on the basis of both the detection of the impact detection means and the stop detection means, the steering wheel and the driver seat The interval of becomes wider. As a result, the steering wheel does not get in the way when the driver gets out of the driver's seat. Therefore, the driver can escape from the driver's seat easily and smoothly.
[0009]
In the first aspect of the present invention, after the operation of the position changing means by the control means based on the detection of both the impact detecting means and the stop detecting means, the driver's seat door is changed from open to closed, and the parking lever is It is provided with a travelable state detection means (60, 120) for detecting the establishment of the travelable state of the vehicle by either being released or the foot brake being released ,
The control means controls the operation of the position changing means so as to return the steering wheel to the original position when the travelable state detection means detects the establishment of the travelable state of the vehicle .
[0010]
Accordingly, the steering wheel can be returned to the original position, which is convenient for traveling after the vehicle collision when the vehicle collision is light.
[0011]
In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a control device for a passenger car steering mechanism according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the passenger car includes a steering mechanism 10, and the steering mechanism 10 extends upwardly from the lower front wall of the passenger car toward the backrest portion 21 of the driver seat 20. I'm out. In FIG. 2, the symbol M indicates a driver seated on the driver seat 20.
[0013]
The steering mechanism 10 is configured such that a steering wheel 10b is coaxially supported on a tip portion of a steering shaft 10a (a tip portion of an upper shaft portion 12 described later). The steering shaft 10a has a lower shaft portion 11 that extends fixedly from the lower front wall of the vehicle interior, and an upper portion that is connected to the tip of the lower shaft portion 11 so as to be extendable and tiltable in the vertical direction. The side shaft part 12 is comprised.
[0014]
The steering shaft 10a includes a tilt mechanism 12a, a tilt motor 12b, a telescopic mechanism 12c, and a telescopic motor 12d (see FIG. 1). The tilt mechanism 12a, the tilt motor 12b, the telescopic mechanism 12c, and the telescopic motor 12d are the upper shaft. Built in the unit 12.
[0015]
The tilt mechanism 12a tilts the upper side shaft portion 12 upward or downward about the tip end portion of the lower side shaft portion 11 in accordance with forward or reverse rotation of the tilt motor 12b. The telescopic mechanism 12c extends the upper shaft portion 12 from the distal end portion of the lower shaft portion 11 or enters the lower shaft 11 from the distal end portion according to the forward or reverse rotation of the telescopic motor 12d. To do. This means that the telescopic mechanism 12c expands and contracts the steering shaft 10a according to the forward / reverse rotation of the telescopic motor 12d.
[0016]
The control device has an impact sensor 30. The impact sensor 30 is composed of a mechanical normally open switch. The impact sensor 30 detects the impact when the passenger car collides and turns it on to generate a detection signal.
[0017]
The signal processing circuit 40 processes the detection signal of the impact sensor 30 and outputs the processed signal to the microcomputer 70. The vehicle speed sensor 50 detects the vehicle speed of the passenger car, generates a vehicle speed signal, and outputs it to the microcomputer 70. The door switch 60 detects when the passenger door of the passenger car is closed, generates a detection signal, and outputs the detection signal to the microcomputer 70.
[0018]
The microcomputer 70 executes a computer program in accordance with the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, and during this execution, the microcomputer 70 executes the tilt motor 12b and the telescopic motor 12d based on the outputs of the signal processing circuit 40, the vehicle speed sensor 50, and the door switch 60. Performs arithmetic processing required for forward / reverse control. The computer program is stored in advance in the ROM of the microcomputer 70.
[0019]
In the present embodiment configured as described above, if the microcomputer 70 starts executing the computer program according to the flowchart of FIG. 3 in the traveling state of the passenger car, if the passenger vehicle is in the normal traveling state, the signal processing circuit 40 Since a signal corresponding to turning off the impact sensor 30 is output, the determination in step 100 is NO.
[0020]
In such a state, when a collision of the passenger car occurs, the impact sensor 100 is turned on to generate a detection signal, and the signal processing circuit 40 generates a processing signal based on the detection signal. For this reason, the determination in step 100 is YES. Thereafter, when the passenger car stops, the determination in step 110 is YES based on the output of the vehicle speed sensor 50 (vehicle speed zero km / h).
[0021]
Accordingly, in step 111, processing for controlling the steering wheel 10b to the uppermost position is performed. Specifically, in the steering shaft 10, the tilt motor 12 b is rotated forward so that the upper shaft portion 12 forms a maximum angle upward with respect to the axis of the lower shaft portion 11.
[0022]
For this reason, the tilt mechanism 12a is driven by the forward rotation of the tilt motor 12b to tilt the upper shaft portion 12 to a position that forms a maximum angle with respect to the axis of the lower shaft portion 11. Thereby, the steering wheel 10b is controlled to the highest position.
[0023]
Next, in step 112, a process for controlling the steering wheel 10b to the last retracted position is performed. Specifically, the telescopic motor 12d is rotated forward so that the steering shaft 10a becomes the longest.
[0024]
For this reason, the telescopic mechanism 12c is driven by the normal rotation of the telescopic motor 12d, and the upper shaft portion 12 extends from the distal end portion of the lower shaft portion 11 so as to make the steering shaft 10a the longest. As a result, the steering wheel 10b is controlled to the last retracted position.
[0025]
As described above, the attitude of the steering mechanism 10 is controlled so that the steering wheel 10b is positioned at the uppermost position and the last retracted position when the passenger car stops due to the collision. Accordingly, the distance between the lower end portion of the steering wheel 10b and the seating surface of the seating portion 22 of the driver seat 20 and the interval between the steering wheel 10b and the backrest portion 21 of the driver seat 20 are increased.
[0026]
As a result, if the lock of the driver's seat door is automatically released at the time of the collision of the passenger car, the steering wheel 10b becomes an obstacle to let the driver escape from the driver's seat 20 after opening the driver's seat door. There is nothing. Therefore, the driver can escape from the driver seat 20 easily and smoothly. As a result, the driver can be easily rescued in a timely manner.
[0027]
After step 112, in step 120, it is determined whether the driver's seat door has been closed from open. If the passenger door of the passenger car is closed from the open state, the determination in step 120 is YES based on the detection output of the door switch 60. Accordingly, in step 121, processing for returning the steering wheel 10b to the original position is performed. That is, the telescopic motor 12d is reversely rotated so that the length of the steering shaft 10a is the shortest, and the tilt motor 12b is reversely rotated so that the upper shaft portion 12 is coaxially positioned with the lower shaft portion 11. Is made.
[0028]
For this reason, the telescopic mechanism 12c is driven by the reverse rotation of the telescopic motor 12d to allow the upper shaft portion 12 to enter the lower shaft portion 11 from its distal end portion so as to make the steering shaft 10a the shortest length, and to tilt. The mechanism 12a is driven by the reverse rotation of the tilt motor 12b to tilt the upper shaft portion 12 downward so as to be positioned coaxially with the lower shaft portion 11. Thereby, the steering mechanism 10 is controlled to return to the original posture. Therefore, the posture of the steering mechanism 10 necessary for starting the re-operation of the passenger car when the collision of the passenger car is light is ensured with good timing.
[0029]
In the implementation of the present invention, the criterion for determining whether or not the vehicle speed is stopped in step 110 is not the vehicle speed zero km / h of the passenger car, r.pm) or opening the driver's seat door may be employed.
[0030]
Further, in carrying out the present invention, the determination criterion in step 112 is not limited to the closing of the driver's seat door, and the release of the parking lever or the release of the foot brake of the passenger car may be used.
[0031]
Further, in carrying out the present invention, the present invention may be applied to a control device for a steering mechanism of various vehicles such as a truck, a bus, a tractor, and an agricultural construction machine, without being limited to a control device for a passenger car steering mechanism.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a passenger car control device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing a positional relationship between a steering mechanism of a passenger car and a driver's seat.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... steering mechanism, 12a ... tilt mechanism, 12b ... tilt motor,
12c ... telescopic mechanism, 12d ... telescopic motor,
20 ... Driver's seat, 30 ... Impact sensor, 50 ... Vehicle speed sensor,
60 ... door switch, 70 ... microcomputer.

Claims (1)

Position change means (which is provided in a steering mechanism (10) provided in front of the driver's seat (20) in the vehicle and operates to change the position of the steering wheel (10b) of the steering mechanism in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction ( 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d),
An impact detection means (30, 100) for detecting an impact caused by a vehicle collision;
Stop detection means (50, 110) for detecting the stop of the vehicle;
When the impact detection means detects the impact and the stop detection means detects the stop of the vehicle, the operation of the position changing means is controlled so that the position of the steering wheel is in the highest position and the most backward position. A control device for a vehicle steering mechanism comprising control means (111, 112) for
After controlling the operation of the position changing means by the control means based on the detection of both the impact detecting means and the stop detecting means, the driver's seat door has been closed from the open, the parking lever has been released, and the foot brake has The vehicle is provided with a travelable state detection means (60, 120) for detecting the establishment of the travelable state of the vehicle by any of the canceled
The control means controls the operation of the position changing means to return the steering wheel to the original position when the travelable state detection means detects the establishment of the travelable state of the vehicle. A control device for a steering mechanism for a vehicle.

Images