JP4633218B2 - Support structure for steering column assembly - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a support structure for a steering column assembly in which the steering column assembly can be easily assembled to a pedal bracket.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional support structure for a steering column assembly will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 10. In FIG. 10, a pedal bracket 20 is attached to a vehicle body front panel 26 by appropriate fixing means such as bolts. The pedal bracket 20 has a pedal attachment portion 21 formed in the front, a rear portion thereof having a substantially U-shaped cross section in a side view, and a bottom portion of the attachment portion 22 configured as a steering column attachment portion 23. The steering column assembly is fixed to the mounting portion 23 with a bolt or the like. In the figure, 24 is a brake pedal, and 25 is a brake booster.
[0003]
With the above structure, in this support structure, when an impact is applied from the front, the engine (not shown) moves rearward, the brake booster 25 is pushed rearward, and the pedal mounting portion 21 moves rearward. Accordingly, the rear portion 22 of the pedal bracket is deformed rearward as indicated by a two-dot chain line in the figure, so that a shock from the front can be absorbed. The problem of the side moving upward can be solved.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described steering column assembly support structure, when the steering column assembly is assembled to the mounting portion 23 of the pedal bracket 20, an impact wrench is used with the other hand while holding the steering column with one hand. Since the work of tightening the bolt to the mounting portion 23 is performed, workability is extremely poor. In the case of no power steering or hydraulic power steering, the steering column assembly itself has a simple structure and is lightweight, so it can be handled by the above-mentioned work, but a motor is built in the steering column assembly. In the case of the attached electric power steering, since the weight of the steering column assembly itself is increased, the burden on the operator is extremely increased, and there is a problem that the assembling workability is rapidly deteriorated in the above-described work process.
Further, when a motor assist structure is provided on the lower end side of the steering column assembly, the vibration of the motor is transmitted to the pedal bracket, which may deteriorate indoor noise.
Further, when the steering column assembly is supported on the pedal bracket with the above-described configuration, there is a problem that it is difficult to stabilize the collapse stroke of the steering column at the time of collision.
[0005]
Accordingly, the present invention provides a structure in which when the steering column assembly is assembled to the pedal bracket, the lower portion of the steering column assembly is inserted into a through hole provided in the bracket pedal bracket via an elastic body and supported by the pedal bracket. The purpose is to solve the above problems.
With this structure, the assembly work can be facilitated even with the steering column assembly of the electric power steering type, and further, the deformation on the pedal bracket side can be advantageously used at the time of collision, and secondary collision can be prevented.
[0006]
For this reason, the problem solving means adopted by the present invention is that a through surface having a steering column assembly through hole is formed on the rear side of the pedal bracket in the vehicle-mounted state, covers the inner side surface of the through hole, and the steering column assembly passes through. A support structure for a steering column assembly, wherein an elastic body having a hole that is formed is attached to the through-hole, and the steering column assembly is supported by the pedal bracket via the elastic body. A steering system characterized in that a collision deformation amount control member is provided between the vehicle-mounted state side surface of the box portion supporting the pedal mechanism of the pedal bracket and the member having the through surface from the vehicle-mounted state front portion toward the vehicle-mounted state rear portion. This is a support structure for the column assembly . The pedal bracket support structure for the steering column assembly is characterized in that a detent seat surface for the steering column assembly is formed on the pedal bracket. Further, the steering column assembly supporting structure is characterized in that the through surface is formed as a surface substantially perpendicular to the steering column assembly shaft. The pedal bracket includes a pedal stroke in which the through hole is formed and a bifurcated portion to which the pedal stroke is fixed, and one end of the collision deformation amount control member is connected to the bifurcated portion. This is a support structure for the steering column assembly.
[0007]
Embodiment
Hereinafter, the support structure of the steering column assembly according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of the pedal bracket portion, FIG. 2 is a front view of the pedal bracket with a brake pedal assembled, and FIG. 4 is a view of the pedal bracket as viewed from an arrow A in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a view of the pedal bracket as viewed from the same direction as FIG. 3 in a state where the pedal plate is assembled, and FIG. It is a perspective view of the state which connected 1C with the stay.
[0008]
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a pedal bracket. The pedal bracket is fixed to the vehicle body by a fixing means such as a bolt as is well known, and the brake pedal 2 is centered on the shaft 3 as shown in FIG. It is swingably attached. As is well known, a push rod (not shown) connected to the master cylinder is attached to the brake pedal, but the configuration thereof is not a characteristic part of the present invention, so that the description thereof is omitted.
[0009]
As shown in FIG. 4, the lower side of the pedal bracket is divided into bifurcated shapes 1A and 1B. Nuts 4 and 5 are fixed to the lower ends of the pedal brackets, and the pedal plate 6 shown in FIG. It is the structure fixed by. As shown in FIG. 1, the pedal plate is provided with bolt insertion holes 7 and 8 on the left and right, and a through hole 9 is formed at the center of the pedal plate to support the lower end of the steering column assembly. The hole 9 has a structure in which an elastic body (bush ring) 10 having a vibration isolating function is mounted. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5, the pedal plate 6 is formed with a detent portion 11 that fixes a bracket (not shown) on the steering column assembly side.
[0010]
On the right side 1B of the bifurcated portion of the pedal bracket 1, there is a U-shaped stay (collision deformation control member) 12 that connects the pedal bracket 1 and the box 1C that supports the pedal mechanism as shown in FIG. Attached and can control the amount of deformation at the time of collision.
[0011]
The operation of assembling the steering column assembly SA to the pedal bracket 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG.
As described above, the brake pedal 2 and the pedal plate 6 are assembled and fixed to the pedal bracket 1 with bolts or the like in advance, and the elastic body 10 is attached to the through hole 9 of the pedal plate 6 (note that The elastic body 10 may be attached to the steering column assembly SA side in advance). The steering column assembly SA is assembled to the pedal plate 6 by holding the steering column assembly SA in the pedal bracket 1 in this state by hand and inserting the lower end thereof into the through hole 9 via the elastic body 10. Thereafter, a bracket (not shown) on the side of the steering column assembly SA and the anti-rotation portion 11 of the pedal plate 6 are fixed by bolts, and the anti-rotation function of the steering column assembly SA is added. Further, a connecting member coupled to the steering wheel is attached to the steering column assembly as is well known.
[0012]
In the steering column assembly support structure having the above-described configuration, the steering column assembly SA is supported in a floating state with respect to the pedal bracket 11 via the elastic body, so that vibration transmitted to the steering column assembly can be blocked. it can. Further, if an impact is received from the front, each member is deformed as follows.
That is, when the engine moves rearward due to a collision and the brake booster is pushed rearward, the pedal bracket 1 moves backward S1 (collapse stroke) as shown in FIG. 8, and this movement is shown in FIGS. As shown in (a), the stay 12 moves stably and straightly rearward by the action of the stay 12, so that the steering column itself can also exhibit a stable steering collapsible stroke S2. When there is no stay, the pedal bracket 1 moves rearward as shown in FIG. 9 (b), but this movement is stable because the pedal bracket 1 tilts as shown in FIG. 9 (b). A typical collapse stroke S1 cannot be exhibited. Thus, since the deformation amount of the pedal bracket 1 is controlled by the stay 12 as described above, the safety of the present invention at the time of collision is extremely high. Further, since the steering column assembly SA is coupled to the pedal plate 6, rotation is prevented.
[0013]
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the above embodiment has a structure in which a pedal plate having a steering column assembly through-hole is attached to the pedal bracket. It is also possible to form a through hole for the column assembly, and in this case, a pedal plate is not necessary. Further, the collision deformation amount control member (stay) for connecting the pedal bracket and the vehicle body is not limited to the U-shaped cross section, but may be of other shapes that can exhibit the same function.
In addition, the present invention can be implemented in any other form without departing from the spirit or main features thereof. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner.
[0014]
【The invention's effect】
As explained in detail above, according to the present invention,
By adopting a support structure for the steering column assembly that allows the lower part of the steering column assembly to be inserted into the through hole provided in the pedal bracket, a heavy-weight electric power steering type steering column assembly can be assembled with one touch. It becomes possible and work becomes easy. Further, since the steering column assembly can be supported by the pedal bracket without using bolts or the like as in the prior art, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. By integrating the detent mechanism with the pedal bracket, it is possible to improve the dimensional accuracy, and further, it is not necessary to use a separate member for temporary detent, so that the cost can be reduced. Further, at the time of a collision, the deformation on the pedal bracket side can be advantageously used by the collision deformation amount control member, and a secondary collision can be prevented. Further, since the steering column assembly is supported via the elastic body, an excellent effect such as prevention of an increase in room noise can be achieved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pedal bracket portion according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the pedal bracket in a state where the brake pedal is assembled.
FIG. 3 is a side view of the same.
4 is a view of the pedal bracket as viewed from an arrow A in FIG. 3;
5 is an arrow view from the same direction as FIG. 3 in a state where the pedal plate is assembled to the pedal bracket. FIG.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a state in which the pedal bracket and the pedal bock 1C are connected by a stay.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an operation of assembling a steering column assembly to a pedal bracket.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a deformed state of the pedal bracket at the time of collision.
FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view of a collision deformation amount control member (stay) at the time of collision.
FIG. 10 is a side view of a pedal bracket in a state where a conventional brake pedal is assembled.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pedal bracket 2 Brake pedal 3 Shaft 4, 5 Nut 6 Pedal plate 7, 8 Bolt insertion hole 9 Through hole 10 Elastic body 11 Anti-rotation 12 Collision deformation control member SA Steering column assembly

Claims (4)

A through surface having a steering column assembly through hole is formed on the rear side of the pedal bracket in the vehicle-mounted state, an inner surface of the through hole is covered, and an elastic body having a hole through which the steering column assembly can pass is formed in the through hole. In the steering column assembly support structure, the steering column assembly is mounted and supported by the pedal bracket via the elastic body.
A steering system characterized in that a collision deformation amount control member is provided between the vehicle-mounted state side surface of the box portion supporting the pedal mechanism of the pedal bracket and the member having the through surface from the vehicle-mounted state front portion toward the vehicle-mounted state rear portion. Support structure for column assembly. 2. The steering column assembly support structure according to claim 1, wherein a non-rotating seat surface of the steering column assembly is formed on the pedal bracket. 3. The support structure for a steering column assembly according to claim 1, wherein the through surface is formed as a surface substantially perpendicular to the steering column assembly shaft. The pedal bracket includes a pedal stroke in which the through hole is formed and a bifurcated portion to which the pedal stroke is fixed, and one end of the collision deformation amount control member is connected to the bifurcated portion. The steering column assembly support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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