JPH0530178B2 - - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a core material for a steering wheel made of fiber-reinforced resin, particularly for manufacturing a core material that improves the shape, strength, etc. of the spokes of a steering wheel. It is about the method.

(Prior art) In recent years, steering wheels that are mainly installed on vehicles such as automobiles and small vessels such as motorboats are made of fiber reinforced plastics (hereinafter referred to as FRP) in order to reduce weight and increase strength.
In practical use, the core material is formed by winding and laminating the core material, and the surface is treated with a surface material such as leather. The above-mentioned FRP is made by impregnating a continuous fiber bundle such as glass fiber or carbon fiber with a synthetic resin such as polyester resin or epoxy resin, wrapping it around a predetermined mold and laminating it, and then curing the synthetic resin. be.

Conventionally, as shown in Fig. 4, an example of a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned FRP steering wheel core material is to impregnate continuous long fibers such as glass fiber or carbon fiber with synthetic resin such as polyester resin or epoxy resin. The core material 1 is formed by winding the core material 1 into the shape of a steering wheel.

As an example of the above-mentioned winding method, first, continuous long fibers F impregnated with synthetic resin are continuously supplied to a winding jig in which a groove portion corresponding to the shape of the ring portion 2 of the steering wheel core material 1 is formed. , forming the ring portion 2. Next, the long fibers F are bent and fed in the direction of the boss metal fitting 3 arranged on the central axis of the ring part 2, passing between the pins 4a and 4a and between the pins 5a and 5a to form the spoke part 6a. Then, wrap the outer circumference of the boss metal fitting 3 from the spoke part 6a and attach the pin 5 again.
The ring part 2 is wound between the pins 4a and 5a and between the pins 4a and 4a, and the pins 4b and 4, which are different from the above
spoke part 6b through between b and between pins 5b and 5b.
is formed, is wound around the outer periphery of the boss metal fitting 3, and is again passed between the pins 5b, 5b and 4b, 4b to the ring part 2.
I am trying to wind it. In the same way as the above operation, spoke parts 6c are also formed between the pins 4c and 4c and between the pins 5c and 5c, and the above feeding operation is repeated to form the steering wheel core material 1 with the continuous long fibers F. Form. After this, before the synthetic resin impregnated into the long fibers F hardens, both ends of the spoke part 6, that is, the vicinity of the joining part with the ring part 2 and the boss part 3, are tightened with the metal rings 7, 7. There is.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the above-described conventional method for producing an FRP steering wheel core material has the following problems.

First, the ring part 2 is wound up while its outer circumference is regulated by the groove formed in the winding jig, so that the volume content (Vf) of the fiber with respect to FRP, stress characteristics after hardening, shape, dimensions, etc. However, the spokes 6 are not wound along the winding jig, but are stretched between the groove of the winding jig and the boss fitting by changing the feeding direction of the long fibers F. Volume content of fiber (Vf) to form
This causes problems such as the spoke parts 6a, 6b, and 6c deforming into different shapes or having different dimensions before the resin hardens, and exhibiting different stress characteristics in response to external forces. Ta.

Furthermore, due to the above-mentioned problems, the core material of the steering wheel is deformed and cannot be manufactured into a product, resulting in poor product yield, and even if it can be manufactured into a product, the stress characteristics become weak and it becomes easily damaged. had.

The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and by stably forming the volume content (Vf) of the fibers of the spoke parts, the stress characteristics after hardening, the shape, the dimensions, etc. The aim is to achieve homogenization of wheel core material as a product and improve product yield and durability.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin steering wheel core material according to the present invention to achieve the above object is characterized by a ring portion winding jig and a boss metal fitting fixed to the main shaft. In the method of manufacturing steering wheel core material by winding resin-impregnated continuous filaments, after the steering wheel core material is wound and formed, the fixation of the ring part winding jig is released from the main shaft, and then the main shaft is removed from the boss. The reason is that it was moved towards the metal fittings.

(Function) Since the steering wheel core material is manufactured as described above, before the resin impregnated into the continuous filaments hardens, the fiber bundles constituting the spokes bridging the ring part and the boss part are This will give a certain amount of tension. Further, by applying tension to the fiber bundle in the spoke portion, the twist that has occurred in the spoke portion immediately after winding is removed, and the directionality of the fibers is forcibly aligned.

As it works as described above, before the resin impregnated into the fibers hardens, the fiber bundles at the spoke part are aligned, and the same tension is applied to keep the volume content (Vf) of the fibers constant, and the product is manufactured. It is possible to stabilize the stress characteristics, shape, dimensions, etc. of the core material after it has been removed.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin steering wheel core material according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3 are for explaining one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a side view showing the moving state of the main shaft of a winding device used in the method for manufacturing a steering wheel core material; FIGS. 2 and 3 are a rear view and a side view showing the process of winding resin-impregnated continuous filaments using the same apparatus, and the same members as in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In each figure, the ring part winding jig 8 is formed by assembling arc parts 8b, 8c, and 8d to a disc-shaped base 8a, and a main shaft 9 passes through the center of the disc-shaped base 8a. However, the base 8a of the jig 8 is fixed to an arbitrary location 9b near the tip 9a of the main shaft 9.
In the winding jig 8, when each part 8a to 8d is assembled, a fiber winding space 8A having a substantially circular cross section is formed.
The resin-impregnated continuous filaments F are wound and laminated in this space 8A. Further, since the rear side of the winding jig 8 is formed with the gap portions 8B of the circular arc portions 8b to 8d,
When they are guided into the gap 8B and stacked, the spoke portions 6 of the steering wheel core material 1 are formed.

A boss metal fitting 3 is fixed to the tip end 9a of the main shaft 9, which serves as a boss to be attached to the vehicle body after the core material 1 is completed. The boss fitting 3 is a cylindrical member with a U-shaped groove formed on the outer peripheral surface, and resin-impregnated continuous filaments F are wound and laminated in this U-shaped groove as well. Further, reference numeral 5 is a guide pin implanted on the back surface of the jig base 8a, and the boss metal fitting 3, the winding jig 8, and the main shaft 9 constitute a winding device 10 for the steering wheel core material. .

A process of manufacturing a steering wheel core material by the method of the present invention using the winding device 10 having the above configuration will be described.

First, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, after completing the winding jig 8 by fixing the circular arc parts 8b to 8d to the base 8a of the ring winding jig 8, Fix it using a fixing means (not shown).
Next, the boss fitting 3 is fixed to the tip 9a of the main shaft 9, and the continuous long fibers F impregnated with resin are supplied as shown by arrow B, and when the main shaft 9 is rotated in the direction of arrow A, the long fibers F are wound up one after another to form the steering wheel core 1.

After the above winding operation is completed and before the resin impregnated into the long fibers F hardens, as shown in FIG.
First, the fixing means (not shown) between the main shaft 9 and the ring part winding jig 8 is released, and then the main shaft 9 is moved in the direction of arrow C.
Tension is applied to portions a, 6b, and 6c, and accordingly, the ring portion 2 and the outer peripheral portion 3a of the boss metal fitting 3 are also tightened, and the volume content (Vf) of the fibers is made uniform throughout the core material 1. Ru. Moreover, by pulling the fibers in the direction of arrow C, even if the fibers are twisted together, this state can be unraveled, and the spoke portion 6 can be tightened in the direction of the central axis.

Next, with the main shaft 9 moved, the winding jig 8 and the main shaft 9 are fixed again using a fixing means (not shown), and left until the resin impregnated into the fibers hardens, so that the material and shape are uniform. This makes it possible to obtain an FRP steering wheel core material with stable stress characteristics.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above in detail, the method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced resin steering wheel core material according to the present invention provides the following effects.

First, the fixing means between the main shaft of the winding device and the ring part winding jig is made releasable, and after winding FRP onto the winding device, the fixing means is released and the main shaft is moved toward the boss metal fitting. As a result, uniform tension is applied to the continuous long fibers constituting the spoke portion before the resin hardens, and the volume content (Vf) of the fibers can be stabilized.

In addition, since the steering wheel core material is hardened while this tension is applied, the stress characteristics of the core material, especially on the spokes, can be made constant, improving durability, and the core material as a whole can be used as a product. It is possible to achieve homogenization and improve yield.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the moving state of the main shaft of a winding device used in an embodiment of the method of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show the process of winding resin-impregnated continuous filaments using the same device. They are a rear view and a side view. Also,
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a conventional method for manufacturing an FRP steering wheel. 1...Fiber-reinforced resin steering wheel, 2
...Ring part, 3...Boss fitting, 6...Spoke part, 8
... Ring portion winding jig, 9... Main shaft, 10... Winding device, F... Resin-impregnated continuous filament.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A ring portion winding jig is fixed to a main shaft, a boss metal fitting is fixed to the tip of the main shaft, and the main shaft is rotated to impregnate the winding jig and the boss metal fitting with resin. By winding continuous long fibers, ring parts, spoke parts,
In a method for manufacturing a steering wheel core material consisting of a boss part, after the steering wheel core material is wound and formed, the fixation of the ring part winding jig is released from the main shaft, and the main shaft is moved in the direction of the boss metal fitting. A method for producing a steering wheel core material made of fiber-reinforced resin, characterized in that the core material of a steering wheel is made of fiber reinforced resin.