JP4994704B2 - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering wheel having a deformable cored bar.

Conventionally, in a vehicle such as an automobile, a steering wheel having an annular rim portion, a boss portion positioned inside the rim portion, and a plurality of spoke portions connecting the rim portion and the boss portion is used. It has been. The boss is equipped with a module equipped with an air bag device, a horn switch device, etc., and the core of the spoke can be deformed when an excessive force is applied, protecting the occupant in the event of a car collision, etc. It is supposed to be. Here, a weak portion is provided in a portion close to the rim portion of the spoke portion, and a portion in which the module is fixed to the spoke portion is configured such that the coupling rigidity of the lower coupling portion is smaller than the coupling stiffness of the upper coupling portion. Is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-32168 (page 3, FIG. 1)

  However, the module covers most of the boss portion, and is disposed in proximity to the core metal of the spoke portion. Further, the portion on the boss portion side of the core metal has a large rigidity and basically does not deform. Therefore, when an excessive impact load is applied to the rim portion, the core metal of the spoke portion interferes with the module, and there is a problem that the reaction force increases if the shock absorbing stroke cannot be secured. In particular, when the module is equipped with a horn switch device, the module is elastically provided to the boss part or the spoke part so that the module can be elastically advanced and retracted. There is a problem that it is not easy to secure.

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel that includes a module and has good shock absorption characteristics.

The steering wheel according to claim 1 is provided with a rim portion for operation, a boss portion connected to the shaft, and a spoke portion connecting the rim portion and the boss portion, and a deformable cored bar is formed on the spoke portion. A steering wheel main body provided , and a retracting portion attached to the steering wheel main body and engaged with the core metal and capable of receiving the core metal deformed when the core metal is deformed in a direction toward the boss portion . And a module having an attachment portion.

In this configuration, the module is normally attached to the steering wheel body by engaging the attachment portion with the cored bar. When the occupant collides with the rim portion of the steering wheel body, the core metal of the spoke portion is deformed to absorb the impact. When the core bar is deformed, the deformed core bar is received by the retracting part in the direction toward the boss part, and the deformation stroke of the spoke part, that is, the shock absorption stroke is secured, and the shock absorption characteristics are easily improved. Become.

  The steering wheel according to claim 2 is the steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the module constitutes a horn switch device, and the mounting portion provided with the retracting portion constitutes a fulcrum around which the horn switch device rotates. It is.

  In this configuration, normally, the module rotates around the attachment portion as a fulcrum, and contacts and separates a contact provided at a position away from the attachment portion to function as a horn switch device. The manufacturing cost can be reduced by simplifying the structure.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the steering wheel according to the first or second aspect, the retracting portion has a groove shape in which the deformed core metal can slide.

  In this configuration, when the core bar is deformed, the deformed core bar is guided along the retracting portion, and the characteristic that the steering wheel body is deformed is stabilized.

  The steering wheel according to claim 4 is the steering wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the deformable core metal extends downward from the boss portion and is connected to the lower side portion of the rim portion. It has been done.

  In this configuration, the shock absorption characteristic when the occupant operating the steering wheel comes into contact with the lower side of the rim portion is improved, and a characteristic suitable as a steering wheel is realized.

According to the steering wheel of the present invention, when the occupant collides with the rim portion of the steering wheel body, the core metal of the spoke portion is deformed to absorb the impact. When the core bar is deformed, the deformed core bar is received by the retracting portion in the direction toward the boss portion, and the deformation stroke of the spoke portion, that is, the shock absorption stroke is secured, and the shock absorption characteristics are easily improved. it can.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of a steering wheel of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 11, reference numeral 1 denotes a steering wheel of an automobile. The steering wheel 1 includes a steering wheel body 2 and a module 3 that is a pad body mounted on the passenger side of the steering wheel body 2. ing. In each figure, in order to clearly show the configuration, the airbag device and various covers are appropriately omitted.

  The steering wheel 1 is mounted on a steering shaft as a shaft (not shown) that is normally provided in an inclined state. Hereinafter, the module 3 side is the occupant side, the front side or the rear side, and the steering shaft side is the vehicle body. The direction such as the front-rear direction is described with reference to the straight direction of the vehicle body on which the steering wheel 1 is provided.

  The steering wheel body 2 includes a ring-shaped rim portion (ring portion) 5, a boss portion 6 positioned inside the rim portion 5, and a plurality of rim portions 5 and the boss portions 6 connected to each other. In this embodiment, it is composed of three spoke portions 7. Further, a boss 8 fitted to the steering shaft is provided on the vehicle body side of the boss portion 6, and a boss plate 9, which is a boss core metal, is cast on the boss 8 integrally. It is formed or fixed by welding or the like. From the boss plate 9, the upper cored bars 7 a and 7 a and the lower cored bar 7 b of the spoke portion 7 are integrally extended or fixed by welding a metal or the like. The two upper metal cores 7a and 7a extend from the boss portion 6 so as to be substantially horizontal in both sides when viewed from the front and inclined rearward when viewed from the side, and the lower metal core 7b is It is inclined to extend vertically downward in a front view and inclined rearward in a side view. Further, the metal core 5a of the rim 5 is fixed to the metal cores 7a, 7a, 7b of the spoke parts 7 by welding or the like.

  Further, a pair of switch receiving portions 11 on both sides are provided on the upper metal cores 7a, 7a of the spoke portion 7 located on both sides from the upper portion of the boss plate 9, and these switch receiving portions 11 include Although not shown, a screw hole that is a guide restricting body mounting portion constituting the horn switch device 12, a biasing means receiving portion that supports the biasing means, and a fixing that is a first contact located on the outer side of each screw hole. It has contact points.

  In addition, the lower cored bar 7b of the spoke portion 7 is formed by connecting two rod-like portions 14 arranged on both sides with a connecting portion such as a distal end side connecting portion 15 and a proximal end side connecting portion 16 which are the rim portion 5 side. A connected shape is formed, and the front side of the connecting portion 15, that is, the surface on the boss plate 9 side becomes the first receiving portion 17, and the rear side surface of the stepped portion protruding from both outer sides of the connecting portion 15 is The second receiving portions 18 and 18 are directed to the opposite side of the first receiving portion 17. These receiving portions 17 and 18 constitute an engagement receiving portion 19 constituting the horn switch device 12.

  Further, on the outer peripheral portion of the core metal 5a of the rim portion 5 and the outer peripheral portion of the spoke portion 7 on the rim portion 5 side of the core metal 7a, a skin portion 20 made of urethane, for example, soft foamed polyurethane or the like is formed. Has been. The vehicle body side of the boss portion 6 and the spoke portion 7 on the boss portion 6 side is covered with a back cover 21 formed by injection or the like of a thermoplastic resin. The back cover 21 is fixed by being engaged with the boss plate 9 or the core metal 7a of the spoke portion 7 or screwed.

  Further, an airbag device (not shown) is attached to the steering wheel body 2 via a horn switch device 12 that is a switch device. A module 3 is constituted by a part of the horn switch device 12 and the airbag device.

  Although not shown, the airbag device includes a base plate made of a metal plate or the like, and from the passenger side of the base plate, a bag-like airbag and a resin cover body are attached and fixed with rivets, etc. An inflator or the like for injecting gas is attached from below. The base plate has a pair of attachment pieces on both sides. When an automobile collides, an inert gas such as nitrogen gas is rapidly injected from the inflator into the airbag, and the airbag stored in a folded state is rapidly expanded. Then, due to the inflation pressure of the airbag, the cover body is cleaved into a predetermined shape to form a protruding port of the airbag, and the airbag protrudes from the protruding port and is inflated and deployed in front of the occupant to protect the occupant It is supposed to be. In addition, the airbag device covers substantially the entire rear side, which is the front side of the boss portion 6.

  The horn switch device 12 includes a switch receiving portion 11 provided on the steering wheel main body 2 side, a horn plate 31 as a movable body supported by the steering wheel main body 2 so as to be able to advance and retreat, and the horn plate 31 to advance and retreat. Two stepped bolts 32 that are guide restriction bodies that guide the body and restrict the moving range, urging means for urging the horn plate 31 to the front side, and a second provided on the back side of the horn plate 31 It consists of a movable contact that is a contact.

  The horn plate 31 can also be called a base plate. The horn plate 31 is formed in a frame shape as a whole with a conductive metal plate, and a part of the metal plate is made of an insulating resin by so-called outsert molding. It is covered integrally. That is, the portion formed of the metal plate of the horn plate 31 includes a frame-shaped portion 35 having a polygonal cylindrical shape, and a pair of frames from the front edge of the frame-shaped portion 35 toward the both sides from the top. Side plate portions 36, 36 are formed, and a mounting portion 37, which is a lower plate portion, protrudes downward. Further, an upper plate portion 38 is formed along the upper portion and an inner lower plate portion 39 is formed along the lower portion from the rear edge of the frame-like portion 35. Further, upper receiving plate portions 40 are formed on both side portions of the upper plate portion 38, and circular holes that are not shown are formed. Further, a pair of support piece portions 42 and 42 are extended downward from the central portion in the vertical direction on both sides of the edge on the back side of the frame-like portion 35, and attached to each support piece portion 42. A hole 42a is formed.

  The mounting portion 37 is formed with two pairs of parallel rectangular groove-shaped recesses 44 as recesses that extend upward from the lower end, that is, from the edge toward the center of the steering wheel body 2. In addition, the front-side surface of the inner portion sandwiched between the retracting portions 44 is the first engaging portion 45, and the rear-side surfaces of the portions located on both outer sides of the retracting portion 44 are a pair of Second engaging portions 46 and 46 are formed.

  Furthermore, an insulating resin is integrally formed at a plurality of portions of the horn plate 31 formed of a metal plate by an insulating resin coating by outsert molding. That is, the side insulating portions 51 covered with resin are formed on the side plate portions 36, 36, and the rear surface is at least from the first engaging portion 45 and the second engaging portions 46, 46 of the mounting portion 37. The lower insulating portion 52 is formed continuously to the inner lower plate portion 39, and the guide regulating body insulating portion 53 functions as a spacer covering both surfaces and the through hole portion of the upper receiving plate portion 40. , 53 are formed.

  The first engaging portion 45 and the second engaging portions 46, 46 are formed in a three-dimensional shape having a predetermined shape and thickness dimension while being covered by the lower insulating portion 52. The second engaging portions 45 and 46 and the lower insulating portion 52 constitute an engaging portion 55.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 8 and the like, the lower insulating portion 52 causes the protrusions 46a, 46a from the distal end side of the second engaging portions 46, 46 to the first engaging portion 45 side. Is formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 and the like, on the back side of the lower insulating part 52, there are reinforcing ribs 52a that mechanically support the back side of each engaging part 45, 46, 46 to the frame-like part 35. Is formed. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, etc., the lower insulating portion 52 is formed with a holding portion 52b that protrudes from the upper end portion of the inner and lower plate portions 39 and holds the wiring and the like.

  Furthermore, a movable contact as a second contact is provided on the lower surface of the side plate portions 36 and 36 of the horn plate 31.

  Also, a biasing means mounting portion for positioning and holding the biasing means in a state insulated from the metal portion of the horn plate 31 is formed in the lower part of the side insulating portion 51 that covers the side plate portions 36 and 36 of the horn plate 31. Yes.

  Each stepped bolt 32 is provided with a head portion 32a having a large diameter at one end, a columnar shaft portion having a smaller diameter than the head portion 32a, and a diameter smaller than the shaft portion. The thread portion is arranged on the same axis.

  Each urging means is formed by a spring such as a coil spring or a leaf spring.

  And this horn plate 31 inserts the 1st engaging part 45 in the back side of the 1st receiving part 17 of the metal core 7b, and each 2nd engaging part 46 and 46 is the 2nd of the metal core 7b. In a state of being inserted in the front side of the receiving portions 18, 18, that is, in a state where the engaging portion 55 is engaged with the engaging receiving portion 19, the boss plate 9 is disposed so as to overlap with the front side. Then, the urging means is disposed at the urging means mounting portion of each side insulating portion 51 of the horn plate 31, and the stepped bolt 32 is inserted into the through hole of each guide regulating body insulating portion 53 from the front side, The horn plate 31 is attached to a predetermined position of the steering wheel main body 2 so as to be able to advance and retract by screwing the portion into the screw hole of the boss plate 9 and fixing it. That is, in this state, the engaging portion between the first engaging portion 45 and the first receiving portion 17 and the engaging portion between the second engaging portions 46 and 46 and the second receiving portions 18 and 18, The engaging portion of the engaging portion 55 and the engaging receiving portion 19 becomes a fulcrum of rotation, i.e., tilting about both sides, and the shaft portion of the stepped bolt 32 fixed to the boss plate 9 becomes a guide portion, and The head portion 32a serves as a restricting portion, and the upper portion of the horn plate 31 can move within a predetermined range in the front-rear direction, that is, the front-rear direction. Further, in this state, the movable contact of the horn plate 31 faces the fixed contact of the boss plate 9 so as to be able to contact and separate, and each urging means brings the horn plate 31 to the front side, that is, the movable contact is separated from the fixed contact. A so-called swing horn type horn switch device 12 that is elastically held and fixed on the lower side is configured.

  In this state, each bar-like portion 14 of the cored bar 7b is located on the tip side, which is the lower end side of each retracting portion 44 of the mounting portion 37, and the lower insulating portion 52 protrudes from the outer surface of each bar-like portion 14. The parts 46a and 46a abut. Further, in this state, as shown in FIG. 4, between each bar-like portion 14 of the core bar 7 b at the normal position and the upper end portion of the retracting portion 44, that is, the bottom portion 44 a that is the center side of the steering wheel body 2, A predetermined dimension L1 that is sufficient clearance is secured.

  Then, electrical wiring for connecting the device on the vehicle body side with respect to the fixed contact and the movable contact of the horn switch device 12 is performed. Further, the boss 8 is fitted and fixed to the steering shaft, and the airbag device is fitted to the front side of the horn plate 31, and the mounting piece of the airbag device is inserted into the mounting hole 42 a of the support piece portion 42 of the horn plate 31. The airbag device is fixed to the horn plate 31 by fixing with bolts. Furthermore, the airbag device is configured in such a manner that the steering wheel 1 including the module 3 is attached to the steering shaft by performing electrical wiring to connect to the vehicle-side control device.

  And the steering wheel 1 comprised in this way is operated by driving | running | working, when the passenger | crew of a driver's seat hold | grips the rim | limb part 5 and rotates. Further, the airbag device, that is, the horn plate 31 is engaged with the engaging portion 55 by pushing the upper portion of the cover body of the airbag device that also serves as the pushing portion against the urging force of the urging means. When the engagement portion with the receiving portion 19 is tilted as an axis and the movable contact and the fixed contact come into contact with each other, the horn device on the vehicle body side is blown.

  On the other hand, in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the airbag device provided in the steering wheel 1 operates to restrain and protect the occupant thrown forward by the airbag that is inflated and deployed.

  Further, when the rim portion 5 of the steering wheel body 2 is pressed through the airbag due to the occupant moving forward, the core bars 7a, 7a, 7b of the respective portions of the spoke portion 7 are deformed, and impact is applied. Absorb and protect occupants.

  Here, the lower side portion of the rim portion 5 of the steering wheel 1 is located at the rearmost side, that is, the occupant side, and is a portion that may come into contact with the abdomen or chest of the occupant. Although the space between the core bar 7b and the module 3 that is provided with the airbag device and the horn plate 31 and is hard to be deformed is small, it is difficult to secure the deformation stroke of the core bar 7b. Then, the core metal 7b on the lower side of the spoke portion 7 can be deformed with a large stroke, and the occupant can be protected with good shock absorption characteristics.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 4 to 6, when a force is applied to the lower side of the rim part 5 in the direction of the arrow F by the occupant, the tip side portion of the lower end of the cored bar 7b is deformed. In addition, the engaging portion between the engaging portion 55 and the engagement receiving portion 19 is disengaged, and each bar-like portion 14 of the cored bar 7b passes through each retracting portion 44 of the mounting portion 37 in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. 11, the space between each rod-like portion 14 of the cored bar 7b and the bottom portion 44a of the retracting portion 44 is reduced to the dimension L2 and deformed to the state shown in FIG. The deformation stroke of the cored bar 7a is ensured without sticking.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a good shock absorption characteristic is required, and the lower side portion of the rim portion 5 of the steering wheel 1 that is a position where it is difficult to secure the deformation stroke of the cored bar 7b, the module 3 is provided with a groove-shaped retracting portion 44 that can be received by sliding the deformed core bar 7b, so that the core bar 7b on the lower side of the spoke portion 7 can be deformed with a large stroke. The occupant can be protected with good impact absorption characteristics with no reaction force and a small peak of reaction force.

Further, the retracting portion 44 is also used as a configuration for supporting the module 3 constituting the horn switch device 12 in a normal state so that the module 3 is engaged with the metal core 7a of the steering wheel main body 2 so as to be rotatable. The structure of the engagement portion 55 and the engagement receiving portion 19 itself of the core metal 7a are also simple, and the manufacturing cost can be easily reduced.

  Further, each retracting portion 44 of the mounting portion 37 is a groove-shaped recess, which guides the deforming core bar 7a while sliding, and suppresses deformation such as twisting of the steering wheel main body 2. It is possible to stabilize the shock absorbing characteristics by stabilizing the deformation characteristics.

  In addition, because it is not necessary to break the parts to improve the shock absorption characteristics, it is possible to achieve a good shock absorption characteristic in which the reaction force changes smoothly, and there is no need to consider a configuration that prevents the parts from being detached. , The configuration can be simplified.

  Further, since the attachment portion 37 provided with the retracting portion 44 is provided at the opening end of the bottomed box-shaped horn plate 31, it can be formed by simple processing, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Further, the engaging portion 55 and the retracting portion 44 of the mounting portion 37 are formed by coating the resin on the horn plate 31 formed by bending a metal plate by outsert molding to form the lower insulating portion 52. It can be reliably fixed to the horn plate 31 and can easily satisfy slidability, mechanical strength, and insulation.

  Note that the attachment portion 37 provided with the retracting portion 44 is not limited to the configuration formed in the horn plate 31, and may be provided, for example, in the base plate of the airbag device.

  Further, the steering wheel 1 is not limited to the configuration including the three spoke portions 7, and can be applied to a configuration including the four spoke portions 7, for example.

  Further, the horn plate 31 is not limited to a frame shape, and may be, for example, a V shape or a U shape in which two horn plates are connected at the lower side.

  Further, the biasing means can also wind the coil spring coaxially around the stepped bolt 32 that is a guide restricting body.

  Moreover, the module 3 can also be made into the pad body which accommodated the impact-absorbing body, without providing an airbag apparatus.

  The present invention can be applied to, for example, a steering wheel of an automobile provided with a horn switch device and an airbag device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a state in which an airbag device showing an embodiment of a steering wheel of the present invention is removed, (a) before deformation and (b) after deformation. It is a front view of the state which removed the airbag apparatus of the steering wheel same as the above. It is a partial front view of the state which removed the airbag apparatus of the steering wheel same as the above. It is sectional drawing of the II equivalent position of FIG. 3 of a steering wheel same as the above. It is sectional drawing of the position corresponding to II-II of FIG. 3 of a steering wheel same as the above. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the steering wheel, taken along the line III-III in FIG. 3. It is explanatory drawing which expanded a part of steering wheel same as the above. It is explanatory drawing which expanded a part of steering wheel same as the above. It is explanatory drawing which expanded a part of steering wheel same as the above. It is explanatory drawing which expanded a part of steering wheel same as the above. It is explanatory drawing of the II equivalent position of FIG. 3 which shows the state after a deformation | transformation of a steering wheel same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

1 Steering wheel 2 Steering wheel body 3 Module 5 Rim part 6 Boss part 7 Spoke part
7b Core
12 Horn switch device
37 Mounting part
44 Retraction part

Claims (4)

A steering wheel main body comprising a rim portion for operation, a boss portion connected to a shaft, and a spoke portion connecting the rim portion and the boss portion, and a deformable core metal in the spoke portion;
A module that is attached to the steering wheel main body and includes a mounting portion provided with a retracting portion that is engaged with the core metal and that can receive the core metal deformed when the core metal is deformed in a direction toward the boss portion ; A steering wheel characterized by comprising: The module constitutes a horn switch device,
The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the attachment portion provided with the retracting portion constitutes a fulcrum on which the horn switch device rotates. The steering wheel according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the retracting portion has a groove shape in which the deformed core metal can slide. The steering wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the deformable core bar extends downward from the boss portion and is connected to the lower side portion of the rim portion.

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