JPH06286616A - Steering wheel structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve vibration characteristics and the rigidity in a collision by burying the head of a spoke in the fixing member of a wheel center section, also bending an intermediate section faced the bottom face of the fixing member, and bending the intermediate side edge section upward for forming a flange section to support and fix the side face of a fixing section in a steering wheel structure for an automobile. CONSTITUTION:The head of a spoke 3 is inserted into the hole of the fixing member 4 of the wheel 2 of a steering wheel 1. The intermediate section of this spoke 3 is projected bent in the direction of the bottom face of a fixing member 4 from the fixing member 4. A flange 7 is erected on the side edge of the spoke 3, and a hole 7a is made. On the other hand, a projection 8 is provided on the fixing member 4 in correspondence with the hole 7a to fix the fixing member 4 and spoke 3 by forcibly energizing the spoke 3 upward to engage the projection 8 in the hole 7a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the structure of an automobile steering wheel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a steering wheel of an automobile has rigidity and maintains stability against vibration. For example, the steering wheel 1 shown in FIG.
The spokes 3 are connected to the inside of the, and are connected to the fixing member 4 arranged in the central portion. The fixing member 4 is made of a metal such as aluminum, and forms a cored bar structure that connects the spoke 3 and the boss 5.

The connection structure of the spokes 3 and the fixing member 4 is
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the spokes 3 are fitted into the holes 4a formed in the fixing member 4. The length a in which the spoke 3 and the fixing member 4 extend in common is made long so as to cast the spoke 3 as close as possible to the wheel 2 when improving the vibration characteristics of the steering wheel 1. On the other hand, there is one in which the casting portion (length a) is shortened so that the rigidity of the spoke 3 becomes small.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, a part of the back side of the spoke 3 of the fixing member 4 may be partially shaved off (notch 6) (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-170065). As a result, the rigidity of the spokes 3 becomes smaller, and the spokes 3 come off due to the impact force generated at the time of the collision of the automobile, and absorb the impact force. In addition, the spokes 3 are simply fixed to the fixing members 4 with pins (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-152871), and the spokes 3 are rigid (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-24046).
No. 4) is posted.

[0005]

However, in the structure having the cutout portion 6, the rigidity in the direction perpendicular to the steering wheel surface is small, so that the vibration characteristic cannot be improved.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering wheel structure having good vibration characteristics and satisfying the rigidity at the time of collision.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a steering wheel in which a fixing member is arranged at a central portion of a wheel, and the wheel is supported by the fixing member via spokes. Part is embedded in the fixing member, the middle part is bent along the lower surface of the fixing member, the edge of the middle part is bent upward to support the side surface of the fixing member, and the flange bent upward is provided with a hole. Open the
A protrusion provided on the fixing member is fitted into the hole.

Further, the spoke and the boss of the steering wheel are connected via the above-mentioned fixing member.

[0009]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the projection is fitted in the hole and the flange supports the fixing member, so that the projection becomes firm against a force in the direction perpendicular to the steering wheel surface. At the time of collision, the spokes will come off due to the breakage of the protrusions against the impact force.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the steering wheel 1
The wheel 2 is supported by the spokes 3 extending from the fixing member 4. Tip portions of the spokes 3 are fitted into the holes 4a of the fixing member 4, and intermediate portions thereof are bent toward the lower surface of the fixing member 4 and protrude from the lower surface, and the spokes 3 are connected to the fixing member 4 from this portion. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, from the edge of the spoke 3 which is connected to the flange 7
Extends upward and supports the side surface of the fixing member 4. Also,
Holes 7a are formed in both flanges 7, and a protrusion 8 that fits into the hole 7a of the flange 7 is formed at the tip of the fixing member 4.

As described above, since the spokes 3 are fixed to the fixing member 4 by the projections 8, the rigidity in the direction perpendicular to the surface is as follows.
Since the spokes 3 are supported closer to the wheel by the protrusions 8, the height can be increased.

On the other hand, with respect to a large load at the time of collision, when the protrusion 8 is broken, the deformation point of the spoke 3 becomes closer to the boss side as shown in FIG. Get smaller. Therefore, damage at the time of collision can be reduced. Further, by setting the load for breaking according to the cross-sectional area of the protrusion 8, it is easy to obtain the characteristics suitable for the automobile.

The shape of the tip of the fixing member 4 may be such that the outer edge of the lower surface is left as shown in FIG. 3 and the spoke 3 is positioned inside. Further, the tip of the fixing member 4 may be thinly provided for simply attaching the flange 7.

[0014]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the location for holding the spoke changes depending on whether or not the spoke is supported by the projection, and the vibration characteristic and the steering characteristic at the time of collision are excellent. Is obtained.
Also, by adjusting the shape of the protrusion, it is easy to adjust the steering wheel characteristics with respect to the characteristics of the automobile.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a main part of a steering wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a spoke attachment portion of the steering wheel shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a spoke attachment portion of the steering wheel shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a main part of the steering wheel shown in FIG. 1 at the time of impact.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the spoke attachment portion shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional steering wheel.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of a main part of the steering wheel shown in FIG.

8 is a cross-sectional view of a spoke attachment portion of the steering wheel shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view of a main part of another conventional steering wheel.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a spoke attachment portion of the steering wheel shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of an essential part showing a deformed state of the steering wheel shown in FIG. 9 at the time of impact.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Steering wheel 2 Wheel 3 Spoke 4 Fixing member 7 Flange 7a hole 8 Protrusion

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A fixing member is arranged at the center of the wheel,
In a steering wheel in which a wheel is supported by the fixing member via spokes, the spoke tips are embedded in the fixing member, an intermediate portion is bent along a lower surface of the fixing member, and an edge portion of the intermediate portion is upward. A structure of a steering wheel characterized by bending and supporting a side surface of the fixing member, forming a hole in the upwardly bent flange, and fitting a protrusion provided on the fixing member into the hole. 2. The structure of the steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the spoke and the boss of the steering wheel are connected via a fixing member.