JPH07257399A - Steering device of vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To sufficiently exhibit the effect of an air bag at a vehicle collision. CONSTITUTION:A steering wheel 11 is installed to a steering shaft in such a manner as to be rotatable at the time of a vehicle collision, and a cylinder member 19 for rotating the steering wheel 11 so that the steering wheel 11 is turned on occupant's side before an air bag 12 is expanded at the vehicle collision, and also rotating a steering column 14 to a column bracket 15 is arranged between the steering wheel 11 and the column bracket 15.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle steering system capable of reliably ensuring the safety of an occupant by an airbag provided on a steering wheel in the event of a vehicle collision.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a steering apparatus for a vehicle, for example, a steering shaft supporting a steering wheel is rotatably supported by a steering column, and a lower end portion of the steering column is pivotally attached to a column bracket via a pivot pin. On the other hand, it is known that the portion near the upper end is attached to the adjustment slit of the column bracket through the adjustment bolt, the adjustment handle, etc., and the tilt angle can be adjusted by swinging with the pin as a fulcrum. Has been.

Some of the above steering devices are equipped with an airbag at the pad portion of the steering wheel in order to protect an occupant from the impact at the time of a vehicle collision.

[0004]

In the case of a cab-over type vehicle, the steering angle of the steering shaft of the above steering device is smaller than that of the bonnet type vehicle in order to make the front length of the cab as short as possible in order to increase the volume of the bed. Large (Stand up until the steering shaft is close to a right angle.) Therefore, the steering wheel supported on the upper end of the steering shaft in a state substantially perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft is not suitable for the occupant side even if the tilt angle is adjusted. Therefore, there is a problem in that even if the pad portion of the steering wheel is equipped with an airbag, the effect cannot be exhibited.

Incidentally, a steering device in which a pad portion arranged substantially at the center of the steering wheel is formed by a non-rotating member fixed to the vehicle body side, and an airbag is mounted on the pad portion (for example, the actual flat tire 3) -71971
In Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-242242), the pad portion is pushed up toward the occupant side due to the impact at the time of vehicle collision, and as a result, the airbag can protect the occupant from the impact at the time of vehicle collision, but the structure of the steering device itself is complicated. In addition, the angle at which the pad portion faces the occupant side varies depending on the magnitude of the impact at the time of a vehicle collision, and there is a problem that the pad portion does not always face the occupant side.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle steering system capable of sufficiently exhibiting the effect of an airbag in the event of a vehicle collision.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a steering column in which a steering column rotatably supporting a steering shaft is swingably attached to a column bracket and is supported by the steering shaft. A steering device for a vehicle having an airbag provided on a wheel thereof, wherein the steering wheel is connected to the steering shaft via a connecting structure that allows the steering wheel to rotate with respect to the steering shaft in the event of a vehicle collision. The steering wheel is pivoted with respect to the steering shaft between the steering wheel and the column bracket so that the steering wheel faces the occupant before the airbag expands in the event of a vehicle collision, between the steering wheel and the column bracket. Together with the above Rotating the tearing column relative to the column bracket and is characterized by comprising placing a cylinder member.

[0008]

According to the present invention, when the cylinder member operates during a vehicle collision, the steering wheel is rotated by the cylinder member with respect to the steering shaft, and
The steering column turns with respect to the column bracket and turns the steering wheel toward the occupant. As a result, the airbag that expands after the operation of the cylinder member spreads in the space between the steering wheel and the occupant, and reliably protects the occupant from the impact of a vehicle collision.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a partially omitted side view showing an embodiment of a steering device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1, and FIG. is there.

In the steering apparatus 10 of this embodiment, an airbag 12 is provided on a pad portion of a steering wheel 11 which is turned to perform steering, as in the conventional steering apparatus. A steering shaft 13 (see FIG. 2) that supports 11 is rotatably supported by a steering column 14. The steering column 14 is attached to a column bracket 15 fixed to the body of the vehicle so that the tilt angle can be adjusted. That is, the lower end portion of the steering column 14 is pivotally attached to the column bracket 15 via the pivot pin 16, while the upper end portion thereof is attached to an adjusting slit (not shown) provided in the column bracket 15 with an adjusting bolt and an adjusting handle ( (Not shown) and the like. Also, although not shown,
The steering shaft 13 is configured by connecting an upper shaft and a lower shaft via a universal joint. The lower shaft is connected to a steering gear and the operating force of the steering wheel 11 is applied to a steering gear (not shown).
It is transmitted to. The pad portion of the steering wheel 11 is integral with the wheel portion and rotates together with the wheel portion.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the steering wheel 11 is attached to the upper end of the steering shaft 13 via the universal joint 17, while the universal joint 1 is mounted.
An upper column 18 is arranged between the steering wheel 11 and the steering column 14 so as to surround 7. The universal joint 17 and the upper column 18 constitute a connecting structure that allows the steering wheel 11 to rotate with respect to the steering shaft 13 only when the vehicle collides. The upper column 18 includes an upper half portion 18 a arranged on the lower side of the steering wheel 11 and a lower half portion 18 fixed on the upper end side of the steering column 14.
and b. Here, there is a slight gap between the upper half portion 18a and the steering wheel 11, and the upper half portion 18a is free with respect to the steering wheel 11. On the other hand, the shaft portion 17b of the one member 17a of the universal joint 17 connected to the steering wheel 11
Is rotatable with respect to the upper half portion 18a via bearing means 18e such as a bearing and a bush. Therefore, when the steering wheel 11 is turned, the universal joint 17 turns with the steering wheel 11, but the upper column 18 does not turn. In addition, an upper half portion 18a and a lower half portion 18b that form the upper column 18
Are rotatably connected to each other by a rotating pin 18c that is on the same axis as the central axis of rotation of the universal joint 17.
A plurality of rotation regulating pins 18d arranged on the circumference centering on the rotation pin 18c prevent the rotation pins 18c from rotating with each other as a fulcrum during normal operation other than vehicle collision. The rotation restricting pin 18d allows the upper half portion 18a to rotate with respect to the lower half portion 18b about the rotation pin 18c as a fulcrum when the vehicle collides (the steering wheel 11 with respect to the steering shaft 13). So as to be rotated), it is formed of an easily cut material such as synthetic resin or aluminum.

In this embodiment, the cylinder member 19 is arranged between the upper half portion 18a of the upper column 18 and the column bracket 15. The cylinder member 19 operates in the event of a vehicle collision, and the bottom portion of the cylinder portion 19a is pivotally attached to the column bracket 15 via the mounting pin 20, while the tip end portion of the piston rod 19b mounts the mounting pin 21. Through the upper half 18a of the upper column 18
Is pivotally attached to. Gas is supplied to the cylinder member 19 to the cylinder member 19 earlier than the airbag 12 by a signal from a collision detection sensor (not shown) that detects a vehicle collision, and the piston rod 19b is retracted into the cylinder member 19a. The gas generation part 22 is attached.

According to the steering apparatus 10 of the above embodiment, when a vehicle collides, the gas generating section 22 is activated by the actuation signal from the collision detection sensor to send the gas to the cylinder section 19a of the cylinder member 19. As a result, the cylinder member 19 operates so as to retract the piston rod 19b. As a result, the rotation restricting pin 18d is cut by the force that retracts the piston rod 19b, and the upper column 1
8, the upper half portion 18a of the steering wheel 11 is rotatable with respect to the lower half portion 18b, and the steering wheel 11 rotates with respect to the steering shaft 13 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. On the other hand, the steering column 14 rotates in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3 with respect to the column bracket 15 with the pivot pin 16 as a fulcrum, and turns the steering wheel 11 toward the occupant. After this, the airbag 12 is placed in the space between the steering wheel 11 and the occupant.
Expands to protect the occupant from the impact of a vehicle collision.

Therefore, even in the case where the steering device 10 is equipped with a large steering angle as in a cab-over type vehicle, the effect of the airbag 12 built in the steering wheel 11 can be sufficiently exerted. it can.

Further, at the time of a vehicle collision, the steering wheel 11 equipped with the airbag 12 is always oriented at a constant angle toward the occupant, so that the airbag 12 can be surely inflated toward the occupant.

Further, an upper column 18 composed of an upper half portion 18a and a lower half portion 18b is arranged between the steering wheel 11 and the steering column 14 so as to regulate mutual rotation by a rotation regulating pin 18d. Therefore, the steering wheel 11 is fixed to the steering shaft 13 during normal operation and does not have a complicated connecting structure so that it can rotate during a vehicle collision. It does not swing with respect to the steering shaft 13, and there is no risk of impairing maneuverability.

Furthermore, directly on the cylinder member 19,
Since the gas generating unit 22 is provided, the steering wheel 1 can be quickly operated before the airbag 12 is inflated in the event of a vehicle collision.
1 can be reliably turned to the passenger side.

According to the above-described embodiment, the steering wheel 11 and the steering column 1 are fixed to the steering shaft 13 during normal operation and can be rotated during a vehicle collision.
4, the upper half portion 18a and the lower half portion 18b of which mutual rotation is restricted by a pin 18d which can be easily cut.
The case where the upper column 18 consisting of
The present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a mechanism such as a spring clutch may be utilized to release the steering wheel 11 from the steering shaft 13 to make it rotatable when a vehicle collision occurs.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, the steering wheel is connected to the steering shaft so as to be rotatable in the event of a vehicle collision, and the steering wheel and the column bracket are connected between the steering wheel and the column bracket in the event of a vehicle collision. A cylinder member is arranged to rotate the steering wheel with respect to the steering shaft and rotate the steering column with respect to the column bracket so that the steering wheel faces the occupant before the airbag expands. As a result, the steering wheel can be reliably directed toward the occupant and the effect of the airbag can be fully exerted, so that the safety of the occupant can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a steering device of the present invention,
It is the side view which abbreviate | omitted and was shown.

2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an operation explanatory view of the steering device of FIG. 1 in a vehicle collision.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Steering Device 11 Steering Wheel 12 Airbag 13 Steering Shaft 14 Steering Column 15 Column Bracket 16 Pivot Pin 17 Universal Joint 18 Upper Column 18a Upper Half 18b Lower Half 18c Rotation Pin 18d Rotation Restriction Pin 19 Cylinder Member 19a Cylinder 19b Piston rod 20, 21 Mounting pin 22 Gas generating part

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising a steering column rotatably supporting a steering shaft, which is swingably attached to a column bracket, and a steering wheel supported by the steering shaft equipped with an airbag. The steering wheel is connected to the steering shaft via a connection structure that allows the steering wheel to rotate with respect to the steering shaft at the time of a vehicle collision, and between the steering wheel and the column bracket, At the time of a vehicle collision, the steering wheel is rotated with respect to the steering shaft so that the steering wheel faces the occupant before the airbag is inflated, and the steering column is moved with respect to the column bracket. To dynamic steering system for a vehicle, characterized by comprising placing a cylinder member. 2. The steering apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the connection structure includes a universal joint that rotatably connects the steering wheel and the steering shaft, and the steering wheel and the steering column. The steering wheel is fixed between the steering wheel and the steering wheel via the universal joint during normal operation to prevent the steering wheel from rotating with respect to the steering shaft. Allow rotation to the steering column,
A vehicle steering device comprising an upper column. 3. The steering apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cylinder member is equipped with a gas generation unit that operates the cylinder member in response to a signal from a collision detection sensor that detects a vehicle collision. A characteristic vehicle steering device.