JP2001018841A - Steering member for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify manufacture of a steering member and to make an occupying space for a wire harness unnecessary. SOLUTION: A main body part 11 with a U-shaped cross section, a steering support 18, a body mount part, and other bracket parts are integrally formed by aluminum die-cast as a steering member 10. A wire harness 40 is locked to a notch of a bulkhead 16 of the main body part 11 to arrange it inside the main body part 11 and branched harnesses 45 are drawn outside from notches 30 and 31 from upper and lower walls 14 and 15. Therefore, an occupying space for the wire harness 40 is made unnecessary and recognition is easy because the branched harnesses 45 are each drawn out from predetermined positions. Presser pieces 35 are annexed to the notches 30 and 31 and regulates paths of the branched harnesses 45.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure of a steering member for supporting a steering in a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An instrument panel is provided at a front portion of a passenger compartment of a vehicle, and a steering member provided with a steering support for supporting the steering extends in a width direction of the vehicle body, and both ends of the steering member are provided on side walls of the vehicle body. Are combined.

A conventional steering member is, for example, shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, a mounting bracket 5 for mounting to a vehicle body side wall at both ends using a pipe member 51 having a closed cross section.
2 are welded. A steering support 53 is welded and fixed to a portion of the pipe member 51 corresponding to the driver's seat, and holds a steering (not shown).

[0004] Brackets 55 and 56 for attaching various other components are also welded to the pipe member 51. The steering member 50 also functions as a reinforcing member for the vehicle body against external force from the side.

[0005] Inside the instrument panel, a main case and a blower case of an air conditioning unit (not shown), a ventilation duct to a defroster and other air conditioning air outlets, and the like are installed. An operation unit, switches for various electric devices such as meters, and the like are provided.

[0006] Wiring around the instrument panel to these various electrical devices is supported by the steering member 50 as a wire harness that bundles them, and is led to the wiring destination. Steering member 50
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the support of the wire harness is performed by inserting fasteners 61 of a plurality of clips 60 attached at predetermined intervals along the wire harness 40 into holes 57 formed in the pipe material 51. Further, if necessary, a plurality of plate-shaped clips 58 are also welded to the pipe member 51, and the clips 58 support the wire harness to the pipe member 51.

[0007]

However, in the conventional steering member as described above, the steering support 53, the mounting bracket 52, and many other brackets 55, 56 and clips 58 are connected to the pipe member 5.
However, there is a problem that the number of steps must be increased and the cost is increased.

Further, since the wire harness 40 routed along the steering member exists on the outer surface of the pipe member 51, an occupied space for the steering member 50 as well as the wire harness 40 is required, and many clips are required. There is a disadvantage that 60 or the like must be used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a steering member that requires a small number of manufacturing steps and does not require an occupied space for a wire harness in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering support that extends in the width direction of a vehicle body at a front portion of a vehicle interior, and both ends of the vehicle body are connected to a side wall of the vehicle body. The steering member includes a body having an opening cross section, and a steering support, and body attachment portions at both ends of the body, which are integrally formed by, for example, aluminum die casting. Since the steering member is formed integrally with the steering support and the vehicle body mounting portion, a process such as welding is not required, so that it can be manufactured at low cost in a short time.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of partitions are formed in the body in the width direction of the vehicle body, and the partitions are provided with a first notch and are routed to an electric device mounted on the vehicle. The wire harness is engaged with the first cutout of the partition wall and can be held in the main body. Since the wire harness is provided in the steering member, an occupied space for the wire harness is not required in a narrow place such as in an instrument panel where the steering member is installed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a second notch is formed on a wall along an opening of the main body so that a branch harness branched from the wire harness can be drawn out of the main body. It is preferable that a presser piece for regulating the path of the branch harness is provided integrally with the second cutout. In addition, the presser piece can rise from one edge of the second notch and be offset to the outside to extend over the notch.

[0013] Thus, the branch harnesses are pulled out from the predetermined positions, respectively, to facilitate recognition. Further, by providing the holding piece, the path of the branch harness is regulated, so that the branch harness is held so as not to easily come out of the second cutout, and the wire harness is securely held in the body of the steering member. Is done. In particular, when the main body has a U-shaped cross section and the second cutouts are formed on the upper wall and the lower wall sandwiching the opening, each branch harness can be drawn out in both the upper and lower directions according to the wiring destination.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, a high-rigidity portion is formed such that a predetermined range provided with a steering support corresponding to the driver's seat of the main body has a larger cross section than the other. Thereby, high support rigidity of the steering via the steering support is obtained.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to examples. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of the steering member of the embodiment. The steering member 10 is manufactured by aluminum die-casting, and its main body 1
1 has a U-shaped cross section opened toward the front of the vehicle body.

At both ends of the main body 11, vehicle body mounting portions 20 for mounting to a vehicle body side wall (not shown) are formed. The vehicle body mounting portion 20 includes a mounting surface 21 that comes into contact with a mounting portion of the vehicle body side wall, and the mounting surface 21 is provided with a bolt hole 22. Partition walls 16 are provided at appropriate intervals over the entire length of the main body 11 so as to be continuous with the vertical wall 13, the upper wall 14, and the lower wall 15, thereby preventing the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15 from opening. Also, bracket parts 24 and 25 for attaching various components are integrally formed at appropriate parts.

The right side portion of the main body 11 corresponding to the driver's seat has a larger cross-sectional height than the other portions, and forms a high rigidity portion 12. A steering support 18 is provided integrally with the high rigidity portion 12. A hole 19 provided in the steering support 18 is a bolt hole for fixing a bracket (not shown) on the steering side.

Notches 30, 31, and 32 are formed in the upper wall 14, the lower wall 15, and each partition 16 of the main body 11. The size of the notch 32 of the partition 16 gradually decreases as the steering support 18 moves from the right side to the left side. Similarly, the size of the cutouts 30 and 31 of the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15 is gradually reduced from the right side to the left side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the notch 30 of the upper wall 14 is provided with a pressing piece 35 which rises from one edge of each and is offset to the outside. In addition, lower wall 1
Except for the rightmost notch 31a, the notch 31 of No. 5 is similarly provided with a holding piece 35 which rises from one edge and is offset to the outside.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which a wire harness is supported on the steering member 10 described above. The steering member 10 is attached to the vehicle body in a state where the wire harness 40 is sub-assembled. The wire harness 40 is provided in the main body 11 through the opening 17 facing forward (see FIG. 4). Here, the wire harness 40 indicates a trunk bundle that is a branch source of a branch harness 45 described later.

Bracket 41 attached to body member
And a wire harness 40 is guided from the fuse box 42 through the rightmost notch 31a of the lower wall 15 into the main body 11 of the steering member 10, that is, into the U-shaped cross section.

In the steering member 10, the wire harness 40 passes through the notch 32 of each partition 16,
It extends to the left. The wire harness 40 branches from a plurality of portions in the longitudinal direction, and the thickness, that is, the diameter of the wiring bundle gradually decreases with each branch. It is preferable that the notch width S (see FIG. 4) of the notch 32 of each partition 16 be set to such an extent that the wire harness 40 is slightly narrowed. Thus, the size of the notch 32 is gradually reduced as described above.

A wiring bundle or a single wiring (hereinafter, referred to as a branch harness) 45 branched from the middle is connected to the upper wall 1.
4 or the notch 30, 31 of the lower wall 15 is pulled out of the steering member 10. Branch harness 45
The diameter of the high rigidity portion 12 is often larger at the portion near the fuse box 42, so that the upper wall 14
The cutout widths of the cutouts 30 and 31 of the lower wall 15 are made larger and smaller on the left side, and the sizes are gradually changed as described above.

Notch 30 in upper wall 14 or lower wall 15;
When the branch harness 45 is pulled out from the 31, the holding piece 35 is attached to the cutouts 30 and 31, so that the path of the branch harness 45 is regulated by the holding piece 35 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the branch harness 4
5 is restrained by the holding piece 35 without extending in a random direction from the wire harness 40, and as a result, it is held so as not to easily come out of the notches 30, 31 of the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15, and conversely, The wire harness 40 also acts in a direction in which it is held in the main body 11.

Therefore, as described above, it is preferable that the notch 32 of each partition 16 be set to such an extent that the wire harness 40 can be slightly narrowed. However, even if the size of the notch 32 of the partition 16 is larger than the wire harness 40, play can be provided. In some cases, the wire harness 40 is securely held in the main body 11.

This embodiment is configured as described above, and the entire steering member 10 is made of aluminum die-cast.
Since the vehicle body mounting portion 20, the steering support 18, the other bracket portions 24, 25, and the like are integrally formed, a process such as welding is not required, and the device can be manufactured at low cost in a short time. A plurality of partitions 16 are provided in the main body 11,
The opening rigidity of the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15 is increased.

The notch 3 formed in the partition 16
2, the notch width is set to such an extent that the wire harness 40 is slightly tightened, so that the wire harness 40 is securely held in the steering member.
The wire harness 40 outside the steering member
No occupied space is required. In addition, the wire harness 40 does not need to be fastened by the notch 32 in all the partition walls through which the wire harness passes,
If there is a slight interference at a plurality of locations among them, the partition walls can be sufficiently held even if loose at other partition portions.

The main body 11 has a U-shaped cross section, cutouts 30 and 31 are formed in the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15 of the main body, and a wire harness 40 is disposed in the main body 11.
Since the branch harness 45 is drawn out from the cutout, the branch harness is pulled out from a predetermined position, so that the recognition becomes easy.

Further, a pressing piece 35 is integrally attached to the cutouts 30 and 31 from which the branch harness 45 is pulled out to regulate the path of the branch harness, so that the branch harness 45 is connected to the upper wall 14 and the lower wall 15. Notches 30, 31
Of course, the wire harness 40 itself is not cut out of the partition 16
2 and the main body 1 of the steering member
1 is more securely held within.

Although the main body of the steering member of the embodiment is opened forward, the opening direction is appropriately set in consideration of the relationship with other components in the instrument panel and the ease of wiring assembly. be able to. The cross-sectional shape of the main body 11 is not limited to the U-shape, but is
Any shape can be adopted as long as it has an opening extending in the direction and the wire harness can be arranged in the main body portion from the opening.

In the embodiment, aluminum die-casting is used. However, the material is not limited to this, and any material such as a magnesium alloy can be used as long as it can rigidly support the steering wheel.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the steering support is formed integrally with the main body having an opening cross section, and the vehicle body mounting portions are formed integrally at both ends of the main body. It is unnecessary, and has an effect that it can be manufactured at low cost in a short time.

A plurality of partitions are formed in the body in the width direction of the vehicle body, and the partitions are provided with a first notch, and a wire harness routed to an electric device mounted on the vehicle is provided with a first notch. The wire harness is disposed in the steering member by being locked in the notch and being held in the main body. Therefore, the wire harness is disposed in a narrow place such as an instrument panel where the steering member is installed. Therefore, an effect that an occupied space is not required is obtained.

Further, a second notch is formed in a wall along the opening of the main body so that the branch harness branching from the wire harness can be drawn out of the main body, so that the branch harness is drawn out from a predetermined position. Recognition becomes easy. In addition, by attaching a pressing piece for regulating the path of the branch harness to the second notch by integral molding,
The branch harness is held so as not to be easily pulled out of the second cutout, and the wire harness is securely held in the main body of the steering member.

In particular, the cross section of the main body has a U-shape,
By forming the second notch in the upper wall and the lower wall sandwiching the opening, each branch harness can be drawn out in both the up and down directions according to the wiring destination.

Further, by forming a high rigidity portion with a larger section of the predetermined area provided with the steering support corresponding to the driver's seat of the main body than the others, high supporting rigidity of the steering via the steering support can be obtained. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing details of cutout portions of an upper wall and a lower wall.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a wire harness is supported by a steering member.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a path of a branch harness in a notch.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of supporting a wire harness in a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Steering member 11 Main part 12 High rigidity part 13 Vertical wall 14 Upper wall 15 Lower wall 16 Partition wall 17 Opening 18 Steering support 20 Car body attaching part 21 Mounting surface 24, 25 Bracket part 30, 31 Notch (2nd notch) 32 Notch (first notch) 35 Pressing piece 40 Wire harness 41 Bracket 42 Fuse box 45 Branch harness 50 Steering member 51 Pipe material 52 Mounting bracket 53 Steering support 55, 56 Brackets 57 Hole 58 Plate clip 60 Clip 61 Fastener

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hideki Yoshida 5-24-15 Minamidai, Nakano-ku, Tokyo Calsonic Corporation (72) Inventor Toshio Ohashi 5-24-15 Minamidai, Nakano-ku, Tokyo Calso Nick Co. F term (reference) 3D003 AA01 AA04 AA18 BB01 CA07 CA33 DA09 DA13

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A steering member (10) having a steering support (18) extending in a vehicle width direction at a front portion of a vehicle interior, both ends of which are connected to a vehicle body side wall, and having a steering support (18). A steering member, wherein the steering support is formed integrally with a main body (11) and the vehicle body mounting portions (20) are formed integrally at both ends of the main body. 2. A plurality of partitions (16) are formed inside the main body (11) in the width direction of the vehicle body, and the partitions are provided with a first notch (32), so that the electrical equipment is mounted on the vehicle. The steering member according to claim 1, wherein a wire harness (40) routed to the main body is retained by being locked in the first cutout of the partition wall. 3. A second cutout which allows a branch harness (45) branching from the wire harness to be drawn out of the main body, on walls (14, 15) along the opening (17) of the main body (11). 3. The steering member according to claim 2, wherein a notch (30, 31) is formed. 4. A holding piece (3) for regulating a path of a branch harness (45) is provided in said second notch (30, 31).
The steering member according to claim 3, wherein (5) is integrally formed. 5. The holding piece (35) rises from one edge of the second notch (30, 31) and extends over the notch offset to the outside. 4. The steering member according to 4. 6. The main body (11) has a U-shaped cross section, and the second notch (30, 31) has an opening (1).
The steering member according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the steering member is formed on an upper wall (14) and a lower wall (15) sandwiching the same. 7. A predetermined range provided with a steering support (18) corresponding to a driver's seat of the main body (11) has a cross section larger than the other to form a high rigidity portion (12). 7. The method of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.
The described steering member. 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said integral molding is performed by aluminum die casting.
The steering member according to 5, 6, or 7.