JP5087531B2 - Steering vibration reduction device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering vibration reducing device.

The vibration generated in the steering wheel of the vehicle is influenced by the steering support portion on the frame side that supports the steering wheel.
For example, Patent Document 1 is known as a conventional technique for improving the support rigidity of the steering support portion and reducing the vibration of the steering wheel.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-39660

FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the code | symbol was reassigned.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a conventional steering vibration reducing device.
A steering support member 103 is attached to the left and right sides of the vehicle body via brackets 101 and 102, a steering support 104 is attached to the steering support member 103, and a cylindrical steering post 106 is attached to the steering support 104 so as to be raised rearward. A steering shaft 107 is rotatably supported on the steering post 106, and a steering wheel 108 is attached to an end portion of the steering shaft 107.

  The brackets 101 and 102, the steering support member 103, the steering support 104, and the steering post 106 are members constituting the steering support portion 110.

  When the rigidity of the steering support part 110 is increased to forcibly reduce the vibration of the steering wheel 108, the weight of the steering support part 110 increases, resulting in an increase in the weight of the vehicle body. Since the steering wheel 108 is cantilevered by the steering support portion 110, it is necessary to significantly improve the support rigidity, and the increase in the weight of the vehicle body becomes larger.

  Further, when steering vibration becomes apparent after the vehicle is put on the market, it is difficult to increase the rigidity of the steering support portion, and a structure that can easily take countermeasures for steering vibration is desired.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a steering vibration reduction device that can suppress an increase in the weight of a vehicle body, can easily reduce steering vibration even if the support rigidity of the steering support portion is low, and can be easily handled in the aftermarket. There is to do.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a steering hanger is attached to a vehicle body, and a steering wheel is supported by the steering hanger. In the steering vibration reducing device that reduces vibration of the steering wheel, one end is made free at the steering hanger. The other end of the vibration damping member is supported, and this vibration damping member is a knee bolster that receives an input from the occupant knee at the time of a vehicle collision, and this knee bolster has a vibration characteristic adjusting member that reduces the vibration of the steering wheel. As a result, the resonance frequency is set to the resonance frequency of the steering wheel, and the vibration phase is reversed to the phase of the vibration of the steering wheel . The vibration characteristic adjusting member is made of a thin plate that changes the stiffness of the knee bolster. As well as the knee bolster steering hanger. It characterized that you have attached to biasing the vicinity.

By attaching an appropriately selected vibration characteristic adjusting member to the vibration damping member that is cantilevered on the steering hanger, the resonance frequency of the vibration damping member to which the vibration characteristic adjusting member is attached is increased or decreased, and the resonance frequency of the steering wheel is increased. Matches. Along with this, the vibration phase of the damping member to which the vibration characteristic adjusting member is attached also changes and becomes an opposite phase. As a result, the vibration of the steering wheel is attenuated.
Further, by attaching a thin plate to the damping member, the rigidity of the damping member is increased and the resonance frequency of the damping member is increased.
Furthermore, the knee bolster that receives the input from the occupant knee at the time of a vehicle collision also serves as a damping member that reduces the vibration of the steering wheel.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the knee bolster has a bent portion formed in the vicinity of the mounting portion to the steering hanger, and a thin plate is attached to the bent portion .

The invention according to claim 3, the thin plate is characterized and the neighboring mounting portion to the steering hanger knee bolster, that you have attached respectively to the steering hanger.

  In the invention according to claim 1, the steering hanger supports the other end of the damping member whose one end is a free end, and the vibration characteristic adjusting member that reduces the vibration of the steering wheel is attached to the damping member. Since the resonance frequency is set to the resonance frequency of the steering wheel and the phase of the vibration is opposite to the phase of the vibration of the steering wheel, the vibration damping member and the vibration characteristic adjusting member that are cantilevered by the steering hanger are used. Steering vibration can be reduced even if the damping member is light and has low rigidity.

  In addition, the vibration of the steering wheel can be reduced by adjusting the resonance frequency and the phase of the vibration by simply attaching the vibration characteristic adjusting member selected as appropriate to the vibration damping member. Vibration measures can be taken.

Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 1 , the vibration characteristic adjusting member is made of a weight that changes the mass of the damping member or a thin plate that changes the rigidity of the damping member. Therefore, by appropriately selecting the weight or the thin plate, It is possible to cope with both of lowering and increasing the resonance frequency of the member, and it is possible to easily and inexpensively adjust the vibration characteristics of the damping member.

In addition, in the invention according to claim 1 , since the damping member is a knee bolster that receives an input from the occupant knee at the time of a vehicle collision, the existing knee bolster is used as a damping member that reduces the vibration of the steering wheel. Thus, the number of parts can be reduced, and the cabin space in front of the occupant can be widened as compared with the case where the vibration damping member is specially provided in the cabin.
Further, if the knee bolster is made of an elastic steel plate or the like, the vibration of the steering wheel can be reduced with a simple and low-cost structure.

The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are viewed in the direction of the reference numerals.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part of a vehicle equipped with a steering vibration reducing device according to the present invention. A steering hanger 12 is passed to front pillars 11 and 11 (only one reference numeral 11 is shown) provided on the left and right sides of the vehicle body. A steering column 13 is attached to the steering hanger 12, a column shaft 14 is rotatably supported on the steering column 13, and a steering wheel 16 is attached to one end of the column shaft 14.

Further, the steering hanger 12 receives the input from the knee so that the knee of the occupant who has moved forward in the vehicle compartment at the time of the vehicle collision hits the left and right of the steering column 13, and absorbs the impact. , 18 are attached, and the knee bolsters 18, 18 are cantilevered.
The knee bolsters 18 and 18 are covered in a non-contact state with an interior material (not shown) at the rear and lower sides thereof.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a steering vibration reducing device according to the present invention. The steering vibration reducing device 20 sets the knee bolster 18 and the resonance frequency of the knee bolster 18 to the resonance frequency of the steering wheel 16, and In order to set the phase of vibration of the bolster 18 to a phase opposite to the phase of vibration of the steering wheel 16, a weight 21 as a vibration characteristic adjusting member detachably attached to the tip of the knee bolster 18 with bolts, nuts or the like. It consists of.

The knee bolster 18 includes a steel plate main body 25 curved in a bowl shape and a steel plate reinforcing plate 26 attached to the upper surface 25a of the main body 25. A flat knee support portion 25b is formed at the tip of the main body 25. Are integrally formed.
A plurality of weights 21 are prepared with different masses so that the mass of the knee bolster 18 can be changed to finely adjust the vibration characteristics of the knee bolster 18.

  FIG. 3 is a side view showing a mounting state of the steering vibration reducing apparatus according to the present invention. A column shaft 14 is mounted on the steering hanger 12 via a steering column 13, and a steering wheel 16 is mounted on the tip of the column shaft 14. The steering vibration reducing device 20 is cantilevered on the steering hanger 12.

  The knee bolster 18 is cantilevered by the steering hanger 12 and is formed of an elastic steel plate. Therefore, the free end side to which the weight 21 is attached is vibrated around the attachment portion to the steering hanger 12, and the steering wheel is vibrated. It acts to cancel out the vibration of 16.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the function of the steering vibration reducing device according to the present invention. The vertical axis represents the vibration level (unit: m / s ² ) of the steering vibration reducing device 20 (see FIG. 3), and the horizontal axis represents the vibration frequency. (Unit is Hz).
A broken line in the graph indicates, for example, a vibration characteristic of a steering vibration reducing device (with no weight attached to the knee bolster) before taking measures against vibration of the steering wheel. It is assumed that the resonance frequency of this steering vibration reducing device is f1.

  The solid line in the graph indicates the vibration characteristics of the steering vibration reducing device after the steering wheel vibration is taken by attaching a weight. The resonance frequency of the steering vibration reducing device is f2 lower than f1.

  That is, by attaching a weight to the knee bolster, the mass of the knee bolster is increased, and the resonance frequency of the steering vibration reducing device can be lowered.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the steering vibration reducing device according to the present invention. The steering vibration reducing device 30 determines the knee bolster 31 and the resonance frequency of the knee bolster 31 with the steering wheel 16 (see FIG. 1). In order to set the vibration phase of the knee bolster 31 to a phase opposite to the vibration phase of the steering wheel 16, bolts, nuts and the like are provided near the mounting portion of the knee bolster 31 to the steering hanger 12. And a thin plate 32 as a vibration characteristic adjusting member attached detachably.

The knee bolster 31 includes a steel plate main body 35 curved in a bowl shape and a steel plate reinforcing plate 26 attached to the upper surface 35a of the main body 35. A flat knee support portion 35b is provided at the rear of the main body 35. A bent portion 35c is formed in the vicinity of the attachment portion of the main body 35 to the steering hanger 12, and the thin plate 32 is attached to the bent portion 35c.
For example, a plurality of thin plates 32 are prepared with different plate thicknesses so that the vibration characteristics of the knee bolster 18 can be finely adjusted by changing the rigidity of the knee bolster 18.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the function of another embodiment of the steering vibration reducing device according to the present invention. The vertical axis represents the vibration level (unit: m / s ² ) of the steering vibration reducing device 30 (see FIG. 5), and the horizontal axis. Represents the frequency of vibration (unit: Hz).
A broken line in the graph indicates, for example, a vibration characteristic of a steering vibration reducing device (a state where a thin plate is not attached to the knee bolster) before the steering vibration reducing device takes measures against vibration of the steering wheel. It is assumed that the resonance frequency of this steering vibration reducing device is f3.

  The solid line in the graph indicates the vibration characteristics of the steering vibration reducing device after the steering wheel is counteracted by attaching a thin plate. The resonance frequency of the steering vibration reducing device is f4 higher than f3.

  Thus, by attaching a thin plate to the knee bolster, the stiffness of the knee bolster is increased, and the resonance frequency of the steering vibration reducing device can be increased.

7A and 7B are first graphs showing tuning examples of the vibration characteristics of the steering vibration reducing apparatus according to the present invention. The graph of FIG. 7A is the vibration characteristics of the knee bolster before vibration countermeasures, The graph of) shows the vibration characteristics of the steering wheel before vibration countermeasures. The vertical axis of each graph represents the vibration level (unit: m / s ² ) and phase (unit: deg), and the horizontal axis represents engine speed (unit: rpm).

In (a), the engine speed at which the vibration level of the knee bolster becomes the highest, that is, the resonance speed is 1340 rpm.
In (b), the resonance rotational speed at which the vibration level of the steering wheel is maximized is 1500 rpm.

  In the above (a) and (b), the steering wheel has a large vibration level at an engine speed of 1500 rpm, so that the phase of the knee bolster is opposite to the phase of the steering wheel. Taking this into consideration, vibration countermeasures are taken so that the resonance speed of the knee bolster matches the resonance speed of the steering wheel. This is because when the resonance rotational speed of the knee bolster is adjusted, the phase of the knee bolster also changes simultaneously.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are second graphs showing tuning examples of the steering vibration reducing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 8A shows the vibration characteristics of the knee bolster after vibration countermeasures, and FIG. Indicates the vibration characteristics of the steering wheel after vibration countermeasures. The vertical axis of each graph represents the vibration level (unit: m / s ² ) and phase (unit: deg), and the horizontal axis represents engine speed (unit: rpm). Further, in (a) and (b), the solid line indicates the after countermeasure, the broken line indicates before the countermeasure, and the alternate long and short dash line indicates after the knee bolster phase countermeasure.

In (a), the resonance speed of the knee bolster has moved from 1340 rpm to 1550 rpm in the vicinity of 1500 rpm.
Along with this, the phase of the knee bolster changes from a broken line to a solid line.

  In (b), when the change in the phase is seen, at 1500 rpm, the phase of the steering wheel before the countermeasure is around +70 deg as indicated by the point A, and the phase of the knee bolster after the countermeasure is the point B. As shown, it is in the vicinity of −110 deg, and the phase of the knee bolster is opposite to the phase of the steering wheel.

  Here, the phase of the knee bolster is opposite to the phase of the steering wheel. When the phase of the knee bolster is α and the phase of the steering wheel is β, (β + 90 °) <α <(β + 270 °) A range.

  That is, when the vibration characteristics of the knee bolster and the steering wheel are vectors (the length of the vector is the vibration level and the direction is the phase), the steering wheel is in the range of α from (β + 90 °) to (β + 270 °). The vibration level of the knee bolster is generated in the direction of 180 ° (true opposite phase) with respect to the phase β.

  As described above, the resonance rotational speed of the knee bolster moves from 1340 rpm to 1550 rpm in the vicinity of 1500 rpm, and further, the phase of the knee bolster is opposite to the phase of the steering wheel. The vibration level of the steering wheel is lowered in a black coating range (roughly 1400 rpm to 1600 rpm) centering around 1500 rpm compared to before the countermeasure.

9 (a) and 9 (b) are operation diagrams showing changes in the vibration of the steering wheel according to the present invention. In orthogonal coordinates, S represents the vibration characteristic of the steering wheel as a vector, and K is The vibration characteristic of the knee bolster is represented by a vector. The length of each arrow indicates the vibration level, and the angle of each arrow from the x-axis indicates the phase.
Before the steering wheel vibration countermeasure of (a), the phase of the knee bolster K is α1, the vibration level of the steering wheel S is L1, and the phase of the steering wheel S is β1.

  After the countermeasure against the steering wheel vibration in (b), the phase of the knee bolster K is changed from α1 to α2, and 90 ° <(β1-α2) <270 °, so that the phase of the knee bolster K is changed to that of the steering wheel S. By setting the phase opposite to the phase, the vibration level of the steering wheel S is reduced from L1 to L2. At this time, the resonance frequency of the knee bolster K is set to the resonance frequency of the steering wheel S.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are explanatory views showing still another embodiment of the steering vibration reducing device according to the present invention. FIG. 10A is a view of the steering vibration reducing device 40 as viewed from the rear, and FIG. These are the figures which looked at the steering vibration reduction apparatus 40 from diagonally right back. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same structure as embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
In (a), the steering vibration reducing device 40 includes a knee bolster 18 and a thin plate 41 that connects the reinforcing plate 26 and the steering hanger 12 constituting the knee bolster 18.

  In (b), the thin plate 41 is attached to the reinforcing plate 26 in the vicinity of the attachment portion of the knee bolster 18 to the steering hanger 12 and to the back portion of the steering hanger 12 by welding or a fastening member such as a bolt.

  A plurality of the thin plates 41 are prepared with different plate thicknesses so that the stiffness of the knee bolster 18 can be set finely. Alternatively, by preparing a plurality of different lengths of the thin plate 41, one end of the thin plate 41 is attached to the steering hanger 12, and the stiffness of the knee bolster 18 is adjusted by changing the attachment location to the reinforcing plate 26 at the other end. It may be.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 10 (a) and 10 (b), a steering hanger 12 is attached to a vehicle body, and a steering wheel 16 is supported on the steering hanger 12. In the steering vibration reducing device 20 that reduces the vibration of the steering wheel 16, the other end of the knee bolster 18 (or the knee bolster 31) as a vibration damping member having one end made free is supported on the steering hanger 12, and the knee bolster 18 ( Alternatively, the resonance frequency is set to the resonance frequency of the steering wheel 16 by attaching the weight 21 (or the thin plate 32 or the thin plate 41) as a vibration characteristic adjusting member for reducing the vibration of the steering wheel 16 to the knee bolster 31). The phase of vibration is opposite to the phase of vibration of the steering wheel 16 Therefore, the knee bolster 18 (or the knee bolster 31) is lightweight and has low rigidity by the knee bolster 18 (or the knee bolster 31) and the weight 21 (or the thin plate 32 or the thin plate 41) supported by the steering hanger 12 in a cantilever manner. Even if it exists, steering vibration can be reduced.

  Further, the resonance frequency and the vibration phase of the knee bolster 18 (or the knee bolster 31) are adjusted by simply attaching the weight 21 (or the thin plate 32 or the thin plate 41) appropriately selected to the knee bolster 18 (or the knee bolster 31). The vibration of the steering wheel 16 can be reduced, and a countermeasure for steering vibration can be more easily performed in the aftermarket.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 above, since the weight 21 is provided at the free end of the knee bolster 18, the vibration of the steering wheel 16 can be reduced with the weight 21 having a smaller mass. Increase in weight can be suppressed.

  Further, since a plurality of knee bolsters 18 (or knee bolsters 31) are provided, when the steering wheel 16 has a plurality of resonance frequencies, the resonance frequencies of the knee bolsters 18 (or knee bolsters 31) are matched to the respective resonance frequencies. Therefore, the effect of reducing the vibration of the steering wheel 16 can be enhanced.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 10 (a) and 10 (b) above, the vibration characteristic adjusting member is a weight 21 that changes the mass of the knee bolster 18, or a thin plate 32 that changes the stiffness of the knee bolster 31 ( Or the thin plate 41) or the thin plate 41 that changes the stiffness of the knee bolster 18, so that the resonance frequency of the knee bolsters 18 and 31 can be lowered and increased by appropriately selecting the weight 21 (or the thin plate 32 or the thin plate 41). Thus, it is possible to cope with both, and the vibration characteristics of the knee bolsters 18 and 31 can be adjusted easily and at low cost.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 above, since the damping member is the knee bolsters 18 and 31 that receive the input from the occupant knees in the event of a vehicle collision, the existing knee bolsters 18 and 31 are attached to the steering wheel 16. It can be used as a vibration damping member that reduces vibrations, can reduce the number of parts, and can widen the passenger compartment space ahead of the occupant compared to specially providing a vibration damping member in the passenger compartment. .
If the knee bolsters 18 and 31 are made of elastic steel plates or the like, vibration of the steering wheel 16 can be reduced with a simple and low-cost structure.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the thin plate 32 is attached to the main body 35 of the knee bolster 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the thin plate 32 may be attached to the reinforcing plate 26. 35 and the reinforcing plate 26 may be attached. The point is that the stiffness of the knee bolster 31 can be adjusted.

  The steering vibration reducing device of the present invention is suitable for a four-wheeled vehicle.

It is a principal part perspective view of the vehicle provided with the steering vibration reducing device which concerns on this invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a steering vibration reducing device according to the present invention. It is a side view which shows the attachment state of the steering vibration reduction apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a graph which shows the function of the steering vibration reduction device concerning the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows another embodiment of the steering vibration reduction apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a graph which shows the function of another embodiment of the steering vibration reduction device concerning the present invention. It is a 1st graph which shows the tuning example of the steering vibration reduction apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a 2nd graph which shows the tuning example of the steering vibration reduction apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is an effect | action figure which shows the change of the vibration of the steering wheel which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows another another embodiment of the steering vibration reduction apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the conventional steering vibration reduction apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Steering hanger, 16 ... Steering wheel, 18, 31 ... Damping member (knee bolster), 20, 30, 40 ... Steering vibration reducing device, 21, 32, 41 ... Vibration characteristic adjustment member (weight, thin plate, thin plate) .

Claims (3)

Steering hanger is attached to the vehicle body, and the steering wheel is supported by the steering hanger. In the steering vibration reducing device that reduces the vibration of the steering wheel,
The steering hanger supports the other end of a vibration damping member having one end free.
This damping member is a knee bolster that receives input from the occupant's knee at the time of a vehicle collision,
The knee bolster is provided with a vibration characteristic adjusting member that reduces the vibration of the steering wheel, so that the resonance frequency is set to the resonance frequency of the steering wheel, and the phase of vibration is relative to the phase of vibration of the steering wheel. Are out of phase ,
The vibration characteristic adjusting member is
It consists of a thin plate that changes the stiffness of the knee bolster,
Steering vibration damping system, characterized that you have attached near the mounting portion to the steering hanger of the knee bolster. The steering vibration reducing device according to claim 1 , wherein the knee bolster has a bent portion formed in the vicinity of an attachment portion to the steering hanger, and the thin plate is attached to the bent portion . The thin plate, and the neighboring attachment to the steering hanger of the knee bolster, claim 1 Symbol mounting steering vibration reducing apparatus characterized that you have attached respectively to the said steering hanger.

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