JPH11129940A - Steering member for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To lighten a steering member for an automobile in total, to keep desirable rigidity and strength, and to enhance geometrical moment of inertia. SOLUTION: In the constitution where a steering member for supporting a steering column to an instrument panel for an automobile and for having a shock absorbing function at the time of vehicle collision and a vibration control function for the instrument panel is laid in the vehicle width direction, a member main body 11 is composed of a hollow molding, and of a deformed member of which a shape of cross section is varied in a prescribed site. It is also composed of a deformed member of which a shape of cross section and plate thickness are varied in a prescribed site of the member main body 11. An attaching part to a body for the member main body 11 is set to form a parallel condition with neighboring two edges constituting the member main body 11 so as to secure flatness, and a bolt insertion hole 12 is opened in a prescribed part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering member provided on an instrument panel of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an instrument panel of an automobile has a steering member that supports a steering column and has a function of cushioning the vehicle in the event of a vehicle collision, and a function of preventing vibration of the instrument panel. It is laid horizontally.

In this steering member, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a member main body 1 and a member main body 2 having different diameters are integrally joined by one-way welding means or the like to constitute a steering member 3. At both ends, mounting brackets 4 and 5 to the vehicle body are arranged and fixed to a front pillar which is a vehicle body side member (not shown) by means of welding or bolting, while a portion of the steering member 3 near the driver's seat. The steering support bracket 6 is welded.

[0004] Reference numeral 7 denotes a bracket for installing an instrument stay disposed between the steering member 3 and the floor, reference numerals 8 and 8 denote welding bolts, and reference numerals 9 and 9 denote brackets for mounting welding nuts. The steering support bracket 6 is a member for supporting a substantially intermediate portion of the steering column in a stable state with respect to the steering member 3.

A welding bolt 8 and a welding nut mounting bracket 9 are welded to the member body 1 side of the steering member 3 by one-way welding means or the like.

As shown in FIG. 9 which is a cross section taken along line AA of FIG. 7, the mounting bracket 4 welded to the member body 1 has
A bolt insertion hole 4a for screwing and fixing to a front pillar (not shown) is opened. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, which is a cross section taken along line BB of FIG. 1, a welding bolt 8 is welded to the lower surface of the member main body 1.

As shown in FIG. 11 which is a cross section taken along the line C--C in FIG. 7, a welding nut mounting bracket 9 is welded to one side surface of the member body 1, and the welding nut mounting bracket 9 is attached to the welding nut mounting bracket 9. 9a is fixedly arranged.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12 which is a cross section taken along line DD of FIG. 7, an instrument stay mounting bracket 7 is welded to the lower surface of the large diameter member main body 2.

[0009]

However, in the case of such a conventional steering member, as shown in the sectional views of the main parts in FIGS. 9 to 12, the member bodies 1 and 2 are usually tubular bodies having a circular closed cross section. Since it was configured with a pipe diameter and a plate thickness for maintaining a predetermined rigidity and was limited to a shape change within a limited range, as described above in order to secure reliability, Mounting brackets 4 and 5, or a steering support bracket 6, an instrument stay mounting bracket 7, a welding bolt 8, a welding nut mounting bracket 9, and the like must be mounted to the member main bodies 1 and 2 by welding or the like. In addition, there is a problem that the number of man-hours required for manufacturing increases and the weight of the steering member itself increases.

When it is required to further increase the rigidity of the steering support bracket 6 with the increase in the weight of the steering column and to increase the second moment of area per constant weight, the steering support bracket 6 is mounted. Although the thickness of the steel material must be increased, such a measure increases the weight of the steering support bracket 6 itself, increases the space occupancy of the steering support bracket 6, and increases the space occupied by other members. There is a problem that the user has to struggle with the layout to avoid the interference.

Accordingly, the present invention solves the problems of the conventional steering member for an automobile, and achieves a reduction in the overall weight and a desired rigidity and strength.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a steering member having increased rigidity and second moment of area.

[0012]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an instrument panel of a vehicle has a function of supporting a steering column, absorbing a vehicle collision, and preventing vibration of the instrument panel. In a configuration in which the steering member is provided laterally in the vehicle width direction, the member main body is formed of a hollow molded product, and is formed of a deformed member having a cross-sectional shape changed at a predetermined position. I will provide a.

Further, the member main body is formed of a deformed member having a changed cross-sectional shape and a predetermined thickness at a predetermined position. The mounting portion of the member main body to the vehicle body is set so that two sides constituting the member main body are close to each other in a parallel state to ensure flatness, and a bolt insertion hole is opened at a predetermined portion.

Further, the welding bolt mounting portion and the welding nut mounting portion of the member main body have a welding operation hole opened on one side of the member main body, and are welded to the other side of the member main body by welding means utilizing the welding operation hole. The welding bolt and welding nut are welded. Further, the cross-sectional shape and the plate thickness of the member main body of the steering column support portion are larger than those of the other portions.

According to such a steering member, since the member body is formed of a hollow molded product and is formed of a deformed member having a changed cross-sectional shape and plate thickness at a predetermined location, the overall weight is reduced. And the desired rigidity and strength can be maintained.

Further, the mounting portion to the vehicle body is secured in a parallel state in which the two front and rear sides constituting the member main body are close to each other, so that the flatness is secured. Therefore, the mounting strength to the vehicle body side member by the bolts inserted into the two bolt insertion holes. And the rigidity is increased.

The welding bolt mounting portion and the welding nut mounting portion are
Since a welding hole is opened on the upper side of the member body, welding bolts and nuts can be welded by welding means using this welding hole, and the process is easy, and the welding strength is high and reliability is high. , A welded structure having a high value is obtained.

Since the sectional shape and the plate thickness of the member main body in the steering support portion are enlarged as compared with other portions, an action of increasing the second moment of area and preventing resonance by the steering column can be obtained.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, a specific embodiment of a steering member 3 for an automobile according to the present invention will be described in detail by attaching the same reference numerals to the same components as those of the conventional structure. I do. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 denotes a member main body. The member main body 11 is formed of a hollow molded product, and as shown in the main part sectional views of FIGS.
It is composed of a deformed member having a cross-sectional shape at a predetermined location and a plate thickness changed as required.

FIG. 2 shows a mounting portion (A'-A 'in FIG. 1) to the vehicle body.
As shown in the drawing, the two sides before and after the member main body 11 are set so as to be in a parallel state close to each other to ensure flatness, and the bolt insertion holes 12 and 12 are provided in predetermined portions.
Is open. Reference numeral 13 denotes a bolt inserted through the bolt insertion holes 12, 12, and one end of the member main body 11 is screwed and fixed to a front pillar, which is a vehicle body side member (not shown), by the bolt 13.

FIG. 3 shows a welding bolt mounting portion (B'- in FIG. 1).
B ′ cross section), a welding work hole 14 is opened on the upper side of the upper and lower two sides constituting the member main body 11, and a welding bolt mounting hole 15 is opened on the lower side. Reference numeral 16 denotes a welding bolt welded to the welding bolt mounting hole 15 using the welding hole 14.

FIG. 4 shows a welding nut mounting portion (C'- in FIG. 1).
C ′ section), a welding work hole 17 is opened on the upper side of the upper and lower sides constituting the member main body 11, and a welding nut mounting hole 18 is opened on the lower side. Reference numeral 19 denotes a welding nut welded on the welding nut mounting hole 18 using the welding work hole 17.

FIG. 5 shows an instrument stay mounting portion (D 'in FIG. 1).
-D 'section), and the upper and lower 2
The welding work hole 20 is opened only on the upper side of the sides. Reference numerals 21 and 22 denote welding heads.
The flanges 1 and 2 are inserted into the member main body 11 from above and below using the welding work holes 20, and the flange portion of the instrument stay mounting bracket 7 is welded to the lower side of the member main body 11.

FIG. 6 shows a steering support portion (E'-E 'cross section in FIG. 1) of the steering member 3 in the vicinity of the driver's seat. The cross sectional shape and plate thickness of the member main body 11 are larger than those of other portions. And thereby increase the rigidity. The steering support brackets 23 and 24 are fixed to the front and rear two sides of the member body 11.

The steering support brackets 23, 2
Numeral 4 supports a substantially intermediate portion of a steering column (not shown) in a stable state while preventing resonance.

At the other end of the member body 11, a mounting bracket 5 for attaching to the vehicle body is provided. This mounting bracket 5
Instead of FIG. 2, the front and rear sides may be configured to be in a parallel state close to each other to ensure the planarity.

According to the steering member 3, the member main body 11 is formed of a hollow molded product, and is formed of a deformed member having a cross-sectional shape and a plate thickness changed at a predetermined location, so that the overall weight is reduced. In addition to this, it is possible to maintain almost the same rigidity and strength as the conventional steering member.

The steering member 3 is provided on the instrument panel of the vehicle to support the steering column, and has a function of cushioning the vehicle in the event of a vehicle collision. In addition, the function of preventing vibration of the instrument panel can be maintained.

In particular, the mounting portion (FIG. 2) to the vehicle body is set so that two sides before and after constituting the member body 11 are in a parallel state close to each other, and the bolt 13 is provided with two bolt insertion holes 1.
Since it is inserted through the second and second members, the mounting strength and rigidity to the vehicle body side member can be increased.

Further, the welding bolt mounting portion (FIG. 3) has a welding work hole 14 opened in the upper side of the member body 11,
Since the welding nut mounting portion (FIG. 4) has a welding work hole 17 formed in the upper side of the member main body 11, the welding bolt 16 and the welding nut 19 are formed by the two-way welding means using the welding work holes 14 and 17. Can be obtained, and a welding structure having high welding strength and high reliability can be obtained by an easy process, and an effect of improving productivity can be obtained. The same applies to the case of the instrument stay mounting portion (FIG. 5).

The steering support portion (FIG. 6) can increase the second moment of area and prevent resonance because the sectional shape and plate thickness of the member main body 11 are larger than those of other portions.

[0032]

As described above in detail, according to the steering member for an automobile according to the present invention, the member main body is formed of a hollow molded product, and the sectional shape and the plate thickness at a predetermined position are changed. Because of the member configuration, the overall weight and size can be reduced, the material cost can be reduced, and the desired rigidity and strength required for vehicles can be maintained.

The mounting portion to the vehicle body is secured in a parallel state in which the front and rear sides of the member main body are close to each other to ensure flatness, and the bolts inserted into the two bolt insertion holes are used. This has the effect of increasing the mounting strength and rigidity to the side members. Further, the welding bolt mounting portion and the welding nut mounting portion can be welded to the bolt and the nut using a welding work hole opened on one side of the member body, so that the working process is easy and the welding strength is high, and the reliability is high. , A welded structure having a high value is obtained.

Further, by enlarging the cross-sectional shape and plate thickness of the member main body in the steering support portion from the cross-sectional shape and plate thickness of the other parts, the effect of increasing the second moment of area and preventing resonance due to the steering column is obtained. can get.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an automobile steering member according to the present invention.

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

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line B′-B ′ of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line C′-C ′ of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line D′-D ′ of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line E′-E ′ of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional steering member.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the back side of the steering member of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. 7;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Member main body 12 ... Bolt insertion hole 13 ... Bolt 14, 17, 20 ... Welding work hole 15 ... Weld bolt mounting hole 16 ... Weld bolt 18 ... Weld nut mounting hole 19 ... Weld nut 21, 22 ... Weld head 23, 24 ... Steering support bracket

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A structure in which a steering member that supports a steering column and has a cushioning function at the time of a vehicle collision and a function of preventing vibration of an instrument panel is provided laterally in a vehicle width direction on an instrument panel of the vehicle. An automobile steering member comprising a main body formed of a hollow molded product and a deformed member having a cross-sectional shape changed at a predetermined location. 2. The member body is formed of a hollow molded product,
2. The steering member for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the steering member is constituted by a deformed member having a cross-sectional shape and a plate thickness at a predetermined location. 3. A mounting portion of the member main body to the vehicle body is set so that two sides constituting the member main body are close to and parallel to each other to ensure flatness, and a bolt insertion hole is opened at a predetermined portion. 3. The steering member for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the steering member is configured as follows. 4. The welding bolt mounting portion and the welding nut mounting portion of the member main body have a welding operation hole opened on one side of the member main body, and the other side of the member main body is formed by welding means using the welding operation hole. 4. The steering member for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein a welding bolt and a welding nut are welded to the steering member. 5. The automotive steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional shape and the plate thickness of the member main body of the steering column support portion are configured to be larger than the cross-sectional shapes and the plate thicknesses of the other portions. member.