Steering column apparatus for vehicle

Abstract

A steering column apparatus for a vehicle includes: a vehicle body fixing bracket; an uncoupling bracket fixed to a moving side column jacket; a coupling pin that couples the vehicle body fixing bracket and the uncoupling bracket such that they are separated from each other; a cutter member that cancels a coupled state of the coupling pin; an energy absorbing member coupled to the vehicle body fixing bracket and the uncoupling bracket to be capable of performing uncoupling therebetween and absorbs impact energy in a coupled state when the moving side column jacket moves in a front direction of a vehicle body; and an actuator that moves the cutter member to a separating position and cancels coupling of the energy absorbing member. In the apparatus, the actuator is actuated when it is determined to be low load setting, and the actuator is not actuated when it is determined to be high load setting.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and further objects and novel features of the present invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention before a collision;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pilot actuator according to the first embodiment before actuation;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the first embodiment taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the first embodiment taken along the line V-V in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to the first embodiment after a collision with high load setting;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pilot actuator according to the first embodiment after actuation;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a state that a cutter member according to the first embodiment has been slid;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to the first embodiment after a collision with low load setting;

FIG. 10 is a characteristic diagram of energy absorption representing a time of low load setting and a time of high load setting in the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention before a collision;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the pilot actuator according to the second embodiment after actuation;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to the second embodiment after a collision with high load setting;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the pilot actuator according to the second embodiment after actuation;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to the second embodiment after a collision with low load setting;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to a third embodiment of the present invention before a collision;

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to the third embodiment;

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a pilot actuator according to the third embodiment before actuation;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to the third embodiment with high load setting;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the pilot actuator according to the third embodiment after actuation;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to the third embodiment after a collision with low load setting;

FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention before a collision;

FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of the steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to the fourth embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to the fourth embodiment after a collision with high load setting; and

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to the fourth embodiment after a collision with low load setting.

Claims

1. A steering column apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body fixing bracket fixed to a vehicle body;an uncoupling bracket fixed to a moving side column jacket;a coupling member that couples the vehicle body fixing bracket and the uncoupling bracket such that the fixing bracket and the uncoupling bracket can be separated from each other;a cutter member slidably disposed between the a coupling position and a separating position, the cutter member separating the coupling member when the cutter member is moved from the coupling position to the separating position;an energy absorbing member that is coupled to the vehicle body fixing bracket and the uncoupling bracket so as to be capable of uncoupling the vehicle body fixing bracket and the uncoupling bracket from each other and so as to absorb impact energy when the moving side column jacket moves in a front direction of the vehicle body in a coupled state; andan actuator that moves the cutter member held at the coupling position to the separating position, and that cancels coupling relation of the energy absorbing member with at least one of the vehicle body fixing bracket and the uncoupling bracket, whereinthe actuator is actuated when it is determined to be low load setting; andthe actuator is not actuated when it is determined to be high load setting.

2. The steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the energy absorbing member is an energy absorbing plate that is plastically deformed while being torn along a tearing portion to absorb impact energy by tearing and plastic deformation, when the moving side column jacket moves in the front direction of the vehicle body in the coupled state.

3. The steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the cutter member has a latch hole and a relief hole communicating therewith;a latch portion of the energy absorbing member is latched to the latch hole so that the energy absorbing member is coupled to the vehicle body fixing bracket via the cutter member; anda rod is moved by actuation of the actuator so that the cutter member is moved to the separating position and the latch portion of the energy absorbing member is displaced to a position where the latch portion is inserted into the relief hole according to movement of the cutter member, thereby the coupling relation of the energy absorbing member with the vehicle body fixing bracket is cancelled.

4. The steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a rod constituted by a large diameter rod portion and a small diameter rod portion;the large diameter rod portion is latched to a latch hole of the energy absorbing member so that the energy absorbing member is coupled to the vehicle body fixing bracket via the actuator; andthe rod is moved according to actuation of the actuator so that the cutter member is moved to the separating position, then the small diameter rod portion is displaced to a position where the small diameter rod portion is inserted into the latch hole of the energy absorbing member, thereby the coupling relation of the energy absorbing member with the vehicle body fixing bracket is cancelled.

5. The steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the actuator has a U-shape rod bent in a U shape;the U-shape rod is latched to a latch hole of the energy absorbing member so that the energy absorbing member is coupled to the vehicle body fixing bracket via the actuator;the U-shaped rod is moved according to actuation of the actuator so that the cutter member is moved to the separating position and that the U-shaped rod escapes from the latch hole of the energy absorbing member, thereby the coupling relation of the energy absorbing member with the vehicle body fixing bracket is cancelled.

6. The steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the energy absorbing member comprises:a first energy absorbing member that is coupled to the vehicle body fixing bracket and the uncoupling bracket to be capable of uncoupling the vehicle body fixing bracket and the uncoupling bracket, and that absorbs impact energy in a coupled state when the moving side column jacket moves in the front direction of the vehicle body; anda second energy absorbing member that absorbs impact energy when the moving side column jacket moves in the front direction of the vehicle.

7. The steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the second energy absorbing member is a sliding protrusion that is protruded from at least one of the fixed side column jacket and the moving side column jacket inserted into an upper end portion of the fixed side column jacket and that is protruded toward the other column jacket, and that absorbs impact energy through sliding resistance when the moving side column jacket moves in the front direction of the vehicle body.

8. The steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the second energy absorbing member is a second energy absorbing plate that is coupled to the vehicle body fixing bracket and the uncoupling bracket and that is plastically deformed while being torn along a tearing portion to absorb impact energy by tearing and plastic deformation.

9. The steering column apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the second energy absorbing member comprises:a sliding protrusion that is protruded from at least one of the fixed side column jacket and the moving side column jacket inserted into an upper end portion of the fixed side column jacket and that is protruded toward the other column jacket; anda second energy absorbing plate that is coupled to the vehicle body fixing bracket and the uncoupling bracket and that includes a tearing portion.