Method for fixing steering support, device for fixing steering support, and method for checking deformation of instrument panel reinforcement body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11377133-B2
Application number	US-202016739249-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 10, 2020
Priority date	Feb 15, 2019
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

A method for fixing a steering support capable of improving efficiency when the steering support is fixed to an instrument panel reinforcement body is provided. The method for fixing the steering support according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes processes of: passing an instrument panel reinforcement body through a first through-hole formed in a steering support; and increasing the pressure inside an area of the instrument panel reinforcement body covered with the steering support, plastically deforming the area of the instrument panel reinforcement body from an inside to an outside, and pressing a circumferential surface of the first through-hole of the steering support by an outer circumferential surface of the area of the instrument panel reinforcement body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for fixing a steering support for supporting a steering column to an instrument panel reinforcement body having a pipe shape, the method comprising the processes of:
passing the instrument panel reinforcement body through a first through-hole formed in the steering support;
increasing the pressure inside an area of the instrument panel reinforcement body covered with the steering support, plastically deforming the area of the instrument panel reinforcement body from an inside to an outside, and pressing a circumferential surface of the first through-hole of the steering support by an outer circumferential surface of the area of the instrument panel reinforcement body; and
causing, when the instrument panel reinforcement body is plastically deformed, a part of the instrument panel reinforcement body to bulge in a second through-hole that penetrates the steering support in a thickness direction of the steering support or causing a part of the instrument panel reinforcement body to bulge in such a way that it contacts a thinned part formed on the circumferential surface of the first through-hole of the steering support, thereby causing the instrument panel reinforcement body to bulge and causing the thinned part to be deformed.

2. The method for fixing the steering support according to claim 1 , comprising pressing the circumferential surface of the first through-hole of the steering support in such a way that the deformation amount of the steering support becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined first deformation amount at which the steering support starts to be elastically deformed but smaller than a predetermined second deformation amount at which the steering support is broken.

3. A method for checking deformation of an instrument panel reinforcement body having a pipe shape when a steering support for supporting a steering column is fixed to the instrument panel reinforcement body, the method comprising:
causing, when the pressure inside an area of the instrument panel reinforcement body that has been passed through a first through-hole formed in the steering support covered with the steering support is increased, a part of the instrument panel reinforcement body to bulge in a second through-hole that penetrates the steering support in a thickness direction of the steering support, or causing a part of the instrument panel reinforcement body to bulge in such a way that it contacts a thinned part formed on a circumferential surface of the first through-hole of the steering support, thereby causing the instrument panel reinforcement body to bulge and causing the thinned part to be deformed.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Hiramatsu Koichi
• Mizuno Shinya
• Nagai Nobuyuki
• Okamura Koji

Classifications

• B21D39/04 Primary

  of tubes with tubes; of tubes with rods {(crimped pipe joints as such F16L13/14)} · CPC title

• B62D65/14

  the sub-units or components being passenger compartment fittings, e.g. seats, linings, trim, instrument panels · CPC title

• B62D25/145

  having a crossbeam incorporated therein · CPC title

• B62D65/02

  Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components · CPC title

• B62D1/16 Primary

  Steering columns · CPC title