GB2151566A

GB2151566A - Improved vehicle steering column support assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2151566A
Application number: GB08430658A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bartolomeo Veglia
Original assignee: RIV SKF Officine di Villar Perosa SpA; RIV Officine di Villar Perosa SpA
Current assignee: RIV SKF Officine di Villar Perosa SpA; RIV Officine di Villar Perosa SpA
Priority date: 1983-12-06
Filing date: 1984-12-05
Publication date: 1985-07-24
Also published as: SE8405975L; FR2556060A1; FR2556060B1; IT8354011V0; SE8405975D0; GB8430658D0; DE3443547C2; SE458352B; GB2151566B; DE3443547A1

Abstract

Support assembly (4) presents a rolling bearing (4), designed to fit on to a steering column (1), an essentially rigid annular plate (7) outside the bearing (5) and an annular elastomer element (6) formed by injecting elastomer directly between the bearing (5) and plate (7), the said element (6) binding the said plate (7) and the said bearing (5) together in undividable manner to form a single unit, the said element (6) having been diffusion bonded to the same during curing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved vehicle steering column support assembly The present invention relates to an improved vehicle steering column support designed to provide for flexible, low-friction support of the said steering column.

The steering columns on motor vehicles are known to be supported usually on sliding bushes or bearings fitted inside a supporting sleeve housing the steering column itself.

Such supporting members involve two drawbacks, firstly, by rendering rotation of the steering assembly difficult, on account of the relatively high friction involved and, secondly, by transmitting to the driver, via the steering wheel, all the vibration the steering column is subjected to when the vehicle is in motion.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a vehicle steering column support that is compact, cheap, light-weight, easy to manufacture and designed to absorb at least part of the running vibration involved and provide for low-friction rotation of the column itself.

With this aim in view, the present invention relates to a vehicle steering column support assembly, characterised by the fact that it comprises a rolling bearing, comprising an inner ring designed to fit on to the said steering column, an essentially rigid plate having a hole housing in through manner the said bearing, and a flexible annular elastomer element formed by injecting elastomer directly between the said bearing and plate, the said element binding, in essentially undividable manner, the said plate to the said bearing, so as to form a single unit, the said element having been diffusion bonded to the same during curing.

A non-limiting arrangement of the present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a steering column fitted with supporting elements according to the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 show respectively a front view and section along line Ill-Ill of a supporting element according to the present invention.

Number 1 in Fig. 1 indicates a steering column for any known type of vehicle (not shown for reasons of simplicity) e.g. a motor vehicle. The said steering column 1 is fitted with a steering wheel 2 and supported on a sleeve 3 designed to fit on to the vehicle body, in known manner, by inserting a pair of supporting assemblies 4 between sleeve 3 itself and steering column 1.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each supporting assembly 4 comprises any known type of rolling bearing 5 available on the market, e.g.

a single-row ball bearing, a flexible annular elastomer element 6 and an essentially rigid annular plate 7, e.g. made of pressed, blanked sheet metal.

Plate 7 has a hole in the centre housing, in through manner, bearing 5, the latter comprising an inner ring 9, designed to fit on to steering column 1, an outer ring 10 concentric with ring 9, and a number of rolling bodies 11 between rings 9 and 1 0. Bearing 5 is preferably airtight and, for this purpose, is provided with two sealing elements 1 2 between rings 9 and 10 for protecting rolling bodies 11.

According to the present invention, annular element 6 is designed to bind, in essentially undividable manner, plate 7 to bearing 5 (to be more precise, ring 10 on the same) so as to form a single one-piece unit.

In more detail, element 6 is formed by injecting elastomer, e.g. rubber, directly between bearing 5 and plate 7 placed concentrically inside the injection mold, the said bearing 5 and plate 7 being connected mechanically by diffusion bonding element 6, when cured after injection, to an outer surface 1 3 on ring 10 and toan edge 1 5 on plate 7 defining hole 8.

Plate 7 is preferably essentially flat, thinner than bearing 5 and element 6 and partially embedded in the latter, edge 1 5 being sunk by a present amount inside element 6 so as to improve grip between the latter and plate 7.

Plate 7 performs a dual function of strengthening and locking the entire support assembly 4 to a load-bearing structure consisting, in the example shown, of sleeve 3. For this purpose, plate 7 is provided with connecting means, comprising at least one pair of ears 1 6 projecting radially from and made in one piece with plate 7, and with respective through holes 19, in ears 16, engaged by connecting members, e.g. bolts 20 (Fig. 1).

Element 6 is also preferably provided with cutouts 21 on ears 16, to enable assembly of bolts 20 and/or engage locating elements for assembling assembly 4.

The advantages of the support assembly according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description. The fact that it is made in one undividable unit provides for easy assembly and dismantling of the steering column. Furthermore, the combination of element 6 and strengthening/lock plate 7 provides for flexible, low-friction support of the vehicle steering column and for cushioning the amount of travelling vibration transmitted to the steering wheel, all in a compact, iow-cost solution. To those skilled in the art it will be clear that changes can be made to the support described without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

1. Vehicle steering column support assembly, characterised by the fact that it com

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improved vehicle steering column support assembly The present invention relates to an improved vehicle steering column support designed to provide for flexible, low-friction support of the said steering column. The steering columns on motor vehicles are known to be supported usually on sliding bushes or bearings fitted inside a supporting sleeve housing the steering column itself. Such supporting members involve two drawbacks, firstly, by rendering rotation of the steering assembly difficult, on account of the relatively high friction involved and, secondly, by transmitting to the driver, via the steering wheel, all the vibration the steering column is subjected to when the vehicle is in motion. The aim of the present invention is to provide a vehicle steering column support that is compact, cheap, light-weight, easy to manufacture and designed to absorb at least part of the running vibration involved and provide for low-friction rotation of the column itself. With this aim in view, the present invention relates to a vehicle steering column support assembly, characterised by the fact that it comprises a rolling bearing, comprising an inner ring designed to fit on to the said steering column, an essentially rigid plate having a hole housing in through manner the said bearing, and a flexible annular elastomer element formed by injecting elastomer directly between the said bearing and plate, the said element binding, in essentially undividable manner, the said plate to the said bearing, so as to form a single unit, the said element having been diffusion bonded to the same during curing. A non-limiting arrangement of the present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a steering column fitted with supporting elements according to the present invention; Figures 2 and 3 show respectively a front view and section along line Ill-Ill of a supporting element according to the present invention. Number 1 in Fig. 1 indicates a steering column for any known type of vehicle (not shown for reasons of simplicity) e.g. a motor vehicle. The said steering column 1 is fitted with a steering wheel 2 and supported on a sleeve 3 designed to fit on to the vehicle body, in known manner, by inserting a pair of supporting assemblies 4 between sleeve 3 itself and steering column 1. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each supporting assembly 4 comprises any known type of rolling bearing 5 available on the market, e.g. a single-row ball bearing, a flexible annular elastomer element 6 and an essentially rigid annular plate 7, e.g. made of pressed, blanked sheet metal. Plate 7 has a hole in the centre housing, in through manner, bearing 5, the latter comprising an inner ring 9, designed to fit on to steering column 1, an outer ring 10 concentric with ring 9, and a number of rolling bodies 11 between rings 9 and 1 0. Bearing 5 is preferably airtight and, for this purpose, is provided with two sealing elements 1 2 between rings 9 and 10 for protecting rolling bodies 11. According to the present invention, annular element 6 is designed to bind, in essentially undividable manner, plate 7 to bearing 5 (to be more precise, ring 10 on the same) so as to form a single one-piece unit. In more detail, element 6 is formed by injecting elastomer, e.g. rubber, directly between bearing 5 and plate 7 placed concentrically inside the injection mold, the said bearing 5 and plate 7 being connected mechanically by diffusion bonding element 6, when cured after injection, to an outer surface 1 3 on ring 10 and toan edge 1 5 on plate 7 defining hole 8. Plate 7 is preferably essentially flat, thinner than bearing 5 and element 6 and partially embedded in the latter, edge 1 5 being sunk by a present amount inside element 6 so as to improve grip between the latter and plate 7. Plate 7 performs a dual function of strengthening and locking the entire support assembly 4 to a load-bearing structure consisting, in the example shown, of sleeve 3. For this purpose, plate 7 is provided with connecting means, comprising at least one pair of ears 1 6 projecting radially from and made in one piece with plate 7, and with respective through holes 19, in ears 16, engaged by connecting members, e.g. bolts 20 (Fig. 1). Element 6 is also preferably provided with cutouts 21 on ears 16, to enable assembly of bolts 20 and/or engage locating elements for assembling assembly 4. The advantages of the support assembly according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description. The fact that it is made in one undividable unit provides for easy assembly and dismantling of the steering column. Furthermore, the combination of element 6 and strengthening/lock plate 7 provides for flexible, low-friction support of the vehicle steering column and for cushioning the amount of travelling vibration transmitted to the steering wheel, all in a compact, iow-cost solution. To those skilled in the art it will be clear that changes can be made to the support described without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention. CLAIMS

1. Vehicle steering column support assembly, characterised by the fact that it com prises a rolling bearing, comprising an inner ring designed to fit on to the said steering column, an essentially rigid plate having a hole housing in through manner the said bearing, and a flexible annular elastomer element formed by injecting elastomer directly between the said bearing and plate, the said element binding, in essentially undividable manner, the said plate to the said bearing, so as to form a single unit, the said element having been diffusion bonded to the same during curing.

2. Support assembly according to Claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said plate is essentially flat and thinner than the said bearing and the said annular elastomer element.

3. Support assembly according to Claim 2, characterised by the fact that the said plate is partially embedded in the said annular elastomer element, an inner edge of the said plate, defining the said hole housing the bearing, being sunk by a preset amount inside the said annular elastomer element.

4. Support assembly according to one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that the said annular elastomer element is made of rubber.

5. Support assembly according to one of the foregoing Claims, characterised by the fact that the said plate is provided with means for securing the said support assembly to a loadbearing structure.

6. Support assembly for a vehicle steering column as described and illustrated in the attached drawings.