JP2004142644A - Method of adjusting cable tension in cable-type steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make performable the adjustment of set tension of operation cables and adjustment of a neutral position of a steering handle at the same time easily by using an steering torque sensor with which a cable-type steering device is equiped. <P>SOLUTION: While a driven pulley is constrained to be unable to rotate at a neutral position and a steering handle is constrained at a neutral position, the steering handle is adjusted to the neutral position by increasing the tension of an operation cable 15 more than the tension of other operation cable 16 so that a steering torque sensor detects a predetermined steering torque and then increasing the tension of the operation cable 16 in a state where the constraint of the steering handle is released. Since the set tension of the pair of the operation cables 15 and 16 can be adjusted corresponding to the predetermined steering torque while the steering handle can be adjusted at the neutral position, the time required for adjustment work can be reduced and the adjustment accuracy can be enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cable-type steering device in which a steering handle and a steering gear box are connected by a flexible cable such as a Bowden cable, and more particularly to a cable tension adjusting method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The operation cable used in such a cable-type steering device is composed of an outer outer tube and an inner inner cable, and is input to a steering handle by moving the inner cable relative to the outer tube. The steering torque is transmitted to a steering gear box. When the steering torque is not input to the steering handle, a predetermined set tension (for example, 40N to 50N) is applied to the inner cable, and the set tension prevents the steering handle from becoming unnecessarily large in play. I have.
[0003]
The following patent document discloses that the set tension of the inner cable can be adjusted by moving the connecting portion of the outer tube to the pulley casing with an adjust nut, and the inner cable is connected to a tension measuring instrument inserted from a measurement opening provided in the pulley casing. A device for measuring set tension is described.
[0004]
[Patent Document]
JP 2000-108909 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the above-mentioned conventional one requires a cap for closing the measurement opening formed in the pulley casing when not measuring, so that not only the number of parts increases, but also measurement cannot be performed unless a special tension measuring device is prepared. It was inconvenient.
[0006]
Also, when adjusting the set tension, if the set tension of one inner cable is adjusted without restraining the steering handle, the set tension of the other inner cable will change accordingly, and the set tension of the pair of inner cables will always be the same. However, if only the set tension of one inner cable is adjusted, there is a problem that the neutral position of the steering handle changes accordingly. To prevent this, it is necessary to adjust the set tension of both inner cables at the same time while paying attention to maintain the steering handle in the neutral position, which is troublesome and time-consuming. Was.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and by using a steering torque sensor provided in a cable-type steering device, adjustment of the set tension of an operation cable and adjustment of a neutral position of a steering handle can be performed simultaneously and simultaneously. The purpose is to make it easy to do.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a pair of a driving pulley that is connected to a steering wheel and rotates and a driven pulley that is connected to a steering gear box that steers wheels and rotates is paired. A cable type in which the steering torque input to the steering handle is transmitted to the steering gear box via the operation cable, and the steering torque is detected by a steering torque sensor provided between the steering handle and the drive pulley. In the steering device, a first step of restraining the driven pulley so that it cannot rotate in the neutral position, and one of the operation cables so that the steering torque sensor detects a predetermined steering torque while the steering handle is restrained in the neutral position. Tension is higher than the tension of the other operation cable A second step of increasing the steering handle to a neutral position by increasing the tension of the other operation cable in a state in which the steering handle is released from restraining, and a third step of adjusting the steering handle to the neutral position. A method of adjusting a cable tension in a cable steering device is proposed.
[0009]
According to the above configuration, in a state where the driven pulley is restrained from rotating at the neutral position and the steering handle is restrained at the neutral position, the tension of one operation cable is increased so that the steering torque sensor detects a predetermined steering torque. The steering handle is adjusted to the neutral position by increasing the tension of the other operation cable and then increasing the tension of the other operation cable with the steering handle released. Only by adjusting, the set tension can be adjusted to a magnitude corresponding to the predetermined steering torque, and at the same time, the steering handle can be adjusted to the neutral position, which is necessary for adjustment work. The adjustment accuracy can be improved while reducing the time. In addition, since a steering torque sensor provided in the cable type steering device is used, a special tension measuring device is not required.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the predetermined steering torque is determined based on a target set tension of an operation cable. A method for adjusting the cable tension in the device is proposed.
[0011]
According to the above configuration, the predetermined steering torque detected by the steering torque sensor in the second step is determined based on the target set tension of the operation cable, so that the adjusted set tension of the operation cable correctly matches the target set tension. Can be done.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.
[0013]
1 to 9 show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a cable-type steering device, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the steering torque sensor, FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a differential transformer of the steering torque sensor, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the steering torque sensor, and FIG. 7 is 7-7 in FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a procedure for adjusting the tension of the operation cable.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1, a drive pulley casing 12 provided in front of a steering handle 11 of an automobile and a driven pulley casing 14 provided above a steering gear box 13 are composed of two operation cables 15 composed of Bowden cables. 16 connected. Tie rods 17L, 17R extending in the vehicle left-right direction from both ends of the steering gear box 13 are connected to knuckles (not shown) supporting left and right wheels WL, WR. A steering torque sensor for detecting a steering torque inputted to the steering handle 11 is built in the drive pulley casing 12, and the driven pulley casing 14 and the driven pulley casing 14 are controlled by a control device 18 to which the detected steering torque is inputted. An actuator 20 provided on the integral gear casing 19 is operated to assist a driver's steering operation. An alarm lamp 8a of the cable-type steering device is provided on the meter panel 8 connected to the control device 18. A check coupler 10 can be connected to the service check coupler 9 connected to the control device 18.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2, the drive pulley casing 12 includes a rear housing 21, a center housing 22, and a front housing 23 which are connected by bolts 24. A front cover 25 is connected to a front surface of the front housing 23 by bolts (not shown). Is done. In the drive pulley casing 12, a bracket 21a provided on the rear housing 21 is fixed to a mounting stay 26 with pins 27, and a bracket 23a provided on the front housing 23 is fixed to the mounting stay 26 with bolts 28.
[0016]
A hollow steering shaft 29 connected to the steering handle 11 is rotatably supported on the rear housing 21 by two ball bearings 30 and 31. A metal pulley boss 33 is fixed to the outer periphery of a hollow pulley shaft 32 disposed coaxially with the steering handle 11, and a synthetic resin drive pulley body is formed so as to cover a serration portion 33 a formed on the outer periphery of the pulley boss 33. 34 are integrally molded. Both ends of the pulley boss 33 are rotatably supported by the front housing 23 and the front cover 25 by two ball bearings 35 and 36, respectively, and the pulley shaft 32 is rotatably supported by the center housing 22 by the ball bearing 37. . The pulley boss 33 and the drive pulley main body 34 constitute a drive pulley 59 of the present invention.
[0017]
The inner periphery of the front end of the steering shaft 29 is rotatably fitted to the outer periphery of the rear end of the pulley shaft 32. Both ends of the torsion bar 38 are fitted into the hollow portion of the steering shaft 29 and the hollow portion of the pulley shaft 32. They are fitted and connected by pins 39 and 40, respectively. Accordingly, the steering torque input to the steering shaft 29 is transmitted from the steering shaft 29 to the pulley shaft 32 via the torsion bar 38, and the steering torque sensor 41 provided inside the center housing 22 is used for the steering torque sensor 41. The steering torque is detected based on the amount of twist of 38.
[0018]
As is clear from FIGS. 2 and 4, the steering torque sensor 41 is fixed to the steering shaft 29 and the cylindrical slider 42 supported on the outer periphery of the pulley shaft 32 so as to be relatively non-rotatable and slidable in the axial direction. A guide pin 43 fitted in the inclined groove 42a formed in the slider 42, a magnetic ring 44 fixed to the outer periphery of the slider 42 made of synthetic resin, and a magnetic ring 44 fixed to the inner periphery of the center housing 22 and facing the magnetic ring 44. And a coil spring 46 for urging the slider 42 forward to prevent backlash between the guide pin 43 and the inclined groove 42a.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 5, the differential transformer 45 of the steering torque sensor 41 includes a primary coil 48 connected to an AC power supply 47, a first secondary coil 49, and a second secondary coil 50, The magnetic ring 44 forms a movable core disposed between the first and second secondary coils 49 and 50.
[0020]
As is apparent from FIG. 2, the front end of the pulley shaft 32 and the pulley boss 33 are connected at the serration connecting portion 51 and are connected via a tapered connecting portion 52 tapering toward the front end of the pulley shaft 32. Is done. A nut 53 is screwed into the front end of the pulley shaft 32, and the pulley boss 33 is urged rearward along the pulley shaft 32 by a load from the nut 53 so that the tapered coupling portion 52 is brought into close contact with a sufficient surface pressure. The pulley shaft 32 and the pulley boss 33 can be firmly integrated. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the influence of minute play existing in the serration coupling portion 51, suppress the generation of noise, and improve the steering feeling. When the nut 53 is tightened, the drive pulley 59 is movable in the axial direction, so that an excessive load is prevented from being applied to the drive pulley casing 12.
[0021]
As is clear from FIGS. 2 and 3, the two operation cables 15 and 16 are slidably housed in outer tubes 15o and 16o made of synthetic resin in which a coil spring having a substantially rectangular cross section is molded. It comprises inner cables 15i and 16i made of metal stranded wires. Short cylindrical pins 54, 54 fixed to the ends of the two inner cables 15i, 16i are fitted into pin holes 34a, 34a formed on both end surfaces of the driving pulley body 34, and extend from the pins 54, 54. The inner cables 15i, 16i are wound in a direction approaching each other along one spiral groove 34b formed on the outer periphery of the drive pulley main body 34, and then drawn out in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the pulley shaft 32.
[0022]
The bottoms of the pin holes 34a, 34a of the drive pulley body 34 made of synthetic resin reach the boundary between the serration portion 33a of the pulley boss 33 and the drive pulley body 34, and when the pins 54, 54 are removed, the boundary is reached. Can be easily visually observed. Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect a processing error such as the drive pulley body 34 being molded in an inappropriate state in which the serration portion 33a is not formed on the pulley boss 33.
[0023]
Two adjust nuts 55, 55 are rotatably supported on the front housing 23, and external threads 56a, 56a formed on cylindrical bases 56, 56 fixed to the ends of the outer tubes 15o, 16o are adjusted nuts. It is engaged with a female screw (not shown) formed on the inner periphery of 55, 55. Lock nuts 57, 57 that can abut on the back surfaces of the adjustment nuts 55, 55 are engaged with the external threads 56a, 56a of the bases 56, 56.
[0024]
Therefore, when the adjustment nuts 55, 55 are rotated with respect to the front housing 23 in a state where the lock nuts 57, 57 are loosened, the base nuts 56, 56 in which the external threads 56a, 56a mesh with the adjustment nuts 55, 55, in the axial direction. Moving. When the bases 56, 56 are moved so as to be pulled out from the front housing 23, the tension of the inner cables 15i, 16i increases. When the bases 56, 56 are moved so as to be pushed into the front housing 23, the tension of the inner cables 15i, 16i is increased. Decrease. After adjusting the tension of the inner cables 15i, 16i in this manner, the lock nuts 57, 57 are tightened and pressed against the adjust nuts 55, 55, so that the adjust nuts 55, 55 can be locked so that they cannot rotate.
[0025]
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the driven pulley casing 14 includes an upper housing 61 and a lower housing 62 which are connected by bolts (not shown). The gear casing 19 includes a gear casing main body 63 and a gear casing main body 63. The lower housing 62 and the upper cover 64 are connected to each other by a plurality of bolts 65.
[0026]
A pulley shaft 70 is rotatably supported by a ball bearing 66 provided on the upper housing 61, a ball bearing 67 provided on the lower housing 62, and two ball bearings 68 and 69 provided on the gear casing main body 63. The upper two ball bearings 66 and 67 do not directly support the pulley shaft 70 but support a pulley boss 71 fixed to the outer periphery of the pulley shaft 70. The ball bearing 66 provided on the upper housing 61 is prevented from coming off by an annular nut 72, and the lower ball bearing 69 provided on the gear casing body 63 is prevented from coming off by a bag-shaped nut 73.
[0027]
The upper end of the pulley shaft 70 and the pulley boss 71 are joined at a serration joint 74, and are joined via a tapered joint 75 tapering toward the upper end of the pulley shaft 70. A nut 76 is screwed into the upper end of the pulley shaft 70, and the pulley boss 71 is urged downward along the pulley shaft 70 by a load from the nut 76, so that the tapered coupling portion 75 is brought into close contact with a sufficient surface pressure. By firmly integrating the pulley shaft 70 and the pulley boss 71, the influence of minute play existing in the serration coupling portion 74 can be eliminated, noise can be suppressed, and the steering feeling can be improved. When the nut 76 is tightened, the driven pulley 60 is movable in the axial direction, so that an excessive load is prevented from being applied to the driven pulley casing 14 and the gear casing 19.
[0028]
A driven pulley body 77 made of synthetic resin is integrally molded with the serration portion 71a on the outer periphery of the pulley boss 71, and a short columnar pin fixed to the ends of the inner cables 15i and 16i of the two operation cables 15 and 16. The two inner cables 15i, 16i extending from the pins 78, 78 fit into pin holes 77a, 77a formed on both end surfaces of the driven pulley main body 77, respectively. After being wound in a direction approaching each other along the spiral groove 77b, and then being drawn out in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the pulley shaft 70. The pulley boss 71 and the driven pulley main body 77 constitute the driven pulley 60 of the present invention.
[0029]
The bottoms of the pin holes 77a, 77a of the driven pulley body 77 made of synthetic resin reach the boundary between the serrated portion 71a of the pulley boss 71 and the driven pulley body 77. Can be easily visually observed. Therefore, it is possible to reliably detect a processing error such as the driven pulley main body 77 being molded in a state where the serration portion 71a is not formed on the pulley boss 71.
[0030]
The driven pulley casing 14 is formed with two cylindrical connecting portions 14a, 14a, and the boss portions 79a, 79a of the outer tube connecting members 79, 79 are fixed inside thereof. Pipe portions 79b, 79b extending from the boss portions 79a, 79a to the outside of the connection portions 14a, 14a are fitted to the outer circumferences of the outer tubes 15o, 16o, and the caulking portions 79c, 79c are caulked to end the outer tubes 15o, 16o. The part is fixed to the driven pulley casing 14. Guide bushes 80 made of synthetic resin with good slip are provided on the inner periphery of the boss portions 79a, 79a of the outer tube connecting members 79, 79 in order to prevent the inner cables 15i, 16i and the boss portions 79a, 79a from directly rubbing. , 80 are held.
[0031]
From substantially the entire driven pulley casing 14 to predetermined positions of the outer tubes 15o and 16o of the operation cables 15 and 16 via the connecting portions 14a and 14a (for example, exposed from the pipe portions 79b and 79b of the outer tube connecting members 79 and 79). Part) is covered with a single rubber cover 81. The rubber cover 81 can securely seal the caulked portions 79c, 79c of the outer tube connecting members 79, 79 into which moisture is most likely to infiltrate, as well as the split surfaces of the upper housing 61 and the lower housing 62 of the driven pulley casing 14. Also, it is possible to prevent moisture from entering from the ball bearing 66 that supports the upper end of the pulley shaft 70.
[0032]
This makes it possible to enhance the waterproofness of the driven pulley casing 14 which is arranged at the lower part of the engine room and is more easily wetted by the water than the drive pulley casing 12, and the sliding portions of the outer tubes 15o, 16o and the inner cables 15i, 16i. To prevent the moisture attached to the cable from freezing at a low temperature and hindering the smooth movement of the operation cables 15 and 16 and the inner cables 15i and 16i from rusting and reducing the durability of the operation cables 15 and 16. Can be.
[0033]
A worm wheel 82 fixed to a pulley shaft 70 and an output shaft of an actuator 20 (see FIG. 1) composed of an electric motor are provided above the gear casing 19 sealed between the driven pulley casing 14 via a seal member 91. The worm 83 fixed to 20a meshes. A rack 85 of the steering gear box 13 (see FIG. 1) meshes with a pinion 84 formed below the pulley shaft 70, and the rack 85 is urged toward the pinion 84 at the meshing portion.
[0034]
That is, the slide member 86 is slidably fitted to the through hole 63a formed in the gear casing main body 63 via the O-ring 87, and is located between the spring seat 88 screwed to the through hole 63a and the slide member 86. The low friction member 90 provided on the slide member 86 comes into contact with the back surface of the rack 85 by the elastic force of the arranged coil spring 89. Thus, when the rotation of the pulley shaft 70 is transmitted to the rack 85 via the pinion 84 and the wheels WL and WR are steered, the rack 85 prevents rattling or bending without receiving a large sliding resistance. It can operate smoothly.
[0035]
Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.
[0036]
First, the normal operation of the cable steering device will be described. The steering torque detected by the steering torque sensor 41 is input to the control device 18, and the control device 18 controls the operation of the actuator 20 based on the steering torque. That is, when the steering handle 11 is operated to turn the vehicle, the steering torque is transmitted to the pulley shaft 32 via the steering shaft 29 and the torsion bar 38 as shown in FIG. The rotation of the driving pulley 59 is transmitted to the driven pulley 60 by pulling one of the inner cables 15i, 16i of the cables 15, 16 and loosening the other inner cable 15i, 16i. As a result, the pulley shaft 70 shown in FIG. 7 rotates, and the steering torque is transmitted to the wheels WL, WR via the pinion 84, the rack 85, and the tie rods 17L, 17R in the steering gear box 13.
[0037]
When the steering torque is not input to the steering handle 11, the torsion bar 38 is not twisted and the steering shaft 29 and the pulley shaft 32 are held in the same phase. As shown in FIG. The guide pin 43 is located at the center of the inclined groove 42a, and the slider 42 is held at the vertical center position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the magnetic ring 44 provided on the slider 42 is located at an intermediate position between the first secondary coil 49 and the second secondary coil 50, and the output voltages of both the secondary coils 49 and 50 are reduced. It becomes equal and it is detected that the steering torque is zero.
[0038]
When the steering handle 11 is operated to the right and a steering torque in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 6A is input to the steering shaft 29, the torsion bar 38 is twisted and deformed, and the steering shaft 29 and the pulley shaft 32 (that is, the pulley shaft 32). Since a relative angle difference is generated between the pulley shaft 32 and the slider 42 which cannot rotate relative to the pulley shaft 32, the slider 42 pushed by the inclined groove 42a by the guide pin 43 of the steering shaft 29 slides upward. As a result, the output voltage of the upper first secondary coil 49 increases and the output voltage of the lower second secondary coil 50 decreases, and the steering torque in the right steering direction is detected based on the voltage difference. You. Similarly, when the steering handle 11 is operated to the left and steering torque is input to the steering shaft 29 in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 6C, the torsion bar 38 is twisted and deformed, and the steering shaft 29 and the pulley shaft 32 are distorted. Since the opposite relative angle difference is generated between the slider 42 and the slider 42, the slider 42, which is pushed by the guide groove 43 a of the guide pin 43 of the steering shaft 29, slides downward. As a result, the output voltage of the upper first secondary coil 49 decreases and the output voltage of the lower second secondary coil 50 increases, and the steering torque in the left steering direction is detected based on the voltage difference. You.
[0039]
As described above, when the steering torque is detected by the steering torque sensor 41, the control device 18 drives the actuator 20 so that the steering torque detected by the steering torque sensor 41 is maintained at a predetermined value set in advance. Thus, the torque of the actuator 20 is transmitted to the pulley shaft 70 via the worm 83 and the worm wheel 82, and the driver's steering operation is assisted. By combining the steering torque sensor 41 having the differential transformer 45 and the actuator 20, the actuator 20 can be operated only by electric control, and the structure of the control system is simplified.
[0040]
Next, a method of adjusting the tension of the operation cables 15, 16 of the cable-type steering device will be described.
[0041]
In FIG. 1, when the check coupler 10 is connected to the service check coupler 9 connected to the control device 18, the service mode is set, and the failure content of each part of the vehicle is displayed on the meter panel 8. When the steering handle 11 is turned to the right in this state for 2 seconds or more, and the steering torque sensor 41 detects a steering torque that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (a steering torque corresponding to about 10 times the set tension of the operation cables 15 and 16). The control device 18 switches from the service mode to the tension check mode.
[0042]
Subsequently, the driven pulley 60 in the driven pulley casing 14 is restrained from rotating at the neutral position. This work is performed by constraining the left and right wheels WL and WR to a state where the steering angle is zero (straight running state). If the grounded wheels WL and WR are fixed by friction with the road surface, the steering is performed. There is no need to provide any special restraint means only to adjust the angle to zero.
[0043]
Next, as shown in FIG. 9 (A), on the drive pulley casing 12 side, after the pair of lock nuts 57, 57 are loosened, the pair of adjust nuts 55, 55 are rotated to form the bases of the operation cables 15, 16 By moving 56, 56 in the directions of arrows a, a, the pair of inner cables 15i, 16i are loosened to make the tension zero. At this time, the phase of the drive pulley 59 indicated by the arrow A (that is, the phase of the steering handle 11) is at the neutral position.
[0044]
Next, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the steering nut 11 is restrained at the neutral position, the one adjusting nut 55 is rotated to move the base 56 of the one operation cable 15 in the direction of arrow b. When the tension of one inner cable 15i increases, the steering handle 11 tries to rotate in the counterclockwise direction, and a clockwise steering torque acts on the steering handle 11 as a reaction force for preventing the rotation. The steering torque T detected by the steering torque sensor 41 gradually increases as the amount of movement of the base 56 of the one operation cable 15 in the direction of the arrow b increases, and eventually reaches the target steering torque Tt when the meter panel 8 is moved. The warning lamp 8a flashes.
[0045]
At this time, since the tension of the other inner cable 16i is zero, the steering torque T is generated only by the tension F of the one inner cable 15i. If the radius of the driving pulley 59 is R, the relationship of T = F × R is obtained. Holds. Therefore, assuming that the target set tension of one inner cable 15i is Ft, the target steering torque Tt to be detected is Tt = Ft × R. When this target steering torque Tt is obtained, the one inner cable 15i is obtained. Is set tension Ft.
[0046]
Even when the adjustment of the position of the base 56 of the one operation cable 15 is completed as described above, the operation of once loosening the steering handle 11 and rotating the steering handle 11 to the neutral position is repeated, and the steering handle 11 reaches the neutral position. If the position of the base 56 of one operation cable 15 is finely adjusted so that the alarm lamp 8a of the meter panel 8 stably blinks, the adjustment accuracy is further improved.
[0047]
Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9C, the restraint of the steering handle 11 is temporarily released, and the steering handle 11 is rotated counterclockwise by the tension of one inner cable 15i. As shown in (5), when the base 56 of the other operation cable 16 is moved in the direction of arrow c, the tension of the other inner cable 16i increases. As a result, the drive pulley 59, that is, the steering handle 11, rotates clockwise, stops the movement of the base 56 of the other operation cable 16 at a position where the phase becomes neutral, and tightens the pair of lock nuts 57, 57. To lock the adjustment nuts 55, 55 so that they cannot rotate.
[0048]
In this state, the tension of one inner cable 15i is the target set tension Ft, and the tension of the other inner cable 15i that is in balance with this is also the target set tension Ft. Subsequently, when the steering handle 11 is turned rightward for 2 seconds or more, the control device 18 returns from the tension adjustment mode to the service mode. Finally, the adjustment work is completed by releasing the constraints on the wheels WL and WR.
[0049]
As described above, if the adjustment is performed in the above procedure, the set tension F of the pair of inner cables 15i and 16i is adjusted to the target set tension Ft, and at the same time, the phase of the drive pulley 59, that is, the phase of the steering handle 11 is automatically adjusted. Since the neutral position is obtained, the time required for the adjustment can be significantly reduced. Moreover, since the steering torque sensor 41 provided in the cable-type steering device is used, it is not necessary to form an opening for measuring the set tension in the drive pulley casing 12 or to prepare a special tension measuring device.
[0050]
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, various design changes can be made in the present invention without departing from the gist thereof.
[0051]
For example, in the embodiment, the steering torque sensor 41 using the differential transformer 45 is illustrated, but the structure of the steering torque sensor 41 is arbitrary.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the steering torque sensor detects a predetermined steering torque in a state where the driven pulley is restrained from rotating in the neutral position and the steering handle is restrained in the neutral position. The steering handle is adjusted to the neutral position by increasing the tension of one operation cable so that it is higher than the tension of the other operation cable, and then increasing the tension of the other operation cable when the steering handle is released. Therefore, only by separately adjusting the pair of operation cables, it is possible not only to adjust the set tension of the pair of operation cables to the magnitude corresponding to the predetermined steering torque, but also to adjust the steering handle to the neutral position at the same time. Adjustment time, reducing the time required for adjustment work and adjusting It is possible to enhance the accuracy. In addition, since a steering torque sensor provided in the cable type steering device is used, a special tension measuring device is not required.
[0053]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, the predetermined steering torque detected by the steering torque sensor in the second step is determined based on the target set tension of the operation cable. Can be correctly matched with the target set tension.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a cable-type steering device. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along a line 2-2 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 3-3 in FIG. FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a differential transformer of the steering torque sensor. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the steering torque sensor. FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of the procedure for adjusting the tension of the operation cable.
11 Steering handle 13 Steering gear box 15 Operation cable 16 Operation cable 41 Steering torque sensor 59 Drive pulley 60 Driven pulley WL Wheel WR Wheel

Claims (2)

A driving pulley (59) connected to the steering handle (11) and rotating and a driven pulley (60) connected to the steering gear box (13) for turning the wheels (WL, WR) and rotated and driven by a pair of operating cables. (15, 16), the steering torque input to the steering handle (11) is transmitted to the steering gear box (13) via the operation cable (15, 16), and the steering torque is transmitted to the steering handle (11). ) And a steering system with a steering torque sensor (41) provided between the drive pulleys (59).
A first step of restraining the driven pulley (60) from rotating in the neutral position;
The tension of one operation cable (15) is reduced from the tension of the other operation cable (16) so that the steering torque sensor (41) detects a predetermined steering torque in a state where the steering handle (11) is restrained at the neutral position. A second step that also increases
A third step of adjusting the steering handle (11) to the neutral position by increasing the tension of the other operation cable (16) while the steering handle (11) is released;
A cable tension adjusting method for a cable-type steering device, comprising: 2. The cable tension adjusting method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined steering torque is determined based on a target set tension of the operation cable (15, 16). 3.

Images