JP2005349863A - Belt tension adjusting method or power steering system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a belt tension adjusting method which enables an increase in the efficiency of the adjusting work for a belt tension, and at the same time, can reduce the cost in a power steering system. <P>SOLUTION: This electric power steering system is equipped with an adjusting unit A for adjusting a distance between the rotation central lines of an input pulley 41 and an output pulley of a belt-driven type transmission mechanism. The adjusting unit A is equipped with an operation section 36 which is provided on a collar 30, and a combining structure. The combining structure relatively movably restrains the collar 30 which supports the input pulley 41 and a housing section 11 which supports the output pulley with a swinging central line L5 as a center under a first combined state, and combines the collar 30 and the housing section 11 in a manner to be relatively immovable under a second combined state. After a working section 61 is engaged with the operation section 36, a torque wrench 60 adjusts the distance by making the collar 30 relatively swing to the housing section 11 by applying a driving force F to the operation section 36, and at the same time, measures an operation torque. The adjustment is completed when the operation torque reaches a set value corresponding to a proper value of the tension of a belt 43. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a power steering device provided in a steering device for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a belt tension adjusting method for a power steering device including a belt-type transmission mechanism that transmits an auxiliary steering force generated by an actuator to a steering member. .

In a power steering apparatus including a belt transmission mechanism that transmits an auxiliary steering force, it is important to appropriately set the tension of the belt that spans between the input pulley and the output pulley that constitute the belt transmission mechanism. For example, in the power steering device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a belt wound around an input pulley attached to a rotating shaft 23 of a motor and an output pulley connected to the steering shaft, and a distance between the centers of the input pulley and the output pulley are set. A tension adjusting mechanism that adjusts the tension of the belt by adjusting. The tension adjustment mechanism has a drive screw that relatively moves the first housing that supports the input pulley and the second housing that holds the output pulley, and the belt tension is adjusted by managing the tightening torque of the drive screw. Is done.
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-220959 (FIGS. 5 and 6)

  In the prior art, since the tension adjusting mechanism includes a drive screw, the first and second housings need to be provided with a portion where a screw hole is formed, a portion holding the drive screw, or a portion where the drive screw abuts. . In addition, the drive screw also has a function of preventing relative movement of the first and second housings in order to maintain the set belt tension after the end of the tension adjustment. For this reason, in this prior art, it is difficult to use a housing with a small design change for a housing of an existing power steering apparatus that does not include a drive screw, or to use an existing housing as it is. Requires significant changes and increases costs.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the invention according to claims 1 to 3 is a power steering device including a belt-type transmission mechanism, in which the efficiency of belt tension adjustment work is improved and the cost is reduced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a belt tension adjusting method capable of achieving the above. A third object of the present invention is to further improve the belt tension setting accuracy.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, the power steering device includes: an actuator that generates an auxiliary steering force; an input pulley that is rotationally driven by the actuator; and an output pulley that is coupled to a steering member that applies a steering force to the steering wheel. A transmission mechanism having a stretched belt, an input side support member and an output side support member that rotatably support the input pulley and the output pulley, respectively, a rotation center line of the input pulley, and a rotation center of the output pulley A belt tension adjustment method for a power steering device, wherein the adjustment unit is configured to adjust the belt tension using the adjustment unit. An operating portion provided on one of the support member and the output-side support member; and the input-side support member and the A coupling structure for restraining the force-side support member to be relatively movable and coupling the support members to be relatively non-movable in the second coupled state, wherein the coupling structure is brought into the first coupled state. When the operating means includes an operating unit that applies a driving force to the one supporting member through the operating unit and a measuring unit that measures a physical quantity correlated with the driving force, the one supporting member is moved by the driving force. The physical quantity is measured while adjusting the distance between the center lines by moving the input side support member and the output side support member relative to the other support member, and the measured physical quantity is the tension of the belt. This is a belt tension adjusting method for a power steering device in which the operation of the operation means is terminated when the set value corresponding to the appropriate value is reached, and the coupling structure is brought into the second coupling state.

  According to this, when the coupling structure is in the first coupled state, the distance between the center lines is adjusted by the relative movement of the two support members by the driving force applied by the action unit to the operation unit, and the tension of the belt is reduced. Adjusted. The operation portion of the adjustment portion that adjusts the belt tension by adjusting the distance between the center lines may be provided only on one of the support members, and the driving force of the operation means is applied. The design change for providing the operation part to the support member without the operation part can be made small, and the provision of the operation part is the design of the other support member. There is no need for change. In addition, since the driving force for relatively moving both supporting members on which the belt tension is applied has a correlation with the belt tension, the belt tension is adjusted by the operating means, and at the same time, the measured physical quantity is measured. The tension can be managed through. And after suitable tension | tensile_strength is obtained by adjustment by an adjustment part, a coupling | bonding structure is made into a 2nd coupling state, and both support members are couple | bonded so that it cannot move relatively.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the belt tension adjusting method for a power steering apparatus, the operating means engages with an engaging portion provided in the operating portion, and the one support centering on the swing center line. This is a torque wrench that swings the member relative to the other support member.

  According to this, since the operation part only has to be configured to have an engagement part with which the torque wrench is engaged, the structure of the operation part is simple.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the belt tension adjusting method of the power steering device according to the second aspect, the torque wrench includes an input portion to which an operating force is applied, and the engagement portion includes the swing center line. In addition, it is provided at a position that intersects with a plane that intersects the input portion of the torque wrench in a state of being engaged with the engagement portion.

  According to this, since the moment formed by the driving force applied through the operation portion by the torque wrench is substantially centered on the swing center line that is the center of the moment formed by the belt tension, the torque wrench The operation torque, which is a physical quantity measured by (1), more accurately reflects the belt tension.

  According to invention of Claim 1, the following effect is show | played. That is, the design change of one support member provided with the operation unit can be made narrow, and the design change of the other support member can be made unnecessary. By making a small design change or using an existing support member as it is, the cost of the power steering device is reduced. Further, since the tension can be managed through the physical quantity measured by the operating means for adjusting the tension, the efficiency of the belt tension setting operation is improved.

  According to invention of Claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of the cited claim, there exists the following effect. That is, since the structure of the operation unit is simple, it can contribute to cost reduction.

  According to invention of Claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of the cited claim, there exist the following effects. In other words, the operation torque measured by the torque wrench more accurately reflects the belt tension, so that the tension setting accuracy is improved.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
Referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle steering apparatus S including a power steering apparatus P to which a belt tension adjusting method according to the present invention is applied has a steering wheel 1 operated by a driver and a steering force applied to the steering wheel 1. A gear box 3 that is input via an interlocking mechanism 2 having a steering shaft, a transmission mechanism 4 that transmits the steering force from the gear box 3 to the steering wheel 5, and an auxiliary steering force that assists the steering force by the driver are generated. Power steering device P.

  The gear box 3 is connected to the gear housing 6 attached to the vehicle body, the input portion 7 attached to the gear housing 6 and transmitting the steering force from the handle 1, and housed in the gear housing 6 and connected to the input portion 7. And an output unit including a conversion mechanism that converts the direction of the steering force from the input unit 7.

  The gear housing 6 includes cylindrical first and second housings 8 and 9 which are coupled to each other at the end portions 8b and 9a and accommodated across a rack shaft 13 which will be described later. In the longitudinal direction of the rack shaft 13, the input portion 7 is coupled to one end portion 8 a of the first housing 8 and a part of the input portion 7 is accommodated, and the transmission mechanism 40 is accommodated in the other end portion 8 b. A first accommodating portion 11 that forms a transmission chamber 18 (refer to FIG. 3) in which (see FIG. 3) is accommodated is provided, and one end portion 9a of the second housing 9 is jointed with the first accommodating portion 11. A second accommodating portion 12 that forms a transmission chamber 18 is provided. Each of the first and second accommodating portions 11 and 12 is constituted by a part of each housing 8 and 9 made of a single member, and the peripheral portions 11a and 12a (see also FIG. 3) of the respective accommodating portions 11 and 12 The plurality of bolts B1 are detachably coupled.

  The input unit 7 includes an input shaft 7a that is rotationally driven by the handle 1 via the interlocking mechanism 2, an output shaft that is coupled to the input shaft 7a via the torsion bar so as to be relatively rotatable, and a twist amount of the torsion bar. And a torque sensor 7b for detecting a steering torque based on the torque sensor 7b.

  The conversion mechanism includes a pinion as a rotational drive unit provided on the output shaft, a rack unit as a driven unit driven by the pinion, and a rack shaft 13 as a steering member provided with the rack unit. The rack shaft 13 extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle with the steering device S mounted on the vehicle, and is driven by a rotating input shaft 7a by a rack and pinion mechanism composed of the pinion and the rack portion. 1. Reciprocating linear motion is performed in the longitudinal direction in the second housings 8 and 9.

  The transmission mechanism 4 includes a pair of tie rods 14 connected to both ends of the rack shaft 13 via ball joints, and a link mechanism 15 connected to each tie rod 14. Then, the steering force from the rack shaft 13 is transmitted through each tie rod 14 and the link mechanism 15 and acts on each steering wheel 5 of the vehicle, and the steering wheel 5 is steered.

  1 to 3, a power steering device P that applies an auxiliary steering force to the rack shaft 13 at the time of turning is a rotary actuator controlled by an electronic control unit to which a steering torque detected by a torque sensor 7b is input. As an electric motor 20, a belt-type transmission mechanism 40 to which an auxiliary steering force generated by the electric motor 20 is input, a ball screw mechanism 50 as a transmission mechanism for transmitting the output of the transmission mechanism 40 to the rack shaft 13, and a transmission And an adjustment unit A that adjusts the tension of the belt 43 of the mechanism 40.

  Referring also to FIG. 4, the electric motor 20 coupled to the mounting portion 16 constituted by a part of the first housing portion 11 via the collar 30 has a flange coupled to the collar 30 coupled to the mounting portion 16. A cylindrical case 21 having a mounting portion 22 made of a rotating shaft 23 for rotating an input pulley 41 described later is provided. In the electric motor 20, a pair of bolts B <b> 2 that are respectively inserted into a pair of insertion holes provided at positions facing the mounting portion 22 across the rotation center line L <b> 1 of the rotary shaft 23 are provided in the collar 30. By being respectively screwed into a pair of screw holes 31c (see FIG. 4), the rotation center line L1 is attached to the collar 30 and thus to the attachment portion 16 so as to be substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction.

  2 and 3, a transmission mechanism 40, which is also a speed reduction mechanism, is connected to a rotary shaft 23 via a shaft coupling 24 and is driven to rotate by the electric motor 20, and a rack screw 13 is connected to a ball screw. An output pulley connected via a mechanism 50, and a belt 43 formed of an input pulley 41 and a toothed belt stretched around an output pulley 42 having a larger diameter than the input pulley 41 are provided. The input pulley 41 as an input part of the transmission mechanism 40 includes a cylindrical main body part 41a on which the belt 43 is hung, and a pair of shaft parts 41b extending in parallel to the rotation center line L2 of the input pulley 41 with the main body part 41a interposed therebetween. , 41c. The pair of shaft portions 41b and 41c are rotatably supported by the pair of bearing portions 33 and 34 of the collar 30 via bearings 45 made of radial ball bearings. The output pulley 42 as an output portion of the transmission mechanism 40 includes a cylindrical main body portion 42a on which the belt 43 is hung, and one cylindrical shaft portion 42b extending from the main body portion 42a in parallel with the rotation center line L3 of the output pulley 42. With. Note that tooth portions 41d and 42d having a large number of teeth meshing with the teeth of the belt 43 are formed on the outer peripheral surfaces of the main body portions 41a and 42a.

  Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the shaft coupling 24 includes an input member 24 a coupled to the rotary shaft 23 via the ring 25 so as to be integrally rotatable with the rotary shaft 23, and an input pulley to the shaft portion 41 c of the input pulley 41. The output member 24b is coupled to 41 so as to be integrally rotatable, and the buffer member 24c is formed of a synthetic rubber which is an elastic body interposed between the input member 24a and the output member 24b. The buffer member 24c is sandwiched between a plurality of teeth 24a1 and 24b1 provided on the input member 24a and the output member 24b in the circumferential direction, and reliably transmits the torque of the electric motor 20 to the input pulley 41. , To reduce sudden torque fluctuations and to prevent noise generation in the shaft coupling 24.

  Referring to FIG. 3, a ball screw mechanism 50 as a motion conversion mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the output pulley 42 into the linear motion of the rack shaft 13 is provided in the sub-accommodating portion 17 constituted by a part of the first accommodating portion 11. Be contained. The ball screw mechanism 50 includes a ball screw shaft portion 51 formed on the rack shaft 13, a ball nut 52 disposed so as to surround the ball screw shaft portion 51, and a thread groove formed on the outer peripheral surface of the ball screw shaft portion 51. 51a and a large number of balls 53 that rolls accommodated across the thread groove 52a formed on the inner peripheral surface of the ball nut 52. A group of balls 53 roll on a return path (not shown) provided in the ball nut 52 and circulate between the ball screw shaft 51 and the ball nut 52. A ball nut 52 accommodated in the transmission chamber 18 is rotatably supported by the first accommodating portion 11 via a bearing 54 formed of a double row angular ball bearing fixed to the sub accommodating portion 17 by an annular lock bolt 55. Is done. In the ball nut 52, the shaft portion 42b of the output pulley 42 and the bearing 54 are arranged in series on the outer peripheral surface along the direction of the rotation center line L4 of the ball nut 52 (also a rotation center line direction T1 described later). Then, the lock nut 56 is coupled in a state where the movement in the rotation center line direction T1 is prevented. Thereby, the ball nut 52 rotates integrally with the output pulley 42 so as to have a rotation center line L4 that coincides with the rotation center line L2 of the output pulley 42. The sub-accommodating portion 17 is positioned below the attachment portion 16, an attachment portion C <b> 1 described later, and the electric motor 20.

  2 and 4, the cylindrical collar 30 rotatably supports the input pulley 41 and the mounting portion C1 to which the electric motor 20 is mounted and the mounting portion C1 that is mounted to the mounting portion 16 of the first housing 8. It is a single member having the support part C2. The attachment part C1 having a larger diameter than the support part C2 has an annular mating surface 31f with the attachment part 22 of the electric motor 20, and the first attachment part 31 to which the electric motor 20 is attached, and the first accommodating part 11 The second mounting portion 32 has an annular mating surface 32 f with the mounting portion 16 and is attached to the mounting portion 16. The first mounting portion 31 is provided with a pair of screw holes 31c in the pair of fastening portions 31a and 31b, respectively, and the second mounting portion 32 is rotated in the vicinity of the pair of fastening portions 31a and 31b. A pair of fastening portions 32a and 32b configured by stepped portions formed by retreating toward the mating surface 32f from the mating surface 31f in the direction T1 of the center line L2 are spaced apart from each screw hole 31c in the circumferential direction. A pair of first and second insertion holes 32c and 32d are provided. The fastening parts 31a and 31b and the fastening parts 32a and 32b are constituted by projecting portions that project radially outward at the first mounting part 31 and the second mounting part 32, respectively.

  The support portion C2 includes a bearing portion 34 that holds the bearing 45 and a bearing portion 33 that holds the bearing 44 in the order closer to the mounting portion C1 in the rotation center line direction T1. In the input pulley 41 in which the output member 24b is coupled to the shaft portion 41c, a belt 43 is hung on the main body portion 41a, and a pair of belt guide members 46, 46 are provided between the main body portion 41a and the bearings 44 and 45. 47 is arranged, and the bearing 45 is prevented from moving in the rotation center line direction T1 by the lock bolt 48 with respect to the bearing portion 34. At this time, the belt 43 extends to the outside of the collar 30 through the opening 35 of the support portion C2 provided partially in the circumferential direction between the bearing portions 33 and 34.

  The collar 30 passes through the through hole 16e provided in the mounting portion 16 from the side where the electric motor 20 is disposed in a state where the input pulley 41 on which the belt 43 is hung is supported by the support portion C2. The bolt B3, which is disposed in the shaft 18 and is inserted into the first and second insertion holes 32c and 32d, is screwed into a pair of screw holes 16c and 16d provided in the attachment portion 16, thereby being attached to the attachment portion 16. .

  In this way, the input pulley 41 is rotatably supported by the collar 30 as the input side support member, and the output pulley 42 is rotatable in the first housing portion 11 or the first housing 8 as the output side support member. Supported.

  Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 6, the adjustment unit A is a structure for adjusting a centerline distance D that is a distance between the rotation centerline L2 and the rotation centerline L3 that are parallel to each other. The tension of the belt 43 is adjusted by adjusting the distance D between the center lines using the adjusting unit A. The adjustment part A moves the collar 30 and the first housing part 11 in only a single specific direction relatively in the first combined state with the operation part 36 projecting radially outward from the attachment part C1 of the collar 30. And a coupling structure that couples the collar 30 and the first accommodating portion 11 so that relative movement is impossible in the second coupling state.

  The operation portion 36 is provided with an engagement hole 36a as an engagement portion with which an action portion 61 of a torque wrench 60 described later is engaged. The engagement hole 36a has a polygonal, for example, square cross-sectional shape, includes a swing center line L5, and a plane H2 that intersects the gripping portion 62 of the torque wrench 60 in a state of being engaged with the engagement hole 36a. Provided at the crossing position.

  The coupling structure includes a pair of bolts B3, fastening portions 32a and 32b of the second attachment portion 32 provided with the first and second insertion holes 32c and 32d, and an attachment provided with a pair of screw holes 16c and 16d. The fastening part 16a of the part 16 is comprised. The first insertion hole 32c, the screw hole 16c, the second insertion hole 32d, and the screw hole 16d are arranged on the side where each bolt B2 is arranged with respect to the center plane H1. Here, the center plane H1 is a plane including both rotation center lines L2 and L3.

  The first insertion hole 32c formed of a circular hole having a center line L5 coinciding with the axis of the bolt B3 when the bolt B3 is inserted has a diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the shaft portion of the bolt B3. On the other hand, the second insertion hole 32d, which is a circular hole as an adjustment hole, is larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion of the bolt B3, and the collar 30 is relative to the first housing portion 11 in order to adjust the tension of the belt 43. It is set to such a size that it can be moved, in this case, relatively swung to adjust the distance D between the center lines. For this reason, in a state where the bolt B3 is partially screwed into the screw holes 16c and 16d to such an extent that the collar 30 is not tightened with respect to the mounting portion 16, that is, in the first coupled state, one fastening portion 32a and the center line L5 (Or the axis of the bolt B3) as the fulcrum part 32a and the oscillating center line L5 of the fulcrum part 32a, respectively, the collar 30 is relatively only in the single oscillating direction T2 with respect to the first housing part 11. It is restrained so that it can swing. Therefore, the single specific direction is the swing direction T2 with the swing center line L5 as the center.

  Referring to FIG. 6, a torque wrench 60 as an operating means for applying a driving force F to the collar 30 to move the collar 30 and the first housing portion 11 relatively in order to adjust the centerline distance D by the adjusting portion A. Applies a driving force F that causes the collar 30 to swing relative to the first housing portion 11 around the swing center line L5, and applies the driving force F to the operation portion 36 of the collar 30. An action part 61 to be actuated, a gripping part 62 as an input part to which an operating force for swinging the collar 30 is applied by an operator, and a measuring part 63 for measuring an operating torque as a physical quantity correlated with the driving force F are provided. . The measurement unit 63 includes a detection unit (not shown) that detects the operation torque necessary to swing the collar 30 based on the driving force F applied to the collar 30 from the operation unit 61, and the detection unit detects the operation torque. And a display unit 63a for displaying the operated torque.

  Since the driving force F correlates with the tension by forming a balance moment that balances the moment around the swing center line L5 due to the tension of the belt 43, the operation torque of the torque wrench 60 and the tension of the belt 43 are correlated. There is also a correlation between them. Therefore, the tension of the belt 43 can be determined from the operation torque measured by the torque wrench 60 by using the correlation obtained by specifying this correlation in advance.

Then, the adjustment of the tension of the belt 43 through the adjustment of the tension of the belt 43 by the adjustment unit A is performed as follows, for example.
Referring to FIG. 4, the second accommodating portion 12 (see FIG. 3) is coupled to the first accommodating portion 11, and the transmission mechanism 40 attached to the collar 30 and the ball nut 52 is connected to the transmission chamber 18 (see FIG. 3). In the accommodated state, both bolts B3 are respectively inserted into the first and second insertion holes 32c and 32d, and the coupling structure is brought into the first coupling state. In this first coupled state, the collar 30 can swing in the swing direction T2 within the adjustment range R around the swing center line L5 defined by the fulcrum portion 32a. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the action portion 61 of the torque wrench 60 is inserted into the engagement hole 36a so that the gripping portion 62 occupies a position intersecting the plane H2, and a driving force F corresponding to the operation torque is obtained. As a result, the collar 30 is swung relative to the first accommodating portion 11, the center line distance D is adjusted, and the tension of the belt 43 is adjusted. Is done. Then, the collar 30 swings relative to the first housing portion 11, thereby adjusting the distance D between the center lines and adjusting the tension of the belt 43.

  Then, when the operation torque of the set value corresponding to the appropriate value of the tension of the belt 43 is measured by the torque wrench 60 using the correlation, the adjustment of the centerline distance D is completed. After that, by tightening both bolts B3, the collar 30 and the first accommodating portion 11 are coupled so that relative movement is impossible, and the coupling structure is brought into the second coupled state, and tension setting work is performed. Is completed.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2, the electric motor 20 is fastened to the collar 30 by the bolt B <b> 2 being screwed into the screw hole 31 c (see FIG. 4). At this time, when viewed from the electric motor 20 side in the rotation center line direction T1, at least a part of the heads of both bolts B3 is covered with the mounting portion 22. At this time, the clearance between the mounting portion 22 and each bolt B3 in the rotation center line direction T1 is set to a clearance where the mounting portion 22 prevents each bolt B3 from being removed, or the mounting portion 22 prevents loosening. As is done, by setting it to 0 (zero), it is possible to make the mounting portion 22 have a function of preventing the bolts B3 from coming off or loosening.

Next, operations and effects of the embodiment configured as described above will be described.
The adjustment unit A of the power steering device P includes an operation unit 36 provided on the collar 30 and the coupling structure, and the torque wrench 60 includes an operation unit 61 and a driving force that apply a driving force F to the collar 30 through the operation unit 36. A measuring unit 63 for measuring the operation torque correlated with F, and when the coupling structure is in the first coupling state, the collar 30 is moved to the first housing unit 11 by the driving force F by the torque wrench 60. The operation torque is measured at the same time as the center line distance D is adjusted by swinging relative to the torque, and when the measured operation torque reaches a set value corresponding to the appropriate value of the tension of the belt 43, a torque wrench The operation according to 60 is terminated, and the joint structure is brought into the second joint state. Thereby, the operation part 36 of the adjustment part A that adjusts the distance D between the center lines to adjust the tension of the belt 43 may be provided only in the collar 30 of the collar 30 and the first housing part 11. As long as the driving force F of the wrench 60 can be applied, the design change for providing the operation unit 36 for the collar without the operation unit 36 can be made small. Providing the part 36 does not involve the necessity of changing the design of the first housing part 11. As a result, the design change of the collar 30 provided with the operation unit 36 can be made narrow, and the design change of the first storage unit 11 can be made unnecessary. By making a small design change to 30 and using the existing housing as it is, the cost of the power steering device P is reduced. Further, since the driving force F that relatively swings the collar 30 on which the tension of the belt 43 acts and the first housing portion 11 is correlated with the tension of the belt 43, the torque wrench 60 can be used to tension the belt 43. At the same time, the tension can be managed through the measured operation torque. As a result, since the tension can be managed through the operation torque measured by the torque wrench 60 that adjusts the tension, the efficiency of the belt 43 tension setting operation is improved.

  Furthermore, when the coupling structure is in the second coupling state, the coupling structure prevents relative movement of the collar 30 and the first housing portion 11, so that the set tension is reliably maintained.

  The torque wrench 60 is operated by engaging with an engagement hole 36a provided in the operation portion 36 and swinging the collar 30 relative to the first housing portion 11 around the swing center line L5. Since the part 36 only needs to be configured to have the engagement hole 36a with which the action part 61 of the torque wrench 60 is engaged, the structure of the operation part 36 is simple, which can contribute to cost reduction.

  The torque wrench 60 includes a gripping portion 62 to which an operating force is applied. The action portion 61 includes a swing center line L5 and a plane H2 that intersects the gripping portion 62 of the torque wrench 60 in a state of being engaged with the engagement hole 36a. , The moment formed by the driving force F applied through the operating portion 36 by the torque wrench 60 substantially follows the oscillation center line L5 that is the center of the moment formed by the tension of the belt 43. Since the operation torque measured by the torque wrench 60 more accurately reflects the tension of the belt 43, the tension setting accuracy is improved. Furthermore, the workability by the operator for applying the driving force F to the operation unit 36 is improved.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a part of the configuration of the above-described embodiment is changed will be described with respect to the changed configuration.
In the embodiment described above, the relative movement is a relative rocking movement, but may be a relative translational movement. A speed reduction mechanism may be provided between the rotating shaft 23 of the electric motor 20 and the input pulley 41. The second insertion hole 32d may be formed by an arc-shaped long hole centered on the swing center line L5. In addition to the electric motor 20, the rotary actuator may be a rotary machine such as a hydraulic motor.
The engaging part provided in the operation part 36 may be constituted by a convex part. Further, the operation unit 36 may be provided in the first storage unit 11 instead of the collar 30. The adjustment of the tension by the adjusting unit A may be performed in a state where the second storage unit 12 is not coupled to the first storage unit 11.

1 is a schematic overall view of a steering apparatus including a power steering apparatus to which the present invention is applied, showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and mainly showing a gear box and a power steering apparatus. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the III-III sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a figure which shows the principal part in the state in which the color | collar of the power steering apparatus of FIG. 1 was mounted in the 1st accommodating part. It is a disassembled perspective view of the shaft coupling which connects the rotating shaft and input pulley of the electric motor of the power steering apparatus of FIG. It is a figure which shows the general mode when the collar and 1st accommodating part of the power steering apparatus of FIG. 1 are couple | bonded by the coupling | bonding structure in the 1st coupling state, and the torque wrench engaged.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Handle, 2 ... Interlocking mechanism, 3 ... Gear box, 4 ... Transmission mechanism, 5 ... Steering wheel, 6 ... Gear housing, 7 ... Input part, 8, 9 ... Housing, 11, 12 ... Housing part, 13 ... Rack Shaft, 14 ... Tie rod, 15 ... Link mechanism, 16 ... Mounting portion, 17 ... Sub-accommodating portion, 18 ... Transmission chamber, 20 ... Electric motor, 21 ... Case, 22 ... Mounting portion, 23 ... Rotating shaft, 24 ... Shaft coupling , 25 ... Ring, 30 ... Collar, 31, 32 ... Mounting part, 33, 34 ... Bearing part, 35 ... Opening, 36 ... Operation part, 36a ... Engagement hole, 40 ... Transmission mechanism, 41 ... Input pulley, 42 ... Output pulley, 43 ... belt, 44, 45 ... bearing, 46, 47 ... belt guide member, 48 ... lock bolt, 50 ... ball screw mechanism, 51 ... ball screw shaft, 52 ... ball nut, 53 ... ball, 54 ... Bearing, 55 ... Lock bolt, 56 ... Lock nut, 60 ... Torque wrench, 61 ... Working part, 62 ... Gripping part, 63 ... Measuring part,
S ... steering device, P ... power steering device, B1, B2, B3 ... bolts, A ... adjusting part, L1 to L4 ... rotation center line, L5 ... oscillation center line (center line), C1 ... mounting part, C2 ... Support portion, D: Distance between center lines, F: Driving force, H1, H2: Plane, T1: Direction of rotation center line, T2: Swing direction, R: Adjustment range.

Claims (3)

The power steering device has a belt that is stretched over an actuator that generates an auxiliary steering force, an input pulley that is rotationally driven by the actuator, and an output pulley that is coupled to a steering member that applies a steering force to the steering wheel. A mechanism, an input-side support member and an output-side support member that rotatably support the input pulley and the output pulley, respectively, and a centerline distance between a rotation centerline of the input pulley and a rotation centerline of the output pulley. A belt tension adjusting method for a power steering device, wherein the belt tension is adjusted using the adjusting unit.
The adjustment unit relatively moves the operation unit provided on one of the input side support member and the output side support member, and the input side support member and the output side support member in a first coupled state. A coupling structure that binds the support members in a second coupled state so as to be relatively immovable, and when the coupling structure is in the first coupled state, the one through the operation unit. The one supporting member is supported by the driving force with the input side supporting member and the output side supporting member by operating means comprising an action part for applying a driving force to the supporting member and a measuring part for measuring a physical quantity correlated with the driving force The member is moved relative to the other support member to adjust the distance between the center lines, and at the same time, the physical quantity is measured, and the measured physical quantity becomes a set value corresponding to an appropriate value of the belt tension. The The exit operations on the operation unit, the belt tension adjusting method of a power steering device, characterized in that the coupling structure is in the second coupling state to come.   The operating means is a torque wrench that engages with an engaging portion provided in the operating portion and swings the one support member relative to the other support member about the swing center line. A belt tension adjusting method for a power steering apparatus, characterized in that: The torque wrench includes an input portion to which an operating force is applied, and the engagement portion includes a plane that intersects with the input portion of the torque wrench including the swing center line and engaged with the engagement portion. 3. The belt tension adjusting method for a power steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the belt tension adjusting method is provided at an intersecting position.

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