JP2008221905A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device having a bearing fixing structure with a small play in an axial direction of the bearing pivoting a steering shaft and with low manufacturing costs. <P>SOLUTION: An outer ring fixing member 8 is inserted in a fit hole 11C, and a pressing side face 82 comes into contact with a side face 612 on a rear side of a vehicle body of an outer ring 61. Thereafter, if the outer ring fixing member 8 is further inserted in the fit hole 11C on a front side of the vehicle body, the pressing side face 82 is elastically deformed, so as to strongly press the side face 612 of the outer ring 61 on the rear side of the vehicle body to the front side of the vehicle body. When a load in a thrust direction to the rear side of the vehicle body is applied to an upper steering shaft 12A, a load in a thrust direction rear side of the vehicle body is applied to the outer ring fixing member 8. However, due to a friction force between an outer periphery 81 of the outer ring fixing member 8 and the fit hole 11C, and because a corner part of a vehicle body rear side end 85 on the outer periphery 81 of the outer ring fixing member 8 bites into the fit hole 11C, the outer ring fixing member 8 is not detached to the rear side of the vehicle body. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering device, and more particularly to a bearing fixing structure of a steering device in which a bearing for supporting a steering shaft is mounted on a column.

  In the steering device, a steering shaft is rotatably supported by a column via a bearing, and a steering wheel is attached to the rear side of the vehicle body of the steering shaft. The bearing that supports the steering shaft needs to fix the axial position of the bearing outer ring with respect to the column in order to support the thrust load acting on the steering shaft.

  The steering device disclosed in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 has a bearing fixing structure in which a column is crimped to fix the axial position of the bearing outer ring. The bearing fixing structures of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 are excellent in mass productivity, but it is difficult to perform caulking with a column made of aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy, and from the end surface of the column to the bearing. When the axial distance is long, it may be difficult to crimp the column.

  FIG. 6 shows a steering device having a bearing fixing structure in which the axial position of the bearing outer ring is fixed by a retaining ring. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the inner peripheral surface 11B of the outer column 11 has a fitting hole 11C into which the outer ring 61 of the bearing 6 is fitted on the rear side of the vehicle body (the right side in FIG. 6). Is formed. A side surface 611 of the outer ring 61 of the bearing 6 on the vehicle body front side (left side in FIG. 6) is in contact with the step surface 11D between the fitting hole 11C and the inner peripheral surface 11B.

  Further, since the side surface 612 of the outer ring 61 on the vehicle body rear side is in contact with a retaining ring (C-shaped retaining ring for hole) 72, the outer ring 61 is fixed to the outer column 11 in the axial direction. The retaining ring 72 is fixed by being fitted into an annular groove 11 </ b> E formed in the outer column 11.

  Further, the inner ring 62 of the bearing 6 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface 121A of the upper steering shaft 12A, and the side surface 621 of the inner ring 62 on the vehicle body front side is in contact with the step surface 122A of the upper steering shaft 12A. Further, since the side surface 622 of the inner ring 62 on the vehicle body rear side is in contact with a retaining ring (C-shaped retaining ring for shaft) 71, the inner ring 62 is fixed in the axial direction with respect to the upper steering shaft 12A. The retaining ring 71 is fitted and fixed in an annular groove 123A formed in the upper steering shaft 12A.

  In the bearing fixing structure in which the axial position of the outer ring 61 of the bearing 6 is fixed by the retaining ring 72 as shown in FIG. 6, unless the dimension from the step surface 11D to the annular groove 11E is processed accurately, the bearing There was a problem that an axial backlash occurred in 6.

JP-A-11-342853 JP 2005-112133 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a steering device having a bearing fixing structure in which the axial play of a bearing that supports a steering shaft is small and the manufacturing cost is low.

  The above problem is solved by the following means. That is, the first invention is a column that can be fixed to the vehicle body, a fitting hole formed on the inner peripheral surface of the column and capable of fitting an outer ring of a bearing that supports the steering shaft, and press-fitted into the fitting hole. And when the outer peripheral surface is press-fitted into the fitting hole, the outer peripheral surface of the bearing is elastically deformed and brought into contact with the side surface of the bearing outer ring, and the side surface of the bearing outer ring is axially moved. A steering device comprising an outer ring fixing member having a pressing side surface to be pressed.

  A second aspect of the present invention is the steering apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the annular outer peripheral surface is formed such that an outer diameter dimension is gradually reduced toward the press-fitting direction.

  A third invention is a steering device according to any one of the first and second inventions, wherein a notch is formed in the annular outer peripheral surface.

  A fourth invention is a steering device according to the first or second invention, wherein the column is made of an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy.

  In the steering device of the present invention, an annular outer peripheral surface that is press-fitted into a fitting hole formed on the inner peripheral surface of the column, and a bearing that is fitted into the fitting hole when the outer peripheral surface is press-fitted into the fitting hole. An outer ring fixing member having a pressing side surface that elastically deforms and contacts the side surface of the outer ring and presses the side surface of the bearing outer ring in the axial direction is provided.

  When the outer ring fixing member is press-fitted into the fitting hole, the pressing side surface is elastically deformed and strongly presses the bearing outer ring. Therefore, the bearing can support the steering shaft without axial backlash against the thrust load acting on the bearing, and without performing high-precision processing for attaching the outer ring fixing member to the fitting hole. Even so, the bearing can support the steering shaft without axial backlash.

  In the following embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a tilt / telescopic steering device capable of adjusting both the front-rear position and the tilt angle of the steering wheel will be described.

  FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a state in which a steering device of the present invention is attached to a vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, a hollow cylindrical column 1 is attached to a vehicle body, and a steering shaft 12 is pivotally supported on the column 1 so as to be rotatable. A steering wheel 121 is attached to the steering shaft 12 at the right end (rear side of the vehicle body), and an intermediate shaft 22 is connected to the left end (front side of the vehicle body) of the steering shaft 12 via a universal joint 21.

  The intermediate shaft 22 includes a solid intermediate inner shaft 221 in which a male spline is formed and a hollow cylindrical intermediate outer shaft 222 in which a female spline is formed. The male spline of the intermediate inner shaft 221 is an intermediate outer shaft. The female spline 222 is fitted so as to be extendable (slidable) and transmit rotational torque.

  Further, the vehicle body rear side of the intermediate outer shaft 222 is connected to the universal joint 21, and the vehicle body front side of the intermediate inner shaft 221 is connected to the universal joint 23. A pinion that meshes with a rack (not shown) of the steering gear 24 is connected to the universal joint 23.

  When the driver rotates the steering wheel 121, the rotational force is transmitted to the steering gear 24 through the steering shaft 12, the universal joint 21, the intermediate shaft 22, and the universal joint 23, and the tie rod is transmitted through the rack and pinion mechanism. 25, the steering angle of the wheel can be changed.

  FIG. 2 is a side view showing a part of the main part of the steering apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 3 (1) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion P in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3 (2) is an enlarged cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the bearing in FIG. 3 (1). 4 is a component diagram showing the outer ring fixing member alone of FIG. 3, wherein (1) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of (2), and (2) is a front view.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the column 1 includes a hollow cylindrical outer column (upper column) 11, and an inner column (lower) fitted on the left side (front side of the vehicle body) of the outer column 11 so as to be slidable in the axial direction. Column) 10.

  An upper steering shaft 12A is rotatably supported by the bearing 6 on the outer column 11, and the above-described steering wheel 121 (see FIG. 1) is fixed to the right end (rear side of the vehicle body) of the upper steering shaft 12A.

  An upper bracket (vehicle mounting bracket) 3 is attached to the left side (front side of the vehicle body) of the outer column 11 so as to sandwich the outer column 11 from both the left and right sides. The upper bracket 3 is detachably attached to the front side of the vehicle body via a capsule 42 made of aluminum alloy or the like fixed to the vehicle body 41.

  In the outer column 11, when a driver collides with the steering wheel 121 during a secondary collision and a large impact force acts, the upper bracket 3 is detached from the capsule 42 toward the front side of the vehicle body and guided to the front side of the vehicle body by the inner column 10. It moves to collapse and absorbs impact energy at the time of collision.

  A lower bracket 51 is integrally formed at the vehicle body front end of the inner column 10, and the lower bracket 51 is pivotally supported on the vehicle body 41 via a tilt center shaft 52. Further, the lower steering shaft 12B is rotatably supported on the inner column 10, and the vehicle body rear end of the lower steering shaft 12B is spline-fitted to the vehicle body front end of the upper steering shaft 12A so that the steering wheel 121 can be rotated. 1 is transmitted to the steering gear 24 via the universal joint 21 shown in FIG.

  The upper bracket 3 has an upper plate 32 and a side plate 33 extending downward from the upper plate 32. A clamp member 13 is integrally formed on the outer column 11 so as to protrude below the outer column 11. The clamp member 13 is slidably in contact with the inner surface of the side plate 33 of the upper bracket 3.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, the outer column 11 is an integrally molded product made of aluminum die casting. Further, for the purpose of weight reduction, it may be made of magnesium die casting.

  A tilt adjusting long groove 35 is formed in the side plate 33 of the upper bracket 3. The clamp member 13 is formed with a telescopic adjustment long groove 14 extending in the left-right direction in FIG. 2 and extending in the axial direction of the outer column 11.

  A round rod-shaped fastening rod 53 is inserted through the tilt adjusting long groove 35 and the telescopic adjusting long groove 14 from a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. On the lower surface of the outer column 11, a slit 55 penetrating from the outer peripheral surface 11A of the outer column 11 to the inner peripheral surface 11B is formed.

  An operation lever 54 is attached to the end of the clamping rod 53. When the operation lever 54 is swung in the clamping direction by hand, the side plate 33 is deformed inward, and the inner surface of the side plate 33 is strongly pressed against the clamp member 13. The clamp member 13 is tilt-clamped with respect to the upper bracket 3.

  Further, the clamp member 13 is elastically deformed inward, and the width of the slit 55 is narrowed. Therefore, the inner peripheral surface 11B of the outer column 11 is reduced in diameter, and the outer peripheral surface 10A of the inner column 10 is clamped (telescopic clamp).

  When the operation lever 54 is swung in the unclamping direction by hand, the outer column 11 is unclamped (tilt unclamped) with respect to the upper bracket 3, and the outer column 11 is unclamped (telescopically) with respect to the inner column 10. Can be unclamped).

  The outer wheel 11 can be slid in the axial direction with respect to the inner column 10 by grasping the steering wheel 121 and adjusted to a desired telescopic position. Further, after adjusting the tilt positions of the inner column 10 and the outer column 11 around the tilt center axis 52, the outer column 11 can be clamped to the upper bracket 3 again.

  3 and 4 show details of the fixing structure of the bearing 6 that rotatably supports the upper steering shaft 12A. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a fitting hole 11C into which the outer ring 61 of the bearing 6 is fitted is formed on the inner peripheral surface 11B of the outer column 11 on the rear side of the vehicle body (the right side in FIG. 3). Yes. A side surface 611 of the outer ring 61 of the bearing 6 on the vehicle body front side (left side in FIG. 3) is in contact with the step surface 11D between the fitting hole 11C and the inner peripheral surface 11B.

  Further, the inner ring 62 of the bearing 6 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface 121A of the upper steering shaft 12A, and the side surface 621 of the inner ring 62 on the vehicle body front side is in contact with the step surface 122A of the upper steering shaft 12A. Further, since the side surface 622 of the inner ring 62 on the vehicle body rear side is in contact with a retaining ring (C-shaped retaining ring for shaft) 71, the inner ring 62 is fixed in the axial direction with respect to the upper steering shaft 12A. The retaining ring 71 is fitted and fixed in an annular groove 123A formed in the upper steering shaft 12A.

  The outer ring 61 of the bearing 6 is fixed in the axial direction by an outer ring fixing member 8 that is press-fitted into the fitting hole 11C from the rear side of the vehicle body. That is, the annular outer peripheral surface 81 formed on the outer ring fixing member 8 is such that the outer diameter dimension gradually decreases toward the press-fitting direction of the outer ring fixing member 8 (left side in FIGS. 3 and 4). It is formed in a conical shape with an angle θ.

  Further, the outer diameter dimension (maximum outer diameter dimension) D1 of the right end of the annular outer peripheral surface 81 is formed to be larger than the inner diameter dimension D2 of the fitting hole 11C of the outer column 11, and is formed in the fitting hole 11C of the outer column 11. On the other hand, the right end of the annular outer peripheral surface 81 is an interference fit.

  The vehicle body front side end portion of the annular outer peripheral surface 81 of the outer ring fixing member 8 is bent in a convex arc shape toward the press-fitting direction and toward the axial center to form an arc-shaped pressing side surface 82. After that, a bent portion 83 is formed which extends slightly while being reduced in diameter toward the rear side of the vehicle body and is then bent at a right angle toward the axis. The bent portion 83 is formed with a through hole 84 having a diameter larger than that of the outer peripheral surface 121A of the upper steering shaft 12A.

  Accordingly, when the annular outer peripheral surface 81 of the outer ring fixing member 8 is inserted into the fitting hole 11C of the outer column 11, the outer peripheral surface 81 of the outer ring fixing member 8 gradually decreases in outer diameter in the press-fitting direction. Thus, the annular outer peripheral surface 81 of the outer ring fixing member 8 is smoothly inserted into the fitting hole 11C.

  The annular outer peripheral surface 81 of the outer ring fixing member 8 is press-fitted into the fitting hole 11C while reducing the diameter. Then, the arc-shaped pressing side surface 82 on the vehicle body front side of the outer ring fixing member 8 contacts the side surface 612 on the vehicle body rear side of the outer ring 61. After the pressing side surface 82 abuts on the side surface 612 of the outer ring 61 on the rear side of the vehicle body, when the outer ring fixing member 8 is further pushed into the vehicle body front side of the fitting hole 11C, the pressing side surface 82 is elastically deformed. The rear side surface 612 is strongly pressed toward the front side of the vehicle body.

  During a driving operation of the steering device of the first embodiment, when a load in the thrust direction toward the rear side of the vehicle body acts on the upper steering shaft 12A, a load in the thrust direction toward the rear side of the vehicle body acts on the outer ring fixing member 8. However, the frictional force between the outer peripheral surface 81 of the outer ring fixing member 8 and the fitting hole 11C and the corner of the vehicle body rear side end portion 85 of the outer peripheral surface 81 of the outer ring fixing member 8 become the fitting hole 11C. By biting in, the outer ring fixing member 8 does not slip out to the rear side of the vehicle body.

  Therefore, the bearing 6 can support the upper steering shaft 12A without axial backlash against a thrust load acting on the upper steering shaft 12A. That is, the bearing 6 can support the upper steering shaft 12A without any axial backlash without performing high-precision processing for attaching the outer ring fixing member 8 to the fitting hole 11C.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 5A and 5B are component diagrams showing a single member for fixing an outer ring according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. It is CC sectional drawing of. In the following description, only structural parts different from the above-described embodiment will be described, and redundant description will be omitted. Further, the same parts will be described with the same numbers.

  The outer ring fixing member 8 of Example 2 is formed with a notch on the outer periphery of the outer ring fixing member 8 so that when the outer ring fixing member 8 is press-fitted into the fitting hole 11C, the fitting hole 11C of the outer column 11 is fitted. This is an example in which cracking of the outer column 11 is prevented when the inner column (the force that expands the fitting hole 11C) that acts on the inner column 11 is easily controlled to make the outer column 11 thinner.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the annular outer peripheral surface 81 of the outer ring fixing member 8 of the second embodiment is externally facing toward the press-fitting direction of the outer ring fixing member 8 (the left side in FIG. 5). It is formed in a conical shape at an angle θ so that the diameter dimension gradually decreases.

  Further, as in the first embodiment, the outer diameter dimension (maximum outer diameter dimension) D1 of the right end of the annular outer peripheral surface 81 is larger than the inner diameter dimension D2 of the fitting hole 11C of the outer column 11 (see FIG. 3 (1)). The right end of the annular outer peripheral surface 81 is fit-fitted into the fitting hole 11C of the outer column 11.

  At the vehicle body front side end portion of the annular outer peripheral surface 81 of the outer ring fixing member 8, as in the first embodiment, the diameter is larger than the arc-shaped pressing side surface 82, the bent portion 83, and the outer peripheral surface 121 A of the upper steering shaft 12 A. Through-holes 84 are formed.

  In Example 2, eight notches 86A, 86B, 86C, 86D, 86E, 86F, 86G, and 86H are formed on the annular outer peripheral surface 81 of the outer ring fixing member 8. The notches 86A, 86B, 86C, 86D, 86E, 86F, 86G, and 86H are formed up to the outer peripheral end of the bent portion 83 by dividing the outer peripheral surface 81 and the pressing side surface 82 in the circumferential direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5 (3), a small sector part 87A sandwiched between notches 86B and 86C, a small sector part 87B sandwiched between notches 86D and 86E, and a small sector part sandwiched between notches 86F and 86G. In 87C, the small fan-shaped portion 87D sandwiched between the notches 86H and 86A, the outer peripheral surface 81 is scraped off. Therefore, when the outer ring fixing member 8 is inserted into the fitting hole 11C, it does not contact the fitting hole 11C.

  Further, a large fan-shaped portion 88A sandwiched between the notches 86A and 86B, a large fan-shaped portion 88B sandwiched between the notches 86C and 86D, a large fan-shaped portion 88C sandwiched between the notches 86E and 86F, and the notches 86G and 86H. An outer peripheral surface 81 is formed in the sandwiched large fan-shaped portion 88D.

  However, the adjacent large sector portions 88A, 88B, 88C, 88D are separated from each other by the notches 86A, 86B, 86C, 86D, 86E, 86F, 86G, 86H. Accordingly, when the outer ring fixing member 8 is inserted into the fitting hole 11C, the large sector portions 88A, 88B, 88C, 88D are easily elastically deformed along the fitting hole 11C of the outer column 11.

  Accordingly, when the outer ring fixing member 8 is press-fitted into the fitting hole 11C, the internal pressure (force for expanding the fitting hole 11C) acting on the fitting hole 11C of the outer column 11 can be made smaller than that in the first embodiment. It is possible to prevent cracking of the outer column 11 made of an alloy or a magnesium alloy and formed thin.

  Further, even if the tightening allowance when the outer peripheral surface 81 is press-fitted into the fitting hole 11C is increased, the increase in the inner pressure can be suppressed to be small, so that the required inner pressure can be easily obtained, and the outer ring fixing member 8 and the fitting hole can be obtained. The processing of 11C becomes easy, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Although the example applied to the bearing fitted to the outer column 11 has been described in the above embodiment, it may be applied to the bearing fitted to the inner column 10. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the example applied to the upper side column has been described, but it may be applied to the lower side column.

  In the above embodiment, the inner column 10 is a lower column and the outer column 11 is an upper column. However, the inner column 10 may be an upper column and the outer column 11 may be a lower column.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to a tilt / telescopic steering device capable of both tilt position adjustment and telescopic position adjustment has been described. However, a telescopic steering device capable of only telescopic position adjustment is described. The present invention may be applied to.

It is a whole perspective view which shows the state which attached the steering device of this invention to the vehicle. 1 is a side view of a part of a main part of a steering device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. (1) is an enlarged sectional view of a portion P in FIG. 2, and (2) is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of the bearing in (1). FIG. 4 is a component diagram illustrating a single member for fixing an outer ring of FIG. It is a component diagram which shows the outer ring fixing member single-piece | unit of Example 2 of this invention, (1) is BB sectional drawing of (2), (2) is a front view, (3) is C- of (2). It is C sectional drawing. (1) is an enlarged sectional view of the rear end of the vehicle body of the conventional column, and (2) is an enlarged sectional view of the vicinity of the bearing of (1).

Explanation of symbols

1 column 10 inner column (lower column)
10A Outer surface 11 Outer column (upper column)
11A outer peripheral surface 11B inner peripheral surface 11C fitting hole 11D step surface 11E annular groove 12 steering shaft 12A upper steering shaft 121A outer peripheral surface 122A step surface 123A annular groove 12B lower steering shaft 121 steering wheel 13 clamp member 14 telescopic adjustment long groove 21 free Joint 22 Intermediate shaft 221 Intermediate inner shaft 222 Intermediate outer shaft 23 Universal joint 24 Steering gear 25 Tie rod 3 Upper bracket (Body mounting bracket)
32 Upper plate 33 Side plate 35 Tilt adjustment long groove 41 Vehicle body 42 Capsule 51 Lower bracket 52 Tilt center shaft 53 Tightening rod 54 Operation lever 55 Slit 6 Bearing 61 Outer ring 611 Side surface on the front side of the vehicle body 612 Side surface on the rear side of the vehicle body 62 Inner ring 621 Front of the vehicle body Side surface 622 Side surface on the rear side of the vehicle body 71 Retaining ring 72 Retaining ring 8 Outer ring fixing member 81 Outer peripheral surface 82 Pressing side surface 83 Bending portion 84 Through hole 85 Car body rear side end portion 86A, 86B, 86C, 86D, 86E, 86F, 86G, 86H Notch 87A, 87B, 87C, 87D Small sector 88A, 88B, 88C, 88D Large sector

Claims (4)

Column that can be fixed to the car body,
A fitting hole formed on the inner peripheral surface of the column, into which an outer ring of a bearing that supports the steering shaft can be fitted,
An annular outer peripheral surface that is press-fitted into the fitting hole, and when the outer peripheral surface is press-fitted into the fitting hole, the outer peripheral surface of the bearing is elastically deformed and brought into contact with the side surface of the bearing outer ring. A steering apparatus comprising an outer ring fixing member having a pressing side surface that presses the side surface of the outer ring in the axial direction. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the annular outer peripheral surface is formed so that an outer diameter dimension is gradually reduced toward the press-fitting direction. In the steering device according to claim 1 or 2,
A steering device, wherein a notch is formed in the annular outer peripheral surface. In the steering device according to claim 1 or 2,
A steering device, wherein the column is made of an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy.

Images