JP2013010373A - Vehicle steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle steering device capable of adjusting a toe-in angle without twisting a bellows.SOLUTION: The vehicle steering device 1 includes a rack shaft 8 which moves in the shaft direction X1 by operation of a steering wheel 2, an inner ball joint 11 connected to an end of the rack shaft 8, a connecting member 30 connected to a first rod 19 of the inner ball joint 11, an outer ball joint 13 containing a second rod 25 connected to the connecting member 30, a first male screw 34 and a first female screw 35 connecting a first rod 19 and the connecting member 30, and a length adjusting mechanism 33 containing a second male screw 36 and a second female screw 37 in which the first male screw 36 and the first female screw 37 are screwed in the reverse direction, connecting the second rod 25 and the connecting member 30.

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle steering apparatus.

  A vehicle steering apparatus having a rack and pinion mechanism is known. For example, the vehicle steering apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a rack and pinion mechanism, a tie rod that connects a rack shaft and a knuckle arm, and a bellows that covers an end of the rack shaft. The tie rod is adjustable in length, and includes a female screw portion and a male screw portion attached in the female screw portion. The male thread portion is connected to the end of the rack shaft via an inner ball joint. The female thread portion is connected to the steered wheel via an outer ball joint and a knuckle arm. One end portion of the bellows is attached to the male screw portion by a clip, and the other end portion of the bellows is attached to a rack housing that accommodates the rack shaft.

JP 2001-39320 A

  In the vehicle assembly process, the angle of the steered wheels (toe-in angle) is adjusted. When adjusting the toe-in angle, the length of the tie rod is adjusted by relatively rotating the male screw portion and the female screw portion. When adjusting the toe-in angle, the steered wheel is connected to the female screw part via the outer ball joint and the knuckle arm, so that the female screw part cannot be rotated when adjusting the toe-in angle. Accordingly, when adjusting the toe-in angle, it is necessary to rotate the male screw portion and the female screw portion relative to each other by rotating the male screw portion. However, since the end portion of the bellows is attached to the male screw portion, when the male screw portion is rotated, the end portion of the bellows may rotate together with the male screw portion, and the bellows may be twisted.

  In order to prevent the bellows from twisting, it is conceivable to apply a lubricant such as grease to the inner periphery of the end portion of the bellows and weaken the tightening force of the bellows by the clip. In this case, since the frictional force generated between the end portion of the bellows and the male screw portion is weakened, when the male screw portion is rotated, the end portion of the bellows can be idled to suppress the twist of the bellows. . However, when such measures are taken, an operation of applying a lubricant and an operation of adjusting the tightening force of the clip are required. Furthermore, even if such measures are taken, the rotational force is applied to the bellows, which may cause the bellows to twist.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle steering apparatus that can adjust the toe-in angle without twisting the bellows.

  One embodiment of the present invention includes a steered shaft (8) that is moved in the axial direction in accordance with an operation of the steering member (2) and a first rod (19, 219), and an end portion of the steered shaft. A first ball joint (11, 211) coupled to the first rod, a coupling member (30, 230) coupled to the first rod, and a second rod (25, 225) coupled to the coupling member. A two-ball joint (13, 213), a first male screw (34) and a first female screw (35) for connecting the first rod and the connecting member, and the first male screw and the first female screw; Is threaded in the opposite direction and includes a length adjusting mechanism (33) including a second male screw (36) and a second female screw (37) for connecting the second rod and the connecting member. A vehicle steering device (1) is provided.

  According to this configuration, the first rod of the first ball joint and the second rod of the second ball joint are connected by the connecting member. The first ball joint is connected to the end of the steered shaft. The steered shaft is coupled to the steered wheels via the first ball joint, the coupling member, and the second ball joint. The angle of the steered wheel (toe-in angle) is adjusted by changing the distance between the first ball joint and the second ball joint. The length adjusting mechanism can adjust the distance between the first ball joint and the second ball joint.

  Specifically, the first rod and the connecting member are connected by a first male screw and a first female screw, and the second rod and the connecting member are connected by a second male screw and a second female screw. ing. The rotation direction of the screw groove (spiral groove) of the first male screw and the first female screw and the rotation direction of the screw groove of the second male screw and the second female screw are opposite to each other. Therefore, when the connecting member is rotated, the first rod and the second rod move in directions opposite to each other with respect to the connecting member, and the distance between the first ball joint and the second ball joint changes. Thereby, the distance between the first ball joint and the second ball joint is adjusted.

  As described above, when the connecting member is rotated with respect to the first rod and the second rod, the distance between the first ball joint and the second ball joint is changed. Therefore, the first rod and the second rod are rotated. Without changing the toe-in angle. Therefore, even if the bellows that covers the end of the steered shaft is attached to the first rod, the toe-in angle can be adjusted without applying rotational force to the bellows. Therefore, the toe-in angle can be adjusted without twisting the bellows. Thereby, twist of a bellows can be prevented. Furthermore, since the male screw and the corresponding female screw can be relatively rotated by one operation of rotating the connecting member, compared to the case where each male screw and the corresponding female screw are individually rotated relative to each other. Adjustment work is easy.

  One of the first male screw and the first female screw is provided on the first rod, and the other is provided on the connecting member. Similarly, one of the second male screw and the second female screw is provided on the second rod, and the other is provided on the connecting member. In this case, one of the first male screw and the second male screw may be provided on the connecting member, or both the first male screw and the second male screw are provided on the connecting member. May be. Further, the first male screw and the second male screw are not provided on the connecting member, and the first male screw and the second male screw are provided on the first rod and the second rod, respectively. Also good.

Specifically, the connection member includes a connection pipe, and the first male screw and the second male screw are formed on the outer circumferences of the first rod and the second rod, respectively, and the first female screw The second female screw may be formed on the inner periphery of the connection pipe.
The first rod and the second rod include a first female screw hole (238) and a second female screw hole (239), respectively, and the first male screw and the second male screw are respectively connected to the connecting member. The first female screw and the second female screw may be formed on the inner periphery of the first female screw hole and the second female screw hole, respectively.

  In the above description, numbers in parentheses represent reference numerals of corresponding components in the embodiments described later, but the scope of the claims is not limited by these reference numerals.

It is a mimetic diagram of a schematic structure of a steering device for vehicles concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of a vehicle steering apparatus including a tie rod according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of a vehicle steering apparatus including a tie rod according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a schematic configuration of a vehicle steering apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
The vehicle steering apparatus 1 includes a steering shaft 3 to which a steering wheel 2 as a steering member is connected, and a steering mechanism 4 that steers steered wheels in conjunction with the rotation of the steering wheel 2.

  The steering shaft 3 extends in the up-down direction while being tilted back and forth. The vehicle steering apparatus 1 further includes a first universal joint 5, an intermediate shaft 6, and a second universal joint 7. The steering shaft 3 is connected to the intermediate shaft 6 via the first universal joint 5. The intermediate shaft 6 is connected to the steering mechanism 4 (specifically, a pinion shaft 9 described later) through a second universal joint 7. Therefore, the steering wheel 2 is mechanically coupled to the steering mechanism 4 via the steering shaft 3, the first universal joint 5, the intermediate shaft 6, and the second universal joint 7. Therefore, the rotation of the steering wheel 2 is transmitted to the steering mechanism 4 via the steering shaft 3 and the like.

  The steering mechanism 4 is, for example, a rack and pinion mechanism. The steering mechanism 4 includes a rack shaft 8 and a pinion shaft 9. The pinion shaft 9 is connected to the intermediate shaft 6 via the second universal joint 7. The pinion shaft 9 has a pinion 9 a that meshes with a rack 8 a provided on the rack shaft 8. The rotation of the pinion shaft 9 is converted into movement of the rack shaft 8 in the axial direction X1 by the rack 8a and the pinion 9a. The rack shaft 8 extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle. The rack shaft 8 is accommodated in a rack housing 10 fixed to the vehicle body side member. Each end of the rack shaft 8 protrudes from the rack housing 10. Each end of the rack shaft 8 is connected to a steered wheel via a tie rod 12 and a knuckle arm. The steered wheels are steered in conjunction with the movement of the rack shaft 8 in the axial direction X1.

  The vehicle steering apparatus 1 includes a pair of left and right inner ball joints 11 connected to the end of the rack shaft 8, a pair of left and right tie rods 12 connected to the inner ball joint 11, and a pair of left and right tie rods connected to the tie rod 12. An outer ball joint 13 and a pair of left and right bellows 14 covering the end of the rack shaft 8 are included. The inner ball joint 11 is accommodated in a cylindrical bellows 14. The bellows 14 extends from the end of the rack housing 10 to the tie rod 12. One end and the other end of the bellows 14 are attached to the rack housing 10 and the tie rod 12, respectively. The outer ball joint 13 is disposed outside the bellows 14. The outer ball joint 13 is connected to the steered wheel via a knuckle arm. Therefore, the rack shaft 8 is connected to the steered wheels via the inner ball joint 11, the tie rod 12, and the outer ball joint 13.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the vehicle steering apparatus 1 including the tie rod 12 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
The inner ball joint 11 includes a first housing 15, a first stud 16 protruding from the first housing 15, and a cup-shaped first resin sheet 17 accommodated in the first housing 15. The first housing 15 is connected to the end of the rack shaft 8 by screws, for example. The first stud 16 includes a first ball head 18 disposed in the first housing 15 and a first rod 19 that protrudes from the first ball head 18. The first ball head 18 is held by the first housing 15 via the first resin sheet 17. The first stud 16 is movable with respect to the first housing 15 around the first ball head 18. The first stud 16 extends outward from the first housing 15 in the axial direction X1. The end of the bellows 14 surrounds the first rod 19 and is attached to the first rod 19 by a clip 20.

  On the other hand, the outer ball joint 13 includes a second housing 21, a second stud 22 protruding from the second housing 21, a cup-shaped second resin sheet 23 accommodated in the second housing 21, and the second housing 21. And a cylindrical boot 24 covering the opening. The second housing 21 includes a second rod 25 extending in the axial direction X <b> 1, a cylindrical portion 26 connected to an end portion of the second rod 25, and a plate-like portion 27 that closes one end of the cylindrical portion 26. The second rod 25 has a cylindrical shape having an outer diameter equal to or approximately equal to that of the first rod 19. The second stud 22 includes a second spherical head 28 disposed in the cylindrical portion 26 and a stud portion 29 protruding from the second spherical head 28. The second spherical head 28 is held by the cylindrical portion 26 and the plate-like portion 27 via the second resin sheet 23. The second stud 22 is movable with respect to the second housing 21 around the second ball head 28. As shown in FIG. 2, the second stud 22 may protrude downward from the second housing 21, or may protrude upward from the second housing 21.

  The vehicle steering apparatus 1 includes a connecting member 30 that connects the first rod 19 and the second rod 25, a first lock nut 31 that fixes the first rod 19 and the connecting member 30, and a second rod 25. It further includes a second lock nut 32 that fixes the member 30 and a length adjustment mechanism 33 that adjusts the distance between the inner ball joint 11 and the outer ball joint 13. The 1st rod 19, the 2nd rod 25, and the connection member 30 are arrange | positioned on the same axis line. The 1st rod 19 and the 2nd rod 25 are arranged at intervals in the axial direction X1. The connecting member 30 coaxially connects the first rod 19 and the second rod 25. The tie rod 12 includes a first rod 19, a second rod 25, a connecting member 30, a first lock nut 31, and a second lock nut 32. The length of the tie rod 12 in the axial direction X1 is adjusted by the length adjusting mechanism 33. Thereby, the spherical core distance (the distance in the axial direction X1 between the center of the first spherical head 18 and the center of the second spherical head 28) is adjusted.

  The length adjusting mechanism 33 includes a first male screw 34 and a first female screw 35 that connect the first rod 19 and the connecting member 30, a second male screw 36 that connects the second rod 25 and the connecting member 30, and A second female screw 37. In the first embodiment, the first male screw 34 and the second male screw 36 are provided on the outer circumferences of the first rod 19 and the second rod 25, respectively. The first male screw 34 and the second male screw 36 are disposed on the same axis. The connecting member 30 is a cylindrical connecting pipe extending in the axial direction X <b> 1, and the first female screw 35 and the second female screw 37 are provided on the inner periphery of the connecting member 30. The first female screw 35 is provided in a range from one end of the connection pipe to the middle of the connection pipe, and the second female screw 37 is provided in a range from the other end of the connection pipe to the middle of the connection pipe. . The first male screw 34 and the second male screw 36 are attached in a first female screw 35 and a second female screw 37, respectively.

  The first lock nut 31 is attached to the first male screw 34 outside the connecting member 30. The first lock nut 31 is pressed against the connecting member 30. Thereby, the looseness of the first male screw 34 and the first female screw 35 is prevented, and the first rod 19 and the connecting member 30 are firmly fixed. Similarly, the second lock nut 32 is attached to the second male screw 36 outside the connecting member 30. The second lock nut 32 is pressed against the connecting member 30. Thereby, the looseness of the second male screw 36 and the second female screw 37 is prevented, and the second rod 25 and the connecting member 30 are firmly fixed. In this way, the first rod 19, the second rod 25, and the connecting member 30 are firmly fixed, and the length of the tie rod 12 is fixed.

  The rotation direction of the screw groove (spiral groove) of the first male screw 34 and the first female screw 35 and the rotation direction of the screw groove of the second male screw 36 and the second female screw 37 are opposite to each other. That is, for example, when the first male screw 34 and the first female screw 35 are right screws, the second male screw 36 and the second female screw 37 are left screws (reverse screws). Therefore, when the connecting member 30 is turned in one rotational direction with the first rod 19 and the second rod 25 fixed, the relative rotation between the first male screw 34 and the first female screw 35 and the second male screw Due to the relative rotation of 36 and the second female screw 37, the first rod 19 and the second rod 25 approach the axial direction X1, and the length of the tie rod 12 decreases. On the other hand, when the connecting member 30 is rotated in the other rotation direction opposite to the one rotation direction with the first rod 19 and the second rod 25 fixed, the first rod 19 and the second rod 25 are axially moved. The distance from X1 increases and the length of the tie rod 12 increases. Thereby, the spherical center distance is adjusted.

  In the vehicle assembly process, the steered wheels are attached to the outer ball joint 13 via a knuckle arm. Thereafter, the angle of the steered wheel (toe-in angle) is adjusted. When adjusting the toe-in angle, the connecting member 30 is rotated with respect to the first rod 19 and the second rod 25 while the first lock nut 31 and the second lock nut 32 are loosened. That is, one end and the other end of the bellows 14 are attached to the first rod 19 and the rack housing 10, respectively, and the connecting member 30 is in a state where the rotation of the first rod 19 and the second rod 25 is restricted. Is turned. Therefore, the connecting member 30, the first rod 19 and the second rod 25 rotate relative to each other, and the length of the tie rod 12 changes. Thereby, the toe-in angle is adjusted. Then, after the toe-in angle is adjusted, the first lock nut 31 and the second lock nut 32 are tightened, and the length of the tie rod 12 is fixed. Thereby, the toe-in angle is fixed.

  As described above, in the first embodiment, the first rod 19 of the inner ball joint 11 and the connecting member 30 are connected by the first male screw 34 and the first female screw 35, and the second ball of the outer ball joint 13 is connected. The rod 25 and the connecting member 30 are connected by a second male screw 36 and a second female screw 37. Since the rotation direction of the thread groove of the first male screw 34 and the first female screw 35 and the rotation direction of the screw groove of the second male screw 36 and the second female screw 37 are opposite to each other, the connecting member 30 is When rotated, the first rod 19 and the second rod 25 move in directions opposite to each other with respect to the connecting member 30, and the distance between the inner ball joint 11 and the outer ball joint 13 (sphere core distance) changes. . Thereby, the length of the tie rod 12 is adjusted, and the toe-in angle is adjusted.

  As described above, when the connecting member 30 is rotated with respect to the first rod 19 and the second rod 25, the distance between the inner ball joint 11 and the outer ball joint 13 changes. The toe-in angle can be adjusted without rotating the rod 25. Therefore, the toe-in angle can be adjusted without applying a rotational force to the end of the bellows 14 attached to the first rod 19. Therefore, the toe-in angle can be adjusted without twisting the bellows 14. Thereby, twist of the bellows 14 can be prevented. Furthermore, since the male screws 34 and 36 and the corresponding female screws 35 and 37 can be rotated relative to each other by one operation of rotating the connecting member 30, the female screws 35 and 37 corresponding to the male screws 34 and 36, respectively. , 37 and the toe-in angle can be adjusted more easily than when they are individually rotated relative to each other.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The main difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment described above is that the configurations of the first rod, the second rod, and the connecting member are different. In the following FIG. 3, the same components as those shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 are given the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the vehicle steering apparatus 201 including the tie rod 212 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
The vehicle steering device 201 according to the second embodiment has the same configuration as the vehicle steering device 1 according to the first embodiment. That is, in the vehicle steering apparatus 201 according to the second embodiment, instead of the inner ball joint 11, the outer ball joint 13, and the connecting member 30 according to the first embodiment, an inner ball joint 211 (first ball joint), An outer ball joint 213 (second ball joint) and a connecting member 230 are provided.

  The inner ball joint 211 includes a first housing 15, a first stud 216 protruding from the first housing 15, and a cup-shaped first resin sheet 17 accommodated in the first housing 15. The first stud 216 includes a first ball head 18 and a first rod 219 protruding from the first ball head 18. The first rod 219 is formed with a first female screw hole 238 that opens at the end of the first rod 219. The first female screw 35 is formed on the inner periphery of the first female screw hole 238. The end of the bellows 14 is attached to the first rod 219 by a clip 20.

  The outer ball joint 213 includes a second housing 221, a second stud 22 protruding from the second housing 221, a cup-shaped second resin sheet 23 accommodated in the second housing 221, and a second housing 221. And a cylindrical boot 24 covering the opening. The second housing 221 includes a second rod 225 extending in the axial direction X <b> 1, a cylindrical portion 26 connected to an end portion of the second rod 25, and a plate-like portion 27 that closes one end of the cylindrical portion 26. A second female screw hole 239 that opens at the end of the second rod 225 is formed in the second rod 225. The first female screw hole 238 and the second female screw hole 239 are disposed on the same axis. The second female screw 37 is formed on the inner periphery of the second female screw hole 239.

  The connecting member 230 is a columnar shaft extending in the axial direction X1, and the first male screw 34 and the second male screw 36 are provided on the outer periphery of one end and the other end of the connecting member 230, respectively. Yes. The first male screw 34 and the second male screw 36 are disposed on the same axis. The first male screw 34 and the second male screw 36 are attached in a first female screw 35 and a second female screw 37, respectively. The first lock nut 31 and the second lock nut 32 are attached to the first male screw 34 and the second male screw 36 between the first rod 219 and the second rod 225, respectively. The tie rod 212 includes a first rod 219, a second rod 225, a connecting member 230, a first lock nut 31, and a second lock nut 32.

  When adjusting the toe-in angle, the connecting member 230 is rotated with respect to the first rod 219 and the second rod 225 while the first lock nut 31 and the second lock nut 32 are loosened. Thereby, the connection member 230, the 1st rod 219, and the 2nd rod 225 rotate relatively, and the length of the tie rod 212 changes. After the toe-in angle is adjusted, the first lock nut 31 and the second lock nut 32 are pressed against the first rod 219 and the second rod 225, respectively, and the length of the tie rod 212 is fixed. Thereby, the toe-in angle is fixed. Thus, since the toe-in angle can be adjusted without rotating the first rod 219 and the second rod 225, the bellows 14 can be prevented from being twisted.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the contents of the first and second embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims. is there.
For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, the case where the vehicle steering device is a manual steering device has been described. However, the vehicle steering device may be a steering device other than the manual steering device. For example, the vehicle steering apparatus may be an electric power steering apparatus including a steering assist mechanism, a hydraulic steering apparatus provided with a hydraulic mechanism, or a machine including a steering wheel and a steering mechanism. It may be a steer-by-wire (SBW) type steering device in which a general connection is released.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the case where the steering mechanism is a rack and pinion mechanism has been described. However, the steering mechanism may be a steering mechanism other than the rack and pinion mechanism. For example, the steering mechanism may include a steered shaft including a ball screw and a ball nut attached to the ball screw via a plurality of balls.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the case where the end portion of the bellows is attached to the first rod by the clip has been described. However, the end of the bellows may be attached to the first rod by press-fitting, for example. In this case, since the clip is unnecessary, the number of parts of the vehicle steering device can be reduced.
In addition, various design changes can be made within the scope of matters described in the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle steering device, 2 ... Steering wheel (steering member), 8 ... Rack shaft (steering shaft), 11 ... Inner ball joint (first ball joint), 13 ... Outer ball joint (second ball joint) 19 ... first rod 25 ... second rod 30 ... connecting member 33 ... length adjusting mechanism 34 ... first male screw 35 ... first female screw, 36 ... second male screw, 37 ... second female screw, 201 ... steering device for vehicle, 211 ... inner ball joint (first ball joint) 213, outer ball joint (second ball joint), 219, first rod, 225, second rod, 230, connecting member, 238, first female screw hole, 239, ..Second female screw hole

Claims (3)

A steered shaft that is moved in the axial direction in accordance with the operation of the steering member;
A first ball joint including a first rod and connected to an end of the steered shaft;
A connecting member connected to the first rod;
A second ball joint including a second rod coupled to the coupling member;
The first male screw and the first female screw that connect the first rod and the connecting member, and the first male screw and the first female screw are threaded in opposite directions, and the second rod and the A vehicle steering apparatus comprising: a length adjusting mechanism including a second male screw and a second female screw that couple the coupling member. The connecting member includes a connecting pipe,
The first male screw and the second male screw are formed on the outer periphery of the first rod and the second rod, respectively, and the first female screw and the second female screw are formed on the inner periphery of the connection pipe. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein Each of the first rod and the second rod includes a first female screw hole and a second female screw hole,
The first male screw and the second male screw are formed on an outer periphery of the connecting member, and the first female screw and the second female screw are respectively formed in the first female screw hole and the second female screw hole. The vehicle steering device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle steering device is formed on an inner periphery.

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