JP2537009Y2 - Mounting structure of cover for two-part steering joint - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a two-part steering joint cover for absorbing collision energy.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a shock absorbing type steering apparatus, a steering joint for connecting a steering column and a steering gear box has a two-part structure and is connected so that a required stroke can be reduced in an axial direction.

[0003] In such a steering joint having a two-part structure, a cover for preventing rainwater, dust and the like from intruding is attached to the joint between the upper and lower shafts and the inside of the vehicle compartment.

FIG. 2 shows a conventional mounting structure of the cover. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a steering gear box, 2 denotes a steering column, and 3 denotes a steering shaft through which the steering column 2 is inserted. Section) is provided with a steering wheel 4.

[0005] Reference numeral 5 denotes a steering joint composed of a cylindrical upper shaft 5a and a lower shaft 5b having an upper end serrated to the lower end (front end). The upper end (rear end) of the upper shaft 5a is a steering shaft. The lower end (front end) of the shaft 3 and the lower end of the lower shaft 5b are connected to the input shaft 6 of the steering gear box 1 through universal joints 7, respectively.

The connecting portion between the upper shaft 5a and the lower shaft 5b is fixed by a plurality of resin injection pins 8, and when the lower shaft 5b is pushed up at the time of a collision or the like, the pins 8 are cut and the lower shaft 5b is disconnected. By rushing into the upper shaft 5a, the collision energy is absorbed.

At the vehicle interior side of the body (dash panel) 9 through which the steering joint 5 is inserted, a central portion is bulged toward the vehicle interior side, and a metal support or the like having a required size through hole 10a at the center. A hat-shaped cover body 12 comprising a member 10 and an elastic member 11 made of rubber or the like, which is provided so as to cover the periphery of the inside of the vehicle interior, and has a lower lip seal portion 11a fitted in the through hole 10a. But,
It is provided by mutually fastening the flange portions to the body 9 with bolts 13.

The portion of the lower shaft 5b that penetrates into the cover body 12, that is, the small-diameter portion immediately below the serration coupling portion, is the sliding bearing 1 fitted into the concave portion 11b of the elastic member 11.
4 and the lip seal portion 11
The sliding contact with a prevents rainwater, dust, and the like from outside the vehicle compartment from entering the serration coupling portion and the interior of the vehicle compartment.

[0009]

In a shock absorbing type steering device in which the intermediate shaft 5 has a two-part structure, the amount of rearward contraction (collapse stroke) of the lower shaft 5b is reduced for safety in the event of a collision. It is desirable to make the protrusion as large as possible to minimize the amount of rearward protrusion of the steering wheel 4.

However, when the lip seal portion 11a of the elastic member 11 and the slide bearing 14 fitted into the concave portion 11b are in sliding contact with the upper side of the lower shaft 5b as in the above-described conventional mounting structure, Since the space of the seal portion becomes large, the maximum stroke L at which the lower shaft 5b can contract is limited to the stroke until the yoke 15 at the tip of the lower shaft 5b comes into contact with the lip seal portion 11a, and is extremely small. Become.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object the purpose of improving the collision safety by increasing the retractable stroke of the lower shaft. An object of the present invention is to provide a mounting structure for a cover for a steering joint.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is to rotate the upper end of a lower shaft linked to a steering gear box to the lower end of an upper shaft linked to a steering wheel. An installation structure of a cover attached around the axis of the steering joint joined by being internally fitted as impossible, and an insertion portion of the steering joint in the body,
A cover body having a lip seal portion and a slide bearing is provided so that the lip seal portion slides on the upper outer peripheral surface of the lower shaft and the slide bearing slides on the lower peripheral surface of the upper shaft. And

[0013]

The sliding bearing having a relatively large dimension is slid on the upper shaft side and only the deformable lip seal portion is slid on the lower shaft side, so that the space for the portion for sealing the lower shaft is substantially a sliding bearing. Smaller by the length of
As a result , the retractable stroke of the lower shaft is greatly increased as compared with the related art.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG. The same members as those in the conventional example described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, the support member 10 in the cover body 12 of the present invention is formed longer than the conventional support member so that the upper end (rear end) bulging surface is located near the serration joint. .

The lip seal portion 11a of the elastic member 11 fitted in the through hole 10a of the support member 10 is in sliding contact with the small diameter portion of the lower shaft 5b immediately below the serration connection portion.

A concave portion 1 formed on the upper side of the lip seal portion 11a so as to surround the lower end of the upper shaft 5a.
A sliding bearing 14 that slides on and supports the lower peripheral surface of the upper shaft 5a is fitted in 1c.

As described above, in the mounting structure of the above embodiment, the sliding bearing 14 is slidably contacted with the upper shaft 5a having a large diameter, while the lip seal portion 11a is provided only on the lower shaft 5b having a small diameter. Because of the sliding contact, the space for sealing the lower shaft 5b is necessarily small.

As a result, in the event of a collision or the like, the maximum stroke L at which the lower shaft 5b can be retracted is larger than that of the prior art by the length of the plain bearing 14, and the amount of rearward projection of the entire steering device is reduced. Collision safety is increased.

Further, the yoke 1 at the upper end of the upper shaft 5a
If a hole 17 through which the upper end of the lower shaft 5b can be inserted is formed in the bottom of the lower shaft 6, the lower shaft 5b protrudes into the hole 17 when the lower shaft 5b is retracted, such as at the time of a collision. The yoke 15 can completely compress the lip seal portion 11a of rubber or the like, so that the retractable stroke of the lower shaft 5b can be further increased.

[0021]

According to the present invention, the retractable stroke of the lower shaft in the steering joint is increased, so that the shock absorbing performance of the entire steering device is increased and the collision safety can be improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of an entire steering device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view of the entire steering device showing the structure of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 steering gear box 2 steering column 3 steering shaft 4 steering wheel 5 steering joint 5a upper shaft 5b lower shaft 7 universal joint 8 resin injection pin 9 body 10 support member 10a through hole 11 elastic member 11a lip seal portion 11c concave portion 12 cover body 14 Slide bearing 15, 16 Yoke 17 hole

Continued on the front page (56) References Japanese Utility Model 1-98771 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 58-175265 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 57-116571 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model 1-94175 (JP, U) , U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] An upper end of a lower shaft linked to a steering gear box is fitted to a lower end of an upper shaft linked to a steering wheel so as not to be rotatable with respect to each other. Mounting structure of a cover attached to the body, the steering body insertion portion of the body, a cover body having a lip seal portion and a slide bearing, the lip seal portion on the upper outer peripheral surface of the lower shaft, and 2. A mounting structure for a two-piece steering joint cover, wherein a sliding bearing is provided so as to be in sliding contact with an outer peripheral surface of a lower end of the upper shaft.