JP3315853B2 - Tie rod for steering device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a tie rod for a steering device in an automobile, for example, and more particularly to a tie rod for a steering device capable of adjusting the length in the axial direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 6, a general rack and pinion type steering device has a first connecting member 111 mounted on a rack shaft (not shown) and a knuckle member (not shown) for supporting wheels. A second connecting member 131 attached to the
The tie rod 101 provided with the connection pipe 151 connecting the first connection member 111 and the second connection member 131 was provided. The tie rod 101 transmits the reciprocating motion of the rack shaft to turn the wheels.

Here, the first connecting member 111 is, for example, a bush, and has a cylindrical inner cylinder 112 and an outer cylinder 115, and a rubber elastic intermediate body 113 interposed therebetween. An integrated first housing 114 extends in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the outer cylinder 115 and has an external thread 116 formed at an end thereof. The second connecting member 131 is, for example, a ball joint, and includes a ball stud 132 including a spherical ball head 134 and a handle 133, and a ball head 134.
135, and a second housing 136 holding the sheet 135.
Extends axially in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the ball stud 132, and has a male screw 137 formed at an end thereof. Further, the connection pipe 151 is a hexagonal pipe material as shown in FIG. 7, and female screws 154 and 155 into which the male screws 116 and 137 of the first connection member 111 and the second connection member 131 are screwed on the inner circumference of both ends. Was formed. Here, the male screw 13 is attached to the second housing 136 of the ball stud 132.
7, a small-diameter fuse portion 140 was provided, and this fuse portion 140 was deformed when an excessive load was applied from the wheels, thereby informing the driver of an abnormality of the steering device.

When assembling such a tie rod 101, first, female screws 154, 15
5, the male screw 116 of the first connecting member 111 and the male screw 137 of the second connecting member 131 are screwed. Subsequently, by adjusting the length of the tie rod 101 in the axial direction to a predetermined length by aligning and rotating a wrench with the hexagon on the outer circumference of the connection pipe 151, and finally tightening the nut members 161 and 162, Fixed to length.

[0005]

In the tie rod 101 of the steering device, the fuse portion 140 is separately cut into a smaller diameter than the male screw 137 when the second housing 136 is formed. As a result, the number of processing steps increases, and the cost may increase.

Further, since the fuse portion 140 is provided adjacent to the male screw 137, when the fuse portion 140 is deformed by receiving a load from a wheel, a crack is generated in the male screw 137 due to the stress of the deformation, and a predetermined crack is generated. It may be deformed under the load.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a tie rod of a steering device which solves the above-mentioned problems and does not deform under a predetermined load and suppresses the processing cost of a fuse portion.

[0008]

The configuration of the present invention is as follows.

In a tie rod for a steering device, comprising a first connecting member provided at one end in the axial direction, a second connecting member provided at the other end, and a connecting pipe connecting the first connecting member and the second connecting member. in place of the outer circumference of the pipe, the two surfaces having a dihedral at least opposing width of connection pipe top
An engaging portion having a width smaller than the outer diameter of the small outer diameter portion is formed, and the engaging portion is a fuse portion that is deformed when an excessive load is applied from the outside.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 shows a tie rod 1 of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a first connecting member mounted on a rack shaft (not shown), which has a cylindrical inner cylinder 12 and an outer cylinder 15, and a rubber elastic intermediate body 13 interposed therebetween. And the outer cylinder 15
A first housing 14 having an axial shape extends in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the first housing 14, and a male screw 16 is formed at an end thereof.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a second connecting member mounted on a knuckle member (not shown) for supporting wheels, and has a spherical ball head 34 and a handle 33 extending from the ball head 34. The seat 35 has a ball stud 32, a synthetic resin sheet 35 surrounding the ball head 34 of the ball stud 32, a small opening 36 a at one end, and a large opening 36 b at the other end.
And a closing plate 38 is fixedly secured to the inner periphery of the large opening 36b of the second housing 36 by caulking. Also, the small opening 36a of the second housing 36
In order to prevent dust and the like from entering from the inner circumference, a ball stud 32
Outer periphery of handle 33 and small opening 36a of second housing 36
A boot 39 made of a rubber elastic body is mounted between the outer periphery and the outer periphery. Here, the second housing 36 is a ball stud 3
2 extends perpendicular to the axis of
A male screw 37 which is a reverse screw to the male screw 16 of the first housing 14 is formed.

Reference numeral 51 denotes a connecting pipe for connecting the first connecting member 11 and the second connecting member 31. A female screw 54 to which the male screw 16 of the first housing 14 is screwed is formed on one end inner periphery. A male screw 37 of the second housing 36 is provided around the inner end.
Is formed. Also, the width of the two opposing surfaces is the minimum of
A hexagonal engaging portion 52 having a width smaller than the outer diameter of the outer diameter portion is provided. The engaging portion 52 presses the vicinity of the center from the outer peripheral side while holding both ends of the cylindrical spare pipe 50 as shown in FIG. 3 to form a hexagonal outer periphery of the center as shown in FIGS. It is formed in. The engaging portion 52 also functions as a fuse portion that is deformed when receiving an excessive load from the wheel. As shown in FIG. 1, the male screw 16 of the first connecting member 11 and the male screw 37 of the second connecting member 31
Nut members 61 and 62 that are screwed into are provided.

Next, a method of assembling the tie rod 1 will be described.

The nut members 61 and 6 are previously attached to the male screw 16 of the first connecting member 11 and the male screw portion 37 of the second connecting member 31.
Then, the connection pipe 51 is continuously screwed to an appropriate position, and the tie rod 1 is pre-assembled. The pre-assembled tie rod 1 is first connected to the first connecting member 1
The first inner cylinder 12 is fixed to a rack shaft (not shown) via a connecting tool (not shown), and the handle portion 33 of the ball stud 32 of the second connecting member 31 is a knuckle member (not shown).
Fixed to Subsequently, a spanner is engaged with the engaging portion 52 of the connection pipe 51, and the connection pipe 51 is rotated to adjust the length of the tie rod 1 in the axial direction to a predetermined length. Finally, the nut members 61 and 62 are tightened and fixed to a predetermined length, whereby the assembly of the tie rod 1 is completed.

Therefore, in the tie rod 1 of the steering device, the engaging portion 52 of the connecting pipe 51 for adjusting the length of the tie rod 1 in the axial direction is a fuse portion which is deformed when an excessive load is applied from the outside. It is not necessary to separately form a fuse portion.

Further, since the fuse portion is formed as the engaging portion 52 formed on the outer periphery of the connection pipe 51, the stress at which the fuse portion is deformed has little effect on other portions.

In the above embodiment, the shape of the engaging portion 52 is hexagonal. However, the shape of the engaging portion 52 is not limited to a hexagonal shape. For example, as shown in FIG. Meeting surface 5
Any shape having an engagement surface for engaging a wrench, such as a shape having 3, 53, may be used.

[0019]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first connecting member provided at one end in the axial direction, the second connecting member provided at the other end, and the first connecting member and the second connecting member are connected. In a tie rod of a steering device including a connection pipe, an engagement portion having a width smaller than the outer diameter of the minimum outer diameter portion of the connection pipe, having at least two opposing surfaces at appropriate positions on the outer periphery of the connection pipe. Since it is formed and the engaging portion is a fuse portion that is deformed when an excessive load is applied from the outside, it is not necessary to separately form a fuse portion, and the processing cost can be reduced. Further, since the fuse portion is formed as an engaging portion formed on the outer periphery of the connection pipe, the stress at which the fuse portion is deformed has little effect on other portions, and is not deformed under a predetermined load.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional plan view illustrating a tie rod of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connection pipe used for a tie rod of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state before forming an engagement portion of the connection pipe of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating another embodiment of the present invention and corresponding to FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional plan view illustrating a tie rod of a conventional steering device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a connection pipe used for a tie rod of a conventional steering device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 first connecting member 31 second connecting member 51 connecting pipe 52 engaging portion

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A first connecting member (1) provided at one end in the axial direction.
1) a tie rod of a steering device comprising: a second connecting member (31) provided at the other end; and a connecting pipe (51) connecting the first connecting member (11) and the second connecting member (31). An engaging portion (52) having at least two opposing surfaces at appropriate positions on the outer periphery of the connection pipe (51), the width of the two surfaces being smaller than the outer diameter of the minimum outer diameter portion of the connection pipe (51). ), And the engaging portion (52) is a fuse portion that is deformed when an excessive load is applied from the outside.