JP4286078B2 - Steering gear housing fixing structure - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an improvement in a fixing structure for fixing a steering gear housing of a vehicle to a vehicle body member.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Patent Document 1 discloses a fixing structure for fixing a steering gear housing of a vehicle to a vehicle body member using a pair of brackets divided into two in the circumferential direction. The pair of brackets are preliminarily integrated by welding or the like in a state where an elastic body is sandwiched between the outer periphery of the steering gear housing and temporarily fixed to the steering gear housing. It is designed to be assembled to the vehicle body member with a fixed bolt. However, in such a fixing structure, it is necessary to integrate the two brackets in advance by welding or the like, and then to fix the integrated bracket to the vehicle body member with fixing bolts, and the assembly work is complicated.
[0003]
Therefore, in order to simplify and simplify the work, there is known a fixing structure in which the brackets are fixed to each other by fixing bolts to the vehicle body member instead of integrating the two brackets in advance by welding or the like. Yes. For example, in Patent Document 2, one of the two fixing bolts that fixes the circumferential ends of two brackets is a sub-fixing bolt that fixes only two brackets, and the other one is two There is disclosed a so-called cantilevered fixing structure in which a bracket and a vehicle body member are fixed together as a main fixing bolt, and the steering gear housing is supported only through a fastening portion by the main fixing bolt.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-1-244965
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-171530 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the fixing structure as in Patent Document 2, if only the sub-fixing bolt is fastened in advance and the bracket can be temporarily fixed to the steering gear housing only by this sub-fixing bolt, the main fixing is performed when assembling to the vehicle body member. Only the bolts need to be fastened, and the assembly work to the vehicle body member is greatly simplified. However, after the assembly is completed, the elastic body is inserted in a sufficiently compressed state so as to stably hold and fix the steering gear housing. Therefore, in the state where only the sub-fixing bolt as described above is fastened, the two bracket parts through which the main fixing bolt is inserted are separated from each other, mainly by the elastic repulsive force of the elastic body, so-called open mouth state. There is a problem that it becomes difficult to insert the fixing bolts into the main bolt holes of the two brackets, and it becomes difficult to insert and fasten the main fixing bolts.
[0007]
Therefore, if the main bolt holes of the two brackets are simply shortened, it becomes easy to insert the main fixing bolt into the main bolt hole, but it is difficult to ensure the strength of the bolt fastening portion by the main fixing bolt. In particular, it is important to secure the strength of the fastening portion in the fixing structure of the cantilever support only by the fastening portion of the main fixing bolt. On the other hand, if the two main bolt holes are simply made longer, the strength of the fastening portion of the main fixing bolt can be increased, but the operation of inserting and fastening the main fixing bolt becomes difficult as described above.
[0008]
In the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, since the collar is previously press-fitted over the main bolt holes of the two brackets through which the main fixing bolts are inserted, the above-described problem of opening of the mouth does not occur. However, the number of parts is increased by the use of the collar, and the press-fitting work of the collar is required.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and can be remarkably simplified the assembly work to the vehicle body member while having a simple structure that does not require a collar or the like, and is based on the main fixing bolt. The main object of the present invention is to provide a novel steering gear housing fixing structure capable of sufficiently securing the strength of the fastening portion.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A bracket assembly for fixing the housing to the vehicle body member; In this bracket assembly, a first bracket and a second bracket obtained by dividing a cylindrical portion attached to the outer periphery of the steering gear housing in the circumferential direction, and one circumferential end of each of the first and second brackets are fixed in advance. And the second main bolt hole of the second bracket and the first main bolt hole of the first bracket are inserted in this order and attached to the vehicle body member, and the other circumferential direction of the first and second brackets A main fixing bolt for fastening the end portion and the vehicle body member together. The first main bolt hole is set longer than at least the second main bolt hole.
[0011]
The first bracket and the second bracket can be temporarily fixed to the outer periphery of the steering gear housing and the elastic body by the sub-fixing means, and the number of parts at the time of transportation / delivery can be reduced. However, if the first and second brackets are temporarily fixed to the steering gear housing side only by the sub-fixing means, the peripheral edge of the second main bolt hole of the second bracket is mainly caused by the elastic repulsive force of the elastic body. The first main bolt hole is deformed so as to be circumferentially separated from the peripheral portion of the first main bolt hole, and the peripheral portions of the first and second main bolt holes are opened to each other. It tends to be difficult to insert into the bolt hole.
[0012]
In the present invention, since the second main bolt hole is relatively short, the main fixing bolt can easily pass through the second main bolt hole, and the first main bolt hole is relatively long. The strength of the fastening portion by the main fixing bolt can be sufficiently ensured. That is, it is possible to effectively achieve both the workability of inserting the main fixing bolt and ensuring the strength of the fastening portion of the main fixing bolt.
[0013]
In addition, by adopting a so-called cantilever support configuration in which the steering gear housing is fixed to the vehicle body member only through the fastening portion of the main fixing bolt, it is easy to adjust and change the mounting position of the steering gear housing with respect to the vehicle body member. . Specifically, the mounting position of the steering gear housing can be changed / adjusted by replacing / changing only the first bracket.
[0014]
Preferably, the second main bolt hole is a long hole that is long in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the steering gear housing. In this case, as described above, the main fixing bolt can be easily inserted without interfering with the peripheral portion of the first main bolt hole, even if the main fixing bolt fastening portions of both brackets are in an open state where they are separated from each other. The workability of inserting the main fixing bolt is further improved.
[0015]
More preferably, the body member is formed with a recess into which one end of the peripheral edge of the first main bolt hole is fitted. This facilitates the positioning of the first bracket relative to the vehicle body member in the assembly process, improves the assembly workability, and improves the mounting rigidity of the first bracket relative to the vehicle body member after the assembly is completed.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a steering gear housing fixing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an intermediate assembly process in the embodiment. FIG. 3 shows the first bracket alone, and FIG. 4 shows the second bracket alone.
[0017]
Referring to FIG. 1, a steering gear housing 10 incorporating a steering gear is fixed to a suspension member 12 that is a vehicle body member by a bracket assembly 14. The bracket assembly 14 is provided with a cylindrical portion 16 that surrounds the outer periphery of the steering gear housing 10 and is attached to the outer periphery of the steering gear housing 10, and between the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 16 and the outer periphery of the steering gear housing 10. The rubber elastic body 18 such as an insulator that absorbs and attenuates vibration and the like is interposed in a compressed state.
[0018]
The bracket assembly 14 includes a first bracket 21 and a second bracket 22 in which the cylindrical portion 16 is divided into two in the circumferential direction, and sub-fixing bolts (secondary fixing bolts) that fasten one circumferential end of the brackets 21 and 22 together. (Fixing means) 23 and a main fixing bolt 24 and a nut 25 which fasten and fix the other circumferential end of the brackets 21 and 22 and the suspension member 12 together.
[0019]
At the time of fastening, the secondary fixing bolt 23 passes through the second secondary bolt hole 27 formed in the second bracket 22 and is fastened to the first secondary bolt hole 26 formed through the first bracket 21. The first sub bolt hole 26 is formed with a female screw into which the male screw of the sub fixing bolt 23 is screwed. When fastened, the main fixing bolt 24 includes a second main bolt hole 29 formed in the second bracket 22, a first main bolt hole 28 formed in the first bracket 21, and a third main bolt formed in the suspension member 12. It penetrates the bolt hole 30 in this order. Then, a nut 25 is attached from the front end side of the main fixing bolt 24 protruding to the back surface side of the suspension member 12 and the main fixing bolt 24 is tightened, so that the nut 25 and the bolt head 24 a of the main fixing bolt 24 are interposed. The brackets 21 and 22 and the suspension member 12 are fastened together.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 4, the second bracket 22 is formed with a major portion (approximately 3/4) of the cylindrical portion 16 and bends radially outward from both circumferential ends of this portion. The bolt holes 27 and 29 are formed in the thin flange portions 31 and 32, respectively. The second bracket 22 is set to a substantially constant thickness / thickness H <b> 2 including most of the cylindrical portion 16 and the flange portions 31 and 32. Therefore, the second bracket 22 can be easily and inexpensively formed using press working. In other words, the second bracket 22 that can be easily formed constitutes a large part of the cylindrical portion 16, thereby reducing or suppressing the size of the first bracket 21 that is substantially impossible to press-mold, Low cost and light weight can be achieved.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 3, the first bracket 21 has bolt bosses 33 and 34 having bolt holes 26 and 28 on both sides in the circumferential direction of a part (approximately ¼) of the cylindrical part 16. Is formed. These bolt bosses 33 and 34 are set to have sufficiently long bolt axial lengths and radial lengths so as to ensure sufficient bolt fastening strength. It is set to be much longer than the thickness H2 of 21. In particular, the bolt axial length H1 of the main bolt boss 34 and the first main bolt hole 28 is set longer than the length H2 of the second main bolt hole 29 and the radius H3 of the steering gear housing 10. Thus, since the first bracket 21 has a relatively complicated shape having the bolt bosses 33 and 34 that are thickened and blocked, it is almost impossible to form by press working like the first bracket. It is formed by die casting by casting, casting or extruded material.
[0022]
A recessed portion 35 in which one end portion 34 a of the main bolt boss 34 forming the peripheral portion of the first main bolt hole 28 is fitted is formed in the opening peripheral portion of the third main bolt hole 30 of the suspension member 12. That is, the end 34a of the main bolt boss 34 and the recess 35 are set to be so-called stamped. The first main bolt hole 28 and the second main bolt hole 29 are set so as to be coaxial with each other when the both 34a and 35 are fitted. Therefore, the brackets 21 and 22 can be easily positioned with respect to the suspension member 12 in the assembly process described later, and the mounting rigidity of the brackets 21 and 22 with respect to the suspension member 12 after the assembly is completed is improved.
[0023]
The assembly procedure will be described. First, the rubber elastic body 18 is pushed open by the slit portion 36 and attached to a predetermined axial position on the outer periphery of the steering gear housing 10. The first bracket 21 and the second bracket 22 are arranged on the outer periphery of the rubber elastic body 18 and the sub fixing bolt 23 is fastened. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate assembly 37 including the brackets 21 and 22 and the auxiliary fixing bolt 23 is stably and temporarily fixed to the steering gear housing 10 without wobbling. Thus, by pre-assembling the intermediate assembly 37 to the steering gear housing 10, the number of parts in the stage before assembly to the suspension member can be reduced, and workability in transportation and delivery is improved. To do. In the final assembly process of assembling the steering gear housing 10 to the suspension member 12, it is only necessary to fit one end 34a of the main bolt boss 34 into the recess 35 of the suspension member 12 and fasten the main fixing bolt 24 and the nut 25. The work process can be greatly simplified.
[0024]
In the final state of the bracket assembly 14 shown in FIG. 1 (the state after the main fixing bolt 24 is fastened), the rubber elastic body 18 is sufficiently compressed so as to stably hold the steering gear housing 10. Is set to For this reason, in the intermediate assembly 37 in which only one of the sub-fixing bolts 23 is fastened as shown in FIG. 2, the second bracket 22 is inevitably deformed in the expanding direction mainly due to the elastic repulsive force of the rubber elastic body 18. The main flange portion 32 having the second main bolt hole 29 is spaced apart from the main bolt boss 34 in the circumferential direction, that is, the main flange portion 32 and the main bolt boss 34 are so-called opening through the fan-shaped gap 39. It will be in the state.
[0025]
The second main bolt hole 29 has a long length in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the steering gear housing 10 so that the main fixing bolt 24 can be easily fastened through the bolt holes 28 to 30 in such an open state. Set in the hole. The length of the second main bolt hole 29, that is, the thickness H2 of the second bracket 22 is set to be sufficiently shorter than the length H1 of the first main bolt hole 28. Accordingly, in the state of the intermediate assembly 37, the insertion locus of the main fixing bolt 24 is completely inside the second main bolt hole 29 and does not interfere with the peripheral edge of the second main bolt hole 29. Therefore, the main fixing bolt 24 can be easily inserted into the first main bolt hole 28 through the second main bolt hole 29 without interfering with the peripheral edge of the second main bolt hole 29.
[0026]
In other words, since the length H1 of the first main bolt hole 28 is set longer than the length H2 of the second main bolt hole 29, the main bolt boss 34, which is the peripheral portion of the first main bolt hole 28, is enlarged. -It can be thickened and the strength of the fastening portion of the main fixing bolt 24 can be sufficiently secured. That is, by setting the first main bolt hole 28 to be longer than the second main bolt hole 29, it is possible to achieve a high level of securing the strength and rigidity of the fastening portion of the main fixing bolt 24 and improving the assembly workability. can do.
[0027]
If the length H2 of the second main bolt hole 29 is longer than or equal to the length H1 of the first main bolt hole 28, the strength of the main fixing bolt 24 is reduced or the workability of inserting the main fixing bolt 24 is reduced. Will be reduced.
[0028]
In consideration of the bolt insertion property, a predetermined gap 40 is set between the inner periphery of the first main bolt hole 28 and the outer periphery of the main fixing bolt 24. There is a concern that the first bracket 21 may wobble with respect to the main fixing bolt 24 due to the gap 40. However, in the present embodiment, the length H1 of the first main bolt hole 28 is set to be sufficiently long, for example, set to be longer than the radius H3 of the steering gear housing 10, so that the first gap caused by the gap 40 described above. The wobbling of one bracket 21 can be sufficiently reduced or eliminated.
[0029]
Since the steering gear housing 10 is supported only through the fastening portion of the main bolt boss 34, the mounting position of the steering gear housing 10 with respect to the suspension member 12 can be easily changed and adjusted. Specifically, the mounting position of the steering gear housing 10 can be changed and adjusted without changing the second bracket 22 by changing the bolt axial length H1 and the radial length of the main bolt boss 34. Can do. Therefore, for example, by replacing only the first bracket 21, it can be easily applied to the steering gear housing 10 having a different mounting position.
[0030]
As described above, the present invention has been described based on the specific embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications and changes without departing from the spirit of the present invention. . For example, the second bracket may be formed by casting instead of press molding. It is also possible to form the second bracket with a material rich in elasticity and omit the elastic body 18.
[0031]
The technical ideas other than the claims that can be grasped from the above embodiment will be listed together with the effects thereof.
[0032]
(A) The second bracket is formed by press molding. In this case, the second bracket can be formed easily and inexpensively.
[0033]
(B) Most of the cylindrical portion is formed on the second bracket. Thereby, the size of the first bracket, which is difficult to press-mold, can be suppressed, which is advantageous in terms of cost and weight.
[0034]
(C) In the state of the intermediate assembly in which the first and second brackets are attached to the outer periphery of the elastic body by fastening only the sub-fixing bolt as the sub-fixing means, the peripheral edge of the second main bolt hole is the main fixing bolt. It is set so as not to interfere with the insertion trajectory. Therefore, the main fixing bolt can be easily inserted into the first and second main bolt holes without interfering with the peripheral edge of the second main bolt hole, and the main fixing bolt can be inserted very easily.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a steering gear housing fixing structure according to an embodiment of the present invention in an assembled state.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an intermediate assembly process of the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a front view (A), a top view (B), a left side view (C), and a right side view (D) showing the first bracket alone.
FIG. 4 is a front view (A), a top view (B), and a left side view (C) showing the second bracket alone.
[Explanation of symbols]
10: Steering gear housing 12 ... Suspension member (body member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 14 ... Bracket assembly 16 ... Cylindrical part 18 ... Elastic body 21 ... 1st bracket 22 ... 2nd bracket 23 ... Sub fixing bolt (sub fixing means)
24 ... main fixing bolt 28 ... first main bolt hole 29 ... second main bolt hole

Claims (4)

In the steering gear housing fixing structure for fastening the steering gear housing to the bolt hole formed in the vehicle body member ,
A first bracket and a second bracket obtained by dividing a cylindrical portion attached to the outer periphery of the steering gear housing into two in the circumferential direction;
A secondary securing means for securing said first, one of the circumferential end portion of the second bracket with each other,
A main bolt boss formed at the other circumferential end of the first bracket;
A first main bolt hole formed in the main bolt boss;
One end portion that is formed on one end side in the first main bolt hole direction of the main bolt boss, and contacts the vehicle body member,
A main flange formed at the other circumferential end of the second bracket;
A second main bolt hole formed in the main flange portion,
The first main bolt hole is formed longer than the second main bolt hole,
The main bolt boss is disposed so as to be sandwiched between the main flange portion and the vehicle body member,
The main flange portion and the main bolt boss are separated from each other after the circumferential ends of one of the first and second brackets are fixed by the sub-fixing means. The steering gear housing is fixed together with the vehicle body member by a main fixing bolt that is inserted from the second main bolt hole side through the first main bolt hole toward the vehicle body member side . Fixed structure.   2. The steering gear housing fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the second main bolt hole is a long hole extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the steering gear housing. 3.   3. The steering gear housing fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle body member is formed with a recess into which one end of a peripheral edge of the first main bolt hole is fitted. The second main bolt hole is formed in a state in which the main flange portion and the main bolt boss are separated from each other after the circumferential ends of the first and second brackets are fixed to each other by the sub-fixing means. The main fixing bolt is formed so as not to interfere with the main fixing bolt when inserted into the second main bolt hole, the first main bolt hole and the bolt hole of the vehicle body member. 2. A structure for fixing a steering gear housing according to 1.

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