JP4525927B2 - Steering assembly operation test equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation test apparatus for a steering assembly.

  The steering wheel of today's automobile is generally capable of tilting operation A and telescopic operation B so that the position of the steering wheel 10 can be adjusted to the driver's physique as shown in FIG. is there. By the tilt operation A and telescopic operation B, the position of the steering wheel 10 can be freely set and fixed within the range indicated by the symbol D. A portion indicated by reference numeral 13 in the drawing is a lock lever of a tilt operation mechanism and a telescopic operation mechanism.

  Now, an evaluation test of the tilt operation A and the telescopic operation B of the steering wheel 10, for example, an endurance test of the steering assembly 12 is indispensable. In the conventional steering assembly evaluation test, a tilt test as shown in the left diagram of FIG. 6 is first performed. Specifically, a test sample is extracted from a mass-produced product of the steering assembly, and the tilt shaft 16 at the base end of the steering column 14 is attached to the support bracket of the tilt test device, and is positioned below the steering wheel 10. The steering wheel 10 is displaced up and down by the actuator 18 that performs the above operation. The actuator 18 is provided with a clamp 20 that can follow the tilting operation A of the steering wheel 10.

  Then, after the tilt test is performed a predetermined number of times, the telescopic test shown in the right diagram of FIG. 6 is performed. Specifically, the steering assembly 12 is removed from the tilt test apparatus, and the tilt shaft 16 at the base end portion of the steering column 14 is attached to the support bracket of the telescopic test apparatus. Then, the actuator 22 arranged coaxially with the central axis C of the steering column 14 is fixed to the center of the steering wheel 10 (the load center when the driver operates the steering wheel), and the telescopic operation B of the steering wheel 10 is performed. Perform the specified number of times.

Thereafter, the steering assembly 12 is removed from the telescopic test apparatus and disassembled and inspected to observe whether the tilt mechanism and the telescopic mechanism of the steering assembly 12 are worn or damaged.
Note that the evaluation test of the steering assembly 12 may include measurement of a tilt lever tightening load (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application No.4-147025

However, in the conventional evaluation test of the steering assembly, the mounting accuracy between the steering assembly 12 and the test device depends on the visual and sensation of the operator, and a mounting error is likely to occur. For this purpose, it is necessary to finely adjust the mounting state every time the test sample is attached to and detached from the test apparatus. In particular, in the tilt test in which the operation directions of the tilt operation A and the actuator 18 do not coincide with each other (the left diagram in FIG. 6), this problem is remarkable.
In addition, there is a step change process between the tilt test and the telescopic test, which is a major factor in increasing the labor of the evaluation test, and it has been desired to realize a quick and accurate evaluation test. By the way.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to quickly and accurately perform a steering assembly tilt test and a telescopic test without going through a step change process. There is.

  In order to solve the above problems, an operation test apparatus for a steering assembly according to the present invention includes a first axis parallel to the tilt axis with respect to a pivot point of the tilt axis of the steering assembly and a fixed point different from the pivot point. A first link that is axially attached to the rotary shaft, and a second rotary shaft that is parallel to the tilt axis with respect to the first link, with one end extending to the vicinity of the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly. A second link, a third link pivotally attached to one end of the second link with a third rotating shaft parallel to the tilt axis, and fixed to the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly; A first actuator related to the rotation of the first link, a second actuator related to the rotation of the second link, the first link and the second link Control means for controlling the first and second actuators so that the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly draws an operation trajectory in the tilt direction or the telescopic direction by a complementary pivoting operation with respect to the center of the steering assembly. It is a feature.

According to the present invention, with respect to a fixed point that is different from the pivot point of the tilt axis of the steering assembly, the first link that is pivotally mounted on the first rotation axis that is parallel to the tilt axis, and the first link Control means controls a second link that is attached to a second rotation shaft that is parallel to the tilt shaft and that has one end extending to the vicinity of the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly. At this time, the first link and the second link are complementarily rotated so that one end of the second link draws an operation locus in the tilt direction or the telescopic direction of the steering assembly.
A third link is pivotally attached to one end of the second link via a third rotation shaft that is parallel to the tilt axis, and the third link is fixed to the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly. From the above, the steering wheel is optionally driven to draw an operation locus in the tilt direction or the telescopic direction of the steering assembly by the complementary rotational movement of the first link and the second link.

In the present invention, it is desirable that the third link is fixed to the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly via a two-component force meter in the tilt direction and the telescopic direction.
According to the present invention, since the driving force is transmitted from the third link to the steering wheel via the two-component force meter in the tilt direction and the telescopic direction of the steering assembly, during the steering assembly operation test, It is possible to always grasp the load in the two directions and evaluate the operation of the steering assembly.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the load measurement data of the two-component force meter is fed back to the control means to control the first and second actuators.
According to the present invention, when the tilting operation and the telescopic operation of the steering assembly are performed, the load measurement data of the two-component force meter is fed back to the control means, and the operation is performed within the assumed load range. It is possible to obtain an accurate operation test evaluation.

In the present invention, the central axis of the second link and the rotational axis of the steering wheel are orthogonal to each other in a state where the central axis of the first link is parallel to the rotational axis of the steering wheel of the steering assembly. It is desirable to do.
With this configuration, the driving force required for each actuator during the telescopic operation is reduced, and a wide operating range can be obtained.

In the present invention, it is desirable that the first, second, and third links are positioned above the rotational axis of the steering wheel of the steering assembly.
With this configuration, as a work space, a space below and ahead of the rotating shaft of the steering wheel of the steering assembly can be made, so that the steering assembly is mounted on this apparatus in a work procedure similar to the vehicle-mounted work of the steering assembly. It becomes possible.

  In addition, in order to solve the above-described problem, the steering assembly operation test apparatus according to the present invention includes a plurality of links via a landing point of a tilt shaft of the steering assembly and a plurality of rotation shafts parallel to the tilt axis. The articulated arm is configured to be connected and the tip of the articulated arm is fixed to the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly, and at least two of the multiple links constituting the articulated arm are individually rotated. And at least two actuators for controlling the at least two actuators, and control means for controlling the at least two actuators.

According to the present invention, at least two links of an articulated arm configured by connecting a plurality of links via a plurality of rotation axes parallel to the tilt axis of the steering assembly are individually connected by at least two actuators. Control rotation. Then, the articulated arm is driven so that the distal end portion of the articulated arm draws an operation trajectory in the tilt direction or the telescopic direction of the steering assembly by the complementary rotating operation of the at least two links.
Since the tip of the articulated arm is fixed with respect to the steering wheel center of the steering assembly, the steering wheel is arbitrarily driven so as to draw an operation locus in the tilt direction or telescopic direction of the steering assembly.

In the present invention, it is desirable that the tip of the articulated arm is fixed to the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly via a two-component force meter in the tilt direction and the telescopic direction.
According to the present invention, the driving force is transmitted from the multi-joint arm to the steering wheel via the two-component force meter in the tilt direction and the telescopic direction of the steering assembly. It is possible to grasp the load in the two directions and evaluate the operation of the steering assembly.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the load measurement data of the two-component force meter is fed back to the control means to control the at least two actuators.
According to the present invention, when the tilting operation and the telescopic operation of the steering assembly are performed, the load measurement data of the two-component force meter is fed back to the control means, and the operation is performed within the assumed load range. It is possible to obtain an accurate operation test evaluation.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, the tilt test and the telescopic test of the steering assembly can be performed quickly and accurately without going through the step change process.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same part as a prior art, or a part corresponding to it is shown with the same code | symbol, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
As shown in FIG. 1, the steering assembly operation test apparatus 24 according to the embodiment of the present invention can use the tilt shaft 16 of the steering assembly 12 as it is, and can attach the steering assembly 12 to the apparatus. In addition, a shaft landing point (mounting bracket) 26 of the tilt shaft 16 is provided. Further, a first link 32 is provided which is fixedly attached to a fixed point (mounting bracket) 28 different from the axis attachment point 26 by a first rotation shaft 30 parallel to the tilt axis 16. The second link 36 is provided to the first link 32 with a second rotation shaft 34 parallel to the tilt shaft 16 and having one end 36a extending to the vicinity of the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly. Yes. Further, a third link 40 is attached to one end portion 36 a of the second link 36 by a third rotating shaft 38 parallel to the tilt shaft 16 and fixed to the center of the steering wheel 10 of the steering assembly 12. I have. In addition, a first actuator 42 related to the rotation operation of the first link 32 and a second actuator 44 related to the rotation operation of the second link 36 are provided.

  In the illustrated example, the first, second, and third links 32, 36, and 40 are located above the rotational axis of the steering wheel 10 of the steering assembly 12. Further, the first link 32 has a “<” shape, and the central bent portion is pivotally attached to the fixed point 30 by the first rotating shaft 30. A second link 36 is pivotally attached to one end 32 a of the first link 32 via a second rotating shaft 34. On the other hand, one end of the first actuator 42 is pivotally attached to the opposite end 32b of the first link 32 across the first rotation shaft 30, and receives the driving force of the first actuator 42. It is the point of action. The first actuator 42 extends horizontally when the device 24 is stationary, and the other end is pivotally attached to a fixed point (mounting bracket) 46.

  The second link 36 also has a “<” shape, and an intermediate bent portion is pivotally attached to the first link 32 by the second rotation shaft 34. Then, one end portion of the second actuator 44 is pivotally attached to the end portion 36 b opposite to the one end portion 36 a of the second link 36, and serves as an action point for receiving the driving force of the second actuator 44. Yes. Similarly to the first actuator 42, the second actuator 44 extends horizontally when the device 24 is stationary, and the other end is pivotally attached to a fixing point (mounting bracket) 48.

  In addition, when the device 24 is in a steady state, the central axis of the first link 32 (the central axis connecting the first rotating shaft 30 and the second rotating shaft 34) and the rotating shaft of the steering wheel 10 of the steering assembly 12 are connected. In a parallel state, the center axis of the second link (the center axis connecting the second rotating shaft 34 and the third rotating shaft 38) and the rotating shaft of the steering wheel 10 are configured to be orthogonal to each other. Yes.

  In addition, the device 24 includes control means 50 for controlling the first and second actuators 42 and 44. Then, as will be described later, the center of the steering wheel 10 of the steering assembly 12 draws an operation locus in the tilt direction A or the telescopic direction B by the complementary rotation operation of the first link 32 and the second link 36. The first and second actuators 42 and 44 are controlled by the control means 50. The first and second actuators 42 and 44 are both electric actuators, and the control means 50 can be configured by an electronic computer such as a personal computer.

  Further, the third link 40 is fixed to the center of the steering wheel 10 via a two-component force meter 52 related to the tilt direction Y and the telescopic direction Z. The two-component force meter 52 is configured by combining strain gauges, and the load measurement data is fed back to the control means 50 as an electrical signal. The first and second actuators are controlled based on the load measurement data of the two-component force meter 52. In the figure, the portions indicated by reference numerals 54 and 56 are reception cables for the measurement signal of the two-component force meter 52, and the portions indicated by reference numerals 58 and 60 are the first and second actuators 42, This is a control cable that sends a control signal to 44.

  1 is fixed to the center of the steering wheel 10 by using a detachable mounting bracket on the circumferential portion of the steering wheel 10, the steering wheel 10 is removed from the steering column 14. It is good also as removing and attaching a bracket directly to the steering column 14, and attaching a 2 component force meter in the position corresponded to the steering wheel center.

Next, a tilt operation test and a telescopic operation test of the steering assembly 12 using this apparatus will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the steady position of the device 24 is indicated by a solid line, and the position after the operation is indicated by a virtual line (only in FIG. 3B, the position after the operation is indicated by a solid line). ).
First, the telescopic operation test will be described with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 2A illustrates an operation when the first link 32 and the first actuator 42 are not provided, and FIG. 2B illustrates an actual operation of the apparatus. As shown in FIG. 2A, when the second actuator 44 is expanded and contracted and the second link 36 is rotated, the one end 36a of the second link 36 is centered on the second rotation shaft 34. Thus, the position of the one end 36a deviates from the ideal trajectory L of the telescopic operation. Therefore, an orbit correction operation indicated by the arrow R1 is required in order that an excessive force does not act on the two-component force meter 52 supported by the third link 40 and a correct measured value is indicated.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2B, the actual operation of the device 24 is to expand and contract the second actuator 44 and expand and contract the first actuator 42, resulting in the trajectory of FIG. The correction operation R1 is performed, and the one end portion 36a of the second link 36 draws an ideal trajectory L of the telescopic operation. The first actuator 42 and the second actuator 44 are operated by feeding back the load measurement data of the two-component force meter 52 to the control means 50 (FIG. 1), and based on the load measurement data, the first and second actuators. Since the actuators 42 and 44 are controlled, the first link 32 and the second link 36 accurately perform complementary rotation operations for the center of the steering wheel 10 to draw an ideal trajectory L1 for telescopic operation. Will be done.

  Next, the tilt operation test will be described with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, FIG. 3A illustrates an operation when only the first actuator 42 is expanded and contracted and the second actuator 44 is not expanded and contracted, and FIG. 2B illustrates the actual operation of the apparatus. Show. As shown in FIG. 3A, when only the first actuator 42 is expanded and contracted, the first link 32 rotates about the first rotation shaft 30 and the second link 36 The second rotary shaft 34, which is a connection point with the first link, performs an arc motion following the rotational motion of the first link 32. As a result, the one end 36a of the second link 36 that pivotally supports the third link 40 via the third rotating shaft 38 draws a locus S2 that deviates from the ideal locus L2 of the tilt operation. Therefore, in order to cause an unreasonable force to act on the two-component force meter 52 supported by the third link 40 and to show a correct measurement value, a trajectory correction operation indicated by an arrow R2 is necessary.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the device 24 expands and contracts the second actuator 44 together with the extension operation of the first actuator 42. As a result, the trajectory correction operation R2 of FIG. As a result, the one end portion 36a of the second link 36 draws an ideal trajectory L2 for the tilting operation. Even in the case of the tilt operation, the operation of the first actuator 42 and the second actuator 44 is performed by feeding back the load measurement data of the two-component force meter 52 to the control means 50 (FIG. 1). Since the first and second actuators 42 and 44 are controlled based on the first link 32 and the second link 36, the center of the steering wheel 10 draws an ideal trajectory L2 for tilting operation. Complementary rotational movement will be performed accurately.

  FIG. 4 shows a more specific example of the overall structure of the steering assembly operation test apparatus 24 according to the embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the code | symbol of each part is as having demonstrated in FIG. 1, and abbreviate | omits detailed description.

According to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, the following operational effects can be obtained. That is, the present apparatus includes a first link 32 that is pivotally attached to a fixed point 28 that is different from the pivot point 26 of the tilt shaft 16 of the steering assembly 12 by a first rotation shaft 30 that is parallel to the tilt shaft 16. The second link 36 is attached to the first link 32 by a second rotating shaft 34 parallel to the tilt shaft 16 and the one end 36a extends to the vicinity of the center of the steering wheel 10 of the steering assembly 12. Each is driven by a first actuator 42 and a second actuator 44 controlled by the control means 50. At this time, the one end portion 36a of the second link 36 draws the first link 32 and the second link so as to draw an operation locus (ideal locus L1, L2) in the tilt direction A or the telescopic direction B of the steering assembly 12. The link 36 is rotated complementarily.
A third link 40 is pivotally attached to one end portion 36 a of the second link 36 via a third rotating shaft 38 parallel to the tilt shaft 16, and the third link 40 is a steering wheel of the steering assembly 12. 10 is fixed to the center of the steering wheel 10, the steering wheel 10 can be arbitrarily moved in an ideal locus L 1 in the tilt direction of the steering assembly 12 by the complementary rotational movement of the first link 32 and the second link 36. Or it drives so that the ideal locus | trajectory L2 of a telescopic direction may be drawn.

Further, since the driving force is transmitted from the third link 40 to the steering wheel 10 through the two-component force meter 52 in the tilt direction A and the telescopic direction B of the steering assembly 12, the operation of the steering assembly 12 is performed. During the test, it is possible to always grasp the loads in the two directions (x direction and Y direction) and evaluate the operation of the steering assembly 12. At this time, since the third link 40 is pivotally attached to the second link 36 so that the third rotation shaft 38 is rotatable, the two-component force meter 52 is always attached to the steering wheel 10. On the other hand, forces other than the two directions (x direction, Y direction) are not applied to the two-component force meter 52.
Moreover, when performing the tilt operation A and the telescopic operation B of the steering assembly 12, the load measurement data of the two-component force meter 52 is fed back to the control means 50, and the operation is performed within the assumed load range. Thus, an accurate operation test evaluation can be obtained.
For this reason, as long as the load measurement data of the two-component force meter does not indicate any abnormality, it is possible to perform the operation evaluation without performing an overhaul of the steering assembly 12.

Moreover, the central axis of the second link 36 and the rotational axis of the steering wheel 10 are orthogonal to each other in a state where the central axis of the first link 32 and the rotational axis of the steering wheel 10 of the steering assembly 12 are parallel to each other. As a result, the driving force required for the actuators 42 and 44 during telescopic operation is reduced, and a wide operating range can be obtained.
The first, second, and third links 32, 36, and 40 are positioned above the rotational axis of the steering wheel 10 of the steering assembly 12, and the actuators 42 and 44 are also coupled to the rotational axis of the steering wheel 10. Is also located above. Therefore, a space below and ahead of the rotating shaft of the steering wheel 10 of the steering assembly 12 can be made as a working space. Therefore, the steering assembly 12 can be attached to the device 24 in a work procedure similar to the on-vehicle work of the steering assembly 12, and good workability can be obtained.

Now, in place of the first, second and third links 32, 36 and 40 and the first and second actuators 42 and 44 in the embodiment of the present invention, a multi-joint arm can be used. It is possible to obtain the same effect as the embodiment of the present invention.
That is, a plurality of links are connected to each other through a shaft landing point 26 of the tilt shaft 16 of the steering assembly 12 and a plurality of rotation shafts parallel to the tilt shaft 16, with respect to the center of the steering wheel 10 of the steering assembly 12. A multi-joint arm whose tip is fixed, at least two actuators for individually controlling the rotation of at least two of the plurality of links constituting the multi-joint arm, and the at least two actuators It is also possible to provide an apparatus including a control means 50 for controlling the above.

  Even in this case, it is desirable that the tip of the articulated arm is fixed to the center of the steering wheel 10 of the steering assembly 12 via the two-component force meter 52 in the tilt direction A and the telescopic direction B. Further, it is desirable that the load measurement data of the two-component force meter 52 is fed back to the control means 50 and at least two actuators are controlled.

1 is a schematic diagram of an operation test apparatus for a steering assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing about the telescopic operation | movement test by the operation | movement test apparatus of the steering assembly of FIG. It is explanatory drawing about the tilt operation | movement test by the operation | movement test apparatus of the steering assembly of FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view showing an example of the overall structure of the steering assembly operation test apparatus of FIG. 1 more specifically. It is a schematic diagram of the steering assembly of a motor vehicle. It is explanatory drawing of the operation test apparatus of the conventional steering assembly.

Explanation of symbols

10: Steering wheel, 12: Steering assembly, 16: Tilt shaft, 24: Steering assembly operation test device, 26: Axial landing point, 28: Fixed point, 30: First rotating shaft, 32: First link, 32a: one end, 34: second rotating shaft, 36: second link, 36a: one end, 38: third rotating shaft, 40: third link, 42: first actuator, 44: first 2 actuators, 50: control means, 52: 2 component force meters

Claims (8)

The landing point of the tilt axis of the steering assembly,
A first link pivotally attached to a fixed point different from the pivot point with a first rotation axis parallel to the tilt axis;
A second link pivotally attached to the first link at a second rotation axis parallel to the tilt axis and having one end extending to the vicinity of the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly;
A third link pivotally attached to one end of the second link with a third rotational axis parallel to the tilt axis, and fixed to the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly;
A first actuator relating to the pivoting movement of the first link; a second actuator relating to the pivoting movement of the second link;
The first and second actuators are arranged such that the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly draws an operation trajectory in the tilt direction or the telescopic direction by a complementary rotation operation of the first link and the second link. And a control means for controlling the steering assembly operation test apparatus. The operation test apparatus for a steering assembly according to claim 1, wherein the third link is fixed to the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly via a two-component force meter in the tilt direction and the telescopic direction. 3. The steering assembly operation test apparatus according to claim 2, wherein load measurement data of the two-component force meter is fed back to the control means, and the first and second actuators are controlled. The central axis of the second link and the rotational axis of the steering wheel are orthogonal to each other in a state where the central axis of the first link and the rotational axis of the steering wheel of the steering assembly are parallel to each other. Item 4. The steering assembly operation test apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 3. The operation of the steering assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the first, second, and third links is located above a rotating shaft of a steering wheel of the steering assembly. Test equipment. The landing point of the tilt axis of the steering assembly,
A multi-joint arm configured such that a plurality of links are connected via a plurality of rotation shafts parallel to the tilt axis, and a tip end portion of the steering assembly is fixed to the steering wheel center of the steering assembly;
At least two actuators for individually controlling the rotational movement of at least two of the plurality of links constituting the articulated arm;
And a control means for controlling the at least two actuators. The operation test apparatus for a steering assembly according to claim 6, wherein the tip of the articulated arm is fixed to the center of the steering wheel of the steering assembly via a two-component force meter in the tilt direction and the telescopic direction. . The steering assembly operation test apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein load measurement data of the two-component force meter is fed back to the control means to control the at least two actuators.

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