JPH0237658Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Field of industrial application) The present invention is an offset between the rack shaft and the ball joint in which the side rod side ball joint is eccentrically attached to the shaft end of the rack shaft used in the rack and pinion type steering linkage of an automobile. Regarding the mounting structure.

(Prior art) In conventional rack and pinion steering linkages, the ball joints on the side rod assembly side were attached to both ends of the rack shaft so that the rack shaft and ball joint were coaxial. In front-wheel drive vehicles, a so-called offset mounting structure is required in which the axis of the ball joint is eccentric to the axis of the rack shaft due to the suspension geometry of the front wheels (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-97561). number, etc.).

On the other hand, in the conventional structure where the ball joint is mounted coaxially with the rack shaft, the ball joint is fixed by screwing into the shaft end of the rack shaft, but in the case of the offset mounting structure, the ball joint is attached to the rack shaft. Since the offset direction is fixed, it is not always possible to position the ball joint in the predetermined offset direction after tightening and fixing by screwing. This made the assembly and adjustment complicated, and there was a risk that it would not be able to prevent rotation or slip-off sufficiently against running vibrations that are continuously applied from the axle side.

(Purpose of the invention) The present invention was made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to easily offset the ball joint with respect to the rack shaft, and to ensure that the ball joint does not rotate or come off with respect to the rack shaft. It is an object of the present invention to provide an offset mounting structure for a rack shaft and a ball joint, which allows the mounting structure to be offset from a rack shaft to a ball joint.

(Structure of the invention) In order to achieve this purpose, the present invention includes a rack shaft that is moved in the axial direction according to the steering operation;
It has an intermediate member in which the mounting part at the other end is eccentrically formed with respect to the mounting part formed at one end, and a ball joint that connects the side rod assembly side, and the mounting part at the one end of the intermediate member is The shaft end of the rack shaft is connected and fixed with a structure that prevents rotation and removal, and a threaded portion integrally formed with the socket of the ball joint is screwed into a screw hole of a mounting portion of the other end of the intermediate member. This is an offset mounting structure for the rack shaft and ball joint socket, which is characterized in that the rack shaft and ball joint sockets are eccentrically centered in a predetermined direction by being fixed to prevent rotation.

(Example) FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram showing an example of the present invention.

First, to explain the configuration, the offset mounting structure of the present invention has a rack shaft 1 of a rack and pinion device,
It is composed of an intermediate bracket 2 as an intermediate member and a ball joint 3 on the side rod assembly side, and the rack shaft axis 4 and ball joint axis 5 are set to a predetermined dimension l depending on the structure of the intermediate bracket 2. It is installed eccentrically by that amount.

In this way, the rack shaft center line 4 and the ball joint center line 5 are fitted on the inside of the rack shaft of the intermediate bracket 2 with the rack shaft center line 4 as the center, in order to realize an eccentric offset mounting structure. A fitting hole 6 is formed, and this fitting hole 6 forms an annular fitting groove 7 with an enlarged inner diameter at the bottom of the hole. On the other hand, the shaft end of the rack shaft 1 is integrally formed with a fitting shaft portion 8 that is fitted into the fitting hole 6 of the intermediate bracket 2, and the fitting shaft portion 8 has a fitting groove 7 of the fitting hole 6 on the outer periphery of the tip. It has a fitting flange 9 that fits into the shaft end, and a tapered hole 10 at the shaft end.
is open.

The fitting and fixing of the fitting shaft 8 of the rack shaft 1 into the fitting hole 6 of the intermediate bracket 2 in this manner is such that the fitting flange 9 formed at the tip of the fitting shaft 8 is attached to the intermediate bracket 2 before insertion. When fitting, a two-stage taper spacer 11 having a two-step conical shape is inserted into the tapered hole 10 of the fitting shaft part 8 and fitted, and after fitting, the intermediate bracket is fitted. 2 into the rack shaft 1 side, the two-stage taper spacer 11 is pushed into the tapered hole 10 of the fitting shaft part 8, and the fitting shaft part is pushed open from the inside of the tapered hole 10 by pushing the two-stage taper spacer 11. A fitting flange 9 formed at the tip of the bracket 8 is pushed into the fitting groove 7 of the fitting hole 6, thereby realizing a fixing structure that prevents the rack shaft 1 and the intermediate bracket 2 from coming off and rotating.

On the other hand, ball joint 3 of intermediate bracket 2
A screw hole 12 is formed on the side with the ball joint axis 5, and a connecting bolt portion 14 formed integrally with the socket 13 of the ball joint 3 is inserted into this screw hole 12 with a detent washer 15 interposed therebetween. Tighten and fix.

Therefore, the eccentricity of the ball joint 3 with respect to the rack shaft 1 is uniquely determined by the positions of the fitting hole 6 formed in the intermediate bracket 2 on the rack shaft 1 side and the screw hole 12 on the ball joint 3 side.

Further, the ball joint 3 is connected to a ball stud 17 through a bearing 16 inside the socket 13.
The ball stud 17 is slidably attached thereto, and the ball stud 17 is prevented from coming off by caulking through a reinforcing plate 18 on the socket opening side.

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 will be explained.

Rack shaft 1 provided eccentrically on intermediate bracket 2
The fitting hole 6 and the screw hole 12 of the ball joint 3 make it possible to easily realize an offset mounting structure in which the ball joint 3 is mounted eccentrically to the rack shaft 1. Furthermore, the intermediate bracket 2 is fixed to the rack shaft 1 using a two-stage taper spacer 1.
Since the fitting and fixing is done by driving the ball joint 3 into the middle bracket 2, sufficient mounting strength can be obtained, and since the locking washer 25 is used to screw the ball joint 3 side into the intermediate bracket 2, it is possible to prevent vehicle vibration. etc., the connecting bolt 14
The rack shaft 1 and the ball joint 3 are not loosened from the threaded portion 22, and even if the intermediate bracket 2 is used, a reliable fixing structure between the rack shaft 1 and the ball joint 3 is realized.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and this embodiment has a pyramidal fitting part 20 on the rack shaft 1 side of the intermediate bracket 2 with respect to the mounting structure of the rack shaft 1 and the intermediate bracket 2. are integrally formed,
A fitting hole 21 having the same pyramidal hole shape is provided at the shaft end of the rack shaft 1 in correspondence with the pyramidal fitting part 20, and the pyramidal fitting part 20 is fitted into the tapered fitting hole 21. In order to be able to do this, it has a split structure. A threaded portion 22 is formed on the outer periphery of the rack shaft 1 on the outside of the tapered fitting hole 1, and when the pyramidal fitting portion 20 of the intermediate bracket 2 is fitted into the tapered fitting hole 21 of the rack shaft 1, the threaded portion Unscrew the lock nut 23 that was screwed into the middle bracket 2 to tighten the split groove at the shaft end of the rack shaft 1, and tighten the pyramid fitting part 20 of the middle bracket 2.
It is characterized by being tightened and fixed.
The mounting structure on the ball joint 2 side is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, rotation is prevented by fitting the fitting taper hole 21 of the rack shaft 1 with the pyramidal fitting part 20 of the intermediate bracket 2, and the locking nut 23 is tightened to prevent it from coming off. ing.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a connecting bolt portion 24 is integrally formed at the shaft end of the rack shaft 1, similar to the ball joint 3, and an intermediate bracket is formed. At the same time, the lock nut 23 is screwed into the connecting bolt part 24 through the locking washer 26 in between, and after screwing into the intermediate bracket 2, the lock nut 23 is screwed into the screw hole 25 provided on the rack shaft 1 side of the intermediate bracket 2. It is characterized in that the connecting bolt portion 24 of the rack shaft 1 screwed into the intermediate bracket 2 is prevented from rotating by tightening the locking washer 26 by turning the screw toward the side. The mounting structure on the ball joint 3 side is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and this embodiment has a flat fitting portion 27 integrated with the rack shaft 1 side of the intermediate bracket 2 as a mounting structure for the rack shaft 1 and the intermediate bracket 2. On the other hand,
As is clear from FIG. 5, the shaft end of the rack shaft 1 is formed with a fitting split groove 28 into which the flat fitting part 27 of the intermediate bracket 2 is fitted, and the flat fitting part of the intermediate bracket 2 is fitted into the fitting split groove 28. 27 is fitted, the bolt 29 is passed from the side and is tightened and fixed with a nut 30. still,
The mounting structure on the ball joint 3 side is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, as a mounting structure for the rack shaft 1 and the intermediate bracket 2, a square or hexagonal prism is fitted to the shaft end of the rack shaft 1. A rectangular or hexagonal fitting square hole 32 into which the prismatic fitting part 31 is fitted is formed in the intermediate bracket 2, and the prismatic fitting hole 32 of the rack shaft 1 is fitted into the square fitting hole 32 of the intermediate bracket 2. It is characterized in that when the part 31 is fitted, a retaining bolt 33 is screwed in from the side to prevent it from coming off. The mounting structure on the ball joint 3 side is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and this embodiment has a mounting structure for the rack shaft 1 and the intermediate bracket 2, in which a screw hole 34 is provided at the shaft end of the rack shaft 1, and a screw hole 34 is provided at the shaft end of the rack shaft 1. Connecting bolt part 3 screwed into the screw hole 34 of the rack shaft 1 on the bracket 2
5 is integrally formed, and when screwing the connecting bolt portion 35 into the screw hole 34, the lock nut 36 is
Insert the anti-rotation washer 37 into the connecting bolt part 35, screw the connecting bolt part 35 of the intermediate bracket 2 into the threaded hole 34 of the rack shaft 1 by a predetermined amount, and then turn the lock nut 36 toward the rack shaft 1 side. It is characterized in that the intermediate bracket 2 is prevented from rotating relative to the rack shaft 1 by engaging and pressing the locking washer 37. The mounting structure on the ball joint 3 side is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG.

(Effects of the invention) As explained above, according to the invention, the rack shaft is moved in the axial direction in response to steering operation, and the mounting part at the other end is formed eccentrically with respect to the mounting part formed at one end. and a ball joint connecting the intermediate member and the side rod assembly side, and the shaft end of the rack shaft is connected and fixed to the mounting portion at one end of the intermediate member with a structure that prevents rotation and prevents removal. At the same time, the threaded part formed integrally with the socket of the ball joint is screwed into the threaded hole of the attachment part of the other end of the intermediate member to prevent rotation, thereby aligning the rack shaft axis and the ball joint axis. Since the wire is eccentric in a predetermined direction, the amount of eccentricity to be offset can be set appropriately by positioning the mounting part of the rack shaft and ball joint with respect to the intermediate member, and since the intermediate member is used in between, the rack shaft Also, an offset mounting structure can be easily realized without making a major change in the shape of the ball joint.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are explanatory cross-sectional views showing other embodiments of the present invention. 1: Rack shaft, 2: Intermediate bracket, 3: Ball joint, 4: Rack shaft axis line, 5: Ball joint axis line, 6: Fitting hole, 7: Fitting groove,
8: Fitting shaft portion, 9: Fitting flange, 10: Tapered hole, 11: 2-stage taper spacer, 12, 22, 2
5, 34: Screw hole, 13: Socket, 14, 2
4, 35: Connection bolt part, 15, 26, 37: Anti-rotation washer, 16: Bearing, 17: Ball stud, 18: Plate, 20: Pyramid fitting part, 21: Fitting taper hole, 22: Thread part, 23,
36: Lock nut, 27: Flat fitting part, 28:
Fitting split groove, 29: Bolt, 30: Nut, 3
1: Square column fitting part, 32: Fitting square hole, 33: Retaining bolt.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A ball joint connects a rack shaft that moves in the axial direction in response to steering operation, an intermediate member whose mounting part is eccentrically formed at one end with respect to the mounting part formed at the other end, and the side rod assembly side. The shaft end of the rack shaft is connected and fixed to the mounting portion at one end of the intermediate member with a structure that prevents rotation and removal, and the ball is inserted into the screw hole of the mounting portion at the other end of the intermediate member. A rack shaft and a ball, characterized in that the shaft center line of the rack shaft and the center line of the ball joint are made eccentric in a predetermined direction by screwing together a threaded portion formed integrally with the socket of the joint and fixing the ball joint to a predetermined direction. Offset mounting structure of joint socket.