JPH11334611A - Rack and pinion type steering system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a rack and pinion type steering system that ensures accurate, positive and firm installation of a pinion housing to a vehicle body member and prevents decrease in assembling efficiency. SOLUTION: To the outer periphery of a pinion housing 5 covering a pinion rack 4 that is rotated by steering, a first bracket 32 and a second bracket 33 are fit from a direction perpendicular to an axial line of the rack 4 via a rubber cylindrical supporting member 31. The pinion housing 5 is sandwiched by the both brackets 32, 33, each of which is connected to the other with a connecting mechanism 41, is sandwiched via the supporting member 31. Relative to the pinion housing 5, rotation of the supporting member 31 around the axial line of the rack 4 and the both brackets 32, 33 is inhibited. At two positions which sandwich the pinion housing 5, the both brackets 32, 33 each of which is connected to each other with the connecting mechanism 41 are fixed with bolts 45a, 45b that are inserted into openings 32b', 32c', 33b', and 33c' formed on the both brackets 32, 33.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a rack and pinion type steering device mounted on a vehicle body via a rubber cylindrical support member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1A shows a structure for mounting a conventional rack and pinion type steering device on a vehicle body. That is, in the steering device, a pinion rotated by steering and a rack 10 meshing with the pinion are provided.
A rubber cylindrical support member 103 for absorbing vibration is fitted on the outer peripheral side of the pinion housing 102 that covers the housing 1. A bracket 104 is fitted to a part of the outer periphery of the pinion housing 102 via the support member 103. The bracket 104 is attached to the vehicle body side member 10 by bolts 105 at two positions sandwiching the pinion housing 102.
Fixed to 6. The outer periphery of the pinion housing 102, the inner periphery of the support member 103, and the inner periphery of the bracket 104 are formed along a polygon, whereby the support member 103 and the bracket 104 are moved relative to the pinion housing 102. Rotation around the axis of the rack 101 is prevented.

[0003]

As shown in FIG. 5 (2), the bracket 104 is fixed to the vehicle body side member 106 by the bolt 105 at one of two positions sandwiching the pinion housing 102. Is done. Then, at the other of the two positions sandwiching the pinion housing 102, the bracket 104 is
Move away from 6. Pinion housing 10 in this state
The position 2 is inclined around the axis of the rack 101 from the design position. Therefore, when the bracket 104 is fixed to the vehicle body side member 106 with the bolt 105 at the other of the two positions sandwiching the pinion housing 102, the rubber support member 103 is deformed unevenly.
As a result, as shown by a two-dot chain line in (1) of FIG. 5, the bracket 1 is moved in a posture in which the pinion housing 102 is inclined around the axis of the rack 101 from a design posture.
04 is fixed. If such inclination correction is performed in the vehicle assembly process, the vehicle assembly efficiency is greatly reduced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rack and pinion type steering device which can solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A rack and pinion type steering apparatus according to the present invention comprises a pinion that rotates by steering, a rack that meshes with the pinion, a pinion housing that covers the pinion and the rack, and an outer peripheral side of the pinion housing. A rubber cylindrical support member to be fitted, a first bracket and a second bracket fitted on the outer peripheral side of the pinion housing via the support member from a direction orthogonal to the axis of the rack; A connection mechanism for connecting the two brackets to each other so that the pinion housing can be sandwiched by the bracket and the second bracket via the support member; and a support member around the axis of the rack with respect to the pinion housing. And the rotation of both brackets is blocked,
Both brackets connected to each other by the connection mechanism,
Openings for inserting the bolts are formed in both brackets so that the bolts can be fixed to the vehicle body side member at two positions sandwiching the pinion housing. According to the configuration of the present invention, the pinion housing is sandwiched between the first bracket and the second bracket connected by the connecting mechanism via the rubber support member, so that the support member with respect to the pinion housing and the rack axis of the two brackets around the rack axis. Can prevent rotation. Thereafter, both brackets can be fixed to the vehicle body-side member with bolts, so that the rubber support member can be prevented from being deformed unevenly. Thus, both brackets can be fixed to the vehicle body-side member without tilting the pinion housing from the design position around the axis of the rack, and a reduction in vehicle assembly efficiency can be prevented.

It is preferable that both brackets are fastened to the vehicle body-side member by the bolts along the direction in which the pinion housing is sandwiched between the brackets. Thus, the connection between the two brackets can be made strong and reliable by fastening the two brackets to the vehicle body side member with the bolt.

The connecting mechanism has a projection formed on one of the two brackets so as to be elastically deformable, and a recess formed on the other of the two brackets. Are formed so as to be elastically deformed by being pressed against the other of the two brackets by approaching each other along the sandwiching direction, and restored so that the elastically deformed convex portion is inserted into the concave portion. by doing,
Preferably, both brackets are connected so as not to separate from each other. This makes it possible to easily connect the two brackets only by bringing the two brackets closer to each other along the direction in which the pinion housing is sandwiched.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A rack and pinion type hydraulic power steering device 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a steering shaft 2 connected to a steering wheel (not shown), a pinion 3 rotated by rotation of the steering shaft 2, and a rack 4 meshing with the pinion 3. , A pinion housing 5 that covers the pinion 3 and the rack 4, and a rack housing 6 that forms a cylinder tube that covers one end of the rack 4 protruding from the pinion housing 5.
And Both ends of the rack 4 are connected to wheels via ball joints 7, tie rods 8, and the like. Thus, the pinion 3 is rotated by the steering, and the rotation of the pinion 3 causes the rack 4 to move in the vehicle width direction, thereby changing the wheel steering angle.

The inner periphery of the rack housing 6 and the rack 4
A pair of sealing mechanisms 10 and 11 for sealing between the outer periphery of
And a piston 12 is attached to the rack 4 between the seal mechanisms 10 and 11. As a result, a pair of oil chambers 13 and 14 partitioned by the piston 12 are formed between the two seal mechanisms 10 and 11.

A control valve 15 is provided on the outer periphery of the steering shaft 2. The control valve 15 is connected to a pressure oil supply pump (not shown), and is connected to the oil chambers 13 and 14 via pipes 16 and 17, respectively.
14 is supplied with pressurized oil and the other is recirculated to the tank. Thereby, the steering assist force is applied by the hydraulic pressure acting on the piston 12. The control valve 1
5 can be a known one.

As shown in FIG. 2A, between the pair of flange portions 5a and 5b formed on the outer periphery of the pinion housing 5, the outer peripheral side of the pinion housing 5 is provided with rubber such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber. The first cylindrical support member 31 is fitted. The first support member 31
Has a split groove 31a so that it can be fitted to the pinion housing 5.

The first pinion housing 5 is provided with a first
The bracket 32 and the second bracket 33 are moved from the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. Are fitted from a direction perpendicular to the axis of

As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 3, the first bracket 32 includes a fitting portion 32a, a pair of mounting portions 32b, 32c, and a pair of connecting portions 32d, 3d.
2e and a pair of reinforcing portions 32f and 32g. The fitting portion 32 a has a shape along a part of the outer periphery of the pinion housing 5, and is fitted to a part of the outer periphery of the pinion housing 5 via the first support member 31. Each of the mounting portions 32b and 32c protrudes from both edges of the fitting portion 32a along the axial direction of the rack 4 in a direction away from each other along the upper surface of the vehicle body side member 22. The connecting portions 32d and 32e extend from the projecting edges of the mounting portions 32b and 32c in a direction away from the upper surface of the vehicle body-side member 22. Each of the reinforcing portions 32f and 32g is
a and the mounting portions 32b and 32c extend from both edges along a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rack 4 in a direction away from the upper surface of the vehicle body-side member 22.

The second bracket 33 includes a fitting portion 33a.
, A pair of mounting portions 33b and 33c, and a pair of connecting portions 3
3d and 33e. The fitting portion 33a has a shape along the remaining portion of the outer periphery of the pinion housing 5 where the fitting portion 32a of the first bracket 32 is not fitted, and the first support member 31 is attached to the remaining portion of the outer periphery of the pinion housing 5. Are fitted together. Each mounting portion 33b,
33c protrudes from both edges of the fitting portion 33a along the axial direction of the rack 4 in a direction away from each other along the upper surface of the vehicle body-side member 22. Each connecting part 33d, 3
3e is from the overhanging edge of each mounting portion 33b, 33c.
It extends in a direction away from the upper surface of the vehicle body side member 22.

The first bracket 32 and the second bracket 33 sandwich the pinion housing 5 via the first support member 31 so as to sandwich the pinion housing 5.
2 and 33 are connected to each other by a connection mechanism 41.

The connecting mechanism 41 includes a first bracket 32
Of the second bracket 33 have concave portions 43a and 43b formed in the respective connecting portions 33d and 33e of the second bracket 33. Each of the protrusions 42a and 42b is
2 is connected to the vehicle body-side member 2.
The connecting portions 32d, 32e are formed by protruding from the outer side surfaces 32d ', 32e' of the connecting portions 32d, 32e so that the protruding amount increases with distance from the upper surface of the connecting portion 32. Each recess 43a, 43b is
It is constituted by an opening penetrating a part of each of the connecting portions 33d and 33e.

When the first bracket 32 and the second bracket 33 are moved closer to each other along the direction in which the pinion housing 5 is sandwiched, the connecting portion 33 of the second bracket 33 is moved.
The first bracket 32 is fitted between the inner side surfaces 33d 'and 33e' of d and 33e. At this time, each protrusion 42
a and 42b are connecting portions 33d of the second bracket 33,
Each of the connecting portions 33d, 33 of the first bracket 32 is pressed by the inner side surfaces 33d ', 33e' of the 33e.
e, and elastically deform so as to be immersed in the concave portion 43a.
The brackets 32 and 33 are connected so as not to separate from each other by being restored so as to be inserted into the 43b.

The connection of the first bracket 32 and the second bracket 33 causes the fitting portion 32a of the first bracket 32 to
And the inner periphery of the fitting portion 33a of the second bracket 33, the pinion housing 5 is sandwiched via the first support member 31, and the mounting portions 32 of the first bracket 32
b, 32c and each mounting portion 33b of the second bracket 33,
33c are joined to each other, and each connecting portion 32d, 32e of the first bracket 32 and each connecting portion 3 of the second bracket 33 are connected.
2d and 32e are joined together.

In the connection state by the connection mechanism 41, the rack 4
In order to prevent the rotation of the first support member 31 and the first and second brackets 32 and 33 about the axis of
a, the outer periphery of the pinion housing 5 between 5b,
The inner and outer peripheries of the first support member 31 and the inner peripheries of the first and second brackets 32 and 33 are formed along a non-circular shape (a hexagon in this embodiment). Thus, before attaching the pinion housing 5 to the vehicle body-side member 22, the two brackets 32, 33 in the circumferential direction of the pinion housing 5 are attached.
Can be positioned at a fixed position with respect to the pinion housing 5.

The two brackets 32 and 33 connected to each other by the connecting mechanism 41 are connected to the pinion housing 5.
So that the bracket 3 can be fixed to the vehicle body side member 22 by the bolts 45a and 45b with heads at two positions sandwiching the
2, 33 mounting portions 32b, 32c, 33b, 33c
And an opening 3 for inserting the bolts 45a and 45b.
2b ', 32c', 33b 'and 33c' are formed.

Both the brackets 32, 33 and the vehicle body side member 22
The nut 46 is inserted into each of the bolts 45a and 45b
a, 46b are screwed together, so that both brackets 3
2 and 33 are fastened to the vehicle body side member 22. here,
The fitting portion 33a of the second bracket 33 is
Into the recess 22 'formed in the
33c is joined to the vehicle body side member 22. Both bolts 45a,
45b, the vehicle body side member 22 of both brackets 32, 33
Tightening is performed in the direction in which the pinion housing 5 is sandwiched between the two brackets 32 and 33 (the vertical direction in (1) of FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 4, a cylindrical second support member 21 made of rubber such as natural rubber or synthetic rubber is fitted into a cylindrical portion on the outer periphery of the rack housing 6. The rack housing 6 via the second support member 21
Is connected to the vehicle body side member 22 by a bracket 23.
That is, the bracket 23 includes an arc-shaped portion 23a,
Attachment part 23 projecting from both ends of this arc-shaped part 23a
b, 23c, and the arc-shaped portion 23a is fitted to a part of the outer periphery of the rack housing 6. The remaining outer periphery of the rack housing 6 is fitted into a concave portion 22 a formed in the vehicle body-side member 22. Bolts 25a are attached to both mounting portions 23b and 23c of the bracket 23 and the vehicle body side member 22.
25b is inserted. The nuts 26a, 26b are screwed into the bolts 25a, 25b, so that the rack housing 6 is sandwiched between the bracket 23 and the vehicle body side member 22.

According to the above configuration, the pinion housing 5 is sandwiched between the first bracket 32 and the second bracket 33 connected by the connecting mechanism 41 via the rubber first support member 31, so that the pinion housing 5 , The rotation of the first support member 31 and the brackets 32 and 33 around the rack axis can be prevented. Thereafter, the brackets 32 and 33 can be fixed to the vehicle body-side member 22 by the bolts 45a and 45b.
Can be prevented from being deformed unevenly. Thus, the brackets 32 and 33 can be fixed to the vehicle body-side member 22 without inclining the pinion housing 5 from the design position about the axis of the rack 4, thereby preventing a reduction in vehicle assembly efficiency. Further, along the direction in which the pinion housing 5 is sandwiched between the brackets 32 and 33,
Since both brackets 32 and 33 are fastened to the vehicle body side member 22 by a and 45b, the connection between both brackets 32 and 33 can be made firm and reliable by this fastening.
Further, the connection of the two brackets 32 and 33 by the connection mechanism 41 can be easily performed only by bringing the both brackets 32 and 33 close to each other along the direction in which the pinion housing 5 is sandwiched.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the convex part in the connection mechanism may be formed on the second bracket, and the concave part may be formed on the first bracket. The connection of the two brackets by the connection mechanism may be performed by caulking the two brackets or by tightening the two brackets together with screws. The present invention is also applicable to an electric or manual type rack and pinion type steering device.

[0025]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a rack and pinion type steering apparatus capable of accurately, reliably and firmly attaching a pinion housing to a vehicle body side member and preventing a reduction in assembly efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially broken front view of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views for explaining operation of a main part of the steering device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially broken plan view of a main part of the steering device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the steering device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views showing problems of a conventional steering device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 pinion 4 rack 5 pinion housing 6 rack housing 22 body side member 31 first support member 32 first bracket 33 second bracket 41 connecting mechanism 42a, 42b convex portion 43a, 43b concave portion 45a, 45b bolt

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pinion that is rotated by steering, a rack that meshes with the pinion, a pinion housing that covers the pinion and the rack, a rubber cylindrical support member that is fitted on the outer peripheral side of the pinion housing, and the pinion housing. A first bracket and a second bracket which are fitted on the outer peripheral side of the rack through a support member from a direction perpendicular to the axis of the rack; and the pinion through the support member by the first bracket and the second bracket. A coupling mechanism for coupling the two brackets to each other so that the housing can be sandwiched between the rack and the pinion housing; rotation of the support member and the brackets around the axis of the rack is prevented with respect to the pinion housing; Connect both brackets,
A rack and pinion type steering device in which openings for inserting the bolts are formed in both brackets so that the bolts can be fixed to the vehicle body side member at two positions sandwiching the pinion housing. 2. The rack and pinion type steering device according to claim 1, wherein the two brackets are fastened to the vehicle body-side member by the bolts along a direction in which the pinion housing is sandwiched between the two brackets. 3. The connection mechanism has a convex portion formed on one of the two brackets so as to be elastically deformable, and a concave portion formed on the other of the two brackets. The two brackets are formed so as to be elastically deformed by being pressed against the other of the two brackets by approaching each other along the sandwiching direction, and the elastically deformed convex portion is inserted into the concave portion. The rack and pinion type steering device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the two brackets are connected so as not to be separated from each other by restoring the bracket.