JPS621791Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to a structure for supporting a gear housing with respect to a suspension member in a rack-and-pinion steering device.

If the supporting rigidity of the gear housing in a rack-and-pinion steering device is low, the direct feeling of steering operation will be reduced, and even if the steering wheel is operated, a corresponding wheel operation angle may not be obtained. As a countermeasure to this problem, it is conceivable to increase the plate thickness of the bracket supporting the steering gear housing in order to increase its rigidity, but if this is carried out carelessly, it will result in an increase in weight, which is not very desirable.

This idea increases the supporting rigidity of the steering gear housing without causing a significant increase in weight.
The object of the present invention is to provide a support structure for a rack-and-pinion type steering gear housing that improves the stability of steering operation.

Hereinafter, the configuration of this invention will be explained in detail according to embodiments shown in the drawings. First, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a gear housing of a rack-and-pinion type steering device, 2 indicates a rack tube integrally connected to the housing 1, and 3 indicates a rack bar inserted into the inside thereof. This rack bar 3 is always engaged with a steering pinion (not shown) inside the housing 1, and by rotating this pinion by operating a steering wheel (not shown), the rack bar 3 is rotated in its axial direction. It is operated by sliding.

Now, a support point 4 is formed on the outer periphery of the rack tube 2 adjacent to the gear housing 1.
is supported by brackets 7 and 16, which will be described later, with respect to the suspension member 6 shown in FIG. To explain this support structure, first, a lower bracket 7 is fixed to the suspension member 6. That is, as is clear from FIG. 3, the lower bracket 7 has a pair of vertical walls 12 bent downward from both sides of its upper surface 8. As is particularly clear from FIG. 2, the peripheral edges of both vertical walls 12 have a shape that corresponds to a part of the outer shape of the suspension member 6. The rib 13
are integrally bent. These ribs 13 are welded to the outer periphery of the suspension member 6 in close contact. Further, a recess 9 is formed in the upper surface 8 of the lower bracket 7 to receive the support portion 4 of the gear housing 1 through a grommet 5 attached to its outer periphery, and bolts are provided on both sides of the recess 9. hole 10
are formed respectively. Nuts 11 are welded to the back surface (lower surface) of the upper surface 8 at positions corresponding to the bolt holes 10, respectively.

Further, between the vertical walls 12 of the lower bracket 7, welding or other means is applied so that the reinforcing plate 14 covers the opening between the vertical walls 12 on the side where the suspension member 6 is not located. is integrally fixed. This reinforcing plate 14 significantly increases the rigidity of the lower bracket 7.
This results in a very small increase in weight compared to the case where the same level of rigidity is obtained by increasing the thickness of the lower bracket 7.

Now, the support point 4 of the gear housing 1 is as follows:
As described above, it is fitted into the recess 9 formed on the upper surface of the lower bracket 7 via the grommet 5, and is received in the recess 9 (second
(see figure). Next, the upper bracket 16 is set on the upper surface 8 of the lower bracket 7 while pressing the upper surface of the grommet 5 of the support portion 4, and the lower bracket 7 is inserted through each bolt insertion hole 17 of the upper bracket 16. Said nut 11
The upper bracket 16 is fixed to the lower bracket 7 by screwing in the bolts 18 respectively. As a result, the above-mentioned support point 4 is supported by the suspension member 6 by the lower bracket 7 and upper bracket 16.

In the above support structure, when a steering wheel (not shown) is rotated, a force in the left and right direction acts on the gear housing 1 based on the meshing reaction force between the rack bar 3 and the pinion,
This force is transmitted to both brackets 7 and 16 through the grommet 5 of the support point 4.
If the rigidity of the brackets 7, 16 is low, the gear housing 1 will displace left and right, and the direct feeling of steering operation will be lost. However, in this embodiment, the reinforcing plate 14 is provided between the vertical walls 12 of the lower bracket 7, thereby increasing the rigidity, suppressing the displacement of the gear housing 1 and thus maintaining the direct feeling of steering operation.
The reinforcing plate 14 is positioned so as to cover the opening surface of the vertical wall 12, so that the bolts 18 and nuts 11 can be protected from flying stones, muddy water, etc. while the vehicle is running.

As described above, the present invention forms ribs that continuously contact the pair of vertical walls bent downward from both sides of the upper surface of the lower bracket along the outer shape of the suspension member, and By fixing a reinforcing plate between them and welding the ribs of both vertical walls to the outer periphery of the suspension member, the strength of both vertical walls of the lower bracket is increased, and the joint strength between the suspension member and the vertical wall is increased. It also improves. As a result, the support rigidity of the steering gear housing can be increased, a direct feeling of steering operation can be maintained, and steering stability can be obtained without causing an unnecessary increase in weight.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of this invention; Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the gear housing support part, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the support part, and Fig. 3 shows the upper bracket and lower bracket in a separated state. FIG. 1... Gear housing, 4... Support part, 6...
...Suspension member, 7...Lower bracket, 8...Top surface, 12...Vertical wall, 14...Reinforcement plate, 16...Top bracket.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A lower bracket fixed to a suspension member and an upper bracket bolted to the lower bracket support the gear housing by sandwiching it from above and below, and the lower bracket is the support part of the gear housing. a pair of vertical walls having ribs bent downward from both sides of the upper surface and continuously in contact with each other along the outer contour of the suspension member; A support structure for a rack-and-pinion steering gear housing, comprising a reinforcing plate, and the ribs on both vertical walls are welded to the outer periphery of a suspension member.