JPS6226288Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement of a bearing device that rotatably supports a steering shaft on a steering jacket.

In this type of steering shaft bearing device, if there is even a slight gap between the steering shaft and the bearing surface, vibrations will occur in the steering shaft, and when driving at high speeds, the vibrations will increase and generate noise. There is.

For this reason, several bearing systems have been proposed in the past, and Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 55-178460 discloses a method in which an elastic body such as rubber is interposed on the outside of the outer race of the bearing, and this elastic body is attached to a steering jacket. It has been proposed that the bearing be supported by a support tube so that the elastic deformation of the elastic body absorbs the gap that may occur in the bearing.

However, since this bearing structure supports the bearing via an elastic body, it has drawbacks such as insufficient support rigidity, a large number of parts, and poor assemblability.

The present invention was made to solve this problem, and it is possible to support the steering shaft with a bearing with high support rigidity without creating a gap between the steering shaft and the bearing, or between the bearing and the steering jacket. It is an object of the present invention to provide a bearing device for a steering shaft that can be easily assembled, has a small number of parts, and can be easily assembled.

Therefore, in the present invention, in a steering shaft bearing device that rotatably supports the steering shaft on a steering jacket, an outer race fixed to the inner surface of the steering jacket and having an annular rolling element track on the inner periphery, and a steering shaft bearing device are provided. It consists of an inner race formed of a metal ring and having a rolling element raceway on the outer periphery, and a plurality of rolling elements rolling on the rolling element orbits of the outer race and the inner race, and both axial ends of the inner race. An elastically deformable portion consisting of a small diameter portion protruding radially inward and having a plurality of slits is formed in the metal ring, and an annular bead convex radially inward is formed in the center of the metal ring, and the inner race is connected to the steering shaft. The basic feature is that the axially central portion of the inner race is urged outward by the elastic deformation of the pair of elastic deformable portions when the inner race is fitted onto the outside.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail based on the illustrated embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 1, a steering shaft 2 coupled to a steering wheel passes through a steering jacket 5 whose both ends are fixedly supported by brackets 3 and 4 fixed to an instrument panel frame (not shown) or the like. Bearings 6 and 7 are supported at both ends of the steering jacket 5, respectively.
It is rotatably supported by the steering jacket 5.

Of the bearings 6 and 7, at least the bearing 6 on the steering handle 1 side is attached to the inner peripheral surface 5a of the steering jacket 5, as clearly shown in FIG.
an outer race 8 that is fitted and fixed to the steering shaft 2; an inner race 9 that is externally fitted to the steering shaft 2; and a large number of small-diameter rollers 10, which are held in parallel to the axis between the outer race 8 and the inner race 9. 1
0.

The outer race 8 is a relatively thin metal tube made of steel or the like, and has an outer circumferential surface 8a that is fitted and fixed to the inner circumferential surface 5a of the steering jacket 5 without any gaps.
and flange portions 8b, 8b' that protrude radially inward at both ends in the axial direction.
..., 10 rolling element tracks.

Further, the inner race 9 is a press-molded product of a relatively thin metal ring made of steel or the like, and the outer circumferential surface 9a of the central portion serves as the rolling element raceway of the rollers 10, . . . , 10. inner peripheral surface 8c of
The outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter by the diameter of the roller 10, and a pair of elastic deformable parts 11 and 11' that can be forcibly fitted onto the steering shaft 2 are formed at both ends in the axial direction. ing.

This pair of elastic deformation parts 11, 11' consists of a plurality of slit grooves 11 cut in the axial direction at appropriate intervals.
Each tongue piece 11b, 11'b formed by a, ..., 11a, 11'a, ...11'a is pressed radially inward to a diameter slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the steering shaft 2. Return 11c, 1
Each tongue piece 11 is squeezed leaving 1'c.
The bases of the rollers b and 11'b protrude outward in the radial direction along the tapered parts 10a and 10a' at both ends of each roller 10, and the protrusions 11d and 11'd allow the rollers 10 to Regulates axial displacement.

As shown in FIG. 2, the axial center of the inner race 9 forms a radially inwardly convex bead 12 that comes into contact with the steering shaft 2.
This provides a structure in which the inner lace 9 is reinforced.

In the above configuration, the pair of elastic deformation parts 1
1 and 11' are elastically deformed by being forcibly fitted onto the steering shaft 2, and their supporting reaction force urges the center portion of the inner race 9 radially outward. , so that each roller 1
0, .
When is rotated relative to the outer race 8,
The outer circumferential surface 9a of the inner race 9 and the inner circumferential surface 8c of the outer race 8 are used as rolling element orbits to roll.

In that case, a plurality of slit grooves 11a,...11
a, 11'a..., 11'a are each tongue piece 11b, 1
In addition to facilitating the elastic deformation of 1'b,
Since the individual tongue pieces are smoothly elastically deformed, the individual elastic deformations can be made equal in the circumferential direction as well. In addition, the bead 12 provided at the center strengthens the inner race 9 by increasing the rigidity of the center, and at the same time serves as a fulcrum for the deformation of the elastic deformation parts 11 and 11' on both sides of the bead 12, allowing elastic deformation on both sides. This makes it possible to evenly press and hold each roller 10 in the axial direction.

Although the present invention has been applied to the bearing 6 on the steering wheel 1 side in the above, it goes without saying that it can be similarly applied to the bearing 7 on the opposite side.
The bearing device according to the present invention can also be provided in the intermediate portion of the bearing device.

As is clear from the above explanation, according to the present invention, the steering shaft bearing device can basically be composed of three members, and the assembly can be performed simply by fitting them together, which is extremely useful. Furthermore, since the pair of elastically deformable parts are formed integrally with the inner race, the support rigidity can be increased, and by providing a plurality of slits, good elastic deformability of the elastically deformable part can be maintained. It is possible to equalize elastic deformation in the circumferential direction, and by providing an inwardly convex bead in the center of the inner race, the rigidity of the center is increased and the inner race itself is reinforced. can,
Furthermore, since the bead portion serves as a fulcrum and the elastic deformation on both sides in the axial direction can be equalized, the rolling element can be pressed and held with an even force in the axial direction, effectively preventing uneven wear of the rolling element. Can be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional plan view showing a support structure for a steering shaft, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a bearing shown at 6 in FIG. 1. 2... Steering shaft, 3, 4... Bracket, 5... Steering jacket, 6...
Bearing, 8... Outer race, 9... Inner race, 10... Roller, 11, 11'... Elastic deformation part, 11a, 11'a... Slit groove, 12...
bead.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] In a bearing device for a steering shaft that rotatably supports a steering shaft on a steering jacket, an outer race fixed to the inner surface of the steering jacket and having an annular rolling element track on the inner periphery; It consists of an inner race formed of a metal ring and having a rolling element raceway on the outer periphery, and a rolling element made of a plurality of rollers that roll on the rolling element orbits of the outer race and the inner race. Elastic deformation portions each having a small diameter portion projecting radially inward and having a plurality of slits are formed at both axial ends, and an annular bead convex radially inward is formed at the center of the metal ring;
A bearing device for a steering shaft, characterized in that an axial center portion of the inner race is biased outward by elastic deformation of a pair of elastic deformation parts when the inner race is fitted onto the steering shaft.