JPS6326292Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an excessive shock absorbing device for a steering system of an automobile.

[Prior Art] For example, in a steering device with a drag link as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 51-106434, when the steering wheel runs onto a curb or falls into a gutter, the steering wheel is repelled. , a sharp and excessive impact force may be applied to the steering wheel, potentially injuring the driver or damaging or deforming the components of the steering device.

Increasing the strength of the component more than necessary in response to such an excessive impact force increases the size of the component, making it difficult to mount it on a vehicle, and increasing manufacturing costs. Further, even if the component parts are not damaged due to excessive impact caused by a wheel coming off, the driver cannot detect the situation when the component is on the verge of being damaged, and therefore cannot prevent danger from occurring.

The present applicant has already proposed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-29568 that an elastic body is disposed between a spherical seat and an end wall of a cylindrical portion into which it is fitted. This can only prevent the occurrence of impact noise, but cannot protect the driver from excessive impact force.

Conventionally, collapsible steering shafts have been proposed to protect the driver from the steering wheel, which is subject to impact during a collision. , does not work effectively.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The purpose of the present invention is to protect the driver by easily attaching it to a conventional steering device and effectively absorbing excessive impact force from the steering wheels. An object of the present invention is to provide an excessive shock absorbing device for a steering device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the configuration of the present invention includes a pair of spherical seats that hold the connecting shaft spherical part of the drag link, and a cylindrical part that slidably fits these seats. A permanently deformable shock absorbing member is interposed on one side and a spring is interposed on the other side between the two end walls.

[Operation] The impact transmitted from the connecting shaft 23 to the drag link 8 or from the drag link to the connecting shaft is transmitted to the spherical seat 28 that holds the spherical portion 27 of the connecting shaft and the cylindrical portion 21 that slidably fits the spherical seat 28. The impact is absorbed with permanent deformation of the cylindrical impact absorbing member 22 interposed between the impact and the impact. Even if the shock absorbing member 22 is permanently deformed, the normal function of the steering device is maintained by the action of the spring 25 that presses the pair of spherical seats 28 and 26 against the spherical portion 27.

[Embodiment of the invention] As shown in FIG. 1, a steering shaft 3 operated by a handle 2 is connected to an input gear shaft of a gear steering mechanism 4, and a steering shaft 3 is connected to an output gear shaft 6 that meshes with the input gear shaft. The original arm 5 is combined. A drag link 8 is connected between a knuckle arm 13 connected to one knuckle 10 and a steering arm 5 via ball joints 7 and 9.

A pair of left and right knuckles 10 are supported by an axle 18 with vertical shafts, and wheels are supported by a spindle 12 that projects outward. The mounting seat 17 of the axle 18 is supported by a leaf spring of a suspension mechanism. The left and right knuckle arms 16 and 13 are pins 14
They are connected by a tie rod 15 via.

The present invention absorbs excessive impact force from the steering wheels at the ball joints 7 or 9 at both ends of the drag link 8 that connects the suspension mechanism and the steering gear mechanism. This is to cut off the transmission and avoid danger to the driver who operates the steering wheel.

As shown in FIG. 2, a cylindrical portion 21 is provided at the end of the drag link 8, and a spherical portion 27 formed at the end of a connecting shaft 23 connecting the knuckle arm 13 or the steering base arm 5 is inserted through the peripheral wall opening 31. A pair of spherical seats 28 and 26 are engaged with each other on both sides of the spherical portion 27 so as to sandwich the spherical portion 27 therebetween. Spherical seat 28,
26 is slidably fitted into the cylindrical portion 21. The pair of spherical seats 28 and 26 are each provided with a spherical concave surface that holds the spherical portion 27 on opposing surfaces, and a protrusion on the opposite side. A spring 25 is interposed between the spherical seat 26 and the adjustment plug 24 screwed into the cylindrical portion 21, and the spherical seats 28, 26 are engaged with the spherical portion 27 by the spring 25.

A sleeve 22 as a shock absorbing member is engaged between the protrusion 30a of the support body 30 engaged with the end wall of the cylindrical portion 21 and the protrusion 28a of the spherical seat 28.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, the shock transmitted from the steering wheels to the steering gear mechanism 4 is absorbed by the deformation of the sleeve 22, which is a shock absorbing member. If the steering wheel runs over a curb or falls into a gutter,
The steering wheels are tilted rapidly and greatly by overcoming the regulating force exerted by the handle 2. At this time, an excessive impact force in the axial direction acts on the drag link 8 via the knuckle arm 13. This impact force is, for example, the first
If it is in the direction of the arrow y shown in the figure, the connecting shaft 2 is fixed to the knuckle arm 13 at the ball joint 9.
3 is pushed in the direction of the arrow y in FIG. 2, and at this time the sleeve 22 is crushed and the protrusion 28a of the spherical seat 28 comes into contact with the protrusion 30a of the support. In this way, transmission of excessive impact force from the drag link 8 to the steering gear mechanism 4 is interrupted.

Conversely, if the impact force acting on the drag link 8 from the knuckle arm 13 is in the opposite direction to the arrow y, the sleeve 22 configured in the ball joint 7
is deformed.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a circular shock absorbing plate 36 is used in place of the sleeve 22. The shock absorbing plate 36 includes a cup-shaped support 35 and a spherical seat 2.
8, and the shock absorbing plate 36 is deformed by the protrusion 28a and pushed into the recess of the support 35 in response to excessive impact force, producing the same effect as in the previous embodiment. .

[Effects of the invention] As described above, the present invention has a structure in which a pair of spherical seats that hold the connecting shaft spherical portion of a drag link and both end walls of a cylindrical portion that slidably fit these seats are provided on one side. Since a permanently deformable shock absorbing member is inserted on one side and a spring is interposed on the other side, it is only necessary to add a new shock absorbing member to the conventional drag link, and there is no major change in the overall configuration, making it inexpensive to manufacture. can.

Due to the excessive impact force applied to the steering system due to changes in the road surface, the impact absorbing member permanently deforms.
This reduces the impact on the steering wheel and prevents the driver from taking the steering wheel.

Since the shock absorbing member is interposed between the spherical seats and one end wall of the cylindrical portion, even if the shock absorbing member is permanently deformed, the spring that biases and engages the pair of spherical seats with the spherical portion will not work. Therefore, the function of the drag link mechanism is not immediately impaired.

When the shock absorbing member is buckled and deformed, the spring load acting on the ball joint becomes smaller, so the driver can know from the change in steering feel whether the shock absorbing member needs to be replaced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a general steering device, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of an excessive shock absorbing device for a steering device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of an excessive impact absorbing device of a steering device according to an example. 4: Steering gear mechanism, 5: Steering arm, 7, 9: Ball joint, 8: Drag link, 10: Knuckle, 2
1: Cylindrical part, 22: Shock absorption sleeve, 23: Connection shaft, 25: Spring, 26, 28: Spherical seat, 27:
Ball portion, 28a: Projection, 30, 35: Support, 3
6: Shock absorption plate.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A permanently deformable shock absorbing member is provided on one side and a permanently deformable shock absorbing member is provided on the other side between a pair of spherical seats that hold the connecting shaft ball portion of the drag link and both end walls of a cylindrical portion that slidably fit these. An excessive shock absorbing device for a steering device, characterized in that each spring is interposed therein.