JPS6335896Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] This invention relates to an elastic shaft joint for a steering column that is intended to reduce vehicle vibrations and vehicle noise transmitted through the steering column to the steering wheel and the passenger compartment.

In vehicles with a steering device, such as automobiles, vibrations from the engine and suspension are transmitted into the passenger compartment through a steering column that connects the steering gear device installed outside the vehicle and the steering wheel located inside the vehicle. This causes an increase in noise.

For this reason, conventionally it has been proposed to provide a vibration-proofing structure within the joint interposed between the steering column and the steering gear. Doing so would create manufacturing and cost problems by making the joint a more complicated structure, but at the same time, once vibrations are transmitted to the steering column, it is no longer possible to prevent vibrations from being transmitted to the passenger compartment. Problems have also arisen.

This idea was devised in view of the above, and its purpose was to insert a vibration isolating material between the lower tube and the upper shaft, which constitute the joint of the steering column, so as not to impede the steering action. An object of the present invention is to provide an elastic shaft joint for a steering column that can prevent vibrations from being transmitted to the interior of a vehicle through the steering column, thereby preventing vibrations from being transmitted to the interior of a vehicle through the steering column and generation of accompanying noise.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the elastic shaft joint of the steering column of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the - line in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 A is a front view of the lower tube, and Fig. 3 B
is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in Figure 3A, Figure 3C is a sectional view taken along the line CC in Figure 3B, Figure 4 is a partially sectional side view of the atsupashi shaft, and Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line CC in Figure 3B. It is a directional view.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a lower tube, 2 is a shaft having a serration 6 formed on one end side, and the other end is fitted into the lower tube 1, and the lower tube 1 is a universal joint yoke.
A steering gear (not shown) is connected to the shaft 2, and the shaft 2 is connected to a steering wheel via a steering column (not shown). As shown in detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, 3 is a substantially cross-shaped shaft receiving portion provided at one end (universal joint yoke j) of the lower tube 1 to connect the lower tube 1 and the upper shaft 2. The shaft receiving portion 3 includes a large diameter portion 3a formed to have the same diameter as the lower tube 1, and a small diameter portion 3b formed to have a smaller diameter than the large diameter portion 3a. As shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5, 4 is a protrusion provided at the other end of the upper shaft 2 for fitting into the shaft receiving portion 3 provided at one end of the lower tube 1; The protruding portion 4 is formed in a large diameter portion 4a and a small diameter portion 4b in a substantially similar shape to the shaft receiving portion 3, and the large diameter portion 4
a is configured so as not to come into contact with the inner circumferential surface of the large diameter portion 3a of the shaft receiving portion 3 when the steering column is in the neutral steering position. FIG. 2 shows its configuration. In the neutral steering state of the steering column, the large diameter portion 4a of the protrusion 4 is located at the center of the large diameter portion 3a of the shaft receiving portion 3, and these large diameter portions 3a , 4a are formed with gaps Δ, Δ to prevent the two from coming into contact within a central angle θ of 2 to 5 degrees. 5 is lower tube 1
This is an annular vibration-proofing rubber that is clamped between the cylindrical portion 7 and the shaft 2. The anti-vibration rubber 5 is baked and adhered to the circumferential surface of a circular section 11 provided at an intermediate portion between the serrations 6 and the protrusion 4 of the atsupashi shaft 2.
When inserted, the lower tube 1 and the shaft 2 are crimped onto the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 7 of the lower tube 1.
It also functions to connect the large diameter portion 4a of the projection 4 to the center of the large diameter portion 3a of the shaft receiving portion 3 in the neutral steering position of the steering column.

The shaft 2 has a serration 6 on the outer periphery of its upper end to which a steering column (not shown) is movably connected in the axial direction, and the tip 8 of the shaft receiving part 3 of the lower tube 1 is reduced in diameter to a universal joint yoke. The base portion 9 is fitted into a circularly protruding base portion 9 of the universal joint yoke j, and is welded 10 to the universal joint yoke j.

Since the embodiment has the above-described configuration, the large diameter portion 4a of the protrusion 4 is not in contact with the large diameter portion 3a of the shaft receiving portion 3 in the neutral steering state of the steering column, which occupies most of the vehicle operation. The shaft 2 is connected to the shaft 2 only through the anti-vibration rubber 5.
is connected to. Therefore, even if vibrations from the engine and suspension are transmitted to the lower tube 1, the vibrations from the lower tube 1 to the shaft 2 can be transmitted to the lower tube 1.
The vibration isolating rubber 5 prevents the vibration from being transmitted to the vehicle interior, thereby preventing the vibration from being transmitted into the vehicle interior and the accompanying noise. In addition, when the steering column is turned to the right or left, the lower tube 1 follows the rotation angle of the shaft 2 by the rigidity of the anti-vibration rubber 5 within a range of 2 to 5 degrees. Vibration isolation is performed as described above. Only when a large torque is required on the steering column and this tracking becomes impossible, the large diameter portion 4a of the protrusion 4 comes into contact with the large diameter portion 3a of the shaft receiving portion 3 and directly transmits rotational force. . At this time, the anti-vibration function is degraded, but this does not pose a particular problem because such a situation occurs infrequently during the entire operation of the vehicle.

Since the elastic shaft joint for the steering column according to the present invention has the configuration described above, it has the following effects.

(b) In the case of a steering column to which this elastic shaft joint is connected, it is possible to alleviate the shimmy noise generated by the vibration of the front wheels of the vehicle from being transmitted into the vehicle interior through the steering column, In particular, it is possible to block high-frequency swishing noise generated from hydraulic systems such as power steering devices, and does not cause discomfort to the driver or passengers.

(b) The gap formed by the protrusion of the upper shaft and the shaft receiving part of the lower tube is
Since it is sealed by the base of the universal joint yoke and anti-vibration rubber, dust and
There is no risk of foreign matter such as dust or muddy water getting in, and when it is attached to the steering column, it can be freely placed indoors or outdoors of the vehicle.

(c) The base part of the universal joint yoke is formed to protrude circularly and is fitted with the circular reduced diameter part at the tip of the lower tube, so that the universal joint yoke can be positioned in the correct position relative to the lower tube, that is, aligned with the center line of the yoke. It can be placed at a position where the center line of the tube coincides with the tube, making positioning between the two easy. In addition, the tube and yoke can be reliably welded together, and stable quality welding can be obtained.

(d) Since a serration portion is formed on the atpashishaft, it can be used as a collapsible mechanism for the steering column. That is, by connecting the shaft shaft and the steering column movably in the axial direction through serration fitting, it is possible to prevent the steering column from protruding rearward into the vehicle, thereby improving driver safety.

(E) The atsupashi shaft is connected to the cylindrical part of the lower tube via the vibration-proofing rubber that is baked and bonded to the circumferential surface of its circular section, so even if residual stress is generated in the vibration-proof rubber due to baking and bonding, this Stress acts equally on the circular cross-sectional portion of the upper shaft and the cylindrical portion of the lower tube, and the centers of the upper shaft and lower tube do not shift, making it possible to obtain an elastic shaft joint of stable quality.

(F) To ensure the rigidity against the bending moment that occurs in the elastic shaft joint when the steering column is steered, the axial lengths of the circular section of the shaft, the cylindrical section of the lower tube, and the vibration isolating rubber should be selected appropriately. It can be adjusted by

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the elastic shaft joint of the steering column of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the - line in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 A is a front view of the lower tube, and Fig. 3 B
is a sectional view taken along the line B-B in Figure 3A, Figure 3C is a sectional view taken along the line CC in Figure 3B, Figure 4 is a partially sectional side view of the atsupashi shaft, and Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line CC in Figure 3B. It is a directional view. 1...Lowatiyubu, 2...Atupashiyaft,
3...Shaft receiving part, 3a...Large diameter part, 3b...
...Small diameter part, 4...Protrusion, 4a...Large diameter part, 4b
...Small diameter section, 5...Vibration-proof rubber, 6...Serration.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A shaft having a serration formed on one end side, a protrusion having a substantially cross-shaped cross section consisting of a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion on the other end, and a circular cross section portion at an intermediate portion between the serration and the protrusion. , a shaft receiving portion having a substantially cross-shaped cross section and having a large diameter portion and a small diameter portion that are substantially similar to the protruding portion of the atsupashi shaft is formed on one end side, and a shaft receiving portion having a substantially cross-shaped cross section is formed on the other end side on the circumferential surface of the circular cross section of the atsupashi shaft. It consists of a lower tube having a cylindrical portion connected to the upper shaft via a vibration-proof rubber bonded by baking, and a universal joint yoke welded to the tip of the shaft receiving portion of this lower tube, and the protrusion of the upper shaft and the lower tube are connected to each other. The shaft receiving portion of the upper shaft is fitted with an appropriate distance when the upper shaft and the lower tube are connected, and the tip of the shaft receiving portion of the lower tube is connected to the circularly protruding base portion of the universal joint yoke. An elastic shaft joint for a steering column characterized by having a reduced diameter in order to fit with the steering column.