KR101139585B1 - Pinion Valve Assembly for Vehicle and Hydraulic Power Steering Apparatus Having Same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a pinion valve assembly of a motor vehicle and a hydraulic power assisted steering apparatus having the same.

The present invention comprises an input shaft for transmitting a steering force of the steering shaft; A valve housing through which hydraulic fluid flows in and out; And a fixed part tightly fixed to the valve housing, a deformable support part formed so that an inner circumferential surface is spaced apart from an outer circumferential surface of the input shaft from an upper end portion of the inner circumferential surface to a central part, and an inner diameter thereof is reduced from the deformed support part so that the inner circumferential surface is in contact with the input shaft. And a pinion valve assembly for a vehicle, comprising: a rotatable support formed on a lower side, and a rotatable support formed with a deformed induction part formed into an empty space cut in an annular shape of the rotatable support. Provided is a hydraulic power assist steering device provided.

According to the present invention, even if the hydraulic oil assisting the steering force of the vehicle rises to a high temperature, the rotational support of the pinion valve assembly can firmly support the rotation of the input shaft to prevent eccentricity, and reduce the friction with the input shaft as much as possible to transfer accurate steering force. This has the effect of being possible.

Steering, Input Shaft, Pinion Shaft, Pinion Valve Assembly, Valve Housing

Description

Pinion Valve Assembly for Vehicle and Hydraulic Power Steering Apparatus Having Same {Pinion Valve Assembly for Vehicle and Hydraulic Power Steering Apparatus Having Same}

The present invention relates to a pinion valve assembly of a motor vehicle and a hydraulic power assisted steering apparatus having the same. More specifically, in a hydraulic power assisted steering device of an automobile, even when the hydraulic oil assisting the steering force rises to a high temperature, the rotating support firmly supports rotation of the input shaft to prevent eccentricity, and minimizes friction with the input shaft. The present invention relates to a pinion valve assembly of a motor vehicle and a hydraulic power assist steering device having the same, which enables accurate transmission of steering power.

In general, the steering device of a vehicle is a device for changing the driving direction of the vehicle at the driver's will, and is a device that assists the driver in advancing the vehicle in a desired direction by arbitrarily changing the rotation center of the front wheel of the vehicle. .

On the other hand, when the driver operates the steering wheel of the vehicle, the power assist steering device assists the driver's steering wheel manipulation force by using the power booster to easily change the direction of travel of the vehicle with a smaller force. It is a device to make it possible.

Such power assisted steering devices are largely classified into hydraulic power assisted steering (HPS) and electric power assisted steering (EPS).

The hydraulic power assisted steering device provides the operator with the oil pump connected to the rotating shaft of the engine to supply hydraulic oil to the working cylinder connected to the rack bar. It is a device that enables the steering operation with a small force.

On the other hand, the electric power assist steering device includes a motor and an electronic control unit (ECU) in a rack bar or column instead of an oil pump and a working cylinder to assist the operation force by the power of the motor. Recently, the number of cars equipped with electric power assisted steering has been increasing, but hydraulic power assisted steering is still used in most vehicles.

1 is a perspective view showing a hydraulic power assist steering device of a vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hydraulic power assist steering device 100 of the vehicle is installed at a lower end of a steering shaft (not shown) on which a steering wheel (not shown) is mounted to control a flow direction of hydraulic oil during steering. Steering difference in accordance with the operation of the pinion valve assembly 120 and the gear box 140 and the pinion valve assembly 120 is coupled to the lower side of the pinion valve assembly 120, the rack and pinion is installed to change the linear motion when the steering shaft is rotated It comprises a working cylinder 140 for applying an action force to the tie rod 115 for steering the wheel.

The hydraulic oil supplied from the oil pump 130 is supplied to the pinion valve assembly 120 through the supply flow passage 135, and the hydraulic oil is supplied to the left flow passage 110 and the right flow passage in accordance with the rotational direction of the steering shaft (not shown) during steering. When selectively supplied to the left and right pressure chamber of the working cylinder 140 through the 117, the piston coupled to the rack bar to assist the steering force while sliding left and right by hydraulic pressure, in the pinion valve assembly 120 The operating oil having completed the operation returns to the oil storage tank 131 through the recovery flow path 125 and has a hydraulic system supplied to the oil pump 130 through the suction hose 132 again.

2 is a cross-sectional view showing a pinion valve assembly of a conventional hydraulic power assist steering device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gear box 240 has a structure for converting the rotational motion of the pinion gear 220 into the linear motion of the rack bar 270, and an input shaft 210 constituting the pinion valve assembly 120. The inside of the hollow shape is formed so that one side is connected to the steering shaft 205 and the other side is connected to the pinion shaft 240 constituting the gear box 140.

One side of the torsion bar 230 is inserted into the inner hollow of the input shaft 210 and is fixed to the pin 235 is rotated in conjunction with the input shaft 210 connected to the steering shaft 205, the other side and the pinion shaft 240 The pinion shaft 240 is connected to form a pinion gear 220 engaged with the rack bar 270.

Therefore, when the driver rotates the steering wheel, the input shaft 210, the torsion bar 230, the pinion shaft 240 and the pinion gear 220 has a structure that rotates in conjunction.

The torsion bar 230 is a kind of spring that generates a torsion caused by a rotation difference between the steering shaft 205 and the pinion shaft 240. The torsion bar 230 has a function of changing the flow path of the valve housing 255 by the torsion bar 230. Have

The outer circumferential surface of the input shaft 210 is wrapped around the hollow valve body 250, the valve body 250 rotates in conjunction with the pinion shaft 240. That is, the pinion shaft 240, the pinion gear 220 and the valve body 250 has a structure to rotate in conjunction.

In addition, a valve housing 255 surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the valve body 250, and a supply flow path 135, a recovery flow path 125, a left flow path 110, and a right flow path 117 are provided in the valve housing 255. Formed.

Therefore, when the driver does not operate the steering apparatus, the hydraulic oil introduced through the supply flow path 135 is returned to the recovery flow path 125 through eight return holes 260 formed in the input shaft 210.

The groove formed on the outer circumferential surface of the input shaft 210 is formed in a bow-shaped cross section thereof, and correspondingly, the groove on the inner circumferential surface of the valve body 250 is recessed in a direction opposite to the groove, thereby forming the torsion bar 230. By the upper and lower ends of both grooves when the minute torsion occurs, and serves to change the flow path of the hydraulic oil in the valve housing 255.

On the other hand, the upper side of the valve housing 255 is inserted between the input shaft 210 and the bearing 280 to support the rotation of the input shaft 210 and the oil seal 290 to prevent the leakage of the hydraulic fluid is coupled.

However, in the conventional pinion valve assembly, the plastic bearing or the bush supporting the rotation of the input shaft is deformed by the high temperature hydraulic fluid, so that the gap between the input shaft and the input shaft is widened, causing noise and the rotation of the input shaft not properly supported. There was a problem.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention, in the hydraulic power assist steering device of the vehicle, can support the rotation of the input shaft firmly even when the hydraulic oil to assist the steering force rises to a high temperature, and reduces the friction with the input shaft as much as possible precise steering force It is an object of the present invention to provide a pinion valve assembly of a vehicle and a hydraulic power assist steering device having the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises: an input shaft connected to a steering shaft at an upper side thereof and a pinion shaft at a lower side thereof to transmit a steering force of the steering shaft; An upper side of the valve housing into which the input shaft is inserted and coupled, and the lower side of the pinion shaft is inserted and coupled, and the hydraulic oil flows into and out of the input shaft; And a fixed part tightly fixed to the valve housing so as to be inserted between the input shaft and the valve housing to support rotation of the input shaft, and an inner circumferential surface spaced apart from an outer circumferential surface of the input shaft from an upper end portion to a central portion of the inner circumferential surface. A deformation guide portion, a rotation support portion formed to be formed on the lower side of the deformation support portion by reducing an inner diameter from the deformation support portion so that the inner circumferential surface is in contact with the input shaft, and a deformation induction portion formed into an empty space in which the inner side in the radial direction of the rotation support portion is cut in an annular shape. It provides a pinion valve assembly of the vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a rotating support formed.

In addition, the present invention includes the pinion valve assembly; A gear box coupled to the lower side of the pinion valve assembly and having a rack and pinion installed to change the rotational movement of the steering shaft into a linear movement; And an operation cylinder for applying an action force to a tie rod for steering the steering wheel in accordance with the operation of the pinion valve assembly.

According to the present invention, in the hydraulic power assisted steering apparatus of an automobile, even when the hydraulic oil assisting the steering force rises to a high temperature, the rotating support can firmly support rotation of the input shaft to prevent eccentricity, and maximize friction with the input shaft. In short, it is possible to transmit the correct steering force.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. First of all, in adding reference numerals to the components of each drawing, it should be noted that the same reference numerals are used as much as possible even if displayed on different drawings.

In describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the related well-known configuration or function may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

3 is a cross-sectional view showing a pinion valve assembly of a vehicle according to the present invention, Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a rotating support of the pinion valve assembly of a vehicle according to the invention, Figure 5 is a pinion valve assembly of a vehicle according to the invention It is sectional drawing which shows a rotating support body, and FIG. 6 is sectional drawing which shows the state which the input shaft was eccentric in FIG.

3 to 6, the pinion valve assembly 320 of the vehicle according to the present invention, the upper side is connected to the steering shaft 205 and the lower side is connected to the pinion shaft 240 of the steering shaft 205 An input shaft 210 for transmitting a steering force, an upper side of the input shaft 210 is inserted and coupled, and a lower side of the pinion shaft 240 is inserted and coupled, a valve housing 255 into which hydraulic oil flows in and out, and the input shaft ( A fixed portion 455 which is inserted between the valve housing 255 and the valve housing 255 to be tightly fixed to the valve housing 255 to support rotation of the input shaft 210, and from an upper end portion of the inner circumferential surface to a central portion thereof. Deformation support part 410 is formed so that the inner circumferential surface is spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the input shaft 210, and the inner diameter is reduced from the deformation support 410 so that the inner circumferential surface is in contact with the input shaft 210 is formed on the lower side of the deformation support 410 Rotating support 420, and the rotation It characterized in that it comprises a rotary support 300 is formed with a deformation induction part 460 is formed into a hollow space cut in the radially inward of the front support portion 420.

In addition, the hydraulic power assist steering apparatus of the vehicle according to the present invention is coupled to the pinion valve assembly 320 and the lower side of the pinion valve assembly 320 to change the rotational movement of the steering shaft 205 to linear movement. The main force is applied to the gear box 140 in which the rack bar 270 and the pinion gear 220 are installed, and a tie rod (see 115 in FIG. 1) for steering the steering wheel according to the operation of the pinion valve assembly 320. It is characterized in that it comprises a working cylinder (see 140 of Figure 1).

The pinion valve assembly 320 is inserted into the hollow input shaft 210 and the input shaft 210 that rotates in conjunction with the steering shaft 205, and is fastened to the input shaft 210 via the pin 235 at the upper end. The pinion shaft 240 and the pinion shaft 240 are coupled to the torsion bar 230 and the lower end of the torsion bar 230 in a press-fit manner, and the pinion gear 220 is engaged with the rack bar 270 of the working cylinder. Is coupled to the upper end of the valve body 250 is fitted to the outer periphery of the input shaft 210 is configured.

The pinion valve assembly 320 rotates the input shaft 210 while the steering shaft 205 is rotated by the steering force applied to the steering wheel by the driver during steering, and the upper side of the valve housing 255 prevents leakage of hydraulic oil. The oil seal 270 to prevent and the rotating support 300 for supporting the rotating input shaft 210 is provided.

The rotary support 300 is inserted between the input shaft 210 and the valve housing 255 to support the rotation of the input shaft 210, the fixing portion 455 is tightly fixed to the valve housing 255, and the inner peripheral surface Deformation support part 410 is formed so that the inner circumferential surface is spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the input shaft 210 and the inner circumferential surface is reduced from the deformable support portion 410 so that the inner circumferential surface is in contact with the input shaft 210 from the upper end portion to the central portion of the deformation support portion The rotation support part 420 formed below the 410, and the deformation | transduction guide part 460 formed by the hollow space which cut inwardly the radial direction of the rotation support part 420 are comprised, are comprised.

The rotary support 300 is inserted between the input shaft 210 and the valve housing 255 to support the rotation of the input shaft 210, and to the center in which the input shaft 210 is inserted to prevent the input shaft 210 from being eccentric. The deformation support part 410, the rotation support part 420, and the deformation induction part 460 are formed, and a tool groove 430 for fastening with the valve housing 255 is formed in the upper side 450.

The deformable support part 410 is formed such that the inner circumferential surface is spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the input shaft 210 from the upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the rotating support 300 into which the input shaft 210 is inserted, to the central portion, and interlocks with the steering shaft 205. Thus, when the rotating input shaft 210 is eccentric to one side, the input shaft 210 is no longer eccentrically supported by the central shaft.

The rotary support part 420 is formed by reducing the inner diameter from the deformation support part 410 such that the inner peripheral surface is in contact with the input shaft 210, and cuts a part of the inner peripheral surface in the axial direction from the lower side of the deformation support part 410 to the end of the lower side. It is formed into several rib shapes separated by one slit 425.

Since the rotation support part 420 is separated into several by the slit 425, friction with the input shaft 210 is reduced, and even when a small eccentricity is generated during rotation of the input shaft 210, deformation is easy.

Accordingly, when the input shaft 210 rotates, the rotation support part 420 which is separated into several parts contacts the input shaft 210 to support the rotation of the input shaft 210, as shown in FIG. 6. When receiving the load eccentrically to one side, the deformation guide portion 460 formed in the empty space to help the deformation of the rotation support portion 420 so that the deformation is made without excessive reverse load is transmitted to the input shaft (210).

However, in FIG. 6, the eccentric direction of the input shaft is shown in the left direction in the drawing and the eccentricity is larger than the actual one for the convenience of illustrating and explaining a state in which the rotary support is deformed to support the input shaft when the input shaft is eccentric.

That is, the deformation induction part 460 is formed as an empty space in which the radially inner side of the rotation support part 420 is cut in an annular shape, and thus, when the rotation support part 420 receives an eccentric load of the input shaft 210, the rib support part has a rib shape. 420 is deformed toward the deformation induction part 460 which is an empty space.

In addition, when the input shaft 210 is eccentric to deform the rotary support 420, the deformation support 410 positioned above the rotary support 420 supports the input shaft 210 so that the input shaft 210 is no longer eccentric. do.

Thus, due to the shape and structure of the rotation support part 420 separated by several slits 425 and the deformation support part 460 formed as an empty space, the friction during the rotation of the input shaft 210 is reduced, the input shaft 210 Even if this fine eccentricity is applied, excessive reverse load is not transmitted to the input shaft 210 to support the rotation of the input shaft 210.

On the other hand, the fixing portion 455 of the rotary support 300 is provided with a screw portion 440 is formed with a screw thread and valleys to be screwed to the valve housing 255, the upper surface 450 of the rotary support 300 One or more tool grooves 430 are formed by cutting a portion between the deformable support part 410 and the outer circumferential surface to form an empty space, so that when the rotary support 300 is screwed to the valve housing 255, the tool groove ( The fastening tool is inserted into the fastening tool 430.

However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the screw 440 may be firmly coupled to the valve housing 255 even when the screw 440 is not provided on the fixing part 455.

The rotary support 300 is formed of a high strength low friction material engineering plastics such as acetal (POM) or nylon series, the friction is applied to the inner peripheral surface of the rotary support 420 to reduce the friction with the input shaft 210 To reduce, it can be coated with a low friction material such as Teflon.

According to the present invention having such a shape and structure, even if the hydraulic oil assisting the steering force of the vehicle rises to a high temperature, the rotational support firmly supports the rotation of the input shaft to prevent eccentricity, and reduces the friction with the input shaft as much as possible to ensure accurate steering force. Has the effect of being able to deliver.

The above description is merely illustrative of the present invention, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the essential features of the present invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to limit the present invention but to describe the present invention, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the following claims, and all technical ideas within the same scope should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view showing a hydraulic power assist steering device of a vehicle;

2 is a cross-sectional view showing a pinion valve assembly of a conventional hydraulic power assist steering device;

3 is a sectional view showing a pinion valve assembly of a motor vehicle according to the present invention;

4 is a perspective view showing a rotating support of the pinion valve assembly of the vehicle according to the present invention;

5 is a cross-sectional view showing a rotating support of the pinion valve assembly of the vehicle according to the present invention;

6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which an input shaft is eccentric in FIG. 5.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

205: steering shaft 210: input shaft

240: pinion shaft 250: valve body

255: valve housing 280: bearing

290: oil seal 300: rotary support

320: pinion valve assembly of the present invention

410: deformation support 420: rotation support

425: slit 430: tool groove

440: screw portion 450: upper side

455: fixed portion 460: deformation guide portion

Claims (7)

An input shaft having an upper side connected to a steering shaft and a lower side connected to a pinion shaft to transmit a steering force of the steering shaft; An upper side of the valve housing into which the input shaft is inserted and coupled, and the lower side of the pinion shaft is inserted and coupled, and the hydraulic oil flows into and out of the input shaft; And A fixed part tightly fixed to the valve housing to be inserted between the input shaft and the valve housing to support rotation of the input shaft, and an inner circumferential surface spaced apart from an outer circumferential surface of the input shaft from an upper end portion of the inner circumferential surface to a center portion A support part, a rotation support part formed on the lower side of the deformation support part by reducing an inner diameter from the deformation support part so that the inner circumferential surface is in contact with the input shaft, and a deformation induction part formed by an empty space in which the inner side of the rotation support part is cut in an annular shape is formed. Rotating support; Pinion valve assembly of the vehicle, characterized in that comprises a. The method of claim 1, The pinion valve assembly of the automobile, characterized in that the rotary support of the rotary support is formed by several ribs separated by slits axially cut a part of the inner circumferential surface from the lower side to the end of the lower side of the deformable support. . The method of claim 1, The pinion valve assembly of the vehicle, characterized in that at least one tool groove is formed in the upper side is formed into an empty space by cutting a portion between the deformation support and the outer peripheral surface. The method of claim 1, Pinion valve assembly of the vehicle, characterized in that the fixing portion of the rotary support and the inner peripheral surface of the valve housing is formed with a screw thread provided with a screw thread and the rotary support is screwed with the valve housing. The method of claim 1, The rotating support is pinion valve assembly of the vehicle, characterized in that formed of high strength low friction material engineering plastics. The method of claim 1, The rotary support pinion valve assembly of the vehicle, characterized in that the low friction coating is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the rotary support to reduce the friction with the input shaft. Pinion valve assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6; A gear box coupled to a lower side of the pinion valve assembly and provided with a rack bar and pinion gear for converting a rotational movement of the steering shaft into a linear movement; And An actuating cylinder for applying an action force to a tie rod for steering a steering wheel according to the operation of the pinion valve assembly; Hydraulic power assist steering device for a vehicle, characterized in that comprises a.

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