US20150274194A1 - Steering apparatus - Google Patents
Steering apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20150274194A1 US20150274194A1 US14/604,035 US201514604035A US2015274194A1 US 20150274194 A1 US20150274194 A1 US 20150274194A1 US 201514604035 A US201514604035 A US 201514604035A US 2015274194 A1 US2015274194 A1 US 2015274194A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- rack
- housing
- elastic member
- shock absorbing
- vehicle width
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D3/00—Steering gears
- B62D3/02—Steering gears mechanical
- B62D3/12—Steering gears mechanical of rack-and-pinion type
- B62D3/126—Steering gears mechanical of rack-and-pinion type characterised by the rack
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D3/00—Steering gears
- B62D3/02—Steering gears mechanical
- B62D3/12—Steering gears mechanical of rack-and-pinion type
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a steering apparatus.
- a rack shaft moves in a vehicle width direction by a steering operation of a driver and steered wheels are operated.
- a torque of the motor is transmitted to the rack shaft.
- rack ends are provided in both ends of the rack shaft. Then, the rack ends abut on a housing which houses the rack shaft, thereby controlling movement of the rack shaft.
- a steering apparatus disclosed in JP-UM-A-6-69061 is configured by providing an elastic member in a housing so that rack ends abut on the elastic member. Accordingly, a collision load is absorbed by the elastic member and the collision load inputted to the housing is reduced.
- a steering apparatus in recent years includes the elastic member and controls output of the motor to reduce the speed at which rack ends abut on the housing (hereinafter referred to merely as “abutting speed”) with the object of suppressing damage of other parts such as a rack gear. According to the output control of the motor, the collision load inputted to the housing is further reduced.
- an illustrative aspect of the present invention is to provide a steering apparatus capable of absorbing a collision load by an elastic member as well as reducing the abutting speed of rack ends.
- An aspect of the present invention provides a steering apparatus including: a rack shaft moving in a vehicle width direction; a housing that houses the rack shaft; and rack ends provided at end portions of the rack shaft and abutting on the housing; a collision relaxation member provided on a surface of the housing, the surface being opposed to each rack end in the vehicle width direction, in which the collision relaxation member includes an elastic member arranged in an outer side of the rack shaft in a radial direction and absorbing a collision load from the corresponding rack end, and a shock absorbing member provided in an inner peripheral side of the elastic member and buckling by the abutting of the rack end.
- the shock absorbing member buckles and the collision load of the rack end is absorbed and the abutting speed of the rack end is reduced. As a result, it is possible to suppress damage of other parts as well as to reduce the collision load inputted to the housing.
- the shock absorbing member may have a tubular shape.
- the collision load to be absorbed is larger than a case where the shock absorbing member is a bar-shaped member extending in the vehicle width direction, therefore, the abutting speed of the rack end is largely reduced. Accordingly, the danger that the other parts are damaged is further reduced as well as the collision load inputted to the housing is also further reduced.
- the elastic member may extend more to the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the shock absorbing member.
- the rack end abuts on the shock absorbing member only when the rack shaft is not stopped by the abutting of the rack end with respect to the elastic body.
- the collision load is absorbed by the elastic member in the normal state (normal range) in which the collision load is small, and the collision load is damped by the elastic member and the shock absorbing member in the fail state (in an excessive-load state) in which the collision load is large.
- a steering apparatus including: a rack shaft moving in a vehicle width direction; a housing that houses the rack shaft; rack ends provided at end portions of the rack shaft and abutting on the housing; a collision relaxation member provided on a surface of each rack end, the surface being opposed to the housing in the vehicle width direction, in which the collision relaxation member includes an elastic member arranged in an outer side of the rack shaft in a radial direction and absorbing a collision load inputted to the housing, and a shock absorbing member provided in an outer peripheral side of the elastic member and buckling when abutting on the housing.
- the shock absorbing member provided in the rack end abuts on the housing, the shock absorbing member buckles and the collision load of the rack end is absorbed, then, abutting speed of the rack end is reduced. As a result, damage of other parts can be suppressed and the collision load inputted to the housing is reduced.
- the steering apparatus capable of suppressing damage of other parts and reducing the collision load inputted to the housing by absorbing the collision load and reducing the abutting speed of the rack end by the elastic member.
- FIG. 1 is a front view of a steering apparatus showing the entire structure of the steering apparatus according to an embodiment
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a range surrounded by a dashed line “A” in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3A is a view showing a state where a rack end abuts on an elastic member
- FIG. 3B is a view showing a state where the rack end abuts on a shock absorbing member
- FIG. 3C is a view showing a state where the shock absorbing member buckles
- FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a structure of a steering apparatus according to a modification example.
- a steering apparatus 1 is an apparatus mounted on a vehicle and steering steered wheels of the vehicle.
- the steering apparatus 1 includes a steering wheel 2 operated by a driver, a steering shaft 3 integrally rotating with the steering wheel 2 , a torsion bar 4 connected to a lower end of the steering shaft 3 , a pinion shaft 5 connected to a lower end of the torsion bar 4 and having a pinion (not shown) at a lower end, a rack shaft 6 having a rack (not shown) engaged with the pinion, rack ends 7 , 7 fixed to both ends of the rack shaft 6 , rack end studs 8 , 8 supported by the rack ends 7 , 7 and a housing 9 .
- steered wheels (not shown) are respectively connected to the rack end studs 8 , 8 .
- the rack shaft 6 moves to the left direction or the right direction, and the driver can steer the steered wheels.
- the rack end 7 includes a bottomed tubular-shaped rack end housing 10 having a bottom portion 11 in an inner side in the vehicle width direction and an attaching shaft (not shown) protruding from the bottom portion 11 to the inner side in the vehicle width direction to be attached to the rack shaft 6 .
- the attaching shafts are male screws in which threads are formed on outer peripheral surfaces, which are screwed to female screw holes (not shown) formed on both end surfaces of the rack shaft 6 so that the rack ends 7 , 7 are fixed to both ends of the rack shaft 6 .
- the rack end housing 10 houses a ball 8 a provided in the rack end stud 8 so as to be rotatable, and the rack end stud 8 can be folded freely with respect to the rack shaft 6 .
- the bottom portion 11 of the rack end housing 10 has a circular shape.
- An outside diameter R 1 of the bottom portion 11 is larger than an outside diameter of the rack shaft 6 , and the bottom portion 11 protrudes to an outer side of an outer peripheral surface of the rack shaft 6 in a radial direction. Accordingly, when the rack end 7 moves to an inner side in the vehicle width direction, the rack end 7 abuts on the housing 9 which houses the rack shaft 6 to thereby control movement of the rack shaft 6 .
- a surface of the inner side of the bottom surface 11 in the vehicle width direction abutting on the housing 9 is referred to as an abutting surface 12 .
- the housing 9 is a tubular member in which a through hole S 1 piercing in the right and left direction is formed, and the rack shaft 6 is inserted into the through hole S 1 .
- a bearing (not shown) supporting the rack shaft 6 is provided, and the rack shaft 6 is supported so as to move freely in the right and left direction so that a center axis O 1 of the rack shaft 6 is not shifted to the outer side in the radial direction.
- a cylindrical space S 2 is formed at an edge of an opening end of the through hole S 1 in the housing 9 by being cut out from the through hole S 1 to the outside in the radial direction.
- a band-shaped wall surface opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the rack shaft 6 in wall surfaces of the housing 9 facing the cylindrical space S 2 is referred to as an inner peripheral wall surface 9 a
- a disk-shaped surface facing the outer side in the vehicle width direction and opposed to the abutting surface 12 of the rack end 7 is referred to as a restricting surface 9 b.
- the restricting surface 9 b is an example of a “surface opposed to the rack end in the vehicle width direction.
- An inside diameter L 2 of the cylindrical space S 2 is larger than an outside diameter L 1 of the abutting surface 12 of the rack end 7 . Accordingly, the rack end 7 enters the space S 2 and the collision load of the rack end 7 is inputted to the restricting surface 9 b.
- a collision relaxation member 20 is disposed in the outer side of the restricting surface 9 b in the vehicle width direction for reducing the collision load inputted to the restricting surface 9 b.
- the collision relaxation member 20 has a cylindrical shape, and the rack shaft 6 is inserted into an internal space of the collision relaxation member 20 .
- the collision relaxation member 20 includes a cylindrical holding portion 21 extending along the inner peripheral wall surface 9 a , a cylindrical elastic member 22 provided in an inner peripheral side of the holding portion 21 and a cylindrical shock absorbing member 23 provided in an inner peripheral side of the elastic member 22 .
- the holding portion 21 is a member for holding the elastic member 22 and the shock absorbing member 23 , which is formed by a metal member or a resin member.
- the holding portion 21 is also fixed to the housing 9 , and an end portion 21 a in an inner side of the holding portion 21 in the vehicle width direction extends to the inner side in the radial direction to cover the restricting surface 9 b.
- the elastic member 22 is for absorbing the collision of the rack end 7 .
- the elastic member 22 is made of an elastomer such as urethane resin or natural rubber, which is restored to an original shape by a restoring force even when it is deformed by the abutting of the rack end 7 .
- the elastic member 22 is formed by an insert molding and so on, and is fixed to the housing 9 through the holding portion 21 .
- a tip portion 22 a (an end portion of an outer side in the vehicle end direction) of the elastic member 22 extends more to the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the holding portion 21 as well as extends more to the outer side in the radial direction than the holding portion 21 to thereby cover the holding portion 21 . Accordingly, the rack end 7 entering the space S 2 does not contact the holding portion 21 .
- An end surface in an inner side of the elastic member 22 in the vehicle width direction contacts the end portion 21 a of the holding portion 21 , and an outer peripheral surface of the elastic member 22 contacts the holding portion 21 and the housing 9 .
- An outer side of the outer peripheral surface of the elastic member 22 in the vehicle width direction is chamfered so as not to be scraped due to the contact with respect to a corner portion of the bottom portion 11 of the rack end 7 .
- the shock absorbing member 23 is formed by a metal member, which is provided for buckling when the rack end 7 abuts thereon.
- An end surface in an outer side of the shock absorbing member 23 in the vehicle width direction is positioned in the inner side rather than the elastic member 23 in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, when the rack shaft 6 is stopped by the abutting of the rack end 7 to the elastic member 22 , the rack end 7 does not abut on the shock absorbing member 23 .
- the shock absorbing member 23 is fitted into the elastic member 22 , in which a center portion 23 a of the shock absorbing member 23 can be separated from the elastic member 22 arranged in the outer peripheral side.
- the elastic member 22 contacts the outer peripheral side of the shock absorbing member 23 and an end surface in the inner side of the shock absorbing member 23 in the vehicle width direction abuts on the end portion 21 a the holding portion 21 .
- a groove 23 b which is concave from the inner peripheral surface to the outer side in the radial direction is formed, and the center portion 23 a is made to be thinner than both end portions in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, when the shock absorbing member is pushed in the inner side in the vehicle width direction, the center portion 23 a of the shock absorbing member 23 easily buckles.
- the elastic member 22 to which the collision load of the rack end 7 has been inputted is deformed to absorb the collision load, therefore, the reduced collision load is inputted to the restricting surface 9 b.
- the shock absorbing member 23 is moved to the inner side in the radial direction due to deformation of the elastic member 22 .
- the center portion 23 a of the shock absorbing member 23 buckles so as to protrude to the inner side in the radial direction in FIG. 3C
- this is an example of buckling of the shock absorbing member 23
- a case where the center portion 23 a of the shock absorbing member 23 protrudes toward the outer side in the radial direction as well as a case where the center portion 23 a buckles in a bellows state (alternately protruding to the inner side and the outer side in the radial direction) can be also considered.
- the collision load of the rack end 7 can be absorbed by the elastic member 22 in the steering apparatus 1 according to the embodiment.
- the abutting speed of the rack end 7 is reduced by the shock absorbing member 23 . Accordingly, it is possible to suppress damage of other parts such as the rack gear. Furthermore, the collision load to be inputted to the housing 9 can be also reduced as the collision load of the rack end 7 is reduced.
- the steering apparatus 1 according to the embodiment has been explained as the above, the present invention is not limited to this.
- the steering apparatus I according to the embodiment is a rack-and-pinion type, however, a ball-nut type apparatus can be also applied.
- the steering apparatus 1 may include a motor-driven assist mechanism or a hydraulic assist mechanism assisting the steering of the driver.
- the collision relaxation member 20 of the present embodiment includes the holding portion 21 , it is also preferable that the holding portion is not included in the present invention.
- the groove 23 b is formed in the shock absorbing member 23 of the present embodiment, the shock absorbing member 23 in which the groove 23 b is not formed can be applied in the present invention.
- the shock absorbing member 23 is formed by a metal member which is not elastically deformed in the present embodiment, however, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shock absorbing member may be made of an elastomer.
- the shock absorbing member 23 has a tubular shape
- the present invention is not limited to this.
- a bar-shaped member extending in the vehicle width direction can be applied.
- both ends in the vehicle width direction are fixed to the elastic member 22 by adhesion or pressure bonding.
- the plate-shaped shock absorbing member 23 buckles to thereby reduce the abutting speed of the rack end 7 .
- plural members can be disposed around the rack shaft 6 .
- the collision relaxation member (the elastic member 22 and the shock absorbing member 23 ) is provided in the housing 9 in the present embodiment, however, the present invention is not limited to this.
- a collision relaxation member 20 A may be provided in the abutting surface 12 of the rack end 7 as shown in FIG. 4 .
- the collision relaxation member 20 A includes a cylindrical holding portion 21 A extending along the outer peripheral surface of the rack shaft 6 , a cylindrical elastic member 22 A provided in an outer peripheral side of the holding portion 21 A and a cylindrical shock absorbing member 23 A provided in an outer peripheral side of the elastic member 22 A.
- the shock absorbing member 23 A abuts on the restricting surface 9 b , the shock absorbing member 23 A buckles and the abutting speed of the rack end 7 is reduced.
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Abstract
Description
- This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-066104 filed on Mar. 27, 2014, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Technical Field
- The present invention relates to a steering apparatus.
- 2. Related Art
- In the steering apparatus, a rack shaft moves in a vehicle width direction by a steering operation of a driver and steered wheels are operated. In a steering apparatus including a motor for assisting the steering of the driver, a torque of the motor is transmitted to the rack shaft.
- Incidentally, in the steering apparatus, rack ends are provided in both ends of the rack shaft. Then, the rack ends abut on a housing which houses the rack shaft, thereby controlling movement of the rack shaft.
- A steering apparatus disclosed in JP-UM-A-6-69061 (Patent Document 1) is configured by providing an elastic member in a housing so that rack ends abut on the elastic member. Accordingly, a collision load is absorbed by the elastic member and the collision load inputted to the housing is reduced.
- Furthermore, a steering apparatus in recent years includes the elastic member and controls output of the motor to reduce the speed at which rack ends abut on the housing (hereinafter referred to merely as “abutting speed”) with the object of suppressing damage of other parts such as a rack gear. According to the output control of the motor, the collision load inputted to the housing is further reduced.
- However, it is difficult to reduce the abutting speed of the rack ends, for example, in a power loss state or in the case of the failure of a control circuit which controls the motor output. Accordingly, it is required that the abutting speed of the rack ends can be reduced by methods other than the output control of the motor.
- In view of above, an illustrative aspect of the present invention is to provide a steering apparatus capable of absorbing a collision load by an elastic member as well as reducing the abutting speed of rack ends.
- An aspect of the present invention provides a steering apparatus including: a rack shaft moving in a vehicle width direction; a housing that houses the rack shaft; and rack ends provided at end portions of the rack shaft and abutting on the housing; a collision relaxation member provided on a surface of the housing, the surface being opposed to each rack end in the vehicle width direction, in which the collision relaxation member includes an elastic member arranged in an outer side of the rack shaft in a radial direction and absorbing a collision load from the corresponding rack end, and a shock absorbing member provided in an inner peripheral side of the elastic member and buckling by the abutting of the rack end.
- With this configuration, when the rack end abuts on the elastic member, the collision load is absorbed due to the elastic member and the collision load inputted to the housing is reduced.
- And, when the rack end abuts on the shock absorbing member, the shock absorbing member buckles and the collision load of the rack end is absorbed and the abutting speed of the rack end is reduced. As a result, it is possible to suppress damage of other parts as well as to reduce the collision load inputted to the housing.
- The shock absorbing member may have a tubular shape.
- With this configuration, for example, the collision load to be absorbed is larger than a case where the shock absorbing member is a bar-shaped member extending in the vehicle width direction, therefore, the abutting speed of the rack end is largely reduced. Accordingly, the danger that the other parts are damaged is further reduced as well as the collision load inputted to the housing is also further reduced.
- The elastic member may extend more to the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the shock absorbing member.
- With this configuration, the rack end abuts on the shock absorbing member only when the rack shaft is not stopped by the abutting of the rack end with respect to the elastic body.
- Accordingly, the collision load is absorbed by the elastic member in the normal state (normal range) in which the collision load is small, and the collision load is damped by the elastic member and the shock absorbing member in the fail state (in an excessive-load state) in which the collision load is large.
- Another aspect of the invention provides a steering apparatus including: a rack shaft moving in a vehicle width direction; a housing that houses the rack shaft; rack ends provided at end portions of the rack shaft and abutting on the housing; a collision relaxation member provided on a surface of each rack end, the surface being opposed to the housing in the vehicle width direction, in which the collision relaxation member includes an elastic member arranged in an outer side of the rack shaft in a radial direction and absorbing a collision load inputted to the housing, and a shock absorbing member provided in an outer peripheral side of the elastic member and buckling when abutting on the housing.
- With this configuration, when the elastic member provided in the rack end abuts on the housing, the elastic member is deformed and the collision load inputted to the housing is reduced.
- And, when the shock absorbing member provided in the rack end abuts on the housing, the shock absorbing member buckles and the collision load of the rack end is absorbed, then, abutting speed of the rack end is reduced. As a result, damage of other parts can be suppressed and the collision load inputted to the housing is reduced.
- With any one of the configurations discussed above, it is possible to provide the steering apparatus capable of suppressing damage of other parts and reducing the collision load inputted to the housing by absorbing the collision load and reducing the abutting speed of the rack end by the elastic member.
-
FIG. 1 is a front view of a steering apparatus showing the entire structure of the steering apparatus according to an embodiment; -
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a range surrounded by a dashed line “A” inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3A is a view showing a state where a rack end abuts on an elastic member,FIG. 3B is a view showing a state where the rack end abuts on a shock absorbing member andFIG. 3C is a view showing a state where the shock absorbing member buckles; -
FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a structure of a steering apparatus according to a modification example. - A steering apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
- A steering apparatus 1 is an apparatus mounted on a vehicle and steering steered wheels of the vehicle.
- As shown in
FIG. 1 , the steering apparatus 1 includes asteering wheel 2 operated by a driver, asteering shaft 3 integrally rotating with thesteering wheel 2, atorsion bar 4 connected to a lower end of thesteering shaft 3, apinion shaft 5 connected to a lower end of thetorsion bar 4 and having a pinion (not shown) at a lower end, arack shaft 6 having a rack (not shown) engaged with the pinion,rack ends rack shaft 6,rack end studs rack ends housing 9. - Then, steered wheels (not shown) are respectively connected to the
rack end studs steering wheel 2, therack shaft 6 moves to the left direction or the right direction, and the driver can steer the steered wheels. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , therack end 7 includes a bottomed tubular-shapedrack end housing 10 having abottom portion 11 in an inner side in the vehicle width direction and an attaching shaft (not shown) protruding from thebottom portion 11 to the inner side in the vehicle width direction to be attached to therack shaft 6. - The attaching shafts are male screws in which threads are formed on outer peripheral surfaces, which are screwed to female screw holes (not shown) formed on both end surfaces of the
rack shaft 6 so that the rack ends 7, 7 are fixed to both ends of therack shaft 6. - The
rack end housing 10 houses aball 8 a provided in therack end stud 8 so as to be rotatable, and therack end stud 8 can be folded freely with respect to therack shaft 6. - The
bottom portion 11 of therack end housing 10 has a circular shape. An outside diameter R1 of thebottom portion 11 is larger than an outside diameter of therack shaft 6, and thebottom portion 11 protrudes to an outer side of an outer peripheral surface of therack shaft 6 in a radial direction. Accordingly, when therack end 7 moves to an inner side in the vehicle width direction, the rack end 7 abuts on thehousing 9 which houses therack shaft 6 to thereby control movement of therack shaft 6. - Hereinafter, a surface of the inner side of the
bottom surface 11 in the vehicle width direction abutting on thehousing 9 is referred to as anabutting surface 12. - The
housing 9 is a tubular member in which a through hole S1 piercing in the right and left direction is formed, and therack shaft 6 is inserted into the through hole S1. - Also in the through hole S1 of the
housing 9, a bearing (not shown) supporting therack shaft 6 is provided, and therack shaft 6 is supported so as to move freely in the right and left direction so that a center axis O1 of therack shaft 6 is not shifted to the outer side in the radial direction. - A cylindrical space S2 is formed at an edge of an opening end of the through hole S1 in the
housing 9 by being cut out from the through hole S1 to the outside in the radial direction. A band-shaped wall surface opposed to the outer peripheral surface of therack shaft 6 in wall surfaces of thehousing 9 facing the cylindrical space S2 is referred to as an innerperipheral wall surface 9 a, and a disk-shaped surface facing the outer side in the vehicle width direction and opposed to theabutting surface 12 of therack end 7 is referred to as a restrictingsurface 9 b. - The restricting
surface 9 b is an example of a “surface opposed to the rack end in the vehicle width direction. - An inside diameter L2 of the cylindrical space S2 is larger than an outside diameter L1 of the abutting
surface 12 of therack end 7. Accordingly, therack end 7 enters the space S2 and the collision load of therack end 7 is inputted to the restrictingsurface 9 b. - Additionally, a
collision relaxation member 20 is disposed in the outer side of the restrictingsurface 9 b in the vehicle width direction for reducing the collision load inputted to the restrictingsurface 9 b. - The
collision relaxation member 20 has a cylindrical shape, and therack shaft 6 is inserted into an internal space of thecollision relaxation member 20. - The
collision relaxation member 20 includes a cylindrical holdingportion 21 extending along the innerperipheral wall surface 9 a, a cylindricalelastic member 22 provided in an inner peripheral side of the holdingportion 21 and a cylindricalshock absorbing member 23 provided in an inner peripheral side of theelastic member 22. - The holding
portion 21 is a member for holding theelastic member 22 and theshock absorbing member 23, which is formed by a metal member or a resin member. The holdingportion 21 is also fixed to thehousing 9, and anend portion 21 a in an inner side of the holdingportion 21 in the vehicle width direction extends to the inner side in the radial direction to cover the restrictingsurface 9 b. - The
elastic member 22 is for absorbing the collision of therack end 7. - The
elastic member 22 is made of an elastomer such as urethane resin or natural rubber, which is restored to an original shape by a restoring force even when it is deformed by the abutting of therack end 7. - The
elastic member 22 is formed by an insert molding and so on, and is fixed to thehousing 9 through the holdingportion 21. - A
tip portion 22 a (an end portion of an outer side in the vehicle end direction) of theelastic member 22 extends more to the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the holdingportion 21 as well as extends more to the outer side in the radial direction than the holdingportion 21 to thereby cover the holdingportion 21. Accordingly, therack end 7 entering the space S2 does not contact the holdingportion 21. - An end surface in an inner side of the
elastic member 22 in the vehicle width direction contacts theend portion 21 a of the holdingportion 21, and an outer peripheral surface of theelastic member 22 contacts the holdingportion 21 and thehousing 9. - Accordingly, when the
rack end 7 abuts on theelastic member 22, part of the volume of theelastic member 22 is pushed out to an inner peripheral surface side of theelastic member 22, and theelastic member 22 is deformed so that a length in the vehicle width direction is reduced. - An outer side of the outer peripheral surface of the
elastic member 22 in the vehicle width direction is chamfered so as not to be scraped due to the contact with respect to a corner portion of thebottom portion 11 of therack end 7. - The
shock absorbing member 23 is formed by a metal member, which is provided for buckling when therack end 7 abuts thereon. - An end surface in an outer side of the
shock absorbing member 23 in the vehicle width direction is positioned in the inner side rather than theelastic member 23 in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, when therack shaft 6 is stopped by the abutting of therack end 7 to theelastic member 22, therack end 7 does not abut on theshock absorbing member 23. - The
shock absorbing member 23 is fitted into theelastic member 22, in which acenter portion 23 a of theshock absorbing member 23 can be separated from theelastic member 22 arranged in the outer peripheral side. - The
elastic member 22 contacts the outer peripheral side of theshock absorbing member 23 and an end surface in the inner side of theshock absorbing member 23 in the vehicle width direction abuts on theend portion 21 a the holdingportion 21. - In the
center portion 23 a of theshock absorbing member 23, agroove 23 b which is concave from the inner peripheral surface to the outer side in the radial direction is formed, and thecenter portion 23 a is made to be thinner than both end portions in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, when the shock absorbing member is pushed in the inner side in the vehicle width direction, thecenter portion 23 a of theshock absorbing member 23 easily buckles. - Next, a case where a movement amount of the
rack shaft 6 is large and therack end 7 abuts on thecollision relaxation member 20 will be explained with reference toFIGS. 3A to 3C . - As shown in
FIG. 3A , when therack end 7 enters the space S2 of thehousing 9, the abuttingsurface 12 of therack end 7 abuts on thetip portion 22 a of the elastic member 22 (see F1 ofFIG. 3A ). - Then, the
elastic member 22 to which the collision load of therack end 7 has been inputted is deformed to absorb the collision load, therefore, the reduced collision load is inputted to the restrictingsurface 9 b. - As described above, in the normal state (normal range) in which the collision load is small, the
rack shaft 6 is stopped when therack end 7 abuts on theelastic member 22. - The
shock absorbing member 23 is moved to the inner side in the radial direction due to deformation of theelastic member 22. - On the other hand, in a case where the
rack end 7 abuts on theelastic member 22 but therack shaft 6 is not stopped (in an excessive-load state), therack end 7 further moves to the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the abuttingsurface 12 of therack end 7 abuts on theshock absorbing member 23 as shown inFIG. 3B (see F2 ofFIG. 3B ). - Then, as shown in
FIG. 3C , theshock absorbing member 23 to which the collision load of therack end 7 has been inputted buckles, and thecenter portion 23 a of theshock absorbing member 23 protrudes toward the radial direction. As a result, the collision load of therack end 7 is absorbed by the buckling of theshock absorbing member 23, and the abutting speed of therack end 7 is reduced. - Though the
center portion 23 a of theshock absorbing member 23 buckles so as to protrude to the inner side in the radial direction inFIG. 3C , this is an example of buckling of theshock absorbing member 23, and a case where thecenter portion 23 a of theshock absorbing member 23 protrudes toward the outer side in the radial direction as well as a case where thecenter portion 23 a buckles in a bellows state (alternately protruding to the inner side and the outer side in the radial direction) can be also considered. - As described above, the collision load of the
rack end 7 can be absorbed by theelastic member 22 in the steering apparatus 1 according to the embodiment. - The abutting speed of the
rack end 7 is reduced by theshock absorbing member 23. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress damage of other parts such as the rack gear. Furthermore, the collision load to be inputted to thehousing 9 can be also reduced as the collision load of therack end 7 is reduced. - The steering apparatus 1 according to the embodiment has been explained as the above, the present invention is not limited to this. The steering apparatus I according to the embodiment is a rack-and-pinion type, however, a ball-nut type apparatus can be also applied.
- The steering apparatus 1 according to the embodiment may include a motor-driven assist mechanism or a hydraulic assist mechanism assisting the steering of the driver.
- Though the
collision relaxation member 20 of the present embodiment includes the holdingportion 21, it is also preferable that the holding portion is not included in the present invention. - Though the
groove 23 b is formed in theshock absorbing member 23 of the present embodiment, theshock absorbing member 23 in which thegroove 23 b is not formed can be applied in the present invention. - Furthermore, the
shock absorbing member 23 is formed by a metal member which is not elastically deformed in the present embodiment, however, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shock absorbing member may be made of an elastomer. - Though the
shock absorbing member 23 according to the embodiment has a tubular shape, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a bar-shaped member extending in the vehicle width direction can be applied. When such plate-shapedshock absorbing member 23 is used, both ends in the vehicle width direction are fixed to theelastic member 22 by adhesion or pressure bonding. - According to the structure, the plate-shaped
shock absorbing member 23 buckles to thereby reduce the abutting speed of therack end 7. In the case of the bar-shapedshock absorbing member 23, plural members can be disposed around therack shaft 6. - Furthermore, the collision relaxation member (the
elastic member 22 and the shock absorbing member 23) is provided in thehousing 9 in the present embodiment, however, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, acollision relaxation member 20A may be provided in the abuttingsurface 12 of therack end 7 as shown inFIG. 4 . - Then, in the case where the
collision relaxation member 20A is provided in therack end 7, thecollision relaxation member 20A includes acylindrical holding portion 21A extending along the outer peripheral surface of therack shaft 6, a cylindricalelastic member 22A provided in an outer peripheral side of the holdingportion 21A and a cylindricalshock absorbing member 23A provided in an outer peripheral side of theelastic member 22A. - According to the structure, when the
rack end 7 enters the space S2 of thehousing 9 and theelastic member 22A abuts on the restrictingsurface 9 b, theelastic member 22A is deformed and the collision load is absorbed. - Additionally, when the
shock absorbing member 23A abuts on the restrictingsurface 9 b, theshock absorbing member 23A buckles and the abutting speed of therack end 7 is reduced. - As described above, also in a steering apparatus 1A according to the modification example, damage of other parts such as the rack gear can be suppressed and the reduced collision load is inputted to the
housing 9.
Claims (5)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2014-066104 | 2014-03-27 | ||
JP2014066104A JP6087311B2 (en) | 2014-03-27 | 2014-03-27 | Steering device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20150274194A1 true US20150274194A1 (en) | 2015-10-01 |
US9156493B1 US9156493B1 (en) | 2015-10-13 |
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ID=52674833
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US14/604,035 Active US9156493B1 (en) | 2014-03-27 | 2015-01-23 | Steering apparatus |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US9156493B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP6087311B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN104943736B (en) |
GB (1) | GB2524626B (en) |
Cited By (7)
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US20180334187A1 (en) * | 2017-05-18 | 2018-11-22 | Jtekt Corporation | Steering system |
US10717461B2 (en) * | 2016-12-08 | 2020-07-21 | Jtekt Corporation | Steering apparatus |
US10988171B2 (en) * | 2019-04-04 | 2021-04-27 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | Steering rack stopper |
US11242086B2 (en) * | 2017-06-29 | 2022-02-08 | Hitachi Astemo, Ltd. | Vehicle steering device |
WO2024022869A1 (en) * | 2022-07-29 | 2024-02-01 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Multi-axis damper for steering rack bar |
WO2024022866A1 (en) * | 2022-07-29 | 2024-02-01 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Multi-axis damper for steering rack bar |
WO2024022867A1 (en) * | 2022-07-29 | 2024-02-01 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Multi-axis damper for steering rack bar |
Families Citing this family (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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JP6413329B2 (en) * | 2013-12-03 | 2018-10-31 | 株式会社ジェイテクト | Steering device |
JP6458355B2 (en) * | 2014-05-15 | 2019-01-30 | 株式会社ジェイテクト | Ball joint and steering apparatus having the joint |
DE102014113666A1 (en) * | 2014-09-22 | 2016-03-24 | Trw Automotive Gmbh | Rack and pinion steering for motor vehicles |
JP6534907B2 (en) * | 2015-10-22 | 2019-06-26 | 株式会社ジェイテクト | Damper apparatus and steering apparatus |
JP6686574B2 (en) * | 2016-03-15 | 2020-04-22 | 株式会社ジェイテクト | Damper device and steering device |
JP6756556B2 (en) * | 2016-09-15 | 2020-09-16 | 日立オートモティブシステムズ株式会社 | Steering device |
CN110603186A (en) | 2017-06-29 | 2019-12-20 | 株式会社昭和 | Steering device for vehicle |
CN110678377B (en) * | 2017-08-10 | 2022-04-08 | 日立安斯泰莫株式会社 | Steering device |
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JPH0669061U (en) | 1993-03-11 | 1994-09-27 | 自動車機器株式会社 | Rack and pinion type steering device stopper sound prevention structure |
JPH1178914A (en) | 1997-08-29 | 1999-03-23 | Nok Megurasutikku Kk | Stopper |
JP4180208B2 (en) * | 1999-11-25 | 2008-11-12 | 株式会社ショーワ | Tie rod mounting structure in center take-off type power steering system |
US6422779B1 (en) * | 2000-01-18 | 2002-07-23 | Trw Inc. | Ball joint |
JP3676661B2 (en) * | 2000-08-30 | 2005-07-27 | 光洋精工株式会社 | Rack and pinion steering system |
JP4133504B2 (en) | 2003-03-27 | 2008-08-13 | 株式会社ショーワ | Power steering device |
JP4186110B2 (en) * | 2003-07-31 | 2008-11-26 | 株式会社ジェイテクト | Steering device |
KR20080036200A (en) * | 2005-07-22 | 2008-04-25 | 인피니트랙, 엘엘씨 | Steering systems, steering and speed coordination systems, and associated vehicles |
JP2008024076A (en) * | 2006-07-19 | 2008-02-07 | Toyota Motor Corp | Steering device |
JP4828353B2 (en) * | 2006-08-24 | 2011-11-30 | 日立オートモティブシステムズ株式会社 | Steering device |
JP5041211B2 (en) * | 2007-03-13 | 2012-10-03 | 株式会社ジェイテクト | Steering device |
JP2009040076A (en) | 2007-08-06 | 2009-02-26 | Toyota Motor Corp | Steering device |
JP5131449B2 (en) * | 2007-10-05 | 2013-01-30 | 日本精工株式会社 | Rack stroke end impact mitigation device |
JP5218831B2 (en) * | 2008-07-31 | 2013-06-26 | 株式会社ジェイテクト | Rack shaft support device and vehicle steering device |
JP5504281B2 (en) * | 2009-12-24 | 2014-05-28 | 本田技研工業株式会社 | Shock absorber of rack and pinion type steering mechanism |
CN102730051A (en) * | 2011-03-31 | 2012-10-17 | 本田技研工业株式会社 | Vehicle steering device |
JP2013230769A (en) * | 2012-04-27 | 2013-11-14 | Jtekt Corp | Steering device |
JP6051804B2 (en) * | 2012-11-16 | 2016-12-27 | 株式会社ジェイテクト | Steering device |
JP6209114B2 (en) * | 2014-03-26 | 2017-10-04 | 株式会社ショーワ | Steering device |
-
2014
- 2014-03-27 JP JP2014066104A patent/JP6087311B2/en active Active
-
2015
- 2015-01-23 US US14/604,035 patent/US9156493B1/en active Active
- 2015-01-27 GB GB1501286.7A patent/GB2524626B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2015-01-28 CN CN201510044142.2A patent/CN104943736B/en active Active
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10717461B2 (en) * | 2016-12-08 | 2020-07-21 | Jtekt Corporation | Steering apparatus |
US20180334187A1 (en) * | 2017-05-18 | 2018-11-22 | Jtekt Corporation | Steering system |
US11242086B2 (en) * | 2017-06-29 | 2022-02-08 | Hitachi Astemo, Ltd. | Vehicle steering device |
US10988171B2 (en) * | 2019-04-04 | 2021-04-27 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | Steering rack stopper |
WO2024022869A1 (en) * | 2022-07-29 | 2024-02-01 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Multi-axis damper for steering rack bar |
WO2024022866A1 (en) * | 2022-07-29 | 2024-02-01 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Multi-axis damper for steering rack bar |
WO2024022867A1 (en) * | 2022-07-29 | 2024-02-01 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Multi-axis damper for steering rack bar |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN104943736A (en) | 2015-09-30 |
GB201501286D0 (en) | 2015-03-11 |
JP6087311B2 (en) | 2017-03-01 |
GB2524626A (en) | 2015-09-30 |
US9156493B1 (en) | 2015-10-13 |
JP2015189264A (en) | 2015-11-02 |
GB2524626B (en) | 2020-04-22 |
CN104943736B (en) | 2018-01-05 |
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