JP2007015516A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering device provided with a stopper mechanism having less influence accompanying with vertical reciprocation of a suspension. <P>SOLUTION: The stopper mechanisms 6, 7 for restricting a turning angle of a wheel are provided between a guide member 1 for guiding a tie rod 4 moving in a vehicle width direction and the tie rod 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle steering apparatus, and more particularly to a stopper mechanism that regulates a turning angle of a wheel.

As a conventional stopper mechanism for regulating the turning angle of a wheel, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.
This stopper mechanism is composed of a stopper member protruding from the suspension link and a stopper receiving surface provided on the knuckle, and regulates the maximum turning angle of the wheel by bringing the tip of the stopper member into contact with the receiving surface. Is.
JP 2003-54438 A

In the above configuration, the stopper member is provided on the suspension link that swings up and down with bound and rebound, and the stopper receiving surface is provided on the knuckle that swings up and down and rolls with turning. In other words, the swinging member is provided with a stopper member and a receiving surface, but other suspension links, shock absorbers, brakes, piping, and other parts are arranged around the knuckle and the suspension link. In consideration of such interference of components, it is necessary to arrange the components constituting the stopper member and the receiving surface.
The present invention has been made paying attention to the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a steering device including a stopper mechanism that is less affected by the vertical swing of the suspension.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention includes a rack shaft that is guided by a guide member extending in the vehicle width direction and is displaceable in the vehicle width direction, and the rack shaft is adjusted in accordance with steering of the steering wheel. A rack mechanism in which the amount of protrusion of the rack shaft outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to the guide member is changed, a wheel support member that supports the wheel so as to be steerable, and an end of the rack shaft are coupled to each other. In a steering device comprising a tie rod,
A stopper mechanism for restricting the turning angle of the wheel is provided between the guide member and the tie rod.

  According to the present invention, the degree of freedom in layout is increased by disposing the stopper mechanism at the coupling position between the rack shaft and the tie rod, which is small in displacement due to the vertical swing of the suspension.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a stopper mechanism according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view thereof.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rack shaft 2 extends in the vehicle width direction by being guided by a cylindrical guide member 1 extending in the vehicle width direction. The rack shaft 2 is connected to the steering wheel via a pinion and a steering shaft, and moves in the left-right direction according to the steering amount of the steering wheel, so that the protruding amount from the guide member 1 changes.

The tip of the rack shaft 2 is connected to the inner end of the tie rod 4 via a ball joint 3 which is a universal joint. The outer end portion of the tie rod 4 is connected to the knuckle 5 via a ball joint 12. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 20 denotes a suspension link.
A first projecting portion 6 having the shape shown in FIG. 3 is attached to the inner end side of the tie rod 4. That is, the first overhang portion 6 includes a conical member 8 having a large diameter toward the rack shaft 2 side, and an inward flange-like attachment portion 9 provided on the knuckle 5 side of the conical member 8. .

And the spherical body 3a which comprises the ball joint 3 is provided in the inner end of the said tie rod 4, The attaching part 9 of the said 1st overhang | projection part 6 is attached to the knuckle 5 side position rather than the spherical body, and the said cone The member 8 protrudes toward the rack shaft 2 coaxially with the tie rod 4. Reference numeral 21 denotes a nut.
In addition, the end portion of the guide member 1 includes a second projecting portion 7 having a circular cross section that projects toward the tie rod 4, and the tip portion 8 a of the conical member 8 in the second projecting portion 7. A receiving surface 10 that abuts the tip 8a of the conical member 8 is formed in an annular shape around the rack shaft 2 at a portion facing the rack shaft 2 in the axial direction. Further, a cylindrical third projecting portion 11 projecting toward the tie rod 4 side is formed on the outer diameter side of the annular receiving surface 10.

  In the non-steering state as shown in FIG. 1, the distance between the tip 8a of the conical member 8 and the receiving surface 10 is such that it does not come into contact even if the suspension is bound or rebound. On the other hand, as the tie rod 4 is displaced to the left and right in accordance with the steering of the steering wheel and the end of the tie rod 4 on one side moves inward in the vehicle width direction, the tip 8a of the conical member 8 becomes the receiving surface 10. Get closer to. At this time, the tip 8a is set so that it can come into contact with the receiving surface 10.

Next, operations and effects of the above configuration will be described.
The rack shaft 2 moves in the left-right direction according to the steering amount of the steering wheel, and the amount of protrusion of the rack shaft 2 from the guide member 1 changes. At this time, the end of the rack shaft 2 on the side corresponding to the steering direction moves toward the guide member 1 (the amount of protrusion from the guide member 1 decreases), so that the rack shaft 2 is provided on the guide member 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the tip 8 a of the conical member 8 approaches the receiving surface 10 so that it can come into contact.

  When the suspension strokes up and down during such turning, the tip 8a of the conical member 8 comes into contact with the receiving surface 10 and the cutting angle is regulated. Further, as the suspension strokes, the tie rod 4 causes the rack shaft 2 to exert a force that pulls the rack shaft 2 outward in the vehicle width direction with the contact point between the receiving surface 10 and the tip 8a as a fulcrum. Reduce the steering angle of the wheel (turn it back). In this way, the stopper function of turning back the steering wheel during bound / rebound is exhibited. When the steering is performed in the opposite direction, the same action as described above occurs on the end side of the other rack shaft 2.

Further, in the vicinity of the connecting portion between the rack shaft 2 and the tie rod 4, normally, no other parts are arranged, so that there is a sufficient space, and the rack shaft 2 is less subject to fluctuation due to the vertical swing of the suspension link. As a result of the stopper mechanism being arranged at the connecting portion of the tie rod 4, the free path in the layout can be enhanced.
Here, since the distal end portion 8a of the conical member 8 has an annular shape that is continuous in the circumferential direction, the distal end portion 8a is highly rigid, and the distal end portion 8a is reliably brought into contact with the receiving surface 10. It is possible, that is, the function of switching back can be surely exhibited. Note that the cross-section is not necessarily circular, and may be elliptical or rectangular.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the said front-end | tip part 8a becomes a circular arc shape convex to the receiving surface 10 side (refer FIG. 2). In the contact portion between the tip portion 8a and the receiving surface 10, a relative displacement in the rotational direction is generated, so that an operating resistance is generated. Even if it occurs, it will always be in a state close to a point contact or a line contact, so that the operating resistance is reduced and the switchback mechanism can function reliably.

Further, since the third projecting portion 11 covers the receiving surface 10, that is, the outer periphery of the contact portion between the receiving surface 10 and the tip 8a, even if there are other components in the vicinity, It is possible to prevent biting when the tip 8a comes into contact with the receiving surface 10.
Here, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it is preferable to cover the outer periphery of the ball joint 3, the first and second overhang portions 7 with a cover member 13 that can be bent. If it does in this way, mixing of a foreign substance can be prevented and the said switchback mechanism can be functioned reliably. In FIG. 5, the flexible covering member 13 which consists of a bellows-like cylinder is illustrated.

Further, when the cover member 13 is provided, the cover member 13 approaches the tip end portion 8a and the receiving surface 10 as the rack shaft moves inward in the vehicle width direction. Biting between the receiving surface 10 and the tip 8a is prevented.
Further, it is preferable to enclose lubricating oil such as grease in the space covered with the covering member 13. When the lubricating oil is enclosed, noise and wear can be suppressed when the distal end portion 8a comes into contact with the receiving surface 10 or when relative displacement occurs between the contacting distal end portion 8a and the receiving surface 10.

In the present embodiment, the oil reservoir groove 7a that is continuous to the receiving surface 10 and extends in the circumferential direction is provided, and the grease is stored in the groove 7a, so that the lubricating oil can easily flow on the receiving surface 10. Yes.
Here, in the said embodiment, the 1st overhang | projection part 6 is formed with the cone-shaped member 8, the front-end | tip part 8a used as a projection part is provided in the tie rod 4 side, and the receiving surface 10 is provided in the guide member 1 side. However, the second overhanging portion 7 on the guide member 1 side may be a projection, and the first overhanging portion 6 may be formed with a receiving surface.

It is a schematic diagram explaining the stopper mechanism which concerns on embodiment based on this invention. It is the elements on larger scale explaining the stopper mechanism which concerns on embodiment based on this invention. It is a perspective view which shows a 1st overhang | projection part. It is a figure which shows the state which is regulating the cutting angle which concerns on embodiment based on this invention. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of a covering member.

Explanation of symbols

1 Guide member 2 Rack shaft 3 Ball joint (universal joint)
4 Tie rod 5 Knuckle 6 First overhang 7 Second overhang 8a Tip (projection)
10 receiving surface 11 third overhanging portion 13 covering member

Claims (7)

A rack shaft that is guided by a guide member extending in the vehicle width direction and is displaceable in the vehicle width direction is provided. The rack shaft is displaced in the vehicle width direction in accordance with steering of the steering wheel, and the rack shaft with respect to the guide member is A rack mechanism in which the amount of protrusion outward in the vehicle width direction changes,
In a steering apparatus comprising: a wheel support member that supports a wheel so as to be steerable; and a tie rod that connects an end of the rack shaft;
A steering device characterized in that a stopper mechanism for regulating a turning angle of a wheel is provided between the guide member and the tie rod. The rack shaft and the tie rod are connected via a universal joint,
The stopper mechanism includes a first projecting portion that is fixed to the tie rod and extends inward in the vehicle width direction, and a second projecting portion that is fixed to an end portion of the guide member and extends outward in the vehicle width direction. ,
2. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the first overhanging portion and the second overhanging portion are set at an interval at which the wheels can come into contact when the wheel is steered by a predetermined angle.   The steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second projecting portions has a structure that is continuous in a circumferential direction about an attachment shaft.   At least one contact portion of the contact portion of the first overhang portion with the second overhang portion and the contact portion of the second overhang portion with the first overhang portion is convex toward the other side. The steering device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the steering device has an arc shape.   The steering apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a cover member that covers the outer periphery of the universal joint and the first and second projecting portions and is flexible.   6. The steering apparatus according to claim 5, wherein lubricating oil is sealed in a space surrounded by the cover.   A receiving surface that receives the tip of the first overhanging portion is provided in the second overhanging portion, and a third overhanging portion that protrudes toward the first overhanging portion on the outer peripheral side of the receiving surface is provided with the second overhanging portion. The steering apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the steering apparatus is provided at a protruding portion.

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