JP4669309B2 - Electric steering device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric steering apparatus.

As an electric steering device, as described in Patent Document 1, a handle stay provided with a steering handle is fixed to a steering shaft, and an electric steering assist unit is interposed between the steering shaft and a wheel side steering member. There is something to be.
JP-A-2-93790

  In the electric steering device of Patent Document 1, a handle stay is coupled and fixed to a spline or the like included in the steering shaft. For this reason, when the handle stay is coupled to the steering shaft in the neutral position in the left-right steering direction, the handle stay must be repeated with respect to the spline of the steering shaft in order to attach the mounting angle position of the handle stay to the steering shaft at the correct neutral position. It is necessary to insert and remove, which is complicated.

  Further, the adjustment range of the mounting angle position of the handle stay with respect to the steering shaft cannot be made smaller than one pitch interval of teeth such as a spline and cannot be finely adjusted.

  The deviation of the actual mounting angle position with respect to the correct neutral position of the handle stay is difficult to see with a round handle, but with a bar handle of a saddle-ride type vehicle, etc. Appear.

  In a straddle-type vehicle or the like that uses a bar handle, it is desirable to prevent the bar handle that receives external force from rotating with respect to the steering shaft when the vehicle falls.

  An object of the present invention is to easily attach a handle stay provided with a bar handle to a correct attachment angle position with respect to a steering shaft and prevent rotation with respect to the steering shaft in an electric steering apparatus.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric steering apparatus in which a handle stay provided with a bar handle is fixed to a steering shaft, and an electric steering assist unit is interposed between the steering shaft and a wheel side steering member. The taper support part provided on the shaft is coupled and fixed to the taper coupling part provided on the handle stay, and the restricted part provided on the handle stay can be engaged with the rotation restricting part provided on the steering shaft around the steering shaft. The bar handle is prevented from freely rotating, the rotation restricting portion of the steering shaft is a rotation regulation pin protruding in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft, the restricted portion of the handle stay is the restricted groove, and the rotation restriction The pin and the regulated groove are engaged with each other through a clearance around the steering shaft .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the tapered support portion of the steering shaft is a tapered shaft, the tapered connecting portion of the handle stay is a tapered hole, and the tapered hole of the handle stay is formed on the tapered shaft of the steering shaft. In the coupled state, the male screw part coaxial with the taper shaft in the steering shaft is passed through the insertion hole coaxial with the taper hole of the handle stay, and a nut is fastened to the end protruding from the insertion hole of the male screw part. It was made to become.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the tapered support portion of the steering shaft is a tapered shaft, the tapered coupling portion of the handle stay is a tapered hole, and the tapered hole of the handle stay is formed on the tapered shaft of the steering shaft. In the coupled state, a bolt is passed through an insertion hole that is coaxial with the taper hole of the handle stay, and the male screw portion that protrudes from the insertion hole of the bolt is fastened to the female screw portion that is coaxial with the taper shaft on the steering shaft. It was made to become.

The invention of claim 4 is a straddle-type vehicle using the electric steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

(Claims 1 to 3)
(a) Check the mounting angle position of the handle stay with respect to the steering shaft with the handle stay taper hole (taper coupling portion) lightly inserted in the steering shaft taper shaft (taper support portion). If the mounting angle position of the handle stay is deviated from the correct position, the taper hole of the handle stay is rotated as it is without inserting / removing the taper shaft of the steering shaft to adjust the position. When the handle angle of the steering wheel stay is determined to be the correct position, the taper hole of the steering wheel stay may be permanently tightened and fixed to the steering shaft taper shaft.

  (b) The adjustment of the mounting angle position of the handle stay with respect to the steering shaft is performed by steplessly turning the tapered hole of the handle stay with respect to the tapered shaft of the steering shaft, and fine adjustment can be made steplessly.

  (c) In a bar handle in which a deviation of the actual mounting angle position with respect to the correct neutral position of the handle stay is noticeable, the deviation of the mounting angle position can be easily adjusted by the above (a) and (b).

  (d) Steering shaft rotation restricting pin (rotation restricting portion) can be engaged with a restricted groove (controlled portion) of the handle stay around the axis of the steering shaft so that the bar handle is attached to the steering shaft when the vehicle falls. Can be prevented against rotation.

(e) Since a clearance is provided between the rotation restriction pin of the steering shaft and the regulated groove of the handle stay, the handle stay mounting angle according to the above (a) and (b) even if the rotation restriction pin exists. Does not interfere with position adjustment.

(Claim 4 )
(f) The above-described (a) to (e) can be advantageously realized in the saddle riding type vehicle.

  1 is a schematic diagram showing a saddle-ride type vehicle, FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an electric steering device, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an electric steering auxiliary unit, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a handle stay and a steering shaft. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a modification of the handle stay and the steering shaft.

  A straddle-type vehicle 100 of FIG. 1 is used as a rough terrain vehicle such as a buggy or a snowmobile, and includes an electric steering device 1. The electric steering device 1 fixes a handle stay 3 provided with a bar handle 2 as a steering handle to a steering shaft 4 as described later, and an electric steering auxiliary unit between the steering shaft 4 and the wheel side steering member 5. 10 is inserted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the electric steering device 1 supports the steering shaft 4 rotatably on a support member 6 </ b> A of the upper vehicle body stay 6 via a bearing described later. The wheel side steering member 5 is rotatably supported by a support member 7A of the lower vehicle body side stay 7 via a bearing, and a pitman arm 8A is fixed to an intermediate portion. The pitman arm 8A is connected to the left and right front wheels 9 via the left and right tie rods 8. The upper and lower body side stays 6 and 7 are supported by the body frame.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electric steering assist unit 10 includes a first housing (upper housing or upper cover) 11, a second housing (main body housing) 12, and a third housing (lower housing or lower cover) 13. The unit body 10A is configured to include an input shaft 21, an output shaft 22, a torque sensor 23, an electric motor 24, a worm gear 25, and a worm wheel 26.

  In the electric steering assist unit 10, the upper end portion of the input shaft 21 to which the steering shaft 4 is connected by the connector 4A is supported by the first housing 11 by the bearing 31 (FIG. 3), and the wheel side steering member 5 is connected to the connector 5A. The upper and lower ends of the output shaft 22 connected to each other are supported on the second housing and the third housing 13 by upper and lower bearings 32A and 32B (FIG. 3). The input shaft 21 includes a serration 21A for connection with the connection tool 4A at the upper end outer peripheral portion, and the output shaft 22 includes a serration 22A for connection with the connection tool 5A at the lower end outer peripheral portion. A torsion bar 27 is inserted into the hollow portion of the input shaft 21, one end of the torsion bar 27 is connected to the input shaft 21 with a connecting pin 27 </ b> A, and the other end of the torsion bar 27 is inserted into the hollow portion of the output shaft 22. Serrated combined.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the torque sensor 23 includes two detection coils 23 </ b> A and 23 </ b> B surrounding the cylindrical core 23 </ b> C engaged with the input shaft 21 and the output shaft 22 in the first housing 11. The core 23 </ b> C includes a vertical groove 23 </ b> E that engages with the guide pin 23 </ b> D of the output shaft 22 and can move only in the axial direction, and includes a spiral groove 23 </ b> G that engages with the slider pin 23 </ b> F of the input shaft 21. As a result, a steering torque applied to the steering handle is applied to the input shaft 21, and when a relative displacement in the rotational direction occurs between the input shaft 21 and the output shaft 22 due to elastic torsional deformation of the torsion bar 27, the input shaft 21. The displacement in the rotational direction of the output shaft 22 causes the core 23C to be displaced in the axial direction, and the inductance of the detection coils 23A and 23B caused by the magnetic change around the detection coils 23A and 23B due to the displacement of the core 23C. Change. That is, when the core 23C moves toward the input shaft 21, the inductance of the detection coil 23A closer to the core 23C increases, and the inductance of the detection coil 23B farther away from the core 23C decreases. Torque can be detected.

  The electric motor 24 is mounted and supported on the second housing 12 by mounting bolts 28, and is driven by a controller (not shown) according to the torque detected by the torque sensor 23. A worm gear 25 is coupled to a rotating shaft of the electric motor 24 by a joint, and a worm wheel 26 meshing with the worm gear 25 is fixed to the output shaft 22. The worm gear 25 is supported by the second housing 12 at both ends by left and right bearings (not shown). The worm wheel 26 is fixed to the output shaft 22 directly below the upper bearing 32 </ b> A of the output shaft 22 inside the second housing 12.

  Therefore, in the electric steering assist unit 10, the upper end portion of the input shaft 21 and the torque sensor 23 are supported by the first housing 11, and the upper end portion of the output shaft 22, the electric motor 24, and the worm gear 25 are supported by the second housing 12. The worm wheel 26 is supported, the lower end portion of the output shaft 22 is supported on the third housing 13, the first housing 11 and the second housing 12 are fastened by the mounting bolts 14, and the second housing 12 and the third housing 13 are connected. The unit unit 10 </ b> A is configured by fastening with the mounting bolts 15. An oil seal 33 is sealed in the upper opening of the bearing 31 in the first housing 11, and an oil seal 34 is sealed in the lower opening of the bearing 32 </ b> B in the third housing 13.

  Then, the electric steering assist unit 10 enables the second housing 12 to be attached to the vehicle body side. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electric steering assist unit 10 includes elastic members 51 such as rubber bushes on both sides of mounting bosses 12 </ b> A provided at a plurality of circumferential positions (for example, three positions) on the outer periphery of the second housing 12. 52, and between the upper and lower support pieces 18A, 18B of the bifurcated support portion 18 provided at a plurality of positions corresponding to the mounting boss 12A of the vehicle body side bracket 17, the mounting boss is interposed via the elastic members 51, 52. 12A is sandwiched. The upper and lower support pieces 18A, 18B are mounted by mounting bolts 16 (nuts 16A) inserted into bolt holes provided in the support pieces 18A, 18B, the elastic members 51, 52, and the mounting bosses 12A of the bifurcated support portion 18, respectively. The mounting boss 12A is held in a floating fixed state via the elastic members 51 and 52. The vehicle body side bracket 17 is supported by the vehicle body frame.

  The electric steering device 1 supports the steering shaft 4 and the electric steering assist unit when the steering shaft 4 is supported by the support member 6A of the vehicle body side stay 6 and the electric steering assist unit 10 is supported by the vehicle body side bracket 17. 10 to improve the connection workability with the input shaft 21 and prevent the axial load of the pulling or pushing acting from the bar handle 2 to the steering shaft 4 from reaching the torque sensor 23 via the input shaft 21. Therefore, the spherical plain bearing 60 is attached to the support member 6A of the vehicle body side stay 6, and the steering shaft 4 is supported rotatably and axially immovably on the bearing 70 fixed to the inner periphery of the spherical plain bearing 60.

  The spherical plain bearing 60 can simultaneously apply a radial load of the steering shaft 4 and a thrust load in both directions (upward and downward), and the outer peripheral spherical surface of the inner ring 62 is connected to the inner peripheral spherical surface of the outer ring 61 via a lubricating liner. It is what was made to contact. The bearing 70 is formed of, for example, an angular ball bearing that can simultaneously apply a radial load and a thrust load of the steering shaft 4.

  In the spherical plain bearing 60, the outer ring 61 is fixed to the inner circumference of the annular support member 6A of the vehicle body side stay 6 by press fitting or other means. The outer ring 71 of the bearing 70 is inserted into the inner periphery of the inner ring 62 of the spherical slide bearing 60, and the inner ring 62 is in a state where one end surface of the outer ring 71 of the bearing 70 abuts against the inner peripheral step portion of the inner ring 62 of the spherical slide bearing 60. The other end surface of the outer ring 71 is pressed by a nut 81 screwed to the inner periphery of the outer ring 71, and the outer ring 71 is sandwiched and fixed between the nut 81 and the inner peripheral stepped portion of the inner ring 62. Then, the steering shaft 4 is inserted into the inner ring 72 of the bearing 70, and the nut 82 is screwed onto the steering shaft 4 in a state where one end surface of the inner ring 72 is abutted against the flange portion f provided at the intermediate portion of the steering shaft 4. The other end surface of the inner ring 72 is pressed, and the inner ring 72 is sandwiched and fixed between the nut 82 and the flange portion f of the steering shaft 4.

  The outer ring 61 of the spherical plain bearing 60 may be constituted by the support member 6 </ b> A itself of the vehicle body side stay 6.

  In addition, the electric steering device 1 includes the following configuration in order to allow the handle stay 3 provided with the bar handle 2 to be easily attached to the correct attachment angle position with respect to the steering shaft 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the handle stay 3 is fixed to the left and right lower holders 2A, the intermediate portion of the bar handle 2 is placed on the lower holder 2A, and the left and right upper holders 2B are put on the left and right upper holders 2B. The bar handle 2 is attached to the handle stay 3 as a result of being fixed to the handle stay 3 by the bolt 2C.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the electric steering device 1 includes a taper shaft 91 as a taper support portion provided on the upper end side of the steering shaft 4, and a taper coupling portion provided on the bottom cylindrical boss 3 </ b> A. The tapered hole 92 is coupled. The taper shaft 91 has a taper outer peripheral surface, and the taper hole 92 has a taper inner peripheral surface. These tapers are easy to bite into each other as a small taper of 1/8, 1/10 or the like.

  The electric steering apparatus 1 is provided coaxially with the tapered shaft 91 on the upper end surface of the tapered shaft 91 in the steering shaft 4 with the tapered hole 92 of the handle stay 3 coupled to the tapered shaft 91 of the steering shaft 4. The male thread portion 91A is passed through an insertion hole 92A provided coaxially with the tapered hole 92 in the handle stay 3, and a nut 93 is fastened to the end protruding from the insertion hole 92A of the male thread portion 91A. The taper hole 92 is tightened and fixed.

  The electric steering device 1 has the following configuration in order to prevent the handle stay 3 from rotating with respect to the steering shaft 4.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the electric steering device 1 serves as a rotation restricting portion included in the steering shaft 4 and is perpendicular to the diameter of the steering shaft 4 on the diameter immediately below the outer periphery of the tapered shaft 91 of the steering shaft 4. It has a rotation restricting pin 91B protruding in the direction. Further, as the regulated portion provided in the handle stay 3, there is a regulated groove 92 </ b> B that is engraved on the diameter immediately below the tapered hole 92 in the lower surface cylindrical boss 3 </ b> A of the handle stay 3.

  In the state where the tapered shaft 91 of the steering shaft 4 is coupled to the tapered hole 92 of the handle stay 3, the electric steering device 1 includes the regulated groove 92 </ b> B of the handle stay 3 on the rotation regulating pin 91 </ b> B of the steering shaft 4. The bar handle 2 is prevented from freely rotating. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the rotation restricting pin 91B and the restricted groove 92B are set so that the groove width of the groove 92B is larger than the diameter of the pin 91B, and are engaged with each other around the axis of the steering shaft 4 via a clearance. The

  Therefore, the handle stay 3 provided with the bar handle 2 is attached to the steering shaft 4 as follows.

  (1) Attach the bar handle 2 to the handle stay 3.

(2) The tapered hole 92 of the handle stay 3 is lightly inserted into the tapered shaft 91 of the steering shaft 4. At the same time, the regulated groove 92B of the handle stay 3 is engaged with the rotation regulating pin 91B of the steering shaft 4.
At this time, the steering shaft 4 is set at a neutral position in the left-right steering direction.

  (3) If the mounting angle position of the handle stay 3 with respect to the steering shaft 4 is deviated from the correct position by comparing the extending direction of the left and right of the bar handle 2 with the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 100, etc. The position is adjusted by turning 92 as it is without inserting or removing the taper shaft 91 of the steering shaft 4.

  (4) When the mounting angle position of the handle stay 3 is determined to be the correct position, a nut 93 is fastened to the male thread portion 91A of the steering shaft 4 protruding from the insertion hole 92A of the handle stay 3, and the taper hole 92 of the handle stay 3 is secured. Is tightened to the taper shaft 91 of the steering shaft 4 and fixed as it is.

  In the electric steering device 1, the steering torque applied to the bar handle 2 is detected by the torque sensor 23, the electric motor 24 is driven by the detected torque, and the generated torque of the electric motor 24 is converted to the worm gear 25 and the worm wheel 26. To the output shaft 22 via As a result, the torque generated by the electric motor 24 is used as an assist force for the steering force applied to the bar handle 2 by the driver.

According to the present embodiment, the following operational effects can be obtained.
(a) The taper hole 92 of the handle stay 3 is rotated as it is without being inserted into and removed from the taper shaft 91 of the steering shaft 4 to adjust the position thereof, and the taper hole 92 of the handle stay 3 is adjusted to the taper shaft 91 of the steering shaft 4. On the other hand, it is sufficient to fix it as it is, and it is simple.

  (b) Adjustment of the mounting angle position of the handle stay 3 with respect to the steering shaft 4 is performed by turning the taper hole 92 of the handle stay 3 with respect to the taper shaft 91 of the steering shaft 4 in a stepless manner. Can be adjusted.

  (c) In the bar handle 2 in which the deviation of the actual mounting angle position with respect to the correct neutral position of the handle stay 3 appears remarkably, the deviation of the mounting angle position can be easily adjusted by the above (a) and (b).

  (d) The restricted groove 92B (controlled part) of the handle stay 3 can be engaged with the rotation restricting pin 91B (rotation restricting part) of the steering shaft 4 around the axis of the steering shaft 4 so that when the vehicle 100 falls. The bar handle 2 can be prevented from rotating with respect to the steering shaft 4.

  (e) Since a clearance is provided between the rotation restricting pin 91B of the steering shaft 4 and the restricted groove 92B of the handle stay 3, even if the rotation restricting pin 91B exists, the aforementioned (a), (b) The adjustment operation of the mounting angle position of the handle stay 3 is not hindered.

  (f) The above-described (a) to (e) can be advantageously realized in the saddle riding type vehicle 100.

  In addition, the fixing structure of the taper shaft 91 and the taper hole 92 in the electric steering apparatus 1 may be as shown in FIG. That is, in a state where the taper hole 92 of the handle stay 3 is coupled to the taper shaft 91 of the steering shaft 4, the bolt 94 is passed through the insertion hole 92 </ b> A that is coaxial with the taper hole 92 of the handle stay 3, and from the insertion hole 92 </ b> A of the bolt 94. The protruding male screw portion 94A is fastened to a female screw portion 95 coaxial with the taper shaft 91 in the steering shaft 4, and the taper shaft 91 and the taper hole 92 are tightened and fixed.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and even if there is a design change or the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. It is included in the present invention. For example, the taper coupling portion provided in the handle stay 3 may be a taper shaft, and the taper support portion provided in the steering shaft 4 may be a taper hole. Alternatively, the restricted portion of the handle stay 3 may be a pin, and the rotation restricting portion of the steering shaft 4 may be a groove.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a saddle riding type vehicle. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the electric steering apparatus. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the electric steering assist unit. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the handle stay and the steering shaft. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing a modification of the handle stay and the steering shaft.

Explanation of symbols

1 Electric steering device 2 Bar handle (steering handle)
3 Steering wheel stay 4 Steering shaft 5 Wheel-side steering member 10 Electric steering assist unit 91 Tapered shaft (taper support)
91A Male thread part 91B Rotation restriction pin (Rotation restriction part)
92 Tapered hole (taper joint)
92A insertion hole 92B regulated groove (regulated part)
93 Nut 94 Bolt 94A Male thread part 95 Female thread part 100 Saddle type vehicle

Claims (4)

In an electric steering device in which a handle stay provided with a bar handle is fixed to a steering shaft, and an electric steering assist unit is interposed between the steering shaft and a wheel side steering member,
A taper coupling part provided in the handle stay is coupled and fixed to a taper support part provided in the steering shaft,
The rotation restricting portion provided in the steering shaft can be engaged with the restricted portion provided in the handle stay around the steering shaft, thereby preventing free rotation of the bar handle .
The rotation restricting portion of the steering shaft is a rotation regulation pin that protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft, the restricted portion of the handle stay is a restricted groove, and the rotation restricting pin and the restricted groove have a clearance around the axis of the steering shaft. An electric steering apparatus characterized in that it is engaged through a door.   The steering shaft taper support portion is a taper shaft, the handle stay taper coupling portion is a taper hole, and the steering shaft taper shaft is coupled to the steering shaft taper shaft so that the steering shaft is coaxial with the taper shaft. The electric steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the screw portion is passed through an insertion hole that is coaxial with the tapered hole of the handle stay, and a nut is fastened to an end portion of the male screw portion protruding from the insertion hole.   The steering shaft taper support portion is a taper shaft, the handle stay taper coupling portion is a taper hole, and the steering shaft taper shaft is coupled to the handle stay taper shaft, and is inserted coaxially with the handle stay taper hole. 2. The electric steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a bolt is passed through the hole, and a male screw portion protruding from the insertion hole of the bolt is fastened to a female screw portion that is coaxial with the taper shaft in the steering shaft. A straddle-type vehicle using the electric steering apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 .

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