JPH08218Y2 - Lubricator for steering shaft - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention relates to a structure of a lubricating device for a steering shaft of a vehicle.

[Conventional technology]

As shown in FIG. 5, a steering steering shaft used in a vehicle such as a forklift truck has a shaft 85 connected to a steering wheel (not shown).
And a spline shaft 81 connected below the shaft via a universal joint 82. The spline shaft 81 is inserted into the spline hole 94 of the drive unit 91, and the lower end thereof is connected to the gear 92. An uneven spline 811 is formed on the spline shaft 81 so as to be inserted into the spline hole 94. In the figure, reference numeral 83 is a retaining ring, 84 is a connecting pin, and 93 is a bearing.

Grease G as a lubricant is injected into the spline hole 94 of the drive unit 91 between the spline shaft 81 and the spline shaft 81 to maintain lubrication between the two. When the steering wheel (not shown) at the upper end of the steering shaft is turned during steering of the vehicle, the shaft 85 and the spline shaft 8
1 rotates, and the gear 92 rotates.

At this time, the spline shaft 81 slightly slides in the axial direction within the spline hole 94 of the drive unit 91. This is because the so-called assobi is provided so that the spline shaft 81 can slightly move in the axial direction during the above-mentioned rotation.

[Problems to be solved]

However, with the axial movement of the spline shaft 81 during the above rotation, the grease G between the spline shaft 81 and the spline hole 94 comes out through the opening 941 above the spline hole 94. Will end up.
This is because the clearance between the spline 811 of the spline shaft 81 and the spline hole 94 is small, so that the grease G that has adhered to the spline shaft 81 when it rises
However, when the spline shaft 81 enters the spline hole 94, the spline shaft 81 is left so as to be wiped by the opening 941 of the spline hole 94.

Since the grease G is normally only applied between the spline shaft 81 and the spline hole 94 when the spline shaft 81 is assembled, the grease G has a short lubricating life. Therefore, conventionally, the grease G had to be frequently replenished. Since such grease replenishment is performed by removing the spline shaft 81 using a tool, the replenishment work requires labor and time.

In view of such a problem, the present invention can reduce the need for replenishing grease, improve the serviceability of maintenance, and can be easily installed in the existing existing device. An object of the present invention is to provide a lubricating device for a steering shaft.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention is directed to a steering shaft having an upper end connected to a steering wheel and a lower end connected to a plane shaft, a drive unit for inserting the line shaft, a grease ring fixed to an upper end of the drive unit for inserting the line shaft, and the grease. The grease ring has a cap provided so as to surround the spline shaft on the outer side of the ring, and the grease ring has a concave portion for retaining grease along the circumferential direction on the inner side surface facing the spline shaft, and The cap has a top plate through which the spline shaft is inserted, and the top plate has a sliding hole that is substantially the same shape as the outer shape of the spline shaft and is smaller than the outer shape, and the cap is It is characterized in that it is fitted and fixed to the outer circumference of the grease ring. There is a steering shaft lubricator.

What should be noted in the present invention is that a grease ring is provided above the spline hole of the drive unit and a cap is provided so as to surround the spline shaft, and the grease attached to the spline shaft by the top plate of the cap is stored in the concave portion of the grease ring. The reason is that the grease was pushed back to the direction of the spline hole.

The sliding hole provided on the top plate serves to insert the spline shaft and scrape off the grease attached to the spline shaft to the inside of the top plate. for that reason,
The shape of the sliding hole must be almost the same as the outer shape of the spline shaft, and it is desirable that the gap between them be as small as possible.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the cap is constructed so that a cylindrical grease ring is provided above the spline hole of the drive unit and is capped above and to the side of the grease ring. This grease ring has a concave portion for retaining grease along the circumferential direction on the inner surface facing the spline shaft. This makes it easier to hold the grease and makes it easier to replenish the grease.

[Action]

In the present invention, as the steering shaft is rotated, the spline shaft adheres grease and comes out above the spline hole. At this time, the spline shaft is slid by a sliding hole provided in the top plate above the cap.

Therefore, the grease attached to the spline shaft is wiped off in the cap and remains in the concave portion of the grease ring. The grease remaining in the concave portion adheres to the periphery of the spline shaft when the spline shaft enters the spline hole and enters the spline hole. The above movement is performed every time the spline shaft is moved up and down.

For this reason, the grease is longer interposed between the spline shaft and the spline hole.

Also, what is important here is that the sliding hole of the top plate has substantially the same shape as the outer shape of the spline shaft, and is slightly larger than the outer shape. As a result, unreasonable and large sliding resistance does not occur between the spline shaft and the sliding hole. Therefore, the spline shaft can be operated smoothly, while the top plate of the cap is hardly worn and has excellent durability.

The concave portion provided on the grease ring is provided in a ring shape along the circumferential direction. Therefore, the amount of grease retained can be increased.

In addition, the present invention has a simple structure because only the grease ring and the cap are provided above the spline hole of the drive unit. Also, it can be easily mounted on a conventional drive unit.

〔effect〕

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is little need to replenish grease, serviceability of maintenance can be improved, durability is excellent, and a steering shaft that can be easily mounted on existing existing devices can be used. A lubrication device can be provided.

〔Example〕

The steering shaft lubricating device according to this example will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the device of this example includes a cap provided above the spline hole 94 of the drive unit 91, a grease nipple 2 provided in the cap 1, and a grease ring provided in the cap 1. 3 and 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cap 1 is a cup-shaped body composed of a top plate 11 and side portions 12, and the top plate 11 has a sliding hole 1 having substantially the same inner shape as the spline 811 of the spline shaft 81.
Having 5. That is, the sliding hole 15 has six spline-shaped convex holes 151 in the outer periphery, which are smaller than the outer shape of the spline shaft 81 and extend outward. Further, the side portion 12 has a leg portion 121 between the cutout portions 122, and has a brim 13 inside and below the leg portion 121.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a cylindrical grease ring 3 is arranged above the spline hole 94 of the drive unit 91. The grease ring 3 has a concave portion 33 along the circumferential direction on the inner side thereof and a collar 13 of the cap 1 on the lower outer periphery thereof.
Has a groove 32 for fitting. A spline hole slightly larger than the spline hole 94 is provided below the grease ring 3, and a screw hole 14 for mounting the grease nipple is provided on the side surface of the spline hole.

In assembling the spline shaft 81, the grease ring 3, and the cap 1, first, the spline shaft 81 coated with grease G is inserted into the spline hole 94 of the drive unit 91, and the lower part thereof is connected to the gear 92 (first
Figure).

Next, the grease ring 3 is inserted from above the spline shaft 81 and fixed above the drive unit 91.

Then, the cap 1 is again inserted from above the spline shaft 81. And the brim of the leg of the cap 1
13 is fitted into the groove 32 on the lower outer periphery of the grease ring 3.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the tip portion 21 of the grease nipple 2 is screwed into the screw hole 14 of the grease ring 3. The grease nipple 2 has a notch 122 in the cap 1.
Also, it penetrates the side wall of the grease ring 3 and opens to the concave portion 33 of the grease ring 3. Then, the concave portion 33
Grease G as a lubricant is injected into the inside through the grease nipple 2. Others are the same as the above-mentioned conventional example.

Since the device of this example is configured as described above, the spline shaft 81 moves slightly upward as described above (the third
In the figure, arrow S1), the spline 811 on the outer circumference of the spline shaft 81 slides in the sliding hole 15 of the cap 1. Therefore, the grease G adhering to the spline 811 is wiped off by the sliding hole 15 as shown in FIG. Then, the grease G that has been wiped off remains in the concave portion 33 of the grease ring 3 as shown in FIG.

Therefore, the spline shaft 81 is
When it goes down in the direction of arrow 94 (arrow S2), the grease G in the concave portion 33 is attached and the spline hole is shown as indicated by arrow G2.
Enter within 94.

Therefore, as shown by an arrow G1 in FIG. 3, the grease is in a state of rotating in the concave portion 33, the grease G is always supplied between the spline shaft 81 and the spline hole 94, and the lubricating life is long. Become.

When replenishing the grease from the outside, the grease is supplied from the grease nipple 2 into the concave portion 33 using a grease gun. If there is no grease gun, remove the cap 1 along the spline shaft 81,
Grease G is supplied into the concave portion 33. Further, since the concave portion 33 is provided in a ring shape along the circumferential direction, the amount of grease held can be increased.

Therefore, according to the device of this example, the need for replenishing grease is small and maintenance is extremely small. The device of this example has a simple structure.

Moreover, since the grease ring 3 may be fixed to the upper end of the drive unit and the cap 1 may be capped on the grease ring 3 even in the existing conventional device, it can be easily installed in the existing device. You can

Further, in this example, since the cap is used, dust does not adhere to the grease, and when the grease is supplied to the concave portion 33 by the grease gun as described above, the grease does not fly upward.

In addition, what is important in this example is that the sliding hole 15 of the top plate 11 has the same shape as the outer shape of the spline shaft 81 and is slightly larger than that. Therefore, as described above, a large sliding resistance does not occur between them. Therefore, the operation of the spline shaft 81 is smooth, the top plate 11 is hardly worn, and the durability is excellent.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 4 show a lubricating device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 1 is a partial sectional side view, FIG. 2 is a side view showing a drive unit and a peripheral section of a cap, and FIG. 3 is a cap and a grease ring. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cap,
FIG. 5 is a side view of a conventional steering shaft lubricating device. 1 …… Cap, 13 …… Hem, 15 …… Sliding hole, 2 …… Grease nipple, 3 …… Grease ring, 33 …… Concave part, 81 ……
Spline shaft, 91 …… Drive unit, 94 …… Spline hole, G …… Grease,

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A steering shaft having an upper end connected to a steering wheel and a lower end connected to a spline shaft, a drive unit inserted through the spline shaft, a grease ring fixed to the upper end of the drive unit and inserted through the spline shaft, The grease ring comprises a cap provided outside the grease ring so as to surround the spline shaft. The grease ring has a concave portion for retaining grease along the circumferential direction on the inner side surface facing the spline shaft. , The cap has a top plate through which the spline shaft is inserted, and the top plate has a sliding hole that is substantially the same shape as the outer shape of the spline shaft and is smaller than the outer shape, and Is fitted and fixed on the outer circumference of the grease ring Lubrication device for steering shafts.