KR101067944B1 - Electric Power Steering System Assembly Module - Google Patents

Abstract

An electric power steering system assembly module is disclosed. An electric power steering system assembly module of the present invention includes a cowl cross bar having a steering column support bracket provided to be mounted with a steering column, and both left and right ends thereof are fixed to the vehicle body; And a gear housing having a support surface and a locking portion protruding from one surface of the support surface, the gear housing being coupled in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the cowl crossbar, wherein the cowl crossbar has its own weight when the gear housing is coupled; It characterized in that it comprises a balancing unit is provided adjacent to the gear housing to prevent sagging by. According to the present invention, when the gear housing equipped with the electric power steering system is coupled to the cowl cross bar, the gear housing is prevented from sagging due to its own weight, thereby facilitating assembly and shortening the process time required for assembly. It will be able to provide cost savings.

Description

Electric Power Steering System Assembly Module {ASSEMBLY MODULE FOR MOTOR DRIVEN POWER STEERING SYSTEM}

The present invention relates to an electric power steering system assembly module, and more particularly, when the gear housing to which the electric power steering system is mounted is coupled to the cowl cross bar, the gear housing is prevented from sagging by its own weight, thereby providing convenience of assembly. The present invention relates to an electric power steering system assembly module capable of reducing the process cost by shortening the process time required for assembly.

In general, a power steering system is divided into a method using oil oil pressure and a method using electric motor power. Here, the hydraulic power steering system refers to the hydraulic pump pumping the fluid with the power of the engine to form the hydraulic pressure, and then send the hydraulic pressure in the steering direction when the driver turns the steering wheel to make the handling lighter, and the electric power steering system (MOTOR) DRIVEN POWER STEERING SYSTEM, hereinafter referred to as 'MDPS System' refers to a system that improves steering power by using an electric motor.

In the MDPS system, the electric motor is automatically controlled according to the driving conditions, and accordingly, it is possible to have improved steering performance and a feeling of steering compared to the hydraulic power steering system.

The MDPS system is mounted on the gear housing and fixed to one side of the COWL CROSS BAR, which is fixed at both ends of the vehicle body. Even in this case, it refers to a configuration that improves the safety of the occupants by suppressing the dash panel, which forms various electric appliances and the vehicle body installed in the engine room, from flowing into the cabin.

1 is a perspective view showing a state of the MDPS system coupled to a conventional cowl cross bar, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 along the line A-A.

1 and 2, the conventional MDPS system 1 has a guide bracket in which a gear housing 3 equipped with each component of the system is coupled to a lower side of a steering column support bracket 2a of a cowl crossbar 2; It is fixed to the cowl cross bar 2 by being coupled to (2b). That is, in the conventional MDPS system 1, the projection 3a provided at one end of the gear housing 3 is inserted into the insertion hole 2c formed in the guide bracket 2b, and penetrates to both sides of the guide bracket 2b. It is mounted to the cowl crossbar 2 by fastening the bolt along the formed through hole 2d and through hole 3b formed in the gear housing 3. At this time, the insertion hole (2c) is formed to a sufficient size to enable the tilting (Tilting) operation of the steering wheel (not shown).

However, the conventional MDPS system has a problem that the gear housing 3 sags downward by its own weight when it is fixed to the cowl cross bar 2 through the guide bracket 2b after being mounted on the gear housing 3. If the MDPS system sags downward, it is difficult to match the assembly positions of the through holes 3b formed in the gear housing 3 and the through holes 2d formed in the guide bracket 2b.

That is, in the conventional MDPS system 11, the process of coupling the gear housing 3 to the cowl crossbar 2 is difficult, thereby increasing the difficulty of coupling the MDPS system 1 to the cowl crossbar 2. And there is a problem that the process time is delayed.

An object of the present invention, when the gear housing equipped with the electric power steering system is coupled to the cowl cross bar, the gear housing is prevented from sagging by its own weight to facilitate the assembly and to shorten the process time required for assembly. It is to provide an electric power steering system assembly module that can reduce the process cost.

According to the present invention, a cowl cross bar having a steering column support bracket provided to be mounted with a steering column and fixed to the vehicle body at both ends thereof; And a gear housing having a support surface and a locking portion protruding from one surface of the support surface, the gear housing being coupled in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction of the cowl cross bar, wherein the cowl cross bar is formed when the gear housing is engaged with the gear housing. The gear housing is achieved by an electric power steering system assembly module comprising a balance holding unit provided adjacent to the gear housing so as to prevent sagging by its own weight.

The balance maintaining unit may include a coupling part provided on a lower surface of the steering column support bracket; And an insertion hole through which the locking portion is inserted and inserted, and may include a first bending portion extending downward from one end of the coupling portion.

The balance maintaining unit may further include a second bent portion provided adjacent to an upper side of the extension surface extending from the support surface and extending in a horizontal direction from one end of the first bent portion.

The second bent portion may include a support protrusion provided to protrude from an upper surface to support a lower surface of the locking portion.

The locking portion, the fixing projection protruding from the upper end of the extension surface; And an insertion protrusion extending from one end of the fixing protrusion so that one end thereof may be inserted through the insertion hole.

The insertion protrusion may be provided to be stepped downward from the upper end of the fixing protrusion so that the upper end of the fixing protrusion may be caught by the insertion hole.

The electric power steering system assembly module may further include a fastening bracket coupled to a lower surface of the steering column support bracket at a position adjacent to the coupling part and fastened to a bolt passing through the gear housing.

The balance maintaining unit may include an insertion portion formed with an insertion hole through which the locking portion is inserted and coupled to a lower surface of the steering column support bracket; And a pair of support portions respectively provided at both ends of the insert so as to support the lower end of the support surface.

The support portion, the support plate extending in a downward direction from one end of the insertion portion; And a latching jaw extending along one circumference of the support plate to be seated and supported by the lower end of the support surface.

The support plate may be provided with a bolting hole for inserting the bolt fastened through the gear housing.

The locking jaw may be provided to have a curved surface corresponding to the shape of the support surface.

According to the present invention, when the gear housing equipped with the electric power steering system is coupled to the cowl crossbar through the balance holding unit provided in the cowl crossbar, the gear housing prevents the phenomenon of sagging by its own weight. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an electric power steering system assembly module that can shorten the process time required for assembly.

1 is a perspective view showing a state of the MDPS system coupled to a conventional cowl cross bar.
2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 taken along line AA.
3 is a schematic perspective view of an electric power steering system assembly module according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a side view of FIG. 3.
5 is a schematic perspective view of the gear housing of the electric power steering system assembly module of FIG.
6 is a schematic perspective view of an electric power steering system assembly module according to another embodiment of the present invention.
7 is an enlarged view of one end of the gear housing of FIG. 6.
8 is an enlarged view of one end of a cowl cross bar of the electric power steering system assembly module of FIG. 6.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in describing the present invention, descriptions of already known functions or configurations will be omitted to clarify the gist of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the electric power steering system assembly module according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a side view of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a schematic of the gear housing of the electric power steering system assembly module of Figure 3 Perspective view.

Referring to these drawings, the electric power steering system assembly module 10 (hereinafter referred to as "MDPS assembly module 10") according to an embodiment of the present invention is a cowl provided with a steering column (not shown) can be mounted The crossbar 100 and the gear housing 200 coupled in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the cowl crossbar 100.

The cowl cross bar 100 is provided between the engine room and the dash panel to prevent the dash panel, which forms various electric appliances and the body installed in the engine room, from entering the cabin even when a frontal collision occurs during operation of the vehicle. This is the configuration to be improved. Both left and right ends of the cowl cross bar 100 are fixed to the vehicle body through methods such as bolting, respectively.

3 and 4, the cowl cross bar 100 according to the present embodiment is a gear housing when the steering column support bracket 110 and the gear housing 200 are provided so that the steering column can be mounted. It includes a balance maintaining unit 120 is provided adjacent to the gear housing 200 so that the 200 is prevented from sagging by its own weight.

The steering column support bracket 110 is provided to be connected to a steering system together with a steering column mounting plate (not shown). The steering column support bracket 110 is formed to protrude to the upper side of the cowl cross bar 100, and a plurality of through holes 110a are formed therethrough so as to absorb impact force when the cowl cross bar 100 is deformed by an external impact. do.

The balancing unit 120 is configured to prevent the gear housing 200 from sagging in the downward direction of the cowl crossbar 100 by its own weight when the gear housing 200 is coupled to the cowl crossbar 100. to be.

The balancing unit 120 extends and bends in a downward direction (-Z direction in FIG. 4) from one end of the coupling part 121 and one end of the coupling part 121 to the steering column support bracket 110. The first bend part 122 and the 2nd bend part 123 extended and bent from the one end part of the 1st bend part 122 to a horizontal direction (X direction of FIG. 4) are included.

Coupling portion 121 is a plate-like configuration provided on the lower surface of the steering column support bracket 110. As shown in Figure 4, the coupling portion 121 of the present embodiment is coupled to the lower surface of the fastening bracket 130 to be described later, according to another embodiment of the present invention coupling portion 121 is a steering column support bracket 110 May be directly coupled to the lower surface of the

The first bent portion 122 is formed of an insertion hole 122a through which the engaging portion 220 of the gear housing 200 is inserted, and is formed in a plate shape extending downward from one end of the coupling portion 121. to be. The insertion hole 122a is formed through the central region of the first bent portion 122 so that the locking portion 220, more precisely, the insertion protrusion 222 of the locking portion 220 can be inserted. In addition, the insertion hole 122a is formed to have a size slightly larger than that of the insertion protrusion 222 in order to enable a tilting operation of the steering wheel (not shown).

The second bent portion 123 extends in a horizontal direction from one end of the first bent portion 122. As shown in FIG. 4, the second bent portion 123 is provided so that the bottom surface thereof is supported by the extension surface 230 of the gear housing 200. It may be provided to be adjacent to the upper surface of the extension surface 230 spaced apart from the upper surface of the 230 by a predetermined interval.

On the other hand, the second bent portion 123 includes a support protrusion 123a protruding from the upper surface to support one lower surface of the insertion protrusion 222. The support protrusion 123a is configured to protrude in an upward direction (Z direction in FIG. 4) near the center of the second bent portion 123. The support protrusion 123a plays a role of supporting the lower surface of the insertion protrusion 222 of the locking portion 220 of the gear housing 200. As shown in FIG. 4, the support protrusion 123a is provided by processing the curved portion of the second bent portion 123 to be bent, but according to another embodiment of the present invention, the support protrusion 123a is formed of a plate shape. 2 may be provided to protrude from the upper surface of the bent portion (not shown).

When the gear housing 200 is coupled to the cowl cross bar 100 according to the balance maintaining unit 120 described above, the insertion protrusion 222 of the engaging portion 220 of the gear housing 200 is the first bent portion 122. After being inserted along the insertion hole 122a of the), the lower surface thereof is supported by the support protrusion 123a of the second bent portion 123 so that the coupling path of the gear housing 200 can be guided. As such, by guiding the coupling path of the gear housing 200, the cowl cross bar 100 and the gear housing 200 can be easily coupled.

Meanwhile, the cowl cross bar 100 further includes a fastening bracket 130 to which a bolt penetrating the gear housing 200 is fastened. The fastening bracket 130 is coupled to the lower surface of the steering column support bracket 110 at a position adjacent to the coupling portion 121 and is configured to fasten bolts passing through the gear housing 200.

As will be described later, after the gear housing 200 is temporarily coupled to the cowl cross bar 100 by inserting the insertion protrusion 222 into the insertion hole 122a, the gear housing 200 is fastened through the gear housing 200 to tighten the bolt. 200 is fixed to the cowl crossbar (100).

The fastening bracket 130 is provided to fix one end of the bolt fastened through the gear housing 200. In the present embodiment, the fastening bracket 130 is directly coupled to the lower surface of the steering column support bracket 110, and the lower surface of the fastening bracket 130 is coupled to the coupling portion 121 of the balance maintaining unit 120 to maintain the balance unit. It is configured integrally with 120. However, unlike this, the fastening bracket 130 may be provided to be fixed to only one side of the steering column support bracket 110 by being separated from the coupling part 121.

On the other hand, the gear housing 200 is to be coupled in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the cowl cross bar 100 is mounted to each component constituting the MDPS system. The gear housing 200 includes a support surface 210 provided at one end, a latching portion 220 protruding from one surface of the support surface 210, and an extension surface 230 extending from the support surface 210. It includes.

The support surface 210 is a curved configuration provided adjacent to one lower surface of the steering column support bracket 110 of the cowl cross bar 100, the extension surface 230 extends from the support surface 210 and has a flat upper surface. It is a structure having. The support surface 210 is provided to have a cross-sectional shape similar to a semicircle, and adjacent thereto, the motor M of the MDPS system is mounted to the gear housing 200.

The engaging portion 220 is configured to protrude from one surface of the support surface 210 so that the gear housing 200 can be coupled to the cowl cross bar 100. The locking portion 220 has a fixing protrusion 221 protruding from one side surface of the support surface 210, more precisely, an upper end of the extension surface 230, and an insertion protrusion extending from one end of the fixing protrusion 221 ( 222).

The fixing protrusion 221 extends to be inclined toward the support surface 210 after the lower end is fixed to the upper end of the extension surface 230. Of course, the fixing protrusion 221 may extend in a vertical direction from the upper end of the extension surface 230.

Insertion protrusion 222 is a configuration that is bent extending from one end of the fixing protrusion 221 so that one end can be inserted into the insertion hole (122a). Insertion protrusion 222, as shown in Figure 5, when the gear housing 200 is coupled to the cowl cross bar 100 so that the end of the coupling can be easily seen from the upper end of the fixing protrusion 221 downward It is provided with a step. That is, by providing the insertion protrusion 222 stepped downward from the upper end of the fixing protrusion 221, when the gear housing 200 is coupled to the cowl cross bar 100, the upper end of the fixing protrusion 221 is inserted hole ( 122a) is caught by the operator, and thus the worker pushes the gear housing 200 by pushing the insertion protrusion 222 to the point where the upper end of the fixing protrusion 221 is caught on the upper portion of the insertion hole 122a. Will temporarily bind to (100). Thereafter, the worker inserts the bolt through the gear housing 200 and fixes one end of the bolt to the fastening bracket 130 to fix the gear housing 200 to the cowl cross bar 100.

The MDPS assembly module 10 of the present embodiment is a gear housing when the gear housing 200 in which the electric power steering system is mounted is mounted on the cowl crossbar 100 through the balance maintaining unit 120 provided in the cowl crossbar 100. By preventing the sag 200 from sagging by its own weight, it is possible to facilitate assembly, thereby reducing the process time required for assembly.

6 is a schematic perspective view of an electric power steering system assembly module according to another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of one end of the gear housing of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is an electric power steering system assembly module of FIG. 6. An enlarged view of one end of a cowl crossbar.

Referring to these drawings, the electric power steering system assembly module 30 (hereinafter referred to as "MDPS assembly module 30") according to the present embodiment is a cowl cross bar 300 is provided so that the steering column (not shown) can be mounted ) And a gear housing 400 coupled in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the cowl cross bar 300.

As shown in Figure 6 and 8, the cowl cross bar 300 according to the present embodiment is a gear housing when the steering column support bracket 310 and the gear housing 400 is provided so that the steering column can be mounted It includes a balance maintaining unit 320 is provided adjacent to the gear housing 400 so that the 400 is prevented from sagging by its own weight. Since the matters related to the steering column support bracket 310 are substantially the same as the matters related to the steering column support bracket 110 in the above-described embodiment, redundant description thereof will be omitted.

The balancing unit 320 includes an inserting portion 321 into which the catching portion 420 of the gear housing 400 is inserted, and a pair of supporting portions 322 and 323 respectively provided at both ends of the inserting portion 321. do.

The insertion part 321 is formed with an insertion hole 321a through which the insertion protrusion 422 of the locking part 420 of the gear housing 400 is inserted and coupled to the bottom surface of the steering column support bracket 310. The insertion hole 321a of the present embodiment may be formed to have a larger size than the insertion hole 122a of the first bent portion 122 of the above-described embodiment. That is, in the present embodiment, the gear housing 400 is prevented from sagging in the downward direction by being seated and supported by the locking jaws 322c and 323c, which will be described later, by the lower end of the support surface 410, and thus the insertion hole 321a. Regardless of the size of the gear housing 400 can be maintained in balance. Accordingly, the insertion hole 321a of the present embodiment may be formed to a sufficient size to allow a smooth tilting operation of the steering wheel.

Meanwhile, the support parts 322 and 323 are provided at both ends of the insertion part 321 so as to support the lower end of the support surface 410 of the gear housing 400.

The support parts 322 and 323 are bent and extended along one circumference of the support plates 322a and 323a extending downward from one end of the insertion part 321 and the support plates 322a and 323a, respectively. The lower end includes a locking jaw (322c, 323c) is supported for seating.

The support plates 322a and 323a are plate-like structures extended downward from both ends of the insertion portion 321. Bolting holes 322b and 323b for penetrating and inserting bolts penetrating through the gear housing 400 are formed through the support plates 322a and 323a, respectively.

The locking jaws 322c and 323c extend in the support surface 410 along the lower circumference of the support plates 322a and 323a to support the lower end of the support surface 410 of the gear housing 400. As described above, the gear housing 400 is provided to have a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to a semicircle, and the locking jaws 322c and 323c are provided to have a curved shape so as to correspond to the shape of the support surface 410. That is, the locking jaw (322c, 323c) is provided to have a shape and size corresponding to the support surface 410, so that the lower end of the support surface 410 can be seated, and thus the gear housing 400, cowl cross bar ( When coupled to 300 it is possible to prevent the gear housing 400 from sagging downward by its own weight.

On the other hand, the gear housing 400 is to be coupled in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the cowl cross bar 300 to be mounted to each component constituting the MDPS system. The gear housing 400 includes a support surface 410 provided at one end, a locking portion 420 protruding from one surface of the support surface 410, and an extension surface 430 extending from the support surface 410. It includes. Details of the support surface 410 and the extension surface 430 are substantially the same as those of the support surface 210 and the extension surface 230 of the above-described embodiment, respectively, and thus redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted.

The locking portion 420 is configured to protrude from the support surface 410 so that the gear housing 400 can be coupled to the cowl cross bar 300. Unlike the above-described embodiment, the locking portion 420 of the present embodiment is provided such that the insertion protrusion 422 protrudes directly from one surface of the support surface 410. The worker temporarily couples the gear housing 400 to the cowl crossbar 300 by pushing the locking portion 420 along the insertion hole 321a to the point 422a at which the insertion protrusion 422 starts to form. Thereafter, the gear housing 400 is fixed to the cowl crossbar 300 by inserting and fastening bolts through the bolting holes 322b and 323b formed in the support plates 322a and 323a and the gear housing 400. Other matters related to the gear housing 400 are the same as the matters related to the gear housing 200 of the above-described embodiment, and overlapping description thereof will be omitted.

MDPS assembly module 30 of the present embodiment when the gear housing 400 is mounted to the electric power steering system through the balance maintaining unit 320 is provided in the cowl crossbar 300 to the cowl crossbar (100) By preventing the sag 400 from sagging by its own weight, it is possible to facilitate the assembly, thereby reducing the process time required for assembly.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is self-evident to those who have. Therefore, such modifications or variations are not to be understood individually from the technical spirit or point of view of the present invention, the modified embodiments will belong to the claims of the present invention.

10: electric power steering system assembly module 100: cowl cross bar
200: gear housing 120: balancing unit
110: steering column support bracket 121: coupling portion
122: first bent part 123: second bent part
321: insertion portion 322, 323: support portion

Claims (11)

A cowl cross bar having a steering column support bracket provided to mount the steering column and fixed to the vehicle body at both ends; And
And a gear housing having a support surface and a locking portion protruding from one surface of the support surface and coupled in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the cowl cross bar.
The cowl cross bar,
When the gear housing is coupled, characterized in that it comprises a balance maintaining unit provided adjacent to the gear housing to prevent the gear housing from sagging by its own weight,
Electric power steering system assembly module. The method of claim 1,
The equilibrium holding unit,
Coupling portion provided on the lower surface of the steering column support bracket; And
Insertion hole is formed is formed through the engaging portion is inserted through, characterized in that it comprises a first bent portion that is bent extending in the downward direction from one end of the coupling portion,
Electric power steering system assembly module. The method of claim 2,
The equilibrium holding unit,
It is provided adjacent to the upper side of the extending surface extending from the support surface, characterized in that it further comprises a second bent portion extending in the horizontal direction from one end of the first bent portion,
Electric power steering system assembly module. The method of claim 3,
The second bent portion,
Characterized in that it comprises a support protrusion provided to protrude from the upper surface so as to support the lower surface of the locking portion,
Electric power steering system assembly module. The method of claim 3,
The locking portion,
A fixing protrusion protruding from an upper end of the extension surface; And
Characterized in that it comprises an insertion protrusion bent extending from one end of the fixing projection so that one end can be inserted through the insertion hole,
Electric power steering system assembly module. The method of claim 5,
The insertion protrusion,
Characterized in that the upper end of the fixing protrusion is stepped in a downward direction from the upper end of the fixing protrusion to be caught by the insertion hole,
Electric power steering system assembly module. The method of claim 2,
And a fastening bracket coupled to a lower surface of the steering column support bracket at a position adjacent to the coupling part and fastened to a bolt passing through the gear housing.
Electric power steering system assembly module. The method of claim 1,
The equilibrium holding unit,
An insertion portion formed with an insertion hole through which the locking portion is inserted and coupled to a lower surface of the steering column support bracket; And
Characterized in that it comprises a pair of support portions provided on each end of the insertion portion so as to support the lower end of the support surface,
Electric power steering system assembly module. The method of claim 8,
The support portion,
A support plate extending downward from one end of the insertion portion; And
It is characterized in that it comprises a locking jaw extending bent along one side circumference of the support plate is seated and supported by the lower end of the support surface,
Electric power steering system assembly module. 10. The method of claim 9,
On the support plate,
Characterized in that a bolting hole for inserting the bolt fastened through the gear housing is formed,
Electric power steering system assembly module. 10. The method of claim 9,
The locking jaw is,
Characterized in that it has a curved surface corresponding to the shape of the support surface,
Electric power steering system assembly module.

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