JPS6119472B2 - - Google Patents

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 この発明は、ラツクアンドピニオン式ステアリ
ング装置に関するもので、ギヤハウジング内に配
されるラツク軸の軸受けを利用してラツク軸に回
転力を付与し、ピニオン軸との間のバツクラツシ
ユを除去せしめた装置を提供せんとするものであ
る。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a rack-and-pinion type steering device, which applies rotational force to the rack shaft using a bearing of the rack shaft disposed in a gear housing, and increases the distance between the rack shaft and the pinion shaft. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that eliminates the backlash of

一般的に、ラツクアンドピニオン式ステアリン
グ装置は、ギヤハウジング内にラツク軸を、軸受
にて摺動自在に支持させると共にギヤハウジング
に前記ラツク軸と直交させてピニオン軸の先端を
挿入し、当該ピニオン軸を軸受にてギヤハウジン
グに回転自在に支持させ、ラツク軸の一側面に刻
設したラツクとピニオン軸の先部周面に刻設した
ピニオンとを噛合させている。そしてラツク軸の
両端は、ホイールに連結されるタイロツドに連結
し、ピニオン軸の後端はハンドルに連結されるス
テアリングシヤフトに連結してある。 Generally, a rack-and-pinion type steering device has a rack shaft supported in a gear housing so as to be slidable by a bearing, and the tip of the pinion shaft is inserted into the gear housing perpendicularly to the rack shaft, and the pinion shaft is slidably supported in a gear housing by a bearing. The shaft is rotatably supported by a gear housing with a bearing, and a rack carved on one side of the rack shaft meshes with a pinion carved on the peripheral surface of the tip of the pinion shaft. Both ends of the rack shaft are connected to tie rods that are connected to the wheels, and the rear end of the pinion shaft is connected to a steering shaft that is connected to the handlebar.

而してハンドルからの回転をピニオン軸を介し
てラツク軸に伝達し、ラツク軸を左右に摺動させ
てホイールを操作させている。ところで、上記構
成のステアリング装置では、ラツク軸とピニオン
軸との間の摺動抵抗を少くして操作性を向上させ
る為に、ラツクとピニオンとの間に若干のバツク
ラツシユを設けてあり、これが為に、ハンドルの
操舵時では、ラツク軸のラツクとピニオン軸のピ
ニオンとが負荷のかかつた状態で互いに接触して
いる為、バツクラツシユがあつても打音を生じな
いが、直進走行時では、ラツクとピニオンとが負
荷のない状態で、接触しておらず、路面からの反
力等が作用し、負荷が作用すると、ラツクとピニ
オンとが衝突し、打音を生じるといつた問題点が
あつた。 The rotation from the handle is transmitted to the rack shaft via the pinion shaft, and the rack shaft is slid left and right to operate the wheel. By the way, in the steering device with the above configuration, a slight backlash is provided between the rack and pinion in order to reduce the sliding resistance between the rack and pinion shafts and improve operability. In addition, when steering the steering wheel, the rack on the rack shaft and the pinion on the pinion shaft are in contact with each other under load, so even if there is a bump, there will be no hitting sound, but when driving straight, If the rack and pinion are not in contact with each other under no load, and a reaction force from the road surface is applied and a load is applied, the rack and pinion will collide, causing a knocking sound. Ta.

そこで、従来は直進走行時のバツクラツシユに
よる騒音（打音）を防止する為に、例えば実公昭
51−25862号の様に、ラツク押圧部材並びにラツ
ク押圧部材を押すスプリングをラツク軸の中心か
ら所定量オフセツトさせて配置させ、これにより
ラツク軸に回転力を与えてラツクとピニオンとが
常時片当り状態で噛合うようになしたものが提案
されている。 Therefore, in the past, in order to prevent the noise (hitting sound) caused by bumps when driving straight, for example,
As in No. 51-25862, a rack pressing member and a spring pressing the rack pressing member are arranged so as to be offset by a predetermined amount from the center of the rack shaft, thereby applying rotational force to the rack shaft so that the rack and pinion are always in partial contact. It has been proposed that they fit together depending on the situation.

しかし乍ら、上記構成のものであれば、構成部
品が多く、ギヤハウジングに特別な加工を施さね
ばならず、コスト高となり、しかもラツク押圧部
材のオフセツトを大きく取れず、ラツク軸の回転
抵抗がある為に、ラツク軸に十分な回転力を与え
ることができず、バツクラツシユによる騒音を完
全に防止し得るものではなかつた。 However, with the above configuration, there are many components and the gear housing must be specially processed, resulting in high costs.Moreover, the offset of the rack pressing member cannot be set large, and the rotational resistance of the rack shaft increases. Because of this, it was not possible to apply sufficient rotational force to the rack shaft, and it was not possible to completely prevent noise due to backlash.

この発明は、上記従来の欠点に鑑み、これを改
良除去したもので、ラツク軸を摺動自在に支持す
る軸受を弾性体を用いて構成し、これによりラツ
ク軸に回転力を付与し、これのラツク面をピニオ
ン軸の軸線に対して傾斜させた状態で支持させ、
ラツクとピニオンの一部を深く噛合わせてバツク
ラツシユを無くし、これにより騒音を除去せしめ
たものである。 In view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, this invention improves and eliminates them by constructing a bearing that slidably supports the rack shaft using an elastic body, thereby applying rotational force to the rack shaft. The rack surface of the pinion shaft is supported at an angle with respect to the axis of the pinion shaft,
The rack and pinion are partially meshed deeply to eliminate backlash, thereby eliminating noise.

以下この発明の構成を図面に示す実施例に従つ
て説明する。 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure of the present invention will be described below with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings.

第１図乃至第４図に於いて、１はギヤハウジン
グ、２はギヤハウジング１内に移動可能に若干浮
かせて挿入した丸棒状のラツク軸で、その周面一
部の円弧部を欠除してラツク面３を形成し、この
ラツク面３にラツク４を刻設してある。５はギヤ
ハウジング１の一端に装着され、ラツク軸２を摺
動自在に支持する軸受、６はギヤハウジング１の
他端に配され、ラツク軸２をラツク面３を利用し
て摺動自在に支持する軸受である。７はギヤハウ
ジング１内に前記ラツク軸２と直交させて配した
ピニオン軸で、先部周面にピニオン８を刻設して
あり、当該ピニオン８とラツク軸２のラツク４と
を噛合させてある。９，１０はギヤハウジング１
内に装着され、ピニオン軸７を回転自在に支持す
る軸受である。そしてこの発明は、前記ラツク軸
２の一方の軸受６にてラツク軸２に回転力を附与
し、ラツク軸２のラツク４とピニオン軸７のピニ
オン８との一部を深く噛合わせてバツクラツシユ
を無くしてある。即ち、当該軸受６は、ラツク軸
２に摺動自在に嵌合する内筒１１と、ギヤハウジ
ング１に嵌合固定される外筒１２と、内筒１１と
外筒１２との間に回転不能に介装されるゴムブツ
シユの如き弾性体１３とで構成され、前記内筒１
１は、第５図に示す様に、内径側軸受面１１ａを
ラツク軸２のラツク面３を含む半円弧面に含致す
る形状になし、外径面を円筒形になし、外筒１２
の内外径面は夫々円筒形になしてある。また内筒
１１及び外筒１２と弾性体１３との接触面間は、
互いに周方向に回転不能に密着固定されるが、必
要に応じて加流接着等で一体に結合させてもよ
い。 In Figures 1 to 4, 1 is a gear housing, and 2 is a round bar-shaped rack shaft that is movably inserted into the gear housing 1 so as to be slightly lifted, with a part of the circular arc portion of its circumference removed. A rack surface 3 is formed, and a rack 4 is engraved on this rack surface 3. A bearing 5 is attached to one end of the gear housing 1 to slidably support the rack shaft 2. A bearing 6 is attached to the other end of the gear housing 1 and allows the rack shaft 2 to slide freely using the rack surface 3. This is a supporting bearing. Reference numeral 7 denotes a pinion shaft disposed within the gear housing 1 so as to be perpendicular to the rack shaft 2, and a pinion 8 is carved on the circumferential surface of the tip, and the pinion 8 and the rack 4 of the rack shaft 2 are engaged with each other. be. 9 and 10 are gear housing 1
This is a bearing that is mounted inside the pinion shaft and rotatably supports the pinion shaft 7. In this invention, rotational force is applied to the rack shaft 2 by one bearing 6 of the rack shaft 2, and a part of the rack 4 of the rack shaft 2 and the pinion 8 of the pinion shaft 7 are deeply engaged to perform back racking. I have lost it. That is, the bearing 6 has an inner cylinder 11 that is slidably fitted to the rack shaft 2, an outer cylinder 12 that is fitted and fixed to the gear housing 1, and a non-rotatable structure between the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 12. and an elastic body 13 such as a rubber bushing interposed in the inner cylinder 1.
1, as shown in FIG.
The inner and outer diameter surfaces of each are cylindrical. Moreover, between the contact surfaces of the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 12 and the elastic body 13,
Although they are tightly fixed to each other so as not to rotate in the circumferential direction, they may be joined together by hot-flow adhesive or the like, if necessary.

而して、軸受６の外筒１２の外径面を、内筒１
１の内径側軸受面１１ａの平面部１１a′がピニオ
ン軸７の軸線に対して傾斜する様に配置させてギ
ヤハウジング１内に圧入固定し、これに支持され
るラツク軸２のラツク面３をピニオン軸７の軸線
に対して傾斜させて組付け、続いてピニオン軸７
をギヤハウジング１内に挿入し、軸受９，１０に
て支持させると共にピニオン８とラツク４とを噛
合させる。このピニオン８とラツク４との噛合
時、ピニオン８とラツク４との摺動抵抗によりラ
ツク軸２は第２図二点鎖線で示す様に軸受６の弾
性体１３を捩り乍ら回転し、バツクラツシユを生
じるが、ピニオン８とラツク４の噛合が完了する
と、弾性体１３の捩り反力により実線で示す位置
に復帰し、ラツク４とピニオン８の一部が深く噛
合い、当該噛合部分でのバツクラツシユが無くな
る。 Thus, the outer diameter surface of the outer cylinder 12 of the bearing 6 is connected to the inner cylinder 1.
The flat part 11a' of the inner bearing surface 11a of the gear housing 1 is press-fitted and fixed in the gear housing 1 so that the flat part 11a' of the inner diameter bearing surface 11a of the pinion shaft 7 is inclined with respect to the axis of the pinion shaft 7. Assemble the pinion shaft 7 at an angle with respect to the axis of the pinion shaft 7, and then
is inserted into the gear housing 1, supported by bearings 9 and 10, and the pinion 8 and rack 4 are engaged. When the pinion 8 and the rack 4 are engaged, the rack shaft 2 rotates while twisting the elastic body 13 of the bearing 6 as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. However, when the engagement between the pinion 8 and the rack 4 is completed, the torsional reaction force of the elastic body 13 causes the rack to return to the position shown by the solid line, and a portion of the rack 4 and pinion 8 are deeply engaged, resulting in backlash at the engaged portion. disappears.

上記構成のステアリング装置では、ラツク軸２
が軸受６により回転力を付与され、そのラツク面
３が弾性体１３の捩り反力によりピニオン軸７の
軸線に対して傾斜した状態で弾性的に支持され、
ラツク４とピニオン８が片当り状態で常時弾性的
に接触しており、当該部分でのバツクラツシユが
無くなり、直進走行時においてラツク４とピニオ
ン８とで打音を生じることがない。またラツク４
とピニオン８とは弾性的に接触しており、操舵時
にラツク４とピニオン８との間の摺動抵抗が増大
することがなく、ハンドルの操作性が損なわれる
ことがない。 In the steering device with the above configuration, the rack shaft 2
is applied with rotational force by the bearing 6, and its rack surface 3 is elastically supported in a state inclined with respect to the axis of the pinion shaft 7 by the torsional reaction force of the elastic body 13,
The rack 4 and pinion 8 are always elastically in contact with each other in a state of one-sided contact, and there is no backlash at this part, so that the rack 4 and pinion 8 do not make any knocking noise when traveling straight. Also easy 4
and the pinion 8 are in elastic contact, so that the sliding resistance between the rack 4 and the pinion 8 does not increase during steering, and the operability of the steering wheel is not impaired.

尚、上記説明では、ラツク軸２の一方の軸受６
を利用てラツク軸２に回転力を付与させたが、両
側の軸受５，６を利用して回転力を付与する様に
してもよい。またラツク軸２のラツク面３を利用
して軸受６を装着したが、他にラツク軸２に平面
部を別途形成してこれに軸受６を装着してもよ
い。更に軸受６の内筒１１と外筒１２との間にゴ
ムブツシユの如き弾性体１３を介装させたが、ゴ
ムブツシユの他にバネ体等の弾性体を介装させて
もよい。 In addition, in the above explanation, one bearing 6 of the rack shaft 2
Although the rotational force is applied to the rack shaft 2 using the bearings 5 and 6 on both sides, the rotational force may also be applied using the bearings 5 and 6 on both sides. Furthermore, although the bearing 6 is mounted using the rack surface 3 of the rack shaft 2, it is also possible to separately form a flat portion on the rack shaft 2 and to mount the bearing 6 thereon. Furthermore, although the elastic body 13 such as a rubber bushing is interposed between the inner cylinder 11 and the outer cylinder 12 of the bearing 6, an elastic body such as a spring body may be interposed in addition to the rubber bush.

以上説明した様に、この発明はラツク軸の少な
くとも一端側をギヤハウジングとラツク軸間に回
転不能に介装される弾性体を介してギヤハウジン
グに摺動自在に軸受支持すると共に、ラツクがピ
ニオンに片当り状態で噛合うよう、ラツク軸のラ
ツク面をピニオン軸の軸線に対して予め傾斜させ
た状態でラツク軸をギヤハウジングに組付けたか
ら、ラツク軸のラツクとピニオン軸のピニオンと
の一部が深く噛合い、常時片当り状態で弾性的に
接触し、当該接触部分でバツクラツシユが無くな
り、直進走行時に路面からの反力を受けて負荷が
作用しても打音を生じることがない、またラツク
とピニオンとは弾性的に接触しているので、操舵
時にラツクとピニオンとの摺動抵抗が増大せず、
ハンドルの操作性が損なわれることがない。更に
ラツク軸の軸受部を利用してラツク軸に回転力を
付与させており、その傾斜角度も任意に設定で
き、簡単な構造で確実にバツクラツシユによる打
音を防止でき、構成部品の低減並びに加工費の低
減により安価に提供できる。 As explained above, the present invention supports at least one end of the rack shaft in a sliding manner by a bearing on the gear housing through an elastic body that is non-rotatably interposed between the gear housing and the rack shaft, and the rack supports the pinion shaft. Since the rack shaft was assembled into the gear housing with the rack surface of the rack shaft tilted in advance with respect to the axis of the pinion shaft so that the rack meshed with the pinion shaft in a one-sided state, the rack of the rack shaft and the pinion of the pinion shaft were not aligned. The parts mesh deeply and are always in elastic contact in a state of one-sided contact, and there is no buckling at the contact part, and there is no hitting sound even when a load is applied due to a reaction force from the road surface when driving straight. In addition, since the rack and pinion are in elastic contact, the sliding resistance between the rack and pinion does not increase during steering.
The operability of the handle is not impaired. Furthermore, the bearing part of the rack shaft is used to apply rotational force to the rack shaft, and its inclination angle can be set arbitrarily, and the simple structure reliably prevents knocking noise due to backlash, reducing the number of component parts and machining. It can be provided at low cost due to cost reduction.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of the drawing]

第１図は、本発明に係るラツクアンドピニオン
式ステアリング装置のラツク軸とピニオン軸との
噛合状態を示す縦断正面図、第２図は第１図−
線に沿う拡大断面図、第３図は第１図−線
に沿う拡大断面図、第４図は本発明に係るラツク
軸の軸受部を示す要部拡大断面図、第５図は本発
明に係る軸受の内筒の形状を示す斜視図である。 １……ギヤハウジング、２……ラツク軸、３…
…ラツク面、４……ラツク、６……（ラツク軸
の）軸受、７……ピニオン軸、８……ピニオン、
１１……内筒、１２……外筒、１３……弾性体。 FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the meshing state of the rack shaft and pinion shaft of the rack-and-pinion steering device according to the present invention, and FIG.
3 is an enlarged sectional view along the line of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the main part showing the bearing part of the rack shaft according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the shape of an inner cylinder of such a bearing. 1... Gear housing, 2... Rack shaft, 3...
...Rack surface, 4...Rack, 6...Bearing (of rack shaft), 7...Pinion shaft, 8...Pinion,
11... Inner cylinder, 12... Outer cylinder, 13... Elastic body.

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] １ ラツク軸の少なくとも一端側をギヤハウジン
グとラツク軸間に回転不能に介装される弾性体を
介してギヤハウジングに摺動自在に軸受支持する
と共に、ラツクがピニオンに片当り状態で噛合う
よう、ラツク軸のラツク面をピニオン軸の軸線に
対して予め傾斜させた状態でラツク軸をギヤハウ
ジングに組付けたことを特徴とするラツクアンド
ピニオン式ステアリング装置。1 At least one end side of the rack shaft is slidably supported by a bearing on the gear housing via an elastic body that is non-rotatably interposed between the gear housing and the rack shaft, and the rack meshes with the pinion in a one-sided state. A rack-and-pinion steering device characterized in that the rack shaft is assembled to the gear housing with the rack surface of the rack shaft tilted in advance with respect to the axis of the pinion shaft.