JP2000255436A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce costs by simplifying a structure compared with the use of a ball screw mechanism and to reduce size by lowering the bulk of a variable mechanism for a running ratio. SOLUTION: A transmission gear 6 having a diameter larger than that of a pinion 2 rotated in accordance with steering operation is coaxially integrally formed with the pinion 2. One end of a transmission arm 7 is pivotally attached to a rack 3 interlocked with the pinion 2. A moving shaft 5 engaged with the transmission gear 6 and moved along the rack is locked with the long hole 72 of the transmission arm 7. A projection 82 inserted in the long hole 72 is movably provided on a steering shaft 4. Moving the projection 82 in the peripheral direction of the steering shaft 4 changes the abutting position of the projection 82 to the transmission arm 7. Thus, the travel distance of the steering shaft relative to the travel distance of the rack 3 is increased compared with the travel distance of the moving shaft 5, increasing a running ratio.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering device having a steering shaft which moves in the left-right direction of a vehicle body in conjunction with a pinion which rotates in response to a steering operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A steering device provided with a pinion that rotates in response to a steering operation includes a housing extending in the left-right direction of a vehicle body, a pinion shaft connected to a steering wheel (steering wheel), and a pinion shaft having both ends. A steering shaft connected to the left and right steering wheels and having rack teeth meshing with the pinion; and transmitting a steering operation force to the steering shaft via the pinion shaft, the pinion and the rack teeth. The left and right steered wheels are steered by moving the shaft in the axial direction.

In such a rack-and-pinion type steering device, a rack tooth provided on a steering shaft is formed so that a lead becomes larger as the vehicle goes away from a midpoint of a steering angle when the vehicle body goes straight, and a steering wheel is provided. A variable ratio in which the gear ratio is varied in the axial direction of the shaft, and a rudder in which the ratio between the steering angle of the steered wheels and the steered angle of the steered wheels can be changed separately from the pinion and rack teeth It is known that a mechanism for changing the angle ratio is provided, in which the steering angle ratio is increased when the vehicle speed is near zero and the steering angle ratio is decreased when the vehicle is running at high speed.

[0004] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-105103 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-321469 is known as a device provided with the latter variable mechanism of the steering angle ratio.

In a steering apparatus described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-105103, the pinion shaft is divided into two parts, and a ball screw mechanism is provided on each of the divided pinion shafts. A sensor for detecting the change in the steering angle ratio due to the movement of the transmission arm, and a steering angle ratio variable motor having a gear meshing with the sector gear. The transmission arm is moved in the longitudinal direction by driving the variable steering angle ratio motor to change the steering angle ratio.

The steering device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-321469 is capable of moving the steering shaft in the axial direction at a position spaced at an appropriate distance in the radial direction of the steering shaft. , The first having rack teeth on one side and the other side
A rack shaft and a second rack shaft, a rolling wheel that is rotatably disposed between the first and second rack shafts, meshes with rack teeth of each rack shaft, and the second rack shaft. An electric motor that adjusts the amount of rolling of the rolling wheel by moving the rolling wheel, the rolling wheel is provided with a projection that is deviated from the rolling center, and an engaging recess that engages with the projection is provided on the steering shaft. The pinion is configured to mesh with rack teeth on one surface of a first rack shaft to change a steering angle ratio.

[0007]

However, in the former steering apparatus having a variable steering angle ratio mechanism as described above,
Since a pair of ball screw mechanisms each having a relatively complicated structure are provided for each of the two divided pinion shafts, there is a problem that the entire structure of the steering device is complicated and the cost is increased. In the latter case of a steering device having a variable steering angle ratio mechanism, a pinion, a first rack shaft, a rolling wheel, and a second rack shaft interlocked with a steered wheel are radially connected to the steering shaft. In such a case, there is a problem that the bulk of the variable mechanism of the steering angle ratio is increased and the steering mechanism becomes large.

An object of the present invention is to provide a steering device capable of solving the above-mentioned problems.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering apparatus comprising: a rack that moves in the left-right direction of a vehicle body in conjunction with a pinion that rotates in response to a steering operation; And a steering shaft that is disposed at an appropriate distance from the rack and moves in the left-right direction in conjunction with the rack, and is coaxially integrated with the pinion;
A transmission gear having a diameter larger than that of the pinion, a moving shaft that meshes with the transmission gear and moves along the rack, and one end pivotally supported by the rack, and the other end moves relative to the moving shaft. A transmission arm that is arbitrarily locked, and an interlock that contacts the other end of the transmission arm to interlock the steering shaft with the transmission arm, wherein the interlock includes the steering shaft and the transmission arm. And relative movement is enabled.

In the first aspect of the invention, the pinion is rotated by the steering operation, and the rack interlocking with the pinion and the moving shaft meshing with the transmission gear formed coaxially and integrally with the pinion move in the same direction. However, since the moving shaft is interlocked with a transmission gear formed with a larger diameter than the pinion, the steering shaft interlocked with the moving shaft via the transmission arm and the interlocking body has a larger moving amount than the rack, and the steering angle is larger. The ratio can be increased.

By moving the interlocking body,
By changing the contact position of the interlocking body with the transmission arm, the amount of movement of the steering shaft with respect to the amount of movement of the rack can be made larger than the amount of movement of the moving shaft, so that the steering angle ratio is further increased. be able to.

A steering device according to a second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the steering device is provided with a driving device which is rotationally controlled based on a detection result of a sensor for detecting a vehicle speed and moves the interlocking body.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the moving amount of the interlocking member is adjusted based on the detection result of the sensor for detecting the vehicle speed, so that the steering angle ratio can be mechanically changed according to the vehicle speed.

A steering device according to a third aspect of the present invention is a rack that moves in the left-right direction of a vehicle body in conjunction with a pinion that rotates in response to a steering operation, and an appropriate distance in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the rack. And a steering shaft that moves in the left-right direction in conjunction with the rack,
One end of the rack and one of the steering shafts are pivotally supported,
On the other hand, there is provided a transmission arm whose other end is locked so as to be relatively movable, and an adjusting means for adjusting a swing angle of the transmission arm.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the pinion is rotated by the steering operation, and the rack meshing with the pinion moves in the axial direction of the steering shaft, and the movement of the rack is transmitted via the transmission arm to the steering shaft. And the steering shaft moves in the same direction as the rack. When this rack moves, the movement amount of the steering shaft can be changed with respect to the movement amount of the rack by adjusting the swing angle of the transmission arm where the swing angle becomes zero at the steering neutral point of the steered wheels. , The steering angle ratio can be adjusted. That is, the steering angle ratio can be reduced by reducing the swing angle of the transmission arm, and the steering angle ratio can be increased by increasing the swing angle of the transmission arm.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the steering apparatus, the adjusting means is provided on one of the rack and the steering shaft so as to be movable in a swinging direction of the transmission arm, and a projection abutting on the transmission arm; And a driving device for moving the projection.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the drive unit is driven based on the detection result of a sensor for detecting the vehicle speed, so that when the vehicle is steered in a high-speed running state, the protrusions may be reduced. Since the amount of movement is reduced and the swing angle of the transmission arm is reduced, the steering angle ratio can be reduced. Further, when the vehicle is steered at a low speed near zero, the amount of movement of the projection increases and the swing angle of the transmission arm increases, so that the steering angle ratio can be increased.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering apparatus, comprising: a rack which moves in the left-right direction of a vehicle body in conjunction with a pinion which rotates in response to a steering operation; And a steering shaft that moves in the left-right direction in conjunction with the rack,
The steering shaft includes rack teeth, and has a small-diameter gear meshing with the rack and a large-diameter gear meshing with the small-diameter gear coaxially with the small-diameter gear, and rolls by movement of the rack. It is provided with a rolling wheel and a moving shaft meshing with the large-diameter gear and capable of moving in a direction along the rack.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the pinion is rotated by the steering operation, and the rack meshing with the pinion and the small diameter gear of the rolling wheel and the steering shaft meshing with the large diameter gear of the rolling wheel are in opposite directions. Although the steering shaft is engaged with the large-diameter gear formed with a larger diameter than the small-diameter gear, the steering shaft moves more than the rack and the steering angle ratio can be increased. it can.

Further, by moving the moving shaft meshing with the large-diameter gear of the rolling wheel, the steering shaft can be moved while rolling the rolling wheel, so that the movement of the steering shaft with respect to the rotation amount of the pinion is increased. By changing the amount, the steering angle ratio can be adjusted. That is, by moving the moving shaft in the direction in which the rack moves, the rolling amount of the rolling wheel decreases, the moving amount of the steering shaft can be reduced, and the steering angle ratio can be reduced. Further, by moving the moving shaft in the direction opposite to the direction in which the rack moves, the amount of rolling of the rolling wheels increases, the amount of movement of the steering shaft can be increased, and the steering angle ratio can be increased.

A steering device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the steering device is provided with a driving device whose rotation is controlled based on a detection result of a sensor for detecting a vehicle speed and moves the moving shaft.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the amount of movement of the moving shaft is adjusted based on the detection result of the sensor for detecting the vehicle speed, the steering angle ratio can be mechanically changed according to the vehicle speed.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments. Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a steering apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state when a steering angle ratio is small, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line III, and FIG.

The steering device shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 has a pinion 2 integrally formed on the other end of a pinion shaft 1 whose one end is connected to a steered wheel via a steering shaft, and meshes with the pinion 2. A rack 3 that moves in the left-right direction of the vehicle body in conjunction with the pinion 2 and a rudder that moves in the left-right direction at an appropriate distance in a direction that intersects the direction in which the rack 3 moves. The take-up shaft 4, the rack 3 and the steering shaft 4 are disposed at an appropriate distance from each other, and the moving shaft 5 having rack teeth 5a is integrally formed coaxially with the pinion 2, and the pinion 2 A transmission gear 6 having a larger diameter than that of the transmission arm 7, a transmission arm 7 having one end pivotally supported by the rack 3, and the other end locked to the moving shaft 5 so as to be relatively movable. The steering shaft 4 is linked to the transmission arm 7 by contacting the end. And a body 8, the transmission gear 6 is meshed with the rack teeth 5a of the moving shaft 5. Left and right traveling wheels are connected to both ends of the steering shaft 4 via outer ball joints.

The pinion shaft 1 is rotatably supported by a housing (not shown) mounted on the vehicle body, and the rack 3, the steering shaft 4 and the moving shaft 5 can be moved in the axial direction by the housing. It is supported by.

The transmission gear 6 has a gear ratio of, for example, 2: 1 with respect to the pinion 2, but the gear ratio is not particularly limited.

The transmission arm 7 has a round hole 71 at one end and a long hole 72 at the other end, and one end of the rack 3 through a connecting shaft 73 inserted through the round hole 71. In the department,
The rack 3 is pivotally supported so as to swing in the moving direction.
A transmission shaft 74 protruding from one end of the moving shaft 5 in a direction intersecting the moving direction is locked to the long hole 72 so as to be relatively movable.

The interlocking body 8 is rotatable around the steering shaft 4, and is fitted into the cylindrical portion 81 so as to be integrally movable in the axial direction, and a radial direction from the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 81. The projection 82 is inserted into the long hole 72 of the transmission arm 7 so as to abut on the inner surface of the long hole 72 so as to be able to move relatively, and the moving force of the moving shaft 5 is reduced. Transmission shaft 74,
The steering shaft 4 via the transmission arm 7, the projection 82 and the cylindrical portion 81.
And the steering shaft 4 is interlocked with the moving shaft 5.

The interlock 8 is moved by a drive unit 9 whose rotation is controlled based on the detection result of a sensor for detecting the vehicle speed. The driving machine 9 uses an electric motor such as a stepping motor, and a driving gear 91 is provided on a driving shaft thereof. The driving device 9 is started by a signal output from a microprocessor based on a detection result of a sensor for detecting a steering angle of a steered wheel or a rotation angle of the pinion 2, and thereafter, a sensor for detecting a vehicle speed. The rotation is controlled based on the detection result.

A wide gear 83 extending in the axial direction of the steering shaft 4 is provided on the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 81.
And the relay gear 10 which meshes with the drive gear 91 and rotates.
And the rotation of the driving machine 9 is controlled by the driving gear 91 and the relay gear 1.
0 to the interlock 8, and the angle of rotation of the interlock 8 can change the contact position of the projection 82 to the transmission arm 7 between the high-speed position and the low-speed position. I have. The drive 9 and the relay gear 10 are supported by the housing.

In the steering device configured as described above, the steering force of the steered wheels is transmitted from the pinion 2 of the pinion shaft 1 to the rack 3.
Further, the rack 3 and the moving shaft 5 are transmitted from the transmission gear 6 integral with the pinion 2 to the moving shaft 5 in the same direction, and the moving force of the moving shaft 5 is
The steering shaft 4 via the transmission arm 7, the projection 82 and the cylindrical portion 81.
And the steering shaft 4 can be moved in the axial direction. At this time, if the gear ratio of the pinion 2 and the transmission gear 6 is, for example, 1: 2, the steering shaft 4
Of the rack 3 can be doubled, and the steering angle ratio can be increased. Therefore, the sense of rigidity when traveling straight ahead at high speed can be enhanced, and steering can be easily performed in a low-speed state where the vehicle speed is close to zero.

Further, the driving device 9 is driven in accordance with the steering of the steered wheels, and the rotation of the driving device 9 is controlled based on the detection result of the sensor for detecting the vehicle speed. When the steering is performed, the swing angle of the transmission arm 7 is zero, the interlocking body 8 is moved to the high-speed position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 by the driving machine 9, and the movement amounts of the moving shaft 5 and the steering shaft 4 are the same. Thus, the feeling of rigidity when traveling straight at high speed can be increased.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state when the steering angle ratio is large, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing a state when the steering angle ratio is large. When the vehicle is steered clockwise at a low speed close to zero, the interlocking body 8 is moved to the low speed position in FIGS. 5 and 6 by the driving machine 9, and the contact position of the projection 82 with the transmission arm 7 is illustrated. 5, the steering shaft 4 is displaced in the axial length direction by ΔH, and the displacement of the steering shaft 4 is greater by ΔH than the displacement of the moving shaft 5 by this displacement ΔH. The moving amount of the take-off shaft 4 can be made larger than the moving amount of the moving shaft 5. Therefore, the steering angle ratio can be further increased, and steering in a low-speed state where the vehicle speed is close to zero can be more easily performed. When the vehicle is steered counterclockwise in a state where the vehicle speed is close to zero, the operation is the opposite of the case where the vehicle is steered clockwise.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 7 is a front view showing a configuration of a steering apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view. In the steering device according to the second embodiment, the pinion 2 is formed integrally with the other end of the pinion shaft 1 having one end connected to the steered wheel via the steering shaft.
And the rack 3 that moves in the left-right direction of the vehicle body in conjunction with the pinion 2, and the steering wheel that is disposed at an appropriate distance in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the rack 3 and moves in the left-right direction A shaft 4 and one end pivotally supported by the rack 3;
A transmission arm 7, the other end of which is rotatably locked to the steering shaft 4; and a projection which is provided movably in a swinging direction of the transmission arm 7, and which comes into contact with an intermediate portion of the transmission arm 7. 11 and a driving device 12 for moving the projection 11, and the driving device 12 is supported on the rack 3 via a bracket, and other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment. , Common components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description and operation thereof will be omitted.

The transmission arm 7 has a round hole 71 at one end and elongated holes 75 and 76 at the other end and an intermediate portion.
The rack 3 is pivotally supported at one end of the rack 3 via a connecting shaft 73 inserted into the round hole 71 so as to be able to swing in the moving direction of the rack 3. The other end of the slot 75 is provided with the steering shaft 4.
A transmission shaft 13 protruding in a direction intersecting with the moving direction is locked at an intermediate portion of the intermediate portion so as to be relatively movable. The projection 11 is inserted into the elongated hole 76 of the intermediate portion to enable the relative movement. Has been abutted.

The drive unit 12 uses an electric motor such as a stepping motor, and has a disk 14 provided on its drive shaft.
The protrusion 1 is located at a position deviated from the center of rotation of the disc 14.
1, the projection 11 is moved in the swinging direction of the transmission arm 7 by using the rotation center of the driving device 12 as a fulcrum, and the swing angle of the transmission arm 7 can be adjusted. . The driving device 12 is the same as that of the first embodiment.
It is activated by a signal output from the microprocessor based on the detection result of the sensor that detects the steering angle of the steered wheels, or the rotation angle of the pinion 2, and thereafter, based on the detection result of the sensor that detects the vehicle speed. The rotation is controlled.

In the second embodiment, the steering force of the steered wheels is transmitted from the pinion 2 of the pinion shaft 1 to the rack 3 and the rack 3 moves, and the moving force of the rack 3 is transmitted to the transmission arm 7. The power is transmitted to the steering shaft 4 via the transmission shaft 13 and the steering shaft 4 can be moved in the axial direction.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are front views showing the state when the steering angle ratio is large. Further, the drive unit 12 is driven in accordance with the steering of the steered wheels, and the drive unit 12 is controlled to rotate based on the detection result of the sensor that detects the vehicle speed.
When the vehicle is steered while traveling at high speed,
Is not driven, and the projection 11 is stopped at the high-speed position. Therefore, the swing angle of the transmission arm 7 is zero as shown in FIG. 7, for example, and the movement amounts of the rack 3 and the steering shaft 4 are the same. The steering angle ratio can be reduced. Therefore, a sense of rigidity when traveling straight ahead at high speed can be increased.

When the vehicle is steered clockwise at a low speed near zero, the driving device 12 is driven, and the driving device 12 moves the projection 11 from the high-speed position to the low-speed position. The swing angle increases as shown in FIG. 9, and the position of the transmission shaft 13 is displaced by ΔH in the axial direction of the steering shaft 4 as shown in FIG. And the steering angle ratio can be increased. Therefore, steering in a low-speed state in which the vehicle speed is close to zero is more easily performed.

When the vehicle is steered in a counterclockwise direction at a low speed near zero, the driving device 12 is driven, and the driving device 12 moves the projection 11 from the high-speed position to the low-speed position. 10 becomes large as shown in FIG. 10, and the position of the transmission shaft 13 is shifted by ΔH as shown in FIG.
, The amount of movement of the steering shaft 4 can be made larger than the amount of movement of the rack 3 by this amount of displacement ΔH, and the steering angle ratio can be increased.

In the second embodiment, the transmission arm 7 may be configured so that one end of the transmission arm 7 is pivotally supported by the steering shaft 4 and the other end of the transmission arm 7 is freely movable relative to the rack 3. . Further, the protrusion 11 and the driving device 12 for moving the protrusion 11 may be supported on the steering shaft 4 via a bracket.

Third Embodiment FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing the structure of a steering apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional side view. The steering device according to the third embodiment includes a pinion 2 integrally formed coaxially with the other end of a pinion shaft 1 whose one end is connected to a steered wheel via a steering shaft, and is linked to the pinion 2. The rack 3 moving in the left-right direction of the vehicle body, the steering shaft 4 arranged in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the rack 3 at an appropriate interval, and moving in the left-right direction, and the steering shaft 4 , A small-diameter gear 15 meshing with the rack 3 and a large-diameter gear 16 integrally formed coaxially with the small-diameter gear 15 and meshing with the rack teeth 4a. It has a rolling wheel 17 that rolls by movement, and a moving shaft 18 that has rack teeth 18a that mesh with the large-diameter gear 16 and that can move in the direction along the rack 3. Is the same as in the first embodiment. Therefore, the same reference numerals for common parts,
The detailed description and operation are omitted.

The rolling wheel 17 is supported by the housing so as to be able to move and roll in the direction along the rack 3, and the small-diameter gear 15 and the large-diameter gear 16 have a gear ratio of, for example, one. : 2, but the ratio of the number of teeth is not particularly limited.

The moving shaft 18 is moved by a driving machine 19 whose rotation is controlled based on the detection result of a sensor for detecting the vehicle speed. When the vehicle is steered at a low speed near zero, the moving shaft 18 is moved. The moving direction is opposite to the moving direction of the rack 3 and is moved in the same direction as the moving direction of the steering shaft 4.
When the steering is performed while the vehicle is traveling at high speed, the moving shaft 18
In the same direction as the moving direction of the rack 3 and the steering shaft 4
Is moved in the direction opposite to the moving direction.

The driving machine 19 uses an electric motor such as a stepping motor. A screw shaft 20 is connected to the driving shaft, and the screw shaft 20 is connected to a screw hole 18 b formed at one end of the moving shaft 18. The moving shaft 18 is relatively moved in the direction along the rack 3 by the rotation of the screw shaft 20. The driving device 19 is started by a signal output from a microprocessor based on a detection result of a sensor for detecting a steering angle of a steered wheel or a rotation angle of the pinion 2, and thereafter, a sensor for detecting a vehicle speed. The rotation is controlled based on the detection result.

In the third embodiment, the steering force of the steered wheels is transmitted from the pinion 2 of the pinion shaft 1 to the rack 3 and the rack 3 moves, and the moving force of the rack 3 is transmitted to the small-diameter gear 15. The transmitted rolling wheel 17 rolls, and the steering shaft 4 can be moved in the axial direction via the large-diameter gear 16 of the rolling wheel 17.

Further, the driving device 19 is driven in accordance with the steering of the steered wheels, and the rotation of the driving device 19 is controlled based on the detection result of the sensor for detecting the vehicle speed. When the steering wheel is steered clockwise in FIG. 11 in the state, the rolling wheel 17 rotates clockwise in FIG. 11 via the rack 3, the driving machine 19 is not driven or rotates at a very low speed, and the moving shaft 18 is rotated. When the rack 3 moves to the right in FIG. 11, the amount of rolling of the rolling wheels 17 in the right direction in FIG. 11 due to the left movement of the rack 3 becomes maximum, and the steering shaft 4 moves. It can be moved in the same direction as the shaft 18, that is, to the right in FIG. For example, if the gear ratio of the small-diameter gear 15 and the large-diameter gear 16 of the rolling wheel 17 is, for example, 1: 2, the moving amount of the steering shaft 4 linked to the large-diameter gear 16 in the rightward direction in FIG. The amount of movement of the rack 3 linked to the gear 15 in the leftward direction in FIG. 11 can be doubled, and the steering angle ratio can be increased.

When the vehicle is steered clockwise in FIG. 11 while the vehicle is traveling at a high speed, the driving device 19 is driven, and the moving shaft 18 moves leftward in FIG. 11 and meshes with the moving shaft 18. The rolling of the large-diameter gear 16 to the right in FIG. 11 is suppressed, the rolling amount of the rolling wheel 17 decreases, and the transmission ratio from the large-diameter gear 16 to the steering shaft 4 decreases. Can be reduced, and the steering angle ratio can be reduced. Therefore, a sense of rigidity when traveling straight ahead at high speed can be increased.
Further, when the steering is performed in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 11, the operation is the opposite of the case where the steering is performed in the clockwise direction, and the description of the operation is omitted.

[0049]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, as described in detail above, a transmission gear formed coaxially and integrally with a pinion that rotates in accordance with a steering operation, and a rack and a transmission gear interlocked with the pinion mesh with each other. The ball screw mechanism has a structure including a moving shaft that moves along the rack, a transmission arm provided between the rack and the moving shaft, and an interlocking body that interlocks a steering shaft with the transmission arm. The structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced as compared with the conventional example using the steering wheel, and the bulk of the variable mechanism of the steering angle ratio can be reduced and the size can be reduced as compared with the conventional example using the rolling wheels and the rack. Can be.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the rack interlocked with the pinion that rotates in response to the steering operation, the transmission arm provided between the rack and the steering shaft, and the adjustment for adjusting the swing angle of the transmission arm. Therefore, the structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced as compared with the conventional example using the ball screw mechanism, and the steering angle can be reduced as compared with the conventional example using the rolling wheels and the rack. The bulk of the variable ratio mechanism can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the rolling wheel has a structure in which a small-diameter gear meshing with a rack interlocking with a pinion and a large-diameter gear meshing with a steering shaft are integrally formed coaxially. Since the steering shaft and the moving shaft mesh with the large-diameter gear, the volume of the variable mechanism of the steering angle ratio can be reduced and the size can be reduced as compared with the conventional example using the rolling wheels and the rack. The structure can be simplified and the cost can be reduced as compared with a conventional example using a ball screw mechanism.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a steering device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state where the steering angle ratio of the steering apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is small.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing a configuration of the steering apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state where the steering angle ratio of the steering apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention is large.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the steering angle ratio of the steering device according to the first embodiment of the present invention is large.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a configuration of a steering apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of a steering apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the steering apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention when the steering angle ratio is large.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the steering apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention when the steering angle ratio is large.

FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional front view showing a configuration of a third embodiment of a steering device according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a configuration of a third embodiment of a steering device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Pinion 3 Rack 4 Steering shaft 4a Rack tooth 5 Moving shaft 6 Transmission gear 7 Transmission arm 8 Interlocking body 9, 12, 19 Driver 11 Projection 15 Small diameter gear 16 Large diameter gear 17 Rolling wheel 18 Moving shaft

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A rack that moves in the left-right direction of a vehicle body in conjunction with a pinion that rotates in response to a steering operation, and is arranged at an appropriate interval in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the rack, and is interlocked with the rack. A steering shaft having a steering shaft that moves in the left-right direction and is coaxially integrated with the pinion, and a transmission gear having a diameter larger than that of the pinion, meshing with the transmission gear, and engaging with the rack. A movement axis that moves along
A transmission arm, one end of which is pivotally supported by the rack, and the other end of which is rotatably locked to the moving shaft; and A steering device, wherein the linkage device is capable of relative movement with the steering shaft and the transmission arm. 2. The steering apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a driving device that is controlled to rotate based on a detection result of a sensor that detects a vehicle speed and moves the interlocking body. 3. A rack that moves in the left-right direction of the vehicle body in conjunction with a pinion that rotates in accordance with a steering operation, and is disposed at an appropriate distance in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the rack, and is interlocked with the rack. And a steering shaft that moves in the left-right direction, one end of which is pivotally supported by one of the rack and the steering shaft, and the other end of which is locked to allow relative movement freely. A steering device comprising: a transmission arm; and an adjusting means for adjusting a swing angle of the transmission arm. 4. The adjusting means is provided on one of the rack and the steering shaft so as to be movable in a swinging direction of the transmission arm, and includes a projection abutting on the transmission arm, and a driving device for moving the projection. The steering device according to claim 3, further comprising: 5. A rack that moves in the left-right direction of the vehicle body in conjunction with a pinion that rotates in response to a steering operation, and is disposed at an appropriate distance in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the rack, and is interlocked with the rack. And a steering shaft that moves in the left-right direction, the steering shaft includes rack teeth, a small-diameter gear that meshes with the rack, and a coaxial integral part of the small-diameter gear, A rolling wheel having a large-diameter gear meshing with the teeth and rolling by the movement of the rack, and a moving shaft meshing with the large-diameter gear and enabling movement in a direction along the rack are provided. A steering device, characterized in that: 6. The steering device according to claim 5, further comprising a driving device that is controlled to rotate based on a detection result of a sensor that detects a vehicle speed and moves the moving shaft.