JP2589423B2 - Steering transmission - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering transmission device for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a steering transmission device capable of performing a steering operation by another operation system in addition to operating a steering wheel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A steering device includes a steering wheel for performing a steering operation, an input shaft rotated by the steering wheel, and a transmission mechanism by a rack and pinion for converting the rotation of the input shaft into a linear motion. It is composed of a steering transmission device including a transmission mechanism using a ball screw for converting the rotation of the input shaft and a sector gear, and a steering mechanism connected to an output shaft of the steering transmission device to steer wheels.

[0003]

However, when the vehicle encounters a disturbance such as unevenness of a road surface due to a rut or a cross wind applied to a side surface of the vehicle, the traveling direction of the vehicle is changed contrary to a driver's intention to proceed straight. Be changed. Therefore, when traveling straight, not only is the steering wheel held in the straight traveling direction, but also in order to correct the fluctuation due to the disturbance, the driver must inevitably have to perform a fine steering angle correction operation. . Therefore, if a steering angle correction operation can be performed in addition to the steering angle operation by the steering wheel, the driver only needs to hold the steering wheel in the straight traveling direction, and operability during straight traveling can be improved. it can. In addition, the steering angle correction operation not only improves the operability during the straight running, but also performs the steering angle correction such that the gear ratio changes according to the steering angle during turning.
It is also possible to realize good turning operability. Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a steering transmission device that enables steering from a steering wheel of a steering device and other different operation systems.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, an input shaft receiving an operating force applied to a steering wheel, second input means forming a separate system from the input shaft, these input shafts and a second input shaft are provided. A steering transmission device which is operated by an input operation of the input means of the above, and which operates a steering mechanism for steering a wheel by a turning operation or a forward / backward operation, wherein the operating means comprises an input shaft and a second shaft.
An intermediate body having conversion means for performing a rotation operation around the axis and an advancing / retreating operation in the axial direction by each of the input means, and outputting a predetermined operation by the rotation operation and the advancing / retreating operation,
And an output shaft connected to this intermediate for operating the steering mechanism.

[0005]

When the second input means is regulated, the intermediate means rotates (or moves forward and backward) by an input operation from the input shaft, and the output shaft is controlled by the intermediate conversion means. When the input shaft is regulated while the steering wheel is held and the steering wheel is held, the intermediate body is moved forward or backward (or rotated) in the axial direction by an input operation from the second input means. Then, the output shaft is turned or moved forward and backward by the conversion means provided in the intermediate body.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a steering transmission device according to a first embodiment. In FIG. 1, a steering transmission device 1 includes an input shaft 11 that receives an operation force applied to a steering wheel (not shown), and a second input that forms a separate system from the input shaft 11 and is driven by a driving device 12a that is a motor. The input means 11 includes an input means 11 and an operating means 13 which is operated by an input operation from the input shaft 11 and the second input means 12 and operates a steering mechanism (not shown) which steers wheels by forward and backward operations.

The operating means 13 includes an intermediate body 14 having a conversion means 14c by a spline mechanism 14a and a pinion rack mechanism 14b, and an output shaft 15 connected to the intermediate body 14 to operate a steering mechanism.

The input shaft 11 is rotatably supported by a cylindrical housing 13a via a bearing 11a. A slide member 16 slidable in the axial direction is provided in the housing 13a.

The slide member 16 is provided with a bearing 16
The intermediate body 14 is rotatably supported via the a. A rack forming a pinion rack mechanism 16b is formed on the outer periphery of the slide member 16. The pinion side of the pinion rack mechanism 16b is driven by a driving device 12a which is a motor mounted outside the housing 13a.

The intermediate body 14 is connected at one end to the input shaft 11 via a spline mechanism 14a which enables the axial movement of the intermediate body 14. The other end is supported by a bearing 14d slidably in the axial direction, and forms a helical pinion of a pinion rack mechanism 14b with a helical tooth surface. The rack side of the pinion rack mechanism 14b forms an output shaft 15 and is connected to a steering mechanism such as a tie rod (not shown). The intermediate body 14 receives a pivoting operation around the axis and an axial reciprocating operation by the input shaft 11 and the second input unit 12, respectively, and outputs a predetermined reciprocating operation via the converting unit 14c.

The operation of the steering transmission device according to the first embodiment having the above configuration will be described below. When the movement of the slide member 16 is restricted by the second input means 12, the movement of the intermediate body 14 is restricted. At this time, when the input shaft 11 is rotated by an input operation, the intermediate body 14 rotates through the spline mechanism 14a,
The output shaft 15 is moved by the pinion rack mechanism 14b at the other end.
To move forward and backward.

When the input shaft 11 is held and its rotation is restricted, the rotation of the intermediate body 14 is restricted via the spline mechanism 14a. At this time, when an input operation is performed from the second input means 12, the slide member 16 moves forward and backward through the pinion rack mechanism 16b, and accordingly, the intermediate body 14 moves forward and backward in the axial direction, and the pinion The output shaft 15 is advanced and retracted by the helical surface of the rack mechanism 14b.

Accordingly, the steering operation by the second input means can be performed together with the steering operation by operating the steering wheel.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a steering transmission device according to a second embodiment. In FIG. 2, a steering transmission device 2 includes an input shaft 21 that receives an operating force applied to a steering wheel (not shown), and a second input that forms a separate system from the input shaft 21 and is driven by a drive 22a that is a hydraulic device. Means 22, the input shaft 21 and the second
And an operating means 23 for operating a steering mechanism (not shown), for example, a rack and pinion mechanism, which operates by an input operation from the input means 22 and turns the wheels by a turning operation.

The operating means 23 includes the ball screw mechanism 2
4a and conversion means 24c by spline mechanism 24b
And an output shaft 25 connected to the intermediate 24 and operating a steering mechanism.

The input shaft 21 is rotatably supported by a cylindrical housing 23a via a bearing 21a. A slide member 26 slidable in the axial direction is provided in the housing 23a.

The slide member 26 includes a bearing 26
The intermediate member 24 is rotatably supported via the a, and the seal members 26b and 26c are interposed between the housing 23a and the intermediate member 24, respectively. Oil chambers A and B are defined on both sides of the slide member 26, and the slide member 26 is driven forward and backward by a drive device 22a which is a hydraulic device as the second input means 22.

The intermediate body 24 is connected to the input shaft 21 via a ball screw mechanism 24a (or, alternatively, a spline mechanism that enables an axial advance / retreat operation) for converting the rotational operation and the advance / retreat operation into a rotational operation. connect. Further, the intermediate body 24 is connected to the output shaft 25 by a spline mechanism 24b (or a ball screw mechanism instead).
The output shaft 25 is rotatably supported by the housing 23a via a bearing 25a, and is connected to a steering mechanism (not shown). The intermediate body 24 receives a pivoting operation around the axis and an advancing / retreating operation in the axial direction by the input shaft 21 and the second input unit 22, and outputs a predetermined pivoting operation via the conversion unit 24c.

The input shaft 21 and the output shaft 25 are provided with seal members 21b and 25b between the input shaft 21 and the housing 23a to maintain the internal pressure of the oil chambers A and B. A hydraulic device 22a that supplies oil pressure to these oil chambers A and B is
Switching valve 22 communicating with oil passages 22b and 22c corresponding to B
d. The switching valve 22d includes a hydraulic pump 22e that generates a hydraulic pressure and oil passages 22g and 22 that return to the oil tank 22f.
2h, and includes a control unit 22i that commands and controls the supply, discharge, and oil path shutoff of the hydraulic pressure.

The operation of the steering transmission device according to the second embodiment having the above configuration will be described below. When the movement of the slide member 26 is restricted by the hydraulic mechanism 22a of the second input means 22, the movement of the intermediate shaft 24 is restricted. At this time, when the input shaft 21 is rotated by receiving an input operation, the intermediate body 24 is rotated by the ball screw mechanism 24a and the spline mechanism 24b forming the conversion means 24c, and the output shaft 25 is rotated. .

When the input shaft 21 is held and its rotation is restricted, the driving device 22a of the second input means 22
The slide member 26 moves forward and backward by the input operation from the, the intermediate body 24 moves forward and backward in the axial direction, and the intermediate body 24 moves forward and backward by the ball screw mechanism 24a and the spline mechanism 24b constituting the conversion means 24c. The output shaft 25 is rotated while rotating.

Therefore, the steering operation by the second input means can be performed together with the steering operation by operating the steering wheel.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a steering transmission device according to a third embodiment. In FIG. 3, a steering transmission device 3 includes an input shaft 31 that receives an operating force applied to a steering wheel (not shown), a second input unit 32 that is separate from the input shaft 31, and is driven by a motor 32a, These input shaft 31 and second input means 32
Operating means 3 which is operated by an input operation from the user and operates a steering mechanism (not shown) which steers wheels by a turning operation.
3

The operating means 33 includes an intermediate body 34 provided with a converting means 34c by a spline mechanism 34a and a worm mechanism 34b, and an output shaft 35 connected to the intermediate body 34 to operate a steering mechanism.

The input shaft 31 is rotatably supported by a cylindrical housing 33a via a bearing 31a. A slide member 36 that can move back and forth in the axial direction is provided in the housing 33a. The slide member 36 rotatably supports the intermediate body 34 via a bearing 36a.

A screw mechanism 36b is interposed between the outer periphery of the slide member 36 and the inner periphery of the housing, and the end of the slide member 36 has a drive unit 32a which is a motor mounted outside the housing 33a. And a gear mechanism 36c for transmitting the turning power.

One end of the intermediate body 34 is connected to the input shaft 31 via a spline mechanism 34a that allows the shaft 34 to move in the axial direction.
Connect to The other end is connected to a rack mechanism 34b including a rack 34e having a ball screw 34d provided therein for receiving a turning operation and an advancing / retracting operation and converting the same into an advancing / retracting operation.
The rack mechanism 34b is connected to a steering mechanism (not shown) via an output shaft 35 forming a shaft of a sector gear 34f.
The intermediate body 34 includes the input shaft 31 and the second input unit 3.
2 receives a rotation operation around the axis and an advancing / retreating operation in the axial direction, and outputs a predetermined rotation operation via the conversion means 34c.

The operation of the steering transmission device according to the third embodiment having the above configuration will be described below. When the movement of the slide member 36 is restricted by the second input means 32, the movement of the intermediate body 34 is restricted. At this time, when the input shaft 31 is rotated by receiving an input operation, the intermediate body 34 is rotated via the spline mechanism 34a,
The output shaft 35 is rotated by the worm mechanism 34b.

When the input shaft 31 is held and its rotation is restricted, the rotation of the intermediate body 34 is restricted via the spline mechanism 34a. At this time, the slide member 36 moves forward and backward by the screw mechanism 36b between the slide member 36 and the housing 33a as the slide member 36 is rotated through the gear mechanism 36c by an input operation from the motor 32a forming the second input means 32, Accordingly, the intermediate body 34 moves forward and backward in the axial direction, and the output shaft 35 is rotated by the worm mechanism 34b.

Therefore, the steering operation by the second input means can be performed together with the steering operation by operating the steering wheel.

The steering transmission device constitutes a steering system such that the steering is corrected from the second input means in accordance with the input torque or the like, and the steering transmission is performed in a range where the input torque applied to the steering wheel is very small. By restricting the rotation of the input shaft of the device, it is possible to automatically cope with disturbance during straight running. Further, by performing a predetermined steering angle correction in accordance with the steering angle at the time of turning traveling, good turning operability can be realized.

[0032]

As described above, the steering transmission device is constituted by the input shaft, the second input means and the operating means which receives them as input, and the operating means is controlled by the rotation operation and the forward / backward operation to a predetermined value. Since the output shaft is constituted by an intermediate body having a conversion means for outputting an operation and the output shaft, the output shaft performs a predetermined output operation through the conversion means of the intermediate body by regulating one input means of the operation means. Do.

Therefore, the steering operation can be performed by operating both the input shaft and the second input means to output the output shaft together.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a steering transmission device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing a third embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, 3 ... steering transmission device 11, 21, 31 ... input shaft 12, 22, 32 ... second input means 12a, 22a, 32a ... driving device 13, 23, 33 ... operating means 13a, 23a, 33a ... Housing 14, 24, 34 ... Intermediate body 14a, 34a ... Spline mechanism 14b ... Pinion rack mechanism 14c, 24c, 34c ... Conversion means 14d ... Bearing 15, 25, 35 ... Output shaft 16, 26, 36 ... Slide member 16a, 26a , 36a ... bearing 16b ... pinion rack mechanism 24a ... ball screw mechanism 24b ... spline mechanism 34b ... rack mechanism 34d ... ball screw mechanism 36c ... gear mechanism

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An input shaft for receiving an operating force applied to a steering wheel, a second input means forming a separate system from the input shaft, and an input shaft and a second input means actuate and rotate the input shaft. An operating means for operating a steering mechanism for steering wheels by an operation or a forward / backward operation, wherein the operating means of the steering transmitting apparatus is turned around an axis by each of the input shaft and the second input means. An intermediate body having conversion means for performing a moving operation and an axial reciprocating operation and outputting a predetermined operation by the rotation operation and the advancing / retracting operation, and an output shaft coupled to the intermediate body and operating a steering mechanism. A steering transmission device comprising: