KR100599484B1 - Automotive steering rack-stroke adjusting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steering rack stroke adjusting device for a vehicle that adjusts a rack stroke in a state in which a movable protrusion is exposed to a fixed protrusion, and in particular, the movable protrusion of the movable stopper rides up or down by a fixed protrusion to a rack. The present invention relates to a steering rack stroke adjusting device for a vehicle that can variably adjust the stroke.

Description

Steering rack stroke adjustment device of car {AUTOMOTIVE STEERING RACK-STROKE ADJUSTING DEVICE}

1 is an excerpt of a conventional steering gearbox portion.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line II of FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is an exploded perspective view of the main part of FIG. 2;

Figures 4a and 4b is a front view and a longitudinal sectional view showing a state after the movable stopper, which is a main part of the steering rack stroke adjustment device of the vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is sliding.

Figures 5a and 5b is a front view and a longitudinal sectional view showing a state before the movable stopper sliding the main part of the steering rack stroke adjustment apparatus of the vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a rear perspective view of the movable stopper according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: steering gear box 12: housing

14 rack 16: ball joint

18: tie rod 20: motor

44: idle gear 120: case

130: movable stopper 135: movable projection

135a, 175a: slope 139,179: receiving portion

150: movable stopper rotating mechanism 170: movable stopper sliding mechanism

175: fixed protrusion 177: elastic member

The present invention relates to a steering rack stroke adjusting device for a vehicle that adjusts a rack stroke in a state in which a movable protrusion is exposed to a fixed protrusion, and in particular, the movable protrusion of the movable stopper rides up or down by a fixed protrusion to a rack. The present invention relates to a steering rack stroke adjusting device for a vehicle that can variably adjust the stroke.

Background Art [0002] Conventionally, for example, a steering rack stroke adjusting apparatus for an automobile is disclosed in the publication of US Pat. 1 to 3, the stop plate 26 fixed to the rack 14 of the ball joint 16 is moved left and right, and the rotating body 22 rotates, as shown in FIGS. As a result, the stroke of the rack 14 is variably adjusted. That is, when the sector type projection 42 of the stop plate 26 is inserted into and coupled to the sector type groove 32 of the rotating body 22, the rack stroke is maximum and the minimum rotation radius can be minimized. On the other hand, when the sector-shaped protrusion 42 of the stop plate 26 comes out of the sector-shaped groove 32 and contacts the protrusion 34 of the rotating body 22, the rack is moved by the thickness of the rotating body 22. Will be limited.

In the conventional apparatus having such a configuration, there are the following troubles.

First, the stop plate 26 is fixed to the rack 14 of the ball joint 16 part, so that a separate rack stroke variable part is required.

Second, when the rack is stroked in a state where the sector-shaped protrusion 42 of the stop plate 26 is caught by the protrusion 34, there is a high possibility of shear failure.

Third, when the rack stroke is maximized when the driver blinks that the chain is mounted, the ball joint 16 is close to the sector type groove 32 and the sector type projection 42 is inserted even a little. Interference between the chain and the body (wheel house) is inevitable.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object thereof is to provide a steering rack stroke adjustment apparatus for a vehicle having a structure capable of sliding in the reciprocating direction at the same time as the rotation of the movable stopper.

Steering rack stroke adjustment apparatus of the vehicle of the present invention for solving the above object is a reciprocating mechanism that is interlocked by the rotary motion mechanism of the steering shaft, a movable stopper for limiting the stroke of the reciprocating mechanism, and the movable stopper And a movable stopper sliding mechanism for sliding in the reciprocating direction as the movable stopper rotates.

According to this configuration, it is possible to slide in the reciprocating direction simultaneously with the rotation of the movable stopper.

In the above-described configuration, the movable stopper sliding mechanism protrudes in the reciprocating direction in the vicinity of the stroke ends of the reciprocating mechanism, and the fixed projection portion in which the movable projection of the movable stopper protruding in the radial direction rises or escapes, and the movable stopper. It is preferably composed of an elastic member for applying a force toward the fixed protrusion.

In addition, it is preferable that an inclined surface is formed at the sliding start end of the fixed protrusion and / or the movable protrusion.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail, the same reference numerals for the same parts as in the prior art and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Figures 4a and 4b is a front view and a longitudinal sectional view showing a state after the movable stopper, which is a main part of the steering rack stroke adjustment apparatus of the vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and Figures 5a and 5b are 6 is a front view and a longitudinal sectional view showing a state before the movable stopper which is a main part of the steering rack stroke adjusting device of the vehicle according to the preferred embodiment slides, and FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the movable stopper according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. .

As shown in Figs. 4A to 5B, the variable rack stroke adjusting device of this embodiment is largely composed of a reciprocating mechanism and a variable rack stroke adjusting mechanism. The variable rack stroke adjustment mechanism includes a movable stopper 130 for limiting the stroke of the reciprocating mechanism, a rotation mechanism 150 of the movable stopper, and a movable stopper sliding mechanism 170.

The reciprocating mechanism is a rack 14 which meshes with the pinion of the reciprocating rotation mechanism of the steering shaft, and the rack 14 is guided to the housing 12 so as to reciprocate from side to side. The variable rack stroke adjustment mechanism is arranged in the case 120 formed in the left and right both sides vicinity of this housing 12. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, the movable stopper 130 has a hollow plate 133 having a through-hole 131 through which the rack 14 penetrates in the center thereof, and a protrusion in the radial direction on the inner circumferential surface of the hollow plate 133. It consists of the opposing movable projection 135 and the teeth 137 formed in the outer peripheral surface of this hollow plate 133. It is preferable that the teeth 135 have a length of a pitch circle that can be rotated 90 degrees each. In addition, a pair of receiving portions 139 are formed between the movable protrusions 135 to accommodate the fixed protrusions 175 described later.

The rotation mechanism 150 is a mechanism for transmitting rotational force to the movable stopper 130, and is composed of a motor 20 fixed to the case 120 and a drive gear 153 mounted to the rotation shaft of the motor 20. . An idle gear 44 is interposed between the drive gear 153 and the teeth 137 of the movable stopper 130. The motor 20 is driven and controlled by the electronic control unit (ECU) when the driver operates a desired switch.

 The movable stopper sliding mechanism 170 is a mechanism for slidingly protruding in a cam manner as the movable stopper 130 rotates. That is, the movable stopper sliding mechanism 170 has a pair of fixed protrusions 175 protruding from one surface of the case 120 in the reciprocating direction, and elasticity for applying a force to the movable stopper 130 toward the fixed protrusions 175. It is comprised by the member 177. When the movable projection 135 is raised on the fixed protrusion 175, the rack stroke is limited, and when down, the rack stroke is increased.

As such, the movable stopper 130 is disposed in an overlapping shape in which the fixed protrusion 175 rides up or down. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 4B and 5B, even if the socket of the ball joint 16 connecting the rack 14 and the tie rod 18 is caught by the movable stopper 130 and continues to apply force, surface contact is established. As a result, there is a very low risk of shear failure such as sector type projections.

In addition, it is easy to form the fixed protrusion 175 (in one piece) on the case 120, so that a separate stop plate as in the prior art is unnecessary.

On the other hand, when the inclined surface 175a is formed at the sliding start end of the fixed protrusion 175, the movable protrusion 135 can be smoothly climbed up or down as the movable stopper 130 rotates. In addition, when the inclined surface 135a is formed at the sliding start end of the movable projection 135, it is possible to ride up or down more smoothly. In addition, a pair of receiving portions 179 are formed between the fixed protrusions 175 to accommodate the movable protrusions 135.

In addition, the inclined surfaces 135a and 175a may allow rotation and sliding of the movable protrusion 135 by the inclination angle. Thus, even when the snow chain is mounted, it is possible to prevent the interference between the chain and the vehicle body (wheel house) by simply operating a switch when the socket of the ball joint 16 approaches the fixed protrusion 175.

Looking at the operation of this embodiment configured as described above are as follows.

First, referring to the operation of releasing the restricted state (snow chain mounting state) of the rack stroke shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, when the motor 20 is driven and controlled, the movable stopper 130 rotates 90 degrees clockwise. . By this rotation, the movable projection 135 is slid in the reciprocating direction by the elastic force of the elastic member 177, so as to retreat by the thickness of the fixed projection 175 (FIGS. 5A and 5B). Therefore, the rack stroke increases by this retracted thickness. This increase causes the maximum rotation angle of the tire to be so large that the minimum turning radius is reduced. Even a car with a large minimum radius can increase the probability of a U-turn in one go.

On the contrary, in order to form a snow chain mounting space, when the motor 20 is drive-controlled in the state shown to the above-mentioned FIG. 5A and 5B, the movable stopper 130 rotates 90 degrees counterclockwise. By this rotation, the movable protrusion 135 is lifted up on the fixed protrusion 175. This ride up moving projection 135 is slid in the reciprocating direction while pushing the elastic force of the elastic member 177, it is advanced by the thickness of the fixed projection 175 (Figs. 4a and 4b). Thus, the rack stroke is reduced by this advanced thickness. This reduction results in a smaller maximum rotation angle of the tire, which results in a larger minimum rotation radius.

Steering rack stroke adjustment device of the vehicle of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment can be carried out in various modifications within the range allowed by the technical idea of the present invention.

As apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects.

First, as the movable stopper disposed in the fixed protrusions near the stroke ends of the reciprocating mechanism interlocked by the rotary motion mechanism of the steering shaft rotates linearly and variably adjusts the stroke of the rack, ① simple formation of the fixed protrusion Therefore, there is no need for a separate stopper projection, and ② the socket of the ball joint is restricted in the state where the movable stopper overlaps with the fixed protrusion, so that there is no fear of shear destruction of the movable stopper.

Second, the inclined surfaces of the movable projections and / or the fixed projections may allow rotation and sliding of the movable projections 135 by the inclination angles, so that even when the snow chain is mounted, the socket of the ball joint 16 sockets the fixed projections 175. By simply operating the switch when approaching), interference between the chain and the car body (wheel house) can be prevented.

Claims (4)

A reciprocating mechanism interlocked by a rotary motion mechanism of the steering shaft, A movable stopper for limiting the rack stroke of the reciprocating mechanism; A rotating mechanism for rotating the movable stopper; A movable stopper sliding mechanism for sliding the rotating stopper in a reciprocating direction; Steering rack stroke adjustment device for a vehicle comprising a. 2. The movable stopper sliding mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the movable stopper sliding mechanism protrudes in the reciprocating direction in the vicinity of the stroke ends of the reciprocating mechanism so that the movable protrusion of the movable stopper protruding in the radial direction rises or escapes, and the movable Steering rack stroke adjustment apparatus of the vehicle, characterized in that it comprises an elastic member for applying a force toward the stopper fixed portion. The steering rack stroke adjustment apparatus of claim 2, wherein an inclined surface is formed at a sliding start end of the fixed protrusion in which the movable protrusion rises or exits. 4. The steering rack stroke adjustment apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein an inclined surface is formed at a sliding start end of the movable protrusion which rises or exits the fixed protrusion.

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