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Column unit for an electric power steering apparatus

a technology of electric power steering and column unit, which is applied in the direction of electric steering, power driven steering, vehicle components, etc., can solve the problems of increasing the bonding strength between the rear end section of the housing, the front end section of the steering column b>6/b>, and the drop in the bonding strength with this fastening, so as to improve the strength of the joined sections between the members of the column unit, improve the strength of the molded parts, and the effect of improving

Inactive Publication Date: 2016-10-20
NSK LTD
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This design achieves a lightweight yet robust column unit with improved bonding strength and enhanced impact absorption, maintaining structural integrity and reducing deformation during collisions.

Problems solved by technology

However, in the case of this conventional construction in which the housing 9a made of synthetic resin is combined with a metal steering column 6a in this way, increasing the bonding strength between the rear end section of the housing 9a and the front end section of the steering column 6a is difficult.
As a result, the drop in the bonding strength with this fastened and joined section becomes very large.
Moreover, the strength and rigidity of this fastened and joined section may not be large from the initial stage due to the interference fit between metal and synthetic resin.
In either case, when this bonding strength decreases, there is a possibility that a problem will occur of movement or vibration of this joined section between the steering column 6a and housing 9a.
A similar problem may also occur when the steering column is made of a metal such as a ferrous alloy having a specified amount of strength and rigidity, and the housing is made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy that is lightweight but is soft compared to a ferrous alloy.
However, in the apparatus disclosed in JP2010-36677(A), the sleeve 27 of the outer column 24 is formed using synthetic resin, however weight is not sufficiently reduced.

Method used

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  • Column unit for an electric power steering apparatus
  • Column unit for an electric power steering apparatus
  • Column unit for an electric power steering apparatus

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

first embodiment

[0099]FIG. 1 to FIG. 10 illustrate a first example of the present invention. Including this example, the features of the present invention is construction of a column unit for an electric power steering apparatus comprising a steering column for supporting the steering shaft on the inside thereof so as to be able to rotate freely, and a housing that inside thereof houses component parts of the electric power steering apparatus. The construction and function of the other parts are the same as in a conventional electric power steering apparatus and column unit thereof, so the explanation below, including this example, will center on the features of the present invention.

[0100]The column unit for an electric power steering apparatus of this example is applied to an electric power steering apparatus that does not comprise either a tilt mechanism or telescopic mechanism.

[0101]In the column unit of this example, an outer column 30, lower support bracket 54 for supporting and fastening the...

second embodiment

[0153]FIG. 26 and FIG. 27 illustrate a second example of the present invention. In the column unit for an electric power steering apparatus of this example, by providing two upper support brackets 59c, deformation in the outer column 30 and upper support bracket 59c made of synthetic resin is further reduced.

[0154]Two upper support brackets 59c are integrally formed with the outer column 30 made of synthetic resin and are separated in the front / rear direction of the vehicle on the vehicle-rear side of the outer column 30 and protrude upward from the outer column 30 toward the vehicle-top side (upward in FIG. 26). Both of the upper support brackets 59c have the same construction as the upper support bracket 59a of the first example of the first embodiment and the first example of the second embodiment, and each is fastened to an upper vehicle installation plate 84 by a steel upper installation bolt 78 that is inserted through an upper installation hole 60 that is formed in the upper ...

third embodiment

[0163]In the column unit for an electric power steering apparatus of this example, the front end section of the metal steering column 62 and the rear end section of the main section 29 of a housing 9b made of synthetic resin are integrally joined and fastened together when performing injection molding of this main section 29 using synthetic resin. the present invention is not limited to constructing the housing synthetic resin, and construction is also possible wherein the housing is made of aluminum alloy.

[0164]The housing 9b is formed into a hollow shape by joining and fastening together by welding, screws or the like, the main section 29 and a cover section 87 that are both formed by injection molding of the same kind of synthetic resin. The front end section of the input shaft 12 (left end section in FIG. 31), from the rear end section to the middle section of the output shaft 13 (right end section in FIG. 31), a torsion bar 11, a torque measurement apparatus 8 and the like are ...

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PUM

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Abstract

An electric power steering apparatus capable of being both lightweight and rigid. A lightweight electric power steering apparatus is achieved wherein a gear housing (45) that houses an electric assist mechanism, a lower support bracket (54) for fastening the gear housing (45) to the vehicle body, a sensor housing (56) that houses a torque sensor (57), an outer column (30) of a steering column (6c), and an upper support bracket (59a) for fastening the middle section of the outer column (30) to the vehicle body can all be integrally formed of synthetic resin, improving the strength of the joined sections of these members.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is a division patent application of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 391,471, filed Mar. 11, 2013. The contents of this prior application are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention is related to a column unit for an electric power steering apparatus comprising a steering column for supporting a steering shaft on the inside thereof such that the steering shaft can rotate freely, and a housing that houses component parts of the electric power steering apparatus inside thereof.[0003]As illustrated in FIG. 45, a steering apparatus for an automobile is constructed so as to apply a steering angle to the front wheels by pushing or pulling a pair of left and right tie rods as rotation from the steering wheel 1 is transmitted to the input shaft 3 of a steering unit 2 and rotates the input shaft 3. The steering wheel 1 is supported by and fastened to the rear end section of a steer...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): B62D5/04B62D1/19
CPCB62D1/192B62D5/0406B62D1/16B62D5/0403
Inventor SHIBAZAKI, HIROSHIWAGA, TAMOTSUSADAKATA, KIYOSHIMORIYAMA, SEIICHI
Owner NSK LTD