Negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly equipment and assembly method for steering system

By designing the negative-retard steel ball intermediate shaft assembly equipment, using alloy brackets and high-frequency induction heating coil mechanisms, the precise positioning and assembly of the intermediate shaft, steel ball grooves and sliding pipes is achieved, and the slow assembly speed in the prior art is solved , The problem of poor accuracy improves efficiency and assembly qualification rate and reduces the cost of trial production.

CN114619413BActive Publication Date: 2025-02-14BOSCH HUAYU STEERING SYSTEMS (YANTAI) CO LTD
View PDF 1 Cites 0 Cited by

Patent Information

Application Number
CN202011466646.0
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2020-12-14
Publication Date
2025-02-14
Estimated Expiration
2040-12-14

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The existing automotive steering system intermediate shaft assembly technology has problems such as slow assembly speed, low efficiency, poor accuracy and lack of general equipment, resulting in complex assembly and high cost.

Method used

A negative-retard steel ball intermediate shaft assembly equipment is designed. Through the assembly mechanism on the alloy bracket and the high-frequency induction heating coil mechanism, the ball screw is used to adjust the height of the intermediate shaft, combined with the principle of heat expansion and cooling, the intermediate shaft is realized. Accurate positioning and assembly of steel ball grooves and sliding tubes.

Benefits of technology

It improves the assembly accuracy and efficiency of the intermediate shaft, shortens the assembly time, reduces the trial production cost, and is suitable for assembly of different types of negative clearance intermediate shaft products.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

Smart Images

  • Figure CN114619413B_ABST
    Figure CN114619413B_ABST
Patent Text Reader

Abstract

A negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device and assembly method for a steering system, comprising an alloy bracket with a working platform on the upper part, an assembly press mechanism component on the working platform, and a high-frequency induction heating mechanism on the working platform at the rear of the assembly press mechanism component, the high-frequency induction heating mechanism heats the sliding tube of the intermediate shaft to be assembled clamped by the assembly press mechanism component; the negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device and assembly method for a steering system of the present invention improve the assembly accuracy and efficiency of the intermediate shaft, and also improve the assembly qualification rate in the sample stage; the present invention is easy for operators to operate, shortens the assembly working hours, and greatly reduces the trial production cost; in addition, the present invention can meet the assembly of different types of negative clearance steel ball products for the intermediate shaft of the steering system, and has a wide range of applications and good adaptability.
Need to check novelty before this filing date? Find Prior Art

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of assembly devices and methods for parts, and in particular to an assembly device for a negative clearance steel ball type intermediate shaft used in an automobile steering system and a matching assembly method. Background Art

[0002] At present, in the field of research and development, production and manufacturing of automobile steering systems, there is a process for assembling the steering gear intermediate shaft. This process usually involves assembling the steel ball into the ball groove of the intermediate shaft and then pressing it into the sliding tube. Since the intermediate shaft is a key component of the automobile steering system, its assembly accuracy will directly affect the quality of the finished product and future driving safety. Therefore, this process is one of the processes that require special attention during the assembly of the automobile steering system.

[0003] As the on-site operators found in the actual work process that there are many problems with the intermediate shaft assembly technology under the existing technology:

[0004] 1. Slow assembly speed and low efficiency;

[0005] 2. The intermediate shaft, ball groove and sliding tube are difficult to accurately position, resulting in poor assembly accuracy;

[0006] 3. The lack of suitable and relatively universal equipment results in a large number of assembly parts. Once production needs to be adjusted, it is difficult for workers to operate.

[0007] In summary, there is an urgent need for a new type of intermediate shaft assembly equipment and assembly method, which can meet the assembly of intermediate shafts with different length requirements and different types of negative clearance. During assembly, the intermediate shaft and the sliding tube can be fine-tuned to adapt, the steel ball assembly is convenient, and the intermediate shaft, steel ball groove and sliding tube can be accurately positioned. The equipment and assembly method need to be easy to operate, shorten the assembly time, improve the assembly accuracy and efficiency of the intermediate shaft, improve the assembly qualification rate in the sample stage, and significantly reduce the trial production cost. Summary of the invention

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a steering system negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly equipment and assembly method, through the assembly mechanism set on the alloy bracket with a platform, the upper and lower spaces of the intermediate shaft are used, and the upper and lower heights are adjusted by the ball screw to meet the assembly requirements of different lengths, and at the same time, the intermediate shaft and the steel ball groove are accurately positioned, and the upper support system of the intermediate shaft is provided with a slide groove with an adjustable phase angle based on the intermediate shaft, and the steel ball can be installed in the clip in advance, and then the assembly mechanism cooperates with the high-frequency induction heating coil mechanism to heat the sliding tube by high-frequency heating, and combined with the principle of thermal expansion and contraction, after heating to a fixed temperature, the ball screw is rotated to assemble the steel ball, the upper part of the intermediate shaft and the sliding tube together, and finally the anti-drop cap is pressed. The present invention can meet the assembly of different types of negative clearance steel ball products of the intermediate shaft of the steering system, is easy to operate, shortens the assembly time, improves the assembly accuracy and efficiency of the intermediate shaft, improves the assembly qualification rate of the sample stage, and greatly reduces the trial production cost.

[0009] The present invention provides a negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device and assembly method for a steering system, and its specific structure and method are as follows:

[0010] A negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device for a steering system, comprising an alloy bracket with a working platform on the upper portion, characterized in that:

[0011] An assembly press mechanism component is arranged on the working platform of the alloy bracket, and a high-frequency induction heating mechanism is arranged on the working platform at the rear of the assembly press mechanism component, and the high-frequency induction heating mechanism heats the sliding tube of the intermediate shaft to be assembled clamped by the assembly press mechanism component;

[0012] An anti-drop cap pressing mechanism is provided on the working platform on the side of the assembly pressing mechanism component;

[0013] The function of the anti-drop cap press-fitting mechanism is to press the anti-drop cap in after the assembly is completed to prevent the shaft and the tube from being disengaged and complete the final assembly.

[0014] A water pump and a water tank are arranged in the frame surrounded by the alloy bracket at the lower part of the working platform, and the water pump and the water tank cool down the high-frequency induction heating mechanism.

[0015] A negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device for a steering system according to the present invention is characterized in that the assembly press-fitting mechanism components include a positioning plate, an assembly track, an intermediate shaft upper support clamping device, a steel ball assembly clip, a fixing bracket, a steel ball assembly ball screw, a sliding tube fixing device and an adjustable positioning pin for the sliding tube, wherein the positioning plate is composed of two horizontal cross plates and a vertical plate connected at right angles to each other, the horizontal cross plate is fixedly connected to the working platform by means of screwing bolts into threaded holes formed in its plate surface, and two assembly tracks are vertically arranged on the plate surface of the vertical plate, the intermediate shaft upper support clamping device is arranged on the track, and a fixing support is arranged at the lower part of the clamping device. The bracket is provided with a steel ball assembly clip which is installed on the upper part of the fixed bracket, the upper part of the intermediate shaft supporting and clamping device clamps and fixes the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled, and the lifting and lowering of the upper part of the intermediate shaft supporting and clamping device is controlled by rotating the steel ball assembly ball screw which is arranged on the upper part of the vertical plate, that is, the lifting and lowering of the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled is driven, and the steel ball assembly clip assembles the steel balls in the steel ball groove of the intermediate shaft, and a sliding tube fixing device is arranged in the middle position inside the fixed bracket, and the sliding tube fixing device clamps and fixes the sliding tube, and the sliding tube and the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled are on the same axial line, and the lower part of the sliding tube is adjusted in height and positioned by an adjustable positioning pin for the sliding tube, and the sliding tube is heated by a high-frequency induction heating mechanism.

[0016] According to the negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly equipment of the steering system of the present invention, it is characterized in that the high-frequency induction heating mechanism is specifically a heating device with a high-frequency heating ring, and the high-frequency heating ring is arranged around the tube body of the sliding tube in a surrounding manner to heat it.

[0017] The principle of high-frequency induction heating is to use high-frequency alternating current to flow through a conductor that is curled into a ring (usually a copper tube), thereby generating a magnetic flux. When metal is placed in it, the magnetic flux will penetrate the metal body, generating a nest current (rotating current) in the direction of the magnetic flux. This induced current generates heat under the influence of the nest current. This heating method is induction heating, which is suitable for heating the sliding tube of a negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly of a steering system of the present invention.

[0018] A negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device for a steering system according to the present invention is characterized in that there are three steel ball assembly clips in total, which are evenly distributed at intervals of 120 degrees around the shaft body of the intermediate shaft to be assembled.

[0019] Each steel ball assembly magazine can assemble 10 sets of steel balls.

[0020] A negative clearance steel ball type intermediate shaft assembly device for a steering system according to the present invention is characterized in that three vertically distributed blocking blocks are arranged on one side of the upper plate body of the vertical plate, and the blocking block is provided with a blocking shaft which is laterally inserted into and passes through the blocking block, so as to block the upper supporting clamping device of the intermediate shaft from falling.

[0021] The blocking block and the blocking shaft can block the upper supporting clamping device of the intermediate shaft when necessary to prevent it from falling freely.

[0022] According to the invention, a negative clearance steel ball type intermediate shaft assembly device for a steering system is characterized in that the intermediate shaft upper support clamping device is provided with an arc-shaped slide groove and a lock buckle, and the intermediate shaft to be assembled is slidably positioned in the arc-shaped slide groove and locked by the lock buckle.

[0023] According to the negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly equipment of a steering system of the present invention, it is characterized in that movable casters with locking devices are arranged at the four corners of the bottom of the alloy bracket. When it is necessary to move, the adjusting disk of the locking device is rotated clockwise to raise the movable caster. After adjusting the equipment to a predetermined working position, the adjusting disk is rotated counterclockwise to drop the movable caster and lock it.

[0024] The movable caster with a locking device is usually a Forma caster, and a single caster can carry 250KG, which can meet the load and operation requirements of a negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device of a steering system of the present invention.

[0025] A method for assembling a negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft of a steering system is based on the above-mentioned negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device of a steering system, and the specific steps are as follows:

[0026] 1) Before assembly, confirm that all the tooling of the assembly equipment is in place and the assembly device is located at the predetermined working position, and lock the movable casters;

[0027] 2) Rotate the ball screw for steel ball assembly to raise the upper support clamping device of the intermediate shaft, then place the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled into the upper support clamping device of the intermediate shaft, fine-tune the installation position through the arc-shaped slide groove, and then use the lock buckle to install the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled in place and clamp it;

[0028] 3) In step 2), attention should be paid to the angle requirements of the intermediate shaft ball groove and the sliding tube;

[0029] 4) Reversely rotate the ball screw for steel ball assembly to lower the upper support clamping device of the intermediate shaft, that is, the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled also drops synchronously, and assemble the steel ball into the steel ball groove of the intermediate shaft through the steel ball assembly clip installed on the upper part of the fixed bracket;

[0030] 5) The sliding tube is fixed by a sliding tube fixing device arranged in the middle of the fixing bracket, and it is confirmed that the sliding tube is aligned with the upper axis of the intermediate shaft to be assembled, and then the high-frequency induction heating mechanism is started, and the high-frequency heating ring arranged around the tube body of the sliding tube heats the sliding tube until the preset heating time, which is 3 seconds to 3.4 seconds. When the heating stops, it means that the heating process of the sliding tube has been completed;

[0031] 6) Continue to rotate the ball screw for steel ball assembly to lower the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled, press it down to assemble it into the sliding tube, and after confirming that it is accurately pressed in, press the anti-slip cap into it through the anti-slip cap pressing mechanism to prevent the shaft from being separated from the tube;

[0032] 7) After waiting for the assembled intermediate shaft to cool naturally, loosen the intermediate shaft upper support clamping device and the sliding tube fixing device, take out the assembled intermediate shaft and remove the anti-drop cap guard plate, and place the workpiece in the predetermined position. This assembly is now completed and ready for the next assembly.

[0033] It should be noted that after the intermediate shaft is taken out, the anti-drop cap guard plate should be removed first. The main function of the anti-drop cap guard plate is to prevent the anti-drop cap from being crushed and scratched during the press-fitting process. The anti-drop cap itself is a plastic part.

[0034] According to the invention, a method for assembling a negative-clearance steel ball intermediate shaft of a steering system is characterized in that in the step 2), a tube auxiliary positioning shaft can be used to assist positioning, and after the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled is installed in place, it is clamped, and then the tube auxiliary positioning shaft is removed.

[0035] According to the present invention, a method for assembling a negative-clearance steel ball intermediate shaft of a steering system is characterized in that, in the step 6), if the gap between the intermediate shaft and the sliding tube is uneven, the position of the intermediate shaft can be manually fine-tuned so that it can be smoothly pressed into the sliding tube.

[0036] The design principle of the negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly equipment and assembly method of the steering system of the present invention is: the sliding tube is heated by a high-frequency induction heating device, and the size of the sliding tube ball groove changes due to thermal expansion after reaching a certain temperature, and then negative clearance assembly is performed through the equipment to ensure that the higher stiffness, clearance and sliding force requirements of the intermediate shaft are met after assembly.

[0037] The following beneficial effects are achieved by using the negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device and assembly method of the steering system of the present invention:

[0038] 1. The negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly equipment and assembly method of the steering system of the present invention improve the assembly accuracy and efficiency of the intermediate shaft, and also improve the assembly qualification rate at the sample stage;

[0039] 2. The negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly equipment and assembly method of the steering system of the present invention are easy for operators to operate, shorten the assembly time, and greatly reduce the trial production cost;

[0040] 3. The negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly equipment and assembly method of the steering system of the present invention can meet the assembly of different types of negative clearance steel ball products of the intermediate shaft of the steering system, and has a wide range of applications and good adaptability. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the specific structure of a negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device and an assembly method for a steering system of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the specific structure of an assembly press mechanism component of a negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device and an assembly method for a steering system of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 3 The present invention is a schematic diagram of the assembly effect of a negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device and an assembly method for a steering system.

[0044] In the figure: 1-alloy bracket, 1a-working platform, 1b-locking device, 1c-movable caster, 2-intermediate shaft to be assembled, 2a-sliding pipe, 3-water pump, 4-water tank, A-assembly pressing mechanism assembly, B-high-frequency induction heating mechanism, B1-high-frequency heating ring B1, C-anti-drop cap pressing mechanism, A1-positioning plate, A1a-blocking block, A1b-blocking shaft, A2-assembly track, A3-intermediate shaft upper support clamping device, A3a-arc slide groove, A3b-locking buckle, A4-clip for steel ball assembly, A5-fixed bracket, A6-ball screw for steel ball assembly, A7-sliding pipe fixing device, A8-adjustable positioning pin for sliding pipe. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The following further describes the negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device and assembly method of the steering system of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0046] Example

[0047] like Figure 1 to Figure 3 As shown, a negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device for a steering system comprises an alloy bracket 1 provided with a working platform 1a on the upper part, an assembly press mechanism component A is provided on the working platform of the alloy bracket, and a high-frequency induction heating mechanism B is provided on the working platform behind the assembly press mechanism component, and the high-frequency induction heating mechanism heats the sliding tube 2a of the intermediate shaft 2 to be assembled clamped by the assembly press mechanism component;

[0048] An anti-drop cap pressing mechanism C is provided on the working platform 1a on the side of the assembly pressing mechanism assembly A;

[0049] A water pump 3 and a water tank 4 are provided in the frame surrounded by the alloy support 1 at the lower part of the working platform 1a, and the water pump and the water tank cool down the high-frequency induction heating mechanism B.

[0050] In this embodiment, the water pump power is 370W, the voltage is 220V, the rated flow rate is 25L / MIN, the rated head is 20M, the maximum volume of the water tank is 68L, the water pump is connected to the water tank pipeline, and the water volume must be guaranteed to be above 50L when the equipment is running.

[0051] The assembly press mechanism component A includes a positioning plate A1, an assembly rail A2, an intermediate shaft upper support clamping device A3, a steel ball assembly clip A4, a fixed bracket A5, a steel ball assembly ball screw A6, a sliding tube fixing device A7 and an adjustable positioning pin A8 for the sliding tube, wherein the positioning plate is composed of two horizontal cross plates and a vertical plate connected at right angles to each other, the horizontal cross plate is fixedly connected to the working platform 1a by screwing bolts into threaded holes opened on its plate surface, and two assembly rails are vertically arranged on the plate surface of the vertical plate, the intermediate shaft upper support clamping device is arranged on the rail, and a fixed bracket is arranged at the lower part of the clamping device, and the steel ball assembly clip is installed At the upper part of the fixed bracket, the upper part of the intermediate shaft supporting clamping device clamps and fixes the upper part of the intermediate shaft 2 to be assembled, and the lifting and lowering of the upper part of the intermediate shaft supporting clamping device is controlled by rotating the ball screw for steel ball assembly arranged on the upper part of the vertical plate, that is, the lifting and lowering of the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled is driven, and the steel ball assembly clip assembles the steel balls into the steel ball groove of the intermediate shaft. A sliding tube fixing device is provided in the middle position inside the fixed bracket, and the sliding tube fixing device clamps and fixes the sliding tube 2a. The sliding tube and the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled are on the same axial line, and the lower part of the sliding tube is adjusted in height and positioned by an adjustable positioning pin for the sliding tube, and the sliding tube is heated by the high-frequency induction heating mechanism B.

[0052] The high-frequency induction heating mechanism B is specifically a heating device with a high-frequency heating ring B1, which is arranged around the body of the sliding tube 2a to heat it.

[0053] There are three steel ball assembly clips A4, all of which are evenly distributed at intervals of 120 degrees around the shaft of the intermediate shaft 2 to be assembled.

[0054] Three vertically distributed blocking blocks A1a are arranged on one side of the upper part of the vertical plate. The blocking block is provided with a blocking shaft A1b which is laterally inserted into and passes through the blocking block, and the blocking shaft blocks the upper supporting clamping device A3 of the intermediate shaft from falling.

[0055] The intermediate shaft upper support clamping device A3 is provided with an arc-shaped slide groove A3a and a lock buckle A3b, and the intermediate shaft 2 to be assembled is slidably positioned in the arc-shaped slide groove and locked by the lock buckle.

[0056] The four corners at the bottom of the alloy bracket 1 are all provided with movable casters 1c with locking devices 1b. When it is necessary to move, the adjustment disk of the locking device is turned clockwise to raise the movable casters. After adjusting the equipment to the predetermined working position, the adjustment disk is turned counterclockwise to lower and lock the movable casters.

[0057] A method for assembling a negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft of a steering system is based on the above-mentioned negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device of a steering system, and the specific steps are as follows:

[0058] 1) Before assembly, confirm that all the tooling of the assembly equipment is correctly in place and the assembly device is located at the predetermined working position, and lock the movable caster 1c;

[0059] 2) Rotate the ball screw A6 for steel ball assembly to raise the intermediate shaft upper support clamping device A3, then place the upper part of the intermediate shaft 2 to be assembled into the intermediate shaft upper support clamping device, fine-tune the installation position through the arc-shaped slide groove A3a, and then use the lock buckle A3b to install the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled in place and clamp it;

[0060] 3) In step 2), attention should be paid to the angle requirements of the intermediate shaft steel ball groove and the sliding tube 2a;

[0061] 4) Reversely rotate the ball screw A6 for steel ball assembly to lower the upper support clamping device of the intermediate shaft, that is, the upper part of the intermediate shaft 2 to be assembled is also lowered synchronously, and the steel ball is assembled in the steel ball groove of the intermediate shaft through the steel ball assembly clip A4 installed on the upper part of the fixed bracket A5;

[0062] 5) The sliding tube 2a is fixed by the sliding tube fixing device A7 arranged in the middle of the fixing bracket A5, and it is confirmed that it is on the same axis as the upper part of the intermediate shaft 2 to be assembled, and then the high-frequency induction heating mechanism B is started, and the high-frequency heating ring arranged around the tube body of the sliding tube heats the sliding tube until the preset heating time, which is 3 seconds to 3.4 seconds. When the heating stops, it means that the heating process of the sliding tube has been completed;

[0063] In this embodiment, the heating time is 3.2 seconds.

[0064] 6) Continue to rotate the ball screw A6 for steel ball assembly to lower the upper part of the intermediate shaft 2 to be assembled, and press it down to fit into the sliding tube 2a. After confirming that it is accurately pressed in, press the anti-slip cap into the anti-slip cap pressing mechanism C to prevent the shaft from being separated from the tube;

[0065] 7) After waiting for the assembled intermediate shaft to cool naturally, loosen the intermediate shaft upper support clamping device A3 and the sliding tube fixing device A7, take out the assembled intermediate shaft and remove the anti-drop cap guard, and place the workpiece in the predetermined position. This assembly is now completed and ready for the next assembly.

[0066] In step 2), a tube auxiliary positioning shaft can be used to assist positioning. After the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled is installed in place, it is clamped and then the tube auxiliary positioning shaft is removed.

[0067] In step 6), if the gap between the intermediate shaft and the sliding tube 2a is uneven, the position of the intermediate shaft can be manually fine-tuned so that it can be smoothly pressed into the sliding tube.

[0068] However, those skilled in the art should recognize that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the present application, and are not used to limit the present application. As long as they are within the spirit of the present application, any changes or modifications to the above embodiments will fall within the scope of the claims of the present application.

[0069] The negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly equipment and assembly method of the steering system of the present invention improve the assembly accuracy and efficiency of the intermediate shaft, and also improve the assembly qualification rate in the sample stage; the operator can easily operate the present invention, and the assembly time is shortened, and the trial production cost is greatly reduced; in addition, the present invention can meet the assembly of different types of negative clearance steel ball products of the intermediate shaft of the steering system, and has a wide range of applications and good adaptability.

Claims

1. A negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device for a steering system, comprising an alloy bracket (1) with a working platform (1a) disposed on the upper portion, characterized in that: An assembly press mechanism component (A) is arranged on the working platform (1a) of the alloy bracket (1), and a high-frequency induction heating mechanism (B) is arranged on the working platform at the rear of the assembly press mechanism component, and the high-frequency induction heating mechanism heats the sliding tube (2a) of the intermediate shaft (2) to be assembled, which is clamped by the assembly press mechanism component; An anti-drop cap pressing mechanism (C) is provided on the working platform (1a) on the side of the assembly pressing mechanism component (A); The function of the anti-drop cap press-fitting mechanism is to press the anti-drop cap in after the assembly is completed to prevent the shaft and the tube from being disengaged and complete the final assembly; A water pump (3) and a water tank (4) are arranged in the frame formed by the alloy support (1) at the lower part of the working platform (1a), and the water pump and the water tank cool the high-frequency induction heating mechanism (B); The assembly press mechanism component (A) comprises a positioning plate (A1), an assembly rail (A2), an intermediate shaft upper support clamping device (A3), a steel ball assembly clip (A4), a fixing bracket (A5), a steel ball assembly ball screw (A6), a sliding tube fixing device (A7) and an adjustable positioning pin (A8) for the sliding tube, wherein the positioning plate is composed of two horizontal cross plates and a vertical plate connected at right angles to each other, the horizontal cross plate is fixedly connected to the working platform (1a) by screwing bolts into threaded holes provided in the plate surface, and two assembly rails are vertically arranged on the plate surface of the vertical plate, the intermediate shaft upper support clamping device is arranged on the rails, and a fixing bracket is arranged at the bottom of the clamping device, The steel ball assembly clip is installed on the upper part of the fixed bracket, and the upper part of the intermediate shaft supporting clamping device clamps and fixes the upper part of the intermediate shaft (2) to be assembled. The lifting and lowering of the upper part of the intermediate shaft supporting clamping device is controlled by the rotation of the steel ball assembly ball screw arranged on the upper part of the vertical plate, that is, the lifting and lowering of the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled are driven, and the steel ball assembly clip performs steel ball assembly on the steel ball groove of the intermediate shaft. A sliding tube fixing device is arranged at the middle position inside the fixed bracket, and the sliding tube fixing device clamps and fixes the sliding tube (2a). The sliding tube and the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled are on the same axis. The lower part of the sliding tube is adjusted in height and positioned by an adjustable positioning pin for the sliding tube, and the sliding tube is heated by the high-frequency induction heating mechanism (B); The high-frequency induction heating mechanism (B) is specifically a heating device with a high-frequency heating ring (B1), which is arranged around the body of the sliding tube (2a) in a surrounding manner to heat the sliding tube (2a); There are three steel ball assembly clips (A4) in total, all of which are evenly distributed at intervals of 120 degrees around the shaft of the intermediate shaft (2) to be assembled. The upper side of the vertical plate is provided with three vertically distributed blocking blocks (A1a), and the blocking block is provided with a blocking shaft (A1b) which is laterally inserted and passes through the blocking block, and the blocking shaft blocks the upper supporting clamping device (A3) of the intermediate shaft from falling; The intermediate shaft upper support clamping device (A3) is provided with an arc-shaped slide groove (A3a) and a lock buckle (A3b), and the intermediate shaft (2) to be assembled is slidably positioned in the arc-shaped slide groove and locked by the lock buckle; The four corners at the bottom of the alloy bracket (1) are all provided with movable casters (1c) with locking devices (1b). When the movable casters need to be moved, the adjustment disk of the locking device is rotated clockwise to raise the movable casters. After the equipment is adjusted to a predetermined working position, the adjustment disk is rotated counterclockwise to lower the movable casters and lock them.

2. A method for assembling a negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft of a steering system, based on a negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft assembly device of a steering system according to claim 1, wherein the specific steps are as follows: 1) Before assembly, confirm that all the tooling of the assembly equipment is correctly in place and the assembly device is located at the predetermined working position, and lock the movable casters (1c); 2) Turn the ball screw (A6) for assembling the steel ball to raise the upper support clamping device (A3) of the intermediate shaft, then place the upper part of the intermediate shaft (2) to be assembled into the upper support clamping device of the intermediate shaft, fine-tune the installation position through the arc-shaped slide groove (A3a), and then use the lock (A3b) to install the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled in place and clamp it; 3) In step 2), attention should be paid to the angle requirements of the intermediate shaft ball groove and the sliding tube (2a); 4) The ball screw (A6) for steel ball assembly is rotated in the opposite direction to lower the upper support clamping device of the intermediate shaft, that is, the upper part of the intermediate shaft (2) to be assembled is also lowered synchronously, and the steel ball is assembled in the steel ball groove of the intermediate shaft through the steel ball assembly clip (A4) installed on the upper part of the fixed bracket (A5); 5) The sliding tube (2a) is fixed by a sliding tube fixing device (A7) arranged in the middle of the fixing bracket (A5), and it is confirmed that the sliding tube is aligned with the upper axis of the intermediate shaft (2) to be assembled, and then the high-frequency induction heating mechanism (B) is started, and the high-frequency heating ring arranged around the tube body of the sliding tube heats the sliding tube until the preset heating time, which is 3 seconds to 3.4 seconds. When the heating stops, it means that the heating process of the sliding tube has been completed; 6) Continue to rotate the ball screw (A6) for steel ball assembly to lower the upper part of the intermediate shaft (2) to be assembled, and press it down to assemble it into the sliding tube (2a). After confirming that it is accurately pressed in, press the anti-slip cap into it through the anti-slip cap pressing mechanism (C) to prevent the shaft and the tube from being separated; 7) After the assembled intermediate shaft has cooled naturally, loosen the intermediate shaft upper support clamping device (A3) and the sliding tube fixing device (A7), take out the assembled intermediate shaft and remove the anti-drop cap guard, and place the workpiece in the predetermined position. This assembly is now completed and ready for the next assembly.

3. The method for assembling a negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft of a steering system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: In the step 2), a tube auxiliary positioning shaft can be used to assist positioning. After the upper part of the intermediate shaft to be assembled is installed in place, it is clamped and then the tube auxiliary positioning shaft is removed.

4. The method for assembling a negative clearance steel ball intermediate shaft of a steering system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: In step 6), if the gap between the intermediate shaft and the sliding tube (2a) is uneven, the position of the intermediate shaft can be manually fine-tuned so that it can be smoothly pressed into the sliding tube.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Negative clearance steel ball type intermediate shaft assembly equipment of steering system

    CN214323262U