Eccentric rolling bearing steering column internal device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle steering column internal device, which is intended to facilitate cornering by changing the alignment of the front and rear wheels of the vehicle through lateral / sideways offset by using an eccentric rolling bearing to hold a portion of the steering column shaft.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle steering column internal device which is intended to facilitate cornering by modifying the alignment of the front and rear wheels of the vehicle.

[0002] The system is specifically designed to adapt to any steering type and can be installed on existing steering columns or integrated into the production of steering columns for new vehicles or other machines.

[0003] More specifically, the device according to the invention is configured as a replacement for the rolling bearings (French “roulement”) of conventional steering column internals, preferably without having to modify the steering column shaft.

[0004] The device comprises an eccentric spherical (* in French "àroulle") rolling bearing, preferably arranged on the upper part of the steering column shaft, and a concentric spherical rolling bearing, preferably arranged on the lower part of the steering column shaft. Background Art

[0005] The internal mechanism of a vehicle steering column is mainly manufactured using concentric rolling bearings to produce perfectly coaxial rotation between the rotational movement of the handle and the rotational movement of the wheel about the axis of the steering column. The inclination or rake angle (French "angle dechasse") of the steering column is also fixed.

[0006] However, some inventions are described in US 3866946 A, EP 1841640 B1, which aim to allow the inclination or rake of the column to be modified by using two concentric rolling bearings arranged in two eccentric hoops (French "frette") or retaining members. These systems thus allow the longitudinal inclination or rake of the steering column to be adjusted based on the eccentricity of the hoop or retaining member of the rolling bearing.

[0007] According to invention US3866946A, the inclination of the steering column guide axis (French "axe de guidage") is achieved by two rolling bearing members, each of which includes an eccentric opening, which is 180° opposite to the other eccentric opening, and the rolling bearing members are kept fixed on the vehicle longitudinal axis formed by the front wheels and the rear wheels.

[0008] According to invention EP1841640B1, the inclination of the steering column guide axis is achieved by means of an adjustable member which allows the steering column rake angle to be adjusted in a predetermined manner without having to disassemble the fastening and guide members of the steering column shaft.

[0009] However, for a set of hoops, mounted retaining members or defined angular arrangements at both ends of the steering column shaft, the lateral inclination of the steering column guide axis remains fixed or stationary.

[0010] According to these inventions, the guiding axis of the steering column remains aligned in the longitudinal plane of the front and rear wheels of the vehicle during straight and curved driving, so that it is not possible to change the lateral inclination of the dynamically guided steering column when driving around curves or turns.

[0011] The main problem encountered when riding is that in a bend, the front wheels of the vehicle pivot about the steering column axis, which is usually not vertical. In the case of a two-wheeled vehicle, this forces the rider to have to tilt the vehicle laterally in order to guide the vehicle correctly into the inclined trajectory according to the bend to be followed. This movement thus helps to change the direction of the vehicle, but the fixed angle of the steering column limits the possible vehicle tilting, which proves dangerous when the rider leans too much or dodges suddenly, because the front wheel gets stuck on the road surface and the driver loses control of the vehicle. Summary of the invention

[0012] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to propose a steering column internal device which is able to fully or partially move the guiding axis of the steering column, preferably the guiding axis of the front wheels, laterally while the handle is rotated. This overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

[0013] To this end, the present invention more particularly relates to a steering column internal device of the above-mentioned type, characterized in that the system comprises at least a portion of the steering column shaft, which is arranged relative to or preferably integrally, eccentrically and / or optionally inclined in a rotating guide member, such as a rolling bearing or support (French "palier").

[0014] The invention also relates to a spherical rolling bearing or support intended to be fixed integrally to a shaft of a steering column in an eccentric manner.

[0015] The invention also relates to a concentric rolling bearing or support intended to be fixed integrally to a shaft of a steering column in an inclined manner.

[0016] Due to these characteristics, the device can dynamically change the lateral inclination angle of the steering column guide axis or laterally move the steering column guide axis when rotating the steering column shaft without having to replace the steering column guide member. It is designed in such a way that it can replace the existing rolling bearing on the steering column, so that it can benefit from its advantages without having to replace the steering column.

[0017] The system is designed to be robust, interchangeable and potentially reversible to ensure safety and avoid any maintenance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The invention will be better understood after reading the description of the examples, which are given for illustrative purposes only and not limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] Figure 1It is a top view of an eccentric spherical rolling bearing;

[0020] Figure 1a Shown according to Figure 1 A view of section AA;

[0021] Figure 1b a schematic top view showing the alignment between the front and rear wheels of a vehicle;

[0022] Figure 2 a front cross-sectional view showing the steering column inner arrangement in a straight position;

[0023] Figure 2a a front cross-sectional view showing the steering column inner device in a rotated position;

[0024] Figure 3 A front cross-sectional view showing a second variant of the invention with the steering column inner device in a rotated position;

[0025] Figure 4 A front cross-sectional view showing a steering column inner device in a rotated position according to a third variant of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 A front cross-sectional view showing a steering column inner device in a rotated position according to a fourth variant of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 A front cross-sectional view showing a steering column inner device in a rotated position according to a fifth variation of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 A front cross-sectional view showing a steering column inner device in a rotated position according to a sixth variant of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of an eccentric spherical bearing;

[0030] Fig. 9 A front cross-sectional view showing a steering column inner device in a rotated position according to a seventh variation of the present invention;

[0031] Fig.10 A front cross-sectional view showing a steering column inner device in a rotated position according to an eighth variation of the present invention;

[0032] Fig.11 A perspective side view showing a steering column inner device according to a ninth variant of the invention, the rolling bearings of which are not coaxial with each other and have been removed from the steering column;

[0033] Fig.11a Shows Fig.11 Front view of

[0034] Fig.11bShown according to Fig.11a A view of section AA in FIG.

[0035] Fig.11c Shows Fig.11 Side view of

[0036] Fig.11d Shown according to Fig.11c View of section BB in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] according to Figure 2 , 1a , 1b, 1, 1a, according to the first embodiment of the steering column inner device (2), in particular as Figure 1 As shown, it includes an eccentric spherical component (9) (preferably a rolling bearing or support) arranged on a steering column shaft (20), and a concentric spherical component (10) (preferably a rolling bearing or support). The eccentric spherical component (1) preferably includes an opening (4), which is eccentrically arranged on the axis (14) in the inner ring (3) relative to the center (17) of the eccentric spherical component (1), wherein the steering column shaft (10) is held integrally.

[0038] The components (1, 10, 20) of the steering column inner device (9) are arranged in a hollow tube (not shown) commonly called a steering column, which is usually part of the vehicle frame.

[0039] The fork tube (not shown) is integrally fixed to a tube holding bracket (not shown), and according to a common embodiment in a two-wheel vehicle steering column structure, the tube holding bracket is integrally fixed to the lower and upper parts of the steering column shaft (10).

[0040] The eccentric spherical member (1) preferably comprises rollers (5) arranged around the inner ring (3) and held in place by the outer ring (2). The rollers (5) are firmly connected between the tracks (6) of the outer ring (2) and can freely pivot along the tracks (6) of the outer ring (3).

[0041] according to Figure 1b , the front wheel (96) is aligned with the rear wheel (97) along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (93). In the normal configuration of the two-wheeled vehicle, the front wheel pivots about the longitudinal axis (93) of the vehicle at the contact point (94) between the tire and the road by rotation on the guide axis of the steering column.

[0042] according to Figure 1b , 2and 1b, in the straight-ahead driving position, the axis of rotation (30') of the steering column shaft (10) is "coaxial" with the common axis of rotation (30) of the eccentric spherical member (1) and the concentric spherical member (20) (corresponding to the normal steering column guide axis) in a transverse plane (95) transverse to the longitudinal axis (93) of the vehicle. The steering column shaft (10) is laterally pivoted to a maximum angle (β) represented by the axis (30, 30') when the steering column shaft (10) is rotated, formed by the eccentric displacement of the opening (4), preferably fixed to the steering column shaft by a key (8) and retaining the steering column shaft in the concentric spherical member (20).

[0043] Thus, when the vehicle handlebars are rotated, the lateral angle on the steering column guide axis changes from 0 to (β), making it possible to dynamically modify the alignment (warping) of the front and rear wheels when driving on a curve according to the axis (93'), which makes the vehicle easier to control. The offset between the axes (93) and (93') produces an offset (98) on the road of the rotating front wheel (96') and the rear wheel (97) according to the angle from 0 to (β), depending on the length of the fork and the diameter of the wheel and the rotation angle of the axis of the steering column (10). Thus, depending on whether the position of the opening (4) is eccentrically arranged on one side or the other side of the center (17) through which the rotation axis of the steering column shaft (10) usually passes (which itself is usually coaxial with the steering column guide axis), the offset (98) obtained can be on the side corresponding to the change in the vehicle trajectory or on the side opposite thereto. According to the settings selected when designing the invention, the offset (98) generated by the offset of the wheels on the ground is preferably between 0 and 20 mm. Then, driving on a curve is improved and safety is higher than dodging.

[0044] Invention Variations

[0045] According to another variant not shown, the position of the concentric spherical member (20) on the steering column shaft (10) can be interchanged with the eccentric spherical member (1).

[0046] Figure 8 A spherical bearing (81) is shown in which an eccentric opening (84) is provided in the inner ring (83) and can replace the eccentric spherical member (1).

[0047] According to a second alternative of the invention, Figure 3 As shown, the steering column shaft (10) is fixed and arranged in an eccentric spherical component (31) at its upper part, and is fixed and arranged in an eccentric spherical component (320) at its lower part, with 180 degrees relative to each other. When the steering column shaft (10) is rotated, the two relative eccentric movements cause the steering column shaft (10) to pivot laterally, at most by an angle (β) represented by the axis (30, 30'), thereby generating the offset (98) as described above.

[0048] According to a third alternative of the present invention, Figure 4 As shown, the steering column shaft (10) is fixed and arranged in an eccentric rolling bearing component (41) at an angle at its upper part, and is fixed and arranged in a concentric spherical component (420) at an angle at its lower part. When the steering column shaft (10) is rotated, the eccentric movement of the upper part of the eccentric rolling bearing component (41) causes the steering column shaft 10 to pivot laterally, at most by an angle (β) represented by the axis (30, 30'), thereby generating the offset (98) as described above.

[0049] According to a fourth alternative of the present invention, Figure 5 As shown, the steering column internal device (59) includes a steering column shaft (510), which is formed by an inclined portion (510') coaxial with a second portion (510") at a connection (511). One portion (510") of the steering column shaft is arranged in a concentric rolling bearing member (51), and its second portion (510') is arranged and integrally fixed in an eccentric spherical member (520). During the axial rotation of the steering column (510), the eccentric movement on the portion (510') follows the inclined line between the two portions (510', 510") of the steering column shaft (510), forming at most a lateral angle (β), which is represented by the axis (30, 30'), thereby producing an offset (98) as described above.

[0050] According to a fifth alternative of the present invention, Figure 6 As shown, the steering column internal device (69) includes a steering column shaft (610), which is formed by an inclined portion (610') offset from a second portion (610") at a connection (611). One portion (610") of the steering column shaft is arranged in a concentric rolling bearing member (61) and its second portion (610') is arranged in a concentric spherical member (620). During the axial rotation of the steering column (610), the eccentric movement on the portion (610') follows the inclined line between the two portions (610', 610") of the steering column shaft (610), forming at most a lateral angle (β), which is represented by the axis (30, 30'), thereby producing an offset (98) as described above.

[0051] According to a sixth alternative of the present invention, Figure 7As shown, the steering column internal device (79) includes a steering column shaft (710), which is formed by an inclined portion (710') coaxial with a second portion (710") at a connection (711). A portion (710") of the steering column shaft is arranged in an eccentric rolling bearing member (71), and a second portion (710') thereof is arranged obliquely in a rolling bearing member 720. During the rotation of the axis of the steering column (710), the eccentric movement on the portion (710') follows the inclined line between the two portions (710', 710") of the steering column shaft (710), forming at most a lateral angle (β), which is represented by the axis (30, 30'), thereby producing an offset (98) as described above.

[0052] According to a seventh alternative of the present invention, Fig. 9 As shown, the steering column internal device (99) includes a steering column shaft (910), which is formed by an inclined portion (910') coaxial with a second portion (910") at a connection (911). A portion (910") of the steering column shaft is obliquely arranged in a concentric rolling bearing member (91), and a second portion (910') thereof is obliquely arranged in a rolling bearing member 920. When the steering column shaft (910) is rotated, the tilting movement on the portions (910', 910") of the steering column shaft (910) at most forms a lateral angle (β), which is represented by the axis (30, 30'), thereby producing an offset (910) as described above.

[0053] The connection (511, 611, 711, 911) can be made into a welded assembly, a machined assembly, a universal joint assembly, or an assembly with any suitable means.

[0054] According to an eighth alternative of the present invention, Fig.10As shown, the steering column internal device (1099) includes a steering column shaft (1910), which is formed by a portion (1910') offset from the center of the second portion (1910") at a connection (1911). A portion (1910") of the steering column shaft is arranged in a concentric rolling bearing member (191), and its lower second portion (1910') is arranged in a rolling bearing member (920) in an eccentric manner and parallel to the portion (1910"). When the steering column shaft 1910 is rotated, the offset between the portions (1910', 1910") of the steering column shaft (1910) moves laterally / laterally relative to the guide axis of the steering column 1099 in a manner similar to the previous alternative of the present invention, up to a maximum distance (1930). In this case, the offset (98) is equal to the distance (1930) because the guide axis of the steering column is not pivoted, but it is directly translated laterally / laterally. This proves particularly useful for providing an offset (98) that is independent of parameters such as fork length or wheel diameter. In this alternative, the front angle is not affected by the invention, which may also depend on the desired vehicle dynamic behavior.

[0055] According to a ninth alternative of the present invention, Figure 11-11d As shown, the steering column internal device (109) includes a steering column shaft (110), which is arranged in a concentric spherical member (120) at one end and in an opening (104) at a second end, which is eccentrically arranged in the inner ring (113) of a concentric rolling bearing (101), and the external member of the concentric rolling bearing (10) is not shown.

[0056] When the two rolling bearing members (101, 120) are coaxially arranged in a steering column, the normal guide axis of the steering column forms an angle (β) with the steering column shaft (110), represented by the axis (30, 30').

[0057] A spherical joint (124) disposed on the steering column shaft (110) is positioned in the opening (104) and includes at least one flat mating surface (134) (French "méplat") allowing the steering column shaft 110 to pivot integrally with the inner race 113 as it rotates about the axis (30).

[0058] A sleeve (not shown) is preferably fixed to the upper portion (144) of the steering column shaft (110) so that it can be mounted on a vehicle and easily adapted to different steering column models.

[0059] When the steering column shaft (110) is in a position for straight driving, the angle (β) has no effect on the lateral alignment of the front wheels with the rear wheels of the vehicle. When the steering column shaft (110) is pivoted to steer to the right or left, the angle (β) laterally offsets the front wheels relative to the rear wheels of the vehicle, thereby producing the offset (98) as previously described and causing the desired "warping" or rotational movement to improve vehicle handling.

[0060] According to several embodiments of the present invention, the following changes and / or additions may be made to the previously described examples:

[0061] - Each fixed or spherical rolling bearing member (1, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 91, 101, 120, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 920) can be made as a ball bearing, roller bearing, needle bearing, bearing or any other similar device.

[0062] - Each spherical member may be formed by concentric spherical rolling bearings or any other type of mechanism allowing the steering column shaft (10, 110, 510, 610) to rotate and pivot.

[0063] - The opening (4) can be of any shape, such as circular, square, rectangular, oval or according to any geometrical profile.

[0064] - When the opening (4) is circular, its retention in unity with the eccentric spherical rolling bearing (1) can be obtained by a key or any other mechanical means.

[0065] - The rolling bearing member preferably has an outer diameter of less than 80 mm.

[0066] - The opening (4) preferably has a diameter greater than 1 cm 2 cross-sectional area.

[0067] - The thickness of the rolling bearing component is preferably greater than 5 mm.

[0068] The distance between the upper rolling bearing member and the lower rolling bearing member of the steering column shaft is preferably greater than 50 mm.

[0069] - The axis eccentricity (14), distance (15) or distance (1930) between the rotation axis of the rolling bearing member (1, 31, 41, 51, 61, 71, 101, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720) and the relative position of the opening (4, 84, 104) accommodating all or part of the steering column shaft (10, 110, 510, 710, 1910) is preferably greater than 2 mm.

[0070] In an alternative not shown, the steering column shaft or one of its parts can be made to form part of the inner ring (3, 83, 113) of at least one of the aforementioned rolling bearing members. In this case, the steering column shaft is no longer removable from the opening (4, 84, 104), which may prove to be helpful in reducing production costs or in producing special steering column mechanisms.

[0071] In another alternative not shown, all or part of the steering column shaft may have any type of cross section, circular, oval, square, rectangular or according to any geometric profile.

[0072] In another alternative not shown, the steering column shaft can be made

[0073] Although the invention has been described according to several embodiments, there are other alternatives which have not been presented and which may also be a combination or part of the previously described alternatives. Therefore, the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

Claims

1. A steering column internal device for misaligning the front wheels of a vehicle comprising a steering column shaft, at least a portion of which is eccentrically and / or obliquely connected or attached to a rolling bearing member located in a hollow tube forming the steering column shaft, characterized in that When the steering column shaft rotates simultaneously with the rotation of the handle, the guide axis of the steering column is tilted or offset laterally or lateraly.

2. The steering column internal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lateral / sideways displacement of the guide axis of the steering column through the hollow tube produces an offset of the rotating front wheels relative to the rear wheels.

3. The steering column internal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rolling bearing member is an eccentric spherical member fixed to an upper portion of the steering column formed by the hollow tube.

4. The steering column internal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rolling bearing member is an eccentric spherical member fixed to a lower portion of the steering column formed by the hollow tube.

5. The steering column internal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rolling bearing member is an eccentric rolling bearing member fixed to an upper portion of the steering column formed by the hollow tube.

6. The steering column internal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rolling bearing member is an eccentric rolling bearing member fixed to a lower portion of the steering column formed by the hollow tube.

7. The steering column internal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A portion of the steering column shaft is arranged obliquely in a concentric rolling bearing component.

8. The steering column internal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The steering column shaft includes at least one inclined portion.

9. The steering column internal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The eccentric and / or inclined rolling bearing component comprises an eccentric opening on the inner ring.

10. The steering column inner device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The opening is circular.

11. The steering column internal device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The steering column shaft is integrally retained in the opening by a key structure.

12. The steering column internal device according to claim 9, characterized in that: The steering column shaft is integrally retained in the opening by a flat mating surface.

13. The steering column internal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rolling bearing member has an outer diameter of less than 80 mm so as to fit a steering column of a motorcycle on the market.

14. The steering column internal device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The steering column shaft includes an offset portion and a second portion.

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