A steering intermediate shaft structure

Abstract

This invention discloses a steering intermediate shaft structure, including a fork connector, a shock absorber, a first connecting plate, a second connecting plate, and a steering shaft. The fork connector is located on one side of the shock absorber, and the steering shaft, first connecting plate, and second connecting plate are located on the other side of the shock absorber. The fork connector, shock absorber, and steering shaft are coaxially connected, and the fork connector is connected to both the first and second connecting plates. Compared to previous steering intermediate shafts, this invention has the advantages of simple structure, convenient operation, higher overall strength, and better centering.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive steering systems, specifically a steering intermediate shaft structure. Background Technology

[0002] The steering intermediate shaft serves as a connecting structure for the automotive steering system. Its upper end connects to the steering column, and its lower end connects to the steering gear, transmitting the torque of the steering wheel to the steering gear to achieve the vehicle's steering function.

[0003] Modern automobiles demand higher levels of comfort from their steering systems. The steering center shaft, as a connecting component, needs to act as a buffer structure, playing a crucial role in controlling circumferential rotation and axial vertical vibration. Existing buffer structures often employ integral rubber damping discs, relying on the rubber material itself for cushioning. However, under extreme conditions, if the damping disc breaks, it will lose its damping function. In this situation, it is still necessary to ensure that the steering center shaft's torque transmission function is not lost, providing a safety redundancy. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the problems existing in the aforementioned background technology, this solution proposes a steering intermediate shaft structure.

[0005] It includes a fork connector, a shock absorber, a first connecting plate, a second connecting plate, and a steering shaft; the shock absorber is provided with a fork connector on one side and a steering shaft, a first connecting plate, and a second connecting plate on the other side; the fork connector, the shock absorber, and the steering shaft are coaxially connected, and the fork connector is connected to the first connecting plate and the second connecting plate respectively.

[0006] Furthermore, the fork connector includes a cross-shaped base plate, with a positioning shaft on the upper part of the cross-shaped base plate. Two limiting grooves and two first fixing holes are respectively provided around the perimeter of the cross-shaped base plate, and a fork is provided at the bottom of the cross-shaped base plate. An mounting sleeve is provided inside the steering shaft. The outer diameter of the mounting sleeve matches the steering shaft, and the inner diameter of the mounting sleeve matches the positioning shaft. The fork connector passes through the positioning shaft and is connected to the steering shaft. Thus, the central part of the fork connector connects the shock absorber and the steering shaft via the positioning shaft.

[0007] Furthermore, the shock absorber disc is provided with a first connecting hole and a second connecting hole; a first connecting plate is fixedly connected to the end of the steering shaft, and a second connecting plate is sleeved on the surface of the steering shaft, the second connecting plate being arranged perpendicular to the first connecting plate; a first connecting screw passes through the first connecting hole and is fixedly connected to the first connecting plate by a first nut; a second connecting screw passes through the second connecting plate and the second connecting hole in sequence and is then fitted with a second nut, the end of the second connecting screw extending into a limiting groove. Thus, the outer side of the fork connector is connected to the shock absorber disc and the first connecting plate as a whole by the first connecting screw, and the outer side of the fork connector is connected to the shock absorber disc and the second connecting plate as a whole by the second connecting screw. The second connecting plate is a hollow bent structure, the main body being a bent section, which is hollow, with an arc-shaped notch at the center for sleeved steering shaft, and screw holes for connecting the second connecting screw at each of the two ends of the bent section.

[0008] Furthermore, the number of the first connecting hole, the second connecting hole, the first connecting screw, the first nut, the second connecting screw, and the second nut are all two.

[0009] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:

[0010] 1. The integrated design of the fork connector enhances its functionality and makes installation more convenient. Its positioning shaft allows for direct positioning and connection with the steering shaft, ensuring coaxiality.

[0011] 2. The fork connector is screwed to the first and second connecting plates, which clamps the shock absorber disc between the fork connector and the first and second connecting plates, thus limiting and supporting the shock absorber disc. Simultaneously, the relative arrangement of the first and second connecting screws prevents cumulative deformation of the rubber disc, resulting in a longer service life. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 This is an exploded view of the structure of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the segmented fork connector structure in this invention;

[0015] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the second connecting plate structure in this invention.

[0016] Marker explanation:

[0017] 1. Fork joint connector, 2. Shock absorber plate, 3. First connecting plate, 4. Second connecting plate, 5. Steering shaft, 6. Cross base plate, 7. Positioning shaft, 8. Limiting groove, 9. First fixing hole, 10. Fork joint, 11. Mounting sleeve, 12. First connecting hole, 13. Second connecting hole, 14. First connecting screw, 15. Second connecting screw, 16. Second nut, 17. Bending part, 18. Arc-shaped notch, 19. Screw hole, 20. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Combination Figure 1 It includes a fork connector 1, a shock absorber 2, a first connecting plate 3, a second connecting plate 4, and a steering shaft 5; the shock absorber 2 has a fork connector 1 on one side and a steering shaft 5, a first connecting plate 3, and a second connecting plate 4 on the other side; the fork connector 1, the shock absorber 2, and the steering shaft 5 are coaxially connected, and the fork connector 1 is connected to the first connecting plate 3 and the second connecting plate 4 respectively.

[0019] Combination Figure 2 Figure 3 The fork connector 1 includes a cross-shaped base plate 6, with a positioning shaft 7 on its upper part. Two limiting grooves 8 and two first fixing holes 9 are respectively provided around the cross-shaped base plate 6. A fork 10 is provided at the bottom of the cross-shaped base plate 6 for connecting to the steering gear. An mounting sleeve 11 is provided inside the steering shaft 5. The outer diameter of the mounting sleeve 11 matches the steering shaft 5, and the inner diameter of the mounting sleeve 11 matches the positioning shaft 7. The fork connector 1 passes through the positioning shaft 7 and is connected to the steering shaft 5. Thus, the central part of the fork connector 1 connects the shock absorber 2 and the steering shaft 5 via the positioning shaft 7.

[0020] The fork connector 1 is an integral design that can be achieved through casting, welding or forging. On the one hand, it can improve the rigidity and strength of related parts, and on the other hand, it can effectively reduce transition connectors, simplify the design structure and the number of parts, and reduce the assembly cost in the manufacturing process. In particular, it eliminates the need for separate assembly of the positioning shaft, and the alignment during the assembly process of the steering intermediate shaft is better.

[0021] The shock absorber 2 is provided with a first connecting hole 12 and a second connecting hole 13; the end of the steering shaft 5 is fixedly connected to a first connecting plate 3, and a second connecting plate 4 is sleeved on the surface of the steering shaft 5, the second connecting plate 4 being arranged perpendicular to the first connecting plate 3; the first connecting screw 14 passes through the first connecting hole 12 and is fixedly connected to the first connecting plate 3 by a first nut 15; the second connecting screw 16 passes through the second connecting plate 4 and the second connecting hole 13 in sequence and is then fitted with a second nut 17, the end of the second connecting screw 16 extending into the limiting groove 8. Thus, the fork connector 1 is connected to the shock absorber 2 and the first connecting plate 3 as a whole by the first connecting screw 14, and the outer side of the fork connector 1 is connected to the shock absorber 2 and the second connecting plate 4 as a whole by the second connecting screw 16.

[0022] Combination Figure 4 The second connecting plate 4 is a hollow bent structure, the main body of which is a bent part 18. The bent part 18 is hollow, and an arc-shaped notch 19 is provided at the center of the bent part 18 for fitting the steering shaft 5. The two ends of the bent part 18 are respectively provided with screw holes 20 for connecting the second connecting screw 16.

[0023] The second connecting plate 4 is designed with a bent structure, which can ensure that both ends still fit the shock absorber after the second connecting screws are assembled, and also allow the second connecting plate 4 to form a gap with the first connecting plate 3 through the slot of the bent part 18 to facilitate the screw tightening operation.

[0024] The number of the first connecting hole 12, the second connecting hole 13, the first connecting screw 14, the first nut 15, the second connecting screw 16, and the second nut 17 are all two.

[0025] The working principle of this invention is as follows:

[0026] Under normal conditions, the torque transmitted from the steering wheel is sequentially driven by the steering shaft 5 to the first connecting plate 3, the first connecting screw 14, the shock absorber 2, and the fork connector 1, and finally transmitted to the steering gear to achieve the steering function; at the same time, the vibration of the vehicle body is also transmitted to the steering wheel in the opposite way.

[0027] The steering torque and axial vibrations transmitted from the road surface provide a smooth feel to the steering wheel due to the damping characteristics of the shock absorber. As the steering shaft 5 continues to rotate and the torque continues to increase, the shock absorber 2 gradually deforms under the action of the first connecting screw 14. To prevent the shock absorber 2 from breaking, when the shock absorber 2 has deformed to a certain extent, the end of the second connecting screw 16 that passes through the shock absorber 2 touches the inner wall of the limiting groove 8 on the fork connector 1, achieving hard contact and transmitting higher torque, thus preventing the shock absorber from breaking due to excessive circumferential deformation.

[0028] When the vehicle body vibrates excessively, causing the steering gear to jolt and resulting in axial vibration, the fork connector 1 experiences slight axial displacement, sequentially pushing the first connecting screw 14, the shock absorber 2, and the first connecting plate 3. However, due to the gap between the second connecting plate 4 and the first connecting plate 3, and the fact that the second connecting plate 4 is fixed by the second connecting screw 16, even if the shock absorber breaks after the fork connector 1 moves too high and causes the first connecting plate 3 to make hard contact with the second connecting plate 4, it can still prevent the fork connector 1 from completely separating from the steering shaft 5 and the first connecting plate 3, thus effectively limiting axial movement and ensuring normal steering function.

[0029] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A steering intermediate shaft structure, characterized in that, The system includes a fork connector, a shock absorber, a first connecting plate, a second connecting plate, and a steering shaft. The shock absorber has the fork connector on one side and the steering shaft, first connecting plate, and second connecting plate on the other side. The fork connector, shock absorber, and steering shaft are coaxially connected, and the fork connector is connected to both the first and second connecting plates. The fork connector includes a cross-shaped base plate with a positioning shaft on its upper part, two limiting grooves and two first fixing holes around its perimeter, and a fork at its bottom. An mounting sleeve is provided inside the steering shaft. The outer diameter of the mounting sleeve matches the steering shaft, and the inner diameter of the mounting sleeve matches the positioning shaft. The fork connector passes through the positioning shaft and is connected to the steering shaft after passing through the shock absorber. The shock absorber is provided with a first connecting hole and a second connecting hole. The end of the steering shaft is fixedly connected to a first connecting plate, and a second connecting plate is sleeved on the surface of the steering shaft. The second connecting plate is arranged perpendicular to the first connecting plate. The first connecting screw passes through the first connecting hole and is fixedly connected to the first connecting plate by a first nut. The second connecting screw passes through the second connecting plate and the second connecting hole in sequence and is then fitted with a second nut. The end of the second connecting screw extends into the limiting groove.

2. The steering intermediate shaft structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second connecting plate is a hollow bent structure. The main body is the bent part, which is hollow. The center of the bent part has an arc-shaped notch for fitting the steering shaft. The two ends of the bent part are respectively provided with screw holes for connecting the second connecting screw.

3. The steering intermediate shaft structure as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The number of the first connecting hole, the second connecting hole, the first connecting screw, the first nut, the second connecting screw, and the second nut are all two.

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