An input shaft locking device for an electric steering gear

Abstract

The present invention discloses a locking device for an input shaft of an electric power steering gear, which relates to the technical field of motor vehicle steering gears. It includes an end cover, the end cover is connected to one end of the steering gear housing, a first through hole for the input shaft of the steering gear to pass through is provided on the end cover, a locking mechanism is connected to the other end of the end cover, the locking mechanism includes a locking sleeve and an adjusting ring, the locking sleeve is sleeved on the input shaft of the steering gear, the adjusting ring is sleeved on the locking sleeve, and the adjusting ring is used to lock the input shaft. The nut hole, the limit handle and the limit block of the present invention cooperate with each other, which not only facilitates the positioning and connection of the first locking block, the second locking block and the bolt, but also facilitates the screwing of the bolt without separately fixing the nut, and is more convenient to use.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of motor vehicle steering gears, and particularly relates to a locking device for an input shaft of an electric steering gear. Background Art

[0002] Electric power steering technology (EPS) has been widely applied in the field of domestic vehicles at home and abroad due to its significant advantages such as high integration, energy saving, and maintenance-free. During the use of an electric steering gear, when the motor or control system fails, it is necessary to ensure the mechanical locking of the wheels in the middle position, thereby improving the driving safety performance of the vehicle.

[0003] The existing locking device for the input shaft of an electric steering gear is inconvenient to use. When adjusting the locking degree, threaded holes are provided on the locking ends of the locking device, and only the two locking ends of the locking cover are locked by bolts. It is inconvenient to position and tighten the locking ends with the bolts.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to provide a locking device for the input shaft of an electric steering gear that can conveniently position and connect the locking ends with bolts. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To solve the above technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

[0006] A locking device for an input shaft of an electric steering gear includes an end cover. The end cover is connected to one end of the steering gear housing. A first through hole for the input shaft of the steering gear to pass through is provided on the end cover. A locking mechanism is connected to the end of the end cover away from the steering gear housing. The locking mechanism includes a locking sleeve and an adjusting ring. The locking sleeve is sleeved on the input shaft of the steering gear, and the adjusting ring is sleeved on the locking sleeve. The adjusting ring is used to lock the input shaft.

[0007] Further, a clamping portion is provided at one end of the end cover close to the steering gear housing, and the clamping portion is adapted to the inner wall structure of the steering gear housing.

[0008] Further, the outer wall of the clamping portion close to the steering gear housing is a rounded corner structure.

[0009] Further, a second through hole is provided on the end cover, and the end cover is bolted to the steering gear housing through the second through hole.

[0010] Further, an installation groove is provided on the end cover, and a bearing is installed in the installation groove. The input shaft of the steering gear is rotatably connected to the end cover through the bearing, and the first through hole is provided on the side wall of the installation groove.

[0011] Further, a first threaded hole is provided on the end cover, a third through hole is provided on the adjusting ring, and the adjusting ring is bolted to the end cover.

[0012] Further, the adjusting ring includes a notched collar, a first locking block, a second locking block and a limiting handle. The side wall of the notched collar is open. The first locking block and the second locking block are respectively connected to two ends of the opening of the notched collar. The first locking block and the second locking block are both provided with a fifth through hole. The limiting handle is connected to the second locking block.

[0013] Further, a nut hole is provided on the side wall of the second locking block away from the first locking block. The depth of the nut hole is less than the width of the second locking block. The central axis of the nut hole coincides with that of the fifth through hole.

[0014] Further, a limiting groove is provided on the second locking block. One end of the limiting handle is provided with a limiting block. The limiting block is detachably connected to the limiting groove. A fourth through hole is provided on the limiting block. The central axis of the fourth through hole coincides with that of the nut hole.

[0015] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0016] (1) The nut in the nut hole is fixed between the second locking block and the limiting block. It only needs to pass a bolt through the fifth through hole and thread it with the nut. Under the limiting action of the nut hole and the limiting block on the nut, only by turning the bolt can the distance between the big head of the bolt and the nut be adjusted to make the adjusting ring deformed, so as to realize the adjustment of the clamping degree of the adjusting ring and lock the input shaft of the steering gear. There is no need to fix the nut separately during the tightening process, and the adjustment process is more convenient.

[0017] (2) The fifth through holes are provided on the first locking block and the second locking block, so that the bolt can directly pass through the fifth through holes. There is no need to open threaded holes on the first locking block and the second locking block. Instead, the bolt cooperates with the nut placed in the nut hole. By turning the bolt through the nut, the distance between the nut and the big head of the bolt is adjusted to realize the clamping adjustment of the adjusting ring, cancel the stress on the first locking block and the second locking block caused by the threaded connection, and there is no need to consider the thread wear inside the locking block. Only the nut needs to be replaced during the later use, and the use and maintenance costs are lower.

[0018] (3) The nut hole, the limiting handle and the limiting block cooperate with each other, which not only facilitates the positioning and connection of the first locking block, the second locking block and the bolt, but also facilitates the turning of the bolt without fixing the nut separately, making the use more convenient. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a locking device for an input shaft of an electric power steering gear according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 2 is another perspective view of a locking device for an input shaft of an electric power steering gear according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 This is the top view of a locking device for the input shaft of an electric steering gear according to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 4 It is Figure 3 the A-A cross-sectional view of

[0023] Among them, in the figure:

[0024] 1 - end cover; 11 - first through hole; 12 - clamping portion; 13 - second through hole; 14 - installation groove; 2 - locking mechanism; 21 - locking sleeve; 22 - adjusting ring; 221 - notch collar; 222 - first locking block; 223 - second locking block; 224 - limiting handle; 225 - limiting groove; 226 - limiting block; 23 - fifth through hole; 24 - fourth through hole; 25 - nut hole; 3 - steering gear input shaft; 4 - bearing. Specific embodiments

[0025] Next, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described in conjunction with the attached Figures 1-4 drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0026] Embodiment

[0027] A locking device for the input shaft of an electric steering gear includes an end cover 1. The end cover 1 is connected to one end of a steering gear housing (not shown in the figure). The end cover 1 is provided with a first through hole 11 for the steering gear input shaft 3 to pass through. A locking mechanism 2 is connected to the end of the end cover 1 away from the steering gear housing. The locking mechanism 2 includes a locking sleeve 21 and an adjusting ring 22. The locking sleeve 21 is sleeved on the steering gear input shaft, and the adjusting ring 22 is sleeved on the locking sleeve 21. The adjusting ring 22 is used to lock the input shaft. The locking sleeve 21 is provided with internal splines to facilitate locking the steering gear input shaft 3.

[0028] A clamping portion 12 is provided at one end of the end cover 1 close to the steering gear housing. The clamping portion 12 is adapted to the inner wall structure of the steering gear housing, that is, the clamping portion 12 can be any structure that fits and installs with the inner wall of the steering gear housing. As an optimization, the outer wall of the clamping portion 12 close to the steering gear housing is a rounded corner structure, and the outer wall of the rounded corner structure facilitates the installation of the end cover 1 on the steering gear housing. The end cover 1 is provided with a second through hole 13. The end cover 1 is bolted to the steering gear housing through the second through hole 13. The bolt is passed through the second through hole 13 and screwed into the corresponding threaded hole on the steering gear housing to complete the installation of the end cover 1 on the steering gear housing.

[0029] An installation groove 14 is provided on the end cover 1, and a bearing 4 is installed in the installation groove 14. The steering gear input shaft 3 is rotatably connected to the end cover 1 through the bearing 4. The installation groove 14 can limit the installation of the bearing 4, making the installation of the bearing 4 more convenient. The first through hole 11 is provided on the side wall of the installation groove 14, and the steering gear input shaft 3 sequentially penetrates through the bearing 4 and the first through hole 11.

[0030] A first threaded hole (not shown in the figure) is provided on the end cover 1. A third through hole (not shown in the figure) is provided on the periphery of the adjusting ring 22. The adjusting ring 22 is connected to the end cover 1 by bolts, that is, the bolts pass through the third through hole and are threadedly connected to the first threaded hole to fix the adjusting ring 22 on the end cover 1 of the first threaded hole.

[0031] The adjusting ring 22 includes a notched collar 221, a first locking block 222, a second locking block 223, and a limiting handle 224. The side wall of the notched collar 221 is open. The first locking block 222 and the second locking block 223 are respectively connected to both ends of the opening of the notched collar 221. The first locking block 222 and the second locking block 223 are both provided with a fifth through hole 23. The limiting handle 224 is connected to the second locking block 223. A nut hole 25 is provided on the side wall of the second locking block 223 away from the first locking block 222. The depth of the nut hole 25 is less than the width of the second locking block 223. The central axis of the nut hole 25 coincides with the central axis of the fifth through hole 23. In this embodiment, nuts are placed in the nut hole 25, and the fifth through holes 23 are provided in the first locking block 222 and the second locking block 223 respectively, so that the bolts can directly pass through the fifth through holes 23. Instead of opening threaded holes in the first locking block 222 and the second locking block 223, the bolts are matched with the nuts placed in the nut hole 25. The bolts are screwed through the nuts to adjust the distance between the nuts and the big heads of the bolts, realizing the clamping adjustment of the adjusting ring 22, canceling the stress on the first locking block 222 and the second locking block 223 caused by threaded connection, without considering the thread wear inside the locking blocks. Only the nuts need to be replaced during later use, and the use and maintenance costs are lower.

[0032] Furthermore, a limiting groove 225 is provided on the second locking block 223. One end of the limiting handle 224 is provided with a limiting block 226. The limiting block 226 is detachably connected to the limiting groove 225. A fourth through hole 24 is provided on the limiting block 226. The central axis of the fourth through hole 24 coincides with the central axis of the nut hole 25. The fourth through hole 24 is used to accommodate the end of the bolt to pass through.

[0033] When adjusting the locking degree, rotate the steering gear input shaft 3 to the appropriate position (the scale line on the steering gear input shaft 3 is aligned with the scale line on the end cover), and the setting of the limit handle 224 fixes the adjusting ring 22, facilitating subsequent operations; the nut in the nut hole 25 is fixed between the second locking block 223 and the limit block 226. It only needs to pass a bolt through the fifth through hole 23 and thread it with the nut. Under the limiting action of the nut hole 25 and the limit block 226 on the nut, just turn the bolt to adjust the distance between the big head of the bolt and the nut to deform the adjusting ring 22, realizing the adjustment of the clamping degree of the adjusting ring 22 and locking the steering gear input shaft, without the need to fix the nut separately during the tightening process, and the adjustment process is more convenient.

[0034] The above is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and does not impose any limitation on the technical scope of the present invention. Therefore, any minor modifications, equivalent changes and modifications made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention still fall within the scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. An input shaft locking device for an electric steering gear, characterized in that It includes an end cover which is connected to one end of the steering gear housing. A first through hole for the steering gear input shaft to pass through is provided on the end cover. A locking mechanism is connected to the end of the end cover away from the steering gear housing. The locking mechanism includes a locking sleeve and an adjusting ring. The locking sleeve is sleeved on the steering gear input shaft, and the adjusting ring is sleeved on the locking sleeve. The adjusting ring is used to lock the input shaft. A clamping portion is provided at the end of the end cover close to the steering gear housing. The clamping portion is adapted to the inner wall structure of the steering gear housing. The outer wall at the end of the clamping portion close to the steering gear housing is a rounded corner structure. An installation groove is provided on the end cover. A bearing is installed in the installation groove. The steering gear input shaft is rotatably connected to the end cover through the bearing. The first through hole is provided on the side wall of the installation groove. The adjusting ring includes a notched collar, a first locking block, a second locking block and a limiting handle. The side wall of the notched collar is open. The first locking block and the second locking block are respectively connected to both ends of the opening of the notched collar. The first locking block and the second locking block are both provided with a fifth through hole. The limiting handle is connected to the second locking block. A nut hole is provided on the side wall of the second locking block away from the first locking block. The depth of the nut hole is less than the width of the second locking block. The nut hole coincides with the central axis of the fifth through hole. A limiting groove is provided on the second locking block. A limiting block is provided at one end of the limiting handle. The limiting block is detachably connected to the limiting groove. A fourth through hole is provided on the limiting block. The fourth through hole coincides with the central axis of the nut hole.

2. The locking device for the input shaft of an electric steering gear according to claim 1, characterized in that, A second through hole is provided on the end cover. The end cover is bolted to the steering gear housing through the second through hole.

3. The locking device for the input shaft of an electric steering gear according to claim 1, wherein, A first threaded hole is provided on the end cover. A third through hole is provided on the adjusting ring. The adjusting ring is bolted to the end cover.

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