Automobile electric power steering with grease replenishing structure and grease replenishing method

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automotive electric power steering with a grease replenishing structure and a grease replenishing method; it belongs to the technical field of automotive electric power steering. A grease replenishing mechanism is provided on the steering housing corresponding to the meshing position of the worm wheel and the worm, which is used to add grease to the meshing position of the worm wheel and the worm, thereby ensuring lubrication between the worm wheel and the worm, and avoiding dry grinding and wear between the worm wheel and the worm caused by the lack of grease. The electric power steering can timely inject and replenish grease to the meshing position of the worm wheel and the worm through the grease replenishing mechanism, thereby ensuring lubrication between the worm wheel and the worm, and effectively solves the problem that the existing steering grease base oil is easily precipitated in the meshing of the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4, which has positive significance for improving the quality and service life of the power steering.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an automobile electric power steering device with a lubricating grease replenishing structure and a lubricating grease replenishing method, belonging to the technical field of automobile electric power steering devices. Background Art

[0002] The electric power steering system of an automobile is a key component of the vehicle's steering system, providing steering assistance to the driver, helping them to steer the vehicle quickly and easily. Currently, steering systems with worm gear reducers use the worm gear to reduce the motor's power to the driver. To ensure lubrication and reduce wear between the worm gears, the worm gear meshing positions require grease. Since the power steering system is a sealed component, it cannot be re-lubricated during installation and use. Therefore, grease needs to be added during the assembly of the power steering system. However, after a certain period of installation and use, the grease base oil tends to precipitate in the worm gear meshing. At the same time, the high-speed operation of the worm gear easily throws the surface grease away from the meshing position, resulting in a lack of grease lubrication when the worm gear meshes, causing dry grinding noise and accelerated wear. This leads to a large number of after-sales returns and increases after-sales maintenance costs. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide an automotive electric power steering gear and a grease replenishing method with a simple structure and good practicality, which can effectively solve the problems of the existing steering gear grease base oil being easily precipitated during the meshing of the worm gear, and the high-speed operation of the worm gear being very likely to throw the surface grease away from the meshing position, resulting in no grease for lubrication during the meshing of the worm gear, generating dry grinding noise and accelerated wear.

[0004] The technical solution of the present invention is:

[0005] An automotive electric power steering with a grease replenishing structure is composed of an automotive electric power steering body, which includes a steering housing, a steering shaft, a worm gear, a worm and a power motor. The worm gear is installed in the straight hole of the steering housing through the steering shaft, and the worm is installed in the transverse hole of the steering housing. The worm gear and the worm are meshed and connected. The invention is characterized in that a grease replenishing mechanism is provided on the steering housing corresponding to the meshing position of the worm gear and the worm, which is used to add grease to the meshing position of the worm gear and the worm, thereby ensuring lubrication between the worm gear and the worm, and avoiding dry grinding noise and wear between the worm gear and the worm caused by the lack of grease.

[0006] The grease replenishing mechanism is composed of a steering gear housing and an oil filling hole arranged on the steering gear housing. The oil filling hole is arranged on the steering gear housing corresponding to the meshing part of the worm wheel and the worm, and a sealing plug is arranged in the oil filling hole to seal the oil filling hole; a fixing nut is installed on the inner thread of the oil filling hole port on the outside of the sealing plug, and the fixing nut is in contact with the sealing plug to fix the sealing plug.

[0007] The oil filling hole is a stepped hole.

[0008] The grease replenishing mechanism consists of a steering gear housing, an oil filling hole provided on the steering gear housing and an oil filling device. The steering gear housing is provided with an oil filling hole corresponding to the meshing portion of the worm wheel and the worm, and the oil filling device is installed in the oil filling hole.

[0009] The oil filling device is composed of an oil storage cylinder, a plugging cover and a sealing valve. The oil storage cylinder is a variable diameter body. An oil storage cavity is provided on the large diameter section of the oil storage cylinder. A plugging cover is threadedly installed on the oil storage cylinder on one side of the oil storage cavity. A grease filling hole is provided on the small diameter section of the oil storage cylinder. A connecting hole is provided on the oil storage cylinder between the oil storage cavity and the grease filling hole. The oil storage cavity and the grease filling hole are connected to each other through the connecting hole. An assembly hole is provided on the steering gear housing below the connecting hole. A sealing valve is installed in the assembly hole. One end of the sealing valve is located at the outer end of the assembly hole, and the other end of the sealing valve extends into the connecting hole to seal and block the connecting hole.

[0010] The communicating hole is a 7-shaped stepped hole.

[0011] A sealing plate is movably installed in the oil storage cavity, an oil filling spring is arranged on one side of the sealing plate, one end of the oil filling spring is in contact with the sealing plate, and the other end of the oil filling spring is in contact with the blocking cover.

[0012] The sealing valve is composed of a screw plug, a spring, a push rod and a sealing steel ball. The screw plug is equipped with a push rod, and the top of the push rod is equipped with a sealing steel ball through a spring. The screw plug drives the push rod to rise and fall, and then drives the sealing steel ball to rise and fall, thereby realizing the closing and opening of the connecting hole.

[0013] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0014] The automobile electric power steering gear with a grease replenishing structure has a simple structure and good practicality. The grease replenishing mechanism can replenish the power steering gear with grease in a timely manner, thereby ensuring the lubrication of the worm gear of the power steering gear. The invention effectively solves the problems that the base oil of the existing steering gear grease is easily precipitated during the meshing of the worm gear, and the high-speed operation of the worm gear easily throws the surface grease away from the meshing position, resulting in no grease for lubrication when the worm gear meshes, generating dry grinding noise and accelerated wear. The invention has positive significance for improving the quality and service life of the power steering gear. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of Example 1 of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 2 This is an exploded schematic diagram of Example 1 of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic structural diagram of Example 2 of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 4 This is an exploded schematic diagram of Example 2 of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 5 for Figure 3 A side view schematic diagram of

[0020] Figure 6 for Figure 5 AA cross-section diagram in .

[0021] In the figure: 1. Steering gear housing, 2. Steering shaft, 3. Worm gear, 4. Worm, 5. Power-assisted motor, 6. Grease replenishing mechanism, 7. Oil filling hole, 8. Sealing plug, 9. Fixing nut, 10. Oil reservoir, 11. Cover, 12. Sealing valve, 13. Oil storage chamber, 14. Grease filling hole, 15. Connecting hole, 16. Screw plug, 17. Spring, 18. Push rod, 19. Sealing steel ball, 20. Sealing plate, 21. Oil filling spring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Example 1

[0023] This automotive electric power steering system with a grease replenishment mechanism comprises an electric power steering system body, which includes a steering housing 1, a steering shaft 2, a worm gear 3, a worm 4, and a power-assisting motor 5. The worm gear 3 is mounted in a straight hole of the steering housing 1 via the steering shaft 2. One end of the steering shaft 2 is connected to the steering wheel. The worm 4 is mounted in a transverse hole of the steering housing 1 and is connected to the power-assisting motor 5 via a connector. The worm gear 3 and worm 4 are meshed and connected to provide steering assistance during vehicle steering. A grease replenishment mechanism 6 is provided on the steering housing 1 below the straight hole, corresponding to the meshing portion of the worm gear 3 and worm 4. The grease replenishment mechanism 6 comprises the steering housing 1 and an oil filling hole 7 provided therein. The oil filling hole 7 is provided on the steering housing 1 corresponding to the meshing portion of the worm gear 3 and worm 4. The oil filling hole 7 is a stepped hole. A sealing plug 8 is provided within the oil filling hole 7, which corresponds to the stepped hole shape of the oil filling hole 7. The sealing plug 8 is in sealing contact with the reducing shoulder of the oil filling hole 7 to seal the oil filling hole 7; a fixing nut 9 is installed on the internal thread of the oil filling hole 7 on the outside of the sealing plug 8, and the fixing nut 9 is in contact with the sealing plug 8 to fix the sealing plug 8.

[0024] After the power steering gear has been installed and used normally for a certain period of time (e.g., after the vehicle has traveled 30,000 kilometers or after being installed and used for 3 years), the meshing position of the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4 of the steering gear can be replenished with grease. Specifically, remove the fixing nut 9 and the sealing plug 8 in turn, and use a grease gun to replenish grease through the oil filling hole 7 to the meshing position of the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4; then replace the sealing plug 8 and the fixing nut 9, and the manual grease replenishment operation is completed (see the attached Figure 1 、 2 The electric power steering device can timely inject and replenish grease into the meshing position of the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4 through the grease replenishing mechanism 6, thereby ensuring lubrication between the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4 of the power steering device. This effectively solves the problems that the base oil of the existing steering grease is easily precipitated during the meshing of the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4, and that the high-speed operation of the worm 4 easily causes the surface grease on the worm 4 to be thrown away from the meshing position, resulting in no grease for lubrication when the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4 are meshed, generating dry grinding noise and accelerating the wear of the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4. This has a positive significance for improving the quality and service life of the power steering device.

[0025] Example 2

[0026] This automotive electric power steering system with a grease replenishment mechanism comprises an electric power steering system body, which includes a steering housing 1, a steering shaft 2, a worm gear 3, a worm 4, and a power-assisting motor 5. The worm gear 3 is mounted in a straight hole of the steering housing 1 via the steering shaft 2. One end of the steering shaft 2 is connected to the steering wheel. A worm 4 is mounted in a transverse hole of the steering housing 1 and connected to the power-assisting motor 5 via a connector. The worm gear 3 and worm 4 mesh together to provide steering assistance during vehicle steering. A grease replenishment mechanism 6 is provided on the steering housing 1 below the straight hole, corresponding to the meshing area between the worm gear 3 and worm 4.

[0027] The grease replenishing mechanism 6 is composed of a steering gear housing 1, an oil filling hole 7 set on the steering gear housing 1 and an oil filling device. The oil filling hole 7 is set on the steering gear housing 1 below the straight hole and corresponding to the meshing part of the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4, and the oil filling device is installed in the oil filling hole 7.

[0028] The oil filling device consists of an oil reservoir 10, a plugging cap 11, and a sealing valve 12. The oil reservoir 10 is a variable diameter body. The large diameter section of the oil reservoir 10 is provided with an oil storage chamber 13. The plugging cap 11 is threadedly mounted on the oil reservoir 10 on one side of the oil storage chamber 13. The small diameter section of the oil reservoir 10 is provided with a grease filling port 14. A connecting hole 15 is provided between the oil reservoir 10 and the grease filling port 14. The connecting hole 15 is a stepped hole in the shape of a figure 7. The oil reservoir 10 and the grease filling port 14 are connected through the connecting hole 15.

[0029] Below the connecting hole 15, the steering gear housing 1 has an assembly hole, into which a sealing valve 12 is threaded. The sealing valve 12 consists of a plug screw 16, a spring 17, a push rod 18, and a sealing steel ball 19. The plug screw 16 is a variable diameter cylinder with a push rod 18 mounted on top. The sealing steel ball 19 is attached to the top of the push rod 18 via the spring 17. During assembly, the plug screw 16, which constitutes the sealing valve 12, is located at the outer end of the assembly hole and is threadedly connected to the steering gear housing 1. The push rod 18 extends into the connecting hole 15. The push rod 18, which supports the sealing steel ball 19 via the spring 17 and cooperates with the stepped surface of the connecting hole 15 to seal the connecting hole 15, also helps position the oil reservoir 10 within the assembly hole.

[0030] During operation, the rotation of the screw plug 16 drives the push rod 18 to rise and fall, and then drives the sealing steel ball 19 to rise and fall, thereby realizing the connection or closure between the oil storage chamber 10 and the grease filling hole 14 through the contact or separation between the sealing steel ball 19 and the stepped end face of the connecting hole 15.

[0031] A sealing plate 20 is movably mounted within the oil reservoir 10. An oil filling spring 21 is disposed on one side of the sealing plate 20. One end of the oil filling spring 21 is in contact with the sealing plate 20, while the other end of the oil filling spring 21 is in contact with the plug cap 11. The oil filling device is used to store grease and automatically replenishes grease at the meshing point of the worm gear 3 and worm 4 at regular intervals as designed (e.g., after 30,000 kilometers of vehicle travel or after three years of installation). This ensures lubrication between the worm gear 3 and worm 4 and prevents dry grinding and wear between the worm gear and worm 4 caused by grease loss. Specifically, when the vehicle has traveled 30,000 kilometers or has been installed and used for 3 years, the meshing part of the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4 needs to be supplemented with grease. The screw plug 16 is rotated counterclockwise, and the screw plug 16 moves downward and gradually withdraws from the assembly hole. At the same time, the pressing force of the push rod 18 on the spring 17 is gradually eliminated. In this process, the spring 17 gradually releases energy. When the spring 17 is completely released, it moves downward with the push rod 18. At this time, the sealing steel ball 19 gradually loses contact with the stepped surface of the connecting hole 15. When the sealing steel ball 19 moves downward to below the port of the grease filling hole 14, the oil storage chamber 10 and the grease filling hole 14 are completely connected through the connecting hole 15.

[0032] Under normal circumstances, the sealing steel ball 19 forms a blockage on the communicating hole 15, and the oil filling spring 21 is compressed and released under the action of the sealing plate 20 and the plug cover 11, and the oil storage chamber 10 is in a pressure balanced state; after the communicating hole 15 is opened, the pressure balanced state of the oil storage chamber 10 is released; the oil filling spring 21 starts to release energy, thereby pushing the sealing plate 20 from one end of the oil storage chamber 10 to the other end, thereby compressing the grease stored in the oil storage chamber 10 and injecting it into the meshing part of the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4 through the communicating hole 15 and the grease filling hole 14, and the automatic grease replenishing operation is completed (see Appendix Figure 3—6). After the grease replenishment operation is completed, first rotate the screw plug 16 clockwise to reset it upward, so that the sealing steel ball 19 contacts the stepped surface of the connecting hole 15 again, thus sealing the through hole 15. Remove the (lower) plug cap 11, oil filling spring 21, and sealing plate 20 in sequence, replenish the grease into the oil reservoir 10, and then restore the sealing plate 20, oil filling spring 21, and plug cap 11 in order to prepare for the next grease replenishment at the meshing point between the worm gear 3 and the worm 4.

[0033] The electric power steering device can timely inject and replenish grease into the meshing position of the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4 through the grease replenishing mechanism 6, thereby ensuring lubrication between the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4 of the power steering device; effectively solves the problems that the existing steering device grease base oil is easily precipitated during the meshing of the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4, and the high-speed operation of the worm 4 easily throws the surface grease away from the meshing position, resulting in no grease for lubrication when the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4 are meshed, generating dry grinding noise and accelerating the wear of the worm wheel 3 and the worm 4, which has positive significance for improving the quality and service life of the power steering device.

Claims

1. An automotive electric power steering system with a grease replenishing structure, comprising an automotive electric power steering system body, the automotive electric power steering system body comprising a steering housing, a steering shaft, a worm gear, a worm, and a power-assisting motor, wherein the worm gear is mounted in a straight hole of the steering housing through the steering shaft, and the worm gear is mounted in a transverse hole of the steering housing, wherein the worm gear and the worm gear are meshingly connected, and characterized in that: A grease replenishing mechanism is provided on the steering gear housing corresponding to the meshing portion of the worm wheel and the worm, which is used to replenish grease to the meshing portion of the worm wheel and the worm, thereby ensuring lubrication between the worm wheel and the worm and avoiding dry grinding noise and wear between the worm wheel and the worm caused by lack of grease; The grease replenishing mechanism is composed of a steering gear housing, an oil filling hole provided on the steering gear housing, and an oil filling device. The steering gear housing is provided with an oil filling hole corresponding to the meshing portion of the worm wheel and the worm, and the oil filling device is installed in the oil filling hole. The oil filling device consists of an oil storage cylinder, a plugging cover and a sealing valve. The oil storage cylinder is a variable diameter body. An oil storage cavity is provided on the large diameter section of the oil storage cylinder. A plugging cover is threadedly installed on the oil storage cylinder on one side of the oil storage cavity. A grease filling hole is provided on the small diameter section of the oil storage cylinder. A communicating hole is provided on the oil storage cylinder between the oil storage cavity and the grease filling hole. The oil storage cavity and the grease filling hole are connected to each other through the communicating hole. An assembly hole is provided on the steering gear housing below the communicating hole. A sealing valve is installed in the assembly hole. One end of the sealing valve is located at the outer end of the assembly hole, and the other end of the sealing valve extends into the communicating hole to seal and block the communicating hole. The sealing valve consists of a screw plug, a spring, a push rod and a sealing steel ball. The screw plug is provided with a push rod, and the top of the push rod is equipped with a sealing steel ball through a spring. When in use, the screw plug drives the push rod to rise and fall, thereby driving the sealing steel ball to rise and fall, thereby closing and opening the connecting hole. A sealing plate is movably installed in the oil storage cavity, an oil filling spring is arranged on one side of the sealing plate, one end of the oil filling spring is in contact with the sealing plate, and the other end of the oil filling spring is in contact with the blocking cover.

2. The automotive electric power steering with a grease replenishing structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The communicating hole is a 7-shaped stepped hole.

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