Grease reservoir and method of replenishing grease for a mechanical steering gear

Abstract

The application relates to a grease storage mechanism of a mechanical steering gear and a grease supplementing method and belongs to the technical field of mechanical steering gears. The grease storage cylinder of the grease storage mechanism can quickly supplement the lubricating grease of the power steering gear, guarantees the lubrication of the gear rack of the power steering gear, effectively solves the problem that the existing steering gears are very difficult to disassemble and supplement the lubricating grease and cannot quickly supplement the lubricating grease to the inside, and has positive significance for improving the quality and service life of the power steering gear.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a kind of mechanical steering gear grease storage mechanism and the method for supplementing lubricating grease;Belong to mechanical steering gear technical field. BACKGROUND

[0002] The gear rack type mechanical steering gear (upper matching electric pipe column) currently used in passenger car steering is the largest type of steering system inventory. Covering from small A-class car to medium and large SUV. The main after-sales failure mode of this gear rack steering gear is the gap noise. The reason for this problem is that the gear, rack, in actual working condition, the metal friction between the tooth shape meshing part, shear stress will cause tooth shape wear. In order to reduce or delay this wear, grease is added in the tooth shape meshing area during the assembly of the steering gear. The lubrication mechanism of lubricating grease is to form an oil film by the separation of the base oil, which separates the two contact surfaces and reduces friction and wear. But in harsh conditions, such as bumpy road, near the fuel engine brings long time high temperature, more than 70 ° or above, which will directly accelerate the precipitation of lubricating grease base oil and deteriorate, the lubrication of lubricating grease is poor, the gear rack meshing part is prone to early wear and thus produces gap, the meshing part will produce noise due to gap, which affects the driving comfort of the driver, and also increases the impact between the gear and the rack, further accelerates the gap, enters vicious cycle, and reduces the service life of the steering gear.

[0003] To avoid or prevent this situation, you can use parts with higher wear resistance, use more wear-resistant grease, or supplement the lubricating grease according to the consumption cycle of the lubricating grease. The first and second options are limited by the development of material science, and the third option is simple in principle, but the steering gear must be disassembled, otherwise the lubricating grease cannot be added.

[0004] Since the existing power steering gear is a sealed part, the lubricating grease is usually added during the assembly process before the power steering gear leaves the factory; when the steering gear needs to be added with lubricating grease after completing assembly on the car and driving for a period of time, the steering gear must be disassembled, otherwise the lubricating grease cannot be added. The disassembly steps of the steering gear are complicated, and ordinary drivers or maintenance personnel are difficult to complete, and the cost is almost the same as replacing new parts. At the same time, the assembly precision of the steering gear is relatively high, and after the addition of lubricating grease, if assembly error occurs during reassembly, it will directly affect the driving performance; Therefore, it is necessary to improve it. SUMMARY

[0005] The application aims to provide a grease storage mechanism and a method for supplementing lubricating grease by using the grease storage mechanism, which have the function of supplementing lubricating grease to a mechanical steering gear, improve the maintenance efficiency of the steering gear, and prolong the service life of the steering gear.

[0006] The technical scheme of the application is:

[0007] The grease storage mechanism of the mechanical steering gear comprises a steering gear body and a grease storage cylinder.

[0008] The end cover is fixedly installed on the outer side of the shell of the grease storage cylinder, a transmission screw rod is arranged in the center of the grease storage cavity, a piston head is threadedly installed on the transmission screw rod, the piston head is key-connected with the inner wall of the grease storage cavity, grease injection motors are fixedly installed on the corresponding end cover of the transmission screw rod, and the transmission shaft of the grease injection motor is fixedly connected with the transmission screw rod, so that the piston head is driven to move along the inner wall of the grease storage cavity to extrude the lubricating grease.

[0009] One end of the grease storage cylinder is provided with a grease injection hole, a grease injection channel is arranged on the shell corresponding to the grease injection hole, the grease injection channel is in communication with the gear and rack engagement part of the steering gear body and the grease injection hole, the grease injection channel is of a variable-diameter shape, and a one-way valve is arranged in the variable-diameter grease injection channel, so that the grease injection channel is in one-way flow.

[0010] The method for supplementing lubricating grease by using the grease storage mechanism comprises the following steps:

[0011] 1) When the mechanical steering gear produces abnormal noise or is supplemented with lubricating grease according to the consumption period of the lubricating grease, the grease injection motor of the grease storage mechanism is first controlled to start, the grease injection motor drives the transmission screw rod to rotate, the rotation of the transmission screw rod is converted into the movement of the piston head along the inner wall of the grease storage cylinder from one end to the other end, and the lubricating grease in the grease storage cylinder is extruded.

[0012] 2) Under the extrusion of the piston head, the internal pressure of the grease storage cylinder is increased, and the lubricating grease enters the grease injection channel from the inside of the grease storage cylinder;

[0013] 3) After the lubricating grease enters the grease injection channel, the one-way valve is opened by the lubricating grease, and the lubricating grease flows into the gear and rack engagement part in one way, so that the lubricating grease can cover all the working tooth surfaces of the gear during the rotation of the gear, and the operation of supplementing the lubricating grease from the grease storage mechanism to the mechanical steering gear is completed.

[0014] 4) When the mechanical steering gear needs to be replenished with lubricating grease again according to the next consumption cycle of lubricating grease or after the three-year warranty period of the steering gear, remove the end cover and take out the drive screw and piston head at the same time. Replenish the lubricating grease into the grease reservoir. After replenishment, reset the end cover, drive screw and piston head. This allows the grease reservoir mechanism to repeatedly replenish the mechanical steering gear with lubricating grease, further extending the service life of the mechanical steering gear.

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

[0016] The grease storage mechanism and grease replenishment method of this mechanical steering gear replenish the gear and rack meshing part of the mechanical steering gear through the grease storage mechanism, ensuring the lubrication of the power steering gear and rack; effectively solving the problem that it is very difficult to disassemble and replenish the lubricating grease of the existing steering gear, and it is impossible to quickly add lubricating grease to its interior; it has positive significance for improving the quality and service life of the power steering gear. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged structural diagram at point A;

[0019] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the improved grease storage mechanism of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged structural diagram at point B;

[0021] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the middle grease storage cylinder;

[0022] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure at the CC section;

[0023] Figure 7 for Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure at point DD;

[0024] Figure 8 for Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the connecting slide plate;

[0025] Figure 9 for Figure 8 A cross-sectional structural diagram.

[0026] In the diagram: 1. Housing; 2. Grease reservoir; 3. Gear; 4. Rack; 5. Check valve; 6. Grease injection port; 7. End cap; 8. Grease reservoir; 9. First storage chamber; 10. Second storage chamber; 11. First grease injection port; 12. Second grease injection port; 13. Assembly slot; 14. Connecting slide plate; 15. First connecting port; 16. Second connecting port; 17. Mounting hole; 18. Lifting screw; 19. Grease injection nozzle; 20. Grease injection channel; 21. Piston head; 22. Oil injection spring; 23. Drive screw; 24. Grease injection motor. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The grease storage mechanism includes a steering gear body and a grease reservoir 8. The housing 1 of the steering gear body has an assembly hole corresponding to the meshing part of the gear 3 and rack 4 of the steering gear body. The grease reservoir 8 is fixedly installed in the assembly hole and communicates with the meshing part of the gear 3 and rack 4 of the steering gear body. An end cap 7 is fixedly installed on the outer housing 1 of the grease reservoir 8. A grease storage chamber 2 is provided inside the grease reservoir 8 for storing lubricating grease. A transmission screw 23 is located at the center of the grease storage chamber 2. A piston head 21 is threaded onto the transmission screw 23. The piston head 21 is keyed to the inner wall of the grease storage chamber 2. The key and keyway cooperation allows the grease storage chamber 2 to limit and guide the piston head 21. A sealing groove is provided on the circumference of the piston head 21, and a sealing ring is installed in the sealing groove. The sealing ring contacts and connects with the inner wall of the grease storage chamber 2, forming a seal between the sealing ring and the grease storage chamber 2.

[0028] A grease injection motor 24 is fixedly installed on the end cap 7 corresponding to the transmission screw 23. The grease injection motor 24 is connected to the vehicle power supply and controlled by the vehicle computer. The vehicle power supply provides power to the grease injection motor 24. The drive shaft of the grease injection motor 24 is fixedly connected to the transmission screw 23. When in use, the drive shaft of the grease injection motor 24 drives the transmission screw 23 to rotate. The transmission screw 23 drives the piston head 21 to move from one end to the other along the inner wall of the grease storage chamber 2, thereby squeezing the lubricating grease.

[0029] A grease injection hole 6 is provided at one end of the grease reservoir 8. A grease injection channel 20 is provided on the housing 1 corresponding to the grease injection hole 6. The grease injection channel 20 is connected to the meshing part of the gear 3 and rack 4 of the steering body and the grease injection hole 6. The grease injection channel 20 on one side of the grease injection hole 6 is of variable diameter. The grease injection channel 20 is connected to the grease reservoir 2. A one-way valve 5 is provided in the variable diameter grease injection channel 20. The one-way valve 5 is composed of a spring and a steel ball. The steel ball is installed in the variable diameter grease injection channel 20 through the spring. When in use, the grease injection channel 20 can only allow lubricating grease to flow in one direction through the cooperation of the spring and the steel ball.

[0030] When abnormal noise occurs in the steering gear, or when the lubricating grease is replenished according to the lubricating grease consumption cycle or within the two-year warranty period of the steering gear, the grease injection motor 24 on the outside of the grease reservoir 2 is started. The grease injection motor 24 drives the transmission screw 23 to rotate. The rotational force of the transmission screw 23 is converted into the piston head 21 moving from one end of the grease reservoir 2 to the other end. The piston head 21 squeezes the lubricating grease in the grease reservoir 2. Due to the high pressure inside the grease reservoir 2, the lubricating grease enters the grease injection channel 20 from inside the grease reservoir 2.

[0031] After the lubricating grease enters the grease injection channel 20, the lubricating grease pushes open the steel ball of the one-way valve 5, which compresses and stores energy in the spring. As the piston head 21 continuously squeezes the lubricating grease, it flows unidirectionally into the meshing part of the gear 3 and rack 4. During the rotation of the gear 3, the lubricating grease can cover all working tooth surfaces of the gear 3, thereby completing the operation of the grease storage mechanism to replenish the lubricating grease to the mechanical steering gear.

[0032] The grease injection motor 24 can also be controlled by a programmable controller to achieve automatic grease replenishment at fixed times.

[0033] When the mechanical steering gear needs to be replenished with lubricating grease again according to the next consumption cycle of lubricating grease, the transmission screw 23 and piston head 21 can be removed by disassembling the end cover 7, and lubricating grease can be repeatedly injected into the grease reservoir 2. This allows the grease reservoir mechanism to repeatedly replenish the mechanical steering gear with lubricating grease, further extending the service life of the mechanical steering gear.

[0034] This grease reservoir can quickly replenish the power steering gear with lubricating grease, ensuring the lubrication of the power steering gear 3 and rack 4. It effectively solves the problem that it is very difficult to disassemble and replenish the existing power steering gear with lubricating grease, and it is impossible to quickly add lubricating grease to its interior. This has a positive significance for improving the quality and lifespan of the power steering gear.

[0035] As an improved technical solution for the grease storage mechanism, the grease storage mechanism includes a steering gear body and a grease reservoir 8. The housing 1 of the steering gear body is provided with an assembly hole corresponding to the meshing part of the gear 3 and rack 4 of the steering gear body. The assembly hole is provided with a grease injection hole 6 at the position corresponding to the meshing part of the gear 3 and rack 4 inside the assembly hole. The grease reservoir 8 is fixedly installed in the assembly hole and is connected to the meshing part of the gear 3 and rack 4 of the steering gear body. The grease reservoir 8 is a square cylinder and is provided with a first storage cavity 9 and a second storage cavity 10 inside the grease reservoir 8. The first storage cavity 9 and the second storage cavity 10 are separated by a partition. An assembly groove 13 is provided on the grease reservoir 8 on one side of the first storage cavity 9 and the second storage cavity 10. A first grease injection port 11 is provided between the first storage cavity 9 and the assembly groove 13, and a second grease injection port 12 is provided between the second storage cavity 10 and the assembly groove 13. The assembly groove 13 is connected to the first storage cavity 9 and the second storage cavity 10 through the first grease injection port 11 and the second grease injection port 12, respectively.

[0036] A connecting slide plate 14 is sealed and slidably inserted inside the assembly groove 13. The connecting slide plate 14 is provided with a first connecting port 15 and a second connecting port 16. The first connecting port 15 and the second connecting port 16 are respectively misaligned with the first grease injection port 11 and the second grease injection port 12. In use, when the connecting slide plate 14 slides in the assembly groove 13, the first connecting port 15 first connects with the first grease injection port 11, and the second connecting port 16 closes with the second grease injection port 12. Then, as the connecting slide plate 14 continues to move, the first connecting port 15 closes with the first grease injection port 11, and the second connecting port 16 connects with the second grease injection port 12.

[0037] The housing 1 corresponding to the assembly slot 13 is provided with a mounting hole 17 with internal threads. A lifting screw 18 is installed in the mounting hole 17 with internal threads. The lifting screw 18 is movably connected to the connecting slide plate 14. In use, by rotating the lifting screw 18, it can be made to rise or fall along the mounting hole 17, thereby transforming the spiral lifting action of the lifting screw 18 into the sliding action of the connecting slide plate 14 along the mounting hole 17.

[0038] A grease nipple 19 is provided at one end of the grease reservoir 8. The grease nipple 19 is connected to the grease injection hole 6. A grease injection channel 20 is provided inside the grease nipple 19. The grease injection channel 20 is a three-way tube. Two ends of the grease injection channel 20 are respectively connected to the first grease injection port 11 and the second grease injection port 12. The third end of the grease injection channel 20 is connected to the grease injection hole 6, so as to facilitate the flow of lubricating grease into the meshing part of the gear 3 and rack 4.

[0039] An end cap 7 is threaded onto the outer shell 1 of the grease reservoir 8. A piston head 21 is sealed and installed in the first storage chamber 9 and the second storage chamber 10 respectively. An oil injection spring 22 is provided between the piston head 21 and the end cap 7. The oil injection spring 22 is configured to compress and store energy, so that the elastic force of the oil injection spring 22 can be converted into the squeezing force of the piston head 21 on the lubricating grease in the subsequent process.

[0040] The method for replenishing lubricating grease using the grease reservoir mechanism is as follows: When the steering gear makes abnormal noise or when the mechanical steering gear needs to be replenished with lubricating grease according to the lubricating grease consumption cycle or within the two-year warranty period, firstly, rotate the lifting screw 18 of the lubricating grease replenishment structure clockwise by 360°. The lifting screw 18 moves downward along the internal thread of the mounting hole 17. The lifting and lowering of the lifting screw 18 is controlled manually by twisting it or by directly controlling its lifting and lowering action using a small electric lifting rod fixedly installed on the housing (at this time, the mounting hole 17 has no internal thread). Since the lifting screw 18 is movably connected to the connecting slide plate 14, the lifting screw 18 drives the connecting slide plate 14 to move downward along the assembly groove 13 of the grease reservoir 8. During the 360° clockwise rotation of the lifting screw 18, the travel distance of the lifting screw 18 within the mounting hole 17 is the same as the travel distance of the first connecting port 15 of the connecting slide plate 14 after it moves and connects with the first grease injection port 11.

[0041] After the lifting screw 18 stops rotating and moves into position, the first grease inlet 11 of the first storage cavity 9 is connected to the first connecting port 15 of the connecting slide plate 14. The first connecting port 15 of the connecting slide plate 14 is connected to the opening at one end of the grease injection channel 20. Since the pressure of the first connecting port 15 of the connecting slide plate 14 and the grease injection channel 20 is less than the pressure inside the first storage cavity 9, under the elastic force of the oil injection spring 22, the oil injection spring 22 pushes the piston head 21 inside the first storage cavity 9 to squeeze the lubricating grease from one end of the first storage cavity 9 to the other end, thereby squeezing the lubricating grease from the first grease inlet 11 into the first connecting port 15 and the grease injection channel 20, and then squeezing it into the meshing part of the gear 3 rack 4 through the grease injection hole 6.

[0042] After the grease replenishment is completed, reset the lifting screw, start the car, and turn the steering wheel to make the gears 3 and 4 of the electric power steering system mesh and rotate. As the gears 3 and 4 mesh and rotate, the lubricating grease adhering to the gears 3 and 4 is dispersed and evenly adhered to the meshing area of ​​the gears 3 and 4, thus completing one grease replenishment operation of the mechanical steering system.

[0043] When replenishing the mechanical steering gear with lubricating grease according to the next consumption cycle of the lubricating grease or after the three-year warranty period of the steering gear, rotate the lifting screw 18 clockwise by 720°. The lifting screw 18 moves downward along the internal thread of the mounting hole 17. During the 720° clockwise rotation of the lifting screw 18, the stroke of the lifting screw 18 within the mounting hole 17 is the same as the stroke of the second connecting port 16 and the second grease injection port 12 of the connecting slide plate 14. At this time, the first connecting port 15 of the connecting slide plate 14 and the opening at one end of the grease injection channel 20 are misaligned and closed with the first grease injection port 11. The second connecting port 16 of the connecting slide plate 14 is connected to the second grease injection port 12 and the opening at the other end of the grease injection channel 20.

[0044] Since the pressure at the second connecting port 16 of the connecting slide plate 14 and the grease injection channel 20 is less than the pressure inside the second storage cavity 10, under the elastic force of the grease injection spring 22, the grease injection spring 22 pushes the piston head 21 inside the second storage cavity 10 to squeeze the lubricating grease from one end of the second storage cavity 10 to the other end, thereby squeezing the lubricating grease from the second grease injection port 12 into the second connecting port 16 and the grease injection channel 20, and then squeezing it from the grease injection channel 20 through the grease injection hole 6 into the meshing point of the gear 3 and rack 4; control the lifting screw to reset, start the car, and turn the steering wheel by hand, so that the gears and racks of the electric power steering system mesh and rotate. Under the meshing and rotation of the gears and racks, the lubricating grease adhering to the gears and racks is dispersed and evenly adhered to the meshing point of the gears and racks, thereby completing the operation of replenishing the lubricating grease of the mechanical steering system.

[0045] This grease reservoir repeatedly replenishes the gear and rack meshing parts of the mechanical steering gear, ensuring lubrication of the power steering gear and rack. It effectively solves the problem that it is very difficult to disassemble and replenish the existing steering gear, making it impossible to quickly add grease to its interior. This has a positive impact on improving the quality and lifespan of the power steering system.

Claims

1. A grease storage mechanism for a mechanical steering gear, comprising a steering gear body and a grease reservoir (8), wherein the housing (1) of the steering gear body has an assembly hole corresponding to the meshing part of the gear (3) and rack (4) of the steering gear body, and the grease reservoir (8) is fixedly installed in the assembly hole, the grease reservoir (8) being connected to the meshing part of the gear (3) and rack (4) of the steering gear body, characterized in that: The grease reservoir (8) is provided with a first storage chamber (9) and a second storage chamber (10). An assembly groove (13) is provided on one side of the grease reservoir (8) and the second storage chamber (10). A first grease inlet (11) is provided between the first storage chamber (9) and the assembly groove (13), and a second grease inlet (12) is provided between the second storage chamber (10) and the assembly groove (13). The assembly groove (13) is interconnected with the first storage chamber (9) and the second storage chamber (10) through the first grease inlet (11) and the second grease inlet (12), respectively. The assembly groove (13) has a sealing sliding mechanism. The movable insert is equipped with a connecting slide plate (14), and the connecting slide plate (14) is provided with a first connecting port (15) and a second connecting port (16). The first connecting port (15) and the second connecting port (16) are respectively misaligned with the first grease injection port (11) and the second grease injection port (12). The housing (1) corresponding to the assembly slot (13) is provided with a mounting hole (17) with internal threads. The mounting hole (17) is internally threaded with a lifting screw (18), and the lifting screw (18) is movably connected to the connecting slide plate (14). The first storage cavity (9) and the second storage cavity (10) are separated by a partition.

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