A light truck fixed type steering column assembly

Abstract

The application discloses a fixed steering column assembly of a light truck, and relates to the field of automobile steering systems. The fixed steering column assembly comprises a column pipe, a steering shaft, an upper mounting bracket, a lower mounting bracket and a steering transmission shaft assembly. The steering shaft is rotatably arranged in the column pipe, and the upper mounting bracket and the lower mounting bracket are fixedly connected to the column pipe. The steering transmission shaft assembly is connected with the steering shaft and comprises a spline sleeve and a spline shaft which are in sliding cooperation with each other. The inner spline of the spline sleeve and the spline shaft are both four-tooth structures, and the two ends are assembled with maintenance-free cross universal joints without oil nozzles. An end of the steering shaft close to the bearing sleeve is provided with an end universal joint yoke, and the end of the spline shaft of the steering transmission shaft assembly is provided with a sleeve end universal joint yoke. The fork openings of the end universal joint yoke and the sleeve end universal joint yoke are symmetrically arranged on the circumferential direction and are staggered to form a preset phase angle. The application can compensate for the non-uniform speed transmission characteristics of the cross universal joint, reduce the output torque fluctuation, and stabilize the steering transmission, and is suitable for light commercial vehicles.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of automotive steering systems, and more particularly to a fixed steering column assembly for light trucks, which is compatible with the steering control systems of various light commercial trucks and can be widely used in micro and light mini-truck models. Background Technology

[0002] The steering column assembly is a key component of the car's steering system, used to transmit the driver's steering force to the steering gear, thereby driving the wheels to turn.

[0003] In the existing technology, in order to meet the needs of drivers of different body sizes, more and more steering columns adopt adjustable structures, which can be adjusted in the vertical and horizontal directions. However, adjustable columns are complex in structure, have many parts, and are relatively expensive. For some commercial vehicles (such as light trucks), the driver's seat is relatively fixed, and the demand for column adjustment function is lower. Instead, the focus is more on the reliability of the structure, cost economy, and ease of installation.

[0004] In addition, the spline pairs in existing steering drive shaft assemblies mostly adopt conventional tooth structure, which are prone to problems such as increased sliding resistance and accelerated wear after long-term use; and the universal joint of the cross shaft usually requires regular grease application for maintenance, which increases the user's maintenance costs and workload.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need to provide a steering column assembly solution that is structurally simple, highly reliable, cost-controllable, and suitable for stationary applications. Summary of the Invention

[0006] (a) Technical problems to be solved The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a fixed steering column assembly for light trucks.

[0007] (II) Technical Solution To achieve the above-mentioned technical objectives and requirements, the technical solution adopted by this invention is: a light truck fixed steering column assembly, comprising: column tube; The steering shaft is rotatably disposed within the column tube; The upper mounting bracket and the lower mounting bracket are respectively fixedly connected to the column tube and are used to fix the column assembly to the vehicle frame. A steering drive shaft assembly, connected to the steering shaft, is used to transmit steering torque; The steering drive shaft assembly is provided with cross shaft universal joints at both ends. The steering drive shaft assembly includes a spline sleeve and a spline shaft that slide together. The inner spline of the spline sleeve and the spline shaft are both four-tooth structures. The cross shaft universal joint is a maintenance-free structure without grease fittings. The steering shaft is provided with a shaft end universal joint fork at one end near the bearing sleeve, and the spline shaft end of the steering drive shaft assembly is provided with a sleeve end universal joint fork; the symmetrical plane of the fork opening of the shaft end universal joint fork and the symmetrical plane of the fork opening of the sleeve end universal joint fork are offset circumferentially to form a preset phase angle.

[0008] Furthermore, the preset phase angle is 10.1° to 11.1°.

[0009] Furthermore, the sliding mating surfaces of the spline sleeve and the spline shaft are coated with grease.

[0010] Furthermore, it also includes a combination instrument mounting bracket assembly and a steering guard mounting bracket mounted on the column tube.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes a bellows and a dust cover disposed on the outside of the steering drive shaft assembly.

[0012] Furthermore, a bearing sleeve is provided inside the column tube, and the steering shaft is rotatably assembled inside the column tube through the bearing sleeve. A rubber gasket is provided between the bearing sleeve and the column tube.

[0013] Furthermore, a locking sleeve is fitted onto the steering shaft.

[0014] Furthermore, a fixing bracket is fixedly installed on the outer wall of the column tube.

[0015] Furthermore, the spline inside the spline sleeve is formed by cold extrusion, and the spline shaft is formed by cold drawing.

[0016] Compared with the traditional structure, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. This invention adopts a fixed structure without complex adjustment mechanisms, which reduces the number of parts, manufacturing costs and assembly difficulty, and is particularly suitable for commercial vehicles with low demand for adjustment functions.

[0017] 2. The inner spline of the spline sleeve is formed by cold extrusion, and the spline shaft is formed by cold drawing. Both are four-tooth structures, with low sliding resistance and strong anti-torsion ability, which effectively improves transmission efficiency and durability.

[0018] 3. It adopts a maintenance-free structure without grease fittings, eliminating the need for regular grease application during its service life and reducing maintenance costs and time for users.

[0019] 4. This invention uses the circumferential misalignment of the shaft end universal joint fork and the sleeve end universal joint fork to form a preset phase angle, which compensates for the non-uniform speed transmission of the cross shaft universal joint, reduces the output torque fluctuation, and improves the smoothness of steering transmission.

[0020] 5. With the use of high and low temperature resistant grease and seals, this invention can work reliably for a long time in a temperature range of -30℃ to 80℃, meeting the harsh operating environment of commercial vehicles. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion of point A in the middle; In the diagram: 1. Steering shaft, 2. Bearing retaining ring, 3. Column tube, 4. Instrument cluster mounting bracket assembly, 5. Locking sleeve, 6. Upper mounting bracket, 7. Fixed bracket, 8. Steering guard mounting bracket, 9. Wiring harness bracket, 10. Bellows, 11. Lower mounting bracket, 12. Dust cover, 13. Steering drive shaft assembly, 13-1. Spline sleeve, 13-2. Spline shaft, 14. Rubber washer, 15. Bearing sleeve, 16. Universal joint, 16-1. Shaft end universal joint fork, 16-2. Sleeve end universal joint fork. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The present invention will be further described below.

[0023] Example 1: As Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment provides a fixed steering column assembly for a light truck, which mainly includes a column tube 3, a steering shaft 1, an upper mounting bracket 6, a lower mounting bracket 11, and a steering drive shaft assembly 13.

[0024] The steering shaft 1 is rotatably mounted inside the column tube 3; a bearing retaining ring 2 is mounted at the upper end of the column tube, and a bearing sleeve 15 is mounted on the inner side of the lower section of the column tube. The steering shaft 1 is rotatably mounted inside the column tube 3 via the bearing sleeve 15; a rubber gasket 14 is provided between the bearing sleeve 15 and the inner wall of the column tube 3. The rubber gasket 14 can achieve cavity sealing and also play a vibration buffering role; a locking sleeve 5 is fitted on the outside of the steering shaft 1. The locking sleeve 5 restricts the axial movement of the steering shaft 1.

[0025] The column tube 3 is fixedly connected to an upper mounting bracket 6, a lower mounting bracket 11, and a fixed bracket 7. The upper mounting bracket 6 and the lower mounting bracket 11 are used to fix the entire column assembly to the vehicle frame, and the fixed bracket 7 is used to provide auxiliary support for the column assembly. In this embodiment, the column assembly has no vertical or horizontal adjustment structure and is a fixed structure. The column tube 3 is also equipped with a combination instrument mounting bracket assembly 4 and a steering guard mounting bracket 8.

[0026] The steering drive shaft assembly 13 is connected to the steering shaft 1, and a cross-shaped universal joint 16 is provided at both ends of the steering drive shaft assembly 13. The steering drive shaft assembly 13 includes a spline sleeve 13-1 and a spline shaft 13-2 that slide against each other. The internal spline of the spline sleeve 13-1 and the spline shaft 13-2 are both four-tooth structures. The internal spline of the spline sleeve 13-1 is processed by cold extrusion molding, and the spline shaft 13-2 is processed by cold drawing molding. The sliding mating surfaces of the spline sleeve 13-1 and the spline shaft 13-2 are coated with grease to reduce sliding friction resistance and reduce wear.

[0027] The universal joint 16 is a maintenance-free structure without grease fittings. The universal joint is pre-filled with long-life grease and equipped with seals, so no grease needs to be added during the service life of the vehicle. The steering drive shaft assembly 13 is equipped with a bellows 10 and a dust cover 12 on the outside. The bellows 10 and the dust cover 12 cover the sliding spline pair to prevent mud, sand and water stains from entering the internal mating surfaces.

[0028] like Figure 2 As shown, a shaft end universal joint fork 16-1 is formed at one end of the steering shaft 1 near the bearing sleeve 15, and a sleeve end universal joint fork 16-2 is formed at the end of the spline shaft 13-2 of the steering drive shaft assembly 13; the symmetrical plane of the fork opening of the shaft end universal joint fork 16-1 and the symmetrical plane of the fork opening of the sleeve end universal joint fork 16-2 are offset circumferentially to form a preset phase angle.

[0029] In this embodiment, the preset phase angle is 10.6°. After testing on a vehicle bench, this phase angle can offset the inherent non-uniform speed transmission characteristics of the universal joint, reduce the fluctuation of steering output torque, and improve the smoothness of steering operation.

[0030] The reasonable range for the preset phase angle is 10.1° to 11.1°. Any value within this range can compensate for the non-uniform speed fluctuations of the universal joint. Using 10.6° as the design benchmark, a manufacturing tolerance of ±0.5° is allowed during assembly and machining. When the phase angle is taken at 10.3° or 10.9° within the range, the compensation effect fluctuates slightly, but both still meet the design specifications for the steering system of light commercial vehicles. Even at the extreme points of the range, 10.1° and 11.1°, the basic ride comfort requirements are still met.

[0031] This column assembly uses high and low temperature resistant seals and grease, and can work stably for a long time in environments ranging from -30℃ to 80℃. It is suitable for the complex operating conditions of light commercial vehicles and is applicable to micro and light truck models that do not require column angle adjustment.

[0032] Example 2: The structure of this example is basically the same as that of Example 1, except that the preset phase angle is 10.3°. Bench tests show that when the phase angle is 10.3°, it can still offset the torque fluctuation caused by the non-uniform speed transmission of the universal joint, and the steering feel of the whole vehicle meets the design standards.

[0033] Example 3: The structure of this example is basically the same as that of Example 1, except that the preset phase angle is 10.9°. At this phase angle, the universal joint non-uniform speed compensation effect is good, and the steering operation smoothness meets the assembly requirements of light commercial vehicles.

[0034] Example 4: The structure of this example is basically the same as that of Example 1, except that the preset phase angle is the lower limit of the interval, 10.1°. This value is within the manufacturing tolerance limit, and can still achieve compensation for the non-uniform speed defect of the universal joint, ensuring that the smoothness of the steering transmission meets the standard.

[0035] Example 5: The structure of this example is basically the same as that of Example 1, except that the preset phase angle is the upper limit of the interval, 11.1°. This value is within the manufacturing tolerance limit and can meet the basic usage requirements of the vehicle steering system.

[0036] The above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples to clearly illustrate the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. All equivalent technical solutions also fall within the scope of the present invention, and the patent protection scope of the present invention should be defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A fixed steering column assembly for light trucks, comprising: Column tube (3); The steering shaft (1) is rotatably disposed within the column tube (3); The upper mounting bracket (6) and the lower mounting bracket (11) are respectively fixedly connected to the column tube (3); The steering drive shaft assembly (13) is connected to the steering shaft (1); Its features are: The steering drive shaft assembly (13) is provided with cross shaft universal joints (16) at both ends. The steering drive shaft assembly (13) includes a spline sleeve (13-1) and a spline shaft (13-2) that slide against each other. The inner spline of the spline sleeve (13-1) and the spline shaft (13-2) are both four-tooth structures. The cross shaft universal joint (16) is a maintenance-free structure without grease fittings. The steering shaft (1) is provided with a shaft end universal joint fork (16-1) at one end near the bearing sleeve (15), and the end of the spline shaft (13-2) of the steering drive shaft assembly (13) is provided with a sleeve end universal joint fork (16-2); the symmetrical plane of the fork opening of the shaft end universal joint fork (16-1) and the symmetrical plane of the fork opening of the sleeve end universal joint fork (16-2) are offset circumferentially to form a preset phase angle.

2. The fixed steering column assembly for a light truck according to claim 1, characterized in that, The preset phase angle is 10.1° to 11.1°.

3. The fixed steering column assembly for a light truck according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sliding mating surfaces of the spline sleeve (13-1) and the spline shaft (13-2) are coated with grease.

4. The fixed steering column assembly for a light truck according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a combination instrument mounting bracket assembly (4) and a steering guard mounting bracket (8) mounted on the column tube (3).

5. A fixed steering column assembly for a light truck according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a bellows (10) disposed on the outside of the steering drive shaft assembly (13) and a dust cover (12).

6. A fixed steering column assembly for a light truck according to claim 1, characterized in that, The column tube (3) is provided with a bearing sleeve (15) inside. The steering shaft (1) is rotatably assembled in the column tube (3) through the bearing sleeve (15). A rubber gasket (14) is provided between the bearing sleeve (15) and the column tube (3).

7. A fixed steering column assembly for a light truck according to claim 1, characterized in that, A locking sleeve (5) is fitted onto the steering shaft (1).

8. A fixed steering column assembly for a light truck according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer wall of the column tube (3) is fixedly installed with a fixed bracket (7).

9. A fixed steering column assembly for a light truck according to claim 1, characterized in that, The spline sleeve (13-1) is formed by cold extrusion, and the spline shaft (13-2) is formed by cold drawing.

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