Gap adjusting mechanism, steering engine assembly and automobile

Abstract

The utility model relates to a clearance adjusting mechanism, a steering gear assembly and an automobile, the clearance adjusting mechanism comprises a shell, a worm gear, a worm, a force bearing ring and a tensioning assembly, the shell is provided with a mounting hole, one end of the worm is meshed with the worm gear, a fit clearance is formed between the worm gear and the worm gear, the other end of the worm is sleeved with a bearing and rotationally mounted in the mounting hole, the bearing is sleeved with the force bearing ring, and the tensioning assembly is arranged in the mounting hole. The outer wall of the force bearing ring is provided with a matching part protruding outwards in the radial direction of the force bearing ring, the tensioning assembly is located on the side, away from the worm gear, of the worm in the radial direction of the worm and connected to the matching part, and the tensioning assembly can apply acting force to the worm in the radial direction of the worm through the force bearing ring and the bearing so as to adjust the fit clearance. According to the clearance adjusting mechanism provided by the invention, the bearing is stressed more uniformly, so that the tensioning assembly can more stably push the bearing and the worm in the radial direction of the worm, and the fit clearance between the worm gear and the worm can be more accurately adjusted.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of automobile technology, and in particular to a clearance adjustment mechanism, a steering gear assembly and an automobile. Background Art

[0002] The steering gear assembly uses a worm gear transmission mechanism to transmit the motor power torque to the driving pinion. During operation, the matching clearance of the worm gear transmission mechanism must be kept very small, but there are inevitable manufacturing and installation errors and tooth surface wear in the worm gear mechanism. In addition, in order to improve the acoustic characteristics of the car and the wear and consumption of transmission parts, nylon gears are usually installed on the worm wheel. Because the nylon gear material is easily deformed due to temperature and humidity, there is an inevitable matching clearance between the meshing tooth surfaces of the worm gear transmission mechanism of the steering gear assembly. Changes in the matching clearance will cause the meshing tooth surfaces of the worm gear to be too tight or too loose. Among them, too loose meshing will cause problems such as rigid impact, parts wear and noise pollution during the transmission process, while too tight meshing will increase the transmission torque and cause the driver to feel bad.

[0003] In the related structure, the fitting clearance between the worm wheel and the worm is usually adjusted by setting a tensioning mechanism. The outer ring of the worm is provided with a bearing. In order to facilitate the application of force to the worm, one end of the tensioning mechanism directly abuts against the outer wall of the bearing. By applying force to the bearing along the radial direction of the bearing, the worm moves with the bearing, thereby adjusting the fitting clearance between the worm and the worm wheel. However, since the contact area between the tensioning mechanism and the bearing is relatively small, it is difficult to achieve a reliable connection between the tensioning mechanism and the bearing, which makes the bearing easily deviate under the push of the tensioning mechanism, and then leads to poor adjustment effect of the fitting clearance. Utility Model Content

[0004] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a clearance adjustment mechanism to solve the problem that the contact area between the tensioning mechanism and the bearing is relatively small, and it is difficult to achieve a reliable connection between the tensioning mechanism and the bearing, which causes the bearing to easily shift under the push of the tensioning mechanism, and then leads to poor adjustment effect of the fitting clearance.

[0005] A clearance adjustment mechanism comprises a housing, a worm wheel, a worm, a bearing ring and a tensioning assembly, wherein the housing is provided with a mounting hole, one end of the worm is meshed with the worm wheel and forms a fitting gap with the worm wheel, the other end is sleeved with a bearing and is rotatably mounted in the mounting hole, the bearing ring is sleeved on the bearing, and the outer wall of the bearing ring is provided with a fitting portion protruding outward along its own radial direction, the tensioning assembly is located on the side of the worm away from the worm wheel along the radial direction of the worm and is connected to the fitting portion, wherein the tensioning assembly can apply a force to the worm along the radial direction of the worm through the bearing ring and the bearing to adjust the fitting gap.

[0006] In one embodiment, the load-bearing ring is configured as a C-shaped ring with a partial opening.

[0007] In one embodiment, a damping ring is sleeved on the outer periphery of the load-bearing ring, and the damping ring is matched with the inner edge of the mounting hole. The damping ring is provided with an avoidance hole, and the matching portion passes through the avoidance hole along the radial direction of the load-bearing ring and protrudes from the outer surface of the damping ring.

[0008] In one embodiment, a groove is formed on the outer ring of the damping ring, and the groove extends along the circumferential direction of the damping ring.

[0009] In one embodiment, a positioning groove is formed at one end of the matching portion away from the bearing, and the matching portion is in positioning cooperation with the tensioning assembly through the positioning groove.

[0010] In one embodiment, the mounting hole is configured as an oval hole, and the length direction of the oval hole is consistent with the direction of the force applied by the tensioning assembly.

[0011] In one embodiment, the tensioning assembly includes a sleeve, a abutting member and an elastic member. The sleeve is installed in the housing, and the sleeve has an opening facing the matching portion. The abutting member is slidably installed inside the sleeve, and one end of the abutting member extends out through the opening and abuts against the matching portion. The elastic member elastically acts between the sleeve and the abutting member towards the bottom wall and is used to apply a force to the abutting member towards the matching portion.

[0012] In one embodiment, the housing is further provided with a side hole, the axis of the side hole extends along the radial direction of the mounting hole, and the side hole communicates with the mounting hole. The sleeve is installed in the side hole by means of thread fitting.

[0013] The present application further provides a steering gear assembly, which includes the clearance adjustment mechanism described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0014] The present application further provides a vehicle, which includes the steering gear assembly described in the above embodiments.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, in the clearance adjustment mechanism provided by the present application, the load-bearing ring is used to transfer the force applied by the tensioning assembly to the bearing, and the force applied by the tensioning assembly can be dispersed along the circumferential direction of the bearing to the outer wall of the bearing. In this way, the stress area of the bearing is increased, and the bearing stress is more uniform, so that the tensioning assembly can more stably push the bearing and the worm along the radial direction of the worm, and further can more accurately adjust the clearance between the worm gear and the worm. Among them, the matching portion is directly connected to the tensioning assembly, which is beneficial to improving the bearing capacity of the load-bearing ring. Description of the Drawings

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or in the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.

[0017] Figure 1 Structural schematic diagram of the steering gear assembly provided by the present application;

[0018] Figure 2 Structural schematic diagram of the housing provided by the present application;

[0019] Figure 3 Assembly schematic diagram of the worm gear, worm and tensioning assembly provided by the present application;

[0020] Figure 4 is Figure 3 Cross-sectional view at A-A;

[0021] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the first perspective of the load-bearing ring provided by the present application;

[0022] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the second perspective of the load-bearing ring provided by the present application;

[0023] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the damping ring provided by the present application.

[0024] Reference numerals: 100, steering gear assembly; 10, clearance adjustment mechanism; 11, housing; 111, mounting hole; 112, side hole; 20, worm gear; 30, worm; 40, bearing; 50, load-bearing ring; 51, mating part; 511, positioning groove; 52, opening; 53, assembly groove; 60, tensioning assembly; 61, sleeve; 611, open end; 62, abutting member; 621, first boss; 622, second boss; 63, elastic member; 70, damping ring; 71, avoidance hole; 72, groove; 80, drive pinion; 90, motor. Detailed implementation manners

[0025] To make the above objects, features and advantages of the present application more obvious and understandable, the following will give a detailed description of the specific implementation manners of the present application in conjunction with the drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to fully understand the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein. Those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without departing from the connotation of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0026] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as "fixed to" or "disposed on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there may also be an intermediate component. When a component is considered to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and similar expressions used in the description of this application are only for illustrative purposes and do not represent the only implementation.

[0027] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In the description of this application, the meaning of "a plurality" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.

[0028] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the first feature may be in direct contact with the second feature "on" or "under" the second feature, or the first feature and the second feature may be in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "over" and "on top of" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or only indicates that the first feature has a higher horizontal height than the second feature. The first feature being "under", "beneath" and "underneath" the second feature may be that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or only indicates that the first feature has a lower horizontal height than the second feature.

[0029] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in the description of this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field to which this application belongs. The terms used in the description of this application are only for the purpose of describing specific implementations and are not intended to limit this application. The term "and / or" used in the description of this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

[0030] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4The present application provides a clearance adjustment mechanism 10, which includes a housing 11, a worm wheel 20, a worm 30, a bearing ring 50 and a tensioning assembly 60. The housing 11 is provided with a mounting hole 111. One end of the worm 30 meshes with the worm wheel 20 and forms a matching gap with the worm wheel 20. The other end is sleeved with a bearing 40 and rotatably mounted in the mounting hole 111. The bearing ring 50 is sleeved on the bearing 40, and the outer wall of the bearing ring 50 is provided with a matching portion 51 protruding outward along its own radial direction. The tensioning assembly 60 is located on the side of the worm 30 away from the worm wheel 20 along the radial direction of the worm 30 and is connected to the matching portion 51. The tensioning assembly 60 can apply a force to the worm 30 along the radial direction of the worm 30 through the matching portion 51 and the bearing 40 to adjust the matching gap. It can be understood that the bearing ring 50 is used to transmit the force applied by the tensioning assembly 60 to the bearing 40, and can disperse the force applied by the tensioning assembly 60 to the outer wall of the bearing 40 along the circumference of the bearing 40, thereby increasing the force bearing area of ​​the bearing 40 and making the force on the bearing 40 more uniform, so that the tensioning assembly 60 can more stably push the bearing 40 and the worm 30 along the radial direction of the worm 30, and then can more accurately adjust the matching clearance between the worm wheel 20 and the worm 30. Among them, the matching portion 51 is directly connected to the tensioning assembly 60, which is conducive to improving the bearing capacity of the bearing ring 50.

[0031] The mounting hole 111 is configured as a waist-shaped hole, and the length direction of the waist-shaped hole is consistent with the direction in which the tensioning assembly 60 applies the force. In this way, the waist-shaped hole can provide an accommodation space for the movement of the worm 30 and the bearing 40 along its length direction, so as to adjust the matching clearance and limit the displacement of the worm 30 and the bearing 40 along other directions.

[0032] Optionally, in one embodiment, if Figures 4 to 6 As shown, the bearing ring 50 is configured as a C-shaped ring with a partial opening 52. The C-shaped ring has a certain deformation ability, so that it can adjust its shape according to the actual working position of the bearing ring 50 to release the excess stress generated by the change in relative position with the waist-shaped hole during the adjustment of the matching clearance. Among them, the C-shaped ring can be configured as a high-strength plastic material.

[0033] Furthermore, along the circumference of the C-shaped ring, the matching portion 51 is located in the middle of the C-shaped ring.

[0034] In other embodiments, the load-bearing ring 50 may also be configured to be a whole circular ring.

[0035] A positioning groove 511 is formed at one end of the matching portion 51 away from the bearing 40 , and the matching portion 51 is positioned and matched with the tensioning assembly 60 through the positioning groove 511 .

[0036] See also Figures 4 to 7, a damping ring 70 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the load-bearing ring 50. Specifically, an assembly groove 53 is formed on the outer force of the load-bearing ring 50, and the damping ring 70 is installed in the assembly groove 53. The load-bearing ring 50 is matched with the inner edge of the mounting hole 111 through the damping ring 70. The damping ring 70 is provided with an avoidance hole 71. The matching part 51 passes through the avoidance hole 71 along the radial direction of the load-bearing ring 50 and protrudes from the outer surface of the damping ring 70. The damping ring 70 is used to reduce the rigid impact and noise between the load-bearing ring 50 and the inner edge of the mounting hole 111 during the operation of the steering gear assembly 100. Moreover, by providing the avoidance hole 71 on the damping ring 70, the matching part 51 can extend out of the damping ring 70, thereby avoiding interference between the tensioning assembly 60 and the damping ring 70 when they are matched.

[0037] The damping ring 70 can be made of a highly elastic and wear-resistant rubber material.

[0038] Furthermore, a groove 72 is formed on the outer ring of the damping ring 70, and the groove 72 extends along the circumferential direction of the damping ring 70. The groove 72 can be used to store lubricating oil and reduce the contact stress.

[0039] Optionally, the number of the grooves 72 can be configured as a single one or multiple ones. When the number of the grooves 72 is configured as multiple ones, the multiple grooves 72 are distributed at intervals along the axial direction of the damping ring 70.

[0040] Please refer to Figures 2 to 7 , the tensioning assembly 60 includes a sleeve 61, a abutting member 62 and an elastic member 63. The sleeve 61 is installed on the housing 11, and the sleeve 61 has an opening 611 facing the matching part 51. The abutting member 62 is slidably installed inside the sleeve 61, and one end of the abutting member 62 extends out through the opening 611 and abuts against the matching part 51. The elastic member 63 acts elastically between the bottom wall of the sleeve 61 and the abutting member 62 and is used to apply a force to the abutting member 62 pointing to the matching part 51. The elastic member 63 has a certain pre-tightening force due to being compressed.

[0041] In order to improve the integrity and reliability of the tensioning assembly 60, the sleeve 61, the abutting member 62 and the elastic member 63 are assembled into an integral component through a swaging process. Moreover, lubricating oil is stored in the sleeve 61 to improve the slip friction performance during the process of adjusting the matching clearance of the tensioning assembly 60.

[0042] Exemplarily, the elastic member 63 is configured as a spring. A first boss 621 is provided at one end of the abutting member 62 close to the elastic member 63, and the spring is nested with the first boss 621. A second boss 622 is provided at one end of the abutting member 62 close to the matching part 51, and the second boss 622 is in positioning cooperation with the positioning groove 511. In this way, it is beneficial to further avoid the tensioning assembly 60 contacting the damping ring 70.

[0043] Further, the housing 11 is also provided with a side hole 112. The axis of the side hole 112 extends along the radial direction of the mounting hole 111, and the side hole 112 communicates with the mounting hole 111. The sleeve 61 is installed in the side hole 112 by means of threaded fit. In this way, it is convenient to replace the tensioning assembly 60, and the relative position of the tensioning assembly 60 with respect to the worm 30 can be manually adjusted by screwing the sleeve 61.

[0044] The process of the clearance adjustment mechanism 10 adjusting the clearance between the worm gear 20 and the worm 30 is as follows: When the transmission parts in the steering gear assembly are worn and the clearance between the worm gear 20 and the worm 30 increases, the meshing force between the worm gear 20 and the worm 30 decreases, and the pressure transmitted by the worm 30 to the elastic member 63 decreases, causing the elastic member 63 to stretch and exert pressure, and shift towards the worm gear 20 through the abutting member 62, the bearing ring 50, the bearing 40 and the worm 30. At this time, the clearance between the worm 30 and the worm gear 20 decreases, and the meshing force between the worm gear 20 and the worm 30 increases. When the meshing force between the worm gear 20 and the worm 30 increases to balance the acting force of the elastic member 63, the worm 30 is in force balance and stops shifting, and the adjustment of the clearance between the worm gear 20 and the worm 30 ends. On the contrary, when the transmission parts in the steering gear assembly expand due to temperature and humidity and the meshing force between the worm gear 20 and the worm 30 increases, the worm 30 automatically shifts towards the direction close to the tensioning assembly 60 and squeezes the elastic member 63, causing the acting force of the elastic member 63 on the abutting member 62 towards the engaging portion 51 to increase until when the acting force of the elastic member 63 increases to balance the meshing force between the worm gear 20 and the worm 30, the worm 30 is in force balance and stops shifting, and the adjustment of the clearance between the worm gear 20 and the worm 30 ends.

[0045] As Figure 1 shown, the present application also provides a steering gear assembly 100, which includes the clearance adjustment mechanism 10 described in any one of the above embodiments. Among them, the steering gear assembly 100 further includes a drive pinion 80 and a motor 90, and the assist torque of the motor 90 is transmitted to the drive pinion 80 through the meshing of the worm gear 20 and the worm 30.

[0046] The present application also provides an automobile, which includes the clearance adjustment mechanism 10 or the steering gear assembly 100 described in any one of the above embodiments.

[0047] The technical features of the above-described embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity of description, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, it should be considered to be within the scope described in this specification.

[0048] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementation manners of the present application. The description thereof is relatively specific and detailed, but it should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the patented application. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present application, several modifications and improvements can still be made, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the patent protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A gap adjustment mechanism, characterized in that: The clearance adjustment mechanism (10) comprises a housing (11), a worm wheel (20), a worm (30), a bearing ring (50) and a tensioning assembly (60); the housing (11) is provided with a mounting hole (111); one end of the worm (30) is meshed with the worm wheel (20) and forms a matching gap with the worm wheel (20); the other end is sleeved with a bearing (40) and is rotatably mounted in the mounting hole (111); the bearing ring (50) is sleeved on the bearing (40), and the outer wall of the bearing ring (50) is provided with a matching portion (51) protruding outward along its own radial direction; the tensioning assembly (60) is located on a side of the worm (30) away from the worm wheel (20) along the radial direction of the worm (30) and is connected to the matching portion (51); The tensioning assembly (60) is capable of applying a force to the worm (30) in a radial direction of the worm (30) through the load-bearing ring (50) and the bearing (40) to adjust the fitting clearance.

2. The gap adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bearing ring (50) is configured as a C-shaped ring with a partial opening (52).

3. The gap adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: A damping ring (70) is sleeved on the outer periphery of the bearing ring (50) and is matched with the inner edge of the mounting hole (111) through the damping ring (70); an avoidance hole (71) is provided on the damping ring (70); the matching portion (51) passes through the avoidance hole (71) along the radial direction of the bearing ring (50) and is protruded from the outer surface of the damping ring (70).

4. The gap adjustment mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that: The outer ring of the damping ring (70) is provided with a groove (72), and the groove (72) extends along the circumference of the damping ring (70).

5. The gap adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: A positioning groove (511) is provided at one end of the matching portion (51) away from the bearing (40), and the matching portion (51) is positioned and matched with the tensioning assembly (60) through the positioning groove (511).

6. The gap adjustment mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that: The mounting hole (111) is configured as a waist-shaped hole, and the length direction of the waist-shaped hole is consistent with the direction in which the tensioning assembly (60) applies the force.

7. The gap adjustment mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that: The tensioning assembly (60) comprises a sleeve (61), a supporting member (62) and an elastic member (63); the sleeve (61) is mounted on the housing (11), and the sleeve (61) has an opening (611) facing the matching portion (51); the supporting member (62) is slidably mounted inside the sleeve (61), and one end of the supporting member (62) extends out through the opening (611) and abuts against the matching portion (51); the elastic member (63) elastically acts between the bottom wall of the sleeve (61) and the supporting member (62), and is used to apply a force directed toward the matching portion (51) to the supporting member (62).

8. The gap adjustment mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that: The shell (11) is also provided with a side hole (112), the axis of the side hole (112) extends along the radial direction of the mounting hole (111), and the side hole (112) is connected to the mounting hole (111), and the sleeve (61) is installed in the side hole (112) by means of threaded engagement.

9. A steering gear assembly, characterized in that: The steering gear assembly (100) comprises a clearance adjustment mechanism (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. An automobile, characterized in that: The vehicle includes the steering gear assembly as claimed in claim 9.

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