Constant velocity universal joint steering column capable of automatically eliminating gap
By using a large steel ball rolling adjustment and elastic fit structure in the constant velocity universal joint steering column, the torque fluctuation and abnormal noise caused by the universal joint angle in the steering system are solved, and the constant velocity steering and NVH performance are improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202522134194.0
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-10-10
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-18
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-10-10
AI Technical Summary
In existing automotive steering systems, the performance of the double cross-axis universal joint steering intermediate shaft is greatly affected by the universal joint angle, resulting in steering torque fluctuations and poor handling. Especially in steering columns with a large adjustment range, traditional cross-axis universal joints cannot meet the smoothness requirements. At the same time, the high preload design of constant velocity universal joints affects steering wheel flexibility, or abnormal noise may occur after the preload is reduced.
The constant velocity universal joint steering column with automatic clearance elimination automatically adjusts the position of the upper shaft and intermediate shaft by rolling large steel balls between the inner and outer raceways. Combined with the elastic fit structure, it eliminates the clearance between the intermediate shaft and the bell-shaped housing, achieving constant velocity steering and reducing abnormal noise.
It achieves constant speed steering of the steering system at different angles, reduces torque fluctuation, improves NVH performance and steering wheel flexibility, avoids abnormal noise problems, and enhances overall handling and service life.
Smart Images
Figure CN223559735U_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of automobile steering system, concretely is a kind of constant velocity universal joint steering column that automatically eliminates gap. BACKGROUND
[0002] In the automobile steering system, steering column usually adopts double cross shaft universal joint type steering intermediate shaft, but its performance is greatly influenced by universal joint angle-when the angle increases, the instantaneous angular velocity and torque waveform non-uniformity of steering gear intensifies, leading to steering torque fluctuation, which is manifested as steering feeling "light and heavy", affecting the controllability.In theory, double universal joint arrangement can meet the demand of steering system, but due to the limitation of vehicle space (such as engine compartment layout, collision safety requirements, etc.), actual arrangement is often difficult to optimize universal joint angle, leading to torque fluctuation problem difficult to avoid.Especially in the application of large adjustment range steering column, traditional cross shaft universal joint cannot meet the smoothness requirement due to the difference of input / output end angular velocity.
[0003] Therefore, the industry proposes to use constant velocity universal joint (CVJ) to replace cross shaft structure to eliminate torque fluctuation.However, constant velocity universal joint (CVJ) is usually used for driving shaft, and its high pre-tightening force design will increase the rotation resistance of steering system, affecting the flexibility of steering wheel;If the pre-tightening force is reduced to avoid jamming, internal gap may cause abnormal noise, affecting the NVH performance of automobile.
[0004] Therefore, the existing demand is not met, and for this purpose, an automatic gap-eliminating constant velocity universal joint steering column is proposed. INVENTION CONTENTS
[0005] The utility model provides a kind of constant velocity universal joint steering column that automatically eliminates gap, with the position between automatic adjustment upper shaft and intermediate shaft, reduce torque fluctuation, realize constant velocity steering, and the beneficial effects of eliminating internal gap and avoiding abnormal noise are realized, the problems mentioned in the above background are solved.
[0006] The utility model provides the following technical scheme: a kind of constant velocity universal joint steering column that automatically eliminates gap, including intermediate shaft and bell housing, the both sides end of the intermediate shaft is connected with star-shaped sleeve by spline structure, the intermediate shaft is connected with the inner chamber of bell housing by star-shaped sleeve and constitutes rotation connection, a plurality of big steel balls are arranged between the star-shaped sleeve and bell housing, the star-shaped sleeve is rolled with bell housing by big steel ball, retaining cage is further provided between the star-shaped sleeve and the bell housing, the inner side of the retaining cage is equipped with arc cover, and elastic force cooperation structure is arranged between the side end of the intermediate shaft and the arc cover.
[0007] As an automatic elimination gap constant velocity joint steering column selectable scheme of the utility model, wherein: the elastic force cooperation structure includes the blind hole of opening in the middle shaft both sides end, the blind hole is provided with the spring, the blind hole in the middle shaft is through the spring riveting pressure limiting small steel ball, the spring is through the self elastic force and is abutted on the arc cover with the small steel ball, the spring is through the elastic force and makes the small steel ball and arc cover keep contact, to eliminate the gap between the end of the middle shaft and the bell housing, avoid the abnormal sound when using.
[0008] As an automatic elimination gap constant velocity joint steering column selectable scheme of the utility model, wherein: the arc cover is equipped with the assembly ring for connecting the retainer, the arc cover is through the assembly ring and the inner side wall of the retainer interference fit, the assembly ring of arc cover top and the inner side wall of the retainer interference fit assembly, can avoid the middle shaft through the small steel ball abutment, arc cover loosening, separation, thereby ensuring that the both ends of the middle shaft always have no contact gap.
[0009] As an automatic elimination gap constant velocity joint steering column selectable scheme of the utility model, wherein: the outer wall of the star-shaped sleeve is provided with an outer raceway, the inner wall of the bell housing is provided with an inner raceway, the large steel ball is arranged between the outer raceway and the inner raceway, the large steel ball is arranged in a central symmetric manner along the outer wall of the star-shaped sleeve, the retainer is provided with retaining holes for limiting the position of the large steel ball, the number of the retaining holes is equal to the number of the large steel balls.
[0010] As an automatic elimination gap constant velocity joint steering column selectable scheme of the utility model, wherein: the shaft body of the middle shaft is provided with a limiting step, the end of the middle shaft is sleeved with a steel wire retainer ring for fixing the star-shaped sleeve, one side of the star-shaped sleeve abuts on the limiting step, and the other side is fixed to the end of the middle shaft through the steel wire retainer ring.
[0011] As an automatic elimination gap constant velocity joint steering column selectable scheme of the utility model, wherein: the both ends of the middle shaft are connected with spline locking sleeves through the bell housing, and the spline locking sleeve located on the right side of the middle shaft is connected with an upper shaft.
[0012] The utility model has the following beneficial effects:
[0013] 1、The automatic elimination gap constant velocity joint steering column, the large steel ball is fixed between the inner raceway of the bell housing and the outer raceway of the star-shaped sleeve through the retainer, and since the large steel ball is limited and fixed by the retaining hole, the large steel ball can freely roll between the inner raceway and the outer raceway.
[0014] 2. In the constant velocity universal joint steering column capable of automatically eliminating the gap, the large steel ball rolls in the inner raceway of the bell-shaped shell and the outer raceway of the star-shaped sleeve, so that the star-shaped sleeve and the star-shaped sleeve cooperate, the spline locking sleeve at both ends is adjusted, and the position between the upper shaft and the intermediate shaft is automatically adjusted, constant velocity steering is realized, and the moment fluctuation is reduced.
[0015] 3. In the constant velocity universal joint steering column capable of automatically eliminating the gap, the spring elastically assembles the small steel ball in the blind hole, so that the small steel ball can always hold the arc-shaped cover at both ends of the intermediate shaft, so that the contact gap between the two ends of the intermediate shaft and the inside of the bell-shaped shell when the intermediate shaft and the upper shaft have a certain included angle is eliminated, abnormal noise is caused, and the NVH performance and the service life of the product are improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] Figure 1 It is a sectional view structural schematic diagram of the constant velocity universal joint steering column capable of automatically eliminating the gap of the utility model;
[0017] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the bell-shaped shell of the utility model;
[0018] Figure 3 It is a sectional view structural schematic diagram of the bell-shaped shell of the utility model;
[0019] Figure 4 It is a sectional view structural schematic diagram of the cage of the utility model;
[0020] Figure 5 It is a sectional view structural schematic diagram of the intermediate shaft of the utility model;
[0021] Figure 6 It is a sectional view structural schematic diagram of the utility model Figure 4 It is a local enlarged structural schematic diagram of A.
[0022] In the figure: 1, intermediate shaft; 2, spline locking sleeve; 3, upper shaft; 10, blind hole; 11, spring; 12, small steel ball; 100, limiting step; 101, steel wire retainer; 102, limiting port; 20, bell-shaped shell; 21, star-shaped sleeve; 22, large steel ball; 23, cage; 24, arc-shaped cover; 200, inner raceway; 210, outer raceway; 230, retaining hole; 240, assembly ring. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the utility model. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the utility model, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor fall within the scope of the utility model.
[0024] Embodiment one aims to promote the solution to the problem that the existing steering column generally adopts double-cross universal joint type steering shaft, but the performance is greatly affected by the universal joint angle. Please refer to Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 3 and Figure 4 , an automatic clearance-eliminating constant-velocity universal joint steering column, comprising a middle shaft 1 and a bell-shaped shell 20, the two side ends of the middle shaft 1 are connected with a star-shaped sleeve 21 through a spline structure, the middle shaft 1 is rotationally connected with the inner cavity of the bell-shaped shell 20 through the star-shaped sleeve 21, the two ends of the middle shaft 1 are connected with a spline locking sleeve 2 through the bell-shaped shell 20, and the spline locking sleeve 2 located at the right side of the middle shaft 1 is connected with an upper shaft 3.
[0025] The star-shaped sleeve 21 and the bell-shaped shell 20 form a universal joint structure, and the two ends of the middle shaft 1 are connected with the spline locking sleeve 2 through the universal joint structure, so that the cross double-cross universal joint type shaft body is replaced by the constant-velocity universal joint structure.
[0026] A plurality of large steel balls 22 are arranged between the star-shaped sleeve 21 and the bell-shaped shell 20, an outer raceway 210 is formed in the outer wall of the star-shaped sleeve 21, an inner raceway 200 is formed in the inner wall of the bell-shaped shell 20, the large steel balls 22 are arranged between the outer raceway 210 and the inner raceway 200, and the star-shaped sleeve 21 is rollingly matched with the bell-shaped shell 20 through the large steel balls 22.
[0027] When the upper shaft 3 and the middle shaft 1 have a certain angle, the large steel balls 22 can slide through the inner raceway 200 and the outer raceway 210, so that the star-shaped sleeve 21 can smoothly swing in the bell-shaped shell 20, thereby automatically adjusting the position between the upper shaft 3 and the middle shaft 1, reducing the torque fluctuation of the upper shaft 3 during transmission, and realizing constant-velocity steering through the constant-velocity universal joints at the two ends of the middle shaft 1.
[0028] The six large steel balls 22 are arranged in a central symmetric manner along the outer wall of the star-shaped sleeve 21, a retainer 23 is further arranged between the star-shaped sleeve 21 and the bell-shaped shell 20, the retainer 23 is provided with retainer holes 230 for limiting the positions of the large steel balls 22, and the number of the retainer holes 230 is equal to the number of the large steel balls 22.
[0029] The cage 23 limits the position between the large steel balls 22 through the retaining holes 230, so as to reduce the vibration of the large steel balls 22 when sliding, and avoid the large steel balls 22 from being separated from the inner raceway 200 and the outer raceway 210.
[0030] In the embodiment, the large steel balls 22 are fixed between the inner raceway 200 of the bell housing 20 and the outer raceway 210 of the star-shaped sleeve 21 through the cage 23, and the large steel balls 22 are fixed in position by the retaining holes 230, so that the activity range of the large steel balls 22 is to freely roll between the inner raceway 200 and the outer raceway 210. When the driver drives the steering wheel to rotate, the power drives the bell housing 20 on the right side of the intermediate shaft 1 to rotate through the upper shaft 3 and the spline locking sleeve 2. If the upper shaft 3 and the intermediate shaft 1 have a certain included angle, the large steel balls 22 roll in the inner raceway 200 of the bell housing 20 and the outer raceway 210 of the star-shaped sleeve 21, so as to automatically adjust the position between the upper shaft 3 and the intermediate shaft 1 through the spline locking sleeve 2, so as to realize constant velocity steering, reduce the moment fluctuation, and solve the problem that the existing steering column generally adopts a double-cross universal joint type steering shaft, and the performance is greatly affected by the included angle of the universal joint.
[0031] In the embodiment, the large steel balls 22 are fixed between the inner raceway 200 of the bell housing 20 and the outer raceway 210 of the star-shaped sleeve 21 through the cage 23, and the large steel balls 22 are fixed in position by the retaining holes 230, so that the activity range of the large steel balls 22 is to freely roll between the inner raceway 200 and the outer raceway 210. When the driver drives the steering wheel to rotate, the power drives the bell housing 20 on the right side of the intermediate shaft 1 to rotate through the upper shaft 3 and the spline locking sleeve 2. If the upper shaft 3 and the intermediate shaft 1 have a certain included angle, the large steel balls 22 roll in the inner raceway 200 of the bell housing 20 and the outer raceway 210 of the star-shaped sleeve 21, so as to automatically adjust the position between the upper shaft 3 and the intermediate shaft 1 through the spline locking sleeve 2, so as to realize constant velocity steering, reduce the moment fluctuation, and solve the problem that the existing steering column generally adopts a double-cross universal joint type steering shaft, and the performance is greatly affected by the included angle of the universal joint. Figure 1 、 Figure 2 、 Figure 3 、 Figure 4 、 Figure 5 and Figure 6 The inner side of the cage 23 is provided with an arc-shaped cover 24, the side end of the intermediate shaft 1 is provided with a spring matching structure between the arc-shaped cover 24, the shaft body of the intermediate shaft 1 is provided with a limiting step 100, the end of the intermediate shaft 1 is sleeved with a steel wire retainer 101 for fixing the star-shaped sleeve 21, one side of the star-shaped sleeve 21 abuts against the limiting step 100, and the other side is fixed at the end of the intermediate shaft 1 through the steel wire retainer 101.
[0032] The side end of the intermediate shaft 1 abuts against the arc-shaped cover 24 on the inner side of the cage 23 through the spring matching structure, the intermediate shaft 1 and the star-shaped sleeve 21 are connected through the spline, and after assembly, the intermediate shaft 1 and the star-shaped sleeve 21 are fixed in position through the limiting step 100 and the steel wire retainer 101, so that the side ends of the intermediate shaft 1 can always be in contact with the arc-shaped cover 24 through the spring matching structure, thereby avoiding the problem of abnormal noise caused by the contact gap of the two ends of the intermediate shaft 1 when the intermediate shaft 1 and the upper shaft 3 have a certain included angle.
[0033] The elastic fit structure comprises a blind hole 10 formed on both sides of the intermediate shaft 1, a spring 11 arranged in the blind hole 10, a small steel ball 12 riveted and limited in the blind hole 10 of the intermediate shaft 1 through the spring 11, the spring 11 abutting the small steel ball 12 against the arc-shaped cover 24 through the elastic force of the spring 11, the arc-shaped cover 24 being provided with an assembly ring 240 for connecting the retainer 23, the arc-shaped cover 24 being in interference fit with the inner side wall of the retainer 23 through the assembly ring 240, and the side end of the intermediate shaft 1 being provided with a limiting opening 102 for preventing the small steel ball 12 from falling off at the opening of the blind hole 10.
[0034] The spring 11 elastically assembles the small steel ball 12 in the blind hole 10, and the limiting opening 102 for preventing the small steel ball 12 from falling off is arranged at the opening of the blind hole 10, so that the spring 11 can elastically abut the small steel ball 12 against the arc-shaped cover 24, and the arc-shaped cover 24 is assembled in interference fit with the inner side wall of the retainer 23 through the assembly ring 240, so that the two side ends of the intermediate shaft 1 can always be in contact with the arc-shaped cover 24 through the small steel ball 12, thereby eliminating the problem of abnormal sound caused by the contact gap between the two ends of the intermediate shaft 1 and the bell-shaped shell 20 when the intermediate shaft 1 and the upper shaft 3 have a certain included angle.
[0035] In the embodiment, the spring 11 elastically assembles the small steel ball 12 in the blind hole 10, so that the two side ends of the intermediate shaft 1 can always be held by the small steel ball 12 against the arc-shaped cover 24, thereby eliminating the problem of abnormal sound caused by the contact gap between the two ends of the intermediate shaft 1 and the bell-shaped shell 20 when the intermediate shaft 1 and the upper shaft 3 have a certain included angle, and further improving the NVH performance and service life of the product.
[0036] It should be noted that the relational terms herein such as first and second and the like are used only to differentiate one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply that any such actual relationship or order exists between or among the entities or operations. Also, the terms "comprising", "including", or any other variant thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but can also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.
[0037] The above description is only the preferred embodiment of the present application, and it should be pointed out that for ordinary skilled in the art, without departing from the technical principles of the present application, a number of improvements and refinements can be made, and these improvements and refinements should be regarded as the protection scope of the present application.
Claims
1. An automatically gap-cancelling constant-velocity joint steering column comprising an intermediate shaft (1) and a bell housing (20), characterized in that: Both sides of the intermediate shaft (1) are connected with star-shaped sleeves (21) through spline structure, the intermediate shaft (1) is rotatably connected with the inner cavity of the bell-shaped shell (20) through the star-shaped sleeves (21), a plurality of large steel balls (22) are arranged between the star-shaped sleeves (21) and the bell-shaped shell (20), and the star-shaped sleeves (21) are rollingly matched with the bell-shaped shell (20) through the large steel balls (22). A retainer (23) is further arranged between the star-shaped sleeve (21) and the bell-shaped shell (20), and the inner side of the retainer (23) is provided with an arc-shaped cover (24).
2. A gap-eliminating constant velocity joint steering column as defined in claim 1, characterized in that: The elastic fitting structure comprises blind holes (10) formed in both sides of the intermediate shaft (1), springs (11) are arranged in the blind holes (10), small steel balls (12) are riveted and limited in the blind holes (10) of the intermediate shaft (1) through the springs (11), and the small steel balls (12) are abutted on the arc-shaped cover (24) through the elastic force of the springs (11).
3. A gap-eliminating constant velocity joint steering column as defined in claim 1 wherein: An outer raceway (210) is formed in the outer wall of the star-shaped sleeve (21), an inner raceway (200) is formed in the inner wall of the bell-shaped shell (20), and the large steel balls (22) are arranged between the outer raceway (210) and the inner raceway (200).
4. A gap-eliminating constant velocity joint steering column as defined in claim 1 wherein: The arc-shaped cover (24) is provided with an assembly ring (240) for connecting the retainer (23), and the arc-shaped cover (24) is in interference fit with the inner side wall of the retainer (23) through the assembly ring (240).
5. A gap-eliminating constant velocity joint steering column as defined in claim 2 wherein: The side end of the intermediate shaft (1) is provided with a limiting opening (102) for preventing the small steel ball (12) from falling off at the opening of the blind hole (10).
6. A gap-eliminating constant velocity joint steering column as defined in claim 5 wherein: A limiting step (100) is arranged on the shaft body of the intermediate shaft (1), a steel wire retainer ring (101) for fixing the star-shaped sleeve (21) is sleeved on the end of the intermediate shaft (1), one side of the star-shaped sleeve (21) is abutted on the limiting step (100), and the other side is fixed on the end of the intermediate shaft (1) through the steel wire retainer ring (101).
7. A gap-eliminating constant velocity joint steering column as defined in claim 1 or 3 wherein: The retainer (23) is provided with retaining holes (230) for limiting the positions of the large steel balls (22), and the number of the retaining holes (230) is equal to the number of the large steel balls (22).
8. A gap-eliminating constant velocity joint steering column as defined in claim 1 or 3, characterized by: The large steel balls (22) are centrally symmetrically arranged along the outer wall of the star-shaped sleeve (21) and are six in number.
9. A gap-eliminating constant velocity joint steering column as defined in claim 1 wherein: Both ends of the intermediate shaft (1) are connected with spline locking sleeves (2) through the bell-shaped shell (20).
10. A gap-eliminating constant velocity joint steering column as defined in claim 9, characterized in that: The spline locking sleeve (2) located on the right side of the intermediate shaft (1) is connected with an upper shaft (3).