Steering device for vehicles

Abstract

Steering device for a vehicle, the steering device comprising: a case; and a worm gear that is housed in the casing and mounted on a steering shaft; a worm shaft that rotates by engaging with the worm wheel; a bearing mounted on the worm shaft; and a damper that rotatably surrounds the bearing, touches an inner surface of the housing and exerts an elastic force on the worm shaft in the direction of one worm wheel side.

Description

Background area

[0001] Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a steering apparatus for a vehicle, more particularly to a steering apparatus for a vehicle capable of restricting tilting of a worm shaft and preventing movement thereof. Description of the relevant state of the art

[0002] In a conventional vehicle steering device, a lower bearing assembly including a spring, a sliding damper, and an end cover is configured to accommodate rotation and tilt of a worm shaft when a worm shaft and a worm wheel are driven. The axial distance between the worm wheel and the worm shaft cannot be kept constant, and therefore, the worm shaft tilts depending on a pressure angle as the worm shaft rotates. The tilt of the worm shaft increases rattling noise and friction, causing noise when the worm shaft is tilted beyond a certain tilt value. Accordingly, there is a need to improve this.

[0003] The background technology of the present disclosure is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2261787 (filed on June 1, 2021 and entitled “STEERING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES”). Overview

[0004] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to providing a steering apparatus for a vehicle that can restrict tilting of a worm shaft and prevent movement thereof.

[0005] A steering device for a vehicle according to the present disclosure may include a housing, a worm gear housed in the housing and mounted on a steering shaft, a worm shaft that rotates when engaged with the worm gear, a bearing mounted on the worm shaft, and a damper that rotatably surrounds the bearing, contacts the inner surface of the housing, and exerts an elastic force on the worm shaft toward a worm gear side.

[0006] The damper may include a cover that closes an opened housing, and an elastic part configured such that a first side of the elastic part is attached to the cover and a second side of the elastic part rotatably surrounds the bearing, wherein the elastic part contacts the inner surface of the housing and elastically presses the worm shaft toward the worm wheel side. The elastic part may include an elastic deformation part configured such that a first side of the elastic deformation part is attached to the cover and a second side of the elastic deformation part rotatably surrounds the bearing and comprises an elastically deformable material, and a leaf spring attached to the elastic deformation part and exerting an elastic force on the bearing in response to the elastic deformation part being elastically deformed by the inclination of the worm shaft.

[0007] The elastic deformation part may include an elastic deformation body attached to the cover and configured in a circular shape, elastic side support parts configured to respectively protrude from both sides of an inner surface of the elastic deformation body part and support the leaf spring, an elastic lower support part configured to protrude from a lower side of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part and support the bearing, and an elastic upper support part configured to protrude from an upper side of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part and adjust an inclination amount of the worm shaft by providing the elastic force when in contact with the bearing.

[0008] The elastic upper support may be configured to protrude from the top of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part so as to be spaced a predetermined distance from the leaf spring.

[0009] The elastic upper support part may be configured to protrude in a hollow shape from the top of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part.

[0010] The elastic side support part may include elastic side contact parts each configured to protrude in pairs from both sides of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part and contact the leaf spring, and an elastic side stop part fixed to the elastic deformation body part and arranged between a pair of the elastic side contact parts.

[0011] The elastic lower support part may include an elastic lower support part configured to protrude from the lower side of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part, and an elastic lower contact part arranged vertically to an end portion of the elastic lower support part and contacting the bearing.

[0012] The elastic deformation part may further comprise an elastic stop part attached to the elastic deformation body part, arranged on an inner side of the leaf spring, and preventing the leaf spring from being released therefrom when it is moved toward the worm shaft by the elastic upper support part.

[0013] The cover may include a cover body part that closes the opened case, and a cover support part that is configured to protrude therefrom along a circumferential direction of the cover body part and fix the elastic part to the cover support part.

[0014] The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to the present disclosure can easily handle the tilting of the worm shaft by the damper.

[0015] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, the number of parts can be reduced and an assembly work flow can be reduced by adjusting the inclination of the worm shaft by a damper, so that manufacturing costs can be saved and productivity can be improved. Short description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a steering apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2 is an assembled perspective view schematically illustrating the steering apparatus for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 4 is an assembled perspective view schematically illustrating the damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 5 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the main configuration of the steering apparatus for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 6 is a side view schematically illustrating the main configuration of the steering apparatus for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 7 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an operation of the main configuration of the steering apparatus for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 8 is a side view schematically illustrating the operation of the main configuration of the steering apparatus for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed description

[0016] Hereinafter, a steering device for a vehicle according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this process, the thickness of the lines or the size of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity of description and simplicity.

[0017] Furthermore, the terms to be described below have been defined in consideration of their functions in the present disclosure and may be changed depending on the intention or practice of a user or operator. Accordingly, such terms should be defined based on the overall content of this description.

[0018] Fig. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a steering apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 2 is an assembled perspective view schematically illustrating the steering apparatus for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 3 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 4 is an assembled perspective view schematically illustrating the damper according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 5 is a perspective view schematically illustrating the main configuration of the steering apparatus for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 6 is a side view schematically illustrating the main configuration of the steering apparatus for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 7 is a perspective view schematically illustrating an operation of the main configuration of the steering apparatus for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and Fig. 8 is a side view schematically illustrating the operation of the main configuration of the steering apparatus for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] With reference to the Fig. 1 to 8, the steering apparatus for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a housing 100, a steering shaft 200, a worm gear 300, a worm shaft 400, a bearing 500, and a damper 600.

[0020] The steering shaft 200, the worm gear 300, the worm shaft 400, the bearing 500 and the damper 600 may be mounted in an interior of the housing 100. One side (the left side of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) of the housing 100 is configured to be openable, and the damper 600 may be attached to the opened housing 100.

[0021] The steering shaft 200 can be connected to a steering wheel of the vehicle. The worm gear 300 can be housed in the interior of the housing 100 and mounted on the steering shaft 200.

[0022] The worm shaft 400 can rotate by engaging with the worm gear 300. The worm shaft 400, which rotates in engagement with the worm gear 300, can be connected via a shaft to a motor 700. The motor 700 can be connected to a first side (the right side of Fig. 1) of the worm shaft 400 and the bearing 500, which is designed in a ring shape, can be connected to a second side (the left side of Fig. 1) the worm shaft 400 must be attached.

[0023] The bearing 500 can be mounted at one end area (the left end area of Fig. 1) of the worm shaft 400. The bearing 500, which is mounted on the end portion of the worm shaft 400, can rotatably support the worm shaft 400 and reduce the friction that occurs when the worm shaft 400 rotates.

[0024] The damper 600 can rotatably surround the bearing 500, contact an inner surface of the housing 100, and elastically support the worm shaft 400 toward the side of the worm wheel 300 (the lower side in Fig. 1). The damper 600 can elastically press the worm shaft 400 toward the worm wheel 300, so that tilting of the worm shaft 400 can be prevented or reduced.

[0025] The damper 600 may include a cover 610 and an elastic part 620. The cover 610 may have one side (the left side of Fig. 1) Close the opened cover 100. The cover 610 can close the opened housing 100 to prevent foreign matter from flowing into the housing 100.

[0026] The cover 610 may include a cover body part 611 and a cover support part 613. The cover body part 611 may have one side (the left side of Fig. 1) of the opened housing. The cover support part 613 may be configured to protrude from the cover body 611 along a circumferential direction, and the elastic part 620 may be attached thereto. The cover support part 613 may be connected to the elastic part 620 by a bonding method.

[0027] The cover 610 may be made of an elastically deformable material. The cover 610 may be made of an elastically deformable material and lightly attached to the housing 100 to prevent foreign matter from flowing into the housing by filling a gap in the housing 100. The cover 610 may be made of an elastically deformable material, such as rubber, silicone, or urethane.

[0028] The elastic part 620 may be configured such that a first side (the left side of Fig. 2) of the elastic part 620 is attached to the cover 610 and a second side (the right side of Fig. 2) The elastic part 620 rotatably surrounds the bearing 500. The elastic part 620 can contact the inner surface of the housing 100 and exert an elastic force on the worm shaft 400 toward the worm wheel side 300. When the worm shaft 400 is tilted, the elastic part 620 can elastically press the worm shaft 400 toward the worm wheel side by exerting the elastic force on the worm shaft 400 mounted on the bearing 500.

[0029] The elastic part 620 may include an elastic deformation part 630 and a leaf spring 640. The elastic deformation part 630 may be configured such that a first side (the left side of Fig. 2) of the elastic deformation part 630 is attached to the cover 610 and a second side (the right side of Fig. 2) The elastic deformation member 630 rotatably surrounds the bearing 500 and is made of an elastically deformable material. The leaf spring 640 may be mounted on the elastic deformation member 630. The elastic deformation member 630 may elastically press the worm shaft 400 toward the worm wheel 300 side while being elastically deformed together with the leaf spring 640.

[0030] With reference to the Fig. 3 to 4, the elastic deformation part 630 may include an elastic deformation body part 631, an elastic side support part 633, an elastic lower support part 635, and an elastic upper support part 637.

[0031] The elastic deformation body part 631 may be attached to the cover 610 and may have a circular shape. The elastic deformation body part 631 may be connected to the cover support part 613 of the cover 610 by a bonding method. The bearing 500 may be mounted in the center of the elastic deformation body part 631.

[0032] The elastic side support parts 633 may be configured to protrude from both sides of an inner surface of the elastic deformation body part 631 and support the leaf spring 640. The elastic side support part 633 may include elastic side contact parts 633a and an elastic side stop part 633b.

[0033] The elastic side contact parts 633a may be configured such that a pair protrudes from both sides of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part 631 and contacts the leaf spring 640. Furthermore, the elastic side contact parts 633a may be configured such that they each protrude in a hollow square shape from both sides of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part 631.

[0034] The elastic side stop part 633b may be attached to the elastic deformation body part 631 and arranged between a pair of elastic side contact parts 633a. The elastic side stop part 633b may be attached to the elastic deformation body part 631 in a cylindrical shape. The elastic side stop part 633b may be arranged to contact the leaf spring 640 or to be spaced apart from it. The elastic side stop part 633b can prevent the leaf spring 640, which is elastically deformed by supporting the elastic side contact parts 633a, from detaching from the leaf spring.

[0035] The elastic lower support part 635 may be configured to protrude from a lower side of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part 631 and support the bearing 500. The elastic lower support part 635 may be configured to protrude from the lower side of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part 631 to an upper side thereof.

[0036] The elastic lower support part 635 may include an elastic lower support body part 635a and an elastic lower contact part 635b. The elastic lower support body part 635a may be configured to protrude from the lower side of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part 631 toward an upper side thereof toward the bearing 500. The elastic lower support body part 635a may be configured to protrude in a linear shape from the lower side of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part 631.

[0037] The elastic lower contact part 635b is vertically connected to an end portion (the upper portion of Fig. 3) of the elastic lower support body part 635a and can contact the bearing 500. The elastic lower contact part 635b can be configured such that a lower surface thereof contacts the leaf spring 640 and an upper surface thereof contacts the bearing 500. The upper surface of the elastic lower contact part 635b, which contacts the bearing 500, can be curved according to a shape of the bearing 500.

[0038] The upper elastic support part 637 may be configured to protrude from an upper surface of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part 631 and adjust an inclination amount of the worm shaft 400 by providing an elastic force upon contact with the bearing part 500.

[0039] The elastic upper support part 637 can adjust the inclination amount of the worm shaft 400 by setting a predetermined distance L from the leaf spring 640 or the bearing part 500.

[0040] The elastic upper support part 637 may be configured to protrude from the upper surface of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part 631 so as to be spaced apart from the leaf spring 640 by the predetermined distance L.

[0041] The inclination amount of the worm shaft 400 may increase as the predetermined distance L between the elastic upper support part 637 and the leaf spring 640 becomes larger, and the inclination amount of the worm shaft 400 may decrease as the predetermined distance L between the elastic upper support part 637 and the bearing 500 becomes smaller.

[0042] The upper elastic support part 637 may be configured to protrude in a hollow shape from the upper side of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part 631. The upper elastic support part 637 configured in a hollow shape may be elastically deformed by contact with the leaf spring 640 or the bearing 500 and may provide an elastic force (or an elastic restoring force) when contact is released. The upper elastic support part 637 may be hollow and square.

[0043] The elastic deformation part 630 may further include an elastic stop part 639. The elastic stop part 639 may be attached to the elastic deformation body part 631. The elastic stop part 639, which is configured in a cylindrical shape, may be attached to the elastic deformation body part 631.

[0044] The elastic stop part 639 is arranged on an inner side of the leaf spring 640 and can, when the leaf spring 640 moves through the elastic upper support part 637 to the side of the worm shaft 400 (the lower side of Fig. 5) prevents the leaf spring 640 from detaching therefrom. That is, when the leaf spring 640 moves toward the worm shaft 400 side through the elastic upper support member 637, it can be prevented from detaching from the elastic deformation body member 631 by being caught by the elastic stopper member 639.

[0045] The elastic deformation part 630 may be made of an elastically deformable material. The elastic deformation part 630 may be made of an elastically deformable material, for example, rubber, silicone, or urethane.

[0046] The leaf spring 640 can be mounted on the elastic deformation part 630 and exert an elastic force on the bearing 500 when the elastic deformation part 630 is elastically deformed by the tilting of the worm shaft 400. The leaf spring 640 can be made of metal or glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP).

[0047] One side (the bottom side of Fig. 4) The leaf spring 640 may be configured to open, and the opened leaf spring 640 may be attached to the elastic lower support body part 635a of the elastic lower support part 635.

[0048] The leaf spring 640 may be configured such that one side surface thereof is supported by the elastic side support member 633, one bottom surface thereof is supported by the elastic lower support member 635, and one top surface thereof contacts the elastic upper support member 637. The elastic stop member 639 may be disposed on the inside of the leaf spring 640.

[0049] With reference to the Fig. 5 to 8, it is disclosed that the steering apparatus for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure adjusts the inclination of the worm shaft 400.

[0050] The elastic upper support part 637 of the elastic deformation part 630 can adjust the degree of inclination of the worm shaft 400 by adjusting the predetermined length L spaced from the leaf spring 640 or the bearing 500.

[0051] In particular, it may be desirable to adjust the predetermined distance L by which the elastic upper support part 637 is spaced from the leaf spring 640.

[0052] The inclination amount of the worm shaft 400 can be set so that it increases as the predetermined distance L by which the elastic upper support part 637 is spaced from the leaf spring 640 increases, and decreases as the predetermined distance L by which the elastic upper support part 637 is spaced from the bearing 500 decreases.

[0053] The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can easily cope with the tilting of the worm shaft 400 by the damper 600.

[0054] Furthermore, according to the present disclosure, the number of parts can be reduced and an assembly work flow can be reduced by adjusting the inclination of the worm shaft 400 by a damper 600, so that manufacturing costs can be saved and productivity can be improved.

[0055] Although the specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been described so far, the spirit and scope of the present disclosure are not limited to the specific embodiments and can be variously corrected and modified by a person skilled in the art to which the present disclosure relates without changing the gist of the present disclosure as claimed in the claims. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] 10-2261787

[0003]

Claims

[1] Steering device for a vehicle, the steering device comprising: a housing; and a worm gear received in the housing and mounted on a steering shaft; a worm shaft that rotates by engaging with the worm wheel; a bearing mounted on the worm shaft; and a damper that rotatably surrounds the bearing, contacts an inner surface of the housing, and exerts an elastic force on the worm shaft toward a worm wheel side. [2] A steering device for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the damper comprises: a cover that closes an open housing; and an elastic part configured such that a first side of the elastic part is attached to the cover and a second side of the elastic part rotatably surrounds the bearing, wherein the elastic part contacts the inner surface of the housing and elastically compresses the worm shaft towards the worm wheel side. [3] A steering device for the vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the elastic part comprises: an elastic deformation part configured such that a first side of the elastic deformation part is attached to the cover and a second side of the elastic deformation part rotatably surrounds the bearing, and comprises an elastically deformable material; and a leaf spring attached to the elastic deformation member and exerting an elastic force on the bearing in response to the elastic deformation member being elastically deformed by inclination of the worm shaft. [4] A steering device for the vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the elastic deformation part comprises: an elastic deformation body part which is attached to the cover and has a circular shape; elastic side support members configured to project from both sides of an inner surface of the elastic deformation body member and support the leaf spring; an elastic lower support part configured to protrude from a lower side of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part and to support the bearing; and an elastic upper support part configured to protrude from an upper side of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part and adjust an inclination amount of the worm shaft by providing an elastic force when it contacts the bearing. [5] The steering device for the vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the elastic upper support part is configured to protrude from the upper surface of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part so as to be spaced apart from the leaf spring by a predetermined distance. [6] The steering device for the vehicle according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the elastic upper support part is configured to protrude in a hollow shape from the upper surface of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part. [7] A steering device for the vehicle according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the elastic side support part comprises: elastic side contact parts designed to protrude in pairs from both sides of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part and to contact the leaf spring; and an elastic side stop part fixed to the elastic deformation body part and arranged between a pair of the elastic side contact parts. [8] Steering device for a vehicle according to one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the elastic lower support body part comprises: an elastic lower support body part configured to protrude from the lower side of the inner surface of the elastic deformation body part; and an elastic lower contact part arranged vertically to an end portion of the elastic lower support part and contacting the bearing. [9] A steering device for a vehicle according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the elastic deformation part further comprises an elastic stopper part attached to the elastic deformation body part, arranged on the inside of the leaf spring, and preventing the leaf spring from being detached therefrom when it is moved to the worm shaft side by the elastic upper support part. [10] Steering device for the vehicle according to one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the cover comprises: a cover body portion that closes the opened housing; and a cover support part configured to protrude from the cover body part along a circumferential direction thereof and attach the elastic part to the cover support part.

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