Steering assembly for motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a steering assembly (1) comprising a rack (11) connected to steering ball joints of steered wheels of the motor vehicle by means of steering rods (12), a steering column (10) coupled to the rack (11) by means of a coupling device (13), fixing elements (14) of the rack (11) on a chassis (15) of the motor vehicle, said fixing elements (14) comprising at least one fixing rail (141) comprising an oblong opening (142) which extends relative to an axis of elongation and through which a fixing screw (143) extends towards the chassis (15). Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Steering assembly for a motor vehicle

[0001] The technical context of the present invention is that of devices for connecting a motor vehicle to the ground, and in particular devices for ensuring the safety of the occupants of the motor vehicle and reducing damage caused to the motor vehicle in the event of an accident, in particular to its steering column. More particularly, the invention relates to a steering assembly for a motor vehicle.

[0002] In the state of the art, steering assemblies are known comprising a steering rack, which is mounted in translation in a coupling member fixed to a chassis of the vehicle, and whose lateral ends are each connected, by means of a steering rod, to a steering knuckle carrying a steered wheel, so that the translational movement of the rack causes the modification of a steering angle of said steered wheels.

[0003] Such steering assemblies also comprise a steering column, a lower end of which is provided with the coupling member which meshes with the steering rack, and an upper end of which is provided with a steering wheel which allows a driver installed in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle to maneuver such steering assemblies in order to steer the steered wheels - and ultimately the motor vehicle - in the desired direction.

[0004] As is known, such steering assemblies are generally housed in the engine compartment located at the front of the motor vehicle, the steering column extending under the engine compartment. At the lower end of the steering column, the rack is securely fixed to the chassis of the motor vehicle.

[0005] The connection to the chassis of the rack is important for the proper functioning of the steering assembly, particularly in terms of robustness and reliability. This connection is achieved by fixing means which allow the rack to be securely fixed to the chassis. Of course, the multiplicity of vehicle models leads to a wide variety of architectures and layout of the connection between the rack and the chassis of the motor vehicle. In other words, the known steering assemblies all include chassis fixing devices which are specific to them, either by shape or by location. This wide variety of fixing devices leads to an increase in manufacturing costs and to a increasing complexity of assembly lines which must be adapted to each of the fixing devices used on all models manufactured.

[0006] This situation is not desired.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a new steering assembly in order to address at least a large part of the above problems and to further lead to other advantages.

[0008] Another aim of the invention is to reduce production costs.

[0009] Another object of the invention is to simplify the assembly operations of a such steering assembly on several different types of motor vehicle chassis.

[0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, at least one of the aforementioned objectives is achieved with a steering assembly for a motor vehicle, the steering assembly comprising:

[0011] - a rack linked to steering ball joints of the vehicle's steering wheels automobile via steering rods;

[0012] - a steering column extending from a steering wheel located in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and the rack, the steering column being coupled to the rack by means of a helical coupling device;

[0013] - elements for fixing the rack to a chassis of the motor vehicle.

[0014] In the steering assembly according to the invention, the fixing elements comprise at least one fixing rail configured to collaborate with the chassis, the at least one fixing rail comprising an oblong opening through which a fixing screw extends towards the chassis.

[0015] In the context of the present invention, the longitudinal axis, a lateral axis and a vertical axis are defined relative to the motor vehicle on which the steering assembly according to the first aspect of the invention is intended to be mounted. More particularly, the transverse axis is understood as a direction taken between a lateral side of the motor vehicle and an opposite lateral side of said motor vehicle. In other words, the transverse axis is understood as a direction which extends from a passenger side of the motor vehicle to a driver's side of said motor vehicle, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, inboard and outboard refer to such a transverse axis. Furthermore, the longitudinal axis extends as being taken along a direction which extends from front to rear or from back to front of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the transverse axis.The adjectives frontal, front and rear refer to this longitudinal axis. Finally, the vertical axis is understood to be taken along an axis which extends from the wheels of the motor vehicle and towards the roof of said motor vehicle, or conversely, the vertical axis. being simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse axis and the longitudinal axis. The adjectives above and below, or lower and upper refer to this vertical axis.

[0016] In the context of the present invention, the rack makes it possible to transmit to the steered wheels of the motor vehicle the rotational movement imparted by the driver via the steering wheel and the steering column. The rack comprises a toothed or notched bearing surface mounted perpendicularly or substantially at a lower end of the steering column. The steering column is connected to the rack by means of the helical coupling member which makes it possible to engage the rack: the rotation of the steering column induces, via the helical coupling member, a lateral displacement of the toothed or notched bearing surface forming the rack.

[0017] In the context of the present invention, the elements for fixing the rack to the chassis comprise one or more fixing screws which collaborate both with the rack - directly or indirectly - that is to say by means of support parts secured to the rack, and with the chassis. Typically, the fixing screws pass through an opening provided on or secured to the rack, and a threaded hole located opposite it on the chassis, the fixing screw passing simultaneously through the opening and the threaded hole to fix the rack to the chassis.

[0018] In the context of the present invention, the fixing rail forms a lateral adjustment member for the location at which the fixing screw is located on the rack, or associated with said rack. The fixing rail is intended to extend along the chassis against which it is pressed for fixing the rack.

[0019] In the context of the present invention, the oblong opening is an opening provided through the fixing rail, thus making it possible to provide several locations for the fixing screw intended to pass through said oblong opening to collaborate with the threaded hole located opposite on the chassis.

[0020] Thus, the steering assembly according to the first aspect of the invention solves the technical problem by proposing a fixing system which can adapt to several types of chassis and several locations for the fixing screws along said chassis. Indeed, the presence of the oblong opening makes it possible to define a plurality of different positions for the fixing screw passing through the fixing rail, in order to align it with the fixing hole provided on the chassis. Depending on the different types of chassis, the transverse position of the fixing hole can vary, but it is now always accessible thanks to the fixing rail and its oblong opening which covers several possible positions of such a fixing hole.

[0021] The steering assembly according to the first aspect of the invention advantageously comprises at least one of the improvements below, the characteristics techniques forming these improvements which can be taken alone or in combination:

[0022] - the at least one fixing rail has a general conformation in the shape of a “T”;

[0023] - each at least one fixing rail is made of the same material as the rack. In in the context of the present invention, by “made from material”, it is understood that the fixing rail and the rack are made from the same manufacturing process and that they cannot be detached from each other without one and / or the other being entirely or partially damaged or destroyed;

[0024] - alternatively, each at least one fixing rail is attached to the rack. In this embodiment, the at least one fixing rail is slidably mounted on the rack. Preferably, each at least one fixing rail is slidably mounted relative to a transverse axis of the motor vehicle. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to obtain a means of adjusting the position of the fixing rail relative to the rack. Consequently, this adjustment makes it possible to better adjust the relative position of the oblong opening relative to the tapped holes provided on the chassis and with which the fixing screw is intended to collaborate;

[0025] - the at least one fixing rail comprises an axial clamping member on the rack. The axial clamping member includes, for example, a shoulder fitted on the rack itself, or a clamping screw or a force fitting.

[0026] - the at least one fixing rail comprises a collar collaborating with the rack, and a fixing surface extending radially from the collar, the oblong opening being provided on the surface;

[0027] - the collar is fitted onto a cylindrical bearing surface of the rack;

[0028] - the fixing range and the oblong opening extend along the transverse axis;

[0029] - the fixing surface is supported against a cross member of the chassis, the cross member comprising a fixing hole collaborating with the fixing screw engaged through the oblong opening provided on the fixing surface. The fixing hole is advantageously a tapped hole for the associated fixing screw. Alternatively, the fixing hole is a smooth through hole, the fixing screw collaborating with a tightening nut:

[0030] - the oblong opening opens out from one side to the other relative to a vertical axis of the motor vehicle;

[0031] - according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the oblong opening has a transverse profile in the shape of a “T”. In other words, the fixing surface has a shoulder providing a bearing surface for the fixing screw engaged through the oblong opening. This configuration advantageous allows to facilitate the interaction of the fixing screw with the fixing rail and the oblong opening, the screw head being able to rest against the shoulder;

[0032] - the fixing elements comprise a tip collaborating with each at least a fixing rail, said end piece being slidably mounted on said fixing rail and comprising a passage hole for the fixing screw associated with said fixing rail. In this case, the fixing screw passes through the end piece. The end piece is located in an intermediate position between the fixing rail and its oblong opening on the one hand, and the fixing screw on the other hand;

[0033] - in order to keep the tip engaged in the corresponding fixing rail, each at least one fixing rail comprises a groove which extends along the oblong opening, the groove housing the end piece associated with said fixing rail so that it can slide along the oblong opening. Thus, each end piece associated with the at least one fixing rail has a shape complementary to that of the groove, so as to be able to slide in the groove along the transverse axis and in line with the oblong opening;

[0034] - each tip is formed from a metallic material, preferably a material metallic having a high modulus of elasticity, such as for example comprising a steel or a steel alloy;

[0035] - each at least one fixing rail is formed from a metallic material, preferably a metallic material having a high modulus of elasticity, such as for example comprising a steel or a steel alloy.

[0036] According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a motor vehicle comprising a steering assembly in accordance with the first aspect of the invention or according to any of its improvements.

[0037] Various embodiments of the invention are provided, integrating according to all of their possible combinations the different optional characteristics set out here.

[0038] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several exemplary embodiments given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the attached schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0039] [Fig-1] illustrates a three-dimensional view of an exemplary embodiment of an assembly of direction according to the first aspect of the invention;

[0040] [Fig.2] illustrates a cross-sectional view of the steering assembly shown in [Fig.l].

[0041] Of course, the characteristics, variants and different embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other, in various combinations, to the extent that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. from others. In particular, it will be possible to imagine variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described below in isolation from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0042] In particular, all the variants and all the embodiments described can be combined with each other if nothing prevents this combination from a technical point of view.

[0043] In the figures, the elements common to several figures retain the same reference.

[0044] In the FIGURES described below, a longitudinal axis X, a lateral axis and a vertical axis Z are defined relative to the motor vehicle on which the steering assembly 1 according to the invention is intended to be mounted.

[0045] More particularly, the transverse axis Y is understood as a direction taken between a lateral side of the motor vehicle and an opposite lateral side of said motor vehicle. In other words, the transverse axis Y is understood in a direction which extends from a passenger side of the motor vehicle to a driver's side of said motor vehicle, or vice versa. The adjectives lateral, interior and exterior refer to such a transverse axis Y.

[0046] Furthermore, the longitudinal axis X extends as taken along a direction that extends from front to rear or from back to front of the motor vehicle. The longitudinal axis X is perpendicular to the transverse axis Y. The adjectives frontal, front and rear refer to this longitudinal axis X.

[0047] Finally, the vertical axis Z is understood as being taken along an axis which extends from the wheels of the motor vehicle and towards the roof of said motor vehicle, or vice versa, the vertical axis Z being simultaneously perpendicular to the transverse axis Y and to the longitudinal axis X. The adjectives above and below, or lower and upper refer to this vertical axis Z.

[0048] With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2, the invention relates to a steering assembly 1 for a motor vehicle, the steering assembly 1 comprising:

[0049] - a rack 11 linked to steering ball joints of the vehicle's steering wheels automobile via steering rods 12;

[0050] - a steering column 10 which extends from a steering wheel located in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and the rack 11, the steering column 10 being coupled to the rack 11 by means of a helical coupling device 13;

[0051] - fixing elements 14 of the rack 11 on a chassis 15 of the vehicle automobile.

[0052] In a particularly advantageous manner, and in order to allow such a steering assembly 1 to be able to adapt to a wide variety of chassis 15, the fixing elements 14 comprise at least one fixing rail 141 configured to collaborate with the chassis 15, the at least one fixing rail 141 comprising an oblong opening 142 through which a fixing screw 143 extends towards the chassis 15.

[0053] The fixing elements 14 of the rack 11 on the chassis 15 comprise one or more fixing screws 143 which collaborate both with the rack 11 via each at least one fixing rail 141 and with the chassis 15 itself, and in particular with a crosspiece 151 of said chassis 15.

[0054] As visible in FIGURES 1 and 2, each fixing screw 143 associated with one of the fixing rails passes through an opening provided on said fixing rail 141 and a tapped hole located opposite on the chassis 15, the fixing screw 143 passing simultaneously through the opening and the tapped hole to fix the rack 11 on the chassis 15.

[0055] As visible in FIGURES 1 and 2, each fixing rail 141 forms a lateral adjustment member for the location at which the fixing screw 143 is located on the rack 11, or associated with said rack 11. The fixing rail 141 is intended to extend along the chassis 15 against which it is placed in abutment for fixing the rack 11, preferably along the transverse axis Y, possibly along the longitudinal axis X.

[0056] Each fixing rail 141 is attached to the rack 11. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, each fixing rail 141 is fitted onto the rack 11. Preferably, each fixing rail 141 comprises a collar 145 collaborating with the rack 11, and a fixing surface 147 which extends radially from the collar 145, the oblong opening 142 being arranged on the fixing surface 147. It is thus possible to adjust the position of the fixing rail 141 relative to the rack 11, relative to the transverse axis Y. Consequently, this adjustment makes it possible to better adjust the relative position of the oblong opening 142 relative to the tapped holes arranged on the chassis 15 and with which the fixing screw 143 is intended to collaborate;

[0057] Each fixing rail 141 takes the form of a parallelepiped bearing surface of rectilinear elongation and which comprises the oblong opening 142.

[0058] The oblong opening 142 is an opening provided through the fixing rail 141, thus making it possible to provide several locations for the fixing screw 143 intended to pass through said oblong opening 142 to collaborate with the tapped hole located opposite on the chassis 15. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the FIGURES, the oblong opening 142 extends in a rectilinear manner, but could obviously imagine different shapes depending on the different types of chassis 15 on which the steering assembly 1 is intended to be coupled.

[0059] According to a simplified embodiment of the invention, the oblong opening 142 is arranged along the fixing rail 141, said oblong opening 142 being delimited by two lateral edges which extend parallel to each other from an upper edge to a lower edge of the corresponding fixing rail 141. In other words, the oblong opening 142 is a through opening delimited by flat peripheral edges.

[0060] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention and as illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, the oblong opening 142 has a transverse profile in the shape of a “T”. In other words, the fixing surface 147 comprises a shoulder 146 providing a bearing surface for the fixing screw 143 engaged through the oblong opening 142. This advantageous configuration makes it possible to facilitate the interaction of the fixing screw 143 with the fixing rail 141 and the oblong opening 142, the screw head being able to bear against the shoulder 146.

[0061] However, the invention provides an additional interface piece introduced into the oblong opening 142 and between the fixing screw 143 and the fixing surface 147 of the fixing rail 141. This interface piece is an end piece 144 collaborating with each fixing rail 141, said end piece 144 being slidably mounted on the fixing rail 141 and comprising a passage hole for the fixing screw 143 associated with said fixing rail 141. In this case, the fixing screw 143 passes through the end piece 144 and the oblong opening 142 of the fixing surface 147 located below. The end piece 144 is thus placed against the shoulder 146 of the oblong opening 142.

[0062] In order to keep the end piece 144 engaged in the corresponding fixing rail 141, each fixing rail 141 comprises a groove which extends along the oblong opening 142, the groove housing the end piece 144 associated with said fixing rail 141 so that it can slide along the oblong opening 142. The shape of the groove is complementary to the shape of the associated end piece 144, so that said end piece 144 is slidably housed in the groove, relative to a direction of elongation of the oblong opening 142. Thus, the end piece 144 comprises edges collaborating with the groove. The tip 144 is thus axially locked in the groove, relative to the vertical axis Z - possibly with minimal axial play, typically less than 1 mm in order to facilitate the sliding of the tip 144 along the groove and the oblong opening 142.

[0063] The invention thus makes it possible to define a range of positions - here transverse - for the fixing screw 143 collaborating with the fixing surface 147 of each fixing rail 141 on the one hand, and the cross member 151 of the chassis 15 on the other hand, the invention thus makes it possible to make such a steering assembly 1 more versatile and, through a single design and a single series of manufactured parts, to be able to adapt to several types and geometries of chassis 15, thus reducing manufacturing costs and simplifying assembly processes.

[0064] In summary, the invention relates to a steering assembly 1 comprising a rack 11 linked to steering ball joints of steered wheels of the motor vehicle by means of steering rods 12, a steering column 10 coupled to the rack 11 by means of a coupling device 13, fixing elements 14 of the rack 11 on a chassis 15 of the motor vehicle, said fixing elements 14 comprising at least one fixing rail 141 comprising an oblong opening 142 which extends relative to an axis of elongation and through which a fixing screw 143 extends towards the chassis 15.

[0065] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the different characteristics, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations insofar as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, all the variants and embodiments described above can be combined with each other.

Claims

Claims

1. Steering assembly (1) for a motor vehicle, the steering assembly (1) comprising: - a rack (11) connected to steering ball joints of steered wheels of the motor vehicle by means of steering rods (12); - a steering column (10) which extends from a steering wheel located in a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and towards the rack (11), the steering column (10) being coupled to the rack (11) by means of a helical coupling device (13); - fixing elements (14) of the rack (11) on a chassis (15) of the motor vehicle; characterized in that the fixing elements (14) comprise at least one fixing rail (141) configured to collaborate with the chassis (15), the at least one fixing rail (141) comprising an oblong opening (142) through which a fixing screw (143) extends towards the chassis (15).

2. Steering assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the at least one fixing rail (141) comprises: - a collar (145) collaborating with the rack (11); and - a fixing surface (147) which extends radially from the collar (145), the oblong opening (142) being arranged on the surface.

3. Steering assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the collar (145) is fitted onto a cylindrical bearing surface of the rack (11).

4. Steering assembly (1) according to any one of claims 2 and 3, in which the fixing surface (147) and the oblong opening (142) extend along the transverse axis (Y).

5. Steering assembly (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the fixing surface (147) bears against a cross member (151) of the chassis (15), the cross member (151) comprising a fixing hole collaborating with the fixing screw (143) engaged through the oblong opening (142) provided on the fixing surface (147).

6. Steering assembly (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the fixing surface (147) comprises a shoulder (146) providing a bearing surface for the fixing screw (143) engaged through the oblong opening (142).

7. Steering assembly (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in which the fixing elements (14) comprise an end piece (144) collaborating with each at least one fixing rail (141), said end piece (144) being slidably mounted on said fixing rail (141) and comprising a passage hole for the fixing screw (143) associated with said fixing rail (141).

8. Steering assembly (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein each at least one fixing rail (141) comprises a groove which extends along the oblong opening (142), the groove housing the end piece (144) associated with said fixing rail (141) so that it can slide along the oblong opening (142).

9. Motor vehicle comprising a steering assembly (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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