Ball Screw Circulation Clip Alignment in Power Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power steering device has a weak urging force on the sides of the circulation members, leading to potential misalignment and reduced power transmission due to the balls not circulating smoothly in the ball passage.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a connecting end position stopper in the fixing member to prevent relative position shifts between the circulation members, ensuring proper alignment and smooth circulation of balls within the ball passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the circulation members are not properly aligned, then the structure is simpler, but the balls cannot circulate smoothly reducing power transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting end position stopper provides preliminary lateral positioning of the circulation members before the balls enter the ball passage. By pre-establishing the correct alignment, the stopper ensures that the balls can circulate smoothly from the beginning, maintaining high power transmission without adding complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting end position stopper enables the circulation members to self-align laterally during assembly. The stopper's geometry allows the circulation members to naturally settle into the correct position against the stopper surface, eliminating the need for external alignment tools or complex positioning mechanisms while ensuring reliable ball circulation.
Data Source
AI summary
A spring steel-made clip (22) has an arc-shaped first inserting part forcing portion (66) and an arc-shaped second inserting part forcing portion (67) facing the first inserting part forcing portion (66), a first axial direction connecting portion (68) connecting one ends of the inserting part forcing portions (66, 67) and a second axial direction connecting portion (69) connecting the other ends of the inserting part forcing portions (66, 67). The axial direction connecting portions (68, 69) have connecting end position stoppers (75, 76) protruding from their inner edge portions (68a, 69a) toward an opening (65). The connecting end position stoppers (75, 76) elastically contact position stopper contact portions (44e, 57e) of tubes (20A, 20B), then a relative movement of the tubes (20A, 20B) in a direction in which connecting end contact surfaces (47, 60) separate from each other is stopped.