Steering Shaft Bearing Layout to Reduce Housing Flange Deflection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steering apparatuses have limitations in the functionality of the bearing that supports the steering shaft, which affects the overall performance and reliability of the steering mechanism.
Innovation Solution
The steering apparatus includes a housing member with a cylindrical portion surrounding the steering shaft and a flange portion extending radially, with a bearing positioned to overlap the flange portion in the rotational axial direction, enhancing the bearing's functionality and reducing deflection of the flange portion to improve support performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the bearing is positioned to overlap the flange portion in the rotational axial direction, then the supporting performance of the bearing is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the bearing support function with the flange portion structure by positioning the bearing to overlap the flange portion in the rotational axial direction. This integration allows the flange portion to serve dual purposes: providing structural support and enabling bearing functionality, thereby improving supporting performance while avoiding the need for separate additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the rotational axial direction as an additional dimension for bearing placement. By positioning the bearing to overlap the flange portion in this specific directional dimension, the invention achieves improved supporting performance without increasing radial or longitudinal complexity, effectively using spatial arrangement to resolve the contradiction.
2Reliability
If the flange portion is designed to extend radially to support the bearing, then the bearing functionality is improved, but the volume of the housing member increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by extending the flange portion only in the specific radial region where bearing support is needed, rather than uniformly increasing the housing member throughout. This localized structural enhancement provides the necessary bearing functionality while minimizing the overall volume increase of the housing member.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial action by providing the flange portion extension only to the extent necessary for bearing support. The flange extends radially just enough to accommodate the bearing positioning requirement, avoiding excessive material usage and volume increase while still achieving the desired bearing functionality improvement.
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a steering apparatus capable of improving a function of a bearing that supports a steering shaft. A steering apparatus includes a steering shaft, a first housing member, a second housing member, and a bearing. The steering shaft rotates according to a rotation of a steering wheel. The first housing member is located on one side in a rotational axial direction of the steering shaft, and includes a cylindrical portion and a flange portion. The cylindrical portion surrounds the steering shaft. The flange portion extends in a radial direction with respect to a rotational axis of the steering shaft to an outer side of the cylindrical portion in the radial direction. The second housing member is provided on the other side in the rotational axial direction, and forms a housing together with the first housing member. The second housing member includes a connection portion and a containing portion. The connection portion is connected to the flange portion of the first housing member. The containing portion contains a part of the steering shaft. The bearing is provided at a position that overlaps the flange portion in the rotational axial direction on an inner peripheral side of the cylindrical portion of the first housing member, and supports the steering shaft.