Steering Rack Guide Slide Plate Self-Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
In rack and pinion type steering devices, the slide plate is often misaligned with the rack guide base body, leading to gaps and abnormal wear due to the cylindrical fitting projected portion being press-fitted, which allows for inclination and improper mounting.
Innovation Solution
The slide plate features restricting portions on both sides that contact the rack guide base body, automatically correcting the center line alignment and ensuring proper mounting, along with gussets for enhanced strength and lubricity, and engaging groove and recessed portions for secure positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a cylindrical fitting projected portion is press-fitted into a fitting hole portion to fix the slide plate to the rack guide base body, then the slide plate can be mounted, but the center line of curvature of the slide plate may be inclined with respect to the center line of curvature of the recessed portion, causing misalignment and abnormal wear
Solution Approach 1:
The restricting portions are designed to automatically self-align the slide plate with the rack guide base body during assembly. When the restricting portions contact the flanks of the base body, they automatically correct any inclination of the center line of curvature, ensuring precise alignment without requiring additional alignment procedures or skilled manual adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The restricting portions are pre-formed on the slide plate at specific positions and angles. This preliminary configuration ensures that during the mounting process, the restricting portions will automatically contact the flanks of the rack guide base body and establish the correct alignment before the final pressing operation is completed, preventing misalignment from occurring in the first place.
2Ease of operation
If the slide plate is allowed to be press-fitted freely, then the mounting process is simple, but gaps are generated between the slide plate and the inner surface of the recessed portion, leading to abnormal wear
Solution Approach 1:
The restricting portions automatically perform the alignment function during the pressing operation itself, without requiring separate alignment steps. The operator simply needs to insert the slide plate and apply pressing force, while the restricting portions self-correct the alignment by contacting the flanks of the base body, ensuring full contact and preventing gaps during the entire service life of the component.
3Ease of manufacture
If the center line of curvature of the slide plate is inclined with respect to the center line of curvature of the recessed portion, then mounting is easier without precise alignment, but the rack bar locally contacts the slide plate causing abnormal wear
Solution Approach 1:
The restricting portions are designed to automatically detect and correct any inclination of the center line of curvature during assembly. When the slide plate is being pressed onto the base body, the restricting portions contact the flanks and self-adjust the position to achieve perfect alignment, ensuring the rack bar contacts the slide plate uniformly across its entire surface rather than at localized points, thereby preventing abnormal wear.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures the slide plate is mounted in a regular state, preventing abnormal wear and displacement, while enhancing lubricity and maintaining the structural integrity of the components, thus reducing noise and wear.
Implementation Method 1
restricting portions on both sides of a main body portion in a moving direction of a rack bar, which restricting portion are adapted to be in contact with sides of the rack guide base body
Implementation Method 2
By coating the surface of the slide plate to be in contact with the rack bar with a material with a low friction coefficient such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), slidability of the rack bar is enhanced
Data Source
AI summary
A slide plate and a rack guide for supporting a rack bar in a casing of a rack and pinion type steering device are provided. The slide plate can be mounted on a rack guide base body while being restricted to be in a regular state with respect to a recessed portion of the rack guide base body. The rack guide is constituted by the slide plate and the rack guide base body on which the slide plate is mounted. The slide plate is constituted by a main body portion receiving the rack bar, and restricting portions on both sides of the main body portion in a moving direction of the rack bar, which restricting portions are in contact with both flanks of the rack guide base body.