STEERING APPARATUS FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A steering apparatus includes left and right swing arm members, right and left tie rods pivotally connected at inner ends to arm portions of the swing arm members via a relay rod pivotally connected to the arm portions at both ends, a rack-and-pinion device in which one end of a rack bar is connected to the arm portion of one of the swing arm members, and a steering input transmission system that transmits a steering input to the rack-and-pinion device. The rack-and-pinion device includes a pair of pressing devices disposed on both sides of the pinion along the longitudinal direction of the rack bar and pressing the rack bar against the pinion.

Claims

1. A steering apparatus for a vehicle that comprises left and right swing arm members each having an arm portion that swings about an axis extending in the vertical direction, a relay rod pivotally connected to the arm portions of the left and right swing arm members at both ends, left and one of right tie rods respectively pivotally connected to left and right steered wheels, respectively, at outer ends and the relay rods and the arm portions of the left and right swing arm members at inner ends, a rack-and-pinion device in which one end of a rack bar is connected to the arm portion of one of the swing arm members so as to swing the one of the swing arm members about the corresponding axis, and a steering input transmission system that transmits a steering input to a pinion shaft of the rack-and-pinion device, wherein the rack-and-pinion device includes a pinion that is integral with the pinion shaft and meshes with rack teeth of the rack bar, a housing that accommodates an area where the rack teeth of the rack bar are provided, and a pair of pressing devices disposed on both sides of the pinion along a longitudinal direction of the rack bar and pressing the rack bar against the pinion.

2. The steering apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the left and right swing arm members each have first and second arm portions extending in directions different from each other with respect to the axis; the left and right tie rods are pivotally connected at their inner ends to the first arm portions of the left and right swing arm members, respectively; one end of the rack bar is pivotally connected to the second arm portion of the one of the swing arm members; and the relay rod is pivotally connected at both ends to one of the first and second arms of the left and right swing arm members.

3. The steering apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rack bar is supported reciprocably in the longitudinal direction by the pinion and the pair of pressing devices, and no bush device is provided between the rack bar and the housing.

4. The steering apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the rack bar extends out from the housing on the side of one end and does not extend out from the housing on the side of the other end.

5. The steering apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pair of pressing devices are configured to press the rack bar against the pinion along center lines extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the rack bar on a side opposite to the pinion with respect to the rack bar.

6. The steering apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the center lines of the pair of pressing devices are equidistantly spaced apart from a meshing portion between the rack teeth of the rack bar and the pinion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of a steering apparatus according to the present disclosure applied to a right-hand traffic vehicle in a straight traveling state of the vehicle;

[0023] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a rack-and-pinion device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[0024] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing one pressing device by cutting the rack-and-pinion device along line III-III in FIG. 2;

[0025] FIG. 4 is an illustrative sectional view showing a rack-and-pinion device in which a rack bar is supported by one end bush and extends through a housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The present disclosure will now be described with respect to an embodiment in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment

[0027] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a steering apparatus according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. The electric steering apparatus 10 is applied to a so-called left-hand drive vehicle 12, that is, a right-hand traffic vehicle, and is configured to steer left and right front wheels 14L and 14R that are steered wheels of the vehicle 12. The steering device 10 includes left and right swing arm members 16L and 16R, left and right tie rods 18L and 18R, a relay rod 20, a rack-and-pinion device 22, and a steering input transmission system 24.

[0028] The swing arm members 16L and 16R are disposed at positions spaced apart in the lateral direction of the vehicle 12, and are supported by a vehicle body 30 of the vehicle 12 so as to be able to swing about vertical axes 28L and 28R at boss portions 26L and 26R, respectively. In the illustrated embodiment, the swing arm members 16L and 16R have first arm portions 32L and 32R and second arm portions 34L and 34R, respectively. The first arm portions 32L and 32R respectively extend from the boss portions 26L and 26R substantially to the rear of the vehicle 12 when the vehicle is in a straight traveling state, and the second arm portions 34L and 34R respectively extend from the boss portions 26L and 26R in the inboard direction of the vehicle across the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0029] The relay rod 20 extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle 12, and is pivotally connected at both ends to the first arm portions 32L, 32R of the left and right swing arm members 16L, 16R by joints 36L, 36R, respectively. The left and right tie rods 18L, 18R are pivotally connected at theft outer ends to knuckle arms (not shown) of the left and right front wheels 14L, 14R by joints 38L, 38R, respectively, and are pivotally connected at their inner ends to neighbors of the corresponding ends of the relay rod 20 by joints 40L, 40R, respectively. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the inner ends of the left and right tie rods 18L, 18R are pivotally connected to the first arm portions 32L, 32R of the left and right swing arm members 16L, 16R, respectively via the relay rod 20. Notably, the inner ends of the left and right tie rods 18L, 18R may be pivotally connected directly to the first arm portions 32L, 32R, respectively.

[0030] The rack-and-pinion device 22 is disposed on the left side of the vehicle 12 and extends substantially in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the rack-and-pinion device 22 includes a housing 42 and a rack bar 44 extending along an axis 43, and the rack bar 44 extends out from the housing 42 toward the rear of the vehicle on the side of the rear end. The housing 42 is closed at the front end, and the rack bar 44 does not extend out toward the front of the vehicle from the housing 42 on the side of the front end.

[0031] One end of a connection link 48 is pivotally connected to the rear end of the rack bar 44 by a joint 46, and the other end of the connection link 48 is pivotally connected to the second arm 34L of the left swing arm member 16L by a joint 50, Accordingly, the rear end of the rack bar 44 is connected to the second arm portion 34L of the left swing arm member 16L via the connection link 48 so as to swing the swing arm member 16L about the corresponding axis 28L. Therefore, a reciprocating motion of the rack bar 44 is converted into a swing motion about the axis 28L by the connection link 48 and transmitted to the swing arm member 16L. Conversely, the swing motion of the swing arm member 16L about the axis 28L is converted into a reciprocating motion by the connection link 48 and transmitted to the rack bar 44.

[0032] Although joints such as the joint 36L are not shown in detail in FIG. 1, any joint known in the art can be used as long as the corresponding two members can be relatively pivotally connected. For example, a ball joint, a pillow ball, a combination of a pivot and a bush may be used,

[0033] Although not shown in detail in FIG. 1, the steering input transmission system 24 includes a known steering shaft 52 including an upper steering shaft, a lower steering shaft, universal joints, and the like. A steering wheel 54 operated by a driver is connected to an upper end of the steering shaft 52, and a lower end of the steering shaft 52 is connected to a pinion shaft 56 of the rack-and-pinion device 22. Thus, the steering input transmission system 24 transmits a steering input given to the steering wheel 54 by the driver to the pinion shaft 56.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, a worm wheel 58 is provided integrally with the pinion shaft 56, and a worm 60 is screwed to the worm wheel 58. The worm 60 is connected to an output shaft of an electric motor 62. Torque of the electric motor 62 is transmitted to the pinion shaft 56 by the worm 60 and the worm wheel 58 as steering assist torque. Therefore, the electric motor 62 functions as an electric steering assist force applying device 64 that applies steering assist torque to the rack-and-pinion device 22 in cooperation with the worm wheel 58 and the worm 60.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the rack-and-pinion device 22 further includes a pinion 66 and a pair of pressing devices 68. The pinion 66 is formed integrally with the pinion shaft 56 via a torsion bar and meshes with rack teeth 70 of the rack bar 44. The housing 42 accommodates a main portion of the rack bar 44 including an area where the rack teeth 70 are provided. The pair of pressing devices 6$ are arranged on both sides of the pinion 66 along the longitudinal direction of the rack bar 44, and press the rack bar 44 against the pinion 66.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 3, each pressing device 68 includes a rack guide 72 and a compression coil spring 74 arranged on the side opposite to the pinion 66 with respect to the rack bar 44. Each rack guide 72 is supported by the housing 42 so as to reciprocate along a center line 76 extending perpendicular to the axis 43 of the rack bar 44. Each compression coil spring 74 presses the rack guide 72 against the rack bar 44 along the center line 76. Thus, the rack bar 44 is supported by the pinion 66 and the pair of pressing devices 68 so as to be able to reciprocate in the longitudinal direction, and no rack bush or the like is provided between the rack bar 44 and the housing 42.

[0037] In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the to center lines 76 of the pair of pressing devices 68 are spaced apart from a center P of a meshing portion 78 between the rack teeth 70 of the rack bar 44 and the pinion 66 by equal distances L along the axis 43. Notably, the distances L between the center ones 76 of the pair of pressing devices 68 and the center P may be different from each other. [0035]

[0038] As shown in FIG, 1, the steering assist force applying device 64 further includes an electronic control unit 82, The steering input transmission system 24 is provided with a torque sensor 84 for detecting steering torque Ts generated in the steering input transmission system. The electronic control unit $2 controls the steering assist torque by controlling output torque of the electric motor 62 based on steering torque Ts detected by the torque sensor 84 and a vehicle speed V detected by a vehicle speed sensor 86.

[0039] As can be understood from the above description, according to the embodiment, the rack-and-pinion device 22 includes a pair of pressing devices 68 that are disposed on both sides of the pinion 66 along the longitudinal direction of the rack bar 44 and press the rack bar against the pinion, The rack bar 44 is supported by the pinion 66 and the pair of pressing devices 68 so as to be able to reciprocate in the longitudinal direction, and no bush device is provided between the rack bar 44 and the housing 42.

[0040] Thus, the rack and pinion device 22 can be reduced in size and weight, and the degree of freedom of arrangement can be improved, as compared, for example, with a structure in which the rack bar is supported by two bush devices on both sides of an area where rack teeth are provided. Therefore, as compared with a conventional steering apparatus having the above--described steering link mechanism, the mountability of the steering apparatus on a vehicle and the degree of freedom in designing a vehicle can be improved, and a weight of the steering apparatus can be reduced.

[0041] Further, instead of the conventional general structure in which a rack bar is supported by two bush devices, a structure in which the rack bar 44 is supported by one bush device 41 can be considered as shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, a double-headed arrow S indicates a rack stroke. However, in this structure, at least a supported area 44A having a length corresponding to the rack stroke S must be provided on the rack bar 44, and, accordingly, a total length of the rack bar 44 and the housing 42 must be longer, so that the steering apparatus cannot be reduced in size and weight.

[0042] The left and right swing arm members 16L, 16R have the first arm portions 32L, 32R and second arm portions 34L, 34R extending in directions different from each other with respect to the axes 28L, 28R, respectively. The left and right tie rods 181., 18R are pivotally connected at inner ends to the first arm portions 32L, 32R of the left and right swing arm members 16L, 16R, respectively, via the relay rod 20. The rear end of the rack bar 44 is pivotally connected to the second arm portion 34L of the left swing arm member 32L, and the relay rod 20 is pivotally connected at both ends to the first arm portions 32L, 32R of the left and right swing arm members.

[0043] Therefore, the degree of freedom of pivotal attachment of the rack bar 44 and the relay rod 20 can be increased as compared to where each of the left and right swing arm members 16L and 16R has only one arm portion. This also improves mountability of the electric power steering apparatus on a vehicle and the degree of freedom in designing the vehicle. In particular, the extension direction of the rack-and-pinion device 22 can be freely set by setting the extension direction of the second arm portions 34L, 34R with respect to the first arm portions 32L, 32R, respectively.

[0044] The rack bar 44 extends out from the housing 42 on the rear end side, but does not extend out from the housing on the front end side, and the housing is closed on the front end side. Therefore, a member for sealing between the rack bar 44 and the housing 42 on the front end side is unnecessary, so that the number of parts of the rack and pinion device 22 can be reduced and the structure can be simplified as compared to where the rack bar also extends out from the housing on the front end side.

[0045] The rack bar 44 is pressed against the pinion by the pair of pressing devices 68 on both sides of the pinion 66 along the center lines 76 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rack bar. Therefore, the rack bar can be satisfactorily pressed against the pinion to maintain their good meshing state, and the rack bar can be stably reciprocated in the longitudinal direction by the pinion and the pair of pressing devices.

[0046] Further, the pair of pressing devices 68 presses the rack bar against the pinion at the positions spaced apart by an equal distance L from the meshing portion 78 between the rack teeth 70 of the rack bar 44 and the pinion 66. Therefore, as compared to where the center lines of the pair of pressing devices are spaced apart by different distances from the meshing portion between the rack teeth of the rack bar and the pinion, it is possible to reduce the possibility that a moment around the meshing portion acts on the rack bar 44 due to the pressing by the pair of pressing devices.

[0047] Although the present disclosure has been described in detail with reference to a specific embodiment, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0048] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the swing arm members 16L and 16R have the first arm portions 32L and 32R and the second arm portions 34L and 34R, respectively, but each may have one arm portion. Further, when the vehicle 12 is in the straight traveling state, the first arm portions 32L and 32R extend substantially rearward from the boss portions 26L and 26R, respectively, and the second arm portions 34L and 34R extend from the bosses 26L, 26R, respectively, in the vehicle inboard direction across the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. However, the first arm portions 32L, 32R may extend substantially forward of the vehicle, and the second arm portions 34L, 34R may extend in a direction different from the illustrated direction including the outboard direction of the vehicle. Thus, the rack-and-pinion device 22 may extend in a direction other than the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0049] In the above-described embodiment, the inner ends of the left and right tie rods 18L, 18R are pivotally connected to the relay rod 20 near corresponding ends, but may be pivotally connected to the first arm portions 32L, 32R of the swing arm members 16L, 16R, respectively. In that case, the relay rod 20 may be pivotally connected to the second arm portions 34L, 34R of the swing arm members 16L, 16R, respectively.

[0050] In the above-described embodiment, the steering apparatus 10 is applied to a so-called left-hand drive vehicle, that is, a right-hand traffic vehicle 12, but may be applied to a so-called right-hand drive vehicle, that is, a left-hand traffic vehicle. In that case, the rack-and-pinion device 22 is disposed on the right side of the vehicle.

[0051] In the above-described embodiment, the steering apparatus 10 is configured to steer the left and right front wheels 14L and 14R which are the steered wheels of the vehicle 12, but may be configured to steer the left and right rear wheels.

[0052] Further, in the above-described embodiment, although the electric steering assist force applying device $4 that applies steering assist torque to the pinion shaft 56 of the rack-and-pinion device 22 is provided, steering assist torque may be applied to the steering shaft. In addition, the electric steering assist force applying device 64 may be omitted, and the steering apparatus of the present disclosure may be configured as a steering apparatus having no power steering function,