SECURING DEVICE FOR A SHAFT ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR TEMPORARILY LIMITING THE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT OF A UNIVERSAL JOINT

Abstract

A securing device for temporarily limiting movement of a universal joint of a steering column may include a locking element that extends in a longitudinal direction and has a free front end at a front as seen in the longitudinal direction. A handling means may be fitted at a rear of the locking element as seen in the longitudinal direction. The locking element may have a blocking body, and first and second positioning elements that are disposed on opposite sides of the blocking body and extend in the longitudinal direction adjacent to the blocking body. The positioning elements may be resilient relative to the blocking body in a transverse direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction. The positioning elements help simplify installation and improve protection against damage.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A securing device for temporarily limiting a freedom of movement of a universal joint of a shaft arrangement of a steering column, the securing device comprising a locking element that extends in a longitudinal direction and has a free front end at a front of the locking element as seen in the longitudinal direction, wherein a handling means is disposed at a rear of the locking element as seen in the longitudinal direction, the locking element comprising: a blocking body; a first positioning element; and a second positioning element, wherein the first and second positioning elements are disposed on opposite sides of the blocking body and extend in the longitudinal direction adjacent to the blocking body, wherein the first and second positioning elements are resilient relative to the blocking body in a transverse direction that is transverse to the longitudinal direction.

12. The securing device of claim 11 wherein the blocking body includes a first supporting surface and a second supporting surface, wherein the first supporting surface has a surface normal that extends in a height direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and to the transverse direction, wherein the second supporting surface has a surface normal that extends counter to the height direction and that is perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions.

13. The securing device of claim 11 wherein the locking element is mirror-symmetrical relative to a mirror plane that intersects the blocking body and extends in the longitudinal direction and a height direction that is perpendicular to the transverse direction.

14. The securing device of claim 13 wherein the mirror plane is a first mirror plane, the locking element being mirror-symmetrical relative to a second mirror plane that intersects the blocking body and extends in the longitudinal and transverse directions.

15. The securing device of claim 11 wherein the locking element is mirror-symmetrical relative to a mirror plane that intersects the blocking body and extends in the longitudinal and transverse directions.

16. The securing device of claim 11 wherein the locking element is mirror-symmetrical relative to a mirror plane that intersects the blocking body in the longitudinal direction and runs in a height direction that is perpendicular to the transverse direction.

17. The securing device of claim 16 wherein the mirror plane is a first mirror plane, the locking element being mirror-symmetrical relative to a second mirror plane that intersects the blocking body in the longitudinal direction and runs in the transverse direction.

18. The securing device of claim 11 wherein the locking element is mirror-symmetrical relative to a mirror plane that intersects the blocking body in the longitudinal direction and runs in the transverse direction.

19. The securing device of claim 11 wherein the blocking body is cuboidal with a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction, a predetermined width in the transverse direction, and a predetermined thickness in a height direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions.

20. The securing device of claim 11 wherein the locking element comprises a main body from which the blocking body and the first and second positioning elements extend.

21. The securing device of claim 11 further comprising a latching element formed in or on an outer side of at least one of the first positioning element or the second positioning element.

22. The securing device of claim 21 wherein the latching element faces away from the blocking body.

23. The securing device of claim 22 wherein the latching element is a first latching element, the first latching element and a second latching element being formed in or on the outer side of the at least one of the first positioning element or the second positioning element, with the first and second latching elements being spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction.

24. The securing device of claim 11 wherein a free end of the first positioning element is beveled toward the blocking body as seen relative to the longitudinal direction.

25. The securing device of claim 11 wherein the handling means comprises a gripping piece.

26. A method for temporarily limiting the freedom of movement of a universal joint by insertion of a securing device that includes a locking element with a blocking body, wherein the universal joint comprises: a first joint fork with two first fork arms that extend from a first fork base, that are disposed radially opposite one another, and that have radially opposite first bearing means; a second joint fork with two second fork arms that extend toward the first joint fork from a second fork base, that are disposed radially opposite one another, and that have radially opposite second bearing means; a cardan spider having two first joint pins and two second joint pins disposed in a cross-form manner, wherein the two first joint pins are mounted in the radially opposite first bearing means of the first joint fork so as to be rotatable about a first joint axis, wherein the two second joint pins are mounted in the radially opposite second bearing means of the second joint fork so as to be rotatable about a second joint axis, the method comprising inserting the locking element of the securing device in a releasable manner in a direction transverse to an axial direction of the first joint fork between the two first fork arms of the first joint fork and between the first fork base of the first joint fork and the cardan spider, such that during rotation about the first joint axis one of the two second fork arms is supported against the blocking body and the blocking body is supported against the first fork base.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Advantageous embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the drawings, in which, specifically:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a perspective overall view of a steering column,

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a securing device according to the invention,

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the securing device according to FIG. 2,

[0036] FIG. 4 shows a detail view of the universal joint of the steering column according to FIG. 1,

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a cross section through the universal joint according to FIG. 4 with the securing device inserted,

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section through the universal joint according to FIG. 4 with the securing device inserted,

[0039] FIG. 7 shows a longitudinal section through the universal joint as in FIG. 5, without the securing device,

[0040] FIG. 8 shows a detail view of the universal joint with a second embodiment of a securing device according to the invention,

[0041] FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment of a securing device according to the invention, and

[0042] FIG. 10 shows a further detail view of the universal joint with the second embodiment of a securing device according to the invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0043] Like parts are already provided with like reference signs in the various figures and are therefore generally also each referred to, or mentioned, only once.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a steering column 1, which comprises a steering shaft 2. The steering shaft 2 has a steering spindle 21, a fastening portion 22 on which to fit a steering wheel (not illustrated here) of a motor vehicle being formed at the rear end of said steering spindle, as seen in relation to the direction of travel. The steering spindle 21 is mounted in a lateral-surface unit 3 such that it can be rotated about its longitudinal axis. The lateral-surface unit 3 is retained in a carrying unit 4, which has fastening means 41, 42 for fastening the steering column 1 on a vehicle body (not illustrated).

[0045] The front end of the steering spindle 21, as seen in relation to the direction of travel, projects out of the lateral-surface unit 3 at the front and is connected to an intermediate shaft 23 in an articulated manner via a universal joint 5, also referred to as a cardan joint. The intermediate shaft 23 has a tubular outer shaft 24, in which an inner shaft 25 is mounted in a longitudinally telescopic manner with torque locking. At the front end of the intermediate shaft 23, the inner shaft 25 has arranged on it a further universal joint 6, which connects the intermediate shaft 23 to a steering mechanism (not illustrated here) in an articulated manner by way of a coupling piece 26 for torque-locking connection.

[0046] A securing device 7 according to the invention, which is illustrated separately in FIGS. 3 and 4, is inserted into the universal joint 5 for the purpose of temporarily limiting the movement capability of the intermediate shaft 23 relative to the steering spindle 21.

[0047] The securing device 7 has a locking element 71 which extends in a longitudinal direction L and has a handling means 72 fitted at its rear end.

[0048] The locking element 71 has a blocking body 73, which extends forward in one piece from a main body 74. The blocking body 73 has a cuboidal basic shape, with a first supporting surface 731 which is formed by the upper side, directed toward the person viewing FIG. 3, and of which the surface normal is oriented out of the plane of the drawing, in a height direction H perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and transverse direction B. The side which is directed away from the person viewing FIG. 3 has formed on it a second supporting surface 732, which is located opposite the first supporting surface 731 and of which the surface normal is oriented counter to the height direction H. The distance between the parallel supporting surfaces 731 and 732 corresponds to the thickness h of the blocking body 73. The blocking body 73 has a width b in the transverse direction B; the blocking body 73, together with the main body 74, has an overall length I in the longitudinal direction L.

[0049] Two positioning elements 75 are fitted, by way of their rear ends, on the front of the main body 74 and extend forward, as seen in the longitudinal direction L, essentially parallel to the side surfaces 733 and 734 of the blocking body 73, to be precise at a distance A therefrom as measured in the transverse direction B, i.e. perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction L.

[0050] The positioning elements 75 are formed preferably in one piece with the main body 74, as plastic injection moldings. On account of the elasticity of the plastic, the positioning elements 75 form leaf springs, which have their rear ends secured on the main body 74 and of which the front ends can be moved resiliently, in the transverse direction, toward the blocking body 73 by the distance A.

[0051] In the region of their front ends, the positioning elements 75 have first latching elements 76 in the manner of protrusions or protuberances formed externally, i.e. on their outer sides which are directed away from the blocking body 73. The latching elements 76 project outward from the positioning elements 75 and have introduction slopes 761, which run obliquely in the forward direction toward the blocking body 73. The two introduction slopes 761 of the two positioning elements 75 thus form an arrangement which tapers in an arrow-shaped manner to the front.

[0052] The latching elements 76 project outward from the positioning elements 75 preferably not more than by the amount equal to the distance A. It is thus possible for the positioning elements 75, for insertion purposes, to be bent in the transverse direction B toward the blocking body 73, so that the locking element 71 can be introduced between fork arms 511, 512 of a universal joint 5 which are spaced apart from one another by a distance which corresponds to the width of the locking body 71 without the latching elements 76, as measured in the transverse direction B over the positioning elements 75.

[0053] Second latching elements 77 are formed, likewise as protrusions, externally on the positioning element 75 at a distance p from the first latching elements 76, as seen in the longitudinal direction L.

[0054] The handling means 72 comprises a gripping piece 78, which is fitted on the rear of the blocking body 73, or the main body 74 thereof, via a stem 79. The handling means 72 is preferably formed in one piece with the locking element 71, and therefore the securing device 7 as a whole can be produced in the form of a single-piece plastic injection molding.

[0055] In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the securing device 7 is designed to be mirror-symmetrical in relation to a mirror plane S which is defined in the longitudinal direction L and the height direction H.

[0056] In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the securing device 7 is likewise designed to be mirror-symmetrical in relation to a mirror plane which runs in the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction B, parallel to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 3.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged perspective view of the universal joint 5, FIG. 5 shows a cross section in through the securing device 7 in the inserted state and FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal section.

[0058] The universal joint 5 has a first joint fork 51, which is fitted on the steering spindle 21 and has two opposite first fork arms 511 and 512, which extend from a first fork base 513. The first fork arms 511 and 512 have mutually aligned first bearings 514, in which first bearing pins 81 of a cardan spider 8 are mounted such that they can be rotated about a first joint axis 91.

[0059] The universal joint 5 has a second joint fork 52, which is fitted on the intermediate shaft 23 and has two opposite second fork arms 521 and 522, which extend from a second fork base 523. The second fork arms 521 and 522 have mutually aligned second bearings 524, in which second bearing pins 82 of a cardan spider 8 are mounted such that they can be rotated about a second joint axis 92.

[0060] The first joint axis 91 and the second joint axis 92 are perpendicular to one another and are located in the same plane of the cardan spider 9.

[0061] As can be gathered from FIGS. 5 and 6, the locking element 71 of the securing device 7 is inserted into the first joint fork 51, between the fork arms 511 and 512, and therefore the latter lie against the positioning elements 75 from the outside. It can be gathered from FIG. 5 that the width of the fork arms 511 and 512 corresponds to the distance p between the latching elements 76 and 77. As a result, the locking element 71 is fixed on the fork arms 511 and 512 in the longitudinal direction L. Since the positioning elements 75 are fitted resiliently relative to the blocking body 73, they ensure that the blocking body 73 is centered automatically between the fork arms 511 and 512 by the spring force in the transverse direction B.

[0062] FIG. 6 shows that the blocking body 73 lies against the first fork base 513, or is supported against the same, by way of its first supporting surface 731. By way of the second supporting surface 732, the blocking body 73 lies with a small amount of play against the joint-side ends of the second fork arms 521 and 522. It can be seen from this illustration that the length I of the blocking body 73 corresponds at least to the externally measured distance between the second fork arms 521 and 522. This means that the blocking body 73, in the inserted state, is always located between the second fork arms 521 and 522 and the first fork base 513.

[0063] If an attempt is made, when the securing device 7 is in the inserted state, to rotate, i.e. to pivot, the intermediate shaft 23 in relation to the steering spindle 21 about the first joint axis 91, at least one of the second fork arms 521 or 522 strikes against the supporting surface 732 of the blocking body 73, which in contrast is supported on the first fork base 513. The pivoting about the first joint axis 91 is blocked in this way. In contrast, pivoting about the second joint axis 92 is still possible, because the rounded configuration of the fork arms 521 and 522 means that the blocking body 73 is not subjected here to any force.

[0064] By virtue of the blocking body 73 being centered by the positioning elements 75, which according to the invention are fitted resiliently on opposite sides, the blocking body 73 is reliably positioned between the first fork arms 511 and 512, parallel to the second joint axis 92, and therefore the second fork arms 521 and 522 are reliably supported and the desired limitation of movement is thus ensured.

[0065] As indicated in FIG. 6 by the arrow, the securing device 7 can easily be pulled out of the universal joint 5 using the gripping piece 78 of the handling means 72. This is possible because the positioning elements 75 can be bent elastically toward the blocking body 73 such that the latching elements 76 can slide through between the fork arms 511 and 512. The insertion of the securing device 7 is facilitated by the introduction slopes 761, which prevent damage to the positioning elements 75 and ensure an automatic latching-in action.

[0066] When the securing device 7 has been removed, full pivoting capability about the first joint axis 91 is enabled again, as is illustrated in FIG. 7 by the curved arrow. It can likewise clearly be gathered from this illustration how, as pivoting takes place about the first joint axis, the second fork arms 521 and 522 are moved through a spatial region of radius r, said spatial region being indicated by dashes. In the case of the method according to the invention, said spatial region is filled, or occupied, by the blocking body 73, and therefore the movement capability about the first joint axis 91 is limited in a defined manner.

[0067] FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate a second embodiment of the securing device 7 according to the invention. The locking element 71 of the securing device 7 is inserted into the first joint fork 51, between the fork arms 511 and 512, and therefore the latter rest against the positioning elements 75 from the outside. Since the positioning elements 75 are fitted resiliently relative to the blocking body 73, they ensure that the blocking body 73 is centered automatically between the fork arms 511 and 512 by the spring force in the transverse direction B.

[0068] Starting from the main body 74, two supporting elements 751 extend in the longitudinal direction L, parallel to the positioning elements 75. In FIG. 8, the securing device 7 has been inserted into the joint fork 51 of the steering column, wherein the fork arm 511 is accommodated between the one supporting element 751 and the positioning element 75 and the fork arm 512 is accommodated between the other supporting element 751 and the other positioning element 75. At their free ends, the supporting elements 751 have a contact portion 752, which is in operative connection with a vehicle-body-mounted steering-column component. For example, the contact portion 752 is in contact with the carrying unit 4 of the steering column 1 and, upon rotation of the steering spindle 21, is supported on the carrying unit 4 and thus prevents the steering spindle 21 from rotating about its axis of rotation (longitudinal axis) 202. It is thus possible for the securing device 7 according to the invention not just to limit the freedom of movement of the universal joint 5, but, at the same time, also to prevent the steering spindle 21, or the steering shaft 2, from rotating. There is therefore no need for a separate rotation-preventing means.

[0069] Furthermore, the supporting elements 751 each have an abutment portion 753, wherein said abutment portion 753 is designed such that pivoting of the joint fork 52 about the second joint axis 92 is restricted to a certain angle range. As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 10, pivoting is restricted to 90 about the second joint axis 92, wherein the joint fork 52 strikes against the one abutment portion 753 of the supporting element 751, and continued pivoting is therefore prevented. The abutment portion 753 is designed in the form of an arcuate depression in the peripheral region of the supporting element 751, said depression therefore corresponding with the outer stopping geometry of the joint fork 52.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 1 Steering column 513 Fork base 2 Steering shaft 52 Joint fork 21 Steering spindle 521, 522 Fork arms 22 Fastening portion 523 Fork base 23 Intermediate shaft 524 Bearing 731 24 Outer shaft 6 Universal joint 25 Inner shaft 7 Securing device 26 Coupling piece 71 Locking element 202 Axis of rotation 72 Handling means 3 Lateral-surface unit 73 Blocking body 4 Carrying unit 731, 732 Supporting surfaces 41, 42 Fastening means 733, 734 Side surfaces 5 Universal joint 74 Main body 51 Joint fork 75 Positioning elements 511, 512 Fork arms 751 Supporting elements 514 Bearing 752 Contact portion 753 Abutment portion r Radius 76, 77 Latching elements 761 Introduction slopes 78 Gripping piece 79 Stem 8 Cardan spider 81 Bearing pin 91 First joint axis 92 Second joint axis L Longitudinal direction B Transverse direction H Height direction A Distance S Mirror plane l Length b Width h Thickness