Steering System for a Vehicle

Abstract

A steering system for a vehicle includes a transmission cover on a steering gear housing. The cover is arranged adjacent to a bearing part. The side surface of the bearing part facing the transmission cover forms a support surface for the transmission cover.

Claims

1. A steering system for a vehicle, comprising: a steering gear housing; a transmission rod arranged in the steering gear housing; a bearing part arranged in the steering gear housing, the bearing part mounting the transmission rod; and a gear cover received on the steering gear housing and arranged adjacent to the bearing part such that a side face of the bearing part facing the gear cover forms a supporting face for the gear cover.

2. The steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gear cover comprises a plastic material.

3. The steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gear cover is fixed on the steering gear housing without a screw connection.

4. The steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gear cover is fixed on the steering gear housing via a latching connection.

5. The steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing part is configured as a bearing disk.

6. The steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing part is configured as a bearing segment disk.

7. The steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bearing part includes at least two bearing segment disks arranged distributed over a circumference, and each of the at least two bearing segment disks forms a supporting face for the gear cover.

8. The steering system as claimed in claim 1, wherein, on a side which faces the bearing part, the gear cover has a supporting structure which is part of a reinforcing structure on the gear cover.

9. The steering system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the supporting structure delimits an opening in the gear cover for the transmission rod in an annular manner.

10. A vehicle comprising: a steering system comprising: a steering gear housing; a transmission rod arranged in the steering gear housing; a bearing part arranged in the steering gear housing, the bearing part mounting the transmission rod; and a gear cover received on the steering gear housing and arranged adjacent to the bearing part such that a side face of the bearing part facing the gear cover forms a supporting face for the gear cover.

Description

[0015] Further advantages and expedient embodiments can be gathered from the further claims, the description of the figures and the drawings, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a steering system for a vehicle,

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a section longitudinally through the steering gear housing of the steering system in the region of a gear cover,

[0018] FIG. 3 shows the gear cover in a perspective view, and

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a top view of two bearing segment disks which are arranged so as to lie diametrically opposite one another on the steering gear housing.

[0020] In the figures, identical components are provided with identical designations.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows by way of example an electrically assisted steering system 1 for a vehicle. The steering system 1 comprises a steering shaft 2, via which a steering angle which is specified by the driver via the steering wheel is transmitted, a steering gear housing 3 with a steering gear which is received therein, and a steering linkage with a transmission rod 4 which forms a steering track rod and via which the steering movement is transmitted to the steerable wheels of the vehicle. An electric steering or servomotor 5 serves to assist the manual torque which is applied by the driver, which steering or servomotor 5 generates a servo torque which is fed into the steering gear in the steering gear housing 3. In the exemplary embodiment, the electric servomotor 5 is arranged axially parallel to the transmission rod 4, and the motor shaft longitudinal axis 6 of the servomotor 5 runs parallel to the longitudinal axis 7 of the transmission rod 4. The electric servomotor is configured, for example, as an electronically commutated synchronous or asynchronous motor. The servomotor 5 is actuated via a connected control unit 8.

[0022] At its two outer ends, the transmission rod 4 is connected in each case to a steering track rod 9, via which a wheel suspension system is actuated.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows the gear housing 3 in longitudinal section in the region of a gear cover 10. The transmission rod 4 is connected by way of a transition member to the electric servomotor via a ball screw drive, consisting of a ball screw 11 between the transmission rod 4 and a ball nut 12 which is arranged such that it can be rotated about the transmission rod 4. The ball nut 12 is mounted radially in a radial bearing 13 which is received in the steering gear housing 3. The radial bearing 13 is supported axially on two bearing segment disks 14 which are connected fixedly via screws 15 (FIG. 4) to the steering gear housing 2. The bearing segment disks 14 extend over an angular segment of 90° and consist, for example, of steel. The bearing segment disks 14 which lie diametrically opposite one another and are arranged axially at the same level enclose a clearance between them, through which clearance the transmission rod 4 is guided.

[0024] As an alternative to bearing segment disks, round bearing disks also come into question.

[0025] The gear cover 10 which is shown perspectively in FIG. 3 is configured as a plastic component and is placed onto the end side of the steering gear housing 3. The gear cover 10 is connected via a latching connection in an axially positively locking manner to the steering gear housing 3. A screw connection of the gear cover 10 on the steering gear housing 3 or another component is not provided. The latching connection takes place via latching elements 16 which are arranged on diametrically opposite sides in each case in the side region of the gear cover 10. When the gear cover 10 is placed axially onto the steering gear housing 3, the latching elements 16 on the gear cover 10 latch with associated latching members 17 which are situated on the end side of the steering gear housing 3.

[0026] The bearing segment disks 14, which in each case form a bearing part, and the gear cover 10 are configured as discrete components which are independent of one another and are not connected to one another. That side face of the bearing segment disks 14 which faces the gear cover 10 forms supporting faces 18, on which the gear cover 10 can be supported. During normal operation, the gear cover 10 bears merely loosely against the supporting face 10 on the bearing segment disks 14, with the result that no axial forces or merely low axial forces act between the gear cover 10 and the bearing segment disks 14. Under the effect of high external forces, however, it is possible that, in particular, the gear cover 10 is deformed, and that the gear cover 10 is supported on the supporting face 18 of the bearing segment disks 14 with relatively high axial forces. Said relatively high axial forces can readily be absorbed by the bearing segment disks 14, and can be transmitted to the steering gear housing 3.

[0027] On its side which faces the bearing segment disks 14, the gear cover 10 has a honeycomb-shaped reinforcing structure which encloses and delimits in an annular manner a central opening 19 which is made in the gear cover 10. FIG. 3 uses auxiliary lines to show the supporting and reinforcing structure 20 which encloses the opening 19 in an immediately annular manner. As can be gathered from FIG. 2, the end side of the reinforcing structure 20 is supported on the supporting face 18 of the bearing segment disks 14 in the immediate vicinity of the central opening 19. In the case of high external forces which act on the gear cover 10, the support prevents a permanent, plastic deformation of the gear cover 10 which preferably consists of plastic.