Modular cradle for a vehicle drive train comprising a transverse base receiving a lightweight split steering housing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016257335-A1
Application number	US-201415028660-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 3, 2014
Priority date	Oct 10, 2013
Publication date	Sep 8, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention concerns a method for assembling a modular cradle ( 1 ) for a vehicle steering axle, said method comprising a prefabrication step (a), which involves separately producing a base ( 3 ), a first module ( 10 ) that comprises a first section ( 2 A) of a steering housing ( 2 ) for guiding a rack, and a first bearing ( 11 ) for receiving a stabiliser bar ( 13 ), a second module ( 20 ), separate from the base ( 3 ) and from the first module ( 10 ), which comprises a second section ( 2 B) of the steering housing ( 2 ) for guiding the rack and a second bearing ( 21 ) for receiving the stabiliser bar ( 13 ), followed by an assembly step (b), which involves mounting and securing the first module ( 10 ) on a left-hand receiving area ( 7 ) of the base ( 3 ), and the second module ( 20 ) on a right-hand receiving area ( 8 ) of said base ( 3 ).

First claim

1 . A method for assembling a cradle for a steering axle of a vehicle, said method comprising:
a prefabrication step, during which are separately realized:
a base, which comprises a left stowage area designed so as to be fastened to a left chassis element of the vehicle, a right stowage area designed so as to be fastened to a right chassis element of the vehicle, a cross member which joins the left stowage area to the right stowage area, as well as a left receiving area and a right receiving area distant from each other and each intended to provide a bearing to a steering housing designed for receiving and guiding in translation a steering rack,
a first module ( 10 ), distinct from the base, which comprises, on the one hand, a first steering housing segment intended to provide a first guide surface to the rack, as well as a first bearing which is secured to said first steering housing segment and which forms a first depression arranged so as to accommodate and support a stabilizer bar,
a second module, distinct from the base and from the first module, said second module comprising, on the one hand, a second steering housing segment intended to provide a second guide surface to the rack, and on the other hand, a second bearing secured to said second steering housing segment, said second bearing forming a second depression arranged so as to accommodate and support the stabilizer bar, and
an assembly step, during which, on the one hand, the first module is attached and fastened on the left receiving area of the base and, on the other hand, the second module is attached and fastened on the right receiving area of said base.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein within the first module, the first steering housing segment and the first bearing are integrally manufactured, and/or within the second module, the second steering housing segment and the second bearing are integrally manufactured.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first steering housing segment of the first module comprises a first guide sleeve designed so as to be crossed by the steering rack in order to guide in translation said steering rack along a steering axis, and/or the second steering housing segment of the second module comprises a second guide sleeve designed so as to be crossed by the steering rack in order to guide in translation said steering rack along said steering axis.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first steering housing segment of the first module comprises a first guide sleeve designed so as to be crossed by the steering rack in order to guide in translation said steering rack along a steering axis, as well as an access sleeve, intersecting the steering axis and arranged to enable a steering column provided with a drive pinion to engage with said rack, the guide sleeve and the access sleeve being preferably formed integrally with each other.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the assembly step comprises a steering housing reconstitution sub-step during which the first steering housing segment of the first module is connected to the second steering housing segment of the second module by means of a protection tube, which is distinct from the base and inside of which the rack is intended to slide, so as to reconstitute a continuous steering housing from the first module to the second module.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein the steering housing reconstitution sub-step takes place before a setting up sub-step during which the first module and the second module, linked to each other beforehand by the protection tube, are attached and fastened on their respective left and right receiving areas.

7 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein, during the steering housing reconstitution sub-step, the combination and junction of the protection tube with the first guide sleeve belonging to the first module, and/or respectively the combination and junction of said protection tube with the second guide sleeve belonging to the second module, are ensured by interlocking said protection tube and said guide sleeve into each other, in the extension of each other along the steering axis.

8 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein, during the steering housing reconstitution sub-step, at least one of the junctions between the protection tube and one of the steering housing segments of one of the modules is performed, preferably the junction between the protection tube and the first steering housing segment of the first module, by maintaining at least one degree of freedom between said protection tube and the module, preferably one degree of freedom in translation along the steering axis and/or one degree of freedom in rotation about said steering axis, so as to allow for a relative mobility of the protection tube relative to the considered module without breaking the continuity of the steering housing.

9 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein, during the steering housing reconstitution sub-step, the protection tube is interlocked with the guide sleeve of the considered module along the steering axis, so as to form a sliding or sliding-pivot junction along said steering axis.

10 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein, during the steering housing reconstitution sub-step, the protection tube is secured beforehand by one of its ends to one of the modules, preferably to the second module, according to a fixed junction which holds said protection tube in a fixed position with respect to said module, prior to being engaged afterwards, by its opposite end, on the other module, preferably the first module, according to a junction which allows a relative mobility.

11 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein, during the prefabrication step, the protection tube is manufactured integrally with one of the modules, preferably with the second module.

12 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein, as the protection tube is initially formed separately from at least one of the modules, the constituent material of said protection tube is different from the constituent material of said module, and preferably less dense than said constituent material of said module.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second module is made of a composite material comprising a polymer material matrix reinforced with fibers.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first module is made of a light metal alloy.

15 . A steering housing intended to accommodate and guide in translation, along a steering axis, a steering actuating member, such as a rack, said steering housing being longitudinally split, on the one hand, into a first module which comprises, integrally in a first material, a first steering housing segment which is designed so as to form a first guide surface of the steering actuating member, and which covers, for this purpose, a first length portion along the steering axis, as well as a first bearing forming a first depression arranged so as to be able to accommodate and support a stabilizer bar, and on the other hand, into a second module which comprises, integrally in a second material different from the first material, a second steering housing segment which is designed to form a second guide surface of the steering actuating member, said second steering housing segment extending by a protection tube so as to cover a second length portion along the steering axis which completes the length portion covered by the first steering housing segment ( 2 A), as well as a second bearing forming a second depression arranged to be able to accommodate and support the stabilizer bar at a distance from t

Assignees

• Jtekt Europe Sas

Inventors

• Dieudonne Nicolas
• Chapel Vivien
• Rey Laurent
• Plataret Nicolas
• Vadon Raphaël
• Filipe Charly
• Sohar Johann

Classifications

• B62D21/11

  with resilient means for suspension {, e.g. of wheels or engine; sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions} · CPC title

• B62D3/12 Primary

  of rack-and-pinion type · CPC title