Power steering apparatus and method of assembling same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9527524-B2
Application number	US-201414550342-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2014
Priority date	Mar 27, 2014
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A power steering apparatus of the disclosure includes a rack shaft; a steering wheel-side pinion shaft that rotates as a steering wheel is turned; an assist side pinion shaft that is driven to rotate by a drive unit, thereby assisting the rotation of the steering wheel-side pinion shaft; and a gear housing that accommodates the rack shaft, and has a second leg portion fixed to a vehicle. The gear housing includes a first housing that accommodates a meshing portion between the rack shaft and the steering wheel-side pinion shaft; a second housing that accommodates a meshing portion between the rack shaft and the assist side pinion shaft; and a third housing that is provided with the second leg portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power steering apparatus comprising:
a rack shaft that has a rack and moves a steered unit;
a first pinion shaft that has a first pinion meshing with the rack of the rack shaft, and rotates as a steering unit is turned;
a second pinion shaft that has a second pinion meshing with the rack of the rack shaft, and is driven to rotate by a drive unit, thereby assisting the rotation of the first pinion shaft; and
a housing that accommodates the rack shaft, and has a fixed portion fixed to a vehicle,
wherein the housing comprises:
a first housing portion that accommodates a meshing portion between the rack shaft and the first pinion shaft;
a second housing portion that is a separate body from the first housing portion, and accommodates a meshing portion between the rack shaft and the second pinion shaft; and
a third housing portion that is a separate body from the first and second housing portions, and is provided with the fixed portion.

2. The power steering apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein any one of the first and second housing portions has another fixed portion attached to the vehicle.

3. The power steering apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the first housing portion has the another fixed portion.

4. The power steering apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein the first housing portion is provided opposite to the third housing portion in an axial direction of the rack shaft with the second housing portion interposed between the first and third housing portions.

5. The power steering apparatus according to claim 4 ,
wherein each of the first to third housing portions comprises a fixing mechanism through which each of the relative positions among the first to third housing portions can be changed in a circumferential direction of the rack shaft.

6. The power steering apparatus according to claim 3 ,
wherein each of the first to third housing portions comprises a fixing mechanism through which each of the relative positions among the first to third housing portions can be changed in a circumferential direction of the rack shaft.

7. The power steering apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein the first housing portion is provided opposite to the third housing portion in an axial direction of the rack shaft with the second housing portion interposed between the first and third housing portions.

8. The power steering apparatus according to claim 7 ,
wherein each of the first to third housing portions comprises a fixing mechanism through which each of the relative positions among the first to third housing portions can be changed in a circumferential direction of the rack shaft.

9. The power steering apparatus according to claim 2 ,
wherein each of the first to third housing portions comprises a fixing mechanism through which each of the relative positions among the first to third housing portions can be changed in a circumferential direction of the rack shaft.

10. The power steering apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first housing portion is provided opposite to the third housing portion in an axial direction of the rack shaft with the second housing portion interposed between the first and third housing portions.

11. The power steering apparatus according to claim 10 ,
wherein each of the first to third housing portions comprises a fixing mechanism through which each of the relative positions among the first to third housing portions can be changed in a circumferential direction of the rack shaft.

12. The power steering apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the first to third housing portions comprises a fixing mechanism through which each of the relative positions among the first to third housing portions can be changed in a circumferential direction of the rack shaft.

13. A method of assembling a power steering apparatus comprising
a rack shaft that has a rack and moves a steered unit;
a first pinion shaft that has a first pinion meshing with the rack of the rack shaft, and rotates as a steering unit is turned;
a second pinion shaft that has a second pinion meshing with the rack of the rack shaft, and is driven to rotate by a drive unit, thereby assisting the rotation of the first pinion shaft; and
a housing that accommodates the rack shaft, and has a plurality of fixed portions fixed to a vehicle, the plurality of fixed portions comprising a first fixed portion and a second fixed portion
wherein the housing comprises:
a first housing portion that accommodates a meshing portion between the rack shaft and the first pinion shaft, and that is provided with the first fixed portion;
a second housing portion that is a separate body from the first housing portion, and that accommodates a meshing portion between the rack shaft and the second pinion shaft; and
a third housing portion that is a separate body from the first and second housing portions, and that is provided with the second fixed portion,
the method comprising:
fixing the first fixed portion of the first housing portion to a fixture;
fixing the second fixed portion of the third housing portion to the fixture; and
adjusting the meshing between the rack shaft and the first pinion shaft, and, after the adjusting of the meshing between the rack shaft and the first pinion shaft, adjusting the meshing between the rack shaft and the second pinion shaft.

14. The method of assembling a power steering apparatus according to claim 13 ,
wherein the first housing portion is provided opposite to the third housing portion in an axial direction of the rack shaft with the second housing portion interposed between the first and third housing portions.

15. The method of assembling a power steering apparatus according to claim 14 ,
wherein after an adjustment is performed on the meshing between the first pinion shaft and the rack shaft which is supported by the first and third housing portions, the respective first and second fixed portions of which are fixed to the fixture, the position of the second housing portion is adjusted, thereby adjusting the meshing of the second pinion shaft with respect to the rack shaft.

16. The method of assembling a power steering apparatus according to claim 13 ,
wherein after an adjustment is performed on the meshing between the first pinion shaft and the rack shaft which is supported by the first and third housing portions, the respective first and second fixed portions of which are fixed to the fixture, the position of the second housing portion is adjusted, thereby adjusting the meshing of the second pinion shaft with respect to the rack shaft.

Assignees

• Showa Corp

Inventors

• Sato Kaduto

Classifications

• Y10T29/49464

  Assembling of gear into force transmitting device · CPC title

• F16H2057/02034

  Gearboxes combined or connected with electric machines · CPC title

• F16H2057/02021

  with means for adjusting alignment · CPC title

• F16H2057/02082

  for application in vehicles other than propelling, e.g. adjustment of parts · CPC title

• F16H57/023 Primary

  Mounting or installation of gears or shafts in the gearboxes, e.g. methods or means for assembly · CPC title