JPH0511103Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a support structure for a steering shaft of an automobile steering device, and is intended to improve workability especially when performing universal joint joining work and maintenance work. Regarding the structure of the tube support which has been improved.

[Conventional technology]

A steering device for an automobile is a device that transmits the rotation of a steering wheel to a steering gear box via a steering shaft and to the wheels via a rack and pinion mechanism within the gear box. Since the shaft center of the steering shaft is bent in the middle, a universal joint is provided at this bent portion to support the steering shaft so that it does not swing and is rotatable. Conventionally, as a support structure for such a steering shaft, the third
There is one shown in the figure. This is a structure in which a steering shaft 21 extending toward the vehicle interior through an opening 20a of a floor panel 20 is rotatably supported by a post assembly 22. This post assembly 22 is attached to the above steering shaft 21.
Column tube 23 rotatably supports the upper part of
and a tube support 24 that supports the lower part of the column tube 23. The upper end of the column tube 23 is fixed to the dash panel via a bracket 26. Further, the lower end of the tube support 24 is fixed to the floor panel 20 via a flange portion 24a,
The upper end is crimped and fixed to the lower end of the column tube 23 by a clamp 25.

[Problems to be solved by the invention] By the way, in the conventional steering shaft support structure described above, for example, in the case of a cab-over type automobile, the input shaft 21 connected to the steering gear box 27 is located in the lower part of the tube support 24.
Since a universal joint 28 is provided that connects the tube support 24 and the lower shaft 21b, it is necessary to connect the universal joint 28 when assembling the steering device or when performing normal maintenance work. The flange portion 24a of the tube support 24 must be removed from the floor panel 20, the clamp 25 must be loosened, and the tube support 24 must be slid upward, and the entire post assembly 22 may have to be removed. There is a problem with bad sex.

The present invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a support structure for a steering shaft that can improve workability during assembly and maintenance of a universal joint while reliably supporting a column tube. It is an object.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention provides a support structure for a steering shaft connected to a steering gear box via a universal joint, in which a tube support surrounding the universal joint is provided at the lower end of a column tube that supports the upper part of the steering shaft. , the tube support is composed of a main body and a lid divided into two parts along the axial direction, the main body is located on the rear side of the vehicle, the lower end of the main body is fixed to the panel, and the upper end is fixed to the panel. is fixed to the lower end of the column tube, the lid is located on the front side of the vehicle, and is detachably attached to the open side of the main body.

[Effect]

According to the steering shaft support structure according to the present invention, the tube support is divided into two parts, the main body part and the lid part, and the main body part is fixed to the floor, and the lid part is made detachable. Assembling and servicing the universal joint can be done by simply removing it, compared to the conventional process of removing the tube support from the floor panel, loosening the clamp and sliding the entire tube support, or removing the entire post assembly. Work can be simplified and work efficiency can be greatly improved.

Further, even when the lid is removed, the column tube can be reliably supported by the main body.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams for explaining a steering shaft support structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment will be explained using an example in which the present invention is applied to a cab-over type automobile.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a floor panel disposed on a vehicle body frame 15 and partitioning an engine room A and a vehicle compartment B. This floor panel 1 has an opening 1a.
is formed, and an input shaft 2a of the steering gear box 3 is disposed vertically passing through the opening 1a. The lower end of this input shaft 2a is connected to a rack and pinion mechanism in the steering gear box 3, and the upper end is connected to the floor panel 1.
It is connected to the lower shaft 2b via a universal joint 5 located above the shaft. Also,
Although not shown, an upper shaft 2c is connected to the upper end of the lower shaft 2b via a universal joint, and a steering wheel 4 is connected to the upper end of the upper shaft 2c. Further, a cylindrical rubber dust cover 6 is disposed between the opening 1a of the floor panel 1 and the steering gear box 3, and the lower end of the dust cover 6 is fixed to the gear box 3 in a watertight manner. , the upper end is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the input shaft 2a, and the upper outer peripheral part of the dust cover 6 is fitted into the opening 1a.

A cylindrical column tube 7 is attached to the lower shaft 2b, and the upper part of the column tube 7 is fixed to a dash panel (not shown) by a bracket 8. Further, a bearing (not shown) is disposed within the column tube 7 to rotatably support the lower shaft 2b.

Further, a tube support 9 having a size that surrounds the universal joint 5 is provided at the lower end of the column tube 7, and the tube support 9 has a main body portion 10 divided into two parts along the axial direction.
and a lid part 11. This main body part 1
A clamp portion 10a is integrally formed on the upper end of the column tube 7, and the clamp portion 10a is wound around the lower end of the column tube 7, and is crimped to the column tube 7 by a bolt nut 12. Furthermore, a flange portion 10b is provided at the lower end of the main body portion 10.
is also integrally formed, and the flange portion 10
b is fixed to the floor panel 1 with bolts 13.

Locking pieces 11a are formed protrudingly from the four corners of the lid portion 11, and the locking pieces 11a are fitted and locked into locking holes 10c drilled in the main body portion 10. This allows the lid portion 11 to be freely attached and detached.

Next, the effects of this embodiment will be explained.

According to the steering shaft support structure of this embodiment, the tube support 9 is composed of a main body part 10 and a lid part 11, the upper end of the main body part 10 is fixed to the column tube 7 by the clamp 10a, and the lower end is fixed to the column tube 7 by the flange part. 10b to the floor panel 1, and the lid part 11 is removably locked to the main body part 10, so that the universal joint 5 can be assembled and maintained simply by removing the lid part 11. Work can be simplified and work efficiency can be greatly improved.

Even in this case, the column tube 7 can be reliably supported by the main body portion 10.

Further, a locking piece 11a is formed on the lid portion 11,
Since this is fitted into the locking hole 10c of the main body 10, the lid 11 can be easily removed and attached.

Furthermore, since the dust cover 6 is attached to the input shaft 2a, the lower end is fixed to the steering gear box 3, and the upper end is brought into sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the input shaft 2a, the sealing performance of the steering gear box 3 is greatly improved. You can improve.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, according to the steering shaft support structure according to the present invention, the tube support surrounding the universal joint is composed of a main body and a detachable lid, so that the column tube can be securely supported by the main body. Simply remove the lid while supporting the universal joint,
This has the effect of allowing maintenance work to be carried out and improving work efficiency accordingly.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are diagrams for explaining a support structure for a steering shaft according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view thereof, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a tube support portion thereof; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a conventional support structure. In the figure, 1 is a floor panel (panel), 1
a is an opening, 2 is a steering shaft, 3 is a steering gear box, 5 is a universal joint, 7 is a column tube, 9 is a tube support, 10 is a main body part, and 11 is a lid part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a steering shaft support structure that passes through an opening formed in a panel and is connected to a steering gear box via a universal joint, the universal joint is surrounded by a lower end of a column tube that supports the upper part of the steering shaft. A tube support is provided, and the tube support is composed of a main body and a lid divided into two along the axial direction, and the main body is located on the rear side of the vehicle, and the lower end of the main body is connected to the panel. A support structure for a steering shaft, characterized in that the upper end is fixed to the lower end of the column tube, the lid is located on the front side of the vehicle, and is detachably attached to the open side of the main body. .