JPH10109657A - Automotive power steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] In a conventional device, the initial slack of the inner cable can be removed by adjusting the mounting length of the outer tube. When a large tension acts on one of the inner cables due to stationary cutting or the like, the other inner cable is loosened due to elastic expansion, and a large play occurs in the handle. [Structure] An outer tube 5 at an intermediate portion between two control cables 4 is removed, and an end of the outer tube 5 is fixed to a casing 30 so that the exposed portions of the two inner cables 6 are formed in the casing 30. The resilient members 33 are arranged substantially parallel to each other, and are provided on both sides of the casing 30 for resiliently pressing exposed portions of the two inner cables 6 in opposing directions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power steering apparatus for an automobile using two control cables and a power cylinder which act on a pulling force, and more particularly, to a power steering apparatus for an automobile which can maintain a play of a steering wheel at an appropriate value. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The applicant of the present application discloses a power cylinder having a piston rod connected to a front wheel via a steering link mechanism at both ends, and is supplied to the power cylinder and simultaneously discharged from the power cylinder. A rotary control valve for controlling the direction of pressurized oil, a valve-side drum connected to the rotor of the control valve, a handle-side drum connected to the handle, and a freely sliding inside the flexible outer tube. Patent application for a power steering apparatus for an automobile, wherein the inner cable inserted includes two control cables wound around both drums so that tensile force acts alternately when the handle side drum is rotated in an alternate direction. And
The application was published as JP-A-8-2431.

[0003]

The invention according to this patent application has the advantage that the steering force is transmitted using the control cable, so that the wiring can be freely bent in a narrow engine room. Although the initial slack in the inner cable can be removed by adjusting the length of the outer tube attached, large tension acts on one of the inner cables due to loosening of the inner cable due to abrasion of the liner on the outer tube, or due to the steering wheel being cut off. In this case, there is a problem that the other inner cable is loosened due to the elastic elongation and a large play is generated in the handle.

[0004]

Means for Solving the Problems, Actions and Effects As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 removes an outer tube at an intermediate portion between two control cables and removes an end portion of the outer tube. Are fixed to the casing so that the exposed portions of the two inner cables are arranged substantially in parallel in the casing, and elastic members are provided on both sides of the casing to repress the exposed portions of the two inner cables in opposite directions. Therefore, even if the inner cable is loosened, the elastic cable is pushed by the elastic member to give an appropriate tension, and the play of the handle is maintained at an appropriate value. The tension can be maintained at an appropriate value even when the inner cable becomes loose due to the adjustment being possible.
According to the invention, the guide rollers supported by the casing are provided on both sides of the resilient member between the exposed portions of the two inner cables in the inventions of the first and second inventions, so that the casing and the outer tube are provided even if the deflection of the inner cable increases. The inner cable slides smoothly without contacting the terminal of the present invention. In the invention of claims 4 and 5, the inner cable smoothly slides because the resilient member is a guide and a roller in the invention of claims 1, 2 and 3. There is a moving effect.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a handle, which is rotatably supported by a case 2 attached to a vehicle body.

A case 2 having the same structure as the case 2 is disposed at a steering position in front of the vehicle body, and a terminal is fixed to the cases 2 and 2 between the two cases 2 and 2 by a cylindrical fixing member 3. Two flexible control cables 4 are routed.

The control cable 4 is a cable in which the inner cable 6 is slidably inserted into the outer tube 5. As shown in FIG. 4, the cylindrical fixture 3 is crimped to the end of the outer tube 5. A male screw 11 formed on the outer periphery thereof is screwed into a female screw 12 formed in the case 2, and the length of the outer tube 5 is adjusted by the rotation of the cylindrical fixture 3, and is fixed by the nut 13. The inner cable 6 is wound around a drum 7 rotatably supported in the case 2. The winding directions of the two inner cables 6 are opposite to each other, and their ends are fixed to the drum 7.

A rotating shaft 8 of the drum 7 projects from one surface of the case 2, and is connected to the rotating shaft of the handle 1 on the handle 1 side and a rotary valve 9 described later on the steering position side.
, Respectively.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a piston 1 in a cylinder tube 15
6 is a power cylinder in which the piston 6 is slidably fitted, a rack 18 is formed by extending one side of a piston rod 17 fixed to the piston 16, and tie rods 20 are connected to both ends via ball joints 19. The tie rod 20 is connected to a front wheel a via a knuckle arm (not shown).

In the present invention, the tie rod 20, the knuckle arm and the like are collectively referred to as a steering link mechanism.

A pinion 21 is fixed to the rotor 10 of the rotary valve 9 and meshes with the rack 18.

A supply port 22 of the rotary valve 9 is connected to a hydraulic pump (not shown), and a discharge port 23 is connected to a tank (not shown).
5 is connected to two ports 26, 27 of the cylinder tube 15 by pipes 28, 29,
When 0 rotates in one direction, pressure oil is supplied to one side of the piston 16 and is discharged from the other side, and when rotated in the other direction, pressure oil is supplied to the other side of the piston 16 and discharged from one side. , The piston 16 operates together with the piston rod 17.

Although the above is described in the above-mentioned publication, in the present embodiment, FIG.
As shown in 2, 3, two control cables 4,
The outer tube 5 is removed by a predetermined length at the middle part of the casing 4 and its end is fixed to the casing 30 so that the exposed portions of the two inner cables 6, 6 are
In parallel.

Adjusting screws 31, 31 are inserted into the center of both sides of the casing 30, and guide members 33, 3, which are resilient members having a concave portion 32 at the tip and a curved surface 34 at the tip.
The compression coil springs 36, 36 are mounted between the recesses 35, and the guides 33, 33 resiliently press the exposed portions of the two inner cables 6, 6 in opposing directions. , Guide rollers 3 on both sides of the guides 33, 33 that contact the two inner cables 6, 6.
7 and 37 are rotatably supported on the casing 30 by shafts 38 and 38.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

In the conventional apparatus, when the handle 1 is operated to rotate in one direction, a large tension acts on one inner cable 6 and the other inner cable 6 tends to be loosened. Cable 6,
Since the inner cable 6 is resiliently pressed in the opposite direction by the guides 33, 33, the inner cable 6 on the loosened side is pushed as shown by a chain line in FIG. , 31 are adjusted.

Therefore, even if the inner cable 6 is loosened due to wear of the liner of the outer tube 5 or elongation of the inner cable 6, appropriate tension is always applied, and the play of the handle 1 is maintained at an appropriate value.

In the above embodiment, there is an advantage that the frictional resistance with the inner cable 6 is reduced by using the guide 33 as a roller.

The guide roller 37 is for preventing the inner cable 6 from coming into contact with the end of the outer tube 5 and the casing 30 when the inner cable 6 is bent.
Can be prevented from coming off the guide 33.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drum.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part thereof.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway front view showing a control cable attachment length adjusting mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1: Handle 4: Control cable 5: Outer tube 6: Inner cable 7: Drum 9: Control valve 10: Rotor 14: Power cylinder 17: Piston rod 20: Tie rod 30: Casing 31: Adjusting screw 33: Guide (elastic member) ) 36: Compression coil spring 37: Guide roller a: Front wheel

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A power cylinder having a piston rod connected at both ends to a front wheel via a steering link mechanism, and a direction control of pressure oil supplied to the power cylinder and simultaneously discharged from the power cylinder. A rotary control valve, a valve drum connected to a rotor of the control valve, a handle drum connected to a handle, and an inner cable slidably inserted into a flexible outer tube. An automotive power steering device, comprising: two control cables wound around the two drums so that a pulling force is applied alternately in the rotation of the handle-side drum in an alternating direction. Remove the outer tube of the part and end the outer tube with the casing And the exposed portions of the two inner cables are arranged substantially in parallel within the casing, and elastic members are provided on both sides of the casing to repress the exposed portions of the two inner cables in opposing directions. Car power steering device. 2. The power steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an elastic force of the elastic member is adjustable. 3. The power steering apparatus for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein guide rollers supported by the casing are provided on both sides of the resilient member between the exposed portions of the two inner cables. 4. A power steering apparatus for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein said resilient member is a guide pressed by a spring. 5. The power steering apparatus for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a roller pressed by a spring.