Fitting structure and steering system including the same

• US 10,641,340 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marugo Rubber Industries Limited, Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Izumi, Yoshiaki, Ohsara, Toshiyuki, Takizawa, Tsuneharu, Miyawaki, Makoto, Imaoka, Sosuke, Fujita, Shohei
• Primary Examiner(s): Gooden, Jr., Barry
• Application Number:
  US15/695,550
• Publication Number:
  US 20180073565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0846 for duct, cable or rod passages, e.g. between engine and passenger compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/16 Steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/20 Connecting steering column to steering gear
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 3/02 mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/033 by clamping together two faces perpendicular to the axis of rotation, e.g. with bolted flanges

Abstract

A fitting structure includes an annular seal member; a first fitting member including a first tubular fitting portion having a tubular shape, a first holding portion that contacts the seal member from a first axial end side, and a first restricting portion provided at a position different from a position of the first holding portion; and a second fitting member including a second tubular fitting portion having a tubular shape that is fitted to the first tubular fitting portion from a second axial end side, a second holding portion that contacts the seal member from the second axial end side, and a second restricting portion that contacts the first restricting portion from the second axial end side in a state where the seal member is compressed by a prescribed amount between the first holding portion and the second holding portion.

Claims

1. A fitting structure comprising:

a seal member having an annular shape;

a first fitting member including a first tubular fitting portion having a tubular shape, a first holding portion in contact with the seal member from a first axial end side, and a first restricting portion disposed at a position different from a position of the first holding portion; and

a second fitting member including a second tubular fitting portion having a tubular shape fitted to a radially-outer periphery of the first tubular fitting portion from a second axial end side, a second holding portion in contact with the seal member from the second axial end side, and a second restricting portion in contact with the first restricting portion from the second axial end side in a state where the seal member is compressed by a prescribed amount between the first holding portion and the second holding portion,

wherein the first restricting portion is disposed closer to the second axial end side than the first holding portion of the first fitting member, and the second restricting portion is disposed closer to the second axial end side than the second holding portion of the second fitting member.

2. The fitting structure according to claim 1, wherein:

the second fitting member includes;

an arm portion extending toward the first axial end side, and

a claw portion radially extending from a distal end of the arm portion; and

the first fitting member includes an engagement portion configured to engage the claw portion.

3. The fitting structure according to claim 1, wherein:

the second tubular fitting portion is loosely fitted to the first tubular fitting portion such that the second fitting member is fitted to the first fitting member; and

an axial length of a fitting area between the first tubular fitting portion and the second tubular fitting portion is such that compression of the seal member is maintained between the first holding portion and the second holding portion while the second tubular fitting portion is at a maximum angle with respect to the first tubular fitting portion.

4. The fitting structure according to claim 1, wherein:

the first fitting member is formed of a metal material; and

the second fitting member is formed of a resin material.

5. A steering system comprising:

the fitting structure according to claim 1, wherein

the first fitting member is a housing accommodating a pinion shaft of a rack-and-pinion mechanism such that a portion of the pinion shaft protrudes from the housing, and

the second fitting member is a hole cover covering the pinion shaft at a position between the housing and a dash panel of a vehicle.