VEHICLE STEERING APPARATUS

• US 20200130725A1
• Filed: 10/04/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: ISHIMURA, Shoji, HASHIMOTO, Masaaki, WATANABE, Kazuhiro, OOSONO, Naohiro
• Granted Patent: US 11,332,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/16 Steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 3/126 characterised by the rack
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/001 Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/005 means for generating torque on steering wheel or input member, e.g. feedback
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/006 power actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/0409 Electric motor acting on the steering column
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2035/006 Gearings or mechanisms for stopping or limiting movement, e.g. stopping a movement after few turns

Abstract

A vehicle steering apparatus includes a shaft member, a moving portion, a support member, and a stop portion. The moving portion includes a first abutting surface that faces the stop portion in a circumferential direction of the shaft member. The first abutting surface is inclined with respect to an axial direction of the shaft member to face a shaft support portion side when the moving portion is viewed in a radial direction of the shaft member. The stop portion includes a first abutted surface that abuts the first abutting surface.

Claims

1. A vehicle steering apparatus provided in a steering mechanism mechanically separated from a steering operation mechanism, the vehicle steering apparatus comprising:

a shaft member configured to rotate in accordance with an operation on a steering member;

a moving portion configured to move in a circumferential direction of the shaft member in accordance with rotation of the shaft member, the moving portion being configured to restrict rotation of the shaft member when movement of the moving portion is stopped;

a support member including a shaft support portion rotatably supporting the shaft member; and

a stop portion disposed on the support member, the stop portion being configured to abut the moving portion to stop movement of the moving portion;

the moving portion including a first abutting surface that faces the stop portion in the circumferential direction;

the first abutting surface being inclined with respect to an axial direction of the shaft member to face a shaft support portion side when the moving portion is viewed in a radial direction of the shaft member; and

the stop portion including a first abutted surface that abuts the first abutting surface.

2. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the moving portion is fixed to a rotary member; and

the rotary member is attached to the shaft member, the rotary member being configured to rotate about the shaft member in accordance with rotation of the shaft member.

3. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:

the rotary member includes a first rotary member and a second rotary member;

the first rotary member is attached to the shaft member so as to be engaged with the shaft member in the circumferential direction;

the second rotary member is relatively rotatably supported on the shaft member, the second rotary member is configured to rotate in accordance with rotation of the first rotary member when abutting the first rotary member in the circumferential direction;

the moving portion is fixed to the second rotary member;

the first rotary member includes a second abutting surface inclined with respect to the axial direction;

the second abutting surface is inclined in a same direction as the first abutting surface;

the second rotary member includes a second abutted surface; and

the second abutted surface is inclined with respect to the axial direction, abuts the second abutting surface, and is inclined in a same direction as the first abutted surface.

4. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising:

a biasing member attached to the shaft member, the biasing member being configured to bias the rotary member toward the shaft support portion in the axial direction.

5. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first abutted surface is inclined in a direction parallel to the first abutting surface so as to come into surface-abutment with the first abutting surface.

6. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first abutted surface and the first abutting surface is covered with an elastic member.

7. A vehicle steering apparatus provided in a steering mechanism mechanically separated from a steering operation mechanism, the vehicle steering apparatus comprising:

a shaft member configured to rotate in accordance with an operation on a steering member;

a moving portion configured to move in a circumferential direction of the shaft member in accordance with rotation of the shaft member, the moving portion being configured to restrict rotation of the shaft member when movement of the moving portion is stopped;

a support member including a shaft support portion rotatably supporting the shaft member; and

a stop portion disposed on the support member, the stop portion being configured to abut the moving portion to stop movement of the moving portion;

the moving portion including a first abutting surface that faces the stop portion in the circumferential direction;

the stop portion including a first abutted surface that abuts the first abutting surface; and

the first abutted surface being inclined with respect to an axial direction of the shaft member to face away from the shaft support portion when the stop portion is viewed in a radial direction of the shaft member.

8. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 7, wherein:

the moving portion is fixed to a rotary member; and

the rotary member is attached to the shaft member, the rotary member being configured to rotate about the shaft member in accordance with rotation of the shaft member.

9. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 8, wherein:

the rotary member includes a first rotary member and a second rotary member;

the first rotary member is attached to the shaft member so as to be engaged with the shaft member in the circumferential direction;

the second rotary member is relatively rotatably supported on the shaft member, the second rotary member is configured to rotate in accordance with rotation of the first rotary member when abutting the first rotary member in the circumferential direction;

the moving portion is fixed to the second rotary member;

the first rotary member includes a second abutting surface inclined with respect to the axial direction;

the second abutting surface is inclined in a same direction as the first abutting surface;

the second rotary member includes a second abutted surface; and

the second abutted surface is inclined with respect to the axial direction, abuts the second abutting surface, and is inclined in a same direction as the first abutted surface.

10. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising:

a biasing member attached to the shaft member, the biasing member being configured to bias the rotary member toward the shaft support portion in the axial direction.

11. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first abutted surface is inclined in a direction parallel to the first abutting surface so as to come into surface-abutment with the first abutting surface.

12. The vehicle steering apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the first abutted surface and the first abutting surface is covered with an elastic member.