Steering device

• US 7,549,503 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2005
• Issued: 06/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jtekt Corporation (Toyota Motor Corporation), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanayama, Yukihiko, Hasegawa, Isao, Hayashi, Kenji, Kato, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MAURICE L
• Application Number:
  US11/212,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20060048995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 180/443, 180/444, 277/634, 743/88.PS
• US Class Current: 180/443
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0256 Dashboard liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/0853 specially adapted for movable parts, e.g. gears levers, pedals
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/16 Steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/166 Means changing the transfer ratio between steering wheel and steering gear

Abstract

In a steering device 10, the upper side portion of a rubber boot 120 is fixedly fitted on a case outer cylindrical component 41 of a cable case 39, and the lower side portion of the rubber boot 120 is fixed to a dashboard 100 of a vehicle body 14 over the entire circumference thereof. Thus, the case outer cylindrical component 41 can be secured against rotation more firmly compared with a prior art steering device wherein such a case outer cylindrical component is fixed at two portions thereon by means of a wire of a V-letter shape. Further, the problem attendant on the wire of the V-letter shape in the prior art steering device no longer arises even in the car models wherein the case outer cylindrical component 41 and the dashboard 100 are relatively far from each other. That is, it can be realized to secure the case outer cylindrical component 41 of the cable case 39 against rotation relative to the vehicle body 14 even in any car model.

Claims

1. A steering device comprising:

an actuator provided at an intermediate portion of a steering shaft extending downward from a steering handle to pass through a dashboard of a vehicle body for altering the transmission ratio in rotation between upper and lower portions of the steering shaft in dependence on a traveling state;

a cable case of a double cylindrical structure arranged on an upper surface of the actuator;

a case inner cylindrical component constituting the inside of the cable case and fixed to the actuator;

a case outer cylinder component constituting the outside of the cable case and rotatable relative to the case inner cylindrical component;

a spiral cable provided for supplying the actuator with electric power and housed inside the cable case with itself being wound, the spiral cable being fixed to the case inner cylindrical component at one end thereof and to the case outer cylindrical component at the other end thereof; and

a cylindrical rubber boot covering the circumferential surface of the actuator;

wherein;

an upper side portion of the rubber boot is fitted on the case outer cylindrical component to be fixed thereto;

a mid-portion of the rubber boot is fixed to the dashboard; and

a lower end of the rubber boot seals against the lower portion of the steering shaft.

2. The steering device as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

boot insertion bracket is further provided having a cylindrical portion in which the rubber boot is fitted and fixed, and a flat plate portion overhanging laterally from the cylindrical portion to be fixed to the dashboard; and

metal sleeve is fixed to a portion which is inserted into the boot insertion bracket of the outer surface of the rubber boot.

3. The steering device as set forth in claim 1, wherein a bendable portion whose ridge line extends in the circumferential direction of the rubber boot is formed between a portion fixed to the case outer cylindrical component and another portion fixed to the dashboard, of the rubber boot.

4. The steering device as set forth in claim 2, wherein a bendable portion whose ridge line extends in the circumferential direction of the rubber boot is formed between a portion fixed to the case outer cylindrical component and another portion fixed to the dashboard, of the rubber boot.

5. The steering device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the steering shaft is composed of a first steering shaft extending downward from the steering handle, and an second steering shaft extending upward from a steering gear unit provided between a pair of steerable wheels;

the actuator is connected between the first and second steering shafts for transmitting rotation therebetween and being capable of altering the transmission ratio of the rotation in dependence on a traveling state;

an input side connection shaft is provided at an upper end portion of the actuator and connected to the first steering shaft through fitting engagement to be rotatable bodily therewith;

an output side connection shaft is protruding for a lower end surface of the actuator connected to the second steering shaft through fitting engagement to be rotatable bodily therewith;

the rubber boot covers the circumferential surface and the lower end surface of the actuator and allowing the output side connection shaft to pass through a portion thereof covering the lower end surface;

a bracket is adapted for fixing an axial intermediate portion of the rubber boot to the dashboard of the vehicle body;

with the rubber boot fixed to the dashboard through the bracket and with the first steering shaft carried rotationally by the vehicle body, the input side connection shaft and the first steering shaft are brought into face-to-face relation by moving the actuator downward s the rubber boot is deformed compressively and are connected to each other through fitting engagement then by moving the actuator upward, and

the steering device further comprises a cap made of a member which is higher in elasticity than another member composing a lower end corner portion of the actuator, for covering the lower and corner portion of the actuator.

6. The steering device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the cap covers the actuator from the lower end corner portion to an area adjacent to the center portion of the lower end surface and takes a taper shape which downwardly expands gradually as it extends from its circumferential edge portion toward its center portion;

and

the actuator is constructed to be moved downward upon receiving from the side of the steering handle an impact which is greater in magnitude than a predetermined value.

7. The steering device as set forth in claim 6, wherein a cap support portion of a taper shape which downwardly expands gradually as it extends its circumferential edge portion toward its center portion is provided on the lower end surface of the actuator for supporting the cap from inside.

8. The steering device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the cap is fitted at its one end on the outer side of the lower end of the actuator;

and an engaging protrusion and an engaging groove which complementarily engage with each other are provided at fitting portions of the cap and the actuator.

9. The steering device as set forth in claim 6, wherein the cap is fitted at its one end on the outer side of the lower end of the actuator;

and an engaging protrusion and an engaging groove which complementarily engage with each other are provided at fitting portions of the cap and the actuator.

10. The steering device as set forth in claim 7, wherein the cap is fitted at its one end on the outer side of the lower end of the actuator;

and

an engaging protrusion and a engaging groove which complementarily engage with each other are provide at fitting portions of the cap and the actuator.