Steering device

• US 7,628,244 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2007
• Issued: 12/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Eguchi, Takaaki, Chino, Naotaka, Kubokawa, Noriki
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris; Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FIORE, LEVON J
• Application Number:
  US11/713,002
• Publication Number:
  US 20070221434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 180/402, 180/425, 180/440, 180/444, 180/447, 744/731.4, 744/731.5, 745/005, 745/025, 745/026, 745/05, 745/06, 743/88.PS, 74/892.2, 474/101, 242/577, 242/578
• US Class Current: 180/402
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/163 Part of the steering column replaced by flexible means, e.g. cable or belt
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/106 Plurality of transmitting means, e.g. two or more parallel "Bowden cables"
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/18 in which the end portion of the flexible member is laid along a curved surface of a pivoted member
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 1/262 End fittings; Attachment thereof to the sheathing or tube
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/24 Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20402 Flexible transmitter [e.g., Bowden cable]

Abstract

A steering device includes a first housing, first and second cables, and first and second sheaths. The first housing includes a first part that supports a rotatable first cable pulley, and a second part that is disposed for relative displacement with respect to the first part. The first cable is at least partially wound on the first cable pulley in a first direction of rotation. The second cable is at least partially wound on the first cable pulley in a second direction of rotation. The first sheath surrounds the first cable and extends between first and second ends, and the first end of the first sheath is coupled to the second part of the first housing. The second sheath surrounds the second cable and extends between first and second ends, and the first end of the second sheath is coupled to the second part of the first housing.

Claims

1. A steering device, comprising:

a first housing including;

a first part supporting a first cable pulley for relative rotation with respect to the first housing;

a second part being disposed for relative displacement with respect to the first part of the first housing; and

a second housing supporting a second cable pulley for relative rotation with respect to the second housing;

a first cable at least partially wound on the first cable pulley in a first direction of rotation of the first cable pulley;

a second cable at least partially wound on the first cable pulley in a second direction of rotation of the first cable pulley;

wherein the first cable and the second cable are wound on the second cable pulley so that the first pulley and second pulley are rotationally coupled via the first and second cables;

a first sheath extending between first and second ends, the first cable being slidingly disposed in the first sheath, and the first end of the first sheath being coupled to the second part of the first housing;

a second sheath extending between first and second ends, the second cable being slidingly disposed in the second sheath, and the first end of the second sheath being coupled to the second part of the first housing; and

an adjuster being disposed between the first and second parts of the first housing, the adjuster, the adjuster including a turning operator disposed between the first and second parts of the first housing;

wherein one of the first and second cable pulleys is adapted to rotate in response to an actuation part being operated by a driver, and the other of the first and second cable pulleys is adapted to rotate a wheel turning part to turn a steering control wheel; and

wherein a first actuation of the adjuster simultaneously increases tension in the first and second cables, and a second actuation of the adjuster simultaneously decreases tension in the first and second cables.

2. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the adjuster further comprises:

a shaft including first and second portions, at least a first one of the first and second portions threadingly engaging a first one of the first and second parts of the first housing, and a second one of the first and second portions engaging a second one of the first and second parts of the first housing;

wherein rotation of the shaft causes relative displacement of the first and second parts of the first housing.

3. The steering device according to claim 2, wherein the adjuster comprises:

a locking member preventing rotation of the shaft with respect to the second part of the first housing;

wherein the turning operator rotates the shaft.

4. The steering device according to claim 3, wherein the turning operator comprises a wheel fixed to the shaft between the first and second portions, the first portion of the shaft comprises right-handed threads threadingly engaging the first one of the first and second parts of the first housing, the second portion of the shaft comprises left-handed threads threadingly engaging the second one of the first and second parts of the first housing, and the locking member comprises a nut threadingly engaging one of the first and second portions of the shaft and adapted to abuttingly engage one of the first and second parts of the first housing.

8. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second parts of the first housing define telescopically related tubular parts that are relatively displaceable along an axis parallel to take-up and pay-out directions of the first and second cables with respect to the first cable pulley.

9. The steering device according to claim 8, wherein the tubular parts comprise:

a pair of first guiding convex surfaces extending from the first part of the first housing and slidingly engaging the second part of the first housing; and

a pair of second guiding convex surfaces extending from the second part of the first housing and slidingly engaging the first part of the first housing, the pair of second guiding convex surfaces being axially displaced with respect to the pair of first guiding convex surfaces.

10. The steering device according to claim 1, further comprising:

the second housing including;

a first part supporting a second cable pulley for relative rotation with respect to the second housing; and

a second part disposed for relative displacement with respect to the first part of the second housing;

wherein the first cable is at least partially wound on the second cable pulley in a first direction of rotation of the second cable pulley, the second cable is at least partially wound on the second cable pulley in a second direction of rotation of the second cable pulley, and the second ends of the first and second sheaths are coupled to the second part of the second housing.

5. A steering device, comprising:

a first housing including;

a first part supporting a first cable pulley for relative rotation with respect to the first housing;

a second part being disposed for relative displacement with respect to the first part of the first housing; and

a second housing supporting a second cable pulley for relative rotation with respect to the second housing;

a first cable at least partially wound on the first cable pulley in a first direction of rotation of the first cable pulley;

a second cable at least partially wound on the first cable pulley in a second direction of rotation of the first cable pulley;

wherein the first cable and the second cable are wound on the second cable pulley so that the first pulley and second pulley are rotationally coupled via the first and second cables;

a first sheath extending between first and second ends, the first cable being slidingly disposed in the first sheath, and the first end of the first sheath being coupled to the second part of the first housing;

a second sheath extending between first and second ends, the second cable being slidingly disposed in the second sheath, and the first end of the second sheath being coupled to the second part of the first housing; and

at least one adjuster being disposed between the first and second parts of the first housing, the at least one adjuster including a turning operator disposed between the first and second parts of the first housing;

wherein a first actuation of the adjuster simultaneously increases tension in the first and second cables, and a second actuation of the adjuster simultaneously decreases tension in the first and second cables.

6. The steering device according to claim 5, wherein each of the at least one adjuster further comprises:

a shaft including first and second portions, at least a first one of the first and second portions threadingly engaging a first one of the first and second parts of the first housing, and a second one of the first and second portions threadingly engaging a second one of the first and second parts of the first housing;

wherein rotation of the shaft causes relative displacement of the first and second parts of the first housing.

7. The steering device according to claim 6, further comprising:

a locking member preventing rotation of the turning operator with respect to the second part of the first housing;

wherein the turning operator rotates the shaft of the at least one adjuster.