Fitting structure of cylindrical member

• US 9,200,676 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2014
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daikyo Nishikawa Corporation
• Original Assignee: Daikyo Nishikawa Corporation
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): MACARTHUR, VICTOR L
• Application Number:
  US14/488,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20150003901A1
• Time in Patent Office: 440 Days
• Field of Search: 403/288, 277/609, 277/616, 285/307, 285/319, 285/921
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: F16B 2200/60 Coupler sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 1/033 by clamping together two faces perpendicular to the axis of rotation, e.g. with bolted flanges

Abstract

A recess is formed in an outer circumferential surface of a first fitting cylinder. A flange and a second fitting cylinder are provided at one end of a second cylindrical member which is part of a dust cover. A sealing member is attached to the flange. A protruding portion is provided on an inner circumferential surface of the second fitting cylinder. The sealing member is strongly pressed by the first fitting cylinder and the flange in the state where the first fitting cylinder is fitted into the second fitting cylinder, and where the recess and the protruding portion are fitted to each other. Due to this structure, up-and-down movement of the both fitting cylinders is limited, and the sealing member is strongly pressed, thereby maintaining sealing.

Claims

1. A fitting structure of cylindrical members, comprising:

a first cylindrical member having a first fitting cylinder at one end thereof;

a second cylindrical member having, at one end thereof, an annular flange which protrudes in a direction intersecting a cylinder'"'"'s center line, and a second fitting cylinder which projects from an entire protrusion end of the flange in a direction of the cylinder'"'"'s center line and into which the first fitting cylinder is fitted; and

a sealing member accommodated in the second fitting cylinder and placed on the flange, the sealing member being pressed by an end of the first fitting cylinder and the flange in a state where the first fitting cylinder is fitted in the second fitting cylinder, wherein

at least two engaging portions are formed on one of the first fitting cylinder or the second fitting cylinder, and an engaged portion with which the engaging portions engage is formed in the other,

each of the engaging portions engages with the engaged portion in the state where the first fitting cylinder is fitted in the second fitting cylinder, thereby limiting movement of the first fitting cylinder and the second fitting cylinder in the direction of the cylinder'"'"'s center line, and maintaining the state where the sealing member is pressed by the end of the first fitting cylinder and the flange,

the engaging portions are protruding portion which protrude from an inner circumferential surface of the second fitting cylinder,

the engaging portion is a recess which corresponds to the protruding portions and is formed in an outer circumferential surface of the first fitting cylinder,

the second fitting cylinder is provided with a through hole that is located between each of the protruding portions and the flange and penetrates the second fitting cylinder in the direction intersecting the cylinder'"'"'s center line,

a periphery of the through hole is continuous with a surface of a corresponding one of the protruding portions facing the flange and a sealing member placement surface of the flange without a step,

the sealing member includes a fixing portion extending outward from an outer periphery of the sealing member, and

when the sealing member is placed on the flange, the fixing portion is inserted in the through hole and is engaged with an outer periphery of the flange.

2. The fitting structure of claim 1, wherein

the second fitting cylinder is provided with a notch obtained by cutting out a portion of the second fitting cylinder entirely in a projection direction of the second fitting cylinder,

a claw is provided to protrude from at least one of opposing side surfaces of the notch,

the sealing member includes an extended portion extending outward from an outer periphery of the sealing member, and

the extended portion is pressed onto the sealing member placement surface of the flange by the claws.

3. The fitting structure of claim 2, wherein

the first cylindrical member is part of a steering gear box of a vehicle,

the second cylindrical member is part of a dust cover disposed in a dash panel which separates an engine compartment and a cabin from each other, and

a steering shaft is inserted in the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member.

4. The fitting structure of claim 1, wherein

the first cylindrical member is part of a steering gear box of a vehicle,

the second cylindrical member is part of a dust cover disposed in a dash panel which separates an engine compartment and a cabin from each other, and

a steering shaft is inserted in the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member.

5. A fitting structure of cylindrical members, comprising:

a first cylindrical member having a first fitting cylinder at one end thereof;

a second cylindrical member having, at one end thereof, an annular flange which protrudes in a direction intersecting a cylinder'"'"'s center line, and a second fitting cylinder which projects from an entire protrusion end of the flange in a direction of the cylinder'"'"'s center line and into which the first fitting cylinder is fitted; and

a sealing member accommodated in the second fitting cylinder and placed on the flange, the sealing member being pressed by an end of the first fitting cylinder and the flange in a state where the first fitting cylinder is fitted in the second fitting cylinder, wherein

at least two engaging portions are formed on one of the first fitting cylinder or the second fitting cylinder, and an engaged portion with which the engaging portions engage is formed in the other,

each of the engaging portions engages with the engaged portion in the state where the first fitting cylinder is fitted in the second fitting cylinder, thereby limiting movement of the first fitting cylinder and the second fitting cylinder in the direction of the cylinder'"'"'s center line, and maintaining the state where the sealing member is pressed by the end of the first fitting cylinder and the flange,

the second fitting cylinder is provided with a notch obtained by cutting out a portion of the second fitting cylinder entirely in a projection direction of the second fitting cylinder,

a claw is provided to protrude from at least one of opposing side surfaces of the notch,

the sealing member includes an extended portion extending outward from an outer periphery of the sealing member, and

the extended portion is pressed onto the sealing member placement surface of the flange by the claws.

6. The fitting structure of claim 5, wherein

the first cylindrical member is part of a steering gear box of a vehicle,

the second cylindrical member is part of a dust cover disposed in a dash panel which separates an engine compartment and a cabin from each other, and

a steering shaft is inserted in the first cylindrical member and the second cylindrical member.