JPH0246431B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a steering structure for a cab-over type vehicle, and more particularly to a mounting structure for a steering shaft and a steering gear box.

In conventional cab-over type cars,
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 134319, it is common to arrange a steering gear box on the side of a cross member or side frame.

In this way, in the conventional example, the steering gear box is placed on the side of the cross member, avoiding the cross member, so it protrudes to the side of the cross member and takes up space in the plane direction. There was a problem that the layout of parts became difficult. In addition, in the conventional example, the steering shaft is exposed to the outside between the floor panel and the steering gear box, so water, mud, and dust kicked up by the wheels are transferred to the steering wheel from the mating surface of the steering shaft and steering gear box. There was also the problem that there was a risk of the metal getting into the gearbox.

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional example, and includes providing a through hole in the bottom plate of a cross member that is welded to the lower surface of a floor panel to become a closed cross-section member and that constitutes a frame member of a vehicle body. An insertion hole is provided in the floor panel at a location corresponding to the upper plate portion of the cross member, a steering shaft is inserted through the insertion hole and the through hole, and a steering gear box is attached to the lower surface of the bottom plate portion to close the through hole. It is characterized by what it did.

The present invention will be specifically described below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

The illustrated embodiment relates to a steering system with a rack and pinion steering gear. 1 is a steering wheel, 2 is an upper steering shaft, 3 is a lower steering shaft, 4 is a steering column, and 5 is a steering gear box incorporating the above-mentioned steering gear. The operating rod 6, which constitutes the rack of the steering gear, is connected to the left and right front wheels via a center lever, tie rod, and knuckle arm (not shown).

The steering shaft 7 includes the upper steering shaft 2 and the lower steering shaft 3.
are connected by a universal joint 8. Further, the lower steering shaft 3 is divided into upper and lower parts below the floor panel 9, and these divided parts 3
a and 3b are connected by a flexible joint 10.

The floor panel 9 is provided with an insertion hole 11 through which the steering shaft 7 is inserted, and the upper divided portion 3a of the lower steering shaft 3 is inserted through the insertion hole 11. Also, this insertion hole 11 and the steering shaft 7
A cap-shaped seal 12 that seals the gap between
is attached to the periphery of the insertion hole 11.

A side frame 13 is attached to the bottom surface of the floor panel 9.
and a cross member 14 are disposed, and the cross-coupling portion 15 of both is located below the insertion hole 11. Both the side frame 13 and the cross member 14 have a hat-shaped cross section, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and are welded to the lower surface of the floor panel 9 to become a closed cross section member, and serve as a frame member of the vehicle body. It consists of In the cross joint portion 15, as shown in FIG. 3, the side frame 13 and the cross member 14 are jointed via a reinforcement 16 using spot welding. On the cross member 14 side of the cross joint portion 15, the overlapping area between the cross member 14 and the reinforcement 16 is made wide in order to increase strength and rigidity. The lower divided portion 3 of the lower steering shaft 3 is attached to this overlapping portion.
A through hole 17 is provided for passing through the hole 17, and a plurality of small holes are provided around the hole 17, and a nut 18 is welded onto each small hole.

The steering gear box 5 is attached to the lower surface of the cross member 14 directly below the through hole 17 using a bolt 19 screwed into the nut 18. In this way, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the steering gear box 5
The through hole 17 is closed by. The steering shaft 7 has a lower divided portion 3.
b, and the flexible joint 10 passes through the through hole 17 at the cross member 1.
It is accommodated within 4.

The present invention can be configured in various ways other than those shown in the above embodiments. For example, the steering shaft 7 is formed by connecting an upper steering shaft 2 and a lower steering shaft 3 with a universal joint 8, but it may be of other configurations such as one in which both are integrally connected in a straight line. It's okay. Further, although the embodiment described above relates to a steering system having a rack and pinion type steering gear, the present invention may be implemented in other types of steering systems. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the cross member 14 is provided with a through hole 17 at the portion where it is cross-coupled to the side frame 13, and the steering gear box 5 is attached to the lower surface of the through hole 17. It is also possible to have a similar configuration in some locations.

Since the present invention has the above configuration, the following effects can be achieved.

The mounting position of the steering shaft and steering gear box is not restricted by the cross member, making it easier to design the steering wheel, and the steering shaft and steering gear box can be placed by utilizing the internal space of the cross member and the space below it. This makes it easier to lay out other parts such as the engine.

The steering shaft penetration from the inside of the cabin to the outside of the cabin can be sealed in two stages: at the insertion hole in the floor panel and at the bottom plate through-hole of the cross member (which has a closed cross-section structure). Improves sex. Moreover, since the through hole on the bottom plate side of the cross member is sealed with the steering gear box, there is no need for a sealing member such as a dust boot, and a simple boot can be installed in the insertion hole on the floor panel side, resulting in a simpler structure. Although it is simple, it can ensure sealing performance. Note that the steering gear box side can also be sealed at the same time.

Since the steering gear box is mounted using a cross member, a special bracket for mounting the steering gear box is not required, and as a result, the structure can be simplified.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic longitudinal side view of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal side view of its main parts, and Fig. 3 shows a cross-joint portion between a cross member and a side frame with a part of the floor panel cut away. FIG. 5... Steering gear box, 7... Steering shaft, 9... Floor panel, 11...
...Insertion hole, 14...Cross member, 17...Through hole.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A through hole is provided in the bottom plate of a cross member that is welded to the lower surface of the floor panel to become a closed cross-section member and constitutes a frame member of the vehicle body, and an insertion hole is provided in the floor panel at a location corresponding to the upper plate of the cross member. A steering structure for a cab-over type vehicle, characterized in that a steering shaft is inserted into the insertion hole and the through hole, and a steering gear box is attached to the lower surface of the bottom plate portion to close the through hole.