Rack and pinion type steering apparatus and method for producing the same
AssigneeUnisia Jkc Steering Systems Co., Ltd.
InventorTakayuki Shirai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a rack and pinion type steering apparatus whose housing includes a pinion accommodating portion, a rack accommodating portion, a radial opening defining a rack guide hole, and a projecting portion which is formed on the side of the rack accommodating portion opposite the rack guide hole. The radial opening is covered by a plug that is fixed by swaging. The projecting portion has a contact surface being received on a jig when the plug is fixed to the housing by swaging. Therefore, the reaction of the swaging from the jig does not directly affect the pinion accommodating portion.
Claims20
A method of producing a rack and pinion type steering apparatus, comprising:
- providing a pinion;
- providing a rack bar;
- providing a housing comprising:
- a rack accommodating portion for accommodating the rack bar, the rack accommodating portion having a first side and a second side, the first side being substantially opposite to the second side of the rack accommodating portion,
- a radial opening on the first side of the rack accommodating portion, the radial opening defining a rack guide hole,
- a pinion accommodating portion on the second side of the rack accommodating portion, the pinion accommodating portion accommodating the pinion, and
- a projecting portion positioned on the second side of the rack accommodating portion;
- positioning the pinion in the pinion accommodating portion;
- positioning the rack bar in the rack accommodating portion;
- positioning a rack guide in the rack guide hole, wherein the rack guide supports the rack bar;
- positioning an elastic member in the rack guide hole;
- positioning a plug on the rack guide hole, the elastic member being positioned between the rack guide and the plug to press the rack guide toward the rack bar;
- and
- swaging the plug to the housing,
- wherein the step of swaging includes positioning the housing on an assembly support structure in a manner that the projecting portion contacts the assembly support structure.
A rack and pinion type steering apparatus comprising:
- a pinion;
- a rack bar operatively connected to the pinion;
- a housing comprising
- a rack accommodating portion accommodating the rack bar, the rack accommodating portion having a first side and a second side, the first side being substantially opposite to the second side of the rack accommodating portion,
- a radial opening on the first side of the rack accommodating portion, the radial opening defining a rack guide hole,
- a pinion accommodating portion on the second side of the rack accommodating portion, the pinion accommodating portion accommodating the pinion, and
- a projecting portion positioned on the second side of the rack accommodating portion;
- a rack guide positioned in the rack guide hole, wherein the rack guide supporting the rack bar;
- a plug covering the rack guide hole;
- and
- an elastic member positioned between the rack guide and the plug, wherein the elastic member pressing the rack guide toward the rack bar,
- wherein the projecting portion is configured to operatively contact an assembly support structure when the plug is being fixedly attached to the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.