FR2789134A1 - Assembly for locking ball bearing to shaft, e.g. for steering column, comprises locking sleeve with wedge shape and locking ring which are joined by plastic tongue - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly for locking a ball bearing (16) obliquely contacting a shaft (12) comprises a plastics sleeve forming a locking wedge (28) for the bearing. A plastics locking ring (30) cooperates with the locking wedge and is joined to it by a plastic tongue (36) made of the same material as the ring and wedge and fitted between two housings (38, 40) in their contacting faces.

Description

I The present invention relates to an assembly for setting a bearing

  angular contact on a shaft, a bearing module and an arrangement of the shaft in a

  support by means of the wedging assembly.

  It applies in particular to the arrangement of a motor vehicle steering column shaft in a column body forming a support. There is already known in the prior art an assembly for wedging an angular contact bearing on a shaft, of the type comprising a plastic sleeve forming a thrust block, intended to cooperate with the bearing, and a ring. timing substantially coaxial with the thrust block, intended to cooperate with the wedge

  thrust and to be immobilized axially on the shaft.

  In the case of a motor vehicle steering column, the column shaft is rotatably mounted in the column body forming a support by means of at least one angular contact bearing biased axially in one direction, by a elastic restoring force, and in a direction opposite to the previous one, by a setting assembly of the aforementioned type. The wedging ring, generally metallic, is interposed between the shim

  thrust and a stop member axially immobilized on the shaft.

  It is common to market oblique bearings for steering columns and the corresponding thrust blocks in the form of preassembled bearing modules each comprising an oblique bearing carrying a thrust block, generally made of plastic. As a result, the manufacturers of steering columns usually obtain from appropriate suppliers, on the one hand, bearing modules, and on the other hand, timing rings and stop members, these rings and

  stop members being produced separately from the bearing modules.

  Steering column manufacturers must therefore manage several parts supply flows, in particular a flow of bearing modules, a flow of

  timing rings and a flow of stop devices.

  The object of the invention is in particular to minimize the flow of parts to be managed by the manufacturers of steering columns, in particular by grouping as much as possible

  these parts in pre-assembled modules.

  To this end, the subject of the invention is an assembly for wedging an angular contact bearing on a shaft, of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the wedging ring is made of plastic and is connected to the thrust block by a plastic tongue made from the material with this ring and this wedge, the tongue extending between two recesses formed in two mutual bearing faces of the thrust wedge and the wedging ring, these two recesses forming a housing for the tongue when the faces

support cooperate with each other.

  According to other characteristics of this wedging assembly - the tongue is provided with two connection ends respectively with the thrust block and the wedging ring, these connection ends being angularly offset relative to each other around the axis of the thrust block and extending substantially parallel to the axis of the thrust block; - The contour of the thrust block is interrupted by a substantially axial slot, this slot preferably being arranged substantially diametrically opposite the connecting tongue; - The slot is delimited by two edges opposite the thrust block, these edges carrying complementary means of axial immobilization between them; the axial immobilization means comprise a transverse projection, carried by a first edge of the slot, cooperating with a transverse recess

  complementary, formed in the second edge of the slot.

  The invention also relates to a bearing module of the type comprising an angular contact bearing, characterized in that it further comprises a wedging assembly as defined above, the thrust block having a generally frustoconical shape and being extended in its direction of convergence by a tip for snapping the shim into an inner ring of the bearing, so that the shim

  thrust and the timing ring are carried by this bearing.

  The invention also relates to an arrangement of a shaft in a support, of the type in which the shaft is rotatably mounted in the support by means of rolling means comprising at least one angular contact bearing biased axially in a direction by an elastic restoring force, characterized in that the angular contact bearing is biased axially in a direction opposite to the previous one by a timing assembly as defined above, the timing ring being interposed between the thrust block

  and a stop member axially immobilized on the shaft.

  According to other characteristics of this arrangement: - the stop member is partially fitted into an annular groove formed in the shaft, the shaft and the support respectively form a shaft and a column body

  motor vehicle steering.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows

  given only by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which: - Figure 1 is an axial sectional view of one end of a motor vehicle steering column shaft arranged according to the invention in a body of this column; - Figure 2 is a sectional view along line 2-2 of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of Figure 2; - Figure 4 is a view along arrow 4 of Figure 2 of the assembly according to the invention for the timing of the bearing of the steering column shown in the previous figures, the timing assembly being shown in a front configuration mounting on the column shaft; - Figure 5 is a sectional view along line 5-5 of Figure 2; - Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4 along arrow 6 of Figure 2. There is shown in Figures 1 and 2 part of a steering column 10

of motor vehicle.

  This column 10 comprises a shaft 12 arranged according to the invention in a body

  tubular 14 of column forming support.

  The shaft 12 is rotatably mounted, about its axis X, in the body 14 by means of two bearings, only one of which 16 is shown in FIG. 1. These bearings are of the conventional type, with oblique contact, and are mounted so known per se

  in the through ends of the body 14.

  We recognize in particular in Figure 1 the outer metal rings 18 and inner 20 and the plastic cage 22 of the bearing 16. The cage 22 carries

balls 24.

  The bearing 16 is biased axially in one direction, towards the outside of the body 14, by an elastic restoring force represented by the arrow R on the line 1, and in a direction opposite to the previous one, towards the inside of the body 14, by a timing assembly 26 according to the invention. The wedging assembly 26 makes it possible to axially tighten the bearing 16 on the shaft 12 by opposing the return force R which is transmitted to this bearing 16 by the

body 14.

  The means generating this return force R are conventional and described for example in FR-A-2 760 496 (FR-97 02 617). The wedging assembly 26 comprises a plastic sleeve forming a thrust block 28, cooperating with the bearing 16, and a plastic wedging ring 30 interposed between the thrust block 28 and a stop member immobilized axially on the shaft 12. In the example described, the stop member is constituted by a split annular ring 22 (elastic) partially fitted in a complementary annular groove 34 formed in the shaft 12. The axes of the thrust block 28 and the timing ring 30

substantially coincide.

  Note that the stop ring 32 cooperates with an annular clearance 35

  formed in the face of the timing ring 30 opposite the thrust block 28.

  Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4 in which the wedging assembly 26 has been shown after mounting on the shaft 12 (FIG. 3) and before mounting on this shaft 12 (FIG. 4), it can be seen that the wedge of thrust 28 is connected to the timing ring by a plastic tab 36 made integrally with this wedge and this ring. The tongue 36 extends between two recesses 38, 40 formed in two faces

  mutual support 28A, 30A of the thrust block 28 and of the timing ring 30.

  Before mounting the wedging assembly 26 in the steering column 10, the bearing faces 28A, 30A of the thrust block 28 and the wedging ring 30 are spaced from one another, as is shown in Figure 4. This spacing can vary, however, being limited by the length of the tongue 36. When the wedging assembly 26 is mounted in the steering column 10, as shown in Figure 3, the faces d 'support 28A, 30A of the thrust block 28 and of the timing ring 30 are in contact with each other. Note that, in this case, the two recesses 38, 40 form a

tongue slot 36.

  The tongue 36 is provided with two ends El, E2 for connection respectively with the thrust block 28 and the wedging ring 30. These ends El, E2 are angularly offset relative to each other around the axis of the thrust block 28 and extend substantially parallel to this axis. Due to this arrangement of the ends E1, E2 of the tongue 36, the latter has, when it is projected onto the axial plane of FIG. 4, a general shape in S. Furthermore, the tongue 36 curves around the axis of the thrust block 28 so as to marry, for example, the envelope

  cylindrical circular generating the internal surface of the thrust block 28.

  The thrust block 28, of generally frustoconical shape, converges opposite the wedging ring 30 and is extended, in this direction of convergence, by an end piece 42 for snap-fastening this wedge 28 on the internal peripheral contour of the Ring

inner 20 of bearing 16.

  The endpiece 42 makes it possible to snap the wedging assembly 26 into the bearing 16, before mounting the latter in the steering column, in order to form a preassembled module M as shown in FIG. 4. This module M comprises the bearing 16, the outer contour of which is shown in broken lines in FIG. 4, the thrust block 28 snapped into the inner ring 20 of the bearing 16 and the setting ring

  connected to the thrust block 28 by the tongue 36.

  With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, it can be seen that the thrust block 28 is split axially while the wedging ring 30 is not. More particularly, the contour of the thrust block 28 is interrupted by a slot 44, substantially axial, delimited by two opposite edges 44A, 44B of the wedge 28. These edges 44A, 44B, substantially axial, carry complementary means intended for immobilize them axially between them. In the example illustrated, these immobilization means comprise a transverse projection 46 carried by a first edge 44A of the slot cooperating with a recess

  complementary transverse 48 formed in the second edge 44B of the slot.

  Preferably, the slot 44 is arranged substantially opposite

  diametrically of the connecting tongue 36.

  The slot 44 allows the mounting of the thrust block 28 on the shaft 12 and the adjustment of the clearances between this wedge 28 and the elements with which it is in contact. The projection 46 and the complementary recess 48 prevent, during the mounting of the thrust block 28 on the shaft 12, the twisting of this block by axial offset of the edges 44A, 44B of the slot. It will be noted that the dimensions of the projection 44 and of the complementary recess 48 are adapted to allow the edges 44A, 44B delimiting the slot

  to get closer until being in contact with each other.

  Among the advantages of the invention, the following will be noted.

  The invention makes it possible to combine in a single module M preassembled and easy to

  market the oblique bearing 16, the thrust block 28 and the timing ring 30.

  The push wedge 28, the timing ring 30 and the connecting tongue 36 can be manufactured in a single plastic molding operation, which reduces cost compared to a conventional plastic push wedge and metal timing ring . Furthermore, it will be noted that the connecting tongue 36 does not hinder the circumferential deformations of the thrust block 28 during assembly of the latter.

in the steering column.

  The invention allows a manufacturer of steering columns to simplify the supply and assembly operations of the parts constituting this column. In fact, a single supplier can supply the manufacturer with the oblique bearing, the thrust block and the timing ring in the form of a pre-assembled module. In addition, after having mounted the bearing module M on the steering column shaft 12, the manufacturer of this column has only to mount the stop ring 34 on the shaft so as to

  immobilize the bearing and the timing assembly on this shaft.

Claims (9)

  1. Assembly for setting a bearing (16) with oblique contact on a shaft (12), of the type comprising a plastic sleeve forming a thrust block (28), intended to cooperate with the bearing (16), and a wedge ring (30) substantially coaxial with the thrust block (28), intended to cooperate with the thrust block (28) and to be immobilized axially on the shaft (12), characterized in that the wedge ring (30) is made of plastic and is connected to the thrust block (28) by a plastic tongue (36) formed integrally with this ring (30) and this wedge (28), the tongue (36) extending between two recesses (38, 40) formed in two mutual bearing faces (28A, 30A) of the thrust block (28) and of the setting ring (30), these two recesses (36, 38) forming a housing for the tongue (36) when the bearing faces (28A, 30A) cooperate with each other.   2. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the tongue (36) is provided with two ends (El, E2) connecting respectively with the thrust block (28) and the timing ring (30), these ends of link (El, E2) being angularly offset relative to each other around the axis of the thrust block (28) and   extending substantially parallel to the axis of the thrust block (28).   3. An assembly according to claim lou 2, characterized in that the contour of the thrust block (28) is interrupted by a slot (44) substantially axial, this slot (44) being preferably disposed substantially opposite diametrically from the tongue connection (36).   4. An assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the slot (44) is delimited by two opposite edges (44A, 44B) of the thrust block (28), these edges (44A,   44B) carrying complementary means (44, 48) of axial immobilization therebetween.   5. Assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the axial immobilization means comprise a transverse projection (46), carried by a first edge (44A) of the slot, cooperating with a complementary transverse recess (48),   formed in the second edge (44B) of the slot.   6. Bearing module of the type comprising a bearing (16) with oblique contact, characterized in that it further comprises a wedging assembly (26) according to one   any one of claims I to 5, the thrust block (28) having a general shape   frustoconical and being extended in its direction of convergence by an end piece (42) for latching the shim (28) in an inner ring (20) of the bearing (16), so   that the thrust block (28) and the timing ring (30) are carried by this bearing (16).   7. Arrangement of a shaft (12) in a support (14), of the type in which the shaft (12) is rotatably mounted in the support (14) by means of rolling means comprising at least one bearing ( 16) with oblique contact biased axially in one direction by an elastic restoring force, characterized in that the angular contact bearing (16) is biased axially in a direction opposite to the previous one by a set of   timing according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the timing ring (30) being   interposed between the thrust block (28) and a stop member (32) axially immobilized on the tree.   8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the stop member   (32) is partially fitted into an annular groove (34) formed in the shaft (12).   9. Arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the shaft (12) and the support (14) respectively form a shaft and a steering column body of motor vehicle.