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US-12617450-B2 - Assembly for a steering system of a vehicle

US12617450B2US 12617450 B2US12617450 B2US 12617450B2US-12617450-B2

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an assembly for a steering system of a vehicle, the assembly comprising an axle part having a coupling recess, and a steering cylinder having a coupling projection. The coupling projection is received in the coupling recess and an interference fit is formed between the coupling projection and the coupling recess.

Inventors

  • Gianluca TERRASI
  • Claudio MAFFEI
  • Davide DEIMICHEI
  • Parag MAHAJAN

Assignees

  • DANA ITALIA S.R.L.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20250429
Priority Date
20240430

Claims (16)

  1. 1 . An assembly for a steering system of a vehicle, the assembly comprising: an axle part having a coupling recess; and a steering cylinder having a coupling projection; wherein the coupling projection is received in the coupling recess and an interference fit is formed therebetween; further comprising at least one screw connection that forces the coupling projection and coupling recess against each other; wherein the at least one screw connection comprises a screw, a threaded hole for receiving a threaded shaft of the screw and a bearing surface for a screw head of the screw; and wherein at least a part of the threaded hole is comprised by the coupling recess of the axle part, and wherein the bearing surface is comprised by the coupling projection of the steering cylinder.
  2. 2 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the steering cylinder is configured to generate steering forces along a first axis, wherein the interference fit is configured to obstruct a relative movement between the coupling recess and coupling projection along said first axis.
  3. 3 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the steering cylinder is configured to generate steering forces along a first axis, wherein the interference fit is configured to obstruct a relative rotation about a second axis.
  4. 4 . The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the second axis extends in a plane extending orthogonally to the first axis.
  5. 5 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the steering cylinder comprises a main cylinder part, wherein the coupling projection is welded or otherwise connected to the main cylinder part.
  6. 6 . The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the coupling projection is configured to project from and/or relative to an outer circumferential surface of the main cylinder part.
  7. 7 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the steering cylinder is configured to generate steering forces along a first axis and the screw extends at an angle to said first axis.
  8. 8 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the axle part is a housing part.
  9. 9 . The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the housing part is configured to receive at least part of a differential or of another axle component.
  10. 10 . The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coupling recess is formed as a locally recessed area on an outwardly facing surface of the axle part.
  11. 11 . The assembly of claim 10 , wherein the locally recessed area has at least one opened side face.
  12. 12 . A steering cylinder comprising a coupling projection for configuring the assembly of claim 1 .
  13. 13 . An axle part comprising a coupling recess for configuring the assembly of claim 1 .
  14. 14 . An assembly for a steering system of a vehicle, the assembly comprising: an axle part having a coupling recess, wherein the coupling recess is a locally recessed area on an outwardly facing surface of the axle part; and a steering cylinder having a coupling projection, wherein the coupling projection comprises a first projecting section and a second projecting section each projecting radially from the steering cylinder, and a cross section extending perpendicularly to the first projecting section and the second projection section, the cross section connecting the first projecting section and the second projecting section; wherein the coupling recess of the axle part is complementary shaped to the coupling projection; and wherein the coupling projection is received in the coupling recess and an interference fit is formed therebetween.
  15. 15 . The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the first projecting section, the second projecting section, and the cross section form a double T-shape.
  16. 16 . An assembly for a steering system of a vehicle, the assembly comprising: an axle part comprising an inner surface delimiting an inner space for receiving at least part of a differential, and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, wherein the outer surface comprises a coupling recess, wherein the coupling recess is a locally recessed area on the outer surface of the axle part; and a steering cylinder having a coupling projection, wherein the coupling projection of the steering cylinder is complementary shaped to the coupling recess of the axle part; wherein the coupling projection is received in the coupling recess and an interference fit is formed therebetween; wherein the coupling recess adjoins a concavely curved surface section of the outer surface which contacts a correspondingly curved section of the steering cylinder; wherein the coupling projection of the steering cylinder, received in the coupling recess, is flush with or below the outer surface of the axle part; and wherein the steering cylinder is not enclosed by the axle part or inserted into any openings thereof.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to German Utility Model Application No. 20 2024 102 217.3, entitled “ASSEMBLY FOR A STEERING SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE”, filed Apr. 30, 2024. The entire contents of the above-identified application is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to an assembly for a hydraulic steering system of a vehicle, for example a hydraulic steering system. The vehicle may be a road vehicle, such as a car or a bus. For example, the steering system may be configured to steer wheels of the vehicle that are attached to a common axle of the vehicle, such as to a front or rear axle. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY Steering systems that comprise a steering cylinder to steer wheels of a vehicle are known. The steering cylinders are typically fluidically driven, e.g. pneumatically or hydraulically, and convert a hydraulic pressure or pneumatic force into linear motion. This linear motion is e.g. transmitted to a steering linkage or rack-and-pinion mechanism that is connected to one or more wheels of the vehicle. Steering cylinders may comprise a main part, such as a cylindrical barrel or cartridge, and at least one displaceable part, such as a rod that is coupled to e.g. a steering linkage, a steering knuckle or a rack-and-pinion mechanism. The cylinder barrel and piston may jointly confine a fluid chamber whose volume is adjustable depending on generated fluid pressure. The above-discussed aspects of known steering cylinders may also apply to a steering cylinder as disclosed herein. To securely transmit the generated linear motion or, put differently, the steering forces causing said linear motion, steering cylinders are typically fixed to adjacent parts of the vehicle. It has been determined by the inventors that existing solutions for achieving said fixation are disadvantageous. For example, they may require comprehensive design adjustments of the steering cylinder and/or the surrounding part. The resulting designs may be limited to only a certain pairing between a steering cylinder and a surrounding part. For example, the surrounding part often has to be specifically adjusted for each variant of steering cylinder in order to be secured thereto. Moreover, existing solutions may require a large number of additional parts, such as screws, and/or an increased time for assembling the overall steering assembly. It is therefore an object of this disclosure to alleviate at least some of the existing disadvantages. Accordingly, the present disclosure suggests an assembly for a steering system of a vehicle, the assembly comprising: an axle part having a coupling recess, anda steering cylinder having a coupling projection;wherein the coupling projection is received in the coupling recess and an interference fit is formed therebetween, i.e. between the coupling projection and the coupling recess. The steering cylinder may be fluidically driven, for example it may be driven hydraulically or pneumatically. It may be an elongated member, wherein a longitudinal axis may coincide with or extend in parallel to a first axis disclosed herein along which steering forces can be generated. At least sections of the steering cylinder may have a rounded cross-section, for example a circular cross-section. The steering cylinder, for example a main part or a main housing thereof, may have oppositely facing ends, e.g. when viewed along its longitudinal axis. At each end, at least part of a movable piston or rod of the steering cylinder may be positioned. In a generally known member, further parts, such as mechanical links, may be connectable to said piston or rod to transfer the steering forces to steerable wheels of the vehicle. In one example, the steering cylinder may be configured to move the piston or rod at each of its ends linearly along the longitudinal axis and/or below-discussed first axis. Generally, the steering cylinder may be configured to steer two wheels of the vehicles. It may be positioned in between said two wheels, for example at a substantially equal distance to each of said two wheels. The coupling projection may e.g. project from and/or project relative to at least one of a housing, a main part or a circumferential outer face of the steering cylinder. For example, it may project from said housing, main part of circumferential outer face towards the axle part and thus away from a longitudinal axis and/or the below-discussed first axis. The axle part may be stationary. As detailed below, it may comprise a housing that houses and/or connects to further axle components. For example, the axle part may house at least part of a gear set such as a differential of a driven axle of the vehicle. The interference fit may be configured to reliably secure the steering cylinder to the axle part, e.g. even in view of expected operational forces such as steering forces. For example, sizes of surfaces of the coupling projection and coupli