Research On Bench Test Of Rack And Pinion Steering Gear For Light Commercial Vehicle

Light commercial vehicle(LCV) is an important category of the commercial vehicle, and it is more close to the passenger vehicle(PV) in the structural characteristic and the performance request. Therefore, the steering system of LCV has a special external conditions and design requirements. The front axle load of LCV and the steering resistance are higher than the PV, but it is pursued that the steering lightness and sensitivity like PV. The chassis structure of LCV is different from the one of PV, so it is more obvious that the driver senses the vibration of the engine and the excitation of the road by the steering system. But it is often compared to the comfort driving experience of PV. Therefore, the performance requirements of the steering system on LCV are more stringent. The steering gear is the core component of the steering system. The quality and performance of the steering gear directly determine the steering performance of the whole steering system and the whole vehicle. So, in the process of the development, it is particularly important that the steering gear must meet the requirements of the vehicle. If the steering gear prototype is assembled to the test vehicle, and then do the test for the performance and reliability of the vehicle, not only the test time is longer, and the test cost is higher, but also it is difficult to find the problem and improve the steering gear. At this time, we need to design a bench test methods and technical requirements for the steering gear, so that to decompose and quantify the objectives and requirements of the steering performance in the vehicle, and into a steering gear bench test for assessment and evaluation.Based on the performance and reliability requirements of LCV, to study and explore the bench test methods of steering gear, the limit targets and evaluation standards. The research project includes the performance test, strength test and endurance test of the rack and pinion steering gear. First of IIall, to research the relation between the characteristics to be characterized by the bench tests and the technical objectives of the vehicle. Secondly, to design the operation methods of the bench test, including the methods of fixing the prototype on the bench, the installation and debugging of the test equipment, the selection of the test environment and the conditions, and the steps and methods of recording the test results. Finally, to use the prototype to be provided by the supplier of the steering gear to do the bench test according to the technical requirements, and to analysis and judge the test results to whether or not qualified.The achievement of the research project is to design and summarize some technical requirements and test methods for the bench test of the steering gear. Not only it should be used in product acceptance of the rack and pinion steering gear in LCV, but also it should be applied to the development process of the same structure and similar requirements of the steering gear. So, it has a strong practical value and a guiding significance.