CN107628100B

CN107628100B - Steering column, steering system and vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN107628100B
Application number: CN201710643336.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 高凤英
Original assignee: Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-07-31
Filing date: 2017-07-31
Publication date: 2020-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2037-07-31
Also published as: CN107628100A

Abstract

The invention provides a steering column, a steering system and a vehicle. Wherein, steering column includes: the input shaft is connected with the steering device and synchronously rotates; the tubular column assembly is sleeved on the outer side of the input shaft, the tubular column assembly and the input shaft are arranged in a relative rotating mode, and the relative positions of the tubular column assembly and the input shaft in the axial direction are unchanged; the tubular column support is fixedly arranged, an energy absorbing structure is arranged on the tubular column support, the fastening piece transversely penetrates through the tubular column assembly and the tubular column support so as to connect the tubular column assembly to the tubular column support, the fastening piece is in butt fit with the energy absorbing structure on the tubular column support, and when the input shaft is stressed and deforms through the fastening piece, the input shaft and the tubular column assembly can move downwards. By applying the technical scheme of the invention, the problem of poor universality of the steering column in the prior art can be effectively solved.

Description

Steering column, steering system and vehicle

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of vehicles, in particular to a steering column, a steering system and a vehicle.

Background

Currently, in order to ensure the driving safety of the driver, the steering system of the vehicle generally includes a steering wheel, a steering column connected to the steering wheel, and a steering gear. Different crumple requirements are required to be met by automobiles with different platforms, and because the crumple structure of the existing steering column is complex, different steering columns need to be designed according to different requirements, so that the universality is poor, and the production cost is high.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention mainly aims to provide a steering column, a steering system and a vehicle, and aims to solve the problem that the steering column in the prior art is poor in universality.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering column including: the input shaft is connected with the steering device and synchronously rotates; the tubular column assembly is sleeved on the outer side of the input shaft, the tubular column assembly and the input shaft are arranged in a relative rotating mode, and the relative positions of the tubular column assembly and the input shaft in the axial direction are unchanged; the tubular column support is fixedly arranged, an energy absorbing structure is arranged on the tubular column support, the fastening piece transversely penetrates through the tubular column assembly and the tubular column support so as to connect the tubular column assembly to the tubular column support, the fastening piece is in butt fit with the energy absorbing structure on the tubular column support, and when the input shaft is stressed and deforms through the fastening piece, the input shaft and the tubular column assembly can move downwards.

Further, the energy absorbing structure is a plurality of energy absorbing teeth.

Furthermore, the tubular column support is provided with a mounting hole which is a long hole, the extending direction of the long hole is consistent with the extending direction of the tubular column assembly, and the energy-absorbing teeth are arranged on the hole wall of the mounting hole at intervals along the extending direction of the tubular column assembly.

Further, a plurality of energy absorption teeth are symmetrically arranged on the hole wall of the mounting hole.

Further, the mounting hole includes a first end proximate the steering device and a second end distal from the steering device, the energy absorbing tooth extending toward the second end of the mounting hole.

Further, the mounting hole comprises a first end close to the steering device and a second end far away from the steering device, and when the collision force applied to the input shaft does not reach a preset value, the fastening piece is located at the first end of the mounting hole and is matched with the energy absorbing teeth close to the steering device in the plurality of energy absorbing teeth.

Further, the angle between the center line of the energy absorbing tooth and the center line of the length direction of the mounting hole is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees.

Further, the steering column further includes: and the guide structure is arranged between the pipe column assembly and the pipe column bracket and used for guiding the pipe column assembly to move in the preset direction.

Further, be provided with the mounting hole on the tubular column support, the mounting hole is the slot hole, and the extending direction of slot hole is unanimous with the axis direction of tubular column subassembly, and the tubular column support is two including two first support plates that set up relatively and the second mounting panel of connection between two first support plates, and the mounting hole is two, and two mounting holes set up respectively on two first support plates.

Furthermore, two first support plates are respectively provided with a containing groove, the two containing grooves are correspondingly arranged, the two mounting holes are respectively arranged on the groove bottoms of the two containing grooves, the guide structure is a guide insert block, the guide insert block is contained in the containing groove, the fastening piece transversely penetrates through the tubular column support, the guide insert block and the tubular column assembly from outside to inside, and the side wall of the guide insert block is matched with the side wall of the containing groove to guide the tubular column assembly to move in the preset direction.

Further, the tubular column subassembly includes tubular column body and the square tube of being connected with tubular column body fixed connection, and the input shaft is located the inside of tubular column body, and the fastener crosses tubular column support, direction insert and square tube from outside to inside.

Furthermore, clearance fit is formed between the side wall of the guide insert and the side wall of the groove for accommodating the groove, the top wall of the guide insert and the side wall of the square tube are in fit, and the bottom wall of the guide insert and the groove bottom of the accommodating groove are in fit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering system including: a steering wheel that generates a steering action; a steering device that steers according to a steering operation; the steering column is connected with the steering wheel and the steering gear so that steering action is transmitted to the steering gear.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle including: a vehicle body; the steering system is the steering system, and a column support of a steering column of the steering system is fixedly arranged on the vehicle body.

According to the technical scheme, the steering column comprises a fixedly arranged column support, an energy absorption structure is arranged on the column support, a fastening piece penetrates through the column assembly and the column support to connect the column assembly to the column support, and the fastening piece is matched with the energy absorption structure on the column support. When the input shaft is subjected to a collision force in the axial direction, the input shaft drives the column assembly together to move in the axial direction. Because the fastener is arranged on the pipe column component in a penetrating mode, when the pipe column component moves along the axial direction, the fastener can also move along the axial direction of the pipe column component, in the moving process, the fastener is matched with the energy absorption structure on the pipe column support, and the energy absorption structure deforms to absorb energy generated by collision. In the structure, the energy absorption structure for determining the energy absorption is arranged on the column support, so that different column supports can be designed for automobiles with different platforms without redesigning a steering column with a complex structure. Therefore, the structure has strong universality, the production cost is greatly reduced, and the problem of poor universality of the steering column in the prior art is solved.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the invention and not to limit the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a front view schematic of an embodiment of a steering column according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged schematic structural view at A of the steering column of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional structural view in the direction B-B of the steering column of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial schematic view of the steering column of FIG. 1; and

fig. 5 shows a partial structural schematic view of a steering system according to the present invention.

Wherein the figures include the following reference numerals:

10. an input shaft; 20. a tubing string assembly; 21. a tubular column body; 22. a square tube; 221. a square tube side wall; 30. a pipe column support; 31. energy absorbing teeth; 32. a second bracket plate; 33. a first brace plate; 331. the bottom of the tank; 3311. mounting holes; 3311a, a first end; 3311b, a second end; 332. the side wall of the groove; 34. mounting a plate; 40. a fastener; 50. a guide structure; 60. a steering wheel.

Detailed Description

It should be noted that the embodiments and features of the embodiments in the present application may be combined with each other without conflict. The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the steering column of the present embodiment includes: an input shaft 10, a tubing string assembly 20, and a tubing string support 30. Wherein the input shaft 10 is adapted to be connected to a steering device and rotated in synchronization therewith. The pipe column assembly 20 is sleeved on the outer side of the input shaft 10, the pipe column assembly 20 and the input shaft 10 are relatively rotatably arranged, and the relative positions of the pipe column assembly 20 and the input shaft 10 in the axial direction are unchanged. The pipe column support 30 is fixedly arranged, the energy-absorbing structure is arranged on the pipe column support 30, the fastening piece 40 transversely penetrates through the pipe column assembly 20 and the pipe column support 30 to connect the pipe column assembly 20 to the pipe column support 30, the fastening piece 40 is in butt fit with the energy-absorbing structure on the pipe column support 30, and when the input shaft 10 is stressed and the energy-absorbing structure is deformed through the fastening piece 40, the input shaft 10 and the pipe column assembly 20 move downwards.

By applying the technical scheme of the embodiment, the steering column comprises a fixedly arranged column support 30, an energy-absorbing structure is arranged on the column support 30, a fastening member 40 transversely penetrates through the column assembly 20 and the column support 30 so as to connect the column assembly 20 to the column support 30, and the fastening member 40 is matched with the energy-absorbing structure on the column support 30. When the input shaft 10 is subjected to a collision force in the axial direction, the input shaft 10 moves the column assembly 20 together in the axial direction. Since the fastening member 40 is inserted into the pipe string assembly 20, the fastening member 40 is moved in the axial direction of the pipe string assembly 20 when the pipe string assembly 20 is moved in the axial direction, and during the movement, the fastening member 40 is engaged with the energy absorbing structure of the pipe string support 30, and the energy absorbing structure is deformed to absorb energy generated by the collision. In the above structure, the energy absorbing structure determining how much energy is absorbed is provided on the column bracket 30, and therefore, different column brackets 30 can be designed for automobiles of different platforms without redesigning a steering column having a complicated structure. Therefore, the structure has strong universality, the production cost is greatly reduced, and the problem of poor universality of the steering column in the prior art is solved.

As shown in fig. 1, 2 and 4, in this embodiment the energy absorbing structure is a plurality of energy absorbing teeth 31. The structure is simple, and the energy absorption effect is good. Specifically, when the input shaft 10 is subjected to an impact force in the axial direction, the input shaft 10 moves the column assembly 20 together in the axial direction. Since the fastening member 40 traverses the pipe string support 30 and the pipe string assembly 20, the fastening member 40 moves in the axial direction of the pipe string assembly 20 when the pipe string assembly 20 moves in the axial direction, and during the movement, the fastening member 40 engages with the energy absorbing teeth 31 on the pipe string support 30 to absorb energy, and when the collision energy is greater than the energy that can be absorbed by the first energy absorbing teeth 31, the fastening member 40 will engage with the next energy absorbing teeth 31 until the collision energy is absorbed.

As shown in fig. 1, 2 and 4, in the present embodiment, the column bracket 30 is provided with a mounting hole 3311, the mounting hole 3311 is a long hole, the extending direction of the long hole coincides with the extending direction of the column assembly 20, and a plurality of energy absorbing teeth 31 are provided on the wall of the mounting hole 3311 at intervals along the extending direction of the column assembly 20. Specifically, fasteners 40 are engaged with the plurality of energy absorbing teeth 31 after passing through mounting holes 3311. The structure is simple and easy to realize. In addition, since the extending direction of the long holes is consistent with the extending direction of the column assembly 20, the plurality of energy-absorbing teeth 31 are also arranged along the extending direction of the column assembly 20, and the structure enables the energy-absorbing effect to be better. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, a stopping head is disposed at a connection end of the fastening member 40 and the mounting hole 3311 to prevent the fastening member 40 from coming out of the mounting hole 3311, so as to ensure that the steering column always has the functions of collapsing and absorbing energy, and further ensure personal safety.

As shown in fig. 1, 2 and 4, in the present embodiment, a plurality of energy absorbing teeth 31 are symmetrically disposed on the wall of the mounting hole 3311. Specifically, the fastener 40 engages the first pair of oppositely disposed energy-absorbing teeth 31 when the energy of the impact is less than the energy that the first energy-absorbing tooth 31 can absorb, or when no impact occurs. When the impact energy is greater than the energy that can be absorbed by the first pair of energy-absorbing teeth 31, the fastener 40 will engage the next pair of energy-absorbing teeth 31, and so on until the impact energy is exhausted. Since the fastener 40 will engage with the pair of energy-absorbing teeth 31 (two rows of energy-absorbing teeth 31), the energy absorbed by the two rows of energy-absorbing teeth 31 is much higher than the energy absorbed by the single row of energy-absorbing teeth 31, relative to the single row of energy-absorbing teeth 31. Therefore, the structure can improve the energy absorption effect.

As shown in fig. 1, 2 and 4, in this embodiment, the mounting hole 3311 includes a first end 3311a proximate the steering mechanism and a second end 3311b distal from the steering mechanism, and the energy absorbing teeth 31 extend toward the second end 3311b of the mounting hole 3311. The structure enables the energy absorption effect to be good. Specifically, as shown in fig. 4, fig. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the steering column of fig. 1, in which the energy absorbing tooth 31 is in a state before being crush-deformed, and the energy absorbing tooth 31' is in a state after being crush-deformed. When the collision energy is larger than the energy absorbed by the first pair of energy-absorbing teeth 31, the energy-absorbing teeth 31 are gradually moved toward the wall of the mounting hole 3311 by the fastening member 40 until the energy-absorbing teeth 31' are moved to the position shown in the figure. The fastener 40 will then move downwardly under the direction of the energy absorbing teeth 31' and engage the second pair of energy absorbing teeth 31, and so on until the crash energy is exhausted.

As shown in fig. 1, 2 and 4, in the present embodiment, the mounting hole 3311 includes a first end 3311a close to the steering apparatus and a second end 3311b far from the steering apparatus, and when the collision force applied to the input shaft 10 does not reach a predetermined value, the fastener 40 is located at the first end 3311a of the mounting hole 3311 and engages with the energy absorbing tooth 31 close to the steering apparatus among the plurality of energy absorbing teeth 31. The structure is simple, the length of the mounting hole 3311 is as short as possible under the condition of meeting the requirements of crumpling and energy absorption, and meanwhile, the length of the mounting hole 3311 can be adjusted according to actual requirements for ensuring the crumpling space and the energy absorption.

As shown in fig. 1, 2 and 4, in the present embodiment, an angle α between a center line of the energy absorbing tooth 31 and a center line of the mounting hole 3311 in the longitudinal direction is between 30 degrees and 60 degrees. The structure enables the energy absorption effect to be better.

Since the collision force from the outside cannot be exactly the same as the axial direction of the pipe string assembly 20 at the time of actual collision, when the component force perpendicular to the axis of the pipe string assembly 20 is large, the fastener 40 is likely to deviate from the axis of the pipe string assembly 20, resulting in poor energy absorbing effect of the energy absorbing structure. In order to solve the above problem, as shown in fig. 1 to 3, in the present embodiment, the steering column further includes: and a guide structure 50 disposed between the pipe string assembly 20 and the pipe string support 30 to guide the movement of the pipe string assembly 20 in a predetermined direction. The above structure enables the column assembly 20 to always move in a predetermined direction (axial direction of the column assembly 20), thereby improving the energy absorbing effect.

As shown in fig. 1 to 4, in the present embodiment, the column support 30 is provided with two mounting holes 3311, the mounting holes 3311 are long holes, the extending direction of the long holes coincides with the axial direction of the column assembly 20, the column support 30 includes two first support plates 33 disposed oppositely and a second support plate 32 connected between the two first support plates 33, the mounting holes 3311 are two, and the two mounting holes 3311 are respectively disposed on the two first support plates 33. The above structure allows both ends of the fastening member 40 to be engaged with the energy absorbing teeth 31 of the mounting holes 3311 to thereby improve the energy absorbing effect.

It should be noted that, as shown in fig. 3, in the present embodiment, the column bracket 30 further includes a mounting plate 34 connected to the first bracket plate 33, the mounting plate 34 extends outward, and the column bracket 30 is fixedly disposed on an external device through the mounting plate.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, in the present embodiment, each of the two first support plates 33 has a receiving groove, the two receiving grooves are correspondingly disposed, the two mounting holes 3311 are respectively disposed on the groove bottoms 331 of the two receiving grooves, the guide structure 50 is a guide insert, the guide insert is received in the receiving groove, the groove side wall 332 of the receiving groove extends toward the axial direction of the column assembly 20, the fastening member 40 traverses the column support 30, the guide insert and the column assembly 20 from the outside to the inside, and the side wall of the guide insert cooperates with the groove side wall 332 to guide the movement of the column assembly 20 in a predetermined direction. Specifically, as shown in fig. 2, when the input shaft 10 receives an impact force in the axial direction, the input shaft 10 moves the column assembly 20 together in the axial direction. Because the fastener 40 is fixedly coupled to the tubular string assembly 20, the fastener 40 moves axially along the tubular string assembly 20 as the tubular string assembly 20 moves axially. Since the fastener 40 is threaded through the guide insert, when the fastener 40 is moved in the axial direction, the guide insert is also moved. Since the side walls of the guide insert are engaged with the side walls 332 of the receiving groove, and the extending direction of the side walls 332 of the receiving groove is the same as the axial direction of the column assembly 20, once the fastener 40 deviates from the predetermined direction, the side walls 332 of the receiving groove block the guide insert, so that the fastener 40 can move in the predetermined direction, thereby improving the energy absorbing effect.

In this embodiment, the receiving groove is formed by punching. Of course, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the formation of the receiving recess is not limited thereto, and may be formed by a process such as turning and milling.

As shown in fig. 1 to 3, in the present embodiment, the pipe string assembly 20 includes a pipe string body 21 and a square tube 22 fixedly connected to the pipe string body 21, the input shaft 10 is located inside the pipe string body 21, and the fastening member 40 traverses the pipe string support 30, the guide insert and the square tube 22 from outside to inside. Usually, the column body 21 is connected with the input shaft 10 through a bearing, and when the input shaft 10 is subjected to an axial downward force, the column body 21 moves downward together with the input shaft. Since the square tube 22 is fixedly connected to the column body 21, the square tube 22 also moves downward. Since the fastening member 40 traverses the column support 30, the guide insert and the square tube 22 from outside to inside, the fastening member 40 moves downward along with the square tube 22 and simultaneously cooperates with the energy-absorbing teeth 31 on the column support 30 for the purpose of absorbing energy. In the above configuration, since the fastener 40 is inserted into the square tube 22 instead of the column body 21, the fastener does not interfere with the input shaft 10 inside the column body 21. In addition, the structure is simple and easy to assemble.

In this embodiment, the side wall of the guide insert is in clearance fit with the side wall 332 of the receiving groove, the top wall of the guide insert is in close fit with the side wall 221 of the square tube 22, and the bottom wall of the guide insert is in close fit with the bottom 331 of the receiving groove. The structure is simple and easy to assemble.

As shown in fig. 5, the present application also provides a steering system, an embodiment of the steering system according to the present application includes: a steering wheel 60, a steering gear, and a steering column. Wherein the steering wheel 60 generates a steering action. The steering gear turns according to the steering action. The steering column is the above-described steering column, and the steering column connects the steering wheel 60 and the steering gear to transmit a steering operation to the steering gear, and the above-described steering device forms the steering wheel. Because the steering column has the advantage of strong universality, the steering system with the steering column also has the advantage.

The present application further provides a vehicle, an embodiment of a vehicle (not shown in the figures) according to the present application comprising: a vehicle body and a steering system. The steering system is the steering system, and a column support of a steering column of the steering system is fixedly arranged on the vehicle body. Preferably, the column support is fixed to the cross member dash. Because the steering system has the advantage of strong universality, the vehicle with the steering system also has the advantage.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention, and various modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art. Any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A steering column, comprising:

an input shaft (10) for connecting to a steering device and rotating synchronously;

the tubular column assembly (20) is sleeved on the outer side of the input shaft (10), the tubular column assembly (20) and the input shaft (10) are arranged in a relative rotating mode, and the relative position of the tubular column assembly (20) and the input shaft (10) in the axial direction is unchanged;

a column support (30) fixedly arranged, an energy-absorbing structure is arranged on the column support (30), a fastener (40) transversely penetrates through the column assembly (20) and the column support (30) to connect the column assembly (20) to the column support (30), the fastener (40) is in butt fit with the energy-absorbing structure on the column support (30), when the input shaft (10) is stressed and the energy-absorbing structure is deformed through the fastener (40), the input shaft (10) and the column assembly (20) can move downwards, and the steering column further comprises:

the guide structure (50) is arranged between the pipe column component (20) and the pipe column support (30) and used for guiding the pipe column component (20) to move in the preset direction so as to prevent the fastening piece (40) from deviating from the axis of the pipe column component (20), the energy absorbing structure is a plurality of energy absorbing teeth (31), a mounting hole (3311) is formed in the pipe column support (30), the mounting hole (3311) is a long hole, the extending direction of the long hole is consistent with the extending direction of the pipe column component (20), and the energy absorbing teeth (31) are arranged on the hole wall of the mounting hole (3311) at intervals along the extending direction of the pipe column component (20).

2. The steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of the energy absorbing teeth (31) are symmetrically disposed on a wall of the mounting hole (3311).

3. The steering column according to claim 1, wherein the mounting bore (3311) includes a first end (3311a) proximate the steering device and a second end (3311b) distal the steering device, the energy absorbing teeth (31) extending toward the second end (3311b) of the mounting bore (3311).

4. The steering column according to claim 1, wherein the mounting hole (3311) includes a first end (3311a) proximate to the steering device and a second end (3311b) distal from the steering device, and wherein the fastener (40) is located at the first end (3311a) of the mounting hole (3311) and engages an energy absorbing tooth (31) of the plurality of energy absorbing teeth (31) proximate to the steering device when the input shaft (10) is subjected to a collision force that does not reach a predetermined value.

5. The steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle between the centre line of the energy absorbing tooth (31) and the centre line of the length direction of the mounting hole (3311) is between 30 and 60 degrees.

6. The steering column according to claim 1, wherein the column bracket (30) includes two first bracket plates (33) disposed opposite to each other and a second bracket plate (32) connected between the two first bracket plates (33), the mounting holes (3311) are two, and the two mounting holes (3311) are respectively provided in the two first bracket plates (33).

7. The steering column according to claim 6, wherein two of said first bracket plates (33) each have a receiving recess therein, two of said receiving recesses are correspondingly disposed, two of said mounting holes (3311) are respectively disposed on the bottom (331) of the two receiving recesses, said guide structure (50) is a guide insert received in said receiving recess, said fastener (40) traverses said column bracket (30), said guide insert and said column assembly (20) from outside to inside, and side walls of said guide insert cooperate with recess side walls (332) of said receiving recess to guide the movement of said column assembly (20) in a predetermined direction.

8. The steering column according to claim 7, characterized in that the column assembly (20) comprises a column body (21) and a square tube (22) fixedly connected to the column body (21), the input shaft (10) being located inside the column body (21), the fastener (40) traversing the column bracket (30), the guide insert and the square tube (22) from outside to inside.

9. The steering column according to claim 8, characterized in that the side walls of the guide insert are clearance fitted with the side walls (332) of the receiving recess, the top wall of the guide insert is snug fitted with the side walls (221) of the square tube (22), and the bottom wall of the guide insert is snug fitted with the bottom (331) of the receiving recess.

10. A steering system, comprising:

a steering wheel (60) that generates a steering operation;

a steering device that steers according to the steering operation;

a steering column according to any one of claims 1 to 9, connecting the steering wheel (60) and the steering gear to transmit the steering action to the steering gear.

11. A vehicle, characterized by comprising:

a vehicle body;

a steering system according to claim 10, wherein a column support (30) of a steering column of the steering system is fixedly arranged on the vehicle body.