CN113335366B

CN113335366B - Automatic centering and damping mechanism for steering column of amphibious vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN113335366B
Application number: CN202110654656.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 范卫兵; 阮仁新; 徐午; 高岗; 郑志明
Original assignee: Dongfeng Off Road Vehicle Co Ltd
Current assignee: Dongfeng Off Road Vehicle Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-06-11
Filing date: 2021-06-11
Publication date: 2022-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 2041-06-11
Also published as: CN113335366A

Abstract

The invention belongs to the technical field of automobile steering columns, and particularly discloses an automatic centering and damping mechanism for a steering column of an amphibious vehicle. The hydraulic lifting device comprises a lower shaft, an upper shaft, a lower shell, a combined separation sleeve, a damper outer ring combined piece, a damper inner ring combined piece and an overwater lifting lever, wherein the lower shaft and the upper shaft are coaxially arranged, the combined separation sleeve is sleeved on the lower shaft, and the combined separation sleeve can slide along the axial direction of the lower shaft so as to realize the separation or the rotation connection with the upper shaft; the damper outer ring assembly is fixedly arranged on the combined separating sleeve; the damper inner ring assembly penetrates through a first inner hole of the damper outer ring assembly, the damper inner ring assembly is rotatably sleeved on the periphery of a combined separating sleeve close to the upper shaft, and the damper inner ring assembly and the damper outer ring assembly are rotatably connected through a centering and returning damping elastic body, so that the steering wheel has damping torque and can be automatically centered after hands are loosened. The invention can realize the automatic centering of the steering column under the damping torque, and has the characteristics of convenient operation, safety, reliability and the like.

Description

Automatic centering and damping mechanism for steering column of amphibious vehicle

Technical Field

The invention belongs to the technical field of automobile steering columns, and particularly relates to an automatic centering and damping mechanism for an amphibious vehicle steering column.

Background

In order to achieve control convenience and cab instrument simplicity, amphibious vehicles generally share a common steering wheel when traveling on land and on water: namely, when the vehicle runs on the land, the steering wheel and the steering gear are kept in a mechanical combination state through the steering transmission device, so that the land steering intention of a driver is realized, and the overwater steering system does not work or is in a standby state; when the vehicle runs on water, the steering wheel is rotated to control the water steering system so as to realize the water steering intention, and at the moment, the land steering system does not work or is in a standby state. Therefore, when the steering wheel runs on water, the steering wheel is separated from the land traditional steering system, and the steering damping is lost, so that when the steering wheel runs on water, the steering wheel idles or does not know the angle which the steering wheel rotates, and the safety problem is brought. The conventional technical scheme is two, wherein the steering characteristic of a steering wheel adopts the marine steering characteristic when the amphibious vehicle runs on water: namely, the steering wheel rotates at any angle, and the steering wheel is stopped at the position as long as the driver releases his hands; the other is to meet the habit that the same driver drives on the land and on water, and when driving on water, the steering characteristic of the steering wheel is the same as that of the land: namely, when the steering wheel is turned, the turning moment is about 2-12 N.m, when the steering wheel is turned from the middle position of straight running to two sides, the hand force of the steering wheel is uniformly increased without jumping, and the steering wheel can automatically return to the straight running state when the hand is released.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned land steering characteristic when traveling on water, the prior art generally installs a set of C-EPS (steering column type-electric power steering) on the original mechanical steering column to realize: when the steering wheel is separated on water, namely an upper shaft and a lower shaft of the steering column are separated, steering damping is applied to the upper shaft of the steering column by means of a motor of the C-EPS and a worm gear speed reducing mechanism, a rotated angle is sensed by means of an angle sensor on the C-EPS, the value of a torque sensor of the C-EPS is 0 when the hand is released, and at the moment, the controller controls the motor to rotate the upper shaft of the steering column to return to a middle position. This solution is very mature, but heavy and costly. In addition, most of the existing C-EPS are civil versions, but amphibious vehicles are generally defense markets, have high requirements on electromagnetic compatibility and electromagnetic interference, and can meet the requirements only by newly matching electronic components, so that the matching cost is high, and meanwhile, the safety of an electric control system is not high as compared with a pure mechanical system.

Based on the defects and shortcomings, a new automatic centering and damping mechanism of the steering column of the amphibious vehicle needs to be provided in the field, and a pure mechanical mechanism is adopted to replace the existing C-EPS mechanism so as to improve the safety of the system.

Disclosure of Invention

Aiming at the defects or improvement requirements of the prior art, the invention provides an automatic centering and damping mechanism of a steering column of an amphibious vehicle, wherein the automatic centering and damping mechanism of the steering column of the vehicle is correspondingly designed by combining the characteristics of the steering column of the vehicle and the process characteristics of automatic centering, the structures and the specific arrangement modes of a lower shaft, an upper shaft, a lower shell, a combined separating sleeve, a damper outer ring assembly, a damper inner ring assembly and an outer ring deflector rod of key components of the automatic centering and damping mechanism are researched and designed, the existing C-EPS (steering column type-electric power steering) mechanism is correspondingly replaced by a pure mechanical mechanism, the automatic centering and damping mechanism can adapt to two working conditions of land driving and water driving, simultaneously, when the vehicle is driven on water, a steering wheel has damping effect, the hand force of the steering wheel is increased along with the increase of a turning angle, and after a driver looses the hand, and (4) automatic centering. Therefore, the invention has the advantages of convenient operation and control, compact structure, light weight, low cost, safety, reliability and the like, and is particularly suitable for the application occasions of amphibious vehicles.

In order to achieve the aim, the invention provides an automatic centering and damping mechanism of an amphibious vehicle steering column, which comprises a lower shaft, an upper shaft, a lower shell, a combined separation sleeve, a damper outer ring combined piece, a damper inner ring combined piece and an outer ring deflector rod, wherein,

the lower shaft and the vehicle steering transmission device are fixedly connected and can rotate together, the upper shaft and the steering wheel are fixedly connected and can rotate together, the lower shell is fixedly connected with a cross beam of a vehicle, and the lower shaft and the upper shaft are coaxially arranged;

the combined separation sleeve is sleeved on the lower shaft and can slide along the axial direction of the lower shaft so as to realize the separation or the rotary connection with the upper shaft;

the damper outer ring assembly is fixedly arranged on the combined separating sleeve;

the damper inner ring assembly penetrates through a first inner hole of the damper outer ring assembly and is rotatably sleeved on the periphery of the combination separation sleeve, the damper inner ring assembly is rotatably connected with the damper outer ring assembly through a centering return damping elastic body, and the damper inner ring assembly is also in sliding connection with an overwater deflector rod fixedly arranged on the upper shaft;

in this way, when the vehicle runs on land, the combination separation sleeve is simultaneously connected with the lower shaft and the upper shaft, so that the lower shaft and the upper shaft rotate together, when the vehicle runs in water, the combination separation sleeve slides to one end of the lower shaft, so that the lower shaft and the upper shaft are separated, the combination separation sleeve is rotatably connected with the upper shaft, and meanwhile, the rotation of the upper shaft drives the water deflector rod to rotate, so that the inner ring assembly of the damper is driven to rotate under the action of overcoming the elastic force of the centering and returning damping elastic body, and the inner ring assembly of the damper automatically returns to be centered under the action of no external force on the upper shaft.

Preferably, the damper outer ring assembly comprises a damper outer ring, an overwater left-turning limiting ring groove and an overwater right-turning limiting ring groove which are symmetrically arranged about a centering position are arranged on the damper outer ring, a semicircular ring groove for accommodating the centering return damping elastomer is further arranged in the damper outer ring, the semicircular ring groove is correspondingly arranged with the overwater left-turning limiting ring groove and the overwater right-turning limiting ring groove, a left-turning centering surface and a right-turning centering surface which are symmetrically arranged about the centering position are arranged on the semicircular ring groove, and the left-turning centering surface, the right-turning centering surface and the centering position are intersected with the axis of the upper shaft;

the centering return damping elastic body moves along the water left-turn limiting ring groove or the water right-turn limiting ring groove under the action of external force and automatically returns under the action of no external force.

As a further preferred option, the centering and returning damping elastic body includes a damping centering spring, and a left shifting ring and a right shifting ring which are respectively arranged at two ends of the damping centering spring and have the same structure, the left shifting ring is movably arranged in an overwater left steering limit ring groove, the right shifting ring is movably arranged in an overwater right steering limit ring groove, and under the action of no external force, the side surface of the left shifting ring connected with the damping centering spring is in contact with a left steering centering surface and has an initial centering moment, the side surface of the right shifting ring connected with the damping centering spring is in contact with a right steering centering surface and has an initial centering moment, and the initial centering moments of the left shifting ring and the right shifting ring are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction;

preferably, the left shifting ring and the right shifting ring both comprise a guide ball and shifting rods axially arranged at two ends of the guide ball along the upper shaft.

Preferably, the damper inner ring assembly comprises a left inner ring and a right inner ring which are fixedly connected, a left inner ring body is arranged on the left inner ring, a right inner ring body is arranged on the right inner ring, the left inner ring body is arranged on the left side of the damper outer ring assembly and movably arranged in the first inner hole, the right inner ring body is arranged on the right side of the damper outer ring assembly and movably arranged in the first inner hole;

the left side inner circle and right inner circle all be equipped with turn to the annular and with turn to the annular on water of the corresponding setting of spacing annular on water left turn to the corresponding setting of spacing annular on water right turn to the annular on water right turn to, the activity of driving lever in ring both ends is dialled on a left side and is passed the setting of the annular on water left turn to, the activity of driving lever in ring both ends is dialled on the right side and is passed the setting of the annular on water right turn to.

Preferably, the arc angle of the overwater left steering ring groove is larger than the arc angle of the overwater left steering limit ring groove, and the arc angle of the overwater right steering ring groove is larger than the arc angle of the overwater right steering limit ring groove;

the left steering ring groove on the water is also provided with a left groove root, and the right steering ring groove on the water is also provided with a right groove root.

As further preferred, the contained angle a between the aquatic left turn to annular of closing the piece and the aquatic right turn to the annular of attenuator inner circle with the aquatic left turn to spacing annular of closing the piece and the aquatic right turn to the contained angle a between the spacing annular is equal for the attenuator outer lane, the circular arc angle C that turns to the annular on the water left and the aquatic right turn to the annular is greater than the circular arc angle B that turns to the spacing annular on the water left and the aquatic right turn to the spacing annular of attenuator outer lane.

Preferably, the combined separating sleeve is further provided with an inner circle and a clamp spring groove, the inner hole of the damper inner circle assembly is larger than the diameter of the inner circle, the damper inner circle assembly is rotatably sleeved on the periphery of the inner circle, and the clamp spring groove is provided with an inner circle clamp spring for limiting the damper inner circle assembly to move axially;

the left inner ring and the right inner ring are both provided with inner ring poking holes which are correspondingly arranged, the overwater poking rod is inserted into the inner ring poking holes and is connected with the inner ring poking holes in a sliding way,

the upper shaft is fixedly connected with an inner ring deflector rod, one end of the inner ring deflector rod is connected with the overwater deflector rod, and the damper inner ring assembly rotates together with the upper shaft through the overwater deflector rod.

Preferably, the damper outer ring assembly is fixedly arranged on the combined separating sleeve through an outer ring fixing support, the outer ring fixing support comprises three support bodies which are uniformly arranged along the axis of the lower shaft, when the centering return damping elastic body returns, the central line of one of the support bodies is located at a centering position, each support body is provided with a bolt hole, an outer ring bolt is arranged at the corresponding bolt hole, and the outer ring bolt penetrates through the bolt hole and is fixedly connected with the damper outer ring assembly.

Preferably, a cushion block is further arranged between the damper outer ring assembly and the outer ring fixing support, and the cushion block is sleeved on the outer ring bolt.

Preferably, a shifting fork is arranged on the periphery of the combined separation sleeve and used for adjusting the axial position of the combined separation sleeve along the lower shaft so as to fix or separate the lower shaft and the upper shaft.

Generally, compared with the prior art, the above technical solution conceived by the present invention mainly has the following technical advantages:

the invention can adapt to land driving and water driving simultaneously, and simultaneously, when the steering wheel drives on water, the steering wheel has damping, and the hand force of the steering wheel increases along with the increase of the turning angle, and the steering wheel automatically centers after the driver looses the hand.

More specifically, the position of the separating sleeve can be adjusted according to the working condition of the vehicle, so that when the vehicle runs on the land, the separating sleeve is combined with the lower shaft and the upper shaft, the lower shaft and the upper shaft rotate together, when the vehicle runs in water, the separating sleeve moves to one end of the lower shaft to separate the lower shaft from the upper shaft, the water deflector rod is driven to rotate through the upper shaft, the inner ring assembly of the damper is driven to rotate under the control action of the centering and returning damping elastic body, and after a driver loosens the steering wheel and the upper shaft has no external force, the steering wheel automatically returns to the centering under the action of the centering and returning damping elastic body. According to the invention, through arranging the centering and returning damping elastic body and specially designing the structures and connection modes of the centering and returning damping elastic body, the upper shaft, the lower shaft and the combined separation sleeve, the steering wheel has damping when running on water, the hand force of the steering wheel is increased along with the increase of the turning angle, and meanwhile, the steering wheel also has an automatic centering function.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an internal structure of a steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism in a land neutral straight-ahead driving state according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a two-dimensional schematic diagram of the internal structure of the automatic centering and damping mechanism of the steering column during the neutral position straight-ahead driving on land according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a three-dimensional schematic view of the internal structure of the steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism of the present invention during water traveling and left steering;

FIG. 4 is a two-dimensional schematic diagram of the internal structure of the steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism of the present invention during water traveling and left steering

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view E-E of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a schematic three-dimensional structure of a bonded split sleeve according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional schematic view of the outer ring fixing bracket and the coupling and separating sleeve according to the present invention after being mounted;

FIG. 8 is a three-dimensional view of a partial structure of an outer ring assembly of a damper according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a three-dimensional schematic view of a left thumb ring structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the position of a left shifting ring relative to an outer ring of a damper during left-hand steering on water according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a three-dimensional view of a part of the structure of the inner ring assembly of the damper according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a three-dimensional schematic view of a partial structure of an outer ring of a damper according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a three-dimensional schematic view of a partial structure of an inner ring of the damper according to the present invention;

fig. 14 is a three-dimensional schematic view of an inner ring deflector rod and upper shaft mounting structure according to the present invention.

In all the figures, the same reference numerals denote the same features, in particular: 11-lower shaft, 15-lower shell, 21-combination separation sleeve, 21.1-bracket mounting circle, 21.2-snap spring groove 21.3-inner circle, 21.4-centering position, 33-upper shaft 33.1-deflector rod screw hole, 51-outer ring fixing bracket, 51.1-bolt hole, 52-outer ring bolt, 53-cushion block, 54-outer ring nut, 55-inner ring deflector rod, 55.1-locking screw thread, 55.2-water deflector rod, 56-inner ring snap spring, 60-damper outer ring assembly, 61-assembly bolt, 62-assembly nut, 63-left deflector ring, 63.1-deflector rod, 63.2-guide ball, 63.3-spring support surface, 63.4-centering surface, 64-damping centering spring, 65-right deflector ring, 66-damper outer ring, 66.1-outer ring mounting hole, 66.2-closed piece hole, 66.3-water left-turning limiting ring groove, 66.4-water right-turning limiting ring groove, 66.5-first inner hole, 66.6-semicircular arc ring groove, 66.7-right-turning centering surface, 66.8-left-turning centering surface, 70-damper inner ring closed piece, 71-left inner ring, 71.1-countersunk threaded hole, 71.2-left inner ring body, 71.3-second inner hole, 71.4-inner ring poking hole, 71.5-water left-turning ring groove, 71.6-water right-turning ring groove, 71.7-left groove root, 71.8-right groove root, 72-right inner ring, 72.1-countersunk hole, 72.2-right inner ring body, 72.3-inner hole, 72.4-inner ring poking hole, 72.5-water left-turning ring groove, 72.6-water right-turning ring groove, 72.7-left groove root, 72.8-right groove root, 73-bolt.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more apparent, the present invention is described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention. In addition, the technical features involved in the embodiments of the present invention described below may be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, an automatic centering and damping mechanism for a steering column of an amphibious vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lower shaft 11, a lower housing 15, a coupling and separating sleeve 21, and an upper shaft 33; the lower shaft 11 is arranged coaxially with the upper shaft 33, the lower shaft 11 is not shown fixed and rotatable together with the steering gear, the upper shaft 33 is not shown fixed and rotatable together with the steering wheel, the lower housing 15 is not shown fixed to a cross member of the vehicle to fix the steering column; when the vehicle runs on the land, the steering wheel is kept in a combined state with wheels through the steering column and the steering transmission shaft, a driver is allowed to rotate the upper shaft 33 through the steering wheel and then is transmitted to the lower shaft 11 through the combined separating sleeve 21 to control the land steering of the vehicle, and at the moment, the water steering system is in a standby state or not in a work state. That is, in the present invention, the lower shaft 11 is fixed and rotatable with the vehicle steering gear, the upper shaft 33 is fixed and rotatable with the steering wheel, and the lower housing 15 is fixedly connected with the cross member of the vehicle; the combination separation sleeve 21 is sleeved on the lower shaft 11, and the combination separation sleeve 21 can slide along the axial direction of the lower shaft 11 so as to be separated from or combined with the upper shaft 33; the damper outer ring assembly 60 is fixedly arranged on the combined separating sleeve 21; the damper inner ring assembly 70 passes through the first inner hole 66.5 of the damper outer ring assembly 60, the damper inner ring assembly 70 is rotatably sleeved on the inner ring 21.3 of the combination separation sleeve 21, the end part of the combination separation sleeve 21 close to the upper shaft 33 is also provided with a clamp spring groove 21.2, an inner ring clamp spring 56 is arranged on the clamp spring groove 21.2 and is used for limiting the axial movement of the damper inner ring assembly 70 relative to the combination separation sleeve 21, meanwhile, the damper inner ring assembly 70 is rotatably connected with the damper outer ring assembly 60 through a centering return damping elastic body, the damper inner ring assembly 70 is also in sliding connection with an overwater shifting lever 55.2 fixedly arranged on the upper shaft 33, and the overwater shifting lever 55.2 and the damper inner ring assembly 70 are always kept combined in a water running state or a land running state, so that when a vehicle runs on land, the combination separation sleeve 21 fixedly connects the lower shaft 11 and the upper shaft 33, the lower shaft 11 and the upper shaft 33 rotate together, when the vehicle runs in water, the combination separation sleeve 21 moves to one end of the lower shaft 11, so that the lower shaft 11 and the upper shaft 33 are separated, and meanwhile, the water deflector rod 55.2 is driven to rotate through the upper shaft 33, so that the damper inner ring assembly 70 is driven to rotate under the control action of the centering and returning damping elastic body, and the centering is automatically returned under the no external force action of the upper shaft 33.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, when the amphibious vehicle steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism of the present invention is driven on water, the upper shaft 33 and the coupling and decoupling sleeve 21 are in a decoupled state and can rotate relative to the coupling and decoupling sleeve 21, and the lower shaft 11 and the coupling and decoupling sleeve 21 are locked together in a neutral on-land straight driving position of the vehicle, at which time the rotation of the steering wheel is not transmitted to the lower shaft 11, that is, when the amphibious vehicle is driven on water, the steering wheel is linked with the upper shaft 33, at which time the driver is allowed to rotate the steering wheel so as to independently control the water rudder rotation, and the rotation of the coupling and decoupling sleeve 21 and the lower shaft 11 is prohibited, and the steering wheel is locked on a neutral on-land straight driving position, the upper shaft 33 is separated from the lower shaft 11, at which time the land steering system is on standby or not operated. In the invention, a shifting fork is fixedly arranged on the periphery of the combining and separating sleeve 21 and used for adjusting the axial position of the combining and separating sleeve 21 along the lower shaft 11 so as to realize the combination or separation of the lower shaft 11 and the upper shaft 33.

As shown in fig. 5, in the present invention, the neutral position of the engaging and disengaging sleeve 21 in the neutral straight running on land is at the centering position 21.4, which is equivalent to the locking position of the engaging and disengaging sleeve 21 in the water running.

As shown in fig. 2, 5, 6,7, 8, 9 and 10, the automatic centering and damping mechanism for amphibious steering column of the present invention, the damper outer ring assembly 60 includes a damper outer ring 66, the damper outer ring 66 is provided with an upper left steering limit ring groove 66.3 and an upper right steering limit ring groove 66.4 symmetrically arranged about a centering position 21.4, the damper outer ring 66 is further provided with a semicircular arc ring groove 66.6 accommodating the centering damping elastomer, the semicircular arc ring groove 66.6 is provided corresponding to the upper left steering limit ring groove 66.3 and the upper right steering limit ring groove 66.4, the semicircular arc ring groove 66.6 is provided with a left steering centering surface 66.8 and a right steering centering surface 66.7 symmetrically arranged about the centering position 21.4, the left steering centering surface 66.8, the right steering centering surface 66.7 and an axis of the intersection position 21.4 and the upper shaft 33; the centering and returning damping elastic body moves along the water left steering limit ring groove 66.3 or the water right steering limit ring groove 66.4 under the action of external force and automatically returns without the action of external force. The damper inner ring assembly 70 comprises a left inner ring 71 and a right inner ring 72 which are fixedly connected, a left inner ring body 71.2 is arranged on the left inner ring 71, a right inner ring body 72.2 is arranged on the right inner ring 72, the left inner ring body 71.2 is arranged on the left side of the damper outer ring assembly 60, the left inner ring body 71.2 is movably arranged in the first inner hole 66.5, the right inner ring body 72.2 is arranged on the right side of the damper outer ring assembly 60, and the right inner ring body 72.2 is movably arranged in the first inner hole 66.5; left side inner circle 71 and right inner circle 72 all be equipped with turn to the annular (71.5, 72.5) and with turn to the annular (71.6,72.6) on water of the corresponding setting of spacing annular 66.3 of turning to the left on water and turn to the right on water of the corresponding setting of spacing annular 66.4 on water, two driving lever 63.1 activities of dialling ring 63 on a left side are passed turn to the annular (71.5, 72.5) on water and set up, two driving lever 63.1 activities of dialling ring 64 on the right side are passed turn to the annular (71.6,72.6) on water and set up.

More specifically, a bracket mounting circle 21.1 is arranged on the combination separation sleeve 21, an inner hole of the outer ring fixing bracket 51 is fixedly connected with the combination separation sleeve 21 through interference connection or riveting or welding with the bracket mounting circle 21.1, and the center of one bolt hole 51.1 of the outer ring fixing bracket 51 coincides with the centering position 21.4. The damper outer ring assembly 60 is fixedly arranged on the combination separation sleeve 21 through an outer ring fixing support 51, the outer ring fixing support 51 comprises three support bodies which are symmetrically arranged along the axis of the lower shaft 11, when the centering and returning damping elastic body returns, the central line of one of the support bodies is located at a centering position 21.4, each support body is provided with a bolt hole 51.1, an outer ring bolt 52 is arranged at the corresponding bolt hole 51.1, and the outer ring bolt 52 penetrates through the bolt hole 51.1 and is fixedly connected with the damper outer ring assembly 60. The damper outer ring assembly 60 includes: the damper comprises a combined bolt 61, a combined nut 62, a left shifting ring 63, a right shifting ring 65, a damping centering spring 64 and two identical damper outer rings 66. The left shifting ring 63 and the right shifting ring 65 are the same part and are provided with two shifting rods 63.1, a guide spherical surface 63.2, a spring supporting surface 63.3 and a centering surface 63.4 which are symmetrical on two sides; the damper outer ring 66 is provided with three outer ring mounting holes 66.1, a combined piece hole 66.2, an overwater left-turning limiting ring groove 66.3, an overwater right-turning limiting ring groove 66.4, a first inner hole 66.5, a semi-circular arc ring groove 66.6, a left-turning centering surface 66.8 and a right-turning centering surface 66.7; the damping return spring 64 is arranged in the semicircular annular groove 66.6, the left shifting ring 63 and the right shifting ring 65 are arranged at two ends of the damping centering spring 64, and the shifting rods 63.1 of the left shifting ring 63 and the right shifting ring 65 are respectively inserted into the overwater left steering limit annular groove 66.3 and the overwater right steering limit annular groove 66.4; the assembly bolt 61 passes through the assembly hole 66.2 and is fastened by the assembly nut 62; the spring supporting surface 63.3 and the centering surface 63.4 of the left shifting ring 63 and the right shifting ring 65 are intersected and are also intersected at the center of the outer ring 66 of the damper; the left steering centering surface 66.8 and the right steering centering surface 66.7 intersect at the same time at the center of the damper outer ring 66.

In the invention, the centering and returning damping elastomer comprises a damping centering spring 64, and a left shifting ring 63 and a right shifting ring 65 which are respectively arranged at two ends of the damping centering spring 64 and have the same structure, wherein the left shifting ring 63 is movably arranged in a water left steering limit ring groove 66.3, the right shifting ring 65 is movably arranged in a water right steering limit ring groove 66.4, under the action of no external force, the side surface of the left shifting ring 63 connected with the damping centering spring 64 is in contact with a left steering centering surface 66.8 and has an initial centering moment, the side surface of the right shifting ring 65 connected with the damping centering spring 64 is in contact with a right steering centering surface 66.7 and has an initial centering moment, and the initial centering moments of the left shifting ring 63 and the right shifting ring 65 are equal in size and opposite in direction. Preferably, each of the left dial ring 63 and the right dial ring 65 includes a guide ball 63.2 and a dial 63.1 axially disposed on both ends of the guide ball 63.2 along the upper shaft 33. That is, after the damper outer ring assembly 60 is assembled, the two semi-circular ring grooves 66.6 form a complete circle, and the complete circle forms a movement space of the damping centering spring 64. The damping centering spring 64 is clamped and ground at its ends and can be pressed flat against the spring support surface 63.3. The dampening centering spring 64 may be a generally straight helical compression spring, but is preferably a circular arc compression spring to facilitate reducing frictional noise. The guide balls 63.2 arranged on the left shifting ring 63 and the right shifting ring 65 are spherical surfaces, and when the left shifting ring 63 or the right shifting ring 65 moves in a whole circle formed by the two semicircular annular grooves 66.6, the contact is linear contact rather than surface contact, so that the purpose of reducing friction and noise is achieved. The damper outer ring 66 is preferably made of nylon material, and noise can be reduced when the left dial ring 63 or the right dial ring 65 moves in the damper outer ring 66 or is pressed to the left steering centering surface 66.8 or the right steering centering surface 66.7 by the damping centering spring 64 to generate impact. Because the centering surface 63.4 is also intersected with the left steering centering surface 66.8 and the right steering centering surface 66.7 and is intersected with the circle center of the damper outer ring 66, when the centering surfaces are combined, the centering device is favorable for running stably and reducing impact shock, thereby reducing shock during steering wheel centering. The damper outer ring assembly 60 passes through the spacer 53 by a set of outer ring bolts 52, then passes through the outer ring mounting holes 66.1, and is fastened to the outer ring fixing bracket 51 by the outer ring nuts 54, so it can be understood that: the damper outer ring 66 is fixedly connected with the combined separating sleeve 21 without relative movement, under the effect of no external force, the left shifting ring 63 and the right shifting ring 65 are simultaneously pressed on the left steering centering surface 66.8 and the right steering centering surface 66.7 by the damping centering spring 64, and the damper outer ring assembly 60 rotates along with the combined separating sleeve 21. For weight reduction, nylon PA66 material is preferably used as the spacer 53.

As shown in fig. 2, 6, and 11, the damper inner race assembly 70 includes: a left inner ring 71, a right inner ring 72, and a bolt 73; the left inner ring 71 is provided with a countersunk head threaded hole 71.1, a left inner ring body 71.2, a second inner hole 71.3 and an inner ring poking hole 71.4; the right inner ring 72 is provided with a countersunk hole 72.1, a right inner ring body 72.2, an inner hole 72.3 and an inner ring poking hole 72.4, and the left inner ring 71 and the right inner ring 72 have the same structure and size except that the countersunk threaded hole 71.1 is different from the countersunk hole 72.1; when the damper inner ring assembly 70 is installed, the left inner ring body 71.2 of the left inner ring 71 is inserted into the first inner hole 66.5 of the damper outer ring assembly 60 from the left side, then the right inner ring body 72.2 of the right inner ring 72 is inserted into the first inner hole 66.5 from the right side, then the four bolts 73 pass through the countersunk holes 72.1 and are screwed into the countersunk threaded holes 71.1, at this time, the left inner ring 71 and the right inner ring 72 are fixedly connected to form the damper inner ring assembly 70, and then the damper outer ring assembly 60 in which the damper inner ring assembly 70 is sleeved is fixedly connected to the outer ring fixing support 51. An inner ring circle 21.3 and a clamp spring groove 21.2 are arranged on the combined separating sleeve 21, the bolt head of a bolt 73 on the damper inner ring assembly 70 sinks into a countersunk hole 72.1, a clamp spring 56 is also arranged at the right end of the damper inner ring assembly 70, the diameter of the inner ring circle 21.3 is smaller than that of an inner hole 72.3 on the damper inner ring assembly 70, the diameter of a left inner ring body 71.2 on the damper inner ring assembly 70 is smaller than that of a first inner hole 66.5 on the damper outer ring assembly 60, so that the axial displacement of the damper inner ring assembly 70 along the combined separating sleeve 21 is limited, but the damper inner ring assembly 70 can rotate relative to the combined separating sleeve 21 and the damper outer ring assembly 60, and the right end face of the bolt 73 cannot touch the clamp spring 56; and a cushion block 53 is also arranged between the damper outer ring assembly 60 and the outer ring fixing support 51, and the cushion block 53 is sleeved on the outer ring bolt 52. The relative axial positions of the damper outer ring assembly 60 and the damper inner ring assembly 70 can be adjusted by setting the thickness of the cushion block 53, and the distance between the right end surface of the left inner ring 71 and the damper outer ring assembly 60 is preferably equal to the distance between the left end surface of the right inner ring 72 and the damper outer ring assembly 60, that is: the damper inner race assembly 70 is located at a middle position of the damper outer race assembly 60 and is symmetrical.

As shown in fig. 8, 11, 12 and 13, the arc angle of the upper water left steering ring groove (71.5, 72.5) is larger than the arc angle of the upper water left steering limit ring groove 66.3, and the arc angle of the upper water right steering ring groove (71.6,72.6) is larger than the arc angle of the upper water right steering limit ring groove 66.4; the water left steering ring grooves (71.5, 72.5) are also provided with left groove roots (71.7,72.7), and the water right steering ring grooves (71.6,72.6) are also provided with right groove roots (71.8, 72.8). The included angle A between the overwater left-turning ring groove (71.5, 72.5) and the overwater right-turning ring groove (71.6,72.6) and the included angle A between the overwater left-turning limit ring groove 66.3 on the damper outer ring 66 and the overwater right-turning limit ring groove 66.4 are equal to the arc angle C of the overwater left-turning ring groove (71.5, 72.5) and the overwater right-turning ring groove (71.6,72.6) and are greater than the arc angle B of the overwater left-turning limit ring groove 66.3 and the overwater right-turning limit ring groove 66.4 of the damper outer ring 66.

More specifically, an overwater left steering ring groove 72.5 and an overwater right steering ring groove 72.6 are formed in the right inner ring 72, and an overwater left steering ring groove 71.5 and an overwater right steering ring groove 71.6 which are the same in size and position are also formed in the left inner ring 71; the overwater left steering ring groove 72.5 and the overwater right steering ring groove 72.6 on the right inner ring 72 are symmetrical relative to the centering position 21.4, the overwater left steering limit ring groove 66.3 and the overwater right steering limit ring groove 66.4 on the damper outer ring 66 are also symmetrical relative to the centering position 21.4, and the ring groove radius R of the overwater left steering ring groove 72.5 on the right inner ring 72 is equal to the ring groove radius R of the overwater left steering limit ring groove 66.3 of the damper outer ring 66; an included angle A between the overwater left steering ring groove 72.5 and the overwater right steering ring groove 72.6 on the right inner ring 72 is equal to an included angle A between the overwater left steering limit ring groove 66.3 and the overwater right steering limit ring groove 66.4 of the damper outer ring 66; the total angle C of the overwater left steering ring groove 72.5 on the right inner ring 72 is greater than the total angle B of the overwater left steering limit ring groove 66.3 of the damper outer ring 66, and the value of the total angle B is set to 90 degrees. When the damper inner ring assembly 70 is installed in the damper outer ring assembly 60, two symmetrical shift levers 63.1 of the left shift ring 63 are arranged in an overwater left steering ring groove 71.5 and an overwater left steering ring groove 72.5 which are also symmetrical, and two symmetrical shift levers of the right shift ring 65 are arranged in an overwater right steering ring groove 71.6 and an overwater right steering ring groove 71.6 which are symmetrical; it can be understood that, because the damper inner ring assembly 70 floats and can rotate relative to the damper outer ring assembly 60 and the combined separating sleeve 21 at the same time, the damping centering spring 64 presses the left shifting ring 63 rightwards, and the two shifting rods 63.1 on the left shifting ring 63 simultaneously press the left groove root 72.7 and the left groove root 71.7 rightwards until the centering surface 63.4 and the left steering centering surface 66.8 coincide and stop; the right and left shift rings 65, 63 are identical and abut the right steering centering surface 66.7. Therefore, regardless of the initial assembly position of the damper inner race 70, the damper inner race 70 is in the centering position 21.4 under the spring force of the damping centering spring 64 without the application of an external force.

As shown in fig. 2, 4, 13 and 14, the left inner ring 71 and the right inner ring 72 are respectively provided with correspondingly arranged inner ring poking holes (71.4,72.4), and one end of the water poking rod 55.2 connected with the upper shaft 33 extends into the inner ring poking holes (71.4, 72.4). More specifically, the center of the inner ring poking hole 72.4 on the right inner ring 72 is at the centering position 21.4; a deflector rod screw hole 33.1 is arranged on the upper shaft 33, a locking thread 55.1 and an overwater deflector rod 55.2 are arranged on the inner ring deflector rod 55, and the inner ring deflector rod 55 is fixedly connected with the upper shaft 33 through the locking thread 55.1; the distance from the axis of the screw hole 33.1 of the deflector rod to the axis of the upper shaft 33 is equal to the distance from the center of the inner ring poking hole 72.4 to the center of the right inner ring 72, and the overwater deflector rod 55.2 is in clearance fit with the inner ring poking hole 72.4 and can slide in the inner ring poking hole 72.4.

The working process of the automatic centering and damping mechanism of the steering column of the amphibious vehicle related to the invention is described in detail as follows:

in a combined state when the vehicle travels on land, as shown in fig. 1 and 2, the steering wheel rotates together with the upper shaft 33, the combining and separating sleeve 21, and the lower shaft 11, and the damper outer ring assembly 60 is fixedly coupled to the combining and separating sleeve 21, so that the damper outer ring assembly 60 rotates together with the upper shaft 33; when the vehicle runs on the land, the overwater shifting rod 55.2 is simultaneously inserted into the inner ring shifting hole 71.4 of the left inner ring 71 and the inner ring shifting hole 72.4 of the right inner ring 72, the rotation of the steering wheel drives the overwater shifting rod 55.2 to rotate together through the upper shaft 33, and the overwater shifting rod is transmitted to the damper inner ring assembly 70 to rotate simultaneously; therefore, when the vehicle runs on land, the damper outer ring assembly 60 and the damper inner ring assembly 70 are combined together to move synchronously along with the steering wheel or the upper shaft 33, the damper outer ring assembly 60 and the damper inner ring assembly 70 are relatively combined with the separating sleeve 21 to form a stator, the damper outer ring assembly 60 and the damper inner ring assembly 70 do not have relative rotation displacement, no force is applied to the upper shaft 33 by the damping centering spring 64, and therefore the original steering hand force characteristic of the steering wheel when the vehicle runs on land is not changed.

In a separated state when the vehicle runs on water, as shown in fig. 3 and 4, after the combined separating sleeve moves a certain distance to the left, the upper shaft 33 is separated from the lower shaft 11, at the moment, the steering wheel is kept in linkage with the upper shaft 33, and the combined separating sleeve 21 and the lower shaft 11 are locked together by the lower shell 15 at a centering position 21.4 and are kept still; although the combined separating sleeve 21 carries the damper outer ring assembly 60 and the damper inner ring assembly 70 together to move to the left by a set distance, it is still ensured that the overwater driving lever 55.2 fixedly connected to the inner ring driving lever 55 on the upper shaft 33 and the inner ring driving hole 72.4 keep a matching engagement length of L, that is: when the automobile is driven on water, the damper outer ring assembly 60 is locked at the centering position 21.4 by combining the separating sleeve 21 and keeps still as a stator, the damper inner ring assembly 70 is continuously linked with the upper shaft 33 through the inner ring deflector rod 55, relative to the damper outer ring assembly 60, the damper inner ring assembly 70 is changed into a rotor, when a driver turns a steering wheel to the left, the upper shaft 33 drives the water deflector rod 55.2 to rotate to the left together, the water deflector rod 55.2 overcomes the elasticity of the damping centering spring 64 to rotate to the left through the meshing with the inner ring deflector hole 72.4, the inner ring deflector hole 72.4 arranged on the right inner ring transmits the rotating force to the left inner ring 71 through the bolt 73, the left groove root 71.7 on the left inner ring 71 and the left groove root 72.7 on the right inner ring 72 jointly and do not deflect to push the two left and right symmetrical deflector rods 63.1 on the left deflector ring 63 to rotate to the left and rotate along the water left and right steering limiting ring groove 66.3 arranged on the damper outer ring 66 and are also symmetric to the left and right, at the moment, the right groove roots (71.8,72.8) rotate leftwards and are separated from the right shifting ring 65, and the angle of the left shifting ring 63 rotating away from the centering position 21.4 is always equal to the angle of the right groove roots (71.8,72.8) rotating away from the right shifting ring 65; the angle C of the water right steering ring groove (71.6,72.6) is larger than the water right steering limit ring groove 66.4 of the damper outer ring 66, namely the end position of the rotation stroke of the left poking ring 63 is limited by the water left steering limit ring groove 66.3 on the damper outer ring 66, so that the phenomenon of dryness can not occur. By damping the initial compression force of the centering spring 64 at the initial position, i.e., the neutral straight position, an initial damping force of the steering wheel can be achieved, that is: when the upper shaft 33 is separated from the lower shaft 11 and water running is started, an initial minimum damping torque always exists on the steering wheel, a driver can rotate the steering wheel by overcoming the set torque, the compression amount of the damping centering spring 64 is increased gradually and is in direct proportion to the stroke as the angle of the steering wheel rotated leftwards by the driver, and the driver can sense that the water steering angle is increased through the increase of the torque; when the driver looses his hand, under the action of the damping centering spring 64, the left shifting ring 63 is pushed to the centering position 21.4 in reverse, the left shifting ring 63 pushes the damper inner ring assembly 70 to the centering position through the two shifting rods 63.1 against the left groove roots (71.7,72.7), and the damper inner ring assembly 70 drives the upper shaft 33 to rotate towards the centering position 21.4 through the inner ring shifting rod 55 until the damper inner ring assembly stops at the initial centering position, so that after left steering is realized, the steering wheel has centering action and tendency as soon as the driver looses his hand. Conversely, the same procedure is used for right and left steering on water. According to the actual situation of the vehicle, when the marine steering is set in the embodiment, the steering wheel angle is B ═ 90 °, and the initial steering damping moment of the marine steering wheel is 2 n.m.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not intended to limit the invention, and that any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An automatic centering and damping mechanism of a steering column of an amphibious vehicle is characterized by comprising a lower shaft (11), an upper shaft (33), a lower shell (15), a combined separation sleeve (21), a damper outer ring assembly (60), a damper inner ring assembly (70) and an overwater deflector rod (55.2), wherein,

the lower shaft (11) and a vehicle steering transmission device are fixedly connected and can rotate together, the upper shaft (33) and a steering wheel are fixedly connected and can rotate together, the lower shell (15) is fixedly connected with a cross beam of a vehicle, and the lower shaft (11) and the upper shaft (33) are coaxially arranged;

the combination separation sleeve (21) is sleeved on the lower shaft (11), and the combination separation sleeve (21) can slide along the axial direction of the lower shaft (11) to realize separation or rotary connection with the upper shaft (33);

the damper outer ring assembly (60) is fixedly arranged on the combined separating sleeve (21);

the damper inner ring assembly (70) penetrates through a first inner hole (72.2) of the damper outer ring assembly (60) and is rotatably sleeved on the periphery of the combination separation sleeve (21), the damper inner ring assembly (70) is rotatably connected with the damper outer ring assembly (60) through a centering return damping elastic body, and the damper inner ring assembly (70) is also in sliding connection with an overwater deflector rod (55.2) fixedly arranged on the upper shaft (33);

in this way, when the vehicle runs on land, the combination and separation sleeve (21) is simultaneously connected with the lower shaft (11) and the upper shaft (33) so that the lower shaft (11) and the upper shaft (33) rotate together, when the vehicle runs in water, the combination and separation sleeve (21) slides to one end of the lower shaft (11) so that the lower shaft (11) and the upper shaft (33) are separated, the combination and separation sleeve (21) is rotatably connected with the upper shaft (33), and meanwhile, the rotation of the upper shaft (33) drives the water deflector rod (55.2) to rotate and then drives the damper inner ring assembly (70) to rotate under the action of overcoming the elastic force of the centering and returning damping elastic body and automatically return and center under the action of no external force of the upper shaft (33).

2. An amphibious vehicle steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the damper outer ring assembly (60) comprises a damper outer ring (66), an overwater left steering limit ring groove (66.3) and an overwater right steering limit ring groove (66.4) which are symmetrically arranged relative to a centering position (21.4) are arranged on the damper outer ring (66), a semi-circular ring groove (66.6) for accommodating the centering damping elastomer is also arranged in the damper outer ring (66), the semi-circular arc ring groove (66.6) is arranged corresponding to the overwater left-turning limiting ring groove (66.3) and the overwater right-turning limiting ring groove (66.4), and the semicircular arc ring groove (66.6) is provided with a left steering centering surface (66.8) and a right steering centering surface (66.7) which are symmetrically arranged relative to the centering position (21.4), the left steering centering surface (66.8), the right steering centering surface (66.7) and the centering position (21.4) intersect the axis of the upper shaft (33);

the centering return damping elastic body moves along the water left steering limit ring groove (66.3) or the water right steering limit ring groove (66.4) under the action of external force and automatically returns under the action of no external force.

3. An amphibious vehicle steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the centering and returning damping elastic body comprises a damping centering spring (64), a left shifting ring (63) and a right shifting ring (65) which are respectively arranged at two ends of the damping centering spring (64) and have the same structure, the left shifting ring (63) is movably arranged in an overwater left steering limit ring groove (66.3), the right shifting ring (65) is movably arranged in an overwater right steering limit ring groove (66.4), under the condition of no external force, the side surface of the left shifting ring (63) connected with the damping centering spring (64) is in contact with a left steering centering surface (66.8) and has an initial centering moment, the side surface of the right shifting ring (65) connected with the damping centering spring (64) is in contact with a right steering centering surface (66.7) and has an initial centering moment, the initial centering moments of the left shifting ring (63) and the right shifting ring (65) are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

4. An amphibious vehicle steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism according to claim 3, characterised in that the left and right hand rims (63, 64) each comprise a guide ball (63.2) and a dog (63.1) axially along the upper shaft (33) at each end of the guide ball (63.2).

5. An amphibious vehicle steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the damper inner ring assembly (70) comprises a left inner ring (71) and a right inner ring (72) which are fixedly connected, a left inner ring body (71.2) is arranged on the left inner ring (71), a right inner ring body (72.2) is arranged on the right inner ring (72), the left inner ring body (71.2) is arranged on the left side of the damper outer ring assembly (60), the left inner ring body (71.2) is movably arranged in the first inner hole (66.5), the right inner ring body (72.2) is arranged on the right side of the damper outer ring assembly (60), and the right inner ring body (72.2) is movably arranged in the first inner hole (66.5);

left side inner circle (71) and right inner circle (72) all be equipped with turn to the corresponding epaxial left side that sets up of spacing annular (66.3) on water and turn to annular (71.5, 72.5) and with turn to right on water that sets up of spacing annular (66.4) on water and turn to annular (71.6,72.6), a left side is dialled ring (63) both ends driving lever (63.1) activity and is passed left side on water turns to annular (71.5, 72.5) and sets up, right side is dialled ring (64) both ends driving lever (63.1) activity and is passed right side on water turns to annular (71.6,72.6) and sets up.

6. An amphibious vehicle steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism according to claim 5, characterised in that the arc angle of the marine left steering ring groove (71.5, 72.5) is greater than the arc angle of the marine left steering limit ring groove (66.3), and the arc angle of the marine right steering ring groove (71.6,72.6) is greater than the arc angle of the marine right steering limit ring groove (66.4).

7. An amphibious vehicle steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism according to claim 5, characterised in that the angle A between the waterborne left and right steering ring grooves (71.5, 72.5, 71.6,72.6) of the damper inner ring assembly (70) is equal to the angle A between the waterborne left and right steering limit ring grooves (66.3, 66.4) of the damper outer ring assembly (60), and the arc angle C of the waterborne left and right steering ring grooves (71.5, 72.5, 71.6,72.6) is greater than the arc angle B of the waterborne left and right steering limit ring grooves (66.3, 66.4) of the damper outer ring (66).

8. An amphibious vehicle steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the combination separation sleeve (21) is further provided with an inner circle (21.3) and a clamp spring groove (21.2), the inner hole (72.3) of the damper inner ring assembly (70) is larger than the diameter of the inner circle (21.3), the damper inner ring assembly (70) is rotatably sleeved on the outer periphery of the inner circle (21.3), and the clamp spring groove (21.2) is provided with an inner ring clamp spring (56) for limiting the damper inner ring assembly (70) to axially move;

the left inner ring (71) and the right inner ring (72) are respectively provided with inner ring poking holes (71.4,72.4) which are correspondingly arranged, the overwater poking rod (55.2) is inserted into the inner ring poking holes (71.4,72.4), the overwater poking rod (55.2) is connected with the inner ring poking holes (71.4,72.4) in a sliding way,

the upper shaft (33) is fixedly connected with an inner ring deflector rod (55), one end of the inner ring deflector rod (55) is connected with the overwater deflector rod (55.2), and the damper inner assembly (70) rotates together with the upper shaft (33) through the overwater deflector rod (55.2).

9. An amphibious vehicle steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the damper outer ring closing member (60) is fixedly arranged on the joint separation sleeve (21) through an outer ring fixing support (51), the outer ring fixing support (51) comprises three support bodies uniformly arranged along the axis of the lower shaft (11), when the centering and returning damping elastic body is returned, the central line of one of the support bodies is located at a centering position (21.4), each support body is provided with a bolt hole (51.1), an outer ring bolt (52) is arranged at the corresponding bolt hole (51.1), and the outer ring bolt (52) passes through the bolt hole (51.1) and is fixedly connected with the damper outer ring closing member (60).

10. An amphibious vehicle steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism according to claim 8, characterised in that a cushion block (53) is further arranged between the damper outer ring closing member (60) and the outer ring fixing bracket (51), and the cushion block (53) is sleeved on the outer ring bolt (52).

11. An amphibious vehicle steering column automatic centering and damping mechanism according to claim 8, characterised in that the outer periphery of the coupling and decoupling sleeve (21) is provided with a fork member for adjusting the axial position of the coupling and decoupling sleeve (21) along the lower shaft (11) to achieve fixing or decoupling of the lower shaft (11) from the upper shaft (33).