CN211494206U

CN211494206U - Steering column and vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN211494206U
Application number: CN201921988666.7U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 侯慷
Original assignee: Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-11-15
Filing date: 2019-11-15
Publication date: 2020-09-15
Anticipated expiration: 2029-11-15

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a steering column and a vehicle, the steering column including: the first column tube is internally and coaxially provided with a first steering shaft used for being connected with a steering wheel, and the first steering shaft is axially and fixedly connected with the first column tube; the second column pipe is fixed on the vehicle body, a second steering shaft used for being connected with the steering gear is coaxially arranged in the second column pipe, the second steering shaft is axially and fixedly connected with the second column pipe, the first column pipe is coaxially sleeved on the outer side of the second column pipe and can axially slide relative to the second column pipe, and the first steering shaft and the second steering shaft can axially slide and be connected; the first driving piece is used for driving the first column tube to slide close to or far away from the second column tube; and the limiting assembly is used for limiting the first column tube to slide close to or far away from the second column tube, and comprises a first limiting part fixed on the outer wall of the first column tube and a second limiting part movably arranged on the vehicle body, and the second limiting part moves towards or far away from the first limiting part to axially limit or relieve axial limitation with the first limiting part.

Description

Steering column and vehicle

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of vehicle technology, and in particular, to a steering column and a vehicle.

Background

Along with the continuous development of modern science and technology, the unmanned technology is also continuously improved, and the unmanned vehicles which are operated in a demonstration mode in some current parks and the highest-level unmanned vehicles in the future generally have two modes of automatic driving and manual driving. When the automatic driving mode is adopted for driving, a steering wheel is not needed, and the vehicle can be automatically driven according to road conditions after a route is planned; the driver is required to operate the steering wheel to control the vehicle when exiting the autonomous driving mode, i.e. when using the manual driving mode. In general, it is desirable that the steering wheel be retracted downward in automatic driving to increase the cabin space and improve the aesthetic appearance, and it is desirable that the steering wheel be opened upward in manual driving for the driver to operate, and therefore, it is desirable that the steering wheel be opened or retracted according to actual needs.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a steering column capable of opening or retracting a steering wheel according to actual needs to satisfy respective functions of automatic driving and manual driving.

It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a vehicle configured with the steering column provided by the present disclosure.

In order to achieve the above object, the present disclosure provides a steering column including:

the steering device comprises a first column tube, a second column tube and a steering wheel, wherein a first steering shaft used for being connected with a steering wheel is coaxially arranged inside the first column tube, and the first steering shaft is axially and fixedly connected with the first column tube;

the second column pipe is fixed on the vehicle body, a second steering shaft used for being connected with a steering gear is coaxially arranged inside the second column pipe, the second steering shaft is axially and fixedly connected with the second column pipe, the first column pipe is coaxially sleeved on the outer side of the second column pipe and can axially slide relative to the second column pipe, and the first steering shaft and the second steering shaft can axially slide and be connected;

the first driving piece is used for driving the first column tube to axially move close to or far away from the second column tube in a sliding manner; and

the limiting assembly is used for limiting the first column tube to be close to or far away from the second column tube in the axial direction to slide, the limiting assembly comprises a first limiting part fixed on the outer wall of the first column tube and a second limiting part movably arranged on a vehicle body, and the second limiting part moves towards or far away from the first limiting part to limit or relieve the axial limit of the first limiting part in the axial direction.

Optionally, the first limiting member is configured as a first rack axially disposed on an outer wall of the first column tube, and the second limiting member is configured as a second rack axially disposed on a vehicle body and capable of engaging with or disengaging from the first rack.

Optionally, the length of the first rack is less than the length of the second rack.

Optionally, the limiting assembly further includes a second driving element for driving the second limiting element to move toward or away from the first limiting element.

Optionally, the second driving element includes an electromagnet connected to the body electrical control system and an elastic element elastically abutting against the second limiting element along the radial direction, and the electromagnet is disposed close to the second limiting element so as to be capable of adsorbing the second limiting element in the power-on state and making the second limiting element move away from the first limiting element.

Optionally, the resilient member is a spring.

Optionally, the steering column further includes a sleeve coaxially disposed inside the second column tube, the sleeve is axially and fixedly connected to the second column tube, one end of the sleeve is axially and slidably connected to the first steering shaft, and the other end of the sleeve is fixedly connected to the second steering shaft.

Optionally, an inner spline is formed on an inner wall of the sleeve, and an outer spline in sliding fit with the inner spline is formed at one end, away from the steering wheel, of the first steering shaft.

Optionally, the first drive member is a motor.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle is provided, the vehicle comprising a steering column according to the above.

Through the technical scheme, when the steering wheel needs to be opened or retracted, the second limiting piece moves away from the first limiting piece to remove axial limiting with the first limiting piece, at the moment, the first column tube can axially slide relative to the second column tube under the driving of the first driving piece, and the first column tube is axially and fixedly connected with the first steering shaft and the second column tube is axially and fixedly connected with the second steering shaft, so that the first steering shaft can synchronously axially slide along with the first column tube, and the steering wheel can be driven to be opened or retracted; and after the steering wheel is opened or withdrawn, the second limiting piece moves towards the first limiting piece to be axially limited with the first limiting piece, so that the first column tube is limited to axially slide relative to the second column tube, and the steering wheel is fixed at a corresponding position.

Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the disclosure without limiting the disclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a steering column according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of the steering column shown in FIG. 1 in an open state;

fig. 3 is a schematic structural view of the steering column shown in fig. 1 in a retracted state.

Description of the reference numerals

100 first column tube 200 first steering shaft

300 second column tube 400 second steering shaft

500 first driving piece 600 limiting assembly

610 first limiting piece 620 second limiting piece

630 second driving member 631 electromagnet

632 elastic member 700 sleeve

Detailed Description

The following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present disclosure is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the present disclosure, are given by way of illustration and explanation only, not limitation.

In the present disclosure, unless otherwise stated, the terms of orientation such as "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom" are generally defined according to the normal use state of the steering column, and specifically, reference may be made to the directions of the drawings shown in fig. 2 and 3; "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours of the respective components. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and the like, as used in this disclosure, are intended to distinguish one element from another, and not necessarily for order or importance. When the following description refers to the accompanying drawings, like numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated.

Referring to fig. 1 to 3, the present disclosure provides a steering column including a first column tube 100, a first steering shaft 200, a second column tube 300, a second steering shaft 400, a first driving member 500, and a limit assembly 600. Wherein, first steering shaft 200 coaxial cover is established in the inside of first column pipe 100 and with steering wheel fixed connection, and second steering shaft 400 coaxial cover is established in the inside of second column pipe 300 and with steering gear fixed connection, and first column pipe 100 and second column pipe 300 are installed together from top to bottom promptly, and it can protect inside steering shaft, and first steering shaft 200 and second steering shaft 400 are also installed together from top to bottom to transmit the moment of torsion of steering wheel to the steering gear. Specifically, the second column tube 300 may be fixed to the vehicle body by a bracket, the bottom end of the first column tube 100 may be coaxially sleeved outside the top end of the second column tube 300, and the two may be in clearance fit, so that the first column tube 100 may axially slide relative to the second column tube 300. The first steering shaft 200 is axially fixedly connected with the first column tube 100, the second steering shaft 400 is axially fixedly connected with the second column tube 300, and the first steering shaft 200 and the second steering shaft 400 are axially slidably connected, so that the first column tube 100 and the first steering shaft 200 as well as the second column tube 300 and the second steering shaft 400 are axially relatively fixed, and therefore when the first column tube 100 axially slides relative to the second column tube 300, the first steering shaft 200 can be driven to synchronously axially slide relative to the second steering shaft 400, and ascending, opening or descending and retracting of the steering wheel are achieved. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the first steering shaft 200 and the second steering shaft 400 are only axially slidably connected and are circumferentially relatively fixed to enable the torque of the steering wheel to be transmitted to the steering gear. In addition, the connection between the first steering shaft 200 and the first column tube 100 and the connection between the second steering shaft 400 and the second column tube 300 can be achieved by a method commonly and well known in the art, for example, the steering shaft can be connected with the corresponding column tube through a bearing and the like, which will not be described in detail herein.

Further, the first driving member 500 may be directly fixed to the vehicle body, or may be fixedly connected to the vehicle body through a corresponding mounting bracket. Therein, a first driver 500 may be arranged adjacent to the first column tube 100 for driving the first column tube 100 to slide axially closer to or away from the second column tube 300. The limiting assembly 600 may include a first limiting member 610 fixed on an outer wall of the first pillar 100 and a second limiting member 620 movably disposed on the vehicle body, where the second limiting member 620 corresponds to the first limiting member 610 in position, so that when the second limiting member 620 moves toward or away from the first limiting member 610, the axial limiting can be axially limited or released from the first limiting member 610, so as to correspondingly limit the axial sliding of the first pillar 100 toward or away from the second pillar 300. That is, when the second limiting member 620 moves toward the first limiting member 610, the first column tube 100 can be limited axially by the engagement with the first limiting member 610, so as to limit the axial sliding of the first column tube 100 relative to the second column tube 300; when the second limiting member 620 moves away from the first limiting member 610, the second limiting member 620 is separated from the first limiting member 610, and there is no cooperation therebetween, and at this time, the axial limiting of the first limiting member 610 by the second limiting member 620 is released, so that the first column tube 100 can axially slide relative to the second column tube 300.

Through the above technical solution, when the steering wheel needs to be opened or retracted, the second limiting member 620 moves away from the first limiting member 610 to remove the axial limiting with the first limiting member 610, at this time, the first column tube 100 can axially slide relative to the second column tube 300 under the driving of the first driving member 500, and the first column tube 100 and the first steering shaft 200 as well as the second column tube 300 and the second steering shaft 400 are axially and fixedly connected, so that the first steering shaft 200 can synchronously axially slide along with the first column tube 100, and the steering wheel can be driven to be opened or retracted; after the steering wheel is opened or retracted, the second limiting member 620 moves toward the first limiting member 610 to axially limit the first limiting member 610, so as to limit the axial sliding of the first column tube 100 relative to the second column tube 300, and fix the steering wheel at a corresponding position.

The present disclosure does not limit the specific configuration of the first limiting member 610 and the second limiting member 620, as long as the axial limiting of the first column tube 100 can be realized through the mutual cooperation. For example, in the embodiment shown in fig. 1 to 3, the first retaining member 610 may be configured as a first rack axially provided on the outer wall of the first column tube 100, and the second retaining member 620 may be correspondingly configured as a second rack axially provided on the vehicle body and capable of engaging with or disengaging from the first rack, so as to axially retain the first column tube 100 by the engagement of the tooth grooves between the first rack and the second rack. That is, the first rack is fixedly disposed on the first column tube 100, and when the second rack is engaged with the first rack, the second rack has an axial engaging force with respect to the first rack, so that the first rack cannot slide along with the first column tube 100 in a synchronous axial direction, and further the axial movement of the first column tube 100 is restricted. The first limiting member 610 and the second limiting member 620, in addition to having the above-mentioned function of limiting the axial sliding of the first column tube 100, can also play a role of auxiliary circumferential limiting on the first column tube 100 to a certain extent, so as to limit the rotation of the first column tube 100 along its own axis.

Further, referring to fig. 1, the length of the first rack in the axial direction may be smaller than the length of the second rack in the axial direction, so that the first rack can be engaged with the second rack at a corresponding position as the first column tube 100 slides axially closer to or farther from the second column tube 300. Wherein the length of the second rack gear should be able to satisfy the corresponding axial movement distance required when the first column tube 100 is axially slid.

In an embodiment provided by the present disclosure, referring to fig. 1 to 3, the limiting assembly 600 may further include a second driving member 630 for driving the second limiting member 620 to move toward or away from the first limiting member 610, and the second driving member 630 and the second limiting member 620 may be fixed on the vehicle body through a mounting bracket and the like. The second driving member 630 may be connected to the second limiting member 620 through a mechanical connection, so as to directly transmit a force to the second limiting member 620, so as to move toward or away from the first limiting member 610. The second driving member 630 may be, for example, an electric push rod, a rack and pinion mechanism, or the like.

According to some embodiments, referring to fig. 1 to 3, the second driving member 630 may not be directly connected to the second limiting member 620, and may control the movement of the second limiting member 620 through an adsorption effect. Specifically, in an embodiment where the first limiting member 610 is a first rack and the second limiting member 620 is a second rack, the second driving member 630 may include an electromagnet 631 connected to the vehicle body electrical control system and an elastic member 632 elastically abutting against the second rack in the radial direction, and the electromagnet 631 may be disposed close to the second rack so as to be capable of attracting the second rack in the power-on state to move the second rack away from the first rack. That is, when the first column tube 100 does not need to slide along the axial direction, the second rack is fixed at the position meshed with the first rack by the elastic action of the elastic member 632, and when the first column tube 100 needs to slide along the axial direction, the electromagnet 631 is controlled to be energized to generate an electromagnetic field, so that an adsorption force is generated on the second rack, and the second rack moves away from the first rack (i.e., close to the electromagnet 631) to release the axial limit on the first column tube 100, in the process, the elastic member 632 is further compressed, and an elastic restoring force is stored; after the first column tube 100 axially slides to a corresponding position, the electromagnet 631 is controlled to be powered off, the adsorption effect of the electromagnet 631 on the second rack disappears, and the second rack moves towards the first rack (i.e., away from the electromagnet 631) under the elastic restoring force of the elastic element 632, so that the second rack is continuously engaged with the first rack, and the axial limit of the first column tube 100 is recovered. The electromagnet 631 may be connected to an electric control system of the vehicle body, or may be connected to a separately provided power supply device, as long as the electromagnet 631 is powered on or off according to actual needs.

Further, referring to fig. 1 to 3, the elastic member 632 may be a spring. The spring can radially elastically abut against the second rack, namely the spring is always in a compressed state so as to limit the free movement of the second rack. The spring, the electromagnet 631 and the second rack can be fixedly mounted on the vehicle body through the mounting bracket.

According to the embodiment provided by the present disclosure, referring to fig. 1, the steering column may further include a sleeve 700 coaxially disposed inside the second column tube 300, the sleeve 700 is axially fixedly connected with the second column tube 300, and one end of the sleeve 700 is axially slidably connected with the first steering shaft 200, and the other end is fixedly connected with the second steering shaft 400, that is, the first steering shaft 200 and the second steering shaft 400 may be axially slidably connected through the sleeve 700. The end portions of the first steering shaft 200 and the second steering shaft 400 can be coaxially sleeved on the inner sides of the two ends of the sleeve 700, and the fixed connection between the second steering shaft 400 and the sleeve 700 means that the two are rigidly connected, i.e. do not have relative movement.

Further, as shown in fig. 1, an inner wall of the sleeve 700 may be formed with an inner spline, and accordingly, an end of the first steering shaft 200 away from the steering wheel may be formed with an outer spline that is slidably fitted with the inner spline, that is, the first steering shaft 200 and the sleeve 700 may be axially slid with respect to the sleeve 700 by the spline fitting. Wherein the length of the spline section should be such that the required axial movement distance of the first steering shaft 200 is met. In other embodiments, the first steering shaft 200 may be slidably connected to the sleeve 700 by, for example, rolling members, which may be coaxially disposed between the first steering shaft 200 and the sleeve 700.

In addition, the present disclosure does not limit the form of the first driving member 500, for example, according to some embodiments, the first driving member 500 may be a motor. A third rack engaged with the gear output shaft of the motor may be disposed on the first column tube 100, so that the rotational motion of the motor can be converted into a linear motion of the third rack, thereby implementing the axial sliding of the first column tube 100. The cooperation form of motor and third rack also can play the supplementary axial limiting to first column pipe 100 to a certain extent, and this disclosure can fully guarantee to first column pipe 100 the axial spacing through set up spacing subassembly 600 on steering column to make first column pipe 100 can the axial free movement when preventing to press the steering wheel for artificial or other factors under first driving piece 500 structure for the structure form that does not have self-locking function.

The present disclosure also provides a vehicle, wherein the vehicle may comprise the steering column described above. The vehicle has all the benefits of the steering column described above and will not be described in detail here. The vehicle can be a manually operated vehicle operated by a driver, so that the steering wheel can be adapted to different drivers by adjusting the height of the steering column; the vehicle can also be an unmanned vehicle, and at the moment, the steering column can enable the steering wheel to be upwards opened or downwards folded according to actual needs so as to meet the corresponding functions of automatic driving and manual driving.

The preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, however, the present disclosure is not limited to the specific details of the above embodiments, and various simple modifications may be made to the technical solution of the present disclosure within the technical idea of the present disclosure, and these simple modifications all belong to the protection scope of the present disclosure.

It should be noted that, in the foregoing embodiments, various features described in the above embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner, and in order to avoid unnecessary repetition, various combinations that are possible in the present disclosure are not described again.

In addition, any combination of various embodiments of the present disclosure may be made, and the same should be considered as the disclosure of the present disclosure, as long as it does not depart from the spirit of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A steering column, comprising:

the steering device comprises a first column tube (100), wherein a first steering shaft (200) used for being connected with a steering wheel is coaxially arranged inside the first column tube (100), and the first steering shaft (200) is axially and fixedly connected with the first column tube (100);

the second column tube (300) is fixed on a vehicle body, a second steering shaft (400) used for being connected with a steering gear is coaxially arranged inside the second column tube (300), the second steering shaft (400) is axially and fixedly connected with the second column tube (300), the first column tube (100) is coaxially sleeved outside the second column tube (300) and can axially slide relative to the second column tube (300), and the first steering shaft (200) and the second steering shaft (400) can axially slide and be connected;

a first driving member (500) for driving the first column tube (100) to slide axially closer to or away from the second column tube (300); and

the limiting assembly (600) is used for limiting the first column tube (100) to be close to or far away from the second column tube (300) to slide along the axial direction, the limiting assembly (600) comprises a first limiting part (610) fixed on the outer wall of the first column tube (100) and a second limiting part (620) movably arranged on a vehicle body, and the second limiting part (620) moves towards or far away from the first limiting part (610) to limit or release the axial limiting with the first limiting part (610).

2. The steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that the first retaining member (610) is configured as a first rack axially provided on an outer wall of the first column tube (100), and the second retaining member (620) is configured as a second rack axially provided on a vehicle body that can be engaged with or disengaged from the first rack.

3. The steering column according to claim 2, wherein the length of the first rack is less than the length of the second rack.

4. A steering column according to claim 1, wherein the stop assembly (600) further comprises a second drive member (630) for driving the second stop member (620) towards or away from the first stop member (610).

5. The steering column according to claim 4, characterized in that the second driving member (630) comprises an electromagnet (631) connected to the body electrical control system and an elastic member (632) elastically abutting against the second limiting member (620) in the radial direction, and the electromagnet (631) is disposed close to the second limiting member (620) so as to be capable of attracting the second limiting member (620) in the energized state to move the second limiting member (620) away from the first limiting member (610).

6. The steering column according to claim 5, characterized in that the resilient member (632) is a spring.

7. Steering column according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises a sleeve (700) coaxially arranged inside the second column tube (300), the sleeve (700) being axially fixedly connected to the second column tube (300), one end of the sleeve (700) being axially slidably connected to the first steering shaft (200) and the other end being fixedly connected to the second steering shaft (400).

8. A steering column according to claim 7, characterised in that the sleeve (700) has internal splines formed on its inner wall and the end of the first steering shaft (200) remote from the steering wheel has external splines formed to slidingly engage with the internal splines.

9. The steering column according to claim 1, wherein the first drive member (500) is an electric motor.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a steering column according to any one of claims 1-9.