KR20190059885A - Collapsible steering column assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A collapsible steering column assembly comprises: a mounting bracket having a pair of arms facing each other and formed to be fixed to a vehicle body; a support housing coupled to the mounting bracket to tilt; a steering column installed through the support housing; a locking device configured to be selectively in a locked or unlocked state; and an impact energy absorbing member performing an energy absorbing function.

Description

[0001] Collapsible steering column assembly [0002]

The present invention relates to a collapsible steering column assembly that can be collapsed upon impact by applying an energy absorbing function.

The steering column assembly is connected to a steering wheel of the vehicle so as to perform steering by the operation of the driver. Typically, the steering column assembly is configured for tilt and telescopic behavior for the operator's convenience. The tilt behavior adjusts the angular position of the steering wheel, and the telescopic behavior adjusts the longitudinal position of the steering column. A locking device is typically provided to selectively enable such tilting and telescopic behavior. When the lock is in the locked state, the tilt and telescopic behavior is interrupted to maintain the position of the steering wheel and tilt and telescopic behavior is allowed if the lock is in the unlocked state.

On the other hand, such a steering column assembly is formed so as to collapse while absorbing energy in the event of an impact such as a vehicle collision. That is, when the driver collides with the steering column, the inner jacket is introduced into the outer jacket due to the impact force to collapse, and the impact energy is absorbed in the process. A steering column having such a function is usually called a collapsible steering column.

Conventionally, in order to realize such an energy absorbing function, a method of inserting a tolerance ring between an inner jacket and an outer jacket, a method of applying an energy absorbing strap, And methods of using collapse have been introduced.

Such a collapsible steering column includes a pair of lock teeth for fixing the outer jacket, and rotation of the lock teeth occurs when switching to the locked and unlocked states. In this case, noise and a sense of heterogeneity There was a problem. In addition, since a shock is applied in a state where a pair of lock teeth are engaged with each other, there is a problem that an impact can not be effectively absorbed at the initial stage of collapse.

US registered patent US 8,375,822 (registered on February 19, 2013) US registered patent US 8,403, 364 (registered on Mar. 26, 2013) US registered patent US 8,500,168 (registered on August 06, 2013)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a compliant steering column assembly capable of relieving noise and heterogeneity caused by collision between lock teeth, .

A compliant steering column assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a pair of arms facing each other, a mounting bracket fixed to a vehicle body, a mounting bracket coupled to the mounting bracket in a tiltable manner, A steering column installed through the support housing so as to enable a telescopic behavior with respect to the support housing and a tilt behavior together with the support housing, a clamping force applied to the pair of arms by selectively applying a clamping force to the pair of arms, A locking device configured to selectively be in a locked or unlocked state to selectively allow telescopic and tilt behavior of the steering column and an energy absorbing function when an impact occurs while the locking device is in the locked condition Absorbs impact energy It comprises a material. The steering column includes an outer jacket and an inner jacket slidably inserted into the outer jacket. The inner jacket is configured to slide in the support housing together with the outer jacket when the telescopic behavior of the steering column occurs in the released state of the locking device. The inner jacket may be collapsed into the outer jacket when an impact is applied to the steering column in a locked state of the locking device. The locking device is configured to selectively allow movement of the outer jacket in the direction of the telescopic behavior through a tooth engagement selectively engaged or disengaged according to the locked state and the unlocked state. Wherein when the impact is generated while the locking device is in the locked state, the impact absorbing function by the impact energy absorbing member does not occur, and the impact energy absorbing by the clamping force by the pair of arms occurs, Absorbing member is moved by a predetermined length in the direction of the telescopic behavior and then the energy absorbing function by the impact-energy absorbing member is started, the clearance in the direction of the telescopic behavior between the two lock- Lt; / RTI >

The locking device may include a lever capable of pivoting between a locked position and an unlocked position, a tilt bolt coupled to the lever to rotate with the lever, and a locking mechanism configured to apply a clamping force to the pair of arms in response to rotation of the tilt bolt A lock member which is formed to be able to rotate between a lock position and a release position by rotation of the rotation member, And a biasing member for providing a biasing force to the locking position.

The cam member may include a first cam member coupled to the tilt bolt, and a second cam member cam-coupled with the first cam member and supported on an outer surface of the arm of the mounting bracket.

The outer jacket may include a first lock that constitutes the tooth coupling. The rotating member may include a body portion coupled to the tilt bolt, a pair of leg portions protruding from both ends of the body portion, and a driving rod connecting the pair of leg portions. The locking member may include a slot into which the driving rod is inserted, and a second locking member selectively engageable with the first locking member constituting the tooth coupling.

The first locking value and the second locking value may have a clearance such that when the rotating member rotates about the longitudinal axis of the tilt bolt in a state before collapse of the steering column, the first locking value and the second locking value do not collide with each other.

The impact energy absorbing member may be a tolerance ring interposed between the outer jacket and the inner jacket. The telescopic behavior in which the inner jacket and the outer jacket slide together, and the collapse of the inner jacket into the outer jacket, Lt; / RTI >

According to the present invention, by providing a clearance between the lock teeth constituting the lock device, noise and heterogeneity due to the collision between the lock teeth are not generated, and stable shock absorption is possible at the time of collapse.

1 is a perspective view of a collapsible steerable column assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG.
3 is a partially enlarged view of Fig.
4 is a view illustrating a locking state of telescopic behavior in a collapsible steering column assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a view showing the unlocked state of the telescopic behavior in the collapsible steered column assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the structure of a locking device of a lockable steering column assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a state in which the outer jacket is moved by the impact in the state of FIG. 6. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the collapsible steering column assembly includes a steering column 10. The steering column 10 includes an inner jacket 11 and an outer jacket 12. One end of the inner jacket 11 is inserted into the outer jacket 12 so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction. At this time, a steering wheel (not shown) can be fastened to the other end of the inner jacket 11, and steering shafts 13 and 14 fastened to each other in the longitudinal direction can be coupled to the inner jacket 11 and the outer jacket 12, respectively. When an impact force that may cause collapse is applied to the steering wheel, the inner jacket 11 is pushed into the outer jacket 12 and collapses and energy absorption takes place in this process. This will be explained later.

1, the steering column 10 is movable in the telescopic direction 15 and can be tiltably mounted in the tilt direction 16, for example.

1 and 2, the collapsible steering column assembly includes a mounting bracket 20. The mounting bracket 20 may be fixed to the vehicle body and may include a pair of arms 21 facing each other. The arm 21 can be formed so as to be elastically deformed in a direction approaching each other when an external force (clamping force) is applied.

1 and 2, the collapsible steering column assembly includes a support housing 22 which is tiltably fastened to the mounting bracket 20. For example, the support housing 22 can be tiltably fastened to the mounting bracket 20 via a tilt shaft 26. At this time, the tilting direction of the support housing 22 is the same as the tilting direction 16 of the steering column 10. The support housing 22 can form a cylinder-shaped accommodation space extending in the longitudinal direction, and a steering column 10 is slidably installed in the accommodation space. The telescopic behavior of the steering column 10 is caused by the sliding of the steering column 10 in the support housing 22 and the tilting behavior of the steering column 10 due to the tilting of the steering column 10 with the support housing 22 It happens. That is, the steering column 10 is inserted into the support housing 22 to enable telescopic behavior through relative movement to the support housing 22 and tilt behavior that occurs with the support housing 22.

The support housing 22 may include a pair of legs 23 that are configured to face a pair of arms 21 of the mounting bracket 20. 1, a pair of legs 23 of the support housing 22 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance so as to be in contact with the inner surfaces of the pair of arms 21 of the mounting bracket 20 .

Meanwhile, a biasing member 24 may be provided to prevent the support housing 22 and the supported steering column 10 from falling down during the tilting operation. The biasing member 24 may include a coil spring having an elastic restoring force and may be connected to the mounting bracket 20 at one end and to the support housing 22 at the other end.

The inner jacket 11 and the outer jacket 12 are passed through the support housing 22 so as to pass between the pair of arms 21 of the mounting bracket 20 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 Respectively.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the collapsible steering column assembly includes a locking device 30 that operates to selectively lock or permit telescopic and tilt behavior. The locking device 30 can be selectively placed in the locked and unlocked positions, where telescopic and tilt behavior is blocked at the locked position and telescopic and tilted at the unlocked position. The locking device 30 is configured to selectively apply a clamping force to the pair of arms 21 of the mounting bracket 20 so that the telescopic and tilting behavior of the steering column 10 is selectively effected do.

The locking device 30 includes a lever 31 capable of pivoting between a locked position and a unlocked position and a tilt bolt 32 fastened to the lever 31 to rotate therewith can do. The tilting bolt 32 is attached to a pair of arms 21 of the mounting bracket 20 and a pair of legs 22 of the support housing 22 23, respectively. The tilt bolt 32 defines a longitudinal axis transverse to a pair of arms 21 of the mounting bracket 20 and a pair of legs 23 of the support housing 22, . At this time, both side ends of the tilt bolt 32 are respectively protruded to the outside of the pair of arms 21 of the mounting bracket 20. The lever 31 is connected to one end and the fixing nut 33 is fastened to the other end . Under such a structure, the rotation of the lever 31 enables the tilt bolt 32 to rotate about its longitudinal axis.

The locking device 30 includes cam members 34 and 35 disposed between the arm 21 and the lever 30 of the mounting bracket 20 and between the mounting bracket 20 and the fixing nut 33 respectively can do. The outer cam member 34 can be fastened to the tilt bolt 32 to rotate with the tilt bolt 32 and the inner cam member 35 is installed to be movable along the longitudinal axis of the tilt bolt 32. The outer cam member 34 and the inner cam member 35 may each have a cam surface and when the tilt bolt 32 rotates in the locking direction the inner cam member 35 is rotated by the outer cam member 34 And is pushed toward the arm 21 of the mounting bracket 20. The arm 21 of the mounting bracket 20 and the legs 23 of the support housing 22 are urged by the clamping force of the cam member 35 to move inwardly Whereby the outer jacket 12 and the inner jacket 11 are pressed in order to block the telescopic behavior and the tilt behavior. That is, in the locked state, the clamping force causes the pair of arms 21 of the mounting bracket 20 to be inwardly pushed in, pressed against the pair of legs 23 of the support housing 22, The inner surface of the support housing 22 is pressed against the outer surface of the outer jacket 12 so that the movement of the outer jacket 12 in the support housing 22 is blocked The telescopic behavior of the steering column 10 is blocked and the tilting behavior of the support housing 22 is interrupted and the tilting behavior of the steering column 10 is interrupted.

At this time, a return spring 36 may be provided to assist in restoring the pair of opposite legs 23 of the support housing 22 to their original positions when the locked state is changed to the released state. The return spring 36 can be installed to elastically support the pair of legs 23 facing each other outwardly.

On the other hand, the locking device 30 may further include a structure for selectively blocking the movement of the outer jacket 12 in the telescopic direction. To this end, the locking device 30 may include a rotating member 37 that is coupled to the tilt bolt 32 and rotates together with the tilt bolt 32 about the longitudinal axis of the tilt bolt 32. As shown in Fig. 1, the rotary member 37 is disposed between the pair of arms 21 of the mounting bracket 20. The rotating member 37 includes a body portion 38 extending along the longitudinal direction of the tilt bolt 32 and penetrating the tilt bolt 32 and a pair of leg portions 39 projecting from both ends of the body portion 38 ), And a driving rod 40 connecting the leg portions 39 with each other.

The locking device 30 may also have a locking member 41 for locking function. The locking member 41 is configured to be actuated by the rotary member 37 and is disposed between the pair of arms 21 of the mounting bracket 20 so as to be positioned near the rotary member 37. [ The locking member 41 is rotatably mounted on a connecting rod 42 which is connected to a pair of legs 23 of the support housing 22, respectively. The locking member 41 may have a slot 43 into which the driving rod 40 of the rotating member 37 is inserted and the slot 43 may be formed larger than the driving rod 40. When the rotary member 37 rotates (clockwise in Fig. 3) by the rotation of the lever 31, the lock member 41 is rotated (rotated in the counterclockwise direction in Fig. 3) by the drive rod 40, ).

On the other hand, on the upper surface of the outer jacket 12, corresponding locking teeth (hereinafter referred to as "first locking teeth") 45 are provided, and correspondingly, (Hereinafter referred to as " second lock value ") 44 is provided. When the lock teeth 44 of the lock piece 41 and the lock teeth 45 of the outer jacket 12 are engaged with each other (the state of FIG. 3), the longitudinal movement of the outer jacket 12 is restrained, The restraint for the longitudinal movement of the outer jacket 12 is released.

The locking device 30 may include a biasing member 46 that provides a biasing force to bring the locking member 41 into the locked state. For example, the biasing member 46 may be formed of a material having an elastic restoring force, and the biasing member 46 may be biased by an elastic restoring force against the outer jacket 12 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 Thereby providing a biasing force to support the locking member 41 to be in the locked position.

Meanwhile, a tolerance ring 50 interposed between the inner jacket 11 and the outer jacket 12 may be provided. The tolerance ring 50 is arranged to be in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the inner jacket 11 and the inner circumferential surface of the outer jacket 12 so as to induce a frictional force so that the inner jacket 11 and the outer jacket 12 together Move. On the other hand, the tolerance ring 50 performs an energy-absorbing function at the time of collapse, and the inner jacket 11 is pushed into the outer jacket 12 at this time. For example, when an external impact is applied to the steering column, the shape of the tolerance ring 50 changes, or the outer surface of the inner jacket 11 and / or the inner surface of the outer jacket 12 is damaged, The collapse of the steering column can be achieved while the inner jacket 11 is introduced into the outer jacket 12.

The locking function by the tooth engagement of the locking device 30 will be described in more detail with reference to Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. Fig. 4 shows the locked state by tooth engagement, and Fig. 5 shows the unlocked state by releasing the tooth engagement. 4, when the lever 31 is in the locked position, the rotating member 37 and the locking member 41 are in the locking position of Fig. 4, 44 and the first locking teeth 45 of the outer jacket 12 are engaged with each other to stop the movement of the outer jacket 12. That is, when the locking device 30 is in the locked state, the first locking teeth 45 and the second locking teeth 44 are engaged with each other, so that in addition to the locking of the telescopic behavior by the clamping force of the locking device in the locked state, The behavior of the jacket 12 in the telescopic direction is additionally blocked. 5, when the lever 31 is in the unlocking position, the rotating member 37 rotates about the tilt bolt 32 to lift the locking member 41, 41 are separated from the lock teeth 44 of the outer jacket 12 so that the outer jacket 12 can be moved.

According to the embodiment of the present invention, there is a gap between the first and second locking teeth 45, 44 of the locking device 30 which are engaged with each other in the locked state. For example, referring to Fig. 6, a clearance d1 in the collapsing direction and a clearance d2 in the direction substantially perpendicular thereto may exist between the first and second locking teeth 45, 44. This presence of the clearance allows the outer jacket 12 to be positioned at a predetermined distance in the telescopic direction (i.e., in the collapsing direction of the inner jacket) when the locking device 30 is in the locked state The first and second locking teeth 45 and 44 are brought into contact with each other (the state shown in FIG. 7). That is, when an impact that can overcome the clamping force of the locking device 30 is applied to the steering column in the locked state as shown in Fig. 6, the clearance between the first and second locking teeth 45, The outer jacket 12 is moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7 until it is absorbed. 7, the further movement of the outer jacket 12 is blocked by the contact of the first and second locking teeth 45, 44, and in this state, the inner jacket 11 collapses into the outer jacket 12 . According to the embodiment of the present invention, when an impact is applied in the locking state of the locking device 30, a force due to the impact is not simultaneously applied to the teeth of the lock tooth and the portion where the clamping force of the locking device acts, The force acting on the locking teeth 45, 44 is applied after the portion where the clamping force acts absorbs the impact until the clearance between the locking portions 45, 44 is absorbed. With this structure, more stable shock absorption can be achieved in the collapse process of the steering column due to the impact in the locking state of the locking device.

On the other hand, the clearance between the first and second lock teeth 45, 44 can prevent a noise or a variation due to a collision between the lock teeth that can occur at the time of switching from the locked state to the unlocked state. That is, when there is no clearance between the two locks constituting the lock device, the lock values may collide with each other at the time of switching to the release state, so that noise and heterogeneity may occur. In the embodiment of the present invention, It is possible to prevent the first locking teeth 45 from colliding with the second locking teeth 44 when the second locking teeth 44 rotate for switching from the locked state to the disengaged state due to the presence of the clearance between the first locking teeth 45 and the second locking teeth 44. [ 6, when the locking member 41 rotates about its rotation center axis RX for switching to the released state, the turning locus of each end of the second locking tooth 44 is shifted 1 through the lock teeth 45. As shown in Fig.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, And all changes and modifications to the scope of the invention.

10: Steering column
11: inner jacket
12: Outer jacket
20: Mounting bracket
21: arm
22: Support housing
23: leg
24: Biasing member
26: Tilt shaft
30: Locking device
31: Lever
32: Tilt Bolt
33: Fixing nut
34, 35: cam member
36: return spring
37: Rotating member
38:
39:
40: driving rod
41:
43: Slot
44, 45: Locking
46: biasing member
50: Tolerance ring

Claims (6)

A mounting bracket having a pair of arms facing each other and formed to be fixed to a vehicle body,
A support housing coupled to the mounting bracket so as to be able to be tilted and passing between the pair of arms,
A steering column installed through the support housing so as to enable telescopic behavior of the support housing and tilt behavior together with the support housing,
A locking device configured to selectively apply a clamping force to the pair of arms to selectively lock or unlock the telescopic and tilting behavior of the steering column;
An impact energy absorbing member that performs an energy absorbing function when an impact occurs while the locking device is in the locked state,
Lt; / RTI >
Wherein the steering column includes an outer jacket and an inner jacket slidably inserted into the outer jacket,
Wherein the inner jacket is configured to slide in the support housing together with the outer jacket when the telescopic behavior of the steering column occurs in the unlocked state of the locking device,
Wherein the inner jacket is configured to collapse into the outer jacket when an impact is applied to the steering column in a locked state of the locking device,
Wherein the locking device is configured to selectively allow movement of the outer jacket in the direction of the telescopic behavior through a tooth engagement selectively engaged or disengaged in accordance with the locked state and the unlocked state,
Wherein when the impact is generated while the locking device is in the locked state, the impact absorbing function by the impact energy absorbing member does not occur, and the impact energy absorbing by the clamping force by the pair of arms occurs, Absorbing member is moved by a predetermined length in the direction of the telescopic behavior and then the energy absorbing function by the impact-energy absorbing member is started, the clearance in the direction of the telescopic behavior between the two lock- Configured to exist
Calpable Steering Column Assembly. The method of claim 1,
The locking device
A lever rotatable between a locked position and a released position,
A tilt bolt fastened to the lever to rotate together with the lever,
A cam member configured to apply a clamping force to the pair of arms corresponding to the rotation of the tilt bolt,
A rotating member that is coupled to the tilt bolt to rotate together with the tilt bolt,
A locking member formed to be able to rotate between a locked position and a released position by rotation of the rotary member,
And a biasing member providing a force for biasing the locking member to the locked position
Calpable Steering Column Assembly. 3. The method of claim 2,
The cam member
A first cam member coupled to the tilt bolt, and
And a second cam member which is cam-engaged with the first cam member and is supported on the outer surface of the arm of the mounting bracket
Calpable Steering Column Assembly. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the outer jacket includes a first lock tooth constituting the tooth coupling,
The rotating member
A body portion which is fastened to the tilt bolt,
A pair of legs protruding from both ends of the body portion,
And a driving rod connecting the pair of legs,
The locking member
A slot into which the driving rod is inserted,
And a second lock value that can be selectively engaged with the first lock value constituting the tooth coupling
Calpable Steering Column Assembly. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the first locking value and the second locking value are such that when the rotating member rotates about the longitudinal axis of the tilt bolt in a state before collapse of the steering column,
Calpable Steering Column Assembly. The method of claim 1,
Wherein the impact energy absorbing member is a tolerance ring interposed between the outer jacket and the inner jacket,
The telescopic behavior in which the inner jacket and the outer jacket slide together and the collapse of the inner jacket into the outer jacket are realized by the tolerance ring
Calpable Steering Column Assembly.

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