WO2021082913A1

WO2021082913A1 - Collapsible mechanism for steering column, and automobile

Info

Publication number: WO2021082913A1
Application number: PCT/CN2020/120837
Authority: WO
Inventors: 郭俐彤; 孙贺; 安迎迎
Original assignee: 恒大新能源汽车投资控股集团有限公司
Priority date: 2019-10-28
Filing date: 2020-10-14
Publication date: 2021-05-06
Also published as: CN110758546A

Abstract

A collapsible mechanism for a steering column, said mechanism comprising a housing (10) and a main collapsible assembly (20), wherein the housing (10) is used to connect to the steering column housing, and the main collapsible assembly (20) cooperates with the housing (10). The main collapsible assembly (20) comprises a first collapsible sliding block (21) and a first collapsible energy absorption element (22), said first collapsible energy absorption element (22) cooperating with the first collapsible sliding block (21) and the housing (10), and the first collapsible energy absorption element (22) comprising bent sections (223) capable of undergoing elastic bending deformation. When the housing (10) slides relative to the main collapsible assembly (20), the housing (10) can press against the first collapsible energy absorption element (22) to cause the bent sections (223) to undergo elastic bending deformation. The structure of the collapsible mechanism for a steering column is simple and compact, makes efficient use of space, is highly integrated, collapses and absorbs energy by means of shifting, has a small collapse force fluctuation range and does not fracture. Also disclosed is an automobile comprising the collapsible mechanism for a steering column.

Description

Steering column collapse mechanism and automobile

Technical field

This application relates to the field of automobile technology, in particular to a steering column collapse mechanism and an automobile.

Background technique

With the development of the automobile industry, people pay more and more attention to the safety of automobiles. The steering column is an important part of the automobile steering system. It can transmit torque from the steering wheel to the steering gear, and at the same time, it also plays a role in supporting the steering wheel. According to regulations, the steering column must have a passive safety function, that is, it can increase the driver's living space through structural collapse in the event of a collision, and prevent the steering mechanism from harming the driver. At present, most of the steering string is collapsed through friction, deformation, and fracture between the parts of the string. The existing structure is relatively complex in processing and poor in integration, and has relatively strict process requirements. At the same time, in the event of a collision, the collapse force is difficult to control and fluctuates greatly.

Summary of the invention

According to various embodiments, a steering column collapse mechanism and an automobile are provided.

A steering column collapse mechanism, including:

The shell is used to connect with the shell of the steering column; and

The main crush assembly is slidably fitted with the casing, and the main crush assembly includes:

The first crumple slider; and

The first crush energy absorbing member is matched with the first crush slider and the housing, and the first crush energy absorbing member includes a curved section that can be elastically bent and deformed;

Wherein, when the shell slides relative to the main crush assembly, the shell can abut the first crush energy absorbing member to make the bending section elastically bend and deform.

The technical solution also provides an automobile, including a steering column and the steering column collapse mechanism as described in any one of the above, and the steering column collapse mechanism cooperates with the steering column.

The details of one or more embodiments of the present application are set forth in the following drawings and description. Other features, purposes and advantages of this application will become apparent from the description, drawings and claims.

Description of the drawings

In order to better describe and illustrate the embodiments and/or examples of those applications disclosed herein, one or more drawings may be referred to. The additional details or examples used to describe the drawings should not be considered as limiting the scope of any of the disclosed applications, the currently described embodiments and/or examples, and the best mode of those applications currently understood.

FIG. 1 is a first structural diagram of a steering column collapse mechanism according to an embodiment of the application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first collapse energy absorbing member in FIG. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the housing in Fig. 1;

4 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first crumpled slider in FIG. 1;

5 is a second structural diagram of the steering column collapse mechanism according to an embodiment of the application;

FIG. 6 is a third structural diagram of the steering column collapse mechanism according to an embodiment of the application;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second collapse energy absorbing member in FIG. 6.

Description of reference signs:

10. Shell; 11. Insert groove; 12. Push portion; 20. Main crush component; 21. First crush slider; 211. First interference fit; 212. Recess groove; 213. No. One side; 214, the second side; 22, the first crumple energy absorbing member; 221, the friction fit section; 222, the penetration section; 223, the bending section; 224, the first connecting section; 30, the steering column bracket; 40. Connecting pin; 60. Auxiliary crush assembly; 61. Second crush slider; 611. Second interference fit part; 62. Second crush energy absorbing member; 621. Auxiliary matching section; 622. Second Connect the segment.

Detailed ways

In order to facilitate the understanding of the application, the application will be described in a more comprehensive manner with reference to the relevant drawings. The preferred embodiments of the application are shown in the accompanying drawings. However, this application can be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the implementation described herein. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the understanding of the disclosure of this application more thorough and comprehensive.

It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it can be directly on the other element or a central element may also be present. When an element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or an intermediate element may be present at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only, and are not meant to be the only embodiments.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field of this application. The terminology used in the specification of the application herein is only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments, and is not intended to limit the application. The term "and/or" as used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items.

The "first" and "second" in this application do not represent a specific quantity or order, but are only used to distinguish names.

A steering column collapse mechanism as shown in FIG. 1 includes a casing 10 connected with the steering column and a main collapse assembly 20 slidably fitted with the casing 10. The main crush assembly 20 includes a first crush slider 21, and a first crush energy absorbing that cooperates with the first crush slider 21 and the housing 10 and is used for crush energy absorption. Piece 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the first crush energy absorbing member 22 includes a friction-fitting section 221, a penetration section 222 and a curved section 223 curved in an arc shape. The friction fit section 221 is provided between the first crush slider 21 and the housing 10, the penetration section 222 penetrates the housing 10, and the friction fit section 221 is connected to the housing 10. The penetration section 222 is connected by the bending section 223. In addition, the curved section 223 is curved toward the collapse direction.

The steering column collapse mechanism of this embodiment has a simple and compact structure, high space utilization, and high integration. The collapse is achieved through slippage and energy is absorbed, the scope of the collapse force is small, and no fracture occurs. Specifically, when this embodiment is used, the housing 10 and the main crush assembly 20 are connected to the steering column bracket, and the steering column bracket is fixed to the instrument panel beam, thereby indirectly fixing the housing 10 and the main crush assembly.减分20。 Shrink components 20. When a collision occurs, the vehicle decelerates greatly. Under the action of inertia, the driver will continue to quickly impact forward and collide with the steering wheel. After the steering wheel is impacted by the human body, it will push the housing 10 connected to the steering column along the axial direction of the steering wheel. Move downward, that is, the direction of crumple is downward along the axial direction of the steering wheel, and the steering column bracket is fixed on the instrument panel beam without displacement. At this time, the first crumple slider 21 and the steering column bracket remain relatively stationary, that is, The first crush slider 21 and the first crush energy absorbing member 22 move relative to each other along the housing 10; and because the friction-fitting section 221 is provided between the first crush slider 21 and the housing 10, and the friction-fitting section 221 can respectively rub against the first crumple slider 21 and the housing 10, so the relative movement generated by the friction force between the three achieves a part of the collapse and suction. In addition, because the penetration section 222 is connected to the friction-fitting section 221 through the bending section 223, when the casing 10 moves in the direction of collapse, the casing 10 pushes the bending section 223 in the direction of collapse to produce tensile deformation, Further realize the collapse of energy absorption. In this embodiment, during the entire collapse process, relative friction and tensile deformation are used to achieve collapse energy absorption, no excess movement is generated during the collapse, and no failure deformation occurs in other parts except for the first collapse energy absorption member 22 , There is no fracture, the fluctuation range of the collapse force is small, and the product consistency is high. In addition, the penetration section 222 penetrates through the housing 10 and has a certain limit and guide function.

In this embodiment, the friction-fitting section 221 and the penetration section 222 are parallel to each other, so that the bending section 223 has a better energy absorption effect when it is stretched.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the casing 10 of this embodiment is provided with an inlay groove 11 for inserting the frictional fitting section 221, and the first crush slider 21 is provided with a frictional fitting The first interference fit portion 211 of the section 221 is slidingly fitted. The friction fit section 221 is provided between the groove wall of the insert groove 11 and the first interference fit portion 211, and crosses the groove wall of the insert groove 11 and the first interference fit portion 211 Surplus fit. The inlay groove 11 is arranged along the collapse direction of the housing 10, so that the inlay groove 11 also plays a certain guiding role. In addition, when the first interference fit portion 211 is not impacted, the relative fixation of the first crush slider 21 and the housing 10 is ensured. When the initial crush after the impact, the housing 10, the first The crush slider 21 and the friction fit section 221 are loose at the interference fit, the housing 10 and the first crush slider 21 produce relative movement, and the housing 10 pushes the curved section 223 in the crush direction to produce tensile deformation. . Specifically, the first crush slider 21 includes a first side surface 213 and a second side surface 214 on both sides, and the first interference fit portion 211 is protruding from the first side surface 213 or the first side surface 213 or the second side surface 214. Bumps on the two sides 214. In this embodiment, the first interference fit portion 211 is provided on both ends of the first side surface 213 or the second side surface 214 of the first crush slider 21. In addition, the convex block is provided with a groove for fitting and interference fitting with the friction fitting section.

Specifically, the first crush slider 21 in this embodiment is a rectangular slider with simple processing and low cost. The first crush energy absorbing member 22 is a steel wire with a tortuous shape. The first crush energy absorbing member 22 includes two friction-fitting sections 221, two penetrating sections 222, two bending sections 223, and a first connecting section 224, that is, two parts of the first crush energy absorbing member 22. Both sides are provided with a friction-fitting section 221, a penetration section 222, and a bending section 223 to enhance the collapse energy absorption effect, and the structures on both sides are connected at the end of the friction-fitting section 221 by a first connecting section 224 to form a tortuous shape Structure. The first crush energy absorbing member 22 is arranged around the outer circumference of the first crush slider 21, and the first connecting section 224 is arranged close to one short side of the first crush slider 21, And the first connecting section 224 is located on the opposite side of the first crumple slider 21 to the crumple direction, so that during the crumple sliding process, the first crumple slider 21 crushes the first crumple The energy absorbing member 22 also plays a role of limiting, avoiding the situation that the first crushing energy absorbing member 22 is displaced along with the housing 10 as a whole, and the bending section 223 cannot be stretched. In this embodiment, the housing 10 is provided with a pushing portion 12 for causing the bending section 223 to generate tensile deformation, and the pushing portion 12 is located on the side of the arc center of the bending section 223. When the steering column is impacted to drive the housing 10 to move, the pushing portion 12 is displaced toward the curved section 223 and pushes the curved section 223 to undergo tensile deformation. Specifically, the pushing portion 12 is in the shape of a circular arc protrusion, and the arc of the circular arc protrusion matches the curvature of the curved section 223, which facilitates the stretching and deformation of the curved section 223.

As shown in FIG. 5, this embodiment further includes a steering column bracket 30 and a connecting pin 40. The connecting pin 40 passes through the steering column bracket 30, the housing 10, and the first crush in turn. The sliding block 21 is used to realize the connection of the steering column bracket 30, the housing 10 and the first crumpled sliding block 21. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the first crumple slider 21 is provided with a relief groove 212 through which the connecting pin 40 is inserted.

As shown in FIG. 6, the present embodiment further includes an auxiliary crush assembly 60 that is slidably engaged with the housing 10; the auxiliary crush assembly 60 and the main crush assembly 20 are respectively disposed on two opposite sides of the steering column. side. The auxiliary crush component 60 assists the main crush component 20 in absorbing energy in the crush.

Specifically, the auxiliary crush assembly 60 includes a second crush slider 61, and a second crush slider 61 that cooperates with the second crush slider 61 and the housing 10 and is used to assist crush energy absorption. The energy absorbing member 62 is collapsed. The second crush energy absorbing member 62 at least includes an auxiliary matching section 621 provided between the second crush slider 61 and the housing 10. When the shell 10 slides relative to the auxiliary crush assembly 60, the auxiliary matching section 6221 rubs against the second crush slider 61 and the shell 10, respectively, thereby obstructing the shell 10. The frictional force moving in the direction of the collapse. Further, the second crush sliding block 61 is provided with a second interference fit portion 611 that is slidingly fitted with the auxiliary fitting section 621. The auxiliary fitting section 621 is in interference fit with the housing 10 and the second crush slider 61 at the second interference fit portion 611. The second crush slider 61 is similar in structure to the first crush slider 21, and the second interference fit portion 611 is similar in structure to the first interference fit portion 211. That is to say, the function and structure of the auxiliary fitting section 621 and the friction fitting section 221 are the same, and play the role of collapse energy absorption and limit guiding.

As shown in FIG. 7, the second crush energy absorbing member 62 in this embodiment is a horizontal "n"-shaped steel wire. The second crush energy absorbing member 62 includes two auxiliary mating sections 621 and a second connecting section 622 that are arranged parallel to each other. The two auxiliary matching sections 621 are respectively located on two opposite sides of the second crush slider 61, and the ends of the two auxiliary matching sections 621 are connected by the second connecting section 622. The second crush energy absorbing member 62 is arranged around the outer circumference of the second crush slider 61, and the second connecting section 622 is arranged close to one short side of the second crush slider 61, And the second connecting section 622 is located on the side of the second crush slider 61 opposite to the direction of crushing, so that during the process of crushing and sliding, the second crushing slider 61 crushes the second crushing slider. The energy absorbing member 62 also functions as a limiter. In other embodiments, the second crush energy absorbing member 62 can also be configured to have the same structure as the first crush energy absorbing member 22.

This embodiment also provides an automobile, including a steering column and the steering column collapse mechanism as described in any one of the above, and the steering column collapse mechanism cooperates with the steering column. The automobile of this embodiment adopts the above-mentioned steering column crumple mechanism, which has a simple and compact structure, high space utilization, and high integration. The crumple is realized through slippage and energy is absorbed, the crumple force fluctuates in a small range, and no fracture occurs.

The technical features of the above-mentioned embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. In order to make the description concise, all possible combinations of the various technical features in the above-mentioned embodiments are not described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, All should be considered as the scope of this specification.

The above-mentioned embodiments only express several implementation manners of the present application, and their description is relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be understood as a limitation on the scope of the patent application. It should be pointed out that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of this application, several modifications and improvements can be made, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the patent of this application shall be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

A steering column collapse mechanism, wherein the steering column collapse mechanism includes:

The shell is used to connect with the shell of the steering column; and

The main crush assembly is slidably fitted with the casing, and the main crush assembly includes:

The first crumple slider; and

The first crush energy absorbing member is matched with the first crush slider and the housing, and the first crush energy absorbing member includes a curved section that can be elastically bent and deformed;

Wherein, when the shell slides relative to the main crush assembly, the shell can abut the first crush energy absorbing member to make the bending section elastically bend and deform.
The steering column crumple mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first crumple energy absorbing member further comprises a friction fit section provided between the first crumple slider and the housing, so When the shell slides relative to the main crush assembly, the friction-fitting section can respectively rub against the first crush slider and the shell, thereby generating obstacles that hinder the shell from moving in the crushing direction. Friction.
The steering column collapse mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the first collapse energy absorbing member further comprises a penetration section, the penetration section penetrates the housing, and the penetration section And the friction-fitting section is connected by the bending section.
The steering column crumple mechanism according to claim 3, wherein both sides of the first crumple slider are provided with the friction fit section, the penetration section and the bending section, and the first crumple section A crush energy absorbing member further includes a first connecting section, and two ends of the first connecting section are respectively connected with the ends of the friction fitting sections located on both sides of the first crush sliding block.
The steering column crush mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the first crush slider is a rectangular slider, and the first crush energy absorbing member is arranged around the periphery of the first crush slider The first connecting section is arranged close to one short side of the first crush slider, and the first connecting section is located on the side of the first crush slider opposite to the collapse direction.
The steering column crumple mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the housing is provided with an inlay groove for embedding the frictional fitting section, and the first crumple slider is provided with a frictional fitting A first interference fit section with sliding fit, the friction fit section is provided between the groove wall of the inlay groove and the first interference fit section, and is connected to the groove wall of the inlay groove and the first interference fit section. An interference fit of an interference fit part.
The steering column collapse mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first collapse energy absorbing member is made of steel wire.
The steering column collapse mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the housing is provided with an abutting portion for causing the bending section to produce tensile deformation, and the abutting portion is located in the arc of the bending section. The heart is on the side.
8. The steering column crumple mechanism according to claim 8, wherein the pushing portion is in the shape of a circular arc protrusion, and the arc of the circular arc protrusion matches the curvature of the curved section.
The steering column collapse mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a steering column bracket and a connecting pin, and the connecting pin passes through the steering column bracket, the housing, and the first Crumple on the slider.
The steering column crush mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising an auxiliary crush assembly slidingly fitted with the housing, the auxiliary crush assembly and the main crush assembly They are respectively arranged on two opposite sides of the steering column.
The steering column crumple mechanism according to claim 11, wherein the auxiliary crumple assembly includes a second crumple slider, and is matched with the second crumple slider and the housing, and is used In the second crush energy absorbing member for auxiliary crush energy absorption, the second crush energy absorbing member includes an auxiliary mating section provided between the second crush slider and the shell, and the shell When the body slides relative to the auxiliary crush assembly, the auxiliary matching section rubs against the second crush slider and the shell respectively, thereby generating friction that hinders the shell from moving in the crushing direction.
The steering column crumple mechanism according to claim 12, wherein the second crumple slider is provided with a second interference fit portion slidingly fitted with the auxiliary fitting section, and the auxiliary fitting section is arranged at Between the shell and the second crush slider, and the auxiliary fitting section is in interference fit with the shell and the second crush slider.
The steering column crumple mechanism according to claim 13, wherein the auxiliary crumple assembly further comprises a second connecting section, the auxiliary matching section has two sections, and the two auxiliary matching sections are respectively located in the first Two opposite sides of the two crushing sliders, and the ends of the two auxiliary matching sections are connected by the second connecting section.
The steering column crush mechanism according to claim 14, wherein the second crush slider is a rectangular slider, and the second crush energy absorbing member is arranged around the periphery of the second crush slider The second connecting section is arranged close to one short side of the second crush slider, and the second connecting section is located on the side of the second crush slider opposite to the collapse direction.
An automobile, wherein the automobile includes a steering column and the steering column collapse mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 15, and the steering column collapse mechanism cooperates with the steering column.