A kind of automobile steering column collapse structure with stable collapse force

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of automobile steering columns, and specifically discloses a automobile steering column collapse structure with stable collapse force. The automobile steering column collapse structure comprises an upper column, a lower column and a mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a mounting plate and a clamping arm; a fixing bracket is provided on the upper column, and a limiting hole is provided on the fixing bracket; the limiting hole is a long strip hole extending along the axial direction of the upper column; a stopper corresponding to the upper end face of the clamping arm is provided on the outer side surface of the upper column. The above-mentioned automobile steering column collapse structure divides the collapse process into two stages, namely, buffering and collapse, and has the function of stabilizing the collapse force and shifting the peak value of the collapse force backwards.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of automobile steering columns, and in particular to a collapse structure of an automobile steering column with stable collapse force. Background Art

[0002] When a car collides, the driver will rush forward quickly due to inertia. At this time, the driver's forward energy is usually absorbed by the seat belt and airbag to prevent the driver from hitting the vehicle hard and ensure personal safety. However, if the collision is more severe, the driver's forward speed is too fast, and the seat belt and airbag cannot completely absorb the driver's forward energy, and the driver will collide with the steering wheel. Therefore, in order to prevent the driver from being too seriously injured due to the collision with the steering wheel, the steering column assembly of the car is designed with a collapse structure.

[0003] The steering column assembly is the main component for controlling the driving direction of the car. The steering column assembly includes at least a steering wheel, an upper column and a lower column. The lower column is partially inserted into the upper column. The upper column and the lower column can slide freely, or a certain axial preload can be applied between the upper column and the lower column to limit the axial sliding of the upper column relative to the lower column. The adjustment bracket includes a mounting plate and two clamping arms arranged side by side. The upper column is located between the two clamping arms, and the adjustment bracket is connected to the body of the car through a pull-off block. A fixed bracket is provided on the side of the upper column away from the mounting plate. A limiting hole is provided on the fixed bracket, and connecting holes corresponding to the limiting holes are provided on the two clamping plates. During installation, the limiting hole is aligned with the connecting hole, the clamping assembly passes through the connecting hole and the limiting hole, and applies a clamping force to the two clamping plates to drive the two clamping plates to clamp the upper column. When the car collides, the driver hits the steering wheel, and the impact force is transmitted along the steering wheel and the upper column to the adjusting bracket. When the impact force exceeds the set value, the adjusting bracket will separate from the pull-off block and complete the collapse.

[0004] The collapse force of the above-mentioned steering column collapse structure during the collapse process is mainly transmitted between the fixed bracket and the adjustable bracket through a clamping assembly including a connecting rod. Therefore, the force point is far away from the pull-off block. During collapse, the mounting plate may be deformed due to an excessively large force arm and fail to collapse smoothly, posing certain safety hazards. Summary of the invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a vehicle steering column collapse structure with stable collapse force, which divides the collapse process into two stages: buffering and collapse, and has the functions of stabilizing the collapse force and shifting the collapse force peak backwards.

[0006] In order to solve the above technical problems, the technical solution provided by the present invention is as follows: a vehicle steering column collapse structure with stable collapse force, comprising an upper column, a lower column and a mounting bracket, the mounting bracket comprising a mounting plate and a clamping arm; a fixing bracket is provided on the upper column, and a limiting hole is provided on the fixing bracket; the limiting hole is a long strip hole extending along the axial direction of the upper column; a stopper corresponding to the upper end face of the clamping arm is provided on the outer side surface of the upper column.

[0007] During installation, adjust the position of the upper pipe column relative to the mounting bracket along the length direction of the limiting hole until the block does not contact the clamping arm. Then, lock the clamping assembly and clamp the upper pipe column through the clamping arm to complete the installation.

[0008] When the car collides and the driver hits the steering wheel, if the impact force is small, the upper column overcomes the clamping force of the clamping arm and slides along the length direction of the limit hole. At this time, although the mounting bracket is not separated from the pull-off block, the upper column can absorb a lot of energy in the process of overcoming the clamping force of the clamping arm and moving relative to the adjustment bracket, playing a role in buffering the impact, reducing the damage to the driver during the collision with the steering wheel, and also avoiding premature collapse, which has the effect of shifting the peak of the collapse force backward.

[0009] If the impact force between the driver and the steering wheel is large, after the upper column slides a certain distance along the length direction of the limit hole, the block contacts the clamping arm. At this time, the impact force is mainly transmitted to the mounting bracket by the block. Compared with the impact force transmitted through the clamping assembly, the distance between the block and the mounting plate is closer, and the force arm of the impact force is smaller. When the impact force reaches the peak, the mounting bracket will quickly and smoothly separate from the pull-off block to complete the collapse. The collapse force is stable, reducing the possibility of failure to collapse due to deformation of the mounting plate. At the same time, during the entire impact process, the total energy absorbed by the collapse structure increases. Under the premise of ensuring that the driver does not collide hard with the steering wheel, it absorbs enough energy and plays a good buffering role, reducing the probability and degree of injury to the driver from the collision with the rest of the vehicle body.

[0010] Compared with the structure in the background technology, the automobile steering column collapse structure of the present application is less difficult to improve. It only needs to modify the fixed bracket structure and add a block. It has good compatibility with existing conventional structures, can reduce production and maintenance costs to the greatest extent, and is convenient for market promotion.

[0011] Preferably, the clamping arm is provided with a connecting hole corresponding to the limiting hole, and the connecting hole is arc-shaped. After the clamping assembly is released, the clamping assembly can be adjusted in the connecting hole to drive the upper column and the lower column to move, so as to adjust the angle of the steering wheel to meet the operating requirements of different drivers.

[0012] Preferably, there are two blocks, which correspond to the two clamping arms one by one; the two blocks are symmetrically arranged. The blocks are symmetrically arranged, and the corresponding blocks transmit a more balanced collapse force to the clamping arms, avoiding uneven force caused by the clamping arm being stressed on one side, and ensuring smooth collapse after the impact force reaches the peak.

[0013] Preferably, a rib is provided at the lower end of the stopper, and the rib extends to the side away from the fixed bracket. The rib strengthens the stopper and can also increase the contact area between the stopper and the clamping arm to a certain extent.

[0014] Preferably, the stopper and the rib are integrally bent and formed to reduce processing costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Figure 1 This is a structural schematic diagram of the automobile steering column collapse structure with stable collapse force in the present embodiment under normal working conditions;

[0016] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of the upper column in the automobile steering column collapse structure with stable collapse force in this embodiment;

[0017] Figure 3 A side view of an exploded state of an upper column and a mounting bracket in a collapsing structure of a steering column of an automobile with a stable collapsing force according to this embodiment;

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of the automobile steering column collapse structure with stable collapse force in this embodiment when the stopper just starts to contact the clamping arm during the collapse process;

[0019] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of the automobile steering column crush structure in a crushed state with stable crush force in this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Example

[0021] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a collapsing structure of a steering column of an automobile with stable collapsing force comprises an upper column 1, a lower column 5 and a mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a mounting plate 31 and a clamping arm 32. A fixing bracket 6 is provided on the upper column 1, and a limiting hole 61 is provided on the fixing bracket 6. The limiting hole 61 is a long strip hole extending along the axial direction of the upper column 1.

[0022] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the outer side surface of the upper column 1 is provided with a stopper 2 corresponding to the upper end surface of the clamping arm 32. The number of the stopper 2 is usually two, and they correspond to the two clamping arms 32 one by one. The two stoppers 2 are symmetrically arranged. The stoppers 2 are symmetrically arranged, and the corresponding stoppers 2 transmit the collapse force to the clamping arm 32 to be more balanced, avoiding the uneven force caused by the unilateral clamping arm 32 being stressed, and ensuring smooth collapse after the impact force reaches the peak. The lower end of the stopper 2 is provided with a rib plate 21 that is integrally bent and formed with the rib plate 21. The rib plate 21 strengthens the stopper 2, and can also increase the contact area between the stopper 2 and the clamping arm 32 to a certain extent. Since the steering wheel is usually tilted toward the side away from the mounting plate 31 when installed, the rib plate 21 extends to the side away from the fixed bracket 6, that is, extends toward the mounting plate 31.

[0023] like Figure 3 As shown, the clamping arm 32 is provided with a connecting hole 33 corresponding to the limiting hole 61, and the connecting hole 33 is in an arc shape. After the clamping assembly 7 is released, the clamping assembly 7 can be adjusted in the connecting hole 33 to drive the upper column 1 and the lower column 5 to move, so as to adjust the angle of the steering wheel to meet the operating requirements of different drivers.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, during installation, the position of the upper pipe column 1 relative to the mounting bracket is adjusted along the length direction of the limiting hole 61, so that the stopper 2 and the clamping arm 32 are not in contact, and then the clamping assembly 7 is locked and the upper pipe column 1 is tightly held by the clamping arm 32 to complete the installation. In order to ensure that the stopper 2 can smoothly contact the clamping arm 32 during the collapse process, the height difference between the lower end 2 of the stopper and the upper end of the clamping arm 32 along the axial direction of the upper pipe column 1 is smaller than the height difference between the clamping assembly 7 and the upper limit of the limiting hole 61, that is, the height difference between the lower end of the stopper 2 and the upper end of the limiting hole 61 is smaller than the height difference between the connecting hole 33 and the upper end surface of the clamping arm 32, that is, Figure 3 The h shown in is smaller than H.

[0025] When the car collides and the driver hits the steering wheel, if the impact force is small, the upper column 1 overcomes the clamping force of the clamping arm 32 and slides along the length direction of the limit hole 61. At this time, although the mounting bracket is not separated from the pull-off block 4, the upper column 1 can absorb a large amount of energy in the process of overcoming the clamping force of the clamping arm 32 and moving relative to the adjustment bracket, playing a role in buffering the impact, reducing the damage to the driver during the collision with the steering wheel, and also avoiding premature collapse, playing the effect of shifting the collapse force peak backward.

[0026] If the impact force between the driver and the steering wheel is large, after the upper column 1 slides a certain distance along the length direction of the limit hole 61, the stopper 2 contacts the clamping arm 32, such as Figure 4As shown, at this time, the impact force is mainly transmitted to the mounting bracket by the stopper 2. Compared with the impact force transmitted by the clamping assembly 7, the distance between the stopper 2 and the mounting plate 31 is closer, and the force arm of the impact force is smaller. When the impact force reaches the peak value, as shown in FIG. Figure 5 As shown, the mounting bracket will be separated from the pull-off block 4 quickly and smoothly, and the collapse will be completed. The collapse force is stable, and the possibility of failure to collapse caused by deformation of the mounting plate 31 is reduced. At the same time, during the entire collision process, the total energy absorbed by the collapse structure increases. Under the premise of ensuring that the driver does not collide with the steering wheel hard, it absorbs enough energy and plays a good buffering role, and the probability and degree of injury of the driver from collision with the rest of the vehicle body are reduced.

[0027] In short, the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A collapsing structure of a steering column of an automobile with stable collapsing force, comprising an upper column, a lower column and a mounting bracket, wherein the mounting bracket comprises a mounting plate and a clamping arm; a fixing bracket is provided on the upper column, and a limiting hole is provided on the fixing bracket; the characteristics are as follows: The limiting hole is a long strip hole extending along the axial direction of the upper pipe column; the outer side surface of the upper pipe column is provided with a stopper corresponding to the upper end surface of the clamping arm; During installation, adjust the position of the upper pipe column relative to the mounting bracket along the length direction of the limit hole, and make sure that the stopper does not contact the clamping arm. Lock the clamping assembly and hold the upper pipe column tightly through the clamping arm. In the axial direction of the upper pipe column, the height difference from the lower end of the stopper to the upper end of the clamping arm is smaller than the height difference from the clamping assembly to the upper limit of the limiting hole.

2. The automobile steering column collapse structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The clamping arm is provided with a connecting hole corresponding to the limiting hole, and the connecting hole is in an arc shape.

3. The automobile steering column collapse structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: There are two stoppers, which correspond to the two clamping arms one by one; the two stoppers are arranged symmetrically on the left and right.

4. The automobile steering column collapse structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: A rib is provided at the lower end of the stopper, and the rib extends toward a side away from the fixed bracket.

5. The automobile steering column collapse structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The stopper and the rib plate are integrally bent and formed.

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