Steering column arrangement for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a steering column arrangement (10) for a vehicle, in particular a ground vehicle, comprising a steering column (12) having a steering wheel (16) arranged thereon, the steering column having a substantially circular cross section and at least one passage (12a) extending through the entire cross section, a support bearing (18) for coupling the steering column (12) to a vehicle body of the vehicle, the support bearing having two mutually opposite passages (18d), a support pin (22) which, in the mounted state of the steering column arrangement (10), is guided through the passages (18) of the support bearing and the passage (12a) of the steering column (12) and is secured by means of a securing device (24a, 24b), and a tensioning device (24a, 24b, 26, 28) which is designed and arranged to cause, in the tightened state, a clamping force onto the steering column (12) via the support bearing (18), wherein the passage (12a) of the steering column (12) has, in the peripheral direction thereof, a greater dimension than the diameter of the support pin (22) in the region in which the support pin is introduced into the passage (12a) of the steering column (12) in the mounted state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering column device for vehicles, particularly ground transport vehicles, and to a vehicle, particularly a ground transport vehicle, including such a steering column device. Background Technology

[0002] In various types of vehicles, and particularly in electric or internal combustion engine-driven ground transport vehicles, such as forklifts with electric or hydraulic steering, a steering column assembly has been used to date that is costly constructed from multiple welded components. Here, the steering column is typically adjustable only in height relative to the driver's seat, or in its tilt angle relative to the vertical, to allow for personalized adaptations to the workspace of different drivers of the respective vehicles.

[0003] Therefore, such steering column devices in the prior art are relatively expensive due to their complex structure, and are not particularly flexible in adapting to individual drivers of such vehicles because they can only tilt around a horizontally extending axis and are adjustable in terms of height. In particular, the lack of the possibility of adjusting the steering wheel position in the lateral direction of the vehicle has a negative impact, since it is generally desirable to adjust for optimal anatomical alignment of the steering wheel and driver's seat.

[0004] Furthermore, since a telescopic tube is required to adjust the length of the steering column and thus the height of the steering wheel, there are higher maintenance requirements for the corresponding device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a steering column device of simple construction, which, in addition to its reduced cost and similarly reduced maintenance requirements, is characterized by its improved adjustability, thereby allowing the driver's seat to be optimally ergonomically adapted to the individual driver of such a vehicle.

[0006] For this purpose, the steering column assembly according to the invention comprises: a steering column having a steering wheel disposed thereon, the steering column having a substantially circular cross-section and at least one through-hole extending through the entire cross-section; a support for attaching the steering column to the vehicle body of a vehicle, the support having two through-holes opposite to each other; a support pin, which, in the mounted state of the steering column assembly, is guided through the through-holes of the support and the through-holes of the steering column and is secured by means of a fixing mechanism; and a tensioning device designed and configured to: generate a clamping force on the steering column through the support in a tightened state, wherein the through-hole of the steering column has a larger dimension in its circumferential direction than the diameter of the support pin in a region in which the support pin is inserted into the through-hole of the steering column in the mounted state.

[0007] By utilizing the features of the steering column assembly according to the invention, the steering column can be twisted relative to the support about its longitudinal axis, depending on the size of the through-hole in the support. Because a front structure can also be provided on the upper side of the steering column in an improved form, the front structure carrying the steering wheel offset from the longitudinal axis of the steering column, this twisting allows for displacement of the steering wheel about the proposed longitudinal axis on a circular track, providing an additional degree of freedom for adjusting the steering wheel position. Of course, the invention can also be used in embodiments where the steering wheel and steering column are concentrically arranged, provided that other ergonomic advantages can be achieved through its twisting, such as pivoting additional components coupled to the steering column to a more suitable position.

[0008] Furthermore, compared to the aforementioned devices in the prior art, the structure of the steering column device according to the present invention is significantly simplified, enabling cost reduction and maintenance savings. In addition, in an improved form, since the through-hole of the steering column has a larger diameter in its longitudinal direction than the diameter of the support pin in the region where the support pin is inserted into the through-hole of the steering column in the installed state, displacement of the steering column and thus the steering wheel along its longitudinal axis is also achieved.

[0009] It is evident here that the perforation in the steering column should not be strictly understood as a long hole, because the perforation allows for adjustment of the steering column with two degrees of freedom: adjustment along its longitudinal axis and adjustment around its steering axis. However, design practices commonly used in the case of long holes can be traced back to, for example, the long hole can be provided along its curvature, particularly in the longitudinal direction of the steering column. Furthermore, it is evident that in a variation, at least two such perforations can be provided in the steering column, which first allow for coarse adjustment of the steering column along its longitudinal axis or its angle around the longitudinal axis, and subsequently allow for finer adjustment of the corresponding degree of freedom. This eliminates the need for excessively large perforations that might compromise the mechanical strength of the steering column, but still allows for a greater range of steering column position adjustment.

[0010] Furthermore, the steering column assembly according to the invention may include a pair of shell elements disposed between the support and the steering column in the installed state of the steering column assembly, wherein the internal shape of the shell elements substantially corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the steering column. In this embodiment, the clamping force of the tensioning device then acts indirectly on the steering column from the support via the shell elements. Alternatively, obviously, the internal shape of the support can also be configured accordingly, with the internal shape directly guiding the steering column; however, this may make installation according to the invention more difficult, because then the steering column can only be inserted into the support to its final position along the longitudinal axis of the steering column, whereas by using shell elements, the support can be designed such that the assembly formed by the shell elements and the steering column can also be introduced into the support from one side.

[0011] Here, the housing element may then be provided with anti-slip material on its inner and / or outer sides to facilitate the transmission of clamping force and prevent the corresponding parts from slipping off, wherein thermoplastic elastomers may be used in particular.

[0012] If the support base and / or housing element are configured such that the steering column can rotate about the support pin in the released state of the tensioning device, another degree of freedom for adjusting the steering wheel position can be achieved. Thus, corresponding rotation of the steering column about two substantially orthogonal spatial axes is possible, making it possible to adjust the steering wheel position virtually unrestricted in space, provided that the option of additionally providing adjustability of the steering column along its longitudinal axis is provided.

[0013] In one particularly simple implementation, the tensioning device may include a clamping bar that allows the operator to apply a sufficiently high clamping force to the support to reliably secure the steering column and thus the steering wheel in the desired orientation. Alternatively, other tensioning devices may obviously be used, such as those employing a tightening mechanism.

[0014] Furthermore, by using a support pin fixing mechanism configured as a torsion tensioner that can be attached to both ends, the functions of the two components of the device according to the invention can be combined to achieve a particularly simple and compact fixing of the support seat and clamping of the steering column in the support seat, wherein the torsion tensioner is designed to work in conjunction with the clamping rod of the tensioning device.

[0015] According to the present invention, at least one of the shell element, clamping rod, support pin and / or torsion tensioner can also be formed as an injection molded part, thereby achieving significant cost savings compared to the above-described welded assemblies in the prior art.

[0016] As further indicated above, the present invention also relates to a vehicle, particularly a ground transport vehicle, comprising a steering column device according to any one of the preceding claims. Attached Figure Description

[0017] From the following description of embodiments of the present invention, when it is combined with the appended appendix Figure One Upon closer inspection, other features and advantages of the invention become apparent. The accompanying drawings illustrate these features in detail:

[0018] Figure 1 An isometric exploded view of the steering column assembly according to the present invention is shown;

[0019] Figure 2 Showing the installation status Figure 1 Isometric view of the device in the image;

[0020] Figure 3 Show Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the device in the support area; and

[0021] Figure 4 A schematic detail diagram of the steering column in its through-hole area is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0022] exist Figure 1 The figure first shows an isometric exploded view of the steering column assembly according to the invention, and is generally designated by reference numeral 10. The steering column assembly 10 here includes a steering column 12 having a substantially circular cross-section and a through-hole 12a extending through the entire cross-section, the through-hole having a substantially rectangular profile. Here, the through-hole 12a extends along the longitudinal axis A12 of the steering column 12 and also in its circumferential direction. A front structure 14 is also provided on the upper side of the steering column 12, the front structure supporting the steering wheel 16 in a configuration common to ground-based vehicles.

[0023] Furthermore, the steering column assembly 10 includes a support 18 configured to couple the steering column 12 to a vehicle body (not shown further), wherein the support 18 is composed of a base plate 18a and two side surfaces 18b and 18c extending from the base plate 18a. Here, a pair of through-holes 18d and 18e are provided opposite to each other in the two side surfaces 18b and 18c.

[0024] Furthermore, the steering column assembly 10 includes a pair of shell elements 20a and 20b, the shape of which is coordinated with the internal shape of the two side elements 18b and 18c of the support 18, and whose internal shape substantially mimics the circular cross-section of the steering column 12. To prevent the shell elements 20a and 20b from undesirably slipping off the support 18 or the steering column 12, anti-slip material, such as thermoplastic elastomer, is provided on their inner and / or outer sides, respectively.

[0025] Additional references are also shown. Figure 1 Isometric view of the device in its installed stateFigure 2 It also has a support pin 22, the support pin is in Figure 2 In the installed state, the through-hole 12a through the steering column 12 and the paired through-hole 18d extend in the two side walls 18b and 18c of the support 18.

[0026] Here, at both ends of the support 22 Figure 2 In the installation state shown, the torsion tensioners 24a or 24b are pushed respectively. The torsion tensioners are used to fix the support pin 22 in the position shown together with the head 22a of the support seat 22 or the nut 26 screwed thereon. The clamping rod 28 provided between the head 22a and the torsion tensioner 24a or the nut 26 and the torsion tensioner 24b can work together with the torsion tensioners 24a and 24b so that by pressing the clamping rod 28 downward, the two side walls 18a and 18c of the support seat are pressed inward, and then the clamping force is applied to the steering column 12 through the two shell elements 20a and 20b. The clamping force fixes the steering column in the corresponding position. On the other hand, by pressing the clamping rod 28 upward, the clamping force acting on the steering column 12 from the side walls 18a and 18b can be reduced to a value that allows the steering column to be displaced relative to the support seat 18 within a frame with a preset outer dimension through the through hole 12a, and the steering column to be subsequently re-fixed in order to perform the adaptation of the position of the steering wheel 16.

[0027] For completeness only, reference should also be made to the two screw and nut assembly 30, which is in... Figure 2 In the installed state, the bearing is screwed into the side walls 18b and 18c of the support 18 through the other through-hole 18e so as to apply a predetermined basic clamping force there or to prevent the two side surfaces 18b and 18c of the support 18 from bending and separating excessively.

[0028] exist Figure 3 The middle now shows through Figure 2 The cross-section of the device 10 in its installed state is shown in the figure, from which the degrees of freedom for the displacement of the steering column 12 relative to the support 18 can be identified. On the one hand, it is obvious that the steering column 12 can be displaced along the longitudinal axis A12 of the steering column, that is, in Figure 3 Entering or exiting the drawing plane from it, thereby adjusting the height position of the steering wheel 16 along direction A12, as particularly from... Figure 4 It is even more visible in the middle.

[0029] However, similarly, the steering column 12 rotates about its longitudinal axis A12. Figure 3The angle α indicated is because the through-hole 12a of the steering column 12 has a larger diameter in its circumferential direction than the diameter of the support pin 22 in the region where the support pin is inserted into the through-hole 12a. Since the steering wheel 16 is not directly concentrically aligned with the circular circumference of the steering column 12, but is spaced apart from the intermediate longitudinal axis A12 of the steering column, which serves as the axis of rotation, via the front structure 14, displacement of the steering wheel about the axis A12 on the circular track can be achieved through this rotational movement, which is another degree of freedom for adjusting the position of the steering wheel 16.

[0030] Finally, Figure 4 The diagram also indicates that the steering column 12 can rotate about an axis A22 defined by the bearing pin 22, thereby allowing the steering wheel 14 to tilt forward. During this pivoting motion about axis A22, the two housing elements 20a and 20b move together with the steering column 12 within the two side walls 18b and 18c of the support 18, while remaining fixed in position relative to the support 18 as the steering column 12 is displaced along its longitudinal axis A12 or as it rotates about this axis.

[0031] Therefore, the steering column assembly according to the invention allows for three-degree-of-freedom displacement of the steering wheel 16 relative to the support 18 and, consequently, the vehicle body (not shown), compared to steering wheel assemblies known in the prior art. This results in significantly improved ergonomics for the driver of the corresponding vehicle. Furthermore, the housing elements 20a and 20b, the clamping rod 28, the support pin 22, and / or the torsion tensioners 24a and 24b can be manufactured as injection-molded parts, resulting in significant cost savings compared to steering column assemblies known in the prior art, which are typically manufactured as welded assemblies.

Claims

1. A steering column assembly (10) for a vehicle, the steering column assembly comprising: - Steering column (12), the steering column having a steering wheel (16) disposed thereon, the steering column having a substantially circular cross-section and at least one through-hole (12a) extending through the entire cross-section. - Support (18), which is used to attach the steering column (12) to the vehicle body of the vehicle, the support having two through holes (18d) opposite each other. - A support pin (22), which, when the steering column assembly (10) is installed, is guided through the through-hole (18d) of the support seat and the through-hole (12a) of the steering column (12) and is secured by means of a fixing mechanism; and - Tensioning devices (24a, 24b, 26, 28), said tensioning devices being designed and configured to: generate a clamping force through the support (18) to the steering column (12) in a tightened state; The through-hole (12a) of the steering column (12) has a larger diameter in its circumferential direction than the diameter of the support pin (22) in a region in which the support pin is inserted into the through-hole (12a) of the steering column (12) in the installed state. The characteristic feature is that the support base (18) and / or the shell element (20a, 20b) are configured such that the steering column (12) rotates about the support pin (22) in the released state of the tensioning device (24a, 24b, 26, 28).

2. The steering column device (10) according to claim 1, wherein a front structure (14) is further provided on the upper side of the steering column (12), the front structure carrying the steering wheel (16) in a manner offset from the longitudinal axis (A12) of the steering column (12).

3. The steering column device (10) according to claim 2. The through-hole (12a) of the steering column (12) has a larger diameter on its longitudinal axis (A12) than the diameter of the support pin (22) in the region in which the support pin is inserted into the through-hole (12a) of the steering column (12) in the installed state.

4. The steering column device (10) according to claim 1 or 2. It also includes a pair of shell elements (20a, 20b) disposed between the support (18) and the steering column (12) in the installed state of the steering column assembly (10), wherein the internal shape of the shell element substantially corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the steering column (12).

5. The steering column device (10) according to claim 4. The shell elements (20a, 20b) are provided with anti-slip material on their inner and / or outer sides.

6. The steering column device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the tensioning device (24a, 24b, 26, 28) includes a clamping rod.

7. The steering column device (10) according to claim 6. The fixing mechanism of the support pin (22) is configured as a torsion tensioner that can be attached to both ends thereto, the torsion tensioner being designed to work in conjunction with the clamping rod of the tensioning device.

8. The steering column device (10) according to claim 7. The shell elements (20a, 20b), the clamping rod, the support pin (22) and / or the torsion tensioner are configured as injection molded parts.

9. The steering column device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a ground transport vehicle.

10. The steering column device (10) according to claim 5, wherein the anti-slip material is a thermoplastic elastomer.

11. A vehicle comprising a steering column assembly (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the vehicle is a ground transport vehicle.

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