Automobile steering column with locking structure

Abstract

The invention discloses a car steering column with a locking structure, comprising an upper sleeve assembly, a lower sleeve assembly and an adjusting handle, and also comprising a connecting assembly and adjusting plates respectively arranged on both sides of the lower sleeve assembly; a locking spring sheet is installed on the outer side of at least one adjusting plate, and the adjusting handle is arranged on the side of the locking spring sheet facing away from the adjusting plate; the connecting assembly passes through the adjusting handle, the locking spring sheet, the adjusting plate and the lower sleeve assembly; the adjusting plate is provided with a connecting groove, the connecting assembly passes through the connecting groove, a clamping hole is provided on one side or two opposite sides of the connecting groove, and a boss is arranged on the side of the locking spring sheet facing the adjusting plate; when the adjusting handle is rotated and locked, the connecting assembly drives the two adjusting plates to press the lower sleeve assembly inward respectively, and the boss falls into the clamping hole. The upper sleeve assembly on the steering column is prevented from radially loosening together with the steering wheel installed thereon, thereby increasing the radial retaining force of the steering column and preventing the steering wheel from loosening.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of automobile parts, in particular to an automobile steering column with a locking structure. Background Art

[0002] The adjustable steering column of the car is mainly used in EPS (electric power steering system). When the car collides, the driver may be injured by the steering wheel and the column, and the consequences are disastrous. Therefore, the radial retention force of the steering column must be standardized so that the radial retention force of the steering column can meet the requirements of safety and reliability.

[0003] The adjustment and locking of the steering column in the prior art is mainly to drive the two side adjustment plates and the limit plates in the lower sleeve assembly to move inward and press the upper sleeve assembly when the adjustment handle is locked, and the friction between them is used to prevent the radial loosening of the steering column. The radial holding force of the steering column in this way can only meet ≥600N, while some models of some vehicle companies require the radial holding force of the adjustable EPS steering column to reach ≥5000N, which is difficult to meet in the prior art.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to improve it. Summary of the invention

[0005] In view of the deficiencies in the prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle steering column with a locking structure, which has a simple structure and high safety.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a vehicle steering column with a locking structure, comprising an upper sleeve assembly, a lower sleeve assembly and an adjustment handle, and also comprising a connecting assembly and adjustment plates respectively arranged on both sides of the lower sleeve assembly;

[0007] A locking spring is installed on the outer side of at least one of the adjustment plates, and the adjustment handle is arranged on a side of the locking spring facing away from the adjustment plate;

[0008] The connecting assembly passes through the adjusting handle, the locking spring, the adjusting plate and the lower sleeve assembly;

[0009] The adjusting plate is provided with a connecting groove, the connecting assembly passes through the connecting groove, a clamping hole is provided on one side or two opposite sides of the connecting groove, and a boss is provided on the side of the locking spring sheet facing the adjusting plate;

[0010] When the adjusting handle is rotated and locked, the connecting assembly drives the two adjusting plates to respectively press the lower sleeve assembly inward, and the boss falls into the clamping hole.

[0011] In a further technical solution, the locking spring includes a limiting portion and at least two elastic portions, a through hole for passing the connecting assembly is opened in the middle of the limiting portion, the two elastic portions are respectively installed on the upper and lower sides of the limiting portion, and a row of bosses is installed on at least one of the left and right sides of the limiting portion, and each row of bosses is in an arc shape.

[0012] In a further technical solution, a row of the clamping holes is respectively opened on both sides of the connecting groove, the number of the clamping holes in each row is 5 to 15, the bosses are also arranged in two rows, the positions of the bosses in each row correspond to a row of the clamping holes, and the number of the bosses in each row is less than the number of the clamping holes.

[0013] In a further technical solution, the shape of the connecting groove is arc-shaped, the shape of the clamping hole is circular, elliptical or rectangular, the shape of the boss cross-section is circular, semicircular, arc-shaped, conical or rectangular, and the angle between the elastic part and the limiting part is 5-89°.

[0014] In a further technical solution, the locking springs are respectively installed on the outer sides of the two adjustment plates, and the connecting assembly includes an adjustment bolt and a clamping wheel;

[0015] The adjusting bolt passes through the adjusting handle, the two locking springs, the two adjusting plates, the lower sleeve assembly and is connected to the clamping wheel.

[0016] In a further technical solution, the connecting assembly also includes a fixed cam and a sliding cam, the fixed cam abuts against the locking spring plate, the sliding cam is installed between the fixed cam and the adjusting handle, the fixed cam has a groove on the side facing the sliding cam, the sliding cam has a protrusion on the side facing the fixed cam, the protrusion is arranged in the groove, and when the adjusting handle is rotated and locked, the protrusion moves from the inside of the groove to the outside of the groove and abuts against the fixed cam.

[0017] In a further technical solution, the length from the bottom of the groove to the top of the groove tends to gradually increase.

[0018] In a further technical solution, the upper end of the upper sleeve assembly is connected to the steering wheel, the lower end of the lower sleeve assembly is hinged to the two adjustment plates, the lower sleeve assembly is arranged on the lower side of the upper sleeve assembly, the lower sleeve assembly is installed between the two adjustment plates, and the connecting assembly passes through the lower sleeve assembly.

[0019] In a further technical solution, the lower sleeve assembly includes two limit plates, which are respectively arranged between the upper sleeve assembly and the two adjustment plates, and the connecting components respectively pass through the two limit plates. When the adjustment handle is rotated and locked, the two limit plates move closer to the center and respectively press against the upper sleeve assembly.

[0020] In a further technical solution, the tops of the two limit plates are arc-shaped.

[0021] After adopting the above structure, the advantages of the present invention over the prior art are as follows: in the automobile steering column with a locking structure of the present invention, when the adjustment handle is locked, the connecting assembly drives the two adjustment plates to respectively squeeze the lower sleeve assembly inward and lock the upper sleeve assembly, and the boss falls into the clamping hole, preventing the upper sleeve assembly on the steering column and the steering wheel installed thereon from radially loosening, thereby increasing the radial retaining force of the steering column and preventing the steering wheel from loosening. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The present invention is further described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0023] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 2 It is another structural schematic diagram of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the adjustment plate of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of the locking spring piece of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 5 It is another structural schematic diagram of the locking spring piece of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of the sliding cam of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 7 It is a structural schematic diagram of the fixed cam of the present invention.

[0030] In the figure:

[0031] 1- Upper sleeve assembly;

[0032] 2-lower sleeve assembly, 21-limiting plate;

[0033] 3-connecting assembly, 31-adjusting bolt, 32-pressing wheel, 33-fixed cam, 331-groove, 34-sliding cam, 341-bump;

[0034] 4-adjusting plate, 41-connecting groove, 42-clamping hole;

[0035] 5-locking spring piece, 51-boss, 52-limiting part, 53-elastic part.

[0036] 6-Adjust the handle; DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The following descriptions are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the present invention.

[0038] Example

[0039] See Figure 1-7 As shown, a steering column for an automobile with a locking structure comprises an upper sleeve assembly 1, a lower sleeve assembly 2 and an adjusting handle 6, and also comprises a connecting assembly 3 and adjusting plates 4 respectively arranged on both sides of the lower sleeve assembly 2; locking springs 5 ​​are installed on the outer sides of the two adjusting plates 4, and it should be noted that the present invention can also install the locking spring 5 only on the outer side of one adjusting plate 4, and the adjusting handle 6 is arranged on the side of the locking spring 5 facing away from the adjusting plate 4; the connecting assembly 3 passes through the adjusting handle 6, the locking spring 5, the adjusting plate 4 and the lower sleeve assembly 2; the adjusting plate 4 is provided with a connecting groove 41, the connecting assembly 3 passes through the connecting groove 41, and a clamping hole 42 is provided on one side or on two opposite sides of the connecting groove 41, and a boss 51 is provided on the side of the locking spring 5 facing the adjusting plate 4; when the adjusting handle 6 is rotated and locked, the connecting assembly 3 drives the two adjusting plates 4 to press the lower sleeve assembly 2 inwardly respectively, wherein the locking spring 5 is also pressed, so that the boss 51 falls into the clamping hole 42. The upper sleeve assembly 1 and the steering wheel mounted thereon are prevented from being loosened radially, thereby increasing the radial retaining force of the steering column and preventing the steering wheel from being loosened.

[0040] As a preferred embodiment, the locking spring 5 includes a limiting portion 52 and at least two elastic portions 53, a through hole for passing the connecting component 3 is opened in the middle of the limiting portion 52, and the two elastic portions 53 are respectively installed on the upper and lower sides of the limiting portion 52, and a row of bosses 51 is installed on at least one of the left and right sides of the limiting portion 52, and each row of bosses 51 is in an arc shape.

[0041] The elastic portion 53 is mainly used to lift the limiting portion 52 and move it away from the locking hole 42. When the locking spring piece 5 is squeezed, the angle between the elastic portion 53 and the limiting portion 52 gradually tends to be parallel, and the boss 51 on the limiting portion 52 gradually falls into the locking hole 42, thereby increasing the radial holding force of the steering column and preventing the steering wheel from loosening.

[0042] As a preferred embodiment, a row of the locking holes 42 is respectively opened on both sides of the connecting groove 41, and the number of the locking holes 42 in each row is 5 to 15. The bosses 51 are also arranged in two rows, and the positions of the bosses 51 in each row correspond to a row of the locking holes 42, and the number of the bosses 51 in each row is less than the number of the locking holes 42.

[0043] As a preferred embodiment, the number of the clamping holes 42 in this embodiment is 9, and the number of the bosses 51 is 4. When the adjustment handle 6 is rotated and locked, part of the bosses 51 falls into the clamping holes 42. It should be noted that two adjacent clamping holes 42 are connected.

[0044] In other specific embodiments, the number of the engaging holes 42 may be 5 to 8, and the number of the bosses 51 may be 2 to 4. It should be noted that the number of the bosses 51 is always less than the number of the engaging holes 42 .

[0045] Furthermore, the connecting groove 41 is arc-shaped, the clamping hole 42 is circular, elliptical or rectangular, the cross-sectional shape of the boss 51 is circular, semicircular, arc-shaped, conical or rectangular, and the angle between the elastic portion 53 and the limiting portion 52 is 5-89°.

[0046] As a preferred embodiment, the shape of the locking hole 42 of this embodiment is circular, the shape of the cross-section of the boss 51 is semicircular, and the angle between the elastic portion 53 and the limiting portion 52 is 15°. When the adjustment handle 6 is rotated and locked, the boss 51 falls into the locking hole 42, and the boss 51 cooperates with the locking hole 42. At this time, the resistance of the boss 51 sliding out of the locking hole 42 is greater than the friction between the two adjustment plates 4 and the limiting plate 21, thereby strengthening the radial holding force of the steering column to prevent the steering wheel from loosening.

[0047] Furthermore, the locking springs 5 ​​are respectively installed on the outer sides of the two adjustment plates 4, and the connecting assembly 3 includes an adjusting bolt 31 and a clamping wheel 32; the adjusting bolt 31 passes through the adjustment handle 6, the two locking springs 5, and the two adjustment plates 4 are connected with the clamping wheel 32. The connecting assembly 3 also includes a fixed cam 33 and a sliding cam 34, the fixed cam 33 abuts against the locking spring 5, the sliding cam 34 is installed between the fixed cam 33 and the adjustment handle 6, the fixed cam 33 has a groove 331 on one side facing the sliding cam 34, and the sliding cam 34 has a protrusion 341 on one side facing the fixed cam 33, and the protrusion 341 is arranged in the groove 331. When the adjustment handle 6 is rotated and locked, the protrusion 341 moves from the groove 331 to the outside of the groove 331 and abuts against the fixed cam 33. The length of the bottom of the groove 331 to the top of the groove 331 changes in a trend of gradually getting longer. As a preferred implementation, the side surface of the groove 331 of this embodiment is an inclined arc surface.

[0048] Through the setting of the connecting component 3, when the adjusting handle 6 is locked, it drives the adjusting bolt 31 to rotate, so that the protrusion 341 moves from the inside of the groove 331 to the outside of the groove 331, shortening the distance between the fixed cam 33 and the clamping wheel 32, so that the fixed cam 33 and the clamping wheel 32 respectively drive the adjacent locking spring piece 5 and the adjusting plate 4 to move inward respectively, and part or all of the protrusion 341 of the locking spring piece 5 will fall into the clamping hole 42 when moving, thereby strengthening the radial holding force of the steering column.

[0049] Further, the steering column includes an upper sleeve assembly 1 and a lower sleeve assembly 2, the upper end of the upper sleeve assembly 1 is connected to the steering wheel, and the lower end of the lower sleeve assembly 2 is hinged to the two adjustment plates 4. It should be noted that, as a preferred embodiment, the lower end of the lower sleeve assembly 2 of this embodiment is hinged to the adjustment plates 4 on both sides through hinges, the lower sleeve assembly 2 is arranged on the lower side of the upper sleeve assembly 1, the lower sleeve assembly 2 is installed between the two adjustment plates 4, and the connecting assembly 3 passes through the lower sleeve assembly 2. The lower sleeve assembly 2 includes two limit plates 21, which are respectively arranged between the upper sleeve assembly 1 and the two adjustment plates 4, the tops of the two limit plates 21 are arc-shaped, and the connecting assembly 3 passes through the two limit plates 21 respectively. When the adjustment handle 6 is rotated and locked, the two limit plates 21 move closer to the middle and respectively abut against the upper sleeve assembly 1.

[0050] When the adjustment handle 6 is locked, the two adjustment plates 4 move inwards respectively, and the two limit plates 21 also move inwards and abut against the upper sleeve assembly 1 respectively, thereby increasing the friction between the two limit plates 21 and the two adjustment plates 4.

[0051] The working principle of the present invention is as follows: when the adjustment handle 6 is locked, the adjustment handle 6 drives the sliding cam 34 to rotate, and the protrusion 341 of the sliding cam 34 moves along the inclined arc surface of the groove 331 and abuts against one side of the fixed cam 33. At the same time, the distance between the fixed cam 33 and the clamping wheel 32 is shortened, so that the fixed cam 33 and the clamping wheel 32 respectively drive the adjacent locking spring sheet 5, the adjustment plate 4 and the limit plate 21 to move toward the center, pushing the lower sleeve assembly 2 and the upper sleeve assembly 1 to be pressed. It should be noted that the lower sleeve assembly 2 of this embodiment has a certain elasticity. One of the two rows of protrusions 51 on the locking spring sheet 5 falls into the clamping hole 42 of the adjustment plate 4. The friction force after the upper sleeve assembly 1 and the lower sleeve assembly 2 are pressed together forms the axial holding force of the steering column; the sum of the friction force between the two adjusting plates 4 and the limit plate 21 and the resistance of the boss 51 sliding out of the locking hole 42 forms the radial holding force of the steering column, that is, the locking force. Since the resistance of the boss 51 sliding out of the locking hole 42 is much greater than the friction force between the two adjusting plates 4 and the limit plate 2, the locking structure of the present invention greatly increases the radial holding force of the steering column and prevents the steering wheel from loosening.

[0052] When the adjustment handle 6 is released, the adjustment handle 6 drives the sliding cam 34 to rotate, and the projection 341 of the sliding cam 34 rotates into the groove 331 along the inclined arc surface of the fixed cam 33. At the same time, the fixed cam 33 and the clamping wheel 32 move outwards respectively under the elastic force of the locking spring sheet 5, and the projection 51 on the locking spring sheet 5 is separated from the clamping hole 42 of the adjustment plate 4, and the lower sleeve assembly 2 rebounds due to its own elasticity. In this way, a gap appears between the lower sleeve assembly 2 and the upper sleeve assembly 1, so that the upper sleeve assembly 1 together with the steering wheel installed thereon can be adjusted forward and backward along the axial direction of the steering column, and can also rotate around the hinge along the arc groove on the adjustment plate 4 to achieve the up and down adjustment function of the steering wheel.

[0053] The above contents are only preferred embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, according to the concept of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scopes. The content of this specification should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

Claims

1. An automobile steering column with a locking structure, comprising an upper sleeve assembly, a lower sleeve assembly and an adjustment handle, characterized in that: It also includes a connecting assembly and adjustment plates respectively arranged on both sides of the lower sleeve assembly; A locking spring is installed on the outer side of at least one of the adjustment plates, and the adjustment handle is arranged on a side of the locking spring facing away from the adjustment plate; The connecting assembly passes through the adjusting handle, the locking spring, the adjusting plate and the lower sleeve assembly; The adjusting plate is provided with a connecting groove, the connecting assembly passes through the connecting groove, a clamping hole is provided on one side or two opposite sides of the connecting groove, and a boss is provided on the side of the locking spring sheet facing the adjusting plate; When the adjustment handle is rotated and locked, the connecting assembly drives the two adjustment plates to respectively press the lower sleeve assembly inward, and the boss falls into the clamping hole; The locking spring comprises a limiting portion and at least two elastic portions, a through hole for passing the connecting assembly is opened in the middle of the limiting portion, the two elastic portions are respectively mounted on the upper and lower sides of the limiting portion, and a row of bosses is mounted on at least one of the left and right sides of the limiting portion, and each row of bosses is in an arc shape.

2. The automobile steering column with a locking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: A row of the clamping holes is respectively opened on both sides of the connecting groove, and the number of the clamping holes in each row is 5 to 15. The bosses are also arranged in two rows, and the positions of the bosses in each row correspond to a row of the clamping holes, and the number of the bosses in each row is less than the number of the clamping holes.

3. The automobile steering column with a locking structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The shape of the connecting groove is arc-shaped, the shape of the clamping hole is circular, elliptical or rectangular, the shape of the boss cross section is circular, semicircular, arc-shaped, conical or rectangular, and the angle between the elastic part and the limiting part is 5-89°.

4. The automotive steering column with a locking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The locking springs are respectively installed on the outer sides of the two adjustment plates, and the connecting assembly includes an adjustment bolt and a clamping wheel; The adjusting bolt passes through the adjusting handle, the two locking springs, the two adjusting plates, the lower sleeve assembly and is connected to the clamping wheel.

5. The automobile steering column with a locking structure according to claim 4, characterized in that: The connecting assembly also includes a fixed cam and a sliding cam, the fixed cam abuts against the locking spring sheet, the sliding cam is installed between the fixed cam and the adjusting handle, a groove is provided on the side of the fixed cam facing the sliding cam, a protrusion is provided on the side of the sliding cam facing the fixed cam, the protrusion is provided in the groove, and when the adjusting handle is rotated and locked, the protrusion moves from the inside of the groove to the outside of the groove and abuts against the fixed cam.

6. The automobile steering column with a locking structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The length of the groove from the bottom to the top tends to gradually increase.

7. The automobile steering column with a locking structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper end of the upper sleeve assembly is connected to the steering wheel, the lower end of the upper sleeve assembly is hinged to the two adjustment plates, the lower sleeve assembly is arranged on the lower side of the upper sleeve assembly, the lower sleeve assembly is installed between the two adjustment plates, and the connecting component passes through the lower sleeve assembly.

8. The automobile steering column with a locking structure according to claim 7, characterized in that: The lower sleeve assembly includes two limit plates, which are respectively arranged between the upper sleeve assembly and the two adjustment plates. The connecting components pass through the two limit plates respectively. When the adjustment handle is rotated and locked, the two limit plates move closer to the center and respectively press against the upper sleeve assembly.

9. The automobile steering column with a locking structure according to claim 8, characterized in that: The tops of the two limiting plates are arc-shaped.

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