Steering column for a vehicle

Abstract

According to the present embodiment, it is possible to improve the driver's steering lever manipulation and tilting operation by reducing the noise caused by the collision between the internal members that can occur when the driver switches the steering lever from the locked state to the unlocked state or when the driver adjusts the angle of the steering wheel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This embodiment relates to a vehicle steering column, and more specifically, to a vehicle steering column that can reduce noise caused by collisions between internal components that may occur when the driver switches the lever from a locked state to an unlocked state or when the driver adjusts the angle of the steering wheel, thereby enhancing the driver's lever operation and tilting. Background Technology

[0002] Typically, a vehicle's steering column has telescopic and tilting features, which the driver can use to adjust the protrusions and tilt angle of the steering wheel to suit his height or body shape, thereby achieving smooth steering.

[0003] In a manual steering column, the extension and tilt of the steering column are locked or unlocked by the driver's lever. Traditional steering columns have a lever-operated structure supported by a spring. When the driver moves the lever from the unlocked to the locked position in the direction opposite to the spring force, the feel of the shift is improved. However, when the driver moves the lever from the locked to the unlocked position in the same direction as the spring force, the lever rotates instantaneously, causing collisions and noise between internal components, thus degrading the feel of the shift.

[0004] Furthermore, when the driver adjusts the steering wheel angle up and down using the traditional steering column, noise is generated due to the collision between internal components when the steering column stops tilting, which worsens the driver's handling feel. Summary of the Invention

[0005] [Technical Issues]

[0006] This embodiment is conceived in the aforementioned context and relates to a vehicle steering column that can reduce noise caused by collisions between internal components that may occur when the driver switches the lever from a locked state to an unlocked state or when the driver adjusts the angle of the steering wheel, thereby facilitating the driver's operation of the lever and adjustment of the tilt angle.

[0007] [Technical Solution]

[0008] According to this embodiment, a steering column for a vehicle can be provided, comprising: a plate bracket having an inclined slit formed along an inclined direction; a fixed member having an adjusting bolt passing through it and having a support inserted into the inclined slit; a rotating member having an adjusting bolt passing through it, configured to face the fixed member, having a circumferentially formed guide slit and a connecting hole communicating with the circumferential end of the guide slit; a guide pin having one end inserted into the guide slit and the other end connected to the fixed member; and a first damper inserted into the connecting hole to be supported by the guide pin or removed from the guide pin when the rotating member rotates.

[0009] [Beneficial Effects]

[0010] According to this embodiment, noise caused by collisions between internal components that may occur when the driver switches the control lever from the locked state to the unlocked state or when the driver adjusts the angle of the steering wheel can be reduced, thereby making it easier for the driver to operate the control lever and adjust the tilt angle. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of the steering column of a vehicle according to this embodiment;

[0012] Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 A perspective view of the assembled state;

[0013] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Cross-sectional view;

[0014] Figure 5 This is an exploded perspective view of the steering column of a vehicle according to this embodiment;

[0015] Figure 6 It shows Figure 5 A perspective view of the assembled state;

[0016] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Cross-sectional view;

[0017] Figure 8 yes Figure 3 Cross-sectional view;

[0018] Figure 9 and Figure 10 This is a side view showing the operating state of the steering column of the vehicle according to this embodiment;

[0019] Figure 11 An exploded perspective view of the steering column of a vehicle according to this embodiment is shown; and

[0020] Figure 12 It shows Figure 11 A cross-sectional view of the assembled state. Detailed Implementation

[0021] In the following description of examples or embodiments of this disclosure, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which specific examples or embodiments that may be implemented are illustrated by way of illustration, and in which the same or similar components may be referred to by the same reference numerals and symbols even if they are shown in different drawings from each other. Furthermore, in the following description of examples or embodiments of this disclosure, detailed descriptions of well-known functions and components incorporated herein will be omitted when it is determined that the description may make the subject matter of some embodiments of this disclosure considerably unclear. Terms such as “comprising,” “having,” “including,” “constituting,” “made of,” and “formed from” are used herein generally to allow for the addition of additional components, unless these terms are used in conjunction with the term “only.” As used herein, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0022] Terms such as “first,” “second,” “A,” “B,” “(A),” or “(B)” may be used herein to describe elements of this disclosure. Each of these terms is not intended to define the nature, order, sequence, or number of elements, but only to distinguish the corresponding element from other elements.

[0023] When referring to the first element and the second element as "connected or joined," "in contact or overlapping," etc., it should be understood that not only can the first element be "directly connected or joined" or "directly in contact or overlapping" with the second element, but a third element can also be "inserted" between the first element and the second element, or the first element and the second element can be "connected or joined," "in contact or overlapping," etc., via a fourth element. Here, the second element may be included in at least one of two or more elements that are "connected or joined," "in contact or overlapping," etc., with each other.

[0024] When time-relative terms such as “after,” “following,” “next,” “before,” etc., are used to describe a process or operation of an element or configuration, or a flow or step in an operation, processing, or manufacturing method, these terms may be used to describe a discontinuous or non-sequential process or operation, unless the terms “directly” or “immediately” are used together.

[0025] Furthermore, even without a specified description, when referring to any size, relative size, etc., it should be assumed that the numerical value of an element or feature, or the corresponding information (e.g., level, range, etc.), includes the range of tolerances or errors that may be caused by various factors (e.g., process factors, internal or external influences, noise, etc.). Moreover, the term "may" fully encompasses all the meanings of the term "able to".

[0026] Figure 1 and Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view of the steering column of a vehicle according to this embodiment. Figure 3 It shows Figure 1 A perspective view of the assembled state. Figure 4 yes Figure 3 Cross-sectional view. Figure 5 This is an exploded perspective view of the steering column of a vehicle according to this embodiment. Figure 6 It shows Figure 5 A perspective view of the assembled state. Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Cross-sectional view. Figure 8 yes Figure 3 Cross-sectional view. Figure 9 and Figure 10 This is a side view showing the operating state of the steering column of the vehicle according to this embodiment. Figure 11 This is an exploded perspective view of the steering column of a vehicle according to this embodiment. Figure 12 It shows Figure 11 A cross-sectional view of the assembled state.

[0027] According to this embodiment, the steering column 100 of the vehicle includes: a plate bracket 104 having an inclined slit 105 formed in an inclined direction; a fixing member 150 having an adjusting bolt 110 passing through it and having a support member 201 inserted into the inclined slit 105; a rotating member 120 having an adjusting bolt 110 passing through it, configured to face the fixing member 150, having a circumferentially formed guide slit 121 and a connecting hole 122 communicating with the circumferential end of the guide slit 121, and connected to a control lever 130 for rotation by operating the control lever 130; a guide pin 161 having one end inserted into the guide slit 121 and the other end connected to the fixing member 150; and a first damper 140 inserted into the connecting hole 122 to be supported by or removed from the guide pin 161 when the rotating member 120 rotates.

[0028] First, a structure for locking or unlocking the tilt by manipulating the joystick 130 is described. Then, features for reducing noise during tilting and manipulating the joystick 130 are described using a first damper 140 and a second damper 1101.

[0029] The upper pillar 101, which is inserted into the inner circumferential surface of the lower pillar 102, is connected to the steering shaft (not shown), and the lower pillar 102 is connected to the vehicle body via the plate bracket 104 and the mounting bracket 106.

[0030] A pair of spacers 103 facing each other along the width direction are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the lower column 102, and a plate bracket 104 is supported on the outer surface of the spacers 103.

[0031] The plate bracket 104 is provided with an inclined slit 105 formed in an inclined direction, which is formed on the portion supported by the outer surface of the spacer portion 103 of the plate bracket 104.

[0032] The adjusting bolt 110 is inserted into the inclined slit 105 and is positioned to pass through the spacer 103. When the adjusting bolt 110 slides in the inclined direction in the inclined slit 105, the steering shaft tilts.

[0033] The first end of the adjusting bolt 110 is provided with a fixing member 150 and a rotating member 120, and the second end of the adjusting bolt 110 is provided with a spring 520 and a movable gear 530.

[0034] Although the accompanying drawings show an embodiment where the head portion is located at the first end of the adjusting bolt 110 and the nut 550 is connected to the second end, it is clear that the opposite is also possible.

[0035] Reference Figures 1 to 4 It describes the fixed component 150, the rotating component 120, etc.

[0036] The fixed member 150 and the rotating member 120 are connected by an adjusting bolt 110 and are arranged to face each other. The operating lever 130 is connected to the rotating member 120 such that when the operating lever 130 is operated, the rotating member 120 rotates, while the fixed member 150 is supported on one side surface of the plate bracket 104 and does not rotate.

[0037] The fixing member 150 is provided with a support member 201 that is inserted into the inclined slit 105. Since the two opposite sides of the support member 201 are supported by the plate bracket 104, the fixing member 150 engages with the plate bracket 104 and does not rotate when the control lever 130 is operated.

[0038] The rotating member 120 is provided with a guide slit 121 and a connecting hole 122. The guide slit 121 is formed circumferentially around the portion through which the adjusting bolt 110 passes, and the connecting hole 122 is formed to communicate with the circumferential end of the guide slit 121.

[0039] As shown in the figure, both the guide slit 121 and the connecting hole 122 can be formed to pass through the rotating member 120.

[0040] The first end of the guide pin 161 is inserted into the guide slit 121, the second end of the guide pin 161 is connected to the fixing member 150, and when the rotating member 120 rotates, the second end of the guide pin 161 slides on the guide slit 121, and the guide pin 161 is circumferentially supported by the rotating member 120 at the two circumferential ends of the guide slit 121, and the rotation of the rotating member 120 and the operation of the control lever 130 stop.

[0041] The guide pin 161 can be integrally formed with the fixing member 150.

[0042] On the other hand, in the locked state, the guide pin 161 is positioned at the second end of the guide slit 121 in the circumferential direction, and in the unlocked state, the guide pin 161 is positioned at the first end of the guide slit 121 in the circumferential direction (see reference). Figure 9 As described below, when the lever 130 is rotated from the locked state to the unlocked state, the first damper 140 is supported by the guide pin 161, and when the lever 130 is rotated from the unlocked state to the locked state, the first damper 140 is removed from the guide pin 161.

[0043] Subsequently, when the control lever 130 is operated, the rotating member 120 not only rotates about the axis of the adjusting bolt 110, but also slides together with the adjusting bolt 110 to get closer to or further away from the fixed member 150.

[0044] As described below, when the lever 130 is rotated from the locked state to the unlocked state, the adjusting bolt 110 slides from the first side to the second side, and the movable gear 530 disengages from the fixed gear 510, thus unlocking the tilt. When the lever 130 is rotated from the unlocked state to the locked state, the adjusting bolt 110 slides from the second end to the first end, and the movable gear 530 engages with the fixed gear 510, thereby locking the tilt.

[0045] A spring 520 located at the second end of the adjusting bolt 110 provides an elastic force to the second side of the adjusting bolt 110. A support pin 162 may be provided between the fixed member 150 and the rotating member 120 to allow the rotating member 120 to rotate while sliding.

[0046] The end of the support pin 162 rolls into contact with the fixed member 150 and the rotating member 120, such that when the rotating member 120 rotates, the support pin 162 tilts between the fixed member 150 and the rotating member 120.

[0047] In other words, when the lever 130 is rotated from the locked state to the unlocked state, the support pin 162 tilts to be tilted from the axial direction of the adjusting bolt 110, and the adjusting bolt 110 and the rotating member 120 supported by the head of the adjusting bolt 110 slide from the first side to the second side under the elastic force of the spring 520. When the lever 130 is rotated from the unlocked state to the locked state, the rotating member 120 and the adjusting bolt 110 supported by the rotating member 120 slide from the second side to the first side, and the support pin 162 is parallel to the axial direction of the adjusting bolt 110.

[0048] A rolling recess 163 may be formed in the fixed member 150 and the rotating member 120, and the end of the support pin 162 is located in the rolling recess 163.

[0049] Although no support pin 162 is provided, a circumferentially inclined inclined surface can be formed in each of the fixed member 150 and the rotating member 120, and the rotating member 120 can slide on the fixed member 150, with the inclined surfaces supporting each other.

[0050] Reference Figures 5 to 7 A fixed gear 510 with gear teeth is connected to the second side surface of the plate bracket 104, and a movable gear 530 provided at the second end of the adjusting bolt 110 engages with or disengages from the fixed gear 510 to lock or unlock the tilt by sliding the adjusting bolt 110.

[0051] Spring 520 is supported on the outer surface of spacer 103 and one side surface of movable gear 530, and thrust bearing 540 and nut 550 are disposed on the second side of movable gear 530.

[0052] In other words, the spring 520 is supported on the spacer 103 to apply elastic force to the movable gear 530, the thrust bearing 540 and the nut 550, thereby providing elastic force to the second side of the adjusting bolt 110.

[0053] The movable gear 530 may include a gear member 531, a support member 532, and an elastic member. The gear member 531 has gear teeth that mesh with the gear teeth of the fixed gear 510. The support member 532 is supported by a spring 520. The elastic member is disposed between the gear member 531 and the support member 532.

[0054] In other words, the support member 532 is axially fixed to the adjusting bolt 110 by the spring 520 and the nut 550, and the elastic member presses the gear member 531 against the fixed gear 510 by abutting against the support member 532.

[0055] As described above, when the lever 130 is operated, the adjusting bolt 110 slides through the support pin 162 and the spring 520, thereby locking or unlocking the tilt. When the lever 130 is rotated from the unlocked state to the locked state, the spring 520 is compressed, enhancing the driver's lever operation feel. However, when the lever 130 is rotated from the locked state to the unlocked state, the spring 520 is depressurized, causing the lever 130 to rotate momentarily, resulting in collisions and noise between components, thus degrading the driver's operation feel. To prevent this, a first damper 140 is provided.

[0056] Reference Figures 8 to 10As described above, the first damper 140 is inserted into the connecting hole 122, which communicates with the circumferential end of the guide slit 121. When the lever 130 is in the locked state, the guide pin 161 is positioned on the second end of the guide slit 121 in the circumferential direction, and when the lever 130 is in the unlocked state, the guide pin 161 is positioned on the first end of the guide slit 121 in the circumferential direction, such that when the lever 130 is rotated from the locked state to the unlocked state, the first damper 140 is supported by the guide pin 161, and when the lever 130 is rotated from the unlocked state to the locked state, the first damper 140 is removed from the guide pin 161.

[0057] The first damper 140 includes a small-diameter portion 141 that is inserted into a connecting hole and a large-diameter portion 142 that is formed to have a larger diameter than the small-diameter portion 141.

[0058] In other words, a portion of the large-diameter portion 142 axially overlaps with the guide slit 121, and the portion of the large-diameter portion 142 that overlaps with the guide slit 121 is supported and compressed by the guide pin 161, thereby performing damping.

[0059] In addition, the large diameter portion 142 may include a first large diameter portion 143 extending from the small diameter portion 141 to the fixing member 150.

[0060] When the lever 130 is rotated from the locked state to the unlocked state, the first large diameter portion 143 is supported by the fixed member 150, and secondary damping is performed.

[0061] When the lever 130 is rotated from the locked state to the unlocked state, the rotating member 120 and the adjusting bolt 110 slide toward the fixed member 150 by the elastic force of the spring 520, so that the first large diameter portion 143 is supported and compressed by the fixed member 150, thus performing damping.

[0062] In other words, the first large diameter portion 143 can be supported by the guide pin 161 and the fixing member 150, while simultaneously performing circumferential damping and axial damping.

[0063] In addition, the large diameter portion 142 may include a second large diameter portion 144, which extends from the small diameter portion 141 in a direction opposite to that of the fixing member 150.

[0064] As the lever 130 rotates from the locked state to the unlocked state, the rotating member 120 slides toward the fixed member 150, causing the first end of the guide pin 161 to protrude to one side of the rotating member 120, and the second large diameter portion 144 is supported by the protruding first end of the guide pin 161, thereby increasing the area of ​​the guide pin 161 supported by the first damper 140 and thus enhancing the damping performance.

[0065] The first large-diameter portion 143 and the second large-diameter portion 144 can be hollow. In other words, if the first large-diameter portion 143 and the second large-diameter portion 144 have high rigidity, the lever 130 may not be fixed in the unlocked state. Therefore, the first large-diameter portion 143 and the second large-diameter portion 144 can be formed to reduce rigidity, so that the lever 130 is stably fixed in the unlocked state while performing damping.

[0066] As described above, when the joystick 130 is rotated from the locked state to the unlocked state, the damping of the first damper 140 can prevent the joystick 130 from rotating instantaneously, thereby reducing noise caused by collisions between internal components and enhancing the driver's joystick operation.

[0067] At the same time, refer to Figure 11 and Figure 12 When the fixed member 150 slides on the inclined slit 105, the support member 201 can be connected to the second damper 1101 supported by the plate bracket 104 at two opposite ends in the inclined direction of the inclined slit 105.

[0068] As described above, during the tilting process, the support member 201 inserted into the tilting slit 105 is supported by the plate bracket 104, and the fixing member 150 slides. A second damper 1101 is provided to reduce the noise caused when the support member 201 stops while being supported by the plate bracket 104 in the tilting direction at both ends of the tilting slit 105.

[0069] In other words, the second damper 1101 has protrusions 1102 supported on the upper and lower surfaces of the support member 201 in the inclined direction, and the protrusions 1102 are supported by the plate bracket 104 in the inclined direction earlier than the support member 201, thereby reducing noise caused by the impact.

[0070] As described above, during tilting, the second damper 1101 prevents the support 201 from colliding with the plate bracket 104, thereby reducing noise caused by collisions between internal components and enhancing the driver's tilting control.

[0071] With a steering column of this shape, the driver can improve the control of the lever and tilt by reducing noise caused by collisions between internal components that may occur when the driver switches the lever from the locked to the unlocked state and adjusts the angle of the steering wheel.

[0072] The foregoing description has been presented to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the technical ideas of this disclosure, and has been provided in the context of a particular application and its requirements. Various modifications, additions, and substitutions to the described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. The foregoing description and drawings are merely examples of the technical concepts of this disclosure for illustrative purposes. That is, the disclosed embodiments are intended to illustrate the scope of the technical concepts of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the broadest scope consistent with the claims. The scope of protection of this disclosure should be interpreted based on the appended claims, and all technical concepts within the scope of their equivalents should be interpreted as being included within the scope of this disclosure.

[0073] Cross-references to related applications

[0074] This patent application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0045166, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on April 14, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This patent application also claims priority to other applications filed in other countries, the disclosures of which are also incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Claims

1. A steering column for a vehicle, comprising: The plate bracket has an inclined slit formed along the inclined direction; A fixing member, through which an adjusting bolt passes and having a support member inserted into the inclined slit; A rotating component, through which the adjusting bolt passes, is positioned facing the fixed component, has a circumferentially formed guide slit and a connecting hole communicating with the circumferential end of the guide slit, and is connected to a control lever to be rotated by operating the control lever; A guide pin, one end of which is inserted into the guide slit, and the other end of which is connected to the fixing member; as well as A first damper is inserted into the connecting hole to be supported by the guide pin or removed from the guide pin as the rotating member rotates. The first damper includes a small-diameter portion inserted into the connecting hole and a large-diameter portion formed having a larger diameter than the small-diameter portion. The large-diameter portion includes a first large-diameter portion extending from the small-diameter portion to the fixing member, and When the joystick is rotated from the locked state to the unlocked state, the first large-diameter portion is supported by the fixed member.

2. The steering column of claim 1 wherein, A support pin is provided between the fixed member and the rotating member, the support pin having two opposite ends that are in rolling contact with the fixed member and the rotating member.

3. The steering column of claim 2 wherein, A rolling recess is formed in the fixed member and the rotating member, and the end of the support pin is placed in the rolling recess.

4. The steering column of claim 1 wherein, When the joystick is rotated from the locked state to the unlocked state, the first damper is supported by the guide pin, and when the joystick is rotated from the unlocked state to the locked state, the first damper is removed from the guide pin.

5. The steering column of claim 1 wherein, The first large diameter portion is hollow.

6. The steering column of claim 1 wherein, The large-diameter portion includes a second large-diameter portion that extends from the small-diameter portion in a direction opposite to that of the fixing member.

7. The steering column according to claim 6, wherein, The second largest diameter portion is hollow.

8. The steering column according to claim 1, wherein, When the fixing member slides in the inclined slit, the support member is connected to a second damper supported by the plate bracket at two opposite ends in the inclined direction of the inclined slit.

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