A collapsible structure for a steering column

Abstract

The present invention discloses a collapsible structure for a steering column, comprising a toothed bar, an energy absorbing sheet, a limit block, an elastic pressure block assembly, and a shift block. The toothed bar is connected to one end of the energy absorbing sheet via a first screw, the toothed bar and the energy absorbing sheet are riveted to the column via rivets, the other end of the energy absorbing sheet is connected to the column via a second screw, the opposite sides of the energy absorbing sheet are staggeredly connected with the limit blocks, the limit blocks are connected to an aluminum cast tube via screws, one side of the toothed bar has a first tooth profile, the first tooth profile is meshed with an elastic pressure block assembly, the elastic pressure block assembly is connected to the aluminum cast tube via screws, one side of the elastic pressure block assembly is provided with a shift block, and the shift block is connected to the handle shaft. The present invention is arranged inside the aluminum cast tube, and the installation position can be installed according to the layout of the space and the needs of the customer, and the structure and process are simple, which can increase the range of the collapsible force.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of collapse, and in particular relates to a collapse structure for a steering column. Background Art

[0002] When a vehicle suddenly decelerates after a collision, passengers are still carried forward at high speed by inertia, a force far beyond the human body's ability to withstand. Crumpling structures are designed to cushion this sudden deceleration, minimizing the potential damage to passengers.

[0003] Existing collapse structures, such as the collapse structure of a steering column with patent number 2020208235519 and publication date 2020.12.18, include a gear plate, a gear stone and a handle, wherein the gear plate is mounted on the column tube; a gear plate guard is provided above the gear plate, and the gear plate guard is mounted on an aluminum cast tube, and the aluminum cast tube is sleeved on the column tube; a gear stone cover is provided at the top of the gear plate guard, and the gear stone is provided above the gear plate and below the gear stone cover; a connecting pin is installed on the gear stone, and the connecting pin passes through the gear stone cover, and springs I and spring II are provided at positions above and below the gear stone cover respectively; the handle is provided at the top of the aluminum cast tube and connected to the aluminum cast tube through a shaft, but has the following deficiencies when used:

[0004] 1. This patent is set on the outside of the aluminum cast tube, which will affect the performance of the parts. For example, dust will accumulate on the surface of the parts, foreign objects will enter and cause abnormal noise, jamming, etc., thereby affecting the collapse function of the collapse structure. In addition, the structure is complex and the installation position is fixed, which cannot meet the space layout and customer needs.

[0005] 2. This patent is to squeeze the engagement between the tooth stone and the tooth piece by rotating the handle. The handle is an injection molded part and will rub against the tooth stone when it rotates. Long-term use will cause wear of the handle.

[0006] 3. The energy absorbing sheet in this patent has a tooth-shaped structure. Since the energy absorbing sheet needs to bend and deform during collapse, it can provide a certain collapse force during the entire collapse stroke. However, in order to process the tooth shape that matches the tooth stone, the tooth-shaped structure needs to be made of a softer material. Therefore, the softer material cannot meet the demand for higher collapse force, and is limited by the thickness of the energy absorbing sheet. It cannot provide a larger tooth structure and cannot provide a more stable tooth meshing to improve the stiffness of the tooth meshing. Therefore, the range of the collapse force provided is limited, and it cannot meet the requirements when the collapse force is high.

[0007] 4. The energy-absorbing plate in this patent has a tooth-shaped structure. In order to provide a higher crushing force during bending deformation, the strength of the tooth-shaped structure cannot meet the mechanical performance, resulting in the inability of the tooth-shaped structure and the tooth stone to engage, causing deformation and separation, and posing a safety hazard.

[0008] 5. The energy absorbing plate in this patent has a tooth-shaped structure, so the structure is relatively complex, which increases the complexity of the process, consumes labor time, and increases costs. Summary of the Invention

[0009] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a collapsible structure which is arranged inside an aluminum cast pipe and can be installed according to the space layout and customer needs, and has a simple structure and process and can increase the range of collapsible force.

[0010] In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides a collapse structure for a steering column, comprising a tooth bar, an energy absorbing plate, a limit block, an elastic pressure block assembly and a shift block, wherein the tooth bar is connected to one end of the energy absorbing plate by a first screw, the tooth bar and the energy absorbing plate are riveted to the pipe column by rivets, the other end of the energy absorbing plate is connected to the pipe column by a second screw, the opposite sides of the energy absorbing plate are staggeredly connected to the limit blocks, the limit block is connected to the aluminum cast tube by screws, the tooth bar has a first tooth shape on one side perpendicular to the energy absorbing plate, the elastic pressure block assembly is meshed with the first tooth shape, the elastic pressure block assembly is connected to the aluminum cast tube by screws, and one side of the elastic pressure block assembly is provided with a shift block for shifting the elastic pressure block assembly, and the shift block is connected to the handle shaft.

[0011] As a further optimization, the elastic pressure block assembly includes a fixed block, a guide shaft, a tooth stone and a spring. One end of the fixed block is connected to the aluminum cast tube by a screw, and the other end of the fixed block is movably connected to the guide shaft. The end of the guide shaft away from the fixed block is connected to the tooth stone. A spring is sleeved on the guide shaft, one end of the spring rests on the tooth stone, and the other end of the spring rests on the fixed block.

[0012] As a further optimization, the fixed block includes a fixed block body, a limit platform and a shift block limit platform. The fixed block body has a limit platform on one side close to the aluminum cast tube, and the limit platform has a through hole. The fixed block is connected to the aluminum cast tube by inserting a screw into the through hole. The other end of the fixed block body has a shift block limit platform on the side wall close to the shift block.

[0013] As a further optimization, the tooth stone has a toggle boss on two opposite sides close to one end of the spring, and the top of the tooth stone has a second tooth shape that meshes with the first tooth shape on the tooth bar.

[0014] As a further optimization, the shift block includes a handle shaft connecting part and a shift arm, the handle shaft connecting part is provided with a connecting hole, the shift block is connected to the handle shaft through the connecting hole, and the handle shaft connecting part has shift arms extending outward on both sides of one end close to the elastic pressure block assembly, and the shift arms are located on both sides of the elastic pressure block assembly for shifting the elastic pressure block assembly.

[0015] As a further optimization, the rack bar includes a first tooth shape, a contact portion, a weight-reducing groove and a rack bar body. The rack bar body has a first tooth shape on one side perpendicular to the energy-absorbing plate. The rack bar body has contact portions at both ends of the side close to the pipe column. The bottom of the contact portion has an arc for fitting with the pipe column, and a weight-reducing groove is provided between the contact portions at both ends.

[0016] As a further optimization, the limit block includes a toothed bar limit portion and an energy absorbing plate guide portion. The toothed bar limit portion is connected to the aluminum cast tube by screws. The toothed bar limit portion has an energy absorbing plate guide portion extending from one end of the aluminum cast tube 11 to a side perpendicular to it.

[0017] Advantages and beneficial effects of the present invention

[0018] 1. Most of the parts of the present invention are wrapped inside the aluminum cast tube, which reduces the impact on the performance of the parts caused by too many exposed external parts of the steering column assembly, prevents dust accumulation on the surface of the parts, and prevents foreign objects from entering the parts to cause abnormal noise, jamming, etc., thereby affecting the collapse function of the present application and saving external space.

[0019] 2. The present invention has a simple and compact structure, which can reduce the difficulty of manufacturing parts and save costs.

[0020] 3. The handle shaft of the present invention is interspersed with a shift block, which is driven to rotate by the rotation of the handle shaft, so that the elastic pressure block assembly is engaged with the teeth on the rack bar, thereby preventing wear caused by squeezing the teeth by the handle.

[0021] 4. The teeth of the rack bar of the present invention can be located at the top or the bottom of the rack bar. During assembly, it is only necessary to adjust the matching handle shaft, shift block, plastic limit block and elastic pressure block assembly accordingly, which increases the range of options for spatial layout.

[0022] 5. The energy absorbing sheet and the toothed bar in the present invention are separate structures. The toothed bar and the energy absorbing sheet can be made of materials with better performance to improve the mechanical properties and strength of the toothed bar and the energy absorbing sheet, and meet the manufacturing methods of different processing technologies to meet customers' needs for high crushing force.

[0023] 6. In the present invention, the energy absorbing sheet and the toothed strip are separate structures, so the structure is simple, which reduces the difficulty of the process, reduces the working hours and reduces the cost.

[0024] 7. The elastic pressure block assembly of the present invention includes a fixed block, a guide shaft, a spring and a tooth stone. One end of the fixed block is provided with a through hole, and a guide shaft is movably connected in the through hole. The guide shaft is clamped at the bottom of the fixed block through the guide cap at the bottom, and the top of the guide shaft is connected to the tooth stone. A spring is sleeved on the guide shaft. The guide shaft is compressed and stretched to drive the tooth stone to move up and down relative to the fixed block, so that the tooth stone engages or separates with the tooth bar, thereby enhancing the meshing strength of the tooth stone and the tooth bar, and improving the holding force of the product through the meshing of the tooth stone and the tooth bar.

[0025] 8. The present invention is arranged inside the aluminum cast pipe, and because the structure is exposed outside the aluminum cast pipe, the aluminum cast pipe does not need to be processed by buckling grooves and other processing and assembly processes, so that the collapse structure is connected to the pipe column, thereby improving the strength of the aluminum cast pipe. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without any creative work.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention installed on a pipe column and an aluminum cast pipe;

[0028] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the open state of the present invention and the positional relationship between the handle and the pipe column;

[0029] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the connection relationship between the closed state and the pipe string of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 4 This is a schematic structural diagram of the elastic pressing block assembly of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention after the rack bar and the energy absorbing sheet are combined;

[0032] Figure 6 It is a structural schematic diagram of the limit block of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 7 It is a structural schematic diagram of the shift block of the present invention.

[0034] Figure numerals, rack bar 1, first tooth shape 1-1, contact portion 1-2, weight reduction groove 1-3, rack bar body 1-4, first screw 2, energy absorbing plate 3, upper plane 3-1, lower plane 3-2, rivet 4, pipe column 5, second screw 6, limit block 7, rack bar limit portion 7-1, energy absorbing plate guide portion 7-2, elastic pressure block assembly 8, fixed block 8-1, fixed block body 8-1-1, limit platform 8-1-2, shift block limit platform 8-1-3, guide shaft 8-2, tooth stone 8-3, shift boss 8-3-1, second tooth shape 8-3-2, spring 8-4, shift block 9, handle shaft connecting portion 9-1, connecting hole 9-2, shift arm 9-3, handle shaft 10 and aluminum cast tube 11. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and the like in the description and claims of the present invention and the accompanying drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a particular order or sequential sequence. It should be understood that the terms used in this manner are interchangeable where appropriate, such that the embodiments described herein can be practiced in an order other than that shown or described herein.

[0036] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] like Figure 1-3 As shown, a collapsible structure for a steering column includes a rack bar 1, an energy absorbing sheet 3, a limit block 7, an elastic pressure block assembly 8 and a shift block 9. Figure 5 As shown, the rack bar 1 includes a first tooth shape 1-1, a contact portion 1-2, a weight-reducing groove 1-3 and a rack bar body 1-4. The top or bottom end of the rack bar body 1-4 is provided with a first tooth shape 1-1, and the first tooth shape 1-1 is used to engage with the elastic pressure block assembly 8. The rack bar body 1-4 is provided with contact portions 1-2 at both ends of the side close to the pipe column 5. The bottom of the contact portion 1-2 has an arc for fitting with the pipe column. There is a weight-reducing groove 1-3 between the contact portions 1-2 at both ends, and the weight-reducing groove 1-3 plays a role in weight reduction. Function, the weight-reducing groove 1-3 is provided with two through holes, the toothed bar 1 is connected to the upper plane 3-1 of the energy-absorbing sheet 3 by inserting the first screw 2 into the through hole, the connected toothed bar 1 and the energy-absorbing sheet 3 are riveted to the pipe column 5 by rivets 4, and two through holes are processed on the relative positions of the upper plane 3-1 and the lower plane 3-2 of the other end of the energy-absorbing sheet 3, the second screw 6 passes through the two through holes on the upper plane 3-1 to connect the lower plane 3-2 of the energy-absorbing sheet 3 to the pipe column 5, and the upper and lower ends of the energy-absorbing sheet 3 are staggered and connected with the limiting block 7, as shown Figure 6As shown, the limiting block 7 includes a rack bar limiting portion 7-1 and an energy absorbing sheet guide portion 7-2. The rack bar limiting portion 7-1 is connected to the aluminum cast tube 11 by screws. The rack bar limiting portion 7-1 serves to limit the rack bar 1. An energy absorbing sheet guide portion 7-2 extends from one end of the rack bar limiting portion 7-1 away from the aluminum cast tube 11 to a side perpendicular thereto. The energy absorbing sheet guide portion 7-2 is stuck on the upper plane 3-1 of the energy absorbing sheet 3. The energy absorbing sheet guide portion 7-2 serves to guide the energy absorbing sheet 3, thereby ensuring the collapse direction of the steering column when it collapses, thereby reducing collapse. The influence of direction on the peak value of the collapse force, the first tooth shape 1-1 is meshed with an elastic pressure block assembly 8, and the elastic pressure block assembly 8 is connected to the aluminum cast tube 11 by screws. When the handle is closed, the elastic pressure block assembly 8 is meshed with the tooth bar 1, so that the pipe column 5 is in a clamped state. When the handle is opened, the elastic pressure block assembly 8 is separated from the tooth bar 1, realizing the length adjustment function of the pipe column 5. One side of the elastic pressure block assembly 8 is provided with a shift block 9 for shifting the elastic pressure block assembly 8, and the shift block 9 is connected to the handle shaft 10, and the handle shaft 10 passes through the bracket and is connected to the aluminum cast tube 11 by screws.

[0038] like Figure 4 As shown, the elastic pressure block assembly 8 includes a fixed block 8-1, a guide shaft 8-2, a gear stone 8-3 and a spring 8-4. The fixed block 8-1 includes a fixed block body 8-1-1, a limit platform 8-1-2 and a shift block limit platform 8-1-3. One end of the fixed block body 8-1-1 is provided with a limit platform 8-1-2 on the side close to the aluminum cast tube 11. The limit platform 8-1-2 is provided with a through hole. The fixed block 8-1 is connected to the aluminum cast tube 11 by inserting a screw into the through hole. The limit platform 8-1-2 is used to prevent the fixed block 8-1 from rotating relative to the aluminum cast tube 11. The other end of the fixed block body 8-1-1 is provided with a shift block limit platform 8-1-3 on the side wall close to the shift block 9. The shift block limit platform 8-1-3 can limit the shift block 9. A guide shaft 8-2 is movably connected to the fixed block body 8-1-1 with one end of the shift block limit platform 8-1-3, and the bottom of the guide shaft 8-2 is provided with a guide cap, and the guide shaft 8-2 is stuck in the bottom of the fixed block body 8-1-1 through the guide cap at the bottom to prevent the guide shaft 8-2 from falling off when it moves relative to the fixed block body 8-1-1. The top of the guide shaft 8-2 is connected with a tooth stone 8-3, and the opposite sides of the lower part of the tooth stone 8-3 are provided with shift bosses 8-3-1, and the top of the tooth stone 8-3 is provided with a second tooth shape 8-3-2 meshing with the first tooth shape 1-1. A spring 8-4 is sleeved on the guide shaft 8-2, and one end of the spring 8-4 is against the tooth stone 8-3, and the other end of the spring 8-4 is against the fixed block 8-1.

[0039] like Figure 7As shown, the shift block 9 includes a handle shaft connecting portion 9-1 and a shift arm 9-3, and the handle shaft connecting portion 9-1 has a connecting hole 9-2. The shift block 9 is connected to the handle shaft 10 through the connecting hole 9-2. The handle shaft connecting portion 9-1 has shift arms 9-3 extending outward on both sides of one end close to the tooth stone 8-3, and the shift arms 9-3 are located on both sides of the tooth stone 8-3, and cooperate with the shift boss 8-3-1 to shift the tooth stone 8-3 and the guide shaft 8-2 up and down relative to the fixed block 8-1.

[0040] Working process

[0041] When the handle is opened, the rotation of the handle will drive the handle shaft 10 to rotate, and the rotation of the handle shaft 10 will drive the shift block 9 to rotate downward. The downward rotation of the shift block 9 presses the shift boss 8-3-1 on the tooth stone 8-3 to move downward, thereby separating the tooth stone 8-3 from the rack bar 1, realizing the length adjustment function. The downward movement of the tooth stone 3 drives the guide shaft 8-2 to move downward relative to the fixed block 8-1. At this time, the spring 8-4 is in a compressed state.

[0042] When the handle is closed, the rotation of the handle drives the handle shaft 10 to rotate, and the rotation of the handle shaft 10 drives the shift block 9 to rotate upward. The upward rotation of the shift block 9 causes the shift arm 9-3 to move away from the shift boss 8-3-1 on the tooth stone 8-3. At this time, the tooth stone 8-3 and the guide shaft 8-2 move upward under the action of the spring 8-4, and engage with the first tooth 1-1 on the rack bar 1, thereby clamping the pipe column 5.

[0043] When the car collides, the impact force of the airbag will cause the steering column tube 5 to move obliquely downward, that is, toward the front of the car, while the aluminum cast tube 11 remains stationary, so that the elastic pressure block assembly 8 connected to the aluminum cast tube 11 remains stationary. Since the teeth on the elastic pressure block assembly 8 are engaged with the rack bar 1, the rack bar 1 remains stationary. The rack bar 1 is connected to the upper plane 3-1 of the energy absorbing sheet 3 by screws. The upper plane 3-1 of the energy absorbing sheet 3 does not move, while the lower plane 3-2 of the energy absorbing sheet 3 connected to the tube 5 by the second screw 6 will move obliquely downward, that is, toward the front of the car, along with the tube 5. At this time, the upper plane 3-1 and the lower plane 3-2 produce relative movement, causing the rivet 4 connected to the rack bar 1, the energy absorbing plate 3 and the tube column 5 to break and generate a peak value of the crushing force. At the same time, due to the bending deformation of the energy absorbing plate 3, the damage to the driver caused by the steering wheel in the event of a head-on collision of the car is reduced or avoided. The limit block 7 connected to the aluminum cast tube 11 guides the crushing movement direction of the energy absorbing plate 3 and limits the upper and lower end faces of the rack bar 1, ensuring the crushing direction of the steering column during collapse, thereby reducing the influence of the crushing direction on the peak value of the crushing force.

[0044] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than to limit them. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A collapsible structure for a steering column, characterized in that: The utility model comprises a toothed bar (1), an energy absorbing sheet (3), a limit block (7), an elastic pressure block assembly (8) and a shift block (9), wherein the toothed bar (1) is connected to one end of the energy absorbing sheet (3) by a first screw (2), the toothed bar (1) and the energy absorbing sheet (3) are riveted to the pipe column (5) by a rivet (4), the other end of the energy absorbing sheet (3) is connected to the pipe column (5) by a second screw (6), the opposite sides of the energy absorbing sheet (3) are staggeredly connected to the limit blocks (7), the limit blocks (8) are staggeredly connected to the pipe column (5), and the limit blocks (9) are staggeredly connected to the pipe column (5) by a second screw (6). The block (7) is connected to the aluminum casting tube (11) by screws, the toothed bar (1) has a first tooth shape (1-1) on a side perpendicular to the energy absorbing plate (3), and an elastic pressure block assembly (8) is meshed and connected to the first tooth shape (1-1), and the elastic pressure block assembly (8) is connected to the aluminum casting tube (11) by screws, and a shifting block (9) for shifting the elastic pressure block assembly (8) is provided on one side of the elastic pressure block assembly (8), and the shifting block (9) is connected to the handle shaft (10); The elastic pressure block assembly (8) comprises a fixed block (8-1), a guide shaft (8-2), a tooth stone (8-3) and a spring (8-4); one end of the fixed block (8-1) is connected to the aluminum cast tube (11) by a screw; the other end of the fixed block (8-1) is movably connected to the guide shaft (8-2); the end of the guide shaft (8-2) away from the fixed block (8-1) is connected to the tooth stone (8-3); a spring (8-4) is sleeved on the guide shaft (8-2); one end of the spring (8-4) abuts against the tooth stone (8-3), and the other end of the spring (8-4) abuts against the fixed block (8-1); The shift block (9) comprises a handle shaft connecting portion (9-1) and a shifting support arm (9-3); the handle shaft connecting portion (9-1) is provided with a connecting hole (9-2); the shift block (9) is connected to the handle shaft (10) through the connecting hole (9-2); the handle shaft connecting portion (9-1) is provided with a shifting support arm (9-3) extending outwardly on both sides of one end close to the elastic pressure block assembly (8); and the shifting support arm (9-3) is located on both sides of the elastic pressure block assembly (8) and is used to shift the elastic pressure block assembly (8).

2. The collapsible structure for a steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixed block (8-1) comprises a fixed block body (8-1-1), a limiting platform (8-1-2) and a shifting block limiting platform (8-1-3); one end of the fixed block body (8-1-1) is provided with a limiting platform (8-1-2) on a side close to the aluminum casting tube (11); the limiting platform (8-1-2) is provided with a through hole; the fixed block (8-1) is connected to the aluminum casting tube (11) by inserting a screw into the through hole; the other end of the fixed block body (8-1-1) is provided with a shifting block limiting platform (8-1-3) on a side wall close to the shifting block (9).

3. The collapsible structure for a steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tooth stone (8-3) is provided with a toggle boss (8-3-1) on opposite sides of one end close to the spring (8-4), and the top of the tooth stone (8-3) is provided with a second tooth shape (8-3-2) meshing with the first tooth shape (1-1) on the tooth bar (1).

4. The collapsible structure for a steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that: The tooth bar (1) comprises a first tooth shape (1-1), a contact portion (1-2), a weight-reducing groove (1-3) and a tooth bar body (1-4); the tooth bar body (1-4) has the first tooth shape (1-1) on one side perpendicular to the energy-absorbing sheet (3); the tooth bar body (1-4) has contact portions (1-2) at both ends of the side close to the pipe column (5); the bottom of the contact portion (1-2) has an arc for fitting with the pipe column; and the weight-reducing groove (1-3) is provided between the contact portions (1-2) at both ends.

5. The collapsible structure for a steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that: The limiting block (7) comprises a toothed bar limiting portion (7-1) and an energy absorbing sheet guide portion (7-2); the toothed bar limiting portion (7-1) is connected to the aluminum casting tube (11) via screws; an energy absorbing sheet guide portion (7-2) extends from one end of the toothed bar limiting portion (7-1) away from the aluminum casting tube (11) to a side perpendicular thereto.

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