Steering system and vehicle

By introducing primary and secondary steering mechanisms into the steering system, the wheel rotation angle is inconsistent, and the wheel wear and system reliability problems in the prior art are solved, and a more stable and safe vehicle driving is achieved.

CN119099722AActive Publication Date: 2024-12-10BYD CO LTD

Patent Information

Application Number
CN202411220475.1
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Applications(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-08-31
Publication Date
2024-12-10
Estimated Expiration
2044-08-31

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

In the existing steering system, the wheels are subject to wear and tear due to the same rotation angle of the left and right wheels during steering, and the system reliability and safety are insufficient.

Method used

A steering system including an inner steering joint assembly and an outer steering joint assembly is designed. The inner steering joint and the outer steering joint are driven by the primary and secondary steering mechanisms respectively to achieve inconsistency in the rotation angle of the wheel and reduce wear. And ensure that the system can still drive safely in the event of a single failure.

Benefits of technology

By making the wheel rotation angle inconsistent, it reduces wear and extends service life, while improving driving stability and safety, it meets regulatory requirements.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention provides a steering system and a vehicle. The steering system comprises an inner steering knuckle assembly which is used for being rotationally connected with a suspension swing arm assembly of the vehicle; the outer steering knuckle assembly is rotationally connected with the inner steering knuckle assembly; the first driving piece is rotationally connected with the inner steering knuckle assembly and is used for driving the inner steering knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the suspension swing arm assembly; and the second driving piece is used for driving the outer steering knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the inner steering knuckle assembly. According to the steering system, the first driving part and the inner steering knuckle assembly achieve first-stage steering and are responsible for driving the inner steering knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the suspension swing arm assembly, and the second driving part and the outer steering knuckle assembly achieve second-stage steering and are responsible for driving the outer steering knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the inner steering knuckle assembly. After the steering angles of the wheels are determined through the first-stage steering, the steering angles of the wheels can be further adjusted through the second-stage steering, so that the rotation angles of the wheels on the two sides of the vehicle are inconsistent, the axes of the wheels tend to intersect at one point, and abrasion of the wheels is reduced.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of vehicle steering, and in particular to a steering system and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] The steering system is an important part of the vehicle and is a mechanism used to maintain or change the direction of the vehicle. The steering system usually includes a steering gear and a steering transmission mechanism. When the driver turns the steering wheel, the steering gear amplifies the steering operation force and outputs it to the steering transmission mechanism, which drives the left and right wheels to rotate. However, in the prior art, the steering transmission mechanism can only make the left and right wheels rotate at the same angle, resulting in wear when the wheels are turned. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present application provides a steering system and a vehicle that are beneficial to reducing wheel wear.

[0004] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application provides a steering system, the steering system comprising:

[0005] An inner steering knuckle assembly, used for rotational connection with a suspension swing arm assembly of a vehicle;

[0006] an outer steering knuckle assembly, rotatably connected to the inner steering knuckle assembly;

[0007] a first driving member, the first driving member being rotatably connected to the inner steering knuckle assembly and used for driving the inner steering knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the suspension swing arm assembly; and,

[0008] A second driving member, wherein the second driving member is used to drive the outer steering knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the inner steering knuckle assembly.

[0009] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, the second driving member includes a push rod, one end of the push rod is rotatably connected to the outer steering knuckle assembly, and the other end of the push rod is rotatably connected to the inner steering knuckle assembly.

[0010] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, connecting columns are provided at both ends of the push rod, the outer steering knuckle assembly includes a base plate and a first mounting plate arranged on one side of the base plate, the base plate is rotatably connected to the inner steering knuckle assembly, one of the connecting columns is rotatably connected to the first mounting plate; the inner steering knuckle assembly is provided with a second mounting plate, and the other connecting column is rotatably connected to the second mounting plate.

[0011] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, the number of the first mounting plates is two, the two first mounting plates are arranged at an interval, one of the connecting columns is arranged between the two first mounting plates and is rotatably connected to the two first mounting plates through a first pin shaft; and / or,

[0012] There are two second mounting plates, the two second mounting plates are arranged at an interval, and another connecting column is arranged between the two second mounting plates and is rotatably connected to the two second mounting plates through a second pin shaft.

[0013] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, the inner steering knuckle assembly is provided with two oppositely arranged third mounting plates, each of the third mounting plates has a first mounting hole; the opposite side surfaces of the base plate are respectively provided with rotating shafts, and the two rotating shafts are rotatably arranged in the two first mounting holes in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0014] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, the inner steering knuckle assembly is provided with a receiving space, the outer steering knuckle assembly is connected with a piston, and the piston is rotatably connected to the inner steering knuckle assembly; the piston is at least partially disposed in the receiving space, and divides the receiving space into a first chamber and a second chamber, and the first chamber and the second chamber are both connected to the second driving member.

[0015] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, the piston includes a first pivot and a push plate arranged on the periphery of the first pivot, the receiving space has a first arc surface and a second arc surface arranged opposite to each other, the first pivot is in rotational contact with the first arc surface, and the end of the push plate away from the first pivot is in rotational contact with the second arc surface to separate the receiving space into the first chamber and the second chamber.

[0016] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, the piston is provided with a central axis hole, the inner steering knuckle assembly includes a connected partition plate and a second pivot, the end of the partition plate away from the second pivot is connected to the inner wall of the receiving space, and the second pivot is in rotational contact with the central axis hole; the outer wall of the piston is in rotational contact with the inner wall of the receiving space; so as to separate the receiving space into the first chamber and the second chamber.

[0017] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, the inner steering knuckle assembly has a first channel connected to the first chamber and a second channel connected to the second chamber, and the first channel and the second channel are both connected to the second driving member; the second driving member is used to transport a medium to the first chamber through the first channel to drive the piston to rotate, and allow the medium in the second chamber to flow out through the second channel; or transport a medium to the second chamber through the second channel to drive the piston to rotate, and allow the medium in the first chamber to flow out through the first channel.

[0018] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, the outer steering knuckle assembly is provided with a second mounting hole, and the second mounting hole is used for mounting the wheel hub assembly.

[0019] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation manner, a brake housing is provided on the outer steering knuckle assembly.

[0020] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, the first driving member includes a steering gear and a steering tie rod, and two ends of the steering tie rod are rotatably connected to an output end of the steering gear and the inner steering knuckle assembly, respectively.

[0021] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application further provides a vehicle, comprising the steering system described in the first aspect.

[0022] The steering system and vehicle provided by the present application, the first drive member and the inner steering knuckle assembly realize primary steering, responsible for driving the inner steering knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the suspension swing arm assembly, and the second drive member and the outer steering knuckle assembly realize secondary steering, responsible for driving the outer steering knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the inner steering knuckle assembly. After the primary steering determines the steering angle of the wheel, the secondary steering can further adjust the steering angle of the wheel, so that when the vehicle turns, the rotation angles of the wheels on both sides are inconsistent, so that the axes of the wheels tend to intersect at one point, reducing wheel wear. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the implementation methods of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings required for use in the implementation methods or the description of the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some implementation methods of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0024] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a steering system provided by the present application;

[0025] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of a first-level steering state of a steering system provided by the present application;

[0026] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of a secondary steering mechanism rotating clockwise in a steering system provided by the present application;

[0027] Figure 4 It is a structural schematic diagram of a secondary steering mechanism in a steering system provided by the present application that rotates counterclockwise;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a steering system provided by the present application that turns counterclockwise to an extreme state;

[0029] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the wheel status of a steering system provided by the present application when the vehicle is turning;

[0030] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of the initial state of a steering system provided by the present application;

[0031] Figure 8 It is a structural schematic diagram of an inner steering knuckle assembly in a steering system provided by the present application;

[0032] Fig. 9 It is a structural schematic diagram of a first example of an inner and outer steering knuckle assembly of a steering system provided by the present application;

[0033] Fig.10 is a structural schematic diagram of a second example of an inner and outer steering knuckle assembly of a steering system provided by the present application;

[0034] Fig.11 It is a structural schematic diagram of a push rod in a steering system provided by the present application;

[0035] Fig.12 It is a structural schematic diagram of an example of a secondary steering mechanism in a steering system provided by the present application;

[0036] Fig.13 It is a structural schematic diagram of another example of a secondary steering mechanism in a steering system provided in the present application.

[0037] Reference numerals:

[0038] 100-steering system; 10-inner knuckle assembly; 11-third mounting plate; 111-first mounting hole; 13-accommodating space; 131-first chamber; 132-second chamber; 134-first arc surface; 135-second arc surface; 141-first channel; 142-second channel; 15--partition plate; 16-second pivot; 17-second mounting plate; 20-outer knuckle assembly; 21-rotating shaft; 22-second mounting hole; 23-brake housing; 25-piston; 251-first pivot; 252-push plate; 26-base plate; 27-first mounting plate; 30-first driving member; 31-steering gear; 32-steering tie rod; 40-second driving member; 41-push rod; 411-connecting column; 201-suspension swing arm assembly; 202-wheel; 203-wheel hub assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0040] It should be noted that when a component is said to be "fixed to" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there can be a central component. When a component is said to be "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there can be a central component at the same time.

[0041] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application belongs. The terms used in this application and in the specification are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit this application. The term "and / or" used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.

[0042] In conjunction with the accompanying drawings, some embodiments of the present application are described in detail below. In the absence of conflict, the following embodiments and features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0043] The present application provides a vehicle, which includes a steering system and wheels. The steering system is used to adjust the steering angle of the wheels according to the driver's operation, so that the vehicle can better adapt to various turning and driving scenarios.

[0044] The vehicle may also include a steering mechanism, which is mainly composed of a steering wheel, a steering shaft and a steering column. When the driver turns the steering wheel, the steering shaft transmits the steering force to the steering system and controls the operation of the steering system. The steering system then adjusts the steering angle of the wheels according to these instructions so that the vehicle can steer according to the driver's intention. The steering column provides the necessary support to protect the steering shaft from external impact and damage.

[0045] See also Figure 1The steering system 100 includes an inner knuckle assembly 10, an outer knuckle assembly 20, a first driving member 30 and a second driving member 40. The inner knuckle assembly 10 is rotationally connected to the suspension swing arm assembly 201 of the vehicle. The first driving member 30 is rotationally connected to the inner knuckle assembly 10 and is used to drive the inner knuckle assembly 10 to rotate relative to the suspension swing arm assembly 201. The inner knuckle assembly 10 and the first driving member 30 form a primary steering mechanism and realize primary steering; the outer knuckle assembly 20 is rotationally connected to the inner knuckle assembly 10, and the second driving member 40 is used to drive the outer knuckle assembly 20 to rotate relative to the inner knuckle assembly 10. The outer knuckle assembly 20 and the second driving member 40 form a secondary steering mechanism and realize secondary steering.

[0046] The first driving member 30 is mainly responsible for driving the inner steering knuckle assembly 10 to rotate relative to the suspension swing arm assembly 201. Figure 2 As shown in FIG. 1 , this is the basic action of vehicle steering. Through the precise control of the first driving member 30, the driver can easily control the driving direction of the vehicle. The second driving member 40 is responsible for driving the outer steering knuckle assembly 20 to rotate relative to the inner steering knuckle assembly 10, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, this provides greater steering flexibility for the vehicle. Through the adjustment of the second driving member 40, the outer knuckle assembly 20 can achieve independent rotation relative to the inner knuckle assembly 10, so that the turning angle of the wheel 202 can be further adjusted. The primary steering mechanism and the secondary steering mechanism can drive the wheel 202 to rotate in the same direction, so that the wheel 202 can achieve a larger turning angle, which is convenient for the vehicle to pass through narrow roads, curves, etc. After the first driving member 30 determines the direction of rotation, the second driving member 40 can be further fine-tuned so that the turning angle of each wheel 202 can be flexibly adjusted according to actual conditions. When the vehicle turns, the primary steering mechanism and the secondary steering mechanism can cooperate with each other to make the turning angle of the wheel 202 inconsistent, so that the axes of the four wheels 202 tend to intersect at one point, so that the wheel 202 tends to roll purely. Thereby reducing the wear of the wheel 202 and extending the service life; it can also improve the driving stability and bring a more comfortable and safe driving experience to the driver.

[0047] In addition, the primary steering mechanism and the secondary steering mechanism are independent of each other. When one of the steering mechanisms fails for some reason, the other steering mechanism can still work independently to ensure that the vehicle can continue to drive safely. This meets the regulatory requirements for system reliability and safety and reduces the risk of vehicle loss of control due to a single failure.

[0048] Specifically, in practical applications, Figure 5As shown, the maximum counterclockwise rotation angle of the primary steering mechanism is αmax, and the maximum counterclockwise rotation angle of the secondary steering system is βmax. Then the maximum counterclockwise rotation angle of the entire vehicle is αmax+βmax. Similarly, the same is true for the clockwise steering of the vehicle. Because the primary steering system and the secondary steering system in the application are independent of each other, the secondary steering mechanism can be adjusted at any primary steering angle α, and the secondary steering mechanism can rotate clockwise or counterclockwise, so the rotation angle of a single wheel 202 can be controlled within α-β to α+β. Expand the steering range.

[0049] Taking the primary steering mechanism turning counterclockwise to the limit state as an example, when the primary steering system rotates counterclockwise to 45°, the secondary steering mechanism's counterclockwise and clockwise limit angles are 24° and 30° respectively, and the primary steering mechanism and the secondary steering mechanism cooperate to adjust the wheel 202 angle between 69° counterclockwise and 15° clockwise. Obviously, compared with only the primary steering mechanism driving the wheel 202 to rotate, the primary steering mechanism and the secondary steering mechanism cooperate to enable the vehicle to achieve a larger angle.

[0050] The second driving member 40 drives the outer steering knuckle assembly 20 to rotate, which can drive the wheels 202 connected thereto to rotate, so that the turning angles of the two wheels 202 are inconsistent. When the primary steering mechanism is not working, the secondary steering mechanism makes the left and right wheels 202 in an inner-toe or outer-toe state, so as to actively adjust the four-wheel alignment toe angle, and can also turn the wheels 202 to the extreme inner-toe or outer-toe state for emergency braking.

[0051] The four wheels 202 include two front wheels and two rear wheels. The two front wheels are usually used as wheels. The outer steering knuckle assembly 20 is used to drive the front wheels connected thereto to rotate so that the turning angles of the two front wheels are inconsistent. Figure 6 As shown, the first steering mechanism drives the two front wheels to rotate a certain angle, and the second steering mechanism adjusts the angle of one of the front wheels, so that when the vehicle turns, the axes of all wheels 202 intersect at one point, thereby allowing the wheels 202 to perform pure rolling, reducing wear on the wheels 202.

[0052] See also Figure 7 and Figure 8 The upper end of the inner knuckle assembly 10 can be connected to the upper fork arm through a single ball head. This connection mode allows the inner knuckle assembly 10 to move flexibly within a certain range to adapt to various dynamic changes in uneven road surfaces and driving processes.

[0053] In other examples, the upper end of the inner knuckle assembly 10 may also be connected to the shock absorber by bolts or the like to form a McPherson suspension. The McPherson suspension is a common type of front suspension for automobiles; the upper end of the inner knuckle assembly 10 may also be connected to two suspension arms by two ball joints. This double ball joint connection may provide additional stability and handling, especially in high-speed driving and emergency situations.

[0054] Similar to the upper end of the inner knuckle assembly 10 , the lower arm of the inner knuckle assembly 10 may also be connected in a similar manner, such as a ball joint or a bolt joint, to achieve coordinated movement with the upper arm.

[0055] The inner steering knuckle assembly 10 can select a suitable connection method according to the needs and positioning of different vehicle models to achieve optimal handling performance and riding comfort, which will not be elaborated in this application.

[0056] The inner knuckle assembly 10 is provided with two third mounting plates 11 arranged opposite to each other, and part of the outer knuckle assembly 20 is arranged between the two third mounting plates 11. The two third mounting plates 11 arranged opposite to each other not only provide a stable mounting foundation, but also provide necessary support force for the outer knuckle assembly 20. During the driving process of the vehicle, especially when turning or encountering bumpy roads, the third mounting plates 11 can effectively bear and disperse the load from the outer knuckle assembly 20. Each third mounting plate 11 has a first mounting hole 111, which guides and positions the rotating shaft 21 of the outer knuckle assembly 20 so that it can rotate stably and smoothly in the inner knuckle assembly 10.

[0057] See also Figure 7 and Fig. 9 The outer knuckle assembly 20 is provided with two rotating shafts 21, which are rotatably arranged in the two first mounting holes 111 in a one-to-one correspondence. The tight fit between the rotating shafts 21 and the mounting holes ensures the stable connection between the inner knuckle assembly 10 and the outer knuckle assembly 20, and effectively prevents the inner knuckle assembly 10 and the outer knuckle assembly 20 from shaking or loosening during driving. At the same time, the rotating shaft 21 can rotate freely in the first mounting hole 111, which ensures the flexibility and response speed of steering. When the driver operates the steering wheel, the outer knuckle assembly 20 can respond quickly and accurately to turn the wheel 202, thereby ensuring the maneuverability of the vehicle.

[0058] In other embodiments, the first mounting hole 111 can be replaced with a rotating shaft, and the outer knuckle assembly 20 is equipped with a corresponding bearing or sleeve to achieve rotational movement around the shaft. Alternatively, the first mounting hole 111 can be changed to a ball head or a ball socket structure. This design allows for greater freedom and can adapt to multi-directional movement and stress. In addition, bearings, coatings, etc. can be added on the basis of the shaft-hole matching to reduce the friction loss between the inner and outer knuckle assemblies and improve the smoothness of rotation between the inner and outer knuckle assemblies. This application does not limit this, it only needs to ensure that the inner and outer knuckle assemblies can rotate relative to each other.

[0059] The outer knuckle assembly 20 is provided with a second mounting hole 22, through which the wheel hub assembly 203 can be firmly connected to the outer knuckle assembly 20, thereby ensuring that the wheel 202 can rotate smoothly and safely. The two rotating shafts 21 both extend along the radial direction of the second mounting hole 22 and are arranged on both sides of the second mounting hole 22. In this way, it is ensured that the axis of the rotating shaft 21 of the wheel hub and the rotating axis of the outer knuckle assembly 20 are on the same vertical plane, avoiding horizontal misalignment between the axis of the rotating shaft 21 and the contact point between the wheel 202 and the ground. Horizontal misalignment will cause unnecessary friction and resistance to be generated during the rotation of the wheel 202, thereby improving the smoothness of the rotation of the wheel 202 and facilitating the handling and efficiency of the vehicle.

[0060] It can be understood that, considering the slight errors that may exist in the actual manufacturing and assembly process, the design allows certain processing errors and assembly tolerances.

[0061] See also Fig.10 , a brake housing 23 is provided on the outer knuckle assembly 20, and the integration of the brake housing 23 on the outer knuckle assembly 20 helps to reduce the number of components, simplify the structure, and improve the overall rigidity. The outer knuckle assembly 20 can also be integrated with a caliper brake or a drum brake. The caliper brake is usually used in a disc brake system to slow down the speed of the wheel 202 by generating friction with the rotor. The disc brake system has better heat dissipation performance and is suitable for high-speed driving and frequent braking scenarios. The integration of the caliper brake makes the entire outer knuckle assembly 20 more compact and efficient. A drum brake is a device that uses a brake shoe to squeeze a brake drum to obtain braking force. Drum brakes are still widely used in some economy cars due to their low cost, especially in rear wheels and parking brakes with smaller braking loads.

[0062] In some embodiments, the brake housing 23 and the outer steering knuckle assembly 20 can be integrally formed by casting or forging, which reduces the overall weight to a certain extent; since the connection interface is reduced, the structure of the entire system is more compact and stable, and the structural strength and rigidity are improved.

[0063] The brake housing 23 is a component for installing a brake (such as a brake caliper, etc.), and it plays a role in fixing and protecting the brake. By installing the brake on the housing, it is possible to ensure that the brake remains stable during vehicle travel, thereby improving braking efficiency and safety.

[0064] See also Figure 1 and Figure 7The first driving member 30 can adopt the driving structure in the conventional steering system. For example, the first driving member 30 includes a steering gear 31 and a steering rod 32. The steering gear 31 is connected to the vehicle body structure. This connection mode enables the steering gear 31 to be stably fixed on the vehicle body and ensures the effective transmission of the steering force. When the driver turns the steering wheel, the steering gear 31 will convert this action into mechanical force and amplify this force through the gear or rack mechanism inside it. The two ends of the steering rod 32 are respectively connected to the output end of the steering gear 31 and the inner knuckle assembly 10 for transmitting the force output by the steering gear 31. When the steering gear 31 outputs the steering force, the steering rod 32 will transmit this force to the inner knuckle assembly 10, thereby driving the wheel 202 to turn. Specifically, when the driver turns the steering wheel to the left or right, the steering gear 31 will generate a corresponding steering force according to the direction and angle of rotation of the steering wheel. This force is transmitted to the inner knuckle assembly 10 through the steering tie rod 32, causing the wheel 202 to rotate left or right, thereby achieving the steering action of the vehicle.

[0065] It should be noted that the rotation axis of the inner knuckle assembly 10 should be parallel to the rotation axis of the outer knuckle assembly 20. If the rotation axes are not parallel, unnecessary lateral forces will be generated during the steering process, which will accelerate the wear of bearings, seals and other related parts and shorten their service life. When the rotation axes of the inner knuckle assembly 10 and the outer knuckle assembly 20 are parallel, the wheel 202 can maintain stable rotation during the steering process, reducing unnecessary friction and resistance, thereby improving the smoothness and efficiency of steering.

[0066] There are many specific implementation forms of the second driving member 40 , and different implementation forms of the second driving member 40 are described below.

[0067] In some embodiments, see Figure 7 and Fig.11 The second driving member 40 can be a push rod 41, one end of the push rod 41 is rotatably connected to the outer knuckle assembly 20, and the other end of the push rod 41 is rotatably connected to the inner knuckle assembly 10, and the outer knuckle assembly 20 is rotated by the telescopic movement of the push rod 41. As a standardized mechanical component, the push rod 41 has the advantages of simple structure, easy manufacturing and maintenance. In addition, the push rod 41 can efficiently transfer the steering force from the inner knuckle assembly 10 to the outer knuckle assembly 20, thereby realizing a fast and accurate steering action. The telescopicity of the push rod 41 enables it to adapt to the steering requirements of different angles, thereby improving the handling and stability of the vehicle.

[0068] In the case where the second driving member 40 is a push rod 41 , the inner knuckle assembly 10 and the outer knuckle assembly 20 are provided with corresponding mounting and fixing structures.

[0069] For example, both ends of the push rod 41 are provided with connecting columns 411, and the outer knuckle assembly 20 includes a base plate 26 and a first mounting plate 27. The base plate 26 is the basic supporting structure of the outer knuckle assembly 20, and the rotating shaft 21, the wheel hub assembly 203 and the brake housing 23 can all be connected to the base plate 26. The first mounting plate 27 is arranged on one side of the base plate 26, and the base plate 26 is rotatably connected to the inner knuckle assembly 10. One of the connecting columns 411 is rotatably connected to the first mounting plate 27; the inner knuckle assembly 10 is provided with a second mounting plate 17, and the other connecting column 411 is rotatably connected to the second mounting plate 17. The connecting column 411 and the mounting plate are rotatably connected by a bearing, a pin or other appropriate rotating element. This connection method allows the push rod 41 to adapt to the relative rotation between the inner and outer knuckle assemblies while transmitting the steering force.

[0070] There are two first mounting plates 27, and the two first mounting plates 27 are arranged at intervals, wherein one connecting column 411 is arranged between the two first mounting plates 27 and is rotatably connected to the two first mounting plates 27 through a first pin. The two first mounting plates 27 are arranged in parallel and at intervals, and jointly define a clear rotation axis, which is the center line around which the push rod 41 rotates when transmitting the steering force. When the push rod 41 performs telescopic movement, certain stress and impact force will be generated at the connection between the connecting column 411 and the first mounting plate 27. By arranging the connecting column 411 between the two spaced first mounting plates 27 and rotatably connecting the two first mounting plates 27 through a first pin, these stresses and impact forces can be effectively dispersed. Thus, the load borne by a single first mounting plate 27 is reduced, and the durability and reliability of the connection are improved. The spacing of the two first mounting plates 27 also provides a larger contact area and a more stable support structure. It helps to reduce wear and looseness caused by long-term use and vibration, and further improves the durability of the connection.

[0071] Similar to the first mounting plate, there are two second mounting plates 17 , which are spaced apart from each other. Another connecting column 411 is disposed between the two second mounting plates 17 and is rotatably connected to the two second mounting plates 17 via a second pin shaft.

[0072] On the inner steering knuckle assembly 10 , the second mounting plate 17 and the third mounting plate 11 are located on opposite sides of the inner steering knuckle assembly 10 . An avoidance hole is opened on the inner steering knuckle assembly 10 , and the push rod 41 passes through the avoidance space and is connected to the first mounting plate 27 and the second mounting plate 17 .

[0073] In some embodiments, see Figure 7 , Fig.12 and Fig.13By providing a receiving space 13 and a piston 25, the second driving member 40 is connected to the receiving space 13, and the piston 25 is driven to rotate by delivering a medium into the receiving space 13, thereby driving the outer steering knuckle assembly 20 to rotate. The delivery of the medium and the movement of the piston 25 are both controllable, so this steering system can provide a precise steering angle, and can remain stable during the steering process, reduce vibration and impact, and improve driving comfort and safety. At the same time, this design is also suitable for various types of vehicles, especially those scenarios that require high steering accuracy.

[0074] Specifically, a receiving space 13 is provided on the inner knuckle assembly 10, and the receiving space 13 is designed to accommodate part or all of the piston 25. The outer knuckle assembly 20 is connected to a piston 25, and the piston 25 is at least partially arranged in the receiving space 13. The piston 25 is closely matched with the inner knuckle assembly 10, and the receiving space 13 is divided into a first chamber 131 and a second chamber 132 that are independent of each other. The second driving member 40 is connected to the first chamber 131 or the second chamber 132. When the second driving member 40 is working, it will transport the medium to the first chamber 131 or the second chamber 132. Due to the entry of the medium, the pressure in the chamber (the first chamber 131 or the second chamber 132) into which the medium is injected will increase, thereby pushing the piston 25 to rotate in the receiving space 13. The rotation of the piston 25 further drives the outer knuckle assembly 20 connected thereto to rotate, thereby realizing the steering function of the vehicle.

[0075] The second driving member 40 may be a reversing pump, which can charge and discharge the medium by changing the pumping direction of the reversing pump, thereby controlling the position and steering angle of the piston 25. Only one of the first chamber 131 and the second chamber 132 may be connected to the reversing pump, and the other chamber may be open or connected to an accumulator; or one of the chambers may be connected to the inlet of the reversing pump, and the other chamber may be connected to the outlet of the reversing pump.

[0076] The inner steering knuckle assembly 10 has a first channel 141 communicating with the first chamber 131 and a second channel 142 communicating with the second chamber 132. The first channel 141 and the second channel 142 are both communicated with the second driving member 40. The second driving member 40 can deliver medium to the first chamber 131 through the first channel 141 to drive the piston 25 to rotate, and make the medium in the second chamber 132 flow out through the second channel 142. The second driving member 40 can also deliver medium to the second chamber 132 through the second channel 142 to drive the piston 25 to rotate, and the medium in the first chamber 131 can flow out through the first channel 141. The second driving member 40 can accurately control the flow of the medium in the two chambers, thereby driving the piston 25 to rotate and realizing the steering of the vehicle.

[0077] In the first example of this implementation mode, Fig.12 As shown, the receiving space 13 has a first curved surface 134 and a second curved surface 135 which are arranged opposite to each other. The two curved surfaces are designed according to the motion trajectory of the piston 25 and the shape of the receiving space 13 to ensure that the piston 25 can move smoothly in the receiving space 13. The piston 25 includes a first pivot 251 and a push plate 252 arranged at the periphery of the first pivot 251. The first pivot 251 maintains rotational contact with the first curved surface 134 to provide stable rotational support for the piston 25. The push plate 252 is arranged at the periphery of the first pivot 251 and generally extends in the radial direction of the first pivot 251. The end of the push plate 252 away from the first pivot 251 is in rotational contact with the second curved surface 135, so that the push plate 252 can separate the receiving space 13 into the first chamber 131 and the second chamber 132. By controlling the medium pressure in the two chambers, the position and rotation angle of the piston 25 can be accurately adjusted, thereby realizing accurate steering of the vehicle.

[0078] The communication port between the first channel 141 and the first chamber 131, and the communication port between the second channel 142 and the second chamber 132 are respectively located on the two side walls of the receiving space 13 corresponding to the rotation direction of the push plate 252. When the push plate 252 (or the piston 25) rotates during the turning process, the medium can flow into the corresponding chamber from the channel on one side without obstacles, and the medium in the chamber on the other side can flow out of the corresponding channel. This design avoids the mutual interference that may occur when the medium flows in and out. It can also effectively avoid setting the communication port on the rotation path of the push plate 252 to limit the rotation range of the push plate 252, allowing the push plate 252 to rotate in a wider range without restriction.

[0079] In the second example of this embodiment, Fig.13 As shown, the piston 25 has a connected central axis hole, and the inner steering knuckle assembly 10 includes a partition plate 15 and a second pivot 16 connected to each other; the end of the partition plate 15 away from the second pivot 16 is connected to the inner wall of the receiving space 13, and the second pivot 16 is in rotational contact with the central axis hole. The outer wall of the piston 25 is in rotational contact with the inner wall of the receiving space 13 to separate the receiving space 13 into a first chamber 131 and a second chamber 132, thereby ensuring the stability and smoothness of the movement of the piston 25 in the receiving space 13. When the piston 25 is installed in the receiving space 13 and is connected to the central axis hole by the second pivot 16, the piston 25 can rotate freely between the partition plate 15 of the inner steering knuckle assembly 10 and the inner wall of the receiving space 13. The piston 25 has a first side surface and a second side surface along the circumference of the central axis hole, and a first chamber 131 is formed between the first side surface and the partition plate 15, and a second chamber 132 is formed between the second side surface and the partition plate. The two chambers can be filled with and discharged with a medium respectively through a second driving member, thereby controlling the position and the steering angle of the piston 25 .

[0080] The communication ports between the first channel 141 and the first chamber 131 and the communication ports between the second channel 142 and the second chamber 132 are located on both sides of the partition plate 15, respectively, to avoid the mutual interference that may occur when the medium flows in and out. Each chamber can receive and discharge the medium independently, thereby achieving precise hydraulic control. In addition, it can effectively avoid limiting the rotation range of the piston 25 by setting the communication port on the rotation path of the piston 25, allowing the piston 25 to rotate in a wider range without restriction.

[0081] The medium filled in the first chamber 131 and the second chamber 132 may be oil, which has high incompressibility and can transmit a large pressure under a small volume change, thereby providing efficient steering power. In other embodiments, the medium may also be air or other fluids.

[0082] It can be understood that in the first and second examples above, the inner knuckle assembly 10 and the outer knuckle assembly 20 can be matched through the rotating shaft 21 and the first mounting hole 111. In this case, the rotation axis of the piston 25 is coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotating shaft 21. The second driving member 40 conveys a medium to push the piston 25 to provide power for the outer knuckle assembly 20 to rotate. In other embodiments, the piston 25 can also drive the outer knuckle assembly 20 to rotate through a transmission structure such as a connecting rod, and this application does not limit this.

[0083] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship of terms such as "center", "up", "down", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inside" and "outside" are based on the orientation or positional relationship described in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0084] What is disclosed above is only a preferred embodiment of the present application, and it certainly cannot be used to limit the scope of rights of the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can understand that all or part of the processes of implementing the above embodiment and equivalent changes made according to the claims of the present application are still within the scope covered by the present application.

Claims

1. A steering system, characterized in that: The steering system comprises: An inner steering knuckle assembly, used for rotational connection with a suspension swing arm assembly of a vehicle; an outer steering knuckle assembly, rotatably connected to the inner steering knuckle assembly; a first driving member, the first driving member being rotatably connected to the inner steering knuckle assembly and used for driving the inner steering knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the suspension swing arm assembly; and, A second driving member, wherein the second driving member is used to drive the outer steering knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the inner steering knuckle assembly.

2. The steering system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second driving member includes a push rod, one end of which is rotatably connected to the outer steering knuckle assembly, and the other end of which is rotatably connected to the inner steering knuckle assembly.

3. The steering system according to claim 2, characterized in that: Both ends of the push rod are provided with connecting columns, the outer steering knuckle assembly includes a base plate and a first mounting plate arranged on one side of the base plate, the base plate is rotatably connected to the inner steering knuckle assembly, one of the connecting columns is rotatably connected to the first mounting plate; the inner steering knuckle assembly is provided with a second mounting plate, and the other connecting column is rotatably connected to the second mounting plate.

4. The steering system according to claim 3, characterized in that: There are two first mounting plates, the two first mounting plates are arranged at intervals, one of the connecting columns is arranged between the two first mounting plates and is rotatably connected to the two first mounting plates via a first pin shaft; and / or, There are two second mounting plates, the two second mounting plates are arranged at an interval, and another connecting column is arranged between the two second mounting plates and is rotatably connected to the two second mounting plates through a second pin shaft.

5. The steering system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The inner steering knuckle assembly is provided with two third mounting plates arranged opposite to each other, each of the third mounting plates has a first mounting hole; the two opposite side surfaces of the base plate are respectively provided with rotating shafts, and the two rotating shafts are rotatably arranged in the two first mounting holes in a one-to-one correspondence.

6. The steering system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner steering knuckle assembly is provided with a receiving space, the outer steering knuckle assembly is connected with a piston, and the piston is rotatably connected to the inner steering knuckle assembly; the piston is at least partially disposed in the receiving space, and divides the receiving space into a first chamber and a second chamber, and the first chamber and the second chamber are both connected to the second driving member.

7. The steering system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The piston includes a first pivot and a push plate arranged on the periphery of the first pivot, the receiving space has a first arc surface and a second arc surface arranged opposite to each other, the first pivot is in rotational contact with the first arc surface, and the end of the push plate away from the first pivot is in rotational contact with the second arc surface to separate the receiving space into the first chamber and the second chamber.

8. The steering system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The piston is provided with a central axis hole, and the inner steering knuckle assembly includes a connected partition plate and a second pivot, the end of the partition plate away from the second pivot is connected to the inner wall of the receiving space, and the second pivot is in rotational contact with the central axis hole; the outer wall of the piston is in rotational contact with the inner wall of the receiving space to separate the receiving space into the first chamber and the second chamber.

9. The steering system according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that: The inner steering knuckle assembly has a first channel connected to the first chamber and a second channel connected to the second chamber, and the first channel and the second channel are both connected to the second driving member; the second driving member is used to transport a medium to the first chamber through the first channel to drive the piston to rotate, and make the medium in the second chamber flow out through the second channel; or transport a medium to the second chamber through the second channel to drive the piston to rotate, and make the medium in the first chamber flow out through the first channel.

10. The steering system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer steering knuckle assembly is provided with a second mounting hole, and the second mounting hole is used for mounting the wheel hub assembly.

11. The steering system according to claim 1, characterized in that: A brake housing is arranged on the outer steering knuckle assembly.

12. The steering system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first driving member includes a steering gear and a steering tie rod, and two ends of the steering tie rod are rotatably connected to the output end of the steering gear and the inner steering knuckle assembly respectively.

13. A vehicle, characterized in that: The vehicle comprises a steering system according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

Citation Information

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