Steering system and vehicle

Abstract

The application provides a steering system and a vehicle. The steering system comprises an inner knuckle assembly, a suspension swing arm assembly, a first driving member, and a second driving member. The inner knuckle assembly is rotatably connected with the suspension swing arm assembly. The outer knuckle assembly is rotatably connected with the inner knuckle assembly. The first driving member is rotatably connected with the inner knuckle assembly and is used to drive the inner knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the suspension swing arm assembly. The second driving member is used to drive the outer knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the inner knuckle assembly. In the application, the first driving member and the inner knuckle assembly realize primary steering and are responsible for driving the inner knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the suspension swing arm assembly. The second driving member and the outer knuckle assembly realize secondary steering and are responsible for driving the outer knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the inner 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 the rotation angles of the wheels on both sides of the vehicle are inconsistent, and the axes of the wheels tend to intersect at a point, thereby reducing the wear of the wheels.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

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

[0002] The steering system is an important part of a vehicle and is a mechanism for maintaining or changing the driving direction of the vehicle. The steering system usually includes a steering gear and a steering transmission mechanism. After 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 turn. However, the steering transmission mechanism in the prior art can only make the left and right wheels turn at the same angle, which causes wear of the wheels when they turn. SUMMARY

[0003] The present application provides a steering system and a vehicle that can reduce wheel wear.

[0004] In a first aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a steering system, which comprises:

[0005] an inner knuckle assembly, configured to be rotationally connected with a suspension swing arm assembly of a vehicle;

[0006] an outer knuckle assembly, rotationally connected with the inner knuckle assembly;

[0007] a first driving member, rotationally connected with the inner knuckle assembly and configured to drive the inner knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the suspension swing arm assembly; and

[0008] a second driving member, configured to drive the outer knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the inner knuckle assembly.

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

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

[0011] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, the number of the first mounting plates is two, the first mounting plates are arranged at intervals, one of the connecting columns is arranged between the first mounting plates and is rotationally connected with the first mounting plates by a first pin shaft, and / or,

[0012] The number of the second mounting plates is two, the two second mounting plates are spaced apart, and the other connecting column is arranged between the two second mounting plates and rotationally connected with the two second mounting plates through a second pin shaft.

[0013] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, the inner knuckle assembly is provided with two oppositely arranged third mounting plates, each of the third mounting plates is provided with a first mounting hole; opposite sides of the base plate are respectively provided with rotation shafts, and the two rotation shafts are rotationally arranged in the two first mounting holes one by one.

[0014] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, the inner knuckle assembly is provided with a receiving space, the outer knuckle assembly is connected with a piston, and the piston is rotationally connected with the inner knuckle assembly; the piston is at least partially arranged 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 in communication with the second driving member.

[0015] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, the piston comprises a first pivot shaft and a push plate arranged at the periphery of the first pivot shaft, the receiving space is provided with a first arc surface and a second arc surface arranged oppositely, the first pivot shaft is in rotational contact with the first arc surface, and an end of the push plate away from the first pivot shaft is in rotational contact with the second arc surface, so as to divide 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 shaft hole, the inner knuckle assembly comprises a partition plate and a second pivot shaft connected with each other, an end of the partition plate away from the second pivot shaft is connected with an inner wall of the receiving space, and the second pivot shaft is in rotational contact with the central shaft hole; an outer side wall of the piston is in rotational contact with an inner side wall of the receiving space; so as to divide the receiving space into the first chamber and the second chamber.

[0017] According to the first aspect, in a possible implementation, the inner knuckle assembly is provided with a first channel in communication with the first chamber and a second channel in communication with the second chamber, and the first channel and the second channel are both in communication with the second driving member; the second driving member is configured to deliver 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 deliver 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.

[0018] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the outer knuckle assembly is provided with a second mounting hole, and the second mounting hole is configured to mount the hub assembly.

[0019] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the outer knuckle assembly is provided with a brake housing.

[0020] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the first driving member comprises a steering gear and a steering drag link, and two ends of the steering drag link are respectively connected with an output end of the steering gear and the inner knuckle assembly.

[0021] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the vehicle comprises the steering system of the first aspect.

[0022] The steering system and the vehicle provided in the application are characterized in that the first driving member and the inner knuckle assembly realize first-stage steering and are configured to drive the inner knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the suspension swing arm assembly, and the second driving member and the outer knuckle assembly realize second-stage steering and are configured to drive the outer knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the inner knuckle assembly. After the first-stage steering determines the steering angle of the wheels, the second-stage steering can further adjust the steering angle of the wheels, so that the steering angles of the wheels on the two sides are inconsistent when the vehicle is steering, and thus the axes of the wheels tend to intersect at a point, thereby reducing the wear of the wheels. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or the prior art description. Obviously, the drawings in the following description only constitute some embodiments of the present application, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained from these drawings without creative labor.

[0024] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a steering system provided in the application;

[0025] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a first-stage steering state of the steering system provided in the application;

[0026] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a structural schematic diagram of a second-stage steering mechanism in a clockwise rotation state of the steering system provided in the application;

[0027] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a structural schematic diagram of the second-stage steering mechanism in a counterclockwise rotation state of the steering system provided in the application;

[0028] Figure 5 FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of the steering system in a counterclockwise steering limit state provided in the application;

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

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

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

[0032] Figure 9 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a first example of an outer knuckle assembly in a steering system provided by the present application;

[0033] Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a second example of an outer knuckle assembly in a steering system provided by the present application;

[0034] Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a push rod in a steering system provided by the present application;

[0035] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a first example of a secondary steering mechanism in a steering system provided by the present application;

[0036] Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of a structure of a second example of a secondary steering mechanism in a steering system provided by the present application.

[0037] Reference signs:

[0038] 100 - steering system; 10 - inner knuckle assembly; 11 - third mounting plate; 111 - first mounting hole; 13 - accommodation space; 131 - first cavity; 132 - second cavity; 134 - first camber surface; 135 - second camber surface; 141 - first passage; 142 - second passage; 15 - partition plate; 16 - second pivot; 17 - second mounting plate; 20 - outer knuckle assembly; 21 - rotation 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 - hub assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be described clearly and completely below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments of the present application. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all the other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0040] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed" to another component, it can be directly on the other component or there can be intervening components. When a component is referred to as being "connected" to another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or intervening components can be present.

[0041] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in the description of the application herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The use of the terms "and / or" includes a combination of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0042] Some embodiments of the present application will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments and features of the embodiments can be combined with each other without conflict.

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

[0044] The vehicle can also include a steering mechanism, which mainly consists 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 turning angle of the wheels according to these instructions, so that the vehicle can turn according to the driver's intention. The steering column provides the necessary support and protects the steering shaft from external impact and damage.

[0045] Please refer to Figure 1, the 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 a suspension swing arm assembly 201 of the vehicle. The first driving member 30 is rotationally connected to the inner knuckle assembly 10 and is configured 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. The second driving member 40 is configured 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 knuckle assembly 10 to rotate relative to the suspension swing arm assembly 201, as shown in Figure 2 , which is the basic action of vehicle steering. Through 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 knuckle assembly 20 to rotate relative to the inner knuckle assembly 10, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 , which provides greater steering flexibility for the vehicle. Through adjustment of the second driving member 40, the outer knuckle assembly 20 can realize independent rotation relative to the inner knuckle assembly 10, thereby further adjusting the rotation angle of the wheels 202. The primary steering mechanism and the secondary steering mechanism can drive the wheels 202 to rotate in the same direction, thereby enabling the wheels 202 to realize a larger rotation angle, which is convenient for the vehicle to pass through narrow roads, curves, and the like. After the first driving member 30 determines the rotation direction, the second driving member 40 can further fine-tune the rotation angle of each wheel 202 to be flexibly adjusted according to the actual situation. When the vehicle is turning, the primary steering mechanism and the secondary steering mechanism can cooperate with each other to make the rotation angles of the wheels 202 inconsistent, thereby causing the axes of the four wheels 202 to tend to intersect at a point, and causing the wheels 202 to tend to pure rolling. This reduces the wear of the wheels 202 and prolongs the service life; it also improves the stability of driving and brings a more comfortable and safe driving experience to the driver.

[0047] Moreover, among the two sets of steering mechanisms, the primary steering mechanism and the secondary steering mechanism are independent of each other. When one set of steering mechanism fails due to some reason, the other set of steering mechanism can still work independently, ensuring that the vehicle can continue to drive safely. This meets the requirements of regulations for system reliability and safety and reduces the risk of vehicle out-of-control due to a single fault.

[0048] Specifically, in actual application, as shown in Figure 5As shown, the maximum turning angle of the primary steering mechanism is αmax, and the maximum turning angle of the secondary steering system is βmax. The maximum turning angle of the entire vehicle is αmax+βmax. Similarly, the same applies to the clockwise turning of the vehicle. Since the primary steering system and the secondary steering system 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. Therefore, the turning angle of a single wheel 202 can be controlled within the range of α-β to α+β, thereby expanding the steering range.

[0049] For example, when the primary steering mechanism is turned counterclockwise to the limit state, when the primary steering system is rotated counterclockwise by 45°, the maximum turning angles of the secondary steering mechanism in the counterclockwise and clockwise directions are 24° and 30°, respectively. Therefore, the primary steering mechanism and the secondary steering mechanism can adjust the turning angle of the wheel 202 within the range of 69° counterclockwise to 15° clockwise. Obviously, compared with the turning of the wheel 202 driven by the primary steering mechanism alone, the primary steering mechanism and the secondary steering mechanism can make the vehicle achieve a larger turning 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 the inner eight or outer eight state, thereby actively adjusting the toe angle of four-wheel positioning. The wheels 202 can also be turned to the limit inner eight or outer eight state for emergency braking.

[0051] The four wheels 202 include two front wheels and two rear wheels. Usually, the two front wheels are used as the wheels, and 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 by a certain angle, and the second steering mechanism adjusts the turning angle of one of the front wheels, so that the axes of all the wheels 202 intersect at a point when the vehicle turns, thereby allowing the wheels 202 to perform pure rolling and reducing the wear of the wheels 202.

[0052] Please refer to Figure 7 and Figure 8 The upper end of the inner steering knuckle assembly 10 can be connected to the upper wishbone through a single ball head. This connection allows the inner steering knuckle assembly 10 to move flexibly within a certain range to adapt to road unevenness and various dynamic changes during driving.

[0053] In other examples, the upper end of the inner steering knuckle assembly 10 can also be connected to the shock absorber through a bolt or the like to form a MacPherson suspension. The MacPherson suspension is a common type of front suspension for cars. The upper end of the inner steering knuckle assembly 10 can also be connected to two suspension arms through two ball heads. This double ball head connection can provide additional stability and maneuverability, especially at high speeds and in emergency situations.

[0054] Similar to the upper end of the inner knuckle assembly 10, the lower arm of the inner knuckle assembly 10 can also adopt a similar connection mode, such as a ball head connection or a bolt connection, to achieve coordinated movement with the upper arm.

[0055] The inner knuckle assembly 10 can select a suitable connection mode according to the needs and positioning of different vehicle models to achieve the best handling performance and ride comfort, which will not be described here.

[0056] The inner knuckle assembly 10 is provided with two oppositely arranged third mounting plates 11, and part of the outer knuckle assembly 20 is arranged between the two third mounting plates 11. The two oppositely arranged third mounting plates 11 not only provide a stable mounting base, but also provide the necessary support force for the outer knuckle assembly 20. During vehicle driving, especially when turning or encountering bumpy road, the third mounting plate 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 stably and smoothly rotate in the inner knuckle assembly 10.

[0057] Please refer to Figure 7 and Figure 9 , the outer knuckle assembly 20 is provided with two rotating shafts 21, which are correspondingly arranged in the two first mounting holes 111. The close fit of the rotating shaft 21 and the mounting hole ensures the stable connection between the inner knuckle assembly 10 and the outer knuckle assembly 20, effectively preventing 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 freely rotate 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 quickly and accurately respond to make the wheels 202 turn, thereby ensuring the handling of the vehicle.

[0058] In other embodiments, the first mounting hole 111 can be replaced by a rotating shaft, and the outer knuckle assembly 20 is equipped with corresponding bearings or sleeves to realize rotational movement around the shaft. Or change the first mounting hole 111 to a ball head or a ball socket structure. This design allows greater freedom and can adapt to multidirectional movement and stress. In addition, bearings, coatings, etc. can be added on the basis of shaft hole cooperation to reduce the friction loss between the inner and outer knuckle assemblies and improve the smoothness of the rotation between the inner and outer knuckle assemblies. This application does not limit it as long as it can 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 stably connected to the outer knuckle assembly 20, thereby ensuring that the wheel 202 can rotate smoothly and safely. Both of the rotation shafts 21 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, the rotation shafts 21 of the wheel hub are ensured to have their shaft centers in the same vertical plane as the rotation center of the outer knuckle assembly 20, avoiding horizontal misalignment between the shaft centers of the rotation shafts 21 and the contact points of the wheel 202 with the ground, which would cause unnecessary friction and resistance during the rotation of the wheel 202, improving the smoothness of the rotation of the wheel 202 and being conducive to the maneuverability and efficiency of the vehicle.

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

[0061] Referring to Figure 10 , the outer knuckle assembly 20 is provided with a brake housing 23, which is integrated on the outer knuckle assembly 20, which helps to reduce the number of components, simplify the structure, and improve the overall rigidity. The outer knuckle assembly 20 can also integrate a caliper brake or a drum brake. Caliper brakes are commonly used in disc brake systems and slow down the speed of the wheel 202 by generating friction with the rotor. Disc brake systems have better heat dissipation performance and are 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. Drum brakes are devices that use brake shoes to press against a brake drum to generate braking force. Drum brakes are still widely used in some economy-class sedans due to their lower cost, especially in the rear wheels with smaller braking loads and parking brakes.

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

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

[0064] Referring to 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 tie rod 32. The steering gear 31 is connected with the body structure of the vehicle, which can stably fix the steering gear 31 on the vehicle body and ensure the effective transmission of the steering force. When the driver turns the steering wheel, the steering gear 31 converts the action into a mechanical force and amplifies the force through the internal gear or rack mechanism. The two ends of the steering tie rod 32 are respectively connected with the output end of the steering gear 31 and the inner knuckle assembly 10, which plays a role in transmitting the output force of the steering gear 31. When the steering gear 31 outputs the steering force, the steering tie rod 32 transmits the force to the inner knuckle assembly 10, thereby driving the wheels 202 to steer. Specifically, when the driver turns the steering wheel to the left or right, the steering gear 31 generates a corresponding steering force according to the turning direction and angle of the steering wheel. The force is transmitted to the inner knuckle assembly 10 through the steering tie rod 32, so that the wheels 202 turn to the left or right, thereby realizing the steering action of the vehicle.

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

[0066] The second driving member 40 has various specific implementation forms, and different implementation forms of the second driving member 40 will be described below.

[0067] In some embodiments, referring to Figure 7 and Figure 11 , the second driving member 40 can be a push rod 41, one end of the push rod 41 is rotatably connected with the outer knuckle assembly 20, and the other end of the push rod 41 is rotatably connected with the inner knuckle assembly 10, and the rotation of the outer knuckle assembly 20 is realized through the extension and retraction of the push rod 41. As a standardized mechanical part, the push rod 41 has the advantages of simple structure, easy manufacturing and maintenance. Moreover, the push rod 41 can efficiently transmit the steering force from the inner knuckle assembly 10 to the outer knuckle assembly 20, realizing fast and accurate steering action. The extension and retraction of the push rod 41 can adapt to steering requirements of different angles, thereby improving the controllability and stability of the vehicle.

[0068] In the case that the second driving member 40 adopts the 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, the push rod 41 is provided with two connecting columns 411 at both ends, the outer knuckle assembly 20 includes a base plate 26 and a first mounting plate 27, the base plate 26 is a basic support structure of the outer knuckle assembly 20, and the rotation shaft 21, the hub assembly 203 and the brake housing 23 can be connected with 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 rotationally connected with the inner knuckle assembly 10. One of the connecting columns 411 is rotationally connected with 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 rotationally connected with the second mounting plate 17. The rotationally connecting between the connecting column 411 and the mounting plate is achieved by a bearing, a pin shaft or other appropriate rotating elements. This connection allows the push rod 41 to adapt to the relative rotation between the inner and outer knuckle assemblies while transmitting the steering force.

[0070] The number of the first mounting plates 27 is two, and the two first mounting plates 27 are arranged at intervals, one of the connecting columns 411 is arranged between the two first mounting plates 27 and rotationally connected with the two first mounting plates 27 by a first pin shaft. The two first mounting plates 27 are arranged in parallel and at intervals, and together determine a clear rotation axis, which is the center line of the rotation of the push rod 41 when transmitting the steering force. When the push rod 41 performs the extension and retraction movement, a 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 rotationally connecting the connecting column 411 with the two first mounting plates 27 by the first pin shaft, the stress and impact force 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 interval arrangement of the two first mounting plates 27 also provides a larger contact area and a more stable support structure, which helps to reduce wear and looseness caused by long-term use and vibration, further improving the durability of the connection.

[0071] Similarly to the first mounting plate, the number of the second mounting plates 17 is two, and the two second mounting plates 17 are arranged at intervals, the other connecting column 411 is arranged between the two second mounting plates 17 and rotationally connected with the two second mounting plates 17 by a second pin shaft.

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

[0073] In some embodiments, please refer to Figure 7 , Figure 12 and Figure 13By setting the accommodation space 13 and the piston 25, the second driving member 40 is in communication with the accommodation space 13, and the piston 25 is pushed to rotate by delivering medium into the accommodation space 13, thereby driving the outer knuckle assembly 20 to rotate. The delivery of medium and the movement of the piston 25 are controllable, so that this steering system can provide accurate steering angles and maintain stability during steering, 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 with high steering accuracy requirements.

[0074] Specifically, the inner knuckle assembly 10 is provided with an accommodation space 13 designed to accommodate part or all of the piston 25. The outer knuckle assembly 20 is connected with a piston 25, which is at least partially disposed in the accommodation space 13. The piston 25 is in close cooperation with the inner knuckle assembly 10, dividing the accommodation space 13 into first and second chambers 131 and 132. The second driving member 40 is in communication with the first or second chamber 131 or 132. When the second driving member 40 works, it delivers medium to the first or second chamber 131 or 132. Due to the entry of the medium, the pressure in the chamber (first or second chamber 131 or 132) into which the medium is injected increases, thereby pushing the piston 25 to rotate in the accommodation space 13. The rotation of the piston 25 further drives the outer knuckle assembly 20 connected thereto to rotate, thus realizing the steering function of the vehicle.

[0075] The second driving member 40 can be a variable direction pump, which can control the position and steering angle of the piston 25 by changing the pumping direction to fill and discharge the medium. The first and second chambers 131 and 132 can have only one chamber in communication with the variable direction pump, and the other chamber can be unsealed or connected to an accumulator; or one chamber can be in communication with the inlet of the variable direction pump, and the other chamber can be in communication with the outlet of the variable direction pump.

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

[0077] In the first example of the present embodiment, asFigure 12 As shown, the receiving space 13 has a first arc surface 134 and a second arc surface 135 arranged oppositely, which are designed according to the movement track of the piston 25 and the shape of the receiving space 13 to ensure the smooth movement of the piston 25 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, and the first pivot 251 is in rotational contact with the first arc 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, and the end of the push plate 252 away from the first pivot 251 is in rotational contact with the second arc surface 135, so that the push plate 252 can divide the receiving space 13 into a first chamber 131 and a 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 the accurate steering of the vehicle.

[0078] The communication port of the first channel 141 with the first chamber 131 and the communication port of the second channel 142 with 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 steering, the medium can flow unobstructed from one side of the channel into the corresponding chamber, and at the same time, the medium in the chamber on the other side can flow out through the corresponding channel. This design avoids the mutual interference that may occur when the medium flows in and out. Moreover, it can effectively avoid the limitation of the rotation range of the push plate 252 caused by arranging the communication port on the path of the rotation of the push plate 252, allowing the push plate 252 to rotate in a larger range without limitation.

[0079] In the second example of the present embodiment, as shown, Figure 13 The piston 25 has a central axis hole connected thereto, and the inner knuckle assembly 10 includes a partition plate 15 and a second pivot 16 connected thereto; 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 side wall of the piston 25 is in rotational contact with the inner side wall of the receiving space 13 to divide the receiving space 13 into a first chamber 131 and a second chamber 132, 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 connected to the central axis hole through the rotation of the second pivot 16, the piston 25 can rotate freely between the partition plate 15 of the inner knuckle assembly 10 and the inner wall of the receiving space 13. The piston 25 has a first side and a second side along the circumference of the central axis hole, and the first side forms the first chamber 131 with the partition plate 15, and the second side forms the second chamber 132 with the partition plate. The two chambers can respectively fill and discharge the medium through the second driving member, thereby controlling the position and steering angle of the piston 25.

[0080] The communication ports of the first channel 141 and the first chamber 131 and the communication ports of the second channel 142 and the second chamber 132 are respectively located on both sides of the partition plate 15, so as to avoid mutual interference of the medium when flowing in and out. Each chamber can independently receive and discharge the medium, so as to realize accurate hydraulic control. Moreover, the communication ports are effectively prevented from being arranged on the rotation path of the piston 25 to limit the rotation range of the piston 25, and the piston 25 is allowed to rotate in a larger range without limitation.

[0081] The medium filled in the first chamber 131 and the second chamber 132 can be oil liquid. The oil liquid has high incompressibility, and thus can transmit large pressure under small volume change, so as to provide efficient steering power. In other embodiments, the medium can also be air or other fluid.

[0082] It can be understood that, in the above first example and the second example, the inner knuckle assembly 10 and the outer knuckle assembly 20 can be matched through the rotation shaft 21 and the first mounting hole 111, in which case, the rotation axis of the piston 25 is coaxial with the rotation axis of the rotation shaft 21. The second driving member 40 delivers the medium to push the piston 25 to provide power for the rotation of the outer knuckle assembly 20. 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, which is not limited in the application.

[0083] In the description of the embodiments of the present application, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer" and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the drawings described, and are only used to facilitate the description of the present application and simplify the description, and thus cannot be understood as indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus cannot be understood as limiting the present application.

[0084] The above disclosure is only a preferred embodiment of the present application, and of course cannot limit the scope of the present application. Those skilled in the art can understand that all or part of the processes of the above embodiments can be implemented, and equivalent changes made according to the claims of the present application still belong to the scope covered by the present application.

Claims

1. A steering system characterized by, The turning system comprises: an inner knuckle assembly rotatably connected with a suspension swing arm assembly of a vehicle; an outer knuckle assembly rotatably connected with the inner knuckle assembly; a first driving member rotatably connected with the inner knuckle assembly and configured to drive the inner knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the suspension swing arm assembly; and a second driving member configured to drive the outer knuckle assembly to rotate relative to the inner knuckle assembly. The inner knuckle assembly is provided with a receiving space, the outer knuckle assembly is connected with a piston, the piston is rotatably connected with the inner knuckle assembly, the piston is at least partially arranged in the receiving space, and the receiving space is divided into a first chamber and a second chamber by the piston, and the first chamber and the second chamber are both in communication with the second driving member. The piston is provided with a central shaft hole, the inner knuckle assembly comprises a partition plate and a second pivot connected with each other, one end of the partition plate away from the second pivot is connected with an inner wall of the receiving space, and the second pivot is in rotatable contact with the central shaft hole; an outer side wall of the piston is in rotatable contact with an inner side wall of the receiving space, so as to divide the receiving space into the first chamber and the second chamber.

2. The steering system of claim 1, wherein, The second driving member comprises a push rod, one end of the push rod is rotatably connected with the outer knuckle assembly, and the other end of the push rod is rotatably connected with the inner knuckle assembly.

3. The steering system of claim 2, wherein, Both ends of the push rod are provided with connecting columns, the outer knuckle assembly comprises a base plate and a first mounting plate arranged on one side of the base plate, the base plate is rotatably connected with the inner knuckle assembly, one of the connecting columns is rotatably connected with the first mounting plate, and the inner knuckle assembly is provided with a second mounting plate, and the other connecting column is rotatably connected with the second mounting plate.

4. The steering system of claim 3, wherein, The number of the first mounting plates is two, the first mounting plates are arranged at intervals, one of the connecting columns is arranged between the first mounting plates and is rotatably connected with the first mounting plates through a first pin shaft, and / or The number of the second mounting plates is two, the second mounting plates are arranged at intervals, the other connecting column is arranged between the second mounting plates and is rotatably connected with the second mounting plates through a second pin shaft.

5. The steering system of claim 4, wherein, The inner knuckle assembly is provided with two oppositely arranged third mounting plates, each of the third mounting plates is provided with a first mounting hole, and opposite sides of the base plate are respectively provided with rotating shafts, and the rotating shafts are rotatably arranged in the first mounting holes in a one-to-one correspondence.

6. The steering system of claim 1, wherein, The inner knuckle assembly is provided with a first channel in communication with the first chamber and a second channel in communication with the second chamber, the first channel and the second channel are both in communication with the second driving member, the second driving member is configured to convey medium to the first chamber through the first channel to drive the piston to rotate, and the medium in the second chamber flows out through the second channel, or the second driving member is configured to convey medium to the second chamber through the second channel to drive the piston to rotate, and the medium in the first chamber flows out through the first channel.

7. The steering system of claim 1, wherein, The outer knuckle assembly is provided with a second mounting hole for mounting a hub assembly.

8. The steering system of claim 1, wherein, The outer knuckle assembly is provided with a brake housing.

9. The steering system of claim 1, wherein, The first driving member comprises a steering gear and a steering drag link, two ends of the steering drag link are respectively connected with an output end of the steering gear and the inner knuckle assembly.

10. A vehicle characterized by comprising: The vehicle comprises the steering system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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