Steering device and vehicle

Abstract

The application provides a steering device and a vehicle, and relates to the technical field of vehicle components. According to the steering device provided by the application, the middle mechanism of the steering device comprises a plurality of linkage members, each of which is hinged to a corresponding holding assembly, so that when each linkage member moves, the posture of the corresponding holding assembly changes, and finally assumes a storage posture and a deployment posture. Therefore, according to the steering device provided by the embodiment of the application, the corresponding linkage member can be adjusted to move according to the required form of the holding mechanism, while keeping the remaining linkage members from moving, so that the holding assembly assumes different postures, thereby meeting different control requirements and providing multiple levels of deployment posture selection for the holding assembly between complete storage and complete deployment.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

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

[0002] At present, as a new ecology, automatic driving vehicles gradually enter people's lives. After the vehicle enters the high-level automatic driving, the driver can free his hands and feet, and the vehicle completely adopts automatic driving control. Therefore, the driver's seating space can be liberated by canceling the steering wheel. However, sometimes the driver needs to take over the vehicle. With the integration of the steer-by-wire function and the improvement of the automatic driving level of the whole vehicle, the variability of the demand for the steering wheel also increases. Therefore, the steering wheel needs to be switched between the "cancel" and "appear" states.

[0003] At present, in the prior art, foldable steering wheels have appeared. However, as mentioned above, due to the improvement of the automatic driving level of the whole vehicle, the existing foldable steering wheel cannot effectively meet the demand of the whole vehicle, and there is still room for improvement. SUMMARY

[0004] Therefore, the present application provides a steering device and a vehicle, which aims to solve the above technical problems to some extent.

[0005] In a first aspect, the present application provides a steering device, which is configured to be able to be controlled to control the steering of a vehicle. The steering device comprises:

[0006] a middle mechanism, which comprises a centering part and a steering column connected to each other;

[0007] a holding mechanism, which comprises a plurality of holding components, the plurality of holding components being arranged on the outside of the centering part, and the holding components being hingedly connected to the centering part;

[0008] wherein the middle mechanism further comprises a plurality of linkage members, each of the linkage members being hingedly connected to part of the holding components in the plurality of holding components, and each of the linkage members being movably connected to the steering column to be able to move along the steering column;

[0009] wherein each of the linkage members and the corresponding holding components is configured to be driven to make the holding components have a storage posture of being folded on the outside of the steering column and an unfolding posture of being unfolded on the outside of the centering part.

[0010] Preferably, at least two linkage members are configured in the following manner:

[0011] The holding components connected to the linkage members have two groups of holding components opposite to each other.

[0012] Preferably, the at least two linkage members are sleeved on the steering column, and the steering device comprises a driving member sleeved on the steering column and located between the adjacent two linkage members among the at least two linkage members;

[0013] The driving member moves between the adjacent two linkage members to abut against the adjacent two linkage members, respectively;

[0014] The driving member abuts against the linkage member among the adjacent two linkage members close to the centering portion to drive the linkage member to assume the unfolded posture, and the driving member abuts against the linkage member among the adjacent two linkage members away from the centering portion to drive the linkage member to assume the stowed posture.

[0015] Preferably, the steering device further comprises a first reset member and a second reset member, the first reset member connects the centering portion and the linkage member among the adjacent two linkage members close to the centering portion, and the second reset member connects the linkage member among the adjacent two linkage members away from the centering portion;

[0016] The first reset member applies a first reset force to the linkage member among the adjacent two linkage members close to the centering portion to drive the linkage member to assume the stowed posture, and the second reset member applies a second reset force to the linkage member among the adjacent two linkage members away from the centering portion to drive the linkage member to assume the unfolded posture.

[0017] Preferably, the centering mechanism further comprises a plurality of clamping portions protruding from the steering column, and the clamping portions are further configured to be capable of being retracted into the steering column;

[0018] The plurality of clamping portions comprise a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion corresponding to the linkage member among the adjacent two linkage members close to the centering portion, and a third clamping portion and a fourth clamping portion corresponding to the linkage member among the adjacent two linkage members away from the centering portion, along the extension direction of the steering column;

[0019] The linkage member among the adjacent two linkage members close to the centering portion is clamped with the first clamping portion to position the holding assembly connected with the linkage member in the unfolded posture, and the linkage member among the adjacent two linkage members close to the centering portion is clamped with the second clamping portion to position the holding assembly connected with the linkage member in the stowed posture.

[0020] The linkage member far from the center part of the two adjacent linkage members is connected with the third clamping part to position the holding assembly connected with the linkage member in an unfolded posture, and the linkage member far from the center part of the two adjacent linkage members is connected with the fourth clamping part to position the holding assembly connected with the linkage member in a storage posture.

[0021] Preferably, the plurality of clamping parts further comprises a fifth clamping part, and the driving member is configured to be connected with the fifth clamping part when the two adjacent linkage members are connected with the second clamping part and the fourth clamping part respectively.

[0022] The driving member is further configured to continue to move to the side of the linkage member far from the center part of the two adjacent linkage members to drive the center mechanism to move synchronously.

[0023] Preferably, the two adjacent linkage members can partially overlap in the extension direction of the steering column.

[0024] Preferably, the center mechanism further comprises a bracket, the bracket is sleeved outside the steering column and located at one end of the steering column far from the center part.

[0025] The steering column can move relative to the bracket to further enter the inside of the bracket and extend out of the inside of the bracket.

[0026] Preferably, the steering device further comprises a power member, the power member is arranged on the bracket, and the power member is connected with the driving member to drive the driving member to move along the steering column.

[0027] In a second aspect, the present application provides a vehicle comprising the steering device as described above.

[0028] According to the steering device provided by the present application, the center mechanism of the steering device comprises a plurality of linkage members, each linkage member is hinged with a corresponding holding assembly, so that when each linkage member moves, the posture of the corresponding holding assembly changes, and finally presents a storage posture and an unfolded posture. Therefore, according to the steering device provided by the embodiments of the present application, the corresponding linkage member can be adjusted to move according to the required form of the holding mechanism, while keeping the remaining linkage members from moving, so that the holding assembly presents different postures, thereby meeting different control requirements and providing multiple levels of unfolded posture selection for the holding assembly between complete storage and complete unfolding.

[0029] In order to make the above objectives, characteristics and advantages of the present application more apparent and easy to understand, the following preferred embodiments are described in detail below, and the accompanying drawings are referred to. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced as follows. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some of the embodiments of the present application, and therefore should not be considered as a limitation to the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can also be obtained without creative labor on the basis of these drawings.

[0031] Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a three-dimensional view of a state of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0032] Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing a three-dimensional view of another state of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0033] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing a three-dimensional view of a state of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown; Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing a plan view of a state of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0034] Figure 4 A schematic diagram showing a plan view of another state of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0035] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing a three-dimensional view of a linkage member of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0036] Figure 6 A schematic diagram showing a three-dimensional view of another linkage member of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0037] Figure 7 A schematic diagram showing a three-dimensional view of a steering column of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0038] Figure 8 A schematic diagram showing a three-dimensional view of two linkage members of a steering device assembled together according to an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0039] Figure 9 A schematic diagram showing a partial structure of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present application is shown;

[0040] Figure 10 A schematic diagram showing another partial structure of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0041] REFERENCE NUMERALS:

[0042] 10 - steering device; 11 - screen; 20 - instrument panel;

[0043] 100 - central mechanism; 110 - centralizer; 120 - steering column; 131 - first clamping portion; 132 - second clamping portion; 133 - third clamping portion; 134 - fourth clamping portion; 135 - fifth clamping portion; 140 - bracket;

[0044] 200 - gripping mechanism; 210 - gripping assembly;

[0045] 300 - linkage member; 310 - first shaft segment; 320 - second shaft segment; 330 - notch portion; 340 - ear portion; 400 - drive member; 500 - power member; 610 - first return member; 620 - second return member. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The technical solutions of the present application will be described clearly and completely below in conjunction with the drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative work fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0047] In the description 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 shown in the drawings, and are only for the purpose of facilitating the description of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third" are only for the purpose of description, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0048] In the description of the present application, it should be noted that unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "mounting", "connecting", "connecting" should be understood broadly, for example, it can be fixedly connected, or it can be detachably connected, or integrally connected; it can be mechanically connected, or it can be electrically connected; it can be directly connected, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium; it can be the communication inside two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0049] In addition, the technical solutions of each embodiment can be combined with each other, but it must be based on the fact that a person skilled in the art can realize it, and when the combination of technical solutions appears contradictory or unachievable, it should be considered that the combination of technical solutions does not exist, nor is it within the scope of protection claimed by the present application.

[0050] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present application, a steering device 10 is provided, which will be described below in conjunction withFigures 1 to 9 The structure and working principle of the steering device 10 are described in detail.

[0051] According to an embodiment of this application, a steering device 10 is configured to be operable to control vehicle steering. The steering device 10 includes a central mechanism 100 and a gripping mechanism 200. In an embodiment, the central mechanism 100 includes a central portion 110 and a steering column 120 connected to each other. The gripping mechanism 200 includes a plurality of gripping components 210, which surround the outer side of the central portion 110 and are hinged to the central portion 110.

[0052] In one embodiment, the central mechanism 100 further includes a plurality of linkage members 300, each linkage member 300 being hinged to a portion of the plurality of grip components 210, and each linkage member 300 being movably connected to the steering column 120 so as to be able to move along the steering column 120.

[0053] In the embodiment, each linkage component 300 and its corresponding grip component 210 are configured to be driven so that the grip component 210 has a retracted posture that is folded to the outside of the steering column 120 and an extended posture that is extended to the outside of the central portion 110.

[0054] Thus, according to the steering device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application, the central mechanism 100 of the steering device 10 includes a plurality of linkage components 300, each linkage component 300 being hinged to a corresponding gripping component 210. Therefore, when each linkage component 300 moves, the posture of the corresponding gripping component 210 changes, ultimately presenting a retracted posture and an extended posture. Therefore, the steering device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application can adjust the movement of the corresponding linkage components 300 according to the desired shape of the gripping component 200, while keeping the other linkage components 300 stationary, so that the gripping component 210 presents different postures, thereby meeting different control requirements, and providing a multi-level extension posture selection for the gripping component 210 between fully retracted and fully extended.

[0055] In the embodiments, according to the steering device 10 provided in this application, by adjusting the movement of the linkage component 300, all the gripping components 210 can be in an unfolded posture, all can be in a retracted posture, or some of the gripping components 210 can be in an unfolded posture while the rest are in a retracted posture. Thus, these three postures of the gripping mechanism 200 correspondingly satisfy three different control requirements, which will be explained in detail in the following description.

[0056] In one embodiment, each grip assembly 210 may include an arcuate rim and a lever connecting the rim to the center portion 110. In this embodiment, the plurality of grip assemblies 210, in an unfolded position, surround the outer side of the center portion 110, such that the rims of each grip assembly 210 substantially share a common, discontinuous annular structure, which can be used as a de facto steering wheel. Furthermore, in this embodiment, each lever is hinged to the outer side of the center portion 110, allowing the lever to rotate towards the steering column 120.

[0057] Here, as an example, the extension direction of the lever can be, for example, perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the extension direction of the axis of the steering column 120 when the grip assembly 210 is in the unfolded position.

[0058] In the embodiments, all of the aforementioned gripping components 210 can be in an unfolded position (e.g., Figure 1 and Figure 3 In essence, these grip components 210 are all arranged around the outer side of the central portion 110, and these grip components 210 can be gripped by the driver when attempting to control the vehicle. In this case, the grip mechanism 200 is in a general state and can be used when the vehicle is traveling at low speeds.

[0059] In the embodiments, the aforementioned multiple gripping components 210 can all be in a retracted position (e.g., Figure 2 In this state, the gripping mechanism 200 does not provide a gripping part, and the gripping mechanism 200 is essentially retracted as a whole. In this state, the steering device 10 meets the driver's need not to operate the vehicle, and the vehicle can be in an autonomous driving state.

[0060] In the embodiment, some of the aforementioned multiple gripping components 210 can be in a retracted position (e.g., Figure 4 The remaining grip components 210 can be in an unfolded position. In this state of the grip mechanism 200, the grip mechanism 200 provides not all of the gripable portion, and in this state, compared to the fully unfolded state, the operability of the driver to rotate the steering device 10 may be less. That is, in this state, it is more suitable for the driver to swing the grip mechanism 200, and therefore more suitable for situations where the vehicle is traveling at high speed. Only a small adjustment of the grip mechanism 200 is needed to effectively change the vehicle's trajectory.

[0061] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the linkage member 300 can slide with the steering column 120. The linkage member 300 can be formed as a bushing, and matching splines are machined on the outer sides of both the bushing and the steering column 120, so that the linkage member 300 can slide along the steering column 120 without rotating relative to the steering column 120. The specific structure of the linkage member 300 will be described in detail later.

[0062] According to the steering device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application, in the embodiments, at least two linkage members 300 are configured as follows: the grip components 210 connected to the linkage members 300 have two sets of grip components 210 that are opposite to each other.

[0063] Thus, according to the steering device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application, since the two sets of grip components 210 connected to the same linkage member 300 are opposite to each other, when the linkage member 300 moves so that the two sets of grip components 210 are unfolded and opposite to each other, it is convenient for the driver to grip the slot with both hands.

[0064] In an embodiment, as an example, the number of gripping components 210 can be, for example, four, and the number of linkage members 300 can be two. That is, the four gripping components 210 can be arranged in pairs opposite each other, and each pair of oppositely arranged gripping components 210 is hinged to the same linkage member 300.

[0065] In one embodiment, as an example, two grip components 210 may be positioned horizontally opposite each other at the driver's driving position, and two other grip components 210 may be positioned vertically opposite each other at the driver's driving position. Alternatively, when the vehicle's steering wheel is "returned to center," that is, when the vehicle's steering wheel is "returned to center," two grip components 210 are positioned horizontally opposite each other, and two other grip components 210 are positioned vertically opposite each other, thereby facilitating driver operation.

[0066] According to the embodiment of the present application, the steering device 10 may include a drive member 400, which may be sleeved on the steering column 120 and located between the two linkage members 300.

[0067] In this embodiment, the driving member 400 can move between two linkage members 300 to abut against two adjacent linkage members 300 respectively. As an example, in this embodiment, the driving member 400 can abut against the linkage member 300 closer to the center portion 110 (which, in the operating state of the steering device 10, is the linkage member 300 located above the driving member 400) to drive that linkage member 300 into an unfolded position. Furthermore, the driving member 400 can abut against the linkage member 300 farther from the center portion 110 (as mentioned above, the linkage member 300 located below the driving member 400) to drive that linkage member 300 into a retracted position.

[0068] Thus, according to the steering device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application, by utilizing the movement of the drive member 400 disposed between the two linkage members 300 along the steering column 120, the drive member 400 can drive both the linkage member 300 located above the drive member 400 and the linkage member 300 located below the drive member 400. This allows the drive member 400 to be reused in terms of driving function, which is equivalent to saving a separate drive element for the operation of the two linkage members 300, which is beneficial to reducing the size and weight of the steering device 10.

[0069] According to the steering device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application, the steering device 10 may further include a first reset member 610 and a second reset member 620. The first reset member 610 may connect the central part 110 to the linkage member 300 of the two linkage members 300 that is closer to the central part 110. The second reset member 620 may connect the linkage member 300 of the two linkage members 300 that is farther away from the central part 110.

[0070] In an embodiment, the first reset member 610 can apply a first reset force to the linkage member 300 that is closer to the center portion 110 among two adjacent linkage members 300, so as to drive the linkage member 300 to present a retracted posture. The second reset member 620 can apply a second reset force to the linkage member 300 that is farther from the center portion 110 among two adjacent linkage members 300, so as to drive the linkage member 300 to present an unfolded posture.

[0071] Therefore, for the linkage member 300 located above the drive member 400, the first reset force of the first reset member 610 causes the two gripping components 210 hinged thereon to be in a retracted position. That is, when the drive member 400 no longer applies a force toward the centering part 110 to the linkage member 300, the first reset force can drive the two gripping components 210 to retract. Conversely, when the drive member 400 moves upward to push the linkage member 300, the drive member 400 and the linkage member 300 overcome the first reset force and push the two gripping components 210 to unfold.

[0072] In this embodiment, in contrast to the first reset member 610, the second reset force applied by the second reset member 620 causes the two gripping components 210 connected to the linkage member 300 below the drive member 400 to be in an unfolded position. That is, when the drive member 400 no longer applies a force away from the center portion 110 to the linkage member 300, the second reset force can drive the two gripping components 210 to unfold. Conversely, when the drive member 400 moves down to push the linkage member 300, the drive member 400 and the linkage member 300 overcome the second reset force and pull the two gripping components 210 to close.

[0073] Thus, according to the embodiment of this application, the steering device 10 can achieve a total of four actions of the two linkage components 300 (the rising and falling of each linkage component 300 along the steering column 120) through the cooperation of the first reset component 610, the second reset component 620 and the drive component 400, effectively reducing the complexity of the steering device 10 and reducing the weight and volume of the steering device 10.

[0074] like Figure 2 As shown, Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing all the grip components 210 in a retracted position is provided. In this position, it can be seen that the hinge position between the rod and the centering portion 110 of each grip component 210 can be used to install a reset member. Here, both the first reset member 610 and the second reset member 620 can be formed, for example, as torsion springs. In an embodiment, the torsion spring can be sleeved on the outside of the pivot axis at the hinge position between the rod and the centering portion 110.

[0075] In this embodiment, two gripping components 210 that are opposite each other in the horizontal direction can be hinged to the linkage component 300 located below the drive component 400, and thus a second reset component 620 is provided accordingly. Two gripping components 210 that are opposite each other in the vertical direction can be hinged to the linkage component 300 located above the drive component 400, and thus a first reset component 610 is provided accordingly.

[0076] According to the steering device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application, the central mechanism 100 may further include a plurality of latching portions protruding from the steering column 120, and the latching portions may be configured to retract into the steering column 120. As an example, the latching portions may be, for example, electromagnetic latches in the prior art, which can be protruded and retracted by electromagnetic control.

[0077] In an embodiment, such as Figure 7 As shown, along the extension direction of the steering column 120, the aforementioned multiple locking portions may include a first locking portion 131 and a second locking portion 132 corresponding to the linkage member 300 that is closer to the center portion 110 among the two linkage members 300, and a third locking portion 133 and a fourth locking portion 134 corresponding to the linkage member 300 that is farther away from the center portion 110 among the two linkage members 300.

[0078] Specifically, in the embodiment, the linkage member 300 near the center portion 110 of the two linkage members 300 can be engaged with the first engaging portion 131 to position the gripping component 210 connected to the linkage member 300 in an unfolded position. The linkage member 300 near the center portion 110 of the two linkage members 300 can be engaged with the second engaging portion 132 to position the gripping component 210 connected to the linkage member 300 in a folded position.

[0079] In the embodiment, the linkage member 300 farther from the center portion 110 of the two linkage members 300 is engaged with the third engaging portion 133 to position the gripping component 210 connected to the linkage member 300 in an unfolded position, and the linkage member 300 farther from the center portion 110 of the two linkage members 300 is engaged with the fourth engaging portion 134 to position the gripping component 210 connected to the linkage member 300 in a folded position.

[0080] In the embodiment, the arrangement of the first latching portion 131 to the fourth latching portion 134 effectively ensures the stability of the gripping component 210 in both the retracted and unfolded positions.

[0081] See further Figure 7 According to the steering device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application, the aforementioned plurality of engaging portions may further include a fifth engaging portion 135. The driving member 400 may be configured to engage with the fifth engaging portion 135 when the two linkage members 300 are engaged with the second engaging portion 132 and the fourth engaging portion 134, respectively. That is, when all the grip components 210 are in the retracted position, the driving member 400 can also be positioned relative to the steering column 120 through the corresponding fifth engaging portion 135.

[0082] In this embodiment, the drive member 400 can also be configured to continue moving toward the side of the two adjacent linkage members 300 that is furthest from the central part 110, so as to drive the central mechanism 100 to move synchronously. Thus, based on the further movement of the drive member 400, the central mechanism 100 and the gripping mechanism 200, which is already in a fully retracted state, will move further downwards, thereby moving from above the vehicle's instrument panel 20 into the interior of the instrument panel 20, freeing up space in front of the driver.

[0083] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the drive member 400 serves both as a component for adjusting the retraction and deployment of the gripping mechanism 200, and as a component for further retraction and release of the central mechanism 100 and the gripping mechanism 200 (i.e., bringing the central mechanism 100 and the gripping mechanism 200 back out of the instrument cluster 20). This achieves reuse of the drive member 400, eliminating the need for additional components to control the retraction and release of the central mechanism 100 and the gripping mechanism 200, effectively reducing the size and weight of the steering device 10, and making the steering device 10 more compact. As an example, the drive member 400 can be, for instance, a cylindrical slider fitted onto the outside of the steering column 120.

[0084] According to the steering device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application, the two linkage members 300 described above can partially overlap in the extending direction of the steering column 120. See also Figure 5 and Figure 6 as well as Figure 8 In this embodiment, each linkage component 300 may include a first shaft segment 310 and a second shaft segment 320. The first shaft segment 310 has a larger outer diameter, and both shaft segments have through holes with the same inner diameter. The second shaft segment 320 has a spline for engaging with a spline on the steering column 120. Furthermore, a groove for engaging with a corresponding snap-fit ​​portion may be provided inside the hole of the first shaft segment 310.

[0085] In this embodiment, two notches 330 extending axially are formed on the second shaft segment 320. During actual assembly, the linkage member 300 located below the drive member 400 is longer axially, having a longer second shaft segment 320, while the second shaft segment 320 of the linkage member 300 located above the drive member 400 is shorter. Furthermore, the aforementioned notches 330 cause the second shaft segment 320 to be substantially formed as two opposing arcuate sheet-like structures.

[0086] In this embodiment, when the two linkage components 300 are assembled onto the steering column 120, as follows: Figure 8As shown, the second shaft segment 320 of the lower linkage member 300 passes through the through hole of the upper linkage member 300 from the lower side of the upper linkage member 300, that is, the side where its first shaft segment 310 is located. The two arc-shaped plate-like structures of the second shaft segment 320 of the lower linkage member 300 are respectively located within the two notches of the upper linkage member 300. Based on this, the drive member 400 is located between the two first shaft segments 310 of the two linkage members 300.

[0087] Furthermore, in the embodiments, the end of the second shaft segment 320 of each linkage member 300 may also have an ear 340 for providing a hinge position, the ear being hinged to the corresponding gripping component via a linkage structure.

[0088] The two linkage components 300, assembled in the manner described above, in Figure 3 With all grip components 210 deployed, the ends of the second shaft segments 320 of the two linkage members 300 are aligned. When all grip components 210 of the steering system are deployed, the vehicle can be in a low-speed mode. The alignment of the ends of the second shaft segments 320 of the two linkage members 300 ensures that the lower ends of the four links are also aligned (alignment here refers to alignment relative to the axial direction of the steering column; the lower ends of the four links are located at the same position axially on the steering column, but at different circumferential positions, for example, adjacent links are spaced 90 degrees apart). This ensures that in this low-speed mode, the force applied to the steering column 120 by the different grip components 210 is uniform, thereby providing better stability for vehicle handling.

[0089] According to the steering device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application, the central mechanism 100 may further include a bracket 140, which may be sleeved on the outside of the steering column 120 and located at the end of the steering column 120 away from the central portion 110, i.e., the lower end. In the embodiments, the steering column 120 is movable relative to the bracket 140 to further enter into and extend out of the interior of the bracket 140. Figures 1 to 4 The bracket 140 is shown in both cases. In addition, the steering column 120 can rotate synchronously with the bracket 140 via a key structure, thereby enabling the rotation of the gripping mechanism 200 to be transmitted through the bracket 140 to other structures of the vehicle.

[0090] According to the steering device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application, the steering device 10 may further include a power component 500, which is disposed on the bracket 140 and can be connected to the drive component 400 to drive the drive component 400 to move along the steering column 120. As an example, the power component 500 may be, for example, a linear motor.

[0091] According to the steering device 10 provided in the embodiments of this application, a foldable steering wheel capable of being used in autonomous vehicles is essentially provided, and the steering wheel adopts a multi-stage folding structure. Specifically, when the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode, all four rims of the grip mechanism 200 can be folded to the rear (i.e., the side closest to the steering column 120). When the steering device 10 is in a high-speed, small-angle movement mode, the two rims in the vertical direction are folded to the rear, and the two rims in the horizontal direction are unfolded to ensure small-angle steering requirements. In the normal mode of the steering device 10, during low-speed, large-angle operation, all four rims are unfolded to ensure large-angle vehicle operation requirements. Furthermore, in the embodiments, the hinge between the rim and the corresponding linkage member 300 can rely on a connecting rod, i.e., supported by a connecting rod, with both ends of the connecting rod hinged to the corresponding rim and the linkage member 300 respectively.

[0092] The central portion 110 of the steering mechanism 10 can be fitted with an airbag according to a conventional structure, or it can be fitted with a screen 11 as an instrument panel 20 display. When the steering mechanism 10 is fully folded, as... Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, it can be received inside the surface of the front instrument 20 and fits with the surface of the instrument 20 to ensure the aesthetics of the outer surface.

[0093] In this embodiment, the movement of the central mechanism 100 is achieved by the movement of the steering column 120. The height adjustment of the steering column 120 and the storage and unfolding of the gripping mechanism 200 share the same motor. The graded movement is achieved through a multi-layer tubular structure (i.e., the assembly structure formed by two linkage components 300 and the structure jointly formed by the drive component 400). The movement and separation of the tubular structure are achieved by the electromagnetic adsorption pins mentioned above.

[0094] In this embodiment, the movement of the steering column 120 is transmitted to the motor and the electromagnetic controller (i.e., the telescopic controller of the locking part) via an automatic driving command, thereby realizing the linkage between automatic driving and the steering column 120, and the automatic driving mode switching mode or the manual switching mode.

[0095] According to a second aspect of the embodiments of this application, a vehicle is provided. The vehicle may include the steering device 10 as described above, as well as the beneficial effects described above, which will not be repeated here. The vehicle may be, for example, an autonomous driving vehicle.

[0096] The above are merely preferred embodiments of this application and do not limit the scope of protection of this application. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the innovative concept of this application and the contents of the specification and drawings of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A steering device characterized by comprising: The steering device is configured to be manipulated to control steering of a vehicle, and includes: a middle mechanism including a centering portion and a steering column connected to each other; a holding mechanism including a plurality of holding components arranged outside the centering portion, the holding components being hingedly connected to the centering portion; wherein the middle mechanism further includes a plurality of linkage members, each of the linkage members being hingedly connected to some of the holding components, and each of the linkage members being movably connected to the steering column so as to be movable along the steering column; wherein each of the linkage members and the corresponding holding components are configured to be driven so that the holding components have a stowed posture in which the holding components are folded to the outside of the steering column, and an unfolded posture in which the holding components are unfolded to the outside of the centering portion; at least two of the linkage members are configured in the following manner: two groups of the holding components among the holding components connected to the linkage members have the two groups of the holding components opposite to each other; the at least two of the linkage members are sleeved on the steering column, and the steering device includes a driving member sleeved on the steering column and located between adjacent two of the linkage members; wherein the driving member is movable between the adjacent two of the linkage members so as to abut against the adjacent two of the linkage members, respectively; wherein the driving member abuts against a linkage member closer to the centering portion among the adjacent two of the linkage members to drive the linkage member to assume the unfolded posture, and the driving member abuts against a linkage member farther from the centering portion among the adjacent two of the linkage members to drive the linkage member to assume the stowed posture; the adjacent two of the linkage members are partially overlapped in an extension direction of the steering column; wherein each of the linkage members includes a first shaft segment and a second shaft segment, the first shaft segment and the second shaft segment have through holes with the same inner diameter, and the second shaft segment is provided with splines for mating with splines on the steering column, the second shaft segment is formed with two notched portions extending in an axial direction, the notched portions cause the second shaft segment to be formed as two arc-shaped sheet structures opposite to each other, the second shaft segment of a lower linkage member among the two linkage members penetrates into a through hole of an upper linkage member from a lower side of the upper linkage member, and portions of the two arc-shaped sheet structures of the second shaft segment of the lower linkage member are located in the two notched portions of the upper linkage member, respectively.

2. The steering device according to claim 1, characterized by the steering device further includes a first reset member and a second reset member, the first reset member connects the centering portion and a linkage member closer to the centering portion among the adjacent two of the linkage members, and the second reset member connects a linkage member farther from the centering portion among the adjacent two of the linkage members. The first reset member applies a first reset force to the linkage member close to the centering portion among the two adjacent linkage members to drive the linkage member to assume the stowed posture; and the second reset member applies a second reset force to the linkage member away from the centering portion among the two adjacent linkage members to drive the linkage member to assume the unfolded posture.

3. The steering device of claim 1, wherein The centering mechanism further comprises a plurality of clamping portions protruding from the steering column, which are configured to be capable of being retracted into the steering column; The plurality of clamping portions comprise a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion corresponding to the linkage member close to the centering portion among the two adjacent linkage members, and a third clamping portion and a fourth clamping portion corresponding to the linkage member away from the centering portion among the two adjacent linkage members along the extension direction of the steering column; The linkage member close to the centering portion among the two adjacent linkage members is clamped with the first clamping portion to position the holding assembly connected with the linkage member in the unfolded posture, and the linkage member close to the centering portion among the two adjacent linkage members is clamped with the second clamping portion to position the holding assembly connected with the linkage member in the stowed posture; The linkage member away from the centering portion among the two adjacent linkage members is clamped with the third clamping portion to position the holding assembly connected with the linkage member in the unfolded posture, and the linkage member away from the centering portion among the two adjacent linkage members is clamped with the fourth clamping portion to position the holding assembly connected with the linkage member in the stowed posture.

4. The steering device according to claim 3, characterized by The plurality of clamping portions further comprise a fifth clamping portion, and the driving member is configured to be clamped with the fifth clamping portion when the two adjacent linkage members are clamped with the second clamping portion and the fourth clamping portion, respectively; The driving member is further configured to continue to move to the side where the linkage member away from the centering portion among the two adjacent linkage members is located to drive the centering mechanism to move synchronously.

5. The steering device of claim 1, wherein The centering mechanism further comprises a bracket, which is sleeved on the outside of the steering column and located at the end of the steering column away from the centering portion; The steering column is capable of moving relative to the bracket to further enter the inside of the bracket and extend out of the inside of the bracket.

6. The steering device of claim 5, wherein The steering device further comprises a power member arranged on the bracket, which is connected with the driving member to drive the driving member to move along the steering column.

7. A vehicle characterized by comprising: The vehicle comprises the steering device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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