Spring buffer assembly for adjustable steering column

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of buffers, in particular to a spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column, which comprises a mounting pipe, one end of the mounting pipe is provided with a first sliding groove, one end of the first sliding groove is communicated with a flow guide channel, one end of the flow guide channel is communicated with an oil storage cavity, and the oil storage cavity is communicated with a second sliding groove; the side face of the oil storage cavity communicates with two symmetrically-arranged second sliding grooves, and hydraulic oil is stored in the first sliding grooves, the flow guide channels, the oil storage cavity and inner cavities of the second sliding grooves. A steering column body; the automobile steering column has the beneficial effects that the buffer spring is compressed at the two ends of the buffer spring at the same time, so that the buffer spring can be compressed more quickly, and the buffer spring can generate larger counter-acting force more quickly to buffer the steering column body; and the distance between the mounting plate and the fixing plate can be shortened, so that the influence caused by elastic fatigue of the buffer spring after long-time use can be better reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of buffers, in particular to a spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column. Background Art

[0002] An adjustable steering column is a vehicle component that can be adjusted to suit different driver sizes and driving preferences.

[0003] Spring-damper assemblies in adjustable steering columns now improve driver comfort and safety by absorbing the impact forces generated during adjustment and smoothing the adjustment action.

[0004] However, the spring in the spring buffer assembly in the prior art may have reduced buffering effect due to elastic fatigue after long-term use. Therefore, the present invention proposes a spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column to solve the above problem. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column to solve the problem that the spring in the spring buffer assembly in the prior art mentioned in the above background art will have reduced buffering effect due to elastic fatigue after long-term use.

[0006] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following technical solution: a spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column, the spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column comprising:

[0007] A mounting tube, one end of which is provided with a No. 1 slide groove, one end of which is connected to a flow guide, one end of which is connected to an oil storage cavity, and the side of the oil storage cavity is connected to two symmetrically arranged No. 2 slide grooves, and the No. 1 slide groove, the flow guide, the oil storage cavity, and the inner cavity of the No. 2 slide groove all store hydraulic oil;

[0008] A steering column body, the steering column body is located at one end of the mounting tube and is slidably plugged into a No. 1 slide groove with the mounting tube, one end of the steering column body is fixedly connected with a No. 1 pressure plate for pushing the hydraulic oil to slide, the No. 1 pressure plate is sealingly and slidably connected with the No. 1 slide groove, and a fixing plate is fixedly connected to the side of the steering column body;

[0009] The mounting plate is located at one end of the mounting tube and is slidably plugged into the No. 2 slide groove with the mounting tube. One end of the mounting plate is fixedly connected to a No. 2 pressure plate for allowing hydraulic oil to push the mounting plate to slide. The No. 2 pressure plate and the No. 2 slide groove are sealingly and slidably connected, and one end of the No. 2 slide groove is fixedly connected to two protrusions for limiting the No. 2 pressure plate from sliding out of the No. 2 slide groove. The side of the No. 2 pressure plate is fixedly connected to a plurality of protrusions for limiting the rotation of the No. 2 pressure plate. A plurality of buffer springs distributed in a circular array are plugged and fixed between the mounting plate and the fixed plate.

[0010] Preferably, a plurality of restraint rods are fixedly connected to one side of the No. 1 slide groove, the No. 1 pressure plate and the plurality of restraint rods are sealed and slidably sleeved, and one end of the restraint rod is fixedly connected to a limit plate which is used to prevent the No. 1 pressure plate from sliding out of the No. 1 slide groove.

[0011] Preferably, a plurality of insertion holes for sliding insertion of the restraining rods are opened on the side of the No. 1 pressure plate, a No. 1 sealing ring is fixedly connected to the outermost side of the No. 1 pressure plate, and a No. 2 sealing ring is fixedly connected to the side of the insertion hole.

[0012] Preferably, the guide channel is arranged in a wavy line shape, and a transmission channel with a smaller diameter is connected between the oil storage chamber and the two No. 2 slide grooves.

[0013] Preferably, the side of the No. 2 slide groove is connected with a plurality of positioning grooves for the No. 2 pressure plate protrusion to slide, and the side of the No. 2 pressure plate is fixedly connected with a No. 3 sealing ring.

[0014] Preferably, one end of the second pressure plate is fixedly connected to a connecting rod, and one end of the connecting rod is fixedly connected to the mounting plate.

[0015] Preferably, both ends of the buffer spring are fixedly connected with support sliders, one of the support sliders is slidably plugged into the mounting plate, and the other support slider is slidably plugged into the fixed plate, and the two support sliders are respectively fixed to the mounting plate and the fixed plate by bolts.

[0016] Preferably, the side surfaces of the two supporting sliding blocks are fixedly connected with a clamping block arranged in a "T" shape, and the two clamping blocks are slidably plugged with the mounting plate and the fixing plate respectively.

[0017] Preferably, one end of the mounting plate is provided with a No. 1 mounting slot for the card block to be slidably inserted into, and one end of the fixing plate is provided with a No. 2 mounting slot for the card block to be slidably inserted into.

[0018] Preferably, the side of the mounting plate is provided with a No. 1 threaded hole for bolt thread insertion. One end of the fixing plate is provided with a No. 2 threaded hole for bolt thread insertion, and the side of the supporting slide block is provided with a positioning hole for bolt thread insertion.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] The present invention installs the mounting plate by sliding on the mounting tube, and then slides and inserts a plurality of buffer springs between the mounting tube and the mounting plate. In this way, when the steering column body is subjected to impact force, the buffer spring will first be subjected to the pressure of the steering column body, and then the buffer spring will play a buffering role on the steering column body under the action of its own elasticity. At the same time, the steering column body will push the hydraulic oil in the No. 1 slide groove to flow to the oil storage chamber through the guide channel, and the smaller diameter of the guide channel is utilized to give full play to the damping effect of the hydraulic oil small hole, and the impact force generated by the mounting tube is offset and absorbed by the friction between the hydraulic oil and the mounting tube. At this time, the hydraulic oil in the oil storage chamber will also flow into the No. 2 slide groove after being squeezed, and then the hydraulic oil in the No. 2 slide groove will push the mounting plate to slide toward the fixed plate end, thereby compressing the buffer spring at both ends of the buffer spring at the same time. In this way, not only can the buffer spring be compressed more quickly, so that the buffer spring can generate a larger reaction force more quickly to buffer the steering column body, but also the distance between the mounting plate and the fixed plate can be shortened to better reduce the influence of elastic fatigue of the buffer spring after long-term use, thereby extending the service life of the buffer spring and reducing the use cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 It is a side sectional schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 It is a side schematic diagram of the installation pipe structure of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 It is a side view of the main structure of the first pressure plate and the steering column of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 5 It is a side schematic diagram of the mounting plate structure of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 It is a side schematic diagram of the buffer spring structure of the present invention.

[0027] In the figure: 1. Mounting tube; 11. No. 1 slide groove; 12. Guide channel; 13. Oil storage chamber; 14. Transmission channel; 15. No. 2 slide groove; 16. Bump; 17. Positioning groove; 2. No. 1 pressure plate; 21. No. 1 sealing ring; 22. Socket; 23. No. 2 sealing ring; 3. Steering column body; 4. Connecting rod; 5. No. 2 pressure plate; 51. No. 3 sealing ring; 6. Mounting plate; 61. No. 1 mounting slot; 62. No. 1 threaded hole; 7. Buffer spring; 71. Support slider; 72. Positioning hole; 8. Constraint rod; 81. Limit plate; 9. Fixing plate; 91. No. 2 mounting slot; 92. No. 2 threaded hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] In order to make the purpose and technical solution of the present invention clearly and completely described, and the advantages more clearly understood, the embodiments of the present invention are further described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all of the embodiments, and are only used to explain the embodiments of the present invention, and are not used to limit the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] See also Figures 1 to 6 , the present invention provides a technical solution:

[0030] Embodiment 1, a spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column, the spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column comprises: a mounting tube 1, a steering column body 3 and a mounting plate 6.

[0031] Specifically, a No. 1 chute 11 is provided at one end of the mounting tube 1, one end of the No. 1 chute 11 is connected to a flow guide 12, one end of the flow guide 12 is connected to an oil storage chamber 13, and the side of the oil storage chamber 13 is connected to two symmetrically arranged No. 2 chute 15, and the No. 1 chute 11, the flow guide 12, the oil storage chamber 13, and the No. 2 chute 15 are all provided with hydraulic oil in the inner cavity, and the No. 1 chute 11, the flow guide 12, the oil storage chamber 13, and the No. 2 chute 15 can better store the hydraulic oil and better exert the viscosity of the hydraulic oil, thereby offsetting and absorbing the impact force;

[0032] Secondly, the steering column body 3 is located at one end of the mounting tube 1 and is slidably plugged into the No. 1 slide groove 11 with the mounting tube 1. One end of the steering column body 3 is fixedly connected with a No. 1 pressure plate 2 for pushing the hydraulic oil to slide. The No. 1 pressure plate 2 and the No. 1 slide groove 11 are sealed and slidably connected. The steering column body 3 will push the No. 1 pressure plate 2 to slide under the action of the impact force. When the No. 1 pressure plate 2 slides, it will push the hydraulic oil in the No. 1 slide groove 11 to flow into the oil storage chamber 13 through the guide channel 12. The side of the steering column body 3 is fixedly connected with a fixing plate 9;

[0033] Furthermore, the mounting plate 6 is located at one end of the mounting tube 1 and is slidably plugged into the No. 2 slide groove 15 with the mounting tube 1. One end of the mounting plate 6 is fixedly connected to the No. 2 pressure plate 5 for allowing hydraulic oil to push the mounting plate 6 to slide. The No. 2 pressure plate 5 and the No. 2 slide groove 15 are sealed and slidably connected, and one end of the No. 2 slide groove 15 is fixedly connected to two protrusions 16 for limiting the No. 2 pressure plate 5 from sliding out of the No. 2 slide groove 15. The side of the No. 2 pressure plate 5 is fixedly connected with a plurality of protrusions for limiting the rotation of the No. 2 pressure plate 5. A plurality of buffer springs 7 distributed in a circular array are plugged and fixed between the mounting plate 6 and the fixed plate 9. The buffer springs 7 are slidably plugged and fixed between the mounting plate 6 and the fixed plate 9. First, each buffer spring 7 can be independent of each other, so that damaged buffer springs 7 can be better replaced. Secondly, the flow into the No. 2 slide The hydraulic oil in the groove 15 will push the second pressure plate 5 and the mounting plate 6 to slide in the direction away from the mounting tube 1, so that the buffer spring 7 can be compressed by both ends of the buffer spring 7 at the same time. In this way, the elasticity of the buffer spring 7 can be exerted more quickly, so that the buffering effect of the buffer spring 7 can be reflected more quickly, thereby offsetting the influence of the elastic fatigue of the buffer spring 7 after long-term use. In addition, through the circulation of the hydraulic oil designed by the present device, the contact path between the hydraulic oil and the mounting tube 1 can be extended, and the effect of the hydraulic oil can be further exerted, thereby better offsetting the impact force of the steering column body 3, thereby further reducing the impact force borne by the buffer spring 7, thereby further extending the time when the elastic fatigue of the buffer spring 7 arrives, and extending the service life of the buffer spring 7.

[0034] In order to better cooperate with the movement of the steering column body 3, a plurality of constraint rods 8 are fixedly connected to one side of the No. 1 slide groove 11 of the present application, the No. 1 pressure plate 2 and the plurality of constraint rods 8 are all sealed and slidably sleeved, and one end of the constraint rod 8 is fixedly connected to a limit plate 81 which is useful for preventing the No. 1 pressure plate 2 from sliding out of the No. 1 slide groove 11. The constraint rod 8 can better constrain the No. 1 pressure plate 2 and limit the rotation of the No. 1 pressure plate 2, so that the No. 1 pressure plate 2 can better adapt to the movement of the steering column body 3.

[0035] In order to ensure the sliding seal of the No. 1 pressure plate 2, a plurality of sockets 22 for sliding insertion of the constraint rod 8 are opened on the side of the No. 1 pressure plate 2 of the present application. The sockets 22 can facilitate the sliding insertion of the constraint rod 8. The outermost side of the No. 1 pressure plate 2 is fixedly connected with a No. 1 sealing ring 21, and the No. 1 sealing ring 21 can seal the contact position between the No. 1 pressure plate 2 and the mounting tube 1. The side of the socket 22 is fixedly connected with a No. 2 sealing ring 23, and the No. 2 sealing ring 23 can seal the contact position between the No. 1 pressure plate 2 and the constraint rod 8 to prevent the hydraulic oil from leaking and foreign objects from entering the hydraulic oil and causing the hydraulic oil to deteriorate.

[0036] In order to further exert the viscosity of the hydraulic oil, the guide channel 12 of the present application is arranged in a wavy line shape, which can extend the contact path between the hydraulic oil and the mounting tube 1, give full play to the effect of small hole damping, and improve the absorption effect of the device on the impact force brought by the steering column body 3. The oil storage chamber 13 and the two No. 2 slide grooves 15 are connected by a transmission channel 14 with a smaller diameter. The transmission channel 14 can not only reduce the amount of hydraulic oil used, but also further exert the effect of small hole damping, thereby further improving the absorption of impact force by the device, better sharing the impact force borne by the buffer spring 7, and prolonging the time when the elastic fatigue of the buffer spring 7 arrives.

[0037] In order to better install the No. 2 pressure plate 5, the side of the No. 2 slide groove 15 of the present application is connected with multiple positioning grooves 17 for the protrusion of the No. 2 pressure plate 5 to slide, and the side of the No. 2 pressure plate 5 is fixedly connected with a No. 3 sealing ring 51, so that the No. 2 pressure plate 5 can be better slidably installed in the No. 2 slide groove 15, and the No. 3 sealing ring 51 can ensure the sealing effect of the No. 2 pressure plate 5.

[0038] In order to better cooperate with the sliding installation of the mounting plate 6, one end of the No. 2 pressure plate 5 of the present application is fixedly connected to a connecting rod 4, and one end of the connecting rod 4 is fixedly connected to the mounting plate 6. The connecting rod 4 allows the No. 2 pressure plate 5 to be better connected to the mounting plate 6.

[0039] In order to facilitate the installation and replacement of the buffer spring 7, both ends of the buffer spring 7 of the present application are fixedly connected with support sliders 71, one of the support sliders 71 is slidably plugged into the mounting plate 6, and the other support slider 71 is slidably plugged into the fixing plate 9. The two support sliders 71 are respectively fixed to the mounting plate 6 and the fixing plate 9 by bolts, so that the buffer spring 7 can be stably installed between the mounting plate 6 and the fixing plate 9. At the same time, compared with the traditional installation method of the buffer spring 7, this installation can also make the installation of the buffer spring 7 better and more convenient. There is no need to disassemble the device as a whole, and the buffer spring 7 can be replaced independently.

[0040] In order to ensure a more stable installation of the buffer spring 7, the sides of the two supporting sliders 71 of the present application are fixedly connected with a "T"-shaped clamping block, and the two clamping blocks are slidably plugged into the mounting plate 6 and the fixing plate 9 respectively, so that the mounting plate 6 and the fixing plate 9 can bear the main tension of the buffer spring 7, avoiding the bolts from bearing the main tension, thereby making the installation of the buffer spring 7 more stable.

[0041] In order to facilitate the installation of the card block, one end of the mounting plate 6 of the present application is provided with a No. 1 mounting slot 61 for the card block to be slidably inserted into, and one end of the fixed plate 9 is provided with a No. 2 mounting slot 91 for the card block to be slidably inserted into. The No. 1 mounting slot 61 and the No. 2 mounting slot 91 can facilitate the card block to be slidably inserted into the mounting plate 6 and the fixed plate 9.

[0042] In order to facilitate bolt fixing of the support slider 71, the side of the mounting plate 6 of the present application is provided with a No. 1 threaded hole 62 for the bolt thread insertion. One end of the fixing plate 9 is provided with a No. 2 threaded hole 92 for the bolt thread insertion. The side of the support slider 71 is provided with a positioning hole 72 for the bolt thread insertion. Through the cooperation of the positioning hole 72 with the No. 1 threaded hole 62 and the No. 2 threaded hole 92, the support slider 71 can be further fixed to the mounting plate 6 and the fixing plate 9 by bolts.

[0043] During actual implementation, the steering column body 3 will push the No. 1 pressure plate 2 to slide under the action of the impact force. The sliding of the No. 1 pressure plate 2 will push the hydraulic oil in the No. 1 slide groove 11 to flow into the oil storage chamber 13 through the guide channel 12, and then the hydraulic oil in the oil storage chamber 13 will flow into the No. 2 slide groove 15 through the transmission channel 14. During the flow of the hydraulic oil, the viscosity characteristics of the hydraulic oil will be brought into play to absorb and offset the impact force of the steering column body 3, and the hydraulic oil flowing into the No. 2 slide groove 15 will also push the No. 2 pressure plate 5, the connecting rod 4 and the mounting plate 6 to slide toward the fixed plate 9 end, so that the buffer spring 7 is compressed by both ends of the buffer spring 7, shortening the compression time of the buffer spring 7, thereby buffering the steering column body 3 more quickly, and can also reduce the impact of the buffer spring 7 after elastic fatigue by increasing the reaction time.

[0044] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column, characterized in that: The spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column comprises: A mounting tube (1), wherein one end of the mounting tube (1) is provided with a first slide groove (11), one end of the first slide groove (11) is connected to a flow guide channel (12), one end of the flow guide channel (12) is connected to an oil storage chamber (13), and the side of the oil storage chamber (13) is connected to two symmetrically arranged second slide grooves (15), and the inner cavities of the first slide groove (11), the flow guide channel (12), the oil storage chamber (13), and the second slide groove (15) all store hydraulic oil; A steering column body (3), the steering column body (3) is located at one end of the mounting tube (1) and is slidably plugged into a No. 1 slide groove (11) with the mounting tube (1), one end of the steering column body (3) is fixedly connected to a No. 1 pressure plate (2) for pushing the hydraulic oil to slide, the No. 1 pressure plate (2) and the No. 1 slide groove (11) are sealed and slidably connected, and a fixing plate (9) is fixedly connected to the side of the steering column body (3); A mounting plate (6), the mounting plate (6) is located at one end of the mounting tube (1) and is slidably plugged into the No. 2 slide groove (15) with the mounting tube (1); one end of the mounting plate (6) is fixedly connected to a No. 2 pressure plate (5) for allowing hydraulic oil to push the mounting plate (6) to slide; the No. 2 pressure plate (5) and the No. 2 slide groove (15) are sealed and slidably connected, and one end of the No. 2 slide groove (15) is fixedly connected with two protrusions (16) for limiting the No. 2 pressure plate (5) from sliding out of the No. 2 slide groove (15); a side of the No. 2 pressure plate (5) is fixedly connected with a plurality of protrusions for limiting the rotation of the No. 2 pressure plate (5); a plurality of buffer springs (7) distributed in a circular array are plugged and fixed between the mounting plate (6) and the fixed plate (9).

2. A spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that: A plurality of restraining rods (8) are fixedly connected to one side of the No. 1 slide groove (11); the No. 1 pressure plate (2) and the plurality of restraining rods (8) are all sealed and slidably sleeved, and one end of the restraining rod (8) is fixedly connected to a limiting plate (81) for preventing the No. 1 pressure plate (2) from sliding out of the No. 1 slide groove (11).

3. A spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column according to claim 2, characterized in that: The side of the No. 1 pressure plate (2) is provided with a plurality of insertion holes (22) for sliding insertion of the restraining rod (8), the outermost side of the No. 1 pressure plate (2) is fixedly connected to the No. 1 sealing ring (21), and the side of the insertion hole (22) is fixedly connected to the No. 2 sealing ring (23).

4. A spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that: The flow guide channel (12) is arranged in a wavy line shape, and a transmission channel (14) with a smaller diameter is connected between the oil storage chamber (13) and the two No. 2 slide grooves (15).

5. A spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column according to claim 4, characterized in that: The side of the No. 2 slide groove (15) is connected to a plurality of positioning grooves (17) for the protrusion of the No. 2 pressure plate (5) to slide, and the side of the No. 2 pressure plate (5) is fixedly connected to a No. 3 sealing ring (51).

6. A spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column according to claim 5, characterized in that: One end of the second pressure plate (5) is fixedly connected to a connecting rod (4), and one end of the connecting rod (4) is fixedly connected to a mounting plate (6).

7. A spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that: Both ends of the buffer spring (7) are fixedly connected with support sliders (71), one of the support sliders (71) is slidably plugged into the mounting plate (6), and the other support slider (71) is slidably plugged into the fixing plate (9), and the two support sliders (71) are respectively fixed to the mounting plate (6) and the fixing plate (9) by bolts.

8. A spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column according to claim 7, characterized in that: The sides of the two supporting slide blocks (71) are fixedly connected with a T-shaped clamping block, and the two clamping blocks are respectively slidably plugged into the mounting plate (6) and the fixing plate (9).

9. A spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column according to claim 8, characterized in that: One end of the mounting plate (6) is provided with a first mounting slot (61) for slidingly inserting a card block, and one end of the fixing plate (9) is provided with a second mounting slot (91) for slidingly inserting a card block.

10. A spring buffer assembly for an adjustable steering column according to claim 9, characterized in that: The side surface of the mounting plate (6) is provided with a No. 1 threaded hole (62) for the bolt to be threadedly inserted. One end of the fixing plate (9) is provided with a No. 2 threaded hole (92) for the bolt to be threadedly inserted. The side surface of the supporting sliding block (71) is provided with a positioning hole (72) for the bolt to be inserted.

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