Crumple rack and steering system

Abstract

The invention relates to a collapsible rack and a steering system, the collapsible rack comprises at least two racks, the at least two racks are coaxially arranged, and a collapsing structure is arranged between two adjacent racks in the at least two racks; the two adjacent racks comprise a first rack and a second rack; the crumple structure comprises a first crumple connecting part arranged in the axial direction of the first rack and a second crumple connecting part arranged in the axial direction of the second rack, and the second crumple connecting part is movably arranged in the first crumple connecting part; an elastic clamping structure is arranged on the second crumple connecting part, and the elastic clamping structure comprises an elastic piece and a clamping piece; the elastic piece is arranged in the radial direction of the second rack, connected with the clamping piece and used for providing elastic force close to the first crumple connecting part for the clamping piece. In the embodiment of the invention, the crumple structure enables the deformation of the rack to be along the length direction of the rack, the direction control function of the steering system is not influenced, and meanwhile, the elastic clamping structure is arranged, so that the sectional rack is prevented from falling off in daily use.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In an accident caused by a wheel colliding with another vehicle or an obstacle such as a shoulder on the road, the steering system needs to be able to effectively absorb the impact force and displacement of the wheel to reduce the impact transmitted to the steering wheel, thereby protecting the driver and maintaining the vehicle's controllability.

[0003] In the prior art, the wheel is connected to the steering rod, and the main solution for the steering system to absorb the impact of the wheel is to process a weakened groove on the steering rod. When the wheel is impacted, the impact will be transmitted to the steering rod, and the steering rod will bend and deform at the weakened groove to absorb the impact and displacement of the wheel. However, since the steering rod bends and deforms after absorbing the impact, the steering wheel can no longer control the wheel to steer. If a collision accident occurs on a highway or other dangerous area, the driver cannot control the steering of the wheel and cannot move the vehicle to a safe area in time after the accident, which can easily cause a secondary traffic accident and bring potential safety hazards. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to solve the above technical problems, the present application provides a collapsible rack and a steering system.

[0005] In a first aspect, an embodiment of the present application discloses a collapsible rack, which is applied to a steering gear, and includes at least two racks, the at least two racks are coaxially arranged, and a collapsible structure is arranged between two adjacent racks of the at least two racks; the two adjacent racks include a first rack and a second rack;

[0006] The collapse structure comprises a first collapse connection portion arranged along the axial direction of the first rack and a second collapse connection portion arranged along the axial direction of the second rack, and the second collapse connection portion is movably arranged in the first collapse connection portion;

[0007] An elastic locking structure is arranged on the second collapse connection part, and the elastic locking structure comprises an elastic member and a locking member; the elastic member is arranged radially along the second rack and connected to the locking member, so as to provide elastic force for the locking member to approach the first collapse connection part.

[0008] In some possible embodiments, the first collapse connection portion includes a collapse groove arranged along the axis direction of the first rack;

[0009] The second crush connection portion includes a crush shaft arranged along the axis direction of the second rack, and the crush shaft is movably arranged in the crush groove.

[0010] In some possible embodiments, the crush shaft is provided with at least one retreat groove along its own axial direction, and an elastic groove is provided on the at least one retreat groove along the radial direction of the second rack;

[0011] The locking member includes at least one limiting needle roller, and the at least one limiting needle roller is arranged in at least one retreat groove along the axial direction of the collapse shaft; the first end of the elastic member is arranged in the elastic groove, and the second end is connected to the limiting needle roller;

[0012] When the elastic member is in a contracted state, the limiting needle roller is located in the retreat groove; when the elastic member is in an expanded state, at least a portion of the limiting needle roller is located outside the retreat groove.

[0013] In some possible embodiments, a limiting boss is provided at one end of the collapse groove facing the second rack in the axial direction of the first rack.

[0014] In some possible embodiments, a first guide chamfer is provided on the inner side wall of the limiting boss along its circumference, and a second guide chamfer is provided on the end of the crush shaft along its circumference.

[0015] In some possible embodiments, the inner diameter of the crush groove is smaller than the outer diameter of the crush shaft, and the crush shaft is interference-connected with the crush groove;

[0016] The outer diameter of the crush shaft gradually increases from an end close to the crush groove to an end far away from the crush groove.

[0017] In some possible embodiments, a guide protrusion is provided on the crush shaft along its own axial direction, and a guide groove matched with the guide protrusion is provided in the crush groove.

[0018] In some possible embodiments, a first positioning platform is provided at one end of the outer surface of the first rack near the first collapse connection portion; a second positioning platform is provided at one end of the outer surface of the second rack near the second collapse connection portion;

[0019] When the first positioning platform and the second positioning platform are located at the same angle, the guide protrusion of the crush shaft and the guide groove of the crush groove are located at the same angle.

[0020] In some possible embodiments, a buffer structure is provided between the crush groove and the crush shaft, and the buffer structure is used to buffer the collision between the crush shaft and the crush groove.

[0021] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present application discloses a steering gear, comprising a housing, a collapsible rack of any one of the above items, and a ball nut.

[0022] In some possible embodiments, the shell is arranged outside the collapsible rack and the ball nut to provide fixing and guiding support for the collapsible rack and the ball nut.

[0023] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present application discloses a steering system, comprising any of the above collapsible racks, a steering wheel, at least two steering wheels, and at least two steering tie rods;

[0024] The steering wheel is connected to the collapsible rack and is used to transmit the operator's steering signal to the collapsible rack;

[0025] The two ends of the collapsible rack are respectively connected to at least two steering wheels through at least two steering rods, and are used to drive the at least two steering wheels to perform steering movement based on a steering signal.

[0026] The technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present application has the following technical effects:

[0027] The collapsible rack of the embodiment of the present application is applied to a steering gear and includes at least two racks, at least two racks are coaxially arranged, and a collapsible structure is arranged between two adjacent racks of at least two racks; the two adjacent racks include a first rack and a second rack; the collapsible structure includes a first collapsible connection part arranged along the axial direction of the first rack and a second collapsible connection part arranged along the axial direction of the second rack, and the second collapsible connection part is movably arranged in the first collapsible connection part; an elastic locking structure is arranged on the second collapsible connection part, and the elastic locking structure includes an elastic member and a locking member; the elastic member is arranged radially along the second rack and is connected to the locking member, and is used to provide the locking member with an elastic force close to the first collapsible connection part. In the embodiment of the present application, the rack is configured as a segmented multi-segment structure, and a crush structure is provided between adjacent racks to absorb impact and prevent the impact from being further transmitted to the steering wheel, thereby reducing the possibility of the driver's steering wheel slipping out of his hands; since the second crush connection is movably arranged in the first crush connection, during the crush energy absorption process, the deformation of the rack is along the length direction of the rack, which will not affect the direction control function of the steering system, and the vehicle can be moved out of the accident site to avoid secondary injuries to the occupants in the vehicle; at the same time, an elastic locking structure is provided on the crush structure, wherein the elastic member provides elastic force for the locking member close to the first crush connection, so that the locking member and the second crush connection are more closely combined to prevent the segmented type from falling off during daily use, thereby further ensuring driving safety. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions and advantages in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the prior art descriptions are briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0029] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a collapsible rack provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 1;

[0030] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a collapsible rack provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 2 ;

[0031] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a collapsible rack provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 3 ;

[0032] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a collapsible rack provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 4 ;

[0033] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a collapsible rack provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 5 ;

[0034] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a collapsible rack provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a steering device provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a steering system provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Fig. 9 It is a schematic diagram of an existing steering system provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0038] Reference numerals:

[0039] 1. Collapse structure; 11. Collapse groove; 12. Collapse axis; 13. Retraction groove; 14. Elastic groove; 15. Limiting boss; 16. First guide chamfer; 17. Second guide chamfer; 18. Guide protrusion; 19. Guide groove;

[0040] 2. First rack; 21. First positioning platform;

[0041] 3. Second rack; 31. Second positioning platform;

[0042] 4. Elastic locking structure; 41. Elastic member; 42. Locking member; 421. Limiting needle roller;

[0043] 5. Housing; 6. Ball nut;

[0044] 7. Steering wheel; 8. Steering wheel; 9. Steering rod. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present application to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0046] It should be noted that the "one embodiment" or "embodiment" referred to in the specification of the embodiment of the present application refers to a specific feature, structure or characteristic that can be included in at least one implementation of the present application. It should be understood that in the specification and claims of the embodiment of the present application and the above-mentioned drawings, the orientation or position relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "top", "bottom", etc. is based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, which is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application. The terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, the features defined as "first" and "second" can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. Moreover, the terms "first", "second", etc. are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchangeable where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present application described here can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described here. In addition, in the description of the present embodiment, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, for example, a process, method, system or product including a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0047] It should be understood that when a device or component is referred to as "on ...", "adjacent to ...", "connected to" other devices or components, it can be directly on, adjacent to, connected to other devices or components, or there can be intervening devices or components. On the contrary, when a device or component is referred to as "directly on ...", "directly adjacent to ...", "directly connected to" other devices or components, there is no intervening device or component. It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. can be used to describe various components, areas, layers and / or parts, these components, areas, layers and / or parts should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component, area, layer or part from another component, area, layer or part. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the present application, the first component, area, layer or part discussed below can be expressed as the second component, area, layer or part. And when the second component, area, layer or part is discussed, it does not mean that the present application necessarily has the first component, area, layer or part.

[0048] In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages disclosed in the embodiments of the present application more clearly understood, the embodiments of the present application are further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the embodiments of the present application and are not used to limit the embodiments of the present application.

[0049] Before introducing the method embodiments provided in the present application, a brief introduction is first given to the relevant terms or nouns that may be involved in the method embodiments of the present application, so as to facilitate technicians in the field of the present application to understand the various components of the steering system.

[0050] Steering wheel: The steering wheel is the input device for the driver to control the steering of the vehicle. The driver controls the rotation of the gears by turning the steering wheel, thereby affecting the movement of the rack and the steering of the wheels.

[0051] Steering column: The upper end of the steering column is connected to the steering wheel, and the lower end is connected to the gear mechanism, which provides support and fixation for the steering wheel and is used to transmit rotational motion. At the same time, it absorbs part of the collision energy to protect the driver. Some functional equipment of the vehicle (such as turn signals and wiper controls) are also integrated on the steering column.

[0052] Gear mechanism: The gear mechanism includes gears and racks, which transmit the rotation of the steering wheel to the racks and amplify or adjust the output force. The gears and racks mesh to achieve the conversion from rotational motion to linear motion. Among them, the rack is one of the core components of the gear mechanism, which is responsible for transmitting the force generated by the rotation of the steering wheel into linear motion through the gears. The rack meshes with the gears to convert the rotational motion into the linear motion of the push rod, thereby controlling the steering angle of the wheel.

[0053] Tie rod: Tie rod is a component that connects the rack and the steering wheel. Its main function is to transmit the linear motion of the rack to the steering wheel and change the steering angle of the wheel. Tie rod can usually also absorb movement deviation and impact force within a certain range.

[0054] Steering wheel: The steering wheel is the part that directly contacts the ground and is responsible for changing the direction of the vehicle. By changing the steering angle of the wheel, the vehicle can turn, avoid, and other operations. The steering wheel is connected to the tie rod through the steering knuckle and installed on the axle or suspension. The steering angle is changed by the push of the tie rod.

[0055] In an embodiment of the present application, the driver applies a rotational force through the steering wheel, the rotational force is transmitted to the gear mechanism through the steering column, the gear of the gear mechanism drives the rack to move in a straight line, and the rack transmits the force to the steering wheel through the pull rod to complete the steering action.

[0056] An embodiment of the present application provides a collapsible rack. Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a collapsible rack provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 1 ,like Figure 1 As shown, the collapsible rack includes at least two racks, the at least two racks are coaxially arranged, and a collapsible structure 1 is arranged between two adjacent racks of the at least two racks.

[0057] like Figure 1 As shown, two adjacent racks include a first rack 2 and a second rack 3. In fact, the collapsible rack may include a plurality of racks connected head to tail. In the present application, two racks are taken as an example for description.

[0058] In a possible embodiment, the crush structure 1 includes a first crush connection portion axially arranged along the first rack 2 and a second crush connection portion axially arranged along the second rack 3. The second crush connection portion is movably arranged in the first crush connection portion. When the steering system is impacted, the second crush connection portion will move relative to the first crush connection portion along the axial direction of the crushable rack to absorb energy.

[0059] In order to prevent the first rack 2 and the second rack 3 from falling off during daily use, an elastic locking structure 4 is further provided on the second collapsed connection portion. The elastic locking structure 4 includes an elastic member 41 and a locking member 42 (not shown in the figure); the elastic member 41 is arranged along the radial direction of the second rack 3 and connected to the locking member 42, and is used to provide elastic force for the locking member 42 to approach the first collapsed connection portion.

[0060] Through the above-mentioned arrangement, the rack is arranged as a segmented multi-segment structure, and a collapse structure 1 is arranged between adjacent racks to absorb impact and prevent the impact from being further transmitted to the steering wheel 7, thereby reducing the possibility of the driver's steering wheel 7 slipping out of his hands. Since the second collapse connection part is movably arranged in the first collapse connection part, during the collapse energy absorption process, the deformation of the rack is along the length direction of the rack, which will not affect the direction control function of the steering system, and the vehicle can be moved out of the accident site to avoid secondary injuries to the occupants in the vehicle. At the same time, an elastic locking structure 4 is arranged on the collapse structure 1, wherein the elastic member 41 provides elastic force for the locking member 42 close to the first collapse connection part, so that the locking member 42 is more closely combined with the second collapse connection part to prevent the segmented type from falling off during daily use, thereby further ensuring driving safety.

[0061] In the embodiment of the present application, the first crush connection portion includes a crush groove 11 arranged along the axial direction of the first rack 2; the second crush connection portion includes a crush shaft 12 arranged along the axial direction of the second rack 3, and the crush shaft 12 is movably arranged in the crush groove 11.

[0062] In other possible embodiments, the collapse structure 1 may also include a preset hinge or folding node set in the collapse area of ​​the rack. When the force exceeds the preset value, the rack can be folded according to the designed folding path, and the preset hinge or folding node can be set so that the rack can still deform along its own axis during the collapse process. Alternatively, the segmented rack connection can be designed as a bellows-like structure, which undergoes axial compression deformation under the action of impact force. The bellows-like structure has high energy absorption efficiency and stable deformation, can adapt to multiple deformation uses, and has a long service life. The material properties of the rack connection can also be set according to the gradient according to the material hardness or elastic modulus. When impacted, the material hardness is the smallest first, followed by the material hardness is smaller, and finally the material hardness is the largest. The collapse part of the rack connection deforms and absorbs the impact in turn, and also deforms along its own axis.

[0063] Compared with the above-mentioned collapse structure 1, the hole-shaft matching scheme of the present application has limited movement of the collapse shaft 12 in the collapse groove 11, with a clear movement trajectory, and no offset or unexpected deformation, thereby ensuring that the impact energy absorption process is controllable and the performance is stable. During the axial movement of the collapse shaft 12, the collapse groove 11 deforms uniformly along the length, which can avoid local stress concentration and make energy absorption more efficient. The relative movement direction of the collapse groove 11 and the collapse shaft 12 is parallel to the rack axis, which does not affect the meshing function of the rack and the gear, ensuring that the steering system can still transmit the steering wheel torque normally after collapse. In addition, the collapse shaft 12 is embedded in the collapse groove 11, does not require additional external space, has a compact structure, and is suitable for the limited space design requirements in the steering system. The external structure of the rack of the present application has not changed, and the structure of the rack housing does not need to be changed accordingly. It is seamlessly connected with the existing steering system, which is convenient for rapid integration into the product. Furthermore, the processing technology of the crush shaft 12 and the crush groove 11 is simple, which reduces the production complexity. After the crush structure 1 is damaged due to energy absorption and deformation, only the crush groove 11 or the crush shaft 12 needs to be replaced, and the maintenance cost is low.

[0064] By adjusting the depth, shape (such as a straight groove or a gradient groove), length of the crush groove 11, and the material, diameter and other parameters of the crush shaft 12, the impact absorption performance can be flexibly adjusted to adapt to different vehicle models and usage requirements.

[0065] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a collapsible rack provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 2 ,like Figure 2 As shown, in a possible embodiment, the inner diameter of the crush groove 11 is smaller than the outer diameter of the crush shaft 12, and the crush shaft 12 and the crush groove 11 are interference connected. The interference connection makes the relative movement between the crush shaft 12 and the crush groove 11 have greater resistance, which can ensure the tightness of the crush structure 1 during normal use of the vehicle (non-collision state), prevent looseness or lateral shaking between the crush shaft 12 and the crush groove 11, and also improve the durability of the crush structure 1, reducing the wear caused by impact or vibration during daily driving.

[0066] Furthermore, the outer diameter of the crush shaft 12 gradually increases from the end close to the crush groove 11 to the end away from the crush groove 11, that is, the crush shaft 12 can be set to a cone. When an external force acts, due to the gradual increase in the outer diameter of the crush shaft 12, the crush groove 11 needs to gradually overcome greater resistance to continue to deform. This progressive resistance change allows the impact energy to be evenly distributed throughout the entire crushing process, rather than concentrated at a certain point, which can effectively avoid instantaneous stress concentration leading to premature failure of the crush structure 1 or overall fracture of the rack, making the energy absorption curve of the crush structure 1 stable and providing a more stable buffering effect. By setting the degree of diameter change of the conical crush shaft 12, the impact absorption performance of the crush structure 1 can be controlled, and the scope of application of the crushable rack of the present application can be increased.

[0067] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a collapsible rack provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 3 ,like Figure 3 As shown, in the steering system, the rack needs to maintain a fixed posture of linear motion along its own axis, and should not rotate around its own axis. In a possible embodiment, the crush shaft 12 is specifically configured as a cylinder, and the crush groove 11 is also correspondingly configured as a cylinder. Two guide protrusions 18 are arranged on both sides of the crush shaft 12 along its own axis, and a guide groove 19 adapted to the guide protrusion 18 is arranged in the crush groove 11.

[0068] Through the above arrangement, the cylindrical crush shaft 12 can be restricted from rotating in the crush groove 11, avoiding poor meshing between the tooth surface of the rack and the gear due to rotation, ensuring the reliability of the steering system, and preventing additional friction or stress concentration caused by rotation, thereby extending the service life of the crushable rack. At the same time, the guide structure ensures that the crush shaft 12 always keeps sliding along the axis of the rack, avoiding abnormal crushing behavior caused by lateral slip or deviation, and improving the efficiency of impact energy absorption. The guide protrusion 18 can also serve as a reinforcing rib of the crush shaft 12, strengthening the structural strength of the crush shaft 12, and improving the stability and reliability of the overall structure.

[0069] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a collapsible rack provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 4 ,like Figure 4 As shown, in a possible embodiment, a first positioning platform 21 is provided at one end of the outer surface of the first rack 2 close to the first collapse connection portion; a second positioning platform 31 is provided at one end of the outer surface of the second rack 3 close to the second collapse connection portion.

[0070] When the first positioning platform 21 and the second positioning platform 31 are located at the same angle, the guide protrusion of the crush shaft 12 and the guide groove of the crush groove 11 are located at the same angle.

[0071] By setting two positioning platforms, a clear external reference is provided for the assembler, so that the assembler can quickly determine the correct installation direction of the two racks. That is, when the first positioning platform 21 and the second positioning platform 31 are at the same angle, the guide protrusion and the guide groove are automatically aligned. The above setting reduces the time for manual alignment of the guide protrusion and the guide groove during the assembly process, improves production efficiency, and avoids the situation where the crush shaft 12 and the crush groove 11 are poorly engaged due to angle deviation, thereby improving the assembly success rate.

[0072] Optionally, the first positioning platform 21 can be set as a plane formed by cutting on the outer surface of the first rack 2 near the crush groove 11, and the second positioning platform 31 can be set as a plane formed by cutting on the outer surface of the second rack 3 near the crush axis 12. This positioning method is simple to process. Other visual or tactile prompts, such as protrusions, grooves, scale lines, color markings, etc., can also be set on the outer surface of the first rack 2 near the crush groove 11, as long as it is convenient for the assembler to quickly confirm the alignment state.

[0073] In the embodiments of the present application, Figure 4 As shown, the end of the first rack 2 away from the crush groove 11 is provided with an external thread, and the end of the second rack 3 away from the crush shaft 12 is provided with a tooth surface. The second positioning platform 31 on the second rack 3 is at the same angle as the tooth surface. The two positioning platforms can also assist in the assembly of the collapsible rack relative to other structures of the steering gear, further improving the overall production efficiency of the steering gear.

[0074] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a collapsible rack provided in an embodiment of the present application Figure 5 ,like Figure 5 As shown, in a possible embodiment, the crush shaft 12 is provided with at least one retreat groove 13 along its own axial direction, and an elastic groove 14 is provided on at least one retreat groove 13 along the radial direction of the second rack 3; the locking member includes at least one limiting needle roller 421, and at least one limiting needle roller 421 is arranged in at least one retreat groove 13 along the axial direction of the crush shaft 12; the first end of the elastic member 41 is arranged in the elastic groove 14, and the second end is connected to the limiting needle roller 421.

[0075] When the elastic member 41 is in a contracted state, the limiting needle roller 421 is located in the retreat groove 13 ; when the elastic member 41 is in an expanded state, at least a portion of the limiting needle roller 421 is located outside the retreat groove 13 .

[0076] During assembly, the elastic member 41 is compressed manually or by using other equipment so that the limiting needle roller 421 is located in the retreat groove 13, and the crush shaft 12 can smoothly enter the crush groove 11. After the crush shaft 12 enters the crush groove 11, there is no pressure from compressing the elastic member 41. The elastic force of the elastic member 41 causes the limiting needle roller 421 to move in the axial direction away from the crush shaft 12 and is located outside the retreat groove 13. Under the action of the elastic force of the elastic member 41, the limiting needle roller 421 abuts against the inner wall of the crush groove 11 and is clamped to the inner wall of the crush groove 11 by the friction force, thereby fixing the crush shaft 12 in the crush groove 11.

[0077] In the embodiments of the present application, Figure 6 As shown, the retreat groove 13 and the limiting needle roller 421 are both provided in two numbers, which are respectively located on both sides of the collapse shaft 12, and the elastic groove 14 is also provided in two numbers, and both are through grooves connecting the retreat grooves 13 on both sides. The elastic member 41 passes through the elastic groove 14, and the two ends are respectively connected to the limiting needle rollers 421 on both sides. The two elastic members 41 are configured as springs, and the stiffness of the two springs can be the same or different.

[0078] When the stiffness of the two springs is different, the stiffness of the spring away from the end of the crush shaft 12 can be set greater than the stiffness of the spring close to the end of the crush shaft 12. When assembling the collapsible rack, the spring located in the front with a smaller stiffness is easily compressed, which facilitates the entire crush shaft 12 to enter the crush groove 11. In daily use, the spring located in the rear with a larger stiffness is not easily compressed and can be more stable, thereby reducing the lateral shaking of the crush shaft 12 in the crush groove 11 and the possibility of the crush shaft 12 falling off.

[0079] Specifically, the two ends of the limiting needle roller 421 are set to be circular, which facilitates the crush shaft 12 to enter the crush groove 11. Even if the limiting needle roller 421 of the crush shaft 12 does not compress the elastic part 41 into place, it can enter the crush groove 11 through the guiding effect of the arc surface.

[0080] By setting two sets of retreat grooves 13 and limiting needle rollers 421, the uniform distribution of the action and reaction forces on both sides is ensured, so that the collapse shaft 12 and the second rack will not be biased to one side of the elastic member 41, avoiding the imbalance caused by the unilateral design and ensuring that the entire collapsible rack is arranged along the same straight line.

[0081] In a possible embodiment, a special feature may be provided on the surface of the limiting needle roller 421 abutting against the inner wall of the collapse groove 11 to increase the friction and pull-out force between the limiting needle roller 421 and the inner wall of the collapse groove 11. For example, a concave-convex structure such as a notch or a groove may be applied to the surface of the limiting needle roller 421 to increase the friction between the limiting needle roller 421 and the inner wall of the collapse groove 11; a layer of hard material (such as a ceramic coating, a titanium nitride coating or a tungsten carbide coating) or a metal coating may be applied to the surface of the limiting needle roller 421 to enhance the hardness of the surface, thereby improving its wear resistance and friction; elastic friction elements such as rubber or plastic may also be added to the surface of the limiting needle roller 421 to increase the friction and enhance the pull-out force.

[0082] In one possible embodiment, continue as Figure 5 As shown, a limiting boss 15 is provided at one end of the crush groove 11 facing the second rack 3 in the axial direction of the first rack 2. In other words, the diameter at the entrance of the crush groove 11 is smaller than the diameter inside the crush groove 11, and the limiting boss 15 cooperates with the elastic limiting needle roller 421 to further prevent the crush shaft 12 from falling off from the crush groove 11.

[0083] In a possible embodiment, a first guide chamfer 16 is provided on the inner side wall of the limiting boss 15 along its circumference, and a second guide chamfer 17 is provided on the end of the crush shaft 12 along its circumference. When the crush shaft 12 is assembled into the crush groove 11, the first guide chamfer 16 and the second guide chamfer 17 cooperate to smoothly guide the crush shaft 12 into the crush groove 11, thereby improving assembly efficiency.

[0084] In a possible embodiment, a buffer structure is provided between the crush groove 11 and the crush shaft 12, and the buffer structure is used to buffer the collision between the crush shaft 12 and the crush groove 11 to achieve vibration reduction, thereby preventing the vibration from being transmitted to the steering wheel 7 and causing the driver to feel uncomfortable such as having his hands hit, thereby affecting driving comfort.

[0085] Optionally, the buffer structure may include a first buffer member arranged between the side wall of the crush groove 11 and the side wall of the crush shaft 12, and may also include a second buffer member arranged between the end of the crush shaft 12 and the bottom of the crush groove 11. The first buffer member is used to mitigate and absorb the reaction force generated by the crush shaft 12 and the side wall of the crush groove 11 when impact or deformation occurs, and the second buffer member is used to absorb the impact force generated by the collision between the end of the crush shaft 12 and the bottom of the crush groove 11 when the crush shaft 12 is fully inserted into the crush groove 11 and collapses.

[0086] Specifically, the first buffer can be configured as an annular gasket, which can be fixed on the side wall of the crush groove 11 by bonding, and the material can be configured as an elastic material such as rubber. The annular gasket absorbs the reaction force from the side wall of the crush groove 11 and the side wall of the crush shaft 12 through elastic deformation, reduces the damage to the crush structure caused by friction and impact during daily driving, and prolongs the service life of the crushable rack.

[0087] The second buffer can be configured as a disc-shaped, conical or corrugated gasket, which can be fixed to the bottom of the crush groove 11 by bonding, and the material can be configured as a high-strength material such as high-density rubber and silicone. The second buffer can absorb high-energy impact during the direct contact between the crush shaft 12 and the bottom of the crush groove 11, prevent damage and protect the integrity of the crush structure.

[0088] By configuring the first buffer member and the second buffer member, multi-level impact energy absorption can be achieved, thereby increasing the durability and reliability of the collapsible rack.

[0089] The embodiment of the present application also provides a steering device, Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a steering device provided in an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 7 As shown, the steering gear includes a housing 5, a collapsible rack and a ball nut 6.

[0090] In the embodiment of the present application, the housing 5 is arranged outside the collapsible rack and the ball nut 6, providing fixing and guiding support for the collapsible rack and the ball nut 6, and connected to the frame or chassis of the vehicle by fixing bolts or other connection methods. The ball nut 6 is threadedly connected to one end of the first rack 2 of the collapsible rack, converting the rotational motion of the steering wheel into the linear motion of the collapsible rack, thereby controlling the steering of the wheels.

[0091] The embodiment of the present application also provides a steering system, Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of a steering system provided in an embodiment of the present application, such as Figure 8 As shown, the steering system includes the above-mentioned collapsible rack, a steering wheel 7, at least two steered wheels 8 and at least two steering rods 9.

[0092] Among them, the steering wheel 7 is connected to the collapsible rack through a steering column, which is used to transmit the operator's steering signal to the collapsible rack; the two ends of the collapsible rack are respectively connected to at least two steering wheels 8 through at least two steering rods 9, which are used to drive at least two steering wheels 8 to perform steering movement based on the steering signal.

[0093] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of an existing steering system provided in an embodiment of the present application, such as Fig. 9 As shown, Fig. 9This is the state of the existing steering system after the collision. The right steering wheel 8 is hit and deviates from the driving direction by A°. The rack length is still X, and the steering rod 9 has a weakened groove. After the right steering wheel 8 is impacted, the right steering rod 9 connected thereto is bent and deformed. After the deformation, the steering wheel 7 can no longer control the steering wheel 8 to steer.

[0094] like Figure 8 As shown, Figure 8 a is the state of the steering system when the collision just occurred. The right steering wheel 8 was hit and deviated from the driving direction by A°. The rack length was still collapsed from X to Y. Figure 8 b is the state of the steering system after the steering wheel 7 is adjusted to turn. The steering system of the present application still has the basic steering function after the crumple energy absorption. The deviation A° between the right steering wheel 8 and the driving direction is adjusted to B°, and the deviation of the left steering wheel 8 and the driving direction is also adjusted to B°. Fig. 9 Compared with the traditional pull rod solution, the angle between the steering wheels 8 on both sides and the forward direction becomes smaller, so that the wheels can continue to move forward in a semi-sliding and semi-rolling state, and finally the vehicle is moved to a safe area to avoid secondary injuries.

[0095] The present application arranges the rack into a segmented multi-segment structure, and arranges a crush structure 1 between adjacent racks to absorb the impact, thereby preventing the impact from being further transmitted to the steering wheel 7, thereby reducing the possibility of the driver's steering wheel 7 slipping out of his hands; since the second crush connection part is movably arranged in the first crush connection part, during the crushing energy absorption process, the deformation of the rack is along the length direction of the rack, which will not affect the direction control function of the steering system, and the vehicle can be moved out of the accident site to avoid secondary injuries to the occupants in the vehicle; at the same time, an elastic locking structure is arranged on the crush structure 1, wherein the elastic member provides elastic force for the locking member close to the first crush connection part, so that the locking member and the second crush connection part are more closely combined, preventing the segmented structure from falling off during daily use, thereby further ensuring driving safety.

[0096] It should be noted that the above-mentioned sequence of the embodiments of the present application is for description only and does not represent the advantages and disadvantages of the embodiments. The above-mentioned specific embodiments of this specification are described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the attached claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recorded in the claims can be performed in an order different from that in the embodiments and still achieve the desired results. In addition, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require the specific order or continuous order shown to achieve the desired results. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are also possible or may be advantageous.

[0097] Each embodiment in this specification is described in a progressive manner, and the same or similar parts between the embodiments can be referred to each other, and each embodiment focuses on the differences from other embodiments. In particular, for the device embodiment, since it is basically similar to the method embodiment, the description is relatively simple, and the relevant parts can be referred to the partial description of the method embodiment.

[0098] A person skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps to implement the above embodiments may be accomplished by hardware or by instructing related hardware through a program, and the program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and the above-mentioned storage medium may be a read-only memory, a disk or an optical disk, etc.

[0099] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present application and is not intended to limit the present application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present application should be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A collapsible rack, characterized in that: Applied to a steering gear, comprising at least two racks, the at least two racks being coaxially arranged, and a collapse structure (1) being arranged between two adjacent racks of the at least two racks; the two adjacent racks comprising a first rack (2) and a second rack (3); The collapse structure (1) comprises a first collapse connection portion arranged axially along the first rack (2) and a second collapse connection portion arranged axially along the second rack (3), wherein the second collapse connection portion is movably arranged in the first collapse connection portion; An elastic locking structure (4) is provided on the second collapsible connection portion, and the elastic locking structure (4) comprises an elastic member (41) and a locking member (42); the elastic member (41) is radially arranged along the second rack (3) and connected to the locking member (42) to provide elastic force for the locking member (42) to approach the first collapsible connection portion.

2. The collapsible rack according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first collapse connection portion comprises a collapse groove (11) arranged along the axis direction of the first rack (2); The second crush connection portion comprises a crush shaft (12) arranged along the axial direction of the second rack (3), and the crush shaft (12) is movably arranged in the crush groove (11).

3. The collapsible rack according to claim 2, characterized in that: The collapse shaft (12) is provided with at least one retreat groove (13) along its own axial direction, and an elastic groove (14) is provided on the at least one retreat groove (13) along the radial direction of the second rack (3); The locking member (42) comprises at least one limiting needle roller (421), and the at least one limiting needle roller (421) is arranged in the at least one retreat groove (13) along the axial direction of the collapse shaft (12); the first end of the elastic member (41) is arranged in the elastic groove (14), and the second end is connected to the limiting needle roller (421); When the elastic member (41) is in a contracted state, the limiting needle roller (421) is located in the retreat groove (13); when the elastic member (41) is in an expanded state, at least a portion of the limiting needle roller (421) is located outside the retreat groove (13).

4. The collapsible rack according to claim 3, characterized in that: A limiting boss (15) is provided at one end of the collapse groove (11) facing the second rack (3) in the axial direction of the first rack (2).

5. The collapsible rack according to claim 4, characterized in that: A first guide chamfer (16) is provided on the inner side wall of the limiting boss (15) along its own circumference, and a second guide chamfer (17) is provided on the end of the collapse shaft (12) along its own circumference.

6. The collapsible rack according to claim 2, characterized in that: The inner diameter of the collapse groove (11) is smaller than the outer diameter of the collapse shaft (12), and the collapse shaft (12) is interference-connected with the collapse groove (11); The outer diameter of the crush shaft (12) gradually increases from an end close to the crush groove (11) to an end away from the crush groove (11).

7. The collapsible rack according to claim 6, characterized in that: A guide protrusion (18) is arranged on the crush shaft (12) along its own axial direction, and a guide groove (19) matching the guide protrusion (18) is arranged in the crush groove (11).

8. The collapsible rack according to claim 7, characterized in that: A first positioning platform (21) is provided on an end of the outer surface of the first rack (2) close to the first collapse connection portion; a second positioning platform (31) is provided on an end of the outer surface of the second rack (3) close to the second collapse connection portion; When the first positioning platform (21) and the second positioning platform (31) are located at the same angle, the guide protrusion (18) of the crush shaft (12) and the guide groove (19) of the crush groove (11) are located at the same angle.

9. The collapsible rack according to claim 2, characterized in that: A buffer structure is provided between the crush groove (11) and the crush shaft (12), and the buffer structure is used to buffer the collision between the crush shaft (12) and the crush groove (11).

10. A steering system, characterized in that: The invention comprises a collapsible rack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, a steering wheel (7), at least two steering wheels (8) and at least two steering tie rods (9); The steering wheel (7) is connected to the collapsible rack and is used to transmit the operator's steering signal to the collapsible rack; The two ends of the collapsible rack are respectively connected to the at least two steering wheels (8) via at least two steering tie rods (9), and are used to drive the at least two steering wheels (8) to perform steering movement based on the steering signal.

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