Crumple energy absorption structure for steering column

Abstract

The crumple energy absorption structure comprises a C-shaped strip and sliding pieces, sliding guide grooves are formed in the opposite positions of the two side walls of the C-shaped strip, the sliding pieces are arranged in the sliding guide grooves in the two sides, and each sliding piece comprises a sliding end and a connecting end; a locking part extends from the sliding end in the direction towards the notch of the sliding guide groove, a hoop opening is formed in the locking part, and the sliding sheet is locked in the sliding guide groove through the mutual matching of the hoop opening and the locking bolt. According to the crumple energy absorption structure, energy absorption pieces and length adjusting supports in an existing crumple energy absorption structure are optimized, the newly-added sliding pieces slide in the sliding guide grooves, the groove edges of the sliding guide grooves are subjected to plastic deformation, energy absorption is completed, and therefore gaps do not need to be reserved between the structures; therefore, the loss of rigidity and strength caused by the steering column assembly in the crumple energy absorption process is greatly reduced, the occupied space is small, packaging is simple, and the phenomenon that the combination switch and the face recognition sensor shake or deflect is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of steering columns, and specifically relates to a crush energy absorption structure for a steering column, which is used for converting the kinetic energy generated by a collision into internal energy through plastic deformation and motion friction between structures when a motor vehicle collides, thereby reducing or avoiding damage to the driver caused by the steering wheel when the motor vehicle collides. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of automobile technology, safety regulations have increasingly higher requirements for automobile safety, and steering columns with crush energy absorption structures have become popular in motor vehicles.

[0003] The existing crush energy absorption structure used in the steering column is as follows: Fig.15 and Fig.16 As shown, it includes a C-shaped bar 2, an energy absorbing sheet 9 and a length adjustment bracket 10, the C-shaped bar 2 is arranged on the inner column tube 6, and a lower plane 9-1 of the energy absorbing sheet 9 is arranged between the inner column tube 6 and the C-shaped bar 2, one end of the lower plane 9-1 is connected to the inner column tube 6 by a bolt 11, and the other end of the lower plane 9-1 is connected to the upper plane 9-3 by a bend 9-2, and the upper plane 9-3 is connected to the C-shaped bar 2 by a rivet 12, one end of the length adjustment bracket 10 is connected to the upper plane 9-3 of the energy absorbing sheet 9 by a bolt, and the other end of the length adjustment bracket 10 is connected to the length adjustment structure. When no collision occurs The length adjustment structure can drive the steering column to adjust along the length direction. When a collision occurs, the inner column tube 6 on the steering column drives the C-shaped bar 2 to move backward according to the pre-designed collapse direction. At this time, the lower plane 9-1 and the upper plane 9-3 produce relative movement, so that the rivet 12 connected to the upper plane 9-3 and the C-shaped bar 2 breaks and generates a collapse peak force. The stable collapse force in the whole collapse process is provided by the plastic deformation generated by the energy absorbing sheet 9 being gradually straightened from the original curled shape, thereby reducing or avoiding the damage to the driver caused by the steering wheel when the motor vehicle collides. However, the existing collapse energy absorption structure has the following problems:

[0004] 1. When a collision occurs, since the inner column 6 will move in a pre-designed collapse direction, a larger gap needs to be left between the energy absorbing sheet 9 and the C-shaped bar 2 so that the energy absorbing sheet 9 can provide a stable collapse force through plastic deformation. However, if the gap between the energy absorbing sheet 9 and the C-shaped bar 2 is too large, the stiffness and strength of the steering column assembly will be greatly lost during the collapse process.

[0005] 2. The existing collapse energy absorption structure requires the C-shaped bar 2, the energy absorption sheet 9 and the length adjustment bracket 10 to jointly realize the collapse process, so a larger layout space is required in the direction perpendicular to the C-shaped bar 2. In addition, during the design process, it is necessary to avoid the plastic deformation of the energy absorption sheet 9, which will cause packaging difficulties during assembly.

[0006] 3. Since there is a large gap between the energy absorbing sheet 9, the C-shaped bar 2, and the length adjustment bracket 10, the lateral displacement of the steering column during the length telescopic adjustment process is large, causing the combination switch and the facial recognition sensor to shake or deflect.

[0007] 4. Since there is a large gap between the C-shaped strip 2 and the energy absorbing sheet 9, and the energy absorbing sheet 9 is in the process of being curled and then straightened, uneven force and uncertain direction will occur, resulting in an unstable collapse force curve during the entire collapse process. Summary of the invention

[0008] The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem and to provide a crush energy absorption structure for a steering column, which optimizes the energy absorption plate and the length adjustment bracket, and converts a part of the kinetic energy generated by the collision into the friction force of the sliding plate in the sliding guide groove by the newly added sliding plate sliding in the sliding guide groove on the two side walls of the C-shaped bar, so as to make the hoop on the sliding plate break away from the locking bolt to generate the crush peak force, and the stable crush force in the whole crushing process is provided by the sliding plate sliding in the sliding guide groove and compressing the periphery of the sliding guide groove to cause its plastic deformation, thereby avoiding the problem of requiring a large gap due to the deformation of the energy absorption plate in the existing structure, thereby greatly reducing the loss of stiffness and strength of the steering column assembly during the crush energy absorption process.

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a crush energy absorption structure for a steering column, comprising a C-shaped bar and a sliding sheet, wherein the relative positions of the two side walls of the C-shaped bar are provided with sliding guide grooves, and sliding sheets are arranged in the sliding guide grooves on both sides, and the sliding sheet comprises a sliding end and a connecting end, and the sliding end has a locking portion extending in the direction of the notch of the sliding guide groove, and the locking portion has a hoop opening, and the sliding sheet is locked in the sliding guide groove by the mutual cooperation between the hoop opening and the locking bolt.

[0010] As a further optimization, the sliding guide groove is divided into an initial section, a transition section and a collapse section from the groove mouth to the groove end. The initial section is connected to the collapse section through a transition section with a slope. The width of the initial section is greater than that of the collapse section. The sliding plate is locked in the initial section of the sliding guide groove by a locking bolt.

[0011] As a further optimization, the hoop opening is a large semicircle that can enclose the locking bolt.

[0012] As a further optimization, sliding gaskets are provided on the two contact surfaces between the sliding end and the sliding guide groove.

[0013] As a further optimization, the longitudinal section and the cross section of the sliding sheet are both L-shaped.

[0014] As a further optimization, it includes at least two groups of C-shaped bars and sliding sheets equipped therewith, multiple C-shaped bars are stacked together longitudinally, and the positions of the transition sections in the sliding guide grooves on the multiple C-shaped bars are different, and multiple sliding sheets paired with the C-shaped bars are locked on the initial sections of the sliding guide grooves by locking bolts, and the multiple sliding sheets are fixedly connected.

[0015] Advantages and beneficial effects of the present invention

[0016] 1. The present invention is that sliding guide grooves are opened at relative positions of the two side walls of the existing C-shaped bar, and sliding sheets are connected to the sliding guide grooves on both sides through locking bolts. When a collision occurs and collapses, the sliding sheets are relatively fixed because they are connected to the length adjustment structure, and the inner column and the C-shaped bar will move backward according to the pre-designed collapse direction. At this time, the sliding guide groove and the sliding sheet produce relative movement, so that the hoop on the sliding sheet breaks away from the locking bolt to generate a collapse peak force, and the stable collapse force in the whole collapse process is provided by the sliding friction of the sliding sheet in the sliding guide groove and the compression of the periphery of the sliding guide groove, so that the sliding guide groove is compressed and deformed, thereby avoiding the problem that the energy absorbing sheet in the existing collapse energy absorption structure needs to be plastically deformed and a large gap needs to be left between it and the C-shaped bar, thereby greatly reducing the loss of stiffness and strength of the steering column assembly during the collapse process, and enhancing the stiffness, strength and stability of the steering column assembly.

[0017] 2. The present invention has a simple structure, including a C-shaped bar and a sliding plate. Compared with the existing crush energy absorption structure, the energy absorption plate and the length adjustment bracket are optimized, so the layout space in the direction perpendicular to the C-shaped bar is reduced. In addition, since the C-shaped bar moves backward with the inner column tube during the crush process, there is no need to avoid the plastic deformation of the energy absorption plate, which makes it easy to package during assembly.

[0018] 3. The present invention realizes the crushing energy absorption by the sliding friction of the sliding plate in the sliding guide groove, so no gap is required. Therefore, the lateral displacement of the steering column during the length extension and contraction adjustment process is small, thereby avoiding the problem of shaking or deflection of the combination switch and the facial recognition sensor.

[0019] 4. The present invention realizes the crushing energy absorption by the sliding friction of the sliding plate in the sliding guide groove, which ensures that no gap is generated between the structures, and the sliding guide groove plays a guiding role for the sliding plate, so the force is uniform and the direction is determined, thereby improving the stability of the crushing force curve during the entire crushing process. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without paying creative work.

[0021] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure provided by Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 The present invention Figure 1 A magnified view of part A in FIG.

[0023] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of embodiment 1 of the present invention installed behind an inner column tube;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the present invention installed on the inner column tube after removing the C-shaped strip;

[0025] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment 1 of the present invention after being applied to an electrically adjustable column without the aluminum housing;

[0026] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the C-shaped bar in the present invention;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the C-shaped bar in the present invention from another angle;

[0028] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the structure of the sliding sheet in the present invention;

[0029] Fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of the sliding sheet in the present invention from another angle;

[0030] Fig.10 is a schematic diagram of the collapse process of Example 1 of the present invention;

[0031] Fig.11 is a schematic diagram of embodiment 2 of the present invention installed behind an inner column tube;

[0032] Fig.12 is a schematic structural diagram of a C-shaped bar in Example 2 of the present invention;

[0033] Fig.13 It is a comparison diagram of the collapse curves of the present invention and the prior art during the collapse process;

[0034] Fig.14 is a comparison diagram of collapse curves of Example 1 and Example 2 during the collapse process of the present invention;

[0035] Fig.15It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the prior art;

[0036] Fig.16 It is a cross-sectional view of the prior art after the electric adjustment column is applied without the aluminum shell.

[0037] Figure numerals: energy absorbing structure 1, C-shaped bar 2, sliding guide groove 21, initial section 211, transition section 212, collapse section 213, sliding sheet 3, sliding end 31, locking portion 311, hoop mouth 312, connecting end 32, bending portion 33, locking bolt 4, sliding gasket 5, inner column tube 6, guide block 7, length adjustment structure 8, energy absorbing sheet 9, lower plane 9-1, bend 9-2, upper plane 9-3, length adjustment bracket 10, bolt 11 and rivet 12. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] The specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that, in the description of the present invention, the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inside", "outside", "front", "back", etc. indicate directions or positional relationships based on the directions or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the structure or element referred to must have a specific direction, be constructed and operated in a specific direction. Therefore, they cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0039] Example 1

[0040] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, a collapsing energy absorbing structure 1 for a steering column is fixedly connected to an inner column tube 6, and comprises a C-shaped bar 2 and a sliding sheet 3. The two side walls of the C-shaped bar 2 are provided with sliding guide grooves 21 at relative positions. The double sliding guide grooves 21 can ensure the stability of the sliding sheet 3 in the Y direction during the collapsing process, and guide the sliding sheet 3 during the collapsing process. Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the sliding guide groove 21 is divided into an initial section 211, a transition section 212 and a collapse section 213 from the groove mouth to the groove end. The initial section 211 is connected to the collapse section 213 through the transition section 212 with a slope. The width of the initial section 211 is greater than the width of the collapse section 213, which facilitates the interference installation of the sliding piece 3 in the initial section 211. The width of the collapse section 213 is less than the width of the initial section 211, which can ensure the stability of the sliding piece 3 after collapse.

[0041] like Figure 3 , Figure 4 , Figure 8 and Fig. 9As shown, the longitudinal section and cross section of the sliding piece 3 are both L-shaped, including a sliding end 31 and a connecting end 32. The sliding end 31 is connected to the connecting end 32 through a bending portion 33. The sliding end 31 is provided with a locking portion 311 extending in the direction of the notch of the sliding guide groove 21. The locking portion 311 is provided with a hoop 312. The sliding piece 3 is locked in the initial section 211 of the sliding guide groove 21 through the mutual cooperation between the hoop 312 and the locking bolt 4, and contacts with the transition section 212, so as to provide stability of the sliding piece before it collapses. The hoop 312 is a large semicircle that can cover the locking bolt 4. When collapsing, the locking bolt 4 breaks free from the hoop 312 to generate a collapse peak force. The connecting end 32 is connected to the length adjustment structure 8 through a bolt (see Figure 5 ), when not collapsed, the steering column is driven by the length adjustment structure 8 to adjust the length direction.

[0042] As a further optimization, Figure 5 As shown, the sliding end 31 and the upper and lower contact surfaces of the sliding guide groove 21 are connected with sliding gaskets 5 by bonding or vulcanization. The sliding gasket 5 can be made of plastic or rubber and plays a shock-absorbing role during collapse.

[0043] like Fig.13 As shown, it is a comparison diagram of the collapse curves of the present invention and the prior art during the collapse process, wherein curve A is the collapse curve of the prior art collapse energy absorption structure, and curve B is the collapse curve of the present invention. It can be seen that within the same collapse time, the fluctuation of curve B is more stable than that of curve A. Therefore, compared with the prior art collapse energy absorption structure, the collapse process of the present invention is more stable, and the stability of the collapse force curve is improved.

[0044] Example 2

[0045] In order to achieve different energy absorption curves, multiple groups of the above-mentioned crush energy absorbing structures 1 can be arranged on the inner column tube 6 according to the spatial layout of the vehicle. The multiple groups of the above-mentioned crush energy absorbing structures 1 can be horizontally fixed on the inner column tube 6, or the multiple groups of the above-mentioned crush energy absorbing structures 1 can be longitudinally stacked together and fixedly connected to the inner column tube 6. This embodiment is a detailed description of two groups of the above-mentioned crush energy absorbing structures 1 longitudinally stacked together and fixedly connected to the inner column tube 6.

[0046] like Fig.11 and Fig.12As shown, a crush energy absorption structure 1 for a steering column includes two C-shaped bars 2 and sliding sheets 3 equipped therewith. The two C-shaped bars 2 are longitudinally stacked together and welded to an inner column tube 6. The positions of transition sections 212 in the sliding guide grooves 21 of the two C-shaped bars 2 are different. By changing the front and rear positions of the transition sections 212 in the two sliding guide grooves 21, the occurrence of different crush peak forces at different positions is controlled, thereby meeting the corresponding crush force requirements in various situations (see Fig.14 ), where curve C is the collapse curve of Example 1, and curve D is the collapse curve of Example 2. Fig.14 It can be seen from the figure that by changing the front and rear positions of the transition sections 212 in the sliding guide grooves 21 in the two C-shaped bars 2, the position of the second peak point in the collapse curve is changed.

[0047] The initial sections 211 of the two sliding guide grooves 21 are connected to the sliding ends 31 of the sliding sheets 3 through the locking bolts 4, the upper sliding sheet 3 is fixedly connected to the lower sliding sheet 3 through the connecting end 32, and the lower sliding sheet 3 is connected to the length adjustment structure 8 through the connecting end 32. When collapse occurs, the length adjustment structure 8 holds the two connected sliding sheets 3 stationary, and the two C-shaped strips stacked longitudinally slide relative to the two sliding sheets 3.

[0048] Working process

[0049] In the present invention, when the steering column has not collapsed, the sliding sheet 3 is fixed in the initial section 211 of the sliding guide groove 21 by the pressing force of the locking bolt 4 on the hoop 312 and the blocking of the transition section 212 in the sliding guide groove 21. At this time, the collapse energy absorption structure 1 plays the role of a length adjustment bracket for connecting and supporting the length adjustment structure, so that the steering column can perform the length adjustment function through the present invention.

[0050] like Fig.10 As shown, when the steering column collapses, since the sliding piece 3 is connected to the length adjustment structure, the sliding piece 3 is relatively motionless, and the inner column tube 6 drives the C-shaped bar 2 to collapse backward along the designed collapse direction. The collapse force at this time is provided by the starting static friction of the sliding piece 3 relative to the initial section 211, the plastic deformation of the hoop 312 on the sliding piece 3 to break free from the locking bolt 4, and the force generated by overcoming the transition section 212. When the hoop 312 on the sliding piece 3 breaks free from the locking bolt 4, the entire collapse force reaches a peak value, and then the sliding piece 3 presses the transition section 212 to convert the compression force into sliding friction. The sliding piece 3 slides in the collapse section 213 and continuously presses the groove edge of the sliding guide groove 21, causing the groove edge of the sliding guide groove 21 to plastically deform and complete the energy absorption.

[0051] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than to limit them. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the above embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the above embodiments, or replace some or all of the technical features therein with equivalents. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A crush energy absorbing structure (1) for a steering column, Features: The invention comprises a C-shaped bar (2) and a sliding sheet (3), wherein the two side walls of the C-shaped bar (2) are provided with sliding guide grooves (21) at relative positions, and the sliding guide grooves (21) on both sides are provided with sliding sheets (3), and the sliding sheets (3) comprise sliding ends (31) and connecting ends (32), and the sliding ends (31) are provided with locking portions (311) extending in the direction of the notch of the sliding guide groove (21), and the locking portions (311) are provided with hoop openings (312), and the sliding sheets (3) are locked in the sliding guide grooves (21) through the mutual cooperation between the hoop openings (312) and the locking bolts (4).

2. A crush energy absorption structure (1) for a steering column according to claim 1, Features: The sliding guide groove (21) is divided into an initial section (211), a transition section (212) and a collapse section (213) from the groove opening to the groove end. The initial section (211) is connected to the collapse section (213) via a transition section (212) with a slope. The width of the initial section (211) is greater than the width of the collapse section (213). The sliding sheet (3) is locked in the initial section (211) of the sliding guide groove (21) via a locking bolt (4).

3. A crush energy absorption structure (1) for a steering column according to claim 1, Features: The hoop opening (312) is a large semicircle that can enclose the locking bolt (4).

4. A crush energy absorbing structure (1) for a steering column according to any one of claims 1 to 3, Features: Sliding gaskets (5) are provided on the two contact surfaces between the sliding end (31) and the sliding guide groove (21).

5. A crush energy absorbing structure (1) for a steering column according to claim 1, Features: The longitudinal section and the cross section of the sliding sheet (3) are both L-shaped.

6. A crush energy absorbing structure (1) for a steering column according to claim 2, Features: The invention comprises at least two groups of C-shaped bars (2) and sliding sheets (3) equipped therewith, wherein a plurality of the C-shaped bars (2) are stacked together longitudinally, and the positions of transition sections (212) in the sliding guide grooves (21) on the plurality of C-shaped bars (2) are different, and a plurality of sliding sheets (3) matched with the C-shaped bars (2) are all locked on the initial sections (211) of the sliding guide grooves (21) by locking bolts (4), and the plurality of sliding sheets (3) are fixedly connected to each other.

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