Steering wheel tubular column assembly

Abstract

The steering wheel tubular column assembly comprises an input shaft, an output shaft, a transmission wheel and a steering tubular column, the input shaft and the output shaft are arranged in parallel in a staggered mode, the input shaft is provided with a first transmission end and an input end used for being connected with a steering wheel, and the first transmission end and the input end are coaxially arranged; the output shaft is provided with a second transmission end and an output end coaxial with the second transmission end, the output end is connected with the steering column in a telescopic mode, and the transmission wheel is in synchronous transmission with the first transmission end and the second transmission end. The input shaft and the output shaft are arranged in parallel to reserve a space for height adjustment of a steering wheel, so that the telescopic adjustment direction of the steering column is decoupled from leg space of a driver, thighs of the driver are prevented from being propped due to too low overall position caused by telescopic change of the steering column, thigh interference risks are eliminated, and meanwhile, linearity of a torque transmission path is kept; and the riding experience of a driver and the driving safety of the automobile are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of automobiles, and particularly to a steering column assembly. Background Art

[0002] As a core component of an automotive steering system, the structural design of a steering column directly affects driving comfort and safety. Traditional steering columns mostly adopt output shafts and input shafts arranged coaxially or in an inclined and staggered manner, and transmit the steering torque through universal joints or gear sets. At the same time, a telescopic adjustment function is integrated to meet the sitting posture requirements of different drivers. However, the prior art has the following significant defects: when adjusting the height of the steering wheel, the coaxial column needs to reserve a large longitudinal telescopic space, resulting in the lowest position of the column extending too far downward, which is likely to contact the driver's thigh, especially in the event of emergency braking or on a bumpy road surface, which may cause potential safety hazards. Industry data shows that about 23% of users of compact models report obvious pressure on the leg space after adjusting the steering column. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the above technical problems, the present invention provides a steering column assembly. The input shaft and the output shaft are arranged in parallel, reserving space for adjusting the height of the steering wheel, decoupling the telescopic adjustment direction of the steering column from the driver's leg space, avoiding the overall position being too low due to the telescopic change of the steering column and pressing against the driver's thigh, and eliminating the risk of thigh interference.

[0004] The technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: A steering column assembly includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a transmission wheel, and a steering column. The input shaft and the output shaft are arranged in parallel and staggered. The input shaft has a first transmission end and an input end for connecting to the steering wheel, and the first transmission end is coaxially arranged with the input end. The output shaft has a second transmission end and an output end coaxially arranged with the second transmission end. The output end is telescopically connected to the steering column, and the transmission wheel is synchronously driven with the first transmission end and the second transmission end respectively.

[0005] Optionally, a first gear is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the first transmission end, a second gear is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the second transmission end, teeth are provided on the outer peripheral wall of the transmission wheel, one side of the transmission wheel meshes with the first gear, and the other side of the transmission wheel meshes with the second gear. The number of teeth of the first gear is the same as the number of teeth of the second gear.

[0006] Optionally, the transmission wheel includes a first synchronous wheel and a second synchronous wheel. The first synchronous wheel is sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the first transmission end, the second synchronous wheel is sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the second transmission end, a synchronous belt is wound around the outer peripheral walls of the first synchronous wheel and the second synchronous wheel, and the diameter of the first synchronous wheel is the same as the diameter of the second synchronous wheel.

[0007] Optionally, the steering column is movably sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the output end. A thread is provided on the outer peripheral wall of one end of the steering column close to the output shaft. The steering column is threadedly connected with a nut. The output shaft is axially provided with a chute and a limiting groove vertically communicating with the chute. The number of the limiting grooves is multiple, and the multiple limiting grooves are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the chute. The nut is provided with a limiting block cooperating with the limiting groove.

[0008] Optionally, the driving wheel is a helical cylindrical gear, the first gear is a first helical gear meshing with the helical cylindrical gear, the second gear is a second helical gear meshing with the helical cylindrical gear, and the helix angles of the teeth of the first gear, the helix angles of the teeth of the second gear and the helix angles of the teeth of the driving wheel are all the same.

[0009] Optionally, it further includes a protective shell and an adjusting shell connected to the protective shell. The driving wheel, the first driving end of the output shaft and the first driving end of the input shaft are all arranged inside the shell. The input end extends to the outside of the adjusting shell and is connected with a steering wheel. The input end is installed on the inner peripheral wall of the protective shell through a first bearing, and the output shaft is installed on the inner peripheral wall of the shell through a second bearing.

[0010] Optionally, the driving wheel is provided with an axially penetrating through hole. A first screw is coaxially installed in the through hole. The protective shell is provided with a threaded hole for the first screw to pass through. A third bearing is provided on the inner peripheral wall of the through hole, and the inner ring of the third bearing is in interference fit with the first screw.

[0011] Optionally, an annular groove for cooperating with the outer ring of the first bearing is provided on the inner peripheral wall of the adjusting shell. A plurality of first lugs are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral wall of the adjusting shell. A plurality of second lugs are arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction on one surface of the protective shell facing the adjusting shell. The first lugs and the second lugs are correspondingly connected by second screws one by one. The first lugs are provided with strip-shaped grooves, and the second screws sequentially pass through the first lugs and the second lugs and are connected with nuts.

[0012] Optionally, the extending directions of the plurality of strip-shaped grooves are the same.

[0013] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: The parallel arrangement of the input shaft and the output shaft reserves space for adjusting the height of the steering wheel, decouples the telescopic adjustment direction of the steering column from the driver's leg space, avoids the overall position being too low due to the telescopic change of the steering column and pressing against the driver's thigh, eliminates the risk of thigh interference, and at the same time maintains the linearity of the torque transmission path, improving the driver's riding experience and the safety of vehicle driving. When it is necessary to adjust the length of the steering column, loosen the nut, so that the limiting block slides from the limiting groove to the chute, move the steering column axially along the output end to a suitable position, and then tighten the nut again. The limiting block on the nut enters the corresponding limiting groove. Description of the Drawings

[0014] Figure 1Schematic diagram of the steering column assembly proposed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0015] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the nut of the steering column assembly proposed in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the steering column assembly proposed in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the adjustment housing of the steering column assembly proposed in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0018] The labels in each drawing are: 1, input shaft; 11, first transmission end; 111, first gear; 12, input end; 2, output shaft; 21, second transmission end; 211, second gear; 22, output end; 221, sliding groove; 222, limiting groove; 3, transmission wheel; 31, first synchronous wheel; 32, second synchronous wheel; 33, synchronous belt; 4, steering column; 41, nut; 411, limiting block; 5, protective housing; 51, first bearing; 52, second bearing; 53, third bearing; 54, second lug; 6, adjustment housing; 61, annular groove; 62, first lug; 621, strip-shaped groove; 7, first screw; 8, second screw. Detailed implementation manners

[0019] The following further elaborates on the present application in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments.

[0020] Embodiment 1

[0021] As Figure 1 and 2 shown, this embodiment discloses a steering column assembly, including an input shaft 1, an output shaft 2, a transmission wheel 3, and a steering column 4. The input shaft 1 and the output shaft 2 are arranged in parallel and staggered. The input shaft 1 has a first transmission end 11 and an input end 12 for connecting the steering wheel. The first transmission end 11 and the input end 12 are coaxially arranged. The output shaft 2 has a second transmission end 21 and an output end 22 coaxial with the second transmission end 21. The output end 22 is telescopically connected to the steering column 4. The transmission wheel 3 is synchronously driven with the first transmission end 11 and the second transmission end 21 respectively. The parallel arrangement of the input shaft 1 and the output shaft 2 reserves space for adjusting the height of the steering wheel, decouples the telescopic adjustment direction of the steering column 4 from the leg space of the driver, avoids the overall position being too low due to the telescopic change of the steering column 4 and pressing against the driver's thigh, eliminates the risk of thigh interference, and at the same time maintains the linearity of the torque transmission path, improving the driving experience of the driver and the safety of vehicle driving.

[0022] In this embodiment, as Figure 1As shown, a first gear 111 is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the first transmission end 11, a second gear 211 is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the second transmission end 21, teeth are provided on the outer peripheral wall of the transmission wheel 3, one side of the transmission wheel 3 meshes with the first gear 111, the other side of the transmission wheel 3 meshes with the second gear 211, and the number of teeth of the first gear 111 is the same as that of the second gear 211. The meshing of the first gear 111 and the second gear 211 with the same number of teeth realizes a transmission ratio of 1:1, ensuring that the steering angle of the steering wheel is strictly synchronized with the steering angle of the wheel.

[0023] In this embodiment, as Figure 2 shown, the steering column 4 is movably sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the output end 22. A thread is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the steering column 4 near one end of the output shaft 2. The steering column 4 is threadedly connected with a nut 41. A chute 221 is provided on the output shaft 2 along the axial direction, and a limiting groove 222 is vertically communicated with the chute 221. The number of the limiting grooves 222 is multiple, and the multiple limiting grooves 222 are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the chute 221. The nut 41 is provided with a limiting block 411 that cooperates with the limiting groove 222. When it is necessary to adjust the length of the steering column 4, loosen the nut 41 to make the limiting block 411 slide from the limiting groove 222 to the chute 221, move the steering column 4 axially along the output end 22 to a proper position, and then tighten the nut 41 again. The limiting block 411 on the nut 41 enters the corresponding limiting groove 222.

[0024] In this embodiment, as Figure 2 shown, the transmission wheel 3 is a helical cylindrical gear, the first gear 111 is a first helical gear meshing with the helical cylindrical gear, the second gear 211 is a second helical gear meshing with the helical cylindrical gear, and the helix angles of the teeth of the first gear 111, the second gear 211, and the transmission wheel 3 are all the same. The meshing of helical gears has higher transmission smoothness compared with the meshing of spur gears and generates less mechanical noise. The first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 are both angular contact ball bearings, which can offset the axial forces generated between the helical cylindrical gear, the first helical gear, and the second helical gear.

[0025] In this embodiment, as Figure 1 shown, it further includes a protective shell 5 and an adjusting shell 6 connected to the protective shell 5. The transmission wheel 3, the output shaft 2, and the first transmission end 11 of the input shaft 1 are all arranged inside the shell. The input end 12 extends outside the adjusting shell 6 and is connected to the steering wheel. The input end 12 is installed on the inner peripheral wall of the protective shell 5 through the first bearing 51, and the output shaft 2 is installed on the inner peripheral wall of the shell through the second bearing 52.

[0026] In this embodiment, as Figure 1As shown, the driving wheel 3 is provided with a through hole axially penetrating therethrough. A first screw 7 is coaxially installed in the through hole. The protective housing 5 is provided with a threaded hole for the first screw 7 to pass through. The inner peripheral wall of the through hole is provided with a third bearing 53. The inner ring of the third bearing 53 is in interference fit with the first screw 7. The driving wheel 3 is rotatably connected to the protective housing 5, making the meshing between the first gear 111, the second gear 211 and the driving wheel 3 more stable.

[0027] Embodiment 2

[0028] In this embodiment, as Figure 3 and 4 shown, the driving wheel 3 includes a first synchronous wheel 31 and a second synchronous wheel 32. The first synchronous wheel 31 is sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the first transmission end 11. The second synchronous wheel 32 is sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the second transmission end 21. A synchronous belt 33 is wound around the outer peripheral walls of the first synchronous wheel 31 and the second synchronous wheel 32. The diameter of the first synchronous wheel 31 is the same as that of the second synchronous wheel 32. The synchronous belt 33 transmission reduces noise compared with the gear transmission, has a higher transmission efficiency, and the equal-diameter design of the synchronous wheels ensures that the rotational speeds of the input shaft 1 and the output shaft 2 are strictly synchronized, avoiding steering hysteresis.

[0029] In this embodiment, as Figure 4 shown, the inner peripheral wall of the adjusting housing 6 is provided with an annular groove 61 for fitting with the outer ring of the first bearing 51. The outer peripheral wall of the adjusting housing 6 is provided with a plurality of first lugs 62 at circumferential intervals. One side of the protective housing 5 facing the adjusting housing 6 is provided with a plurality of second lugs 54 at circumferential intervals. The first lugs 62 and the second lugs 54 are connected by second screws 8 in one-to-one correspondence. The first lugs 62 are provided with strip-shaped grooves 621. The second screws 8 sequentially pass through the first lugs 62 and the second lugs 54 and are connected with nuts. By moving the adjusting housing 6 along the strip-shaped groove 621, the input shaft 1 can be driven to move synchronously, thereby adjusting the tightness of the synchronous belt 33. The extending directions of the plurality of strip-shaped grooves 621 are the same. Ensure that the adjusting housing 6 moves linearly without deviation. The cooperation between the nut and the limit groove of the steering column is also applicable to Embodiment 2.

[0030] It can be understood that the specific embodiments described above are only used to explain the related invention, rather than limiting the invention. In addition, it should be noted that for the sake of description, only the parts related to the invention are shown in the drawings. Multiple technical solutions in the same embodiment, as well as multiple technical solutions in different embodiments, can be arranged and combined to form new technical solutions without contradiction or conflict. Any equivalent structural transformation made by using the content of the specification and drawings of the present invention, directly or indirectly applied to other related technical fields, is equally included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A steering wheel column assembly, characterized in that: It includes an input shaft, an output shaft, a transmission wheel and a steering column. The input shaft and the output shaft are arranged in parallel and staggered. The input shaft has a first transmission end and an input end for connecting to a steering wheel. The first transmission end is coaxially arranged with the input end. The output shaft has a second transmission end and an output end coaxial with the second transmission end. The output end is telescopically connected to the steering column. The transmission wheel is synchronously transmitted with the first transmission end and the second transmission end respectively.

2. The steering wheel column assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: A first gear is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the first transmission end, a second gear is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the second transmission end, gear teeth are provided on the outer peripheral wall of the transmission wheel, one side of the transmission wheel is meshed with the first gear, and the other side of the transmission wheel is meshed with the second gear, and the number of teeth of the first gear is the same as the number of teeth of the second gear.

3. The steering wheel column assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission wheel includes a first synchronous wheel and a second synchronous wheel, the first synchronous wheel is sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the first transmission end, and the second synchronous wheel is sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the second transmission end. A synchronous belt is wound around the outer peripheral wall of the first synchronous wheel and the outer peripheral wall of the second synchronous wheel, and the diameter of the first synchronous wheel is the same as the diameter of the second synchronous wheel.

4. The steering wheel column assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The steering column is movably sleeved on the outer peripheral wall of the output end, and a thread is provided on the outer peripheral wall of the steering column close to one end of the output shaft. A nut is threadedly connected to the steering column, and a slide groove and a limit groove vertically connected to the slide groove are axially provided on the output shaft. There are multiple limit grooves, and the multiple limit grooves are spaced apart along the length direction of the slide groove. The nut is provided with a limit block that cooperates with the limit groove.

5. The steering wheel column assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The transmission wheel is a helical cylindrical wheel, the first gear is a first helical gear meshing with the helical cylindrical wheel, the second gear is a second helical gear meshing with the helical cylindrical wheel, and the helix angle of the first gear teeth, the helix angle of the second gear teeth and the helix angle of the transmission wheel teeth are all consistent.

6. The steering wheel column assembly according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that: It also includes a protective shell and an adjusting shell connected to the protective shell, the transmission wheel, the output shaft, and the first transmission end of the input shaft are all arranged inside the shell, the input end extends to the outside of the adjusting shell and is connected to the steering wheel, the input end is installed on the inner wall of the protective shell through a first bearing, and the output shaft is installed on the inner wall of the shell through a second bearing.

7. The steering wheel column assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: The transmission wheel is provided with an axially penetrating through hole, a first screw is coaxially installed in the through hole, the protective shell is provided with a screw hole for the first screw to pass through, a third bearing is provided on the inner peripheral wall of the through hole, and the inner ring of the third bearing is interference fit with the first screw.

8. The steering wheel column assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: The inner circumferential wall of the adjusting shell is provided with an annular groove matched with the outer ring of the first bearing, the outer circumferential wall of the adjusting shell is provided with a plurality of first lugs spaced apart in the circumferential direction, and a side of the protective shell facing the adjusting shell is provided with a plurality of second lugs spaced apart in the circumferential direction, the first lugs are connected to the second lugs in a one-to-one correspondence through a second screw, the first lug is provided with a strip groove, and the second screw passes through the first lug and the second lug in sequence and is connected with a nut.

9. The steering wheel column assembly according to claim 8, characterized in that: The extension directions of the plurality of strip-shaped grooves are consistent.

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