Automobile steering column and vehicle

Abstract

The invention provides an automobile steering column and an automobile. The automobile steering column comprises a lower pipe fitting, a steering shaft and at least one locking assembly. A groove is formed in the inner side of the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting; the steering shaft is slidably sleeved with the lower pipe fitting, and a containing cavity with an opening is formed in the surface of the steering shaft. The locking assembly comprises an elastic piece, a sliding block and a telescopic assembly, the elastic piece is arranged in the containing cavity, one end of the elastic piece is fixed in the containing cavity, the other end of the elastic piece is connected with the sliding block, the telescopic assembly is located at an opening of the containing cavity, the sliding block is detachably clamped to control the elastic piece to be in a stretching state, and the sliding block is located in the groove under the condition that the elastic piece is in the stretching state. According to the automobile steering column, when an automobile is collided, the sliding block in the locking assembly is separated from the groove of the lower pipe fitting, the elastic piece shrinks, the steering shaft crumples in the lower pipe fitting, the buffering effect is achieved, hurt of the steering shaft to a driver is reduced, and safety is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of automotive steering columns, and particularly to an automotive steering column and a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] The steering shaft is an important part of the automotive steering system. The steering shaft is used to connect the steering wheel and the steering mechanism of the steering gear. The steering shaft usually has an adjustment system for adjusting the length or inclination of the steering shaft. When a vehicle collides, the rigid steering shaft of the existing device cannot collapse, which will cause the driver to collide with the steering wheel and the steering shaft, and is likely to cause harm to the driver. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of this, the present application provides an automotive steering column and a vehicle to solve the problem that the steering shaft in the prior art cannot collapse.

[0004] To solve the above technical problem, a technical solution adopted by the present application is: to provide an automotive steering column, including: a lower pipe fitting, with a groove provided on the inner side of the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting; a steering shaft, which is slidably sleeved in the lower pipe fitting, and an accommodating cavity with an opening is provided on the surface of the steering shaft; at least one set of locking components, including an elastic member, a slider, and a telescopic component. The elastic member is arranged in the accommodating cavity, one end of the elastic member is fixed in the accommodating cavity, the other end is connected to the slider, and the telescopic component is located at the opening of the accommodating cavity and detachably clamps the slider to control the elastic member in a stretched state. In the case where the elastic member is in a stretched state, the slider is located in the groove.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present application, a convex block is provided on the surface of the slider. In the case where the elastic member is in a stretched state, the telescopic component abuts against the side of the convex block facing the elastic member.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present application, the automotive steering column includes two sets of locking components. The accommodating cavity is a through hole radially penetrating the steering shaft, and a second fixing portion is provided in the through hole. One set of locking components is located on one side of the second fixing portion, and its elastic member is fixed on one side of the second fixing portion. The other set of locking components is located on the other side of the second fixing portion, and its elastic member is fixed on the other side of the second fixing portion.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the present application, the automotive steering column includes at least two sets of locking components. The steering shaft includes at least two accommodating cavities, and the locking components and the accommodating cavities correspond one by one. The accommodating cavity is a blind hole opened on the surface of the steering shaft, and the elastic member is connected between the bottom wall of the blind hole and the slider.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present application, the groove is an annular groove surrounding the central axis of the lower pipe fitting, or at least two grooves are provided on the inner side of the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting. The automotive steering column includes at least two sets of locking components, and the grooves and the locking components correspond one by one.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present application, a receiving groove is provided in a region of the side wall of the receiving cavity near the opening, the telescopic assembly is located in the receiving groove, and the telescopic assembly includes a first fixing portion fixed in the receiving groove and a telescopic portion telescopically connected to the first fixing portion.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present application, it further includes: a pressure sensor, provided on the inner wall of the lower pipe fitting near the steering shaft side, for sensing pressure; a controller, electrically connected to the pressure sensor and the telescopic assembly, and the controller is configured to: when the pressure sensor detects that the pressure exceeds a preset value, control the telescopic assembly to contract to release the clamping of the slider, the elastic member contracts so that the slider disengages from the groove, and the steering shaft collapses in the lower pipe fitting.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present application, the vehicle steering column further includes: a buffer assembly, provided on the outer wall of the lower pipe fitting, and the buffer assembly includes: a fixing plate, provided on the outer wall of the lower pipe fitting; a buffer plate, located on a side of the fixing plate away from the lower pipe fitting; a damper, one end connected to the fixing plate and the other end connected to the buffer plate; a buffer member, sleeved on the outer ring of the damper.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present application, the buffer assembly further includes: a rubber member, provided on a side of the buffer plate away from the lower pipe fitting.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present application, the lower pipe fitting is provided with a first positioning groove penetrating the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting, and the steering shaft is provided with a second positioning groove corresponding to the first positioning groove; the vehicle steering column further includes: a positioning assembly, provided on the lower pipe fitting; the positioning assembly includes: a lock core; a lock tongue connected to the lock core, and the lock tongue penetrates through the first positioning groove and the second positioning groove for locking the steering shaft relative to the lower pipe fitting.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present application, the positioning assembly further includes: a fixing sleeve, sleeved on the outer wall of the lower pipe fitting, and the lock core is provided in the fixing sleeve.

[0015] The second technical solution provided by the present application is: providing a vehicle, including a vehicle body, a steering wheel provided on the vehicle body, and a vehicle steering column as described in any one of the above connected to the steering wheel.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the present application are as follows: A vehicle steering column is provided. The vehicle steering column includes a lower pipe fitting, a steering shaft, and at least one set of locking components. A groove is provided on the inner side of the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting; the steering shaft is slidably sleeved in the lower pipe fitting, and a receiving cavity with an opening is provided on the surface of the steering shaft; the locking component includes an elastic member, a slider, and a telescopic component. The elastic member is arranged in the receiving cavity, one end of the elastic member is fixed in the receiving cavity, and the other end is connected to the slider. The telescopic component is located at the opening of the receiving cavity and detachably clamps the slider to control the elastic member in a stretched state. In the case of the stretched state of the elastic member, the slider is located in the groove. When a vehicle collision occurs in the vehicle steering column of the present application, the slider in the locking component disengages from the groove of the lower pipe fitting, the elastic member in the locking component contracts, and the steering shaft collapses in the lower pipe fitting, playing a buffering role, thereby reducing the harm of the steering shaft to the driver and improving safety. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the following drawings are only some embodiments of the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts. Among them:

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the vehicle steering column of the present application;

[0019] Figure 2 is a schematic top view structural diagram of an embodiment of the vehicle steering column of the present application;

[0020] Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of an embodiment of the vehicle steering column of the present application;

[0021] Figure 4 is Figure 3 a partial schematic diagram of part A in

[0022] Figure 5 is Figure 4 a partial schematic diagram of part D in

[0023] Figure 6 is Figure 3 a partial schematic diagram of part B in

[0024] Figure 7 is Figure 3 a partial schematic diagram of part C in

[0025] Figure 8 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the vehicle steering column controller of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0026] To make the above objects, features, and advantages of the present application more apparent and understandable, the following provides a detailed description of the specific embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It can be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain the present application and are not intended to limit the present application. Additionally, it should be noted that for the convenience of description, only the parts related to the present application rather than all the structures are shown in the drawings. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts belong to the scope of protection of the present application.

[0027] Reference herein to "embodiments" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments can be included in at least one embodiment of the present application. The phrase appears in various places in the specification and does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it an independent or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. Those skilled in the art will explicitly and implicitly understand that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0028] In the current technology, when a vehicle collides, the steering shaft with a rigid structure cannot collapse, which will cause the driver to collide with the steering wheel and the steering shaft, and it is very easy to cause harm to the driver.

[0029] Accordingly, referring to Figures 1 to 8 , the first aspect of the present application provides an automotive steering column. Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the automotive steering column of the present application; Figure 2 is a schematic top view structural diagram of an embodiment of the automotive steering column of the present application; Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional structural diagram of an embodiment of the automotive steering column of the present application; Figure 4 is Figure 3 a partial schematic diagram of part A in Figure 5 is Figure 4 a partial schematic diagram of part D in Figure 6 is Figure 3 a partial schematic diagram of part B in Figure 7 is Figure 3 a partial schematic diagram of part C in Figure 8 is a schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of the controller of the automotive steering column of the present application.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present application, the vehicle steering column 10 includes a lower pipe fitting 11, a steering shaft 12, and at least one set of locking components 13. A groove 111 is provided on the inner side of the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting 11; the steering shaft 12 is slidably sleeved in the lower pipe fitting 11, and a receiving cavity 121 with an opening 1211 is provided on the surface of the steering shaft 12; the locking component 13 includes an elastic member 131, a slider 132, and a telescopic component 133. The elastic member 131 is disposed in the receiving cavity 121, one end of the elastic member 131 is fixed inside the receiving cavity 121, and the other end is connected to the slider 132. The telescopic component 133 is located at the opening 1211 of the receiving cavity 121 and can detachably lock the slider 132 to control the elastic member 131 in a stretched state. In the case where the elastic member 131 is in a stretched state, the slider 132 is located in the groove 111.

[0031] In the embodiment of the present application, the steering shaft 12 is slidably sleeved in the lower pipe fitting 11, and the steering shaft 12 can slide in the lower pipe fitting 11. A groove 111 is provided on the inner side of the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting 11. A receiving cavity 121 is provided on the surface of the steering shaft 12, and the receiving cavity 121 has an opening 1211. The elastic member 131 of the locking component 13 is installed in the receiving cavity 121, one end of the elastic member 131 is fixed inside the receiving cavity 121, and the other end is connected to the slider 132. The telescopic component 133 is located at the opening 1211 of the receiving cavity 121, and the telescopic component 133 can detachably lock the slider 132. When the telescopic component 133 locks the slider 132, the elastic member 131 connected to one end of the slider 132 is in a stretched state. When the elastic member 131 is in a stretched state, the slider 132 is snapped into the groove 111 to realize the relative locking between the steering shaft 12 and the lower pipe fitting 11; when the telescopic component 133 contracts and disengages from the slider 132, the elastic member 131 connected to the slider 132 recovers its deformation, and the contraction of the elastic member 131 drives the slider 132 connected to the elastic member 131 to disengage from the groove 111, and the steering shaft 12 slides and collapses in the lower pipe fitting 11.

[0032] At the moment of a vehicle collision, a huge impact force will be transmitted to the vehicle steering column 10. At this time, the telescopic component 133 in the locking component 13 senses the collision, and the telescopic component 133 separates from the slider 132. Since the telescopic component 133 no longer locks the slider 132, the elastic member 131 originally in a stretched state quickly contracts. The contraction of the elastic member 131 drives the slider 132 connected thereto to disengage from the groove 111 on the inner side of the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting 11. At the same time, the steering shaft 12 begins to collapse in the lower pipe fitting 11. The collapse process of the steering shaft 12 can absorb a large amount of collision energy and play a buffering role. Through this design, the injury caused to the driver by the rigid impact of the steering shaft 12 during a collision is greatly reduced, and the safety guarantee of the driver in a collision accident is significantly improved.

[0033] The embodiment of the present application adopts a simple mechanical linkage structure. By using the locking assembly 13 including the elastic member 131, the slider 132 and the telescopic assembly 133, without a complex external energy absorption device, while optimizing the vehicle safety performance, it takes into account the lightweight design, and can reduce the production cost and maintenance difficulty.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the present application, referring to Figure 5 , a protrusion 1321 is provided on the surface of the slider 132. In the case where the elastic member 131 is in a stretched state, the telescopic assembly 133 abuts against the side of the protrusion 1321 facing the elastic member 131.

[0035] In the embodiment of the present application, a protrusion 1321 is provided on the surface of the slider 132. When the elastic member 131 is in a stretched state, the telescopic assembly 133 abuts against the side of the protrusion 1321 facing the elastic member 131. This structural design can accurately and stably control the position of the slider 132. In the normal driving state, the protrusion 1321 enables the slider 132 to be reliably clamped in the groove 111, maintaining a stable relative position relationship between the steering shaft 12 and the lower pipe fitting 11, so that the steering system can work normally and accurately, providing the driver with a stable and reliable steering control experience. When the vehicle encounters a collision, the cooperation mode between the protrusion 1321 and the telescopic assembly 133 can respond quickly: after a huge external force is generated by the collision, the telescopic assembly 133 contracts, canceling the abutment against the protrusion 1321, so that the slider 132 can quickly disengage from the groove 111, thereby triggering the collapse mechanism of the steering shaft 12 in the lower pipe fitting 11. The design of the protrusion 1321 not only meets the requirements for the structural stability of the steering column during normal driving, but also can efficiently realize the collapse buffering function of the steering shaft 12 in emergency dangerous situations such as collisions, improving the safety factor of the driver in a collision accident, effectively reducing the possibility of the steering shaft 12 causing harm to the driver, and providing a solid and reliable guarantee for the passive safety performance of the vehicle.

[0036] In some embodiments, when the vehicle encounters a collision, the protrusion 1321 moves away from the slider 132, canceling the abutment against the slider 132, so that the slider 132 can quickly disengage from the groove 111, thereby triggering the collapse mechanism of the steering shaft 12 in the lower pipe fitting 11.

[0037] According to an embodiment of the present application, referring to Figure 4 , the vehicle steering column 10 includes two sets of locking assemblies 13. The accommodation cavity 121 is a through hole radially penetrating the steering shaft 12. A second fixing portion 122 is provided in the through hole. One set of locking assemblies 13 is located on one side of the second fixing portion 122, and its elastic member 131 is fixed on one side of the second fixing portion 122. The other set of locking assemblies 13 is located on the other side of the second fixing portion 122, and its elastic member 131 is fixed on the other side of the second fixing portion 122.

[0038] In the embodiment of the present application, the receiving cavity 121 is a through hole radially penetrating the steering shaft 12. The vehicle steering column 10 includes two sets of locking components 13, and the two sets of locking components 13 are distributed in the through hole. First of all, the design of the two sets of locking components 13 enhances the stability and reliability of the overall structure of the steering column 10. During normal driving, the two sets of locking components 13 work together to effectively maintain the stable relative position relationship between the steering shaft 12 and the lower pipe fitting 11, improve the accuracy and smoothness of the operation of the steering system, provide the driver with a stable and reliable steering control feeling, and improve the driving safety of the vehicle.

[0039] Secondly, the receiving cavity 121 is a through hole radially penetrating the steering shaft 12, and a second fixing portion 122 is provided in the through hole. In some embodiments, the second fixing portion 122 is located at the central position of the receiving cavity 121. The presence of the second fixing portion 122 provides a stable and symmetric fixing point for the elastic member 131 in the two sets of locking components 13. The elastic member 131 of one set of locking components 13 is fixed to one side of the second fixing portion 122, and the other set is fixed to the other side. This symmetric layout enables the steering shaft 12 to evenly disperse the force when subjected to an external force. When the vehicle encounters a collision, the two sets of locking components 13 can act simultaneously and evenly, enabling the steering shaft 12 to collapse more smoothly and efficiently in the lower pipe fitting 11. This not only improves the buffering effect, but also effectively absorbs the collision energy, greatly reducing the risk of the steering shaft 12 causing harm to the driver during a collision, significantly improving the safety factor of the driver in a collision accident, and providing a strong guarantee for the passive safety performance of the vehicle. At the same time, this symmetric and stable structural design helps to extend the service life of the vehicle steering column 10, reduce the probability of component wear and failure caused by uneven force, and reduce the vehicle maintenance cost.

[0040] According to an embodiment of the present application, the vehicle steering column 10 includes at least two sets of locking components 13, the steering shaft 12 includes at least two receiving cavities 121, the locking components 13 and the receiving cavities 121 are in one-to-one correspondence, the receiving cavity 121 is a blind hole opened on the surface of the steering shaft 12, and the elastic member 131 is connected between the bottom wall of the blind hole and the slider 132.

[0041] In the embodiment of the present application, the vehicle steering column 10 includes at least two sets of locking components 13. At least two receiving cavities 121 are provided on the steering shaft 12. The receiving cavity 121 in this embodiment is different from the through hole that radially penetrates the steering shaft 12 in the above embodiment. The receiving cavity 121 in this embodiment is formed by drilling blind holes in the side wall of the steering shaft 12, that is, the receiving cavity 121 does not penetrate inside the steering shaft 12. Each receiving cavity 121 corresponds to a set of locking components 13, and the locking components 13 are installed in the corresponding receiving cavities 121 to realize the connection and related functions between the steering shaft 12 and the lower pipe fitting 11. The locking component 13 includes an elastic member 131, a slider 132, and a telescopic component 133. The elastic member 131 is installed in the receiving cavity 121, with one end fixed to the bottom wall of the blind hole (receiving cavity 121), and the other end of the elastic member 131 is connected to the slider 132. The telescopic component 133 is located at the opening 1211 of the receiving cavity 121 and can control the slider 132, thereby controlling the stretching state of the elastic member 131. When the elastic member 131 is stretched, the slider 132 is located in the groove 111 on the inner side of the wall of the lower pipe fitting 11.

[0042] In this embodiment, the receiving cavity 121 is formed by using the material of the steering shaft 12 itself (drilling blind holes in the side wall of the steering shaft 12), avoiding the problem of weakening the overall structural strength of the steering shaft 12 due to through holes. The setting of the blind holes maximally retains the material integrity of the steering shaft 12 while ensuring the installation and function of the locking components 13, enabling the steering shaft 12 to better maintain its own structural strength under normal use and collision conditions, extending the service life of the steering shaft 12, and reducing failures and damages caused by insufficient structural strength.

[0043] Moreover, in this embodiment, the second fixing portion 122 is not provided, reducing the processing and assembly processes of the components, making the operation more convenient, reducing the production and procurement costs of the components. At the same time, the simplified process reduces the errors that may occur due to the assembly of multiple components, improving the production efficiency and consistency of the product, which is beneficial to large-scale production.

[0044] The vehicle steering column 10 includes at least two sets of locking components 13, and the at least two sets of locking components 13 cooperate to enhance the firmness of the connection between the steering shaft 12 and the lower pipe fitting 11. During the normal driving of the vehicle, multiple sets of locking components 13 can more evenly disperse various acting forces generated during steering, reducing unstable situations such as shaking and loosening of the steering column caused by single-point stress or uneven local stress, providing a solid foundation for the safe driving of the vehicle. When the vehicle collides, multiple locking components 13 can respond to the collision impact force more efficiently. Each locking component 13 operates independently in its corresponding receiving cavity 121 and cooperates with each other, enabling the steering shaft 12 to absorb the collision energy more comprehensively and evenly during the collapse process, enhancing the safety of the driver, and playing a key role in improving the passive safety performance of the vehicle.

[0045] According to an embodiment of the present application, the groove 111 is an annular groove around the central axis of the lower pipe fitting 11, or at least two grooves 111 are provided on the inner side of the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting 11. The vehicle steering column 10 includes at least two sets of locking components 13, and the grooves 111 and the locking components 13 correspond one by one.

[0046] In the embodiment of the present application, the groove 111 is an annular groove around the central axis of the lower pipe fitting 11, so that the contact and engagement between the slider 132 in the locking component 13 and the groove 111 are more comprehensive and uniform. During normal driving of the vehicle, the annular groove can provide all-round support and restraint for the slider 132, making the relative position between the steering shaft 12 and the lower pipe fitting 11 stable. No matter which direction the torsion or external force comes from on the steering shaft 12, the annular groove can effectively respond, improving the stability of the steering column in daily use and providing a smooth and precise steering control experience for the driver. When the vehicle collides, the annular groove can make the slider 132 more smooth during the detachment process, and will not affect the collapse effect of the steering shaft 12 due to local jamming, ensuring that the steering shaft 12 can efficiently absorb the collision energy and reduce the harm to the driver.

[0047] Or, at least two grooves 111 are provided on the inner side of the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting 11, and the vehicle steering column 10 is equipped with at least two sets of locking components 13. The grooves 111 and the locking components 13 correspond one by one. The number of connection points between the steering shaft 12 and the lower pipe fitting 11 increases. During normal driving, the force generated by steering can be more evenly dispersed, reducing the stress burden on a single connection point, reducing component wear, and extending the service life of the steering column. When the vehicle collides, multiple locking components can respond to the impact force at the same time, prompting the steering shaft 12 to collapse synchronously or orderly at multiple positions, absorbing the collision energy in all directions, further improving the protection ability for the driver, and effectively reducing the risk of the steering shaft 12 causing harm to the driver during the collision.

[0048] According to an embodiment of the present application, continue to refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5 , a receiving groove 1212 is provided in the region of the side wall of the receiving cavity 121 close to the opening 1211. The telescopic component 133 is located in the receiving groove 1212. The telescopic component 133 includes a first fixing portion 1331 fixed in the receiving groove 1212 and a telescopic portion 1332 telescopically connected to the first fixing portion 1331.

[0049] In the embodiment of the present application, the side wall of the accommodation cavity 121 has an opening 1211, and an accommodation groove 1212 is provided in the area near the opening 1211. The first fixing portion 1331 of the telescopic assembly 133 is located in the accommodation groove 1212. The telescopic portion 1332 is telescopically connected to the first fixing portion 1331, and the telescopic portion 1332 can detachably hold the slider 132 under the action of the first fixing portion 1331.

[0050] First of all, the accommodation groove 1212 provides a suitable and stable installation position for the first fixing portion 1331 of the telescopic assembly 133, so that the telescopic assembly 133 is firmly installed in the accommodation groove 1212 and is not prone to displacement or shaking, thereby ensuring that it can play a stable and reliable role under various working conditions such as normal driving and collision of the vehicle.

[0051] Secondly, the telescopic portion 1332 that is telescopically connected to the first fixing portion 1331 enables the telescopic assembly 133 to have the ability to flexibly adjust under different working conditions. During normal driving, the telescopic portion 1332 maintains a stable holding effect on the slider 132, ensuring the stable relative position between the steering shaft 12 and the lower pipe fitting 11, and guaranteeing the precise control of the steering system. When the vehicle collides, the huge impact force will cause the telescopic portion 1332 to quickly retract, generating a relative displacement with the first fixing portion 1331, and then quickly releasing the constraint on the slider 132, enabling the slider 132 to promptly disengage from the groove 111 and trigger the collapse mechanism of the steering shaft 12 in the lower pipe fitting 11. This telescopic design not only meets the requirements for the structural stability of the steering column during normal driving but also can quickly respond in an emergency and dangerous situation, efficiently realizing the collapse and buffering function of the steering shaft 12, improving the safety factor of the driver in a collision accident, effectively reducing the possibility of the steering shaft 12 causing harm to the driver, and providing a reliable guarantee for the passive safety performance of the vehicle.

[0052] According to an embodiment of the present application, with reference to Figure 3 and Figure 8 , the vehicle steering column 10 further includes a pressure sensor 14 and a controller 15. The pressure sensor 14 is disposed on the inner wall of the lower pipe fitting 11 near the steering shaft 12 for sensing pressure. The controller 15 is electrically connected to the pressure sensor 14 and the telescopic assembly 133. The controller 15 is configured to: when the pressure sensor 14 detects that the pressure exceeds a preset value, control the telescopic assembly 133 to contract to release the holding of the slider 132, and the elastic member 131 contracts to enable the slider 132 to disengage from the groove 111, and the steering shaft 12 collapses in the lower pipe fitting 11.

[0053] In the embodiment of the present application, the pressure sensor 14 is disposed on the inner wall of the lower pipe fitting 11 near the steering shaft 12, and can sense in real time and accurately the pressure borne by the vehicle steering column 10 during vehicle driving. When the vehicle is driving normally, the pressure is within the normal range, and each component of the vehicle steering column 10 works in cooperation in the conventional state. Once the vehicle encounters a collision, the vehicle steering column 10 will instantaneously bear a pressure far exceeding the normal level. At this time, the pressure sensor 14 quickly captures the pressure change. When it detects that the pressure exceeds the preset value, it immediately transmits the pressure signal to the controller 15 electrically connected thereto.

[0054] After receiving the signal transmitted by the pressure sensor 14, the controller 15 quickly responds and accurately controls the telescopic assembly 133 to contract and release the locking of the slider 132. Since the telescopic assembly 133 no longer plays a role in locking the slider 132, the elastic member 131 originally in a stretched state quickly contracts, driving the slider 132 to disengage from the groove 111, and then prompting the steering shaft 12 to start to collapse in the lower pipe fitting 11. This design based on pressure sensing and intelligent control improves the timeliness and accuracy of triggering the collapse mechanism of the steering shaft 12. Compared with the traditional method of only relying on the collision impact force to passively trigger the collapse, this design can actively and quickly start the collapse program of the steering shaft 12 at the first moment of the collision, more effectively absorb the collision energy, greatly reduce the harm caused by the rigid impact of the steering shaft 12 on the driver during the collision, and significantly improve the safety guarantee of the driver in the collision accident. This intelligent design improves the overall performance and reliability of the vehicle steering column 10 and provides more reliable safety protection for the driver.

[0055] In some embodiments, there may be multiple pressure sensors 14, which are designed corresponding to multiple sets of locking assemblies 13 one by one.

[0056] According to an embodiment of the present application, referring to Figure 3 and Figure 6 , the vehicle steering column 10 further includes a buffer assembly 16. The buffer assembly 16 is disposed on the outer wall of the lower pipe fitting 11. The buffer assembly 16 includes a fixing plate 161, a buffer plate 162, a damper 163 and a buffer member 164. The fixing plate 161 is disposed on the outer wall of the lower pipe fitting 11; the buffer plate 162 is located on the side of the fixing plate 161 away from the lower pipe fitting 11; one end of the damper 163 is connected to the fixing plate 161, and the other end is connected to the buffer plate 162; the buffer member 164 is sleeved on the outer ring of the damper 163.

[0057] In the embodiment of the present application, the buffer assembly 16 includes a fixing plate 161, a buffer plate 162, a damper 163 and a buffer member 164.

[0058] Among them, the fixing plate 161 is installed on the outer wall of the lower pipe fitting 11, which plays a role in connecting and supporting other parts of the buffer assembly 16, making the entire buffer assembly 16 firmly connected to the lower pipe fitting 11 and capable of effectively transmitting and dispersing the force.

[0059] The buffer plate 162 is located on the side of the fixing plate 161 away from the lower pipe fitting 11. When the vehicle suffers a collision and generates an impact force, the buffer plate 162 can first come into contact with and bear part of the external force. And because there is a certain distance between it and the lower pipe fitting 11, it provides space for buffering and energy absorption.

[0060] One end of the damper 163 is connected to the fixing plate 161, and the other end is connected to the buffer plate 162. It can play a damping role at the moment of collision. When the buffer plate 162 moves towards the fixing plate 161 under the impact force, the damper 163, through its own damping characteristics, slows down the moving speed of the buffer plate 162, converts part of the kinetic energy into other forms of energy such as heat energy, thereby reducing the direct impact of the impact force on the lower pipe fitting 11 and the steering shaft 12.

[0061] The buffer member 164 is sleeved on the outer circle of the damper 163, further enhancing the buffering effect. It can absorb and disperse the energy not completely consumed by the damper 163, and during the buffering process, it plays a protective role for the damper 163 to prevent it from being damaged due to excessive impact force.

[0062] The presence of the buffer assembly 16 greatly improves the buffer energy absorption ability of the vehicle steering column 10. When the vehicle collides, it can greatly reduce the damage of the collision impact force to the steering column and the driver, further enhancing the safety guarantee of the driver. At the same time, due to reducing the direct action of the impact force on the steering column, it also helps to extend the service life of each component of the steering column, reduce the maintenance cost of the vehicle caused by collision, and improve the overall safety and reliability of the vehicle.

[0063] In some embodiments, the fixing plate 161 is detachably connected to the outer wall of the lower pipe fitting 11 by bolts and nuts. The fixing plate 161 is arc-shaped. The arc-shaped fixing plate 161 can closely fit the outer wall of the lower pipe fitting 11, increasing the contact area between the two, and improving the overall stability of the buffer assembly 16. And the fitting design helps to evenly disperse the force generated during the buffering process to the outer wall of the lower pipe fitting 11. The force is evenly transmitted along the circumferential direction of the lower pipe fitting 11, avoiding excessive stress on a local area of the lower pipe fitting 11, reducing the possibility of deformation or damage of the lower pipe fitting 11 due to uneven force, and being beneficial to protecting the structural integrity of the vehicle steering column 10.

[0064] In some embodiments, the buffer plate 162 is semi-circular and matches the structure of the vehicle steering column 10. The semi-circular buffer plate 162 can evenly disperse the impact force received in all directions. When the vehicle is involved in a collision, the impact force acts on the semi-circular buffer plate 162, and its arc-shaped structure enables the force to be gradually transmitted and diffused along the circumferential direction, avoiding the concentration of force at a certain point or area, thereby more effectively protecting the buffer plate 162 and the components connected thereto, and reducing the risk of local damage.

[0065] According to an embodiment of the present application, the buffer assembly 16 further includes a rubber member 165, and the rubber member 165 is disposed on the side of the buffer plate 162 away from the lower pipe fitting 11.

[0066] In the embodiment of the present application, when the vehicle is in motion, especially when a collision causes the buffer assembly 16 to come into play, the rubber member 165 is disposed on the side of the buffer plate 162 away from the lower pipe fitting 11, which can significantly reduce the adverse effects brought by friction. On the one hand, during the process of the buffer plate 162 moving towards the fixing plate 161 due to the applied force, the rubber member 165 can reduce the frictional resistance between the buffer plate 162 and the surrounding components or the environment. This makes the movement of the buffer plate 162 smoother, avoiding the influence of frictional jamming on the overall buffering performance of the buffer assembly 16, so as to ensure that the buffer plate 162 can effectively absorb and disperse the collision energy as designed. On the other hand, reducing friction also helps to reduce the degree of wear of the components. Long-term friction will cause damage to the surfaces of the components related to the buffer assembly 16, affecting their service life. The presence of the rubber member 165 reduces this wear, extends the service life of the components in the buffer assembly 16, and reduces the frequency and cost of vehicle maintenance and component replacement. The elastic property of the rubber member 165 can also assist the buffer assembly 16 in absorbing energy to a certain extent, enhancing the buffering effect, further improving the protection ability for the vehicle steering column 10, reducing the impact force transmitted from the steering column to the driver during a collision, and increasing the safety factor of the driver in a collision accident.

[0067] According to an embodiment of the present application, referring to Figure 3 and Figure 7 , the lower pipe fitting 11 is provided with a first positioning groove 112 penetrating the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting 11, and the steering shaft 12 is provided with a second positioning groove 113 corresponding to the first positioning groove 112; the vehicle steering column 10 further includes: a positioning assembly 17, disposed on the lower pipe fitting 11; the positioning assembly 17 includes: a lock core 171; a lock tongue 172 connected to the lock core 171, and the lock tongue 172 passes through the first positioning groove 112 and the second positioning groove 113 for locking the steering shaft 12 relative to the lower pipe fitting 11.

[0068] In the embodiment of the present application, a stable locking structure is formed by the cooperation of the first positioning groove 112 on the lower pipe fitting 11, the second positioning groove 113 on the steering shaft 12, and the locking tongue 172 in the positioning assembly 17. When the vehicle is in a non-use state, by operating the lock core 171 in the positioning assembly 17, the locking tongue 172 is inserted through the first positioning groove 112 and the second positioning groove 113, and the steering shaft 12 can be firmly locked relative to the lower pipe fitting 11, improving the anti-theft safety of the vehicle.

[0069] The positioning assembly 17 is easy to operate. The vehicle owner can lock and unlock the steering shaft 12 only by simply operating the lock core 171, which not only facilitates the daily use of the vehicle but also does not affect the flexible operation of the steering system during normal driving of the vehicle. This design significantly improves the safety performance of the vehicle without adding too many complex operations and costs, providing a more reliable and convenient vehicle use experience for the vehicle owner.

[0070] According to an embodiment of the present application, the positioning assembly 17 further includes a fixing sleeve 173 sleeved on the outer wall of the lower pipe fitting 11, and the lock core 171 is arranged in the fixing sleeve 173.

[0071] In the embodiment of the present application, the fixing sleeve 173 isolates the lock core 171 from the external environment, preventing impurities such as dust and water vapor from entering the interior of the lock core 171, avoiding jamming, rusting or damage of the lock core 171 caused by the accumulation of impurities, thereby extending the service life of the positioning assembly 17 and improving its reliability and stability. Further, the fixing sleeve 173 also enhances the firmness of the connection between the positioning assembly 17 and the lower pipe fitting 11, can evenly disperse the stress generated during the operation of the lock core 171 and the locking tongue 172, reduce the excessive stress on the local area of the lower pipe fitting 11 resulting in deformation or damage, and helps to maintain the overall structural integrity of the vehicle steering column 10, further improving the safety and durability of the vehicle.

[0072] The second aspect of the present application provides a vehicle, which includes a vehicle body, a steering wheel disposed on the vehicle body, and an automotive steering column 10 according to any one of the above connected to the steering wheel. At the moment of a vehicle collision, a huge impact force is transmitted to the automotive steering column 10. The locking assembly 13 in the automotive steering column 10 senses the collision, and the telescopic assembly 133 is separated from the slider 132. Since the telescopic assembly 133 no longer locks the slider 132, the elastic member 131 originally in a stretched state quickly contracts. The contraction of the elastic member 131 drives the connected slider 132 to disengage from the groove 111 on the inner side of the wall of the lower pipe fitting 11. At the same time, the steering shaft 12 starts to collapse in the lower pipe fitting 11. The collapse process of the steering shaft 12 can absorb a large amount of collision energy and play a buffering role. Through this design, the injury caused to the driver by the rigid impact of the steering shaft 12 during a collision is greatly reduced, and the safety guarantee of the driver in a collision accident is significantly improved. The present application adopts a simple mechanical linkage structure and uses the locking assembly 13 including the elastic member 131, the slider 132, and the telescopic assembly 133. Without a complex external energy absorption device, while optimizing the vehicle safety performance, it takes into account the lightweight design, and can reduce the production cost and maintenance difficulty.

[0073] In summary, in the present application, the automotive steering column 10 is set as the steering shaft 12 and the lower pipe fitting 11 sleeved together. An accommodation cavity 121 is provided on the steering shaft 12, and a locking assembly 13 is provided in the accommodation cavity 121. The locking assembly 13 includes an elastic member 131, a slider 132, and a telescopic assembly 133. The telescopic part 1332 of the telescopic assembly 133 blocks the slider 132 to prevent the slider 132 from contracting. Due to the blocking of the telescopic part 1332, the slider 132 is always located in the groove 111. When being strongly impacted externally, the pressure sensor 14 transmits a signal to the controller 15 of the vehicle control system. The controller 15 controls the telescopic part 1332 of the telescopic assembly 133 to contract. After the telescopic part 1332 contracts, the restriction and blocking of the convex block 1321 are released. The convex block 1321 releases the stop of the slider 132. The elastic member 131 restores its deformation and drives the slider 132 to contract. The slider 132 is separated from the groove 111, and the connection between the steering shaft 12 and the lower pipe fitting 11 is disconnected. The entire steering shaft 12 collapses in the lower pipe fitting 11, playing a role in buffering the force, thereby reducing the injury caused to the driver by the rigid structure of the steering shaft 12 due to the collision and improving the safety. By providing a buffer assembly 16, the impact is buffered to reduce the damage to the lower pipe fitting 11. By providing a positioning assembly 17, when not in use, the steering shaft 12 and the lower pipe fitting 11 are locked by the locking tongue 172 to position and prevent theft of the steering shaft 12.

[0074] The above are only the implementation manners of this application, and do not thus limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structure or equivalent process transformation made by using the content of the specification and drawings of this application, or directly or indirectly applied in other related technical fields, shall similarly be included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An automotive steering column, characterized in that, Comprising: A lower pipe fitting, wherein a groove is provided on the inner side of the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting; A steering shaft, which is slidably sleeved in the lower pipe fitting, and an accommodating cavity with an opening is provided on the surface of the steering shaft; At least one set of locking components, including an elastic member, a slider and a telescopic component. The elastic member is arranged in the accommodating cavity, one end of the elastic member is fixed in the accommodating cavity, and the other end is connected to the slider. The telescopic component is located at the opening of the accommodating cavity and detachably clamps the slider to control the elastic member to be in a stretched state. In the case where the elastic member is in a stretched state, the slider is located in the groove.

2. The vehicle steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that, A convex block is provided on the surface of the slider. In the case where the elastic member is in a stretched state, the telescopic component abuts against the side of the convex block facing the elastic member.

3. The vehicle steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle steering column includes two sets of locking components. The accommodating cavity is a through hole radially penetrating the steering shaft. A second fixing portion is provided in the through hole. One set of the locking components is located on one side of the second fixing portion, and its elastic member is fixed on one side of the second fixing portion. The other set of the locking components is located on the other side of the second fixing portion, and its elastic member is fixed on the other side of the second fixing portion.

4. The vehicle steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle steering column includes at least two sets of locking components. The steering shaft includes at least two accommodating cavities. The locking components and the accommodating cavities correspond one by one. The accommodating cavity is a blind hole opened on the surface of the steering shaft, and the elastic member is connected between the bottom wall of the blind hole and the slider.

5. The vehicle steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that, The groove is an annular groove around the central axis of the lower pipe fitting, or at least two grooves are provided on the inner side of the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting. The vehicle steering column includes at least two sets of locking components, and the grooves and the locking components correspond one by one.

6. The automotive steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that, An accommodating groove is provided in a region of the side wall of the accommodating cavity close to the opening. The telescopic component is located in the accommodating groove. The telescopic component includes a first fixing portion fixed in the accommodating groove and a telescopic portion telescopically connected to the first fixing portion.

7. The automotive steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that, Further comprising: A pressure sensor, which is arranged on the inner wall of the lower pipe fitting close to the steering shaft side for sensing pressure; A controller, which is electrically connected to the pressure sensor and the telescopic component. The controller is configured to: when the pressure sensor detects that the pressure exceeds a preset value, control the telescopic component to contract to release the clamping of the slider, the elastic member contracts so that the slider disengages from the groove, and the steering shaft collapses in the lower pipe fitting.

8. The automotive steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vehicle steering column further includes: A buffer assembly, which is arranged on the outer wall of the lower pipe fitting. The buffer assembly includes: A fixing plate, which is arranged on the outer wall of the lower pipe fitting; A buffer plate, which is located on the side of the fixing plate away from the lower pipe fitting; A damper, one end of which is connected to the fixing plate and the other end is connected to the buffer plate; A buffer member, which is sleeved on the outer ring of the damper.

9. The automotive steering column according to claim 8, characterized in that, The buffer assembly further includes: a rubber member, which is arranged on the side of the buffer plate away from the lower pipe fitting.

10. The vehicle steering column according to claim 1, wherein The lower pipe fitting is provided with a first positioning groove penetrating through the pipe wall of the lower pipe fitting, and the steering shaft is provided with a second positioning groove corresponding to the first positioning groove; The vehicle steering column further includes: a positioning assembly disposed on the lower pipe fitting; the positioning assembly includes: a lock core; a lock tongue connected to the lock core, the lock tongue passing through the first positioning groove and the second positioning groove for locking the steering shaft relative to the lower pipe fitting.

11. The automotive steering column according to claim 10, characterized in that, The positioning assembly further includes: a fixing sleeve sleeved on the outer wall of the lower pipe fitting, and the lock core is disposed on the fixing sleeve.

12. A vehicle, characterized in that, a vehicle body, a steering wheel disposed on the vehicle body, and a vehicle steering column as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 and connected to the steering wheel.

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