Steering-by-wire system for vehicle

Abstract

The invention provides a steer-by-wire system for a vehicle, the steer-by-wire system comprises an inner tubular column and an outer tubular column, the first end of the inner tubular column is connected with a steering wheel of the vehicle, the second end of the inner tubular column is arranged in the outer tubular column in a penetrating manner from the first end of the outer tubular column, and the second end of the inner tubular column stretches out and draws back in the length direction of the outer tubular column; a conductive sliding rail used for being electrically connected with a power supply of a vehicle is arranged on the inner wall of the outer tubular column in the length direction of the outer tubular column, a wiring terminal used for being electrically connected with a first electronic device of the vehicle is arranged on the inner tubular column, and the wiring terminal is slidably connected to the conductive sliding rail so that when the inner tubular column stretches out and draws back relative to the outer tubular column, the wiring terminal can be electrically connected with the first electronic device of the vehicle. The first electronic device is electrically connected with the power supply. According to the steer-by-wire system, the power supply unit and the power utilization unit on the inner tubular column are connected in the mode that the wiring terminal is matched with the conductive sliding rail, and the reliability of vehicle power supply is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to vehicle technology, and particularly to a steer-by-wire system for a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] With the rapid development of China's automobile industry and the continuous progress and improvement of automobile functions, the steering method of automobiles has gradually evolved from electric power steering (EPS) to steer-by-wire (SBW). Compared with the traditional mechanical steering system, the steer-by-wire system eliminates the mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steering wheel, and completely realizes the steering control of the automobile by the electronic control unit (ECU), which brings greater space for the design of the automobile steering space and is a major innovation in automobile steering technology.

[0003] The steer-by-wire system generally includes a steering column, which is composed of an outer column and an inner column. The inner column is used to connect to the steering wheel. The outer column is fixed relative to the whole vehicle, and the inner column can telescopically move relative to the outer column to adjust the front and rear positions of the steering wheel. And some necessary electrical units will be arranged on the inner column. Considering factors such as safety, the power supply of the vehicle is stationary relative to the whole vehicle. Then how to realize the electrical connection between the electrical units on the inner column and the power supply of the vehicle is a technical problem to be solved urgently.

[0004] In the prior art, traditional wiring harnesses are used to connect the electrical units to the power supply. In this way, problems such as winding, extrusion, and breakage of the connecting wires occur as the inner column moves. Especially for relatively thick connecting wires, it is easier to cause breakage accidents, affecting the reliability of the vehicle's power supply. Summary of the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to overcome at least one defect in the prior art and provide a steer-by-wire system for a vehicle.

[0006] A further object of the present invention is to reduce the connecting wires between the electrical units and the power supply and improve the reliability of the vehicle's power supply.

[0007] Another further object of the present invention is to realize separate power supply for strong and weak electricity, further reducing the influence between strong and weak electricity during the power supply process and improving the stability of each power supply.

[0008] In particular, the present invention provides a steer-by-wire system for a vehicle. The steer-by-wire system includes an inner column and an outer column. The first end of the inner column is connected to the vehicle's steering wheel. The second end of the inner column passes through the first end of the outer column and is disposed inside the outer column, and can telescopically move along the length direction of the outer column. A conductive slide rail for electrically connecting to the vehicle's power supply is disposed on the inner wall of the outer column along its length direction. A wiring terminal for electrically connecting to the vehicle's first electronic device is disposed on the inner column. The wiring terminal is slidably connected to the conductive slide rail so that when the inner column telescopically moves relative to the outer column, the first electronic device remains electrically connected to the power supply.

[0009] Optionally, the wiring terminal includes: a main body member fixedly connected to the inner column; a wire harness plug-in member disposed on the main body member, which has at least one socket for plugging in a wire harness; at least one sliding contact disposed on the side of the main body member facing the conductive slide rail. The sliding contacts are electrically connected to the sockets in a one-to-one correspondence, and each sliding contact is slidably connected to the conductive slide rail.

[0010] Optionally, the sliding contact is configured as a carbon brush.

[0011] Optionally, the conductive slide rail has at least one conductive chute, and the conductive chutes correspond to the sliding contacts in a one-to-one correspondence.

[0012] Optionally, at least a part of the inner wall of the outer column is configured as an insulating wall surface; and the conductive slide rail is disposed on the insulating wall surface.

[0013] Optionally, a second electronic device is further arranged inside the inner column. The second electronic device extends out from the second end of the inner column through a connecting wire and is connected to a target object fixed on the outer column. The steer-by-wire system further includes: a wire harness storage device disposed inside the outer column, which is used to store or release part of the connecting wire when the inner column telescopically moves relative to the outer column.

[0014] Optionally, the electronic device is an electronic controller; the connecting wire is a signal wire, and the signal wire is a flexible flat cable having multiple strands of wires.

[0015] Optionally, the steer-by-wire system further includes: a plug-in assembly fixedly disposed at the second end of the outer column and electrically connected to the conductive slide rail, which is used to electrically connect the vehicle's power supply to the conductive slide rail; and the plug-in assembly is further connected to the second end of the connecting wire, which is used to electrically connect the vehicle's power supply to the second electronic device.

[0016] Optionally, the wire harness storage device further includes: a slide rail, the first end of which is fixed to the second end of the outer pipe column and extends toward the first end of the outer pipe column; a plurality of sliding seats for constraining the connecting wire at different positions in the length direction of the connecting wire, and the plurality of sliding seats are arranged in sequence along the length direction of the slide rail and are all slidably connected to the slide rail, so as to fold or unfold the connecting wire by adjusting the distance between the sliding seats, thereby realizing the storage or release of the connecting wire.

[0017] Optionally, the wire harness storage device further includes: a fixed seat fixed to the first end of the slide rail to constrain the connecting wire at the first end of the slide rail.

[0018] Optionally, the inside of the slide rail has a chute extending along its length direction; each sliding seat includes: a sliding part slidably disposed in the chute; a clamping part connected to the sliding part and disposed outside the chute for constraining the connecting wire; a plurality of roller parts evenly arranged on both sides of the sliding part along the length direction of the chute, and each roller part can roll along the chute to reduce the friction between the sliding part and the chute.

[0019] Optionally, at least a partial section of the slide rail near its second end extends into the inner pipe column; the sliding seat closest to the second end of the slide rail is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the inner pipe column. When the inner pipe column retracts relative to the outer pipe column, the sliding seat fixed to the inner pipe column causes the other sliding seats to move, so as to reduce the distance between the sliding seats, and further fold the connecting wire.

[0020] Optionally, the slide rail further has an avoidance hole communicating with the chute, so that the sliding seat closest to the second end of the slide rail can extend out of the chute through the avoidance hole and be fixedly connected to the inner pipe column.

[0021] Optionally, the wall surface of the inner pipe column further has a limit hole, and the limit hole cooperates with the slide rail to limit the stroke and trajectory of the slide rail.

[0022] Optionally, a limiting part is formed in the inner pipe column within the limit hole, and the limiting part cooperates with the avoidance hole to further limit the stroke and trajectory of the slide rail.

[0023] For the steer-by-wire system of the present invention, since the first end of the inner column is used to connect to the steering wheel, the second end of the inner column passes through the first end of the outer column and is disposed inside the outer column, and can telescopically move along the length direction of the outer column. A conductive slide rail for electrically connecting to the vehicle's power supply is disposed on the inner wall of the outer column along its length direction. A wiring terminal for electrically connecting to the vehicle's electrical unit is disposed on the inner column. The wiring terminal is slidably connected to the conductive slide rail. When the inner column telescopically moves relative to the outer column, the wiring terminal can slide along with the inner column and maintain sliding contact with the conductive slide rail on the outer column, ensuring that the wiring terminal and the conductive slide rail are always electrically connected, and further realizing that the electrical unit and the power supply are always electrically connected. This not only provides stable connection, but also reduces the connection wires between the electrical unit and the power supply, avoiding problems such as entanglement, extrusion, and breakage of the connection wires, and improving the reliability of vehicle power supply.

[0024] Furthermore, for the steer-by-wire system of the present invention, since the first electronic device disposed on the inner column is powered by the cooperation of the wiring terminal and the conductive slide rail, the second electronic device disposed on the inner column can be powered by a connecting wire, and a wire harness storage device is used to arrange and regularize the connecting wire. That is, the steer-by-wire system uses two different power supply methods. This not only solves the technical problem in the prior art that multiple wire harnesses may be entangled when stored together, avoids the mutual influence of wire harnesses, but also can realize separate power supply for strong and weak electricity, further reducing the influence between strong and weak electricity during the power supply process and improving the stability of each power supply.

[0025] Based on the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the drawings, those skilled in the art will more clearly understand the above and other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Some specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings in an exemplary but non-limiting manner. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar components or parts. Those skilled in the art should understand that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of the principle of a steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the installation relationship between the inner column and the outer column in a steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the power supply structure of a steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0030] Figure 4Schematic diagram of the power supply structure of a steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0031] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of a wiring terminal in a steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of a signal wire storage structure in a steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 ;

[0033] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of a signal wire storage structure in a steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 ;

[0034] Figure 8 Exploded view of a sliding seat in a steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed implementation manners

[0035] In the following description, the descriptions referring to terms such as "an embodiment", "some embodiments", "schematic embodiments", "examples", "specific examples", or "some examples" etc. mean that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic descriptions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples.

[0036] Unless otherwise clearly specified and defined, terms such as "installation", "connection", "coupling", "fixation" etc. should be understood in a broad sense. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or integrated; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, and it can be the internal communication of two components or the interaction relationship between two components, unless otherwise clearly defined. Those of ordinary skill in the art should be able to understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention according to specific situations.

[0037] Unless otherwise limited, all terms (including technical terms and scientific terms) used in the description of this embodiment have the same meanings as those commonly understood by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which this application belongs.

[0038] See Figure 1 , Figure 1It is a schematic block diagram of a steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present invention provides a steer-by-wire system for a vehicle, which can be used to achieve vehicle control steering. Generally, the steer-by-wire system may include a steering column 100, an electronic controller 200 (Electronic Control Unit, ECU controller), a steering motor 300, and a rotation actuator 400. The steering column 100 is connected to the steering wheel 1. The electronic controller 200 is configured to receive the detected angle signal of the steering column 100 and send a steering command to the steering motor 300 according to the angle signal. After receiving the steering command, the steering motor 300 outputs steering power to the rotation actuator 400. The rotation actuator 400 converts the steering power into a corresponding steering torque to drive the tire 2 to turn.

[0039] See Figure 2 , Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the installation relationship between the inner column 120 and the outer column 110 in the steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Further, the steering column 100 may further include an outer column 110 and an inner column 120. The first end of the inner column 120 is used to connect to the steering wheel 1. The second end of the inner column 120 passes through the first end of the outer column 110 and is disposed inside the outer column 110, and can be telescoped along the length direction of the outer column 110. By telescoping the inner column 120 inside the outer column 110, the steering wheel 1 can be adjusted forward and backward. Specifically, the inner column 120 can be driven to telescope inside the outer column 110 by a motion motor installed on the inner column 120.

[0040] Further, the steer-by-wire system may further include a road feel motor for outputting road feel power to the steering wheel to provide steering feel feedback to the driver. In some specific embodiments, the road feel motor can be installed at the first end of the inner column 120, and the steering wheel is connected to the road feel motor. That is to say, the inner column 120 is indirectly connected to the steering wheel 1 through the road feel motor. In some other specific embodiments, the first end of the inner column 120 is directly connected to the steering wheel 1, and the road feel motor can be disposed at the second end of the inner column 120. In some further embodiments, the road feel motor can also be disposed inside the inner column 120.

[0041] Generally, some electronic devices (such as the above-mentioned road feel motor, electronic controller 200, etc.) can be arranged on the inner column 120 to make full use of the space and improve the compactness of the structure.

[0042] For a vehicle, due to considerations such as safety, the power supply (or power supply socket) of the vehicle should be stationary relative to the entire vehicle, while the inner column 120 is telescopic relative to the outer column 110 (the outer column 110 is stationary relative to the entire vehicle). Therefore, the inner column 120 is also movable relative to the vehicle's power supply. When the electronic devices provided on the inner column 120 are connected to the vehicle's power supply by connecting wires, the connecting wires will stretch, bend, or fold as the inner column 120 moves. When there are multiple connecting wires, problems such as entanglement and pulling between the multiple connecting wires often occur, and in severe cases, accidents such as the connecting wires becoming knotted or breaking may also occur. The present invention provides a new solution to reduce the probability of the above problems.

[0043] See Figures 2 to 5 , Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the power supply structure of a steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 , Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the power supply structure of a steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 , Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the wiring terminal 520 in a steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] In some embodiments, a conductive slide rail 510 for electrically connecting to the vehicle's power supply is provided along the length direction on the inner wall of the outer column 110, and a wiring terminal 520 for electrically connecting to the first electronic device of the vehicle is provided on the inner column 120. The wiring terminal 520 is slidably connected to the conductive slide rail 510 so that when the inner column 120 telescopes relative to the outer column 110, the power-consuming unit and the first electronic device remain electrically connected.

[0045] The conductive slide rail 510 can be provided on the inner wall of the outer column 110, and one end in its length direction can be electrically connected to the vehicle's power supply so that the entire conductive slide rail 510 is energized. The wiring terminal 520 can be provided on the outer wall of the inner column 120, and the first electronic device provided on the inner column 120 can be electrically connected to the wiring terminal 520 through a wire harness 710.

[0046] When the inner column 120 telescopes relative to the outer column 110, the wiring terminal 520 moves with the inner column 120, and at the same time, the wiring terminal 520 maintains sliding contact with the conductive slide rail 510 on the outer column 110, ensuring that the wiring terminal 520 and the conductive slide rail 510 always remain electrically connected. Furthermore, the first electronic device on the inner column 120 and the power supply can always remain electrically connected. This not only provides stable connection but also directly eliminates the connecting wire between the first electronic device and the power supply, reduces the number of wire harnesses between the inner column 120 and the outer column 110, reduces the probability of situations such as the connecting wires becoming entangled, squeezed, or broken, and improves the reliability of vehicle power supply.

[0047] It should be noted that the power supply of the vehicle usually includes a power supply and a control power supply. When the first electronic device disposed in the inner pipe column 120 requires a power supply and / or a control power supply, correspondingly, the vehicle's power supply provides the power supply and / or the control power supply to the conductive slide rail 510.

[0048] In addition, this power supply method of the present embodiment is particularly applicable to the case of delivering a power supply. Generally speaking, when delivering a power supply, the current is large. If a connecting wire is used for delivery, a thicker connecting wire is required, which is more likely to cause a breakage accident. When the sliding type of delivering a power supply of the present embodiment is adopted, such a thicker connecting wire can be eliminated, completely preventing the accident of the thicker connecting wire being broken.

[0049] Furthermore, the wiring terminal 520 may further include a main body member 522, a wire harness plug-in member 524, and at least one sliding contact 526. The main body member 522 is fixedly connected to the inner pipe column 120. The wire harness plug-in member 524 is disposed on the main body member 522. The wire harness plug-in member 524 has at least one insertion port 524a for inserting a wire harness. At least one sliding contact 526 is disposed on one side of the main body member 522 facing the conductive slide rail 510. The sliding contact 526 is electrically connected to the insertion port 524a in one-to-one correspondence, and each sliding contact 526 is slidably connected to the conductive slide rail 510.

[0050] The inner pipe column 120 may be configured as a hollow structure, and its interior can be used to accommodate the first electronic device. An installation hole (not shown in the figure) may be formed on the side wall of the inner pipe column 120. The main body member 522 can be fixed at the installation hole by a fastener so that one side faces the inner wall of the outer pipe column 110 and the other side faces the interior of the inner pipe column 120.

[0051] The wire harness plug-in member 524 may be disposed on one side of the main body member 522 facing the interior of the inner pipe column 120 so that the wire harness 710 of the first electronic device disposed in the inner pipe column 120 can be inserted into the insertion port 524a of the wire harness plug-in member 524.

[0052] The sliding contact 526 can be a carbon brush, which can be disposed on one side of the main body member 522 facing the conductive slide rail 510 so as to be slidably connected to the conductive slide rail 510. The number and position of the sliding contacts 526 correspond to the number and position of the insertion ports 524a in one-to-one correspondence and are electrically connected in one-to-one correspondence.

[0053] The conductive slide rail 510 has at least one conductive chute 512, and the conductive chute 512 corresponds to the sliding contact 526 in one-to-one correspondence. In this way, when each sliding contact 526 can be electrically connected to its corresponding conductive chute 512, corresponding power supply is achieved.

[0054] It should be noted that when there are multiple insertion ports 524a of the wire harness connector 524, the multiple insertion ports 524a can be used to insert the wire harnesses 710 of different first electronic devices, or can also be used to insert multiple phase lines of the same first electronic device. For example, when the first electronic device uses a six-phase power supply, six phase lines are required, and then the corresponding insertion ports 524a, sliding contacts 526, and conductive chutes 512 are respectively set to six, and the power supply can provide a six-phase power supply to the six conductive chutes 512.

[0055] See Figures 2 to 4 , in some embodiments, at least a part of the inner wall of the outer pipe column 110 is provided as an insulating wall surface 114a, and the conductive slide rail 510 is arranged on the insulating wall surface 114a.

[0056] Specifically, the outer pipe column 110 can be composed of a main body column shell 112 and an insulating column shell 114. The side of the main body column shell 112 is open. The insulating column shell 114 is made of an insulating material and is installed at the open mouth of the main body column shell 112 by means of clamping, fasteners, etc. The inner surface of the insulating column shell 114 serves as the insulating wall surface 114a, and the conductive slide rail 510 is arranged on the inner surface of the insulating column shell 114.

[0057] In some embodiments, a second electronic device can also be arranged inside the inner pipe column 120. The second electronic device extends out from the second end of the inner pipe column 120 through the connecting wire 700 and is connected to a target object fixed on the outer pipe column 110.

[0058] In some specific embodiments, the second electronic device can be an electronic controller 200, and the connecting wire 700 can be a signal wire. The signal wire can be a flexible flat cable with multiple strands of wires, and its material is soft and easy to bend and store. The first end of the signal wire is connected to the electronic controller 200, and the second end can be connected to a target object fixed on the outer pipe column 110. The target object can be a power supply (control power supply).

[0059] Furthermore, the steer-by-wire system can further include a wire harness storage device, and the wire harness storage device can be arranged inside the outer pipe column 110. When the inner pipe column 120 expands and contracts relative to the outer pipe column 110, the wire harness storage device can be used to store or release part of the connecting wire 700.

[0060] Since the target object is arranged on the outer pipe column 110, and the second electronic device is arranged inside the inner pipe column 120, when the inner pipe column 120 expands and contracts relative to the outer pipe column 110, the connecting wire 700 will be stretched or bent and folded along with the movement of the inner pipe column 120, and thus situations such as entanglement and knotting may occur.

[0061] The wire harness storage device is arranged inside the outer pipe column 110. When the inner pipe column 120 expands and contracts relative to the outer pipe column 110, the wire harness storage device can be used to store or release part of the connecting wire 700 to regularize the connecting wire 700 and avoid problems such as the connecting wire 700 being wound or pulled by itself.

[0062] It can be seen that in the steer-by-wire system of this embodiment, since the first electronic device arranged on the inner pipe column 120 is powered by the cooperation of the wiring terminal 520 and the conductive slide rail 510, the second electronic device arranged on the inner pipe column 120 can be powered by the connecting wire 700, and the wire harness storage device is used to sort and regularize the connecting wire 700. That is to say, the steer-by-wire system of this embodiment adopts two different power supply methods. This not only solves the technical problem that multiple wire harnesses may be wound together in the prior art, avoids the mutual influence of the wire harnesses, but also can realize separate power supply for strong and weak electricity, further reducing the interference between strong and weak electricity during the power supply process and improving the stability of each power supply.

[0063] In some specific embodiments, the wire harness storage device may include a winding roller. The winding roller is arranged on the outer pipe column 110 and winds the connecting wire 700 around the winding roller. When the inner pipe column 120 extends relative to the outer pipe column 110, the second electronic device pulls the signal wire to pull out the connecting wire 700 wound around the winding roller, realizing the release of the connecting wire 700.

[0064] Furthermore, the wire harness storage device may further be configured with a reset member (such as a torsion spring). The reset member can be configured to deform while the connecting wire 700 on the winding roller is pulled out and generate an elastic restoring force. When the inner pipe column 120 retracts relative to the outer pipe column 110, the pulling force of the second electronic device on the connecting wire 700 disappears, and the winding roller can rotate in the winding direction under the action of the elastic restoring force to wind the connecting wire 700 around the winding roller, realizing the storage of the connecting wire 700.

[0065] See Figure 3 、 Figure 4 and Figures 6 to 8 , Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of the signal wire storage structure in the steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 1 , Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the signal wire storage structure in the steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 2 , Figure 8 is an exploded view of the sliding seat 820 in the steer-by-wire system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0066] In some other specific embodiments, the wire harness storage device may further include a slide rail 810 and a plurality of sliding seats 820. The first end of the slide rail 810 is fixed to the second end of the outer pipe column 110 and extends in a direction close to the first end of the outer pipe column 110. The plurality of sliding seats 820 are used to constrain the connection wire 700 at different positions in the length direction of the connection wire 700, and the plurality of sliding seats 820 are arranged in sequence along the length direction of the slide rail 810 and are all slidably connected to the slide rail 810, so as to fold or unfold the connection wire 700 by adjusting the distance between the sliding seats 820, so as to realize the storage or release of the signal wire.

[0067] That is to say, when the inner pipe column 120 makes a retracting movement, the plurality of sliding seats 820 approach each other along the slide rail 810, so that the plurality of sliding seats 820 can drive the signal wire to contract, realizing the sequential folding of the connection wire and avoiding problems such as winding and extrusion of the redundant connection wire 700.

[0068] When the inner pipe column 120 makes an extending movement, the connection wire 700 can drive the plurality of sliding seats 820 to move away from each other along the slide rail 810, so that the connection wire 700 unfolds accordingly to adapt to the distance between the electronic controller 200 and the target object.

[0069] Further, the wire harness storage device may further include a fixing seat 830, and the fixing seat 830 is fixed to the first end of the slide rail 810 to constrain the connection wire 700 at the first end of the slide rail 810, and the fixing seat 830 can also play a role in constraining the sliding trajectories of the plurality of sliding seats 820 to prevent the plurality of sliding seats 820 from detaching from the slide rail 810.

[0070] Further, the inside of the slide rail 810 has a chute 812 extending along its length direction. Each sliding seat 820 may further include a sliding portion 822, a clamping portion 824, and a plurality of roller portions 826.

[0071] The sliding portion 822 is slidably disposed in the chute 812, the clamping portion 824 is connected to the sliding portion 822 and is disposed outside the chute 812 for constraining the connection wire 700. The plurality of roller portions 826 are evenly arranged on both sides of the sliding portion 822 along the length direction of the chute 812, and each roller portion 826 can roll along the chute 812 to reduce the friction between the sliding portion 822 and the chute 812, so that the sliding portion 822 slides more smoothly in the chute 812.

[0072] The shape of the sliding portion 822 is set to match the contour of the chute 812. An opening is provided along the length direction below the chute 812, and the clamping portion 824 and the sliding portion 822 can be connected at the opening.

[0073] The clamping portion 824 may further include an upper clamping plate 824a and a lower clamping plate 824b. The upper clamping plate 824a may be directly connected to the sliding portion 822. The upper clamping plate 824a and the lower clamping plate 824b may be connected by fasteners, and a gap for the connecting wire 700 to pass through and for clamping the connecting wire 700 may be formed between the upper clamping plate 824a and the lower clamping plate 824b. The lower clamping plate 824b may also be set to a curved surface type to fit the connecting wire 700, increase the bending radius of the connecting wire 700, and prevent the connecting wire 700 from being excessively bent.

[0074] In addition, the structure of the fixed seat 830 may be similar to that of the sliding seat 820. Since the fixed seat 830 is fixed to the slide rail 810 and is used to restrain the connecting wire 700, when the fixed seat 830 adopts a structure similar to that of the sliding seat 820, its sliding portion can be directly fixed on the slide rail 810 by fasteners, and the roller portion is cancelled.

[0075] Further, at least a partial section of the slide rail 810 near its second end extends into the inner pipe column 120. The sliding seat 820 closest to the second end of the slide rail 810 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the inner pipe column 120. When the inner pipe column 120 retracts relative to the outer pipe column 110, the sliding seat 820 fixed to the inner pipe column 120 urges the remaining sliding seats 820 to move, so as to reduce the distance between the sliding seats 820, and further fold the connecting wire 700.

[0076] That is to say, when the inner pipe column 120 retracts relative to the outer pipe column 110, the sliding seat 820 closest to the second end of the slide rail 810 also slides accordingly, drives the connecting wire 700 to move towards the adjacent sliding seat 820, and then after the two come into contact, pushes the middle sliding seat 820 to move, and so on, finally making the multiple sliding seats 820 approach each other to realize folding of the connecting wire 700.

[0077] Further, the slide rail 810 also has an avoidance hole 814 communicated with the chute 812, so that the sliding seat 820 closest to the second end of the slide rail 810 can extend out of the chute 812 through the avoidance hole 814, thereby facilitating the fixed connection with the inner pipe column 120.

[0078] Further, the wall surface of the inner pipe column 120 also has a limit hole 122, and the limit hole 122 cooperates with the slide rail 810 to limit the stroke and trajectory of the slide rail 810, and further limit the stroke and trajectory of the inner pipe column 120.

[0079] Further, a limit portion 124 is formed in the inner pipe column 120 within the limit hole 122, and the limit portion 124 cooperates with the avoidance hole 814 to further limit the stroke and trajectory of the slide rail 810.

[0080] See Figure 3 and Figure 4, in some embodiments, the steer-by-wire system may further include a plug-in assembly 600. The plug-in assembly 600 is fixedly disposed at the second end of the outer column 110 and is electrically connected to the conductive slide rail 510 to electrically connect the power supply to the conductive slide rail 510, making the entire conductive slide rail 510 energized, so as to facilitate power supply to the first electronic device through the wiring terminal 520.

[0081] In addition, the second end of the connection line 700 is also electrically connected to the plug-in assembly 600 to electrically connect the vehicle power supply to the second electronic device. An interface may be provided on the plug-in assembly 600, and the second end of the connection line 700 can be plugged into the interface to achieve the connection.

[0082] Furthermore, since the plug-in assembly 600 is fixedly disposed at the second end of the outer column 110 and the first end of the slide rail 810 is also fixed to the second end of the outer column 110, the first end of the slide rail 810 can be disposed on the plug-in assembly 600, that is, the first end of the slide rail 810 can be indirectly fixed to the second end of the outer column 110 through the plug-in assembly 600, thus shortening the distance between the second end of the connection line 700 and the plug-in assembly 600 and facilitating the connection between the two.

[0083] At this point, those skilled in the art should recognize that although multiple exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications that conform to the principles of the present invention can still be directly determined or derived from the content disclosed in the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be understood and determined to cover all these other variations or modifications.

Claims

1. A steer-by-wire system for a vehicle, the steer-by-wire system comprising an inner column and an outer column, a first end of the inner column being connected to a steering wheel of the vehicle, a second end of the inner column passing through a first end of the outer column and extending inside the outer column, and being telescopable along the length direction of the outer column; A conductive slide rail for electrically connecting to a power supply of the vehicle is disposed on an inner wall of the outer column along its length direction, a wiring terminal for electrically connecting to a first electronic device of the vehicle is disposed on the inner column, and the wiring terminal is slidably connected to the conductive slide rail so that when the inner column telescopes relative to the outer column, the first electronic device remains electrically connected to the power supply.

2. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein, The wiring terminal includes: A main body member fixedly connected to the inner column; A wire harness connector disposed on the main body member, which has at least one socket for plugging in a wire harness; At least one sliding contact disposed on a side of the main body member facing the conductive slide rail, the sliding contact being electrically connected to the socket in one-to-one correspondence, and each sliding contact being slidably connected to the conductive slide rail.

3. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 2, wherein, The sliding contact is configured as a carbon brush.

4. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 2, wherein, The conductive slide rail has at least one conductive chute, and the conductive chute corresponds to the sliding contact in one-to-one.

5. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein, At least a part of the inner wall of the outer column is configured as an insulating wall surface; and, The conductive slide rail is disposed on the insulating wall surface.

6. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 1, wherein, A second electronic device is further arranged inside the inner column, and the second electronic device is connected to a target object fixed on the outer column after extending out from a second end of the inner column through a connecting wire; The steer-by-wire system further includes: A wire harness storage device disposed inside the outer column for storing or releasing part of the connecting wire when the inner column telescopes relative to the outer column.

7. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 6, wherein, The electronic device is an electronic controller; The connecting wire is a signal wire, and the signal wire is a flexible flat cable having a plurality of strands of wires.

8. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 6, further including: A plugging assembly fixedly disposed at a second end of the outer column and electrically connected to the conductive slide rail for electrically connecting the power supply of the vehicle to the conductive slide rail; and, The plugging assembly is further connected to a second end of the connecting wire for electrically connecting the power supply of the vehicle to the second electronic device.

9. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 6, wherein, The wire harness storage device further includes: A slide rail, a first end of which is fixed to a second end of the outer column and extends toward a first end of the outer column; A plurality of sliding seats are used to constrain the connecting line at different positions in the length direction of the connecting line, and the plurality of sliding seats are arranged in sequence along the length direction of the slide rail and are all slidably connected to the slide rail, so that by adjusting the distance between the sliding seats, the connecting line can be folded or unfolded to realize the storage or release of the connecting line.

10. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 9, wherein, The wire harness storage device further includes: a fixed seat fixed to the first end of the slide rail to constrain the connecting line at the first end of the slide rail.

11. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 9, wherein, The inside of the slide rail has a chute extending along its length direction; Each of the sliding seats includes: A sliding part, which is slidably arranged in the chute; A clamping part, connected to the sliding part and arranged outside the chute for constraining the connecting line; A plurality of roller parts, the plurality of roller parts are evenly arranged on both sides of the sliding part along the length direction of the chute, and each roller part can roll along the chute to reduce the friction between the sliding part and the chute.

12. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 11, wherein, At least a part of the section of the slide rail near its second end extends into the inner pipe column; The sliding seat closest to the second end of the slide rail is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the inner pipe column. When the inner pipe column retracts relative to the outer pipe column, the sliding seat fixed to the inner pipe column causes the remaining sliding seats to move, so as to reduce the distance between the sliding seats, and further fold the connecting line.

13. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 12, wherein, The slide rail also has an avoidance hole communicated with the chute, so that the sliding seat closest to the second end of the slide rail can extend out of the chute through the avoidance hole and be fixedly connected to the inner pipe column.

14. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 13, wherein, The wall surface of the inner pipe column also has a limit hole, and the limit hole cooperates with the slide rail to define the stroke and track of the slide rail.

15. The steer-by-wire system according to claim 14, wherein, The inner pipe column forms a limiting part in the limit hole, and the limiting part cooperates with the avoidance hole to further define the stroke and track of the slide rail.

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