Steer-by-wire column, steer-by-wire system and vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a steer-by-wire column, a steer-by-wire system and a vehicle, the steer-by-wire column comprising a steering column, a feedback actuator, a controller and an angle limiting mechanism, the steering column comprising a column housing and a column shaft rotatably arranged in the column housing, a first end of the column shaft being configured to be connected to a steering wheel; an output shaft of the feedback actuator being drivingly connected to the column shaft, the column housing being mounted on an end face of the feedback actuator; the controller being connected to the feedback actuator and a steering gear of the vehicle respectively; the angle limiting mechanism comprising a guide arranged in the column housing, a cover arranged on the column housing and a limiting pin, the guide being rotatably connected between the output shaft and a second end of the column shaft, one end of the limiting pin being arranged in a guide track of the guide, the other end of the limiting pin being movably mounted on the cover, the feedback actuator or the column shaft driving the guide to rotate, the limiting pin moving between a first limit position and a second limit position to limit a rotation angle of the steering wheel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of vehicle steering system technology, and more particularly to a steer-by-wire column, a steer-by-wire system, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] In a steer-by-wire system, the steering column located in the driver's cab is not mechanically connected to the steering gear located in the chassis via an intermediate shaft; instead, they interact through a communication connection. Because the limitations of a traditional mechanical steering column connection are eliminated, the steering column can rotate indefinitely and lacks a rotation angle limitation function. If road feel information is not transmitted in a timely manner, it may lead to danger. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To overcome the problems existing in the related technologies, this disclosure provides a steer-by-wire column, a steer-by-wire system, and a vehicle.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a steer-by-wire column is provided, comprising: A steering column includes a column housing and a column shaft rotatably disposed within the column housing, wherein a first end of the column shaft is used to connect to a steering wheel; A feedback actuator, wherein the output shaft of the feedback actuator is connected to the rotating shaft of the tubing column, and the tubing column housing is mounted on the end face of the feedback actuator; The controller is connected to both the feedback actuator and the vehicle's steering system; and An angle limiting mechanism includes a guide disposed within the column housing, a cover disposed on the column housing, and a limiting pin. The guide is rotatably connected between the output shaft and the second end of the column shaft. One end of the limiting pin is disposed within the guide rail of the guide, and the other end is movably mounted on the cover. The feedback actuator or the column shaft drives the guide to rotate, and the limiting pin moves between a first limit position and a second limit position to limit the rotation angle of the steering wheel.

[0005] Optionally, the guide rail is a spiral rail disposed on the outer peripheral wall of the guide, the spiral rail is arranged along the axial direction of the column rotation axis, and the two ends of the spiral rail are the first limit position and the second limit position, respectively.

[0006] Optionally, the cover is provided with a guide groove, and one end of the limiting pin is provided with a stop slider, which is slidably disposed in the guide groove, wherein the extension direction of the guide groove is arranged parallel to the rotation direction of the spiral track.

[0007] Optionally, the column shaft includes a first drive shaft and a second drive shaft connected to each other, and the steering column also includes a column sleeve connected to the column housing. The tubing sleeve is fitted onto the outside of the first drive shaft via a first bearing, so that the first drive shaft is rotatable relative to the tubing sleeve. The tubing sleeve is fitted onto the outside of the second drive shaft via a second bearing, so that the second drive shaft is rotatable relative to the tubing sleeve.

[0008] Optionally, a stop portion is provided on the outer wall of the first drive shaft, and the first bearing is fixed between the matching end of the tubular sleeve and the stop portion; and / or the second bearing is fitted on the outer peripheral wall of the second drive shaft and fixed by a retaining ring.

[0009] Optionally, the end of the first drive shaft extends out of the tubular sleeve to form the first end, and the end of the second drive shaft away from the first drive shaft is formed as the second end. The connecting end of the first drive shaft away from the first end has an expansion section, and the connecting end of the second drive shaft away from the second end is press-fitted into the expansion section.

[0010] Optionally, the steering column includes a torsion bar having opposing first and second connecting ends. The second drive shaft has a first insertion hole extending along its own axial direction on the end face facing the guide. The first connecting end of the torsion bar is inserted into the first insertion hole so that the torsion bar can rotate together with the second drive shaft. The guide has a second insertion hole extending along its own axial direction on the end face facing the second drive shaft. The second connecting end of the torsion bar is inserted into the second insertion hole so that the torsion bar can rotate together with the guide.

[0011] Optionally, a third bearing is provided between the second drive shaft and the guide, allowing relative rotation between the second drive shaft and the guide.

[0012] Optionally, a fourth bearing is provided between the guide and the tubular housing, allowing relative rotation between the guide and the tubular housing.

[0013] Optionally, the steering column by steer includes a sensor mounted on the second drive shaft, and the sensor is connected to the controller.

[0014] Optionally, the sensor, the angle limiting mechanism, the feedback actuator, and the controller are arranged coaxially.

[0015] Optionally, the steering column by steer includes a connecting harness, and the sensor and the controller are respectively provided with a socket, and the connectors at both ends of the connecting harness are respectively plugged into the socket.

[0016] Optionally, a first coupling is fixed to the end of the output shaft, and a second coupling is fixed to the end face of the guide facing the output shaft. The first coupling and the second coupling are connected and a damping block is filled between them.

[0017] Optionally, the tubing housing has a first end face for engaging with the tubing sleeve and a second end face for engaging with the feedback actuator, wherein, The first end face is provided with a plurality of first fastening holes, and the end face of the tubing sleeve is provided with a plurality of second fastening holes. The tubing sleeve and the tubing housing are connected by first fasteners passing through the first fastening holes and the second fastening holes; and / or, The second end face is provided with a plurality of third fastening holes, and the end face of the feedback actuator is provided with a plurality of fourth fastening holes. The tubular housing and the feedback actuator are connected by second fasteners passing through the third and fourth fastening holes; and / or, The tubing housing has multiple connecting arms arranged circumferentially on the outer peripheral wall, and the connecting arms are provided with mounting holes for fixing the steering tubing.

[0018] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a steer-by-wire system is provided, comprising: steering wheel; The aforementioned steer-by-wire column, wherein the steering column is connected to the steering wheel; and A steering gear is used to drive the steering wheels to turn, and the steering gear is communicatively connected to the steering column by steer-by-wire.

[0019] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle is provided, including the above-described steer-by-wire system.

[0020] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this disclosure may include the following beneficial effects: In the steer-by-wire column provided by this disclosure, the guide is connected between the output shaft of the feedback actuator and the column shaft. When the column shaft or the output shaft rotates, the guide will rotate accordingly. Taking the guide rotating with the column shaft as an example, the limiting pin will move relative to the cover under the push of the guide rail. The rotation of the guide is converted into the linear motion of the limiting pin. When the guide rotates clockwise, the limiting pin moves to the end of the guide rail, or when the guide rotates counterclockwise, the limiting pin moves to the other end of the guide rail and can no longer rotate. The column shaft stops rotating, and the steering wheel is restricted accordingly, realizing mechanical limiting, thereby restricting the driver from continuing to turn the steering wheel. The design of the guide rail can realize the design of the steering wheel rotation angle range.

[0021] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a steer-by-wire system according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0024] Figure 2 and Figure 3 This is a perspective view of a steering column by steer-by-wire from different angles, according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0025] Figure 4 This is an exploded view of a steering column by steer-by-wire according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a front view of a steering column by steer-by-wire according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0027] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A sectional view of section AA in the middle.

[0028] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures 100-Steering column by steer; 1-Steering column; 10-Column housing; 11-Column shaft; 111-First drive shaft; 1110-Stop; 1111-Expansion section; 112-Second drive shaft; 1120-First insertion hole; 12-Column sleeve; 121-Matching end; 122-Second fastening hole; 123-First fastener; 13-Snap ring; 14-Torsion bar; 141-First connecting end; 142-Second connecting end; 101-First end; 102-Second end; 103-First fastening hole; 104-Third fastening hole; 105-Connecting arm; 106- Mounting hole; 107-Second fastener; 2-Sensor; 21-First bearing; 22-Second bearing; 23-Third bearing; 24-Fourth bearing; 3-Feedback actuator; 31-Output shaft; 32-Fourth fastening hole; 4-Controller; 40-Socket; 5-Angle limit mechanism; 51-Guide; 510-Second socket; 511-Guide rail; 52-Cover; 53-Limit pin; 531-Stop slider; 6-Connecting harness; 61-Plug-in; 91-First coupling; 92-Second coupling; 93-Shock absorber; 200-Steering wheel; 300-Steering gear. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numerals in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

[0030] It should be noted that all actions involving the acquisition of signals, information, or data in this disclosure are carried out in compliance with the relevant data protection laws and policies of the country where the location is situated, and with authorization from the owner of the relevant device.

[0031] In this disclosure, unless otherwise stated, directional terms such as "axial" and "circumferential" generally refer to the steering column relative to its axis of rotation when the steering column provided in this disclosure is normally installed. "Inner" and "outer" may refer to the inner and outer contours of the corresponding component or its location within or outside its environment, depending on the specific context. Furthermore, when the following description relates to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The terms "first," "second," etc., used in this disclosure are for distinguishing one element from another and do not indicate sequence or importance.

[0032] like Figure 1As shown, the steer-by-wire system includes a steer-by-wire column 100 located in the driver's cab and a steering gear 300 located on the chassis. The steer-by-wire column 100 is used to connect to the steering wheel 200. The steer-by-wire column 100 and the steering gear 300 are not connected by a mechanical or hydraulic structure, but by a communication connection (indicated by dashed lines in the figure).

[0033] like Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the steer-by-wire column 100 includes a steering column 1, a feedback actuator 3, and a controller 4. In the steer-by-wire system, the driver's steering command can be received by rotating the steering wheel 200, which can be converted into rotation angle and / or torque information of the steering column 1 and transmitted to the controller 4. The electrical signal generated by the controller 4 is output to the steering gear 300, thereby driving the wheels to produce a corresponding steering angle. Furthermore, in order to generate a realistic driving experience, the vehicle speed, steering angle, torque, and other parameter information under actual driving conditions are fed back to the feedback actuator 3 through the controller 4. The feedback actuator 3 couples the above parameter information to the steering wheel 200 through the steering column 1, allowing the driver to obtain road feel and providing a realistic driving experience similar to that of traditional mechanical connections.

[0034] In a steering-by-wire system, because a communication connection is used instead of mechanical transmission, the steering column 1 can rotate indefinitely. The steering column 1 does not have a rotation angle limitation function. If the road feel information is not transmitted in time, it may cause danger.

[0035] In view of this, such as Figures 2 to 6 As shown, this disclosure provides a steer-by-wire column, which includes a steering column 1, a feedback actuator 3, a controller 4, and an angle limiting mechanism 5. The steering column 1 includes a column housing 10 and a column shaft 11 rotatably disposed within the column housing 10. The first end 101 of the column shaft 11 is used to connect to a steering wheel 200. The output shaft 31 of the feedback actuator 3 is drively connected to the column shaft 11. The column housing 10 is mounted on the end face of the feedback actuator 3. The controller 4 is connected to the feedback actuator 3 and the vehicle's steering gear 300. The angle limiting mechanism 5 includes a guide 51 disposed in the column housing 10, a cover 52 disposed on the column housing 10, and a limiting pin 53. The guide 51 is rotatably connected between the output shaft 31 and the second end 102 of the column shaft 11. One end of the limiting pin 53 is disposed in the guide rail 511 of the guide 51, and the other end is movably mounted on the cover 52. The feedback actuator 3 or the column shaft 1 drives the guide 51 to rotate, and the limiting pin 53 moves between the first limit position and the second limit position to limit the rotation angle of the steering wheel 200.

[0036] It should be noted that the feedback actuator 3 can be a motor. The first limit position and the second limit position correspond to the two ends of the guide rail 511, respectively. If the first limit position is when the guide 51 rotates clockwise, the limit pin 53 moves to the left end of the guide rail 511. Then the second limit position is when the guide 51 rotates counterclockwise, the limit pin 53 moves to the right end of the guide rail 511. At the two limit positions, due to the stopping effect of the end of the guide rail 511 on the limit pin 53, it cannot continue to rotate.

[0037] In the steer-by-wire column 100 provided in this disclosure, the guide 51 is connected between the output shaft 31 of the feedback actuator 3 and the column shaft 11. When either the column shaft 11 or the output shaft 31 rotates, the guide 51 will rotate accordingly. Taking the guide 51 rotating together with the column shaft 11 as an example, the limiting pin 53 will move relative to the cover 52 under the push of the guide rail 511. The rotation of the guide 51 is converted into the linear motion of the limiting pin 53. When the guide 51 rotates clockwise, the limiting pin 53 moves to the end of the guide rail 511, or when the guide 51 rotates counterclockwise, the limiting pin 53 moves to the other end of the guide rail 511 and can no longer rotate. The column shaft 11 stops rotating, and the steering wheel 200 is thus restricted, achieving mechanical limiting, thereby restricting the driver from continuing to rotate the steering wheel 200. The angle limiting mechanism 5 can limit the rotation angle of the steering wheel 200. The range of rotation angle of the steering wheel 200 can be designed by the design of the guide rail 511.

[0038] like Figure 4 and Figure 6 As shown, the guide rail 511 can be a spiral rail disposed on the outer peripheral wall of the guide 51. The spiral rail is arranged along the axial direction of the column rotation shaft 11, and the two ends of the spiral rail are the first limit position and the second limit position, respectively. The first limit position and the second limit position are the limit positions of the guide 51 rotating clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively. By designing the number of turns of the spiral rail, the maximum steering angle requirements of different steering wheels can be achieved.

[0039] The cover 52 is provided with a guide groove (not shown in the figure), such as Figure 4 As shown, one end of the limiting pin 53 is provided with a stop slider 531, which is slidably disposed in the guide groove. The extension direction of the guide groove is arranged parallel to the rotation direction of the spiral track, converting the rotation of the guide 51 into the linear motion of the limiting pin 53. No jamming occurs during the movement of the limiting pin 53, achieving limiting at two extreme positions. Of course, the guide track 511 and the guide groove are not limited to the shape arrangement shown in the embodiment. In other embodiments, the guide track 511 can also be an arc-shaped guide track extending axially, all of which fall within the protection scope of this disclosure.

[0040] The tubular shaft 11 can be a single shaft, as described in this disclosure. Figure 6 As shown, the steering column 11 includes a first drive shaft 111 and a second drive shaft 112 connected together. The steering column 1 also includes a column sleeve 12 connected to the column housing 10. The column sleeve 12 is sleeved on the outside of the first drive shaft 111 via a first bearing 21, allowing the first drive shaft 111 to rotate relative to the column sleeve 12. The column sleeve 12 is sleeved on the outside of the second drive shaft 112 via a second bearing 22, allowing the second drive shaft 112 to rotate relative to the column sleeve 12. The first drive shaft 111 is partially rotatably located inside the column sleeve 12, and the second drive shaft 112 and the guide 51 are rotatably located inside the column housing 10, enabling the steering column 11 to rotate within the column sleeve 12 and the column housing 10. This not only transmits the torque output from the feedback actuator 3 to the steering column 11, but also to the steering wheel 200. It can also transmit the rotation of the steering wheel 200 to the column shaft 11, and then the sensor 2 installed on the column shaft 11 can obtain the torque or speed information of the column shaft 11, and then transmit it to the controller 4 and the steering gear 300 in sequence.

[0041] To fix the axial position of the column shaft 11 and prevent axial movement, in this disclosure, the column sleeve 12 can be fixedly connected to the vehicle combination switch via the matching end 121, such as... Figure 6 As shown, a stop portion 1110 is provided on the outer wall of the first drive shaft 111, and a first bearing 21 is fixed between the matching end 121 of the tubular sleeve 12 and the stop portion 1110; and / or, a second bearing 22 is fitted on the outer peripheral wall of the second drive shaft 112 and fixed by a retaining ring 13. In this way, the tubular shaft 11 can only rotate circumferentially and will not move axially.

[0042] There are several ways to connect the first drive shaft 111 and the second drive shaft 112. The end of the first drive shaft 111 extends out of the column sleeve 12 to form a first end 101, which is connected to the steering wheel 200. The end of the second drive shaft 112 away from the first drive shaft 111 forms a second end 102, which is connected to the guide 51. The connecting end of the first drive shaft 111 away from the first end 101 has an expansion section 1111, and the connecting end of the second drive shaft 112 away from the second end 102 is press-fitted into the expansion section 1111. The first drive shaft 111 and the second drive shaft 112 are connected by an interference fit to achieve synchronous rotation. In other exemplary embodiments, they can also be connected by welding, coupling, pin connection, etc.

[0043] To achieve the transmission connection between the steering column shaft 11 and the guide 51, in this disclosure, the steering column 1 includes a torsion bar 14. The torsion bar 14 has a first connecting end 141 and a second connecting end 142 facing each other. The end face of the second drive shaft 112 facing the guide 51 is provided with a first insertion hole 1120 extending along its own axial direction. The first connecting end 141 of the torsion bar 14 is inserted into the first insertion hole 1120 so that the torsion bar 14 can rotate together with the second drive shaft 112. The end face of the guide 51 facing the second drive shaft 112 is provided with a second insertion hole 510 extending along its own axial direction. The second connecting end 142 of the torsion bar 14 is inserted into the second insertion hole 510 so that the torsion bar 14 can rotate together with the guide 51. The first connecting end 141 and the second connecting end 142 of the torsion bar 14 can be designed with a spline structure. The first connecting end 141 and the first socket 1120, the second connecting end 142 and the second socket 510 can be splined. This can transmit the torque of the output shaft 31 to the second drive shaft 112 through the torsion bar 14, and then to the first drive shaft 111 and the steering wheel 200. It can also transmit the torque of the second drive shaft 112 to the guide 51 through the torsion bar 14.

[0044] The guide 51 is connected to the output shaft 31 of the feedback actuator 3 on one side and to the second drive shaft 112 through the torsion bar 14 on the other side. Torque can be output from both ends of the guide 51 to the guide 51. In this disclosure, a third bearing 23 is provided between the second drive shaft 112 and the guide 51, and the second drive shaft 112 and the guide 51 can rotate relative to each other to ensure smooth rotation at the engagement position of the second drive shaft 112 and the guide 51.

[0045] A fourth bearing 24 is provided between the guide 51 and the tubular housing 10, allowing relative rotation between the guide 51 and the tubular housing 10, thus ensuring smooth rotation of the guide 51 within the tubular housing 10.

[0046] The steer-by-wire column 100 includes a sensor 2 sleeved on a second drive shaft 112, and the sensor 2 is connected to a controller 4. The sensor 2 can be used to acquire information such as the rotation angle, speed, and torque of the second drive shaft 112. It can be a sensor solely for detecting angle, speed, or torque, or it can simultaneously include an angle detection module, a speed detection module, and a torque detection module; this disclosure does not limit this. In this disclosure, the sensor 2 is disposed on the second drive shaft 112 and inside the column housing 10. The housing of the sensor 2 and the column housing 10 are integrated, and the sensor 2's connector can be directly disposed on the column housing 10. In other embodiments, the sensor 2 can also be disposed on the first drive shaft 111.

[0047] In this disclosure, such as Figure 6As shown, sensor 2, angle limiting mechanism 5, feedback actuator 3, and controller 4 are arranged coaxially. Compared with the related art, where a worm gear reduction mechanism is set between the steering column 1 and the feedback actuator 3 to transmit torque, and the worm gear and the output shaft 31 of the feedback actuator 3 are not coaxially arranged, in the steer-by-wire column 100 provided in this disclosure, the column shaft 11, sensor 2, feedback actuator 3, controller 4, and angle limiting mechanism 5 provided on the column shaft 11 are arranged coaxially, making the structure of the steer-by-wire column 100 more compact, smaller in size, and easier to arrange in a compact space, for example, easier to apply in vehicles with relatively compact space. In addition, in this disclosure, the axial positions of sensor 2, angle limiting mechanism 5, feedback actuator 3, and controller 4 are arranged sequentially, and can be adjusted and set as needed.

[0048] like Figure 4 As shown, the steer-by-wire column 100 includes a connecting harness 6. The sensor 2 and controller 4 are each provided with a connector 40, and the connectors 61 at both ends of the connecting harness 6 are respectively inserted into the connectors 40. The sensor 2 is mounted on the second drive shaft 112, and the connector 40 of the sensor 2 is integrated into the column housing 10. The connecting harness 6 is connected to the sensor 2 and controller 4 respectively through the connectors 61 at both ends. In other embodiments, the sensor 2 and controller 4 may also be connected via communication, all of which fall within the scope of this disclosure.

[0049] To stably connect the guide 51 to the output shaft 31 of the feedback actuator 3, a first coupling 91 is fixed to the end of the output shaft 31, and a second coupling 92 is fixed to the end face of the guide 51 facing the output shaft 31. The first coupling 91 and the second coupling 92 are connected, and a damping block 93 is filled between them. The first coupling 91 can be pressed into the guide 51 to form a fixed connection, and the second coupling 92 can be pressed into the output shaft 31 of the feedback actuator 3 to form a fixed connection. The damping block 93 filled between the first coupling 91 and the second coupling 92 can stably transmit the power of the output shaft 31 to the guide 51.

[0050] This disclosure provides a related design for the structure of the tubular housing 10, such as... Figure 4As shown, the tubing housing 10 has a first end face for engaging with the tubing sleeve 12 and a second end face for engaging with the feedback actuator 3. The guide 51 and the second drive shaft 112 are rotatably mounted in the cavity between the first and second end faces of the tubing housing 10. The first end face has a plurality of first fastening holes 103, and the end face of the tubing sleeve 12 has a plurality of second fastening holes 122. The tubing sleeve 12 and the tubing housing 10 are connected by first fasteners 123 passing through the first fastening holes 103 and the second fastening holes 122. There can be three first fastening holes 103, three second fastening holes 122, and three first fasteners 123 each, to secure the tubing sleeve 12 and the tubing housing 10 together. The end of the tubing sleeve 12 that engages with the second end face has a flange, and the plurality of second fastening holes 122 are formed on the flange.

[0051] In this disclosure, the second end face of the column housing 10 is provided with a plurality of third fastening holes 104, and the end face of the feedback actuator 3 is provided with a plurality of fourth fastening holes 32. The column housing 10 and the feedback actuator 3 are connected by a second fastener 107 passing through the third fastening holes 104 and the fourth fastening holes 32. There can be three third fastening holes 104, three fourth fastening holes 32, and three second fasteners 107, which can stably fix the column housing 10 on the feedback actuator 3.

[0052] In addition, the steering column housing 10 has a plurality of connecting arms 105 provided on the outer peripheral wall and arranged at circumferential intervals. The connecting arms 105 are provided with mounting holes 106 for fixing the steering column 1. There can be two connecting arms 105 arranged relatively parallel to each other, so that the steering column housing 10 can be fixed at a suitable position in the cab.

[0053] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, a steer-by-wire system is provided, comprising a steering wheel 200, a steer-by-wire column 100 as described above, and a steering gear 300. The steering column 100 is connected to the steering wheel 200, and the steering gear 300 drives the steering wheels to steer. The steering gear 300 is communicatively connected to the steer-by-wire column 100. A controller 4 is connected to a sensor 2, the steering gear 300, and a feedback actuator 3, and is capable of outputting the steering torque of the steering wheels back to the steering wheel 200 to provide the driver with road feel. It can also transmit the driver's steering commands to the steering gear 300 to generate a corresponding steering angle for the steering wheels.

[0054] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a vehicle is provided that includes the aforementioned steer-by-wire system, and the vehicle has all the beneficial effects of the aforementioned steer-by-wire system, which will not be elaborated further here.

[0055] In the above detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate specific aspects of this disclosure by way of illustration. In this regard, terms indicating direction or positional relationship, such as “center,” “longitudinal,” “lateral,” “length,” “width,” “thickness,” “upper,” “lower,” “front,” “rear,” “left,” “right,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” “clockwise,” “counterclockwise,” “axial,” “radial,” and “circumferential,” are used with reference to the orientation of the described figures. Since components of the described device can be positioned in multiple different orientations, directional terms are used for illustrative purposes and not for limitation. It should be understood that other aspects can be utilized and structural or logical changes can be made without departing from the concept of this disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description should not be considered limiting.

[0056] It should be understood that, unless otherwise specifically indicated, features of various embodiments of this disclosure described herein can be combined with each other. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any one of the relevant listed items and any combination of any two or more; similarly, “at least one of…” includes any one of the relevant listed items and any combination of any two or more.

[0057] It should be understood that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "joining," "attaching," "installing," "connecting," "linking," "fixing," etc., used in the embodiments of this disclosure should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms herein based on the specific circumstances.

[0058] Furthermore, the term "above" as used herein with respect to components, elements, or material layers formed or located "above" a surface may be used to indicate that the component, element, or material layer is "indirectly" positioned (e.g., placed, formed, deposited, etc.) on the surface such that one or more additional components, elements, or layers are arranged between the surface and the component, element, or material layer. However, the term "above" as used with respect to components, elements, or material layers formed or located "above" a surface may also optionally have a specific meaning: that the component, element, or material layer is "directly" positioned (e.g., placed, formed, deposited, etc.) on the surface, for example, in direct contact with the surface.

[0059] Although terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used herein to describe various components, parts, regions, layers, or sections, these components, parts, regions, layers, or sections are not limited to these terms. Rather, these terms are used only to distinguish one component, part, region, layer, or section from another. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the examples described herein, the first component, part, region, layer, or section mentioned in the examples may also be referred to as the second component, part, region, layer, or section. Furthermore, the terms “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as “first” or “second” may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description herein, “a plurality” means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0060] It should be understood that spatial relative terms, such as “above,” “upper,” “below,” and “lower,” are used herein to describe the relationship between one element and another shown in the figures. In addition to the orientation depicted in the figures, these spatial relative terms are also intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, if the device in the figures is flipped, an element described as “above” or “upper” relative to another element would be “below” or “lower” relative to that other element. Thus, depending on the spatial orientation of the device, the term “above” encompasses both above and below orientations. Devices may have other orientations (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative terms used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0061] Furthermore, the term “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as advantageous compared to other aspects or designs. Rather, the use of the term “exemplary” is intended to present the concept in a concrete manner. As used herein, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless otherwise specified or clear from the context, “X applies A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive arrangements. That is, “X applies A or B” satisfies any of the foregoing instances if X applies A; X applies B; or both X applies A and B. Additionally, unless otherwise specified or clear from the context to refer to the singular form, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims are generally understood to mean “one or more.”

[0062] Similarly, although this disclosure has been shown and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding this specification and the accompanying drawings. This disclosure includes all such modifications and variations and is limited only by the scope of the claims. In particular, with respect to the various functions performed by the components described above (e.g., elements, resources, etc.), unless otherwise indicated, the terminology used to describe such components is intended to correspond to any component (functionally equivalent) that performs the specific function of the described component, even if structurally not equivalent to the disclosed structure. Furthermore, although specific features of this disclosure may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such features may be combined with one or more other features of other implementations, as may be desired and advantageous to any given or particular application. Moreover, with regard to the terms “comprising,” “owning,” “having,” “having,” or variations thereof as used in the detailed description or claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “including.”

[0063] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this disclosure are indicated by the appended claims.

[0064] It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A steer-by-wire column, characterized in that, include: A steering column includes a column housing and a column shaft rotatably disposed within the column housing, wherein a first end of the column shaft is used to connect to a steering wheel; A feedback actuator, wherein the output shaft of the feedback actuator is connected to the rotating shaft of the tubing column, and the tubing column housing is mounted on the end face of the feedback actuator; The controller is connected to both the feedback actuator and the vehicle's steering system. as well as An angle limiting mechanism includes a guide disposed within the column housing, a cover disposed on the column housing, and a limiting pin. The guide is rotatably connected between the output shaft and the second end of the column shaft. One end of the limiting pin is disposed within the guide rail of the guide, and the other end is movably mounted on the cover. The feedback actuator or the column shaft drives the guide to rotate, and the limiting pin moves between a first limit position and a second limit position to limit the rotation angle of the steering wheel.

2. The steer-by-wire column according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide rail is a spiral rail disposed on the outer peripheral wall of the guide, the spiral rail is arranged along the axial direction of the column rotation axis, and the two ends of the spiral rail are the first limit position and the second limit position, respectively.

3. The steer-by-wire column according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cover is provided with a guide groove, and one end of the limiting pin is provided with a stop slider. The stop slider is slidably disposed in the guide groove, wherein the extension direction of the guide groove is arranged parallel to the rotation direction of the spiral track.

4. The steer-by-wire column according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steering column includes a first drive shaft and a second drive shaft connected to each other, and the steering column also includes a column sleeve connected to the column housing. The tubing sleeve is fitted onto the outside of the first drive shaft via a first bearing, so that the first drive shaft is rotatable relative to the tubing sleeve. The tubing sleeve is fitted onto the outside of the second drive shaft via a second bearing, so that the second drive shaft is rotatable relative to the tubing sleeve.

5. The steer-by-wire column according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first drive shaft has a stop on its outer wall, and the first bearing is fixed between the matching end of the tube sleeve and the stop; and / or the second bearing is fitted on the outer peripheral wall of the second drive shaft and fixed by a retaining ring.

6. The steer-by-wire column according to claim 4, characterized in that, The end of the first drive shaft extends out of the tubular sleeve to form the first end, and the end of the second drive shaft away from the first drive shaft is formed as the second end. The connecting end of the first drive shaft away from the first end has an expansion section, and the connecting end of the second drive shaft away from the second end is press-fitted into the expansion section.

7. The steer-by-wire column according to claim 4, characterized in that, The steering column includes a torsion bar having opposing first and second connecting ends. The second drive shaft has a first insertion hole extending along its own axial direction on the end face facing the guide. The first connecting end of the torsion bar is inserted into the first insertion hole so that the torsion bar can rotate together with the second drive shaft. The guide has a second insertion hole extending along its own axial direction on the end face facing the second drive shaft. The second connecting end of the torsion bar is inserted into the second insertion hole so that the torsion bar can rotate together with the guide.

8. The steer-by-wire column according to claim 7, characterized in that, A third bearing is provided between the second drive shaft and the guide, allowing relative rotation between the second drive shaft and the guide.

9. The steer-by-wire column according to claim 1, characterized in that, A fourth bearing is provided between the guide and the tubular housing, allowing relative rotation between the guide and the tubular housing.

10. The steering column by steer according to any one of claims 4-9, characterized in that, The steer-by-wire column includes a sensor mounted on the second drive shaft, and the sensor is connected to the controller.

11. The steer-by-wire column according to claim 10, characterized in that, The sensor, the angle limiting mechanism, the feedback actuator, and the controller are arranged coaxially.

12. The steer-by-wire column according to claim 10, characterized in that, The steering column by steer includes a connecting harness, and the sensor and the controller are respectively provided with a socket, and the connectors at both ends of the connecting harness are respectively plugged into the socket.

13. The steer-by-wire column according to claim 1, characterized in that, A first coupling is fixed to the end of the output shaft, and a second coupling is fixed to the end face of the guide facing the output shaft. The first coupling and the second coupling are connected and a damping block is filled between them.

14. The steer-by-wire column according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tubing housing has a first end face for engaging with the tubing sleeve and a second end face for engaging with the feedback actuator, wherein... The first end face is provided with a plurality of first fastening holes, and the end face of the tubing sleeve is provided with a plurality of second fastening holes. The tubing sleeve and the tubing housing are connected by first fasteners passing through the first fastening holes and the second fastening holes; and / or, The second end face is provided with a plurality of third fastening holes, and the end face of the feedback actuator is provided with a plurality of fourth fastening holes. The tubular housing and the feedback actuator are connected by second fasteners passing through the third and fourth fastening holes; and / or, The tubing housing has multiple connecting arms arranged circumferentially on the outer peripheral wall, and the connecting arms are provided with mounting holes for fixing the steering tubing.

15. A steer-by-wire system, characterized in that, include: steering wheel; The steer-by-wire column according to any one of claims 1-14, wherein the steering column in the steer-by-wire column is connected to the steering wheel; as well as A steering gear is used to drive the steering wheels to turn, and the steering gear is communicatively connected to the steering column by steer-by-wire.

16. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the steer-by-wire system as described in claim 15.

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