Steering wheel, steering system and vehicle

Abstract

The present application relates to the technical field of steering wheels, in particular to a steering wheel, a steering system and a vehicle, especially a vehicle with an intelligent driving mode, the steering wheel comprising a body, a hand wheel, a driving mechanism and a locking mechanism, the hand wheel being movably arranged on the body; the driving mechanism being configured to drive the hand wheel to move, and the locking mechanism being configured to lock the hand wheel when the driving mechanism stops driving. The present application sets the locking mechanism and configures the locking mechanism to lock the hand wheel when the driving mechanism stops driving, so as to realize the locking of the hand wheel at any position within the unfolding and folding stroke, meet the requirement of the vehicle for keeping the hand wheel at different positions in different use scenarios, and improve the position adjusting flexibility of the steering wheel and the adaptability to different working conditions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of steering wheel technology, and more particularly to a steering wheel, steering system, and vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of intelligent cockpit technology in automobiles, foldable steering wheels have gradually become one of the important components of autonomous vehicles. The steering wheel can be switched to a folded state when the vehicle is parked or in autonomous driving mode to free up cockpit space and improve passenger comfort and interaction flexibility; when the vehicle switches to manual driving mode, the steering wheel can quickly switch from the folded state to the unfolded state so that the driver can immediately take over the vehicle and perform safe operation.

[0003] However, in related technologies, the steering wheel can only be locked after it has been moved to its maximum unfolded or folded position. The steering wheel has poor versatility and cannot meet the diverse needs of existing vehicles for steering wheel functions. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide a steering wheel, steering system, and vehicle, which aims to solve the problem of poor impact resistance of steering wheels in related technologies.

[0005] In a first aspect, a steering wheel is provided, the steering wheel including a body, a handwheel, a drive mechanism and a locking mechanism, wherein the handwheel is movably disposed on the body; The driving mechanism is used to drive the handwheel to move, and the locking mechanism is used to lock the handwheel when the driving mechanism stops driving.

[0006] This application sets up a locking mechanism and configures the locking mechanism to lock the handwheel when the drive mechanism stops driving, thereby achieving the locking of the handwheel at any position within the unfolding and folding stroke. This meets the vehicle's need to maintain the handwheel in different positions under different usage scenarios, and improves the flexibility of steering wheel position adjustment and adaptability to different working conditions.

[0007] Optionally, the locking mechanism is configured to allow power to be transmitted only along the drive mechanism to the handwheel.

[0008] Optionally, the drive mechanism includes a drive assembly and a linkage assembly, the linkage assembly being connected to the handwheel; The locking mechanism is located between the linkage assembly and the drive assembly in the transmission path, and is configured to allow power to be transmitted only along the direction from the drive assembly to the linkage assembly.

[0009] Optionally, the drive assembly includes a power source and a reducer, the reducer being connected between the power source and the linkage assembly; The locking mechanism is located between the power source and the reducer, or the locking mechanism is located between the reducer and the connecting rod assembly.

[0010] Optionally, the reducer has an input end and an output end, and the power source is connected to the input end; The drive assembly further includes a drive shaft located at the output end and connected to the linkage assembly, and the locking mechanism is located between the drive shaft and the linkage assembly.

[0011] Optionally, the drive shaft includes a first end and a second end disposed opposite to each other along the axial direction of the drive shaft; The drive mechanism includes at least two linkage assemblies, one of which is connected to the first end via the locking mechanism, and / or the other of which is connected to the second end via the locking mechanism.

[0012] Optionally, the locking mechanism includes a first transmission member and a second transmission member, wherein the first transmission member is connected to the drive assembly, and the second transmission member is connected to the linkage assembly; The first transmission member is used to drive the second transmission member to move under the drive of the drive assembly, and to prevent the second transmission member from moving when the drive assembly stops driving.

[0013] Optionally, the first transmission member is used to drive the second transmission member to rotate under the drive of the drive assembly, and to prevent the second transmission member from rotating when the drive assembly stops driving.

[0014] Optionally, the locking mechanism further includes a rolling element disposed between the first transmission element and the second transmission element; The first transmission member is used to drive the rolling member to roll under the drive of the drive assembly, so as to drive the second transmission member to rotate, and to restrict the rolling member from rolling when the drive assembly stops driving, so as to prevent the second rotating member from rotating.

[0015] Optionally, the first transmission member includes a driving surface that is inclined away from the direction of the rolling member; The driving surface is used to drive the rolling element to roll under the drive of the driving component, and to prevent the rolling element from rolling when the driving component stops driving.

[0016] Optionally, the rolling element has a first contact point that contacts the driving surface; The tangent direction of the rolling element at the first contact point forms an angle with the driving surface.

[0017] Optionally, the second transmission member has a mating surface, and the rolling element is located between the mating surface and the driving surface; The rolling element has a second contact point that contacts the mating surface, and the tangent direction of the rolling element at the second contact point is parallel to the mating surface.

[0018] Optionally, the handwheel has a folded state and an unfolded state, and the drive mechanism includes a drive assembly and a linkage assembly; The linkage assembly is connected between the drive assembly and the handwheel. The linkage assembly is used to drive the handwheel to rotate relative to the body, so as to drive the handwheel to switch between the folded state and the unfolded state.

[0019] Optionally, the handwheel includes a first handwheel and a second handwheel, and the linkage assembly is used to drive the first handwheel to rotate in a first direction and drive the second handwheel to rotate in a second direction, so that the handwheel switches between the unfolded state and the folded state; The first direction and the second direction are two opposite directions.

[0020] Optionally, the linkage assembly is connected between the first handwheel and the second handwheel to drive the first handwheel and the second handwheel to rotate synchronously.

[0021] Optionally, the linkage assembly includes a drive rod, a first link, and a second link, wherein the drive rod is driven to the drive assembly; One end of the first connecting rod is rotatably connected to the drive rod, and the other end is connected to the first handwheel. One end of the second connecting rod is rotatably connected to the drive rod, and the other end is connected to the second handwheel.

[0022] Optionally, the steering wheel may further include a damping mechanism for providing damping during the movement of the handwheel.

[0023] Optionally, the damping mechanism is located between the drive mechanism and the handwheel; and / or The drive mechanism includes a linkage assembly, the linkage assembly includes a plurality of links, and the damping mechanism is disposed between adjacent links; and / or The drive mechanism includes a drive assembly and a linkage assembly, and the damping mechanism is disposed between the drive assembly and the linkage assembly.

[0024] Optionally, the damping mechanism includes one of a damping pad, a damping sleeve, and a damper.

[0025] Secondly, a steering system is also provided, the steering system including the steering wheel of any of the first aspects.

[0026] Thirdly, a vehicle is provided, which includes a steering wheel of any of the first aspects, or a steering system of any of the second aspects. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the steering wheel provided in this application when it is in the unfolded state; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an embodiment of the steering wheel provided in this application when it is in a folded state; Figure 3 for Figure 1 Exploded view of the central drive mechanism; Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the connection between the drive mechanism and the handwheel when the steering wheel is in the unfolded position; Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the connection between the drive mechanism and the handwheel when the steering wheel is in the folded position; Figure 6 for Figure 3 Cross-sectional view of the locking mechanism; Figure 7 for Figure 6 Enlarged view of the first and second transmission components; Figure 8 for Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the fit between the rolling element and the driving surface; Figure 9 for Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the fit between the rolling element and the mating surface; Figure 10 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the damping mechanism.

[0029] Figure label: 1000 - Steering wheel; 1-Ontology; 2-Handwheel, 21-First handwheel, 22-Second handwheel; 3-Drive mechanism, 31-Drive assembly, 311-Power source, 312-Reducer, 3121-Input end, 3122-Output end, 313-Drive shaft, 32-Link assembly, 321-Drive rod, 322-First link, 323-Second link; 4-Locking mechanism, 41-First transmission component, 411-Driving surface, 42-Second transmission component, 421-Mating surface, 43-Rolling component, 44-Limiting component; 5-Damping mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0030] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," "fifth," and "sixth" 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 with "first," "second," "third," "fourth," "fifth," and "sixth" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature.

[0031] In embodiments of this application, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0032] "A and / or B" includes the following three combinations: A only, B only, and a combination of A and B.

[0033] In the embodiments of this application, "parallel," "perpendicular," and "equal" include the described situation and situations similar to the described situation, where the range of similarity is within an acceptable deviation range, which is determined by those skilled in the art taking into account the measurement under discussion and the error associated with the measurement of a particular quantity (i.e., the limitations of the measurement system). For example, "parallel" includes absolute parallelism and approximate parallelism, where the acceptable deviation range for approximate parallelism can be, for example, a deviation within 5°; "perpendicular" includes absolute perpendicularity and approximate perpendicularity, where the acceptable deviation range for approximate perpendicularity can also be, for example, a deviation within 5°. "Equal" includes absolute equality and approximate equality, where the acceptable deviation range for approximate equality can be, for example, a difference between the two equals being less than or equal to 5% of either one.

[0034] This application discloses a vehicle comprising an automobile, a robot, or other form of driving equipment, wherein the automobile includes an electric vehicle (EV), a pure electric vehicle / battery electric vehicle (PEV / BEV), a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a range-extended electric vehicle (REEV), and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), New Energy Vehicle, etc.

[0035] In some embodiments, the vehicle includes a body, wheels, and a steering system. The body serves as the main structural element of the vehicle, supporting and connecting the various components and assemblies of the vehicle. The body encloses the vehicle to form a cockpit.

[0036] The wheels are mounted on the vehicle body and rotate to drive the vehicle. The number of wheels can be two, three, or four, and this application does not limit this. For example, the wheels include a first wheel, a second wheel, a third wheel, and a fourth wheel. The first and second wheels are front wheels located at the front of the vehicle, and the third and fourth wheels are rear wheels located at the rear of the vehicle.

[0037] The steering system is connected to the wheel drive and is used to drive the wheels to deflect in order to control the direction of travel of the vehicle. In some embodiments, the steering system includes a steering wheel and a steering actuator. The steering wheel is used to receive steering input from the driver, and the steering actuator is used to control the wheel deflection according to the driver's steering input, thereby completing the steering of the vehicle.

[0038] The steering actuator may include a steering column, a steering gear, and a steering tie rod assembly. The steering column is connected between the steering wheel and the steering gear and is used to transmit steering torque. The steering gear is used to amplify the steering torque and change the direction of transmission. The steering tie rod assembly is connected between the steering gear and the wheel and is used to transmit the amplified steering torque to the wheel to drive the wheel to deflect.

[0039] With the development of intelligent cockpit technology in automobiles, steering wheels with folding and telescopic functions have gradually become one of the important components of autonomous vehicles.

[0040] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3This type of folding steering wheel 1000 typically includes a body 1 and a handwheel 2, with the handwheel 2 movably mounted on the body 1. When the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode, the handwheel 2 can be folded and stored relative to the body 1 to free up cabin space and improve ride comfort and interaction flexibility; when the vehicle switches to manual driving mode, the handwheel 2 can be unfolded and reset relative to the body 1 so that the driver can immediately take over the vehicle and operate it safely.

[0041] In related technologies, the handwheel is usually locked by limiting its position using a two-way clutch. However, the structure of the two-way clutch also means that the internal contoured teeth of the two-way clutch can only be fully engaged and locked when the handwheel is in the two extreme positions of unfolding or folding. This results in poor versatility of the steering wheel and an inability to meet the diverse needs of existing vehicles for steering wheel functions.

[0042] To solve the above problems, in this application, the steering wheel 1000 also includes a drive mechanism 3 and a locking mechanism 4, and the handwheel 2 is movably disposed on the body 1; the drive mechanism 3 is used to drive the handwheel 2 to move, and the locking mechanism 4 is used to lock the handwheel 2 when the drive mechanism 3 stops driving.

[0043] This application sets up a locking mechanism 4 and configures the locking mechanism 4 to lock the handwheel 2 when the drive mechanism 3 stops driving, thereby realizing the locking of the handwheel 2 at any position within the unfolding and folding stroke, meeting the vehicle's need to keep the handwheel 2 in different positions under different usage scenarios, improving the flexibility of steering wheel position adjustment and adaptability to different working conditions.

[0044] The steering wheel 1000 provided in this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0045] The steering wheel 1000 includes a body 1, a handwheel 2, and a linkage drive assembly 31. The body 1 serves as the main structural component of the steering wheel 1000, supporting and connecting the various component assemblies of the steering wheel 1000. The body 1 has a cavity for installing functional modules. The functional modules can be airbags, horn assemblies, or other control and interaction modules such as steering wheel 1000 control buttons, touch panels, and displays. This application does not impose any restrictions on these.

[0046] Handwheel 2 is movable within body 1, and has the following characteristics: Figure 1 The unfolded state shown is close to the main body 1 and as shown in the figure. Figure 2 As shown in the folded state away from the main body 1, the handwheel 2 can slide relative to the main body 1 to switch between the folded and unfolded states, or it can rotate relative to the main body 1 to directly switch between the folded and unfolded positions. This application does not impose any restrictions on this.

[0047] The handwheel 2 can slide relative to the body 1 to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state, and can also rotate relative to the body 1 to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state. This application does not limit this.

[0048] In some embodiments, the handwheel 2 can rotate relative to the body 1 under the drive of the linkage drive assembly 31 to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state. In this way, the movement trajectory of the handwheel 2 can be contained within the outline of the steering wheel 1000, thereby reducing the lateral space occupied by the movement of the handwheel 2 in the cockpit, reducing the volume of the steering wheel 1000, and improving the space utilization of the steering wheel 1000 in the vehicle.

[0049] When the handwheel 2 is rotatably connected to the body 1, the handwheel 2 can be rotatably connected to the body 1 directly or through an intermediate component; this application does not impose any limitations on this. For example, the steering wheel 1000 also includes a pivot shaft, through which the handwheel 2 is rotatably connected to the body 1.

[0050] The number of handwheels 2 can be one or more, and this application does not limit this. In some embodiments, the handwheels 2 include a first handwheel 21 and a second handwheel 22. The linkage drive assembly 31 is used to drive the first handwheel 21 to rotate in a first direction and drive the second handwheel 22 to rotate in a second direction, so that the handwheels 2 can switch between an unfolded state and a folded state. The first direction and the second direction are two opposite directions. By moving the first handwheel 21 and the second handwheel 22 in opposite directions, the motion envelope space during the folding process can be effectively dispersed, causing the two handwheels 2 to retract towards the center or unfold outward, thereby reducing the overall occupancy of the steering wheel 1000 in the lateral space of the cockpit and improving the space utilization rate of the steering wheel 1000 in the vehicle.

[0051] Please refer to Figures 3 to 5 The drive mechanism 3 is used to drive the handwheel 2 to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state. In some embodiments, the drive mechanism 3 may include a drive component 31 and a linkage component 32. The linkage component 32 is connected between the drive component 31 and the handwheel 2 to convert the rotational motion of the drive component 31 into relative rotation between the handwheel 2 and the body 1, thereby driving the handwheel 2 to switch between a folded state and an unfolded state. The number of linkage components 32 can be one or more, and this application does not limit this.

[0052] In some embodiments, the linkage assembly 32 includes a first linkage assembly 322 and a second linkage assembly 323, which are distributed and connected to the handwheel 2. This increases the contact area between the linkage assembly 32 and the handwheel 2, disperses the force on the linkage assembly 32, and improves the stability of the transmission of the linkage assembly 32.

[0053] In some embodiments, the linkage assembly 32 is connected between the first handwheel 21 and the second handwheel 22 to drive the first handwheel 21 and the second handwheel 22 to rotate synchronously, thereby improving the stability of the steering wheel 1000 when folding and unfolding.

[0054] Specifically, when the steering wheel 1000 includes multiple handwheels 2, the linkage assembly 32 of the drive mechanism 3 can be configured one-to-one with the handwheels 2, that is, one linkage assembly 32 drives one handwheel 2 to move, or one linkage assembly 32 can drive multiple handwheels 2 to move. In this embodiment, by enabling a single linkage assembly 32 to simultaneously drive the first handwheel 21 and the second handwheel 22 to rotate synchronously, the consistency of the movement of the first handwheel 21 and the second handwheel 22 is improved, the possibility of motion interference or collision of the handwheels 2 due to driving timing deviation or asynchronous response is reduced, the coordination and reliability of the handwheels 2 during the folding process are improved, and the stability of the steering wheel 1000 during unfolding and folding is improved.

[0055] In some embodiments, the linkage assembly 32 may include a drive rod 321, a first link 322, and a second link 323. The drive rod 321 is rotatably connected to the drive assembly 31. One end of the first link 322 is rotatably connected to the drive rod 321, and the other end is connected to the first handwheel 21. One end of the second link 323 is rotatably connected to the drive rod 321, and the other end is connected to the second handwheel 22.

[0056] When the drive assembly 31 drives the drive rod 321 to rotate clockwise, the drive rod 321 pulls the first link 322 and the second link 323 to swing synchronously, thereby driving the first handwheel 21 to rotate in the first direction and the second handwheel 22 to rotate in the second direction, thus driving the handwheel 2 to switch from the unfolded position to the folded position. When the steering wheel 1000 needs to switch from the folded position to the unfolded position, the drive assembly 31 can also drive the drive rod 321 to rotate counterclockwise, thereby driving the first handwheel 21 and the second handwheel 22 to rotate in opposite directions, realizing the unfolding and resetting of the handwheel 2.

[0057] It should be understood that in other possible implementations, the drive assembly 31 may also be a four-bar linkage, a five-bar linkage, or a multi-drive mechanism. The drive assembly 31 may also drive the handwheel 2 to switch from the unfolded position to the folded position by rotating counterclockwise, or drive the drive rod 321 to rotate clockwise to drive the handwheel 2 to switch from the folded position to the unfolded position. This application does not limit this.

[0058] Compared to other transmission structures, the linkage assembly mainly relies on the linkage hinge for transmission. The linkage occupies little space, which can effectively reduce the space occupied by the transmission assembly on the steering wheel, reduce the available volume of the steering wheel, and improve the space utilization of the steering wheel in the vehicle.

[0059] The drive assembly 31 is connected between the main body 1 and the linkage assembly 32 to provide power for the linkage assembly 32 to drive the handwheel 2 to switch between the folded state and the unfolded state.

[0060] In some embodiments, the drive assembly 31 includes a power source 311 and a reducer 312. The power source 311 serves as the power source for the drive assembly 31 and is used to provide driving torque to drive the linkage assembly 32 to rotate the handwheel 2. The power source 311 can be a servo motor, a hydraulic motor, a pneumatic motor, or other drive mechanism. This application does not limit this.

[0061] The reducer 312 is connected between the power source 311 and the connecting rod assembly 32 to increase the output torque of the power source 311, improve the load capacity of the drive assembly 31 and the smoothness of the drive of the handwheel 2. The reducer 312 can be a planetary gear reducer 312, a worm gear reducer 312, a harmonic reducer 312 or other reduction mechanism. This application does not limit this.

[0062] In some embodiments, the reducer 312 has an input end 3121 and an output end 3122, and the power source 311 is connected to the input end 3121; the drive mechanism 3 includes at least two linkage assemblies 32; the drive assembly 31 also includes a drive shaft 313, which is connected to the output end 3122, and the drive shaft 313 includes a first end and a second end that are disposed opposite to each other along the axial direction of the drive shaft 313; the first end of the drive shaft 313 is connected to one of the at least two linkage assemblies 32, and the second end is connected to the other of the at least two linkage assemblies 32.

[0063] In this way, multiple linkage assemblies 32 can be driven simultaneously by a single power source 311, thereby simplifying the structural layout of the drive system, reducing the number of power sources 311, reducing manufacturing costs and control complexity, while ensuring the synchronous drive of multiple linkage assemblies 32, improving the consistency and coordination of the folding and unfolding of the handwheel 2, reducing the risk of motion interference caused by drive timing deviation of the handwheel 2, and improving the stability of the handwheel 2's movement.

[0064] The steering wheel 1000 also includes a locking mechanism 4, which is used to lock the handwheel 2 when the drive mechanism 3 stops driving, thereby enabling the handwheel 2 to be locked at any position within the unfolding and folding stroke, meeting the vehicle's need to maintain the handwheel 2 in different positions under different usage scenarios, and improving the steering wheel's position adjustment flexibility and adaptability to different working conditions.

[0065] For example, when the vehicle is in fully manual driving mode, the locking mechanism 4 can lock the handwheel 2 in the unfolded position to provide stable control support and ensure that the driver can accurately control the vehicle's steering; when the vehicle enters autonomous driving mode or parking mode, the locking mechanism 4 can also lock the handwheel 2 in the folded position to maximize the release of the cockpit space.

[0066] When the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode and requires brief driver supervision or is about to take over, the locking mechanism 4 can also lock the handwheel 2 in the partially unfolded middle position. This allows space to be left for the driver's cabin while enabling the steering wheel to unfold quickly after receiving the unfolding command, thus increasing the unfolding speed of the steering wheel. Alternatively, when the vehicle encounters a sudden situation requiring emergency braking but has not yet come to a complete stop, the locking mechanism 4 can immediately lock the handwheel 2 in the current position to prevent inertial impact from causing unexpected displacement of the handwheel, thereby improving the safety of vehicle driving.

[0067] At the same time, the locking mechanism 4 can lock the handwheel in any position, which can also improve the impact resistance of the steering wheel 1000 during the unfolding or folding process, reduce the possibility of the handwheel 2 being displaced unexpectedly due to external impact during the unfolding or folding process of the steering wheel 1000, and improve the reliability of the steering wheel 1000 and the safety of driving.

[0068] Please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 6 The locking mechanism 4 can be a magnetic attraction mechanism, which uses magnetic attraction to act on the handwheel 2 or the linkage drive assembly 31 to lock the handwheel 2 in any position. The locking structure can also be a clamping mechanism, which applies clamping force to the handwheel 2 or the linkage drive assembly 31 to lock the handwheel 2 in any position.

[0069] In some embodiments, the locking mechanism 4 is located within the transmission path of the drive mechanism 3 and the handwheel 2, and is configured to allow power to be transmitted only along the direction from the drive mechanism 3 to the handwheel 2. Thus, when the drive mechanism 3 drives the handwheel 2, the driving torque is normally transmitted to enable the handwheel 2 to unfold or fold. When the drive mechanism 3 stops driving, the power transmission from the power handwheel 2 to the linkage assembly 32 is restricted, thereby enabling the handwheel 2 to be locked instantly. This reduces the possibility that the handwheel 2 will drive the linkage assembly 32 in the opposite direction under external force impact, resulting in unexpected displacement, improving the stability of the steering wheel 1000 when unfolding or folding, and improving the safety of vehicle driving.

[0070] Compared to other locking methods, this embodiment integrates the locking structure into the power transmission link from the drive mechanism 3 to the handwheel 2, and locks the handwheel 2 by restricting the direction of power transmission. During the entire locking process, since there is no need to set up an additional independent locking actuator and control system, the structure of the locking mechanism 4 is simplified, the space occupied by the locking structure is reduced, the volume of the steering wheel 1000 is reduced, and the space utilization rate of the steering wheel 1000 is improved.

[0071] When the locking mechanism 4 is located within the transmission path of the drive mechanism 3 and the handwheel 2, there are various possible positions for the locking mechanism 4. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism 4 is connected between the transmission path of the linkage assembly 32 and the drive assembly 31, and is configured to allow power to be transmitted only along the direction from the drive assembly 31 to the linkage assembly 32. With this configuration, compared to the arrangement between the linkage assembly 32 and the handwheel 2, the locking mechanism 4 is closer to the front end of the transmission path, thereby reducing the equivalent rotational inertia that the locking mechanism 4 needs to overcome, and improving the locking response speed and locking reliability.

[0072] On the other hand, when the handwheel 2 is subjected to external impact or misoperation, the locking mechanism 4 can effectively block the transmission path of the reverse force through the linkage assembly 32 to the drive assembly 31, so that precision components such as the reducer 312 and the power source 311 are protected from reverse impact loads and the service life of the drive assembly 31 is extended.

[0073] It should be understood that in other possible implementations, the locking mechanism may also be located between the linkage assembly and the transmission path of the handwheel, and this application does not limit this.

[0074] When the locking mechanism 4 is located between the linkage assembly 32 and the drive assembly 31, the locking mechanism 4 can be located between the power source 311 and the reducer 312. In this way, instantaneous locking can be achieved at the output end of the power source 311, reducing the equivalent moment of inertia of the locking mechanism 4 when locking, and improving the response speed of the locking mechanism 4 to the locking of the handwheel 2. In other possible embodiments, the locking mechanism 4 may also be disposed between the reducer 312 and the linkage assembly 32, so that the locking action of the locking mechanism 4 can occur after the reducer 312 decelerates and increases torque, thereby reducing the torque load that the locking mechanism 4 needs to bear, reducing the size of the locking mechanism 4, and reducing the space occupied by the locking mechanism 4 on the steering wheel.

[0075] When the drive mechanism 3 includes multiple linkage assemblies 32, and the reducer 312 is connected to the multiple linkage assemblies 32 via the drive shaft 313, the locking mechanism 4 can also be located between the first end of the drive shaft 313 and one of the linkage assemblies 32, or between the second end of the drive shaft 313 and another linkage assemblies 32, or simultaneously located between the first end of the drive shaft 313 and one of the linkage assemblies 32 and between the second end of the drive shaft 313 and another linkage assemblies 32, thereby improving the reliability of the locking mechanism 4 in locking the handwheel 2.

[0076] To achieve unidirectional power transmission along the drive mechanism 3 to the handwheel 2, in some embodiments, the locking mechanism 4 includes a first transmission member 41 and a second transmission member 42. The first transmission member 41 is connected to the drive assembly 31, and the second transmission member 42 is connected to the linkage assembly 32. The first transmission member 41 is used to drive the second transmission member 42 to move under the drive of the drive assembly 31, and to prevent the second transmission member 42 from moving when the drive assembly 31 stops driving.

[0077] Specifically, the first transmission member 41 is provided with a driving surface 411, and the second transmission member 42 is provided with a mating surface 421. When the driving assembly 31 drives the first transmission member 41 to move, the first transmission member 41 can cooperate with the mating surface 421 of the second transmission member 42 through the driving surface 411 to transmit the driving torque to the second transmission member 42, thereby driving the connecting rod assembly 32 and the handwheel 2 to complete the unfolding or folding movement. When the driving assembly 31 stops driving, the driving assembly 31 achieves self-locking and fixes the first transmission member 41. At this time, when the handwheel 2 shakes under the impact of external force, the shaking is transmitted to the second transmission member 42 through the connecting rod assembly 32. The driving surface 411 of the first transmission member 41 will abut against the mating surface 421 of the second transmission member 42 to prevent the second transmission member 42 from moving in the opposite direction, thereby completing the locking of the handwheel 2.

[0078] It should be noted that the first transmission member 41 can slide relative to the second transmission member 42 to drive the second transmission member 42 to move. The first transmission member 41 can also rotate relative to the second transmission member 42 to drive the second transmission member 42 to move. This application does not limit this.

[0079] In some embodiments, the drive assembly employs a rotary drive member, wherein the first transmission member 41 is used to rotate under the drive of the drive assembly to drive the second transmission member 42 to rotate, and when the rotation stops, it prevents the second transmission member 42 from rotating. Compared with sliding, the envelope space required for rotation is smaller, which can effectively reduce the space occupied by the locking mechanism 4 on the steering wheel.

[0080] Please refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7In some embodiments, the locking mechanism 4 further includes a rolling element 43, which is disposed between the first transmission element 41 and the second transmission element 42. Specifically, when the first transmission element 41 rotates under the drive of the drive assembly 31, the first transmission element 41 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the rolling element 43 and drives the rolling element 43 to roll. The rotation of the rolling element 43 then drives the second transmission element 42 to rotate, thereby realizing the power transmission from the drive mechanism 3 to the handwheel 2. When the drive assembly 31 stops driving and locks, the first transmission element 41 stops rotating and restricts the rolling element 43 from rolling, thereby preventing the second transmission element 42 from rotating in the opposite direction.

[0081] The rolling element can convert the relative sliding friction between the first and second transmission components into rolling friction, thereby reducing the transmission resistance of the first and second transmission components, reducing wear, and improving response speed.

[0082] It should be understood that in other possible implementations, the first transmission member 41 may also slide to drive the rolling member 43 to roll, thereby driving the second transmission member 42 to move. This application does not limit this.

[0083] In order to push the rolling element 43 to roll when the drive assembly 31 is driven, and to restrict the rolling element 43 to roll when the drive assembly 31 stops driving, in some embodiments, the drive surface 411 is inclined away from the direction of the rolling element. In this way, when the first transmission member 41 rotates in the driving direction under the drive of the drive assembly 31, the drive surface 411 pushes the rolling element 43 to roll freely between the first transmission member 41 and the second transmission member 42, and drives the second transmission member 42 to rotate synchronously through the rolling element 43, thereby realizing the power transmission from the drive mechanism 3 to the handwheel 2.

[0084] When the drive assembly 31 stops driving and locks, if the second transmission member 42 rotates in the opposite direction to the first transmission member 41 under the impact of an external force, the rolling member 43 will contact the drive surface 411 under the push of the second transmission member 42 and be pushed outward by the drive surface 411 towards the outer limit member, thereby being wedged between the drive surface 411 and the outer limit member, forming a mechanical self-lock. In this way, the possibility of the first transmission member 41 and the second transmission member 42 becoming loose due to the slippage of the rolling member 43 during the locking process of the locking mechanism 4 is reduced, and the reliability of the locking mechanism 4 for locking the handwheel 2 is improved.

[0085] It should be noted that the inclined setting of the driving surface 411 means that on any cross section, the line connecting any point of the driving surface 411 and the axis of the transmission shaft of the first transmission member 41 always has an angle with the driving surface 411.

[0086] Please refer to Figure 8In some embodiments, the rolling element 43 has a first contact point that contacts the driving surface 411; the tangent direction of the rolling element 43 at the first contact point has an angle A with the driving surface 411, satisfying: A≠0. In this way, when the rolling element 43 rolls, it is provided with an axial component force that lifts the rolling element 43 along the direction from the driving surface 411 to the outer cavity wall of the locking mechanism, thereby improving the wedging effect and response speed of the rolling element 43 during the locking process.

[0087] Please refer to Figure 9 In some embodiments, the rolling element 43 has a second contact point that contacts the mating surface 421. The tangent direction of the rolling element 43 at the second contact point is parallel to the mating surface 421, that is, the angle B between the tangent direction at the second contact point and the mating surface 421 satisfies B=0. In this way, when the rolling element 43 rolls, the component force along the normal direction of the mating surface 421 is reduced, the frictional loss between the rolling element 43 and the mating surface 421 is reduced, and the transmission efficiency and motion smoothness of the rolling element 43 to the second transmission element 42 are improved.

[0088] Please refer to Figure 7 In some embodiments, the locking mechanism 4 further includes a limiting member 44, which surrounds the second transmission member 42. The rolling member 43 is located between the first transmission member 41, the second transmission member 42, and the limiting member 44. The limiting member 44 is used to limit the rolling member 43, preventing the rolling member 43 from coming off between the first transmission member 41 and the second transmission member 42 during transmission, thereby improving the reliability of the locking mechanism 4 in locking the handwheel 2. At the same time, when the rolling member 43 moves in the locking direction under the push of the second transmission member 42, the limiting member 44 can cooperate with the driving surface 411 to wedge the rolling member 43 together, reducing the possibility that the first transmission member 41 and the second transmission member 42 will slip due to the rolling member 43 rolling.

[0089] Please refer to Figure 10 In some embodiments, the steering wheel 1000 further includes a damping mechanism 5, which is configured to provide a controllable damping force during the movement of the handwheel 2 to suppress the wobbling of the handwheel 2 during movement and improve the smoothness of folding or unfolding the steering wheel 1000. The damping mechanism 5 may be a damping pad, a damping sleeve, a damper, or other damping structure, and this application does not limit it in this regard.

[0090] In some embodiments, the damping mechanism 5 is located between the drive mechanism 3 and the handwheel 2, so that any rotation of the handwheel 2 must overcome the resistance generated by the damping mechanism 5, thereby effectively suppressing the unexpected displacement caused by external disturbances and improving the stability of the handwheel 2 during folding or unfolding.

[0091] In some embodiments, a damping mechanism 5 is disposed between the drive mechanism 3 and the handwheel 2, thereby limiting the relative movement between the drive mechanism 3 and the handwheel 2 and providing damping for the movement of the handwheel 2.

[0092] In some embodiments, the linkage assembly 32 includes a plurality of sequentially hinged links; the damping mechanism 5 may be disposed at the hinge between two adjacent links to limit the relative rotation between the connected links, thereby providing damping for the movement of the handwheel 2.

[0093] In some embodiments, the damping mechanism 5 may also be provided between the drive assembly 31 and the linkage assembly 32, thereby limiting the power transmission between the drive assembly 31 and the linkage assembly 32 and providing damping for the movement of the handwheel 2.

[0094] In the description of the embodiments of this application, specific features, structures, materials or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0095] The above are merely specific embodiments of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A steering wheel (1000), characterized in that, include: The body (1), handwheel (2), drive mechanism (3) and locking mechanism (4) are provided, wherein the handwheel (2) is movably disposed on the body (1); The drive mechanism (3) is used to drive the handwheel (2) to move, and the locking mechanism (4) is used to lock the handwheel (2) when the drive mechanism (3) stops driving.

2. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking mechanism (4) is configured to allow power to be transmitted only along the direction from the drive mechanism (3) to the handwheel (2).

3. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drive mechanism (3) includes a drive assembly (31) and a linkage assembly (32), the linkage assembly (32) being connected to the handwheel (2); The locking mechanism (4) is located between the transmission path of the link assembly (32) and the drive assembly (31) and is configured to allow power to be transmitted only in the direction from the drive assembly (31) to the link assembly (32).

4. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The drive assembly (31) includes a power source (311) and a reducer (312), wherein the reducer (312) is connected between the power source (311) and the linkage assembly (32); The locking mechanism (4) is located between the power source (311) and the reducer (312), or the locking mechanism (4) is located between the reducer (312) and the connecting rod assembly (32).

5. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The reducer (312) has an input end (3121) and an output end (3122), and the power source (311) is connected to the input end (3121); The drive mechanism (3) further includes a transmission shaft (313), which is located at the output end (3122) and connected to the linkage assembly (32). The locking mechanism (4) is located between the transmission shaft (313) and the linkage assembly (32).

6. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 5, characterized in that, The drive shaft (313) includes a first end and a second end that are disposed opposite to each other along the axial direction of the drive shaft (313); The drive mechanism (3) includes at least two linkage assemblies (32), one of which is connected to the first end via the locking mechanism (4), and / or the other of which is connected to the second end via the locking mechanism (4).

7. The steering wheel (1000) according to any one of claims 3-6, characterized in that, The locking mechanism (4) includes a first transmission member (41) and a second transmission member (42). The first transmission member (41) is connected to the drive assembly (31), and the second transmission member (42) is connected to the linkage assembly (32). The first transmission member (41) is used to drive the second transmission member (42) to move under the drive of the drive assembly (31), and to prevent the second transmission member (42) from moving when the drive assembly (31) stops driving.

8. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The first transmission member (41) is used to drive the second transmission member (42) to rotate under the drive of the drive assembly (31), and to prevent the second transmission member (42) from rotating when the drive assembly (31) stops driving.

9. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The locking mechanism (4) further includes a rolling element (43), which is disposed between the first transmission element (41) and the second transmission element (42); The first transmission member (41) is used to drive the rolling member (43) to roll under the drive of the drive assembly (31) so as to drive the second transmission member (42) to rotate, and to restrict the rolling member (43) from rolling when the drive assembly (31) stops driving so as to prevent the second rotating member from rotating.

10. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The first transmission member (41) includes a driving surface (411) that is inclined away from the direction of the rolling member; The driving surface (411) is used to drive the rolling element (43) to roll under the drive of the driving component (31), and to prevent the rolling element (43) from rolling when the driving component (31) stops driving.

11. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The rolling element (43) has a first contact point that contacts the driving surface (411); The tangential direction of the rolling element (43) at the first contact point has an angle with the driving surface (411).

12. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 10, characterized in that, The second transmission member (42) has a mating surface (421), and the rolling member (43) is located between the mating surface (421) and the driving surface (411); The rolling element (43) has a second contact point that contacts the mating surface (421), and the tangent direction of the rolling element (43) at the second contact point is parallel to the mating surface (421).

13. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 9, characterized in that, The locking mechanism (4) further includes a limiting member (44), which surrounds the second transmission member (42); The rolling element (43) is located between the first transmission element (41), the second transmission element (42), and the limiting element (44).

14. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The handwheel (2) has a folded state and an unfolded state, and the drive mechanism (3) includes a drive assembly (31) and a linkage assembly (32); The linkage assembly (32) is connected between the drive assembly (31) and the handwheel (2). The linkage assembly (32) is used to drive the handwheel (2) to rotate relative to the body (1) so as to drive the handwheel (2) to switch between the folded state and the unfolded state.

15. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 14, characterized in that, The handwheel (2) includes a first handwheel (21) and a second handwheel (22). The linkage assembly (32) is used to drive the first handwheel (21) to rotate in a first direction and drive the second handwheel (22) to rotate in a second direction, so that the handwheel (2) switches between the unfolded state and the folded state. The first direction and the second direction are two opposite directions.

16. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 15, characterized in that, The linkage assembly (32) is connected between the first handwheel (21) and the second handwheel (22) to drive the first handwheel (21) and the second handwheel (22) to rotate synchronously.

17. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 15, characterized in that, The linkage assembly (32) includes a drive rod (321), a first link (322) and a second link (323), wherein the drive rod (321) is drivenly connected to the drive assembly (31); One end of the first connecting rod (322) is rotatably connected to the drive rod (321), and the other end is connected to the first handwheel (21). One end of the second connecting rod (323) is rotatably connected to the drive rod (321), and the other end is connected to the second handwheel (22).

18. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The steering wheel (1000) also includes a damping mechanism (5) for providing damping during the movement of the handwheel (2).

19. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 18, characterized in that, The damping mechanism (5) is located between the drive mechanism (3) and the handwheel (2); and / or The drive mechanism (3) includes a linkage assembly (32), which includes a plurality of links, and the damping mechanism (5) is disposed between adjacent links; and / or The drive mechanism (3) includes a drive assembly (31) and a linkage assembly (32), and the damping mechanism (5) is disposed between the drive assembly (31) and the linkage assembly (32).

20. The steering wheel (1000) according to claim 18, characterized in that, The damping mechanism (5) includes one of a damping pad, a damping sleeve, and a damper.

21. A steering system, characterized in that, The steering wheel includes the one described in any one of claims 1-20.

22. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the steering wheel as described in any one of claims 1-20, or includes the steering system as described in claim 21.

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