Electric adjusting steering column structure

Abstract

The utility model discloses an electric adjusting steering column structure, and aims to improve the precision and the running stability of an automobile steering column in the adjusting process, reduce the risk of a steering wheel column system in the moving process and improve the comfort and the safety of a driver in the process of operating the automobile steering column. By applying the rolling guide rail mechanism, up-down adjustment and front-back adjustment are more stable and efficient. The structure comprises an upper tubular column assembly and a lower tubular column assembly, and the positions of the upper tubular column assembly and the lower tubular column assembly are adjusted up and down and back and forth through a servo motor, a gear rack and a rolling guide rail.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of automotive steering columns, and particularly relates to an electric adjustable steering column structure. Background Art

[0002] The automotive steering system refers to the system used to control the steering direction of a vehicle. It includes a series of components, such as the steering shaft, steering column, steering mechanism, steering gear, etc. Through these components, the driver's steering wheel operation is converted into a device for changing or maintaining the vehicle's forward movement, steering, and reverse movement. The design and performance of the steering system directly affect the vehicle's controllability, comfort, and safety. Common steering systems include the traditional hydraulic power steering system and the modern electric power steering system. In the field of vehicle engineering, an electric steering column is a steering system for an automobile that uses the operation of an electric servo motor to provide the driver with up, down, front, and rear position adjustments within a certain space range. The device structure that realizes the above position adjustment is called an automotive steering column structure.

[0003] For the existing electric adjustable steering column structure, such as the invention patent named "Electric Steering Column Adjustment Structure" (publication number: CN115195846 A, application number: 202210987326.2), the following technical solution is disclosed: An electric steering column adjustment structure includes a support. A steering column is slidably arranged on the support. The housing of the motor is connected to the moving outer tube of the steering column. The core of the steering column is arranged parallel to the core of the motor shaft. A worm is coaxially rotatably arranged on the motor. A worm gear meshes with the worm to form a worm gear reduction mechanism. A gear is coaxially arranged on the gear shaft of the worm gear. The gear meshes with a first rack fixed on the support for transmission. The length direction of the second rack is arranged parallel to the core direction of the steering column. When the length adjustment instruction is started, the motor starts to operate. After the torque is increased and reduced by the worm gear and the worm, the gear shaft is driven to rotate. The gear arranged on the gear shaft meshes with the first rack fixed on the support. During the rotation of the gear shaft, the gear shaft will drive the motor and push the moving outer tube of the steering column to extend or shorten along its axis. At the same time, the gear shaft will drive the motor and the second rack to move. And at the same time, the gear meshes with the second rack, which will drive the second rack to move relative to the gear, that is, the second rack will move at a speed twice that of the gear shaft to achieve the purpose of speed increase. In this structural design, the gear meshes with both the first rack and the second rack at the same time, increasing the risk during the movement of the steering wheel column system, and the adjustment accuracy is not high and the movement is not stable, reducing the comfort and safety of the driver during the operation of the automotive steering column. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Objective of the Invention: The objective of the present utility model is to provide an electric adjustable steering column structure in view of the deficiencies of the prior art. By adopting the form of cooperation between a rack and a rolling guide rail, it solves the problems and difficulties of the existing electric steering column system, such as low adjustment accuracy, unstable movement, obvious transmission noise, and unreasonable space layout.

[0005] Technical Solution: The electric adjustable steering column structure of the present utility model includes an upper column assembly (13) and a lower column assembly (7) connected to the upper column assembly (13). On the surface of the upper column assembly (13), there is an up-and-down adjustment mechanism, which includes a first control motor (12), a first spur gear (11), a first annular rolling guide rail (10), and a first rack (9). The first control motor (12) drives the first spur gear (11) to rotate. The first spur gear (11) meshes with the first rack (9). The first rack (9) is fixed on the first annular rolling guide rail (10). The first annular rolling guide rail (10) is fixed on the surface of the upper column assembly (13) through a slider. When the first spur gear (11) rotates, through the movement of the first annular rolling guide rail (10), the upper column assembly (13) and the upper adjustment shaft (14) inside it are adjusted up and down around the node of the universal joint hinge. On the surface of the lower column assembly (7), there is a front-and-back adjustment mechanism, which includes a second control motor (3), a second spur gear (5), a second linear rolling guide rail (2), a second slider (1), and a second rack (4). The second control motor (3) drives the second spur gear (5) to rotate. The second spur gear (5) meshes with the second rack (4). The second rack (4) is fixed on the second linear rolling guide rail (2). One end of the second linear rolling guide rail (2) is fixed on the surface of the lower column assembly (7). Through cooperation with the second slider (1), when the second spur gear (5) rotates, through the movement of the second linear rolling guide rail (2), the lower column assembly (7) and the lower adjustment shaft (8) inside it are driven to perform an axial telescopic movement to achieve front-and-back adjustment.

[0006] To further improve the above technical solution, both the first control motor (12) and the second control motor (3) are servo motors and are electrically connected to a preset electric control switch on the surface of the vehicle steering wheel through electric control wires.

[0007] Furthermore, the first annular rolling guide rail (10) and the first rack (9) are connected together by bolts.

[0008] Furthermore, one end of the second linear rolling guide rail (2) is fixed on the surface of the lower column assembly (7), and the other end is connected in cooperation with the second slider (1) for supporting and guiding the movement of the lower column assembly (7) and the lower adjustment shaft (8) inside it.

[0009] Furthermore, the upper column assembly (13) includes an upper drive shaft (15), and the surface of the upper drive shaft (15) is press-fitted with the rear end of the upper column assembly (13) as a whole through a bearing.

[0010] Furthermore, the rear end of the upper drive shaft (15) is provided with external splines for mating connection with a steering wheel.

[0011] Furthermore, the lower column assembly (7) includes a lower drive shaft (6), and the surface of the lower drive shaft (6) is press-fitted with the front end and the rear end of the lower column assembly (7) as a whole through a bearing.

[0012] Furthermore, a spline groove is preset at the front end of the lower drive shaft (6) for sliding and clamping engagement with the splines at the rear end of a lower adjustment shaft (8) inside the lower column assembly, and splines are provided at the rear end of the lower drive shaft (6) for connection with an automotive transmission system to transmit motion signals.

[0013] Furthermore, the first annular rolling guide (10), the first rack (9), the second linear rolling guide (2), and the second rack (4) are respectively arranged on both sides of the upper column assembly (13) and are arranged along the axial direction of the steering column.

[0014] Beneficial effects: Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present utility model are as follows: On the basis of the original technology, the present utility model changes the meshing transmission form of the gear-rack mechanism into a form in which the rack cooperates with the rolling guide, solves the problems and difficulties of the existing electric steering column system, such as low adjustment accuracy, unstable movement, obvious transmission noise, and unreasonable space arrangement, and realizes the ability to electrically adjust the position of the steering wheel according to the height and body type of the driver to find the most suitable driving posture, thereby improving driving comfort and safety. Since the rolling guide structure is adopted in this patent, the quietness of the steering column during working movement is reflected; at the same time, the reasonable layout in the limited space reduces the cost and is convenient for the cost control of the whole vehicle.

[0015] The utility model has the following technical design points: 1. The overall distribution of the steering column mechanism of the utility model is uniform. The first annular rolling guide rail, the first rack, the second linear rolling guide rail, and the second rack are axially arranged with the steering column, and are respectively arranged on both sides of the steering column, greatly saving the floor space of the automotive steering column system. 2. The operation stability of the steering column mechanism of the utility model is high. In the patent of the utility model, the rolling guide rail structure and the rack mechanism are fixed and matched with each other. When the motor rotates, the gear and the rack mesh with each other, causing the guide rail to move in the slider, realizing the adjustment of the up, down, front, and rear positions of the automotive steering wheel. Since the rolling guide rail structure is used, the structural quietness of the automotive steering column of the patent of the utility model is superior to that of the gear-rack structure during position adjustment, thereby improving the operation stability. 3. The guide rail and the slider involved in the utility model are both installed by bolts, so assembly, disassembly, and reorganization are very easy. According to the characteristics of the rolling guide rail device, the interchangeability of the components of the rolling guide rail, including the guide rail, the slider, and the bolts, is more prominent, facilitating use in production, improving the production level and the means of civilized production of vehicle manufacturers, greatly shortening the design cycle, and saving enterprise costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is the overall schematic diagram of the electric steering column adjustment structure in the utility model;

[0017] Figure 2 is the schematic diagram of the up-and-down adjustment structure in the electric steering column adjustment structure of the utility model;

[0018] Figure 3 is the schematic diagram of the front-and-back adjustment structure in the electric steering column adjustment structure of the utility model;

[0019] Figure 4 is the schematic diagram of the cooperation between the gear and the rack. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The technical solution of the utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings, but the protection scope of the utility model is not limited to the described embodiments.

[0021] Embodiment 1: As Figures 1 to 4The shown electric adjustable steering column structure includes an upper column assembly 13 and a lower column assembly 7 connected to the upper column assembly 13. The upper column assembly 13 includes an upper transmission shaft 15, and the upper transmission shaft 15 is press-fitted into one body with the rear end of the upper column assembly 13 through a bearing; an external spline is provided at the rear end of the upper transmission shaft 15 for cooperating with the steering wheel and being connected by a nut. The lower column assembly 7 includes a lower transmission shaft 6, and the lower transmission shaft 6 is press-fitted into one body with the front and rear ends of the lower column assembly 7 through bearings respectively; a spline groove is preset at the front end of the lower transmission shaft 6 for sliding and clamping in cooperation with the spline corresponding to the rear end of the shaft 8 inside the lower column assembly, and a spline is provided at the rear end of the lower transmission shaft 6 for connecting to the vehicle transmission system to transmit motion signals.

[0022] An up-and-down adjustment mechanism is composed of a first control motor 12, a first spur gear 11, a first annular rolling guide 10 and a first rack 9, and a front-and-back adjustment mechanism is composed of a second control motor 3, a second spur gear 5, a second linear rolling guide 2 and a second rack 4, which are respectively designed on the surface of the upper column and the surface of the lower column. The up-and-down adjustment mechanism can cooperate with the upper column assembly 13, the upper adjustment shaft 14 inside the upper column assembly, and the steering wheel connected to the upper transmission shaft 15 to realize the up-and-down adjustment function in the tilt direction. The front-and-back adjustment mechanism can cooperate with the lower column assembly 7 and the lower adjustment shaft 8 inside the lower column assembly 7 to perform an axially telescopic motion form, so as to drive the upper column assembly 13 and the upper adjustment shaft 14 inside the upper column assembly 7 to perform an axially telescopic motion. The second linear rolling guide 2, the second rack 4, the lower column assembly 7 and the lower adjustment shaft 8 inside the lower column assembly are arranged in parallel, and then the steering wheel realizes the front-and-back adjustment in the axial direction.

[0023] The second linear rolling guide 2, the second rack 4 and the lower column assembly 7 and the lower adjustment shaft 8 inside it are arranged in parallel, and then the steering wheel connected to the shaft realizes the front-and-back adjustment in the axial direction. The first control motor 12 of the up-and-down adjustment mechanism and the second control motor 3 of the front-and-back adjustment mechanism are both servo motors, and are both electrically connected to a preset electric control switch on the surface of the vehicle steering wheel through electric control wires.

[0024] The first annular rolling guide 10, the first rack 9 and the second linear rolling guide 2, the second rack 4 are respectively arranged on both sides of the steering column, and are axially arranged with the steering column, greatly saving the floor space of the vehicle steering wheel column system.

[0025] After the instruction for vertical adjustment of the steering wheel column in the electric control adjustment instruction of the steering wheel is activated, the first control motor 12 starts to operate. After being decelerated and torque-increased by the internal worm and worm gear, it drives the first straight gear 11 to rotate. The first straight gear 11 meshes with the first rack 9 fixed together with the first annular rolling guide 10. The first annular rolling guide 10 and the first rack 9 are fixedly arranged on the surface of the shaft 8 inside the lower column assembly. One end of the first slider 16 is fixed on the surface of the upper column, and the other end passes through the groove on the surface of the first rack 9 and is connected by a bolt. The annular groove on the surface of the first rack 9 coincides with the movement track of the entire upper column assembly 13, and plays a role of positioning and guiding during the vertical adjustment control of the steering wheel column. Therefore, when the first straight gear 11 rotates, it will drive the upper column assembly 13 and the upper adjustment shaft 14 inside the upper column assembly 13 to move up and down around the node of the internal universal joint hinge.

[0026] After the instruction for front-back adjustment of the steering wheel column in the electric control adjustment instruction of the steering wheel is activated, the second control motor 3 starts to operate. After being decelerated and torque-increased by the internal worm and worm gear, it drives the second straight gear 5 to rotate. The second straight gear 5 meshes with the second rack 4 fixed together with the second linear rolling guide 2, and the second slider 1 cooperating with the second linear rolling guide 2 is fixed on the surface of the lower column assembly 7 and the shaft 8 inside the lower column assembly. The second slider 1 fixedly connected to the surface of the lower column cooperates with the second linear rolling guide 2, playing a role of positioning, guiding and supporting, and the positioning hole of the second slider 1 and the guide rail are arranged horizontally. Therefore, when the second straight gear 5 rotates, the second linear rolling guide 2 will drive the lower adjustment shaft 8 inside the lower column assembly to move forward or backward along the axial center position of the lower column assembly 7.

[0027] As described above, although the present invention has been shown and described with reference to specific preferred embodiments, it should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention itself. Various changes can be made in its form and details without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electrically adjustable steering column structure, comprising an upper column assembly (13) and a lower column assembly (7) connected to the upper column assembly (13); characterized in that: The surface of the upper column assembly (13) is provided with an up-and-down adjustment mechanism, which comprises a No. 1 control motor (12), a No. 1 spur gear (11), a No. 1 annular rolling guide rail (10) and a No. 1 rack (9). The No. 1 control motor (12) drives the No. 1 spur gear (11) to rotate, the No. 1 spur gear (11) is meshed with the No. 1 rack (9), the No. 1 rack (9) is fixed on the No. 1 annular rolling guide rail (10), and the No. 1 annular rolling guide rail (10) is fixed on the surface of the upper column assembly (13) through a slider, so that when the No. 1 spur gear (11) rotates, the No. 1 annular rolling guide rail (10) moves, so that the upper column assembly (13) and the upper adjustment shaft (14) inside it can be adjusted up and down around the node of the universal joint hinge; The surface of the lower column assembly (7) is provided with a front-and-rear adjustment mechanism, which comprises a No. 2 control motor (3), a No. 2 spur gear (5), a No. 2 linear rolling guide (2), a No. 2 slider (1) and a No. 2 rack (4). The No. 2 control motor (3) drives the No. 2 spur gear (5) to rotate, the No. 2 spur gear (5) is meshed with the No. 2 rack (4), the No. 2 rack (4) is fixed on the No. 2 linear rolling guide (2), one end of the No. 2 linear rolling guide (2) is fixed on the surface of the lower column assembly (7), and through the cooperation with the No. 2 slider (1), when the No. 2 spur gear (5) rotates, the No. 2 linear rolling guide (2) moves, driving the lower column assembly (7) and the lower adjustment shaft (8) inside it to perform axial telescopic movement, thereby realizing front-and-rear adjustment.

2. The electrically adjustable steering column structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first control motor (12) and the second control motor (3) are both servo motors and are electrically connected to a preset electric control switch on the surface of the automobile steering wheel via an electric control wire.

3. The electrically adjustable steering column structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first annular rolling guide rail (10) and the first rack (9) are connected together by bolts.

4. The electrically adjustable steering column structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: One end of the second linear rolling guide rail (2) is fixed to the surface of the lower column assembly (7), and the other end is connected to the second slider (1) to support and guide the movement of the lower column assembly (7) and the lower adjustment shaft (8) inside it.

5. The electrically adjustable steering column structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The upper column assembly (13) comprises an upper transmission shaft (15), and the surface of the upper transmission shaft (15) is press-fitted into one with the rear end of the upper column assembly (13) via a bearing.

6. The electrically adjustable steering column structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The rear end of the upper transmission shaft (15) is provided with an external spline for being connected with the steering wheel.

7. The electrically adjustable steering column structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower pipe column assembly (7) comprises a lower transmission shaft (6), and the surface of the lower transmission shaft (6) is press-fitted into one with the front end and the rear end of the lower pipe column assembly (7) via bearings.

8. The electrically adjustable steering column structure according to claim 7, characterized in that: The front end of the lower transmission shaft (6) is preset with a spline groove which is slidably engaged with the spline at the rear end of the lower adjustment shaft (8) inside the lower column assembly. The rear end of the lower transmission shaft (6) is provided with a spline for connecting with the automobile transmission system to transmit motion signals.

9. The electrically adjustable steering column structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first annular rolling guide rail (10), the first rack (9) and the second linear rolling guide rail (2), the second rack (4) are respectively arranged on both sides of the upper column assembly (13) and arranged along the axial direction of the steering column.

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