Guide structure for electrically adjusting steering column

Abstract

The utility model discloses a guiding structure used for an electric adjusting steering column, which comprises at least two guiding assemblies, each guiding assembly is composed of an internal metal piece and a plastic piece wrapping the metal piece, one end of each metal piece is connected with a length adjusting support, and the other end of each metal piece is connected with a connecting rod. At least one guide sliding groove is formed in the position, opposite to the guide assembly, of the outer column pipe, and the guide sliding groove is in sliding connection with the metal piece wrapped with one end of the plastic piece. An original plastic guide strip or an original plastic guide strip and an original metal guide block are replaced, in order to provide stable linear motion, the guide assemblies are arranged at the two ends of the length adjusting support respectively, and due to the fact that the inner structures of the guide assemblies are metal pieces, the strength is higher, and the service life is prolonged. The inner column pipe can be axially guided more effectively through the front and rear double-guide assembly, the inner column pipe is prevented from rotating relative to the outer column pipe, and meanwhile the situation that the length adjusting support deforms and interferes with the outer column pipe, and the crumple function is affected can be further prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the field of electric adjustable steering columns, and particularly relates to a guiding structure for an electric adjustable steering column. Background Technique

[0002] At present, for an electric adjustable steering column, an axial guiding of an inner column tube is achieved by providing a plastic guiding strip between a length adjustment bracket and an outer column tube or by a metal guiding block sliding in the plastic guiding strip. As shown in Figure 5 、 Figure 6 and Figure 7 , the length adjustment bracket 104 is directly or indirectly connected to a C-shaped strip 103 on the inner column tube 102 through an energy absorbing sheet 101. A guiding strip limiting groove is provided on the outer column tube 105, and a plastic guiding strip 106 is embedded in the guiding strip limiting groove. A baffle 107 is fixed above the guiding strip limiting groove 106 through two bolts for pressing the plastic guiding strip 106 to prevent the plastic guiding strip 106 from popping up. The length adjustment bracket 104 reciprocates relative to the plastic guiding strip 106 in the outer column tube 105, or a metal guiding block 108 on the length adjustment bracket 104 reciprocates relative to the plastic guiding strip 106 in the outer column tube 105. However, the existing axial guiding of the inner column tube 102 by the plastic guiding strip 106 or the cooperation of the plastic guiding strip 106 and the metal guiding block 108 has the following problems:

[0003] 1. Since the plastic guiding strip 106 is a plastic part with low strength, it is easily damaged during assembly. After the plastic guiding strip 106 is damaged, it can no longer play a guiding role. At this time, in addition to the axial movement of the inner column tube 102 relative to the outer column tube 105, it will also rotate relative to the outer column tube 105, thus affecting the length adjustment function.

[0004] 2. When the collapse force is too large, it will cause the length adjustment bracket 104 to deform, thereby damaging the plastic guiding strip 106. After the plastic guiding strip 106 is damaged, it can no longer play a guiding role, so the stability of the collapse force is affected. If the length adjustment bracket 104 deforms too much, it will even interfere with the outer column tube 105, affecting the collapse function.

[0005] 3. The existing guiding structure has a large number of parts, including the plastic guiding strip 106, the baffle 107 and two bolts for connection, or on this basis, it also includes a metal guiding block 108. Therefore, the installation efficiency is low, and it is not convenient for maintenance when there are many parts, which further increases the cost. Content of the Utility Model

[0006] The purpose of the present utility model is to solve the above problems, and to provide a guiding structure for an electrically adjustable steering column. This guiding structure replaces the original plastic guiding strip or plastic guiding strip and metal guiding block. In order to provide stable linear motion, guiding components are provided at both ends of the length adjustment bracket. Since the internal structure of the guiding component is a metal part, the strength is higher. Through the front and rear double guiding components, the inner column tube can be axially guided more effectively, preventing the inner column tube from rotating relative to the outer column tube. At the same time, it can further prevent the length adjustment bracket from deforming and interfering with the outer column tube, affecting the collapse function.

[0007] In order to achieve the above purpose, the present utility model provides a guiding structure for an electrically adjustable steering column, including at least two guiding components. The guiding components are arranged at both ends of the length adjustment bracket and are composed of an internal metal part and a plastic part wrapping the metal part. The guiding component is connected to the length adjustment bracket through the metal part. The position of the outer column tube relative to the guiding component has at least one guiding chute, and the guiding chute is slidably connected to the metal part wrapped with the plastic part.

[0008] As a further optimization, the metal part and the plastic part in the guiding component are in interference fit. In order to ensure the interference fit between the plastic part and the metal part, the interior of the plastic part is provided with uniformly distributed protrusions.

[0009] As a further optimization, the metal part and the plastic part in the guiding component are integrally injection molded.

[0010] As a further optimization, the metal part can be a metal guiding block, a bolt, or a rivet.

[0011] As a further optimization, the plastic part is a plastic guiding block. In order to reduce sliding friction, the outer shape of the plastic guiding block is selected as a circular structure.

[0012] Advantages and beneficial effects of the present utility model

[0013] 1. The present utility model adopts at least two guiding components. Since the internal structure of the guiding component is a metal part, the strength is good, which can effectively avoid damage to the plastic guiding strip during the installation process and thus fail to play a guiding role. Therefore, when the inner column tube moves axially relative to the outer column tube, it is more stable, avoiding the rotation of the inner column tube relative to the outer column tube and improving the smoothness of the inner column tube during length adjustment.

[0014] 2. The internal structure of the guiding component in the present utility model is a metal part, so the strength is good. When the collapse force is too large, the guiding components at the front and rear ends can prevent the deformation caused by the position deviation of the length adjustment bracket, so it will not interfere with the outer column tube and affect the collapse function. At the same time, the guiding component has higher strength than the traditional plastic guiding strip and is not easily damaged. The double guiding components can improve the stability of the collapse force.

[0015] 3. The structure of the utility model is simple, with a small number of parts. The plastic guide strip, baffle and two bolts for connection are cancelled. The metal part wrapped with the plastic part at one end is pressed into the guide chute on the inner column tube, and then the metal part in the guide assembly is connected to the length adjustment bracket, which makes the installation simpler and more convenient for maintenance, greatly reducing the cost and the occupied space inside the electric adjustment steering column. Description of the Drawings

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present utility model, the drawings required for the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only the embodiments of the present utility model. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained according to the provided drawings without creative efforts.

[0017] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the electric adjustment steering column provided by the present utility model;

[0018] Figure 2 It is an exploded view of the guide structure, inner column tube and length adjustment bracket provided by the present utility model;

[0019] Figure 3 It is a schematic diagram of the outer column tube structure provided by the present utility model;

[0020] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the guide assembly provided by the present utility model;

[0021] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the existing electric adjustment steering column;

[0022] Figure 6 and Figure 7 It is an exploded view of the existing plastic guide strip, guide assembly, inner column tube and length adjustment bracket.

[0023] Reference numerals in this application

[0024] Guide assembly 1, metal part 11, plastic part 12, length adjustment bracket 2, outer column tube 3, guide chute 4, inner column tube 5 and motor 6.

[0025] Reference numerals in the prior art

[0026] Energy absorption sheet 101, inner column tube 102, C-shaped strip 103, length adjustment bracket 104, outer column tube 105, plastic guide strip 106, baffle 107 and metal guide block 108. Detailed implementation manners

[0027] In the description of the present utility model, the terms "first", "second", "third", "fourth", etc. in the specification, claims and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and do not necessarily describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchanged under appropriate circumstances so that the embodiments described herein can be implemented in an order different from that shown or described herein.

[0028] The specific embodiments of the present utility model will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that in the description of the present utility model, the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "inner", "outer", "front", "rear", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present utility model and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation to the present utility model.

[0029] As Figures 1-3 shown, a guiding structure for an electrically adjustable steering column includes at least two guiding components 1. In this embodiment, two guiding components 1 are taken as an example for description. The two guiding components 1 are both composed of an internal metal part 11 and a plastic part 12 wrapping the metal part 11. Refer to Figure 4 , the metal part 11 and the plastic part 12 can be integrally injection-molded or in interference fit. In order to ensure the interference fit between the plastic part 12 and the metal part 11, the interior of the plastic part 12 is provided with uniformly distributed protrusions (refer to Figure 2 ). The metal part 11 can be a metal guiding block, a bolt, a rivet, etc. The strength of the guiding component 1 can be improved through the metal part 11, the deformation amount of the length adjustment bracket 2 can be reduced, and it is not easily damaged during collapse and installation. In this embodiment, the metal part 11 in the two guiding components 1 is taken as a bolt, and the plastic part 12 is taken as a plastic guiding block. The plastic guiding block can reduce the abnormal noise generated by the friction between the guiding component 1 and the guiding chute 4 on the outer column tube 3. At the same time, for the convenience of installation and to make the guiding component 1 slide more smoothly in the guiding chute 4, the outer shape of the plastic guiding block in this embodiment is selected as a circular structure.

[0030] When the guiding component 1 is installed on the length adjustment bracket 2 and the guiding chute 4 on the outer column tube 3, the two guiding components 1 are bolted to the front and rear ends of the length adjustment bracket 2 through metal parts. The position of the outer column tube 3 relative to the two guiding components 1 is provided with at least one guiding chute 4, that is, the two guiding components 1 can share the same guiding chute 4. When the inner column tube 5 axially moves relative to the outer column tube 3, the two guiding components 1 slide in the same guiding chute 4. Or the corresponding number of guiding chutes 4 can be set according to the number of guiding components 1. In this embodiment, since there are two guiding components 1, two guiding chutes 4 are provided at the position of the outer column tube 3 relative to the two guiding components 1. The guiding chute 4 is slidably connected to the metal part 11 wrapped with one end of the plastic part 12. By isolating the metal part 11 and the guiding chute 4 through the plastic part 12, the abnormal noise generated when the metal part 11 slides in the guiding chute 4 can be prevented. In order to ensure that the inner column tube 5 will not rotate relative to the outer column tube 3 during length adjustment and collapse, in this embodiment, the guiding component 1 is pressed into the guiding chute 4 on the outer column tube 3.

[0031] Working principle

[0032] The motor 6 drives the length adjustment bracket 2 to move, and then the inner column tube 5 fixed to the length adjustment bracket 2 moves relative to the outer column tube 3. Since the guiding components 1 connected to the front and rear ends of the length adjustment bracket 2 axially move along the guiding chute 4 on the outer column tube 3, the inner column tube 5 can be guided to axially move relative to the outer column tube 3. Through the dual guiding effects of the guiding components 1 at the front and rear ends, the smoothness of the inner column tube 5 during length adjustment can be improved. Moreover, the guiding components 1 have high strength, which can prevent the deformation caused by the position deviation of the length adjustment bracket 2 and prevent the length adjustment bracket 2 from interfering with the outer column tube 3 and affecting the collapse force. At the same time, the guiding components 1 have higher strength than the traditional plastic guiding strips and are not easily damaged. The stability of the collapse force can be improved through the double guiding components.

[0033] Finally, it should be noted that: the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than to limit them; although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that: they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some or all of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the scope of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A guiding structure for an electrically adjustable steering column, characterized in that, It includes at least two guiding components (1), the guiding components (1) are arranged at both ends of the length adjustment bracket, and are composed of an internal metal part (11) and a plastic part (12) wrapping the metal part (11). The guiding components (1) are connected to the length adjustment bracket (2) through the metal part (11). The outer column tube (3) has at least one guiding chute (4) at the position relative to the guiding component (1), and the guiding chute (4) is slidably connected to the metal part (11) at one end wrapped with the plastic part (12).

2. The guiding structure for an electrically adjustable steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that, The metal part (11) and the plastic part (12) in the guiding component (1) are in interference fit. In order to ensure the interference fit between the plastic part (12) and the metal part (11), the interior of the plastic part (12) is provided with uniformly distributed protrusions.

3. A guiding structure for an electrically adjustable steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that, The metal part (11) and the plastic part (12) in the guiding component (1) are integrally injection molded.

4. A guiding structure for an electrically adjustable steering column according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The metal part (11) is a metal guiding block or a bolt or a rivet.

5. A guiding structure for an electrically adjustable steering column according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The plastic part (12) is a plastic guiding block, and the outer shape of the plastic guiding block is selected as a circular structure.

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