Steering-by-wire column capable of achieving long-stroke adjustment

Abstract

The utility model relates to a steer-by-wire column capable of achieving long-stroke adjustment. Comprising a steering column body, a support, a length adjusting mechanism and a steering mechanism, the two ends of a steering pipe are fixed in an inner column pipe of the steering column body through two bearings, and the road feeling simulator comprises a shell, a motor, a steering shaft, a torsion bar, a worm wheel shaft, a worm wheel, an angle sensor, bearings and an angle limiting structure. The steering shaft is in spline fit with the steering tube, an output shaft of the motor is connected with the worm, the worm drives the worm gear, the worm gear drives the worm gear shaft, the worm gear shaft is connected with one end of the torsion bar, and the other end of the torsion bar is connected with the steering shaft. The angle limiting structure is arranged at the end, away from the steering shaft, of the worm-wheel shaft. By adjusting the structure of the steering column, the lead screw on the length adjusting motor can be lengthened, so that the length adjusting range is larger.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of automobile steering column, specifically relates to a long stroke adjustment realization line control steering column. BACKGROUND

[0002] The steering column is an important component of the steering system, is connected with the steering wheel and the steering gear, and plays a role of connecting the upper and lower parts. In order to meet the needs of different drivers, improve the driving experience and improve the driving comfort, the adjustment range of the steering column should be as large as possible.

[0003] The line control steering column does not have the traditional mechanical connection structure, saves space, is high in safety, is comfortable to drive, and is widely applied to vehicles. However, the length of the screw rod of the length adjustment motor is short due to the structural limitation of the existing line control steering column, so that the adjustment range of the steering column is small during length adjustment, the steering wheel is limited in retraction, and more sufficient space cannot be provided for the driver. UTILITY MODEL CONTENTS

[0004] The utility model aims at providing a long stroke adjustment realization line control steering column, the steering column structure is optimized, the length of the screw rod of the length adjustment motor is lengthened, and the length adjustment range is large.

[0005] The technical scheme of the utility model:

[0006] A long stroke adjustment realization line control steering column, comprising a steering column main body, a support, a length adjustment mechanism and a steering mechanism, the steering mechanism comprises a steering pipe, a first bearing, a second bearing and a road feeling simulator, the steering pipe is fixed in the inner column pipe inside the steering column main body through the first bearing and the second bearing at both ends, the road feeling simulator comprises a shell, a motor and a steering shaft, a torsion bar, a worm shaft, a worm wheel, an angle sensor, a bearing and an angle limiting structure arranged in the shell, the steering shaft of the road feeling simulator is inserted into the steering pipe, the steering shaft is in spline cooperation with the steering pipe, the motor output shaft is connected with a worm, the worm drives the worm wheel, the worm wheel drives the worm shaft, one end of the worm shaft is connected with the torsion bar, the other end of the torsion bar is connected with the steering shaft, the angle sensor is installed at the butt joint of the steering shaft and the worm shaft, the worm shaft is fixedly arranged in the shell through a bearing, and the angle limiting structure is arranged at one end of the worm shaft away from the steering shaft.

[0007] The utility model has the advantages of:

[0008] 1、The length of the road feeling simulator of the application is shortened, more space can be reserved for the steering column main body, the length of the steering column main body is lengthened, that is, the screw rod of the length adjustment motor can be lengthened, and the length adjustment range is larger.

[0009] 2、The diameter of the steering tube towards the road feeling simulator (inner end) is increased, and when the length is adjusted, the steering tube can move more inwardly, pass the thicker part of the inner end of the steering shaft, and can be pressed against the angle sensor of the road feeling simulator, which makes the length adjustment range of the steering column larger.

[0010] 3、The two guide blocks of the length adjustment mechanism of the application slide in a long slot of the steering column housing, so that the slot is longer, the sliding space of the guide block is larger, and the length adjustment range can be increased by the cooperation of the length adjustment screw rod.

[0011] 4、The angle adjustment bracket of the angle adjustment mechanism of the application is made to avoid the length adjustment screw rod, which can lengthen the length adjustment screw rod and make the length adjustment range larger. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0012] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or prior art description will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only embodiments of the present application, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained without creative labor on the basis of the provided drawings.

[0013] Figure 1 The overall structure diagram of the by-wire steering column for realizing long-stroke adjustment of the present application.

[0014] Figure 2 The exploded view of the steering mechanism part of the steering column of the present application.

[0015] Figure 3 The cross-sectional view of the steering mechanism part of the steering column of the present application.

[0016] Figure 4 The enlarged view of the limiting structure part of the steering mechanism of the steering column of the present application.

[0017] Figure 5 The structure diagram of the length adjustment mechanism part of the steering column of the present application.

[0018] Figure 6 The guide block part of the length adjustment mechanism of the steering column of the present application.

[0019] Figure 7 The structure diagram of the angle adjustment mechanism part of the steering column of the present application.

[0020] Figure 8 The exploded view of the angle adjustment mechanism part of the steering column of the present application.

[0021] Figure 9A schematic view of a steering column structure in the prior art.

[0022] Figure 10 A schematic view of a steer-by-wire steering column structure in the prior art.

[0023] Figure 11 A sectional view of a steer-by-wire steering column in the prior art.

[0024] Figure 12 A partial enlarged view of a road feel simulator of the present application. Figure 11

[0025] Reference signs:

[0026] Support 1, length adjustment mechanism 2, steering mechanism 3, inner column tube 4, angle adjustment mechanism 5, steering column housing 6, mounting hole 11, length adjustment motor 21, length adjustment screw rod 22, nut 23, length adjustment retaining bracket 24, length adjustment bracket 25, guide block 26, guide sliding groove 27, energy-absorbing sheet 28, pull rivet 29, steering tube 31, first bearing 32, second bearing 33, road feel simulator 34, angle adjustment motor 51, angle adjustment screw rod 52, angle adjustment bracket 53, connecting piece 54, sliding sheet 55, bolt 56, outer shell 341, motor 342, steering shaft 343, torsion bar 344, worm shaft 345, worm wheel 346, angle sensor 347, bearing 348, angle limiting structure 349, outer spline 3431, pinion 3491, large gear 3492, bolt 3493, outer cover 3494, limiting block 3495. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] In order to solve the problems in the background art, the present application discloses a steer-by-wire steering column capable of long stroke adjustment, which can adjust the structure of the existing steer-by-wire steering column, lengthen the screw rod of the length adjustment motor, increase the length adjustment range of the steering column, and improve the driving experience of the driver.

[0028] It should be noted that, in the description of the present application, the terms "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "front", "rear" and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application.

[0029] ​A long-stroke adjustment implementation of a steer-by-wire column, including a steering column body, a bracket 1, a length adjustment mechanism 2 and a steering mechanism 3, the steering mechanism 3 including a steering tube 31, a first bearing 32, a second bearing 33 and a road feel simulator 34, the steering tube 31 being fixed inside the inner column tube 4 of the steering column body through the first bearing 32 and the second bearing 33 at both ends, the first bearing 32 and the second bearing 33 preferably being rigid angular contact ball bearings. The road feel simulator 34 includes a housing 341, a motor 342 and a steering shaft 343, a torsion bar 344, a worm shaft 345, a worm wheel 346, an angle sensor 347, a bearing 348 and an angle limiting structure 349 arranged in the housing, the steering shaft 343 of the road feel simulator 34 being inserted into the steering tube 31, the steering shaft 343 being splined with the steering tube 31, the output shaft of the motor 342 being connected with a worm, the worm driving the worm wheel 346, the worm wheel 346 driving the worm shaft 345, the worm shaft 345 being connected with one end of the torsion bar 344, the other end of the torsion bar 344 being connected with the steering shaft 343, the angle sensor 347 being installed at the joint of the steering shaft and the worm shaft, the worm shaft being fixedly arranged in the housing through the bearing 348, and the angle limiting structure 349 being arranged at the end of the worm shaft away from the steering shaft.

[0030] The angle limiting structure 349 includes a pinion 3491, a gear wheel 3492, a bolt 3493 and an outer cover 3494, the end of the worm shaft away from the steering shaft being provided with a threaded hole, the bolt fixing the pinion on the worm shaft, the pinion 3491 being engaged with the gear wheel 3492, the gear wheel 3492 being arranged on a gear shaft of the housing, the outer cover 3494 being clamped with the housing, the inside of the pinion being fixedly provided with a limiting block 3495, and the limiting block being engaged with a limiting block on the gear wheel.

[0031] The outer spline 3431 of the steering shaft 343 of the road feel simulator is wrapped with a plastic layer, and the outside of the plastic layer is coated with lubricating grease, so that the steering shaft is in interference fit with the steering tube, and the diameter of the end of the steering tube towards the road feel simulator is increased.

[0032] The traditional road feel simulator is provided with two bearings inside, in order to effectively compress the external space of the steering column, the road feel simulator of the application only retains one bearing inside, and the angle limiting structure is optimized, and the traditional screw nut transmission mode is changed into gear transmission. In this way, the road feel simulator is small in structure and occupies small space, and more space is reserved for the steering column body, so that the length adjustment range is larger.

[0033] The length adjusting mechanism 2 comprises a length adjusting motor 21, a length adjusting screw rod 22, a nut 23, a length adjusting holding bracket 24, a length adjusting bracket 25 and a guide block 26, the length adjusting motor 21 is bolted on the steering column housing of the pipe column body, the output end of the length adjusting motor 21 is connected with the length adjusting screw rod 22, the length adjusting screw rod 22 is provided with the nut 23, the nut 23 is rotationally fixed between the length adjusting bracket and the length adjusting holding bracket 24, the length adjusting bracket is connected with the inner column pipe, the length adjusting bracket 25 is provided with two guide blocks, the two guide blocks 26 are arranged in a guide sliding groove 27 opened on the steering column housing, and the guide groove is arranged along the length direction of the steering column housing.

[0034] The angle adjusting mechanism 5 comprises an angle adjusting motor 51, an angle adjusting screw rod 52 and an angle adjusting bracket 53, the angle adjusting motor 51 is rotationally connected with the steering column housing, the angle adjusting motor 51 is provided with the angle adjusting screw rod 52, the other end of the angle adjusting screw rod 52 is rotationally connected with the angle adjusting bracket 53 through a connecting piece 54, the angle adjusting bracket 53 is rotationally connected with the steering column housing, the angle adjusting bracket is connected with the bracket at the end towards the steering wheel, and the upper end of the steering column housing at the end towards the road feeling simulator is rotationally connected with the bracket.

[0035] The angle adjusting bracket in the prior art is surrounded from the lower side of the steering column housing to the upper side, so that the length adjusting screw rod of the length adjusting motor cannot be extended to the end of the steering column housing, and the lower end of the side of the angle adjusting bracket towards the length adjusting mechanism is higher than the length adjusting screw rod of the length adjusting mechanism.

[0036] The technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present application. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present application, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all the other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor fall within the protection scope of the present application.

[0037] As Figures 1-8As shown, this application discloses a steer-by-wire column for long-stroke adjustment, comprising a bracket 1, a steering column body, an angle adjustment mechanism 5, a length adjustment mechanism 2, and a steering mechanism 3. The steering column body includes a steering column housing 6 and an inner column tube 4 that are nested together, with the inner column tube 4 capable of sliding relative to the steering column housing 6. The bracket 1 is connected to the steering column body and is mounted on the instrument crossbeam through mounting holes 11. The length adjustment mechanism 2 and the angle adjustment mechanism 5 are mounted on two sides of the steering column body.

[0038] like Figures 2-4 As shown, the steering mechanism includes: a steering tube 31, a first bearing 32, a second bearing 33, and a road feel simulator 34. In this application, the steering tube of the steering column is fixed to the inner wall of the inner column tube via the first bearing 32 and the second bearing 33. The steering shaft on the road feel simulator is slidably connected to the steering tube via a spline joint. The spline of the steering shaft is covered with a plastic layer, allowing for an interference fit between the steering shaft and the steering tube, eliminating steering play. Simultaneously, lubricating grease is applied to the outer surface to effectively reduce sliding force. The diameter of the steering tube facing the road feel simulator is increased because the steering shaft is internally connected to a torsion bar at this end. To increase strength, this portion has a slightly larger diameter, resulting in a step. In existing designs, the steering tube stops at this step during length adjustment and cannot move inward. In this application, the diameter of the steering tube at the inward end is increased, allowing it to bypass this step and directly reach the angle sensor of the road feel simulator. This, combined with the extended length adjustment screw, results in a wider length adjustment range. The road feel simulator housing and the steering column housing are fixedly connected by bolts. To effectively avoid wasting space for ease of assembly, bolts are screwed into the steering column housing from the road feel simulator. The angle sensor is mounted at the joint between the steering shaft and the worm gear shaft, with the rotor of the angle sensor mounted on the worm gear shaft and the stator mounted on the steering shaft.

[0039] The road feel simulator of a traditional steer-by-wire column has two small bearings inside. Figure 11 , 12 To effectively compress the internal space of the road feel simulator without sacrificing support, this application employs a first bearing and a second bearing on the steering tube. In this case, the road feel simulator only requires one bearing to form a three-bearing system together with the first and second bearings. Compared to traditional road feel simulators, this application saves the space occupied by one bearing, thus compressing the internal structure of the road feel simulator.

[0040] Traditional road feel simulators mostly use a screw and nut drive mechanism for their angle limiting structure (e.g.) Figure 12 The prior patent (patent publication number CN 116279749 A) ​​converts the rotation angle of the steering shaft into the sliding displacement of the slider. The larger the limit angle of the steering wheel rotation, the larger the sliding displacement of the slider. Because sufficient space needs to be left for the slider to slide, the length of the road feel simulator is relatively large.

[0041] The gear transmission mode used in the present application( Figure 3 、 4 ) converts the rotation angle of the pinion on the worm shaft into the rotation angle of the large gear, and the rotation limiting angle of the steering wheel can be adjusted by changing the transmission ratio of the two gears. The space required for the sliding of the slider in the traditional limiting structure is saved, thereby compressing the length of the road feel simulator. The angle limiting structure of the present application can also use the prior patent application structure with the patent number 202421931697X.

[0042] As shown in Figure 5 、 6 , the length adjusting mechanism 2 comprises a length adjusting motor 21, a length adjusting screw 22, a nut 23, a length adjusting retaining bracket 24, a length adjusting bracket 25, an energy absorbing sheet 27, an inner column pipe 4, and a guide block 26 (slider). The length adjusting motor 21 is fixedly installed on the steering column housing 6. The length adjusting motor 21 is provided with a length adjusting screw and a nut. The nut is rotationally fixed on the mounting seat formed by the length adjusting bracket and the length adjusting retaining bracket, so as to ensure that the nut can only move axially relative to the length adjusting screw. The length adjusting bracket is fixed to or directly connected with the inner column pipe through the energy absorbing sheet. When the length adjusting motor drives the length adjusting screw to rotate, the nut moves axially along the length adjusting screw, thereby driving the inner column pipe to move axially along the steering column housing. The inner column pipe is provided with a collapse energy absorbing structure. The front end of the energy absorbing sheet is riveted to the inner column pipe, and the tail end of the bent part is fixedly connected with the inner column pipe. When a collision occurs, the steering wheel is impacted. At this time, the pull rivet 29 on the inner column pipe is cut off, the inner column pipe moves downward, and the bent part of the energy absorbing sheet 28 is continuously straightened, thereby realizing the collapse energy absorbing function (the collapse energy absorbing part structure of the steering column is the same as the prior art). Two guide blocks are arranged on the length adjusting bracket and move axially in a guide sliding groove on the steering column housing. Figure 6 To effectively compress the internal space of the steering column, the guide sliding groove is penetrated, and the two guide blocks simultaneously slide in one sliding groove. In this way, the guide sliding groove is lengthened, the range of the sliding block is increased, and the length adjusting stroke is increased. Moreover, the rotation of the inner column pipe during the adjustment process and the collapse process can be effectively ensured, and the adjustment and collapse stability is ensured. The length adjusting motor is preferably a vertical motor, that is, the direction of the motor and the length adjusting screw is perpendicular.

[0043] The angle adjusting mechanism 5 comprises an angle adjusting motor 51, an angle adjusting support 53, the angle adjusting motor 51 is rotationally connected with the steering column shell 6, an angle adjusting screw rod 52 is arranged on the angle adjusting motor 51, and one end of the angle adjusting screw rod 52 is rotationally connected with the angle adjusting support 53. The angle adjusting support 53 is rotationally connected with the steering column shell and connected with the front end of the support (towards the end of the steering wheel), and the steering column shell is rotationally connected with the end of the support towards the road feeling simulator. At this time, the several connection points on the steering column form a connecting rod mechanism, in order to ensure that the connecting rod mechanism can move smoothly, a displacement compensation point needs to be arranged, so that the position can move and rotate, and the compensation point can be arranged at the connection between the angle adjusting support and the support, the connection between the angle adjusting support and the steering column shell, or the connection between the support and the steering column shell. The compensation point of the steering column is arranged at the connection between the angle adjusting support and the support, and the connection between the angle adjusting support and the support is a prior art, which is briefly described as follows: the two sides of the support have V-shaped grooves, the V-shaped grooves are matched with sliding pieces 55, a light hole is formed in the middle of the V-shaped groove, a sliding piece bolt bushing is arranged in the sliding piece, a bolt 56 passes through the sliding piece bolt bushing, the sliding piece and the light hole on the support, is fixed with the angle adjusting support, and the sliding piece is matched with the V-shaped groove on the support, so that the support is clamped. The displacement compensation in the angle adjusting process is realized by the sliding of the sliding piece on the support. When the angle motor drives the angle adjusting screw rod to move axially, the angle adjusting support is driven to move, so that the steering column is angle adjusted.

[0044] The angle adjusting screw rod of the angle adjusting mechanism and the angle adjusting support are relatively rotationally connected through a connecting piece, the connecting piece 54 is divided into a nut 541, a light rod 542 and a threaded rod 543 with an external thread, and the connecting piece is connected with the threaded hole on the angle adjusting support through the light hole at the end of the angle adjusting screw rod. Compared with the traditional steering column, the nut moves on the screw rod, the nut and the angle adjusting support are cancelled, so that the structure is simpler and the cost is lower.

[0045] The lower end of the angle adjusting support towards the length adjusting mechanism is higher than the length adjusting screw rod of the length adjusting mechanism, the angle adjusting support is avoided, the length adjusting screw rod of the length adjusting mechanism can be extended towards the steering wheel, so that the length of the length adjusting screw rod is lengthened, and the adjustment range is large.

[0046] The hinging point between the support towards the road feeling simulator and the steering column body is above the mounting hole in the prior art, and the hinging point between the support towards the road feeling simulator and the steering column body is above the mounting hole in the prior art. In this way, space is left for the length adjusting motor, the length adjusting motor can move towards the road feeling simulator, and then the length adjusting screw rod can be lengthened, so that the length adjusting range of the steering column is larger.

[0047] The above describes the utility model and its embodiments in a schematic manner, and the description is not restrictive, and the embodiments shown in the drawings are only one of the embodiments of the utility model, and the actual structure is not limited thereto. Therefore, if a person of ordinary skill in the art is inspired thereby, and does not depart from the technical solution content of the utility model, and designs a structure mode and implementation similar to the technical solution according to the technical essence of the utility model, which is not creative to the above implementation examples, should belong to the protection scope of the utility model.

Claims

1. A steer-by-wire column implementing long-stroke adjustment, characterized by: The steering column body, the support, the length adjusting mechanism and the steering mechanism, the steering mechanism includes the steering pipe, the first bearing, the second bearing and the road feeling simulator, both ends of the steering pipe are fixed in the inner column pipe inside the steering column body through the first bearing and the second bearing, the road feeling simulator includes the shell, the motor and the steering shaft, the torsion bar, the worm shaft, the worm wheel, the angle sensor, the bearing and the angle limiting structure which are arranged in the shell, the steering shaft of the road feeling simulator is inserted into the steering pipe, the steering shaft is in spline cooperation with the steering pipe, the motor output shaft is connected with the worm, the worm drives the worm wheel, the worm wheel drives the worm shaft, one end of the torsion bar is connected with the worm shaft, the other end of the torsion bar is connected with the steering shaft, the angle sensor is installed at the joint of the steering shaft and the worm shaft, the worm shaft is fixedly arranged in the shell through a bearing, and the angle limiting structure is arranged at the end of the worm shaft away from the steering shaft.

2. A by-wire steering column implementing long-stroke adjustment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The angle limiting structure includes the pinion, the gear, the bolt and the outer cover, the end of the worm shaft away from the steering shaft is provided with a threaded hole, the bolt is used for fixing the pinion on the worm shaft, the pinion and the gear are in meshing, the gear is arranged on the gear shaft on the shell, the outer cover is clamped with the shell, the inside of the pinion is fixedly provided with a limiting block, and the limiting block is limited in cooperation with the limiting block on the gear.

3. A by-wire steering column implementing long-stroke adjustment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer spline outside the steering shaft of the road feeling simulator is wrapped with a plastic layer, the outside of the plastic layer is coated with lubricating grease, the steering shaft is in interference fit with the steering pipe, and the diameter of the end of the steering pipe towards the road feeling simulator is increased.

4. A by-wire steering column implementing long-stroke adjustment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first bearing and the second bearing adopt rigid bearings.

5. A by-wire steering column implementing long-stroke adjustment according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length adjusting mechanism includes the length adjusting motor, the length adjusting screw rod, the nut, the length adjusting retaining support, the length adjusting support and the guide block, the length adjusting motor is rotatably arranged on the steering column shell of the pipe column body, the length adjusting motor output end is connected with the length adjusting screw rod, the length adjusting screw rod is provided with the nut, the nut is rotatably fixed between the length adjusting support and the length adjusting retaining support, the length adjusting support is connected with the inner column pipe, the length adjusting support is provided with two guide blocks, and the two guide blocks are arranged in a guide sliding groove opened on the steering column shell.

6. A by-wire column implementing long-stroke adjustment according to claim 5, characterized in that: The length adjusting motor is a vertical motor.

7. A by-wire column implementing long-stroke adjustment according to claim 5, wherein: The angle adjusting mechanism also includes the angle adjusting motor, the angle adjusting screw rod and the angle adjusting support, the angle adjusting motor is rotatably connected with the steering column shell, the angle adjusting motor is provided with the angle adjusting screw rod, the other end of the angle adjusting screw rod is rotatably connected with the angle adjusting support through a connecting piece, the angle adjusting support is rotatably connected with the steering column shell, the angle adjusting support is connected with the end of the support towards the steering wheel, and the upper end of the end of the steering column shell towards the road feeling simulator is rotatably connected with the support; the connecting piece is divided into the nut, the light rod and the screw rod with the outer thread, the connecting piece is connected with the threaded hole on the angle adjusting support through the light hole at the end of the angle adjusting screw rod; the lower end of the side of the angle adjusting support towards the length adjusting mechanism is higher than the length adjusting screw rod of the length adjusting mechanism.

Images