Shell structure of steering column, steering system and vehicle thereof
By designing a snap-fit connection structure between the shell and the cover, the problem of shortened steering column collapse distance was solved, achieving the safety effect of increasing the driver's survival space.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202520334963.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-02
- Estimated Expiration
- 2035-02-27
AI Technical Summary
The existing steering column has a shortened crumple zone due to obstruction by the dashboard during a vehicle collision, which endangers the safety of the driver.
Design a shell structure in which the shell and the cover are connected by a snap-fit, and the cover can collapse into the mounting cavity to ensure that the steering column can collapse to the maximum extent and increase the driver's survival space.
The shell structure design effectively increases the driver's survival space and ensures safety in the event of a collision.
Smart Images
Figure CN223750929U_ABST
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The application belongs to the technical field of automobile steering system, and particularly relates to a shell structure of a steering column, a steering system and a vehicle thereof. BACKGROUND
[0002] When a vehicle collides, the steering column will collapse and deform according to the pre-design, so as to increase the survival space by pulling away the distance between the steering wheel and the driver.
[0003] At present, the safety protection scheme of the driver requires that the collapse distance of the steering column is 80-90 mm. However, when the vehicle collides, the instrument panel will block the movement of the shell of the steering column, so that the actual collapse distance of the steering column will be shortened by 10-20 mm, which seriously endangers the safety of the driver. CONTENT OF THE UTILITY MODEL
[0004] The application aims to provide a shell structure of a steering column, a steering system and a vehicle thereof, which can increase the survival space of the driver and ensure the safety of the driver.
[0005] The first aspect of the application discloses a shell structure of a steering column, comprising a shell and a cover, the shell has a first direction and a second direction intersecting with each other, the shell is connected between an instrument panel and a steering wheel along the first direction, the shell is provided with a mounting cavity and a through hole communicating with the mounting cavity, the mounting cavity penetrates through the shell along the first direction, the mounting cavity is used for mounting the steering column, and the through hole is arranged along the second direction; the cover is buckle-connected with the shell and covers the through hole.
[0006] In an exemplary embodiment of the application, the shell comprises an upper shell and a lower shell which are connected with each other along the first direction, the upper shell is connected with the steering wheel, the lower shell is connected with the instrument panel, and the cover is connected with the upper shell; the upper shell comprises a first upper side and a second upper side, the first upper side and the second upper side are oppositely arranged along the second direction, and the through hole is located on the first upper side; the lower shell comprises a first lower side and a second lower side, the first lower side and the second lower side are oppositely arranged along the second direction; the first upper side is connected with the first lower side, the second upper side is connected with the second lower side, and the distance between the first upper side and the second upper side is greater than the distance between the first lower side and the second lower side.
[0007] In an example embodiment of the present application, the shell is provided with a first recess, the cover includes a main body portion and a first protruding portion, the main body portion is connected with the first protruding portion, the main body portion covers the through hole, and the cover and the shell are buckled and connected through the first protruding portion and the first recess.
[0008] In an example embodiment of the present application, the cover is provided with a second recess, the shell includes a shell portion and a second protruding portion, the shell portion is connected with the second protruding portion, and the cover and the shell are buckled and connected through the second protruding portion and the second recess.
[0009] In an example embodiment of the present application, the maximum crushing force range of the first protruding portion is 700-900 N.
[0010] In an example embodiment of the present application, the shell is provided with a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole, the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole are oppositely arranged along a third direction, and the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole are in communication with the mounting cavity; the third direction intersects with the first direction and the second direction.
[0011] In an example embodiment of the present application, the cover is a "triangular" structure.
[0012] In an example embodiment of the present application, the outer surface of the cover is a curved surface structure.
[0013] The second aspect of the present application discloses a steering system, including a steering wheel, a steering column and the shell structure, the steering column is arranged in the mounting cavity of the shell, and the shell and the steering column are connected with the steering wheel.
[0014] The third aspect of the present application discloses a vehicle, including a vehicle body and the steering system, and the steering system is connected with the vehicle body.
[0015] The present application has the following beneficial effects:
[0016] In the embodiment of the present application, when the shell is connected between the instrument desk and the steering wheel, the through hole and the cover are directed towards the instrument desk, so that when the vehicle collides and the shell structure is damaged by the impact force and collides with the instrument desk, the cover is more likely to collide with the instrument desk. Since the cover and the shell are buckled and connected, in the scenario that the cover collides with the instrument desk, the cover is easily collapsed into the mounting cavity. Therefore, compared with the integrally formed shell structure, the shell structure of the present application is more likely to increase the survival space of the driver and ensure the safety of the driver.
[0017] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the application, as claimed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the application and serve to explain the principles of the application. It is apparent that the accompanying drawings are only some embodiments of the present application, and other drawings can be obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort on the basis of the drawings. Here, the drawings for representing the utility model concept of the present application are not completely identical to the structure of the actual product protected by the present application.
[0019] Figure 1 A structure schematic diagram showing that the shell structure in the embodiment of the present application is connected between the instrument desk and the steering wheel is shown.
[0020] Figure 2 A perspective structure schematic diagram of the shell structure in the embodiment of the present application is shown.
[0021] Figure 3 A front view of the shell structure in the embodiment of the present application is shown.
[0022] Figure 4 A rear view of the shell structure in the embodiment of the present application is shown.
[0023] Figure 5 A left view of the shell structure in the embodiment of the present application is shown.
[0024] Figure 6 A right view of the shell structure in the embodiment of the present application is shown.
[0025] Figure 7 A bottom view of the shell structure in the embodiment of the present application is shown.
[0026] Figure 8 A top view of the shell structure in the embodiment of the present application is shown.
[0027] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0028] 1, shell; 101, mounting cavity; 102, through hole; 103, first mounting hole; 104, second mounting hole; 11, upper shell; 111, first upper side; 112, second upper side; 12, lower shell; 121, first lower side; 122, second lower side; 2, cover body; 21, main body part; 211, outer surface; 212, inner surface; 22, first protruding block part; 3, instrument desk; 4, steering wheel; a, first side edge; b, second side edge; c, third side edge; x, first direction; y, second direction; z, third direction. Detailed Implementation
[0029] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided to make this application more comprehensive and complete, and to fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art.
[0030] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Numerous specific details are provided in the following description to give a thorough understanding of embodiments of this application. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the technical solutions of this application can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or other methods, components, apparatuses, steps, etc., can be employed. In other instances, well-known methods, apparatuses, implementations, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of this application.
[0031] The present application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that the technical features involved in the various embodiments described below can be combined with each other as long as they do not conflict with each other. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present application, and should not be construed as limiting the present application.
[0032] like Figures 1 to 8 As shown, this embodiment provides a steering column housing structure, including: a housing 1 and a cover 2. The housing 1 has an intersecting first direction x and a second direction y. The housing 1 is connected between the instrument panel 3 and the steering wheel 4 along the first direction x. The housing 1 is provided with a mounting cavity 101 and a through hole 102 communicating with the mounting cavity 101. The mounting cavity 101 penetrates the housing 1 along the first direction x and is used to install the steering column. The through hole 102 is provided along the second direction y. The cover 2 is snap-fitted to the housing 1 and covers the through hole 102.
[0033] It should be understood that since the housing 1 is connected between the dashboard 3 and the steering wheel 4 along the first direction x, when the vehicle is involved in a collision, the driver will be impacted by inertia and hit the airbag of the steering wheel 4. The steering column and housing structure will be subjected to impact force and begin to collapse towards the dashboard 3 along the first direction x.
[0034] In this embodiment, combined with Figure 1 As shown, the first direction x is the length direction of shell 1, and the second direction y is the height direction of shell 1.
[0035] In the embodiment, when the shell 1 is connected between the instrument panel 3 and the steering wheel 4, the through hole 102 and the cover 2 can be directed towards the instrument panel 3, so that when the vehicle collides and the shell structure is damaged by the impact force and collides with the instrument panel 3, the cover 2 is more likely to collide with the instrument panel 3. Since the cover 2 and the shell 1 are buckled, in the scenario where the cover 2 collides with the instrument panel 3, the cover 2 is easily collapsed into the mounting cavity 101, and therefore, compared with the integrally formed shell structure, the shell structure of the present application is more likely to achieve the purpose of increasing the survival space of the driver and ensuring the safety of the driver.
[0036] It should be understood that since the integrally formed shell structure collides with the instrument panel 3, the steering column cannot be collapsed to the maximum collapse value, and therefore, the part of the shell structure that collides with the instrument panel 3 is set as the cover 2 that can be collapsed into the mounting cavity 101, so that the steering column can continue to collapse to the maximum collapse value, thereby avoiding the influence of the shell structure on the collapse of the steering column.
[0037] As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the shell 1 includes an upper shell 11 and a lower shell 12 connected to each other along a first direction x, the upper shell 11 is connected with the steering wheel 4, the lower shell 12 is connected with the instrument panel 3, the through hole 102 is arranged on the upper shell 11, and the cover 2 is buckled with the upper shell 11.
[0038] It should be understood that since the upper shell 11 is connected with the steering wheel 4 and the lower shell 12 is connected with the instrument panel 3, when the vehicle collides, the lower shell 12 collapses into the instrument panel 3 first compared with the upper shell 11.
[0039] As shown in Figure 2 and Figure 8 , the upper shell 11 includes a first upper side 111 and a second upper side 112, the first upper side 111 and the second upper side 112 are oppositely arranged along a second direction y, and the through hole 102 is located on the first upper side 111; the lower shell 12 includes a first lower side 121 and a second lower side 122, the first lower side 121 and the second lower side 122 are oppositely arranged along the second direction y.
[0040] As shown in Figure 8 , the first upper side 111 is connected with the first lower side 121 along the first direction x, the second upper side 112 is connected with the second lower side 122 along the first direction x, and the distance between the first upper side 111 and the second upper side 112 is greater than the distance between the first lower side 121 and the second lower side 122.
[0041] In the embodiment, since the lower shell 12 is connected with the instrument panel 3 and the distance between the first lower side 121 and the second lower side 122 is almost unchanged, the lower shell 12 can be collapsed into the instrument panel 3, and the lower shell 12 does not affect the collapse of the steering column.
[0042] It should be understood that, since the distance between the first upper side 111 and the second upper side 112 is greater than the distance between the first lower side 121 and the second lower side 122, the cover 2 is arranged on the first upper side 111 of the upper shell 11 to avoid the upper shell 11 affecting the collapse of the steering column to the maximum collapse value, thereby ensuring the safety of the driver.
[0043] In the embodiment, when the shell 1 is connected between the instrument panel 3 and the steering wheel 4, the first upper side 111 is arranged towards the instrument panel 3 to ensure that the through hole 102 and the cover 2 are arranged towards the instrument panel 3, thereby ensuring that the cover 2 will collide with the instrument panel 3 with a high probability. Therefore, when the cover 2 collides with the instrument panel 3, the cover 2 can be collapsed into the mounting cavity 101, so that the steering column can continue to collapse to the maximum collapse value, and the shell structure does not affect the collapse of the steering column.
[0044] In the embodiment, in combination with Figure 2 and Figure 3 It is shown that the cover 2 has a “triangular” structure, that is, the orthographic projection of the cover 2 in the second direction y is a “triangle”.
[0045] It should be understood that the orthographic projection of the cover 2 in the second direction y can also be approximately a “triangle”.
[0046] In other embodiments, the orthographic projection of the cover 2 in the second direction y can also be a “circle”, a “rectangle”, etc.
[0047] In the embodiment, in combination with Figures 1 to 3 It is shown that the cover 2 includes a first side a, a second side b and a third side c connected with each other, the first side a and the second side b are symmetrically arranged, and the symmetry line of the first side a and the second side b is arranged along the first direction x, and the distance between the first side a and the second side b gradually decreases along the direction in which the instrument panel 3 faces the steering wheel 4.
[0048] In the embodiment, the distance between the first side a and the second side b gradually decreases along the direction in which the instrument panel 3 faces the steering wheel 4, so that the collapse area of the cover 2 gradually decreases as the steering column collapses, which is beneficial to reduce the arrangement area of the cover 2, thereby reducing the influence of the through hole 102 on the overall strength of the shell 1; at the same time, the shape of the cover 2 can also match the shape of the shell 1.
[0049] It should be understood that the influence of the shell structure on the collapse of the steering column gradually decreases as the steering column collapses, and therefore the area of the cover 2 that needs to collapse gradually decreases.
[0050] In the present embodiment, the cover 2 is provided with a first recess, and the upper shell 11 includes a shell portion and a first protruding portion. The shell portion is connected with the first protruding portion, and the cover 2 is buckled and connected with the upper shell 11 through the first protruding portion and the first recess. Figure 1 Figure 8 As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cover 2 includes an inner surface 212 and an outer surface 211, the inner surface 212 is oppositely arranged with the outer surface 211 along the second direction y, and the inner surface 212 is closer to the second upper side 112 than the outer surface 211. The outer surface 211 of the cover 2 is matched with the first upper side 111 of the upper shell 11. The outer surface 211 of the cover 2 is a curved surface structure, so that when the cover 2 collides with the instrument panel 3, the impact force received by the cover 2 can be concentrated at a point, and then the cover 2 is more easily collapsed into the mounting cavity 101, so as to increase the survival space of the driver and ensure the safety of the driver.
[0051] It should be understood that the outer surface 211 of the cover 2 is matched with the first upper side 111 of the upper shell 11 means that after the cover 2 is buckled and connected with the upper shell 11, the cover 2 is not protrudingly arranged relative to the upper shell 11, and the outer surface 211 is flush with the first upper side 111.
[0052] In the present embodiment, the cover 2 is provided with a first recess, and the upper shell 11 includes a shell portion and a first protruding portion. The shell portion is connected with the first protruding portion, and the cover 2 is buckled and connected with the upper shell 11 through the first protruding portion and the first recess. Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 5 Figure 8 As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cover 2 includes an inner surface 212 and an outer surface 211, the inner surface 212 is oppositely arranged with the outer surface 211 along the second direction y, and the inner surface 212 is closer to the second upper side 112 than the outer surface 211. The outer surface 211 of the cover 2 is matched with the first upper side 111 of the upper shell 11. The outer surface 211 of the cover 2 is a curved surface structure, so that when the cover 2 collides with the instrument panel 3, the impact force received by the cover 2 can be concentrated at a point, and then the cover 2 is more easily collapsed into the mounting cavity 101, so as to increase the survival space of the driver and ensure the safety of the driver.
[0053] In other embodiments, the cover 2 is provided with a second recess, and the upper shell 11 includes a shell portion and a second protruding portion. The shell portion is connected with the second protruding portion, and the cover 2 is buckled and connected with the upper shell 11 through the second protruding portion and the second recess.
[0054] It should be understood that the connection mode of the cover 2 and the upper shell 11 can be selected according to actual needs, as long as the cover 2 can be collapsed into the mounting cavity 101 when the cover 2 collides with the instrument panel 3.
[0055] In the embodiment, the maximum crush force range of the first protruding portion 22 is 700-900N.
[0056] In other embodiments, the maximum crush force range of the second protruding portion is 700-900N.
[0057] For example, the maximum crush force of the first protruding portion 22 can be 700N, 750N, 800N, 850N, 900N, etc.
[0058] In the embodiment, the direction of the crush force of the first protruding portion 22 is the second direction y. When the maximum crush force of the first protruding portion 22 is 800N, if the crush force of the cover body 2 colliding with the instrument panel 3 is greater than 800N, the first protruding portion 22 will be crushed, and the cover body 2 will collapse into the mounting cavity 101; if the crush force of the cover body 2 colliding with the instrument panel 3 is less than or equal to 800N, the first protruding portion 22 will not be crushed, and the cover body 2 is connected with the upper housing 11 through the first protruding portion 22 and the first groove buckle connection.
[0059] It should be understood that the maximum crush force of the first protruding portion 22 and the second protruding portion can be selected according to actual needs.
[0060] In combination Figure 2 As shown in the figure, the upper housing 11 is provided with a first mounting hole 103 and a second mounting hole 104, the first mounting hole 103 and the second mounting hole 104 are oppositely arranged along the third direction z, and the first mounting hole 103 and the second mounting hole 104 are in communication with the mounting cavity 101; the third direction z intersects with the first direction x and the second direction y.
[0061] In the embodiment, the third direction z is the width direction of the shell 1. The first mounting hole 103 and the second mounting hole 104 are oppositely arranged along the third direction z, and the first mounting hole 103 and the second mounting hole 104 are used for mounting the functional lever, and the functional lever is located on the two opposite sides of the steering wheel 4 along the third direction z.
[0062] It should be understood that the functional lever is used to control the functions of the vehicle such as the turn signal, the passing light, the fog light, the wiper and the cruise control.
[0063] The embodiment provides a steering system, which comprises the steering wheel 4, the steering column and the shell structure described above, the steering column is arranged in the mounting cavity 101 of the shell 1, and the shell 1 and the steering column are connected with the steering wheel 4.
[0064] For other structures of the steering system, please refer to the prior art, which will not be described here.
[0065] The embodiment also provides a vehicle, which comprises a vehicle body and the steering system described above, and the steering system is connected with the vehicle body.
[0066] For other structures of the vehicle, please refer to the prior art, which will not be described here.
[0067] In this application, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "assembly", "connection" and the like should be interpreted in a broad sense, for example, can be fixed connection, can also be detachable connection, or integrated; can be mechanical connection, can also be electrical connection; can be directly connected, can also be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, can be internal communication of two elements or interaction relationship between two elements. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.
[0068] In addition, the terms "first", "second" are only for descriptive purposes, and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined with "first", "second" can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. The meaning of "multiple" is two or more, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited. And the description of the terms "some embodiments", "exemplarily" and the like means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiments or examples are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application.
[0069] The illustrative description of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described can be combined in any appropriate manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, those skilled in the art can combine and combine different embodiments or examples described in the specification and the features of different embodiments or examples without contradiction.
[0070] Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described above, it should be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and cannot be understood as limiting the present application, and those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, replacements and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present application. Therefore, any changes or modifications made in accordance with the claims and specification of the present application shall be within the scope of the present application.
Claims
1. A housing structure of a steering column, characterized by, The shell has a first direction and a second direction intersecting with each other, the shell is connected between an instrument panel and a steering wheel along the first direction, the shell is provided with a mounting cavity and a through hole communicating with the mounting cavity, the mounting cavity penetrates through the shell along the first direction and is used for mounting a steering column, and the through hole is arranged along the second direction. The cover body is snap-connected with the shell and covers the through hole. The shell comprises an upper shell and a lower shell connected with each other along the first direction, the upper shell is connected with the steering wheel, the lower shell is connected with the instrument panel, and the cover body is connected with the upper shell.
2. The housing structure of claim 1, wherein The upper shell comprises a first upper side and a second upper side, the first upper side and the second upper side are oppositely arranged along the second direction, and the through hole is located on the first upper side. The lower shell comprises a first lower side and a second lower side, the first lower side and the second lower side are oppositely arranged along the second direction. The first upper side is connected with the first lower side, the second upper side is connected with the second lower side, and the distance between the first upper side and the second upper side is greater than the distance between the first lower side and the second lower side. The shell is provided with a first groove, the cover body comprises a main body part and a first protruding part, the main body part is connected with the first protruding part, the main body part covers the through hole, and the cover body is snap-connected with the shell through the first protruding part and the first groove.
3. The housing structure of claim 1, wherein The cover body is provided with a second groove, the shell comprises a shell part and a second protruding part, the shell part is connected with the second protruding part, and the cover body is snap-connected with the shell through the second protruding part and the second groove.
4. The housing structure of claim 1, wherein The maximum crushing force range of the first protruding part is 700-900 N.
5. The housing structure of claim 3, wherein The shell is provided with a first mounting hole and a second mounting hole, the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole are oppositely arranged along a third direction, and the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole both communicate with the mounting cavity.
6. The housing structure of claim 1, wherein The third direction intersects with the first direction and the second direction. The cover body has a "triangular" structure.
7. The housing structure of claim 1, wherein An outer surface of the cover body has a curved surface structure.
8. The housing structure of claim 1, wherein The shell structure comprises a steering wheel, a steering column and the shell structure according to any one of claims 1-8, the steering column is arranged in the mounting cavity of the shell, and the shell and the steering column are both connected with the steering wheel.
9. A steering system characterized by, The steering system comprises a vehicle body and the steering system according to claim 9, and the steering system is connected with the vehicle body.
10. A vehicle characterized by comprising: