Output shaft arrangement of an electric drive, electric drive and vehicle steering system

Abstract

The application discloses an output shaft structure of an electric driver, the electric driver and a vehicle steering system. The output shaft structure of the electric driver comprises a shaft body extending along an axis, the shaft body having opposite first and second ends, the first end being located in a housing of the electric driver after the output shaft structure is installed in place, wherein the first end is provided with a first matching part, the first matching part has a surface obliquely arranged relative to the axis, and the surface forms a pressing contact with a matching part correspondingly arranged in the housing. The application can enhance the stability and reliability of mechanical locking of the output shaft of the electric driver, and effectively improve the working performance of the electric driver.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electric drive technology, and more specifically, to the output shaft structure of an electric drive, an electric drive, and a vehicle steering system. Background Technology

[0002] An electric actuator is a device that converts electrical energy into controllable mechanical energy, and it has been widely used in many fields such as industrial manufacturing and transportation. Taking vehicle steering systems as an example, these systems are typically equipped with electric actuators to electrically adjust the steering wheel position, effectively improving the convenience and comfort of driving. Such electric actuators usually include an armature and a transmission mechanism. The armature generates rotational power, while the transmission mechanism, after reducing speed and increasing torque, transmits the power to the steering column via the output shaft of the electric actuator, thus providing the necessary adjustment torque for vehicle steering. The output shaft is generally installed within the housing of the electric actuator and can be positioned and locked using an internal mechanical structure. Utility Model Content

[0003] In view of this, this application provides an output shaft structure for an electric drive, an electric drive, and a vehicle steering system, which can solve or at least alleviate one or more of the problems existing in the prior art and other aspects, or can provide an alternative technical solution to the prior art.

[0004] According to one aspect of this application, an output shaft structure for an electric actuator is provided, the output shaft structure including a shaft extending along an axis, the shaft having a first end and a second end opposite to each other, wherein after the output shaft structure is installed in place, the first end is located inside the housing of the electric actuator, wherein the first end is provided with a first mating portion, the first mating portion having a surface inclined relative to the axis, and forming a pressing contact with a corresponding matching portion provided inside the housing through the surface.

[0005] In the output shaft structure of the electric drive according to this application, optionally, the shaft body is provided with a transmission part, the transmission part is disposed at the first end and arranged circumferentially along the shaft body, the transmission part is connected to the transmission in the electric drive, and the first mating part is disposed on the transmission part or arranged adjacent to the transmission part.

[0006] In the output shaft structure of the electric drive according to this application, optionally, the transmission part is provided with a worm gear, the worm gear meshes with the worm in the transmission, the first mating part and the second mating part are respectively located on both sides of the worm gear along the axis, the second mating part is disposed on the transmission part or arranged adjacent to the transmission part, and forms abutting contact with the corresponding abutting member disposed in the housing; and / or, the transmission part, the first mating part and the second mating part are disposed on the shaft by injection molding.

[0007] In the output shaft structure of the electric drive according to this application, optionally, the second mating part is configured as a stepped structure, and the pressing member includes one or more gaskets with elastic portions, the two sides of the gaskets forming pressing contacts with the second mating part and the inner wall of the housing, respectively.

[0008] In the output shaft structure of the electric drive according to this application, optionally, the first mating part is configured as a conical structure, and the mating part is disposed on the inner wall of the housing and forms a pressing contact with the conical surface of the conical structure.

[0009] In the output shaft structure of the electric driver according to this application, optionally, the cone angle of the tapered structure is in the range of 5°-45°.

[0010] In the output shaft structure of the electric drive according to this application, optionally, the end face of the first end is provided with a receiving portion for accommodating a rolling element, and after the output shaft structure is installed in place, the rolling element forms point contact with the inner wall of the housing; and / or, the second end extends out of the housing, and a lead screw structure is provided between the first end and the second end of the shaft.

[0011] Furthermore, according to another aspect of this application, an electric driver is provided, comprising:

[0012] case;

[0013] Power unit, the power unit being used to provide power;

[0014] A transmission, disposed within the housing and connected to the power output end of the power unit; and

[0015] The output shaft structure of the electric drive as described in any of the above embodiments is rotatably mounted on the housing, connected to the transmission via the first end, and transmits power outward via the second end.

[0016] In the electric drive according to this application, optionally, the housing has a transmission cavity, at least a portion of the transmission and the first end are disposed within the transmission cavity, and the second end extends out of the transmission cavity.

[0017] Furthermore, according to another aspect of this application, a vehicle steering system is also provided, comprising:

[0018] Steering column; and

[0019] As described above, in the electric drive, the second end of the shaft of the output shaft structure in the electric drive is connected to the steering column.

[0020] The proposed solution features a simple and compact structure, high integration, ease of manufacturing and assembly, and enhances the stability and reliability of the mechanical locking of the electric drive output shaft, effectively improving the performance of the electric drive. The electric drive and vehicle steering system of this application operate smoothly and are highly adaptable, making them widely applicable to numerous vehicle models. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a partial perspective structural diagram of an embodiment of an electric driver according to the present application, wherein an output shaft structure embodiment according to the present application is configured.

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A partial three-dimensional structural diagram of an embodiment of the output shaft structure is shown, which simultaneously illustrates examples of a pressing member and a rolling member.

[0023] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A partial three-dimensional structural diagram of the housing in the illustrated embodiment of the electric actuator.

[0024] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the electric driver shown.

[0025] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A magnified structural diagram of part A in the middle. Detailed Implementation

[0026] It should be noted that the following description, by way of example, illustrates the output shaft structure of the electric drive, the structural configuration, features, and advantages of the electric drive and the vehicle steering system according to this application; however, all descriptions should not be construed as limiting the scope of this application. In this document, the technical terms "first" and "second" are used only for distinguishing purposes and are not intended to indicate their order or relative importance; the technical term "connection" includes connections implemented directly or indirectly.

[0027] Figure 1 A partial three-dimensional structure of a specific embodiment of an electric driver according to this application is shown. For example... Figure 1As shown, the electric drive 100 is equipped with an output shaft structure 10, which has a bidirectional connection function. One end of the output shaft structure 10 is connected to the power unit of the electric drive 100, and the other end can serve as a power output end to transmit mechanical energy to the outside. The output shaft structure 10 can be designed and manufactured using the scheme of this application, which can provide a more stable and reliable position locking function for the output shaft of the electric drive, realize the effective connection of the power transmission path, and effectively improve the operating performance of the electric drive.

[0028] Reference Figures 1 to 5 In the given embodiment, the output shaft structure 10 has a shaft 11 extending along its axis 18. The shaft 11 has a first end 12 and a second end disposed opposite each other. Since the second end does not involve any improvement of the present application, it is not shown in the figures to simplify the drawings. It should be understood that the shaft 11 can be made of any suitable material, such as iron, aluminum alloy, or other metal materials, depending on the application requirements, and it is permissible to construct it with any suitable shape, size, and structure. For example, a lead screw structure can be optionally provided between the first end and the second end to realize functions such as operation mode conversion (e.g., converting rotary motion into linear motion) and speed regulation.

[0029] The electric drive 100 may have a housing 20, and after the output shaft structure 10 is assembled, the first end 12 of the output shaft structure 10 can be arranged inside the housing 20. As an example, the electric drive 100 may optionally be equipped with a transmission 50, which, by being arranged between the power unit in the electric drive 100 and the first end 12 of the output shaft structure 10, is used to match and adjust parameters such as speed and torque to meet practical application requirements. For example... Figure 4 As shown, the housing 20 may optionally be configured to have a transmission cavity 21 for arranging all or at least a portion of the transmission 50 and the first end 12 of the output shaft structure 10 in the transmission cavity 21, by drivingly connecting the first end 12 to the transmission 50, and optionally extending the second end of the output shaft structure 10 out of the transmission cavity 21 for external connection to transmit mechanical energy.

[0030] In the electric actuator 100, a first mating portion 13 can be provided at the first end 12 of the output shaft structure 10, through which a pressure contact is formed between the first mating portion 13 and a corresponding mating portion 30 provided within the housing 20. This effectively enhances the stability and reliability of the position locking of the output shaft structure 10 compared to existing technologies. (Reference) Figure 5 As shown, in the given embodiment, the first mating part 13 can be configured to have a surface 131, which forms an inclined angle with respect to the direction of the axis 18 to facilitate pressing contact with the mating part 30, and can form a relatively large pressing force between them, thereby enhancing the position locking effect of the output shaft structure 10.

[0031] As one feasible implementation, the first mating part 13 may optionally adopt a conical surface structure design, and the mating part 30 may be as follows: Figure 3 As shown, the structure is directly mounted on the inner wall of the housing 20 and, after the output shaft structure 10 is assembled in place, forms a tight pressing effect between the tapered surface of the matching part 30 and the first mating part 13. The tapered angle of the tapered surface structure can be selected within the range of 5°-45° (a more preferred implementation range is 15°-20°), for example, specifically set to 6°, 8°, 10°, 12°, 16°, 18°, 22°, 25°, 30°, 35°, 40°, etc., and so on.

[0032] It should be noted that, in one or more embodiments, the mating part 3 may be constructed separately and then installed inside the housing 20 to form a pressing contact with the first mating part 13. Furthermore, as an optional configuration, the surface 131 of the first mating part 13 and / or the corresponding contact surface of the mating part 30 may be appropriately treated to increase surface roughness, thereby increasing friction and further enhancing the locking effect.

[0033] Continue to refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 A transmission section 15 can be provided on the shaft 11 for transmission connection with components such as the gearbox 50 in the electric drive 100. The transmission section 15 can be provided at the first end 12 of the shaft 11 and arranged circumferentially along the axis 18. For example, the transmission section 15 can be a worm gear structure to form a meshing transmission with a worm gear structure in the gearbox 50. In this configuration, a first mating part 13 can be arranged on one side of the worm gear structure and a second mating part 14 can be provided on the other side of the worm gear structure, which together provide a position locking function for the output shaft structure 10.

[0034] Specifically, the second mating part 14 can optionally be configured as a stepped structure, and the end face of the stepped structure can be used to form a pressing contact with the pressing member 40 arranged inside the housing 20. The pressing member 40 can be pressed between the second mating part 14 and the inner wall of the housing 20 to enhance the pressing contact effect. The pressing member 40 can be implemented in various ways, for example... Figure 2As illustrated in the specific example, the pressure-retaining member 40 can be configured with one, two, or more gaskets 41 equipped with elastic portions 42 (such as spring sheets). By utilizing the elastic deformation of the elastic portions 42, a durable and stable pressure-retaining effect is achieved. In specific applications, the elastic portions 42 can be selectively arranged on one or both sides of the gaskets 41 as needed, and each gasket 41 can be configured with one or more elastic portions 42 as required. The elastic portions 42 can be manufactured separately and then installed and used together with the gaskets 41, for example, by welding or assembling them together; alternatively, the elastic portions 42 and the gaskets 41 can be integrally manufactured using processes such as casting or stamping.

[0035] Depending on the application requirements, the first mating part 13 and / or the second mating part 14 can be directly integrated onto the transmission part 15, or the first mating part 13 and / or the second mating part 14 can be located adjacent to the transmission part 15. In actual manufacturing, the transmission part 15 and the shaft 11 can be integrally manufactured using processes such as casting or machining, or the transmission part 15, the first mating part 13, and the second mating part 14 can be integrally constructed onto the shaft 11 using processes such as injection molding. This application does not impose any limitations on either approach.

[0036] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, a receiving portion 17 (such as a groove structure) may optionally be provided on the end face 16 of the first end 12 of the shaft 11, and a rolling element 60 (such as a steel ball) may be installed and arranged in the receiving portion 17. When the output shaft structure 10 is assembled to the electric drive 100, the rolling element 60 can form point contact with the inner wall of the housing 20, which not only provides axial support but also maintains the rotational freedom of the output shaft, enabling precise positioning and smooth rotation of the output shaft.

[0037] The electric drive and output shaft structure of this application have been exemplarily described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the specific configuration of the electric drive and output shaft structure of this application allows for flexible design and adjustment according to actual needs. For example, the power unit in the electric drive can typically be implemented using armature structures such as rotors and stators, and the output shaft of the power unit can be arranged parallel or non-parallel to the shaft of the electric drive output shaft structure; as another example, the transmission in the electric drive can typically have one or more mechanisms such as gear sets and worm gears.

[0038] This application further provides a vehicle steering system in which the electric drive of this application can be configured. By connecting the second end of the shaft of the output shaft structure therein to the steering column of the vehicle, safe, smooth, and efficient power transmission can be achieved, improving driving safety. It should be noted that the vehicle steering system of this application is applicable to many types of vehicles, including but not limited to fuel vehicles, pure electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.

[0039] The above examples illustrate the output shaft structure of the electric drive, the electric drive, and the vehicle steering system according to this application. These examples are only for illustrating the principles and implementation methods of this application and are not intended to limit the application. Various modifications and improvements can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of this application. Therefore, all equivalent technical solutions should fall within the scope of this application and be defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. An output shaft structure (10) of an electric driver (100), characterized in that, The output shaft structure (10) includes a shaft (11) extending along an axis (18), the shaft (11) having a first end (12) and a second end opposite to each other. After the output shaft structure (10) is installed in place, the first end (12) is located inside the housing (20) of the electric drive (100), wherein the first end (12) is provided with a first mating part (13), the first mating part (13) having a surface (131) inclined relative to the axis (18), and forming a pressing contact with a corresponding matching part (30) provided inside the housing (20) through the surface (131).

2. The output shaft structure (10) of the electric driver (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The shaft (11) is provided with a transmission part (15), which is disposed at the first end (12) and arranged circumferentially along the shaft (11). The transmission part (15) is connected to the transmission (50) in the electric drive (100). The first mating part (13) is disposed on the transmission part (15) or arranged adjacent to the transmission part (15).

3. The output shaft structure (10) of the electric driver (100) according to claim 2, wherein, The transmission part (15) is provided with a worm gear, which meshes with the worm in the gearbox (50). The first mating part (13) and the second mating part (14) are located on both sides of the worm gear along the axis (18). The second mating part (14) is disposed on the transmission part (15) or arranged adjacent to the transmission part (15), and forms a pressing contact with the pressing member (40) correspondingly disposed in the housing (20). Alternatively, the transmission part (15), the first mating part (13) and the second mating part (14) are disposed on the shaft (11) by injection molding.

4. The output shaft structure (10) of the electric driver (100) according to claim 3, wherein, The second mating part (14) is configured as a stepped structure, and the pressing member (40) includes one or more gaskets (41) with elastic parts (42), and the two sides of the gaskets (41) form pressing contacts with the second mating part (14) and the inner wall of the housing (20), respectively.

5. The output shaft structure (10) of the electric drive (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The first mating part (13) is configured as a conical structure, and the matching part (30) is disposed on the inner wall of the housing (20) and forms a pressing contact with the conical surface of the conical structure.

6. The output shaft structure (10) of the electric drive (100) according to claim 5, wherein, The cone angle of the conical structure ranges from 5° to 45°.

7. The output shaft structure (10) of the electric drive (100) according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein, The end face (16) of the first end (12) is provided with a receiving portion (17) for accommodating the rolling element (60). After the output shaft structure (10) is installed in place, the rolling element (60) forms a point contact with the inner wall of the housing (20); and / or, the second end extends out of the housing (20), and a lead screw structure is provided between the first end (12) and the second end of the shaft (11).

8. An electric actuator (100), characterized in that, include: Shell (20); Power unit, the power unit being used to provide power; A transmission (50) is arranged inside the housing (20) and connected to the power output end of the power unit; as well as The output shaft structure (10) of the electric drive (100) as described in any one of claims 1-7, wherein the shaft body (11) of the output shaft structure (10) is rotatably mounted on the housing (20), is connected to the transmission (50) via the first end (12), and transmits power outward via the second end.

9. The electric drive (100) according to claim 8, wherein, The housing (20) has a transmission cavity (21), at least a portion of the transmission (50) and the first end (12) are disposed within the transmission cavity (21), and the second end extends out of the transmission cavity (21).

10. A vehicle steering system, characterized in that, include: Steering column; as well as In the electric drive (100) as claimed in claim 8 or 9, the second end of the shaft (11) of the output shaft structure (10) in the electric drive (100) is connected to the steering column.

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