CN108909822B

CN108909822B - Locking device of steering column assembly, steering column assembly and vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN108909822B
Application number: CN201810603194.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘冲; 孙立志; 何志敏; 张啸; 沈佳
Original assignee: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd; Geely Automobile Research Institute Ningbo Co Ltd
Current assignee: Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co Ltd; Geely Automobile Research Institute Ningbo Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-06-12
Filing date: 2018-06-12
Publication date: 2020-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 2038-06-12
Also published as: CN108909822A

Abstract

The present invention provides a locking device of a steering column assembly, comprising: an adjustment bracket having a first runner and a second runner substantially opposed to each other and defining a longitudinal adjustment path extending in a longitudinal direction, the first runner having a positioning member with a plurality of teeth formed therein; a locking mechanism comprising an adjustment shaft and a mating locator disposed on the adjustment shaft, the adjustment shaft passing through the first and second chutes in sequence and being configured to allow movement along the longitudinal adjustment path; the locking mechanism is configured to be operable to restrain the steering column assembly in a locked position in which the positioning member is intermeshed with the mating positioning member or an unlocked position in which the positioning member is disengaged from the mating positioning member. The locking device provided by the invention can ensure that the steering column assembly is adjustable in the axial direction and the radial direction, and can also prevent the upwarp movement of the steering column during collision.

Description

Locking device of steering column assembly, steering column assembly and vehicle

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of steering column assemblies, in particular to a locking device of a steering column assembly, the steering column assembly and a vehicle.

Background

A steering column for a vehicle may include an adjustment device that allows an operator to selectively position and secure the steering column in any one of a plurality of positions. The adjustment means may comprise a tilting means to facilitate changing of the tilt angle of the steering column and a telescopic means to facilitate changing of the length of the column.

In the event of a collision, particularly a frontal collision, the driver impacts the steering wheel, and the airbag is ejected from the upper end of the steering column, so that an acting force is instantaneously applied to the steering column, the acting force makes the steering column collapse and absorb energy along the axial component force of the steering column, and the steering column upwarps along the radial component force of the steering column. The upwarp movement causes the collapse energy absorption process of the steering column to be unstable, and the shield of the steering column interferes with peripheral parts in the upwarp process, so that the collapse energy absorption of the steering column is prevented. In addition, the upwarp motion can also cause the steering column to drive the air bag to upwarp together, so that the contact position of the air bag and the head of a driver is changed, and the protection effect is uncontrollable.

However, the locking device for locking the steering column in the prior art is not effective in preventing the upwarp movement of the steering column during a collision. The reason is that after the angle and the length of the steering column are adjusted in place by an operator, the handle needs to be moved to compress and lock the steering column, the adjusting force of the handle directly influences the anti-upwarp friction force of the steering column, however, the adjusting force of the handle, which can be applied by a common operator, is small, and the upwarp motion of the steering column cannot be effectively prevented.

Disclosure of Invention

The inventors of the present application have found that the locking device of the prior art is generally provided with a slide groove extending in a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the axial direction of the steering column and a shaft slidable along the slide groove to release the tilt device and the telescopic device when the locking device is in a released state by an operator operating a handle connected to one end of the shaft, thereby adjusting the angle and length of the steering column. However, in the event of a collision, the rotational and tilting movements of the steering column are constrained between the chute and the shaft slidable along the chute solely by interplane friction, which is insufficient to prevent the rotational and tilting movements of the steering column.

One purpose of the invention is to solve the technical problem that a locking device capable of adjusting a steering column assembly in the inclination direction and the length direction in the prior art cannot prevent the steering column from upwarping when collision occurs.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a locking device which is simple in construction, easy to operate and relatively inexpensive.

The present invention provides a locking device of a steering column assembly, comprising:

an adjustment bracket having a first runner and a second runner substantially opposed to each other and defining a longitudinal adjustment path extending in a longitudinal direction, the first runner having a positioning member with a plurality of teeth formed therein;

the locking mechanism comprises an adjusting shaft and a matching positioning piece, the adjusting shaft is used for being connected with the steering column assembly, the matching positioning piece is arranged on the adjusting shaft, and the adjusting shaft sequentially penetrates through the first sliding groove and the second sliding groove and is arranged to move along the longitudinal adjusting path along with the movement of the steering column assembly; and is

The mating positioning member is configured to operatively engage a positioning member within the first slide slot to lock the adjustment shaft to restrain the steering column assembly in a locked position and to operatively disengage the positioning member to release the adjustment shaft to allow the steering column assembly to disengage from the locked position.

Optionally, the positioning member has a plurality of tooth slots formed by the plurality of tooth portions, and the mating positioning member has at least one first protrusion engaged with the tooth slots.

Optionally, the plurality of gullets are spaced apart along the longitudinal direction, each gullet extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Optionally, the positioning member is disengaged from the mating positioning member and the adjustment shaft moves along the longitudinal adjustment path, allowing the first tab to adjust from engaging one of the splines into engaging the other spline.

Optionally, the mating positioning element is configured to be rotatable about and movable along the adjustment axis.

Optionally, the locking mechanism further comprises an angle limiting block disposed on the adjusting shaft and abutting against the first sliding groove, and the angle limiting block is disposed to allow contact with the steering column assembly.

Optionally, the angle limiting block is configured to define at least one engagement cavity between contact surfaces of the angle limiting block, which are in contact with the first sliding chute when the angle limiting block is abutted against the first sliding chute;

the matching positioning piece is provided with at least one second lug corresponding to the at least one joint cavity, the second lug and the first lug are positioned on the same surface of the matching positioning piece, and the second lug is arranged to be jointed in the joint cavity when in the locking position and to be separated from the joint cavity when being separated from the locking position.

Optionally, the locking mechanism further comprises a spring structure disposed in the first sliding groove and located between the steering column assembly and the angle limiting block,

the spring structure is arranged to be squeezed when the angle limiting block is in the locking position, so that the angle limiting block moves towards the steering column assembly along the axial direction of the adjusting shaft, and the spring structure restores to deform when the angle limiting block is separated from the locking position, so that the angle limiting block moves away from the steering column assembly along the axial direction of the adjusting shaft, and the positioning piece is separated from the matching positioning piece.

In particular, the present invention also provides a steering column assembly comprising:

one end of the steering shaft is connected with a steering wheel of a vehicle and is used for transmitting steering force input by the steering wheel;

a first bushing that is coupled to the steering shaft in a radial manner;

a second sleeve coupled to the above-mentioned locking device and allowed to be restrained or released from the locking position by the locking device; wherein

The second shaft sleeve is arranged to tightly hold the first shaft sleeve when in the locking position, and when the second shaft sleeve is separated from the locking position, the second shaft sleeve can telescopically slide along the telescopic axis relative to the first shaft sleeve and drive the locking mechanism of the locking device to move along a longitudinal adjusting path defined by the adjusting bracket.

In particular, the invention also provides a vehicle which comprises the locking device and the steering column assembly.

According to the scheme of the invention, the positioning piece is meshed with the matched positioning piece, so that the condition that the steering column rotates only by relying on plane friction force in the prior art is changed into the condition that the steering column rotates only by relying on the meshing force between teeth, the constraint force for constraining the steering column assembly to generate angle change is greatly increased, the steering column assembly is ensured to be adjustable in the axial direction and the radial direction, and meanwhile, the upwarp movement of the steering column during collision can be prevented.

In addition, the present invention seeks to realize the anti-warp function by providing a simple structure. The locking device is simple in structure, complex in structure and multiple in parts, and can achieve the effect by using a small number of common parts, so that the cost is reduced to a certain extent. And, because spare part is less, the loss is less relatively in the mechanical motion transmission process, and the effect is very good, and reduces spare part maintenance rate.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Some specific embodiments of the invention will be described in detail hereinafter, by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in the drawings identify the same or similar elements or components. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a locking device and steering column assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a steering column assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of one perspective of a locking device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of another perspective of a locking arrangement of the steering column assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram of one perspective of a mating locator according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic block diagram of one perspective of a cam block in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram of another perspective of a cam block in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of another perspective of a mating alignment element in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural view of an angle stopper according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

Referring now to fig. 1 and 2, a steering column assembly 1 is shown that is capable of not only tilt adjustment, but also length adjustment, i.e., adjustment in the axial direction thereof, wherein double arrow a indicates the direction of tilt adjustment and double arrow B indicates the direction of length adjustment.

The steering column assembly 1 is shown with a steering shaft 11 attached to the distal end 31 of a steering wheel (not shown) rearward with respect to the vehicle and along its axis of rotation. The steering shaft 11 is coupled to the first boss 12 and rotates within the first boss 12. The first bushing 12 is arranged inside the second bushing 13, the second bushing 13 being coupled to the adjustment bracket 21 of the locking device 2 and to the support bracket 32. The adjustment bracket 21 and the support bracket 32 are rigidly coupled to a vehicle chassis (not shown) by a plurality of fasteners (not shown).

The locking device 2 can lock or release the steering column assembly 1, and when the steering column assembly 1 is locked, the second sleeve 13 embraces the first sleeve 12 to restrict the steering shaft 11 and the first sleeve 12 in a locking position. When the steering column assembly 1 is confined in the locked position, neither tilt nor length adjustment of the steering column assembly 1 is possible. When releasing the steering column assembly 1, the first sleeve 12 is telescopically slidable relative to the second sleeve 13 along a telescopic axis, which is substantially parallel to the central axis C of the steering shaft 11, and the inclination of the steering column assembly 1 can be adjusted.

The second sleeve 13 has a snap 131 with an unsealed ring-shaped cross section, and the inner surface of the snap 131 is configured to cooperate with the outer surface of the first sleeve 12, so that the second sleeve 13 is snapped substantially outside the first sleeve 12. Two opposite clamping arms (1321,1322) are formed by extending outwards along two unsealed ends (1311,1312) of the buckle 131, and two opposite positioning holes (1331,1332) are formed in the two clamping arms (1321,1322) for the adjusting shaft 221 of the locking mechanism 22 to pass through. The spacing between the two blind ends (1311,1312) can be reduced by applying a clamping force to the clamping arm (1321,1322) so that the second bushing 13 grips the first bushing 12, and the clamping force is released so that the spacing between the two blind ends (1311,1312) returns to its original shape so that the first bushing 12 is slidable relative to the second bushing 13.

The locking means 2 provides the above-mentioned clamping force. Referring to fig. 1 and 3, the adjustment bracket 21 is substantially U-shaped and is rigidly connected to the vehicle chassis by a connecting plate 211. The adjustment bracket 21 includes two first and

second walls

212, 213 connected to the connecting plate 211, opposite to each other and substantially parallel, the first and

second walls

212, 213 defining a first and second substantially arc-shaped

slide slots

2121, 2131, respectively, defining a longitudinal adjustment path, which coincides with the path along which the steering column assembly 1 is adjusted for inclination. The second wall 213 has an adjusting nut 222 on the side remote from the first wall 212 to fix the adjusting shaft 221 when the adjusting shaft 221 passes through the second bushing 13. The adjusting shaft 221 is sleeved with a mating positioning member 223, and the mating positioning member 223 abuts against the first wall 212 when the adjusting shaft 221 passes through the second shaft sleeve 13. The clamping force applied to the two clamping arms (1321,1322) of the second hub 13 is adjusted by adjusting the force applied to the mating locating member 223 and the adjusting nut 222 on the adjusting shaft 221.

Referring to fig. 5, the mating locator 223 has a disk shape, similar to a cam disk, and the first surface 2231 of the mating locator 223 has four track grooves 2232, along which track grooves 2232, for example, the cam block 224 that mates with the mating locator 223 can slide, and the thickness of the mating locator 223 corresponding to each track groove 2232 varies along the track grooves 2232. As shown in fig. 6, the cam block 224 includes four corresponding slide blocks 2241, and when the four slide blocks 2241 slide along the four track grooves 2232, the pressing force changes due to the change in the surface contacting the track grooves, and the counter spacer 223 can be moved along the adjustment shaft 221.

Referring to fig. 7, the cam block 224 has a fitting block 2245 fitted with the operating handle 225, and the fitting block 2245 is coupled to the operating handle 225. When the operating handle 225 rotates, the cam block 224 is rotated together, and the four sliding blocks 2241 slide along the four track grooves 2232, respectively, so that the pressing force of the mating positioning member 223 gradually increases until the steering column assembly 1 is pressed to the locking position. In order to restrain the steering column assembly 1 in the above-described locking position and to substantially ensure that the locking position does not change in the event of a collision, a positioning member 2123 having a plurality of teeth 2122 is formed in the first sliding groove 2121, and the positioning member 2123 is engaged with the mating positioning member 223 in the locking position and disengaged from the mating positioning member 223 in the disengagement from the locking position.

The plurality of teeth 2122 of the first sliding groove 2121 are aligned along an extending direction of the first sliding groove 2121, i.e., a tilt adjusting direction, and a tooth slot 2124 is formed between two adjacent teeth 2122, and the plurality of tooth slots 2124 are also aligned along the tilt adjusting direction. As can be seen from the figure, the first runner 2121 has two support portions (2125,2126) for supporting the plurality of teeth 2122. The two support portions (2125,2126) are symmetrically disposed on both sides of the first runner 2121 in the inclination adjusting direction, and a gap having a width larger than the diameter of the adjustment shaft 221 is provided between side edges (2127,2128) of the two support portions (2125,2126) through which the adjustment shaft 221 passes.

Referring to fig. 8, the mating alignment member 223 has two first protrusions (2234,2235) on a second surface 2233 opposite the first surface 2231 thereof, the two first protrusions (2234,2235) engaging corresponding notches 2124 on the two support portions (2125,2126) respectively in the locked position, and the two first protrusions (2234,2235) disengaging corresponding notches 2124 on the two support portions (2125,2126) respectively in the unlocked position. In order to facilitate engagement of the first cam (2234,2235) with the gullet 2124, the first cam (2234,2235) is configured as a wedge and the teeth 2122 in the first slot 2121 are configured as wedge-shaped teeth, such that when the first cam (2234,2235) is not fully engaged with the gullet 2124, fine adjustment between the wedge and the wedge is automatically performed to fully engage the first cam (2234,2235) with the gullet 2124. The first tab (2234,2235) can be adjusted from one of the pairs of splines into engagement with the other pair of splines as the inclination of the steering column assembly 1 is adjusted. Here, the pair of tooth grooves means two tooth grooves in which the two first protrusions (2234,2235) are engaged at the same time.

Referring to fig. 9, to enhance the locking stability of the locking device 2, the locking mechanism 2 further has an angle stopper 226, the angle stopper 226 is disposed on the adjusting shaft 221, and the side 2261 abuts against the side edges (2127,2128) of the two supporting portions (2125,2126) in the first sliding slot 2121, and the surface of the angle stopper is allowed to contact with the second sleeve 13 of the steering column assembly 1 when the surface is away from the mating positioning member 223 in the locking position. The angular stopper 1 is configured to define four engagement cavities 2262 between it and the lateral edges (2127,2128) of the two support portions (2125,2126) when abutting against the lateral edges (2127,2128) of the two support portions (2125, 2126). The number of the coupling chambers 2262 formed may be set according to actual needs, and may be, for example, two coupling chambers, three coupling chambers, or more coupling chambers.

Referring to fig. 8, the mating retainer 223 has four second protrusions 2236 corresponding to the four engagement cavities 2262, the second protrusions 2236 being located on the same surface of the mating retainer 223 as the first protrusion (2234,2235), the second protrusions 2236 being configured to engage within the engagement cavities 2262 when in the locked position and disengage from the engagement cavities 2262 when out of the locked position. The height of second bumps 2236 is less than the height of first bumps (2234,2235). The second protrusions 2236 are shaped to fit the coupling cavities 2262.

In one embodiment, the locking mechanism 22 further includes a spring structure (not shown) disposed within the first runner 2121 and between the steering column assembly 1 and the angle limiter 226. The spring structure is arranged to be squeezed when in a locked position so that the angle limiting block 226 moves towards the steering column assembly 1 along the axial direction of the adjustment shaft 221, and the spring structure recovers its deformation when it is disengaged from said locked position so that the angle limiting block 226 moves away from the steering column assembly 1 along the axial direction of the adjustment shaft 221, thereby disengaging the positioning member from the mating positioning member.

Therefore, the locking and unlocking processes of the locking device 2 are performed as follows:

in the locked position, the operating handle 225 rotates to rotate the cam block, the cam block 224 slides in the track groove 2232 of the mating positioning member 223 from a thinner position to a thicker position, so that the pressing force of the mating positioning member 223 gradually increases until the first protrusion 2235 of the mating positioning member 223 engages with the tooth groove in the first sliding groove 2121 and the second protrusion 2236 of the mating positioning member 223 engages into the engaging cavity 2262 formed between the angle limiting block 226 and the side edge (2127,2128), at which time the leaf spring structure is pressed. At this time, the adjustment bracket 21 embraces the second boss 13, and the second boss 13 embraces the first boss 12, thereby restraining the steering column assembly 1 in the locked position.

In the unlocking position, the operating handle 225 rotates in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation when the steering column assembly 1 enters the locking position, the cam block 224 is driven by the operating handle 225 to rotate together to slide in the track groove of the mating positioning member 223, and slide from a thicker position to a thinner position, so that the pressing force of the mating positioning member 223 is gradually reduced, and the elastic sheet structure in the first sliding groove 2121 recovers to deform to press the angle limiting block 226, so that the angle limiting block 226 presses the mating positioning member 223 along the axial direction of the adjusting shaft 221, and the first protrusion (2234,2235) on the mating positioning member 223 is disengaged from the tooth groove 2124 in the first sliding groove 2121, so that the steering column assembly 1 is unlocked from the locking position, and at this time, the steering column assembly 1 can be axially and radially adjusted.

In the adjusting process of the steering column assembly 1, the operating handle 225 is in a released state, the first projection 2235 on the mating positioning member 223 is in a disengaged state from the toothed slot 2124 in the first sliding slot 2121, the second projection 2236 on the mating positioning member 223 is still in an engaged state with the engaging cavity 2262 of the angle limiting block 226, the angle limiting block 226 is still in the first sliding slot 2121, and the adjusting bracket 21 and the second sleeve 13 are in a separated state, so that the steering column assembly 1 can be dragged to move axially and radially, thereby adjusting the inclination and the length of the steering column assembly 1.

In the crushing process of the steering column assembly 1, the stress of the steering column assembly 1 in collision is divided into axial extrusion force and radial upward component force. The axial pressing force overcomes the friction between the steering second sleeve 13 and the first sleeve 12, and is crushed in the axial direction. The wedge-shaped teeth between the mating positioning member 223 and the adjusting bracket 21 are engaged to offset the radial component force applied to the steering column assembly 1, so as to ensure that the steering column assembly 1 is radially static.

Accordingly, the present invention also provides a vehicle including the above-described locking device 2 and the above-described steering column assembly 1, which will not be described in detail herein.

According to the scheme of the invention, through the meshing of the positioning piece 2123 and the matching positioning piece 223, the rotation of the steering column assembly 1 is restrained by only relying on the plane friction force in the prior art, and the meshing force between teeth is changed, so that the restraining force for restraining the steering column assembly 1 from changing angles is greatly increased, the steering column assembly 1 is ensured to be adjustable in the axial direction and the radial direction, and meanwhile, the upwarp movement of the steering column during collision can be prevented.

In addition, the present invention seeks to realize the anti-warp function by providing a simple structure. The locking device 2 is simple in structure, complex in structure and multiple in parts, and can achieve the effect by using a small number of common parts, so that the cost is reduced to a certain extent. And, because spare part is less, the loss is less relatively in the mechanical motion transmission process, and the effect is very good, and reduces spare part maintenance rate.

Thus, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that while a number of exemplary embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications consistent with the principles of the invention may be directly determined or derived from the disclosure of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be understood and interpreted to cover all such other variations or modifications.

Claims

1. A locking device for a steering column assembly, comprising:

The mating positioning member is configured to operably engage a positioning member within the first slide channel to lock the adjustment shaft to retain the steering column assembly in a locked position and to operably disengage the positioning member to release the adjustment shaft to allow the steering column assembly to disengage from the locked position;

the locking mechanism further comprises an angle limiting block which is arranged on the adjusting shaft and is abutted against the first sliding groove;

the angle limiting block is configured to form at least one joint cavity between contact surfaces of the angle limiting block and the first sliding groove when the angle limiting block is abutted against the first sliding groove;

the mating locator has at least one second projection corresponding to the at least one engagement cavity, the second projection being configured to engage within the engagement cavity when in the locked position and disengage from the engagement cavity when out of the locked position;

the positioning piece is provided with a plurality of tooth grooves formed by the plurality of tooth parts, and the matching positioning piece is provided with at least one first lug which is meshed with the tooth grooves.

2. The steering column assembly locking arrangement of claim 1 wherein said plurality of splines are spaced apart along said longitudinal direction, each of said splines extending in a direction generally perpendicular to said longitudinal direction.

3. The steering column assembly locking arrangement of claim 1 wherein the positioning member is disengaged from the mating positioning member and the adjustment shaft is moved along the longitudinal adjustment path to allow the first tab to adjust from engagement with one of the splines to engagement with the other spline.

4. The steering column assembly locking arrangement of claim 1, wherein the mating positioning member is configured to be rotatable about and movable along the adjustment axis.

5. A locking arrangement for a steering column assembly according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which the angular limit stop is arranged to allow contact with the steering column assembly.

6. The steering column assembly locking apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second projection is located on the same surface of the mating locator as the first projection.

7. The locking device of a steering column assembly according to claim 6, wherein the locking mechanism further comprises a spring structure disposed within the first sliding groove and between the steering column assembly and the angle limiting block,

8. A steering column assembly, comprising:

a first bushing that is coupled to the steering shaft in a radial manner;

a second bushing engaged to the locking device of any one of claims 1-7 and allowed to be confined by the locking device in a locked position or disengaged from the locked position; wherein

The second shaft sleeve is arranged to tightly hold the first shaft sleeve when in the locking position, and when the second shaft sleeve is separated from the locking position, the second shaft sleeve can telescopically slide along a telescopic axis relative to the first shaft sleeve and drive the locking mechanism of the locking device to move along a longitudinal adjusting path defined by the adjusting bracket.

9. A vehicle comprising a locking device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 and a steering column assembly as claimed in claim 8.