CN209972562U

CN209972562U - Integral type crumple structure for vehicle steering column

Info

Publication number: CN209972562U
Application number: CN201822206924.3U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李让书; 黄君; 吴绍传; 杨玉峰; 吴涛; 罗诚
Original assignee: Ooros Automotive Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qoros Automotive Co Ltd; Ooros Automotive Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-12-26
Filing date: 2018-12-26
Publication date: 2020-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 2028-12-26

Abstract

The utility model relates to a structure of contracting integrally for vehicle steering column, it includes coaxially arranged, can be relative to each other pivoted outer tube (3) and steering spindle (4), wherein, steering spindle (4) pass through bearing (6) support on the inner wall of outer tube (3) with form cavity (7) between steering spindle (4), wherein be constructed along circumference on the outer circumference of outer tube (3) and be covered with punchhole (8) that link up in the region of first boss (2).

Description

Integral type crumple structure for vehicle steering column

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a vehicle steering system's among the automotive industry field steering column's integral structure of collapsing.

Background

A vehicle steering system is a combination of a series of components used to change or maintain the direction of travel or reverse of a vehicle. One of the important components is a steering column, which is arranged between the steering wheel and the body of the vehicle and which has the main function of transmitting the steering force applied by the driver to the steering wheel to the steering shaft and thus to the tie rods, thus changing the direction of travel of the vehicle. The steering column mainly includes an outer sleeve and a steering shaft that are coaxially arranged. Wherein the outer sleeve is fastened to the vehicle body; the steering shaft penetrates through the outer sleeve and is rotatably supported on the inner wall of the outer sleeve, one end of the steering shaft is connected with a steering wheel, and the other end of the steering shaft is connected with a steering transmission shaft through a universal joint.

At the same time, the steering column is also an important safety device for vehicles. In a vehicle collision, a driver, particularly an unbelted driver, may collide with the steering wheel, and the head or chest of the driver easily collides with the steering wheel, and the steering column is collapsed downward by the force generated thereby. The outer tube of the steering column known at present is usually composed of an inner tube and an outer tube, which are arranged coaxially and are not rotatable relative to each other, wherein the outer tube at least partially surrounds the inner tube on the outside, and when the steering column collapses, the mutual friction and mutual compression deformation between the outer tube and the inner tube of the outer tube generate a collapsing force, which in turn acts to absorb the energy of the collision.

However, this type of crush structure is constructed in at least two stages, which is complicated and expensive to manufacture. In addition, different vehicle models need different collapse forces, the collapse force provided by the collapse structure is generally between 2000N and 5000N, the adjustment range is small, the collapse direction is not easy to control, and structural components can be broken to cause secondary injury to a driver.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

To the shortcoming of above-mentioned current ulcerate structure of contracting, the utility model aims at providing an integral structure of contracting that contracts for vehicle steering column. The integral type crumple structure avoids the sectional design of a steering column, particularly an outer sleeve, reduces the number of parts, saves cost, and can adjust the size of the crumple force and guide the crumple to be carried out along a desired direction through a specific structure.

This object is achieved according to the invention by an integrated collapsing structure for a vehicle steering column. The one-piece crush structure includes an outer tube and a steering shaft that are coaxially arranged and rotatable relative to each other, wherein the steering shaft is supported on an inner wall of the outer tube by a bearing, and a cavity is formed between the inner wall of the outer tube and the steering shaft.

According to the invention, it is peculiar that a part of the outer sleeve is configured as an outwardly protruding first projection, and that a through-going hole is distributed in the region of the first projection. Particularly preferably, the region of the steering shaft corresponding to the first projection is configured as an outwardly projecting second projection, and in the region of the second projection, through-holes are distributed.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, the outer tube and the steering shaft are provided with a boss portion in which through-holes are distributed. When a vehicle equipped with such an integral crumple structure according to the present invention collides, the steering wheel receives an impact to downwardly act on the steering shaft and the outer tube of the steering column. Since the holes are distributed in the area of the projections of the outer sleeve and of the steering shaft, the yield strength is lower than in the surrounding areas in which no holes are distributed, so that the collapse occurs first in the area of the projections. Due to the convex shape of the convex part, the material flows towards two sides, so that the sections of the outer sleeve and the steering shaft above the convex part collapse downwards into the convex part, and further collapse into the sections of the outer sleeve and the steering shaft below the convex part along with the progress of collapse until the convex part is completely collapsed. In this process, the deformation of the outer tube and the steering shaft generates a collapsing force, thereby absorbing collision energy. According to the utility model discloses a set up the punchhole in the region of the bellying on steering column's outer tube and steering spindle and make the process of collapsing in this region go on more easily to because the shape of bellying can make collapsing go on along anticipated direction more steadily, avoided steering column's destructive fracture.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first projection and the second projection have the shape of a circular arc or an elliptical arc. The shape is easy to process, and the shape which is raised from the two ends to the middle can promote the material to flow from the two ends to the raised direction, so that the collapse is carried out along the axial direction of the steering column, and the buckling and the fracture in other unexpected positions and directions are avoided.

According to another preferable aspect, the first boss portion is provided at a middle portion of the outer tube, and the second boss portion is provided at a middle portion of the steering shaft. The bosses on the outer sleeve and steering shaft may be provided depending on where it is desired that collapse first occur.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the individual through-bores arranged in the region of the first and second elevations are arranged one behind the other in a plurality of rows oriented in the axial direction of the steering column. Arranging the perforations in the axial direction of the steering column allows the collapse to develop in the axial direction of the steering column, i.e. to be directed in the desired direction.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, the curvature of the second convex portion is smaller than the curvature of the first convex portion. The steering shaft is connected with the steering wheel at the steering wheel end, when the steering wheel is impacted, the steering shaft firstly collapses, and then the steering wheel is pressed against the outer sleeve to enable the outer sleeve to collapse. Therefore, the curvature of the first boss portion is larger than the curvature of the second boss portion, so that the outer tube can collapse faster than the steering shaft, and finally synchronous collapse of the outer tube and the steering shaft is achieved.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the eyelets arranged in the region of the second projection have the same shape, the same alignment orientation and the same number as the eyelets arranged in the region of the first projection. This configuration in correspondence with each other allows the collapsing of the overtube and the steering shaft to be performed better in synchronism.

According to the present invention, preferably, each of the holes is a circular hole. Of course, the eyelet may be configured as an elliptical hole or a long hole or other reasonable shape as required, which falls into the protection scope of the present invention.

Furthermore, each of the holes can have the same diameter or each of the holes can have a different diameter. Generally, the diameter of the holes in the middle region of the first or second boss is greater than the diameter of the holes in the two end regions, and the holes arranged in the region of the second boss are smaller than the holes arranged in the region of the first boss. For different lugs, the diameter of the outer sleeve is greater than that of the steering shaft, so the holes in the outer sleeve are slightly larger than those in the steering shaft, and for the same lug, the diameter of the middle area of the lug is greater than that of the two end areas, so the holes in the middle area are slightly larger than those in the two end areas.

According to the invention, it is particularly preferred if different rows of holes can be provided on the outer sleeve and/or the steering spindle, wherein a different number of holes is also possible for each row of holes. Generally speaking, the collapsing force of the outer sleeve and the steering shaft can be changed by changing the shapes of the convex parts and/or the holes and changing the number and arrangement mode of the holes, and different shapes of the convex parts, different shapes of the holes and different numbers of the holes can provide various collapsing forces and are suitable for different vehicle types and different collision conditions.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention are explained in detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the arrangement of a steering column on a vehicle according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of one embodiment of a unitary crush structure according to the present invention;

fig. 3 shows an axial cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in fig. 2 of a unitary crush structure according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and the following description is exemplary and not intended to limit the present invention, and any other similar situations are within the scope of the present invention.

In the following detailed description, directional terms, such as "left", "right", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", and the like, are used with reference to the orientation as illustrated in the drawings. The components of embodiments of the present invention can be positioned in a number of different orientations and the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of the arrangement of a steering column 1 on a vehicle. Wherein the steering column 1 comprises a coaxially arranged outer sleeve 3 and a steering shaft 4. The steering column is fixed to a vehicle body 10 via an outer tube, and the steering shaft 4 is disposed through the outer tube 3 and is rotatable with respect to the outer tube 3. The steering shaft 4 can be connected to the steering wheel at a steering wheel end 5.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the integrated collapse structure of the steering column 1 according to the present invention. As can be seen from this illustration, a part of the outer sleeve 3 is designed as an outwardly projecting first bead 2 and is lined with through-going holes 8 in the region of the first bead 2.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the steering column 1 according to the invention, shown in fig. 2, in the axial direction. As can be seen from this cross-sectional view, the steering shaft 4 is supported on the inner wall of the outer sleeve 3 by means of bearings 6, such as, for example, conical roller bearings, thrust ball bearings or needle roller bearings. The region of the steering shaft 4 corresponding to the first cam 2 is designed as an outwardly projecting second cam 9, and in the region of the second cam 9, through-holes 8 are distributed. Wherein the curvature of the second boss 9 is smaller than the curvature of the first boss 2. The holes arranged in the region of the second bosses 9 have the same shape, the same alignment orientation and the same number as compared to the holes arranged in the region of the first bosses 2, but the holes arranged in the region of the second bosses 2 are smaller than the holes arranged in the region of the first bosses 9.

When a vehicle equipped with the integral crumple structure according to the present invention collides, the steering wheel receives an impact and the steering shaft 4 and the outer tube 3 of the steering column 1 are downwardly applied through the steering wheel end 5. Since the holes are distributed in the region of the elevations of the outer jacket tube 3 and the steering shaft 4, the yield strength is lower than in the surrounding regions in which no holes are distributed, so that the collapse occurs first in the region of the elevations. Due to the convex shape of the bulge, the material of the bulge flows to both sides, so that the sections of the outer sleeve 3 and the steering shaft 4 above the bulge collapse downwards into the bulge, and further collapse into the sections of the outer sleeve and the steering shaft below the bulge along with the progress of collapse until the bulge is completely collapsed. In this process, the deformation of the outer tube 3 and the steering shaft 4 generates a collapsing force, thereby absorbing collision energy.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the drawings and their corresponding descriptions are merely for purposes of illustrating the invention and that other modifications, substitutions and alterations may be made by those skilled in the art based on the teachings herein. Such modifications, substitutions or improvements are intended to be within the scope of the invention.

List of reference numerals:

1 steering column

2 first convex part

3 outer sleeve

4 steering shaft

5 steering wheel end

6 bearing

7 cavity

8 holes

9 second projection

10 vehicle body

Claims

1. A unitary crush structure for a vehicle steering column, the unitary crush structure comprising an outer tube (3) and a steering shaft (4) which are coaxially arranged and rotatable relative to each other, wherein the steering shaft (4) is supported on an inner wall of the outer tube (3) by a bearing (6), whereby a cavity (7) is formed between the inner wall of the outer tube (3) and the steering shaft (4),

characterized in that a part of the outer jacket tube (3) is designed as an outwardly projecting first elevation (2) and is lined with through-going holes (8) in the region of the first elevation (2).

2. A one-piece crush structure according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the steering shaft (4) corresponding to the first boss (2) is configured as a second boss (9) that is outwardly convex, and through-holes (8) are distributed in a region of the second boss (9).

3. The unitary crush structure of claim 2, wherein the first lobe (2) and the second lobe (9) have a shape of a circular arc or an elliptical arc.

4. The unitary crush structure according to claim 2, wherein the first boss (2) is provided at a middle portion of the outer tube (3), and the second boss (9) is provided at a middle portion of the steering shaft (4).

5. A unitary crush structure according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the through-going apertures (8) arranged in the region of the first boss (2) and the second boss (9) are arranged in a plurality of rows one after the other in an axial orientation of the steering column.

6. A unitary crush structure according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the curvature of the second lobe (9) is less than the curvature of the first lobe (2).

7. A unitary crush structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the perforations (8) is a circular hole.

8. The unitary crush structure of claim 7, wherein each of the holes (8) has the same diameter.

9. The unitary crush structure according to claim 7, wherein each of the holes (8) has a different diameter, wherein the hole in a middle region of the first boss (2) or the second boss (9) has a larger diameter than the holes in both end regions, and the hole arranged in the region of the second boss (9) is smaller than the hole arranged in the region of the first boss (2).

10. A unitary crush structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein different rows of apertures (8) can be provided, wherein each row of apertures can have a different number of apertures.

11. The unitary crush structure according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the apertures arranged in the region of the second lobes (9) have the same shape, the same alignment orientation and the same number as compared to the apertures arranged in the region of the first lobes (2).