CN211592685U - Steering column - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to a steering column, this steering column includes: a support base (2) intended to be fixedly mounted with respect to the vehicle chassis and comprising a first clamping leg and a second clamping leg; a steering member (3) intended to be connected to the steering wheel of a vehicle, said steering member being hinged to said support base and arranged between said first and second clamping legs; and a clamping mechanism arranged in such a way as to be able to bring the first and second clamping legs closer together in order to clamp the steering member over at least one clamping area for locking the steering column, the clamping area comprising a coating (100) and a clamping surface (25, 26, 27) of at least one of the first and second clamping legs, the coating (100) being arranged to face the clamping surface and intended to increase the coefficient of friction in the clamping area.

Description

Steering column

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an adjustable steering column for a vehicle, and more particularly to a steering column that is adjustable in terms of rotation and translation relative to a support base fixed to the chassis of the vehicle.

Background

The steering column according to the present invention is particularly, but not exclusively, for a motor vehicle.

The steering column transmits the rotation of the steering wheel to the wheels in order to change the orientation of the wheels, for example, in the following order: steering wheel, steering column, jackshaft, rack, last wheel.

Current steering columns allow for adjustment of the steering wheel in depth and/or height.

Conventionally, a steering column includes:

-a steering member intended to be connected to the steering wheel of a vehicle,

-a support base for supporting the steering member relative to the chassis of the vehicle,

-clamping means arranged to be able to lock the steering member on the support base.

In known steering columns, the height is adjusted by rotating the steering member about a horizontal axis mounted on a support base. This is called radial adjustment.

After selecting the position of the steering wheel, the driver actuates a locking system which fixes this position by clamping the clamping wall of the support base around the steering member, in particular by means of a clamping screw.

Even in situations other than those involving vehicles, resistance to vertical sliding is often critical.

Specifically, in everyday use, the user may happen to apply vertical pressure to the steering wheel. For example, the user may grasp the steering wheel while taking off the jacket, or may grasp the steering wheel tightly while boarding the vehicle.

There is often a gap between the clamping device and the support base and/or the steering member. Thus, when this vertical pressure is applied, the steering member will slide a few tens of millimetres relative to the support base before becoming truly locked.

This gap may be considered as a lack of robustness or even interpreted as a failure of the locking system.

To overcome this problem, the simplest solution is to obtain a minimum tension that is high enough to prevent slippage. However, these friction systems are limited in the level of drag. Furthermore, depending on the configuration of the steering column, in particular its length between the clamping screw and the steering wheel, the lever arm makes it possible for the necessary tension to be insufficient when stressing the steering column.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The object of the present invention is to solve the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above and in particular to propose a mechanism for clamping a steering member so as to enable a reduction in the movement of the steering member in the locking position without interfering with the operation of the clamping mechanism in the unlocking position.

For this purpose, a first aspect of the present invention relates to a steering column, comprising: a support base intended to be fixedly mounted with respect to a vehicle chassis and comprising a first clamping leg and a second clamping leg; a steering member intended to be connected to a steering wheel of a vehicle, the steering member being hinged to the support base and arranged between the first and second clamping legs; and a clamping mechanism arranged in such a way as to be able to bring the first and second clamping legs closer together in order to clamp the steering member over at least one clamping area to lock the steering column, the clamping area comprising a coating and a clamping surface of at least one of the first and second clamping legs, the coating being arranged to face the clamping surface and intended to increase the coefficient of friction in the clamping area, the coating comprising a strip having a first face covered with rubber or EPDM, i.e. ethylene propylene diene monomer, and a second face comprising an adhesive layer covered with a protective film to be removed before the coating is positioned on the clamping surface.

Thus, there is virtually no relative movement between the elements of the steering column in the locked position due to the increased friction coefficient of the clamping surfaces.

According to another variant embodiment, the clamping area further comprises a contact surface of the diverting member, the coating being located between the clamping surface and the contact surface of the diverting member.

According to another variant embodiment, the coating comprises at least one pad covering a portion of the contact surface of the clamping member.

According to another variant embodiment, the clamping mechanism comprises: a clamping screw; clamping the nut; and a stop device mounted on the clamping screw and arranged between the clamping nut and the clamping leg, the clamping screw passing successively through the first clamping leg, the diverting member and the second clamping leg, such that rotation of the clamping screw in one direction or the other enables the clamping members to be brought closer together or further apart from each other in order to clamp the support base firmly, thereby clamping or releasing the diverting member between the clamping legs, an additional clamping area being formed on the stop device, the additional clamping area of the stop device being covered with a coating.

According to another variant embodiment, the clamping mechanism comprises an additional strip mounted on the clamping screw between the clamping nut and the stop means, one face of the additional strip being covered with a coating.

According to another variant embodiment, the coating comprises a strip having a first face covered with a material such as rubber or EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer).

According to another variant embodiment, the second face of the strip comprises an adhesive layer.

According to another variant embodiment, the strip is made of metal or metal alloy or composite or plastic.

According to another variant embodiment, each clamping leg comprises a through hole for the passage of a screw, and the edges of the through holes are coated with a coating.

According to another variant embodiment, the diverting member comprises a through hole for the passage of the screw, and the edge of the through hole is coated with a coating.

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the invention will become clearer from reading the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, provided by way of non-limiting example and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a steering column according to the invention, seen from the left-hand side;

fig. 2 is a perspective view of the steering column of fig. 1, seen from the right-hand side;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view of a lower body of the steering member of the steering column shown in the previous figures;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a clamping mechanism for clamping the steering column;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of a clamping mechanism for clamping the steering column;

FIG. 7 is a detailed view of a clamping mechanism for clamping a steering column according to another embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of a clamping mechanism for clamping a steering column according to another embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a detailed view of the coating;

fig. 10 is a detailed view of another alternate embodiment of the coating.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 3 show a steering column 1 for a motor vehicle according to the invention, the steering column 1 comprising a housing 2 forming a support base for a steering member 3. In particular, the housing 2 is intended to be fixed to the chassis of the vehicle during assembly thereof.

The steering member 3 comprises a tube, called upper tube 6, connected to a steering wheel end piece 7, the steering wheel end piece 7 being intended to be connected to the steering wheel (not shown) of the vehicle. The steering wheel end piece 7 forms the end of the steering shaft that is freely rotatable about the axis of rotation. This rotation transfers the rotation of the steering wheel to a steering mechanism (not shown) that orients the wheels of the vehicle. This axis of rotation is referred to as the steering column axis.

The upper tube 6 is slidably mounted in the lower body 5 along an axial adjustment axis coaxial with the steering column axis. In the drawings, the reference character a denotes the two axes without distinction. This sliding allows an initial adjustment of the steering wheel in terms of depth, also referred to as axial adjustment.

The lower body 5 is mounted so that it can rotate freely about a pivot pin 4 or pivot carried by the housing 2. This is an embodiment that allows the diverting member 3 to be hinged to the housing 2. This rotation allows a radial adjustment of the direction winding around the rotation axis C. The pivot pin 4 is intended to be horizontal when the steering column 1 is mounted in a vehicle. This radial adjustment is also referred to as height adjustment.

The housing 2 comprises a left-hand clamping leg 20 and a right-hand clamping leg 21. The lower body 5 is arranged between the two clamping legs 20, 21.

The clamping mechanism is arranged to clamp the housing 2 and the steering member 3 together, more specifically the housing 2, the lower body 5 and the upper tube 6 together. Thus, the entire steering column can be locked in a fixed position relative to the chassis of the vehicle, thereby keeping the steering wheel in a certain position during use of the vehicle.

More specifically, the clamping mechanism is arranged in such a way that it brings these clamping legs 20, 21 closer together when the steering column 1 is locked. Thus, the steering member 3, in this case its lower body 5, is firmly clamped between the clamping legs 20, 21.

Once the steering column 1 has been locked, each clamping leg 20, 21 has its clamping surface 26, 27 on its inner face in contact with a contact surface 56, 57 on the outer face of the steering member 3 (in this case the lower body 5), as will be described in more detail below.

According to the present invention, at least a portion of at least one of the clamping surfaces 26, 27 and the contact surfaces 56, 57 comprises a coating 100, the coating 100 having mechanical properties such that it increases the friction coefficient of the respective clamping area. The coating 100 gives adhesion between the diverting member 3 and the housing 2. Therefore, if the driver applies stress to the steering wheel so as to apply vertical force, this will prevent the feeling of backlash.

Next, the respective positions of the coating 100 in the respective clamping surfaces 26, 27 and contact surfaces 56, 57 are described with reference to fig. 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The clamping mechanism is also arranged so as to be able to release the housing 2 and the steering member 3, more specifically the housing 2, the lower body 5 and the upper tube 6, so that they are no longer clamped together. Then, the axial and/or radial adjustment of the steering wheel can be continued.

In the illustrated embodiment, the clamping mechanism includes:

-a clamping screw 9 which is provided with,

a clamping lever 8 mounted at a first end of a clamping screw 9,

a clamping member mounted on the clamping screw 9.

In this embodiment the clamping means comprise a movable element 10, in which case the movable element 10 is formed by a cam 10 mounted on the side of the outer face 24 of the left-hand clamping leg 20. They also include: a stop device 12, in particular a needle thrust bearing; and a clamping nut 13, which clamping nut 13 is mounted at the second end of the clamping screw 9 on the outside of the right-hand clamping leg 21, i.e. on the side of the clamping surface 25.

As can be seen in fig. 3, the clamping screw 9 comprises a longitudinal axis which corresponds to the direction in which the movable element 10 is clamped against the housing 2 and thus the housing 2 and the steering member 3. This longitudinal axis is referred to below as the clamping axis B.

Since the diameter of the stop means 12 is greater than the through-hole 23 for the passage of the clamping screw through the right-hand clamping leg 21, it forms a stop means for the translational movement of the clamping screw 9 along the clamping axis B. The through hole 23 may have a rectangular shape allowing radial adjustment of the steering column 1.

In this case, the cam 10 comprises a central hole through which the clamping screw 9 passes in such a way that the cam 10 can slide along the clamping screw 9.

The cam 10 may comprise a ramp 81 interacting with a cam race (not shown) fixed with respect to the clamping screw and in particular carried by the lever 8. Thus, depending on whether the lever 8 is rotated to lock or unlock, the cam race causes the cam 10 to move along the clamp screw 9 towards or away from the left hand side clamp leg 20.

A resilient element 11 may be arranged between the cam 10 and the left hand clamping leg 20 to facilitate movement of the cam 10 away from the leg during unlocking.

A locking element 11 with teeth can also be arranged on the left-hand clamping leg 20 to allow locking of the lower body 5 in the event of a crash. These teeth mesh with teeth (not shown) on the cam 10, in this case on the face on the other side of the ramp 81.

In this embodiment, the locking element and the resilient element are one and the same piece, in this case a piece of sheet metal. However, this is not essential and the resilient element may be a spring and the locking element may be another toothed system.

In the embodiment shown, the locking element 11 is attached at the bottom on the lower edge of the leg 20 to the left-hand clamping leg 20 and at the top to an attachment bow 14 formed on the outer face 24 of the leg 20. In particular, the bottom and top of the locking element 11 may be snap-fitted and/or embedded into the leg 20.

The clamping screw 9 is arranged through a through hole 52, 53 in the lower body 5, in which the clamping screw is freely rotatable about the clamping axis B. The clamping screw 9 is thus carried by the lower body 5. These through holes are more clearly visible in fig. 4 to 7. The through holes 52, 53 in the lower body 5 may have a rectangular shape to allow radial adjustment of the steering column 3.

The lower body 5 includes a bent portion 60, and the bent portion 60 connects two side surfaces, which are respectively disposed at both sides of the upper pipe 6 and are in contact with the upper pipe 6. Each of these sides is pierced to form one of the through holes 52, 53 for the clamping screw 9.

In this case, these sides each comprise a clamping wall 50, 51. The clamping walls 50, 51 each have a contact surface 56, 57 of the diverting member 3.

Each lateral face also comprises a transmission member 54, 55 for transmitting the clamping force, which is fixed to the inner face of the respective clamping wall 50, 51, i.e. on the opposite side to its contact surface 56, 57. Each transfer member 54, 55 is in direct contact with the upper tube 6.

In this embodiment, each transfer member 54, 55 defines a lower wall which, together with the curved portion 60, defines the housing 63 and which extends longitudinally along the longitudinal axis a of the steering column 1. The upper tube 6 is mounted in such a way that it can move telescopically in this accommodation 63, thereby allowing an axial adjustment of the steering column 1.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, a coating 100 for increasing the coefficient of friction may be positioned on at least one of the clamping surfaces 26, 27 and the contact surfaces 56, 57 of the lower body 5 or the housing 2, respectively. Thus, the coating 100 may be positioned on the inner face, i.e. the clamping surface 26, 27, of each clamping leg 20, 21. During clamping, the coating 100 on the inner faces, i.e. the clamping surfaces 26, 27, comes into contact with the outer faces, i.e. the contact surfaces 56, 57, of the lower body 5.

According to another variant embodiment, the coating 100 is positioned on the outer face, i.e. the contact surfaces 56, 57, of the lower body 5. According to the variant shown in fig. 6, the coating 100 consists of a pad of rectangular shape, for example, covering only a part of the clamping area. Fig. 6 shows four pads 100 distributed around the through hole 23 for the passage of the clamping screw 9. According to other variant embodiments, only two pads of the coating 100 are arranged around the through hole 23 for the passage of the clamping screw 9.

Furthermore, as shown in fig. 7, the clamping area can be formed by the stop means 12 of the clamping nut. In particular, during clamping, the stop means 12 come into contact with the outer face of the clamping leg 21, i.e. the clamping surface 25. According to a variant embodiment of the invention, the coating 100 covers the outer face of the clamping leg 21, i.e. the clamping surface 25, or the face of the stop means 12 of the clamping nut 13 facing the outer face of the clamping leg, at least in the region in contact with the stop means 12.

Likewise, according to another variant embodiment, an additional strip 101 can be added between the stop means 12 and the outer face of the clamping leg 21, i.e. the clamping surface 25. The additional strip 101 comprises a slot in order to be held on the clamping screw 9. The additional strip 101 then also constitutes a clamping area as described above. In particular, during clamping, the two outer faces 102, 103 of the additional strip 101 come into contact with the stop means 12 and the outer face, i.e. the clamping surface 25 or the washer 17, respectively. According to the invention, at least one of the outer faces 102, 103 of the additional strip 101 is covered with a coating 100. Likewise, any of the surfaces of the gasket 17 may be coated with the coating 100.

Fig. 8 shows a variant embodiment in which a coating is used to reduce the noise generated by the adjustment system in the end position. In particular, when the clamping screw 9 is at its end stop in the radial or axial adjustment, it becomes in contact with the edges of the through- holes 22, 23 in the housing 2 or the through- holes 52, 53 in the lower body 5, so that undesirable noise is generated. According to the invention, at least a part of the edges of the through- holes 22, 23, 52, 53 in the shell 2 and the lower body 5 are covered with a coating 100. According to the variant embodiment shown in fig. 8, the coating 100 covering the edges of the through holes 22, 23 in the casing 2 and the coating covering the clamping surfaces 26, 27 of the inner face of the casing 2 are made as a single piece.

The same means and the same configuration can be used for the through holes 52, 53 in the lower body 5.

Thus, once the lever 8 is unlocked, the tension between the elements of the housing 2 and the elements of the lower body 5 is weak enough in the adjustment to allow relative movement (adjustment) with less force than the required limit. The clamping screw 9 of the locking system and all other mechanical elements moving along the holes 22, 23, 52, 53 in the shell 2 and the lower body 5 are damped at the end of the stroke so as not to have any metal/metal or plastic/metal contact that could generate unpleasant noise.

As shown in fig. 9, the coating 100 comprises, for example, a strip 111, a first side of the strip 111 being covered with a material 110 such as rubber or EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer). According to a variant embodiment, the second face comprises, for example, an adhesive layer 112. The adhesive layer 112 may be covered with a protective film 113, which protective film 113 is to be removed before positioning the coating on the clamping surface.

The strip is made of a metal or metal alloy or composite such as epoxy or of filled or unfilled fiberglass. The strip may also be made of a polymer plastic.

According to another variant embodiment, the second face of the strip 111 is covered with a layer of material 110, such as rubber or EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer).

It is to be understood that various modifications and/or improvements obvious to a person skilled in the art may be made to the various embodiments of the invention described in the present description without going beyond the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims (8)

1. A steering column (1), the steering column (1) comprising:

a support base (2), said support base (2) being intended to be fixedly mounted with respect to a vehicle chassis and comprising a first clamping leg and a second clamping leg,

a steering member (3), the steering member (3) being intended to be connected to a steering wheel of a vehicle, the steering member being hinged to the support base and arranged between the first and second clamping legs, and

a clamping mechanism arranged in such a way as to be able to bring the first and second clamping legs closer together in order to clamp the steering member over at least one clamping area for locking the steering column, the clamping area comprising a coating (100) and a clamping surface (25, 26, 27) of at least one of the first and second clamping legs, the coating (100) being arranged to face the clamping surface and intended to increase the friction coefficient in the clamping area,

the steering column is characterized in that the coating (100) comprises a strip (111), the strip (111) having a first face covered with rubber or EPDM, ethylene propylene diene monomer, and a second face comprising an adhesive layer (112), the adhesive layer (112) being covered with a protective film (113), the protective film (113) being to be removed before the coating is positioned on the clamping surface.

2. Steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping area further comprises a contact surface (56, 57) of the steering member (3), the coating being located between the clamping surface (25, 26, 27) and the contact surface (56, 57) of the steering member (3).

3. Steering column according to claim 2, characterized in that the coating (100) comprises at least one pad covering a part of the contact surface (56, 57) of the steering member (3).

4. Steering column according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the clamping mechanism comprises:

a clamping screw (9),

a clamping nut (13), and

a stop device (12), the stop device (12) being mounted on the clamping screw and being arranged between the clamping nut (13) and the second clamping leg (21), the clamping screw (9) passing successively through the first clamping leg (20), the steering member (3) and the second clamping leg (21), such that rotation of the clamping screw in one direction or the other enables the first and second clamping legs to be brought closer together or further apart from each other for firmly clamping the support base (2), so as to clamp or release the steering member between the first clamping leg (20) and the second clamping leg (21), an additional clamping area is formed on the retaining device (12), said additional clamping area of the retaining device (12) being covered with the coating (100).

5. Steering column according to claim 4, characterized in that the clamping mechanism comprises an additional strip (101) mounted on the clamping screw (9) between the clamping nut (13) and the stop means (12), one face of the additional strip (101) being covered with the coating (100).

6. Steering column according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the strip (111) is made of metal or metal alloy or composite or plastic.

7. Steering column according to claim 4, characterized in that each clamping leg (20, 21) comprises a through hole (22, 23) for the passage of the clamping screw (9), and in that the edges of the through holes (22, 23) are coated with the coating (100).

8. Steering column according to claim 4, characterized in that the steering member comprises a through hole (52, 53) for the passage of the clamping screw (9), and in that the edges of the through hole (52, 53) are coated with the coating (100).

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