Steering Wheel Airbag Mass Layout for Low- and High-Frequency Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle steering wheel vibration reduction technologies are inadequate in effectively damping vibrations across both low frequency bands (30-50 Hz) and high frequency bands (70-90 Hz), as simple damper arrangements around the steering shaft are insufficient to control high frequency vibrations.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle steering wheel vibration reducing structure where the airbag module, acting as a damper mass, is attached via vibration damping parts surrounding the steering center, with a lighter upper region and a heavier lower region, incorporating a deadweight positioned below the vibration damping parts to enhance damping effectiveness across both frequency bands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If dampers are arranged around the steering shaft in a conventional manner, then low frequency vibrations (30-50 Hz) can be dampened, but high frequency vibrations (70-90 Hz) cannot be effectively controlled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration damping effectivenessVSAvoidfrequency band coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The airbag module is designed with non-uniform weight distribution, making the lower region heavier than the upper region. This local quality difference creates specific vibration characteristics that enable effective damping across both low frequency (30-50 Hz) and high frequency (70-90 Hz) bands, resolving the limitation of conventional uniform dampers

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The airbag module employs an asymmetric weight distribution with a deadweight positioned in the lower region. This asymmetric configuration allows the module to respond differently to vibrations in various frequency bands, enabling it to control both low and high frequency vibrations that a symmetric conventional damper cannot address

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Ease of manufacture

If the airbag module is made uniformly dense, then manufacturing is simplified, but vibration damping performance across different frequency bands is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveairbag module fabricationVSAvoidvibration control performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The module base is designed with locally differentiated density, where the lower region contains a deadweight making it heavier than the upper region. This local quality variation optimizes vibration damping performance across multiple frequency bands while maintaining manufacturability through a straightforward weight addition process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration effectively dampens vibrations in both low and high frequency bands, reducing steering wheel vibrations by optimizing the placement and material distribution of the airbag module and vibration damping parts.

Implementation Method 1

an airbag module, which serves as a damper mass, is attached to the steering wheel via vibration damping parts to damp vibrations of the steering wheel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3922536B1Vibration reduction structure for vehicle steering wheel
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 AUTOLIV DEV AB
  • EP3922536B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3922536B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3922536B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To provide a vehicle steering wheel vibration reducing structure capable of effectively damping induced vibration generated in the steering wheel and contributing to vibration reduction in both low frequency bands and high frequency bands. [Resolution Means] A vehicle steering wheel vibration reducing structure, where the vehicle steering wheel structure is such that an airbag module 2, which serves as a damper mass, is attached to the steering wheel via vibration damping parts 19 to damp vibrations of the steering wheel, and where the airbag module is formed such that the upper region above the center of steering of the steering wheel is lighter than the lower region, with reference to a neutral position of the steering wheel.