Vehicle Cockpit Door Mechanism for Hidden Steering Wheel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle cockpits face challenges in hiding the steering wheel due to interference from components like multifunctional levers and shrouds, which obstruct the dashboard and compromise interior space and design quality.
Innovation Solution
A cockpit design that allows for telescopic operation of the steering unit, incorporating a shroud, multifunctional lever, dashboard opening, and a door device with a gearbox, gear member, and elastic member to manage the interaction between these components during tele-in and tele-out operations, ensuring smooth hiding and revealing of the steering wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the steering wheel is hidden by telescopic operation, then interior space and design quality are improved, but components like multifunctional lever and shroud interfere with the dashboard
Solution Approach 1:
The dashboard opening is divided into multiple sections with door devices positioned at specific locations (e.g., left and right sides of the shroud). This segmentation allows selective opening and closing of dashboard sections to accommodate the multifunctional lever during telescopic operation while maintaining closure elsewhere to preserve interior space and design quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The door device incorporates a gearbox with a rack gear and pinion gear that enable dynamic opening and closing of the dashboard opening. The elastic member (spring) provides automatic restoration to the closed state, creating a dynamic system that adapts between open and closed positions based on the telescopic operation requirements.
2Area of stationary object
If the steering wheel is hidden, then openness and sense of luxury are improved, but the multifunctional lever and shroud obstruct the dashboard
Solution Approach 1:
The door device is pre-positioned and pre-configured in the dashboard opening before telescopic operation occurs. The elastic member is pre-loaded to provide restoration force, and the gearbox components are pre-arranged to enable quick opening/closing action when the steering wheel needs to be hidden or revealed.
Solution Approach 2:
The door device acts as an intermediary element between the dashboard opening and the multifunctional lever/shroud components. It mediates the conflict by providing a controllable barrier that can open to allow component passage during telescopic operation and close to maintain the dashboard's aesthetic appearance and structural integrity.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a door device is added to manage component interaction, then component interference is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member (spring) in the door device provides self-service by automatically restoring the door to its closed position after opening. This eliminates the need for additional actuators or control mechanisms to close the door, reducing overall system complexity while still achieving the goal of preventing component interference during non-operational states.
Solution Approach 2:
The door device combines multiple functions into a single integrated structure: the gearbox provides both the opening mechanism and the structural framework, the elastic member provides both the opening force and the closing restoration, and the overall assembly serves both as a protective barrier and as a guide for the multifunctional lever movement.
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
Enables the steering wheel to be hidden effectively without interfering with dashboard components, enhancing interior space and design quality by allowing seamless telescopic movement and automatic door control.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member configured to elastically deform in accordance with a movement of the gear member
Data Source
AI summary
A cockpit for a vehicle is provided. The cockpit includes a steering device having a shroud to cover a steering column, and a multifunctional lever protruding and extending outward from the shroud, a dashboard having an opening through which the steering device passes, and a door device provided in the opening to open or close a space between the dashboard and the shroud.