Cowl Cross Member Assembly Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vibration from the vehicle body is transmitted to the steering column and wheel, causing discomfort for the driver, and existing solutions either increase vehicle weight by strengthening the body or struggle to balance vibration reduction with structural integrity when using rubber mounts.
Innovation Solution
A cowl cross member assembly with a main and sub-cowl crossbar, connection unit, cowl bracket, steering bracket, and steering mounting unit, featuring a welded cowl bracket for enhanced strength and a connection system that allows for easy mounting of the steering module without interfering with the audio system, utilizing a connection unit with differently positioned holes and reinforcing members to support the steering module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a rubber mount is used to block vibration transmitted to the steering wheel, then vibration is attenuated, but it is difficult to secure strength for the characteristics of rubber
Solution Approach 1:
The cowl cross member is divided into a main cowl crossbar and a sub-cowl crossbar connected by a connection unit. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain strength through the main bar while using the connection unit to accommodate vibration attenuation requirements without compromising overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining metal components (main cowl crossbar, sub-cowl crossbar, connection unit) with rubber mounting elements. The metal provides structural strength while the rubber elements at the mounting points attenuate vibration, resolving the contradiction between strength and vibration blocking.
2Strength
If the bolts firmly fasten the steering column and the cowl cross member, then the steering column is securely fastened, but they cannot block vibration because they are made of metal
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber mount acts as an intermediary element between the metal cowl cross member and the steering column. It transmits the fastening function while simultaneously blocking vibration, resolving the contradiction between secure fastening and vibration attenuation.
3Device complexity
If the cowl cross member is fixed directly to a vehicle body, then the structure is simple, but vibration from the vehicle body is fully transmitted to the cowl and steering column
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber mount serves as an intermediary vibration isolation element between the cowl cross member and the vehicle body. It maintains relatively simple structural integration while effectively blocking vibration transmission, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and vibration attenuation.
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
Improves convenience in mounting the steering module, prevents distortion, and effectively reduces vibration transmission to the driver while maintaining structural integrity and avoiding audio system interference.
Implementation Method 1
a rubber mount is used in some cases to block vibration transmitted to a steering wheel. That is, in a configuration of the related art, vibration has been blocked by fixing a steering column and a cowl cross member with a rubber mount made of elastic rubber
Data Source
AI summary
A cowl cross member assembly for a vehicle for improving convenience in mounting a steering module and avoiding interference with an audio system in a vehicle, may include a main cowl crossbar disposed at a driver's seat in a width direction of the vehicle, a sub-cowl crossbar disposed at a passenger's seat in the width direction of the vehicle, a connection unit disposed between one end of the main cowl crossbar and one end of the sub-cowl crossbar and connecting the main cowl crossbar with the sub-cowl crossbar, a cowl bracket coupled to the main cowl crossbar at one side and coupled to a vehicle body at another side, a steering bracket coupled to a bottom of the cowl bracket and coupled to the steering module, and a steering mounting unit coupled to the main cowl crossbar at one side and coupled to the steering module at another side.