Crossing Spring Element for Compact Airbag Steering Wheel Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current spring elements for attaching gas bag modules to vehicle steering wheels require significant space and energy for disassembly, making maintenance and repair cumbersome due to their design necessitating large actuation spaces and high force requirements.
Innovation Solution
A spring element with crossing spring sections between bearing and free ends, allowing for a long lever arm and compact construction, enabling easy mounting and dismounting with minimal actuation effort, and featuring helically wound sections for adjustable elasticity and a tool application point on the coiled spring for reduced space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the spring element is designed with a long actuation path to release locking hooks, then the release function is achieved, but the installation space required in the steering wheel assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element utilizes a crossing configuration where the first and second spring sections cross over each other between the tool application point and the spring ends. This dimensional arrangement creates a long lever arm effect without requiring additional radial space, allowing the spring ends to move significantly in response to minimal actuation at the tool application point, thereby achieving release function with compact installation space
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple functions into the crossing spring sections: the crossing configuration simultaneously provides lever arm multiplication, compact radial profile, and the mechanism for moving spring ends toward each other to release locking hooks. This merging of functions eliminates the need for separate actuation mechanisms and reduces overall installation space
2Ease of operation
If the spring element is actuated with high force to overcome friction and deform the element, then the locking hooks are released, but the effort and time required for removal increase
Solution Approach 1:
The crossing configuration of spring sections creates a mechanical advantage through a long lever arm between the bearing point and spring end. This geometric arrangement multiplies the effect of minimal actuation force applied at the tool application point, resulting in sufficient movement of spring ends to release locking hooks without requiring high actuation forces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the geometric parameters of the spring element, specifically the positioning of bearing points and the crossing configuration of spring sections, to maximize the lever arm effect. This parameter optimization ensures that minimal actuation force produces adequate spring end movement for release, reducing the effort required for removal
3Ease of operation
If the spring element requires translational movement for release, then the locking hooks can be released, but the installation space in the actuation direction increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring translational movement of the entire spring element, the patent employs a rotational/pivoting mechanism where spring sections rotate about bearing points. The crossing configuration enables this rotational motion to efficiently move spring ends toward each other, achieving release function without the need for linear actuation space
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element is pre-configured in a crossed position that stores elastic energy and positions the spring ends to engage locking hooks. Upon minimal actuation, the pre-stored energy and geometric configuration automatically drive the spring ends toward each other to release hooks, eliminating the need for sustained translational actuation space
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
Facilitates quick and reliable mounting and dismounting of gas bag modules with reduced space and energy requirements, allowing for efficient maintenance and repair by leveraging the spring element's design to minimize actuation force and space needed.
Implementation Method 1
a first spring section extending from a tool application point via a first bearing point to a first spring end, and a second spring section extending from the tool application point via a second bearing point to a second spring end
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a spring element (10) for attaching a gas bag module (12) to a vehicle steering wheel (14), comprising a first spring section (16) extending from a tool application point (P) via a first bearing point (18) to a first spring end (20), and a second spring section (22) extending from the tool application point (P) via a second bearing point (24) to a second spring end (26), wherein the two spring sections (16, 22) cross over each other between the tool application point (P) and their spring ends (20, 26), in particular between their bearing points (18, 24) and their spring ends (20, 26).