Converging Wall Dash Panel Seal for Steering Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing dash panel systems in vehicles face a challenge in maintaining effective acoustic silencing due to the need for a larger clearance hole to accommodate the steering shaft, which compromises the performance of the sound barrier when the dash silencer is trimmed to avoid overlapping with the hole.
Innovation Solution
An acoustic dash panel seal and assembly guide featuring a converging wall and flange portion, integrated with a sound-absorbing backing, guides the steering column shaft through the dash panel aperture, allowing for a smaller clearance hole while ensuring efficient noise reduction by using a funnel-shaped design and a continuous flange for sealing with the interior dash silencer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a larger clearance hole is provided in the dash panel to accommodate the steering shaft, then the steering shaft can pass through during instrument panel mounting, but the dash silencer must be trimmed away from the hole which degrades silencing performance
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing system is divided into multiple components: the dash silencer with circumferential flange, the seal member positioned between the flange and dash panel, and the intermediate steering shaft bearing. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the flange provides structural support and positioning, the seal member provides acoustic sealing, and the bearing accommodates the steering shaft - while working together to resolve the contradiction between shaft installation and noise reduction
Solution Approach 2:
A seal member is introduced as an intermediary element between the dash silencer's circumferential flange and the dash panel. This seal member fills the gap created by the clearance hole and prevents acoustic noise from passing through the gap between the flange and dash panel, thereby maintaining silencing performance while allowing the steering shaft to pass through the clearance hole
2Ease of operation
If the dash silencer is trimmed away from the clearance hole to prevent overlapping, then the steering shaft can pass through, but the silencing performance is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The circumferential flange is provided on the dash silencer before installation, extending along the clearance hole. This preliminary structural feature allows the dash silencer to maintain its position and provide acoustic sealing at the clearance hole location, while the seal member is subsequently added to complete the sealing function, thereby maintaining silencing performance without compromising steering shaft passage
Solution Approach 2:
The seal member functions as a flexible sealing element that can deform to fill the gap between the rigid circumferential flange and the dash panel. This flexibility allows the seal member to effectively block acoustic noise paths while accommodating manufacturing tolerances and assembly variations, thereby maintaining reliable silencing performance
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 solution enables improved acoustic silencing performance by reducing noise transfer from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment, maintaining effective noise reduction with a smaller dash panel aperture and accommodating typical assembly tolerances without compromising NVH performance.
Implementation Method 1
a sound absorbing backing coupled to at least one of the guide portion and the flange portion, the sound absorbing backing configured to circumscribe the dash panel shaft aperture to facilitate reducing acoustic transfer therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
An acoustic dash panel seal and assembly guide for a vehicle having a dash panel with a shaft aperture configured to receive a steering column shaft includes a guide portion having a converging wall that converges from a first end to an opposite second end, and a flange portion extending from the converging wall first end. The guide portion second end is configured to be disposed proximate to the dash panel shaft aperture, and the guide portion first end is configured to receive the steering column shaft therein during assembly of the vehicle. The converging wall is configured to guide the steering column shaft toward and through the guide portion second end to thereby guide the steering column shaft through the dash panel shaft aperture.