Intermediate Shaft Piece for Steering System Standardization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electromechanical rack and pinion steering systems require adaptation or replacement of components for different designs, leading to unnecessary expenses and complex assembly/calibration processes.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an intermediate shaft piece that connects the pinion shaft and torsion bar, allowing for the use of standardized components and facilitating assembly and calibration by acting as an adapter, while ensuring a firm connection through various receptacles with different diameters and form-fitting designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the torsion bar is directly connected to both the input shaft and pinion shaft, then the steering system achieves direct torque transmission, but component adaptation is required for different designs leading to increased expenses and assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediate shaft piece as a mediator component between the torsion bar and pinion shaft. This intermediate component enables standardized torsion bars to be used across different steering system designs without requiring direct modification, thereby reducing manufacturing expenses and simplifying assembly procedures while maintaining direct torque transmission functionality
2Adaptability or versatility
If components are adapted for differently designed steering systems, then specific design requirements are met, but expenses increase and assembly/calibration becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate shaft piece is designed as a universal component that can accommodate different steering system configurations. By providing a standardized interface between the torsion bar and pinion shaft, it enables the same torsion bar design to be used across multiple steering system variants, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining design adaptability through the modular intermediate component
3Device complexity
If the torsion bar is directly connected to the pinion shaft, then the structure is simplified, but identical parts cannot be used across different designs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the direct connection between the torsion bar and pinion shaft by introducing an intermediate shaft piece. This segmentation allows the torsion bar to remain a standardized, interchangeable component while the intermediate piece absorbs the design-specific variations, thereby maintaining both structural simplicity and component interchangeability across different steering system designs
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 use of identical parts across different designs, simplifies the assembly and calibration of the steering system, and ensures precise positioning of components, thereby reducing costs and improving efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A torsion bar (4) is arranged between the input shaft (2) and the pinion shaft (3). This torsion bar (4) is connected directly, and in one exemplary arrangement, non-rotatably, to the input shaft (2)
Implementation Method 2
the transmission is designed as a worm gear and/or as a reduction gear. When the transmission is designed as a worm gear, it can have a worm shaft and a gear designed as a worm wheel
Implementation Method 3
the pinion shaft has a steering pinion section for cooperation with a rack. In particular, a rotation of the input shaft, and thus a rotation of the pinion shaft and of the steering pinion section, is converted into a linear movement of the rack via a toothed engagement of the steering pinion section with the rack
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an electromechanical rack and pinion steering system for a motor vehicle with an input shaft which is connected to a pinion shaft, wherein a torsion bar is arranged between the input shaft and the pinion shaft, and is directly connected to the input shaft, and the pinion shaft has a steering pinion section for interacting with a rack, and with an electric motor for driving the pinion shaft. The electric motor is connected to the pinion shaft by a transmission. An intermediate shaft piece is arranged between the pinion shaft and the input shaft. The intermediate shaft piece is connected directly to the pinion shaft and connected directly to the torsion bar.