Modular Steering Wheel Assembly with Independent Component Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to provide a wide selection of steering wheel options for customers while minimizing development, production, storage, and handling costs for vehicle manufacturers, and allowing for easy customization and exchange of steering wheels, especially in used vehicles, without increasing costs.
Innovation Solution
A modular steering wheel assembly comprising a hub, wheel rim skeleton, and spoke, with a rim interface component and an insert component that are exchangeable independently, allowing for various combinations to create different steering wheel designs, materials, and styles, while keeping the underlying armature and wheel rim skeleton costs low.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a wide selection of different steering wheels is offered to customers, then customer satisfaction and personalization options are improved, but development, production, storage and handling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel is divided into multiple independent components: an armature (hub, wheel rim skeleton, spokes) and interchangeable rim interface components and insert components. This segmentation allows customers to choose from various component combinations without requiring separate development and production processes for each complete steering wheel design, thereby reducing development and production costs while maintaining design variety.
Solution Approach 2:
The rim interface component and insert component are designed as universal parts that can be attached to different armatures. A single rim interface component can fit multiple armature types, and multiple rim interface components can be combined with a single armature, creating numerous steering wheel variants from a limited set of base components. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of unique parts that need to be manufactured and stored.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a wide selection of different steering wheels is offered to customers, then customization options are improved, but storage and handling costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the steering wheel into modular components (armature, rim interface component, insert component), the system reduces the total quantity of complete steering wheels that need to be stored. Instead of storing multiple complete steering wheel assemblies, only individual components need to be stored, which occupy less space and are easier to handle. The components can be assembled into different complete steering wheels as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular component system enables easy recovery and reuse of individual components. When a customer wants to customize or exchange a steering wheel, only the specific rim interface component or insert component needs to be replaced rather than the entire steering wheel. This reduces storage requirements as the same armature and other components can be reused across multiple steering wheel configurations.
3Ease of repair
If steering wheel components are made exchangeable, then ease of repair and customization are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel is segmented into distinct functional components (armature, rim interface component, insert component) with standardized connection interfaces. This segmentation enables easy exchange of individual components without affecting the entire steering wheel assembly. The standardized interfaces simplify the exchange process, making it as simple as attaching or detaching a component, thereby improving ease of repair and customization despite the increased number of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The rim interface component serves multiple functions: it connects the insert component to the armature, provides structural support, and enables easy exchange of the insert component. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still achieving ease of repair and customization.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering wheel assembly having an armature, a hub, a wheel rim skeleton, and at least one spoke connecting the hub with the wheel rim skeleton. The assembly may include a rim interface component attachable to the wheel rim skeleton. The assembly may further include an insert component, which is attachable to the wheel rim skeleton and/or the hub, and the rim interface component and the insert component being exchangeable independently of each other.