Pivoting Display Mount for Steering Column Crash Clearance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle displays are vulnerable to damage during crashes, leading to potential injury from shattered glass and impaired airbag functionality due to the steering column's interaction with the display.
Innovation Solution
A holding arrangement with a support device and pivotable bearing element that allows the display to rotate away from the steering column during a crash, featuring a pivot axis and a predetermined breaking point to detach the display safely, ensuring the steering column has sufficient space to retract without damaging the display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the display is positioned above the steering column for better visibility and compact design, then the visibility and space utilization are improved, but the display becomes vulnerable to damage during steering column retraction in accidents
Solution Approach 1:
The display mounting system transitions from a fixed rigid connection to a dynamic system with two stages: initially a rigid connection for normal operation, then a breaking mechanism that allows the display to detach and move backward when the steering column retracts during an accident, protecting the display from damage
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-positioned the display at a location above the steering column where it can be protected by the steering column structure during normal operation, and pre-designed the breaking mechanism to activate only when necessary during accidents, providing conditional protection without affecting normal functionality
2Stability of the object's composition
If the display is rigidly fixed above the steering column for stability, then the display stability is improved, but the steering column cannot retract freely during accidents causing display damage and airbag malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into multiple components: the display, the bearing element, the support device with breaking points, and the instrument panel. This segmentation allows the display to remain stable during normal operation while enabling controlled detachment during accidents when the breaking points fail, resolving the conflict between stability and retraction freedom
3Device complexity
If the display is positioned closer to the steering column for compact design, then the compactness is improved, but the risk of collision during steering column retraction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing element and support device with breaking points act as intermediaries between the display and the instrument panel. These intermediaries allow the display to be positioned close to the steering column for compactness while providing a controlled failure mechanism that creates safety space during accidents, preventing direct collision
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
Reduces the risk of display damage and ensures proper airbag activation, enabling a more compact design by allowing the display to move away from the steering column, thus protecting the driver and maintaining airbag functionality.
Implementation Method 1
the bearing element can be pivoted about a pivot axis together with the display means
Data Source
AI summary
A pivotable display system having a traction spring tensioned to reversibly pivot the display around a pivot axis of a shaft connected to an upper portion of a display in a direction from a front side of the display toward the rear side of the display. In the event of an accident-related application of force below a threshold, the display is rotatable in a rearward direction toward an instrument panel, so that a steering column pushed in a direction towards the display avoids or at least reduces the risk of destruction of the display. In the event of accident-related application of force above the threshold, the traction spring may reversibly displace the display upwardly away from the steering column.