Self-aligning Drive Gear Pivoting Nut Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Steering column assemblies with telescoping functions face issues due to offset driving forces, leading to bending moments that cause nut misalignment and premature wear, necessitating an improved structure for smoother telescoping and extended life.
Innovation Solution
A self-aligning pivoting nut assembly with a bracket and nut configuration that allows pivotal movement, reducing bending moments and maintaining proper thread engagement, comprising a telescoping bolt and a pivoting nut assembly with a bracket that translates and rotates relative to the screw, minimizing wear and extending the life of the telescoping subassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a motor and screw are used to drive telescoping movement, then telescoping function is achieved, but bending moments cause nut misalignment and premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the nut assembly pivotable rather than fixed. The nut is mounted on a pivot pin that allows it to rotate dynamically, enabling the nut to self-align with the screw threads during telescoping movement. This dynamic adjustment eliminates bending moments and prevents thread misalignment, resolving the reliability issue while maintaining the telescoping function.
2Productivity
If offset driving force is applied to drive the structure, then telescoping movement is achieved, but bending moments arise causing nut rocking and thread misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pivot pin as an intermediary element between the nut and the bracket. This pivot pin serves as a mediator that allows the nut to rotate and self-align with the screw, eliminating the transmission of bending moments and rocking forces. The intermediary pivot mechanism simplifies the force transmission path while maintaining productive telescoping movement.
3Device complexity
If a fixed nut connection is used with offset driving, then structure simplicity is maintained, but thread misalignment and premature wear occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed nut connection into a dynamic, pivotable connection. The nut can now rotate on the pivot pin to maintain proper thread alignment with the screw during telescoping operation. This dynamic capability significantly extends the duration of action (service life) of the telescoping subassembly by preventing premature wear and thread misalignment, while adding only minimal structural complexity.
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
The solution reduces premature wear, extends the life of the telescoping subassembly, and decreases the required motor current, achieving a significant increase in cycle life and smoother operation.
Implementation Method 1
a pivoting nut assembly with a bracket and nut configuration that allows pivotal movement, reducing bending moments and maintaining proper thread engagement
Data Source
AI summary
The present teachings include a steering column assembly including an outer tube and an inner tube adapted for fore and aft translation relative to the outer tube. The assembly includes an actuator for causing the fore and aft translation. The actuator includes a motor and a screw having a longitudinal axis that is rotationally driven about the longitudinal axis by the motor. The assembly includes a pivoting nut assembly adapted to travel fore and aft generally along an axis that is the same as or generally parallel with the longitudinal axis. The pivoting nut assembly includes a bracket that is operably Joined with the inner or outer tube, for causing fore or aft translation of the inner tube in response to operation of the motor, and a nut that is assembled on the bracket and is adapted for pivotal movement in an axis generally transverse to the longitudinal axis.