Steering Column Rake Adjustment Self-Aligning Teeth Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rake adjustment assemblies in steering columns often experience misalignment of teeth, leading to damage, difficulty in locking, and noise due to friction, resulting in additional wear on the teeth.
Innovation Solution
A rake adjustment assembly with self-aligning teeth features, including a pin that moves between locked and unlocked positions, a first tray with exterior and inner surfaces featuring sets of teeth, and a rocker tray that rocks to facilitate meshing and alignment, utilizing a step and chamfer design to prevent misalignment and reduce friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional rake adjustment assemblies are used with teeth that mesh together, then locking functionality is achieved, but tooth misalignment occurs leading to damage, noise, and difficulty in locking
Solution Approach 1:
The rocker tray is pre-configured with a rocking motion capability that automatically performs preliminary alignment of the teeth before the locking action occurs. This preliminary alignment action prevents misalignment damage and noise during the locking process by ensuring teeth are properly positioned before they engage.
Solution Approach 2:
The rocker tray acts as an intermediary element between the pin and the first tray. By introducing this intermediate component with rocking capability, the system achieves smooth tooth engagement and alignment, preventing direct misalignment contact between the pin and first tray teeth.
2Ease of operation
If teeth are designed to mesh together for locking, then the assembly can be locked, but friction and movement between teeth cause noise and additional wear
Solution Approach 1:
The rocker tray is designed with dynamic rocking motion capability that adapts during the locking process. This dynamic movement allows the teeth to engage smoothly with minimal friction and wear by accommodating any slight misalignments through the rocking motion rather than forcing rigid engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The rocking motion of the rocker tray introduces a controlled mechanical movement that facilitates smooth tooth engagement. This motion reduces static friction during locking by allowing the teeth to settle into proper alignment through the rocking action, thereby minimizing noise and wear.
3Device complexity
If a simple pin mechanism is used for rake adjustment, then the structure is simple, but tooth alignment cannot be ensured leading to damage and locking difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The rocker tray is designed with dynamic rocking motion capability that adapts during the locking process. This dynamic movement allows the teeth to engage smoothly with minimal friction and wear by accommodating any slight misalignments through the rocking motion rather than forcing rigid engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The rocking motion of the rocker tray introduces a controlled mechanical movement that facilitates smooth tooth engagement. This motion reduces static friction during locking by allowing the teeth to settle into proper alignment through the rocking action, thereby minimizing noise and wear.
Data Source
AI summary
A rake assembly for a steering column includes a pin adapted to move along a first axis between a locked position and an unlocked position, a first tray fixed to a support structure, the first tray including an exterior surface and an extension, at least one set of teeth defined on the exterior surface, the extension extending from an edge of the set of teeth formed in the exterior surface and at least partially along a length of the set of teeth, the extension including an upper surface spaced apart from the exterior surface to define a step, and a rocker tray including an inner surface, at least one set of teeth defined on the inner surface and adapted to mesh with the set of teeth of the first tray when in the locked position and un-mesh when in the unlocked position.