Rotating Friction Plate for Steering Wheel Position Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering wheel position adjustment devices face challenges in securely holding the steering wheel at an adjusted position without increasing the number of friction plates, which leads to increased size, weight, and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A steering wheel position adjustment device utilizing a rotating friction plate supported by a rotation support shaft, which is interposed between the support plate and the displacement bracket, allowing for strong frictional engagement to maintain the steering wheel's position with fewer components, reducing frictional resistance and enabling smooth adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If multiple friction plates are used to increase holding force, then the holding force of the steering wheel at adjusted position is improved, but the device size, weight, and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The friction plate is designed to rotate about a rotation support shaft, transforming from a static friction plate to a dynamic rotating one. This rotation enables the friction plate to engage and disengage smoothly, providing strong holding force when engaged while reducing frictional resistance during adjustment, thereby achieving high holding force with a single friction plate instead of multiple plates
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the rotation support shaft is strategically positioned to optimize the frictional engagement characteristics. By changing the rotational parameter of the friction plate about this shaft, the system achieves variable frictional resistance that provides strong holding force at adjusted positions while facilitating smooth adjustment during movement
2Force
If multiple friction plates are used to increase holding force, then the holding force of the steering wheel at adjusted position is improved, but the device size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating friction plate mechanism replaces multiple static friction plates with a single dynamic component. The rotation capability allows this single plate to provide sustained high frictional engagement force throughout the adjustment range, eliminating the need for multiple plates and thereby reducing the overall weight of the adjustment device
3Ease of operation
If a rotating friction plate is used, then frictional resistance during adjustment is reduced enabling smooth adjustment, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
By introducing rotation capability to the friction plate about a fixed rotation support shaft, the system dynamically adjusts frictional characteristics during operation. The rotation allows the friction plate to smoothly engage and disengage, reducing frictional resistance during adjustment while maintaining simple structural support through the fixed rotation shaft
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 effectively increases the holding force of the steering wheel at its adjusted position while minimizing the number of friction plates, thereby reducing the device's size, weight, and complexity, and facilitating smooth position adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
A friction plate is interposed in at least one of a portion between an inner surface of the pair of support plate parts and a side surface of the displacement bracket and a portion between an outer surface of the pair of support plate parts and an inner surface of the pair of pressing parts
Data Source
AI summary
A steering wheel position adjustment device includes a displacement bracket fixed to a steering column, a pair of support plate parts for interposing the displacement bracket, an adjustment rod inserted in a through hole in the displacement bracket and in through holes in the support plate parts, a pair of pressing parts provided at both ends of the adjustment rod, an adjustment lever provided to one end of the adjustment rod and configured to expand and contract an interval between the pressing parts, and a rotating friction plate. The rotating friction plate is interposed between the displacement bracket and the support plate parts and/or between the support plate parts and the pressing parts. The rotating friction plate has a base end portion rotatably supported by a rotation support shaft, and a tip half portion formed with a long guide hole with which the adjustment rod is engaged.