Steering Column Shifter Mounting Bracket Decoupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internally collapsing steering column designs with cantilever nature have low stiffness and poor natural frequency, posing challenges for mounting a shift system, especially when the shifter is mounted forward or rearward, leading to high stress and NVH issues.
Innovation Solution
A method of mounting a shifter to a vehicle steering column by operatively coupling it to a moveable portion of the column at two positions, one on each side of the column clamping structure, using an attachment bracket to decouple the shifter from the column, thereby reducing stress and accommodating collapsibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the shifter is mounted forward on a stationary structure portion of the steering column, then the shift mechanism is supported, but the shift lever requires a severe off-set and creates a moment and high stress on the attachment
Solution Approach 1:
A bracket is introduced as an intermediary component between the shift mechanism and the steering column. The bracket is coupled to the moveable portion at a first location and to the shift mechanism at a second location, serving as a mediator that eliminates the need for severe shift lever offset while reducing moments and stress on the attachment points.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system is segmented into multiple coupling locations on the moveable portion of the steering column. By distributing the attachment points across different locations on the moveable portion, the system reduces the moment arm and stress concentration that would occur with a single forward mounting position.
2Strength
If the shifter is mounted rearward on the upper-head telescoping portion of the steering column, then the shift mechanism is supported, but additional requirements for collapse, NVH and anti-rotation reaction loads are created
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket acts as an intermediary that couples the shift mechanism to the moveable portion of the steering column at optimized locations. This intermediary coupling supports collapse requirements while eliminating the need for additional anti-rotation reaction load provisions that would be required with direct rearward mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling system is designed to work with the dynamic telescoping motion of the steering column. By coupling to the moveable portion at strategically selected locations, the system accommodates the dynamic collapse motion while maintaining proper shift mechanism support without creating additional anti-rotation requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the steering column is designed with internal collapse capability, then collapsibility is achieved, but stiffness and natural frequency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket serves as an intermediary coupling element that allows the shift mechanism to be properly supported on the moveable portion of the steering column. This intermediary coupling maintains adequate stiffness for shift mechanism support while allowing the steering column to maintain its internal collapse capability, thus preserving both collapsibility and necessary stiffness.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of mounting a shifter to a vehicle steering column includes operatively coupling a shifter and an attachment bracket to a moveable portion of a steering column at a first coupling position located on a first side of a column clamping structure of a stationary portion of the steering column. The method also includes operatively coupling the shifter and the attachment bracket to the moveable portion of the steering column at a second coupling position located on a second side of the column clamping structure within a stationary portion aperture defined by the stationary portion.