Steering Column Bracket Attachment Stability Under Front Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering devices fail to prevent the vehicle body attaching bracket from detaching from the vehicle body when a large force is exerted to the steering wheel, especially when the telescopic position of the steering wheel is near the adjustment end.
Innovation Solution
A steering device with an inner column, an outer column featuring a slit, a vehicle body attaching bracket that can collapse, a fastening rod, a telescopic position adjusting long groove, an engaging groove, and an engaging member that engages with the groove to stabilize the inner column when the outer column is unclamped, ensuring the bracket remains attached to the vehicle body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the telescopic position of the steering wheel is disposed at a vicinity of an adjusting end on the front side of the vehicle body in a state of releasing the outer column from fastening the inner column, then the steering wheel can be adjusted to the desired position, but a large force is erroneously exerted to the steering wheel toward the front side of the vehicle body, pushing the fastening rod and vehicle body attaching bracket to detach from the vehicle body
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the column structure into inner column and outer column segments, with the outer column capable of telescopic adjustment relative to the inner column. The fastening rod system segments the fastening function, allowing independent control of the outer column's position and the vehicle body attaching bracket's securement. This segmentation enables adjustment functionality while maintaining structural integrity through separate fastening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaging member acts as an intermediary between the fastening rod and the inner column. When the outer column is unclamped for adjustment, the engaging member engages with the engaging groove to prevent erroneous large forces from pushing the fastening rod and vehicle body attaching bracket apart. This intermediary component transfers and controls the force transmission, preventing bracket detachment while allowing intended adjustment operations.
2Ease of operation
If the play eliminating cam is detached from the outer peripheral face of the inner column when fastening is released for adjustment, then the outer column can be adjusted freely, but when a large force is exerted to the steering wheel, the play eliminating cam cannot prevent the vehicle body attaching bracket from detaching
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a dynamic fastening system where the fastening state can be changed from engaged to disengaged. The operating lever enables dynamic transition between fastened and unfastened states of the outer column. During normal adjustment, the system is unfastened for ease of operation; during impact scenarios, the engaging member dynamically engages to maintain bracket attachment, providing adaptive protection based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The engaging member is pre-positioned to engage with the engaging groove before any erroneous large force is applied. This preliminary engagement ensures that when impact forces occur, the fastening rod and vehicle body attaching bracket are already secured against detachment, preventing the reliability issue before it can manifest during actual impact events.
3Length of moving object
If the fastening rod is pushed to the front side by erroneous force, then the outer column can be adjusted to the front position, but the vehicle body attaching bracket is detached from the vehicle body
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the adjustment function from the fastening function. The outer column can be independently adjusted to various telescopic positions by operating the operating lever to release and re-engage the fastening mechanism. The engaging member is extracted as a separate safety component that specifically prevents bracket detachment while allowing the outer column to move freely within its telescopic range, separating the position adjustment capability from the structural attachment integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a steering device in which a vehicle body attaching bracket is prevented from being detached from a vehicle body even if a large force is erroneously exerted to a steering wheel toward a front side of the vehicle body when a telescopic position of the steering wheel is disposed at a vicinity of an adjustment end on a front side of the vehicle body. When a telescopic position of a steering wheel 103 is disposed at a vicinity of an adjustment end on a front side of the vehicle body, if a large force is exerted erroneously to the steering wheel 103 toward the front side of the vehicle body, rear ends in view of the vehicle body of the telescopic position adjusting long grooves 43 and 44 are brought into contact with a fastening rod 5 and pushes the fastening rod 5 to the front side of the vehicle body, and an engaging protrusion 681 pushes an inner column 3 to the front side of the vehicle body. A large force to the front side of the vehicle body which is exerted to the steering wheel 103 is supported by the vehicle body via the inner column 3, and a force which is exerted to the vehicle body attaching bracket 2 can be reduced. Therefore, the vehicle body attaching bracket 2 can be prevented from being detached from the vehicle body.