Steering Column Bracket Locking Capsule Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional steering apparatuses face challenges in stabilizing forward displacement of the steering wheel during a secondary collision, leading to potential damage to components and increased complexity in design and assembly, with issues related to rigidity, vibration, and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
The steering apparatus incorporates a locking capsule and bracket design with protruding sections and support sections that enhance rigidity against moments, reduce the number of parts, and simplify assembly, while maintaining design freedom and reducing assembly height, by using a single locking hole location and synthetic resin connecting pins to absorb impact loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional bracket support structure is used, then the steering column can be supported by the vehicle body, but the structure lacks sufficient rigidity against moments and allows excessive displacement during secondary collision
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into a first bracket fixed to the vehicle body and a second bracket fixed to the steering column, connected by a locking capsule with locking pins. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain rigidity through the locking mechanism while enabling controlled forward displacement during secondary collision when the locking pins fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking pins are designed with specific material properties and geometric parameters that allow them to maintain strong engagement during normal operation but fail in a controlled manner during secondary collision. The locking hole geometry and pin dimensions are optimized to provide sufficient rigidity against moments while allowing displacement under extreme impact loads.
2Strength
If multiple locking holes and connecting members are used, then the bracket support structure becomes more robust, but the number of parts increases and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple locking holes are combined into a single locking hole that receives multiple locking pins. This merging reduces the number of separate components while maintaining the robustness provided by multiple connection points. The locking capsule integrates multiple locking functions into a single unified structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking capsule serves multiple functions simultaneously: it connects the first and second brackets, provides lateral support through locking pins, and enables controlled failure during secondary collision. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function.
3Stability of the object's composition
If protruding sections are added to prevent inclination, then the bracket stability improves, but the assembly height increases
Solution Approach 1:
Protruding sections are added to the locking capsule that extend in the lateral dimension to engage with corresponding features on the first bracket. This dimensional addition provides inclination prevention without significantly increasing the axial height of the assembly, as the protrusions engage at the lateral extent rather than extending the primary connection length.
4Loss of energy
If synthetic resin connecting pins are used, then impact energy can be absorbed through plastic deformation, but the connecting pins may break under extreme loads
Solution Approach 1:
The locking pins are made of synthetic resin with specific material parameters (durometer, composition) that enable plastic deformation under impact loads to absorb energy. The geometric parameters of the pins and locking holes are designed to ensure that while the pins may break under extreme loads, the failure is controlled and provides the necessary energy absorption while maintaining structural integrity during normal operation.
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
This design stabilizes forward displacement during a secondary collision, prevents damage to components, reduces vibration, and lowers costs by simplifying the assembly process and reducing the number of parts, while maintaining the steering column's rigidity and protecting the driver from impact.
Implementation Method 1
synthetic resin connecting pins to absorb impact loads
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is construction of a steering apparatus for an automobile that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing forward displacement in the forward direction of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, and preventing damage to the component members of the section that supports a bracket 12b on the column side with respect to the bracket 11 on the vehicle side. In construction where the bracket on the vehicle side 11 and the bracket 12b on the column side are connected at only one location in the center section in the width direction of the both brackets by a locking capsule, the top edges of a pair of protruding sections 63 that protrude to both the left and right sides of the bracket 12b on the column side closely face the bottom edge of a bent section 56 of the bracket 11 on the vehicle side. The bracket 12b on the column side is prevented from inclining excessively even when a large moment is applied to the bracket 12b on the column side when an attempt is made to rotate the steering wheel with a steering lock apparatus in the locked state.