Steering Column Air Duct Layout for Collision Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle collisions, the air duct, being weaker than the instrument panel reinforcement and steering wheel, fails to effectively absorb impact, potentially increasing the risk of injury to the driver due to its low buckling strength.
Innovation Solution
The air duct is strategically positioned in front of the column cover, with a polygonal cross-section and reduced plate thickness in areas overlapping the column cover, and notches are introduced to lower its buckling strength relative to the column cover, allowing it to crush and absorb collision impact more effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the air duct is made of thin plate material to maintain flexibility and airflow function, then the air duct becomes weaker in strength, but this reduces collision safety by failing to absorb impact effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct is designed with non-uniform thickness, having a first thickness in a first region and a second thickness smaller than the first thickness in a second region. This local variation in thickness creates areas of different strength, allowing the air duct to be flexible in some regions while providing impact absorption in others.
Solution Approach 2:
The air duct cross-section is divided into multiple regions with different thicknesses. The segmentation of the structure into regions of varying thickness allows different parts to serve different functions - maintaining flexibility where needed and providing crushability for safety where required.
2Ease of manufacture
If the air duct is positioned behind the instrument panel reinforcement to simplify installation, then the air duct layout becomes simpler, but this reduces collision safety by preventing the air duct from absorbing impact before it reaches the driver
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct is positioned in front of the column cover and steering wheel, placing it in the impact path before these components. This preliminary positioning ensures that the air duct will be the first component to absorb collision impact, mitigating the force before it reaches the driver.
Solution Approach 2:
The air duct serves as an intermediary component between the external environment and the driver. By positioning it in the impact path, it acts as a mediator that absorbs and dissipates collision energy, protecting the driver from direct impact forces.
3Manufacturing precision
If the air duct has uniform thickness throughout to simplify manufacturing, then manufacturing precision is improved, but this reduces collision safety by preventing localized crushing and impact absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct is designed with non-uniform thickness, having a first thickness in a first region and a second thickness smaller than the first thickness in a second region. This local variation in thickness creates areas of different strength, allowing the air duct to be flexible in some regions while providing impact absorption in others.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the air duct is positioned in front of the column cover with reduced thickness to improve collision safety, then impact absorption is enhanced, but this increases device complexity by requiring variable thickness design and strategic positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The air duct is designed with non-uniform thickness, having a first thickness in a first region and a second thickness smaller than the first thickness in a second region. This local variation in thickness creates areas of different strength, allowing the air duct to be flexible in some regions while providing impact absorption in others.
Solution Approach 2:
The air duct serves multiple functions: it maintains airflow functionality while also providing collision safety through its variable thickness design. The same component performs both aerodynamic and safety functions, reducing the need for additional dedicated safety components.
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 configuration enhances collision safety by allowing the air duct to buckle and absorb the impact, reducing the force transmitted to the driver, while maintaining space for other components and improving design flexibility around the steering wheel.
Implementation Method 1
Buckling strength of the air duct in a vehicle body front-rear direction in front of the steering wheel is lower than buckling strength of the column cover in the vehicle body front-rear direction
Implementation Method 2
The air duct with the low buckling strength is crushed and the impact of the collision is mitigated
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a steering column connected to a steering wheel, a column cover that covers the steering column, and an air duct that is disposed inside an instrument panel and passes in front of the column cover. Buckling strength of the air duct in a vehicle body front-rear direction in front of the steering wheel is lower than buckling strength of the column cover in the vehicle body front-rear direction.