Steering Column Telescope Drive Anti-Rotation Guide for Rake Motion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle steering systems, the rigid attachment point of the telescope actuator bracket is often not in line with the actuation load direction, causing undesirable reaction forces that lead to rotation of the telescope actuator assembly during telescopic movement.
Innovation Solution
A telescope drive assembly with a column jacket that is moveable in a rake direction and features a tapered slot, a telescope actuator assembly, and a telescope drive bracket that is rotatable about a common axis during rake motion but prevented from rotating during telescope motion through the use of a telescope guide disposed within the tapered slot, which translates but not rotates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the telescope actuator bracket is rigidly attached to the column jacket, then the telescope actuator assembly can be securely mounted, but the misalignment between the attachment point and actuation load direction causes reaction forces that lead to rotation during telescopic movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a rigid, fixed mounting to a dynamic, adjustable mounting system. The telescope actuator bracket is made rotatable about a common axis with the column jacket, allowing the mounting orientation to adapt dynamically during operation. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the system to maintain proper alignment between the attachment point and actuation load direction, preventing unwanted rotation while preserving secure mounting.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the telescope actuator bracket is made rotatable to accommodate rake adjustments, then rake direction adjustability is improved, but rotation during telescope movement becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the rotational degrees of freedom into distinct functional segments. One segment allows rotation about the common axis for rake adjustments, while another segment (through the anti-rotation feature) prevents rotation during telescope movement. This segmentation enables independent control of different motion modes, achieving both rake adaptability and telescope position stability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamics to enable conditional rotational freedom. The bracket is designed to be rotatable for rake adjustments but incorporates an anti-rotation feature that dynamically constrains rotation during telescope movement. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt its degrees of freedom based on the operational mode, achieving both adaptability and stability as needed.
3Ease of manufacture
If a rigid attachment geometry is used, then manufacturing and assembly are simplified, but the fixed geometry cannot accommodate misalignment between attachment point and load direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by introducing dynamic adjustability to the attachment geometry. Instead of a fixed rigid connection, the telescope actuator bracket is designed with rotational capability about the common axis, allowing the attachment orientation to adapt to different load directions. This dynamic feature maintains manufacturing simplicity while significantly improving adaptability to misalignment conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A telescope drive assembly for a steering column assembly includes a column jacket moveable in a rake direction and defining a tapered slot. The telescope drive assembly also includes a telescope actuator assembly operatively coupled to the column jacket to move the column jacket in a telescope direction. The telescope drive assembly further includes a telescope drive bracket operatively coupled to the telescope actuator assembly and to the column jacket, the telescope drive bracket and the column jacket rotatable about a common axis in the rake direction. The telescope drive assembly yet further includes a telescope guide disposed between the telescope drive bracket and the column jacket, the telescope guide disposed at least partially within the tapered slot and translatable within the tapered slot in the telescope direction.