Motor-Adjustable Steering Column Gear Wheel With Bearing Rings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering column adjustment drives face challenges with mechanical properties conflicts in integral components, leading to plastic deformation under high axial forces and increased manufacturing complexity due to the need for different materials for toothing, threads, and ball-bearing raceways.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a gear wheel with a core element and axially supporting bearing rings that transfer forces independently of the core, allowing for the use of different materials for optimal mechanical properties, such as steel for bearing rings and softer materials like plastics for the core, reducing deformation and manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If an integral gear wheel component is used to combine toothing, threads, and ball-bearing raceways, then structural simplicity is improved, but mechanical properties deteriorate due to conflicting material requirements and plastic deformation under high axial forces
Solution Approach 1:
The gear wheel is divided into multiple independent components: a core element, bearing rings, and a toothing element. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function with appropriate material selection, avoiding the plastic deformation issues that arise in integral components under high axial forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses different materials for different components of the gear wheel. The bearing rings can be made from materials with high strength and wear resistance to handle axial forces, while the core element and toothing can use softer materials. This composite approach resolves the conflicting material requirements in integral components.
2Strength
If different materials are used for toothing, threads, and ball-bearing raceways, then mechanical properties are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple components (core element, bearing rings, toothing element) are combined into a single integrated gear wheel assembly through standardized connection methods. This merging approach allows different materials to be used for optimal mechanical properties while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through modular assembly rather than complex multi-material processing.
3Device complexity
If bearing rings are integrated with the core element, then device complexity is reduced, but the core element is exposed to high axial forces causing deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing rings are extracted as separate components from the core element. This separation allows the bearing rings to bear the high axial forces independently, protecting the core element from deformation while maintaining structural integration through standardized connection methods.
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 mechanical properties, reduces the risk of plastic deformation, and simplifies manufacturing by enabling the use of materials suited to specific requirements, resulting in a more robust and efficient steering column adjustment drive.
Implementation Method 1
Ball bearings as rolling bodies are arranged between these ball-bearing raceways and corresponding ball-bearing raceways in the axially or obliquely opposing stationary outer bearing faces
Data Source
AI summary
A steering column adjustable by motor for a motor vehicle, including a carrying unit, which is attachable to a vehicle body, and which holds an actuating unit, in which a steering spindle is rotatably mounted, and including an adjustment drive, which is connected to the carrying unit and to the actuating unit, and by means of which the actuating unit is adjustable relative to the carrying unit, wherein the adjustment drive includes a threaded spindle with an axis, said threaded spindle engaging in a spindle nut, a drive unit and a gear wheel that is driveable to rotate about the axis by the drive unit.