Steering Column Energy Absorber With Carrier Plate Extension
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering columns with energy absorption devices require a large installation space due to the need for a long deformation strip, which complicates compact design and telescopic displacement during crashes.
Innovation Solution
A steering column design featuring a carrier plate that extends beyond the casing tube, allowing the deformation strip to be lengthened without increasing the casing tube length, combined with a brake element system that enables energy absorption while maintaining a compact structure, and a clamping device for controlled displacement during crashes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the deformation strip is made long enough to provide sufficient telescopic displacement path, then the energy absorption capability is improved, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The deformation strip is nested within the casing tube, allowing the strip to extend beyond the tube ends during telescopic displacement while the tube itself remains compact. This enables sufficient deformation length for energy absorption without proportionally increasing the overall column volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformation strip is arranged to extend axially beyond the ends of the casing tube in the telescopic direction, utilizing the axial dimension efficiently. This allows the deformation path to be longer than the tube length without increasing radial or lateral dimensions, thus maintaining compact installation space.
2Length of moving object
If the casing tube is made longer to accommodate a longer deformation strip, then the telescopic displacement distance is improved, but the compact design is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The deformation strip is nested within the casing tube structure, with its ends extending beyond the tube ends. This allows the strip length to exceed the tube length, providing greater telescopic displacement distance while the tube itself remains short and compact for maintaining overall design compactness.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution shifts the length dimension from the casing tube to the deformation strip, which is contained within and extends beyond the tube. This separates the functional length requirement (telescopic displacement) from the structural length (tube length), enabling compact tube design with long displacement capability.
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 achieves a more compact and shorter steering column with a longer deformation distance, effectively absorbing energy during crashes while minimizing installation space requirements and preventing buckling of the deformation strip.
Implementation Method 1
a portion of the energy occurring in the event of a crash can be absorbed when the casing tube is moved telescopically relative to the casing unit... the energy absorption device comprises at least one deformation strip, which is pulled through a brake element and thereby deformed
Data Source
AI summary
A steering column for a motor vehicle, having an inner casing tube which rotatably supports a steering shaft, and an outer casing unit in which the inner casing tube is received movably in the axial direction and is fixable, also having an energy absorption device which is arranged functionally between the casing tube and the casing unit, in which a portion of the energy occurring in the event of a crash can be absorbed when the casing tube is moved telescopically relative to the casing unit, wherein the energy absorption device comprises at least one deformation strip, which is pulled through a brake element and thereby deformed, is improved according to the invention in order to reduce the installation space of the overall steering column in that the deformation strip is fastened on a carrier plate, which in turn is fastened to the casing tube and projects in the axial direction beyond the casing tube.