Steering Column Clamp Intermediate Stop Impact Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional steering column locks may fail to prevent displacement during vehicle collisions due to inadequate load handling capabilities, allowing unlock direction motion caused by factors like contact with deformed components, reduced clamp tension, and inertial loading.
Innovation Solution
A clamping mechanism featuring an outboard cam that rotates between positions, an inboard cam with a travel limiter, and an intermediate stop, which shifts during an impact event to prevent movement from a locked to an unlocked position, ensuring the steering column remains secured.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional steering column locks are used, then the structure is simple, but the load handling capability is inadequate and unlock direction motion occurs during collision
Solution Approach 1:
The clamping mechanism is divided into multiple functional components: outboard cam, inboard cam, travel limiter portion, and intermediate stop. Each segment performs a specific function in preventing unlock direction motion, with the intermediate stop acting as a dedicated safety feature that engages during impact events to maintain reliability without requiring complete redesign of the entire mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate stop is pre-positioned along the travel limiter portion before any impact event occurs. During normal operation, the outboard cam rotates between first and second positions without engaging the intermediate stop. Upon impact, the cam is forcibly shifted to engage the pre-positioned intermediate stop, which has already been prepared to prevent further unlock direction motion and protect against excessive impact loading.
2Reliability
If the outboard cam is allowed to rotate freely between positions, then the adjustment function works, but the steering column may displace during impact events
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate stop acts as an intermediary element between the outboard cam and the unlock direction motion. During normal adjustment operations, the cam rotates freely between first and second positions without interference from the intermediate stop, maintaining ease of operation. During impact events, the intermediate stop engages as a mediator to block further unlock direction rotation, ensuring position stability without restricting normal operational freedom.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the intermediate stop is engaged during impact, then damage from excessive impact loading is prevented, but the mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate stop is extracted as a separate, dedicated safety component from the main clamping mechanism. This extraction allows the primary clamping function (outboard cam and inboard cam interaction) to remain relatively simple while adding a focused safety feature that specifically addresses impact damage prevention without complicating the normal adjustment and locking operations.
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
The mechanism effectively prevents unlocking motion during and after a crash, maintaining the steering column's position and preventing damage from excessive impact loading, thereby enhancing safety and stability.
Implementation Method 1
an outboard cam configured to rotate about an axis between a first position and a second position
Implementation Method 2
the intermediate stop preventing movement of the outboard cam from the first position to the second position
Data Source
AI summary
A clamping mechanism for a steering column assembly includes an outboard cam configured to rotate about an axis between a first position and a second position, an inboard cam having a travel limiter portion configured to limit rotation of the outboard cam about the axis between the first position and the second position, and an intermediate stop disposed along a portion of the travel limiter portion. At least a portion of the outboard cam is shifted to a position adjacent the intermediate stop during an impact event of the steering column assembly, the intermediate stop preventing movement of the outboard cam from the first position to the second position.