Steering Column Switchable Energy Absorption Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering column energy absorption devices face issues with uncontrolled friction and deformation during crashes due to undefined force exertion and loose energy absorption elements, which impair their energy absorption characteristics.
Innovation Solution
A steering column design featuring a separate coupling piece that acts as an intermediate element between the energy absorption element and the coupling device, ensuring controlled force transmission and preventing direct contact between the coupling element and energy absorption element, thus maintaining stability and reliability across different structural conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the coupling element directly contacts the energy absorption element for switching, then the device complexity is reduced, but uncontrolled friction and deformation occur during crashes
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling piece serves as an intermediary component between the coupling element and the energy absorption element. It receives the coupling element during switching operations and guides the energy absorption element during crashes, preventing direct contact between the coupling element and energy absorption element. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the energy absorption element is decoupled during switching, then the adaptability is improved, but the element becomes loose and causes uncontrolled friction
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling piece acts as a permanent guide and support structure for the energy absorption element. Even when the coupling element decouples the energy absorption element during switching operations, the coupling piece remains in place to guide the element's movement during crashes. This ensures the energy absorption element maintains controlled movement and reliable characteristics while still allowing adaptability through decoupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling piece is pre-installed and positioned to provide guidance and support for the energy absorption element before any crash occurs. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the energy absorption element needs to be decoupled for adaptability, it will still be guided by the pre-positioned coupling piece during subsequent crash events, preventing uncontrolled friction and deformation.
3Manufacturing precision
If the coupling element exerts force directly on the energy absorption element, then the manufacturing precision requirements are reduced, but undefined force causes uncontrolled deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling piece serves as a force transmission intermediary with a specifically designed geometry that ensures proper force distribution. It receives the coupling element and translates the coupling motion into controlled force application on the energy absorption element. This mediator approach maintains manufacturing precision requirements while ensuring defined and controlled force application during both switching and crash events.
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 enhances the reliability and safety of energy absorption by preventing uncontrolled friction and deformation during crashes, ensuring consistent and controlled energy absorption characteristics, and allowing for flexible adaptation to various steering column designs.
Implementation Method 1
This converts the kinetic energy introduced into plastic deformation of one or more energy absorption elements, for example by tearing open a tear-off tab or bending an elongate flexible element, such as a flexible wire or flexible strip.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a steering column (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a inner casing pipe (3) in which a steering spindle (30) is mounted such that it can rotate about its longitudinal axis (L), an outer casing unit (33) in which the inner casing pipe (3) is retained, and which can be directly or indirectly connected to the body of a motor vehicle, wherein a motor-driven adjustment drive (4) is arranged between the outer casing unit (33) and the inner casing pipe (31), via which the outer casing unit (33) and the inner casing pipe (31) can be shifted relative to one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), wherein the inner casing pipe (3) and the outer casing unit (33) are coupled via an energy absorption device (5) having at least two energy absorption elements (54, 56) and a coupling device (6), wherein at least one first energy absorption element (54) can be coupled or decoupled between the inner casing pipe (3) and the outer casing unit (33) via the coupling device (6), which energy absorption element can be plastically deformed in the coupled state with a relative shifting of the inner casing pipe (3) and outer casing unit (33) in the longitudinal direction, and the coupling device (6) has a coupling element (61) which can be moved between the decoupled and the coupled state. In order to provide a steering column (1) with an improved switchable energy absorption device (5), which permits increased reliability at every activated energy absorption level, according to the invention, the coupling element (61) can be operatively engaged with a coupling piece (8), which is connected to the first energy absorption element (54).