Steering Column Adjustment Drive With Direct Gear Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized adjustment drives for steering columns in motor vehicles face challenges with inefficient axis orientations, high component count, large installation space requirements, and reduced efficiency due to the use of intermediate gears and skewed axis arrangements.
Innovation Solution
A gear transmission design with a direct gear engagement between a drive gear and an output gear, allowing the spindle and motor axes to intersect at an acute angle (0° < α < 30°), eliminating intermediate gears and optimizing the axis orientation for a compact, lightweight, and efficient design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If intermediate gears are used in the gear transmission, then the motor axis and spindle axis can be arranged in parallel, but the number of components increases, installation space requirement increases, and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate gear from the transmission system, directly engaging the drive gear with the output gear. This extraction of the unnecessary intermediate component reduces the total number of parts, simplifies the structure, and eliminates the efficiency losses associated with additional gear meshing points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the function of multiple gear stages into a single direct engagement between the drive gear and output gear. By combining what was previously a multi-stage transmission into a direct single-stage connection, the system achieves the same axis orientation function with fewer components and higher efficiency.
2Area of stationary object
If intermediate gears are used in the gear transmission, then the motor axis and spindle axis can be arranged in parallel, but the installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the intermediate gear and its associated mounting structures, the patent significantly reduces the space required for the transmission assembly. The direct gear engagement requires minimal space compared to a multi-stage transmission with intermediate gears, allowing for a more compact overall design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial arrangement by allowing the motor axis and spindle axis to intersect at an acute angle rather than being parallel. This dimensional change in axis orientation enables a more compact footprint and reduces the installation space required for the gear transmission system.
3Adaptability or versatility
If skewed axis orientation is used, then axis alignment flexibility is improved, but the number of components increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the key parameter of axis orientation from parallel or skewed to intersecting at an acute angle (0° < α < 30°). This parameter change in the geometric relationship between motor axis and spindle axis provides the necessary alignment flexibility while being achieved through direct gear engagement rather than complex intermediate mechanisms.
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 efficient, space-saving, and lightweight steering column adjustment drive with improved efficiency and reduced complexity by eliminating intermediate gears and optimizing axis alignment.
Implementation Method 1
a drive gear mounted on the motor shaft in a rotationally fixed manner is in direct gear engagement with an output gear connected to the spindle nut or the threaded spindle in a rotationally fixed manner
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an adjustment drive (5) for a motor-adjustable steering column (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a spindle drive with a threaded spindle (51) engaging a spindle nut (52) and having a spindle axis (S), and an electric motor (54) with a motor shaft (55) that can be driven to rotate about a motor axis (M), wherein the motor shaft (55) is gear-coupled to the spindle nut (52) or the threaded spindle (51) via a gear transmission (56, 57). In order to enable optimized axis orientation with a compact design and the highest possible efficiency, the invention proposes that a drive wheel (56) mounted non-rotatably on the motor shaft (55) is in direct gear engagement with an output wheel (57) that is non-rotatably connected to the spindle nut (52) or the threaded spindle (51).