Steering Column Distance Bracket Slit Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing steering column device experiences unstable lever operating force and position fixing force due to varying bolt-axial force and slit position relationships, which affect the rigidity and stability of the device.
Innovation Solution
The steering column device incorporates a distance bracket with a slit open on one side, arranged radially over the outer jacket's slit, and a deformable arch-shaped coupling portion to ensure consistent rigidity and stability regardless of the long hole positions, stabilizing the lever operating force and position fixing force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the distance bracket has a left-right divided structure with long holes, then the device can be assembled with the outer jacket, but the jacket tightening rigidity changes depending on the positions of the long holes, causing unstable lever operating force and position fixing force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating an asymmetric slit structure in the distance bracket where the slit is positioned only on one side (left or right) rather than being symmetric or absent. This localized structural modification at the slit position changes the rigidity distribution locally, ensuring that the bolt-axial force is consistently transmitted regardless of the long hole positions, thereby stabilizing the lever operating force and position fixing force while maintaining assembly capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the slit position in the distance bracket does not overlap with the outer jacket slit, then assembly is possible, but the rigidity varies depending on long hole positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by positioning the slit in the distance bracket on only one side (either left or right side in the vehicle width direction) rather than symmetrically or centrally. This asymmetric configuration ensures that the slit structure provides consistent rigidity support regardless of where the long holes are positioned, as the slit creates a fixed structural characteristic on one side that compensates for variations in long hole positions, thereby maintaining both assembly flexibility and rigidity consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering column device includes: a vehicle-body attachment bracket configured to be fixed to a vehicle body and having a pair of sidewall portions; and an outer jacket arranged between the pair of sidewall portions along a vehicle front-rear direction. In addition, the steering column device includes: an inner jacket inserted in the outer jacket to be movable in a tube-axial direction; and a distance bracket having a long hole open along the vehicle front-rear direction and attached to the outer jacket. The distance bracket has a slit having an open end in the opposite direction to that of a slit of the outer jacket and is arranged such that the slit of the distance bracket is set over the slit of the outer jacket in a tube radial direction.