Steering Column Energy Absorption Strap with Adjustable Control Bracket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle steering column assemblies with energy absorption features lack flexibility to adjust characteristics such as crash stroke EA load, initial breakaway, and profile duration, making it difficult for OEMs to meet varying load levels and profiles efficiently, while also requiring short lead times and reasonable costs.
Innovation Solution
A customizable energy absorption strap assembly with a control bracket that includes a slot for the energy absorbing strap, allowing for adjustable breakaway profiles and load levels, and a separate second leg portion for material flexibility, enabling customization of energy absorption responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed energy absorption strap assembly is used, then the structure is simple and cost is low, but the ability to adjust crash stroke EA load, initial breakaway, and profile duration is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The energy absorption strap assembly is divided into separate components: a control bracket with a slot, a curved portion, and first and second leg portions. This segmentation allows each component to be independently manufactured and assembled, enabling customization of the energy absorption characteristics while maintaining manufacturing simplicity. The control bracket can be configured with different slot dimensions to achieve various load profiles.
Solution Approach 2:
The control bracket is designed with a slot that allows the curved portion to move or adjust position, enabling dynamic adjustment of the energy absorption characteristics. This dynamic configuration allows the same basic assembly to meet different crash stroke EA load, initial breakaway, and profile duration requirements by simply changing the slot dimensions or positioning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If custom energy absorption characteristics are designed for each OEM request, then load profile requirements can be met, but lead time and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The design allows for quick customization by changing parameters such as slot dimensions, leg portion lengths, or material properties rather than redesigning the entire assembly. This parameter-based customization enables rapid adjustment of energy absorption characteristics to meet different OEM requirements without extending lead time significantly.
Solution Approach 2:
The control bracket with slot design serves multiple functions: it controls the energy absorption characteristics, allows for customization, and maintains structural integrity. This universal design approach allows a single basic assembly to meet various OEM requirements by adjusting a few parameters, eliminating the need for multiple specialized assemblies.
3Ease of manufacture
If the energy absorbing strap is made as a single integrated component, then manufacturing is simpler, but flexibility for customization and assembly is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The strap assembly is segmented into a control bracket, curved portion, and leg portions that can be manufactured separately using standard processes and then assembled. This segmentation maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling customization through modular assembly, allowing different configurations without requiring complex integrated manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering column assembly includes a lower jacket. The steering column assembly also includes an upper jacket in telescoping engagement with the lower jacket. The steering column assembly further includes an energy absorbing strap assembly operatively coupled to the upper jacket. The energy absorbing strap assembly includes an energy absorbing strap having a first leg portion, a second leg portion and a curved portion connecting the first leg portion and the second leg portion, the first leg portion coupled to the upper jacket. The energy absorbing strap also includes a control bracket defining a slot sized to receive the curved portion of the energy absorbing strap.