Steering Column Sliding Guide Elastic Preload Compensation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering column designs face challenges in achieving precise preload force adjustment and maintaining rigidity due to sensitive reactions to dimensional tolerances and aging effects, leading to decreased performance over time.
Innovation Solution
The design introduces separate support elements that apply prestressing force to sliding bodies from both sides, eliminating the need for a hinge pin and allowing for precise adjustment of bending stiffness to maintain preload force, which is achieved through the elastic restoring force of side cheeks, thereby compensating for wear and ensuring consistent operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a screw bolt is used to clamp the sliding elements into the guide grooves, then the sliding elements are pressed with a predetermined preload force, but the preload force cannot be adjusted with sufficient precision and is sensitive to dimensional tolerances and aging effects
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the preload force application mechanism from a rigid screw clamp to an elastic element that can be preloaded to a specific force value. The elastic element's deformation parameter is adjusted during assembly to achieve the desired preload force, allowing precise adjustment independent of dimensional tolerances. This resolves the contradiction by enabling precise preload force setting while maintaining reliability throughout the service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic element is designed to compensate for wear and aging effects that occur during the service life of the steering column. By preloading the elastic element to a calculated force value, the system anticipates and compensates for future dimensional changes and wear, maintaining consistent preload force on the sliding elements throughout the product lifecycle.
2Strength
If the sliding guide is adjusted to minimize play by clamping the sliding elements, then rigidity is improved, but the preload force decreases significantly over service life due to aging effects
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the static rigid clamp with a dynamic elastic element that can adapt its deformation state. The elastic element maintains constant preload force despite changes in the system's dimensional state over time, allowing the guide to remain rigid while compensating for wear and aging. The elastic element's ability to deform and restore provides ongoing compensation that maintains both rigidity and preload force throughout the service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic element is designed with specific material and geometric parameters that allow it to maintain a relatively constant deformation state under load, thereby providing stable preload force over time. This parameter optimization ensures that the elastic element compensates for wear while maintaining the necessary rigidity of the sliding guide assembly.
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 solution enables precise adjustment and maintenance of preload force, reducing the impact of dimensional tolerances and aging effects, ensuring robust and reliable steering column performance throughout its service life without additional prestressing elements.
Implementation Method 1
The design introduces separate support elements that apply prestressing force to sliding bodies from both sides, eliminating the need for a hinge pin and allowing for precise adjustment of bending stiffness to maintain preload force, which is achieved through the elastic restoring force of side cheeks
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a steering column (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a casing unit (33) in which a steering spindle (30) is mounted rotatably about a longitudinal axis (L) and which is directly or indirectly connectable to the body of a motor vehicle via a height adjustment lever (4), wherein the height adjustment lever (4) has two side members (42), between the inner sides (42a) of which lying opposite each other with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) the casing unit (33) is accommodated pivotably about an axis of articulation (G), and the casing unit (33) has guide grooves (60) extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), wherein at least one sliding body (61) is in each case arranged between a side member (42) and the casing unit (33), said sliding body being movable in a sliding manner in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) in a guide groove (60) and being supported on a side member (42). In order to specify a steering column (1) having improved guidance, said steering column being adjustable more simply and being more robust in operation, the invention proposes arranging a supporting element (62) between each sliding body (60) and a side member (42), said supporting element being supported from the inside against the side member (42) and pressing the sliding body (60) into the guide groove (16) from the outside.