Steering Column Guide Track with Variable Play
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering column designs require complex machining to achieve different guide fits for operational and stowage positions, leading to high production costs and limited flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A guide device with a guide track and guide element, independent of the casing tubes, provides optimized guidance characteristics over the adjustment travel, allowing for a loose fit in the transitional portion for low friction and a stiff connection in the functional portion, using a form-fit connection and adjustable guide play to reduce production costs and increase flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If precise fit and low-play guidance is used in the functional portion to guarantee maximum stiffness and high inherent frequency, then the steering column stiffness is improved, but the frictional forces during adjustment increase and require more complex machining
Solution Approach 1:
The guide track is designed with locally different geometries: a first guide track portion with smaller width for low-play guidance in the functional portion, and a second guide track portion with greater width for high-play guidance in the transitional portion. This local differentiation allows precise fit where needed while simplifying machining in other regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide track is segmented into functionally distinct portions: a first guide track portion for the functional range with precise fit, and a second guide track portion for the transitional range with greater play. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently for its specific function.
2Speed
If greater guide play is used in the transitional portion to reduce friction and allow higher adjustment speed, then the adjustment speed is improved, but the guidance precision and stiffness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guide track width is locally adapted to the functional requirements of different adjustment phases: narrower in the functional portion for precision, wider in the transitional portion for speed. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between precision and speed requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance system dynamically adapts its characteristics along the adjustment travel path. The guide track geometry transitions from a first portion with smaller width to a second portion with greater width, allowing the system to switch between precision-oriented and speed-oriented guidance modes.
3Reliability
If different dimensions and fits of casing tubes are designed for functional and transitional portions, then the guidance characteristics are optimized, but the device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The guide track is extracted as a separate component from the casing tubes. This allows the guide track to be independently designed with varying widths for different portions, while the casing tubes maintain their basic telescopic function without complex individual designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide track serves multiple functions: it provides guidance for the telescopic movement, defines the functional and transitional portions through its varying width, and enables both precise and high-speed adjustment phases. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separately designed complex casing tubes.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering column for a motor vehicle may include a casing unit in which a steering spindle is mounted so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis extending in a length direction. The casing unit may have at least two casings that are adjustably guided relative to one another through a range of adjustment travel in the length direction. Part of the adjustment travel may correspond to a transitional portion, and part of the adjustment travel may correspond to a functional portion. The casings may be guided with a greater play in the transitional portion than in the functional portion. One casing may have a guide track and another casing may have a guide element that engages in the guide track and is guided in the length direction and has a guide play in the guide track that is greater in the transitional portion than in the functional portion.