Steering Column Inertial Stop for Crash Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering column designs face challenges in providing adequate safety during vehicle collisions, as the additional adjustment path for energy absorption is only released when the operating lever is manually actuated, leading to wear and potential impairment of the stop device function.
Innovation Solution
An energy absorption device is integrated between the actuating unit and the support unit, which is activated solely by inertial forces during a crash, releasing the additional movement path without manual actuation, thus ensuring controlled energy absorption and enhanced safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the stop element is coupled to the clamping device for manual actuation, then the additional adjustment range is released, but wear and tear impairs the function of the stop device
Solution Approach 1:
The stop device is designed to actuate itself automatically during a crash through inertial forces generated by the collision, eliminating the need for manual operation. The actuating body with inertial mass moves relative to the support unit due to crash forces, directly triggering the stop element to release the additional adjustment range without human intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical actuation system is replaced with an inertial-based automatic actuation system. Instead of requiring manual leverage through an operating lever, the system uses the inertial forces generated during a crash to automatically move the actuating body and release the stop element, substituting human mechanical action with physics-based automatic response.
2Reliability
If the operating lever is not pivoted far enough, then the additional adjustment range is not reliably released, but manual actuation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of actuation force from manual lever pivoting to inertial force generation during crash. The inertial mass of the actuating body generates sufficient force during collision to reliably move the stop element into the release position, ensuring consistent activation without depending on manual operation precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating body is pre-positioned within the support unit during normal operation, ready to respond to crash forces. The inertial mass is already in place to generate the necessary force when a crash occurs, eliminating the need for preliminary manual actuation and ensuring immediate automatic response when needed.
3Ease of operation
If the clamping device is actuated frequently for manual adjustment, then wear and tear increases, but steering wheel position adjustment is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The stop device serves itself by automatically actuating through inertial forces during crash, eliminating the need for frequent manual operation. This self-activating mechanism reduces wear on the clamping device components while maintaining the ability to provide additional adjustment range when needed for safety.
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 enhances passenger safety by providing a controlled energy absorption mechanism that is automatically activated during crashes, reducing wear-related issues and ensuring operational reliability, thereby improving vehicle safety.
Implementation Method 1
the stop device has an actuating body with an inertial mass that is operatively connected to the stop element and is movable relative to the support unit. where, due to its inertia, the actuating body interacts with the stop element in the event of a crash to move the stop element from the locked position to the released position
Data Source
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AI summary
A steering column may include an adjustment unit with a steering spindle mounted rotatably about its longitudinal axis in a casing tube, a support unit in which the adjustment unit is mounted so as to be adjustable along the longitudinal axis, and a stop device with a movably mounted stop element positionable in a blocking position and a release position. In the blocking position the stop element limits the adjustment travel of the adjustment unit relative to the support unit. In the release position, the stop element allows adjustability in the direction of the longitudinal axis beyond the adjustment travel limited in the blocking position. The stop device has an actuation body that has an inert mass, is actively connected to the stop element, and is mounted movably relative to the support unit. In a crash event, the mass inertia of the actuation body causes it to interact with the stop element to move the stop element from the blocking position into the release position.