Steering Column Adjustment Lever Deceleration Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Steering column adjustment levers tend to accelerate uncontrollably towards the unlock position when the operator releases their grasp, leading to unwanted noise, wear, and over-travel issues due to stored clamp energy.

Innovation Solution

An adjustment lever deceleration assembly featuring a clamp bolt with a base portion and lobes connected by a hinge, which engage a stationary component to decelerate the lever during the unlocking process, utilizing resilient materials to provide resistance and control the lever's movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the adjustment lever is allowed to move freely during unlocking, then the operator can easily release the lock, but the lever accelerates uncontrollably causing noise and wear

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of unlockingVSAvoidnoise and wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The deceleration assembly is positioned to engage the adjustment lever before the lever completes its unlocking motion. The resilient material absorbs the excess kinetic energy and provides controlled deceleration, preventing the harmful acceleration that would otherwise cause noise and wear while still allowing easy unlocking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The deceleration assembly acts as an intermediary between the adjustment lever and the stationary component. It mediates the interaction by providing a controlled resistance through the resilient material, allowing the lever to move freely enough for easy operation while preventing uncontrolled acceleration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the clamp bolt is made rigid to maintain lock strength, then the locking reliability is improved, but the lever accelerates faster during unlocking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidlever acceleration speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The resilient material in the deceleration assembly provides beforehand cushioning for the lever's motion. It absorbs the energy that would cause excessive acceleration while the rigid clamp bolt maintains locking reliability during the locked state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the effective mass or energy absorption parameter of the lever system through the resilient material. This parameter change allows the lever to accelerate sufficiently for easy operation while the resilient material absorbs excess energy to prevent harmful speeds.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If the adjustment lever is designed with high clamp tension to maintain position, then the position stability is improved, but the stored energy creates harmful acceleration during unlocking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveposition stabilityVSAvoidstored clamp energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the harmful stored clamp energy into a beneficial controlled deceleration process. The resilient material absorbs the stored energy during unlocking, transforming the harmful acceleration into a controlled motion that prevents over-travel while maintaining position stability during the locked state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The deceleration assembly provides beforehand cushioning for the energy release during unlocking. It absorbs the stored clamp energy in a controlled manner, preventing the harmful effects of energy release while maintaining the stability provided by the clamp tension during the locked state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

The deceleration assembly effectively mitigates unwanted acceleration, reducing noise and wear by providing controlled deceleration of the adjustment lever, ensuring smooth operation and maintaining the adjustment position.

Implementation Method 1

the lobe comprising a resilient material biased by a component of the clamp bolt upon rotation of the clamp bolt toward the unlocked position of the adjustment lever to decelerate the adjustment lever

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10259485B2Adjustment lever deceleration assembly for a steering column

Publication Date: 2019.04.16 STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORP

AI summary

An adjustment lever deceleration assembly for a steering column includes an adjustment lever moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position. Also included is a clamp bolt operatively coupled to the adjustment lever. Further included is an adjustment lever decelerator operatively coupled to the clamp bolt, the adjustment lever having a base portion and at least one lobe extending from the base portion, the at least one lobe connected to the base portion by a hinge portion. Yet further included is a stationary component engageable with the at least one lobe upon rotation of the clamp bolt toward the unlocked position of the adjustment lever to decelerate the adjustment lever.