Steering Column Adjustment Lever Decelerator Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Steering column adjustment levers often accelerate uncontrollably towards the unlock position when released, leading to noise, wear, and over-travel issues due to stored clamp energy, which is not effectively mitigated by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

An adjustment lever deceleration assembly with an integrally formed decelerator that contacts a stationary or slower-rotating component during unlocking, deflecting and absorbing energy to slow the lever's acceleration and reduce noise and wear.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the adjustment lever is designed to rotate freely between locked and unlocked positions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the lever accelerates uncontrollably towards the unlock position causing noise, wear, and over-travel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of unlockingVSAvoidnoise and wear

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The decelerator is pre-positioned on the adjustment lever to contact the jacket assembly before the lever reaches full unlock position. This beforehand cushioning absorbs the kinetic energy of the accelerating lever, preventing over-travel and reducing impact noise and wear on the locking mechanism components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The decelerator acts as an intermediary element between the adjustment lever and the jacket assembly. It mediates the interaction by providing controlled contact that dissipates energy, thereby reducing the harmful effects of direct lever impact on the locking mechanism while maintaining operational functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the lever allows rapid rotation for quick adjustment, then the productivity is improved, but the stored clamp energy creates reversal torque that accelerates the lever causing harmful effects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustment speedVSAvoidreversal torque and acceleration

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The decelerator converts the harmful kinetic energy and reversal torque generated during rapid lever rotation into beneficial controlled deceleration. By providing friction-based resistance during the unlocking motion, it dissipates the excess energy that would otherwise cause noise and wear, while still allowing quick adjustment operation.

Inventive Principle:

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

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the decelerator contacts the jacket assembly during lever rotation, then the harmful effects are reduced, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenoise and wearVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The decelerator is integrally formed with the adjustment lever as a single monolithic component rather than a separate part. This merging eliminates the need for additional fasteners, bearings, or adjustment mechanisms, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining the deceleration function through the lever's contact with the jacket assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustment lever with integrated decelerator is self-contained and requires no external adjustment or maintenance. The deceleration function is built-in through the integral design, allowing the lever to self-regulate its motion during unlocking without requiring additional components or complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 dampens the unlocking motion of the adjustment lever, reducing noise and wear by absorbing energy and controlling the lever's speed, thereby maintaining a stable and quiet operation.

Implementation Method 1

the adjustment lever deflects and absorbs energy upon contact with the component

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11420669B2Adjustment lever deceleration assembly for a steering column

Publication Date: 2022.08.23 STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORP

AI summary

An adjustment lever deceleration assembly for a steering column includes an adjustment lever rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The adjustment lever deceleration assembly also includes a component positioned proximate the adjustment lever, the component rotating at a speed less than a rotational speed of the adjustment lever during adjustment between the locked position to the unlocked position. The adjustment lever deceleration assembly further includes an adjustment lever decelerator integrally formed with the adjustment lever, the adjustment lever decelerator positioned on the adjustment lever to contact the component during rotation of the adjustment lever toward the unlocked position, wherein the adjustment lever deflects and absorbs energy upon contact with the component.