Steering Column Link Mechanism for Compact Tilt-Telescopic Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing steering column device requires two driving motors and two ball screw mechanisms to adjust the steering shaft position, which complicates installation, increases size, and reduces installability in vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A steering column device with a single motor and a link mechanism that couples the lower and upper tubes, allowing simultaneous adjustment of the steering shaft's up-down and front-rear positions through a shared power transmission mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If two driving motors and two ball screw mechanisms are used to adjust the steering shaft position, then the steering shaft can be adjusted in both up-down and front-rear directions, but the device complexity increases and the size of the steering column device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate adjustment mechanisms (tilt and telescopic) into a single integrated mechanism. The link mechanism couples the lower tube and upper tube so that one motor and one ball screw mechanism can simultaneously control both the up-down pivoting of the lower tube and the front-rear movement of the upper tube, reducing the number of components while maintaining full adjustment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The single motor and ball screw mechanism perform multiple functions: they control both the tilt adjustment (up-down pivoting) and telescopic adjustment (front-rear movement) of the steering column. The link mechanism enables this multi-functionality by transmitting the motor's rotational motion to both the lower tube and upper tube in coordinated ways
2Adaptability or versatility
If two driving motors and two ball screw mechanisms are used, then the steering shaft position can be adjusted in both up-down and front-rear directions, but the size of the steering column device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate adjustment mechanisms into one integrated system. By coupling the lower tube and upper tube through the link mechanism, the design eliminates redundant components and reduces the overall space required for the steering column device while maintaining the ability to adjust in both vertical and horizontal directions
3Adaptability or versatility
If two driving motors and two ball screw mechanisms are used, then the steering shaft can be adjusted in both up-down and front-rear directions, but the installability in the vehicle is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the installation process by reducing the number of separate components that need to be installed. Instead of installing two motors and two ball screw mechanisms, the design requires only one motor and one ball screw mechanism, along with the link mechanism that couples the tubes together, making the installation faster and less complex
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 configuration simplifies the structure, reduces the device's size, and improves installability by allowing for concurrent adjustment of the steering shaft's positions using shared motor and mechanism components.
Implementation Method 1
a motor for generating motor torque that is power for causing pivoting of the lower tube in the up-down direction and also movement of the upper tube in the front-rear direction
Implementation Method 2
a link mechanism that couples the lower tube and the upper tube so as to be capable of moving in conjunction
Implementation Method 3
a power transmission mechanism that acts to transmit the motor torque to the link mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A steering column device includes a lower tube that is attached to a vehicle body so as to be pivotable in an up-down direction, a column shaft to which a steering wheel is attached, an upper tube that rotatably supports the column shaft and that also is attached to the lower tube so as to be movable in a front-rear direction, a motor for generating motor torque, a link mechanism that couples the lower tube and the upper tube so as to be capable of moving in conjunction, and a power transmission mechanism that acts to transmit the motor torque to the link mechanism. The link mechanism causes the pivoting of the lower tube in the up-down direction and the movement of the upper tube in the front-rear direction to be performed in conjunction, when the motor torque is transmitted to the link mechanism by the power transmission mechanism.