Steering Column Locking Mechanism for Collision Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing steering column designs in vehicles fail to stably fix the steering column during collisions, leading to potential injury to the driver due to the inability to prevent the steering shaft from being 'popped up' due to insufficient frictional support forces between the plate bracket and the distance bracket.
Innovation Solution
A steering column design incorporating a locking member and locking gear with a resilient body coupled to the adjusting bolt, which engages with the locking gear to provide both frictional and coupling support forces, and a resilient body that compresses to prevent damage and ensure stable locking during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only frictional support force between plate bracket and distance bracket is used to fix the steering column, then the structure is simple, but the steering column cannot be stably fixed during collision causing driver injury
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into distinct functional components: locking gear with ridges and gullies, locking member with engagement protrusion, and resilient body. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while working together to achieve stable fixation during collision.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient body is pre-installed between the locking member and adjusting bolt to provide beforehand cushioning. When collision occurs, this resilient body compresses to absorb impact energy, preventing damage to the locking member, locking gear, and adjusting lever while maintaining stable locking.
2Strength
If locking member is rigidly connected to adjusting bolt, then the locking force is strong, but damage to locking member, locking gear, or adjusting lever occurs during collision
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between locking member and adjusting bolt changes from rigid to resilient through the resilient body. This parameter change allows the system to maintain strong locking force during normal operation while absorbing impact energy during collision, preventing damage to components.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient body is pre-installed to provide cushioning before collision occurs. During impact, it compresses to absorb energy, preventing the harmful effects of rigid force transmission that would otherwise damage the locking member, locking gear, or adjusting lever.
3Reliability
If locking member engages deeply with locking gear ridge, then the locking is secure, but the locking member cannot be released
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient body introduces dynamic characteristics to the locking system. During locking, it compresses to allow deep engagement with the ridge for secure locking. During releasing, it expands to provide the necessary force to disengage the locking member from the ridge, enabling easy operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient body changes the mechanical parameters of the locking system by providing elastic deformation. This allows the locking member to engage deeply with the ridge when needed while maintaining the capability for easy release through the elastic recovery of the resilient body.
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 design effectively prevents the steering shaft from being popped up during collisions by providing stable frictional and coupling support forces, ensuring driver safety and preventing damage to the locking member, gear, and adjusting lever.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient body that is coupled to the locking member and the adjusting bolt in order to apply a resilient restoring force to the locking member
Implementation Method 2
the resilient body is further compressed by a difference between a ridge and a gulley of the locking gear even if the locking member is engaged with the ridge of the locking gear
Implementation Method 3
the steering column can be fixed by a frictional support force between a plate bracket and a distance bracket
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is steering column of a vehicle including: a plate bracket that surrounds a distance bracket that is coupled to an outer column, has tilt slits on opposite sides thereof, and has a locking gear in any one of opposite surfaces of the tilt slits; an adjusting bolt that has a body passing through the tilt slits and the distance bracket from a head thereof, and in which a fixed cam and an actuating cam are coupled to a side of the body opposite to the head in order to press or release opposite sides of the plate bracket; a locking member into which the adjusting bolt is inserted and which is coupled to or released from the locking gear; and a resilient body that is coupled to the locking member and the adjusting bolt in order to apply a resilient restoring force to the locking member.