Steering Column Lower Bracket Design for Attachment and Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering devices face challenges in facilitating the attachment of lower brackets to a vehicle body while ensuring high strength for both the lower brackets and the column pivoting restrictor.
Innovation Solution
A steering device design featuring a steering column with a column pivoting restrictor positioned on the lower side of the pivot portion, allowing for vertical swaying and easy attachment, with lower brackets having a fixed portion, pivot portion, and rib portion for enhanced strength and stability, and the column pivoting restrictor positioned to minimize deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the fixed portion is disposed on the outside of the steering column to facilitate attachment work, then the ease of operation is improved, but the column pivoting restrictor cannot be disposed while facing the fixed portion, which may affect its strength
Solution Approach 1:
The column pivoting restrictor is repositioned from a horizontal arrangement (facing the fixed portion) to a vertical arrangement (facing the end surface on the lower side of the pivot portion). This dimensional change in positioning allows the fixed portion to remain on the outside for easy attachment while the restrictor faces downward to reduce height and improve strength.
2Device complexity
If the column pivoting restrictor is disposed in front or rear of the lower bracket facing the rib portion, then the structure is compact, but the height of the restrictor must be greater than the bent portion, increasing stress and causing deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The column pivoting restrictor is repositioned from a horizontal orientation (facing the rib portion) to a vertical orientation (facing the end surface on the lower side of the pivot portion). This changes the restrictor's height direction from the vehicle width direction to the vehicle height direction, significantly reducing the required height and stress on the restrictor.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the orientation of the column pivoting restrictor, the critical dimension (height) is reduced from being greater than the bent portion height to being much smaller. This parameter change reduces the stress on the restrictor and prevents deformation while maintaining structural compactness.
3Ease of operation
If two lower brackets are disposed on both sides of the steering column, then the ease of operation for attachment is improved, but the brackets require high strength which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The lower bracket is designed as an integrated structure where the fixed portion, pivot portion, and rib portion form a single unified component. This merging of functions into one bracket structure achieves the required strength for supporting the steering column while maintaining ease of attachment, without requiring additional separate strengthening components.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering device includes a steering column for supporting a steering shaft coupled to a steering wheel; an upper bracket fixed to a vehicle body and supports the steering column; and two lower brackets independently fixed to the vehicle body on both sides of the steering column to support the steering column in such a manner that allows the steering column to sway in a vertical direction. The lower brackets each includes a fixed portion facing the vehicle body and disposed on an outside of the steering column in a vehicle width direction, a pivot portion facing the steering column and having an attachment hole into which a pin member for coupling the steering column to the lower bracket is inserted, and a pair of rib portions each connected to the fixed portion and the pivot portion by a bent portion shaped into a bent plate.