Steering Column Adjustment Drive With Jointed Modular Gear Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustment drives for motor-adjustable steering columns in vehicles face challenges with high manufacturing and assembly costs due to the need for precise tolerances and spring-loaded pressure devices, which can lead to increased wear and undesirable natural frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A modular design for the adjustment drive where the drive assembly and transmission assembly are connected via a joint connection, allowing for individual alignment and compensation of dimensional deviations, reducing the need for precise initial positioning and lowering tolerance requirements for gear elements and their bearings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If precise tolerances and spring-loaded pressure devices are used in the adjustment drive, then the gear elements can be kept in constant engagement, but the manufacturing and assembly costs increase and wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment drive is divided into modular components (drive unit with drive wheel, transmission unit with gear wheel, adjustment unit with threaded spindle) that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing of individual parts while maintaining reliable gear engagement through the modular connection structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A connection element is introduced as an intermediary component between the drive unit and transmission unit. This connection element mediates the engagement between gear elements, providing constant contact pressure without requiring complex spring-loaded pressure devices, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining reliable engagement.
2Ease of operation
If precise tolerances are required for gear elements and bearings, then smooth operation is achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection element is designed to be adjustable in the radial direction, allowing dynamic adaptation to dimensional deviations in gear elements and bearings. This dynamic adjustment capability enables smooth operation even with relaxed manufacturing tolerances, as the connection element can be positioned to optimize gear meshing conditions during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The radial position of the connection element can be varied to compensate for dimensional deviations in manufactured parts. By changing the position parameter of the connection element, optimal engagement conditions are achieved without requiring extremely precise manufacturing tolerances for all components.
3Reliability
If spring-loaded pressure devices are used to maintain gear engagement, then constant contact is achieved, but undesirable natural frequencies and increased wear occur
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded pressure device is extracted from the system and replaced with a simpler connection element that provides constant engagement through its adjustable positioning capability. This elimination of the spring mechanism removes the source of undesirable natural frequencies while maintaining reliable gear element contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection element is designed as a simple, replaceable component that provides the necessary engagement function without the complexity and potential failure modes of spring-loaded mechanisms. This simpler component reduces wear and eliminates the harmful vibrational characteristics associated with spring-based pressure devices.
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 approach results in improved operating properties with reduced manufacturing and assembly effort, smoother operation, and lower wear, while allowing for optimal engagement of gear elements, thus enhancing the overall performance and longevity of the adjustment drive.
Implementation Method 1
a drive wheel that can be driven in rotation about a drive axis is mounted, which is in operative engagement with a gear wheel that is mounted in the gear so that it can rotate about a gear axis
Implementation Method 2
a threaded spindle and a spindle nut, in the internal thread of which the threaded spindle engages
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~7
AI summary
The invention relates to an adjustment drive (5, 6) for a motor-adjustable steering column (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a drive unit having a transmission (8, 9), in which a drive wheel (922) is mounted in a rotatably driveable manner about a drive axis (A) and is operatively engaged with a transmission wheel (912), which is mounted to rotate about a transmission axis (G) in the transmission (8, 9). In order to achieve improved operating properties with lower complexity, it is proposed according to the invention that the transmission (8, 9) is composed of a drive module (92) which comprises the drive wheel (922), and of a transmission module (91) which comprises the transmission wheel (912), wherein the drive module (92) and the transmission module (91) are connected to one another by a joint connection (93).