Telescopic Steering Column With Offset Rolling Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing steering column designs face challenges in achieving compactness and sufficient stiffness while maintaining low friction for easy telescoping movements, which is essential for rapid retraction and extension, especially in limited vehicle installation space.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves arranging rolling bodies between casing tubes in alternating circumferential positions, forming offset linear guides that reduce radial installation space and enhance stiffness, preventing undesirable vibrations and ensuring functional reliability under extreme conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rolling bodies are arranged between casing tubes to enable low-friction telescoping movement, then ease of operation is improved, but radial installation space increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nesting by placing the rolling bodies inside the interspace between the casing tubes, utilizing the existing radial space efficiently. The rolling bodies are positioned within the annular region formed by the inner and outer casing tubes, allowing them to function without increasing the overall radial dimensions of the steering column assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions the arrangement from a radial configuration to an axial configuration by positioning the rolling bodies in the axial direction between the casing tubes. This dimensional change allows the rolling bodies to be accommodated within the existing radial envelope of the steering column, reducing the radial installation space requirement while maintaining low-friction movement capability.
2Volume of moving object
If casing tubes are telescoped to achieve compact stowage position, then volume is reduced, but stiffness and guidance precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling bodies serve as intermediary elements between the casing tubes, providing a stable rolling contact that maintains guidance precision and reduces play during telescoping movement. This intermediary mechanism ensures that even in the compact stowage position, the steering column maintains sufficient stiffness and structural integrity by preventing direct metal-to-metal contact and minimizing lateral play between the telescoping tubes.
3Volume of moving object
If rolling bodies are arranged to reduce radial installation space, then volume is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling bodies perform multiple functions simultaneously: they reduce friction during telescoping movement, maintain guidance precision, prevent stick-slip phenomena, and accommodate compact stowage positioning. This multi-functionality simplifies the overall design by using a single component to address multiple requirements, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity despite the space constraints.
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 arrangement allows for a compact, high-stiffness steering column with reduced installation space requirements, enabling efficient and reliable telescoping movements, thus improving vehicle safety and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
rolling bodies being arranged, between the casing tubes, such that they are able to roll in the axial direction
Data Source
AI summary
A steering column is disclosed for a motor vehicle, including an actuating unit, in which a steering spindle is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis. The actuating unit includes a casing unit which has at least three casing tubes which are arranged so as to be axially telescopable relative to one another. One of the casing tubes forms an outer casing tube in which at least one intermediate casing tube, in which an inner casing tube is accommodated, is accommodated. Rolling bodies are arranged between the casing tubes such that they are able to roll in the axial direction. First rolling bodies are arranged between the outer casing tube and the intermediate casing tube, and second rolling bodies are arranged between the intermediate casing tube and the inner casing tube, the first rolling bodies being arranged offset in the circumferential direction relative to the second rolling bodies.