Steering Column Assembly Injection Molded Plastic Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Telescoping steering column assemblies face challenges in achieving a clearance-free fit between moving and stationary components, leading to structural lash and inefficiencies in vehicle packaging.
Innovation Solution
The steering column assembly incorporates a jacket assembly, mounting bracket, and telescope guides with a plastic component that adheres to the guides and rails, providing a tight, lash-free interface through injection molding, which allows for precise alignment and minimal clearance, enabling a stiff and rigid steering column without complex machining.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If complex geometries and additional components (de-lashing mechanism, springs, wedges) are used, then clearance-free fit between movable and stationary components is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates complex de-lashing mechanisms, springs, and wedges from the steering column assembly. Instead, it uses a simple telescoping guide with a plastic component that provides the necessary clearance-free fit through injection molding, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter by introducing a plastic component through injection molding between the telescoping guide and the rail. This material parameter change enables a tight, clearance-free fit without requiring complex mechanical de-lashing mechanisms or adjustment components.
2Manufacturing precision
If complex geometries and additional components are used, then clearance-free fit is achieved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical machining and assembly operations with injection molding. The plastic component is directly molded into place between the telescoping guide and the rail, eliminating the need for complex geometries, additional components, and difficult machining operations, thereby improving ease of manufacture while achieving clearance-free fit.
3Strength
If telescope guides and plastic components are added, then structural stiffness and rigidity are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the function of the telescoping guide and the clearance-free fit mechanism into a single integrated plastic component. This component is injection molded directly onto the guide, combining structural support and clearance elimination functions, thereby improving structural stiffness without significantly increasing device complexity.
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 ensures a low-stroke load, highly stiff steering column assembly with a precise fit, minimizing clearance and structural lash, thus enhancing vehicle packaging efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
providing a tight, lash-free interface through injection molding
Data Source
AI summary
A steering column assembly includes a jacket assembly, a mounting bracket, and a first telescope guide. The jacket assembly defines a first guide slot. The mounting bracket is disposed on the jacket assembly and has a first portion disposed opposite a second portion and a third portion extending between the first portion and the second portion. The first portion has a first rail received within the first guide slot. The first telescope guide is disposed between the first guide slot and the first rail.