Vehicle Steering Column Rack Wedge Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current adjustable steering columns face challenges in reducing overall size while effectively immobilizing the adjustable body during vehicle collisions, which is essential for absorbing impact energy and preventing damage to vehicle components.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a wedge mechanism housed inside the adjustable body, capable of translating between unlocked and locked positions, which immobilizes the adjustable body relative to the vehicle chassis, reducing overall size and enhancing axial immobilization through guiding faces and teeth mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a jaw mechanism is placed on the outside of the body to immobilize the adjustable body in the event of impact, then the immobilization capability is improved, but the overall size of the system increases due to the space required for ratchet movements
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge mechanism is housed inside the adjustable body, with the wedge translating within the body along guided faces. This nesting approach eliminates the need for external jaw mechanisms and ratchets, significantly reducing the overall system size while maintaining effective immobilization capability through the wedge's translation between locked and unlocked positions within the body's internal space
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from an external radial immobilization mechanism (jaw mechanism) to an internal axial translation mechanism (wedge moving along guided faces). By changing the dimension of movement from radial external motion to axial internal translation, the system achieves compact integration within the body's volume while preserving reliable immobilization function
2Reliability
If the wedge is immobilized in a fixed manner relative to driving means fixed to the chassis in the locking position, then the axial immobilization is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driving means are integrated directly into the adjustable body structure, eliminating the need for separate fixation mechanisms. The wedge's translation along guided faces formed by the body walls itself provides the immobilization function, merging the driving and fixing functions into a single unified mechanism that reduces overall device complexity while ensuring reliable axial immobilization
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable body serves multiple functions: it provides the structural housing, forms the guided faces for wedge translation, and acts as the fixed reference for immobilization when the wedge is in the locking position. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, thereby simplifying the overall device while maintaining effective axial immobilization
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 solution effectively reduces the overall size of the steering column while maintaining robust immobilization capabilities, allowing for efficient energy absorption during collisions and preventing damage to vehicle components.
Implementation Method 1
The wedge comes to bear against the adjustable body to immobilize the adjustable body relative to the wedge
Data Source
AI summary
A steering column having: an adjustable body intended to be mounted so as to be free to slide on a support and comprising two walls, a tube fixed to the adjustable body, a wedge inside the adjustable body and mobile between an unlocked position and a locking position inside the adjustable body between and at a distance from the walls, driving means and guiding means for the wedge, arranged with the wedge so as to be able to drive the wedge in a simple translation movement so that the wedge can come to bear against the adjustable body to immobilize the adjustable body relative to the wedge.