Steering Column Release Mechanism Constant Biasing Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing hand-operated release mechanisms for steering columns with tilting and telescoping mechanisms experience inconsistent biasing forces at different tilt angles, leading to an undesirable feel for the driver when moving between locked and released orientations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle steering column structure with a hand-operated release mechanism that includes a biasing member providing a constant force to the actuation member, ensuring consistent biasing across various tilt angles, utilizing a cam wheel and flexible connecting portion to maintain consistent biasing force regardless of the tilt angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the release member is supported on the tilting part and undergoes tilt angle re-positioning along with the tilting part, then the release mechanism can operate at different tilt angles, but the biasing force applied to the release member varies significantly at different tilt angles
Solution Approach 1:
A cam wheel is introduced as an intermediary component between the release member and the actuation member. The cam wheel rotates about a pivot axis and features a cam surface that maintains consistent contact with the actuation member regardless of tilt angle changes. This intermediary mechanism translates the varying motion from the release member into consistent actuation force on the actuation member, resolving the contradiction between adaptability to different tilt angles and consistency of biasing force.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam wheel changes the geometric parameters of force transmission through its cam surface profile. As the release member moves through different tilt angles, the cam wheel rotates and its cam surface maintains a consistent effective radius or lever arm to the actuation member contact point. This parameter change ensures that the moment arm and resulting biasing force remain constant across all tilt angles, while still allowing the release mechanism to operate at any tilt angle.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the release member contacts the actuation member at differing contact locations corresponding to differing tilt angles, then the mechanism accommodates tilt adjustments, but noticeable variations in biasing force are experienced
Solution Approach 1:
The cam wheel serves as a mediator that decouples the varying contact locations from the actuation force. While the release member does contact the cam wheel at different locations depending on tilt angle, the cam wheel's rotation and cam surface geometry ensure that the force transmitted to the actuation member remains consistent. This intermediary absorbs the variability in contact location while maintaining uniform operational feel.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam surface of the cam wheel features a curved or spherical geometry that maintains a consistent effective radius from the pivot axis to the contact point with the actuation member. This curvature ensures that regardless of which location on the cam wheel contacts the actuation member, the moment arm and resulting force remain constant, providing smooth and consistent operational feel across all tilt angles.
3Device complexity
If a single lever controls both telescoping and tilting mechanisms, then the device complexity is reduced, but the biasing force variations at different tilt angles create undesirable operational characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The cam wheel acts as an intermediary that preserves the simplicity of single-lever control while eliminating force variations. The single lever (release member) still controls both telescoping and tilting functions, but the cam wheel mediates the force transmission to ensure consistency. This adds minimal complexity compared to having separate controls, while significantly improving operational reliability and consistency.
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
The solution provides a consistent resistance feel to the driver during movement, reducing variations in biasing force by ensuring the biasing force remains constant across the tilt angle range, enhancing the operational experience.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing member is configured to maintain a consistent biasing force regardless of the tilt angle of the tilting mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle steering column structure includes a movable steering column portion, a tilting mechanism and a telescoping mechanism. The tilting mechanism is configured to selectively adjust an angle of inclination of a tilting part. The telescoping mechanism adjusts the telescopic position of a telescoping part. The telescoping mechanism includes a hand operated release member, an actuation member and a biasing member. The hand operated release member has an actuating end pivotal about first pivot axis between a locking orientation and a releasing orientation. The actuation member has a contact section. The biasing member urges the actuation member to apply an approximately constant return force from the contact section to the actuating end biasing the hand operated release member to return to the locking orientation regardless of the tilt angle of the tilting mechanism.