Steering Column Rotation Limitation Device with Spiral Guide
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering column rotation limitation devices in steer-by-wire systems are prone to rattling and jamming due to high tolerance vulnerabilities, impairing vehicle steering.
Innovation Solution
A steering column with a rotation limitation device featuring a slotted guide carrier and sliding block mechanism, coupled to a lever system with counterstops, which ensures torque-proof engagement and redundancy for stable rotation limitation, and incorporates a damping body to reduce noise and improve haptic feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical rotation limitation means with spiral tracks and balls is used, then the maximum steering angle lock can be limited, but the device becomes vulnerable to tolerances causing rattling and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The rotation limitation device is segmented into multiple independent components: a guide carrier with guide tracks, sliding blocks for movement, and levers with counterstops for limitation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function with reduced tolerance sensitivity, eliminating the rattling and jamming issues of integrated spiral track designs.
Solution Approach 2:
Sliding blocks serve as intermediaries between the guide carrier and levers, enabling smooth transitions and reducing direct contact between critical components. This intermediary mechanism absorbs tolerance variations and prevents direct jamming between the guide tracks and limitation elements.
2Strength
If torque-proof engagement is ensured through a robust rotation limitation device, then steering stability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide carrier integrates multiple functions: it provides guide tracks for sliding blocks, supports lever rotation, and maintains positional relationships between components. This merging reduces the number of separate parts needed while ensuring torque-proof engagement through the coordinated action of integrated components.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation limitation device is designed so that multiple counterstops on levers simultaneously engage with stops on the guide carrier at the same rotational position. This equipotential design distributes torque loads across multiple contact points, ensuring robust engagement without requiring overly complex individual components.
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 reliable and low-noise operation by minimizing rattling and jamming, ensuring stable steering performance even under high torque conditions and improper use, while maintaining a stable and efficient rotation limitation mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a slotted guide carrier (11) which is fastened to one end of the steering shaft (2) and has at least one spiral slotted guide track (12), and a sliding block (15) being guided movably in the at least one slotted guide track (12)
Implementation Method 2
incorporates a damping body to reduce noise and improve haptic feedback
Implementation Method 3
the sliding block (15) being coupled to a lever (10) which is held tiltably on the steering shaft bearing unit (3) and which has at least one counterstop (25) which can be brought into operative engagement with a stop component (20)
Data Source
AI summary
A steering column for a motor vehicle comprising a steering shaft that is mounted rotatably in a steering shaft bearing unit and a rotation limitation device that is configured to limit rotation of the steering shaft. The rotation limitation device may have a slotted guide carrier that is fastened to one end of the steering shaft and a spiral slotted guide track. A sliding block may be guided movably in the slotted guide track. The sliding block may be fastened to a lever that is held tiltably on the steering shaft bearing unit and that has a counterstop that can be brought into operative engagement with a stop component that is fastened to the steering shaft, for limiting rotation of the steering shaft.