Steering Column Breakaway Capsule Spring Biasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steering column assemblies with breakaway capsules in vehicles face issues such as unwanted movement and noise during normal use, which can affect the assembly's performance and safety in crash scenarios.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a breakaway capsule assembly with a frangible connector and springs that bias the fixing portion and support bracket into engagement, eliminating axial and vertical clearances and providing a stable, noise-reduced connection that breaks during a crash to allow controlled movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the breakaway capsule assembly is secured to the support bracket using a frangible connector without additional engagement mechanisms, then the assembly can break away during a crash, but unwanted movement and noise occur during normal use due to clearances and slack
Solution Approach 1:
A spring is introduced as an intermediary element between the fixing portion and the support bracket. The spring maintains continuous engagement pressure, eliminating clearances and slack that cause noise and unwanted movement during normal use, while still allowing the frangible connector to break away during a crash.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring applies a preliminary biasing force that opposes and prevents the development of clearances and unwanted movements before they can occur during normal operation. This preliminary action ensures stable engagement without compromising the breakaway capability during crashes.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the fixing portion is rigidly fixed to the support bracket to eliminate movement, then stability is improved, but the ability to break away during a crash is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into two functional parts: a spring-loaded fixing portion that provides stable engagement during normal use, and a frangible connector that provides controlled breakaway during crashes. The spring ensures stability by eliminating clearances, while the frangible connector maintains adaptability for crash safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing mechanism transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic spring-loaded connection. The spring allows for elastic deformation and continuous adjustment, maintaining stable engagement during normal use while enabling the frangible connector to fail safely during crashes.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If clearances are eliminated between the breakaway capsule and support bracket, then noise and unwanted movement are reduced, but the complexity of the assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring serves as a simple intermediary element that eliminates clearances between the breakaway capsule and support bracket. This single component resolves noise and movement issues without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms or multiple parts.
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 enhances the stability and noise reduction of the steering assembly during normal use while ensuring controlled movement and improved safety in crash conditions by eliminating slack and modifying the natural frequency.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring that biases the fixing portion and the support bracket into engagement with each other thereby to oppose any movement between the fixing portion and the support bracket in the axial direction of the frangible connector
Data Source
AI summary
A steering column assembly is provided that is secured to a vehicle body and includes a mounting bracket securable to the vehicle body and a support bracket secured to a steering column shroud. A breakaway capsule assembly with a frangible connector secures the support bracket to the mounting bracket, the frangible connector, in use, breaking to allow relative movement of the support bracket and the mounting bracket, in the event of a crash. The breakaway capsule assembly includes a fixing portion that overlaps and supports a corresponding portion of the support bracket, the fixing portion including an opening which is aligned with a corresponding opening in the support bracket, the frangible connector passing through and engaging the two aligned openings. A spring biases the fixing portion and the support bracket into engagement with each other to oppose any movement between the fixing portion and the support bracket in the axial direction of the frangible connector during use of the steering assembly.