Steering Column Stop Body Damping via Convex-Concave Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adjustable steering columns lack sufficient damping properties, leading to potential damage or destruction when subjected to strong impact forces or misuse, which compromises their service life and stop behavior.
Innovation Solution
The adjustable steering column incorporates a stop body with convex and concave sections, made from materials with specific Shore D hardness values and designed for improved energy absorption, featuring a fork-shaped structure and reinforcing elements to enhance damping properties and prevent unforeseen damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the stop body is made from a material with high hardness, then the stop body has high strength and wear resistance, but the damping properties are insufficient and the stop body is easily damaged under strong impact forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter by specifying a Shore D hardness value between 40 and 80 (particularly 50-60), which is softer than traditional polyamide resin stops. This parameter change provides sufficient damping properties to absorb impact energy while maintaining adequate strength through the optimized hardness range, preventing damage under strong impact forces or misuse.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the stop body is made from polyamide resin, then the stop body has good elasticity, but the damping properties are insufficient and the stop body is unintentionally damaged under strong impact forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from traditional polyamide resin to materials with Shore D hardness between 40 and 80, which have superior damping properties. This parameter change maintains the elastic nature needed for stop body functionality while significantly improving the ability to absorb and dissipate impact energy, preventing unintentional damage under strong impact forces.
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 improved stop body effectively absorbs impact energy, enhancing the steering column's damping properties and service life by distributing stop forces more efficiently and preventing damage from excessive forces or misuse.
Implementation Method 1
The stop body has a first stop section which comprises at least two first subsections and at least one first intermediate section located therebetween, wherein the first subsections are convex and the first intermediate section is concave
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an adjustable steering column (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising a retaining unit (20) and an actuating unit (30) having a rotatably mounted steering spindle (31), wherein the actuating unit (30) is arranged such that it can shift relative to the retaining unit (20) and has at least one stop body (32) which is securely connected to the actuating unit (30), and wherein the retaining unit (20) comprises a counter stop (21) which interacts with the stop body (32) to limit a shifting movement of the actuating unit (30), wherein the stop body (32) has a first stop section (33) with at least two first sub-sections (34) and at least one first intermediate section (35) lying in between, wherein the first sub-sections (34) are convex and the first intermediate section (35) is concave.