Steering Column Stopper Assembly for Easier Telescopic Fitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing steering apparatus faces difficulties in easily fitting the stopper to the inner column due to the challenge of pressing the stopper's projection into the press-fit hole, making the assembly process cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A steering apparatus design featuring a guide groove on the outer column and a stopper with through-holes for easy alignment and fastening, utilizing a blind rivet for secure attachment, allowing the stopper to be easily fitted and preventing relative rotation between the outer and inner columns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the stopper is fitted to the inner column by pressing the projection into the press-fit hole, then the stopper can be secured to the inner column, but the fitting work becomes difficult and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is divided into two separate components: a stopper body and a projection. The projection is fitted into a press-fit hole in the inner column first, and then the stopper body is attached to the projection. This segmentation allows the projection to be easily inserted into the press-fit hole while providing a separate attachment point for the stopper body, making the overall assembly process easier and more reliable.
2Reliability
If the stopper projection is pressed into the press-fit hole of the inner column, then the stopper can be fixed, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The projection is designed to be pre-fitted into the press-fit hole of the inner column before the stopper body is attached. This preliminary action ensures that the projection is securely in place, providing a stable foundation for attaching the stopper body. This sequence of operations simplifies the assembly process and improves productivity by eliminating the need for complex pressing operations on the complete stopper assembly.
3Reliability
If the stopper and inner column are fastened by a blind rivet, then the connection is secure, but the number of parts and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The projection is integrated with the stopper body through a press-fit connection, merging two components into a unified assembly. This integration eliminates the need for additional fastening elements like blind rivets to connect the projection to the stopper body, reducing the total number of parts while maintaining secure connection through the press-fit mechanism combined with the blind rivet fastening the stopper body to the inner column.
Data Source
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AI summary
A steering apparatus 200 comprises an outer column 10 provided with a guide groove portion 25, an inner column 11 provided with a stopper 300, and a steering shaft 3 on which a steering wheel 101 is attached. An adjustable range of a telescopic position of the steering wheel 101 is restricted by the stopper 300 being contacted with a portion, at a rear side of the vehicle, of the guide groove portion 25. The stopper 300 includes a stopper body 331 and a fastening and connecting means 332 for fixing the stopper body 331 to the inner column 11. The stopper body 331 and the inner column 11 are formed, respectively, with through-holes 331c and 11a communicated with each other, through which the fastening and connecting means 332 is inserted. With this configuration, a steering apparatus in which the stopper can be easily attached to the inner column is provided.