Steering Column Tilt Fixing Device With Elastic Gear Mediator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automobile steering columns experience a tooth-on-tooth phenomenon between gears during tilting operations, leading to unstable locking and potential safety hazards, including the steering column popping up during collisions.
Innovation Solution
A tilt fixing device for a vehicular steering column is designed with a tilt bracket, movable gear, lever bolt, load support member, and first elastic member, which prevents the tooth-on-tooth phenomenon by using elastic force to ensure stable locking and secure the steering column during tilting and external impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the stationary gear and movable gear are used for tilting operation, then the steering column can be adjusted, but the tooth-on-tooth phenomenon occurs causing unstable locking
Solution Approach 1:
A lever bolt is introduced as an intermediary component between the adjustment lever and the movable gear. The lever bolt includes a cam surface that interacts with a cam follower on the movable gear, providing controlled engagement and preventing direct tooth-on-tooth contact between the stationary and movable gears. This intermediary mechanism ensures stable locking while maintaining smooth tilting operation.
2Reliability
If the gears are engaged for locking, then the steering column is fixed, but the tooth-on-tooth phenomenon may fracture the lever or gears
Solution Approach 1:
The lever bolt with cam surface acts as a mediator that distributes locking forces through a gradual engagement process. The cam surface and cam follower arrangement ensures that locking forces are applied progressively rather than through direct tooth impact, preventing sudden stress concentrations that could fracture gears or the lever.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism provides a cushioning effect by gradually bringing the movable gear into engagement with the stationary gear. The cam surface geometry ensures that teeth engage in a controlled sequence, preventing impact loading and reducing the risk of fracture during the locking process.
3Ease of operation
If the adjustment lever is unfastened for tilting, then the steering column can be adjusted, but the steering column may pop up during collision
Solution Approach 1:
The lever bolt and cam mechanism are designed to maintain preliminary engagement between the movable and stationary gears even when the adjustment lever is in the unfastened position. This preliminary engagement ensures that the steering column remains secured against collision impacts while still allowing tilting adjustment when the lever is operated.
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 device ensures stable tilting operations and enhances driver safety by preventing the steering column from popping up during impacts, maintaining secure locking even if the tooth-on-tooth phenomenon occurs, and providing a comfortable lever manipulation experience.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic member positioned between the movable gear and the load support member so as to elastically support the movable gear in such a direction that the movable gear is inserted into the tilt hole
Implementation Method 2
If an external impact is applied, the movable gear and the stationary gear mesh with each other by means of elastic force from the first elastic member
Data Source
AI summary
The present embodiments provide a tilt fixing device for a vehicular steering column wherein no tooth-on-tooth phenomenon occurs between a stationary gear and a movable gear when the driver conducts a tilt locking operation; even if such a tooth-on-tooth phenomenon occurs, a first elastic member installed between the movable gear and a load support member enables tilt locking of the steering column; and, if an external impact is applied, the movable gear slides and meshes with the stationary gear by means of elastic force from the first elastic member such that there occurs a stable tilting operation of the steering column.