Steering Column Tilt Fixing Device with Intermediary Lever Bolt
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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, potential gear fracture, and safety concerns in the event of collisions.
Innovation Solution
A tilt fixing device for vehicular steering columns, featuring a tilt bracket with a stepped portion and a movable gear with a threaded peripheral surface, preventing direct engagement between stationary and movable gears by using a lever bolt and elastic member to ensure secure locking and unlocking mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the stationary gear and movable gear are directly engaged during tilting operation, then the tilting function is enabled, but the tooth-on-tooth phenomenon occurs causing unstable locking and potential gear fracture
Solution Approach 1:
A lever bolt is introduced as an intermediary component between the stationary gear and movable gear. The lever bolt includes a lever head for manual operation, a threaded portion that engages with the movable gear, and a bearing portion that interacts with the stationary gear. This intermediary mechanism prevents direct tooth-on-tooth engagement while enabling controlled tilting motion and secure locking when the lever is engaged.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the adjustment lever is unfastened to enable tilting operation, then the steering column can be adjusted, but the gear threads may engage improperly causing fracture risk
Solution Approach 1:
The lever bolt serves as a mediator that controls the interaction between gear threads. When the adjustment lever is unfastened, the lever bolt allows controlled movement while preventing improper direct engagement of gear threads. The bearing portion on the lever bolt guides the stationary gear teeth, ensuring they do not directly engage with movable gear teeth in a harmful manner.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever bolt with its bearing portion provides a cushioning effect beforehand by preventing the stationary and movable gear threads from engaging directly. This protective mechanism is in place before any potential harmful engagement can occur, eliminating the risk of tooth-on-tooth phenomenon and gear fracture during tilting operations.
3Reliability
If the gears are engaged for locking, then the steering column is secured, but the tooth-on-tooth phenomenon may occur causing unsafe conditions during collision
Solution Approach 1:
The lever bolt acts as a protective intermediary during locking. When the adjustment lever is engaged, the lever bolt maintains the locked position while its bearing portion prevents direct engagement between stationary and movable gear teeth. This eliminates the tooth-on-tooth phenomenon that could cause gear fracture and unsafe conditions during collision, while still providing secure locking.
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
Prevents the 'tooth-on-tooth' phenomenon, providing a stable tilting operation and enhanced driver safety by preventing steering column pop-up during external impacts.
Implementation Method 1
a movable gear having an insertion hole formed to be penetrated by the lever bolt and having a movable threaded portion formed on an outer peripheral surface so as to be inserted into the tilt hole such that the movable threaded portion meshes with the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion
Implementation Method 2
a lever bolt coupled to an adjustment lever so as to rotate while interworking with the adjustment lever, the lever bolt being installed to penetrate the distance bracket and the tilt hole
Implementation Method 3
a tilt fixing device for vehicular steering columns, featuring a tilt bracket with a stepped portion and a movable gear with a threaded peripheral surface, preventing direct engagement between stationary and movable gears by using a lever bolt and elastic member
Data Source
AI summary
The present embodiments provides a tilt fixing device of a vehicular steering column, including: a tilt bracket having a tilt hole formed in a tilt support foiuied on an outer side of a distance bracket, a first threaded portion being formed on a first side surface of the tilt hole, a stepped portion being formed to protrude from a second side surface of the tilt hole, which faces the first side surface, so as to have a level difference with regard to the tilt support, and a second threaded portion being formed on the stepped portion; a lever bolt coupled to an adjustment lever so as to rotate while interworking with the adjustment lever, the lever bolt being installed to penetrate the distance bracket and the tilt hole; and a movable gear having an insertion hole formed to be penetrated by the lever bolt and having a movable threaded portion formed on an outer peripheral surface so as to be inserted into the tilt hole such that the movable threaded portion meshes with the first threaded portion and the second threaded portion and becomes fixed during tilt locking of the adjustment lever and, during tilt unlocking of the adjustment lever, the movable gear is spaced from the first threaded portion, meshes with the second threaded portion, and makes a rotational movement in a tilting direction.