Steering Column Locking Mechanism for Collision Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Steering columns in heavy vehicles, such as trucks, often displace upwards during collisions, increasing the risk of driver injury due to the steering wheel's position change, which compromises airbag functionality and safety.
Innovation Solution
A steering column design featuring a lamellar package with toothed or cogged profiles that provides stepless frictional locking, transitioning to mechanical shape locking under high mechanical loads, ensuring the steering wheel remains at a preset angle during collisions, utilizing an adjustable strut with pneumatic cylinder activation and a compressive spring mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the steering column uses a rotational joint located close to the steering wheel for easy adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability during collision deteriorates as the steering wheel displaces upwards
Solution Approach 1:
The steering column employs a dynamic locking mechanism that transitions between two states: during normal operation, the friction locking allows smooth adjustment of the steering wheel position; during collision, the mechanical shape locking engages to fix the position. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by making the system flexible when needed and rigid when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the friction coefficient parameter dynamically through the pneumatic cylinder activation. When activated, the pneumatic cylinder reduces friction between the lamellae, enabling easy adjustment. When deactivated, friction increases to maintain position, and under high load, the mechanical shape locking engages. This parameter change allows the system to switch between ease of adjustment and position stability.
2Ease of operation
If the steering column allows stepless adjustment for driver comfort, then the ease of operation is improved, but the mechanical strength under high load deteriorates as the column cannot maintain preset angle during collision
Solution Approach 1:
The steering column is segmented into multiple functional components: the lamellar package with friction surfaces, the toothed profiles for mechanical locking, the pneumatic cylinder for friction control, and the compressive spring for force application. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the friction surfaces enable stepless adjustment while the toothed profiles provide strong mechanical locking under high load.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines different locking mechanisms (friction-based and mechanical shape-based) into a composite system. The lamellar package uses friction between laminated surfaces for normal operation, while the toothed profiles provide mechanical interlocking for high-load conditions. This composite approach allows the system to exhibit both ease of adjustment and high strength under collision loads.
3Ease of operation
If the steering column uses friction-based locking for smooth adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability during collision deteriorates as friction is insufficient to withstand high mechanical loads
Solution Approach 1:
The compressive spring is pre-loaded to apply continuous friction force between the lamellae during normal operation, enabling smooth friction-based locking. In advance of collision, the system is designed so that when high load occurs, the mechanical shape locking through toothed profiles automatically engages to provide reliable locking. This preliminary preparation of both friction and mechanical locking mechanisms ensures reliability under collision conditions while maintaining smooth adjustment during normal use.
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 allows for easy stepless adjustment of the steering wheel while maintaining its preset angle during collisions, enhancing driver safety by preventing steering wheel displacement and ensuring proper airbag deployment, regardless of collision speed or driver position.
Implementation Method 1
a lamellar package (9) that holds the steering wheel at the desired and set position during normal use with the aid of friction
Implementation Method 2
When a pneumatic cylinder (13) in the slide bracket (2) is activated, the force of a compressive spring against the lamellar package (9) is reduced
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention concerns a steering column (1), preferably intended for the adjustment in stepless adjustments of the angular position of a steering wheel (12) in a heavy commercial vehicle such as a truck, comprising a steering column (1) in several parts and with an upper rotational joint (6), a slide bracket (2) arranged in the driver's cabin of the vehicle, and a strut (8) mounted between the slide bracket (2) and the upper rotational joint (6) with the aid of which the tilt angle (a) of the steering wheel (12) can be adjusted and locked by friction. The invention is achieved through the strut (8) with its outer end being arranged jointed at the upper steering column (5), preferably close to its rotational joint (6), that the strut (8) is arranged such that it can be displaced in the slide bracket (2), that shaped means (24, 25) are arranged to interact with each other and to mechanically lock the strut (8) in its position relative to the slide bracket (2), and in this way also the preset angular position (a) of the steering wheel (12), when the mechanical load on the steering wheel (12) exceeds a predetermined limiting value.