Telescopic Steering Column Support Structure to Prevent Tube Rebound

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing stow-in and stow-out distances of vehicle steering columns lead to instability and inconvenience due to rebound of the upper and middle tubes during full stow-in, compromising driver safety and comfort, especially in steer-by-wire systems with autonomous driving capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle steering column design featuring a tube support member with ring-shaped outer and inner support portions, protrusions, and cut portions to stabilize the middle and upper tubes, preventing rebound by elastic deformation and locking mechanisms during full stow-in.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the stow-in and stow-out distances of the steering column are increased to provide wider space for autonomous driving, then the steering wheel can be introduced further into or out of the dashboard, but the rebound of the upper tube or middle tube occurs at full stow-in, reducing stability and driver convenience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestow-in and stow-out distanceVSAvoidstability during full stow-in

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The steering column is divided into multiple telescopic segments (upper tube, middle tube, lower tube) that can move independently. Each tube has its own support structure with locking mechanisms, allowing the system to achieve large overall stow-in/stow-out distances while maintaining stability through segmented control and individual tube support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A tube support member is introduced as an intermediary component between the telescopic tubes and the dashboard. This support member includes support portions that extend into the tubes and locking mechanisms that prevent rebound, acting as a mediator that enables long stow-in distances while maintaining stability during full stow-in operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If the telescopic movement speed is increased to perform stow movements more quickly, then productivity and responsiveness are improved, but the rebound phenomenon becomes more severe, compromising driver safety and convenience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestow-in and stow-out speedVSAvoiddriver safety and convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tube support member with locking mechanisms provides beforehand cushioning by preparing support structures that engage with the telescopic tubes before rebound can occur. The support portions extend into the tubes in advance, and the locking mechanisms are positioned to engage at critical points, preventing rebound even during high-speed stow-in operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The tube support member acts as an intermediary that mediates between the high-speed telescopic movement and the need for stability. It provides real-time support and damping during rapid stow-in/stow-out operations, ensuring that speed improvements do not compromise driver safety or convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If a simple telescopic structure is used to reduce device complexity, then manufacturing and assembly are easier, but the structure cannot prevent tube rebound at full stow-in

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesteering column structureVSAvoidprevention of tube rebound

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The steering column uses a nested telescopic structure where the upper tube is inserted into the middle tube, and the middle tube is inserted into the lower tube. This nesting arrangement allows for compact design and easier manufacturing while the tube support member adds stabilization features within the nested structure to prevent rebound without significantly increasing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

Rather than making the entire steering column structure complex, the invention applies local quality by adding support portions and locking mechanisms only at specific critical locations where rebound prevention is needed. The tube support member is strategically positioned to provide stabilization exactly where required, maintaining simplicity in non-critical areas while ensuring stability at full stow-in.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Enables quick and stable telescopic and stow movements, ensuring driver safety and convenience by preventing tube rebound, applicable to both manual and autonomous driving scenarios.

Implementation Method 1

preventing rebound by elastic deformation and locking mechanisms during full stow-in

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20250346281A1Vehicle steering column

Publication Date: 2025.11.13 HL MANDO CORP

AI summary

A vehicle steering column may include a hollow lower tube coupled and fixed to a mounting bracket, a hollow middle tube coupled to an inner side of the lower tube and sliding in an axial direction, a hollow upper tube having an inner side to which a steering shaft is rotatably coupled and an outer side to which the middle tube is coupled to slide in the axial direction, and a tube support member coupled to an inner side of a lower end portion of the lower tube and supporting lower end portions of the middle tube and the upper tube.