Intermediate Steering Gearbox With Selective Dual-Drive Coupling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle steering systems lack flexibility to allow for simultaneous operation of a main steering device and an additional steering device, limiting their use in driving schools and other scenarios where dual steering is beneficial, and do not easily adapt between left-hand and right-hand drive configurations.
Innovation Solution
An intermediate gear system that allows selective coupling and decoupling of the main and additional steering devices, enabling the motor vehicle to be steered by either or both systems, with a housing that maintains cleanliness and lubrication integrity, and a coupling mechanism that includes a sliding sleeve and locking device for secure engagement and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a steering system is designed with only a main steering device, then the device complexity is low and ease of manufacture is good, but the adaptability is limited and cannot support dual steering operations
Solution Approach 1:
The steering system is divided into independent main steering device and additional steering device, each with separate steering wheels and steering linkages. The intermediate gearbox further segments the torque transmission paths, allowing independent operation of either steering device while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate gearbox serves multiple functions: it can couple the additional steering device to the main steering system, allow independent operation of either steering device, and enable conversion between left-hand drive and right-hand drive configurations. This multi-functionality increases adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a steering system allows simultaneous operation of main and additional steering devices, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases due to multiple steering linkages and coupling mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate gearbox acts as an intermediary component between the main steering device and additional steering device. It provides a standardized coupling interface that simplifies the connection mechanism, allowing flexible steering operation while containing the complexity within a dedicated intermediate component rather than distributing it throughout the entire steering system.
3Reliability
If the intermediate gearbox uses a coupling mechanism with sliding sleeve and locking device, then the reliability of engagement is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism transitions from a static fixed connection to a dynamic selectively engageable/disengageable connection. The sliding sleeve allows the coupling to shift between engaged and disengaged states, while the locking device provides stable positioning in each state. This dynamic capability improves reliability by allowing secure engagement when needed while maintaining simplicity through a relatively straightforward mechanical implementation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates, inter alia, to an intermediate transmission (16) for a device (10) for steering a motor vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, with a main steering device (12), in particular on the driver's side, and an auxiliary steering device (14), in particular on the passenger's side. The intermediate transmission (16) has a first drive shaft (52) which can be connected to a steering linkage (22) of the main steering device (12), and a second drive shaft (54) which can be connected to a steering linkage (26) of the auxiliary steering device (14). The intermediate transmission (16) has a coupling mechanism (62) which is designed for selectively coupling and uncoupling the first drive shaft (52) and the second drive shaft (54). The intermediate transmission (16) has a housing (46) in which the first drive shaft (52) and the second drive shaft (54) are rotatably mounted.This allows the motor vehicle to be (co-)steered, if desired, using the additional steering device (14).