Steering Column Guide Plate Restricts Lateral Sway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering unit support devices for vehicles face challenges in stabilizing the steering shaft during collisions and secondary collisions, where the load absorption mechanisms may not adequately restrict lateral and vertical swaying motions, potentially leading to instability and damage.
Innovation Solution
A steering unit support device with a fixing bracket, an inclined steering column, a support bracket, and a guide plate that restricts movement in the vehicle's width direction, incorporating energy absorption mechanisms and a detachable mechanism to allow the steering column to move forward during collisions, while maintaining stability through spacers and tilt mechanisms for adjustable height.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the steering column is allowed to move forward during collision to absorb energy, then the reliability and safety are improved, but the steering shaft may become unstable due to lateral and vertical swaying motions
Solution Approach 1:
A guide plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the support bracket and the fixing bracket. The guide plate restricts lateral and vertical swaying motions of the steering shaft while allowing forward movement during collision, thus stabilizing the steering shaft without preventing energy absorption
Solution Approach 2:
The support device is segmented into multiple functional components: the support bracket for mounting, the guide plate for directional control, and the fixing bracket for attachment to the vehicle body. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between movement and stability
2Stability of the object's composition
If the steering shaft is restricted to prevent lateral and vertical swaying, then the stability is improved, but the ability to absorb collision energy through forward movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plate is designed to dynamically respond to collision forces. During normal operation, it restricts lateral and vertical movements to maintain stability. During collision, it allows forward movement of the steering shaft while continuing to restrict other directions of movement, thus adapting to different operational conditions
3Stability of the object's composition
If a direction controlling member is added to restrict lateral and vertical swaying, then the stability during movement is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a direction controlling member to restrict lateral and vertical swaying, serves as a structural support element, and guides the forward movement of the steering shaft during collision. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A steering column is attached to a fixing bracket of a vehicle body through a support bracket such that the steering column is inclined with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to the width direction of the vehicle body. A guide plate is attached to one of both side portions of the fixing bracket. The one side portion is located on the side toward which the rear portion of the steering column is inclined. When the support bracket moves due to external force acting thereon, the guide plate restricts movement of the support bracket in the width direction of the vehicle body to permit the steering column to move toward the front of the vehicle body while at the same time suppressing swaying motion of the steering column, thereby stabilizing the load at the time of absorption of impact.