Steering Input Stopper Geometry for Neutral Position Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing mechanical stopper mechanism in steering operation input apparatuses fails to maintain consistent limit operation rotational amounts between the left and right sides due to the nut's neutral position displacement based on its mounting direction.
Innovation Solution
The steering operation input apparatus ensures a predetermined neutral position by aligning the central position of the nut with the largest and smallest-diameter portions of the externally threaded portion, with the restriction unit symmetric about one imaginary line and asymmetric about another, allowing consistent stroke amounts regardless of the nut's mounting direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a conventional nut with front and back sides is used in the mechanical stopper mechanism, then the nut can be mounted in a specific direction, but the neutral position is displaced depending on the mounting direction, causing inconsistent limit operation rotational amounts between left and right sides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by designing the nut with an asymmetric structure relative to its mounting direction. The nut includes a reference mark or asymmetric feature that indicates the correct mounting orientation, ensuring that when mounted correctly, the neutral position aligns precisely with the stopper portion. This asymmetric design eliminates neutral position displacement while maintaining ease of mounting through clear orientation guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring the nut with an asymmetric structure during manufacturing that inherently guides correct mounting orientation. The asymmetric design includes features such as a reference mark or non-uniform thickness distribution that automatically indicates the proper mounting direction before installation, preventing neutral position displacement from the outset.
2Ease of manufacture
If the nut is mounted with incorrect orientation, then assembly is simplified, but the neutral position shifts, resulting in unequal limit tire steer angles on left and right sides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetry by incorporating an asymmetric reference mark or feature on the nut that clearly indicates the correct mounting orientation. This asymmetric design ensures that only one mounting orientation positions the neutral point correctly relative to the stopper portion, preventing neutral position shifts and ensuring equal limit operation rotational amounts on both sides while maintaining assembly simplicity through obvious orientation guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies visual indication by incorporating a reference mark or asymmetric feature on the nut that provides visual feedback during assembly. This visual cue (such as a colored mark, asymmetric pattern, or positional feature) guides the assembler to mount the nut in the correct orientation, ensuring neutral position consistency and equal limit tire steer angles while simplifying the assembly process through intuitive visual guidance.
3Device complexity
If a symmetric restriction unit is used, then the structure is simpler, but it cannot prevent incorrect mounting of the nut, leading to neutral position displacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by designing the restriction unit with an asymmetric configuration that corresponds to the asymmetric structure of the nut. The restriction unit includes asymmetric guiding features or positioning elements that only accommodate the nut in the correct mounting orientation. This asymmetric design prevents incorrect mounting and ensures neutral position accuracy while maintaining relatively simple structure through integrated asymmetric guidance features.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering operation input apparatus is for allowing a predetermined neutral position to be acquired regardless of a direction in which a nut is mounted. In a mechanical stopper mechanism, a central position of the nut in an axial direction aligns with a central position of a crest and a central position of a root of an externally threaded portion with a steering wheel in a neutral state. A first imaginary line extends in a direction perpendicular to a rotational axis and passes through the crest and the root, and a second imaginary line extends perpendicularly to the first imaginary line on a line of the rotational axis in a cross section perpendicular to the rotational axis at the central position of the nut, and a pin is symmetric about the first imaginary line and asymmetric about the second imaginary line.