Steering Lock Actuating and Locking Levers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking devices for vehicle steering systems often fail to provide a reliable and compact anti-theft solution that prevents undesirable locking during driving while ensuring robust locking after parking, due to limitations in design and installation space.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with two separate adjustable members, an actuating lever, and a locking lever, connected via a slip clutch and driven by a motor, which includes a spring for self-locking and a sensor for position detection, ensuring reliable locking and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single combined actuating and locking member is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of preventing undesirable locking during driving operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is divided into two separate functional members: an actuating member (22) that controls the locking mechanism and a locking member (20) that actually engages with the blocking ring (18). This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component's function, enabling the actuating member to be controlled by the drive motor (26) while the locking member responds to mechanical forces from the spring (50), thereby preventing unintended locking during driving operation.
2Reliability
If two separate adjustable members are used, then the reliability of locking is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating member (22) and locking member (20) are merged into a single integrated assembly that shares common mounting structures and alignment features. The actuating member is swivel-mounted in the housing with the locking member swivel-mounted to it, creating a compact two-lever system that reduces overall structural complexity despite having separate functional components.
3Area of stationary object
If the swivel axes of actuating member and locking member are made identical and parallel to motor shaft axis, then the installation space is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The swivel axes of the actuating member and locking member are positioned at identical locations and oriented parallel to the motor shaft axis, creating a symmetric and balanced mechanical arrangement. This equipotential positioning simplifies the overall geometry and reduces the bounding box of the locking device, minimizing installation space requirements while the precision requirements are managed through standardized mounting features.
4Volume of moving object
If a slip clutch with low slipping torque is used, then the compactness of the device is improved, but the overload protection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The slip clutch (42) is positioned between the motor shaft (19) and the blocking ring (18), serving as an intermediary overload protection mechanism. This slip clutch is designed with a low slipping torque that is sufficient to protect the steering system components from damage while allowing the compact design to be maintained, as the clutch engages only under excessive load conditions rather than requiring a large mechanical clearance.
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 effectively prevents undesirable locking during driving and ensures robust locking after parking, with a compact design that minimizes installation space and includes overload protection, while allowing for easy function checking.
Implementation Method 1
a spring, in particular a C-spring, is provided in the locking device, the spring urging the actuating member to the release position
Implementation Method 2
the blocking ring is connected to the motor shaft via a slip clutch. This slip clutch constitutes an overload protection for the vehicle steering system by allowing the steering wheel and the steerable wheels to be shifted as of a predefined torque load
Implementation Method 3
The adjustment of the actuating lever is thus effected by means of a worm gear, which distinguishes itself by a high degree of self-locking in the event of a standstill or failure of the drive motor
Data Source
AI summary
A locking device for a vehicle steering system, having a steering gear, a servomotor which is adapted to provide a steering assist force, a blocking ring which is assigned to a motor shaft of the servomotor, and a locking member which is adapted to engage in the blocking ring to block rotation of the motor shaft of the servomotor and thereby to lock the steering gear, further provision being made for an actuating member having the locking member adjustably mounted thereon, and the actuating member being adjustable by a drive motor between a blocking position and a release position.