Steering Lock Regulating Member Tilt Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing key devices face challenges in regulating rotation of a rotating member to a predetermined position when the thickness of the regulating member in the rotating axis direction is reduced, leading to instability and improper regulation of the rotating member.
Innovation Solution
A key device design that includes a rotating member, an allowing member, a regulating member, and a pair of restricting portions at the allowing member and regulating member, which face each other with the regulating member sandwiched between them, effectively restricting tilt and allowing or preventing rotation based on the position of the rotating member.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the thickness of the regulating member in the rotating axis direction is made smaller to provide a smaller size lock plate, then the size of the lock plate is reduced, but the regulating member cannot properly regulate rotation of the rotating member due to increased tilt
Solution Approach 1:
The allowing member is divided into a body portion and a pair of restricting portions positioned at both ends of the regulating member. This segmentation allows the restricting portions to specifically target and prevent tilt of the regulating member while the body portion maintains the allowing function, enabling the regulating member to function properly even with reduced thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The restricting portions are positioned at specific locations (both ends of the regulating member) to provide localized constraint against tilt. This local quality approach ensures that only the critical areas of the regulating member are constrained, allowing the overall structure to be thinner while maintaining regulation reliability.
2Length of moving object
If the thickness of the regulating member is reduced, then the lock plate size is minimized, but tilt of the regulating member to both sides increases causing improper rotation regulation
Solution Approach 1:
The pair of restricting portions act as counter-constraints that oppose and prevent the tilt of the regulating member. By positioning these restricting portions at both ends, they provide counterbalancing support that prevents the regulating member from tilting to either side, maintaining stability even when the member thickness is reduced.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of increasing thickness in the rotating axis direction to prevent tilt, the solution introduces restricting portions that constrain tilt in a different dimensional approach. The restricting portions engage with the regulating member to prevent lateral displacement and tilt, effectively addressing the stability issue without increasing the critical dimension of thickness.
Data Source
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AI summary
Rotation of a rotating member to a predetermined rotational position is properly regulated by a blocking member (78) even when a thickness of the blocking member (78) in a rotating shaft (74) direction is made smaller. In a steering lock device, a pair of restricting portions (86B) formed in an allowing member frame (86) is disposed at both-sides of the blocking member in front-and rear-direction, restricting the tilt of the member to both-sides in the front-and rear-direction. For this reason, even if the thickness of the blocking member in the front-and rear-direction in the vicinity of the shaft (74) is made smaller, when rotation of a cam shaft from an "ACC" position to a "LOCK" position is blocked by the member (74), tilt of the member (74) to both-sides in the front-and rear-direction can be suppressed, so that the member (74) can properly block rotation of the cam shaft from the "ACC" position to the "LOCK" position.