Electric Steering Lock Stopper Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric steering lock devices can unintentionally lock the steering shaft due to pin deterioration, leading to unintended locking when a load is applied, as the lock bar moves to a locked position without restriction.
Innovation Solution
An electric steering lock device with a slider, lock member, stopper, and biasing means, where the stopper is engaged or disengaged by the slider to prevent the lock member from moving to a locked position, ensuring the steering shaft remains unlocked, and the stopper is biased to maintain the unlocked state, eliminating the need for additional actuators and reducing device size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a stopper mechanism is added to prevent unintentional locking, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper is integrated with the shaft assembly, and the slider that actuates the stopper is combined with the existing threaded portion mechanism. The slider's movement along the threaded portion simultaneously drives the lock bar and actuates the stopper, merging multiple functions into existing components rather than adding completely separate mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The slider serves multiple functions: it moves along the threaded portion to drive the lock bar for locking/unlocking operations, and simultaneously actuates the stopper to engage or disengage the stopper projection from the lock bar. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated actuators and simplifies the overall device structure.
2Reliability
If the stopper is biased in the engagement direction, then the unlocked state is maintained, but the stopper requires additional biasing means
Solution Approach 1:
The biasing means is designed as a spring that is self-contained within the stopper assembly, providing automatic biasing force in the engagement direction without requiring external actuation or control systems. The spring automatically maintains the stopper in the engaged position, ensuring the unlocked state is maintained without additional complexity.
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 unintentional locking of the steering shaft, ensuring high safety and simplifying the device structure while reducing its size by allowing the stopper to move without increasing the slider's movement range, thus enhancing safety and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a slider (9) which includes a female threaded portion (9a) and which threadedly engages with the male threaded portion (10a)
Data Source
AI summary
An electric steering lock device includes: a shaft which includes a male threaded portion and which is rotationally driven by an electric motor; a slider which includes a female threaded portion threadedly engaging with the male threaded portion and which advances and retreats in response to the rotation of the shaft; a lock member which is turnable between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to the advancement and retreat of the slider; a stopper which holds the lock member at the unlocked position by engaging with an engagement portion provided in the lock member, the stopper being movable in a direction orthogonal to a turning plane of the lock member; and a spring for biasing the stopper in an engagement direction. The stopper engages with and disengages from the engagement portion of the lock member by being moved by an operation portion provided in the slider.