Steering Lock Apparatus Protruding Wall Reinforcement

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional steering lock apparatuses risk damaging the steering column when attempting to rotate the steering wheel with excessive force, as the existing structures lack sufficient strength and rigidity to withstand large forces without causing cracking, especially when made from lightweight materials.

Innovation Solution

A steering lock apparatus with a cylindrical steering column featuring a protruding wall section surrounding the lock hole, a key-lock collar with engaging concave sections, and a lock unit with a guide section and concave groove that distributes force and enhances the strength and rigidity of the lock hole, preventing damage from large rotational forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If the steering column is made thinner to reduce weight, then fuel consumption improves and costs decrease, but the strength and rigidity of the steering column are insufficient to withstand large forces from steering wheel rotation attempts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesteering column weightVSAvoidsteering column strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The steering column is divided into a thin-walled main body and a separate reinforcing protruding wall section that surrounds the lock hole. This segmentation allows the majority of the steering column to remain thin for weight reduction, while the localized protruding wall section provides the necessary strength and rigidity to withstand large forces during steering wheel rotation attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protruding wall section is strategically positioned at the circumferential edge section of the lock hole where large forces are applied during steering wheel rotation attempts. This local reinforcement provides enhanced strength and rigidity precisely where needed, while the rest of the steering column maintains its thin-walled structure for weight reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Weight of moving object

If the steering column is made thinner, then weight is reduced, but the steering column becomes susceptible to cracking and damage when large forces are applied during steering wheel rotation attempts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesteering column weightVSAvoidsteering column reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The steering column is divided into a thin-walled main body and a separate reinforcing protruding wall section that surrounds the lock hole. This segmentation allows the majority of the steering column to remain thin for weight reduction, while the localized protruding wall section provides the necessary strength and rigidity to withstand large forces during steering wheel rotation attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protruding wall section acts as a preventive reinforcement structure that is already in place before any steering wheel rotation attempt occurs. This pre-positioned reinforcement cushions and distributes the large forces that will be applied during theft prevention operations, preventing cracking and damage to the thin-walled steering column.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If conventional steering lock structure is used, then the anti-theft function is provided, but the lock hole and guide section become disengaged and the lock unit rotates around the steering column when large forces are applied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanti-theft functionVSAvoidlock unit stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The protruding wall section is strategically positioned at the circumferential edge section of the lock hole where large forces are applied during steering wheel rotation attempts. This local reinforcement provides enhanced strength and rigidity precisely where needed, while the rest of the steering column maintains its thin-walled structure for weight reduction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The protruding wall section acts as a preventive reinforcement structure that is already in place before any steering wheel rotation attempt occurs. This pre-positioned reinforcement cushions and distributes the large forces that will be applied during theft prevention operations, preventing cracking and damage to the thin-walled steering column.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS9463773B2Steering lock apparatus

Publication Date: 2016.10.11 NSK LTD

AI summary

A protruding wall section 17 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of a steering column 2b around a lock hole 11a, a concave groove 20 that engages with the protruding wall section 17 is provided in a portion that surrounds a guide section 13a of a butting surface 19 of a lock unit 12a, and by engaging the protruding wall section 17 with the concave groove 20, and preferably, by engaging concave sections 18 that are provided in the steering column 2b with convex sections 21 that are provided on the lock unit 12a so that the lock unit 12a is supported by and fastened to the steering column 2b, the occurrence of damage such as cracking of the steering column 2b is prevented even when there is an attempt to rotate a steering wheel by large force when an ignition key is turned OFF.