Steering Rack Play Compensation via Spring Washer Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for adjusting the play in steering systems face issues with screw loosening and subsequent changes in play due to operational forces, leading to complex and unreliable adjustments.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a spring washer between the adjustment unit and the pressure piece, with a projection and recess configuration, allows for compensation of interlocking deviations between the pinion and steering rack, eliminating the need for screw adjustments and ensuring stable play compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an adjusting screw is used to compensate for play in the steering system, then the play can be adjusted, but the adjusting screw may loosen accidentally during operation causing unstable play compensation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the adjustment function from a complex screw-based mechanism and implements it through a simple play compensating element with an adjustable thickness. This removes the adjusting screw entirely, eliminating the loosening problem while maintaining play compensation capability. The thickness of the play compensating element can be adjusted during manufacturing to set the initial play, but no further adjustment is needed during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The play compensating element is designed as a simple, inexpensive component that can be easily manufactured with precise thickness control. Rather than using a complex, expensive adjusting screw mechanism that requires maintenance and may loosen, the invention uses a simple element that provides reliable play compensation throughout its service life without requiring adjustment or maintenance.
2Reliability
If a press-fit stemmed adjusting screw is used to prevent loosening, then the screw is secured, but the play of the pressure piece may change undesirably due to operational forces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the adjusting screw entirely from the system, eliminating both the loosening risk and the press-fit stemming process. The play compensation is achieved through the thickness of the play compensating element itself, which is set during manufacturing and remains stable during operation without requiring mechanical fastening that could alter the play characteristics.
3Measurement precision
If complex adjustment procedures are used to set the play, then the play can be precisely adjusted, but the adjustment process becomes time-consuming and complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention performs the play adjustment action during the manufacturing process rather than during assembly or maintenance. The play compensating element is manufactured with a precisely controlled thickness that sets the desired play value. This preliminary action eliminates the need for time-consuming field adjustments while maintaining precise play control.
Solution Approach 2:
The play compensating element is designed as a simple component that can be manufactured efficiently with precise thickness control using standard manufacturing processes. This approach is more time-effective and cost-effective than using complex adjustment mechanisms that require skilled labor and multiple adjustment steps during assembly or maintenance.
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 provides a stable and reliable adjustment mechanism that compensates for unevenness and tolerance deviations, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs while ensuring low surface pressures for easier synthetic material usage.
Implementation Method 1
a spring washer is disposed between the adjustment unit and the pressure piece
Data Source
AI summary
A device for pressing a steering rack onto a pinion engaged with the steering rack, in particular for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprises a pressure piece which can be loaded in the direction of the steering rack and is displaceably guided in a housing and an adjustment unit for compensating for play occurring in the steering system. A spring washer is disposed between the adjustment unit and the pressure piece, wherein the adjustment unit comprises a projection and the pressure piece comprises a recess, or the pressure piece comprises a projection and the adjustment unit comprises a recess, in the region of the spring washer.