Telescopic Steering Shaft Coupling for Secondary Collision Impact Absorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor-driven telescopic steering systems face complexity and increased cost due to the need for a complicated structure to absorb impact during secondary collisions, as they require transmitting impact to a support member to move a tube along with the supported member.
Innovation Solution
A steering system with a motor, telescopic steering shaft, and a driving force transmission device that includes a breakable coupling member to decouple the driving force converter from the motor and supporting member during a secondary collision, allowing the tube to move and absorb impact energy while maintaining a simple structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complicated structure is used to transmit impact to a support member and move the tube along with the supported member, then impact absorption during secondary collision is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling member is segmented into a first coupling portion connected to the tube and a second coupling portion connected to the supporting member. This segmentation allows the coupling member to function as both a structural connector and an impact absorption mechanism, eliminating the need for additional complex components while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The impact absorption function is extracted from a separate mechanical linkage system and integrated directly into the coupling member itself. By making the coupling member breakable, the patent removes the need for additional impact absorption mechanisms, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving the essential safety function.
2Device complexity
If a breakable coupling member is used to decouple the driving force converter from the motor and supporting member during secondary collision, then impact energy is absorbed and structure is simplified, but the coupling member strength must be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling member exhibits local quality differentiation through its two distinct coupling portions. The first coupling portion (connected to the tube) is designed with lower strength to break during impact, while the second coupling portion (connected to the supporting member) maintains higher strength for normal operation. This localized strength variation allows precise control over when and how the coupling fails, balancing structural simplicity with manufacturing precision requirements.
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 system effectively absorbs impact energy during secondary collisions by breaking the coupling member, reducing the impact on the driver and simplifying the structure, thereby enhancing safety and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The coupling member is breakable by an impact force applied to the coupling member through the steering shaft and the supporting member during a secondary collision
Data Source
AI summary
A steering system that is telescopically extendable and retractable using a motor driving force includes a motor, a telescopic steering shaft, a tube that supports the steering shaft such that the steering shaft is rotatable and that is movable with telescopic movement of the steering shaft, and a driving force transmission device that transmits a rotational driving force of the motor to the tube. The driving force transmission device includes a driving force converter that converts the rotational driving force of the motor to a linear driving force, and a coupling member that couples the driving force converter to the tube. The coupling member is breakable by an impact force applied thereto through the steering shaft and the supporting member during a secondary collision so as to decouple the driving force converter from the tube.