Steering Shaft Fixing Structure for Neutral Position Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steer-by-wire steering devices require a separate process to align the steering shaft to the neutral position during transportation, leading to increased complexity and cost in the assembly process.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle steering device with a steering shaft featuring axially formed mountains and valleys, coupled with a shaft fixing member that prevents rotation during transportation, and a method for assembling the device by aligning the shaft to a neutral position and coupling the fixing member to both the steering shaft and upper column.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate alignment process is used to align the steering shaft to the neutral position during transportation, then the steering shaft can be properly positioned, but the assembly process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The steering shaft is pre-aligned to the neutral position during the transportation phase, before the actual assembly process begins. The shaft fixing member is designed to maintain this pre-aligned state during transport, eliminating the need for separate alignment operations during assembly. This preliminary action resolves the contradiction by ensuring positioning accuracy is achieved in advance, simplifying the subsequent assembly process.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a shaft fixing member is added to prevent steering shaft rotation during transportation, then the steering shaft remains stable, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft fixing member is integrated with the steering shaft and upper column as a unified structure. The fixing member includes a fixing protrusion that engages with a groove on the steering shaft and another protrusion that engages with the upper column, creating a combined structure that prevents rotation without requiring separate independent components. This merging approach maintains stability while minimizing structural complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If the shaft fixing member is designed to be easily removable and assembleable, then the assembly process is simplified, but the structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The shaft fixing member is segmented into distinct functional portions: a first fixing portion that engages with the steering shaft and a second fixing portion that engages with the upper column. These segments are connected through a body portion, allowing the fixing member to be assembled and disassembled in a simple sequential manner while maintaining structural integrity through the interconnected design of all segments.
Data Source
AI summary
According to the present embodiments, there may be provided a vehicle steering device, comprising a steering shaft having a toothed portion having a plurality of mountains and valleys axially formed on an outer circumferential surface of an end portion thereof and circumferentially arranged, and rotated with a steering wheel to transfer a steering force, an upper column formed in a hollow shape and having the steering shaft coupled to and rotatingly supported on an inner circumferential side thereof, and a shaft fixing member having one side end coupled to the steering shaft and another side end coupled to the upper column to fix the steering shaft, and a method for assembling the same.