Steering Spindle Bearing Fixing Device with Plastic Deformation Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking devices for adjustable steering columns face challenges in achieving sufficient strength and resistance against displacement, especially during crashes, while also allowing for continuous and smooth adjustment, as they often rely on frictional clamping or toothing engagement, which can lead to issues like incomplete engagement, wear, and rattling.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with elastic restoring elements that deform to create a positive engagement by reshaping surfaces, providing high resistance forces and allowing continuous adjustment, where engagement elements dig into surfaces, creating new recesses and overwriting previous ones, ensuring secure locking without material damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If frictional clamping is used to allow continuous adjustment, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability is worsened due to insufficient resistance against displacement during operation and crashes
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is divided into two functional parts: a frictional clamping mechanism for continuous adjustment and a positive engagement mechanism with engagement elements and surfaces for secure locking. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different local regions of the locking device have different functional properties: the clamping surfaces provide frictional contact for smooth adjustment, while the engagement elements and their corresponding surfaces provide positive engagement for high resistance forces. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of adjustment and reliability.
2Reliability
If toothing engagement is used to provide high resistance forces, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation is worsened due to inability to set every adjustment position and risk of incomplete engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is divided into two functional parts: a frictional clamping mechanism for continuous adjustment and a positive engagement mechanism with engagement elements and surfaces for secure locking. This segmentation allows each part to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement elements are designed to be elastically deformable, allowing them to dynamically adapt to the surface during engagement. This dynamic property enables the system to provide both continuous adjustability through frictional clamping and secure positive engagement when locked, resolving the contradiction between continuous adjustment and high holding force.
3Reliability
If edge-side toothing is used for positive connection, then reliability is improved for high forces, but device complexity increases due to additional spring-arm-like elastic restoring elements
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is designed to integrate multiple functions: it provides both the frictional clamping surface and the engagement elements with elastic deformability. This merging of functions into a single component reduces the number of separate parts while maintaining the positive connection capability for high forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element serves multiple purposes: it provides frictional contact for adjustment, contains engagement elements for positive locking, and incorporates elastic deformability for restoring force. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate spring-arm-like restoring elements, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability.
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 high resistance against displacement with continuous adjustment capabilities, preventing rattling and material wear, by using elastic deformability to ensure secure engagement and disengagement of the locking mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
the elastic restoring element is designed in the form of an elastic deformability of the locking element or the counter-locking element
Implementation Method 2
positive engagement by means of, preferably plastic, deformation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~8
AI summary
A fixing device (1) for fixing a steering spindle bearing unit (2) to a supporting unit (3) of an adjustable steering column (4) for a motor vehicle, wherein the fixing device (1) has at least one clamping device (5) and at least one locking element (6) which can be acted upon by means of the clamping device (5), and at least one counter locking element (7), wherein, in a closed position of the clamping device (5), the locking element (6) and the counter locking element (7) are arranged in an engagement position, and the fixing device (1) has at least one elastic resetting element (8) for resetting the locking element (6) in an open position of the clamping device (5), wherein the fixing device (1) has at least one engagement element (9) which, in the closed position of the clamping device (5), is in engagement by means of preferably plastic deformation of at least one surface (10) of the locking element (6) and/or of the counter locking element (7) in a form-fitting manner with said surface (10).