Steering Device Telescopic Adjustment Impact Absorption
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering devices with telescopic adjustment and impact absorption mechanisms face challenges in smoothly transitioning between these functions due to frictional loads and potential deformation during secondary collisions, leading to inadequate energy absorption and telescopic adjustment issues.
Innovation Solution
A steering device design featuring a column pipe, outer column with wrapping main body, fixed bracket, stopper bracket, and tightening tool, where the stopper bracket has suspended plate-like portions with telescopic and impact absorbing holes, and inclined collapse portions to manage loads and prevent friction, allowing separate setting of energy absorption loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the side walls of the second upper bracket are press-fitted when the lever is tightened, then the frictional load increases, but it becomes difficult to set the energy absorbing load
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the side wall structure into two distinct parts: a friction surface portion for generating frictional load during telescopic adjustment, and a non-friction surface portion that does not engage during normal operation. This segmentation allows the frictional load to be generated only when needed (during impact absorption) while maintaining smooth telescopic adjustment during normal use, resolving the contradiction between frictional load generation and ease of adjustment.
2Device complexity
If the telescopic adjustment mechanism and impact absorption mechanism share components, then the device complexity is reduced, but smooth movement between regions is compromised due to friction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different surface properties to different portions of the shared side wall component. The friction surface portion has high friction coefficient for impact absorption, while the non-friction surface portion has low friction coefficient for smooth telescopic adjustment. This local differentiation of surface quality allows a single shared component to provide both telescopic adjustment and impact absorption functions without compromising either operation.
3Loss of energy
If the impact absorbing region is deformed during secondary collision, then energy absorption increases, but telescopic adjustment may be disabled
Solution Approach 1:
The invention pre-forms a depression portion in the side wall structure at a predetermined location. This depression portion is designed to receive and contain the deformed impact absorbing region during secondary collision, preventing the deformation from propagating to the telescopic adjustment mechanism. The preliminary formation of this containment structure ensures that energy absorption deformation does not disable telescopic adjustment functionality.
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
Enables smooth movement between telescopic adjustment and impact absorption regions, allowing for appropriate energy absorption and preventing telescopic adjustment failures by managing loads through separate frictional and tipping loads, ensuring effective energy absorption during secondary collisions.
Implementation Method 1
a first collapse portion, which is a protruding plate piece, is provided between the telescopic long hole and the impact absorbing long hole of the first suspended plate-like portion or the second suspended plate-like portion and bent by colliding with the bolt shaft at the time of a secondary collision
Implementation Method 2
at least either a top side or a bottom side of each of the impact absorbing long holes of the first and second suspended plate-like portions is provided with a second collapse portion which is an inclined side that becomes smaller in a height direction toward an end of the impact absorbing long hole
Data Source
AI summary
A steering device includes a column pipe, an outer column A, a fixed bracket, a stopper bracket, and a tightening tool. The stopper bracket has a first suspended plate-like portion and a second suspended plate-like portion. A telescopic long hole and an impact absorbing long hole into which a bolt shaft can be inserted from the front side toward the rear side are formed in each of the first and second suspended plate-like portions. A first collapse portion that is bent by colliding with the bolt shaft is provided between the telescopic long hole and the impact absorbing long hole of either the first suspended plate-like portion or the second suspended plate-like portion. A second collapse portion is provided as an inclined side on either the top sides or the bottom sides of the impact absorbing long holes of the first and second suspended plate-like portions.