Steering System Toothed Member Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering systems face challenges in preventing accidental rupture of the support shaft during telescopic adjustment due to impacts similar to those experienced during vehicle collisions, which can lead to unintended disengagement of the upper jacket from the lower jacket.
Innovation Solution
A steering system design incorporating a second toothed member that changes its position between meshing and meshing releasing positions, with a rupturable member and an impact absorbing member, where the second toothed member receives impacts from the first toothed member or facing member, causing concurrent rupture and deformation to absorb the impact, thereby reducing the load on the support shaft during telescopic adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the strength of the support shaft is set according to the disengagement load, then the upper jacket can disengage from the lower jacket during vehicle collision, but the support shaft may rupture accidentally during telescopic adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The support shaft is divided into two functional segments: a rupturable member (first toothed member) that breaks during collision to enable disengagement, and a non-rupturable second toothed member that absorbs impact during telescopic adjustment. This segmentation allows different parts of the same component to have different strength characteristics, resolving the contradiction between needing weakness for disengagement and strength for preventing accidental rupture.
Solution Approach 2:
The second toothed member acts as an intermediary between the facing member and the support shaft during telescopic adjustment. It absorbs impact forces through deformation of the impact absorbing member, preventing these forces from being transmitted to the rupturable member. This intermediary protects the support shaft from accidental rupture while allowing normal telescopic operation.
2Strength
If the support shaft strength is reduced to enable disengagement during collision, then impact absorption is improved, but the support shaft becomes vulnerable to rupture during normal telescopic adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
Different parts of the support shaft structure have different strength properties: the first toothed member (rupturable member) has reduced strength for impact absorption and disengagement, while the second toothed member maintains full strength for structural integrity during normal operation. This local differentiation of quality allows the system to achieve both impact absorption and structural reliability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between two operational modes: during vehicle collision, the rupturable member breaks to enable disengagement; during normal telescopic adjustment, the non-rupturable second toothed member remains intact to maintain structural integrity. This dynamic behavior allows the support shaft to adapt its strength characteristics based on the operational context.
3Ease of operation
If the lock member is in contact with the stopper during telescopic adjustment, then the moving range is limited, but impact is transmitted to the support shaft causing potential rupture
Solution Approach 1:
The second toothed member serves as an intermediary that absorbs impact forces generated during telescopic adjustment when the lock member contacts the stopper. This intermediary prevents impact transmission to the rupturable member, allowing normal telescopic operation with stopper contact without risking accidental rupture.
Solution Approach 2:
The second toothed member with impact absorbing member acts as a sacrificial element that absorbs impact forces during normal operation. This disposable-like component deforms to absorb impact, protecting the more critical rupturable member from damage during routine telescopic adjustment operations.
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
This design effectively prevents the rupture of the rupturable member during telescopic adjustment by distributing the impact to the impact absorbing member, ensuring the support shaft does not rupture accidentally, thus maintaining the integrity of the steering system during normal operations.
Implementation Method 1
The impact absorbing member is configured to deform so as to absorb an impact received by the second toothed member
Data Source
AI summary
A second toothed member is configured to change its position between a meshing position where first teeth mesh with second teeth and a meshing releasing position where the first teeth do not mesh with the second teeth. A first toothed member and a facing member move together with an upper jacket. The second toothed member located at the meshing position receives an impact from the first toothed member so as to collide against an impact absorbing member after rupture of a guide shaft and deform the impact absorbing member. The second toothed member located at the meshing releasing position receives an impact from the facing member so as to cause rupture of the guide shaft and deformation of the impact absorbing member to occur concurrently.