Steering Wheel Airbag Module Axial Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle steering wheels with floating-horn airbag modules face challenges in achieving smooth horn actuation and precise axial movement while minimizing material costs and production complexity, often resulting in high friction and potential tilting of the airbag module when actuated off-center.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle steering wheel design featuring a plastic receiving part and generator carrier with axially offset bearing projections for axial guidance, minimizing contact surface and friction, and eliminating separate bearing components, ensuring smooth actuation and preventing tilting by using integrally formed projections and grooves for precise axial movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cylindrical walls of the airbag module and receiving part slide along each other for guidance, then the airbag module can be axially movable, but relatively high friction occurs due to large contact surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous cylindrical contact surface is segmented into discrete bearing projections and guide surfaces, reducing the total contact area and thus the friction between the airbag module and receiving part during axial movement
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniform cylindrical contact surfaces, the invention introduces localized bearing projections at specific positions to provide guidance while minimizing the overall contact surface area, creating areas of concentrated support rather than continuous contact
2Manufacturing precision
If large contact surfaces are used for guidance, then the airbag module is well guided, but relatively high friction occurs during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance function is achieved through segmented bearing projections rather than continuous surfaces, providing sufficient positional precision while reducing friction through minimized contact areas
Solution Approach 2:
Bearing projections act as intermediary elements between the airbag module and receiving part, providing precise guidance through localized contact points that reduce overall friction compared to direct large-surface contact
3Device complexity
If simple guiding structures are used to reduce complexity, then production is less complex, but the airbag module may tilt when actuated off-center
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding and stabilizing functions are merged into the bearing projections that are integrally formed with the airbag module, eliminating the need for separate stabilizing components while preventing tilting through the geometric configuration of the projections
Solution Approach 2:
The bearing projections serve multiple functions simultaneously: they guide axial movement, prevent tilting during off-center actuation, and reduce friction, eliminating the need for separate components for each function
4Manufacturing precision
If separate bearing components are used for axial guidance, then precise guidance is achieved, but production complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing projections are integrally formed with the airbag module as a single piece, combining the bearing function with the module housing to eliminate separate bearing components while maintaining precise axial guidance
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag module housing itself is designed to include the bearing projections, making the housing serve both as the structural container and as the guiding element, thereby reducing the total number of components
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 design reduces material costs and production complexity, achieves smooth and precise axial movement of the airbag module, and prevents tilting during off-center horn actuation, enhancing the overall efficiency and reliability of the steering wheel.
Implementation Method 1
A relatively high friction occurs due to the large surfaces of the cylindrical walls of the airbag module and the receiving part sliding along each other when the airbag module is moved
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle steering wheel being rotatable around a steering wheel axis (A), includes a steering wheel hub (38), a receiving part (12) configured as a separate, prefabricated component and an airbag module (13) with a generator carrier (10), the generator carrier (10) being inserted into the receiving part (12), the receiving part (12) and the generator carrier (10) being made of plastic.The invention also includes a vehicle steering wheel being rotatable around a steering wheel axis (A), having a steering wheel hub (38), a receiving part (12), and an airbag module (13) with a generator carrier (10), the generator carrier (10) being inserted into the receiving part (12). The generator carrier (10) is accommodated in and guided by the receiving part (12) so as to be axially movable, at least one of the generator carrier (10) and the receiving part (12) having axially offset bearing projections (26), the bearing projections (26) adjoining at least one of the receiving part (12) and the generator carrier (10), and the bearing projections (26) providing an axial guidance.