Steering Wheel Airbag Spring Unit Protector Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing steering wheel structures with airbag modules face issues such as damage to the rubber ring or elastic member used as a spring element due to oscillation, leading to maintenance needs and poor assemblability, and instability in the rubber ring's form complicating mounting and reducing productivity.
Innovation Solution
A steering wheel structure with an airbag module that incorporates a spring unit with an elastic body housed in a protector made of synthetic resin, which is attached to the horn bracket and airbag module, providing protection and improved assemblability by using a mechanism with different elastic characteristics in various directions and a simple, durable design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rubber ring is fitted directly over the metal plate flange to serve as a spring element, then the dynamic damper can transmit vibrations, but the rubber ring oscillates with respect to the flange by compressive action causing scraping damage to the mounting portion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide member as an intermediary component between the rubber ring and the metal plate flange. The guide member has a guide groove that guides the compressive action of the rubber ring, preventing the rubber ring from oscillating and scraping against the flange during vibration transmission. This mediator resolves the harmful oscillation while maintaining the vibration transmission function.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is designed with a flexible structure that can deform elastically to accommodate the compressive action of the rubber ring while maintaining its guiding function. The flexible guide member absorbs the oscillation forces and prevents direct contact between the rubber ring and the flange surface.
2Ease of manufacture
If the rubber ring is used as the spring element, then the dynamic damper can be constructed, but the rubber ring is unstable in form making it complex to mount on the flange, resulting in poor assemblability and low productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member serves as a mounting intermediary that simplifies the assembly process. The guide groove provides a predetermined path for the rubber ring, making it easier to position and mount correctly. This intermediary structure eliminates the complexity of direct mounting and ensures proper alignment during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member is pre-installed on the metal plate flange before the rubber ring is mounted. This preliminary action creates a prepared guide groove that automatically guides the rubber ring into the correct position during assembly, reducing mounting complexity and improving productivity.
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 effectively protects the spring element from damage, enhances durability, and simplifies assembly, increasing productivity by using a synthetic resin protector to house the elastic body and allowing for separate adjustment of elastic characteristics, resulting in a more reliable and efficient dynamic damper system.
Implementation Method 1
a spring unit installed between the airbag module and the horn bracket and adapted to transmit vibrations of the steering wheel to the airbag module, the spring unit configuring a dynamic damper, wherein the spring unit includes an elastic body adapted to transmit the vibrations
Implementation Method 2
a protector made of synthetic resin, attached to one of the horn bracket and the airbag module, and adapted to house the elastic body therein in an elastically deformable manner
Data Source
AI summary
A steering wheel structure with an airbag module having a horn bracket fixed to a steering wheel, an airbag module having an inflator and serving as a weight, a spring unit installed between the airbag module and the horn bracket and transmitting vibrations of the steering wheel to the airbag module for configuring a dynamic damper. The spring unit including an elastic body that transmits the vibrations and a protector attached to the horn bracket and housing the elastic body therein in an elastically deformable manner.