Steering Wheel Pseudo Spoke Retaining Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering wheel designs face challenges in retaining the shape of pseudo spoke parts and sharing cores between different designs, particularly when the number or position of pseudo spoke parts varies.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a separate retaining member for the pseudo spoke part that is independent of the core ring part, with through-holes and fitting parts for secure mounting, and covering with a softer resin material to enhance retention and allow for core sharing across different designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the protruding piece is integrally formed with the core ring part, then the pseudo spoke part shape is retained, but the core cannot be shared between different steering wheel designs
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining function is segmented from the core ring part by introducing a separate retaining member. This member has a retaining protrusion that engages with a retaining groove on the core ring part, separating the shape retention function from the core structure itself, thereby enabling core sharing across different designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining member acts as an intermediary between the core ring part and the pseudo spoke part. It mediates the connection by providing a dedicated retaining protrusion that engages with the retaining groove, ensuring shape retention without requiring integral formation with the core ring part.
2Reliability
If the protruding piece is integrally formed with the core ring part, then the pseudo spoke part shape is retained, but the core structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining function is segmented into a separate retaining member with a retaining protrusion, rather than being integrally formed into the core ring part. This segmentation simplifies the core structure while maintaining shape retention capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining protrusion function is extracted from the core ring part and implemented as a separate retaining member. This extraction reduces the complexity of the core structure while preserving the essential shape retention function.
3Reliability
If screws are used to connect the surface covers to the projecting piece, then the covers are reliably fixed, but the assembly process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The screw connection mechanism is replaced with a snap-fit mechanism. The outer circumferential ends of the surface covers are elastically deformed to snap onto the retaining protrusion of the retaining member, eliminating the need for screws and simplifying the assembly process while maintaining reliable fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection method changes from rigid mechanical fastening (screws) to elastic deformation-based snap-fit connection. This parameter change in the connection mechanism simplifies assembly while ensuring reliable fixation through elastic recovery.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering wheel includes: a boss part; a ring part that is located at an outer circumferential side of the boss part; a plurality of spoke parts that connect the boss part and the ring part; and a core including: a core boss part; a core ring part that is located at an outer circumferential side of the core boss part; and core spoke parts that connect the core boss part and the core ring part, wherein: the plurality of spoke parts include true spoke parts having the core spoke parts, and a pseudo spoke part that does not have the core spoke parts; and the pseudo spoke part is mounted on the core ring part, and includes a separate retaining member that retains a shape of the pseudo spoke part.