Automatically Retracting Vehicle Steering Wheel with Orthogonal Folding
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing collapsible steering wheels require significant manual effort to retract and extend, and when collapsed, they do not adequately accommodate airbags, which is a safety concern due to regulatory requirements and space constraints, especially for drivers with immovable seats or when parking.
Innovation Solution
A system with a controller and actuator that automatically adjusts the steering wheel by folding its halves orthogonal to the steering column's longitudinal axis, allowing it to retract towards the dashboard, ensuring space for an airbag and reducing operator effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a steering wheel is made collapsible to reduce space occupation, then the space for driver access and parking utilization is improved, but the structural complexity and difficulty of ensuring sufficient airbag accommodation space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The steering wheel is divided into two separate halves that can independently fold relative to each other. This segmentation allows the steering wheel to collapse into a compact configuration while maintaining the structural integrity needed for airbag deployment, resolving the contradiction between space reduction and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The steering wheel transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one with movable joints that enable folding and collapsing. This dynamic design allows the steering wheel to adapt its shape and size based on operational requirements, providing space reduction when collapsed while maintaining airbag accommodation capability.
2Area of stationary object
If a manual collapsible steering wheel is implemented to provide space when retracted, then the space utilization is improved, but the operator effort required for retraction and extension increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The manual mechanical system for collapsing and extending the steering wheel is replaced with an automated actuator system. This substitution eliminates the need for significant operator effort while achieving the same space utilization benefits, resolving the contradiction between space utilization and ease of operation.
3Area of stationary object
If a collapsible steering wheel is designed to maximize space reduction, then the space for parking and driver access is improved, but the space available to accommodate an airbag when collapsed is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The airbag is designed to be nested within the collapsed configuration of the steering wheel halves. When the steering wheel collapses, the halves fold around the airbag module, maintaining a compact overall shape while ensuring the airbag has sufficient space for proper deployment and accommodation, thus resolving the contradiction between space reduction and airbag accommodation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for automatically adjusting a steering wheel of a vehicle may include a controller configured to generate a control signal for retracting a steering wheel to a collapsed position. The steering wheel may include a first half and a second half, and the system may include an actuator configured to collapse the steering wheel in response to the control signal. The actuator may be configured to fold the first and second halves of the steering wheel in a direction orthogonal to a direction of a longitudinal axis defined by a steering column, and retract the steering wheel along the direction of the longitudinal axis, towards a dashboard.