Steering Yoke Clearance Adjustment via Sloping Wedge Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional steering devices suffer from weak assembling ability and require additional processes to adjust yoke clearance, leading to rattle noise due to clearance between the support yoke and yoke plug, which is exacerbated by long-term use and irregular road surfaces.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a support yoke having sloping surfaces and a spacer with sloping members, an elastic member, and an eject pin, which converts horizontal force into vertical force to automatically adjust yoke clearance and compensate for wear, eliminating the need for manual tolerance management and reducing noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a conventional screw coupling method is used to assemble the support yoke and yoke plug, then the assembly process is simple, but the assembling ability is weak and additional adjustment processes are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly process simplicityVSAvoidassembling ability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The support yoke is designed with a movable structure that can dynamically adjust the yoke clearance. The support yoke includes a movable body that can move along the rack bar, allowing the system to adapt to wear and maintain proper clearance automatically, transforming a static assembly into a dynamic self-adjusting system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The apparatus enables automatic adjustment of yoke clearance through the interaction between the support yoke and yoke plug. The spring applies constant pressure to maintain contact, and the movable structure automatically compensates for wear without requiring manual intervention, making the system self-regulating.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If manual adjustment of yoke clearance is performed, then initial clearance can be set, but additional adjustment processes are required and wear compensation is not automatic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveyoke clearance precisionVSAvoidadjustment process time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The spring is pre-installed to apply constant pressure on the support yoke, preliminarily setting the force condition for maintaining yoke clearance. This preliminary action ensures that the support yoke is always pushed against the rack bar with sufficient force, eliminating the need for repeated manual adjustments during the product lifecycle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The movable support yoke structure automatically compensates for wear by adjusting its position along the rack bar. As wear occurs, the support yoke moves to maintain proper clearance, performing the adjustment function automatically without requiring external intervention or additional processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Strength

If the support yoke is made of plastic to prevent rack bar wear, then rack bar protection is improved, but friction and noise occur during sliding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverack bar protectionVSAvoidfriction and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spring applies constant pressure to the support yoke, changing the force parameter to ensure firm contact between the support yoke and rack bar. This constant pressure maintains optimal friction levels for wear protection while preventing excessive sliding that would generate noise, dynamically adjusting the contact conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Device complexity

If the yoke clearance is not adjusted, then the assembly remains simple, but rattle noise occurs due to clearance between support yoke and yoke plug

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly structure simplicityVSAvoidrattle noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The spring acts as an intermediary element between the support yoke and yoke plug, applying constant pressure to eliminate clearance. This intermediary force ensures that the support yoke and yoke plug remain in firm contact, preventing rattle noise while maintaining a relatively simple assembly structure that incorporates the spring as a noise-damping element.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Automatically adjusts yoke clearance and prevents rattle noise by converting horizontal force into vertical force, ensuring constant support of the rack bar and simplifying the assembly process, while allowing for automatic compensation of wear without manual intervention.

Implementation Method 1

each of the sloping members having an insertion groove formed on an outer cylindrical surface thereof and a second sloping surface to be in contact with the first sloping surface... horizontal force generated by the elastic member is converted into vertical force by the first and the second sloping surfaces

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce conversion through sloping surfaces: Wedge