Stowable Steering Column Locking for Safe Wheel Retraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current steering column designs do not adequately address user comfort, convenience, and safety by lacking features that enhance ingress and egress while maintaining adjustability and preventing accidental steering wheel rotation during stowage.
Innovation Solution
A stowable steering column assembly featuring a spline hub and shaft mechanism that allows axial movement and prevents rotation, with a pin engaging the spline hub in the stowed state to secure the steering wheel, enabling easy vehicle entry and exit while maintaining adjustability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the steering column is made stowable to improve ingress and egress, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of accidental rotation during stowage increases
Solution Approach 1:
A pin mechanism acts as an intermediary element between the outer steering spindle and the housing. The pin engages with a groove in the outer steering spindle and a corresponding feature in the housing to prevent relative rotation during stowage, while allowing axial movement. This mediator resolves the contradiction by enabling stowage functionality without compromising rotational stability.
2Reliability
If the spline hub and shaft are engaged to prevent rotation, then reliability is improved, but axial movement is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The steering column is segmented into distinct functional zones: the spline hub and shaft portions for rotational engagement, the expanded portion for axial movement accommodation, and the pin mechanism for state-dependent locking. This segmentation allows different parts to fulfill different functions simultaneously - the spline portions prevent rotation while the expanded portion and pin arrangement enable axial movement during stowage.
3Reliability
If the outer steering spindle is constrained to prevent rotation during stowage, then safety is improved, but the complexity of the device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pin mechanism is integrated directly into the housing structure, merging the locking function with the existing housing rather than adding a separate complex locking system. The pin works in conjunction with grooves already present in the outer steering spindle design, combining multiple functions (rotational constraint, axial movement guidance, and stowage state indication) into a unified simple structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering column has a housing. A steering spindle jacket is disposed within the housing. An outer steering spindle is disposed within the steering spindle jacket and has a spline hub. An inner spindle is disposed within the outer steering spindle and includes a spline shaft configured to permit axial movement and prevent rotation of the outer steering spindle when the spline hub and the spline shaft are engaged. In a non-stowed state the spline shaft and the spline hub are engaged and in a stowed state the spline shaft and the spline hub are free of engagement. A pin is disposed in the housing engages the spline hub portion in the stowed state and prevents rotation of the outer steering spindle and is free of engagement in the non-stowed state.