Telescoping Steering Column Assembly for Compact Stow Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Steering column assemblies that require significant telescopic travel pose packaging challenges, particularly when stowed, as they occupy critical space needed for vehicle energy absorption during barrier events, and traditional designs face difficulties in compactly accommodating such length.
Innovation Solution
An axially adjustable steering column assembly with an upper and lower jacket, featuring tapered rail slots and sliding wedge bushings, coupled by actuators, allows for telescoping and translating adjustments, enabling a stowable design that minimizes footprint while maintaining functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the steering column is made significantly longer to enable full stow capability, then the telescopic travel distance is improved, but the packaging space requirement increases and conflicts with vehicle energy absorption space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a triple-jacket nested structure where an inner jacket is received within a middle jacket, which is received within an outer jacket. This nesting arrangement allows the steering column to achieve significant telescopic travel (inner jacket relative to middle, middle relative to outer) while maintaining a compact overall packaging footprint, resolving the contradiction between travel distance and space requirement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes radial expansion of the nested jacket structure to achieve axial telescopic movement. The tapered rail slots allow the jackets to expand radially during telescoping, converting radial space utilization into axial travel distance, thereby reducing the linear space requirement while maintaining full stow capability
2Device complexity
If the steering column assembly uses traditional internally stowing design, then the structural simplicity is maintained, but the packaging efficiency deteriorates due to long stow length requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The triple-jacket nested design allows multiple telescoping stages within a compact envelope. The inner jacket telescopes within the middle jacket, which telescopes within the outer jacket, achieving long stow length in a compact packaging space, thereby improving packaging efficiency while maintaining reasonable structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The steering column assembly dynamically transitions between extended and stowed configurations through the nested jacket telescoping mechanism. The tapered rail slots enable smooth, controlled movement between states, allowing the system to adapt its length as needed while maintaining a compact stowed form factor
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 provides a compact stowable steering column assembly that enhances packaging efficiency and ensures adequate space for vehicle energy absorption during collisions, while supporting both manual and autonomous driving modes.
Implementation Method 1
a first pair of sliding wedge bushings, wherein each of the first pair of sliding wedge bushings is disposed within a respective one of the pair of tapered rail slots
Data Source
AI summary
An axially adjustable steering column assembly includes an upper jacket and a lower jacket, wherein the lower jacket defines a pair of tapered rail slots, each of the tapered rail slots disposed on opposite sides of the lower jacket. The steering column assembly further includes a column mounting bracket, wherein the lower jacket is operatively coupled to the column mounting bracket and translates relative to the column mounting bracket. The steering column assembly yet further includes a first pair of sliding wedge bushings, each disposed within a respective one of the pair of tapered rail slots. The steering column assembly also includes a first bolt, extending through the first pair of sliding wedge bushings and operatively coupling the first pair of sliding wedge bushings to the lower jacket.