Tilt Steering Unequal Thickness Bracket Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tilt steering systems require a large difference in operation force to adjust the steering wheel's height, leading to discomfort and inefficiency, especially when the displacement bracket is positioned on the upper side of the steering column, and existing solutions increase production costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The tilt steering system employs unequal-thickness supporting plate portions, with thinner sections near the mounting plate portion and thicker sections away from it, to maintain consistent operation force across different steering wheel positions, reducing the need for excessive force and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the displacement bracket is positioned on the upper side of the steering column, then the steering system can achieve compact design, but the operation force required to adjust the steering wheel height becomes excessively large
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting plate portions are designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, being thinner at the proximal end (near mounting plate) and thicker at the distal end (away from mounting plate). This local variation in thickness creates a mechanical advantage that reduces the operation force required while maintaining the compact upper-side positioning of the displacement bracket.
2Force
If the supporting plate portions are made thicker to reduce operation force, then the force required to operate the adjustment lever decreases, but the weight and complexity of the supporting bracket increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly thickening the supporting plate portions, the invention applies thickness variation only where structurally necessary - thinner at the proximal end and thicker at the distal end. This localized quality change achieves force reduction without proportionally increasing overall weight and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting plate portions exhibit asymmetric thickness distribution along their length, with the thickness changing from proximal to distal ends. This asymmetric design creates a lever-like mechanical advantage that reduces operation force without requiring symmetric reinforcement throughout the structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the supporting plate portions are made with uniform thickness, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the operation force varies significantly with steering wheel position
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting plate portions incorporate local thickness variation - thinner at the proximal end and thicker at the distal end - which creates a mechanical advantage that compensates for the varying leverage arm length as the steering wheel moves vertically. This maintains relatively consistent operation force across different steering wheel positions while remaining manufacturable through standard forming processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The thickness parameter of the supporting plate portions is changed along their length to optimize performance. By varying the thickness from proximal to distal ends, the design achieves consistent operation force characteristics across different steering wheel positions without requiring complex multi-component construction.
Data Source
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AI summary
A construction is realized in which a large difference in operation force to operate an adjustment lever 24a never occurs irrespective of a vertical position of a steering wheel and which is produced at low costs. In part of a supporting plate portion 15a of a pair of left and right supporting plate portions 15a which make up a supporting bracket 14a, a thickness of a peripheral portion 34 which surrounds a vertically elongated hole 17a is made small at an upper portion and large at a lower portion. Additionally, a change in operation force of the adjustment lever 24a based on the difference in thickness and a change in the operation force based on a difference in rigidity of the supporting plate portion 15a are offset by each other to thereby solve the problem.