Steering column decoupling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10160473-B2
Application number	US-201615264130-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2016
Priority date	Sep 13, 2016
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

A steering column decoupling system includes a steering shaft. Also included is an intermediate shaft. Further included is a driving disk operatively coupled to the steering shaft and rotatable therewith. Yet further included is a driven disk operatively coupled to the intermediate shaft and rotatable therewith, the driven disk disposed adjacent the driving disk. Also included is a slot defined by the driven disk. Further included is a coupling element coupled to the driving disk and disposed within the slot, the driven disk moveable relative to the coupling element between a column coupled position and a column decoupled position.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:

1. A steering column decoupling system comprising:
a steering shaft;
an intermediate shaft;
a driving disk operatively coupled to the steering shaft and rotatable therewith;
a driven disk operatively coupled to the intermediate shaft and rotatable therewith, the driven disk disposed adjacent the driving disk;
a slot defined by the driven disk; and
a coupling element coupled to the driving disk and disposed within the slot, the driven disk moveable relative to the coupling element between a column coupled position and a column decoupled position, the slot extending from a first position radially outward to a second position, the first position disposing the coupling element in coaxial alignment with a central axis of the driven disk.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the driving disk is rotationally locked in the column decoupled position, and the driving disk rotating in the column coupled position due to torque applied by a slot wall on the coupling element.

3. A steering column decoupling system comprising:
a steering shaft;
an intermediate shaft;
a driving disk operatively coupled to the steering shaft and rotatable therewith;
a driven disk operatively coupled to the intermediate shaft and rotatable therewith, the driven disk disposed adjacent the driving disk;
a slot defined by the driven disk; and
a coupling element coupled to the driving disk and disposed within the slot, the driven disk moveable relative to the coupling element between a column coupled position and a column decoupled position, the coupling element comprising a ball.

4. A steering column decoupling system comprising:
a steering shaft;
an intermediate shaft;
a driving disk operatively coupled to the steering shaft and rotatable therewith;
a driven disk operatively coupled to the intermediate shaft and rotatable therewith, the driven disk disposed adjacent the driving disk;
a slot defined by the driven disk; and
a coupling element coupled to the driving disk and disposed within the slot, the driven disk moveable relative to the coupling element between a column coupled position and a column decoupled position, the coupling element comprising a pin.

5. A steering column decoupling system comprising:
a steering shaft;
an intermediate shaft;
a driving disk operatively coupled to the steering shaft and rotatable therewith;
a driven disk operatively coupled to the intermediate shaft and rotatable therewith, the driven disk disposed adjacent the driving disk;
a slot defined by the driven disk;
a coupling element coupled to the driving disk and disposed within the slot, the driven disk moveable relative to the coupling element between a column coupled position and a column decoupled position; and
an actuation mechanism engageable with the driven disk, the actuation mechanism comprising a worm actuator driven by a motor.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the actuation mechanism further comprises a pivotable engagement crank driven by the worm actuator.

7. A steering column decoupling system comprising:
a steering shaft;
an intermediate shaft;
a driving disk operatively coupled to the steering shaft and rotatable therewith;
a driven disk operatively coupled to the intermediate shaft and rotatable therewith, the driven disk disposed adjacent the driving disk;
a slot defined by the driven disk; and
a coupling element coupled to the driving disk and disposed within the slot, the driven disk moveable relative to the coupling element between a column coupled position and a column decoupled position, the steering column decoupling system being part of an advanced driving assist steering (ADAS) system that autonomously or semi-autonomously drives a vehicle.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the driven disk is in the column coupled position in a non-ADAS driving mode, and the driven disk is in the column decoupled position in an ADAS driving mode.

9. A steering column decoupling system comprising:
a steering shaft;
an intermediate shaft;
a driving disk operatively coupled to the steering shaft and rotatable therewith;
a driven disk operatively coupled to the intermediate shaft and rotatable therewith;
a receiving element of the driven disk;
a coupling element coupled to the driving disk and disposed within the receiving element of the driven disk, the driving disk and the driven disk moveable relative to each other; and
an actuation mechanism engageable with the driven disk to move the driven disk between a column coupled position and a column decoupled position, the actuation mechanism comprising:
a motor;
a worm actuator driven by the motor; and
a pivotable engagement crank driven by the worm actuator.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the receiving element comprises a slot defined by the driven disk and the coupling element is disposed within the slot.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the slot extends from a first position radially outward to a second position, the first position disposing the coupling element in coaxial alignment with a central axis of the driven disk.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the driving disk is rotationally locked in the column decoupled position, and the driving disk rotating in the column coupled position due to torque applied by a slot wall on the coupling element.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the coupling element comprises a ball.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the coupling element comprises a pin.

15. An advanced driving assist steering (ADAS) system comprising:
a steering shaft;
an intermediate shaft;
a driving disk operatively coupled to the steering shaft and rotatable therewith;
a driven disk operatively coupled to the intermediate shaft and rotatable therewith, the driven disk disposed adjacent the driving disk;
a slot defined by the driven disk;
a coupling element coupled to the driving disk and disposed within the slot, the driven disk moveable relative to the coupling element between a column coupled position and a column decoupled position, the driven disk is in the column coupled position in a non-ADAS driving mode, and the driven disk is in the column decoupled position in an ADAS driving mode; and
an actuation mechanism engageable with the driven disk to move the driven disk between the column coupled position and the column decoupled position.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the slot extends from a first position radially outward to a second position, the first position disposing the coupling element in coaxial alignment with a central axis of the driven disk.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the driving disk is rotationally locked in the column decoupled position, and the driving disk rotating in the column coupled position due to torque applied by a slot wall on the coupling element.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the steering wheel is in a 12 o'clock position in the column decoupled position.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Bodtker Joen C

Classifications

• B62D5/001

  Mechanical components or aspects of steer-by-wire systems, not otherwise provided for in this maingroup · CPC title

• B62D5/0454

  Worm gears · CPC title

• B62D1/183 Primary

  adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access · CPC title