Adjustable steering column assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10773746-B2
Application number	US-201816146359-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2018
Priority date	Sep 28, 2018
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

An adjustable steering column assembly includes a lower jacket, a rake bracket, a rake guide, and a fastener coupling each. The lower jacket has an attachment portion with an end, and a passage extends from that end at least partially through the attachment portion. The attachment portion end has upper and lower seating faces extending into the passage. The rake bracket has a base portion and an arm with an aperture. The rake guide has upper and lower ends and a hole. The upper and lower ends respective have configurations complementary to configurations of the upper and lower seating faces, and the rake guide is positioned in the end of the lower jacket attachment portion such that the rake guide upper end mates with the upper seating face and such that the rake guide lower end mates with the lower seating face.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An adjustable steering column assembly, comprising:
a lower jacket having an attachment portion with an end, a passage extending from the attachment portion end at least partially through the attachment portion, the attachment portion end having upper and lower seating faces extending into the passage;
a rake bracket having a base portion with an arm extending therefrom, the arm having an aperture;
a rake guide having upper and lower ends and a hole, the upper end having a configuration complementary to a configuration of the upper seating face, the lower end having a configuration complementary to a configuration of the lower seating face, the rake guide being positioned in the end of the lower jacket attachment portion such that the rake guide upper end mates with the upper seating face, such that the rake guide lower end mates with the lower seating face, and such that the lower jacket attachment portion prevents rotation of the rake guide, wherein the rake guide upper end has a central curved area between rounded edge areas, wherein the rake guide lower end has a central curved area between rounded edge areas, wherein the central curved area of the rake guide lower end includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of the following:
a low friction coating;
a lubricant pocket containing lubricant; and
a first guide rail; and

a fastener coupling the lower jacket, the rake bracket, and the rake guide, wherein the fastener passes through the aperture of the rake bracket, the hole of the rake guide, and past the rake guide in the passage.

2. The adjustable steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one item selected from the group consisting of the following includes a low friction coating:
the upper seating face of the attachment portion end;
the lower seating face of the attachment portion end; and
the upper end of the rake guide.

3. The adjustable steering column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the low friction coating of at least one of the upper seating face, the lower seating face, and the upper end includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of: sliding lacquer, molybdenum disulphide, a plasmapolymeric coating, and graphite.

4. The adjustable steering column assembly of claim 2 , wherein at least one item selected from the group consisting of the following includes a lubricant pocket containing a lubricant:
the upper seating face of the attachment portion end;
the lower seating face of the attachment portion end; and
the upper end of the rake guide.

5. The adjustable steering column assembly of claim 4 , wherein:
the attachment portion lower end has a second guide rail protruding from the lower seating face; and
the rake guide includes the first guide rail protruding from the lower end, the first guide rail of the rake guide having a configuration complementary to a configuration of the second guide rail of the attachment portion lower end, interaction between the first guide rail of the rake guide and the second guide rail of the attachment portion lower end aiding in positioning the rake guide relative to the attachment portion lower end.

6. The adjustable steering column assembly of claim 5 , wherein:
the attachment portion end has an external perimeter formed by a continuous line in a single plane; and
the upper and lower seating faces extend inwardly from the external perimeter into the passage.

7. The adjustable steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one item selected from the group consisting of the following includes a lubricant pocket containing a lubricant:
the upper seating face of the attachment portion end;
the lower seating face of the attachment portion end; and
the upper end of the rake guide.

8. The adjustable steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the attachment portion lower end has a second guide rail protruding from the lower seating face; and
the rake guide includes the first guide rail protruding from the lower end, the first guide rail of the rake guide having a configuration complementary to a configuration of the second guide rail of the attachment portion lower end, interaction between the first guide rail of the rake guide and the second guide rail of the attachment portion lower end aiding in positioning the rake guide relative to the attachment portion lower end.

9. The adjustable steering column assembly of claim 8 , wherein the central curved area of the rake guide lower end includes the first guide rail, which protrudes from the central curved area of the rake guide lower end.

10. The adjustable steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the attachment portion end has an external perimeter formed by a continuous line in a single plane; and
the upper and lower seating faces extend inwardly from the external perimeter into the passage.

11. The adjustable steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein multiple pieces collectively form the rake guide.

12. The adjustable steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rake guide is a unitary member.

13. The adjustable steering column assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second fastener coaxial with the fastener, the second fastener further coupling the lower jacket to the rake bracket.

14. The adjustable steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rake guide upper end includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of the following:
a low friction coating;
a lubricant pocket containing lubricant; and
a guide rail.

15. An adjustable steering column assembly, comprising:
a lower jacket having an attachment portion with an end, a passage extending from the attachment portion end at least partially through the attachment portion, the attachment portion end having upper and lower seating faces extending into the passage, wherein the attachment portion end has an external perimeter formed by a continuous line in a single plane, wherein the upper and lower seating faces extend inwardly from the external perimeter into the passage;
a rake bracket having a base portion with an arm extending therefrom, the arm having an aperture;
a rake guide having upper and lower ends and a hole, the upper end having a configuration complementary to a configuration of the upper seating face, the lower end having a configuration complementary to a configuration of the lower seating face, the rake guide being positioned in the end of the lower jacket attachment portion such that the rake guide upper end mates with the upper seating face, such that the rake guide lower end mates with the lower seating face, and such that the lower jacket attachment portion prevents rotation of the rake guide, wherein the rake guide upper end has a central curved area between rounded edge areas, wherein the rake guide lower end has a central curved area between rounded edge areas; and
a fastener coupling the lower jacket, the rake bracket, and the rake guide, wherein the fastener passes through the aperture of the rake bracket, the hole of the rake guide, and past the rake guide in the passage.

16. An adjustable steering column assembly, comprising:
a lower jacket having an attachment portion with an end, a passage extending from the attachment portion end at least partially through the attachment portion, the attachment portion end having upper and lower seating faces extending into the passage, wherein the attachment portion has a guide rail protruding from the lower seating face;
a rake bracket having a base portion with an arm extending therefrom, the arm having an aperture;
a rake gu

Assignees

• Thyssenkrupp Presta Ag
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Kirmsze Helmut
• Fricke Sascha
• Raich Thomas

Classifications

• B62D1/184 Primary

  Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions · CPC title

• B62D1/187 Primary

  with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment (B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D1/195

  Yieldable supports for the steering column · CPC title

• B62D1/183

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

• B62D1/181 Primary

  with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory · CPC title