Steering column assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11034376-B2
Application number	US-201916578465-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2019
Priority date	Nov 29, 2018
Publication date	Jun 15, 2021
Grant date	Jun 15, 2021

Abstract

A steering column assembly includes a first elongate guide portion, a second portion movably mounted with respect to the first elongate guide portion and a means for attaching a steering wheel to one of the first and second portions. The first elongate guide portion further includes at least two elongate, parallel guide edges and the second portion further includes at least two rollers spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the elongate guide portion and shaped complementarily to, and engaged with, a first of the elongate guide edges and at least two further rollers, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the elongate guide portion and shaped complementarily to, and engaged with, a second of the elongate edges.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a first elongate guide portion,
a second portion movably mounted with respect to the first elongate guide portion, and
means for attaching a steering wheel to one of the first and second portions,
wherein the first elongate guide portion further includes at least two elongate, parallel guide edges and the second portion further includes at least two rollers spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the first elongate guide portion and shaped complementarily to, and engaged with, a first of the elongate guide edges and at least two further rollers, spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the first elongate guide portion and shaped complementarily to, and engaged with, a second of the elongate edges.

2. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising two elongate parallel guide edges arranged on either side of the axis of travel of the second portion.

3. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the two elongate parallel guide edges are located at substantially the same lateral distance from the axis of travel of the second portion.

4. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one of the rollers engaged with the first guide edge and at least one of the rollers engaged with the second guide edge are located at the same longitudinal position with respect to the axis of travel of the second portion.

5. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising means for loading each roller into contact with its respective guide edge.

6. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises a plurality of internally threaded holes and the rollers are mounted on respective spindles, each of which is screw-threadedly received in a respective one of the internally threaded holes.

7. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the lateral position of the rotational axis of a roller on the spindle is adjustable with respect to its associated guide edge.

8. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 7 , wherein at least one of the spindles comprises an outer cylindrical surface which is eccentric with respect to the axis of its associated roller, the spindle being rotatably mounted and the steering column further comprising means for retaining the spindle in a desired rotational position.

9. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising means for displacing the second portion with respect to the first elongate guide portion.

10. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the means for displacing the second portion with respect to the first elongate guide portion comprises an elongate rotatable threaded member mounted on one of the first and second portions, a nut member mounted on the other member of the first and second portions, threadedly engaged with the elongate threaded member and being non-rotatable with respect to the portion on which it is mounted, and means for rotating the elongate threaded member.

11. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the means for rotating the elongate threaded member comprises a motor for rotating the elongate threaded member.

12. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the elongate rotatable threaded member is mounted on the first, elongate guide portion.

13. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a column member having means for mounting a steering wheel at one end and pivotally mounted on one of the first and second portions, and further comprising means for adjusting the orientation or inclination of the column member.

14. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising an elongate non-rotatable threaded member extending between the column member and the portion on which the column member is mounted, a nut member rotatably mounted on the steering column, threadedly engaged with the elongate non-rotatable threaded member, and means for rotating the nut member.

15. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the means for rotating the nut member comprises a motor for rotating the nut member.

16. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising means for allowing the steering wheel to move relative to the vehicle when impacted by the driver in a crash, the means for allowing the steering wheel to move relative to the vehicle comprising a slideable mechanical connection between an elongate member having means for mounting a steering wheel and a member to which a nut member is robustly fixed, the said slideable mechanical connection being designed to constrain the relative movement of the connected parts to being substantially parallel to the axis of the steering column.

17. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 16 , wherein movement at the said slideable mechanical connection is prevented in normal operation prior to a crash by a fusible means which breaks when a defined force is applied at the steering wheel substantially in the forward direction of the vehicle.

18. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 17 , wherein relative movement at the said slideable connection causes the progressive deformation of one or more folded metal strips which are each connected at a first end to an elongate member having means for mounting a steering wheel and at a second end to a member to which the said nut member is fixed each said folded metal strip absorbing mechanical energy as it deforms.

19. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 18 , wherein one or more of the folded metal strips can be mechanically disconnected at one of its ends by a fast-acting means when an appropriate electrical signal is supplied to the said fast-acting means such that the disconnect folded metal strips are not deformed when the steering wheel moves substantially forwards relative to the vehicle in a crash.

20. A steering column assembly as claimed in claim 19 , wherein the said fast-acting means is a pyrotechnic device having a pin or latch which moves when the device is actuated.

Assignees

• Trw Ltd
• Zf Automotive Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Appleyard Michael

Classifications

• B62D1/195

  Yieldable supports for the steering column · CPC title

• B62D1/181 Primary

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

• B62D1/185 Primary

  adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically (B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62D1/187

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

• B62D1/163

  Part of the steering column replaced by flexible means, e.g. cable or belt · CPC title