Steering column for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11511787-B2
Application number	US-202017311762-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2020
Priority date	Jan 8, 2019
Publication date	Nov 29, 2022
Grant date	Nov 29, 2022

Abstract

A steering column may include a casing pipe disposed longitudinally movably in a casing unit, a steering spindle rotatably supported about a longitudinal axis in the casing pipe, and a clamping device configurable in a fixing position for securing the casing unit relative to the casing pipe. The clamping device may have an engagement element supported on the casing pipe, having an upper side parallel to the longitudinal axis, and having lateral edge sides. The clamping device may have a locking element supported in the longitudinal direction on the casing unit and that can be moved to adjust the fixing position in a normal direction of the upper side against the engagement element. Positive-locking elements on the locking and engagement elements are engageable to produce a positive-locking connection in the longitudinal direction, at least some of which are disposed on an edge side of the engagement element.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A steering column for a motor vehicle, the steering column comprising:
an outer casing unit that is connectable directly or indirectly to a body of the motor vehicle;
a casing pipe that is retained in the outer casing unit so as to be displaceable in a longitudinal direction;
a steering spindle rotatably supported in the casing pipe about a longitudinal axis thereof located in the longitudinal direction;
a clamping device that is movable into a fixing position where the clamping device secures the outer casing unit relative to the casing pipe, the clamping device being movable into a release position where the clamping device permits displacement of the casing pipe relative to the outer casing unit at least in the longitudinal direction, wherein the clamping device includes:
an engagement element that is supported on the casing pipe, extends in the longitudinal direction, has an upper side that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, and has lateral edge sides,
a locking element that is supported in the longitudinal direction on the outer casing unit and is movable by the clamping device to adjust the fixing position in a normal direction of the upper side against the engagement element, and
complementary positive-locking elements disposed on the locking element and the engagement element that are engageable with one another to produce a positive-locking connection effective in the longitudinal direction, wherein the complementary positive-locking elements include lateral positive-locking elements that are disposed on a first of the lateral edge sides of the engagement element,
wherein the locking element includes a side arm that engages around the first edge side of the engagement element in the fixing position, wherein the side arm has positive-locking elements that correspond to the lateral positive-locking elements on the first edge side of the engagement element; and

an energy absorption device disposed between the casing pipe and the engagement element.

2. The steering column of claim 1 wherein the side arm is a first side arm, wherein the locking element includes two mutually opposing side arms, including the first side arm and a second side arm, between which the engagement element is receivable.

3. The steering column of claim 1 wherein the lateral positive-locking elements are inclined obliquely relative to the normal direction.

4. The steering column of claim 1 wherein the complementary positive-locking elements are at least partially convex.

5. The steering column of claim 1 wherein the complementary positive-locking elements are at least partially concave.

6. The steering column of claim 1 wherein at least some of the complementary positive-locking elements are disposed on the upper side of the engagement element.

7. The steering column of claim 6 wherein the at least some of the complementary positive-locking elements disposed on the upper side of the engagement element extend from the upper side to at least one of the lateral edge sides of the engagement element.

8. The steering column of claim 1 wherein the engagement element includes a deformation element that is operationally connected to the energy absorption device.

9. The steering column of claim 8 wherein the energy absorption device includes a deformation strip that is elongate in the longitudinal direction and that is secured to the casing pipe, wherein the deformation strip is movable in the longitudinal direction with plastic deformation along the deformation element.

10. The steering column of claim 1 wherein the engagement element includes guiding means.

11. The steering column of claim 1 wherein the complementary positive-locking elements are configured as a tooth arrangement with teeth that extend transversely relative to the longitudinal direction.

12. A steering column comprising:
an outer casing unit;
a casing pipe that is retained in the outer casing unit so as to be displaceable in a longitudinal direction;
a steering spindle rotatably supported in the casing pipe about a longitudinal axis thereof located in the longitudinal direction;
a clamping device that is movable into a fixing position where the clamping device secures the outer casing unit relative to the casing pipe, the clamping device being movable into a release position where the clamping device permits displacement of the casing pipe relative to the outer casing unit at least in the longitudinal direction, wherein the clamping device includes:
an engagement element that is supported on the casing pipe, extends in the longitudinal direction, has an upper side that is parallel to the longitudinal axis, and has lateral edge sides,
a locking element that is supported in the longitudinal direction on the outer casing unit and is movable by the clamping device to adjust the fixing position in a normal direction of the upper side against the engagement element, and
complementary positive-locking elements disposed on the locking element and the engagement element that are engageable with one another to produce a positive-locking connection effective in the longitudinal direction, wherein the complementary positive-locking elements of the engagement element only extend along a portion of the engagement element, wherein the complementary positive-locking elements include lateral positive-locking elements that are disposed on a first of the lateral edge sides of the engagement element; and

an energy absorption device disposed between the casing pipe and the engagement element.

13. The steering column of claim 12 wherein the complementary positive-locking elements of the engagement element are flush with and do not protrude from the upper side of the engagement element.

14. The steering column of claim 12 wherein a central portion of the upper side that extends in a longitudinal direction is free of the complementary positive-locking elements, with the central portion being halfway between the lateral edge sides of the engagement element.

15. The steering column of claim 12 wherein the complementary positive-locking elements of the engagement element are disposed only at edges of the engagement element where the upper side meets the lateral edge sides.

16. The steering column of claim 12 wherein a lower side of the engagement element contains a groove that extends longitudinally, with the lower side being opposite the upper side, wherein an energy absorption element of the energy absorption device is received in and engages the groove of the engagement element.

17. The steering column of claim 12 wherein inner edges of the locking element extend longitudinally, wherein the complementary positive-locking elements of the locking element are disposed along at least one of the inner edges of the locking element.

18. The steering column of claim 12 wherein a groove of the engagement element is configured to deform an energy absorption element of the energy absorption device in a crash event.

19. A steering column comprising:
an outer casing unit;
a casing pipe that is retained in the outer casing unit so as to be displaceable in a longitudinal direction;
a steering spindle rotatably supported in the casing pipe about a longitudinal axis thereof located in the longitudinal direction;
a clamping device that is movable into a fixing position where the clamping device secures the outer casing unit relative to the casing pipe, the clamping device being movable into a release position where the clamping device permits displacement of the casing pipe relative to

Assignees

• Thyssenkrupp Presta Ag
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Boujenfa Sabrina
• Domig Markus
• Heigenhauser Benedikt

Classifications

• B62D1/184 Primary

  Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions · CPC title

• B62D1/195

  Yieldable supports for the steering column · CPC title

• B62D1/192

  Yieldable or collapsible columns · CPC title