Driving state-dependent release of the tilt function of a steering element of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11912334-B2
Application number	US-202117533203-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2021
Priority date	Nov 27, 2020
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

A method for releasing a tilt mechanism for a steering element of a vehicle, wherein the steering element is mounted pivotably around a tilt axis between a steering position and at least one non-steering position, wherein the steering element has at least one releasable locking arrangement, which fixes the steering element in the steering position and the at least one non-steering position. The locking arrangement can adopt at least one locking state in which the release of the locking arrangement is prevented and can adopt at least one release state in which the release of the locking arrangement is enabled. A corresponding steering arrangement and a corresponding vehicle are provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for releasing a tilt mechanism for a steering element of a vehicle, the method comprising:
providing the steering element directly, pivotably mounted around a tilt axis of a holder between a steering position and a non-steering position;
fixing the steering element in one of the steering position and the non-steering position with at least one releasable locking arrangement, the at least one releasable locking arrangement including:
a locking element, the locking element having a first mechanical element including at least two pins of a plurality of pins selectively disposed within at least two recesses of a plurality of recesses defined by the steering element, wherein the at least two pins are coplanar with a profile of the steering element; and
a further locking element engaged with the locking element, the further locking element including:
a second mechanical element including a force action chain selectively interrupted; and
an electronic element in communication with the force action chain;

adopting a locking state of at least two states with the at least one releasable locking arrangement in which a release of the at least one releasable locking arrangement is prevented; and
adopting a release state of the at least two states with the at least one releasable locking arrangement in which the release of the at least one releasable locking arrangement is enabled.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein to prevent the release of the at least one releasable locking arrangement, the second mechanical element includes the force action chain for releasing the plurality of pins of the first mechanical element of the locking element of the at least one releasable locking arrangement from the steering element.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the locking state is adopted based on a release state signal received from the at least one releasable locking arrangement so that the release state is adopted based on the release state signal.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein an on-board computer of the vehicle sends the release state signal in an autonomous driving mode.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising managing the at least one locking state and the at least one release state of the at least one releasable locking arrangement with a control unit of the at least one releasable locking arrangement in that the control unit receives a release state signal sent from the electronic element of the further locking element.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the control unit receives the release state signal from a vehicle system of the vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the vehicle system is a CAN bus system or an Ethernet connection or a LIN bus system or a hardwired connection.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the locking arrangement adopts a release state when the vehicle is in the autonomous driving mode, in that the vehicle system sends a release state signal to adopt the release state when the vehicle is in the autonomous driving mode.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the locking arrangement adopts a release state when the vehicle is in a parked state.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the parked state is determined by an activated parking brake of the vehicle and/or a gear selector lever of the vehicle in the “N” Neutral position or the “P” parking position for an automatic transmission and/or idling for manual transmissions and/or a zero speed of the vehicle and/or switched off engines for propulsion of the vehicle and/or in a switched on engine mode protected against unintentional vehicle movement.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein a secured engine mode prevents a change in gear selection and/or prevents the release of the parking brake and/or prevents a throttle response of the engines.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the steering element is automatically brought into the steering position as soon as the locking arrangement adopts a locking state.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a warning signal is output when the steering element is in a non-steering position and the locking arrangement is in a locking state.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a release state signal is determined based on at least two parameters chosen from a G-force signal, an occupancy detection signal, and a location signal, wherein the locking state prevails based fewer than two parameters of the at least two parameters being met required to enable the release state of the at least one releasable locking arrangement.

15. A steering assembly for a vehicle, the steering assembly comprising:
a holder hang a it mechanism;
a steering element mounted directly, pivotably to the tilt mechanism of the holder;
the tilt mechanism positioning the steering element around a tilt axis between a steering position and at least one non-steering position; and
at least one releasable locking arrangement for fixing the steering element in one of the steering position and at least one non-steering position, wherein the locking arrangement includes:
a locking element having a plurality of pins selectively extending into the steering element, wherein the plurality of pins are substantially coplanar with a profile of the steering element; and
a further locking element engaged with the locking element, the further locking element including a force action chain selectively engaged with the plurality of pins, wherein the force action chain is interrupted by an electrical signal to prevent engagement with the plurality of pins, wherein the at least one releasable locking arrangement is configured to adopt at least one locking state in which a release of the locking arrangement is prevented and to adopt at least one release state in which the release of the locking arrangement is enabled.

16. The steering assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the at least one releasable locking arrangement fixes the steering element releasably with the locking element, and wherein the at least one releasable locking arrangement with the further locking element prevents the release of the at least one releasable locking arrangement in that the further locking element engages the locking element for the prevention.

17. The steering assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the locking state is adopted based on a release state signal received from the locking arrangement in that the release state is adopted based on the release state signal.

18. The steering assembly according to claim 15 further comprising managing the at least one locking state and the at least one release state of the at least one releasable locking arrangement with a control unit of the at least one releasable locking arrangement in that the control unit receives release state signal.

19. A vehicle comprising:
a steering assembly comprising:
a holder;
a steering element mounted pivotably to the holder;
a tilt mechanism disposed within the holder, the tilt mechanism positioning the steering element around a tilt axis between a steering position and at least one non-steering position; and
at least one releasable locking arrangement for fixing the steering element in the steering position and at least one non-steering position, wherein the at least one releasable locking arrangement is configured to adopt at least one locking state in which a release of the at least one releasable locking arrangement is prevented and to adopt at least one release

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Kuepper Philipp
• Fassbender Martin
• Alves Bruno
• Degle Klemens
• Loehmann Lukas

Classifications

• B62D1/187 Primary

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

• B60W50/14

  Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention · CPC title

• B60W60/001

  Planning or execution of driving tasks · CPC title

• B60W2510/06

  Combustion engines, Gas turbines · CPC title

• B60W2510/1005

  Transmission ratio engaged · CPC title