Steering column for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021237791-A1
Application number	US-201917284823-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 23, 2019
Priority date	Oct 24, 2018
Publication date	Aug 5, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

A steering column that is adjustable by a motor may include a supporting unit that is attachable to a vehicle body, an actuating unit held by the supporting unit, a steering spindle mounted in the actuating unit rotatably about a longitudinal axis, an adjusting drive for adjusting the actuating unit relative to the supporting unit via a threaded spindle and spindle nut, and a drive unit by which the threaded spindle can be driven rotationally relative to the spindle nut. To improve compactness and greater structural freedom, the drive unit may be connected via a flexible drive connection to a gear unit that can be moved spatially relative to the drive unit.

First claim

1 .- 10 . (canceled)

11 . A steering column for a motor vehicle, which steering column is adjustable via a motor, wherein the steering column comprises:
a supporting unit that is attachable to a body of the motor vehicle; an actuating unit held by the supporting unit; a steering spindle mounted in the actuating unit such that the steering spindle is rotatable about a longitudinal axis; an adjusting drive that is connected to the supporting unit and to the actuating unit, wherein the adjusting drive is configured to adjust the actuating unit relative to the supporting unit, wherein the adjusting drive includes a threaded spindle that engages in a spindle nut; and a drive unit configured to drive the threaded spindle rotationally relative to the spindle nut, wherein the drive unit is connected via a flexible drive connection to a gear unit that is movable spatially relative to the drive unit.

12 . The steering column of claim 11 wherein the flexible drive connection includes a flexible shaft.

13 . The steering column of claim 11 wherein the gear unit comprises a gearwheel that is connected fixedly to and rotates with the spindle nut or the threaded spindle, wherein the gearwheel is rotatably drivable by the drive connection.

14 . The steering column of claim 11 wherein the drive unit comprises a drive motor to which the drive connection is connected on an output side.

15 . The steering column of claim 11 wherein the actuating unit includes a casing unit in which a casing tube is mounted, with the steering spindle being mounted within the casing tube, wherein the casing tube is adjustable telescopically in a direction of the longitudinal axis.

16 . The steering column of claim 11 comprising an energy absorption device disposed between the gear unit and the supporting unit.

17 . The steering column of claim 16 wherein the energy absorption device includes a first energy absorption element that is plastically deformable upon movement of the gear unit in a direction of an axis of the threaded spindle relative to the supporting unit.

18 . The steering column of claim 17 wherein the gear unit includes a deformation member by which a second energy absorption element is plastically deformable upon movement of the gear unit relative to the supporting unit.

19 . The steering column of claim 17 wherein the energy absorption device includes a switching device for coupling or decoupling the second energy absorption element between the gear unit and the supporting unit.

20 . The steering column of claim 11 comprising a rupture element disposed between the gear unit and the supporting unit.

Assignees

• Thyssenkrupp Presta Ag
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Geiselberger Thomas
• Heigenhauser Benedikt

Classifications

• F16C2326/24

  Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns · CPC title

• F16C3/03

  telescopic (axially displaceable couplings F16D3/06) · CPC title

• B62D1/195 Primary

  Yieldable supports for the steering column · CPC title

• B62D1/185

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

• B62D1/181 Primary

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