Steering column for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9540032-B2
Application number	US-201314649012-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 23, 2013
Priority date	Dec 6, 2012
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

A steering column for a motor vehicle has an adjustment unit ( 4 ) which bears a section of the steering shaft ( 1 ) and which, in the open state of a locking apparatus ( 7 ), is pivotable relative to a bracket unit ( 5 ) about a pivot axis ( 12 ) for adjustment of the steering column in an adjustment direction ( 11 ) for a height or tilt adjustment. The pivot axis ( 12 ) is formed by a spindle bolt ( 24 ) which can be mounted so as to be fixed with respect to the vehicle and which extends through a first and a second elongated hole ( 22, 23 ) of the adjustment unit ( 4 ). In the event of a vehicle crash, the adjustment unit ( 4 ) is displaceable relative to the spindle bolt ( 24 ) with displacement of the spindle bolt ( 24 ) in the elongated holes ( 22, 23 ), wherein, in a region situated between the first and the second elongated hole ( 22, 23 ) in relation to the direction of the pivot axis ( 12 ), there is arranged an energy absorption part ( 27 ) with which the spindle bolt ( 24 ), during the displacement thereof in the elongated holes ( 22, 23 ), interacts with plastic deformation of the energy absorption part ( 27 ) owing to exertion of pressure on the energy absorption part ( 27 ) and displacement of material of the energy absorption part ( 27 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A steering column for a motor vehicle comprising a rotatably mounted steering shaft and an adjustment unit which bears a section of the steering shaft adjoining a steering wheel-side end of the steering shaft and which, in an open state of a locking apparatus, is pivotable relative to a bracket unit about a pivot axis for adjustment of the steering column in an adjustment direction for a height or tilt adjustment and the pivoting of which relative to the bracket unit about the pivot axis is locked in a closed state of the locking apparatus, wherein the pivot axis is formed by a spindle bolt which can be mounted so as to be fixed with respect to the vehicle and which extends through a first and a second elongated hole of the adjustment unit, wherein prior to any vehicle crash the adjustment unit remains mounted fixedly with respect to the spindle bolt, and wherein, in the event of a vehicle crash, the adjustment unit is displaceable relative to the spindle bolt with displacement of the spindle bolt in the elongated holes, wherein in a region situated between the first and the second elongated holes in relation to the direction of the pivot axis, there is arranged an energy absorption part with which the spindle bolt, during the displacement thereof in the elongated holes, interacts with plastic deformation of the energy absorption part owing to exertion of pressure on the energy absorption part and displacement of material of the energy absorption part, whereby energy is absorbed as a result of the plastic deformation of the energy absorption part.

2. The steering column as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the energy absorption part has a ramp which has the effect that, with progressive displacement of the spindle bolt in the elongated holes, the spindle bolt penetrates to an ever increasing depth into the energy absorption part.

3. The steering column as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the ramp of the energy absorption part extends over at least half of a longitudinal extent of the elongated holes.

4. The steering column as claimed in one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein when a force acts on the steering wheel-side end of the steering shaft in a direction of the longitudinal axis of the section of the steering shaft adjoining the steering wheel-side end, up to a threshold value of said force, the spindle bolt remains in an initial position relative to the elongated holes, and in that, in the event of the threshold value of said force being exceeded, the adjustment unit is displaced relative to the spindle bolt, wherein the spindle bolt is displaced relative to the elongated holes.

5. The steering column as claimed in claim 4 , wherein up to the threshold value of the force, the spindle bolt is held in the initial position at least inter alia by the energy absorption part.

6. The steering column as claimed in one of claims 1 , 2 , 3 , or 5 , wherein the first and second elongated holes are arranged in first and second guide legs of the adjustment unit which project from a base section of the adjustment unit.

7. The steering column as claimed in one of claims 1 , 2 , 3 , or 5 , wherein the outer diameter of the spindle bolt in its sections in which it extends through the first and second elongated holes is smaller than the width of the first and second elongated holes.

8. The steering column as claimed in one of claims 1 , 2 , 3 , or 5 , wherein the energy absorption part is a component which is fastened to the adjustment unit and which, when it interacts with the spindle bolt, is squeezed between the spindle bolt and the adjustment unit.

9. The steering column as claimed in one of claims 1 , 2 , 3 , or 5 , wherein the energy absorption part is formed from sheet metal and has a bulged region, a surface of which interacts with the spindle bolt.

10. The steering column as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the energy absorption part, as viewed in a cross section running parallel to the pivot axis, has first and second lateral support webs and a top web which connects the lateral support webs and which, on its top side, has the surface which interacts with the spindle bolt.

11. The steering column as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the energy absorption part has laterally projecting rest webs by which it rests on the base of the depression.

12. The steering column as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the energy absorption part has, for retention in the depression, laterally projecting retention lugs which interact with side walls of the depression.

13. The steering column as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the retention lugs dig into the side walls.

14. A method for forming a steering column as claimed in claim 12 , wherein firstly, the energy absorption part is formed with retention lugs which are arranged on opposite sides of the energy absorption part and which are oriented in a V shape with respect to one another, and in that, after the insertion of the energy absorption part into the depression in the adjustment unit, the retention lugs are bent by way of a pressing tool in the direction of a base of the depression, wherein the retention lugs dig into side walls of the depression.

15. A steering column for a motor vehicle comprising:
a rotatably mounted steering shaft;
an adjustment unit that bears a section of the steering shaft adjoining a steering wheel-side end of the steering shaft, wherein in an open state of a locking apparatus a length of the steering column is adjustable and the adjustment unit is pivotable relative to a bracket unit about a pivot axis for adjustment of the steering column in an adjustment direction for a height or a tilt adjustment, wherein in a closed state of the locking apparatus the length of the steering column is not adjustable and the adjustment unit is prevented from pivoting relative to the bracket unit about the pivot axis;
a spindle bolt disposed along the pivot axis, wherein the spindle bolt is securable to the motor vehicle and extends through a first and a second elongated hole of the adjustment unit, wherein prior to any vehicle crash the adjustment unit remains mounted fixedly with respect to the spindle bolt, wherein in the event of a vehicle crash the adjustment unit is displaceable relative to the spindle bolt with displacement of the spindle bolt in the elongated holes; and
an energy absorption part disposed in the adjustment unit in a region situated between the first and the second elongated holes in relation to the direction of the pivot axis, wherein the energy absorption part plastically deforms when the spindle bolt is displaced in the elongated holes and applies pressure against the energy absorption part.

Assignees

• Thyssenkrupp Presta Ag

Inventors

• Gstöhl Eric
• Hausknecht Sven
• Loos Stefan-Hermann
• Senn Mathias

Classifications

• B62D1/19

  incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible (shock absorbers using plastic deformation of members in general F16F7/12) · CPC title

• B62D1/195 Primary

  Yieldable supports for the steering column · CPC title

• B23P15/00

  Making specific metal objects by operations not covered by a single other subclass or a group in this subclass · CPC title

• Y10T29/49956

  Riveting · CPC title

• B62D1/189 Primary

  the entire column being tiltable as a unit · CPC title