Steering column assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9862404-B2
Application number	US-201514849263-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2015
Priority date	Sep 9, 2015
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

A steering column assembly includes a plunger assembly received within an opening defined by a mounting bracket. The plunger assembly includes a sleeve, a plunger, and a biasing member. The sleeve disposed within the opening. The plunger slidably disposed within the sleeve. The biasing member that engages the plunger to bias the plunger towards a deployed position.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:

1. A steering column assembly comprising:
a plunger assembly received within an opening defined by a mounting bracket, the plunger assembly comprises:
a sleeve disposed within the opening, the sleeve having an exterior surface, an inner bore, a first end portion includes a first rim extending inwardly towards a sleeve axis, and a second end portion spaced apart from the first end portion,
a plunger slidably disposed within the inner bore, the plunger having a first portion and a second portion disposed opposite the first portion, the first portion is disposed proximate a slot defined by a jacket assembly connected to the mounting bracket, and
a biasing member disposed within the inner bore that engages the second portion and the second end portion to bias the plunger towards a deployed position.

2. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein in response to the jacket assembly moving from a first position towards a second position, the plunger moves from a retracted position to the deployed position and the first portion is received within the slot.

3. The steering column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first end portion is disposed proximate the first portion and the second end portion is disposed proximate the second portion, the second end portion includes a second rim.

4. The steering column assembly of claim 3 , wherein the plunger includes a lip extending about the second portion.

5. The steering column assembly of claim 4 , wherein the lip engages the first rim to inhibit further movement of the plunger further within the slot.

6. The steering column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the plunger includes a first end surface and a second end surface disposed at an angle with respect to the first end surface such that the second end surface becomes progressively closer to the inner bore in a direction extending away from the jacket assembly towards the mounting bracket.

7. The steering column assembly of claim 6 wherein the second end surface engages a sidewall of the slot while the plunger is in a retracted position.

8. A steering column assembly comprising:
a jacket assembly extending along a first axis, the jacket assembly having an exterior surface and defining a slot that extends along a second axis and including a generally arcuate shape;
a mounting bracket having an interior surface disposed proximate the exterior surface, the mounting bracket defining an opening that extends along a third axis, the slot proximately aligned with the opening; and
a plunger assembly received within the opening, the plunger assembly comprises:
a sleeve disposed within the opening, the sleeve having an inner bore, a first end portion, and a second end portion,
a plunger slidably disposed within the inner bore, the plunger having a first portion disposed proximate the exterior surface and a second portion disposed opposite the first portion, and
a biasing member disposed within the inner bore that engages the second portion.

9. The steering column assembly of claim 8 , wherein the third axis is disposed substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the second axis is disposed substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

10. The steering column assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second axis is disposed substantially parallel but not coaxial with the third axis.

11. The steering column assembly of claim 8 , wherein the slot at least partially overlaps the opening while the jacket assembly is in a first position such that the first portion of the plunger engages the interior surface of the mounting bracket.

12. The steering column assembly of claim 11 , wherein the slot and the opening are proximately aligned such that the second axis is disposed substantially parallel and coaxial with the third axis while the jacket assembly moves from the first position towards a second position such that first portion of the plunger is received within the slot to inhibit further movement of the jacket assembly.

13. The steering column assembly of claim 8 , wherein the biasing member engages the jacket assembly such that the biasing member biases the plunger towards a deployed position.

14. The steering column assembly of claim 8 , wherein the plunger assembly further includes a sleeve disposed within the opening, wherein the plunger is at least partially received within the sleeve.

15. A steering column assembly, comprising:
a jacket assembly defining a slot and is pivotable about a pivot axis;
a mounting bracket defining an opening; and
a plunger assembly that is arranged to passively secure the jacket assembly relative to the mounting bracket, the plunger assembly is received within the opening and comprising:
a sleeve disposed within the opening, the sleeve having an exterior surface, an inner bore, a first end portion includes a first rim extending inwardly towards a sleeve axis, and a second end portion spaced apart from the first end portion,
a plunger slidably disposed within the inner bore, the plunger having a first portion and a second portion disposed opposite the first portion, the first portion is disposed proximate a slot defined by a jacket assembly connected to the mounting bracket, and
a biasing member disposed within the inner bore that engages the second portion, responsive to a collapse event, the slot and the opening become proximately aligned such that the first portion is received within the slot to inhibit relative motion between jacket assembly and the mounting bracket.

16. The steering column assembly of claim 15 , wherein the slot extends along a second axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the opening extends along a third axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

17. The steering column assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second axis is disposed substantially parallel but not coaxial with the third axis.

18. The steering column assembly of claim 17 , wherein the slot at least partially overlaps the opening while the jacket assembly is in a first position such that the first portion of the plunger engages the exterior surface of the jacket assembly.

19. The steering column assembly of claim 18 , wherein the slot and the opening are proximately aligned such that the second axis is disposed substantially parallel and substantially coaxial with the third axis while the jacket assembly moves from the first position towards a second position.

20. The steering column assembly of claim 15 , wherein a preload fastener couples the plunger assembly to the mounting bracket and applies a preload to the biasing member.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Russell James C
• Anspaugh Michael P
• Tinnin Melvin L
• Buzzard Donald A
• Szeliga Malgorzata R

Classifications

• B62D1/184 Primary

  Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions · CPC title

• B62D1/197

  incorporating devices for preventing ingress of the steering column into the passengers space in case of accident · CPC title