Chrysler Corporation

David A White

Rodney L Eaton

William M Snell

Thomas S Kaliszewski

Claude L Benckenstein

Apparatus for releasably locking the tilt steering column assembly of an automotive vehicle in adjusted position. A rack on the steering column assembly is engaged by a pawl to lock the steering column assembly in the position selected by the driver. A bracket is provided to hold the pawl engaged with the rack and prevent it from becoming disengaged. The tilt of the steering column can be re-adjusted by moving the bracket so that the pawl can disengage the rack. A latch is provided for latching the bracket in its position holding the pawl engaged with the rack.

Tilt steering column locking mechanism

A steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle has a bearing which supports the steering shaft and a spring wedge unit for supporting the bearing. The spring wedge unit is in the form of an integral one-piece ring of flexible resilient material, preferably urethane, and encircles the shaft. The ring has an annular wedge and an integral annular spring flange. The wedge has a cylindrical radially inner surface in bearing contact with the shaft, and a conical radially outer surface providing a radially inner support for the bearing. The spring flange is tapered and abuts a tapered portion of the shaft under pressure which resiliently flexes the spring flange and resists axial movement of the ring to dampen vibration and suppress noise.

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Goodrich, MI, United States of America

David A White