Robert Bosch Automotive Steering Vendome

Nacam

Robert Boschgmbh

Zf Systemes De Direction Nacam S.a.s.

Lemforder Nacam Sa

Robert Bosch Automotive Steering Vendome S.a.s.

Eddy Dupont

Laurent Fevre

Jean-Michel Fouquet

Benoit Duval

Mickael Sauquet

Alexandre Sarandao

Charles Daviau

Jean-Rene Blais

Franck Boussemart

A steering column sleeve includes two elements made up of an outer tube and an inner tube, and a system for adjusting a resistive force against a relative translational movement between the elements. A friction pad is supported by a first of the elements, and a clamping surface is rigidly connected to a second of the elements, wherein the friction pad is configured to contact and bear on the clamping surface, and an adjustment mechanism. The adjusting mechanism includes a cam bearing on a support member to generate a variation in pressure of the friction pad on the clamping surface parallel to a reference axis that is fixed relative to the first element, between a use position and an adjustment position. The adjustment mechanism of the adjustment system is configured to generate a relative rotational movement between the cam and the support member about the reference axis.

System for adjusting a resistive force against a relative translational movement between two telescopic elements

A sleeve of a steering column includes (i) an outer tube and an inner tube that are movable relative to each other, and (ii) an adjustment system. The adjustment system includes a screw for adjusting the axial position along an adjustment axis constrained to move in translation with a first of the two elements by at least two guide bearings for rotationally guiding the adjusting screw about the adjustment axis. At least one of the bearings supporting the adjusting screw is a guide bearing with axial force take-up for blocking the translational movement of the adjusting screw.

Steering column sleeve comprising a system for adjusting a relative position between two tubes

A steering column sleeve includes (i) a translationally movable outer tube and inner tube, and (ii) an adjusting system for adjusting the relative position of the tubes. The adjusting system includes a screw for adjusting the axial position of the two elements. The adjusting system further includes an adjusting device for adjusting a resistance force opposing the relative movement between the tubes. The adjusting device has a friction pad and a clamping surface against which the friction pad moves between operating and adjustment positions. The adjusting system also includes a kinematic chain so that, beyond a threshold resistance torque transmitted by the screw to a single motor that it drives, its torque is transmitted to the adjusting device so as to move the friction pad from its operating position to its adjustment position.

An absorber of steering column shock energy includes a plastically deformable part forming a loop, a breakaway link closing this loop on itself, and a first attachment interface and a second attachment interface separate from the breakaway link and arranged on either side of the loop. The part and the fusible link are arranged so that the exertion of forces in opposite directions on the first attachment interface and on the second attachment interface respectively, causes a stress leading to a deformation of the loop, breaking of the breakaway link and further deformation of the loop after this break.

Steering column impact energy absorber, with loop closed by a breakaway link

A device for adjusting a steering column includes a body and a cap assembled by a pivot and a connection element enabling the displacement of the body with respect to the cap under the action of a motor-reduction unit mounted on the body. The device is characterized in that the connection element includes at least one arm of which a first end is attached to the cap and a second end is connected to a threaded rod with vertical displacement cooperating in rotation with the drive shaft of a motor-reduction unit so that the arm forms a hinge enabling the reversible angular displacement of the body with respect to the cap.

Device for adjusting a steering column

An articulation device for the steering column of an automobile vehicle includes a member joined to the steering wheel of the vehicle, a member joined to the structure of the vehicle, and a single member joining and disposed between the two above mentioned members. The single member is a spherical articulation member enabling axial displacement between the two above mentioned members and providing a seal between them.

Articulation device for the steering column of an automobile vehicle

An energy-absorbing device for an automobile steering column having a body-tube housing the steering shaft. A support made as two parallel vertical members mountably fixed on a vehicle body mount the steering column axially between them. The body-tube has reinforcement members on two opposite sides. An attaching device compresses the reinforcement members in the support with a tightening non-rotatable bolt extending axially through the body-tube reinforcement members and the support members. A nut on one end of the bolt is tightened by an operator for establishing a determined level of a frictional force between the support and body tube. The reinforcement members have release passage openings for the tightening member in the form of an edge notch open in the direction of the driver's wheel to allow the body-tube to translate axially free in response to an impact force parallel to the body-tube longitudinal axis in a direction away from the driver's wheel at a force level greater than the determined frictional force between the body-tube and support, as when an unrestrained driver impacts the steering wheel in a collison. A deformable element to which the body-tube tube is articulated absorbs the impact force energy as the body-tube translates in response to the impact force. An elongated passage opening in the support for the tightening element provides for adjusting inclination of steering columns if needed.

Energy-absorbing device for automobile vehicle steering columns

An energy-absorbing device disposed between two elements which are movable apart from each other in response to an externally applied force. The device has a wire coil winding having a plurality of turns at one end and a rectilinear length portion at another end extending away from a turn of the coil winding. One of the two elements has a support axis about which the coil winding turns are would axially thereof. A second of the two elements has an end of the rectilinear length portion of the wire secured thereto. The turns of the coil winding are deformable and unwind about the axis to absorb energy of a force applied in a direction parallel to the rectilinear relatively separating apart the two elements. The energy device is uable on automobile vehicle steering columns for absorbing impact forces.

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Vendome, France

Eddy Dupont