Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Erik William Soderlind

Taras Palczynski

Steven Bryan Amburgy

Steve Bryan Amburgy

Stuart C Salter

Brendan F Diamond

James Robert Chascsa, Ii

Mark Edward Zyskowski

Robin Ivo Lawther

Lucretia Williams

Eric Schaus

Alan Joseph Porter

Humberto Mata

Christopher Hawkins

David Michael Pedlow

Roberto Ramirez

Eric Elberling

Todd Putnam

Systems, apparatus, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed for retaining a steering shaft are disclosed herein. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a seal, a steering shaft extending through the seal, and means for retaining the steering shaft in a retained position relative to the seal, the means for retaining configured to be release the steering shaft to an assembled position.

Methods and apparatus for retaining a steering shaft

A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system may include a compressive loading assembly, a feedback actuator and a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator. The column may operably couple a handwheel to the handwheel actuator. The column may include a column shaft extending from a first end of the column to a second end of the column. The feedback actuator may be operably coupled to the second end of the column. The feedback actuator may provide tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel. The feedback actuator may include a torsion bar substantially coaxial with the column shaft. The compressive loading assembly may be disposed at the second end of the column to operably couple the column shaft and the torsion bar under a compressive load when the column is joined to the feedback actuator.

Handwheel actuator modular interface

A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system may include a feedback actuator and a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator. The column includes a column shaft extending from a first end of the column to a second end of the column. The feedback actuator is operably coupled to the second end of the column and provides tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel. The feedback actuator includes a torsion bar coaxial with the column shaft. The column shaft is supported relative to a housing of the column by a first column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the first end of the column and a second column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the second end of the column. The torsion bar extends into the column shaft past the second column shaft bearing and is operably coupled to the column shaft via a removable fastener disposed at a portion of the torsion bar that extends past the second column shaft bearing.

A vehicle includes a cabin interior, a steering wheel assembly comprising a steering column, a steering wheel and an actuator configured to move the steering handle amongst a plurality of positions, and at least one sensor for sensing a user proximate to the vehicle and generating sensed data based on the sensed user. The vehicle also includes a controller determining one or more characteristics of the user from the sensed data and controlling the actuator to actuate the steering wheel to one of the plurality of positions based on the determined one or more characteristics of the user.

Vehicle having steering wheel deployable as an assist handle

A column for a handwheel actuator of a steer by wire system may include a column casting, a steering jacket operably coupled to the column casting such that the steering jacket moves telescopically within the column casting for extending the handwheel and retracting the handwheel, and a tunable stroke limiter operably coupled to the steering jacket to limit stroke length of the steering jacket responsive to a barrier event.

Translating steering column with reduced packaging space

A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system of a vehicle may include a column for operably coupling a handwheel to other components of the steer by wire system and a feedback actuator operably coupled to the column to provide tactile feedback to the operator responsive to movement of the handwheel. The column may include a lower column portion and an upper column portion that are movable relative to each other to alternately retract the handwheel away from an operator seated in the vehicle or extend the handwheel toward the operator. The column may further include a frictional engagement assembly and a time-specific release initiator. The frictional engagement assembly may be engaged to fix the lower column portion relative to the upper column portion at a selected distance from the operator, and disengaged to enable movement of the upper column portion relative to the lower column portion. The time-specific release initiator may be actuated by an electrical trigger signal to cause the lower column portion and the upper column portion to be disengaged a selected time after a triggering event.

Steering column retraction initiator

A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system may include a feedback actuator and a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator. The column includes a column shaft extending from a first end of the column to a second end of the column. The feedback actuator is operably coupled to the second end of the column and provides tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel. The feedback actuator includes a torsion bar coaxial with the column shaft. The column shaft is supported relative to a housing of the column by a first column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the first end of the column and a second column shaft bearing disposed proximate to the second end of the column. The torsion bar is operably coupled to a sleeve element that is operably coupled to the column shaft proximate to the second column shaft bearing to facilitate torque transfer between the column shaft and the torsion bar.

A steering column assembly includes a first shaft and a second shaft telescopically engaged with the first shaft. The steering column assembly includes a bore extending through the first shaft to the second shaft. A plug is disposed in and occludes the bore. The plug is resiliently expandable relative to the first shaft.

Steering column assembly

A column-mounted shifter for a transmission includes a housing adapted to mount on a steering column and a shaft supported for rotation within the housing. A lever is operably coupled to the shaft and extends radially therefrom. The lever is pivotal between a series of positions corresponding to a series of modes of the transmission. Rotation of the lever causes rotation of the shaft within the housing. A sensor is configured to sense rotation of the shaft and output a signal indicative of the position of the lever. An actuator arrangement is connectable with the shaft and is configured to rotate the lever from one of the positions to another of the positions.

Column-mounted electronic transmission shifter

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a standoff to be coupled to a telescoping steering column, the standoff configured to be mounted adjacent an end stop opening in the steering column and to prevent a flexible cover mounted above the steering column from entering the end stop opening.

Steering column flexible cover standoff

A stowing steering column is provided for use with an autonomous vehicle that is capable of traveling at a slower rate of speed and a higher rate of speed, depending on the situation. The slower speed, that of about 20 mm/sec, is the 'standard' speed that is utilized during regular stowage and unstowage of the steering wheel under ordinary conditions. The higher rate of speed is necessary in a situation where a possible impact event is sensed and the steering wheel must be extended back to the original design intent position in case the airbags need to be deployed or the vehicle operator needs to over-ride the system for an evasive maneuver. The slower rate of speed is preferably about 20 mm/sec while the higher rate of speed is preferably about 40 mm/sec.

Method and system for stowing steering column in an autonomous vehicle

An image display system comprises a camera presence detector for detecting presence of a rear-view camera mounted on a towed unit connected to a towing vehicle, an image display format controller coupled to the camera presence detector, and a rear-view mirror assembly including an image display apparatus. The image display format controller enables a first display mode when the camera presence detector detects the towed unit rear-view camera and enables a second display mode when the camera presence detector fails to detect presence of the towed unit rear-view camera. An image output device of the image display apparatus underlies a central portion of an image display apparatus viewing substrate at a rear surface thereof. An image outputted is viewable through the central portion when the first display mode is implemented. The central portion can provide reflected rear-view imaging utility when the second display mode is implemented.

Growing community of inventors

Harrison Township, MI, United States of America

Erik William Soderlind