Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation

Nexteer (beijing) Technology Co., Ltd.

Michael W Clark

Melvin Lee Tinnin

Michael Patrick Anspaugh

Donald A Buzzard

Robert D Maida

Scott A Stinebring

Joshua S McDonald

A locking mechanism for a telescoping steering column includes an energy absorption strap having a plurality of teeth disposed therealong. Also included is a clamp bolt rotatably driven by an adjustment lever. Further included is an actuator body coupled to the clamp bolt and rotated therewith. Yet further included is a first lock cam coupled to the actuator body and engageable with the teeth of the energy absorption strap to lock the telescoping steering column in a first direction. Also included is a second lock cam coupled to the actuator body and engageable with the teeth of the energy absorption strap to lock the telescoping steering column in a second direction different than the first direction.

Dual direction locking mechanism for telescoping steering column

A steering column bearing assembly is disposed between an upper column jacket and a steering control shaft, supporting the steering control shaft for rotation within the upper column jacket. The steering column bearing assembly comprises an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of ball bearings disposed between the inner race and the outer race, each ball bearing having a ball bearing diameter. The inner race and the outer race define an annular cavity in which the plurality of ball bearings is disposed. The annular cavity has an interior column opening defined between an outer edge surface of the inner race and an inner edge surface of the outer race. The outer edge diameter is less than a sum of the inner edge diameter and the ball bearing diameter.

Steering column assembly with improved bearing assembly

An adjustable steering column for a vehicle is provided. The adjustable steering column includes a mounting bracket configured to be secured to an adjacent portion of the vehicle, the mounting bracket including at least one arm having a rake slot. A column jacket is pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket, the column jacket extending along a first axis and pivotable relative to the mounting bracket for adjustment in a rake direction and movable along the first axis for adjustment in a telescope direction. The adjustable steering column also includes a shift assembly having a shift mechanism secured to the column jacket and a shift cable bracket extending from the shift mechanism. The shift cable bracket is supported firstly by the shift mechanism and supported secondly adjacent to the mounting bracket at a distal anchor point.

Restrained shift cable bracket in an adjustable steering column

An adjustable steering column for a vehicle is provided. The adjustable steering column includes a mounting bracket including at least one arm having a rake slot through which a rake bolt extends. The steering column also includes a column jacket pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket, the column jacket extending along a first axis and pivotable relative to the mounting bracket for adjustment in a rake direction and movable along the first axis for adjustment in a telescope direction, and a shift assembly. The shift assembly includes a shift mechanism secured to the column jacket and a shift cable bracket extending from the shift mechanism, the shift cable bracket having a slot formed therein, a telescope adjustment portion along a first length of the slot, an energy absorbing (E/A) release portion along a second length of the slot, and a raised collar formed in the telescope adjustment portion.

Restrained shift cable bracket with an E/A release in an adjustable steering column

A steering column assembly includes a column jacket and a rake bracket for mounting the column jacket to a vehicle. A bearing rotatably supports an output shaft within an interior of the column jacket and is in sliding engagement with the column jacket during telescopic adjustment of the column jacket along a longitudinal axis. The column jacket defines a telescope slot near a lower end of the column jacket. A fastener is coupled to the rake bracket and extends through the telescope slot into engagement with the bearing to define tilt axis for pivotal movement of the column jacket relative to the rake bracket.

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Essexville, MI, United States of America

Michael W Clark