Trw Limited

Zf Automotive UK Limited

Trw Automotive Gmbh

Zf Automotive Germany Gmbh

Trw Lucasvarity Electric Steering Limited

Trw Steering Systems Poland S.p. Z.o.o.

Trw Das A.s.

Niclas Davies

Mark Anthony Wilkes

Michael Appleyard

Stephen David Butler

Markus Lingemann

Richard Büker

Carl Thompson

Milos Krivan

Tomasz Karp

Slawomir Kwasny

Jan Dite

David Ward

Harry George Kingston-Jones

Patrick Anthony Duffy

Patrick Ericke

Sathish Babu Muthukalyani

Jan Havlicek

Richard Bueker

Dominique Cullier

Govindarajan Bangaru

James O'Connell

Prasanna Chaturacharimath

Colin Handy

Piotr Wegrzyn

James O'CONNELL

Harry Kingston-Jones

A steering column assembly for a vehicle includes a base configured for attachment to a vehicle; an elongate steering column, a movable steering column support, a first guide means, a displaceable carriage, a second guide means as well as first and second displacement means. The steering column may be movably mounted on the base. The first guide means may constrain the steering column support into displacement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the steering column. The displaceable carriage may be located between the movable steering column support and base. The second guide means may constrain the carriage into displacement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the steering column. The first displacement means may displace the steering column support with respect to the carriage. The second displacement means may simultaneously displace the carriage with respect to the base.

Steering column assembly for a vehicle

A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle, having a vehicle-fixed mounting dement and a sleeve element which is received within the mounting element and is mounted for displacement in the axial direction in the mounting element for adjustment of the steering column assembly, includes an energy absorption device having two absorption elements, a locking element for locking a steering wheel, and a coupling device. The locking element has an open position, in which the steering wheel is adjustable and a coupling element is movable in the axial direction, and a closed position, in which an absorption dement is firmly coupled to the mounting element. The coupling device has a coupled position and an uncoupled position, both absorption elements being firmly connected to each other in the coupled position. During normal operation of the motor vehicle, the locking element is in the closed position and the coupling device is in the coupled position.

Steering column assembly

A steering column assembly is disclosed comprising a telescopic shroud having an outer shroud portion and an inner shroud portion with an end that extends into the outer shroud portion. A plate is fixed to the inner shroud portion and includes a slot that extends axially along the inner shroud portion. A block is releasably interlockable with the plate to prevent telescopic motion of the inner shroud portion relative to the outer shroud portion. The steering column assembly includes a clamp assembly operable between a clamped condition in which the outer shroud portion clamps around the inner shroud portion and an unclamped condition in which the outer shroud portion is unclamped from the inner shroud portion. Four bearing surfaces are arranged in two facing pairs, one bearing surface of each facing pair being associated with the inner shroud portion and the other bearing surface of each facing pair being associated with the outer shroud portion, at least one adjustable bearing element including a respective one of said bearing surfaces. The adjustable bearing element is adjustable relative to one of the inner shroud portion or outer shroud portion for setting the amount rotational free play between the inner shroud portion and outer shroud portion when the assembly is in an unclamped condition.

A steering column assembly comprises a shroud having an upper shroud part and a lower shroud part movable telescopically relative to one another, and a steering shaft. The upper shroud part carries an energy absorbing device which in normal use moves together with the upper shroud part. A blocking device is fixed to the lower shroud part or to a part of the vehicle that is fixed relative to the lower shroud part; and a connecting rod is connected at a first end to the blocking device and at a second end to a spring which is in turn connected to the lower shroud part or to the fixed part of the vehicle. An initiator module engages with a part of the connecting rod or spring when the blocking mechanism is in the unlocked position thereby to isolate the blocking device from the force of the spring.

A reach adjustable steering column assembly comprises a telescopic steering shaft which in use supports a steering wheel of the vehicle; a shroud that supports the steering shaft comprising an upper shroud part and a lower shroud part, the upper shroud part moving telescopically relative to the lower part during reach adjustment of the steering column assembly, a support bracket that supports the shroud relative to the vehicle body, and a clamp mechanism that is operable between an unclamped position in which the steering column assembly is adjustable for reach and a clamped position in which the reach position of the steering column assembly is fixed. The clamp mechanism comprises a first locking part that is displaceable by an actuator assembly into and out of positive engagement with a second locking part. An energy absorbing mechanism acts between the upper shroud part and the second locking part and is configured so that during a crash a deformable part of the energy absorbing mechanism is plastically deformed by a deforming part, thereby controlling the movement of the upper shroud part, and in that one of the deformable element and the deforming portion of the energy absorbing mechanism is secured to the upper shroud part, and the other is fixed relative to the second locking part.

Reach adjustable steering column assembly

A steering column for a vehicle includes a telescopic mechanism, a first electrically powered linear actuator, and a means for absorbing the impact energy transmitted between a driver and the steering wheel in a crash. The telescopic mechanism includes substantially coaxial first and second tubular members. The first electrically powered linear actuator controls the longitudinal position of the first tubular member relative to the second tubular member. The means for absorbing the impact energy includes: (1) two or more folded metal straps; (2) at least one strap is fixed at one of its ends to a member which is fusibly connected to the first tubular member and to which is also connected a moving part of the said electrically powered linear actuator; (3) an adjacent edge of each of at least the first and second straps comprising an array of teeth or ramps; and (4) a pyrotechnically actuated means.

Retractable steer-by-wire steering column

A steering column assembly is provided that is reach-adjustable. An inner shroud portion and outer shroud portion, which move telescopically relative to one another, each have an elongate slot, the slots at least partially overlapping at all times over the range of adjustment. An end stop extends through, and is movable within, both slots such that it strikes one end of each stop when the steering column assembly is fully retracted and the other end of each slot when the steering column assembly is fully extended.

A steering column assembly is provided that includes an inner shroud portion and an outer shroud portion, the inner shroud portion extending into the outer shroud portion and including a rail. The rail includes a slot with two opposing sides, each of which has teeth. A toothed block is provided that engages with the teeth of the slot, when a clamping mechanism is actuated. The toothed block is supported by a carrier that allows the toothed block to be free to move from side-to-side when engaged with the slot, and the teeth of the slot and the toothed block are shaped such that the toothed block may engage the teeth of the slot at any position when the clamping mechanism is actuated. The teeth of a first side of the slot prevent the block from moving in a collapse direction of the assembly and the teeth of the second side of the slot permit movement in a collapse direction but apply a thrust towards the teeth of the first side. The carrier includes a biasing spring that urges the toothed block towards the first side of the slot.

A steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud having an outer shroud portion and an inner shroud portion, a clamp rail fixed to an upper face of the inner shroud portion including a slot, a clamp bolt that extends perpendicular to the shroud, a rocker comprising a body from which extends a lever arm, the body having an opening through which the clamp bolt passes, the rocker converting a rotation of the clamp bolt about its axis in a first direction into an upward motion of the lever arm and into a downward motion when the clamp bolt is rotated in the opposing second direction, a toothed block having two opposed racks of locking teeth that is connected to a carrier element, the carrier element in turn being connected to the lever of the rocker arm such that movement of the lever arm up and down causes movement of the carrier element up and down between an upper position and a lower position. When the carrier element is in one of the upper position and the lower position, the toothed block is located within the slot such that one of the rows of teeth of the block engages a row of teeth of the slot, and whereby, with the carrier element in the other of the upper position and the lower position, the teeth of toothed block are held clear of the slot, and in which the connection between the clamp bolt and the carrier defines a lost motion mechanism that prevents some of the rotational movement of the clamp bolt from being converted into movement of the toothed block.

A steering column assembly comprises a first support bracket, a second support bracket, a shroud, and an energy absorbing device. The energy absorbing device comprises a laminated strap having discrete first and second layers, each formed from a separate elongate strip of material that is free to slide over the other strip along a major portion of its length, a portion of the laminated strap being coiled into a spiral, a free end portion of the laminated strap passing through passing through an opening in the second support bracket or the shroud, the free end of a first one of the strips having an opening through which a fastener passes that secures the laminated strap to the first support bracket, and the free end of a second one of the straps being connected to the first strip in a region distal from the free end of the first strip.

An adjustable steering column assembly which includes an adjustable shroud that supports a steering column shaft, a support bracket that is fixed in position in the vehicle, and a clamp mechanism that selectively secures the shroud to the support bracket, the clamp mechanism comprising a fixed rack that is secured to the shroud or the bracket, and a moving rack that is movable towards and away from the fixed rack during operation of the clamp mechanism, in which the fixed rack comprises a support portion and at least one row of teeth which are carried by the support portion arranged spaced apart from one another, and the moving rack comprises a support portion and at least one row of teeth which are carried by the support portion. One or both of the support portion and teeth of the fixed rack are resiliently flexible so that in the event of moving from the first to the second position where a tooth-on-tooth situation arises the teeth of the moving block displace the teeth of the fixed block in the direction of movement of the moving rack so that the teeth of the moving rack can occupy the region that would otherwise be occupied by the teeth of the fixed rack teeth.

Adjustable steering columns

A clamp assembly for securing a steering column shroud, comprising: a clamp pin which passes through an opening in the shroud and having a stopper towards one end, a toothed block carried by the clamp pin having a set of rake teeth, the teeth of the block being urged into engagement with a rack of teeth fixed to a support bracket by the stopper when the clamp assembly is in the clamped condition, thereby securing the relative positions of the fixed and moving portions of the steering assembly; and a biasing means that provides a biasing force that acts in an unclamped condition to bias the stopper of the clamp pin away from the moving part to permit the rack of teeth on the block to move clear of the rack of the support bracket, in which a substantial part of the biasing force provided by the biasing means acts upon the clamp pin without passing through the toothed block.

Clamp assembly for a steering column assembly

An adjustable steering column assembly comprises a steering column shroud, a support bracket, and a clamp mechanism. The support bracket comprises two arms having a portion of the column shroud located therebetween. The clamp mechanism comprises a pin that passes through slots in the arms and carries a fixed cam portion and moving cam portion, relative rotation of the fixed cam portion and moving cam portion causing the clamp mechanism to move between a locked position and an unlocked position. The fixed cam portion has an anti-rotation feature that sits at least partially within one of the slots in one of the arms and which co-operates with the side walls of the slot to substantially prevent unwanted rotation of the fixed portion of the cam mechanism. The anti-rotation feature carries at least one contact portion that in use contacts the side walls of the slot as the steering column is adjusted and the contact portion and side walls are configured such that in use the anti-rotation feature does not cause any significant permanent deformation of the side walls due to preferential deformation of the contact portion.

An adjustable steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud which comprises an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion where the overall length can be adjusted by relative movement of the two portions, a support bracket secured to a fixed part of a vehicle and a releasable clamp assembly which is movable between an unclamped position in which the shroud can be adjusted telescopically and a clamped position in which the outer tubular portion clamps onto the inner tubular portion thereby preventing telescopic movement of the shroud during normal use of the assembly. The outer tubular portion includes an elongated slot and two clamp rails, each located on a respective side of the slot and including an elongated opening through which a clamp bolt of the clamp assembly passes. At least one of the rails varies in cross-section at the various positions at which the rails may be clamped such that, in use, the rails resiliently deform when the assembly is in the clamped position by an amount dependent on the relative telescopic position of the inner and outer tubular portions.

Telescopic shroud for a steering column assembly

A steering column assembly comprises a shroud having a first part that is fixed in position axially relative to the vehicle and a second part that can in use can move relative to the first part for adjustment of the length of the shroud, a support bracket that in use is secured to a part of the vehicle, and a clamp mechanism that has a locked position in which it locks the position of the moving part of the shroud relative to the first part of the shroud and an unlocked position in which it permits movement between the first and second parts of the shroud. The assembly further comprises an end of travel protection mechanism which comprises a cam that is free to rotate around an axis and a lock bolt, in a locked position the end of travel protection mechanism urging the lock bolt into a position where it limits the amount of collapse of the shroud and in an unlocked position the end of travel protection mechanism the lock bolt being withdrawn into a position where it permits additional collapse of the shroud beyond that permitted when in the locked position, in which the mechanism converts a rotary movement of the cam into the required linear motion of the lock bolt, the rotation of the cam in use being created by a linkage that is connected to a part of the clamp mechanism arranged such that with the clamp mechanism in the unlocked position the secondary lock mechanism is in the locked position and with the clamp mechanism in the locked position the secondary lock mechanism is in the unlocked position.

Growing community of inventors

Birmingham, United Kingdom

Niclas Davies