Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation

Randy W Jones

Michael Patrick Anspaugh

Jacob Allen Caverly

Joen Christen Bodtker

Donald A Buzzard

Robert W Dubay

Todd M King

Tyler M Reno

Scott A Stinebring

John Frank Schulz

Roger A Bourbina

Matthew T Vincent

James Edward Rouleau

Sergio R Molinar

Chet A Hickmott

Ethan S Jacobs

Peter A Gembrowski

Jorge Flores

Michael C Vermeersch

Robert D Maida

Damian Z Gosztyla

Robert D Bueche

Floyd E Eschenbacher, Jr

Jason L Myers

Kurt Daniel Dubay

Leslie E Edmundson

James C Russell

Matthew J T Vincent

Anthony R Talhelm

Justin D Mills

Todd A Barshaw

Shenbing Wen

Kenton Waineo

Lelio Huang

Cory A Harris

Zach P Schultz

A steer-by-wire steering column includes a single column jacket extending in a longitudinal direction. The steering column also includes a single steering shaft extending in the longitudinal direction and housed at least partially within the single column jacket. The steering column further includes a steer-by-wire electric actuator at least partially disposed within the single column jacket and surrounding the single steering shaft to provide resistance to the single steering shaft.

Steer-by-wire steering column

A steering column assembly has a mount bracket configured for attachment to a fixed vehicle support member in a releasably fixed position and for release from the fixed vehicle support member to a released position during a steering column energy absorbing event. A steering jacket is operably supported by the mount bracket. The steering jacket has at least one interface feature arranged to confront the mount bracket during the steering column energy absorbing event to inhibit rotational movement of the mount bracket relative to the steering jacket when the mount bracket moves from the fixed position to the released position.

Steering column mount bracket release feature

An axially adjustable steering column assembly includes an upper jacket. The assembly also includes a lower jacket, wherein the upper jacket is received within the lower jacket and is telecopingly adjustable therein, the lower jacket having a position sensor operatively coupled thereto. The assembly further includes a column mounting bracket, wherein the lower jacket translates and rotates relative to the column mounting bracket. The assembly yet further includes a geared rack operatively coupled to the column mounting bracket, the geared rack correspondingly rotatable with the lower jacket, wherein the geared rack is in contact with a gear wheel of the position sensor to detect the axial position of the axially adjustable steering column assembly.

Translating power adjustable steering column with geared rack for an absolute sensor

A steering column assembly includes a steering wheel having a steering wheel rim, a steering wheel hub, and a rim extension segment. The steering column assembly also includes a motor operatively coupled to the rim extension segment. The steering column assembly further includes a jacket assembly operatively coupled to the steering wheel, wherein the jacket assembly defines a central passage extending in a longitudinal direction of the steering column assembly, wherein the central passage does not include a steering shaft therein.

Steer by wire steering column with stationary wheel hub

A cam clamping assembly includes a lever rotatable between the locked position and the unlocked position of the cam clamping assembly. The cam clamping assembly also includes a cam follower operatively coupled to the lever and rotatable with the lever, the cam follower having an inner surface with at least one cam follower member extending therefrom. The cam clamping assembly further includes a cam having an outer surface in contact with the inner surface of the cam follower, wherein the outer surface of the cam includes at least one cam member extending therefrom and in contact with the cam follower member, wherein the cam member is a ramped surface having a contact path portion and at least one relief portion, wherein the cam follower member is only in contact with the contact path portion of the cam member during relative movement between the cam follower and the cam.

Customizable cam clamping assembly for steering column

A steering column assembly includes a lower jacket. The steering column assembly also includes an upper jacket in telescoping engagement with the lower jacket. The steering column assembly further includes an energy absorbing strap having a first leg portion, a second leg portion and a curved portion connecting the first leg portion and the second leg portion, the first leg portion coupled to the upper jacket, wherein the first leg portion, the second leg portion and the curved portion define a single integrally formed structure. The steering column assembly yet further includes a protrusion extending from the energy absorbing strap and disposed within a slot defined by the upper jacket.

Customizable energy absorption strap assembly for steering system

A steering column jacket assembly for a steering system of motor vehicle includes a first steering jacket extending along a longitudinal axis and a second steering jacket arranged for telescoping movement relative to the first steering jacket along the longitudinal axis. A guide bracket is fixed to the second steering jacket. The guide bracket has a guide bushing disposed between the guide bracket and the first steering jacket, the guide bushing self-centering the first steering jacket and the second steering jacket relative to one another to inhibit relative rotation between the first steering jacket and the second steering jacket.

Self-centering telescope guidance mechanism for adjustable columns

An axially adjustable steering column assembly includes an upper jacket. And a lower jacket. The steering column assembly further includes a column mounting bracket, wherein the lower jacket is operatively coupled to the column mounting bracket and translates relative to the column mounting bracket, wherein the column mounting bracket defines a first set of tapered rail slots, each of the first set of tapered rail slots disposed on opposite sides of the column mounting bracket and extending longitudinally along the column mounting bracket, wherein the lower jacket defines a second set of tapered rail slots, each of the second set of tapered rail slots disposed on opposite sides of the lower jacket and extending longitudinally along the lower jacket. The steering column assembly yet further includes a first pair of sliding wedge bushings disposed within the first set of tapered rail slots.

Externally translating, internally telescoping steering column assembly

An energy absorption system for a vehicle steering column includes a lower jacket. The energy absorption system also includes an upper jacket operatively coupled to, and moveable relative to, the lower jacket. The energy absorption system further includes a tooth rack operatively coupled to the upper jacket. The energy absorption system yet further includes an electromagnetic brake mechanism engageable with the tooth rack to exert a braking force on the tooth rack.

Electromagnetic brake mechanism for steering column energy absorption system

An axially adjustable steering column assembly includes an upper jacket. The steering column assembly also includes a lower jacket, wherein the upper jacket is received within the lower jacket and is telescopingly adjustable therein, the lower jacket defining a pair of slots extending in an axial direction of the lower jacket. The steering column assembly further includes a column mounting bracket, wherein the lower jacket translates and rotates relative to the column mounting bracket. The steering column assembly yet further includes a pair of bushings positioned within the pair of slots. The steering column assembly also includes a geared rack operatively coupled to one of the pair of bushings, the geared rack correspondingly rotatable with the lower jacket. The steering column assembly further includes a sensor in operative contact with the geared rack to detect the axial position of the axially adjustable steering column assembly.

A steering column assembly includes a telescope drive bracket. The steering column assembly also includes a first jacket operatively coupled to the telescope drive bracket. The steering column assembly further includes a second jacket, wherein the first jacket is telescopingly moveable relative to the second jacket. The steering column yet further includes a collapse limiting feature having a cam portion and a blocking portion, wherein the blocking portion defines a first range of travel of the first jacket in a first position, wherein contact between the telescope drive bracket and the cam portion biases the blocking portion out of a first jacket path to allow a second, greater range of travel for the first jacket.

Steering column energy absorption displacement limiter

A power driven, telescoping steering column having a tubular outer jacket, a tubular inner jacket, and a tubular intermediate jacket arranged for coaxial telescopic movement relative with one another via actuation of an actuator assembly includes, a mounting device operably coupled against relative axial movement with the tubular outer jacket, with the actuator assembly being coupled to the mounting device without being fixedly connected or attached to the tubular outer jacket.

Power column actuator mounting device

A steering column assembly includes a lower jacket. The steering column assembly also includes an upper jacket in telescoping engagement with the lower jacket. The steering column assembly further includes an energy absorbing strap assembly operatively coupled to the upper jacket. The energy absorbing strap assembly includes an energy absorbing strap having a first leg portion, a second leg portion and a curved portion connecting the first leg portion and the second leg portion, the first leg portion coupled to the upper jacket. The energy absorbing strap also includes a control bracket defining a slot sized to receive the curved portion of the energy absorbing strap.

Energy absorption strap assembly with customizable control bracket

A steering column assembly includes a lower jacket. The steering column assembly also includes an upper jacket in telescoping engagement with the lower jacket. The steering column assembly further includes an energy absorbing strap assembly operatively coupled to the upper jacket. The energy absorbing strap assembly includes a strap having a stationary leg and a moveable leg, the moveable leg extending from a first strap end region to a curved portion, the stationary leg extending from the curved portion to a second strap end region, wherein the second strap end region forms a U-shape defined by a radially outer segment, a radially inner segment and a connecting segment to join the radially outer segment and the radially inner segment. The energy absorbing strap assembly also includes a pin extending through the radially inner segment of the stationary leg and the moveable leg.

Growing community of inventors

North Branch, MI, United States of America

Randy W Jones