Daimlerchrysler Corporation

Chrysler Corporation

Chrysler Group LLC

William A Jolley

Travis D Bechtel

William J Elliot

Richard T Stuedemann

Sean A Bannon

Kurt H Rinker

Benjamin S Basa, Jr

Keith Jensen

Richard T Chauvin

William J Elliott

Ronald Klanke

Kenneth D Kossak

Leonid Smorgonsky

A steering column is provided column including a bracket adapted to enable the steering column to move as desired by an operator and a clamping system adjacent to the bracket. The clamping system includes a threaded member. A threaded clamping stud extends through the bracket. The threaded clamping stud is selectively coupled to the threaded member of the clamping device. A transmission is coupled to the threaded member. A motor is coupled to the transmission. The motor is operable to drive the transmission to rotate the threaded member in a first position to unclamp the bracket to enable the steering column to move based on receipt of an input from the operator.

Power release and locking adjustable steering column apparatus and method

A vehicle steering assembly includes a mounting plate having a slot and a raised contact surface adjacent to at least part of the slot and a bracket coupled to the mounting plate, adapted to support at least a portion of a steering column. A coupler extends through the slot, and has a head overlying at least a portion of the contact surface, and engages with the bracket to retain the position of the steering column mount relative to the bracket. The combined thickness of all members between the head and the connecting portion is greater when the head overlies the contact surface than when the head is not overlying the contact surface. A greater clamping force is applied by the coupler to all members between the head and the connecting portion when the head overlies the contact surface than when the head is not overlying the contact surface.

Energy absorbing support for a vehicle steering assembly

A vehicle steering assembly includes a steering column having a forward section and a rearward section movable relative to the forward section, a mounting plate adapted to be carried by the vehicle and a bracket releasably coupled to the mounting plate, and operably coupled to the rearward section of the steering column for movement therewith. The assembly also includes a stationary reaction surface disposed adjacent to the rearward section of the steering column and adapted to be engaged by the steering column during at least some events wherein the rearward section is displaced relative to the forward section. This maintains the position of a reaction force on the steering column during movement of the rearward section of the steering column, which provides a decreasing reaction force on the steering column.

Collapsible steering assembly with a stationary reaction surface

A vehicle steering assembly with a movable steering column includes a mounting plate carried by the vehicle, a bracket supporting a portion of the steering column, movable with the steering column, and coupled to the mounting plate, a bend mandrel, and a bend strap operably associated with the bracket for movement with the bracket. The bend strap has a pair of legs on opposed sides of the bend mandrel and a bight interconnecting the legs and arranged so that upon movement of the bracket relative to the mounting plate the bend strap engages the bend mandrel and one leg is progressively deformed about the mandrel to absorb energy from the moving bracket and steering column. A portion of the leg progressively deformed about the mandrel upon movement of the bracket engages a reaction surface defined by at least one of the mounting plate or the bracket.

The present invention is a steering column for a motor vehicle. The steering column comprises a guide bracket, a pivot bracket movably attached to the guide bracket, and a tilt cartridge attached to the pivot bracket. A steering shaft is pivotably attached to the pivot bracket and pivotably attached to the tilt cartridge.

Collapsing steering column with locking tilt mechanism

A cam lock tilt cartridge for a steering column enables the steering column to tilt with respect to an instrument panel. The cam lock tilt cartridge has a housing connected to the steering column. A pawl is rotatably coupled to the housing. A rack is slideably coupled to the housing and connected to the instrument panel. A cam is coupled to both the pawl and rack to move the pawl with respect to the rack to enable movement of the steering column.

Cam lock tilt cartridge

A steering column has a jacket including relatively axially slidable, telescoping, upper and lower jacket members. An anchorage pivotally supports the lower jacket member for vertical tilt movement of the steering column. Locking mechanism locks the steering column in vertically adjusted position and locks the upper jacket member in axially adjusted position relative to the lower jacket member.

Tilt-telescope steering column

An articulated, tiltable steering column and method for installing the same is provided. The steering column includes a locking mechanism for retaining upper and lower column members in selected positions of adjustment. The locking mechanism includes a rod received by and slidable along a longitudinal axis within a sleeve. A collar is journalled around the sleeve and includes diametrically opposed bores for receiving the shaft. A biasing member is secured on a first end to a mounting portion extending from the sleeve and is secured on a second end by the collar.

Steering column with rotary tilt mechanism and method of installation

A locking mechanism for a tiltable steering column includes a rod disposed within and selectively actuable along a longitudinal axis of a sleeve. A biasing member biased the rod into a locked position with the sleeve, the biasing member having a first end coupled to a mounting portion extending from the sleeve. A collar is arranged around a portion of the sleeve, the collar includes a dog tangentially extending from an outer wall of the collar and a groove portion formed between the outer wall and the dog for receiving the second end of the biasing member.

Rotary tilt mechanism

A steering column assembly is provided and includes a lower steering column member, an upper steering column member pivotally attached to the lower steering column member, and a locking mechanism operably interconnecting the upper and lower steering column members and selectively actuable for locking the upper steering column member in one of a plurality of pivot positions relative to the lower steering column member and a lever mechanism operably interconnected with the locking member for selectively actuation the locking member. The lever mechanism includes a release lever, a multiplying lever in operable communication with the locking mechanism, and a link interconnecting the release lever and the multiplying lever. The link transfers an input force applied to the release lever for multiplication through the multiplying lever for actuating the locking mechanism.

Steering column tilt system multiplier

A vehicle steering column can be frictionally locked in selected positions of adjustment by a cam-operated friction disk clamping mechanism. The cam operator includes a rotary shaft having an anti-friction thrust bearing on one end and an anti-friction cam mechanism on the other end. Anti-friction elements in the bearing and cam mechanism enable the shaft to be easily operated, while permitting the friction disks to have a strong clamping action.

Anti-friction cam-operated friction disk clutch

A tilt release system for releasing a locking mechanism operable to retain a tiltable upper end portion of an elongated steering column of a vehicle in angularly adjusted position includes a bracket mounted on a shroud of the tiltable upper end portion of the steering column. A pivot pin is mounted on the bracket. A lever is mounted on a radial arm of the pivot pin. The radial arm of the pivot pin and the lever extend in a direction toward the rear of the vehicle when in retracted position. The lever is located at the upper end of the steering column. The locking mechanism is further down the steering column, and is connected to the lever by a long cable. The lever pivots downwardly to release the locking mechanism. Positioning the locking mechanism further down the steering column reduces noise vibration and harshness and improves crash worthiness of the steering column by reducing the upward moment on the upper end thereof.

Tilt release system for a steering column

A tilt release system for releasing a locking mechanism operable to retain a tiltable end portion of an elongated steering column of an automotive vehicle in angularly adjusted position including a shroud is provided on the tiltable end portion of the steering column. A bracket is mounted on the inside of the shroud. A lever is pivoted on the bracket and projects outwardly through a hole in a side wall of the shroud. The lever can be rotated by a left hand finger of an operator seated behind the steering column. A recess in the rear wall of the shroud provides a reaction surface adjacent to the lever against which the thumb of the operator may be placed while rotating the lever with the finger. There is a connection between the lever and the locking mechanism to release the locking mechanism when the lever is rotated.

Steering column shroud with tilt release lever

A tilt release system includes a locking mechanism which retains a tiltable end portion of an elongated steering column of a vehicle in angularly adjusted position. The system includes a bracket mounted on a shroud of the steering column. A pivot pin is mounted on the bracket for rotation about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the steering column. A lever is mounted on a radial arm of the pivot pin. The radial arm of the pivot pin and the lever extend parallel to the steering column in a direction toward the rear of the vehicle when in a retracted position. The lever is connected to the locking mechanism by a cable. The lever pivots downwardly to release the locking mechanism. The lever has a frictional, sliding snap fit on the arm of the pivot pin so that if the lever is rearwardly impacted in a crash in a direction parallel to the axis of the steering column, the lever will slide off the arm toward the steering wheel, thereby preventing tilt release.

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West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

William A Jolley