The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jun. 26, 2018

Filed:

Jul. 27, 2016
Applicant:

GM Global Technology Operations Llc, Detroit, MI (US);

Inventors:

Mark A. Stebbins, Bloomfield Hills, MI (US);

Oliver Eichelhard, Reinheim, DE;

Sharath Varadappa, Rochester, MI (US);

Assignee:
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B62D 1/19 (2006.01); B62D 1/185 (2006.01); F16F 15/16 (2006.01); B62D 7/22 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B62D 1/19 (2013.01); B62D 1/185 (2013.01); B62D 7/224 (2013.01); F16F 15/161 (2013.01);
Abstract

Disclosed are vehicle steering column assemblies with viscous dampers, methods for making and for using such assemblies, and motor vehicles with steering column assemblies having viscous dampers. A steering column assembly is disclosed that includes a first shaft member that connects to a steering wheel/handle, and a second shaft member that connects to a vehicle body. These shaft members are telescopingly connected such that one shaft member selectively translates longitudinally with respect to the other shaft member. A viscous damper assembly is interposed between the two shaft members. The viscous damper assembly includes a damper housing with first and second reservoir volumes disposed inside the housing. Multiple constricted flow channels fluidly connect the reservoir volumes. Viscous fluid flows from the first reservoir volume, through the constricted flow channels, to the second reservoir volume in response to relative vibrational displacement between the shaft members to thereby viscously attenuate vibrational energy.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…