Steering assembly having a telescope drive lock assembly

• US 10,189,496 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2016
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: King, Todd M., Finney, Thomas M., Cana, Edward A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Condra, Darlene P
• Application Number:
  US15/243,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20180050720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/183 adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions

Abstract

A steering column assembly includes an upper jacket assembly, a lower jacket assembly, a telescope drive assembly, and a telescope drive lock assembly. The upper jacket assembly is at least partially received within the lower jacket assembly. The telescope drive assembly includes a telescope actuator and an extension member. The telescope drive lock assembly is operatively connected to the extension member. The telescope drive lock assembly is configured to facilitate movement of the upper jacket assembly away from the retracted position while an advanced driver assist system is active and the upper jacket assembly is in the retracted position.

Claims

1. A steering column assembly, comprising:

an upper jacket assembly at least partially received within a lower jacket assembly, and

a telescope drive assembly, comprising;

a telescope actuator disposed on the lower jacket assembly, and

an extension member operatively connected to the telescope actuator and the lower jacket assembly, the telescope actuator and the extension member arranged to move the upper jacket assembly between an extended position and a retracted position, and

a telescope drive lock assembly operatively connected to the extension member, the telescope drive lock assembly being configured to facilitate movement of the upper jacket assembly away from the retracted position while the upper jacket assembly is in the retracted position, the telescope drive lock assembly, comprising;

a mounting bracket;

a first split nut assembly and a second split nut assembly disposed at least partially about the extension member, the first split nut assembly having a first split nut pivotally connected to the mounting bracket and the second split nut assembly having a second split nut pivotally connected to the mounting bracket;

an engagement member operatively connected to the mounting bracket and the first split nut assembly and the second split nut assembly; and

a split nut actuator operatively connected to the lower jacket assembly, the split nut actuator having a plunger extending towards the engagement member.

2. The steering column assembly of claim 1, wherein the first split nut assembly and the second split nut assembly are movable between an open position in which the first split nut and the second split nut are spaced apart from the extension member and a closed position in which the first split nut and the second split nut engage the extension member.

3. The steering column assembly of claim 2, wherein the engagement member is movable between a first position that corresponds to the closed position of the first split nut assembly and the second split nut assembly and a second position that corresponds to the open position of the first split nut assembly and the second split nut assembly.

4. The steering column assembly of claim 3, wherein while the lower jacket assembly is in the retracted position the plunger of the split nut actuator engages the engagement member and moves the engagement member from the first position towards the second position to move the first split nut assembly and the second split nut assembly from the closed position towards the open position.

5. The steering column assembly of claim 3, wherein the telescope drive assembly further including:

a first travel stop disposed between the telescope actuator and the first split nut assembly and the second split nut assembly.

6. A steering column assembly is in communication with an advanced driver assist system that is configured to selectively control an autonomous or semiautonomous vehicle, the steering column assembly, comprising:

an extension member operatively connected to a telescope actuator at a first end and operatively connected to a jacket assembly at a second end, the extension member and the telescope actuator being arranged to move the jacket assembly between an extended position and a retracted position; and

a telescope drive lock assembly, comprising;

a mounting bracket slidably connected to the jacket assembly,

a first split nut and a second split nut disposed at least partially about the extension member and each being pivotally connected to the mounting bracket,

an engagement member operatively connected to the mounting bracket and the first split nut and the second split nut,

a split nut actuator operatively connected to the jacket assembly and disposed proximate the first end of the extension member; and

a biasing member extending from a retainer plate that is operatively connected to the jacket assembly and disposed proximate the second end of the extension member.

7. The steering column assembly of claim 6, wherein in response to the jacket assembly moving towards the retracted position, the split nut actuator engages the engagement member to move the first split nut and the second split nut from a closed position towards an open position in which the first split nut and the second split nut are spaced apart from the extension member.

8. The steering column assembly of claim 6, wherein in response to the jacket assembly moving towards the extended position, the biasing member engages the engagement member to move the first split nut and the second split nut from an open position towards a closed position in which the first split nut and the second split nut engage the extension member.

9. The steering column assembly of claim 6, wherein the mounting bracket defines a recess that slidably receives the engagement member.

10. The steering column assembly of claim 6, further comprising:

a mounting plate disposed on the mounting bracket, the mounting plate configured to secure the engagement member to the mounting bracket.

11. The steering column assembly of claim 6, further comprising a first travel stop disposed about the extension member and disposed between the telescope actuator and the first split nut and the second split nut.

12. The steering column assembly of claim 11, further comprising a second travel stop disposed about the second end of the extension member.

13. A telescope drive lock assembly, comprising:

a mounting bracket operatively connected to a jacket assembly;

a first split nut and a second split nut being pivotally connected to the mounting bracket and disposed at least partially about an extension member of a telescope drive assembly that is configured to move the jacket assembly between an extended position and a retracted position in response to activation of an advanced driver assist system;

an engagement member operatively connected to the mounting bracket and the first split nut and the second split nut, the engagement member being movable between a first position and a second position; and

a split nut actuator operatively connected to the jacket assembly and disposed proximate a first end of the extension member.

14. The telescope drive lock assembly of claim 13, wherein in response to the jacket assembly being in the retracted position a plunger of the split nut actuator moves the engagement member from the first position towards the second position to open the first split nut and the second split nut such that the first split nut and the second split nut do not engage the extension member.

15. The telescope drive lock assembly of claim 14, further comprising:

a biasing member extending from a retainer plate that is operatively connected to the jacket assembly and is disposed proximate a second end of the extension member.

16. The telescope drive lock assembly of claim 15, wherein the biasing member extends from the retainer plate towards the mounting bracket.

17. The telescope drive lock assembly of claim 16, wherein in response to the jacket assembly being moved towards the extended position, the biasing member engages the mounting bracket and biases the mounting bracket towards the first end of the extension member.

18. The telescope drive lock assembly of claim 17, wherein the biasing of the mounting bracket towards the first end of the extension member the engagement member moves from the second position towards the first position to close the first split nut and the second split nut such that the first split nut and the second split nut engage the extension member to inhibit movement of the jacket assembly away from the extended position.