ADAS wheel locking device

• US 10,457,313 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2017
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2016
• 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: Nash, Richard P, Buzzard, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Toan C
• Application Number:
  US15/625,217
• Publication Number:
  US 20170369091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 74492, 74493
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/185 adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/192 Yieldable or collapsible columns

Abstract

A steering column assembly includes a first shaft assembly, a second shaft assembly, and a locking assembly. The first shaft assembly has a first shaft. The second shaft assembly has a second shaft that is at least partially received within the first shaft. The locking assembly is disposed about at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft and is arranged to inhibit rotation of at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft.

Claims

1. A steering column assembly comprising:

a first shaft assembly having a first shaft having a first shaft first end and a first shaft second end;

a second shaft assembly having a second shaft that is at least partially received within the first shaft, the second shaft having a second shaft first end and a second shaft second end, the second shaft first end being disposed proximate the first shaft second end; and

a locking assembly disposed about at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft and arranged to inhibit rotation of at least one of the first shaft and the second shaft, the locking assembly comprising;

a shaft lock sleeve disposed about the first shaft; and

a jacket sleeve disposed about and spaced apart from the second shaft.

2. The steering column assembly of claim 1, wherein the jacket sleeve defines a key way.

3. The steering column assembly of claim 2, wherein the shaft lock sleeve defines an orientation feature that is arranged to be received within the key way.

4. The steering column assembly of claim 3, wherein the first shaft assembly is movable relative to the second shaft assembly between an extended position and a retracted position.

5. The steering column assembly of claim 4, wherein while the first shaft assembly is in the extended position, the shaft lock sleeve is spaced apart from the jacket sleeve.

6. The steering column assembly of claim 4, wherein while the first shaft assembly moves towards the retracted position, the orientation feature is at least partially received within the key way.

7. The steering column assembly of claim 4, wherein while the first shaft assembly is in the retracted position, the orientation feature is at least partially received within the key way and the second shaft first end is spaced apart from the first shaft second end.

8. A steering system having a steering column assembly in communication with an advanced driver assistance system that is arranged to selectively control a vehicle, the steering column assembly comprising:

a first shaft assembly having a first shaft that extends between a first shaft first end and a first shaft second end;

a second shaft assembly having a second shaft that extends between a second shaft first end and a second shaft second end, the second shaft being at least partially received within the first shaft; and

a locking assembly having a shaft lock sleeve operatively connected to the first shaft second end and a jacket sleeve disposed about and spaced apart from the second shaft.

9. The steering system of claim 8, wherein the shaft lock sleeve includes a shaft lock sleeve first surface and a shaft lock sleeve second surface disposed opposite the shaft lock sleeve first surface, each extending between a shaft lock sleeve first end and a shaft lock sleeve second end, the shaft lock sleeve first surface defines an orientation feature that extends between the shaft lock sleeve first end and the shaft lock sleeve second end.

10. The steering system of claim 9, wherein the shaft lock sleeve second surface engages the first shaft.

11. The steering system of claim 9, wherein the orientation feature includes a first side surface and a second side surface that become progressively closer to each other in a direction that extends from the shaft lock sleeve first end towards the shaft lock sleeve second end.

12. The steering system of claim 9, wherein the jacket sleeve includes a jacket sleeve first surface and a jacket sleeve second surface disposed opposite the jacket sleeve first surface, each extending between a jacket sleeve first end and a jacket sleeve second end, the jacket sleeve defines a key way that extends from the jacket sleeve second surface towards the jacket sleeve first surface.

13. The steering system of claim 12, wherein the key way is arranged to receive the orientation feature to inhibit rotation of the first shaft relative to the second shaft.

14. The steering system of claim 12, wherein the jacket sleeve first surface engages a jacket through which the second shaft is at least partially received.

15. A steering column assembly, comprising:

a first shaft assembly including a first shaft having a first shaft first surface and a first shaft second surface disposed opposite the first shaft first surface, each extending between a first shaft first end and a first shaft second end;

a second shaft assembly including a second shaft that extends at least partially through a jacket, the second shaft extending between a second shaft first end and a second shaft second end, the first shaft assembly being movable relative to the second shaft assembly between an extended position and a retracted position; and

a locking assembly disposed within the jacket and arranged to selectively inhibit rotation of the first shaft relative to the second shaft, the locking assembly including a shaft lock sleeve that is operatively connected to the first shaft first surface proximate the first shaft second end and a jacket sleeve that is operatively connected to the jacket.

16. The steering column assembly of claim 15, wherein the shaft lock sleeve includes a shaft lock sleeve first surface and a shaft lock sleeve second surface each extending between a shaft lock sleeve first end and a shaft lock sleeve second end, the shaft lock sleeve first surface including an orientation feature that extends away from the shaft lock sleeve first surface.

17. The steering column assembly of claim 16, wherein the jacket sleeve includes a jacket sleeve first surface and a jacket sleeve second surface disposed opposite the jacket sleeve first surface, each extending between a jacket sleeve first end and a jacket sleeve second end, the jacket sleeve second surface defines a key way that extends from the jacket sleeve first end towards the jacket sleeve second end.

18. The steering column assembly of claim 17, wherein while the first shaft assembly is in the extended position, the orientation feature is spaced apart from the key way.

19. The steering column assembly of claim 17, wherein while the first shaft assembly is in the retracted position, the orientation feature is received within the key way and the first shaft is inhibited from rotating relative to the second shaft.