Steering column for motor vehicle

• US 20050127656A1
• Filed: 12/13/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NSK Limited, NSK Steering Systems Company Limited (NSK Limited)
• Original Assignee: NSK Limited, NSK Steering Systems Company Limited (NSK Limited)
• Inventors: Sawada, Naoki, Koike, Tetsuya, Sato, Kenji
• Granted Patent: US 7,438,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions

Abstract

A steering column adjustable height and inclination of steering wheel has a singularity of control lever for controlling clamping/unclamping of a telescopic mechanism and a tilting mechanism for the adjustment. An energizing direction inverting mechanism inverts direction of biasing force applied to the lever by an energizing member from clamping direction to unclamping direction halfway through operation of the lever by a driver.

Claims

1. A steering column, comprising:

a clamping/unclamping mechanism for clamping/unclamping a telescopic mechanism for adjusting back-and-forth position of a steering wheel or a tilting mechanism for adjusting tilt angle of the steering wheel;

a control lever for controlling the clamping/unclamping mechanism;

an energizing member for energizing the control lever toward the first stroke end thereof;

an energizing direction inverting mechanism for inverting the energizing direction of the first energizing member halfway through operation of the lever; and

a control lever maintaining mechanism for maintaining the lever at the second stroke end thereof.

3. A steering column according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the control lever maintaining mechanism includes an engaging projection on a supporting member for pivotally supporting the control lever and an engaging groove on the control lever for engaging with the engaging projection at the second stroke end.

4. A steering column according to claim 3, wherein the control lever maintaining mechanism further includes a second energizing member for always energizing the engaging projection toward the engaging groove.

5. A steering column according to claim 4, wherein the second energizing member is a plate spring and the engaging projection is formed at the end part of the plate spring.

6. A steering column according to claim 1, wherein the first energizing member is a pull spring.

7. A steering column according to claim 6, wherein the energizing direction inverting mechanism comprises:

a first hooking potion, the portion being formed on the supporting member pivotally supporting the control lever, for hooking the pull spring with one end thereof;

a rocking lever rocking in conjunction with movement of the control lever; and

a second hooking portion, the potion being formed on the rocking lever apart from the rocking center, for hooking the pull spring with another end thereof.

8. A steering column according to claim 7, wherein the energizing direction is inverted when the center of the second hooking portion moves over straight line connecting the centers of the rocking lever and the first hooking portion.

9. A steering column according to claim 7, wherein the control lever is provided with a segment gear and the rocking lever is provided with a pinion engaging with the segment gear, thereby the rocking lever turns to rock in conjunction with operation of the control lever.

11. A steering column according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting device for detecting whether the control lever is located set at the stroke end for clamping or not.

2. A steering column, comprising:

a telescopic mechanism for adjusting back-and-forth position of a steering wheel;

a tilting mechanism for adjusting tilt angle of the steering wheel;

a clamping/unclamping mechanism for clamping/unclamping the telescopic mechanism;

a clamping/unclamping mechanism for clamping/unclamping the tilting mechanism;

a singularity of control lever for controlling clamping/unclamping conditions of both of the clamping/unclamping mechanisms;

an energizing member for energizing the control lever toward the first stroke end thereof;

an energizing direction inverting mechanism for inverting the energizing direction of the energizing member halfway through operation of the lever; and

a control lever maintaining mechanism for maintaining the lever at the second stroke end thereof.

10. A steering column, comprising:

a fixed column member provided with a mounting section for mounting the steering column to a vehicle body;

a moving column member supported on the fixed column member movably in the direction of the center axis and unrotatably around the axis;

a column head supported on the moving column member;

a tilt head supported on the column head;

a wheel shaft rotatably supported on the column head for fixing a steering wheel thereto at one end;

a column clamp for clamping/unclamping the moving column head to the fixed column member;

a tilt head clamp for clamping/unclamping the tilt head to the column head;

a control lever supported on the tilt head rockably around a first pivot shaft;

an energizing member for energizing the control lever so as to bias the column clamp and tilt head clamp to clamping state;

a follower lever supported on the tilt head rockably around a second pivot shaft and following to rocking motion of the control lever for clamping/unclamping both of the column clamp and tilt head clamp;

an energizing direction inverting mechanism for inverting the energizing direction of the energizing member halfway through operation of the control lever; and

a control lever maintaining mechanism for maintaining the control lever at stroke end of the control lever.

12. A steering column, comprising:

a clamping/unclamping mechanism for clamping/unclamping a telescopic mechanism for adjusting back-and-forth position of a steering wheel or tilting mechanism for adjusting tilt angle of the steering wheel;

a control lever for controlling the clamping/unclamping mechanism; and

an energizing member for energizing the lever toward a stroke end for clamping,

wherein force applied to the control lever by the energizing member is reduced as the control lever is moved from the stroke end for clamping to another stroke end for unclamping.

14. A steering column according to claims 12 or 13, wherein force applied to the control lever by the energizing member is substantial zero at the stroke end for unclamping.

15. A steering column according to claim 12, wherein the energizing member is a spring.

16. A steering column according to claim 12, wherein a plurality of energizing members are provided.

17. A steering column according to claim 16, wherein energizing direction of one among the energizing members is inverted halfway through operation of the control lever from the stroke end for clamping toward the stroke end for unclamping.

18. A steering column according to claim 12, further comprising a control lever maintaining mechanism for maintaining the control lever at the stroke end for the unclamping side control lever end thereof.

13. A steering column, comprising:

a telescopic mechanism for adjusting back-and-forth position of a steering wheel;

a tilting mechanism for adjusting tilt angle of the steering wheel;

a clamping/unclamping mechanism for clamping/unclamping the telescopic mechanism;

a clamping/unclamping mechanism for clamping/unclamping the tilting mechanism;

a singularity of control lever for controlling clamping/unclamping conditions of both of the clamping/unclamping mechanisms; and

an energizing member for energizing the control lever to a stroke end for clamping,

wherein force applied to the control lever by the energizing member is reduced as the control lever is moved from the stroke end for clamping to another stroke end for unclamping.

19. A steering column, comprising:

a telescopic mechanism for adjusting back-and-forth position of a steering wheel;

a tilting mechanism for adjusting tilt angle of the steering wheel;

a clamping/unclamping mechanism for clamping/unclamping the telescopic mechanism;

a clamping/unclamping mechanism for clamping/unclamping the tilting mechanism;

a singularity of control lever for controlling clamping/unclamping conditions of both of the clamping/unclamping mechanisms;

a first energizing member for energizing the control lever toward a stroke end for clamping of the telescopic mechanism;

a second energizing member for energizing the control lever toward a stroke end for clamping of the tilting mechanism,

wherein direction of a resultant force applied to the control lever by the first and the second energizing members is inverted halfway through operation of the control lever from the stroke end for clamping toward another stroke end for unclamping.