Pre-crash column release

• US 20060131863A1
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Riefe, Richard K., Jwalapathy, Ravindra, Shah, Minoo J., Armstrong, Ray G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,347,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/19 incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible shock absorbers using plastic deformation of members in general F16F7/12

Abstract

The invention provides a steering column assembly (10) for a vehicle. The steering column assembly (10) includes first and second steering column members (12, 14) engaged for movement relative to one another along one of a tilting path (16) and a telescoping path. The steering column assembly (10) also includes an electric lock (18) operable in a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration to selectively lock the first and second steering column members (12, 14). When the electric lock (10) is in the locked configuration, the first and second steering column members (12, 14) are locked with respect to one another. When the electric lock (10) is in the unlocked configuration, the first and second steering column members (12, 14) are moveable with respect to one another. The steering column assembly (10) also includes a sensor (20) operable to sense a condition corresponding to a vehicle crash. The sensor (20) emits a signal corresponding to the condition. The steering column assembly (10) also includes a controller (22) operable to receive the signal from the sensor (20) and controls the electric lock (18) to change from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration in response to the signal.

Claims

1. A steering column assembly (10) for a vehicle comprising:

first and second steering column members (12, 14) engaged for movement relative to one another along one of a tilting path (16) and a telescoping path;

an electric lock (18) operable in a locked configuration wherein said first and second steering column members (12, 14) are locked with respect to one another and an unlocked configuration wherein said first and second steering column members (12, 14) are moveable with respect to one another to selectively lock said first and second steering column members (12, 14);

a sensor (20) operable to sense a condition corresponding to a vehicle crash and to emit a signal corresponding to the condition; and

a controller (22) operable to receive said signal and to control said electric lock (18) to change from said locked configuration to said unlocked configuration in response to said signal.

2. The steering column assembly (10) of claim 1 further comprising:

a timer (24) operable to start timing a predetermined period of time when said signal is emitted by said sensor (20) and emit a second signal at an expiration of said predetermined period of time.

3. The steering column assembly (10) of claim 2 wherein said controller (22) is operable to receive said second signal and control said electric lock (18) to change from said unlocked configuration to said locked configuration in response to said second signal.

4. The steering column assembly (10) of claim 1 wherein said sensor (20) is operable to sense a second condition corresponding to normal vehicle handling and to emit a third signal corresponding to the second condition.

5. The steering column assembly (10) of claim 4 wherein said controller (22) is operable to receive said third signal and control said electric lock (18) to change from said unlocked configuration to said locked configuration in response to said third signal.

6. The steering column assembly (10) of claim 1 wherein said electric lock (18) includes a locking portion (26) movable between a locked position and an unlocked position and an actuator (28) operable to move the locking portion (26) between both of said locked and unlocked positions.

7. The steering column assembly (10) of claim 6 wherein in said locking portion (26) is further defined being moveable only by said actuator (28).

8. A method (30) for controlling a steering column assembly (10) for a vehicle comprising the steps of:

engaging first and second steering column members (12, 14) for movement relative to one another along one of a tilting path (16) and a telescoping path;

selectively locking the first and second steering column members (12, 14) with an electric lock (18) operable in a locked configuration wherein the first and second steering column members (12, 14) are locked with respect to one another and an unlocked configuration wherein the first and second steering column members (12, 14) are moveable with respect to one another;

sensing a condition corresponding to a vehicle crash and emitting a signal corresponding to the condition with a sensor (20); and

receiving the signal and controlling the electric lock (18) to change from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration in response to the signal with a controller (22).

9. The method (30) of claim 8 wherein said selectively locking step further comprises the step of:

moving a locking portion (26) of the electric lock (18) with an actuator (28) of the electric lock (18) between locked and unlocked positions.

10. The method (30) of claim 9 wherein said moving step is further defined as moving the locking portion (26) only with the actuator (28).

11. The method (30) of claim 9 wherein said moving step is further defined as moving the locking portion (26) during normal vehicle handling and during the vehicle crash with the actuator (28).

12. The method (30) of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:

controlling the electric lock (18) to move the locking portion (26) with the actuator (28) to the locked position during a vehicle crash;

controlling the electric lock (18) to move the locking portion (26) with the actuator (28) to the unlocked position after the vehicle crash.