Steering Wheel Adjusting Mechanism for Motor Vehicles

• US 20080111362A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fuji Autotech AB (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Autotech AB (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Eriksson, Ulf
• Granted Patent: US 7,866,698 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

The invention relates to a steering wheel adjusting mechanism (2) for motor vehicles (4) comprising a pivotally to the vehicle (4) attached supporting arm (8), and a pivotally to the supporting arm (8) attached steering shaft housing unit (12), where at least one locking plate package (14 and 16, respectively) is attached to both the vehicle (4) and the steering shaft housing unit (12), which locking plate package (14 and 16, respectively) is compressible with clamping means (18) in order to lock the steering shaft housing unit (12) relative to the vehicle (4). Optionally, the supporting arm (8) is pivotally attached to a to the vehicle (4) mountable fastening part (20). Optionally, the locking plate package (14 and 16, respectively) is attached to a firmly to the vehicle (4) mountable fastening unit (22). Optionally, the fastening part (20) and the fastening unit (22) are integrated with each other to a firmly to the vehicle (4) mountable steering wheel adjusting bracket (24).

Claims

1. Steering wheel adjusting mechanism for motor vehicles comprising a pivotally to the vehicle (4) attached supporting arm (8), and a pivotally to the supporting arm (8) attached steering shaft housing unit (12), characterized in, that friction plates (26,28 and 30,32, respectively) in at least one locking plate package (14 and 16, respectively) are firmly attached to the vehicle (4) and the steering shaft housing unit (12), respectively, and further moveably attached to each other, and where the locking plate package (14 and 16, respectively) is compressible with clamping means (18) in order to lock the steering shaft housing unit (12) relative to the vehicle (4).

2. Steering wheel adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in, that the supporting arm (8) is pivotally attached to the vehicle (4) by that the supporting arm (8) is pivotally attached to a firmly to the vehicle (4) mountable fastening part (20).

3. Steering wheel adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in, that the locking plate package (14 and 16, respectively) comprises alternatingly with the vehicle (4) and the steering shaft housing unit (12) attached friction plates (26,28 and 30,32, respectively).

4. Steering wheel adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in, that the locking plate package (14 and 16, respectively) is attached to a firmly to the vehicle (4) mountable fastening unit (22).

5. Steering wheel adjusting mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in, that the locking plate package (14 and 16, respectively) comprises alternatingly with a firmly to the vehicle (4) mountable fastening unit (22), and the steering shaft housing unit (12) attached friction plates (26,28 and 30,32, respectively).

6. Steering wheel adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in, that the steering wheel adjusting mechanism (2) comprises a firmly to the vehicle (4) mountable fastening part (20), a pivotally to the fastening part (20) attached supporting arm (8), and a pivotally to the supporting arm (8) attached steering shaft housing unit (12), and that at least one and the same locking plate package (14 and 16, respectively) is attached to a firmly to the vehicle (4) mountable fastening unit (22) and to the steering shaft housing unit (12).

7. Steering wheel adjusting mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in, that the locking plate package (14 and 16, respectively) comprises alternatingly with a firmly to the vehicle (4) mountable fastening unit (22) and the steering shaft housing unit (12) attached friction plates (26,28 and 30,32, respectively).

8. Steering wheel adjusting mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in, that the fastening part (20) and the fastening unit (22) are integrated with each other to a firmly to the vehicle (4) mountable steering wheel adjusting bracket (24).

9. Steering wheel adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in, that the friction plates (26,28 and 30,32, respectively) in a locking plate package (14 and 16, respectively) are movably attached to each other by a plate package shaft (34) which extends through guide grooves (36,38 and 40,42, respectively) arranged in the mentioned friction plates (26,28 and 30,32, respectively).

10. Steering wheel adjusting mechanism according to claim 9, characterized in, that the friction plates (26,28 and 30,32, respectively) in a locking plate package (14 and 16, respectively) which plates are arranged for locking of the steering shaft housing unit (12) relative to the vehicle (4) are compressible with a clamping means (18) which acts along the plate package axis (34).

11. Steering wheel adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in, that an actuator (52) for controlling of the clamping force of the clamping means (18) is arranged in connection to the steering wheel adjusting mechanism (2).

12. Steering wheel adjusting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in, that two parallel locking plate packages (14 and 16, respectively) have friction plates (26,28 and 30,32, respectively) which are compressible with a common clamping means (18) arranged between the two locking plate packages (14 and 16, respectively).