Tilt steering column assembly for a vehicle

• US 20090084218A1
• Filed: 09/27/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Pacific Century Motors, Inc. (Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Ltd.), GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Bodtker, Joen C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,836,790 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/493
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/187 with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49 Method of mechanical manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7058 Split or slotted bushing

Abstract

A tilt steering column assembly having a first housing defining at least one orifice disposed along a central axis and a second housing defining at least one hole disposed along the central axis is disclosed. A pin includes a body having a first end and a second end facing the first end to define a seam. A first tab extends outwardly from a segment of the first end and a second tab extends outwardly from a segment of the second end. The first tab abuts the second tab to define a portion of the seam with a remainder of the first and second ends being spaced from each other to define a gap and a remaining portion of the seam for providing a proper fit of the pin within the orifice and the hole by compensating for varying dimensions of at least one of the orifice and the hole.

Claims

1. A tilt steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising;

a first housing defining at least one orifice disposed along a central axis,

a second housing defining at least one hole disposed along said central axis,

a pin including a body having a first end and a second end facing said first end to define a seam substantially parallel to said central axis with said body defining a bore along said central axis and said body having a first portion disposed in at least one of said orifice and said hole and a second portion extending from said first portion and disposed in an other one of said orifice and said hole for coupling said first housing to said second housing, and

a first tab extending outwardly from a segment of said first end and a second tab extending outwardly from a segment of said second end with said first tab abutting said second tab to define a portion of said seam with a remainder of said first and second ends being spaced from each other to define a gap and a remaining portion of said seam for providing a proper fit of said pin within said orifice and said hole by compensating for varying dimensions of at least one of said orifice and said hole.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said remainder of said first end defines a first arcuate portion extending inwardly toward said central axis for preventing said first end from damaging at least one of said first and second housings and wherein said remainder of said second end defines a second arcuate portion extending inwardly toward said central axis for preventing said second end from damaging at least one of said first and second housings.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said body defines a first slit disposed at an intersection of said first tab and said remainder of said first end to further define said first arcuate portion for aiding said first arcuate portion in biasing to compensate for varying dimensions of at least one of said orifice and said hole.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said body defines a second slit opposing said first slit and disposed at an intersection of said second tab and said remainder of said second end to further define said second arcuate portion for aiding said second arcuate portion in biasing to compensate for varying dimensions of at least one of said orifice and said hole.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second tabs along said portion of said seam define a length equal to said first portion.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said remainder of said first and second ends along said remaining portion of said seam defines a length equal to said second portion.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said first portion is disposed in said orifice and said second portion is disposed in said hole with said second housing rotatable about said central axis.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said body further includes a third portion extending from said first portion and spaced from said second portion with said first and second ends of said third portion being spaced from each other to define a second gap and a further portion of said seam.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body includes a first side adjacent said first portion and having a first finger spaced from said seam and extending outwardly away from said central axis for preventing movement of said pin along said central axis and a second side spaced from said first side and disposed adjacent said second portion.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first finger defines a curved profile for sliding said pin through said orifice and said hole without damaging said first and second housings.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said second side includes a second finger spaced from said seam and extending outwardly away from said central axis for preventing movement of said pin along said central axis.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body defines a plurality of apertures spaced from each other and radially spaced from said seam about said body.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 further including a biasing member having a plurality of arms extending outwardly and disposed through said apertures of said body between said first and second housings for preventing movement of said pin along said central axis.

14. A pin apparatus for coupling together a first member defining a orifice along a central axis and a second member defining an hole along the central axis, said apparatus comprising;

a body having a first portion and a second portion with said second portion having a first end and a second end facing said first end to define a seam substantially parallel to the central axis with said body defining a bore along the central axis and said body having a first portion adapted to be associated with at least one of the orifice and the hole and a second portion extending from said first portion and adapted to be associated with an other one of the orifice and the hole for coupling the first member to the second member, said first and second ends being spaced from each other to define a gap along

said seam for providing a proper fit of said body within the orifice and the hole by compensating for varying dimensions of at least one of the orifice and the hole.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first end defines a first arcuate portion extending inwardly toward the central axis for preventing said first end from damaging at least one of the first and second members and wherein said second end defines a second arcuate portion extending inwardly toward the central axis for preventing said second end from damaging at least one of the first and second members.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15 wherein said body defines a first slit disposed at an intersection of said first and second portions to further define said first arcuate portion for aiding said first arcuate portion in biasing to compensate for varying dimensions of at least one of the orifice and the hole.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein said body defines a second slit opposing said first slit and disposed at an intersection of said first and second portions to further define said second arcuate portion for aiding said second arcuate portion in biasing to compensate for varying dimensions of at least one of the orifice and the hole.

18. A method of making a pin formed from a sheet material having a body including a first periphery and a second periphery with the body having a first portion and a second portion extending from the first portion;

cutting the first periphery to a predetermined length to define a first tab extending from the first end,

cutting the second periphery to a predetermined length to define a second tab extending from the second end, and

rolling the body until the first and second tabs abut each other to define a bore and a portion of a seam with a remainder of the first and second ends spaced from each other to define a gap and a remaining portion of the seam to form the pin that compensates for varying dimensions.

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the steps of cutting the first and second peripheries to define the first and second tabs is further defined as cutting the first and second peripheries to the predetermined length to define the first and second tabs equal to the first portion with the remainder of the first and second ends defining the second portion.

20. A method as set forth in claim 19 further including the step of forming the first end of the remainder inwardly toward the bore to define a first arcuate portion and forming the second end of the remainder inwardly toward the bore to define a second arcuate portion.

21. A method as set forth in claim 20 further including the steps of cutting the body to define a first slit disposed at an intersection of the first tab and the remainder of the first end to further define the first arcuate portion and cutting the body to define a second slit opposing the first slit and disposed at an intersection of the second tab and the remainder of the second end to further define the second arcuate portion.

22. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the body includes a third periphery and a fourth periphery and further including the steps of cutting the third periphery to define a first side and a first finger and cutting the fourth periphery to define a second side and a second finger.

23. A method as set forth in claim 22 further including the step of forming the first and second fingers.

24. A method as set forth in claim 18 further including the step of cutting the body to define a plurality of apertures spaced from each other and radially spaced from the seam about the body.

25. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the body includes a third portion extending from the first portion and spaced from the second portion and wherein the step of cutting the first and second peripheries is further defined as the step of cutting the first and second peripheries to the predetermined length to define the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion.