MODULAR POWER ACTUATOR

• US 20090199667A1
• Filed: 02/11/2008
• Published: 08/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2008
• 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: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Islam, Mohammad S., Rouleau, James E., Thomas, Steven M., Schultz, Steven J., Tomasino, Michael A., Boswell, Karen A., Barrett, Thomas A., Menjak, Ratko, Magnus, Brian J., Siniff, David K.
• Granted Patent: US 8,011,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/424.7
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/16 comprising worm and worm-wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2025/209 using worm gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 25/20 Screw mechanisms with automatic reversal F16H25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/06 Means for converting reciprocating motion into rotary motion or vice versa
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19823 Screw
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19828 Worm

Abstract

A power actuator assembly includes a torque transmission device, a motor mounted to the torque transmission device extending along a motor axis, and a screw coupled to the torque transmission device and extending along a screw axis. An adjustment mechanism interconnects the screw and the torque transmission device and permits selective rotational adjustment between the adjustment mechanism and the torque transmission device to rotate the motor relative to the torque transmission device. A connecting device releasably interconnects the adjustment mechanism to the torque transmission device to permit repeated re-positioning of the motor relative to the torque transmission device.

Claims

1. A power actuator assembly comprising:

a torque transmission device;

a motor mounted to said torque transmission device and extending along a motor axis and having an output shaft rotatable about said motor axis;

a screw coupled to said torque transmission device and extending along a screw axis with said torque transmission device transferring said rotational movement of said output shaft about said motor axis to said screw to rotate said screw about said screw axis;

an adjustment mechanism rotatably supporting said screw and interconnecting said screw and said torque transmission device and permitting selective rotational adjustment of said torque transmission device relative to said adjustment mechanism about said screw axis to reposition said motor relative to said adjustment mechanism.

2. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one groove in one of said adjustment mechanism and said torque transmission device and at least one tooth in another of said adjustment mechanism and said torque transmission device in interlocking engagement with one of said at least one groove.

3. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one groove includes a plurality of grooves.

4. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said plurality of grooves and said plurality of teeth extend parallel to said screw axis.

5. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein one of said adjustment mechanism and said torque transmission device includes an outer surface having an annular shape and said plurality of grooves are disposed on said outer surface and wherein another of said adjustment mechanism and said torque transmission device defines an annular bore and said at least one tooth is disposed within said bore with said outer surface partially disposed within said bore.

6. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said at least one tooth includes a plurality of teeth.

7. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said at least one groove and said plurality of teeth extend radially outward from said screw axis.

8. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said at least one groove includes at least one slot extending through an outer surface of one of said adjustment mechanism and said torque transmission device.

9. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a collar and wherein one of said adjustment mechanism and said torque transmission device include an outer surface defining a plurality of recesses with said collar fixedly attached to another of said adjustment mechanism and said torque transmission device and including a plurality of projections engaging said plurality of recesses in interlocking engagement.

10. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a connection device interconnecting said adjustment mechanism and said torque transmission device together.

11. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said connection device includes one of a group comprising an elongated spring clip, at least one fastener, and a split ring encircling said adjustment mechanism and said torque transmission device.

12. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said connection device includes at least one detent attached to one of said adjustment mechanism and said gear box and a lip disposed on another of said adjustment mechanism and said torque transmission device.

13. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said adjustment mechanism includes a mounting feature for mounting said adjustment mechanism to a support in a mounted position.

14. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said mounting feature includes at least one aperture defined by said adjustment mechanism.

15. A power actuator assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said torque transmission device includes a first end for receiving said adjustment mechanism and a second end for receiving said adjustment mechanism with said adjustment mechanism coupled to either of said first end or said second end and wherein said assembly further comprises a cover mounted to another of said first end and said second end to seal said torque transmission device.

16. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said steering column assembly comprising:

a column jacket having a lower jacket and a upper jacket longitudinal movable along a longitudinal axis relative to said lower jacket;

an upper shaft housing supporting said column jacket and defining a rake axis with said column jacket pivotably movable about said rake axis;

an actuator coupled to said upper shaft housing for motivating one of said longitudinal movement of said upper jacket along said longitudinal axis and said pivotable movement of said upper shaft housing about said rake axis, said actuator including;

a torque transmission device;

a motor mounted to said torque transmission device and extending along a motor axis and having an output shaft rotatable about said motor axis;

a screw coupled to said torque transmission device and extending along a screw axis with said torque transmission device transferring said rotational movement of said output shaft about said motor axis to said screw to rotate said screw about said screw axis;

an adjustment mechanism rotatably supporting said screw and interconnecting said screw and said torque transmission device and permitting selective rotational adjustment of said torque transmission device relative to said adjustment mechanism about said screw axis to reposition said motor relative to said adjustment mechanism.

17. An steering column assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said actuator further includes a plurality of grooves in one of said adjustment mechanism and said torque transmission device and at least one tooth in another of said adjustment mechanism and said torque transmission device in interlocking engagement with one of said plurality of grooves.

18. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said actuator further includes a connection device interconnecting said adjustment mechanism and said torque transmission device together.

19. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said torque transmission device includes a first crossed axis helical gear mounted to said output shaft of said motor for rotation about said motor axis and a gear shaft extending along said screw axis and a second crossed axis helical gear fixedly mounted to said gear shaft in meshing engagement with said first crossed axis helical gear for rotation about said screw axis with said gear shaft, with said screw coupled to said gear shaft for rotation with said gear shaft.

20. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said torque transmission device includes a first end for receiving said adjustment mechanism and a second end for receiving said adjustment mechanism with said adjustment mechanism coupled to either of said first end or said second end and wherein said assembly further comprises a cover mounted to another of said first end and said second end to seal said torque transmission device.