STEERING COLUMN MODULE INCLUDING A STEERING COLUMN WITH A LONGITUDINAL AND/OR INCLINATION ADJUSTMENT

• US 20110167948A1
• Filed: 01/14/2011
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: C ROB Hammerstein GmbH & Company KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: C ROB Hammerstein GmbH & Company KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Andrearczyk, Tobias, Arndt, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US13/007,239
• Publication Number:
  US 20110167948A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/493
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions

Abstract

The steering column module for a motor vehicle comprises a steering column and a device for the longitudinal and/or inclination adjustment of the steering column. This device for adjustment comprises a control circuit and is equipped with at least one electric motor of the device for adjustment. The steering column module furthermore comprises a clamping device, which is connected to the control circuit and equipped with an electric motor of the clamping device for the actuation of the clamping device between a normally provided clamping position and a release position. In the method, the clamping device is first actuated until it is in the release position and is held in the release position; only then follows an adjustment of the adjustment device until the desired longitudinal and/or inclination adjustment of the steering column has been reached. Thereafter the clamping device is allowed to go back to the clamping position.

Claims

1. A steering column module for a motor vehicle comprising:

a steering column and at least one device for adjustment of the steering column, the device for adjustment including a control circuit and at least one electric motor of the device for adjustment, wherein the steering column module further comprises a clamping device, the clamping device being connected to the control circuit and equipped with an electric motor of the clamping device for the actuation of the clamping device between a normally provided clamping position and a release position.

2. The steering column module according to claim 1, wherein the device for adjustment comprises at least one spindle drive having a spindle and a spindle nut.

3. The steering column module according to claim 1, wherein the device for adjustment comprises at least one spindle drive, the spindle drive comprises a spindle and a spindle nut, and the spindle has a core diameter of one of between two to six and between three to four mm.

4. The steering column module according to claim 1, wherein the device for adjustment comprises a retaining clamp and at least one spindle drive, the spindle drive comprises a spindle and a spindle nut, and the spindle nut is movably held in the retaining clamp.

5. The steering column module according to claim 1, wherein the steering column module comprises an elongated hole, the device for adjustment comprises at least one spindle drive, the spindle drive comprises a spindle and a spindle nut, and the spindle extends obliquely to a direction of a long axis of the elongated hole.

6. The steering column module according to claim 1, wherein the device for adjustment is a device for at least one of longitudinal and inclination adjustment.

7. The steering column module according to claim 2, wherein a clearance of one of between 0.01 and 0.5 mm and between 0.05 and 0.3 mm is present between the spindle and the spindle nut.

8. The steering column module according to claim 1, wherein the device for adjustment comprises a retaining clamp and at least one spindle drive, the spindle drive comprises a spindle and a spindle nut, and the spindle nut is pivotably held in the retaining clamp.

9. The steering column module according to claim 1, wherein the steering column module comprises an elongated opening, the device for adjustment comprises at least one spindle drive, the spindle drive comprises a spindle and a spindle nut, and the spindle extends parallel to the direction of a long axis of the longitudinal opening.

10. A method for adjusting a steering column in a steering column module, the steering column module comprising a device for adjustment of the steering column, the device for adjustment comprises a control circuit, at least one electric motor of the adjustment device and a clamping device, the clamping device being connected to the control circuit and equipped with an electric motor of the clamping device for an actuation of the clamping device between a normally provided clamping position and a release position, the method comprising:

beginning from the clamping position, actuating the electric motor of the clamping device until the clamping device is in the release position, and holding the clamping device in the release position;

actuating the electric motor of the adjustment device until the desired longitudinal and/or inclination adjustment of the steering column has been reached, and

actuating the electric motor of the clamping device until the clamping device is back in the clamping position.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the steps are performed successively.