STEERING DEVICE ANTI-ROTATION ASSEMBLY

• US 20190077438A1
• Filed: 09/12/2017
• Published: 03/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Collier, Bruce M., Nash, Richard P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,640,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/16 Steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/183 adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/185 adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/20 Connecting steering column to steering gear
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 5/04 electrical, e.g. using an electric servo-motor connected to, or forming part of, the steering gear
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 11/00 Clutches in which the members have interengaging parts arrangements for synchronisation F16D23/02
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 13/10 with clutching members co-operating with the periphery of a drum, a wheel-rim, or the like F16D13/02 - F16D13/08 take precedence; similar brakes F16D49/00

Abstract

A steering column assembly includes a steering shaft operatively coupled to a steering device, the steering shaft and the steering device having corresponding rotation with each other. Also included is an anti-rotation assembly selectively engaged with a surface of the steering shaft to maintain the steering shaft and the steering device in a stationary condition when the steering shaft is rotationally decoupled from road wheels operatively coupled to the steering shaft.

Claims

1. A steering column assembly comprising:

a steering shaft operatively coupled to a steering device, the steering shaft and the steering device having corresponding rotation with each other; and

an anti-rotation assembly selectively engaged with a surface of the steering shaft to maintain the steering shaft and the steering device in a stationary condition when the steering shaft is rotationally decoupled from road wheels operatively coupled to the steering shaft.

2. The steering column assembly of claim 1, wherein the anti-rotation assembly comprises a friction shoe having a contact engagement surface selectively in contact with a contact surface region of an outer circumference of the steering shaft.

3. The steering column assembly of claim 2, wherein a curvature of the contact engagement surface corresponds to a curvature of the contact surface region.

4. The steering column assembly of claim 2, wherein the anti-rotation assembly further comprises an actuator, the actuator selectively moving the friction shoe into and out of contact with the steering shaft.

5. The steering column assembly of claim 4, wherein the actuator is at least one of an electric actuator, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator.

6. The steering column assembly of claim 5, wherein the actuator is in operative communication with a controller that is part of an advanced driving assist steering (ADAS) system.

7. The steering column assembly of claim 4, wherein the actuator is manually operated by a driver with a user interface.

8. The steering column assembly of claim 4, wherein the actuator is connected to the friction shoe with a pin that extends and retracts to selectively place the friction shoe in contact with the steering shaft.

9. The steering column assembly of claim 1, wherein the steering column assembly is part of an electric power steering system.

10. The steering column assembly of claim 1, wherein the steering column assembly is part of a steer-by-wire steering system.

11. A steering column assembly comprising:

a steering shaft operatively coupled to a steering device, the steering shaft and the steering device having corresponding rotation with each other, the steering device translatable to a retracted position in an autonomous driving mode, the retracted position placing the steering device proximate a vehicle stationary structure; and

an anti-rotation assembly to maintain the steering shaft and the steering device in a stationary condition when the steering device is in the retracted position, the anti-rotation assembly comprising;

a friction disk operatively coupled to one of the steering shaft and the vehicle stationary structure; and

a friction pad operatively coupled to one of the steering shaft and the vehicle stationary structure, the friction disk and the friction pad being operatively coupled to different components, the friction disk and the friction pad in contact when the steering device is in the retracted position to maintain the steering device in the stationary condition.

12. The steering column assembly of claim 11, wherein the friction disk extends completely around a circumference of the steering shaft.

13. The steering column assembly of claim 11, wherein the vehicle stationary structure is an instrument panel.

14. The steering column assembly of claim 11, wherein the vehicle stationary structure is a cross-car beam.

15. The steering column assembly of claim 11, wherein the steering column assembly is part of an electric power steering system.

16. The steering column assembly of claim 11, wherein the steering column assembly is part of a steer-by-wire steering system.

17. The steering column assembly of claim 11, wherein the steering column assembly is part of an advanced driving assist steering (ADAS) system.

18. A steering column assembly comprising:

a steering shaft operatively coupled to a steering device, the steering shaft and the steering device having corresponding rotation with each other, the steering device translatable to a retracted position in an autonomous driving mode, the retracted position placing the steering device proximate an instrument panel; and

an anti-rotation assembly selectively engaged with a surface of the steering shaft to maintain the steering shaft and the steering device in a stationary condition when the steering device is in the retracted position.