STOWABLE STEERING COLUMN APPARATUS

• US 20190111960A1
• Filed: 10/17/2018
• Published: 04/18/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2017
• 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: Freudenstein, Thomas A., Tinnin, Melvin L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,882,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/183 adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/185 adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence

Abstract

A steering column apparatus includes a telescoping column assembly and a stowing assembly. The telescoping column assembly includes a lower jacket and an upper jacket. The upper jacket is adapted to move between extended and retracted positions along a telescope axis and with respect to the lower jacket. The stowing assembly is engaged to the lower jacket, and is adapted to move between stowed and un-stowed states along a stow axis.

Claims

1. A steering column apparatus comprising:

a telescoping column assembly adapted to move along a steering axis between extended and retracted positions; and

a stowing assembly adapted to move between stowed and un-stowed states along a stow axis, the telescoping column assembly being supported by the stowing assembly.

2. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the steering axis and the stow axis are parallel to one-another.

3. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the steering axis and the stow axis are angled with respect to one-another.

4. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 1, wherein the stowing assembly includes a sliding structure slideably coupled to the vehicle, and the telescoping column assembly is attached to the sliding structure.

5. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 4, wherein the telescoping column assembly includes a lower jacket attached to the sliding structure and an upper jacket, the upper jacket being adapted to move between the extended and retracted positions with respect to the lower jacket.

6. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

an energy absorbing component coupled between the upper and lower jackets.

7. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a rake drive device including a pivotal connection carried between the stowing assembly and the telescoping column assembly.

8. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 5, further comprising:

a rake drive device including at least one pivotal connection carried between the sliding structure and the lower jacket, the at least one pivotal connection including respective pivot axes disposed normal to the steering axis.

9. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 5, wherein the rake drive device includes a motor attached to the stowing assembly 26, a threaded rod rotationally driven by the motor, and a shuttle 56 mounted to the lower jacket and adapted to threadably ride axially upon the threaded rod.

10. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 9, wherein the shuttle 56 is pivotally connected to the lower jacket at a first pivot axis, and is pivotally connected to the sliding structure at a second pivot axis spaced radially from the first pivot axis.

11. A steering column apparatus comprising:

a telescoping column assembly including a lower jacket and an upper jacket, wherein the upper jacket is adapted to move between extended and retracted positions along a telescope axis and with respect to the lower jacket; and

a stowing assembly engaged to the lower jacket, and adapted to move between stowed and un-stowed states along a stow axis.

12. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein the telescope axis and the stow axis are parallel to one-another.

13. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein the telescope axis intersects the stow axis.

14. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 11, wherein the stowing assembly includes a fixed guide rack and a sliding structure adapted to move along the stow axis and with respect to the fixed guide rack, and the lower jacket is engaged to the sliding structure.

15. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 14, wherein the telescoping column assembly includes a telescope drive device engaged between the upper and lower jackets, and the stowing assembly includes a stow drive device engaged between the a fixed guide rack and the sliding structure.

16. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 15, wherein the telescope drive device and the stow drive device are configured to operate in unison.

17. The steering column apparatus set forth in claim 15, wherein the telescope drive device is adapted to operate at a slower axial displacement speed than the stow drive device.

18. A method of operating a steering column apparatus comprising:

moving a sliding structure of a stowing assembly from an un-stowed state to a stowed state along a first axis;

carrying a telescoping steering assembly with the sliding structure as the sliding structure moves from the un-stowed state to the stowed state; and

moving the telescoping steering assembly from an extended position to a retracted position along a second axis.

19. The method set forth in claim 18, wherein the telescoping steering assembly moves from the extended position to the retracted position while the sliding structure moves from the un-stowed state to the stowed state.

20. The method set forth in claim 19, wherein the sliding structure moves faster along the first axis than the telescoping steering assembly moves along the second axis.