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Tiltable steering column with coupling means provided between two coaxial tilt mechanism pawl release means

  • US 4,723,461 A
  • Filed: 06/04/1986
  • Issued: 02/09/1988
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1985
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A tiltable steering column for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

  • (a) a main steering shaft comprising a lower steering shaft and an upper steering shaft tiltably rotationally connected to said lower steering shaft;

    (b) a column tube assembly, comprising;

    (b1) a lower tube structure which rotatably supports said lower steering shaft from a body of said automotive vehicle; and

    (b2) an upper tube structure which rotatably supports said upper steering shaft and is pivotally mounted so as to be able to tilt relative to said lower tube structure about a tilting axis;

    (b3) a first pivot pin and a second pivot pin arranged along said tilting axis on a first side and a second side opposite to said first side of said column tube assembly, respectively, for tiltably connecting said upper tube structure with said lower tube structure; and

    (c) a tilt locking mechanism, comprising a first side ratchet mechanism on said first side of said column tube assembly and a second side ratchet mechanism on said second side of said column tube assembly, said first and second side ratchet mechanisms respectively comprising;

    (c1) a first and a second ratchet each fixedly attached to one of said upper tube structure and said lower tube structure;

    (c2) a first and a second pawl each pivotally attached to the other of said upper tube structure and said lower tube structure;

    (c3) a means for continuously biasing said first and said second pawl so as to engage them respectively with said first and said second ratchet; and

    (c4) a first and a second pawl releasing means respectively mounted to be rotatable about said first and said second pivot pin for selectively biasing said first and said second pawl so as to release said respective engagement thereof with said first and said second ratchet;

    and further comprising;

    (d) a means for coupling operation of said first and said second pawl releasing means together, comprising an L-shaped member having a first leg portion mounted on said first pivot pin so as to be rotatable therearound and torque-transmittingly engaged with said first pawl releasing means so as rotationally to drive said first pawl releasing means around said first pivot pin for releasing said first pawl from the engagement with said first ratchet and a second leg portion extending from said first leg portion thereof sidewardly from said first side of said column tube assembly toward said second side of said column tube assembly, and a means for fastening said second leg portion of said L-shaped member with said second pawl releasing means.

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