Height-adjustable steering column for motor vehicles

• US 4,796,481 A
• Filed: 11/09/1987
• Issued: 01/10/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
• Original Assignee: ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
• Inventors: Nolte, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Application Number:
  US07/118,420
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 74/493, 280/775, 384/517, 411/291
• US Class Current: 74/493
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory

Abstract

A height-adjustable steering column for motor vehicles which is retractable and extendible by means of a drive motor, comprises an inner steering spindle assembly of axially telescoping parts, of which an upper one is connected with the steering wheel, as well as a jacket tube in which an axially displaceable part of the steering spindle assembly is rotatable and is arranged axially displaceable in a housing inside the jacket tube. A coupling member drivable by the drive motor is axially non-displaceable relative to the housing and has a drive pinion which engages in a serration on the circumference of the jacket tube.

Claims

1. A height-adjustable steering column for a vehicle, comprising an inner steering spindle assembly of telescopic parts including an upper part having a steering wheel connecting end, an inner rotatable steering spindle part having a drive connection end and a jacket tube telescopic over said steering spindle part, a tubular housing overlying said steering spindle assembly and a drive motor coupling means carried by one of said tubular housing in said jacket tube and driveably connected to the other of said housing and jacket tube for displacing said jacket tube relative to said housing for extending and retracting said jacket tube with said steering spindle part relative to said tubular housing.

2. A height-adjustable steering column according to claim 1 wherein said drive motor coupling means comprises a threaded nut arranged coaxially to the longitudinal axis of said jacket tube and of said housing, said jacket having an outer thread threadably engaged with said nut.

3. A height-adjustable steering column according to claim 2 wherein said threaded nut has an axially extending threaded portion and is mounted on said housing has a cylindrical projective part and is provided for a ball bearing for said threaded nut.

4. A height-adjustable steering column according to claim 2 wherein said threaded nut has a mounted tooth rim, said drive motor coupling means including a electric drive motor carried on said housing having a driving pinion engaged with said tooth rim.

5. A height-adjustable steering column according to claim 1 wherein said jacket tube has an exterior thread said drive coupling means includes a member having a thread engageable with the exterior thread of said jacket tube, both said thread having very large pitch.

6. A height-adjustable steering column according to claim 1 wherein said jacket tube includes an upper portion containing a nut which is secured thereto and which has a cylindrical projection with axially extending slots therein extending around the circumference thereof and defining segments, spring means to radially load said segments, said segments having wedged faces directed obliquely relative to a radial plane which cooperate with counter-faces on a ball bearing outer race of a ball bearing rotatably carried by said cylindrical projection so that said wedge faces bear against said race radially and axially.

7. A height-adjustable steering column according to claim 1 wherein said drive motor coupling means includes a ring member secured to the exterior of said jacket tube has a threaded nut having threaded engagement elements, said threaded engagement elements having a, threadable element to bind on said jacket tube and including a radial notch defined in said threaded nut and a transverse plane relative to its axis having limiting faces which are braceable against each other by means of a set screw.

8. A steering column comprising:

a tubular non-rotatable steering column housing;

a steering spindle rotatively mounted with respect to said steering column housing, said steering spindle having an end extending into said housing;

a lower steering column part with a lower end, said lower end extending into said housing, said lower steering column part lower end being axially displaceably connected to said steering spindle for rotation therewith, said lower steering column part having an upper part;

a universal joint connected to said lower steering column part upper end;

an upper steering column part having a lower end connected to said universal joint for rotation with said steering column lower part;

axial displacement means connected to said steering column lower part and connected to said steering column housing, for axially displacing said steering column lower part with respect to said steering column housing; and

, inclination adjustment means connected to said upper part, said inclination adjustment means for altering the inclination of said steering column upper part with respect to said steering column lower part about said universal joint.

9. A steering column according to claim 8, wherein said axial displacement means includes:

a drive motor with a pinion;

a threaded nut with an outer toothed rim engageable with said pinion;

a jacket tube having an outer threaded portion for engagement with said threaded nut, said jacket tube being axially displaceable relative to said tubular housing upon rotation of said threaded nut and being non-rotatable with respect to said tubular housing, said lower part being rotatable with respect to said jacket tube and being fixed axially with said tube jacket for axial movement therewith.