Steering column assembly with horizontal position adjustment mechanism

• US 5,240,284 A
• Filed: 06/26/1991
• Issued: 08/31/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fuji KIKO Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Fuji KIKO Company Limited
• Inventors: Takada, Yoshiharu, Kinoshita, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyson, Karin L.
• Application Number:
  US07/725,218
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 74/493, 74/89.15
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory

Abstract

A steering column assembly for a vehicle includes a steering column, a stationary bracket and a guide member which allows the steering column to displace horizontally in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle. A pair of universal joints with a shaft connecting them are provided forward of the steering column for allowing variation in angle between the steering column and the shaft, the angular variation being caused by the horizontal displacement of the steering column. The shaft includes an outer sleeve and an inner shaft telescopically received in the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve and the inner shaft are connected in such a fashion as to allow the inner shaft to displace along an axis of the outer sleeve in response to the horizontal displacement of the steering column.

Claims

1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said vehicle having a longitudinal axis extending between forward and rearward ends of the vehicle, said steering column assembly comprising:

a steering column;

stationary bracket means fixed to a vehicle body;

first means, provided between said steering column and said stationary bracket means, for supporting the steering column relative to the stationary bracket means;

said first means adapted to allow said steering column to displace horizontally in a direction along said longitudinal axis, wherein said first means includes a portion of said stationary bracket means, said portion having an elongate opening which extends horizontally in said direction, and a slider slidably fitted into said elongate opening for sliding movement along said elongate opening, said slider connected to said steering column in such a manner as to move along said elongate opening with said steering column;

joint means, provided forward of said steering column, for allowing variation of an angle between said steering column and an associated member, said angle variation caused by said horizontal displacement of the steering column;

second means, associated with said steering column, for allowing variation of a distance between said steering column and the associated member, said distance variation caused by said horizontal displacement of the steering column;

wherein said first means includes a first rod fixed to said stationary bracket and extending horizontally in said direction, said first rod having threads on its outer periphery, and a corresponding nut member mounted on said first rod with corresponding threads meshing with the threads of said first rod such that said nut member moves along said first rod when said first rod is rotated, said nut member being fixed to said steering column; and

further comprising a potentiometer fixed to said stationary bracket and arranged along said first rod, said potentiometer having a movable contact which is fixed to said nut member.

2. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first rod is arranged at one lateral side of the steering column, and wherein said first means further includes a second rod which is fixed to said stationary bracket means at the other lateral side of the steering column and extends horizontally in said direction, and a movable member movably mounted on said second rod, said movable member fixed to said steering column for moving along said second rod with said steering column.

3. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first rod is rotated by an electric motor through a gear train.

4. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said movable contact moves along an elongate guide member which is fixed to said stationary bracket and extends in parallel to said fixed rod.

5. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said vehicle having a longitudinal axis extending between forward and rearward ends of the vehicle, said steering column assembly comprising:

a steering column;

stationary bracket means fixed to a vehicle body;

first means, provided between said steering column and said stationary bracket means, for supporting the steering column relative to the stationary bracket means;

said first means adapted to allow said steering column to displace horizontally in a direction along said longitudinal axis;

a first joint, provided forward of said steering column, for allowing pivotable movement of said steering column;

a second joint provided forward of said first joint;

shaft means connecting said first and second joints for pivotable movement therebetween;

said shaft means adapted to extend when said steering column moves horizontally rearward and to contract when said steering column moves horizontally forward;

wherein said first means includes a pair of elongate openings formed at both lateral sides of said stationary bracket means in corresponding lateral locations to each other, each elongate opening extending horizontally in said direction, and a pair of sliders each slidably fitted into said elongate opening for sliding movement along said elongate opening, said sliders connected to said steering column through a first bracket in such a manner as to move along said elongate opening with said steering column; and

wherein said first means further includes a first rod which is fixed to said stationary bracket at its one lateral side and extends horizontally in said direction, and a movable member movably mounted on said first rod, said movable member fixed to said steering column through a second bracket for moving along said first rod with said steering column whereby said sliders and said movable member respectively allow said steering column to displace horizontally in said direction, while, supporting the steering column relative to the stationary bracket means.

6. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said shaft means includes an outer sleeve and an inner shaft telescopically received in said outer sleeve, said inner shaft connected to said first joint at its rearward end and said outer sleeve connected to said second joint at its forward end, said inner shaft and said outer sleeve being connected to allow said inner shaft to displace along an axis of said outer sleeve in response to said horizontal displacement of said steering column.

7. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 6, wherein said inner shaft and said outer sleeve are connected by means of a spline which allows a torque transmission from said inner shaft to said outer sleeve and further allows said inner shaft to displace along the axis of said outer sleeve in response to said horizontal displacement of said steering column.

8. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first rod is arranged rearward of said elongate openings.

9. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first means includes a second rod fixed to said stationary bracket at its other lateral side and extending horizontally in said direction, said second rod arranged in a location laterally corresponding to said first rod and having threads on its outer periphery, and a corresponding nut member mounted on said second rod with corresponding threads meshing with the threads of said second rod such that said nut member moves along said second rod when said second rod is rotated, said nut member being fixed to said steering column through said second bracket.

10. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 9, wherein said second rod is rotated by an electric motor through a gear train.

11. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 10, which further comprises a potentiometer fixed to said stationary bracket means at said other lateral side and arranged along said second rod, said potentiometer having a movable contact which is fixed to said nut member.

12. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein said movable contact moves along an elongate guide member which is fixed to said stationary bracket means and extends in parallel to said second rod.

13. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said vehicle having a longitudinal axis extending between forward and rearward ends of the vehicle, said steering column assembly comprising:

a steering column;

stationary bracket means fixed to a vehicle body;

said stationary bracket means having an elongate opening which extends horizontally in a direction along said longitudinal axis;

a slider slidably fitted into said elongate opening for sliding movement along the elongate opening, said slider connected to the steering column in such a manner as to move along the elongate opening with the steering column;

a first rod fixed to the stationary bracket means and extending horizontally in said direction;

a movable member movably mounted on said first rod and fixed to the steering column for moving along said first rod with the steering column;

a first joint, provided forward of said steering column, for allowing pivotable movement of the steering column;

a second joint provided forward of said first joint;

shaft means connecting said first and second joints for pivotable movement therebetween, said shaft means adapted to extend and contract along its longitudinal axis;

whereby said slider and said movable member respectively allow said steering column to displace horizontally in said direction, while, supporting the steering column relative to the stationary bracket means.

14. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first rod is arranged rearward of said elongate opening.

15. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first rod is formed with threads on its outer periphery and said movable member is formed with corresponding threads meshing with the threads of said first rod such that said movable member moves along the first rod when the first rod is rotated.

16. A steering column assembly as set forth in claim 13, wherein said first rod is arranged at one lateral side of the steering column, further comprising a second rod fixed to said stationary bracket means at the other lateral side of the steering column and extending horizontally in said direction, said second rod arranged in a location laterally corresponding to said first rod and having threads on its outer periphery, and a corresponding nut member mounted on said second rod with corresponding threads meshing with the threads of the second rod such that said nut member moves along said second rod when the second rod is rotated, said nut member being fixed to said steering column.