Power tilt, telescoping and internally collapsible steering column

• US 5,520,416 A
• Filed: 10/03/1994
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Singer, John C. III, Thacker, Clarke F., Cragel, Nancy J., Mastrofrancesco, Luigi
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US08/316,961
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 280/777, 74/493, 74/89.15, 74/492
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/195 Yieldable supports for the steering column
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18576 including screw and nut

Abstract

A power tilt, telescoping and internally collapsible steering column assembly is provided. The assembly comprises a main housing, a telescope housing, and a tilt head. The telescope housing and tilt head are driven by a pair of torsionally rigid axially flexible cables extending generally along the steering column. The cable is adapted by its axial flexibility to axially flex to accommodate the collapse of the telescope housing with respect to the main housing.

Claims

1. A steering apparatus, comprising:

a first portion adapted to be fixed to a vehicle body and having a main housing provided thereon;

a second portion telescopically movable with respect to said main housing, said second portion having first and second ends thereof;

a third portion including a pivot assembly pivotally connecting said third portion with respect to said second portion and adapted to receive a steering wheel thereon;

a pivot actuator operatively connected to said pivot assembly for pivoting said third portion with respect to said second portion;

a telescope actuator operatively connected between said first and second portions for telescoping said second portion with respect to said first portion;

a first motor stationary with respect to said first portion for driving said telescope actuator;

a first driver driven by said first motor;

a first torsionally rigid axially flexible cable having a first end rotatably driven by said first driver and relatively shiftable axially with respect to said first driver and a second end connected to said telescope actuator, such that rotation of said first end of said first cable by said first driver is translated by said first cable to drive said telescope actuator and said first cable is axially flexible as said second portion moves with respect to said first portion;

a second motor stationary with respect to said first portion for driving said pivot actuator;

a second driver driven by said second motor; and

a second torsionally rigid axially flexible cable having a first end rotatably driven by said second driver and relatively shiftable axially with respect to said second driver and a second end connected to said pivot actuator, such that rotation of said first end of said second cable by said second driver is translated by said second cable to drive said pivot actuator and said second cable is axially flexible as said second portion moves with respect to said first portion.

2. The steering apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an energy absorbing strap operatively connected between said first portion and said second portion for absorbing energy of movement of said second portion with respect to said first portion in a vehicle crash situation.

3. The steering apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a rivet connecting said telescope actuator to said first portion, said rivet having shear strength sufficiently low to allow shearing of the rivet in a vehicle crash situation.

4. The steering apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of plastic tracks operatively connected to said second portion and in sliding contact with said first portion to guide movement of said second portion with respect to said first portion.

5. The steering apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of ball bearings operatively positioned between said second portion and said first portion to guide movement of said second portion with respect to said first portion; and

a separator positioned between said ball bearings to prevent contact therebetween.

6. A steering column assembly, comprising:

a main housing;

a telescoping assembly, including a telescope housing slidably connected to said main housing, a first motor connected to said main housing, a first torsionally rigid axially flexible cable rotatably driven by said first motor, a telescope actuator operatively connected between said main housing and said telescope housing and driven by said first cable for reciprocating the telescope housing with respect to said main housing;

a tilt assembly, including a tilting head pivotally connected to said telescope housing for carrying a steering wheel, a second motor connected to said main housing, a second torsionally rigid axially flexible cable rotatably driven by said second motor, a tilt actuator operatively connected between said tilting head and said telescope housing and driven by said second cable for tilting the steering wheel with respect to a user; and

said axial flexibility of said first and second cables accommodating collapse of said telescoping assembly with respect to said main housing.

7. The steering column assembly of claim 6, wherein said telescope actuator comprising:

a first thrust bearing mounted to said main housing and axially supporting said first cable; and

an actuating member threadedly fastened to said first cable and connected to said telescope housing.

8. The steering column assembly of claim 6, wherein said tilt actuator comprises:

a second thrust bearing mounted to said telescope housing and axially supporting said second cable; and

a clevis threadedly fastened to said second cable and pivotally connected to said tilting head.

9. The steering column assembly of claim 6, further comprising:

an energy absorbing curl strap operatively connected between said telescope housing and said main housing for absorbing energy of movement of said telescope housing with respect to said main housing in a vehicle crash situation.

10. The steering column assembly of claim 6, further comprising a position sensor for sensing the tilt and telescope position of the steering wheel.