Positioning device for motor vehicle steering columns

• US 7,150,204 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Issued: 12/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme Nacam GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Lenksysteme Nacam GmbH (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Grams, Kai-Uwe, Uphaus, Ludger, Horstmann, Holger
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, William C.
• Application Number:
  US10/899,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20040261565A1
• Time in Patent Office: 875 Days
• Field of Search: 744/93, 280/775
• US Class Current: 74/493
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions

Abstract

A motor vehicle steering column with a positioning device (1) is provided as well as a positioning device for motor vehicle steering columns. The positioning device has a first bracket (3) for connecting the positioning device (1) with the motor vehicle steering column (2), a second bracket (4) for connecting the positioning device (1) with the body of a vehicle, a toothed rack (5) arranged at the first bracket (3) with at least one row of locking teeth and alignment of the row of locking teeth in parallel to a first direction of adjustment, a second toothed rack (6) arranged at the second bracket (4) with at least one row of locking teeth and alignment of the row of locking teeth in parallel to a second direction of adjustment, with a first locking element with at least one row of locking teeth, which can be caused to mesh with the row of locking teeth of the first toothed rack (5), with a second locking element (8) with at least one row of locking teeth, which can be caused to mesh with the row of locking teeth of the second toothed rack, with a spacer for setting a defined distance of the second locking element (8) in relation to the first locking element, and with a clamping mechanism (10). The clamping mechanism (10) provides for the simultaneous locking and unlocking of the first and second (8) locking elements with the respective first (5) and second (6) toothed rack.

Claims

1. A positioning device for a motor vehicle steering column, the positioning device comprising:

a first bracket for connecting the positioning device with the motor vehicle steering column;

a second bracket for connecting the positioning device with the body of a motor vehicle;

a first toothed rack arranged at the first bracket with a row of first rack locking teeth and with an alignment of the row of said first rack locking teeth in the direction of a first direction of adjustment;

a second toothed rack arranged at the second bracket with a row of second rack locking teeth and with an alignment of the row of said second rack locking teeth in the direction of a second direction of adjustment;

a first locking element with a row of first element locking teeth, which can be caused to mesh with the row of said first rack locking teeth;

a second locking element with a row of first element locking teeth, which can be caused to mesh with the row of said second rack locking teeth;

a spacer for setting a defined distance between the second locking element in relation to the first locking element;

a clamping mechanism for the simultaneous locking and unlocking of the first and said second locking element with the respective first toothed rack and second toothed rack wherein said second toothed rack and said first locking element are arranged between said first bracket and said second locking element and said first toothed rack is arranged between said first bracket and said first locking element; and

a compression spring arranged between said first bracket and said first locking element.

2. A positioning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the position of the second locking element with respect to the spacer is adjustable at least once.

3. A positioning device in accordance with claim 2, wherein the position of the second locking element with respect to the spacer can be adjusted by one of a screw thread connection, a single-time press-on operation, a spring washer and material compression.

4. A positioning device in accordance claim 2, wherein the adjustment of the position of the second locking element with respect to the spacer can be performed from an outer area of the positioning device.

5. A positioning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said clamping mechanism includes a bar-shaped extension guided movably by said first bracket and said second bracket, said first toothed rack and said second toothed rack, said first locking element and said second locking element and said spacer.

6. A positioning device in accordance with claim 5, wherein the bar-shaped extension has a securing element for limiting a movement of said elements of the positioning means, which are displaceable on said bar-shaped extension, beyond an end of said bar-shaped extension.

7. A positioning device in accordance with claim 6, wherein said bar-shaped extension securing element and said first locking element and said second locking element are held pressed against said securing element by said compression spring.

8. A positioning device in accordance with claim 5, wherein:

said first bracket is part of one of a steering column body and a steering column jacket of the steering column;

said first bracket defines an elongated through hole with a longitudinal extension arranged substantially parallel with an axis of the steering column;

said extension extends through said hole.

9. A positioning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first toothed rack and said first bracket together form a component.

10. A positioning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second toothed rack and said second bracket together form a component.

11. A positioning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said first bracket is part of one of a steering column body and a steering column jacket of the steering column.

12. A positioning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said second toothed rack and said first locking element are arranged between said first toothed rack and said second locking element.

13. A positioning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said first bracket is part of one of a steering column body and a steering column jacket of the steering column.

14. A positioning device in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said spacer connects said second locking element to the first locking element at said defined distance.