Pre-crash column release

• US 7,347,451 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2004
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Riefe, Richard K, Jwalapathy, Ravindra, Shah, Minoo J., Armstrong, Ray G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCREARY, LEONARD
• Application Number:
  US11/013,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20060131863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,195 Days
• Field of Search: 280/777, 280/775, 70182-186, 702/52
• US Class Current: 280/777
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/19 incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible shock absorbers using plastic deformation of members in general F16F7/12

Abstract

A steering column assembly (10) for a vehicle includes first and second members (12, 14) engaged for movement relative to one another along one of a tilting path (16) and a telescoping path. The steering column assembly (10) also includes an electric lock (18) operable to lock the first and second members (12, 14) into a locked configuration that restricts movement and an unlocked configuration that permits movement between the members. The steering column assembly (10) also includes a sensor (20) operable to sense a vehicle crash condition and then emit a crash signal to a controller (22) that controls the electric lock (18) to change from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration in response to the signal.

Claims

1. A steering column assembly (10) for a vehicle comprising:

first and second steering column members (12, 14) engaged for movement relative to one another along one of a tilting path (16) and a telescoping path;

an electric lock (18) operable in a locked configuration wherein said first and second steering column members (12, 14) are locked with respect to one another and an unlocked configuration wherein said first and second steering column members (12, 14) are moveable with respect to one another to selectively lock said first and second steering column members (12, 14);

a sensor (20) operable to sense a crash condition corresponding to a vehicle crash and to emit a crash signal corresponding to the crash condition; and

a controller (22) operable to receive said crash signal and to control said electric lock (18) to change from said locked configuration to said unlocked configuration in response to said crash signal; and

said electric lock (18) having a locking portion (26) movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, an actuator (28) supported by said first steering column member (12) and operable to move said locking portion (26) between both of said locked and unlocked configurations, and an aperture (34) in said second steering column member (14) for receipt of said locking portion (26) when in said locked configuration.

2. The steering column assembly (10) of claim 1 further comprising:

a timer (24) operable to start timing a predetermined period of time when said crash signal is emitted by said sensor (20) and emit an expiration signal at an expiration of said predetermined period of time.

3. The steering column assembly (10) of claim 2 wherein said controller (22) is operable to receive said expiration signal and control said electric lock (18) to change from said unlocked configuration to said locked configuration in response to said expiration signal.

4. The steering column assembly (10) of claim 1 wherein said sensor (20) is operable to sense a normal condition corresponding to normal vehicle handling and to emit a normal signal corresponding to said normal condition.

5. The steering column assembly (10) of claim 4 wherein said controller (22) is operable to receive said normal signal and control said electric lock (18) to change from said unlocked configuration to said locked configuration in response to said normal signal.

6. The steering column assembly (10) of claim 1 wherein in said locking portion (26) is further defined being moveable only by said actuator (28).

7. A method (30) for controlling a steering column assembly (10) for a vehicle comprising the steps of:

engaging first and second steering column members (12, 14) for movement relative to one another along one of a tilting path (16) and a telescoping path;

selectively locking the first and second steering column members (12, 14) with an electric lock (18) operable in a locked configuration wherein the first and second steering column members (12, 14) are locked with respect to one another and an unlocked configuration wherein the first and second steering column members (12, 14) are moveable with respect to one another;

sensing a condition corresponding to a vehicle crash and emitting a signal corresponding to the condition with a sensor (20);

receiving the signal and controlling the electric lock (18) to change from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration in response to the signal with a controller (22); and

wherein the step of said selectively locking the steering column members includes the step of moving a locking portion (26) of the electric lock (18) with a actuator (28) of the electric lock (18) between the locked and unlocked configurations.

8. The method (30) of claim 7 wherein said moving step is further defined as moving the locking portion (26) only with the actuator (28).

9. The method (30) of claim 7 wherein said moving step is further defined as moving the locking portion (26) during normal vehicle handling and during the vehicle crash with the actuator (28).

10. The method (30) of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

controlling the electric lock (18) to move the locking portion (26) with the actuator (28) to the locked configuration after the vehicle crash.

11. A steering column assembly (10) for a vehicle comprising:

first and second steering column members (12, 14) engaged adjustably to one another for movement along a path;

an electric lock constructed and arranged to attach directly between said first and second steering column members (12, 14) when in a normally locked configuration that restricts movement along said path, and disengage from at least one of said first and second steering column members (12, 14) when in an unlocked configuration that enables movement along said path;

a sensor (20) constructed and arranged to sense an imminent crash condition and to emit a corresponding crash signal; and

a controller (22) constructed and arranged to electrically receive said crash signal and to control said electric lock (18) to change from said normally locked configuration to said unlocked configuration in response to said crash signal; and

said electric lock (18) having a locking portion (26) movable between said locked and unlocked configurations, an actuator (28) supported by said first steering column member (12) and operable to move said locking portion (26) between both of said locked and unlocked configurations, and an aperture (34) in said second steering column member (14) for receipt of said locking portion (26) when in said locked configuration.