Dual on-center column lock mechanism

• US 7,685,903 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2008
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Gilbert, Aaron T., Streng, Joseph R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ridley; Richard W L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Boes; Terence
• Application Number:
  US12/123,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20090282945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 744/92, 744/93, 280/775
• US Class Current: 74/493
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions

Abstract

An adjustable steering column assembly includes a column jacket extending along a longitudinal axis. The column jacket includes a compression bracket mounted thereto, and is supported by a mounting bracket. A pawl engages a telescope slot defined by the compression bracket in interlocking engagement to mechanically lock the longitudinal position of the column jacket relative to the mounting bracket. A transverse cam mechanism moves the pawl generally vertically into and out of engagement with the telescope slot. An axial cam mechanism compresses the compression bracket against the mounting bracket. The transverse cam mechanism and the axial cam mechanism are operated by shaft extending along a shaft axis intersecting the column jacket. The transverse cam mechanism and the axial cam mechanism each include first and second cam mechanism disposed on opposing sides of the column jacket and simultaneously operable by a lever.

Claims

1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a mounting bracket configured for attachment to the vehicle;

a column jacket coupled to said mounting bracket and longitudinally moveable along a longitudinal axis relative to said mounting bracket;

a compression bracket mounted to said column jacket and defining a telescope slot having a plurality of telescope slot teeth extending along said longitudinal axis;

a shaft coupled to said column jacket and extending along a shaft axis intersecting said column jacket and transverse to said longitudinal axis with said shaft rotatable between a lock position and a release position;

a pawl coupled to said shaft for engagement with said telescope slot teeth; and

a transverse cam mechanism coupled to said shaft for moving said pawl transverse to said shaft axis into interlocking engagement with said telescope slot teeth in response to rotation of said shaft into said lock position to prevent said longitudinal movement of said column jacket and out of interlocking engagement with said telescope slot teeth in response to rotation of said shaft into said release position to permit said longitudinal movement of said column jacket;

wherein said transverse cam mechanism includes a head portion mounted on said shaft and defining a cam profile, and a block disposed between said head portion and said compression bracket and engaging said cam profile of said head portion.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transverse cam mechanism includes a first transverse cam interface for moving said shaft and said pawl relative to said longitudinal axis.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said transverse cam mechanism includes a second transverse cam interface for moving said pawl relative to said shaft axis.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cam profile of said head portion includes a D-shaped cross section perpendicular to said shaft axis.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a slider body disposed between said column jacket and said compression bracket and moveable relative to said block in a generally vertical direction transverse to said shaft axis.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said slider body includes a cross section perpendicular to said longitudinal axis defining a C-shaped channel facing said column jacket.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said head portion is disposed within said C-shaped channel of said slider body.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a thrust washer disposed between said head portion and said slider body.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a spring disposed between said slider body and said compression bracket to bias said slider body in said generally vertical direction transverse to said shaft axis.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said spring includes a bar spring.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a retainer in sliding engagement with said column jacket and rotatably supporting said head portion of said shaft.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said transverse cam mechanism further includes said shaft including a shank portion defining a cam profile.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said cam profile of said shank portion includes a D-shaped cross section perpendicular to said shaft axis.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said transverse cam mechanism further includes said pawl defining an aperture with said cam profile of said shank portion extending through said aperture for engaging said pawl.

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 further comprising a lever mounted to said shaft for rotating said shaft between said lock position and said release position.

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting bracket defines a rake slot having a plurality of rake slot teeth extending generally vertically and transverse to said longitudinal axis.

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said pawl includes a plurality of rake teeth for engaging said rake slot teeth in response to a collision event.

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an axial cam mechanism biasing said compression bracket and said mounting bracket together axially along said shaft axis in response to rotation of said shaft into said lock position and axially releasing said compression bracket from said mounting bracket along said shaft axis in response to rotation of said shaft into said release position.

19. An assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said axial cam mechanism includes a cam plate attached to said mounting bracket and a cam follower mounted to said shaft and rotatable with said shaft between said lock position and said release position for engaging said cam plate.

20. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a mounting bracket configured for attachment to the vehicle;

a column jacket coupled to said mounting bracket and longitudinally moveable along a longitudinal axis relative to said mounting bracket;

a compression bracket mounted to said column jacket;

a first shaft coupled to said column jacket and extending along a shaft axis intersecting said column jacket and transverse to said longitudinal axis and a second shaft coupled to said column jacket and extending along said shaft axis and disposed on an opposing side of said column jacket with said first shaft and said second shaft simultaneously rotatable between a lock position and a release position;

a first pawl coupled to said first shaft for engagement with said telescope slot teeth of said first telescope slot and a second pawl coupled to said second shaft for engagement with said telescope slot teeth of said second telescope slot;

a first transverse cam mechanism coupled to said first shaft for moving said first pawl transverse to said shaft axis in response to rotation of said first shaft, said first transverse cam mechanism including a first head portion mounted on said first shaft and defining a first cam profile, and a first block disposed between said first head portion and said compression bracket and engaging said first cam profile;

a second transverse cam mechanism coupled to said second shaft for moving said second pawl transverse to said shaft axis in response to rotation of said second shaft, said second transverse cam mechanism including a second head portion mounted on said second shaft and defining a second cam profile, and a second block disposed between said second head portion and said compression bracket and engaging said second cam profile; and

a lever attached to said first shaft and said second shaft for simultaneously rotating said first shaft and said second shaft between said lock position and said release position to simultaneously operate said first transverse cam and said second transverse cam.

21. An assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said compression bracket defines a first telescope slot and a second telescope slot each having a plurality of telescope slot teeth extending along said longitudinal axis wherein said first transverse cam mechanism moves said first pawl transverse to said shaft axis into interlocking engagement with said telescope slot teeth of said first telescope slot in response to rotation of said first shaft into said lock position to prevent said longitudinal movement of said column jacket and out of interlocking engagement with said telescope slot teeth of said first telescope slot in response to rotation of said first shaft into said release position to permit said longitudinal movement of said column jacket and wherein said second transverse cam mechanism moves said second pawl transverse to said shaft axis into interlocking engagement with said telescope slot teeth of said second telescope slot in response to rotation of said second shaft into said lock position to prevent said longitudinal movement of said column jacket and out of interlocking engagement with said telescope slot teeth of said second telescope slot in response to rotation of said second shaft into said release position to permit said longitudinal movement of said column jacket.

22. An assembly as set forth in claim 20 further comprising a first axial cam mechanism coupled to said first shaft and a second axial cam mechanism coupled to said second shaft for biasing said compression bracket and said mounting bracket together axially along said shaft axis in response to rotation of said first shaft and said second shaft into said lock position and axially releasing said compression bracket from said mounting bracket along said shaft axis in response to rotation of said first shaft and said second shaft into said release position.

23. An assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said first axial cam mechanism includes a first cam plate attached to said mounting bracket and a first cam follower mounted to said first shaft and rotatable with said first shaft between said lock position and said release position for engaging said first cam plate and wherein said second axial cam mechanism includes a second cam plate attached to said mounting bracket and a second cam follower mounted to said second shaft and rotatable with said second shaft between said lock position and said release position for engaging said second cam plate.