Motor vehicle steering column

• US 8,146,945 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2003
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Born, Christian, Knoll, Karl-Heinz, Mausolf, Karsten, Raabe, Hermann, Schuliers, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Rocca, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/534,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20110215560A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,119 Days
• Field of Search: 280/771, 280/775, 280/777, 744/92, 744/93
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/181 with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory

Abstract

A motor vehicle steering column includes a bracket fixed to the vehicle and a steering column tube. The steering column tube may be adjusted in inclination relative to the bracket fixed to the vehicle via an adjusting device. The adjusting device includes a lever which is mounted pivotably on the bracket and may be deflected about a pivot axis by a driving device. The motor vehicle steering column may permit a maximum inclination setting irrespective of the available construction space. A deflecting clamp which is connected pivotably to the steering column tube is coupled to an output end of the lever.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle steering column, comprising:

a bracket adapted to be fixed to a vehicle;

an adjustment device including a lever mounted pivotably on the bracket, a driver device and a deflection clamp, the lever deflectable about a pivot axis by the driver device; and

a steering column tube adjustable in inclination relative to the bracket by the adjustment device, the deflection clamp connected pivotably to the steering column tube and coupled to one output end of the lever;

wherein the lever is deflectable about the pivot axis by reciprocating movement at one driving end of the lever;

wherein the driver device is configured to compensate for the movement of the driving end of the lever;

wherein the steering column tube includes two steering column tube sections, an outer steering column tube section including an integrally-formed flange below a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle steering column, a pivot axis of the deflection clamp arranged on the flange.

2. The motor vehicle steering column according to claim 1, wherein the steering column tube is mounted on the bracket to move about a pivot axis that extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle steering column.

3. The motor vehicle steering column according to claim 1, wherein the lever has a substantially triangular longitudinal sectional form.

4. The motor vehicle steering column according to claim 1, wherein the lever is arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle steering column.

5. A motor vehicle steering column, comprising:

a bracket adapted to be fixed to a vehicle;

an adjustment device including a lever mounted pivotably on the bracket, a driver device and a deflection clamp, the lever deflectable about a pivot axis by the driver device; and

a steering column tube adjustable in inclination relative to the bracket by the adjustment device, the deflection clamp connected pivotably to the steering column tube and coupled to one output end of the lever;

wherein the lever is deflectable about the pivot axis by reciprocating movement at one driving end of the lever;

wherein the driver device is configured to compensate for the movement of the driving end of the lever;

wherein the deflection clamp is U-shaped, a free limb end of the deflection clamp coupled to the output end of the lever.

6. The motor vehicle steering column according to claim 5, wherein the steering column tube is mounted on the bracket to move about a pivot axis that extends transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle steering column.

7. The motor vehicle steering column according to claim 5, wherein the lever has a substantially triangular longitudinal sectional form.

8. The motor vehicle steering column according to claim 5, wherein the lever is arranged mirror-symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle steering column.

9. A motor vehicle steering column, comprising:

a bracket fixed to a vehicle;

an adjustment device including a lever mounted pivotably on the bracket, a driver device and a deflection clamp, the lever deflectable about a pivot axis by the driver device; and

a steering column tube adjustable in inclination relative to the bracket by the adjustment device, the deflection clamp connected pivotably to the steering column tube and coupled to one output end of the lever;

wherein the lever is deflectable about the pivot axis by reciprocating movement at one driving end of the lever;

wherein the driver device is configured to compensate for the movement of the driving end of the lever;

wherein the steering column tube includes two steering column tube sections, an outer steering column tube section including an integrally-formed flange below a longitudinal axis of the motor vehicle steering column, a pivot axis of the deflection clamp arranged on the flange.

10. A motor vehicle steering column, comprising:

a bracket fixed to a vehicle;

an adjustment device including a lever mounted pivotably on the bracket, a driver device and a deflection clamp, the lever deflectable about a pivot axis by the driver device; and

a steering column tube adjustable in inclination relative to the bracket by the adjustment device, the deflection clamp connected pivotably to the steering column tube and coupled to one output end of the lever;

wherein the lever is deflectable about the pivot axis by reciprocating movement at one driving end of the lever;

wherein the driver device is configured to compensate for the movement of the driving end of the lever;

wherein the deflection clamp is U-shaped, a free limb end of the deflection clamp coupled to the output end of the lever.