Clamping device for a steering column

• US 5,921,577 A
• Filed: 09/25/1997
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler KG, Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: INA Walzlager Schaeffler KG, Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Siemers, Michael, Zernickel, Alexander, Weiss, Jurgen, Gaertner, Stephan, Scheu, Reiner, Martin, Reiner, Kambies, Thomas, Soyka, Wilfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US08/936,391
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 74/493
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions

Abstract

A clamping device for a steering column (6) which is guided in fixed mounting arms (4, 5) and comprises a tie bolt (7) which is arranged at right angles to the steering column (6), the tie bolt (7) extends between the two mounting arms (4, 5), there being arranged on one end of the tie bolt (7), between a thrust washer (11a) and the mounting arm (4), a clamping washer (12a) comprising clamping ramps (13a) on which rolling elements (14a) are supported while being guided in a retention disc (15a) mounted for rotation on the tie bolt (7), the retention disc (15a) can be rotated by means of a hand lever (19), and, depending on a direction of rotation of the retention disc (15a), the mounting arms (4, 5) effect a clamping or a releasing of the steering column (6), characterized in that the clamping device (1a) comprises a pot-shaped housing (2) which bears against the mounting arm (4) by a bottom (3) and encloses all the clamping means, the housing (2) is closed at one end by a thrust washer (11a), while the clamping ramp (13a) of the clamping washer (12a) has a contour which changes continuously from a zero position up to a clamped position.

Claims

1. A clamping device arranged on a steering column for positional fixing the steering column which is adjustable in length and/or inclination and is guided between mounting arms (4, 5) of a fixed bracket, said clamping device comprising a tie bolt (7) arranged at a right angle to the steering column and extends between said mounting arms (4, 5), one end of the tie bolt (7) being retained on one (5) of said mounting arms, while on an opposite end of the tie bolt (7) which projects beyond the other mounting arm (4), there is arranged between a thrust washer (11a, 11b) and the other mounting arm (4), a clamping washer (12a, 12b) comprising clamping ramps 13a, 13b) for supporting rolling elements (14a, 14b) which are guided in a retention disc (15a, 15b) and mounted for rotation on the tie bolt (7) while being adapted to be rotated by a manual hand lever (19), and, depending on a direction of rotation of the retention disc (15a, 15b), said mounting arms (4, 5) approach the steering column to effect clamping or move away from the steering column to release the steering column wherein the clamping ramps (13a, 13b) have a contour which changes continuously starting from a zero position up to a clamping position, the clamping device (1a, 1b) comprises a pot-shaped housing (2) which is rotationally fixed on the other mounting arm (4) by a bottom (3), and the housing (2), through which the tie bolt (7) is inserted, encloses the clamping washer and is clamped by the thrust washer (11a, 11b).

2. A clamping device of claim 1 wherein the retention disc (15a, 15b) is guided for rotation on the tie bolt (7) by a bush (18) which extends axially beyond the retention disc (15a, 15b) on both sides.

3. A clamping device of claim 2 wherein the bush (18) extends from the bottom (3) up to the thrust washer (11a, 11b).

4. A clamping device of claim 1 wherein an arrangement of the rolling elements (14a, 14b) in the clamping position thereof extends parallel to a longitudinal axis (25) of the steering column (6).

5. A clamping device of claim 1 wherein, starting from a zero position, the clamping ramp (13a, 13b) of the clamping washer (12a, 12b) ascends at first steeply up to a first point of inflection (26) which is followed by a flattening ascent which extends up to a second point of inflection (27) from which the contour of the clamping ramp (13a, 13b) descends up to the clamping position, and, for positionally fixing the rolling elements (14a, 14b) in the clamping position, the clamping ramp (13a, 13b) comprises a difference of height X2 relative to the second point of inflection (27).

6. A clamping device of claim 1 wherein the rolling elements are disc-shaped and are guided on an axis (22) in the retention disc (15b).

7. A clamping device of claim 1 wherein a torsion spring (23) is arranged between the thrust washer (11b) and a race disc (16b) while being guided on the tie bolt (7).

8. A clamping device of claim 7 wherein the torsion spring (23) acts in a closing direction of the clamping device (1b).

9. A clamping device of claim 1 wherein the housing (2) is made of steel sheet by deep drawing without chip removal.

10. A clamping device of claim 1 wherein the housing (2) comprises a rotation-preventing device (21) in the form of an axial extension which engages into a corresponding recess of the other mounting arm (4).