A method for operating a steering system for a motor vehicle, wherein the steering system has at least one steering lever and at least one electric motor for shifting the steering lever so as to cause a steering movement in the presence of a steering input, and wherein the electric motor is electrically connected to a current source via cabling. In doing so, it is provided that the electric motor is actuated and an electric current flowing between the current source and the electric motor is measured in order to check an electrical connection between the current source and the electric motor under the condition that there is no steering input present.

In a steer-by-wire steering system of a motor vehicle including a feedback actuator to simulate a steering feel to a steering device and including an electric motor with a motor shaft connected to a steering shaft to transmit a torque, and a steering lock including a latch connected to the steering shaft in a torsion-resistant manner and a lock to engage with the latch at locking positions to block a rotation of the steering shaft, a method for controlling steering locking of the steer-by-wire steering system includes, if an ignition is switched-off and a movement of the steering device is detected, determining a position of the steering shaft and a distance between the lock and a next locking position of the latch in a direction of the movement of the steering device, and if the distance is greater than a predefined value, transmitting a counter-torque to the steering shaft by the feedback-actuator in a direction opposite direction to the movement of the steering device until the locking position reaches the lock and the lock can engage with the latch.

A steering lock device includes a trigger that is displaced as a frame cover drops from a frame, an auxiliary lock device that holds a lock member in a locked position as the trigger is displaced under condition that the lock member is positioned in the locked position, a housed component that is arranged in a housing chamber defined by the frame cover and the frame or in a guide hole, and a trigger coupling member that couples the housed component and the trigger. When the housed component is displaced, the trigger is displaced via the trigger coupling member.

A steering column assembly includes a jacket assembly, a modular shift assembly, and a mounting bracket. The jacket assembly extends along a first axis. The modular shift assembly includes a shift bracket and a shift gate. The shift bracket is connected to the jacket assembly and defines a shift bracket opening. The shift gate is disposed on the shift bracket. The bracket defines a shift gate opening as well as first and second detents that extend from the shift gate opening. The mounting bracket is disposed on the shift bracket and has a tab that overlaps a portion of the shift gate.

A steering assembly for a vehicle includes a tilt steering wheel which is capable of being positioned in at least one steering position and at least one non-steering position, wherein the tilt steering wheel can be locked in the at least one non-steering position by a first locking mechanism. The steering assembly includes a second locking mechanism for additionally locking the tilt steering wheel in the at least one non-steering position, wherein the second locking mechanism comprises a locking device which is movable from a locking position into a release position and vice versa using an actuating mechanism.

A steering column device includes a cylindrical inner tube, and a cylindrical outer tube which is fixed to the inner tube by being externally fitted to slide in an axial direction of the inner tube and being elastically reduced in diameter, wherein the outer tube is configured to have a first slit and a second slit to be reduced in diameter. A stress alleviation portion is provided at the second slit. A contour shape of the stress alleviation portion is set to include an elliptic arc-shaped portion of which a direction of a major axis is a direction intersecting the second slit.

A steering column device includes a cylindrical inner tube, and a cylindrical outer tube which is fixed to the inner tube by being externally fitted to slide in an axial direction of the inner tube and being elastically reduced in diameter, wherein the outer tube is configured to have a first slit and a second slit to be reduced in diameter. A stress alleviation portion is provided at the second slit. A contour shape of the stress alleviation portion is set to include an elliptic arc-shaped portion of which a direction of a major axis is a direction intersecting the second slit.

Construction for reinforcing the strength of a pair of support plate sections is achieved. Upper end edges of the pair of support plate sections are fastened to a bottom surface of a bridge plate section of an installation plate section via lug sections for welding. A reinforcing member comprising a protrusion which is convex on the outside in the width direction and concave on the inside in the width direction is provided from the upper end section to the lower end section of the front-end section of each one of the pair of support plate sections.

A lock apparatus includes a bracket, an engagement module, and an actuation module. The engagement module is supported in the bracket and has an engagement member configured to move to a first position or a second position in a first axial direction along the first axial direction. The actuation module is connected to the bracket and includes a pushing member. The actuation module drives the pushing member to move to a first position or a second position in the second axial direction along the second axial direction. When the pushing member is at the first position in the second axial direction, the engagement member is at the first position in the first axial direction. When the pushing member is at the second position in the second axial direction, the engagement member is at the second position in the first axial direction.

A friction clutch mechanism for a steering column of a vehicle is disclosed.