A steering assist system of a steering column assembly is provided. The system includes a worm rotatably driven by an actuator. The system also includes a worm gear having a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth, the first set of teeth in meshed engagement with the worm, the worm gear operatively coupled to a steering shaft. The system further includes a lock feature moveable into and out of engagement with the second set of teeth of the worm gear to define a locked condition and an unlocked condition of the worm gear.

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.

A steering shaft decoupling assembly includes a steering shaft. The assembly also includes a lower shaft mechanically coupled to the steering shaft. The assembly further includes a steering shaft locking component engageable with the steering shaft and moveable between a first position and a second position, the first position locking the steering shaft to prevent axial translation and the second position unlocking the steering shaft to allow axial translation of the steering shaft, the steering shaft locking component being in the second position in an autonomous driving mode, the autonomous driving mode comprising an advanced driving assist system controlling road wheels of a vehicle resulting in rotation of the lower shaft.

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 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.

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.

An ignition lock assembly includes a lock housing and an ignition lock actuator assembly. The lock housing has a first portion and a second portion that extends from the first portion along an axis. The ignition lock actuator assembly is received within the second portion. The ignition lock actuator assembly includes an actuator gear and a lock cylinder drive disk. The lock cylinder drive disk is at least partially received within the actuator gear. The lock cylinder drive disk has a drive disk body that extends between a first disk end and a second disk end. The first disk end has an inhibit feature.

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, housing components that are 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 components and the trigger. When the housed components are displaced, the trigger is displaced via the trigger coupling member.

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.