A sensor unit for a steering system, in particular a steer-by-wire steering system, includes a component to be monitored and having a multifunctional position sensor, which has at least one spring element and at least one piezoelectric sensor, which is associated with the spring element and is provided at a first end of the spring element. The spring element is associated with the component to be monitored via a second end opposite to the first end. A steering wheel subassembly, a rack subassembly and a steering system are furthermore described.

A position identification assembly for a steering column is provided. The assembly may include a mount bracket, a steering column, a sensor, and a controller. The mount bracket may define an opening to the cavity. The steering column may be mounted to the mount bracket for translation at least partially in to and out of the cavity and the steering column may define one or more physical features therealong. The sensor may be secured to the mount bracket to detect the physical features. Each of the one or more physical features may be arranged upon the steering column such that the sensor detects the one or more physical features when the steering column translates between positions and may send a signal to the controller reflecting the same. The controller is programmed to identify a steering column position based on the received signal.

A position identification assembly for a steering column is provided. The assembly may include a mount bracket, a steering column, a sensor, and a controller. The mount bracket may define an opening to the cavity. The steering column may be mounted to the mount bracket for translation at least partially in to and out of the cavity and the steering column may define one or more physical features therealong. The sensor may be secured to the mount bracket to detect the physical features. Each of the one or more physical features may be arranged upon the steering column such that the sensor detects the one or more physical features when the steering column translates between positions and may send a signal to the controller reflecting the same. The controller is programmed to identify a steering column position based on the received signal.

The steering device includes a steering shaft, a steering column, a bracket, and a fastening mechanism. The steering column includes a lower column and an upper column. The upper column includes a clamp, a cylindrical part, a pair of protrusions, and a reinforcement rib that extends across an outer peripheral surface of the clamp and an outer surface of one of the protrusions. The clamp includes a continuous clamp positioned near the cylindrical part and a spaced clamp spaced apart from the cylindrical part. The protrusions include a continuous protrusion that protrudes from the continuous clamp, and a spaced protrusion that protrudes from the spaced clamp. The reinforcement rib linearly extends from the spaced protrusion toward the continuous clamp.

The steering device includes a steering shaft, a steering column, a bracket, and a fastening mechanism. The steering column includes a lower column and an upper column. The upper column includes a clamp, a cylindrical part, a pair of protrusions, and a reinforcement rib that extends across an outer peripheral surface of the clamp and an outer surface of one of the protrusions. The clamp includes a continuous clamp positioned near the cylindrical part and a spaced clamp spaced apart from the cylindrical part. The protrusions include a continuous protrusion that protrudes from the continuous clamp, and a spaced protrusion that protrudes from the spaced clamp. The reinforcement rib linearly extends from the spaced protrusion toward the continuous clamp.

A steering device includes a telescopic steering shaft that extends in a first direction, and a cylindrical outer steering column that rotatably supports the steering shaft. The steering column includes a lower column and an upper column having one end slidably attached to the lower column and the other end on which a bearing that supports the steering shaft is provided. The upper column includes a clamp that is externally slidably fitted to the lower column and that has a slit extending in the first direction, and a cylindrical part that has a cylindrical shape and that has one end continuous with the clamp and the other end blocked by the bearing being internally fitted. The cylindrical part has an air hole that is spaced apart from the one end of the cylindrical part and that penetrates an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical part.

A steering device according to an aspect of the present invention includes an outer shaft, an inner shaft, an outer column, and an inner column. The inner shaft has a sliding portion configured to be capable of being inserted into the outer shaft, and a bearing-mounting portion that is connected to the sliding portion in an axial direction thereof and is configured not to be capable of being inserted into the outer shaft. In the bearing-mounting portion, rear bearings are disposed with an interval therebetween in the axial direction.

A steering device according to an aspect of the present invention includes an outer shaft, an inner shaft, an outer column, and an inner column. The inner shaft has a sliding portion configured to be capable of being inserted into the outer shaft, and a bearing-mounting portion that is connected to the sliding portion in an axial direction thereof and is configured not to be capable of being inserted into the outer shaft. In the bearing-mounting portion, rear bearings are disposed with an interval therebetween in the axial direction.

A steering column may include a casing unit in which a steering spindle is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis and which has at least three telescopically guided casing tubes that are mutually adjustable in an axial direction. One of the tubes is an external casing tube in which an intermediate casing tube is received, an internal casing tube being received in the intermediate casing tube. A locking bolt installation can releasably lock at least two of the casing tubes to one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The locking bolt installation can switch between an internal blocking position and an external blocking position. The intermediate casing tube in the internal blocking position is locked to the internal casing tube. The intermediate casing tube in the external locking position is locked to the external casing tube.

A steering column may include a casing unit in which a steering spindle is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis and which has at least three telescopically guided casing tubes that are mutually adjustable in an axial direction. One of the tubes is an external casing tube in which an intermediate casing tube is received, an internal casing tube being received in the intermediate casing tube. A locking bolt installation can releasably lock at least two of the casing tubes to one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The locking bolt installation can switch between an internal blocking position and an external blocking position. The intermediate casing tube in the internal blocking position is locked to the internal casing tube. The intermediate casing tube in the external locking position is locked to the external casing tube.