A gearbox assembly includes a housing, an output shaft, a wheel gear, an input shaft, a torsion bar, an electric motor, a worm gear and a key lock. The wheel gear may be fixed to the output shaft for engagement with a wheel gear. The torsion bar may connect the input shaft to the output shaft. The worm gear may be rotationally fixed to the rotor and engages the wheel gear to transfer torque from the motor to the output shaft. The key lock may include an adapter, an annular outer part, a web, and a locking collar. The key lock may be fixed to the housing and is movable between an extended position in which a part of the key lock engages the locking collar and a retracted position in which the part is held clear of the locking collar.

A steering shaft is rotatably provided inside an outer column and an inner column. A key lock collar is mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the steering shaft, the outer peripheral surface facing the outer column. The key lock collar includes a key lock collar body and a cylindrical portion. Multiple concave parts and convex parts extending in the axial direction are provided on an outer peripheral part of the key lock collar body along the circumferential direction. A lock key is engaged with the concave parts from adjacent to the outer column, and thus the rotation of the steering shaft with respect to the outer column is restricted. An outer diameter of the cylindrical portion is smaller than an outer diameter of the convex parts and larger than an outer diameter of the concave parts.

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

A gearbox assembly includes a housing, an output shaft, a wheel gear, an input shaft, a torsion bar, an electric motor, a worm gear and a key lock. The wheel gear may be fixed to the output shaft for engagement with a wheel gear. The torsion bar may connect the input shaft to the output shaft. The worm gear may be rotationally fixed to the rotor and engages the wheel gear to transfer torque from the motor to the output shaft. The key lock may include an adapter, an annular outer part, a web, and a locking collar. The key lock may be fixed to the housing and is movable between an extended position in which a part of the key lock engages the locking collar and a retracted position in which the part is held clear of the locking collar.

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

A steer-by-wire steering system including a feedback actuator to simulate a steering feel to a steering device and including an electric motor 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. If an ignition is switched-off and a movement of the steering device is detected, a position of the steering shaft and a distance between the lock and a next locking position of the latch is determined. If the distance is greater than a predefined value, a counter-torque is transmitted to the steering shaft by the feedback-actuator opposite to the movement of the steering device until the locking position reaches the lock and the lock can engage with the latch.