A steering column assembly is disclosed that comprises: a housing having outer, intermediate and inner elongate, telescopically mounted housing portions movable relative to one another along an adjustment axis; a steering column rotatably mounted in the inner elongate housing portion and being configured at one end for attachment of a steering member (e.g. a steering wheel); a leadscrew rotatably mounted on the intermediate housing portion and having first and second threaded portions of opposite handedness; a motor for rotating the leadscrew; a first displacement member screw-threadedly mounted to the first threaded portion of the leadscrew and connected to one of the outer and inner elongate housing portions; and a second displacement member screw-threadedly mounted to the second threaded portion of the leadscrew and connected to the other of the outer and inner elongate housing portions; whereby rotation of the leadscrew causes displacement of the first and second displacement members in opposite directions along the adjustment axis.

A steering column assembly is disclosed that comprises: a housing having outer, intermediate and inner elongate, telescopically mounted housing portions movable relative to one another along an adjustment axis; a steering column rotatably mounted in the inner elongate housing portion and being configured at one end for attachment of a steering member (e.g. a steering wheel); a leadscrew rotatably mounted on the intermediate housing portion and having first and second threaded portions of opposite handedness; a motor for rotating the leadscrew; a first displacement member screw-threadedly mounted to the first threaded portion of the leadscrew and connected to one of the outer and inner elongate housing portions; and a second displacement member screw-threadedly mounted to the second threaded portion of the leadscrew and connected to the other of the outer and inner elongate housing portions; whereby rotation of the leadscrew causes displacement of the first and second displacement members in opposite directions along the adjustment axis.

An absorber of steering column shock energy includes a plastically deformable part forming a loop, a breakaway link closing this loop on itself, and a first attachment interface and a second attachment interface separate from the breakaway link and arranged on either side of the loop. The part and the fusible link are arranged so that the exertion of forces in opposite directions on the first attachment interface and on the second attachment interface respectively, causes a stress leading to a deformation of the loop, breaking of the breakaway link and further deformation of the loop after this break.

An absorber of steering column shock energy includes a plastically deformable part forming a loop, a breakaway link closing this loop on itself, and a first attachment interface and a second attachment interface separate from the breakaway link and arranged on either side of the loop. The part and the fusible link are arranged so that the exertion of forces in opposite directions on the first attachment interface and on the second attachment interface respectively, causes a stress leading to a deformation of the loop, breaking of the breakaway link and further deformation of the loop after this break.

A steering column has a housing. A steering spindle jacket is disposed within the housing. An outer steering spindle is disposed within the steering spindle jacket and has a spline hub. An inner spindle is disposed within the outer steering spindle and includes a spline shaft configured to permit axial movement and prevent rotation of the outer steering spindle when the spline hub and the spline shaft are engaged. In a non-stowed state the spline shaft and the spline hub are engaged and in a stowed state the spline shaft and the spline hub are free of engagement. A pin is disposed in the housing engages the spline hub portion in the stowed state and prevents rotation of the outer steering spindle and is free of engagement in the non-stowed state.

A method of controlling switching to a manual driving mode in an autonomous vehicle provided with a foldable pedal device is provided. In the method, when a signal for switching a driving mode from an autonomous driving mode to the manual driving mode is generated in an autonomous vehicle provided with a foldable accelerator pedal device and a foldable brake pedal device, whether it is possible to switch the driving mode to the manual driving mode is determined by checking safety conditions; when the safety conditions are satisfied, it is determined whether a pop-up position of a pad of the foldable accelerator pedal device and a pop-up position of a pad of the foldable brake pedal device are normal pop-up positions, respectively; and only when the positions are the respective normal pop-up positions, the driving mode is switched to the manual driving mode.

A motor adjustment drive for a vehicle steering column includes a threaded spindle with an axis. The threaded spindle engages a spindle nut. A drive unit and a gear wheel which is connected to the spindle nut or the threaded spindle for rotation therewith is driveable to rotate by the drive unit and is rotatably mounted in a bearing housing between two outer bearing rings that are axially supported at the bearing housing. The outer bearing rings each have, on their sides facing one another, a circumferential outer bearing face that is coaxial to the axis. Each outer bearing face lays opposite a bearing face embodied on the end side at the gear wheel. An outer bearing ring is axially resiliently supported at the bearing housing via an elastic element, which exerts an axial force that biases the two outer bearing rings toward each other.

A motor adjustment drive for a vehicle steering column includes a threaded spindle with an axis. The threaded spindle engages a spindle nut. A drive unit and a gear wheel which is connected to the spindle nut or the threaded spindle for rotation therewith is driveable to rotate by the drive unit and is rotatably mounted in a bearing housing between two outer bearing rings that are axially supported at the bearing housing. The outer bearing rings each have, on their sides facing one another, a circumferential outer bearing face that is coaxial to the axis. Each outer bearing face lays opposite a bearing face embodied on the end side at the gear wheel. An outer bearing ring is axially resiliently supported at the bearing housing via an elastic element, which exerts an axial force that biases the two outer bearing rings toward each other.

A sleeve of a steering column includes (i) an outer tube and an inner tube that are movable relative to each other, and (ii) an adjustment system. The adjustment system includes a screw for adjusting the axial position along an adjustment axis constrained to move in translation with a first of the two elements by at least two guide bearings for rotationally guiding the adjusting screw about the adjustment axis. At least one of the bearings supporting the adjusting screw is a guide bearing with axial force take-up for blocking the translational movement of the adjusting screw.

A sleeve of a steering column includes (i) an outer tube and an inner tube that are movable relative to each other, and (ii) an adjustment system. The adjustment system includes a screw for adjusting the axial position along an adjustment axis constrained to move in translation with a first of the two elements by at least two guide bearings for rotationally guiding the adjusting screw about the adjustment axis. At least one of the bearings supporting the adjusting screw is a guide bearing with axial force take-up for blocking the translational movement of the adjusting screw.