MOUNTING UNIT FOR MOUNTING A STEERING SHAFT IN AN ASSOCIATED MOUNTING SLEEVE AND STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a mounting unit for mounting a steering shaft in an associated mounting sleeve, which unit comprises a mounting body, at least two first mounting arms and at least two second mounting arms for radially supporting the mounting unit within the mounting sleeve. A roller bearing is provided on a radially inner side of the mounting body, the mounting body forming an outer ring of the roller bearing on which rolling elements roll. In addition, the disclosure relates to a steering column assembly in which a steering shaft is mounted radially within a mounting sleeve by such a mounting unit.

Claims

1. A mounting unit for mounting a steering shaft in an associated mounting sleeve, comprising a substantially annular mounting body which extends around a central axis of the mounting body, at least two first mounting arms for radially supporting the mounting unit within the mounting sleeve, the two first mounting arms emanating from the mounting body and extending away from the mounting body, and at least two second mounting arms for radially supporting the mounting unit within the mounting sleeve, the two second mounting arms emanating from the mounting body, on a side opposite the first mounting arms, and extending away from from the mounting body, the first mounting arms and the second mounting arms being resilient in a radial direction, wherein a roller bearing is provided on a radially inner side of the mounting body for radially supporting the mounting unit on the steering shaft, the mounting body forming an outer ring of the roller bearing on which rolling elements roll.

2. The mounting unit according to claim 1, wherein the first mounting arms and the second mounting arms integrally merge with the mounting body, in particular the first mounting arms and the second mounting arms extend substantially axially.

3. The mounting unit according to claim 1, wherein the mounting body and the outer ring which integrally merges with the mounting body are made of a plastics material.

4. The mounting unit according to claim 1, wherein an inner ring of the roller bearing is made of a plastics material.

5. The mounting unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first mounting arms is substantially trapezoidal when viewed in the radial direction.

6. The mounting unit according to claim 1, wherein a radial projection is arranged on at least one of the first mounting arms for contact with the mounting sleeve.

7. The mounting unit according to claim 6, wherein the radial projection is formed by a circumferentially extending bead.

8. The mounting unit according to claim 1, wherein the roller bearing is a ball bearing or a needle bearing.

9. The mounting unit according to claim 1, wherein tolerance compensation elements are provided on a radially inner contact surface which is designed for putting the mounting unit and the steering shaft in radial contact.

10. The steering column assembly comprising a steering shaft and a mounting sleeve, wherein the steering shaft is radially supported within the mounting sleeve by a mounting unit according to claim 1.

11. The steering column assembly according to claim 10, wherein an inner ring of the roller bearing is held on the steering shaft via an interference fit.

12. The steering column assembly according to claim 10, wherein an inner ring of the roller bearing is held axially on the steering shaft by a mechanical securing element.

13. The steering column assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first mounting arms and the second mounting arms contact the mounting sleeve under radial preloading.

14. The steering column assembly according to claim 11, wherein the first mounting arms and the second mounting arms contact the mounting sleeve under radial preloading.

15. The mounting unit according to claim 2, wherein the mounting body and the outer ring which integrally merges with the mounting body are made of a plastics material.

16. The mounting unit according to claim 4, wherein at least one rolling element of the roller bearing is made of a plastics material.

17. The mounting unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the second mounting arms is substantially trapezoidal when viewed in the radial direction.

18. The mounting unit according to claim 1, wherein a radial projection is arranged on at least one of the first mounting arms and at least one of the second mounting arms for contact with the mounting sleeve.

19. The mounting unit according to claim 9, wherein the tolerance compensation elements are constructed as deformable radial projections emanating from the radially inner contact surface.

20. The mounting unit according to claim 1, wherein a gap is positioned between adjacent first mounting arms and adjacent second arms.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] The disclosure is explained below with reference to two exemplary arrangements which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a steering column assembly according to the disclosure with a mounting unit according to the disclosure in a sectional view,

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a steering shaft and the mounting unit according to the disclosure of the steering column assembly from FIG. 1 in an isolated, perspective view,

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the mounting unit according to the disclosure and a portion of a mounting sleeve of the steering column assembly from FIG. 1 in an isolated, perspective view,

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the mounting unit according to the disclosure of the steering column assembly from FIG. 1 in an isolated, perspective view, and

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a portion of a steering column assembly according to an alternative exemplary arrangement in an exploded view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a steering column assembly 10.

[0030] Said assembly comprises a mounting housing 12 via which the steering column assembly 10 can be fastened in a motor vehicle (not shown in detail).

[0031] The steering column assembly 10 also has a steering shaft 14. In the exemplary arrangement shown, this is designed as a so-called upper steering shaft.

[0032] This means that a steering wheel 16 (shown only schematically in FIG. 1) can be fastened to the steering shaft 14.

[0033] The steering shaft 14 is rotatably coupled to a further steering shaft 18, which is connected to the steering shaft 14 in a direction of a steering gear (not shown in detail). The steering shaft 14 and the further steering shaft 18 are axially displaceable relative to one another along an associated central axis 20 in order to ensure that a reach adjustment of the steering column assembly 10 is possible.

[0034] The steering column assembly 10 further comprises a mounting sleeve 22 which is arranged so as to be axially displaceable within the mounting housing 12. This, too, is used for the reach adjustment of the steering column assembly 10.

[0035] The steering shaft 14 is held radially and axially in the mounting housing 12 via a ball bearing 24.

[0036] In addition, the steering shaft 4 is mounted radially inside the mounting sleeve 22 by a mounting unit 26.

[0037] This mounting and the associated mounting unit 26 are shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 4.

[0038] The mounting unit 26 comprises a substantially annular mounting body 28 which extends around a central axis 30 of the mounting body (see e.g. FIG. 4).

[0039] In the exemplary arrangement shown, the central axis 30 of the mounting body coincides with the central axis 20.

[0040] On a radially inner side of the mounting body 28, a roller bearing 32 is provided which is designed as a ball bearing in the exemplary arrangement shown.

[0041] The mounting body 28 also forms an outer ring 34 of the roller bearing 32 on which associated rolling elements 36 roll. For the sake of clarity, only some of the rolling elements 36 are provided with a reference sign in FIG. 3.

[0042] The roller bearing 32 also comprises an inner ring 38. The rolling elements 36 also roll thereon.

[0043] Furthermore, a radially inner contact surface 40 is provided on the inner ring 38, via which surface the mounting unit 26 can radially contact the steering shaft 14.

[0044] In order to be able to compensate for any tolerances that may occur in this area, tolerance compensation elements 42 are provided on the contact surface 40, which in the exemplary arrangement shown are designed as deformable radial projections in the form of axially extending ribs.

[0045] In addition, a total of ten first mounting arms 44 and ten second mounting arms 46 emanate from the mounting body 28. In other words, the first mounting arms 44 and the second mounting arms 46 integrally merge with the mounting body 28.

[0046] For the sake of clarity, only some of the mounting arms are provided with a reference sign in FIG. 2 to 4.

[0047] The first mounting arms 44 emanate from the mounting body 28 on a first axial side thereof and the second mounting arms 46 emanate on a side opposite the first mounting arms 44.

[0048] Both the first mounting arms 44 and the second mounting arms 46 serve to radially support the mounting unit 26 within the mounting sleeve 22. For this purpose, they extend substantially axially.

[0049] It goes without saying that the first mounting arms 44 and the second mounting arms 46 also extend radially to a relatively small extent in order to be able to carry out the above-mentioned support function.

[0050] In addition, the first mounting arms 44 and the second mounting arms 46 are resilient in the radial direction.

[0051] In one exemplary arrangement, both the first mounting arms 44 and the second mounting arms 46 are substantially trapezoidal, viewed in the radial direction.

[0052] In addition, all of the mounting arms 44, 46 have, for contact with the mounting sleeve 22, a respectively associated radial projection 48 which, in the exemplary arrangement shown, is formed by a circumferentially extending bead 50.

[0053] Again, only a small number of radial projections 48 and beads 50 are provided with a reference sign.

[0054] In one exemplary arrangement, the mounting unit 26 is constructed entirely of plastics material.

[0055] Specifically, this means that the mounting body 28 with the mounting arms 44, 46 and the outer ring 34 integrally merging therewith are made of plastics material.

[0056] The inner ring 38 is also made of a plastics material. The rolling elements 36 are formed from steel in this case. Alternatively, it would be conceivable to also to form the rolling elements 36 from a plastics material.

[0057] The plastics material for the rolling elements 36 can be the same plastics material as used for the inner ring 38. Alternatively, the individual components can also be made from different plastics materials.

[0058] As mentioned above, the overall purpose of the roller bearing 32 is to support the mounting unit 26 on the steering shaft 14. For this purpose, in the assembled state of the mounting unit 26, the inner ring 38 is held on the steering shaft 14 via an interference fit 52.

[0059] In addition, the first mounting arms 44 and the second mounting arms 46 contact the mounting sleeve 22 under radial preloading.

[0060] In this way, in particular in connection with a reach adjustment of the steering column assembly 10, the mounting unit 26 is held at least radially on the steering shaft 14. The mounting unit 26 is displaceable in the axial direction relative to the mounting sleeve 22.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows a variant in which the mounting unit 26 is not held by an interference fit on the steering shaft 14, but instead is secured in the axial direction by a mechanical securing element 54 on a shaft shoulder 56 associated with the mounting unit 26, so that a mechanical lock is created.

[0062] Otherwise, this variant corresponds to the arrangement explained with reference to FIG. 1 to 4.