STEERING COLUMN FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A steering column for a motor vehicle may include an adjusting unit in which a steering spindle is mounted so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis extending in a longitudinal direction, a holding unit in which the adjusting unit is adjustably held, and a fixing device with a first clamping device and a second clamping device for the releasable fixing of the adjusting unit relative to the holding unit. The clamping devices are operatively connected to a clamping lever that can be selectively brought into a fixed position or into a released position. The clamping devices may be operatively arranged in parallel.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising: an adjusting unit in which a steering spindle is mounted rotatably about a longitudinal axis that extends in a longitudinal direction; a holding unit in which the adjusting unit is adjustably held; and a fixing device with a first clamping device and a second clamping device configured to releasably fix the adjusting unit relative to the holding unit, wherein the clamping devices are operatively connected to a clamping lever that is selectively positionable in a fixed position or in a released position, wherein the clamping devices are operatively arranged in parallel.

17. The steering column of claim 16 wherein the first clamping device has a first clamping characteristic and the second clamping device has a second clamping characteristic, wherein the first clamping characteristic and the second clamping characteristic are different.

18. The steering column of claim 17 wherein the first and second clamping characteristics refer to a connection between an actuating path, which is an angle about which the clamping lever is rotated, and a generated clamping stroke.

19. The steering column of claim 16 wherein the first clamping device and the second clamping device have different operating principles.

20. The steering column of claim 16 wherein the first clamping device cooperates with the holding unit to brace the adjusting unit.

21. The steering column of claim 20 wherein the second clamping device cooperates with a locking element to lock the adjusting unit.

22. The steering column of claim 21 wherein the locking element is configured to engage an energy absorption device between the adjusting unit and the holding unit.

23. The steering column of claim 21 wherein the locking element is supported on the holding unit and is configured to engage with an engagement element that is attached to the adjusting unit.

24. The steering column of claim 16 wherein the actuating lever is connected to a clamping bolt.

25. The steering column of claim 16 wherein the first clamping device has a stroke-generating mechanism.

26. The steering column of claim 25 wherein the second clamping device has a tilting pin device.

27. The steering column of claim 25 wherein the second clamping device has a cam-connecting link plate device.

28. The steering column of claim 16 wherein the first clamping device has a tilting pin device, wherein the second clamping device has a cam-connecting link plate device, wherein at least one of: a pressure plate of the first clamping device is coupled to a connecting link plate of the second clamping device fixedly in terms of rotation relative to a clamping axis; or a stroke-generating plate of the first clamping device is coupled fixedly in terms of rotation to the clamping lever that is coupled fixedly in terms of rotation to a cam plate of the second clamping device.

29. The steering column of claim 28 wherein the connecting link plate and the pressure plate are braced resiliently against one another.

30. The steering column of claim 16 wherein the holding unit includes a carrier unit that is configured to be secured to a vehicle body.

31. The steering column of claim 16 wherein the holding unit has an outer casing in which the adjusting unit is received so as to be adjustable in the longitudinal direction.

32. The steering column of claim 16 wherein the first clamping device has a tilting pin device, wherein the second clamping device has a cam-connecting link plate device, wherein a stroke-generating plate of the first clamping device is coupled fixedly in terms of rotation to the clamping lever that is coupled fixedly in terms of rotation to a cam plate of the second clamping device.

33. The steering column of claim 16 wherein the first clamping device has a tilting pin device, wherein the second clamping device has a cam-connecting link plate device, wherein a pressure plate of the first clamping device is coupled to a connecting link plate of the second clamping device fixedly in terms of rotation relative to a clamping axis.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings. In detail:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a steering column according to the invention in a schematic perspective view,

[0038] FIG. 2 shows the steering column according to FIG. 1 in a partially exploded state,

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a fixing device according to the invention of the steering column according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in a schematic exploded view,

[0040] FIG. 4 shows a cross section A-A through the steering column according to FIG. 1 in the fixed position,

[0041] FIG. 5 shows a perspective detailed view of the steering column according to FIG. 1 in the fixed position,

[0042] FIG. 6 shows a cross section through the steering column as in FIG. 4 in the released position,

[0043] FIG. 7 shows a perspective detailed view of the steering column as in FIG. 5 in the released position.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0044] In the various figures, parts which are the same are always provided with the same reference signs and thus are generally cited or mentioned only once in each case.

[0045] FIGS. 1 and 2 show in a perspective view obliquely from the rear left—relative to the direction of travel of a motor vehicle, not shown here—a steering column 1 which has a holding unit 2. This holding unit comprises a carrier unit 20, which has fastening means 21 for connecting to the body of the motor vehicle, not shown, for example fastening openings as shown. Two opposing side cheeks 22 extend downwardly from the carrier unit 2.

[0046] A casing unit 23, also denoted as the outer casing or guide box, is received between the side cheeks 22. The carrier unit 20 and the casing unit 23 form components of the holding unit 2 within the meaning of the invention.

[0047] The casing unit 23 is shown exposed without the carrier unit 20 in FIG. 2 for improved clarity, apart from the side cheeks 22. An adjusting unit 3 has a steering spindle 32 which is rotatably mounted in an inner casing tube, an inner casing or, in short, a casing tube 31 so as to be rotatable about its longitudinal axis L extending in the longitudinal direction. At the end on the driver's side to the rear relative to the direction of travel, the steering spindle 31 has a fastening portion 33 for attaching a steering wheel, not shown. The adjusting unit 3 is received with the casing tube 31 so as to be longitudinally displaceable in a casing unit 23 in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the direction of the longitudinal axis L, as indicated schematically by a double arrow.

[0048] The casing unit 23 is pivotably mounted on the carrier unit 2 about a pivot axis 24 located transversely to the longitudinal axis L. As a result, for setting the vertical position of the steering wheel, the casing unit can be moved up and down together with the adjusting unit 3 between the side cheeks 22 relative to the carrier unit 2 in the vertical direction H by being pivoted about the pivot axis 24 as indicated by a double arrow.

[0049] A fixing device 4 according to the invention is configured in order to be moved selectively into a fixed position (clamped position) or a released position (release position). In the fixed position, the casing unit 23 is clamped between the side cheeks 22 and fixed to the carrier unit 20 and the adjusting unit 3 is clamped in the casing unit 23 by the clamping applied via the side cheeks, and thereby fixed in the longitudinal direction. In the released position, the casing unit 23 can be adjusted relative to the carrier unit 20 in the vertical direction H and the adjusting unit 3 can be adjusted relative to the casing unit 23 and thereby also relative to the holding unit 3 in the longitudinal direction.

[0050] The fixing device 4 has a clamping bolt 41 which extends along a clamping axis S located transversely to the longitudinal axis L, through slots 25 which are elongated in the vertical direction in the two side cheeks 22 and through-openings 26 in the casing unit 23. In FIG. 2, the fixing device 4 is shown pulled apart in an exploded view in the direction of the clamping axis S and pulled out of the holding unit 2, and in FIG. 3 in a similar perspective in a separate view.

[0051] A clamping lever 42 is connected fixedly in terms of rotation to the clamping bolt 41 at the one end facing the observer in FIGS. 2 and 3. In the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 4 and 6, which show a cross section A-A of FIG. 1, the clamping lever 42 is shown to the left. A first clamping device 5 and a second clamping device 6 are arranged between the clamping lever 42 and the side cheek 22 facing the clamping lever 42, and are described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 and 6. On the other side cheek 22, the clamping bolt 41 is supported from the outside via an abutment 40, for example a screwed-on nut.

[0052] The second clamping device 6 is configured as a cam-connecting link plate device and has a cam plate 61 attached to the clamping bolt 41 fixedly in terms of rotation, and a connecting link plate 62 mounted rotatably movably relative to the clamping bolt 41 and cooperating with the cam plate. The cam plate 61 has axially protruding cams 63 which lie axially against a connecting link track 64 rising in the peripheral direction, and in some portions in the axial direction. In this case, the cams 63 protrude axially through a non-circular opening 43 of the clamping lever, so that the clamping lever 42 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner, i.e. relative to rotation about the clamping axis S, positively to the cam plate 6 and thereby to the clamping bolt 41.

[0053] The connecting link plate is connected to a locking element 7 on which a positive connecting element, namely a toothed block 71 oriented toward the side cheek 22, is attached and which has a toothing 72 with teeth running transversely to the longitudinal direction on its front side oriented counter to the longitudinal axis L and thus counter to the adjusting unit 3.

[0054] The first clamping device 5 is configured as a tilting pin device and has a stroke-generating plate 51 which is connected fixedly in terms of rotation to the clamping lever 42, for example by an integral design as in the example shown. As described above, this stroke-generating plate 51 is coupled fixedly in terms of rotation to the cam plate 61 of the first clamping device 6 and the clamping bolt 41.

[0055] A pressure plate of the first clamping device 5 is rotatably movably mounted between the stroke-generating plate 51 and the side cheek 22 on the clamping bolt 41 relative to the clamping axis S. From their opposingly oriented axial sides the stroke-generating plate 51 and the pressure plate 52 have bearing pockets 53 which are configured as axial recesses and in which the elongated pin-shaped tilting pins are tiltably mounted and supported in the peripheral direction.

[0056] On its side remote from the stroke-generating plate 51 the pressure plate lies axially against a toothed plate 8 which is arranged rotatably movably on the clamping bolt 41 relative to the clamping axis S between the pressure plate 52 and the side cheek 22 and which has a bearing bore 80.

[0057] The toothed plate 8 has on its outer edges toothings 81 which extend transversely to the clamping axis S and also transversely to the longitudinal axis L and which can be brought axially into engagement in different vertical positions with corresponding internal toothings 27 (see FIG. 2). As a result, the toothed plate 8 together with the clamping bolt 41, which is passed through this toothed plate, can be positively secured in the fixed position relative to a movement along the slots 25 of the side cheeks 22.

[0058] An energy absorption device 9 has an engagement element in the form of a toothed plate 91 which is elongated in the longitudinal direction and which has on the outside a toothing with teeth running transversely to the longitudinal axis L. The toothing corresponds to the toothing 72 of the toothed block 71 of the locking element 7 for forming a positive connection which is effective in the longitudinal direction. The toothed plate 91 is attached externally to the adjusting unit 3 via an energy absorption element 92, which is plastically deformed with a relative movement of the toothed plate 91 by energy absorption, for example bent and/or squeezed and/or detached and/or the like and schematically illustrated in the cross section of FIGS. 4 and 6.

[0059] The pressure plate 52 and the connecting link plate 62 are held rotatably movably and axially displaceably on the clamping bolt 41. In this case, the pressure plate 52 can have an axial recess 55 in which the connecting link plate 62 is received axially and loosely movable relative to rotation in the intermediate space between the tilting pins 54. As a result, it is possible to implement a nested, particularly compact construction of the two clamping devices 5 and 6. A compression spring 99 is arranged so as to be pretensioned between the pressure plate 52 and the connecting link plate 62, the compression spring pushing apart the pressure plate 52 and the connecting link plate 62, so that the locking element 7 which is connected to the connecting link plate 62 is brought out of engagement in the released position, since the connecting link plate 62 is displaced by the compression spring 99 in the direction of the clamping lever 42 when transferred into the released position.

[0060] In order to bring the fixing device 4 into the fixed position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the clamping lever 42, as indicated in FIG. 3 with the curved arrow, is pivoted by a predetermined actuating angle about the clamping axis S. In this case, the clamping bolt 41 together with the stroke-generating plate 51 of the first clamping device 5 and the cam plate 61 of the first clamping device 6 is rotated about the clamping axis relative to the holding unit 2. As a result, the pressure plate 52 of the first clamping device 5 is pressed by a clamping stroke H1 from the outside against the side cheek 22 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 6). Via the abutment, the exerted clamping force is transmitted to the other side cheek 22 so that these side cheeks are pressed from both sides against the casing unit 23 and ensure a non-positive bracing of the casing unit 23 with the carrier unit 20. By the clamping force, the adjusting unit 3 is also clamped non-positively in the casing unit 23 and fixed in the longitudinal direction.

[0061] The toothed plate 8 is pushed axially by the pressure plate 52 against the side cheek 22 and at the same time the toothings 81 are brought into positive engagement with the inner toothings 27, for generating a positive securing which is effective in the vertical direction of the toothed plate 8 and the clamping bolt 41 mounted therein.

[0062] At the same time, the connecting link plate 62 of the second clamping device 6 is moved axially toward the side cheek 22 by a clamping stroke H2 (see FIG. 3) in the clamping direction. At the same time, the toothed block 71 in the clamping direction penetrates through the slot 25 and is positively supported in this slot 25 in the longitudinal direction on the carrier unit 20. At the same time, the toothed block 71 is brought with its toothing 72 into an effective positive connection with the toothed plate 91 of the energy absorption device 9 in the longitudinal direction.

[0063] In the event of a crash, when a very high crash force acts via the steering wheel on the adjusting unit 3 in the longitudinal direction, the holding force of the non-positive connection with the casing unit 23 is overcome and the adjusting unit slips through to the front relative thereto. By the toothed block 71 of the locking element 7 the engagement element 91 (toothed plate) is secured in the longitudinal direction on the side cheek 22, and thereby positively secured on the holding unit 2 in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the toothed plate 91 moves in the longitudinal direction relative to the adjusting unit 3, whereby the energy absorption element 92 is deformed by energy absorption and ensures a controlled braking of the adjusting unit 3.

[0064] For setting the steering column 1, the fixing device 4 can be released by reverse actuation of the clamping lever 42. At the same time, the two clamping devices 5 and 6 are released and brought into the release position shown in FIG. 6. As a result, the adjusting unit 3 together with the energy absorption device 9 can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction, and the casing unit 23 together with the fixing device 4 and toothed plate 8 can be adjusted in the vertical direction H relative to the carrier unit. The stroke-generating plate 51 has a projection 512 which extends in the direction of the clamping axis S and which engages in a recess 521 of the pressure plate 52. Since the pressure plate 52 is held fixedly in terms of rotation about the clamping axis S on the side cheek 22, the actuating angle of the clamping lever 41 is defined by the cooperation of the projection 512 and the recess. The stroke-generating plate 51 and the clamping lever 41 can preferably be configured as a one-piece integral component.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0065] 1 Steering column [0066] 2 Holding unit [0067] 20 Carrier unit [0068] 21 Fastening means [0069] 22 Side cheeks [0070] 23 Casing unit [0071] 24 Pivot axis [0072] 25 Slot [0073] 26 Opening [0074] 27 Inner toothing [0075] 4 Fixing device [0076] 40 Abutment [0077] 41 Clamping bolt [0078] 42 Clamping lever [0079] 43 Opening [0080] 5 First clamping device [0081] 51 Stroke-generating plate [0082] 512 Projection [0083] 52 Pressure plate [0084] 521 Recess [0085] 53 Bearing pocket [0086] 54 Tilting pin [0087] 55 Recess [0088] 6 Second clamping device [0089] 61 Cam plate [0090] 62 Connecting link plate [0091] 63 Cam [0092] 64 Connecting link track [0093] 7 Locking element [0094] 71 Toothed block [0095] 8 Toothed plate [0096] 80 Bearing bore [0097] 81 Toothing [0098] 9 Energy absorption device [0099] 91 Toothed plate [0100] 92 Energy absorption element [0101] 99 Compression spring [0102] L Longitudinal axis [0103] H Vertical direction [0104] S Clamping axis [0105] H1, H2 Clamping stroke