COUPLING ELEMENT FOR ATTACHING TO A LEADSCREW, LEADSCREW HAVING A COUPLING ELEMENT, SPINDLE DRIVE HAVING A LEADSCREW, AND STEERING COLUMN FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A SPINDLE DRIVE

Abstract

A coupling element for fitting to a threaded spindle. The coupling element has a receiving portion which is formed integrally with a coupling portion. The receiving portion extends in a hollow-cylindrical manner along an axis having an axial receiving opening for receiving the threaded spindle, and the coupling portion is flattened transversely with respect to the axis relative to the receiving portion and has a connection means. In order to be able to produce a coupling element in a more efficient and flexible manner, the receiving portion and the coupling portion be formed from a continuous integral pipe portion, wherein the coupling portion has a pressing portion in which the pipe portion is plastically compressed flat transversely relative to the axis.

Claims

1.-18. (canceled)

19. A coupling element for fitting to a threaded spindle, comprising: a coupling portion, a receiving portion which is formed integrally with the coupling portion, wherein the receiving portion extends in a hollow-cylindrical manner along an axis having an axial receiving opening for receiving the threaded spindle, and wherein the coupling portion is flattened transversely with respect to the axis relative to the receiving portion and has a connection means, and wherein the receiving portion and the coupling portion are formed from a continuous integral pipe portion, wherein the coupling portion has a pressing portion in which the pipe portion is plastically compressed flat transversely relative to the axis.

20. The coupling element of claim 19 wherein the pressing portion has in a contact face pipe wall portions which lie against each other.

21. The coupling element of claim 20 wherein the axis is located in the contact face.

22. The coupling element of claim 19 wherein the pressing portion has outer faces which are parallel with the axis.

23. The coupling element of claim 19 wherein the pressing portion has a thickness which is smaller than a diameter of the receiving portion.

24. The coupling element of claim 19 wherein the pressing portion has a width which is greater than a diameter of the receiving portion.

25. The coupling element of claim 19 wherein the connection means comprises a connection opening which extends transversely relative to the axis through the pressing portion.

26. The coupling element of claim 19 wherein the threaded spindle extends exclusively in the region of the receiving portion.

27. The coupling element of claim 19 further comprising an energy absorption device formed integrally with the coupling element.

28. A method for producing a coupling element which has a receiving portion which is formed integrally with a coupling portion, wherein the receiving portion extends in a hollow-cylindrical manner along an axis having an axial receiving opening configured to receive the threaded spindle and the coupling portion is flattened transversely with respect to the axis relative to the receiving portion and has a connection means, the method comprising: providing a hollow-cylindrical pipe portion, deforming, plastically, an end region of the pipe portion transversely relative to the axis thereof by compression between pressing tools which are moved with respect to each other and which extend in a planar manner until inner walls of the pipe portion come into contact at least in regions in a contact plane in order to form a flat pressing portion, and introducing a connection means in the pressing portion.

29. A threaded spindle for a spindle drive, the threaded spindle comprising an outer thread, and a coupling element, comprising: a coupling portion, and a receiving portion which is formed integrally with the coupling portion, wherein the receiving portion extends in a hollow-cylindrical manner along an axis having an axial receiving opening in which a securing portion of the threaded spindle is coaxially received and the coupling portion is flattened transversely with respect to the axis relative to the receiving portion and has a connection means, wherein the receiving portion and the coupling portion are formed from a continuous, integral pipe portion, and wherein the coupling portion has a pressing portion in which the pipe portion is plastically compressed flat transversely relative to the axis.

30. The threaded spindle of claim 29 wherein the receiving portion has a plastic deformation which is connected in a positive-locking manner to a plastic deformation of the threaded spindle.

31. A spindle drive for adjusting a steering column, comprising: a rotatably drivable spindle nut, in which there engages the threaded spindle of claim 29, the threaded spindle having an outer thread and to which there is secured the coupling element.

32. A steering column for a motor vehicle, the steering column comprising: a carrier unit configured to fit to a vehicle body, an adjustment unit held by the carrier unit, a steering spindle rotatably supported in the carrier unit, an adjustment drive which is arranged between the carrier unit and the adjustment unit and by which the adjustment unit can be displaced relative to the carrier unit, wherein the adjustment drive is a spindle drive, comprising a rotatably drivable spindle nut, in which there engages a threaded spindle which has an outer thread and on which there is secured a coupling element with a receiving portion which is formed integrally with a coupling portion, wherein the receiving portion extends along an axis having an axial receiving opening in which a securing portion of the threaded spindle is coaxially received, and the coupling portion is flattened transversely with respect to the axis relative to the receiving portion and has a connection means, wherein the receiving portion and the coupling portion are formed from a continuous, integral pipe portion, wherein the coupling portion has a pressing portion, in which the pipe portion is plastically compressed flat transversely relative to the axis.

33. A coupling element for fitting to a threaded spindle, the coupling element comprising: a coupling portion, a receiving portion which is formed in one piece with the coupling portion, wherein the receiving portion extends in a hollow-cylindrical manner along an axis having an axial receiving opening for receiving the threaded spindle, and wherein the coupling portion is flattened transversely with respect to the axis relative to the receiving portion and has a connection means, wherein the receiving portion and the coupling portion are formed from a continuous, integral metal sheet portion, wherein the receiving portion has a pipe portion in which the metal sheet portion is bent over in a tubular manner about the axis.

34. A threaded spindle for a spindle drive, the threaded spindle comprising an outer thread, and a coupling element, comprising: a coupling portion, and a receiving portion which is formed integrally with the coupling portion, wherein the receiving portion extends in a hollow-cylindrical manner along an axis having an axial receiving opening in which a securing portion of the threaded spindle is coaxially received, and the coupling portion is flattened transversely with respect to the axis relative to the receiving portion and has a connection means, wherein the receiving portion and the coupling portion are formed from a continuous, integral metal sheet portion, and wherein the receiving portion has a pipe portion in which the metal sheet portion is bent over in a tubular manner about the axis around the threaded spindle and is connected to the threaded spindle.

35. The threaded spindle of claim 34, wherein the receiving portion is crimped on the outer thread.

36. A steering column for a motor vehicle, the steering column comprising: a carrier unit configured to fit to a vehicle body, an adjustment unit held by the carrier unit, a steering spindle rotatably supported in the carrier unit, an adjustment drive which is arranged between the carrier unit and the adjustment unit and by which the adjustment unit can be displaced relative to the carrier unit, wherein the adjustment drive is a spindle drive, comprising a rotatably drivable spindle nut in which there engages a threaded spindle which has an outer thread and on which there is secured a coupling element with a receiving portion which is formed integrally with a coupling portion, wherein the receiving portion extends along an axis with an axial receiving opening in which a securing portion of the threaded spindle is coaxially received, and the coupling portion is flattened transversely with respect to the axis relative to the receiving portion and has a connection means, wherein the receiving portion and the coupling portion are formed from a continuous, integral metal sheet portion, wherein the receiving portion has a pipe portion in which the metal sheet portion is bent over in a tubular manner about the axis around the threaded spindle and is connected to the threaded spindle.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0083] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0084] FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective illustration of a steering column with a motorized adjustment,

[0085] FIG. 2 is a broken-apart illustration of an adjustment drive of the steering column according to FIG. 1,

[0086] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through a threaded spindle according to the invention,

[0087] FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of a coupling element according to the invention,

[0088] FIG. 5 is a side view of the coupling element according to FIG. 4 in the mounted state on a steering column according to FIG. 1,

[0089] FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section through the coupling element according to FIG. 4,

[0090] FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section through a second embodiment of a coupling element in a view as in FIG. 4,

[0091] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section through a third embodiment of a coupling element in a view as in FIG. 4,

[0092] FIG. 9 is an enlarged detailed illustration of the sectioned view according to FIG. 3,

[0093] FIG. 10 shows a threaded spindle according to the invention with a coupling element in a second embodiment,

[0094] FIG. 11 shows a coupling element in the second embodiment prior to the assembly,

[0095] FIG. 12 shows a third embodiment of a coupling element.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0096] In the different Figures, the same components are always indicated with the same reference numerals and are therefore generally also only cited or mentioned once.

[0097] FIG. 1 shows a steering column 1, which has a carrier unit 10 which can be connected to the chassis of a motor vehicle, which is not shown in this instance, and on which an adjustment unit 16 is adjustably retained, in the longitudinal direction L and in the vertical direction H, as indicated with the double-headed arrows. The carrier unit 10 comprises a console 100, which can be secured to the chassis of the motor vehicle, for example, by means of securing holes 102.

[0098] The adjustment unit 16 comprises a covering pipe 12 in which a steering spindle 14 is rotatably supported. At the end 141 of the steering spindle 14 on the steering wheel side, a steering wheel which is not shown in this instance can be secured. The steering spindle 14 serves to transfer a steering torque which is introduced by a driver via the steering wheel onto the steering spindle 14 in a known manner to a steerable wheel which is not shown in this instance. The steering spindle 14 may in this instance transmit the steering movement from the steering wheel to the steerable wheel with a steering gear being interposed, where applicable with the assistance of an auxiliary force support.

[0099] In a variant, the steering movement of the steering spindle 14 can also be detected using a sensor, for example, electrically, electronically or magnetically, and introduced into a control unit which with the assistance of a steering device carries out a pivoting of the steerable wheel in order to constitute the steering movement. Such systems are known as steer-by-wire steering systems.

[0100] The covering pipe 12 is displaceably retained in a covering unit 104 in the longitudinal direction L, that is to say, the longitudinal adjustment direction, wherein the longitudinal direction L extends in an axial direction of the steering spindle 14. As a result of an adjustment of the covering pipe 12 with respect to the covering unit 104, a longitudinal adjustment of the steering spindle 14 and consequently of the steering wheel which is not illustrated in order to adapt the position of the steering wheel to the seating position of a driver of the motor vehicle can accordingly be achieved.

[0101] The covering unit 104 is pivotably secured to a console 100 and can be pivoted about a pivot axis 106 relative to the console 100. An adjustability of the adjustment unit 16 in a vertical direction H, that is to say, the vertical adjustment direction, which is orientated substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction L, is enabled by the covering pipe 12 being retained on the console 100 by means of a pivot mechanism 18. A pivot-ability of the covering pipe 12 and the steering spindle 14 is thus achieved with respect to the carrier unit 10 and in particular with respect to the console 100 about the pivot axis 106 in such a manner that a vertical adjustment of the steering wheel which is not shown here and which is arranged on the steering spindle 14 is achieved in order in this manner to also achieve an adaptation of the position of the steering wheel to the seating position of the driver.

[0102] In the embodiment, there is for each of the two adjustment devices a separate adjustment drive 2, 2′, each having a separate spindle drive, comprising a threaded spindle 4, 4′ and a spindle nut 3.

[0103] There is provided an adjustment drive 2, by means of which an adjustment of the adjustment unit 16 with respect to the carrier unit 10 in the longitudinal direction L can be achieved. The adjustment drive 2 comprises a threaded spindle 4 which has an outer thread 42 and which is connected by means of a securing element 107 which is constructed as a joint pin to the articulated lever 120 which is connected to the covering pipe 12. The articulated lever 120 is displaceably guided in a slot 110 in the covering unit 104 in such a manner that a displacement of the articulated lever 120 with respect to the covering unit 104 leads to a displacement of the adjustment unit 16 with respect to the carrier unit 10 in the longitudinal direction L.

[0104] The threaded spindle 4 is retained on the articulated lever 120 by means of a coupling element 6, which is also referred to as a connection element 6 and which is constructed as a joint head 43 and extends with the spindle axis S thereof in the longitudinal direction L. The threaded spindle 4 is retained in a spindle nut 3 which has an inner thread 32 which is in engagement with the outer thread 42 of the threaded spindle 4. The spindle nut 3 is supported rotatably, but in a fixed manner in the longitudinal direction L with respect to the covering unit 104 in a gear housing 34 so that a rotation of the spindle nut 3 as a result of the thread engagement with the threaded spindle 4 leads to an axial movement of the threaded spindle 4 relative to the spindle nut 3 in the direction of the spindle axis S. That is to say, as a result of a rotation of the spindle nut 3, a relative movement between the covering pipe 12 and covering unit 104 takes place in such a manner that an adjustment of the position of the adjustment unit 16 with respect to the carrier unit 10 is brought about by the rotation of the spindle nut 3.

[0105] The adjustment drive 2 further comprises a drive motor 20, on the output shaft 24 of which a worm 22 which can be clearly seen in FIG. 4 is arranged. The worm 22 engages in an outer tooth arrangement 30 of the spindle nut 3, wherein the outer tooth arrangement 30 is constructed as a worm gear. The spindle nut 3 is rotatably supported in a bearing 33 in the gear housing 34 about the spindle axis S. The rotation axis of the worm 22 and the spindle axis S of the spindle nut 3 are located perpendicularly to each other, as known per se with worm gears.

[0106] Accordingly, as a result of a rotation of the output shaft 24 of the drive motor 20, the spindle nut 3 can be rotated, whereby a longitudinal adjustment of the adjustment unit 16 in the longitudinal direction L with respect to the covering unit 104 and consequently a longitudinal displacement of the adjustment unit 16 with respect to the carrier unit 10 takes place.

[0107] FIG. 2 is a broken-apart illustration of the adjustment drive 2. It is possible to clearly see the threaded spindle 4, at one end of which the coupling element 6 is securely fitted. At the other end, a stop element 7 which is formed from plastics material is securely fitted to the threaded spindle 4, wherein the stop element 7 is fixed to the threaded spindle 4 by means of partial plastic deformations in the form of indentations 71 which are introduced by means of hot- or warm-caulking. Alternatively, the stop element 7 may also be formed from a metal material which is fixed by means of partial plastic deformations to the threaded spindle.

[0108] The threaded spindle 4 is shown in FIG. 3 in longitudinal section. It can be seen therein how the coupling element (connection element) 6 is secured to the thread 42.

[0109] A coupling element (connection element) 6 according to the invention is initially produced as a separate component, as shown in FIG. 4 in detail. This is illustrated in FIG. 5 in the assembled state and in FIG. 6 as a longitudinal section.

[0110] The coupling element (connection element) 6 has a receiving portion 61 and a coupling portion which is constructed as a pressing portion 62.

[0111] The receiving portion 61 is constructed in a sleeve-like, hollow-cylindrical manner with a circular cross-section, which extends along the spindle axis S, having a circular-cylindrical outer diameter A, an opening having a circular-cylindrical inner diameter a and a wall thickness w (pipe wall thickness).

[0112] The coupling portion is formed by a pressing portion 62 in which a pipe portion with the original cross-section of the receiving portion 61 is compressed flat, that is to say, shaped flat by the application of surface pressure in a pressing direction perpendicularly to the spindle axis S, as indicated with the arrows P. As a result of the plastic deformation which has been carried out, the walls now lie in a planar manner against each other in the contact plane K, which is located parallel with the axis S. In the example shown, the pressing portion 62 has a thickness 2w, that is to say, double the wall thickness w and perpendicular thereto a width b which is greater than the outer diameter A.

[0113] According to the invention, the threaded spindle 4 extends only inside the receiving portion 61 and not in the pressing portion 62. The pressing portion 62 is thereby formed only by the flat-compressed walls of the pipe portion.

[0114] A connection means comprises an opening 63 which extends through the pressing portion 62 perpendicularly to the contact plane K and through which in order to connect to the articulated lever 120 a securing element 107 is guided, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, a joint pin.

[0115] As can be seen in FIG. 6, the axis S is located on the upper side of the pressing portion 62 and thus has a spacing according to the wall thickness w with respect to the contact plane k.

[0116] A second alternative is as shown in the view of FIG. 6 in FIG. 7. In this symmetrical embodiment, the axis S extends in the contact plane K between the mutually adjacent walls of the pressing portion 62 which forms the coupling portion.

[0117] A third alternative is as shown in the view of FIG. 6 in FIG. 8. In this instance, the pressing portion 62 extends tangentially with respect to the receiving portion 61 so that it is in alignment in the direction of the axis S with the outer periphery of the receiving portion 61.

[0118] FIG. 9 shows as a longitudinal section a detailed view of the threaded spindle 4 as in FIG. 4, of how the coupled element 6 can be secured to the end of the threaded spindle 4. In this instance, the receiving portion 61 is pressed with the opening thereof in the direction of the spindle axis S with the end face onto the outer thread 42. As a result of the fact that the inner diameter a of the opening is of the same size as or smaller than the outer diameter of the outer thread 42, a non-positive-locking connection is produced during the pressing action.

[0119] In addition, the receiving portion 61 may have plastic deformations, that is to say, may have moldings 64 pressed in from the outer side, in which the wall in a radially inward direction is plastically pressed radially into the outer thread 42, whereby a plastic deformation 43 occurs in each case in the outer thread 42 as a negative shape impression. A deformation 43 receives in each case a radially inwardly projecting molding 64 with respect to rotation about the spindle axis S and also with respect to the axial direction of the spindle axis S in a positive-locking manner. The inner diameter a of the opening of the receiving portion 61 is preferably of the same size as or larger than the outer diameter of the outer thread 42, and is connected to each other by means of the plastic deformation. This positive-locking connection between the receiving portion 61 and the threaded spindle 4 is, as a result of the plastic deformation which has been carried out together, substantially play-free and particularly durable and resilient.

[0120] FIGS. 10 and 11 show a second embodiment of a coupling element 6. FIG. 11 shows the state prior to the assembly which is illustrated in FIG. 10.

[0121] FIG. 11 shows a sheet portion 65 which has been preformed from an initially planar metal sheet. This has a flat coupling portion which corresponds to the pressing portion 62. The receiving portion 61 is preformed in the form of an open channel 66, from the edges of which two securing lugs 67 protrude transversely. A free access to the channel 66 remains between the two securing lugs 67 transversely relative to the longitudinal extent.

[0122] For connection, the thread portion 40 is placed in the channel 66 and, subsequently, the free ends of the securing lugs 67 are bent over with respect to each other, as indicated with the arrows in FIG. 11. As a result, the outer thread 42 is surrounded by the pipe portion formed by the channel 66 and the bent-over securing lugs 67, that is to say, the tubular receiving portion 61. The receiving portion 61 is fixed by means of crimping by means of plastic compression from the outer side onto the outer thread 42 of the threaded spindle 4.

[0123] FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of a coupling element 6 according to the invention in which an expansion element 68 is formed integrally on the tubular receiving portion 61. The expansion element 68 is introduced in a crash slot 13 in the covering pipe 12 which has a length C.

[0124] The expansion element 68 is oversized compared with the crash slot 13 and is thus wider than the slot opening. In the event of a crash, the expansion element 68 is thus moved in the arrow direction over a crash path of the length C with plastic expansion by the slot 13, whereby kinetic crash energy is continuously absorbed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0125] 1 Steering column [0126] 10 Carrier unit [0127] 12 Covering pipe [0128] 13 Crash slot [0129] 14 Steering spindle [0130] 141 Steering-wheel-side end [0131] 16 Adjustment unit [0132] 18 Pivot mechanism [0133] 100 Console [0134] 102 Securing hole [0135] 104 Covering unit [0136] 106 Pivot axis [0137] 107 Securing element [0138] 110 Slot [0139] 120 Articulated lever [0140] 181 Actuation lever [0141] 182 Joint [0142] 183 Joint axis [0143] 184 Joint axis [0144] 2, Z Adjustment drive [0145] 20, 20′ Drive motor [0146] 22 Worm [0147] 24 Output shaft [0148] 3 Spindle nut [0149] 30 Outer tooth arrangement [0150] 32 Inner thread [0151] 321 Thread turn [0152] 322 Thread flanks [0153] 323 Indentation [0154] 33 Bearing [0155] 34 Gear housing [0156] 4, 4′ Threaded spindle [0157] 40 Thread portion [0158] 42 Outer thread [0159] 43 Molding [0160] 6 Coupling element (connection element) [0161] 61 Receiving portion (pipe portion) [0162] 62 Pressing portion (coupling portion) [0163] 63 Opening [0164] 64 Molding [0165] 65 Sheet portion [0166] 66 Channel [0167] 67 Securing lug [0168] 68 Expansion element [0169] L Longitudinal direction [0170] H Vertical direction [0171] S Spindle axis [0172] a Inner diameter of the opening of the receiving portion 61 [0173] A Outer diameter of the receiving portion 61 [0174] D Nominal diameter of the threaded spindle 4 [0175] K Contact plane [0176] b Width [0177] w Wall thickness [0178] C Length of crash slot 13