Abstract: A steering column assembly of the type comprising a steering shaft extending along a longitudinal direction and comprising a front segment and a rear segment, a gear mechanism for transmitting rotary movement of the rear segment as produced by a steering wheel to the front segment, a stationary block for mounting a central cushion to prevent it from turning while the steering shaft is turning, the gear mechanism comprising a front toothed member connected to the front segment of the steering shaft, a rear toothed member connected to the rear segment of the steering shaft, and an intermediate toothed member having a front toothed portion meshing with the front toothed member and a rear toothed portion meshing with the rear toothed member. The teeth of the front toothed portion of the intermediate toothed member are angularly offset relative to the teeth of its rear toothed portion.

Abstract: This steering column assembly especially for a motor vehicle, of the type including, at least at one of its ends, means for screw-fastening to the rest of the structure of the vehicle, is characterized in that it includes means (5) for centring and for hooking onto the rest of the structure of the vehicle, in order to facilitate the fitting of the screwing means and of the assembly to the rest of the structure of the vehicle.

Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle includes a steering column shaft (1) mounted so that it can move rotatably inside a column body (2), and a restraining arrangement (5) for temporarily axially immobilizing the shaft within the body for fitting the assembly onto the rest of the structure of the vehicle, it being possible to move the restraining arrangement between an active immobilization position and a non-obstructing position. The restraining arrangement includes structure (10) for enabling a limited degree of axial movement of the shaft within the body when the arrangement is in the non-obstructing position.

Abstract: This assembly, including a support structure provided with two flanges, a steering shaft including two portions, one carrying the steering wheel and the other connected to the rest of the steering mechanism and which are mounted telescopically one in the other, this shaft being capable of rotating in a body pivoting between the two flanges and including two portions which can be moved slidingly one in the other, one (7a) of them including a device for rotationally guiding and for axially blocking the shaft portion which carries the steering wheel, and the other being articulated between the flanges, and mechanisms with gear motors for adjusting the angular and axial positions of the steering wheel, which mechanisms are adapted to interact with the support structure and the body portion (7a) associated with the shaft portion which carries the steering wheel, is characterized in that the adjusting mechanisms have a structure (14) for suspending the body portion (7a) which is articulated on the support structure

Abstract: This assembly includes a steering shaft (101) which can move in rotation in a column body (102) and includes an anti-theft bolt (104) mechanism (103) which can move between a retracted position and an active anti-theft position. The shaft includes two shaft portions (105, 106), one (105) carrying a steering wheel and the other (106) being connected to the rest of a vehicle steering mechanism. The portions are connected by a disengagable linkage mechanism (108) which can move, under the control of the anti-theft mechanism, between an active position for coupling the two shaft portions and a retracted anti-theft position freeing the two shaft portions from each other so that the shaft portion (105) carrying the steering wheel can rotate freely with respect to the other shaft portion (106). The corresponding end zones (105a, 106a) of the shaft portions are arranged one around the other, and the disengagable linkage mechanism (108) is mounted so as to move around the shaft portion carrying the steering wheel.

Abstract: A support structure is provided with two flanges (41,42) between which the steering column (43) is arranged. A device for locking the column by moving the flanges together has a tie (40) extending between the flanges, one end of which is associated with locking members including a stop member (44) for the tie, an intermediate bearing member (45) in contact with one flange, and a spacing assembly (46) arranged between the two members. The spacing assembly includes at least one rolling member (48,49) between the facing surfaces of the members, and a cage (50) for displacing this rolling member along an incline (52) provided on the corresponding surface of the intermediate bearing member (45). At least part of the tie connected to the stop member can be displaced rotationally so as to follow the displacements of the rolling member.

Abstract: An adjustable steering column unit includes a steering shaft having one end carrying a steering wheel and the opposite end connected to the rest of the steering mechanism, the shaft being movable in rotation in a column body (4), the body and/or the shaft being angularly and/or axially movable between two flanges of a fixing structure (5) for fixing the body to the remainder of the automobile vehicle, and the fixing structure comprising, at one end, locking means for locking the body in position and movable between locking and unlocking positions to permit the adjustment of the position of the steering wheel and, in proximity to the other end of the fixing structure, a guide bearing (7) for the body. The bearing (7) has a yoke portion, having a U-shaped section, of the fixing structure (5), in which is disposed a bushing (8) for mounting the body (4) without play. Opposed lateral walls of the bushing are connected to the flanges (7a,7b) of the yoke portion.

Abstract: This device comprising a column support structure, connected to the rest of the vehicle and comprising two side plates between which is arranged the column and mechanisms for locking the column, which mechanisms comprise a tie rod (20) extending between the side plates, bearing against one of the side plates and connected to locking elements comprising a stop component (24), an intermediate support component (25) and an operating component (26) arranged between the stop component and the intermediate support component, connected to an operating lever (27) and movable in rotation in a plane perpendicular to the tie rod, one of the facing surfaces of the operating component (26) and of the intermediate support component (25) or of the stop component (24) comprising at least one projecting part (30, 31) adapted to cooperate with a ramp (28, 29) of the other, so as to separate these two surfaces from one another and hence the corresponding locking elements so as to bring the side plates together in order to lock

Abstract: This steering-wheel shaft, having a cylindrical tubular body (1) with a circular cross-section, has a profiled part (8) forming a lock element. In this part (8), longitudinal grooves (10), having a width which corresponds to that of a locking catch, have a depth at least equal to the thickness of the wall of the initial tube and are separated by solid ribs (12). On the inner face of the element (8), projections define between them V-shaped grooves whose peaks correspond substantially to the mid part of the ribs. Each rib (12) thus has a sufficient resistance to counteract the torque exerted when a theft is attempted. Each groove can receive the catch in a locking position. The shaft has at least two grooves (10).

Abstract: The device is of the type comprising a steering column support structure (1) connected to the rest of the structure of the vehicle and comprising two side members (2,3) between which the column is disposed, and means for fixing the column in position by urging the side walls together and comprising a rod (10) extending through and between the side members and having a first end portion (11) bearing against one of the side members and a second end portion connected to eccentric fixing means (12) provided with at least one eccentric cam (13,17) connected to an actuating lever (14) and to the second end portion (15) of the rod (10) and bearing against the other side member of the support structure for urging the side members together and thereby fixing the column in position. The at least one eccentric cam (13,17) comprises a central core (13a,17a) on which is rotatively mounted a rolling ring (13b,17b) bearing against the corresponding side member.

Abstract: This device for clamping a male element (3) in a fork (4) comprising two lateral walls (6,7) interconnected by an intermediate wall (12) of a female element is of the type comprising a rod (5) extending between the two lateral walls (6,7) and having an end defining a stop surface (8) bearing against one of the lateral walls (6) and an opposite end (9) which is screw threaded and adapted to cooperate by screwing with a clamping nut (10) for urging the lateral walls (6,7) toward each other and clamping the male element in the fork. Safety means are provided for maintaining the male element (3) in position in the fork (4) in the event of breakage of the rod (5). These safety means comprise a maintaining element (11) disposed alongside the rod and having end portions cooperating with the lateral walls (6,7) of the fork (4) for maintaining the male element in position.

Abstract: The fixing device comprises a steering column support structure for connection to the rest of the structure of the vehicle and comprising two side members (2,3) between which the steering column (4) is disposed, and means for fixing the column in position by urging the side members towards each other and comprising a rod (10) extending between the side members and having a first end portion (11) bearing against one of the side members and a second end portion connected to eccentric fixing means (12) comprising at least one eccentric cam (13,17) connected to an actuating lever (14) and to the second end portion (15) of the rod (10) and bearing against the other side member of the structure to permit urging the side members towards each other and thereby fixing the column in position. At least one rolling member (18,19) is interposed between the at least one eccentric cam and the corresponding side member of the support structure.

Abstract: This device for fixing a steering column to the bodywork of a motor vehicle, in which the column (1) is connected to an assembly member (2), and this member to the bodywork (3) of the vehicle via fixing means, is characterized in that the fixing means comprise means (4) for hooking the member to the bodywork and means (5, 6) suitable for producing a mechanical stress between this member and the bodywork in order to ensure that the member is fixed under stress to the bodywork. This device advantageously comprises, in proximity to one of the ends of the member (2), the hooking means (4), in proximity to the other end of this member, means (5) for clamping the member to the bodywork, and, between these hooking and clamping means, means (6) tending to distance this member from the bodywork.

Abstract: Inside a body or tube (1), a shaft (2) carries a collar (10) which is provided with a flange or circumferential rib (14) and is mounted on the shaft in a fixed manner. The flange is retained between two radial abutments (18, 19) carried by a locking element (16) fitted in an aperture in the tube. The radial abutments are suitably shaped and cooperate with a cam formed on the collar (10) for facilitating the ejection of the locking element (16) under the effect of a rotation of the shaft (2). This device is especially adapted to the immobilization of a steering shaft in a steering column tube before the mounting of the latter on a vehicle.

Abstract: A telescopic steering-wheel shaft (1) is rotatably mounted in a column body (4-6) capable of pivoting about a horizontal axis (17). The column body (6) is supported at one end by a slide (48) for suspension on a rack (26) driven by a pinion (24) carried by the output shaft of a geared motor (20). A pressure screw (52) acting on the column body and on the slide ensures that play is taken up. The column body (6) is connected at its opposite end to a rack driven by a pinion (80) carried by the output shaft of a second geared motor (84).

Abstract: The tubular member (1) is integral with an assembly member (14) capable of sliding in a fixed U-shaped fitting and traversed by a tie bolt (20) guided in curved slots of the fitting. The tie bolt comprises a conical head (42) facing the conical surface (25) of a washer (24) for bearing against the fitting. Spacer balls (52), guided radially on these facing surfaces, the accommodated in inclined slots of a disc integrally connected to the control lever and displaced by the rotation of the latter about the tie bolt (20).

Abstract: The rapid fastener is adapted to achieve a connection in the axial direction and in rotation of two elements and more particularly torque-transmitting shafts. It comprises at the end of one of the elements a socket (8) which is provided with at least one helical slot (14, 16) and on which is axially slidable a ring (18) defining at least one longitudinal slot which is laterally offset relative to the entrance (14) of the helical slot. The ring (18) is biased by a spring (24) toward the entrance of the socket (8). The second element has a stem (4) provided with a driving pin (6) which, in entering the helical slot, urges back the ring but is guided under the action of the spring (24) and the edges of the two slots toward the inner end of the helical slot and is then locked in this position without clearance.

Abstract: This device comprises a sleeve (31) perforated with at least one slot (20) receiving the bolt (22) of a locking mechanism integral with the vehicle body. This sleeve (31) has, at one of its ends, longitudinal slots (4) which are engaged over axial projections (6) carried by a bush (28) interposed between the sleeve (31) and the steering-wheel shaft (2), this bush being splined on the inside and thus being made integral with the shaft (2). A rotation of the steering wheel must therefore overcome a periodically variable resistant torque.

Abstract: The tubular part (1) passes through a middle support piece (25) which is arranged between two clamping flanges (17a, 17b). A tie rod (21) passes through the flanges (17) and bears against the external surfaces of these flanges by means of a stop (29) and a clamping device on the one hand, and a nut (31), on the other hand. The clamping device consists of a bistable toggle-joint system comprising two levers (40,41) located in between the stop (29) and a bearing part (34). The stop (29), the levers (40,41) and the bearing part (34) have complementary hinging surfaces which are freely engaged with each other for assembly of the clamping device. With the device according to the invention it is possible to fix a steering column which can be continuously adjusted by pivoting and/or sliding. It is also possible to absorb the torques which may be transmitted to the steering column when the anti-theft device of the vehicle is engaged.