Abstract: An energy absorbing raked steering column including a rake bracket on a vehicle body, a rake bolt on a collapsible mast jacket of the steering column traversing the rake bracket through a pair of vertical slots in the rake bracket, and a rake clamp for selectively coupling the rake bracket to the mast jacket. The rake bracket releases from the vehicle body for linear translation with the mast jacket in response to an impact on a steering hand wheel on the steering column. An energy absorber includes a pair convex anvils on the rake bracket which are thrust against and pulled across a pair of stationary serpentine metal straps. Forces attributable to plastic deformation of the metal straps resist linear translation of the mast jacket and urge rotation of the rake bracket about the rake bolt. A pair of lateral trunnions on the mast jacket intercept the rake bracket and block rotation thereof to maintain the contact geometry between the convex anvils and the metal straps.

Abstract: A steering column including a mast jacket pivotable up and down for vertical adjustment and variable lengthwise for horizontal adjustment and a clamp for releasably capturing the position of the steering column. The clamp includes a stationary bracket, a first rack lever and a second rack lever each pivotally supported on the stationary bracket and linked to the mast jacket by a drive lug, and a pair of lock shoes supported on the stationary bracket for linear translation and pivotal movement. An intermediate link between the lock shoes and a manual control lever thrusts the lock shoes linearly toward a cam on the stationary bracket concurrent with pivotal movement of the control lever toward a locked position. The cam pivots the lock shoes concurrent with linear translation to wedge the lock shoes against respective ones of the rack levers with toothed racks on the rack shoes meshing with toothed racks on the rack levers to capture the position of the mast jacket by immobilizing the rack levers.

Abstract: A steering column including a mast jacket pivotable up and down for vertical adjustment of the steering column and variable lengthwise for horizontal adjustment of the steering column. A clamp includes a first rotatable screw shaft on a stationary bracket perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the steering column, a second rotatable screw shaft on the mast jacket parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the steering column, a first split nut on the first screw shaft, and a second split nut on the second screw shaft. The first split nut and the first screw shaft cooperate in converting vertical adjustment of the steering column into idling rotation of the first screw shaft. The second split nut and the second screw shaft cooperate in converting horizontal adjustment of the steering column into idling rotation of the second screw shaft.