Adjustable Patents (Class 74/493)
  • Patent number: 8651526
    Abstract: In a steering apparatus, an upper bracket that supports a steering column is configured as a breakaway bracket, and has a telescopic adjustment function that allows the steering wheel position to be adjusted in the axial direction of the steering column. The upper bracket has a first through-hole extending through the upper bracket in the axial direction. The upper bracket is provided with a guide rail 7 that has a fixed portion and a body portion. The fixed portion is fixed to a mounting stay. The body portion extends from the fixed portion toward the front of a vehicle in the axial direction, and is inserted in the first through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignees: JTEKT Corporation, Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakamura, Keiji Kishimoto, Kazuyuki Tamenaga, Takeshi Matsuda, Hiroji Nagano, Kazuyoshi Wakabayashi, Shigeru Hoshino, Tomokazu Fujita
  • Patent number: 8650982
    Abstract: An electric telescopic steering apparatus includes a jacket having a lower jacket and an upper jacket in order to telescope the jacket; and a screw shaft arranged along a longitudinal direction of the jacket and held under a rotation-locked state. The screw shaft includes one end portion supported by one of the lower jacket and the upper jacket. The electric telescopic steering apparatus further includes a nut screwed on another end portion of the screw shaft and supported by another of the lower jacket and the upper jacket; a driving section configured to drive a rotation of the nut; and a displacement absorbing section provided between the one end portion of the screw shaft and the jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Matsuno, Tadao Ito, Takeshi Miyagi
  • Patent number: 8641094
    Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a rake bracket and a lower jacket secured to the rake bracket. An upper jacket is slidably disposed in the lower jacket and a locking bolt is rotatably located at the lower jacket configured to allow the upper jacket allow the translate along a steering column axis relative to the lower jacket when the locking bolt is in an unlocked position. A bolt driver is located at the locking bolt and is configured to interrupt a load path through a column retainer between the lower jacket and the rake bracket when the locking bolt is in an unlocked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Melvin Lee Tinnin, Kevin M Burns, Michael Patrick Anspaugh, Matthew James-Thomas Vincent
  • Patent number: 8640567
    Abstract: A female screw member 6 supported by a movable side bracket 31 includes: a movable side casing 61 provided with a nut container 67 through which a male screw shaft member 54 passes; and a pair of nuts 62 and 63 inserted into the nut container 67 non-rotatably but movably in an axial direction of the male screw shaft member 54 while threadedly engaging with the male screw shaft member 54. The movable side casing 61 includes a wedge member 64 whose tip end 64c is inserted between the nuts 62 and 63. The nuts 62 and 63 are separated from each other when the wedge number 64 is inserted therebetween, and outside surfaces 62c and 63c of female screw portions 62b and 63b of the nuts 62 and 63 come into contact with and get held by a male screw portion 54a of the male screw shaft member 54, thereby eliminating backlash between the female screw portions 62b and 63b and the male screw portion 54a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Kiko Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Matsuno, Tadao Ito, Takeshi Miyagi
  • Patent number: 8641095
    Abstract: A steering column device includes a fixed member and a movable member disposed between a jacket and a mount bracket. The fixed member is located on a mount bracket side, and the movable member is located on a jacket side. The fixed member and the movable member include a lock member and a lock tooth disposed to face each other. The lock member includes an elastic claw having elasticity to achieve engagement with and disengagement from the lock tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yota Uesaka
  • Publication number: 20140026707
    Abstract: A steering device includes: a column pipe; an outer housing having a clamping portion; a pair of stopper plates; a fastener having a bolt shaft that is mounted on the clamping portion so as to fasten the clamping portion to thereby fix the column pipe; and a buffer member. The buffer member is mounted on any one of the pair of facing stopper plates and the bolt shaft and makes contact with the other by mutual displacement, and a plurality of projection ribs having a triangular cross-sectional shape is formed on a contacting surface of the buffer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Norihiko YOKOTA, Yoshiyuki Satou, Noriyuki Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20140020502
    Abstract: Various aspects of the disclosure relate to a steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising a bracket which carries an upper jacket unit and a lower jacket unit, wherein the jacket units surround a steering shaft rotatably mounted therein, and wherein the jacket units comprise an inner jacket tube and an outer jacket tube which surrounds the inner jacket tube at least in some sections, said jacket tubes being mounted such that they can be displaced one inside the other in their axial direction by means of a plastic sleeve made of thermoplastic which is located therebetween. Freedom from play is achieved in that the plastic sleeve is inserted into the outer jacket tube with a press fit, and in that the outer jacket tube has at least one opening, in the region of which the plastic sleeve is pressed against the inner jacket tube by deformation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: THYSSENKRUPP PRESTA AG
    Inventor: Rony Schnitzer
  • Patent number: 8634989
    Abstract: The rollover prevention apparatus defines an adaptive steering range limiting device comprising a control unit and a pair of opposing unidirectional brake assemblies mounted to a steering column position detection disc. The rollover prevention apparatus prevents the steering wheel of the vehicle from being turned beyond the threshold of vehicle rollover, but otherwise does not restrict the rotational range of motion of the steering wheel of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventor: Michael R. Schramm
  • Patent number: 8627742
    Abstract: A steering column assembly includes a first jacket defining a first bore and a second jacket defining a second bore aligned with the first bore prior to collapse of the first jacket and the second jacket. A jacket connector extends through the bores to interconnect the first jacket and the second jacket. The jacket connector includes a pre-determined shear resistance, above which the jacket connector is sheared to permit telescopic movement between the first jacket and the second jacket. Accordingly, in response to an axial load greater than the pre-determined shear resistance of the jacket connector being applied to one of the first jacket and the second jacket, the jacket connector shears, permitting the telescopic movement. The jacket connector includes a pin defining a pin bore. The pin bore defines a cross sectional area, with the pre-determined shear resistance depending upon the cross sectional area of the pin bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Jason R. Ridgway, Albert C. Huber, Robert D. Maida, Scott A. Stinebring
  • Patent number: 8622427
    Abstract: Provided is a steering column support apparatus that simplifies tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel during a secondary collision, and suppresses the absolute value and variation of the break away load without strong rubbing between the bracket 11 on the vehicle side and the bracket 33 on the column side. By forming an extending section 57 on the top plate section 55 of the bracket 33 on the column side, and a convex curved surface 58 on the top surface of the front end section of that extending section 57, a rise in contact pressure at the area of contact that occurs when the edge on the front end of the top surface of the top plate section 55 is pressed against the bottom surface of the bracket 11 on the vehicle side by a moment that is applied from the steering column 6c to the bracket 33 on the column side during a secondary collision is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Minamigata, Minao Umeda, Takeshi Fujiwara, Osamu Tatewaki, Toru Segawa, Kiyoshi Sadakata
  • Publication number: 20140000405
    Abstract: A position lock for a steering column comprises a rake lock bracket, a tooth lock, a driver, and a spring. The rake lock bracket is fixed to the vehicle has a rake lock tooth wall that bounds a control slot and that defines a plurality of rake lock teeth. The tooth lock is coupled to the steering column for movement in a raking direction and supported for rotation about a tooth lock rotation axis. The driver, supported for translation with the tooth lock and for rotation about a driver rotation axis, is configured for contacting an actuation feature of the tooth lock so as to cause the tooth lock to rotate with the driver as the driver rotates within the active range of rotation of the driver. The spring is configured and arranged to apply a biasing moment to cause the tooth lock to rotate in a locking direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Michael P. Anspaugh, Melvin Lee Tinnin, John Schulz, Donald A. Buzzard
  • Patent number: 8616580
    Abstract: A steering apparatus has a steering shaft 7, an inner column 2 that supports the steering shaft 7 via a bearing 81, an outer column A that embraces the inner column 2, a fixing bracket 1 that sandwiches the outer column A from both sides in a width direction, and a tightener 6 that tightens and releases the outer column A together with the fixing bracket 1. The inner column 2 has an embraced cylindrical section 21 that is embraced by the outer column A. A relief section 212 having an outer diameter that is formed smaller than other portions of the embraced cylindrical section 21 is formed in a middle region of the embraced cylindrical section 21 in an axial direction, and the bearing 81 that pivotally supports the steering shaft 7 is fixed to an inner circumferential side of the relief section 212.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Maniwa, Norihiko Yokota
  • Publication number: 20130327177
    Abstract: A steering column device includes a tilt bracket that is fixed to a vehicle body, and a telescopic bracket that is fixed to a column jacket. A lock mechanism includes a fastening shaft that is inserted through a first side plate and a second side plate of the tilt bracket, and a third side plate and a fourth side plate of the telescopic bracket, and achieves tilt locking and telescopic locking by fastening the third and fourth side plates by using the first and second side plates. Tilt friction plates and telescopic friction plates are provided separately from each other on right and left sides of the tilt bracket, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Eiji TANAKA
  • Patent number: 8601902
    Abstract: A steering wheel adjustment and securement mechanism is provided including a tube coupled to a steering shaft such that the shaft rotates in correspondence with the tube, and a collar slidably mounted to the tube, the collar being coupled to the tube such that the tube rotates in correspondence with the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Lee Stauffer
  • Patent number: 8601901
    Abstract: To realize a practical structure capable of increasing the number of frictional engagement sections between members that are relatively displaced in response to adjustment of a front-rear position of a steering wheel, in a portion of a front end section of an outer column 11b that opposes to an intermediate section of an adjustment bolt 17a, there is formed a slit 33 that is long in the axial direction of this outer column 11b, and in a portion of the intermediate section of the adjustment bolt 17a that opposes to this outer column 11b, there is provided a pressing member 37, this pressing member 37 pressing the outer circumferential surface of the outer column 11b radially inward, with the rotation of the adjustment bolt 17a, and when fixing the front-rear position, with the rotation of the adjustment bolt 17a, a pair of supporting plate sections 23, which constitute a nipping (fixed) bracket 22a, nipping a nipped (movable) bracket 24a, and at the same time, the pressing member 37 bringing the inner circumfe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Ishii, Yasuo Koike
  • Publication number: 20130319163
    Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a steering column shroud comprising an inner and an outer tubular member, a support bracket which is fixed to part of the vehicle, and a clamp assembly which includes a cab mechanism having a fixed portion and a moving portion and a clamp pin which passes through arms of the support bracket, the clamp pin being provided with a first reaction member located towards one end of the pin outside of one arm of the support bracket and a second reaction member located towards the other end of the clamp pin outside of the other arm of the support bracket such that the arms of the bracket are located on the clamp pin between the reaction members and with the cam assembly located between the outside of one arm and one of the reaction members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicants: TRW LIMITED, TRW STEERING SYSTEMS POLAND SP. Z.O.O.
    Inventors: Niclas Davies, Sathish Babu Muthukalyani, Slawomir Kwasny
  • Publication number: 20130319162
    Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises an upper column for supporting a steering wheel and a position lock bracket disposed about the upper column. The position lock bracket is configured to be fixed to the upper column when the position lock bracket occupies a locked mode. The position lock bracket is further configured to be selectively fixed to a rigid structure of the vehicle when operating in a fixed mode and to be instantaneously released from the vehicle structure when operating in a release mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard K. Riefe, Ravi Ravindra, David G. Motousek
  • Patent number: 8596161
    Abstract: A spring for assisting a tilt adjustment operation can be easily and rapidly attached to a fixed bracket and a movable bracket. Each of two flanges of a fixed bracket has a tilted flange plate and a locking piece. The locking piece has a guiding edge, a locking recess, an insertion recess, and a fixing hole. In a spring member, a first locking shaft portion is formed on the rear side of two coil portions, and a second locking shaft portion is formed rearward from the distal end of the first locking shaft portion. The first locking shaft portion is engaged with the locking recess, and the second locking shaft portion is engaged with the fixing hole. The distance between the first locking shaft portions of the spring member is less that the distance between the two guiding edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Maniwa, Mitsuo Yabutsuka
  • Patent number: 8596684
    Abstract: The invention provides a steering column assembly having a steering column extending between a pivot end and a steering wheel supporting end. The steering wheel supporting end is operable to engage a steering wheel. The steering column is moveable along a collapse path in response to an impacting force acting on the steering wheel supporting end. The steering column includes a cam-follower surface in fixed relation to the steering wheel supporting end. The steering column assembly also includes a cam surface spaced from the steering column and slidably engaging the cam-follower surface. The cam surface and the cam-follower surface cooperate during movement of the steering column along the collapse path to guide the steering column in rotation upwardly about the pivot end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Jason R. Ridgway, Richard K. Riefe, Sam L. Scrivener
  • Patent number: 8590932
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle includes a clamping device, in the opened state of which the steering column is adjustable and in the closed state of which the set position of the steering column is fixed. The clamping device comprises an actuating lever and a clamping piece, which can be rotated about an axis of rotation by the actuating lever in order to open and close the clamping device. The actuating lever can be twisted about the axis of rotation at least in one direction of rotation with respect to the clamping piece when a limit of a torque acting between the actuating lever and the clamping piece is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Maximilian Dietz, Tillmann Rutzel
  • Publication number: 20130305870
    Abstract: A method for constraining an upper portion of a steering column assembly of a vehicle to translate along a preferred path comprises providing a telescoping steering column assembly with an upper column positioned for use by a vehicle operator and with a power assist module positioned remotely from the vehicle operator. A position lock bracket is disposed about the upper column, and the position lock bracket is conditionally fixed to the vehicle. A guide bracket is fixed to the vehicle and configured so as to constrain the upper column to translate along the preferred path. A steering column assembly comprises an upper column and a power assist module. A position lock bracket is disposed about the upper column and conditionally fixed to the vehicle. A guide bracket is fixed to the vehicle and configured so as to constrain the upper column to translate along a preferred path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph R. Streng, Chad E. Gerding, Neal R. Roller
  • Publication number: 20130305871
    Abstract: A steering system includes a steering column which supports rotatably a steering shaft to which a steering wheel is connected and a pair of support mechanisms which support the steering column so as to tilt relative to a vehicle body. Each of the support mechanisms includes a support bracket having a column-side fastened portion and a body-side fastened portion, a fulcrum bolt, and a bush. A fastening hole through which a fastening bolt is inserted to fasten the support bracket to a fixed member is formed in the body-side fastened portion. Each of the support mechanisms includes an elastic member which can be compressed in an axial direction of the fulcrum bolt, and the support bracket is configured to oscillate relative to the steering column by the elastic member being compressed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicants: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihide Ohara, Tatsuhiro Yamamoto, Hiroshi Kawakami, Toru Suzuzki
  • Publication number: 20130298717
    Abstract: A locking device for a steering column and method of installing the locking device are provided. The locking device includes a spring body configured for installation on a rotatable bolt and comprising a biasing portion. The spring body is rotatable in one direction through a first range and second range. A lock body includes a body portion configured for mounting on the rotatable bolt and a locking portion configured to move between a first position and a second position. The biasing portion of the spring body contacts the lock body and causes the lock body to rotate with the spring body through the first range. The spring body is rotatable relative to the lock body through the second range such that at least a portion of the biasing portion is elastically deflected when the spring body is rotated through the second range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin M. Burns, Melvin L. Tinnin, John Schulz, Michael P. Anspaugh
  • Publication number: 20130298718
    Abstract: First and second lower support mechanisms (27, 28): are each provided with a coil spring (66, 86) that is mated to the outer periphery of an axle part (59, 79) of a fulcrum bolt (53, 73); and are configured in such a manner that support brackets (51, 71) are able to rock with respect to a steering column (5) by compressing the coil springs (66, 86). The coil springs (66, 86) are formed in such a manner that the axle parts (59, 79) are force fitted in a state prior to column-side fastening parts (55, 75) being fastened to the steering column (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshihide Ohara
  • Publication number: 20130298719
    Abstract: A fixing device has at least one clamping device and at least one locking element which can be acted upon by the clamping device, and at least one counter locking element. In a closed position of the clamping device, the locking element and the counter locking element are arranged in an engagement position, and the fixing device has at least one elastic resetting element for resetting the locking element in an open position of the clamping device. The fixing device has at least one engagement element which, in the closed position of the clamping device, is in engagement by preferably plastic deformation of at least one surface of the locking element and/or of the counter locking element in a form-fitting manner with the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Rony Schnitzer, Thomas Heitz
  • Patent number: 8578812
    Abstract: A structure is realized that is capable of preventing interference of respective friction plates (39, 40a, 40b) with other members existing therearound or with the body of a driver, and furthermore that facilitates, when assembling, insertion of a tension rod (17a) through a circular hole (47) and longitudinal elongated holes (18a, 18b) formed in the respective friction plates (39, 40a, 40b). The respective friction plates (39, 40a, 40b) are arranged between both of the side faces of a displacement bracket section (36) and the inner face of supporting plate sections (22a) that constitute a fixed side bracket (15a). Moreover, the end edges of the respective friction plates (39, 40a, 40b) symmetrically present in pairs are connected by connecting sections (45, 46a, 46b), to thereby integrate the left and right friction plates (39, 40a, 40b) so that the respective holes (45, 18a, 18b), through which the tension rod (17a) is to be inserted, can be easily aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: NSK, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Minamigata
  • Patent number: 8583353
    Abstract: A traveling apparatus performs an inverted pendulum control to maintain an inverted state of a vehicle body and travels with a passenger thereon. The traveling apparatus includes a drive portion that drives the vehicle body; a riding detection portion that detects a start of riding on the vehicle body by the passenger; a command generation portion that generates a torque command value to perform the inverted pendulum control and a position control to move the vehicle body to a position that facilitates the riding, when the start of riding is detected by the riding detection portion; and a control portion that controls the drive portion based on the torque command value generated by the command generation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Kosaka
  • Patent number: 8573351
    Abstract: A u-MDPS (United Motor Driven Power Steering) system includes one MDPS motor, one MDPS ECU that assists steering force using power of the MDPS motor, and has a logic implementing tilting-up/down and telescopic movement, and a multi-function generator that switches a power transmission path of the MDPS motor to the steering path for assisting a steering force, the tilt path for tilting up/down a column tube, or the telescopic path for facilitating a telescopic movement of the column tube. The multi-function generator may include a motor power converting unit, a motor power transmitting unit and a tilt•telescopic motion unit. The tilt•telescopic motion unit further includes an electromagnetic clutch, which makes it possible to implement fail-safety function by switching to a lock-manual mode of one MDPS motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Daesuk Jung, Unkoo Lee, Soobo Park
  • Publication number: 20130269468
    Abstract: A height-adjustable safety steering column assembly includes a console installed securely on the vehicle and in which an outer jacket tube is pivotably mounted. The outer jacket tube comprising includes a steering spindle having a universal joint and an inner jacket tube, which surrounds a telescoping steering wheel-side section of the steering spindle. The pivotable connection of the outer jacket tube with the console installed securely on the vehicle is implemented by two riveted joints provided diametrically on a circumference of the jacket tube and which form a rotation axis corresponding to the universal joint axis of the steering spindle. For each of the connections formed by two rivets, the console installed securely on the vehicle has a passage leading into a passage of the outer jacket tube. A rivet closing head is seated on the jacket tube side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Christian Ehlers, Holger Kittler, Thomas Krueger, Marco Schwieger
  • Patent number: 8555745
    Abstract: A structure for a tilt-telescopic steering device, without requiring particularly high accuracy effectively prevents a steering wheel from being positionally displaced in a secondary collision. When an adjustment lever 18a is turned, tilt-locking serrated sections 54 of a pair of tilt-locking eccentric cams 23a and 23b are pressed against curved edges 53 of support plates 40. Moreover, a telescoping locking serrated section 62 of a telescoping locking eccentric cam 58 is pressed against the lower surface of an inner column. In a secondary collision, each of the serrated sections 54 and 62 engage with a mating surface thereof, to thereby prevent a steering wheel 1 from being displaced and moved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Inoue
  • Patent number: 8549953
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising a bracket (1) which carries an upper jacket unit (3) and a lower jacket unit (5), wherein the jacket units (3, 5) surround a steering shaft (8) rotatably mounted therein, and wherein the jacket units (3, 5) comprise an inner jacket tube (10) and an outer jacket tube (11) which surrounds the inner jacket tube (10) at least in some sections, said jacket tubes being mounted such that they can be displaced one inside the other in their axial direction by means of a plastic sleeve (6) made of thermoplastic which is located therebetween. Freedom from play is achieved in that the plastic sleeve (6) is inserted into the outer jacket tube (11) with a press fit, and in that the outer jacket tube (11) has at least one opening (12), in the region of which the plastic sleeve (6) is pressed against the inner jacket tube (10) by deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG
    Inventor: Rony Schnitzer
  • Patent number: 8550497
    Abstract: Provided is a steering device in which play of a bolt shaft and the like during telescopic adjustment can be prevented using a telescopic adjustment function enabling a driver to adjust a position of a steering wheel in a front-rear direction. The steering device includes a column pipe, an outer housing, a fixed bracket, a stopper bracket, a tightening member having a bolt shaft, a slide guide, an elastic stopper rubber material mounted on the slide guide, and an elastic pushing member in which torsional coil spring portions are formed at both axial ends of a pushing shaft portion. The bolt shaft is passed through a tightening hole of the outer housing and a support hole of the fixed bracket along shaft support portions of the slide guide, and the elastic pushing member is locked and fixed to the fixed bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Takezawa, Yoshiyuki Sato, Toru Ito
  • Publication number: 20130255430
    Abstract: Construction is achieved wherein upward displacement of a steering column 6c during a secondary collision is prevented, and the distance D between the steering column 6c and the tip end section of an adjustment lever 18b is kept the same regardless of the up/down position of the steering wheel 1. The position of the adjustment lever 18b after rotation is maintained by the tip end section of a locking arm 40 that is provided on the base end section of the adjustment arm 18b engaging with a locking groove 42 of a locking piece 41 that is provided on a support plate section 23a. The direction of formation of the locking groove 42 is such that when the up/down position of the steering wheel 1 is in an upward position, the top end section of the locking groove 42 engages with the tip end section of the locking arm 40, and when the up/down position of the steering wheel 1 is in a downward position, the bottom end section of the locking groove 42 engages with the tip end section of the locking arm 40.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Seiichi Moriyama, Hiroshi Shibazaki, Kiyoshi Sadakata, Seiichi Hagiwara, Masajirou Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8544886
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steering system for a motor vehicle with electrical power assistance comprising: a steering-spindle bearing unit, in which the steering shaft is mounted rotatably and is guided in a slide, which can be connected to the vehicle body, wherein the steering-spindle bearing unit is adjustable at least in its inclination, an electric motor, which is coupled rotatably via reduction gearing to a steering spindle, wherein the reduction gearing is enclosed and mounted in a housing, wherein the housing has means for forming a swivelling axis, about which the steering-spindle bearing unit is adjustable in its inclination, wherein the steering system further comprises a retaining clamp for fastening the steering system to the motor vehicle, wherein the retaining clamp has a guideway that interacts with a counterstay arranged on the slide, wherein the slide is movable along the guideway after it overcomes a presettable releasing force, and in the case of displacement of the slide along the guidew
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG
    Inventors: Christoph Klukowski, Johannes Schönlechner, Rolf Ackermann
  • Publication number: 20130247708
    Abstract: A steering apparatus of the present invention includes a fixed bracket, a fastener, a primary cam that rotates with a rotation operation of the fastener, and a secondary cam that is non-rotatably attached to a fixed side portion and is in contact with the primary cam. Cam operating portions each including an inclined surface portion, a high level surface, and a contact protrusion are formed at regular intervals along a circumferential direction on a base flat surface of each of the primary cam and the secondary cam, and the inclined surface portion is constituted by a low gradually inclined surface, a middle sharply inclined surface, and a high gradually inclined surface arranged in this order from the base flat surface toward the high level surface. With the arrangement, operability of an operating lever in locking and unlocking is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventors: Kouji HIROOKA, Sugury SUGISHITA
  • Patent number: 8539855
    Abstract: A adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle includes a mounting part that can be attached to the chassis of the motor vehicle, and an adjusting part that can be adjusted relative to the mounting part. The adjusting part rotatably supports a segment of the steering spindle, and the segment is adjacent to a steering wheel side end of the steering spindle that can be adjusted relative to the mounting part between a first end position and a second end position, along an adjusting path, when adjusting the adjusting part. The steering-wheel side end is adjusted through at least part of the adjusting path in a coupled manner in one direction of a length adjustment of the steering column, and in one direction of a height or tilt adjustment of the steering column. A front guide pin is mounted at the adjusting part or on the mounting part, and the pin engages in at least one elongated hole provided in the other of the two parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Rony Schnitzer
  • Patent number: 8534705
    Abstract: Construction of a steering column support apparatus is achieved that simplifies tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, lowers and stabilizes the break away load, and when necessary, prevents the steering wheel from dropping excessively after a secondary collision. A locking cutout section 27 that extends in the forward/backward direction is formed in a bracket 11a on the vehicle side, top and bottom sliding plate sections 31a, 31b that are formed on outside and inside sliding plates 51, 52 of a sliding member 28 are located on both the top and bottom surfaces of the portions on both sides of the locking cutout section 27. A bolt that is inserted from the top through these sliding plate sections 31a, 31b and a nut 30 connect the top plate section 23 of a bracket 12b on the column side to the bracket 11a on the vehicle side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara, Kiyoshi Sadakata, Toru Segawa, Takahiro Minamigata
  • Publication number: 20130233117
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle that includes an inner column tube, a steering shaft supported at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis, a top bracket adapted for receiving a least a portion of the steering shaft and for mounting the steering column assembly within the automotive vehicle, and a telescoping motor subassembly adapted for selectively driving the steering shaft in a fore or aft direction. A telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is coupled during normal operation to a column housing, the telescoping motor subassembly and the inner column tube, wherein the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is adapted to detach from the column housing in the event of an impact exceeding a predetermined first impact load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NSK AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventors: Simon Read, Victor C. Martinez
  • Publication number: 20130234425
    Abstract: A steering device for a motor vehicle has a steering wheel which is connected in a rotationally fixed fashion to a steering shaft which is continuously hollow and through which at least an electrical conductor is led in order to make electrical connection with steering-wheel-side equipment. The conductor, in particular flexible conductor tracks, highly flexible cables, and/or flat conductor ribbons, is guided in an axial direction through the entire steering shaft, and emerges therefrom at the two ends of the steering shaft, and is surrounded essentially by a protective device. The protective device has two protective tubes which can be changed in length in the axial direction, in particular by moving them in and out in a telescopic fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Alexander SKOWRONEK, Helmar LIESS
  • Patent number: 8528937
    Abstract: A steering column support apparatus that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, keeping material costs, processing costs and assembly costs of an energy absorbing member low, and when necessary, preventing the steering wheel from dropping down excessively during a secondary collision. A locking capsule 47 that is fastened to a bracket 3 on the column side is held inside a locking hole 45 of a bracket 11b on the vehicle side that is fastened to the vehicle body by a plurality of connecting members that shear during a secondary collision. An energy absorbing member 53 is placed between the locking capsule 47 and the bracket 11b on the vehicle side. This energy absorbing member 53 is formed by bending a plastically deformable wire, and allows forward displacement of the locking capsule while absorbing impact energy that is applied to the locking capsule by plastically deforming during a secondary collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Minamigata, Minao Umeda, Takeshi Fujiwara, Osamu Tatewaki, Kiyoshi Sadakata, Toru Segawa, Nobuyuki Nishimura
  • Publication number: 20130228032
    Abstract: A steering device provides a driver operation feeling that lets the driver definitely feel that a movable tilt lock gear and a fixed tilt lock gear are securely engaged. Gear noise in tilt adjustment when the movable tilt lock gear and the fixed tilt lock gear are engaged halfway is prevented. As the control force of an operating lever is rapidly decreased when a fitting protrusion is fitted to a stepped part, a click and click stop feeling occur and a definite operation feeling that the clamping is securely performed is acquired. As the fitting protrusion is integrated with the operating lever and a sliding surface configured by a groove, an inclined face and the stepped part are also formed as an outside face of the fixed tilt lock gear, the number of parts and man-hours for assembly can be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinji Okada
  • Publication number: 20130228033
    Abstract: An inner column 2 is fitted in an outer column 1 in such a way as to be able to slide in the axial direction. The outer column 1 is mounted on a vehicle body 5 by a vehicle mount bracket 3. Fastening portions 65B, 65B of a right distance bracket 6B pass through through-holes 13, 14 respectively to be able to be in contact with the outer circumference 21 of the inner column and directly fasten the outer circumference of the inner column. Thus, there is provided a steering apparatus that is simple in structure without need to provide an additional mechanism for preventing rotation of an inner column and in which the magnitude of fastening force exerted on the inner column does not vary depending on the telescopic position of the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Inventor: Masajirou Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20130228034
    Abstract: A sliding sleeve blank for producing a sliding sleeve for a steering spindle shaft of a motor vehicle steering spindle and the motor vehicle steering spindle assembly are provided. The sliding sleeve blank has a cylindrical form and has a section on one end, which has a collar, from which winged webs extending away radially extend in the direction of the second end. The sliding sleeve blank is a cold impact extrusion component, which, at the section has a preliminary toothing system extending over one part of the length of the section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicant: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Axel Hebenstreit, Marco Schwieger
  • Patent number: 8523227
    Abstract: The steering column assembly has a base mounted to the machine and a steering column coupled to the base that pivots about the base at one end of the steering column. The steering column assembly has column plates and base plates with pinned ends and slotted ends. The pinned ends of the plates form pin openings. The column plates are pivotably coupled to the steering column with a column pin and the base plates are pivotably coupled to the base with a base pin. The column plates contact the base plates such that their respective slots intersect to form an opening through the slots. A locking pin fits in the opening and pushes the column plates against the base plates, creating friction between the plates that prevents the steering column from moving. When the locking pin is in an unlocked position the steering column is movable with at least two degrees of freedom. When the locking pin is in a locked position the steering column is not movable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Keegan Roach
  • Patent number: 8522639
    Abstract: The present invention provides a steering apparatus that can provide good operation feeling in telescopic adjustment and can have a very simple configuration. The steering apparatus has a fixed bracket, a movable bracket, a sliding shaft support member, and a tightening tool. The sliding shaft support member is constituted by a main sliding unit made of an inelastic resin and buffer portions made of a rubber or an elastic resin. The buffer portions are fixedly attached to both sides of the main sliding unit in the front-rear direction, the upper and lower surfaces of the main sliding unit are in a state of sliding contact with both guide edges of a long hole for telescopic adjustment of the movable bracket, and the buffer portions can abut only on both stop end edges and do not come into contact with the two guide edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Hirooka, Suguru Sugishita
  • Patent number: 8517422
    Abstract: A steering wheel alignment system for a vehicle having a steering wheel and steering unit that includes a first shaft operatively connected to the steering unit, a second shaft operatively connected to the steering wheel, and a coupling disposed between the first and second shafts to couple the shafts so that rotation of the steering wheel operates the steering unit to steer the vehicle. The coupling includes: a bolt, one of the shafts is hollow to telescope over the other shaft, and each shaft has a radial extending hole therethrough for receiving the bolt to attach the first and second shafts together. The radial extending hole through one of the shafts is elongated in the radial direction so that when the bolt extends through the holes of the first and second shafts the elongation of the hole defines a range of radial adjusting movement of the shafts relative one another until tightening of the bolt clamps the first and second shafts together against further relative rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Miroslaw Zaloga, George E. Doerr, Christopher J. Mielke
  • Publication number: 20130213173
    Abstract: Construction is achieved wherein performing design for sufficiently maintaining the collapse stroke is simple regardless of whether or not there is a key lock cylinder, and support rigidity of the steering column 1a during normal operation can be adequately increased. A vehicle-side bracket 5a is provided with a stationary-side support plate section 17 on only one side in the width direction of the column-side bracket 4a. This column-side bracket 4a is supported by the stationary-side support plate section 17 so as to be able to displace in the forward direction due to an impact load during a secondary collision. The column-side bracket 4a is also supported by the vehicle-side bracket 5a by way of an installation plate section 21 that is provided in a portion on the opposite side in the width direction of the steering column 1a from the stationary-side support plate section 17 so as to be able to displace in the forward direction due to an impact load during a secondary collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Seiichi Moriyama
  • Publication number: 20130213174
    Abstract: The present invention provides a steering apparatus having simple construction, and good left and right balance of the clamping force, such that the clamping force does not fluctuate depending on the forward-backward position of the steering wheel 103. When fastening the tilt and telescopic function, by rotating an operation lever 349, the peak of a movable cam 344 runs over the peak of a stationary cam 343, which pushes the stationary cam 343 to the right side, and pulls a clamping rod 34 to the left side at the same time, so as to clamp side plates 32A, 32B. The inside surfaces 321A, 321B of the side plates 32A, 32B clamp flat surface section 61A, 62B of a distance bracket 6. The flat surface sections 62A, 62B elastically deform toward the inside in the width direction of the vehicle, and a pair of left and right clamping sections 66A, 66B of bent sections 64A, 64B clamp the outer circumferential surface of an inner column 2 from both the left and right sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Kenichi Suzuki, Seiichi Moriyama, Hiroshi Shibasaki, Kazuhiko Kojima
  • Publication number: 20130205933
    Abstract: Construction is achieved that is capable of maintaining the holding force by which a support bracket 12a holds an outer column 13a. One pivoting friction plate 25 for telescopic mechanism is held between the inside surface of a support plate section 20a of the support bracket 12a and the outside surface of a displacement bracket 18a that is fastened to the outer column 13a. When adjusting the forward-backward position of a steering wheel, the pivoting friction plate 25 for telescopic mechanism pivots around a support pin 33 as an adjustment rod 22a displaces along a long hole 19a for telescopic mechanism and a long guide hole 32.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Seiichi Moriyama
  • Patent number: 8505407
    Abstract: A steering column device where an inner column can be reliably clamped and sufficient rigidity and strength of an outer column can be achieved. A semi-circular arc rib (132) is formed on the peripheral edge of a closed end section (131) of a slit (13). The rib (132) is substantially semi-circular are-shaped and projects outward from an outer peripheral surface (15A) of an outer column (1). Further, linear ribs (133A, 133B) extend linearly toward the vehicle body front side so as to be continuous from the vehicle body front side of the semi-circular arc rib (132). The semi-circular arc rib (132) and the linear ribs (133A, 133B) reinforce the peripheral edge of the slit (13) of the outer column (1) whose rigidity and strength are impaired. Thus the rigidity and strength of the outer column (1) are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Nomura, Jun Yamada