Abstract: A steering column comprises a steering shaft rotatably mounted in a body-tube which is disposed on a lateral upright of a support assembly fixed to the structure of a vehicle by a connecting system. A bearing member is connected to the support assembly by the connecting system acting along the axis and to the body tube by an axial guidance system acting along the steering axis. In normal operation, the axial guidance system is sufficiently tightly clamped for there to be no axial sliding movement between the body-tube and the bearing member. In the event of an impact, there is axial sliding between the body-tube and the bearing member immobilized on the support assembly by the connection system acting along the axis.

Abstract: A system for variable absorption of energy in the direction of the axis of an automobile vehicle steering column includes a steering shaft mounted in a body-tube connected to a mobile support member connected to a fixed support member fastened to the chassis of the vehicle and immobilized thereon up to a particular value. A coil is disposed on each side of the steering shaft and is connected to each of the fixed and mobile support members by a respective connecting pin A pyrotechnic displacement system operates selectively on a mobile retaining rod of each coil to modulate the absorption of energy in the event of an impact.

Abstract: A device for assembling a steering column bracket with a steering gear shaft, comprising a clamping bolt cooperating with a clamping nut disposed in one of two branches of the bracket, the clamping nut being held in place against rotation and translation by an antirotation elastic member and having a radial protrusion. An axial prepositioning abutment is fastened to the bracket. When the radial protrusion of the clamping nut is pressed against the axial prepositioning abutment, the clamping nut is partly withdrawn along its axis to allow the bracket to be engaged over the end of the shaft. At the end of tightening the clamping bolt in the clamping nut, the clamping bolt neutralizes the antirotation function of the antirotation elastic member in order to allow the clamping nut to escape from the axial prepositioning abutment and immobilize the bracket on the shaft.

Abstract: A system for rotationally coupling telescopic interior and exterior shafts, which are disposed so that they can slide one within the other along a common axis, includes a first rotational coupling between the two shafts which is constituted by a rotation friction system. A second rotational coupling between the two shafts is constituted by internal and external splines. The internal splines are on the periphery of the end of the interior shaft and the external splines are on the internal face of the exterior tubular shaft so that a normal rotation torque is transmitted by friction and an exceptional rotation torque is additionally transmitted by the splines.

Abstract: A roller bearing for longitudinal motion includes a sleeve part through which passes a guide rod, a plurality of preferably uniformly distributed race plates each disposed in a respective receptacle formed in either the sleeve part or the guide rod, and a plurality of roller bodies disposed between the race plates and the guide rod. To compensate in a simple way for production variations, a spring mechanism is operatively associated with at least one of the race plates.

Abstract: A device for assembling a steering column bracket with a steering gear shaft, comprising a clamping bolt cooperating with a clamping nut disposed in one of two branches of the bracket, the clamping nut being held in place against rotation and translation by an antirotation elastic member and having a radial protrusion. An axial prepositioning abutment is fastened to the bracket. When the radial protrusion of the clamping nut is pressed against the axial prepositioning abutment, the clamping nut is partly withdrawn along its axis to allow the bracket to be engaged over the end of the shaft. At the end of tightening the clamping bolt in the clamping nut, the clamping bolt neutralizes the antirotation function of the antirotation elastic member in order to allow the clamping nut to escape from the axial prepositioning abutment and immobilize the bracket on the shaft.

Abstract: A universal joint yoke with two parallel yoke legs, which have a partial area for a bearing eye hole, is presented, in which the inner sides of the yoke legs facing one another have areas of thickened material in the unfinished state in the areas of the bearing eye holes. Due to this feature according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a sufficient mounting overlap for the needle bearings arranged in the bearing eye holes, on the one hand, and a maximum possible passage is obtained at the same time for a through hole necessary for the connection to connection profiles in the universal joint yoke.

Abstract: An automobile vehicle steering system includes a steering column, a steering wheel and a steering rack for the steered wheels of the automobile vehicle. The steering column has an upper column part connected to the steering wheel and an intermediate column part connected to the steering rack for the steered wheels of the automobile vehicle. The intermediate column part consists of two connections, namely a mechanical connection and an electrical connection. The mechanical connection and the electrical connection are in parallel, so that the two connections are both connected to the end of the upper column part and to the steering rack and can function simultaneously under normal driving conditions. In the event of an electrical power failure the mechanical connection remains and is used to steer the automobile vehicle.

Abstract: A fastening system for fixing a first assembly unit to a second component for use especially in the motor vehicle industry is presented, which has at least one fastening screw, a corresponding first preassembly thread on the first assembly unit, in which the fastening screw is fixed after the preassembly, and a fastening thread on the first assembly unit or on the second component for fixing the first assembly unit to the second component by means of the fastening screw. The fastening screw has at least two threaded areas for preassembly and for fastening with different thread pitches, wherein the preassembly thread and the fastening thread as well as the threaded areas are provided with different pitches and the second threaded area, which is used for fastening and is facing away from the screw head, has a smaller diameter than the threaded area that is used for the preassembly and is adjacent to the screw head.

Abstract: A locking device for two components of a height- and tilt-adjustable motor vehicle steering column, that has components that are displaceable in relation to one another, is disclosed. One component is fixed on a bracket stationarily connected to the body of the motor vehicle and the other component is part of a steering column housing accommodating the steering column, with at least two toothed surfaces each fixed on the components that are displaceable in relation to one another. The toothed surfaces have each at least one row of teeth with a plurality of teeth arranged next to one another. The free tips of the teeth of the two rows, which free tips face one another, are mutually repelled by magnetic forces.

Abstract: A linear guide device for an automobile vehicle steering column includes a steering shaft rotatably mounted inside a guide-tube which is connected to a support assembly which is fixed to the chassis of the vehicle. A fixed support member is fastened to the chassis of the vehicle. A mobile support member is connected to the fixed support member in order to constitute the support assembly and is immobilized to the fixed support member against forces up to particular value. Rolling members are disposed between fixed rollways formed on the fixed support member and mobile rollways formed on the mobile support member. The fixed and mobile rollways each lie in the required guidance direction.

Abstract: A modulatable energy absorption device for an automobile vehicle steering column includes a number of coils of particular section, a mobile support guided by a fixed support fastened to the vehicle and locked to the fixed support with a particular clamping force, the coils being each connected to a retaining pin and to an attachment pin consisting of a fixed holding rod and two mobile holding rods moved along their axis by a pyrotechnic actuator so as to uncoil one or more coils in the event of an impact.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for fixing a motor vehicle steering column. The, motor vehicle steering column is adjustable in the axial and/or vertical direction and has a steering shaft and a housing accommodating the steering shaft, on a bracket of the steering column of the motor vehicle, which bracket is a rigid part of the body. In the case of an accident, a positive-locking connection is established by pyrotechnical device between the adjustable steering column housing and the bracket of the steering column, at the moment of the impact of the motor vehicle against an obstacle. A device for carrying about the above-mentioned process is disclosed, in which at least one pyrotechnical module and at least one element, which can be controlled by the pyrotechnical module, are present for the positive-locking connection between the steering column and the bracket, which is a rigid part of the body.

Abstract: A system for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft which slide one within the other in the direction of a common axis, the system comprising balls disposed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft in axial grooves on the inner shaft and in axial grooves on the outer shaft. Thrust is applied to each row of balls by an axial coil spring which bears in the groove and which applies thrust to two races of the balls which come into contact with the groove.

Abstract: A fastening system is provided for fastening a first structural component to a second structural component for use especially in the motor vehicle industry, which has at least one fastening screw, a corresponding first preassembly thread on the first structural component, in which the fastening screw is fastened after the preassembly and a fastening thread on the first structural component or the second structural component for fixing the first structural component to the second structural component by the fastening screw, whereby this screw, after fixing, is fastened in the associated fastening thread, whereby the fastening screw has at least one front threaded area arranged on the free end of the screw shank and a second area adjacent to the screw head, whereby this is provided with a plastic coating, into which a thread corresponding to the preassembly thread is incorporated only when the fastening screw is screwed into the preassembly thread.

Abstract: A linear guide device for an automobile vehicle steering column includes a steering shaft rotatably mounted inside a guide-tube which is connected to a support assembly which is fixed to the chassis of the vehicle. A fixed support member is fastened to the chassis of the vehicle. A mobile support member is connected to the fixed support member in order to constitute the support assembly and is immobilized to the fixed support member against forces up to particular value. Rolling members are disposed between fixed rollways formed on the fixed support member and mobile rollways formed on the mobile support member. The fixed and mobile rollways each lie in the required guidance direction.

Abstract: In a system for adjusting the position of a first member relative to a second, support member regarded as fixed, the support member comprises a base having an upright at each of its two ends. The first member is inside the two uprights of the support member and the uprights are substantially parallel to the axis of the first member. The position adjustment system is locked in a chosen position by a clamping device, whose component parts are mounted on a clamping rod passing through the two uprights and whose axis is the clamping axis, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the first member.

Abstract: A system for modulatable absorption of energy from an automobile vehicle steering column comprises a steering shaft mounted in a body-tube connected to a support assembly fixed to the chassis of the vehicle. The system for modulatable absorption of energy comprises a required number of windings with a particular section which are connected to a retaining pin device and to an anchor pin device. The anchor pin device comprises a holding rod which is moved along its axis by an electric actuator to select the number of windings concerned in the event of an impact.

Abstract: A device for permanently coupling two shafts rotatable about a common axis comprises a tubular intermediate member disposed between the outer shaft and the inner shaft, an elastic connecting member disposed between the inner shaft and the tubular intermediate member, the elastic member being attached directly to the inner shaft and to the tubular intermediate member; and rotational connecting means between the outer shaft and the tubular intermediate member. When the coupling is mounted on an automobile vehicle steering column, the inner shaft is a tube of the steering shaft and the outer shaft is the connection end of the yoke of a universal joint.

Abstract: A motor vehicle steering column comprises a steering shaft mounted in a body-tube connected via a support assembly to the chassis of the vehicle, the support assembly comprising a mobile support, a fixed support attached to the chassis of the vehicle and a double winding mounted on a member rotating on a fixed shaft. The double winding has a central portion mounted on the mobile support connected to the body tube so that in the event of an impact the mobile support pushes the double winding and unwinds it to absorb energy.