Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle, having a vehicle-fixed mounting dement and a sleeve element which is received within the mounting element and is mounted for displacement in the axial direction in the mounting element for adjustment of the steering column assembly, includes an energy absorption device having two absorption elements, a locking element for locking a steering wheel, and a coupling device. The locking element has an open position, in which the steering wheel is adjustable and a coupling element is movable in the axial direction, and a closed position, in which an absorption dement is firmly coupled to the mounting element. The coupling device has a coupled position and an uncoupled position, both absorption elements being firmly connected to each other in the coupled position. During normal operation of the motor vehicle, the locking element is in the closed position and the coupling device is in the coupled position.

Abstract: A locking device is presented for an adjustable steering column assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising an actuating element and a damping device. The damping device has a first damping element and a second damping element, wherein the first damping element is attached to the actuating element and the second damping element is attached to a frame part, wherein the first and/or second damping element relative to the other damping element are rotatably mounted. The first and the second damping element each have a coupling section, wherein the coupling sections are engaged at least over a partial section of a movement of the actuating element, and wherein a relative rotation between the two damping elements is damped by deformation of the first and/or second damping element and/or by friction, at least over a partial section of a movement of the actuating element.

Abstract: Method for detecting the presence of a drivers hands on the steering wheel is described. By means of a mathematical model, at least one part of a steering system of the motor vehicle is modeled. In addition, a rotational angle of a lower end and/or an upper end of a torsion bar of the steering system is determined. A torque acting on the torsion bar is determined by means of a measuring device. A sum of a torque with which the driver acts on the steering wheel and a counter-torque generated by friction in the upper part of the steering system is estimated by means of a Kalman Filter. In addition, the counter-torque is estimated, and the estimated sum of the torque and the counter-torque are used to determine whether the drivers hands are on the steering wheel.

Abstract: A locking device for an adjustable steering column assembly of a motor vehicle is described, comprising an operating unit which has at least one closed and one open position, a control element coupled to the operating unit, and at least one eccentric part which is actuated by the control element. A retaining part is provided, which interacts with the eccentric part in the closed position, wherein a locking portion of the eccentric part engages on an engaging portion of the retaining part in the closed position. The eccentric part has a force transmission portion which is substantially opposite to the locking portion, wherein the force transmission portion in the closed position rests against a support surface lying substantially opposite to the engaging portion. Furthermore, a steering column assembly is described.

Abstract: A reach adjustable steering column assembly comprises a telescopic steering shaft which in use supports a steering wheel of the vehicle; a shroud that supports the steering shaft comprising an upper shroud part and a lower shroud part, the upper shroud part moving telescopically relative to the lower part during reach adjustment of the steering column assembly, a support bracket that supports the shroud relative to the vehicle body, and a clamp mechanism that is operable between an unclamped position in which the steering column assembly is adjustable for reach and a clamped position in which the reach position of the steering column assembly is fixed. The clamp mechanism comprises a first locking part that is displaceable by an actuator assembly into and out of positive engagement with a second locking part.

Abstract: A steer-by-wire steering system for a motor vehicle is proposed, having a steering means which is attached to a steering column, the length and/or inclination of which can be adjusted, and having a steering means actuator which is configured to load the steering means with a torque. The steering means actuator is arranged non-displaceably and fixedly on the vehicle. The steering means actuator is assigned a first shaft, and the steering column is assigned a second shaft, the first and the second shaft having a variable axial offset and/or a variable angular offset at least over a part range of a length and/or inclination adjustment of the steering column. The first and second shafts are connected in a torque-transmitting manner via a compensation device which can compensate for a change in the axial offset and/or the angular offset.

Abstract: A method to manufacture electric power steering systems is proposed. First, an electric motor having a drive shaft, a coupling device, and a worm gear having a worm shaft are provided. Then, an adjusting sleeve is provided, and an individual axial position of each adjusting sleeve in its associated opening is determined in order to achieve a specific axial preloading force on the worm shaft. The adjusting sleeve is press-fitted into the axial opening in the determined axial position, and a spring element is installed in the adjusting sleeve so that the spring element is supported on one end axially on the drive shaft and on its other end it is supported axially on the adjusting sleeve, and said spring element acts upon the worm shaft with the preloading force in the axial direction via the adjusting sleeve.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud having an outer shroud portion and an inner shroud portion, a clamp rail fixed to an upper face of the inner shroud portion including a slot, a clamp bolt that extends perpendicular to the shroud, a rocker comprising a body from which extends a lever arm, the body having an opening through which the clamp bolt passes, the rocker converting a rotation of the clamp bolt about its axis in a first direction into an upward motion of the lever arm and into a downward motion when the clamp bolt is rotated in the opposing second direction, a toothed block having two opposed racks of locking teeth that is connected to a carrier element, the carrier element in turn being connected to the lever of the rocker arm such that movement of the lever arm up and down causes movement of the carrier element up and down between an upper position and a lower position.

Abstract: An energy absorption device for a vehicle steering column comprising a metal band and an adjustable deformation unit through which the metal band extends. The deformation unit is a rotatable hollow roller having a first contact surface inside the hollow roller that is separated from an outer contact surface by an outlet slot. The metal band passes through an inlet slot into the interior of the roller, and then through the outlet slot leaves the roller, in a manner that that said metal band is entirely deformed along an S-shaped curve.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of a drivers hands on the steering wheel of a motor vehicle is described. By means of a mathematical model, at least one part of a steering system of the motor vehicle is modeled. In addition, a rotational angle of a lower end and/or an upper end of a torsion bar of the steering system is determined. A torque acting on the torsion bar is determined by means of a measuring device and a total torque acting on the steering wheel and a rotational angle acceleration of the steering wheel are estimated by means of a Kalman Filter.

Abstract: A multi-piece gearwheel comprising an inner core section and an external toothed ring with external teething is presented. The core section has intermeshing teeth extending radially outwards, which have an undercut in cross-section in the radial direction. The toothed ring has recesses that originate from an inner side of the tooth ring and extend radially outwards, wherein the recesses are at least partially complementary to the intermeshing teeth, and wherein the intermeshing teeth are received in the recesses. Furthermore, a gearbox for an electromechanically-assisted steering system is described.

Abstract: An electric power steering system with a worm gear includes a worm shaft and a worm wheel, wherein an electric motor is associated with the worm shaft, which is connected to the worm shaft in a force-transmitting manner. A bearing element, arranged on the worm shaft at the end of the worm shaft facing away from the electric motor, is received in a guide bush, wherein the guide bush has, on its circumferential side, a passage opening. It is provided a pre-tensioning device comprising a spring-loaded actuator element extending through the passage opening of the guide bush and acting on the worm shaft in the direction of the worm wheel with a defined pre-tensioning force (K), wherein the pre-tensioning device comprises a limiting device which is adapted to limit a pivoting movement that displaces the worm wheel away from the worm shaft. Furthermore, it is proposed a method for the production of steering systems and a test system for performing the method.

Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, provides that an absorption part extends into a reduction part through a passage, which has a smaller cross-section than an end portion of the absorption part having the form of a rod, tube or wire. By a relative movement between the reduction part and the absorption part the end portion is pulled through the passage and plastically deformed. In such a way, an energy absorption device is formed.

Abstract: A bearing device for motor vehicle shafts is described, in particular for motor vehicle steering shafts. The bearing device is provided for torque transmission between an inner shaft and the hollow shaft surrounded by the inner shaft. The inner shaft and the hollow shaft each have opposing bearing grooves, in which rolling elements are received. At least one positive locking cam in radial direction is provided. A safety contour is assigned to the positive locking cam, the safety contour comprising two engagement positions for the positive locking cam. In the case of unoccupied bearing grooves the positive locking cam is rotationally movable along the safety contour between the engagement points during a torque transmission, in a manner that a defined relative movement between the inner shaft and the hollow shaft is possible, which generates both tactile feedback and acoustic feedback. Furthermore, an automotive shaft assembly is described.

Abstract: A steering assist device for a motor vehicle is described, which encloses a steering-wheel-side steering shaft and a wheel-side steering shaft coupled to the latter, whereby a gear wheel coupled to a backup drive is installed on the wheel-side steering shaft. Moreover, a sensor element is integrated into the gear wheel and interacts with a second sensor counter element fixed in space over a first sensor counter element installed at the steering-wheel-side steering shaft.

Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle, with a vehicle-fixed storage element and on which a storage element is stored, wherein the receiving element is in operative connection with a steering wheel arrangement, an energy absorption device, an effective connection with the storage element and the receiving element and which provides for at least one elongated absorption member as well as at least one reduction member with a passage for the absorption member, through which the absorption member extends and which at least partially has a smaller Q1 cross section compared to a Q2 cross section compared to a cross section of at least one portion of an end-section of the absorption member.

Abstract: A steering column assembly having a vehicle-fixed mounting element and a sleeve element received in the mounting element, which is mounted displaceably in the axial direction in the mounting element for adjusting the steering column assembly. The steering column assembly further comprises an energy absorption device which can be firmly coupled to the mounting element and is firmly connected to the sleeve element, the energy absorption device being deformed in the event of a vehicle crash in consequence of a longitudinal displacement of the sleeve element, and at the same time absorbing part of the kinetic energy of the sleeve element during the event.

Abstract: A control system for an electric motor circuit comprises a current controller which produces a set of idealised voltage demands for the motor circuit, an observer which observes the inputs to the motor circuit and the outputs of the motor circuit and which generates from the observations estimates of the voltage disturbances within the motor circuit, the observer being arranged in use to output a first correction signal indicative of the voltage disturbances in the motor circuit, a feed-forward controller which receives as an input a measurement or estimate of the current flowing in the motor and calculates from the input a second correction signal. The first correction signal output from the observer and the second correction signal output from the feedforward controller are combined with the idealised voltage demands output from the controller to provide a set of modified voltages demands that are fed to the motor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power steering for a motor vehicle, having an input shaft which is rotatable about a steering axis, a steering column tube arranged around the input shaft, a sensor housing which is axially adjacent to the steering column tube and has a housing opening for the input shaft, and a shaft expansion element which is connected with the input shaft and has an outside diameter, the input shaft extending through the steering column tube and the housing opening into the interior of the sensor housing, wherein an opening diameter of the housing opening is smaller than the outside diameter of the shaft expansion element.

Abstract: A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle, having a vehicle-fixed mounting dement and a sleeve element which is received within the mounting element and is mounted for displacement in the axial direction in the mounting element for adjustment of the steering column assembly, includes an energy absorption device having two absorption elements, a locking element for locking a steering wheel, and a coupling device. The locking element has an open position, in which the steering wheel is adjustable and a coupling element is movable in the axial direction, and a closed position, in which an absorption dement is firmly coupled to the mounting element. The coupling device has a coupled position and an uncoupled position, both absorption elements being firmly connected to each other in the coupled position. During normal operation of the motor vehicle, the locking element is in the closed position and the coupling device is in the coupled position.