Patents Assigned to ZF Systemes de Direction Nacam, S.A.S.
  • Patent number: 8910540
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric locking system (1) for locking the position of a steering column of a vehicle relative to the dashboard of said vehicle, the steering column including a tube-body movably mounted in a supporting assembly for enabling the manual adjustment of said steering column. The locking system includes means (2) for locking the tube-body on the supporting assembly, an electric motor (4) coupled to the locking means (2) for driving the latter and placing the steering column in an unlocked state or a locked state, motor control means providing motor actuation instructions for placing the steering column in the locked state and/or in the unlocked state, and means for detecting the state of the steering column and for generating an electric signal representative of the state of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Systemes de Direction Nacam S.A.S.
    Inventors: Nicolas Bertet, Vincent Eymery, Alexandre Sarandao
  • Patent number: 8777267
    Abstract: According to the disclosure, the steering column comprises a steering shaft rotatingly mounted in a tube-body provided on a side mount of a fixed bearing assembly via a lateral mechanism. The column can be adjusted in height and/or depth by an axis clamping system with a clamping rod (interacting with the lateral mechanism. The lateral mechanism comprises a bearing member provided between the side mount and a side member of the tube-body. A cross-section arranged between the bearing member and the side member enables counter-rotation. The lateral mechanism includes a system for adjusting the sliding clearance on the clamping rod using a bearing member and an adjustable clamping head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Systemes de Direction Nacam, S.A.S.
    Inventor: Laurent Fevre
  • Patent number: 8678939
    Abstract: Device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft which slide along their common axis with balls positioned between the two shafts. The balls rest directly in axial grooves of the outer shaft and on two rails positioned in axial grooves of the inner shaft. The two rails pivot about the balls, by pressing against flanks of mating curved profile of the axial groove, and are held in place by an elastic element which presses against the bottom of the axial groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: ZF Systemes de Direction NACAM, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Laurent Fevre, David Capela
  • Patent number: 8556736
    Abstract: A device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft includes balls arranged in rows between axial grooves of the inner shaft and axial grooves of the outer shaft, enabling the shafts to slide in the direction of a common axis. Each row of balls is maintained by a double elastic member that bears in the groove of one of the inner or outer shafts and urges the balls along two rolling tracks so that they come into contact with the groove of the other of the inner and outer shafts. The two rolling tracks are hinged through a convex pivot surface and a corresponding concave support face of one of the inner and outer shafts, and a difference between the radii of the pivot surface and the support face defines two contact areas and a pivot axis parallel to the common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Systems de Direction Nacam S.A.S.
    Inventors: Amaud Janvier, Christophe Bahr
  • Patent number: 8500168
    Abstract: In an adjustable steering column adjustable, a steering shaft is mounted in a body tube arranged in an intermediate carrier mounted on a fixed support member. The body tube is immobilized onto the fixed support member by a clamping system. The position-keeping device includes teeth that, in the event of an impact, are mutually engageable by means of a press system mounted in the intermediate carrier and under the action of the clamping system. The teeth belong to of the press system and are on the body tube. The teeth have characteristics defined such that in the event of an impact, the breaking force of the teeth has a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Systemes de Direction Nacam, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Pascal Goulay, Nicolas Genet
  • Patent number: 8398496
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft sliding in the direction of a common axis thereof, with balls provided between the two shafts. The balls are arranged in axial grooves of the inner shaft and in axial grooves of the outer shaft. Each row of balls is maintained by a double elastic member that bears in the groove of the inner shaft and urges the balls along two rolling tracks so that they come into contact with the groove of the outer shaft, wherein each of the two rolling tracks is hinged through a pivot surface and a bearing surface of the corresponding shaft, and the difference between the radii defines two bearing areas defining a hinge axis parallel to the common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: ZF Systemes de Direction Nacam, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Christophe Bahr, Arnaud Janvier
  • Patent number: 8316737
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column adjustable includes a steering shaft mounted in a body tube arranged in a movable support member and immobilized on a fixed support member by an electric clamping system. The clamping system is mounted in a casing supporting an electric actuator and includes a transmission mechanism, an immobilizing assembly and a clamping rod passing through the fixed support member. The immobilizing assembly includes a fixed cam rotationally fixed with respect to the clamping rod, and a rotationally movable cam, the cams having rolling paths for balls. Each rolling path has the shape of a spiral with an escape slope for a ball, in order to initiate clamping or unclamping depending on the rotation direction of the movable cam relative to the fixed cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: ZF Systems de Direction Nacam, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Nicolas Bertet, Vincent Eymery
  • Patent number: 7727074
    Abstract: The yoke member of Cardan joint is made in one unitary part of one piece and includes a pivot fork including two pivot arm portions each comprising a crossing hole, the axis of which is the pivot axis of a cross-piece, and a connecting element for the motion transmission shaft and having two tightening portions connected via a junction portion. Each of the two tightening portions comprises a tightening hole. Four reinforcing appendices are arranged on the tightening portions and opposite one another in pairs to form together with the portions a housing for the motion transmission shaft. The yoke member is stamped in order to give it the desired thickness in highly stressed and lowly stressed regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Systems de Direction Nacam, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Andre Laisement, Jacques Loyau, Pascal Millet
  • Patent number: 7597357
    Abstract: A motorized steering column module with position control including a moving device that moves a steering wheel in an axial direction, bringing it closer or further away from a selected position, and in a radial plane for regulating upward and downward movement with the aid of at least one electronic motor controller; and a controller that varies the speed of the motor at least proximate a departure position and an arrival position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Systemes de Direction NACAM, S.A.S.
    Inventor: Florian Barcat
  • Patent number: 7526978
    Abstract: Device for coupling an inner shaft and an outer shaft that slide in the direction of a common axis with balls disposed between the two shafts. The balls are disposed in axial grooves of the inner shaft and in axial grooves of the outer shaft. Each row of balls is held by a double spring member that bears on the groove and which pushes on two rolling tracks for the balls, which come into contact with the groove. The two rolling tracks are articulated at the junction of the groove and the inner shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: ZF Systemes de Direction Nacam, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Christophe Bahr, Arnaud Janvier
  • Publication number: 20070176405
    Abstract: A motorized steering column module with position control including a moving device that moves a steering wheel in an axial direction, bringing it closer or further away from a selected position, and in a radial plane for regulating upward and downward movement with the aid of at least one electronic motor controller; and a controller that varies the speed of the motor at least proximate a departure position and an arrival position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: ZF Systemes de Direction Nacam, S.A.S., a corporation of France
    Inventor: Florian Barcat