NL2012256A

NL2012256A - Steering column.

Info

Publication number: NL2012256A
Application number: NL2012256A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Laurie Batton; Paulo Cerveira
Original assignee: Nsk Deutschland Gmbh
Priority date: 2013-02-13
Filing date: 2014-02-13
Publication date: 2014-08-14
Also published as: NL2012256B1; DE102014200933B4; GB201302503D0; GB2510822A; GB2510822B; DE102014200933A1

Description

Steering column

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a steering column. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a steering column, for vehicles, and method, with a stop for reach functioning as a breakaway. The stop functions thus as a stop but is also configured to break at a predetermined load in a crash condition.

Background

Vehicle steering columns are adjustable in a rake and/or reach direction and normally are retained in a desired position by means of a releasable clamping device. The steering column, and thereby the steering wheel, may be adjustable by a reach or telescopic operation, for driver comfort. This is a movement towards or away from the driver, when the driver is sitting behind the steering wheel in a vehicle. For these adjustments there may be stops to prevent over travel in either direction.

However, the stops should remain strong enough to withstand normal lock and unlock forces. The adjustment of the steering column is often a sturdy arrangement that is designed to withstand repeated operations. The stops also have to be sufficiently robust to sustain a degree of unintended loads that may be categorised as abuse.

In addition to the stops, in an event of a collision, there is a need for a breakaway device. This is an element which, only under high "crash” loads, breaks in order for the steering column to move away from the driver. Such elements must for the sake of safety break away from the driver under a specific load.

It is desirable that the breakaway element can be tuned, even after manufacturing and/or assembling the steering column. A tuning is important to allow the breakaway element to break in the event of a collision. Since the vehicle models differ, as well as the steering column and details thereof, it is desirable to be able to tune the breakaway element.

It is desirable to avoid cumbersome arrangements and to keep the technical solutions as simple as possible. It is desirable to avoid expensive arrangements and to keep the production costs as low as possible.

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering column for a vehicle. This object can be achieved by the features as defined by the independent claims. Further enhancements are characterized by the dependent claims.

According to one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a steering column, for a vehicle, comprising a housing and a tube. The tube may comprise at least a part of the tube slidably arranged in the housing between a first stop and a second stop and means arranged on the tube for engaging the first and second stops and limiting the possible adjustment travel of the tube relative to the housing. The first stop may be configured to shear at a predetermined load to allow the tube to travel past the first stop.

According to one embodiment, the predetermined load is larger than forces between the tube and the housing created when adjusting the tube within the housing between the first and second stops, and the predetermined load is equal to or less than forces between the tube and the housing created in a crash condition. According to one embodiment, the first stop can be replaced to change the predetermined shear load, preferably by the first stop being replaceably fitted by a snap fitting. The first stop may a shear pin comprises one or more weakened areas, such as grooves or openings.

According to one embodiment, a method to adjust the relative travel between the housing and the tube of a steering column is disclosed with reference to the embodiments disclosed herein, wherein the first stop doubles as travel stop and as shear pin.

At least one of the embodiments described herein provides a steering column where the first stop doubles as a stop for the reach adjustment of the steering column and as a breakaway in the event of a collision. Embodiments provide a steering column there the breakaway element, the first stop, can be tuned, even after manufacturing and/or assembling the steering column. This allows the first stop to be tuned and tailored to different vehicle models, as well as the steering column and details thereof.

The technically aspects of the embodiments avoid cumbersome arrangements and keep the technical solutions as simple as possible. Expensive arrangements are avoided and production costs are kept low.

At least one of the above embodiments provides one or more solutions to the problems and disadvantages with the background art. Other technical advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims. Various embodiments of the present application obtain only a subset of the advantages set forth. No one advantage is critical to the embodiments. Any claimed embodiment may be technically combined with any other claimed embodiment(s).

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings illustrate presently preferred exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serve to explain, by way of example, the principles of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a steering column according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a steering column according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a steering column according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 shows a steering column cut open according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 5 shows a cross section of a steering column according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description FIG. 1 illustrates a steering column according to an embodiment. A tube 10 is slidably arranged in a bearing housing 20. The housing 20 supports the tube 10 so that the tube 10 can be adjusted in the axial direction of the steering column. This is normally towards or away from a driver when a driver is sitting behind the steering wheel in a vehicle. At least a part of the tube 10 is outside the housing 20. The tube 10 has at least a part of the tube 10 slidably arranged in the housing 20 between a first stop 30 and a second stop 40. While further details of the steering column are illustrated in FIGs. 1-4, for example the details shown in the top part of FIG 1, the present disclosure illustrates these details as background art useful for understanding the drawing of the steering column. These details do not limit the disclosed embodiments.

The distance the tube 10 can move axially within the housing 20 between the first stop 30 and the second stop 40 is the adjustment travel of the tube 10 relative to the housing 20. This can vary, but may be the distance that the steering column can adjustable towards or away from the driver for driver comfort. This adjustment is limited by the first stop 30 and the second stop 40 to prevent over travel in either direction.

Means 50 may be arranged on the tube 10 for engaging the first and second stops 30, 40. The means 50 limits the possible adjustment travel of the tube 10 relative to the housing 20. The first stop 30 and the second stop 40 together with the means 50 sets the adjustment travel of the tube 10 relative to the housing 20.

The first stop 30 is configured to shear at a predetermined load to allow the tube 10 and the means 50 to travel past the first stop 30 in the event of a collision. In this way the tube 10 may move away from a driver, in the travel direction of the vehicle, in a crash condition.

According to one embodiment, the predetermined load is larger than forces created between the tube 10 and the housing 20 when adjusting the tube 10 within the housing 20 between the first stop 30 and the second stop 40. The predetermined load is equal to or less than forces created between the tube 10 and the housing 20 in a crash condition. In other words, the first stop 30 may shear because of the forces created in an event of collision. However, the first stop 30 may not shear when the steering wheel is adjusted for comfort. The first stop 30 should remain strong enough to withstand normal lock and unlock forces, as well as repeated operations. The first stop 30 may also sustain a degree of unintended loads that may be categorised as abuse of the steering column.

The predetermined load that shears the first stop 30 may be adjusted for the steering column. The first stop 30 can be tuned to shear at a specific predetermined load. An advantage is that the first stop 30 can be exchanged so that the predetermined load can be adjusted to the steering column in question. In this way embodiments of the present disclosure can be used in different vehicles and different steering columns. The predetermined shear load of the first stop 30 may be tuned, even after manufacturing and/or assembling the steering column. A tuning allows the first stop 30 to break in the event of a collision but not to break in the event of normal use or even abuse. Since the vehicle models differ, as well as the steering column and details thereof, it is a technical advantage to be able to tune the first stop 30.

According to one embodiment the first stop 30 is replaceably fitted by a snap fitting 60. This allows the first stop 30 to be adjusted and tuned easily, also after manufacturing and/or assembling the steering column. This allows the first stop 30 to be adjusted and tuned according to the vehicle and/or steering column used. According to one embodiment, the snap fitting 60 may be two opposing steel fingers at each end of the first stop 30. The first stop 30 may be a shear pin that may be snapped into place between the four steel fingers. In this way the shear pin 30 may easily be removed and replaced, tuned, for the steering column.

According to one embodiment, the means 50 may be sliadbly arranged in an elongate opening 22 of the housing 20. The elongate opening 22 extends in the axial direction of the steering column. One end 40, the end closest to a possible steering wheel, may be the second stop 40. In one embodiment, one end 40 of the elongate opening 22 functions as the second stop 40 and limits the adjustment possibilities of the tube 10 within the bearing housing 20. The first stop 30 may be arranged in the opposite end of the elongate opening 22 and limit the adjustment possibilities of the tube 10 within the bearing housing 20. According to one embodiment, the first stop 30 is a shear pin 30 and the second stop 40 a side wall of an opening in the housing in which the means travels.

According to one embodiment, the first stop 30 may be a shear pin 30 comprises one or more weakened areas 32. According to one embodiment, the one or more weakened areas 32 are grooves or openings. It may be taken from FIGs. 1 and 2 that two grooves 32 around the first stop 30, shear pin 30, functions as the weakened areas in this example. FIG. 3 illustrates how the first stop 30, shear pin 30, has been sheared into three parts, namely the middle part 34, and the two end parts 36. The two end parts are still held within the snap fitting 60.

According to one embodiment, the means 50 may prevent rotation of the tube 10 relative to the housing 20. The means 50 may comprise an elongate member 50 arranged in the elongate opening 22 of the housing 20. The means 50 may be a plastic or metal element 52 attached by fastening means 54 to the tube 10. Since the means 50 may be connected to the tube 10 and protrudes into the opening 22 of the housing 20, the tube 10 is prevented to rotate within the housing 20. As may best be taken from FIG. 5, a further element 56 may be arranged between the element 52 and the edges of the opening 22 of the housing 20. The further element 56 may function technically as a seal and/or bearing for the means 50 as it moves within the opening 22. The further element 56 may comprise a flexible part 58 that can take up the available space between the element 52 and the edges of the opening 22 of the housing 20.

According to one embodiment, the means 50 may comprise a cover 52 to cover the means 50 and the first stop 30 and the second stop 40. The cover 52 may prevent foreign objects, for example dirt or a part of a driver or his clothing, getting stuck in the opening 22 of the housing 20. The cover 52 ensures technically a proper functioning of the tube 10 sliding within the housing 20.

According to one embodiment, a cover plate 24 may cover the elongate opening 22 of the housing 20 in which the means 50 is slidably arranged. In this way the part of the opening 22 in which the means 50 travels only during a collision is covered during normal use and adjustment of the steering column. A technical advantage hereof may be that objects are prevented from entering the inside of the steering column. When a collision occurs, the means 50 shears the first stop 30 and continues to slide along the opening 22. According to one embodiment, the means 50 may force the cover plate 24 to be removed after the means 50 shears the first stop 30.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the first stop 30 intact. FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of the first stop 30 broken away, sheared. Here the means 50 is in the part of the elongate opening 22 in which the means 50 travels only during a collision. The normal adjustment travel of the steering column is the distance the means 50 can travel within the elongate opening 22 between the first stop 30 and the second stop 40. In the event of a collision, the means 50 breaks away the first stop 30 and can continue travel along the elongate opening 22. An exemplary embodiment hereof is illustrated in Fig. 3.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the steering column cut open along the elongate opening 22 of the housing 20. The means 50 is arranged to the tube 10 and the means 50 protrudes through the opening 22. A cover 52 may be attached to the means 50. FIG. 5 shows a cut Y-Y trough the steering column as indicated in FIG. 4. The details of the embodiment show in FIG. 5 has been described above.

According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed for adjusting the relative travel between the bearing housing 20 and the tube 10 of a steering column. In accordance with one or more of the embodiments described herein, the first stop 30 doubles as a travel stop and as a shear pin. The first stop 30 functions as a stop for comfort adjustment of the steering column and the first stop 30 functions as a shear means in the event of a collision.

Embodiment of the disclosure operates as follows. The means 50 slides between the first stop 30 and the second stop 4 in the elongate opening 22 during adjustment of the tube 10 relative to the housing 20. In the event of a collision, the means 50 contacts the first stop 30 and at a predetermined load shears the first stop 30. The means 50 is then allowed to travel past the first stop 30 and continue travelling within the opening 20. In this way the steering column can collapse and injury to a driver behind the steering wheel of the steering column may be avoided.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the steering column and method. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosed steering column and method. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. Stuurkolom, voor een voertuig, omvattende een behuizing (20]; een buis (10] waarbij ten minste een deel van de buis (10] glijdbaar in de behuizing (20] tussen een eerste stop (30] en een tweede stop (40] is gerangschikt; en middelen (50] die op de buis (10] zijn gerangschikt voor het aangrijpen van de eerste en tweede stops (30, 40] en het beperken van de mogelijke aanpassingsverplaatsing van de buis (10] ten opzichte van de behuizing (20]; waarbij de eerste stop (30] zodanig is geconfigureerd dat deze bij een vooraf bepaalde belasting afschuift om mogelijk te maken dat de buis (10] zich tot voorbij de eerste stop (30] kan verplaatsen.A steering column, for a vehicle, comprising a housing (20); a tube (10] wherein at least a portion of the tube (10] slidably in the housing (20) between a first stop (30) and a second stop ( 40] is arranged and means (50] arranged on the tube (10] for engaging the first and second stops (30, 40) and limiting the possible adjustment displacement of the tube (10] relative to the housing (20); wherein the first stop (30] is configured to slide at a predetermined load to allow the tube (10) to move beyond the first stop (30).

2. Stuurkolom volgens conclusie 1, waarbij de vooraf bepaalde belasting groter is dan krachten tussen de buis (10] en de behuizing (20] die bij het afstellen van de buis (10] in de behuizing (20] tussen de eerste en tweede stops (30, 40] worden gecreëerd, en de vooraf bepaalde belasting gelijk is aan, of lager is dan, krachten tussen de buis (10] en de behuizing (20] die in een aanrijdingstoestand worden gecreëerd.Steering column according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined load is greater than forces between the tube (10] and the housing (20] which, when adjusting the tube (10] in the housing (20], between the first and second stops (30, 40] are created, and the predetermined load is equal to, or lower than, forces between the tube (10] and the housing (20] that are created in a collision state.

3. Stuurkolom volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de middelen (50] glijdbaar in een langgerekte opening (22] van de behuizing (20] zijn gerangschikt.Steering column according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the means (50) are slidably arranged in an elongated opening (22] of the housing (20).

4. Stuurkolom volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de middelen (50] rotatie van de buis (10] ten opzichte van de behuizing (20] voorkomen.Steering column according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the means (50) prevent rotation of the tube (10] relative to the housing (20).

5. Stuurkolom volgens conclusie 4, waarbij de middelen (50] een langgerekt deel omvatten dat in een langgerekte opening (22] van de behuizing (20] is gerangschikt.Steering column according to claim 4, wherein the means (50) comprise an elongated part arranged in an elongated opening (22] of the housing (20).

6. Stuurkolom volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de eerste stop (30] kan worden vervangen teneinde de vooraf bepaalde afschuifbelasting te veranderen.The steering column of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first stop (30] can be replaced to change the predetermined shear load.

7. Stuurkolom volgens conclusie 6, waarbij de eerste stop (30] door een klikverbinding (60] vervangbaar kan worden aangebracht.The steering column according to claim 6, wherein the first stop (30] can be replaced replaceably by a snap connection (60).

8. Stuurkolom volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de eerste stop (30] een afschuifpin is omvat een of meer verzwakte gebieden (32],A steering column according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first stop (30) is a shear pin comprising one or more weakened areas (32),

9. Stuurkolom volgens conclusie 8, waarbij de een of meer verzwakte gebieden (32) groeven of openingen zijn.The steering column of claim 8, wherein the one or more weakened areas (32) are grooves or openings.

10. Stuurkolom volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij een bedekkingsplaat (24) een langgerekte opening (22) van de behuizing (20) bedekt waarin de middelen (50) glijdbaar zijn gerangschikt.Steering column according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a cover plate (24) covers an elongated opening (22) of the housing (20) in which the means (50) are slidably arranged.

11. Stuurkolom volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de middelen (50) een plastic element zijn dat door bevestigingsmiddelen aan de buis (10) is verbonden.Steering column according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the means (50) are a plastic element which is connected to the tube (10) by means of fastening means.

12. Stuurkolom volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de eerste stop (30) een afschuifpin is en de tweede stop (40) een zijwand van een opening (22) in de behuizing (20) waarin de middelen (50) reizen.The steering column of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first stop (30) is a shear pin and the second stop (40) is a side wall of an opening (22) in the housing (20) into which the means (50) travel.

13. Stuurkolom volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de middelen (50) een bedekking (52) omvatten voor het bedekken van de middelen (50) en de eerste en tweede stops (30, 40).The steering column of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means (50) comprises a cover (52) for covering the means (50) and the first and second stops (30, 40).

14. Werkwijze voor het aanpassen van de relatieve verplaatsing tussen de behuizing (20) en de buis (10) van een stuurkolom volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de eerste stop (30) als verplaatsingstop en als afschuifpin verdubbelt.A method for adjusting the relative displacement between the housing (20) and the tube (10) of a steering column according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first stop (30) doubles as a displacement stop and as a shear pin.

15. Stuurkolom zoals hierin beschreven onder verwijzing naar de figuren en/of de beschrijving.15. Steering column as described herein with reference to the figures and / or the description.