摘要:
A steering column assembly comprises a steering column shroud comprising an inner and an outer tubular member (10, 20), a support bracket (100) which is fixed to part of the vehicle, and a clamp assembly which includes a cam mechanism having a fixed portion (220) and a moving portion (230) and a clamp pin (150) which passes through arms (130, 140) of the support bracket, the clamp pin being provided with a first reaction member (200) located towards one end of the pin outside of one arm (140) of the support bracket and a second reaction member (210) located towards the other end of the clamp pin outside of the other arm (140) of the support bracket such that the arms of the bracket are located on the clamp pin between the reaction members (200, 210) and with the cam assembly located between the outside of one arm (130) and one of the reaction (210) members. The fixed cam portion (220) is mechanically connected to the support bracket such that at least during an initial release phase of the clamp assembly the force required to produce a rotational movement of the fixed cam portion relative to the support bracket exceeds any rotational force exerted on the fixed part due to strain energy stored in the assembly.
摘要:
A locking lever for a clamp mechanism of a steering column assembly comprises a first portion, a second portion that extends from the first portion, and a connecting portion or region located between the first portion to the second portion about which the second portion will preferentially breakaway from the first portion in the event of an impact by an occupant of the vehicle on the second part, the lever further comprising a flexible tether that prevents the second portion fully separating from the first portion after the lever has broken about the connection portion or region.
摘要:
A steering column assembly has an adjustable shroud comprising a fixed portion secured to the vehicle body and a moving portion which can be collapsed telescopically through a normal range of adjustment relative to the fixed portion, a support bracket secured to a fixed part of the vehicle and a clamp mechanism. The assembly includes a blocking mechanism which is an integral part of a locking lever of the clamp assembly so arranged that when the clamp mechanism is in unclamped the blocking mechanism prevents the moving portion from collapsing beyond the normal range of movement in the collapse direction by providing a path for axial forces applied to the moving portion to pass through the blocking mechanism to a stopper fixed relative to the vehicle body and when the clamp mechanism is clamped the blocking mechanism is held clear of the stopper to permit additional telescopic movement of the moving portion towards the fixed portion beyond the normal range of adjustment.
摘要:
An adjustable steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud which comprises an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion where the overall length can be adjusted by relative movement of the two portions, a support bracket secured to a fixed part of a vehicle and a releasable clamp assembly which is movable between an unclamped position in which the shroud can be adjusted telescopically and a clamped position in which the outer tubular portion clamps onto the inner tubular portion thereby preventing telescopic movement of the shroud during normal use of the assembly. The outer tubular portion includes an elongated slot and two clamp rails, each located on a respective side of the slot and including an elongated opening through which a clamp bolt of the clamp assembly passes. At least one of the rails varies in cross-section at the various positions at which the rails may be clamped such that, in use, the rails resiliently deform when the assembly is in the clamped position by an amount dependent on the relative telescopic position of the inner and outer tubular portions.
摘要:
A steering column assembly has an adjustable shroud comprising a fixed portion secured to the vehicle body and a moving portion which can be collapsed telescopically through a normal range of adjustment relative to the fixed portion, a support bracket secured to a fixed part of the vehicle and a clamp mechanism. The assembly includes a blocking mechanism which is an integral part of a locking lever of the clamp assembly so arranged that when the clamp mechanism is in unclamped the blocking mechanism prevents the moving portion from collapsing beyond the normal range of movement in the collapse direction by providing a path for axial forces applied to the moving portion to pass through the blocking mechanism to a stopper fixed relative to the vehicle body and when the clamp mechanism is clamped the blocking mechanism is held clear of the stopper to permit additional telescopic movement of the moving portion towards the fixed portion beyond the normal range of adjustment.
摘要:
A steering column assembly for a vehicle, comprises a shroud comprising an axially movable upper portion and an axially fixed lower portion, which move telescopically to provide adjustment for reach of the steering column assembly, a steering shaft supported by the shroud, a pivot which connects a part of the lower portion to a fixed part of the vehicle, a clamp mechanism which releasably fixes the upper and lower portions and the shroud in position relative to a further fixed part of the vehicle. A sprung support assembly is secured to a fixed part of the vehicle and includes an axle that passes underneath the upper portion of the shroud and a cylindrical roller that surrounds a part of the axle and has an outer surface that engages the underside of the shroud and an inner surface that bears on the axle, the sprung support at least partially supports the weight of the shroud when the clamp mechanism is released, and the cylindrical roller rotating around the axle as the shroud is adjusted for reach.
摘要:
An adjustable steering column assembly includes a releasable clamp assembly that clamps a shroud of the assembly in position relative to a support bracket, the clamp assembly including an elongate clamp bolt onto which are stacked: at least a part of an adjustable shroud of the steering assembly, and A cam mechanism comprising a fixed cam part and a moving cam part, the two parts each having a bore through which the clamp bolt passes, a thrust bearing, and a locking nut which includes an internal thread that engages a complimentary thread on the clamp bolt and which is locked down so as to apply an axial load to the thrust bearing. The assembly also includes a tapered compliant bush which is pressed into a space defined between the clamp bolt and the bore of the moving cam part of the cam mechanism with the relatively thick end of the bush nearest the thrust bearing and with the thrust bearing applying an axial load to the bush.