# US 10,308,275 B2 · Steering column with longitudinal stop having an adjustable release function in the event of a crash

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- Number: US 10,308,275 B2
- Document ID: US10308275B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/521,731
- Filed: 2015-09-22
- Published: 2017-08-31
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2014-11-10
- Assignees: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG; thyssenkrupp AG
- Applicants: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG; thyssenkrupp AG
- Inventors: Sebastian Huber; Mergim Murtezi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308275B2

## CPC

- B62D 1/184: Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions
- B62D 1/185: adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically (B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence)
- B62D 1/187: with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment (B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence)
- B62D 1/192: {Yieldable or collapsible columns}
- B62D 1/195: {Yieldable supports for the steering column}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A steering column may include a casing unit with a steering spindle that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and a bracket unit that is fixable on the motor vehicle. The casing unit may be secured to the bracket unit such that the casing unit is adjustable in at least one direction. The casing unit may be fixable in different positions by a fixing mechanism. The fixing mechanism may have a fixing element that is rotatable about a pivot axis. The casing unit may be fixed in position in or on the bracket unit in a locked position of the fixing element, and adjusted relative to the bracket unit in a released position of the fixing element. A movably mounted stop body may interact with the fixing element and, in the released position of the fixing element, is disposed in a first position where it limits adjustability of the casing unit relative to the bracket unit. In the locked position of the fixing element, the stop body may be disposed in a second position where it disengages with the casing unit. The stop body may include a stop face, the spacing of which from the pivot axis is greater in the released position than in the locked position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A steering column for a motor vehicle comprising:
a casing unit in which a steering spindle is mounted such that the steering spindle is rotatable about a steering spindle longitudinal axis;
a bracket unit that is fixed or fixable on the motor vehicle, wherein the casing unit is held in or on the bracket unit such that the casing unit is adjustable in at least one direction of parallel or transverse with respect to the steering spindle longitudinal axis;
a fixing mechanism including a fixing element that is rotatably mounted about a fixing element pivot axis, with the casing unit being fixable in different positions by the fixing mechanism, wherein in a locked position of the fixing element the casing unit is fixed in position in or on the bracket unit, wherein in a released position of the fixing element the casing unit is adjustable relative to the bracket unit in the at least one direction of parallel or transverse with respect to the steering spindle longitudinal axis; and
a movably mounted stop body that interacts directly or indirectly with the fixing element, with the movably mounted stop body comprising a stop face, wherein in the released position of the fixing element the movably mounted stop body is disposed in a first position in which the movably mounted stop body limits an adjustability of the casing unit relative to the bracket unit in the at least one direction of parallel or transverse with respect to the steering spindle longitudinal axis, wherein in the locked position of the fixing element the movably mounted stop body is disposed in a second position in which the movably mounted stop body is disengaged with the casing unit, wherein a spacing of the stop face from the fixing element pivot axis is greater in the released position of the fixing element than in the locked position of the fixing element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The steering column of claim 1 further comprising a counterstop, wherein the stop face of the movably mounted stop body interacts with the counterstop in the released position of the fixing element to limit the adjustability of the casing unit relative to the bracket unit in the at least one direction of parallel or transverse to the steering spindle longitudinal axis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The steering column of claim 1 wherein the movably mounted stop body is rotatable about the fixing element pivot axis.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The steering column of claim 1 wherein the fixing element comprises a cam or a cam section that interacts with a control face of the movably mounted stop body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The steering column of claim 1 wherein the movably mounted stop body either comprises or is coupled to a prestressing element.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The steering column of claim 1 wherein the movably mounted stop body is at least partially comprised of plastic.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The steering column of claim 1 wherein the movably mounted stop body is displaced in a direction of the steering spindle longitudinal axis during transfer from the locked position into the released position and/or during transfer from the released position into the locked position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The steering column of claim 1 wherein a difference of the spacing of the stop face from the fixing element pivot axis in the released position and in the locked position is between 0.2 mm and 5 mm.

### Claim 9

A stop body for a steering column, the stop body comprising:
a coupling section sized and shaped to receive a fixing element of a steering column, wherein the coupling section comprises a control face sized and shaped to interact with a cam section on the fixing element;
a stop face for interacting with a counterstop of the steering column,
wherein in an installed state, the coupling section encloses the fixing element by way of a recess, at least partially with an intermediate space; and
comprising a first control face and a second control face, wherein the first control face is disposed relative to a fixing element pivot axis in a first circumferential region of the recess on a side where the stop face is positioned on the stop body, wherein the second control face is disposed in a second circumferential region that lies opposite with regard to the fixing element pivot axis.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The stop body of claim 9 wherein the control face is disposed tangentially with respect to a circumferential circle around the cam section of the fixing element.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The stop body of claim 9 wherein the control face is oriented parallel to a fixing element pivot axis, wherein the stop face is oriented parallel to the fixing element pivot axis, wherein normal directions of the control face and the stop face have a common vector component.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The stop body of claim 9 wherein the control face is configured on an inner face of the recess of the coupling section.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The stop body of claim 9 wherein the control face is configured as a tangential, planar section of an inner wall of the recess.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The stop body of claim 9 wherein the recess comprises a first inner circumferential region that is configured as a control face and a second inner circumferential region that is disposed at a spacing that is greater from a fixing element pivot axis than is the first inner circumferential region.

### Claim 15 (depends on 9)

The stop body of claim 9 wherein the recess has a polygonal cross section.

### Claim 16 (depends on 9)

The stop body of claim 9 further comprising a prestressing element.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The stop body of claim 16 wherein the prestressing element is configured as a spring tongue, wherein from a perspective of the coupling section the spring tongue extends to a side that lies opposite the stop face.

### Claim 18

A method for adjusting a steering column for a motor vehicle, the steering column comprising a casing unit in which a steering spindle is mounted such that the steering spindle is rotatable about a steering spindle longitudinal axis, a bracket unit that is fixed or fixable on the motor vehicle, wherein the casing unit is held in or on the bracket unit such that the casing unit is adjustable in at least one direction of parallel or transverse with respect to the steering spindle longitudinal axis, a fixing mechanism including a fixing element that is rotatably mounted about a fixing element pivot axis, with the casing unit being fixable in different positions by the fixing mechanism, wherein in a locked position of the fixing element the casing unit is fixed in position in or on the bracket unit, wherein in a released position of the fixing element the casing unit is adjustable relative to the bracket unit in the at least one direction of parallel or transverse with respect to the steering spindle longitudinal axis, and a movably mounted stop body that interacts directly or indirectly with the fixing element, with the movably mounted stop body comprising a stop face, wherein in the released position of the fixing element the movably mounted stop body is disposed in a first position in which the movably mounted stop body limits an adjustability of the casing unit relative to the bracket unit in the at least one direction of parallel or transverse with respect to the steering spindle longitudinal axis, wherein in the locked position of the fixing element the movably mounted stop body is disposed in a second position in which the movably mounted stop body is disengaged with the casing unit, the method comprising moving the stop body into a loose position between the locked position and the released position.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 comprising moving the stop face of the stop body out of the released position in a direction of the steering spindle longitudinal axis in a translational manner toward the fixing element pivot axis.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 comprising moving the stop face of the stop body out of the locked position in a direction of the steering spindle longitudinal axis in a translational manner away from the fixing element pivot axis.