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US 10,989,251 B2Granted
Friction clutch mechanism
AssigneeRobert Bosch Automotive Steering GmbH
InventorsPritish Khale, Oliver Perichon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A friction clutch mechanism for a steering column of a vehicle is disclosed.
Claims18
Friction clutch mechanism for a steering column of a vehicle comprising:
- a sleeve positioned around a steering shaft of the steering column, the sleeve having a first end and a second end and a plurality of threads being positioned on the second end;
- a lock collar positioned on the sleeve, the lock collar having an outer surface, a plurality of locking teeth positioned on the outer surface;
- a friction washer positioned on the sleeve adjacent a second end of the lock collar;
- a lock nut positioned on the plurality of threads on the second end of the sleeve, the lock nut disposed to engage a side of the friction washer that is not facing the lock collar, the lock nut engaging the friction washer to place a biasing force against the friction washer, the biasing force causing the friction washer to engage the lock collar with a predetermined force;
- and
- an engagement device for engaging the locking teeth on the lock collar to prevent the lock collar from rotating until the biasing force placed on the lock collar by the friction washer is exceeded, and for disengaging the locking teeth.
3 more elements
Friction clutch mechanism for a steering column of a vehicle comprising:
- a sleeve positioned around a steering shaft of the steering column, the sleeve having a first end and a second end and a plurality of threads being positioned on the second end;
- a first friction washer positioned on the sleeve;
- a lock collar positioned on the sleeve with a first end adjacent the first friction washer, the lock collar having an outer surface, a plurality of locking teeth positioned on the outer surface;
- a second friction washer positioned on the sleeve adjacent a second end of the lock collar;
- a lock nut positioned on the plurality of threads on the second end of the sleeve, the lock nut disposed to engage a side of the second friction washer that is not facing the lock collar, the lock nut engaging the second friction washer to place a biasing force against the second friction washer, the biasing force causing the second friction washer to engage the lock collar, and the lock collar to engage the first friction washer;
- and
- an engagement device for engaging the locking teeth on the lock collar and for disengaging the locking teeth.
4 more elements
Friction clutch mechanism for a steering column comprising:
- a sleeve positioned around a steering shaft of the steering column, the sleeve having a first end and a second end and a plurality of threads being positioned on the second end;
- a lock collar positioned on the sleeve, the lock collar having an outer surface, a plurality of locking teeth positioned on the outer surface;
- a friction washer positioned on the sleeve adjacent a second end of the lock collar;
- a lock nut positioned on the plurality of threads on the second end of the sleeve, the lock nut disposed to engage a side of the friction washer that is not facing the lock collar, the lock nut engaging the friction washer to place a biasing force against the friction washer, the biasing force causing the friction washer to engage the lock collar with a predetermined force;
- an engagement device for engaging the locking teeth on the lock collar to prevent the lock collar from rotating until the biasing force placed on the lock collar by the friction washer is exceeded;
- and
- a drive mechanism configured to move the engagement device into and out of engagement with the plurality of locking teeth of the lock collar.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.