# US 11,999,407 B1 · Translating steering column with reduced packaging space > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,999,407 B1 - Document ID: US11999407B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/112,135 - Filed: 2023-02-21 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2023-02-21 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Erik William Soderlind; Taras Andrew Palczynski; Steve Bryan Amburgy - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999407B1 ## CPC - B62D 1/185: adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically (B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence) - B62D 1/181: with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory - B62D 1/19: incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible (shock absorbers using plastic deformation of members in general F16F7/12) - B62D 1/192: {Yieldable or collapsible columns} - B62D 5/006: {power actuated} - 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 column for a handwheel actuator of a steer by wire system may include a column casting, a steering jacket operably coupled to the column casting such that the steering jacket moves telescopically within the column casting for extending the handwheel and retracting the handwheel, and a tunable stroke limiter operably coupled to the steering jacket to limit stroke length of the steering jacket responsive to a barrier event. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A column for a handwheel actuator of a steer by wire system, the column comprising: a column casting; a steering jacket operably coupled to the column casting such that the steering jacket moves telescopically within the column casting for extending the handwheel and retracting the handwheel; and a tunable stroke limiter operably coupled to the steering jacket to limit stroke length of the steering jacket responsive to a barrier event. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The column of claim 1, wherein the column casting comprises a channel extending parallel to an axis of the steering jacket, and wherein the stroke limiter is disposed in the channel during extension and retraction of the handwheel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The column of claim 2, further comprising a telescopic motor that turns a shaft operably coupled to the steering jacket via a shear member that shears or brakes at a predetermined threshold force in response to the barrier event to enable the steering jacket to retract into the column casting by the stroke length. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The column of claim 3, wherein the stoke length is less than about 150 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The column of claim 3, wherein the stroke limiter is attached to the steering jacket at one of a plurality of selectable locations via a fastener, each of the selectable locations defining a respective different stroke length, and wherein a selected one of the each of the selectable locations defines the stroke length for tuning the stroke limiter. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The column of claim 3, wherein the shear member shears or breaks at a force of a predetermined range. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The column of claim 3, wherein the shaft is supported at least in part by a telescopic drive bracket, and wherein the telescopic drive bracket contacts and stops motion of the stroke limiter to define the stroke length as a distance between the stroke limiter and the telescopic drive bracket. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The column of claim 7, wherein the telescopic drive bracket is operably coupled to a coupling member that is operably coupled to the shaft to enable extension of the steering jacket responsive to rotation of the shaft by the telescopic motor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The column of claim 3, wherein the handwheel is operably coupled to the steering jacket via a steering shaft, and wherein the steering shaft is extendable by about 30 mm relative to the steering jacket. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The column of claim 2, wherein the stroke limiter has a width about equal to, but smaller than, a width of the channel, and wherein the stroke limiter remains in the channel over a full range of motion of the stroke limiter. ### Claim 11 A handwheel actuator for a steer by wire system, the handwheel actuator comprising: a column for operably coupling a handwheel to the handwheel actuator; and a feedback actuator operably coupled to the column, the feedback actuator providing tactile feedback to an operator responsive to movement of the handwheel, wherein the column comprises: a column casting; a steering jacket operably coupled to the column casting such that the steering jacket moves telescopically within the column casting for extending the handwheel and retracting the handwheel; and a tunable stroke limiter operably coupled to the steering jacket to limit stroke length of the steering jacket responsive to a barrier event. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The handwheel actuator of claim 11, wherein the column casting comprises a channel extending parallel to an axis of the steering jacket, and wherein the stroke limiter is disposed in the channel during extension and retraction of the handwheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The handwheel actuator of claim 12, wherein the column further comprises a telescopic motor that turns a shaft operably coupled to the steering jacket via a shear member that shears or brakes at a predetermined threshold force in response to the barrier event to enable the steering jacket to retract into the column casting by the stroke length. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The handwheel actuator of claim 13, wherein the stoke length is less than about 150 mm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The handwheel actuator of claim 13, wherein the stroke limiter is attached to the steering jacket at one of a plurality of selectable locations via a fastener, each of the selectable locations defining a respective different stroke length, and wherein a selected one of the each of the selectable locations defines the stroke length for tuning the stroke limiter. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The handwheel actuator of claim 13, wherein the shear member shears or breaks at a force of a predetermined range. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The handwheel actuator of claim 13, wherein the shaft is supported at least in part by a telescopic drive bracket, and wherein the telescopic drive bracket contacts and stops motion of the stroke limiter to define the stroke length as a distance between the stroke limiter and the telescopic drive bracket. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The handwheel actuator of claim 17, wherein the telescopic drive bracket is operably coupled to a coupling member that is operably coupled to the shaft to enable extension of the steering jacket responsive to rotation of the shaft by the telescopic motor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The handwheel actuator of claim 13, wherein the handwheel is operably coupled to the steering jacket via a steering shaft, and wherein the steering shaft is extendable by about 30 mm relative to the steering jacket. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The handwheel actuator of claim 12, wherein the stroke limiter has a width about equal to, but smaller than, a width of the channel, and wherein the stroke limiter remains in the channel over a full range of motion of the stroke limiter.