# US 12,179,866 B2 · Steering column for a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,866 B2 - Document ID: US12179866B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/268,648 - Filed: 2019-08-23 - Published: 2021-06-24 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-27 - Assignees: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG; thyssenkrupp AG - Applicants: thyssenkrupp Presta AG; thyssenkrupp AG - Inventors: Robert Galehr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179866B2 ## CPC - B62D 5/005: {means for generating torque on steering wheel or input member, e.g. feedback} - B62D 7/224: {acting between the steering wheel and the steering gear, e.g. on the steering column} - B62D 1/181: with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory - B62D 1/20: Connecting steering column to steering gear - F16F 9/12: Devices with one or more rotary vanes turning in the fluid any throttling effect being immaterial, {i.e. damping by viscous shear effect only (F16F9/53 takes precedence; pivoting supports for apparatus or articles placed on stands or trestles F16M11/06)} - 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) - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION ## Abstract A steering column for a motor vehicle having a steering shaft mounted in a steering column tube so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis and a damping device. The damping device has an element which is stationary in relation to the steering column tube and a rotatable element which is coupled in terms of rotation to the steering shaft. The rotatable element is rotatable relative to the stationary element about an axis of rotation. A damping fluid is arranged between the rotatable and the stationary element. The steering column thus permits operationally reliable damping of the steering shaft in a steering system. At least two surfaces of the rotatable element are provided, which are parallel to the axis of rotation, are in contact with the damping fluid, and are arranged so as to be spaced apart coaxially from one another. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising: a steering column tube, a steering shaft rotatably mounted in the steering column tube about a longitudinal axis, and a damping device comprising: an element which is stationary in relation to the steering column tube, and a rotatable element which is rotationally coupled to the steering shaft, wherein the rotatable element is rotatable in relation to the stationary element about an axis of rotation, wherein a damping fluid is arranged between the rotatable and the stationary element, wherein the rotatable element comprises at least two surfaces, which are parallel to the axis of rotation, are in contact with the damping fluid, and are arranged so as to be spaced apart coaxially from one another, and wherein the rotatable element has two or more hollow cylinder elements which are arranged concentrically and are spaced apart from one another, wherein a distance between the hollow cylinder elements from the stationary element to the rotatable element perpendicular to their longitudinal axis is unequal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steering column of claim 1 wherein the stationary element has two or more hollow cylinder elements which are arranged concentrically and are spaced apart from one another, wherein the respective hollow cylinder elements have diameters permitting a meshing movement of the respective hollow cylinder elements with one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The steering column of claim 2 wherein all of the hollow cylinder elements of the stationary element and all of the hollow cylinder elements of the rotatable element are configured so as to be connected to one another in each case at an axial end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The steering column of claim 1 wherein the rotatable and the stationary elements have an identical effective axial length. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The steering column of claim 1 wherein the rotatable element and the stationary element surround the steering shaft. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The steering column of claim 1 wherein the damping fluid is silicone oil. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The steering column of claim 1 wherein a gearing is arranged between the steering shaft and the rotatable element. ### Claim 8 A steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising: a steering column tube, a steering shaft rotatably mounted in the steering column tube about a longitudinal axis, and a damping device comprising: an element which is stationary in relation to the steering column tube, and a rotatable element which is rotationally coupled to the steering shaft, wherein the rotatable element is rotatable in relation to the stationary element about an axis of rotation, wherein a damping fluid is arranged between the rotatable and the stationary element, wherein the rotatable element comprises at least two surfaces, which are parallel to the axis of rotation, are in contact with the damping fluid, and are arranged so as to be spaced apart coaxially from one another, and wherein the rotatable element has two or more hollow cylinder elements which are arranged concentrically and are spaced apart from one another, wherein a gearing is arranged between the steering shaft and the rotatable element.