Stationary steering wheel system

A method of operating a steering system within a vehicle and providing selective disengagement of a steering wheel from the steering system and selective engagement of the steering wheel to the steering system, the steering system including:

• an upper shaft having a first distal end adapted to support a steering wheel thereon;
• a lower shaft, including a cylindrical spline collar, a distal end of the lower shaft inserted within the spline collar, an outer surface of the lower shaft and an inner surface of the spline collar having a splined engagement with one another such that the lower shaft and the spline collar rotate unitarily;
• and a slidable sleeve selectively moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the spline collar including a tab extending radially outward from a distal end of the spline collar and the slidable sleeve including an axial notch formed within a first distal end of the slidable sleeve, wherein:
• when in the engaged position, the slidable sleeve is adapted to connect the upper shaft to the lower shaft, functionally connecting the steering wheel to the steering system, the tab of the spline collar engages the axial notch of the slidable sleeve, and engagement of the tab of the spline collar with the axial notch of the slidable sleeve prevents rotation of the spline collar and the lower shaft relative to the slidable sleeve and the upper shaft;
• and when in the disengaged position, the slidable sleeve is adapted to disconnect the upper shaft from the lower shaft, functionally disconnecting the steering wheel from the steering system, and to secure the upper shaft and the steering wheel in a stationary position;
• the method including:
• receiving, by a system controller, via a human machine interface (HMI) in communication with the system controller of the steering system, a request from a user within the vehicle to disengage the steering wheel from the steering system;
• disabling, with the system controller, a shift actuator within the vehicle and preventing shifting of the transmission within the vehicle from park;
• sending, via the HMI, a message to the user within the vehicle indicating that disengagement of the steering wheel from the steering system is taking place and to keep hands off the steering wheel;
• and moving, with the controller, the slidable sleeve to the disengaged position;
• and disengaging the tab of the spline collar from the axial notch of the slidable sleeve, and allowing rotation of the spline collar and the lower shaft relative to the slidable sleeve and the upper shaft.

A vehicle having a steering system, the steering system comprising:

• an upper shaft having a first distal end adapted to support a steering wheel thereon and a second distal end including a plurality of flexible fingers;
• a lower shaft;
• a cylindrical spline collar, a distal end of the lower shaft inserted within the spline collar, an outer surface of the lower shaft and an inner surface of the spline collar having a splined engagement with one another such that the lower shaft and the spline collar rotate unitarily;
• the upper shaft having a cylindrical shaped second distal end, the spline collar positioned within the second distal end of the upper shaft;
• and a slidable sleeve having a cylindrical shape and extending around the second distal end of the upper shaft, an outer surface of the upper shaft and an inner surface of the slidable sleeve having a splined engagement with one another such that the upper shaft and the slidable sleeve rotate unitarily, the slidable shaft selectively moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the spline collar including a tab extending radially outward from a distal end of the spline collar and the slidable sleeve including an axial notch formed within a first distal end of the slidable sleeve, wherein;
• when the slidable sleeve is moved to the disengaged position, a gap is present between an inner surface of the flexible fingers of the second distal end of the upper shaft and an outer surface of the splined collar, and the splined collar and lower shaft are rotatable relative to the upper shaft and the slidable sleeve, functionally disconnecting the steering wheel from the steering system;
• and when the slidable sleeve is moved to the engaged position, a ramped inner surface of the slidable sleeve pushes against an outer surface of the flexible fingers forcing an inner surface of the flexible fingers into engagement with an outer surface of the splined collar, wherein the splined collar and lower shaft are frictionally engaged with the lower shaft such that the lower shaft and the upper shaft rotate unitarily, functionally connecting the steering wheel to the steering system, and the tab of the spline collar engages the axial notch of the slidable sleeve, and engagement of the tab of the spline collar with the axial notch of the slidable sleeve prevents rotation of the spline collar and the lower shaft relative to the slidable sleeve and the upper shaft.