Threaded rod and gear locking mechanism
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorsThomas W. Weisgerber, Bryan K. Avis, James J. Jirik
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A steering column locking mechanism. A stationary tube is provided with a movable tube telescopically positioned over it. A plurality of teeth is provided on the outer surface of the movable tube that mesh with teeth defined on the outer diameter of a ring-shaped gear. The ring-shaped gear has an axial opening defined therein and first and second camming pins capable of being arranged in both an unlocked and a locked position are placed within the opening of the gear.
Claims32
A steering column locking mechanism comprising:
- a stationary tube;
- a movable tube telescopically positioned at least partially over said stationary tube;
- a plurality of teeth defined on the exterior surface of said movable tube;
- a ring-shaped gear with teeth on its outer diameter corresponding to and meshed with said teeth on said movable tube, and an axial opening defined therein;
- and
- a first camming pin and a second camming pin each with a first end and a second end, said camming pins capable of being together arranged in a locked and an unlocked position and placed within said axial opening of said gear.
A locking mechanism comprising:
- a ring-shaped gear with teeth defined on its outer diameter;
- a second set of teeth for which said teeth on said ring-shaped gear to mesh;
- a first and a second camming pin mounted within an axial opening defined in said ring-shaped gear along an axis of rotation of said gear;
- a reduced cross-sectional extension on a first end of said first camming pin;
- and
- a reduced cross-sectional extension with an angular section removed therefrom on a first end of said second camming pin wherein said first and second camming pins are mounted so that said reduced cross-sectional extensions are arranged so that the rotation of one of said camming pins moves at least a portion of said camming pins away from the axis of rotation.
A method for releasably locking a steering column, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a fixed tube and a movable tube with teeth defined on a portion of its outer surface and placed over at least a portion of said fixed tube;
- providing a gear having teeth meshing with said teeth on said movable tube;
- providing first and second camming pins mounted within an axial opening defined in said gear;
- allowing for the rotation of said second camming pin relative to said gear and said first camming pin to alternatively apply and release pressure to the interior walls of said gear and prevent rotational movement of said gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.