Support casing for housing a steering shaft

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the joining element between the two parts (3, 4) is a soldered joint.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the joining element between top part (3) and bottom part (4) is a fillet joint (39).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wall thickness (28) of the top part (3) or bottom part (4) is thicker than a wall thickness (29) of the bottom part (4) or top part (3).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that internal faces (41) of the top part (3) and the bottom part (4) are arranged in alignment.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that external faces (40) of the top part (3) and the bottom part (4) are arranged in line with one another.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the top part (3) and/or the bottom part (4) is/are made from a planar cut piece by folding.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that an external dimension (33) of the top part (3) and an external dimension (44) of the bottom part (4) are different in the region of end the faces (24, 25) directed towards one another.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that an external dimension (33) of the top part (3) and an external dimension (44) of the bottom part (4) are of identical dimensions in the region of the end faces (24, 25) directed towards one another.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a difference between the external dimensions (33, 44) of the top part (3) and bottom part (4) is greater than half of the wall thickness (28, 29).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the top part (3) and/or the bottom part (4) are provided with strip-shaped end parts (38) in the region of the side legs (34) offset in the direction of an axis of symmetry (27).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that an external dimension (33) of the top part (3) and/or bottom part (4) is bigger between the end parts (38) and the base (21).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a profiled, in particular closed or open steering column tube (1) has an end part (97) that is semicircular, for example.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a strip-shaped end part (88) of the side legs (78) of the top part (3) is disposed at least at an angle to the axis of symmetry (27).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the strip-shaped end parts (38) are joined to intermediate parts (36) by means of leg parts extending at least at an angle to and/or parallel with the axis of symmetry (27).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a cutout (2) is provided in a base (21) of the top part (3) and/or in a base (69) of the bottom part (4), extending in the longitudinal direction thereof.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a cutout (50) is provided in the reinforcing strip (20), which is of a length (52) and width (51) that are the same as or longer than the cutout (2) in the base (21, 69) of the top part (3) and/or bottom part (4).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a reinforcing strip (20) is disposed between the two side legs (34, 43) on the base (21, 69) and is preferably joined to the base (21. 69).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that flanges (58) are provided in the end region of the cutout (50), extending substantially perpendicular to the reinforcing strip (20) projecting in the direction of the side legs (34, 43) of the top part (3) and/or the bottom part (4).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that damping elements (61) are provided on the flanges (58) in the region of the mutually facing sides thereof.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flanges (58) are made by means of bends in the reinforcing strip (20) and are disposed substantially perpendicular to the reinforcing strip (20) during a subsequent shaping process, in particular folding.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bottom part (4) is a seamless tube with a cutout (81).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bottom part (4) is single piece (87) that is a strip-shaped, rectangular in shape, etc., and the top part (3) sits on this bottom part (4) and is joined thereto.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the steering column tube (1) is made in a single piece with the bearing receiving points (7, 8).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the bends are shaped into substantially tubular, seamless bearing receiving points (7, 8).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the two bearing receiving points (7, 8) has a bigger width (13).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the joining element between the bearing receiving points (7, 8) on the steering column tube (1) and the top part (3) and/or bottom part (4) is provided in the form of at least one welded joint, preferably at least a laser or plasma welded joint.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the reinforcing strip (20) is welded to one of the parts (3, 4) by means of a weld seam, and is preferably welded from outside.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the joining element between the bearing receiving point (7, 8) on the steering column tube (1) and the top part (3) and/or bottom part (4) is preferably provided in the form of at least one adhesive layer.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the joining element between the bearing receiving point (7, 8) on the steering column tube (1) and the top part (3) and/or the bottom part (4) is a soldered joint.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the reinforcing strip (20) is joined to one of the parts (3, 4) by means of a soldered joint.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer ring (114) for a bearing (9, 10), in particular for a ball bearing, is mounted on the end faces (5, 6) of the steering column tube (1), being disposed directly thereon.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flanges (107) formed by the strip (92) and disposed substantially perpendicular to the strip (92) are used to connect the bearing receiving points (7, 8), in particular are joined by a laser welded joint.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the steering column tube (1) has one or more slits (121) and bores (122).

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one bearing (9, 10) is provided with a coil spring (123) and the steering shaft (15) is mounted without any clearance in the axial direction as a result.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cutout (2) is a substantially oblong hole and is provided as a means of receiving and guiding an adjusting mechanism.

Multi-part steering column tube as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterised in that a height (22, 23) of the top or bottom part (3, 4), specifically measured perpendicular to the top edge (31), is higher than the height (23, 22) of the bottom or top part (3, 4).

Multi-part steering column tube having at least a first part and another part, of which at least one part has a multi-cornered cross section in a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal extension, receiving regions for bearing elements being provided on the oppositely lying, mutually spaced end regions of the first and/or other part, the abutting parts (127, 128) being joined to one another by means of at least one joining element (185) in a joining region (126) lying in a plane parallel with the perpendicular longitudinal mid-plane, and the receiving regions (133;

• 134;
• 176;
• 225) being formed by substantially shell-shaped bearing parts (137) integrally formed on the parts (127, 128).

Bearing element, in particular for a steering shaft mounted in a steering column tube with a first bearing part and at least another bearing part, which are designed to be displaceable relative to one another via an intermediate part, in particular several intermediate parts, characterised in that a bearing part width (194) of at least one of the bearing parts ((183;

• 184) constitutes the sum of widths (204 to 206) of a guide part (202) receiving one of the intermediate parts (182) and an adjustment region (203) for providing an adjustment on and relative to the steering column tube (1;
• 125) and a shoulder part (201) overlapping with at least a part of a receiving region (176) on the steering column tube (1;
• 125).

Bearing box for mounting a steering shaft with a steering column tube at least partially enclosing the steering shaft, co-operating with at least two bearing elements between the steering shaft and the steering column tube, provided in the end regions of the steering column tube spaced at a distance apart from one another and receiving the steering shaft such that it can be displaced in rotation, and the bearing element is provided in the form of at least two bearing parts displaceable relative to one another via an intermediate part, characterised in that at least one of the bearing parts (183;

• 184) of at least one bearing element (166, 167) is formed by a part-region of the steering column tube (125).