# US 2019/0168798 A1 · Steering column assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168798 A1 - Document ID: US20190168798A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/205,316 - Filed: 2018-11-30 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: TRW Steering Systems Poland Sp. Z.o.o. - Applicants: TRW Steering Systems Poland Sp. Z.O.O. - Inventors: Artur Wojtalik; Pawel Ponikiewski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168798A1 ## CPC - B62D 1/184: Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions - B62D 1/185: adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically (B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence) - B62D 1/189: the entire column being tiltable as a unit - 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 An adjustable steering column assembly comprises a steering column shaft that connects a steering wheel of the vehicle to the steering rack and a shroud that protects and supports the shaft. The shroud comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being movable telescopically relative to the lower portion to permit the length of the steering column assembly to be varied. A mounting bracket secures the shroud to a fixed part of the vehicle. A clamp mechanism secures the shroud to the mounting bracket, the clamp mechanism being operable between a released position in which at least one of the reach and rake of the steering column assembly may be adjusted and a clamped position in which the reach and rake of the steering column assembly are fixed. The clamp mechanism comprises a first rack of teeth and a second rack of teeth that extend in parallel along opposing sides of a slot formed in a part of the steering column shroud or the mounting bracket. A blocking device comprises at least one gearwheel, the blocking device having a set of radially projecting teeth spaced around at least part of a perimeter, at least one tooth of the blocking device being carried by the gearwheel and being engaged with the first rack of teeth when the clamp mechanism is in both the clamped position and the released position, and the blocking device being disengaged from the second rack when in the released position thereby allowing the gearwheel of the blocking device to roll along the first rack of teeth during adjustment of the steering column assembly. At least one tooth of the blocking device engages the second rack of teeth when the clamp mechanism is in the clamped position, the at least one gearwheel of the blocking device in this condition being prevented from rolling along the first rack of teeth. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adjustable steering column assembly comprising: a steering column shaft that connects a steering wheel of a vehicle to a steering rack, a shroud that protects and supports the steering column shaft comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion being movable telescopically relative to the lower portion to permit a length of the steering column assembly to be varied, a mounting bracket through which the shroud is secured to a fixed part of the vehicle, and a clamp mechanism which secures the shroud to the mounting bracket, the clamp mechanism being operable between a released position in which at least one of a reach and rake of the steering column assembly may be adjusted and a clamped position in which the reach and rake of the steering column assembly are fixed, the clamp mechanism comprising: a first rack of teeth and a second rack of teeth that extend in parallel along opposing sides of a slot formed in a part of the shroud or the mounting bracket, a blocking device comprising at least one gearwheel, the blocking device having a set of radially projecting teeth spaced around at least part of a perimeter, at least one tooth of the blocking device being carried by the gearwheel and being engaged with the first rack of teeth when the clamp mechanism is in both the clamped position and the released position, and the blocking device being disengaged from the second rack of teeth when in the released position thereby allowing the gearwheel of the blocking device to roll along the first rack of teeth during adjustment of the steering column assembly, and at least one tooth of the blocking device engaging the second rack of teeth when the clamp mechanism is in the clamped position, the at least one gearwheel of the blocking device in this condition being prevented from rolling along the first rack of teeth. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 1, wherein the blocking device comprises two gearwheels interconnected by an idler gear, one gearwheel carrying the teeth that engage the first rack of teeth and the other gearwheel carrying the teeth that engage the second rack of teeth. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 1, wherein the blocking device comprises only one gearwheel which carries the plurality of teeth. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 3, wherein the gearwheel is supported by a clamp pin around which the gearwheel is free to rotate, the clamp pin through the mounting bracket and the shroud, and the clamp mechanism includes a biasing means for moving the gearwheel upon clamping in a direction parallel to the axis of the clamp pin toward and into engagement with the second rack of teeth and upon releasing in a direction away from and hence out of engagement with the second rack of teeth. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 4, wherein movement is limited such that the teeth of the first rack of teeth always at least partially overlap and positively engage at least one tooth of the gearwheel at all times. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 4, wherein the biasing means comprises a spring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 4, wherein the clamp mechanism includes a user operable handle or lever that enables the driver to operate the clamp mechanism by rotating the clamp pin. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 4, wherein an electric motor is provided that is connected to the clamp pin, operation of the motor releasing or clamping the clamp mechanism. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 2, wherein tips of the teeth of the second rack of teeth each lie in a plane that is inclined relative to a direction of translational movement of the gearwheel when clamping or releasing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 2, wherein the first rack of teeth and second rack of teeth are linear, in that tips of all of the teeth lie in a single plane. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 2, wherein the slot is carried by the shroud, for example in a plate welded or riveted or otherwise fixed to the shroud, optionally wherein the slot is formed in the upper portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 2, wherein the slot extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to a major axis of the steering column shaft so that the clamp mechanism permits adjustment of the steering column assembly for reach. ### Claim 13 (depends on 2) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 2, wherein, in use, with the clamp mechanism released the upper portion is configured to be collapsed or extended telescopically relative to the lower portion, causing the gearwheel to roll along the first rack of teeth on one side of the slot whilst being held clear of the second rack of teeth. ### Claim 14 (depends on 4) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 4, wherein the slot is provided in a rail that extends from an upper surface of the upper portion, allowing the clamp pin to pass across a top of the upper portion clear of the steering column shaft. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 2, wherein the slot is carried by the mounting bracket, for example in a plate welded or riveted or otherwise fixed to the mounting bracket. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 2, wherein the slot is formed in the mounting bracket. ### Claim 17 (depends on 2) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 2, wherein the steering column assembly includes a third rack of teeth and a fourth rack of teeth that extend in parallel along opposing sides of a second slot formed in a part of the steering column shroud or the mounting bracket, the second slot being substantially orthogonal to the first slot, a second gearwheel having a set of radially projecting teeth spaced around at least part of a circumference of the second gearwheel, at least one teeth of the second gearwheel being permanently engaged with an adjacent pair of the teeth of the third rack of teeth when the clamp mechanism is in the released condition and when in the clamped condition, no teeth of the second gearwheel engaging the teeth of the fourth rack of teeth when the clamp mechanism is in the clamped position thereby allowing the second gearwheel to rotate about an axis thereof and roll along the first rack of teeth during adjustment of the steering column assembly, and at least one tooth of the second gearwheel contacting at least one tooth of the fourth rack of teeth when the clamp mechanism is in the clamped condition to prevent rotation of the second gearwheel and in turn prevent adjustment of the steering column shroud, optionally wherein the two gearwheels are carried by a common clamp pin. ### Claim 18 (depends on 4) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 4, wherein the clamp mechanism includes a cam assembly carried by the clamp pin that has a length that varies as the clamp pin rotates, at least one spring that acts between the mounting bracket or shroud and the gearwheel, and an actuator which is operable to rotate the clamp pin thereby to alter the length of the cam which in turn causes the clamp pin to move axially between the released and clamped positons. ### Claim 19 (depends on 2) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the two gearwheels is provided with teeth that have the same pitch as the teeth of the first rack of teeth and the teeth of the second rack of teeth. ### Claim 20 (depends on 2) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 2, wherein the mounting bracket comprises an upper part from which two arms depend, the shroud being located between the two arms, each arm including a guide slot through which the clamp pin of the clamp mechanism passes, optionally wherein the upper part is secured to the fixed part of the vehicle body through one or more frangible fasteners that permit the mounting bracket to break free from the vehicle body under certain crash loads. ### Claim 21 (depends on 3) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 3, wherein the first rack of teeth and second rack of teeth face inwardly towards each other across the slot. ### Claim 22 (depends on 11) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 11, wherein the slot is carried by the shroud in a plate welded or riveted or otherwise fixed to the shroud, optionally wherein the slot is formed in the upper portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 11) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 11, wherein the slot is formed in the upper portion. ### Claim 24 (depends on 15) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 15, wherein the slot is carried by the mounting bracket in a plate welded or riveted or otherwise fixed to the mounting bracket. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 17, wherein the two gearwheels are carried by a common clamp pin. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The adjustable steering column assembly according to claim 20, wherein the upper part is secured to the fixed part of the vehicle through one or more frangible fasteners that are configured to permit the mounting bracket to break free from the vehicle under certain crash loads.