# US 7,611,165 B2 · Adjustable steering column assembly having an attached instrument cluster > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,165 B2 - Document ID: US7611165B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/728,072 - Filed: 2007-03-23 - Published: 2007-12-27 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-06-23 - Assignees: Delphi Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Marvin V. Manwaring; Richard K. Riefe; Ravi Ravindra; William D. Cymbal; Brad M. MacDonald; Jason R. Ridgeway; Albert C. Huber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611165B2 ## CPC - B62D 1/187: with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment (B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence) - B60K 35/50: Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle (B60K35/231 takes precedence) - B62D 1/195: {Yieldable supports for the steering column} - B60K 35/70: Instrument provisions for avoiding injuries to vehicle occupants in case of accidents - B60K 2360/685: Instruments movable with steering column - 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) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract A steering column assembly includes a rake adjustment mechanism, and is attached to a vehicle by a mounting bracket. A rake bracket is coupled to the mounting bracket. A column jacket is collapsible in response to an emergency event and is supported by the mounting bracket and the rake bracket, and is rotationally moveable with the rake bracket about a rake axis relative to the mounting bracket. An instrument cluster is coupled to the rake bracket for movement along with the rake bracket and the column jacket to prevent obstruction of the instrument cluster by a steering wheel upon re-positioning the steering wheel, while not restricting movement of the column jacket during collapse of the column jacket in response to the emergency event. A dynamic absorber interconnects the instrument cluster and the rake bracket to reduce vibration of the steering column assembly caused by additional weight of the instrument cluster. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising: a mounting bracket for attachment to the vehicle; a rake bracket coupled to said mounting bracket and pivotable relative to said mounting bracket about a rake axis with said rake bracket extending from said mounting bracket along a longitudinal axis to a distal end; a column jacket supported by said mounting bracket and detachably supported by said rake bracket and longitudinally moveable relative to said mounting bracket along said longitudinal axis in response to an emergency event and pivotably moveable with said rake bracket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis; an instrument cluster coupled to said distal end of said rake bracket and rotatably moveable with said rake bracket and said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis; and a dynamic absorber interconnecting said instrument cluster and said rake bracket for reducing vibration transmitted to said instrument cluster, said dynamic absorber including a linear spring having a pre-determined spring constant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said linear spring includes a cluster bracket having a flange interconnecting said cluster bracket and said instrument cluster. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said instrument cluster includes an outer casing and at least one gauge supported by said outer casing with said outer casing attached to said flange of said cluster bracket. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting bracket includes a hinge extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and defining said rake axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a rake adjustment mechanism for rotationally adjusting said column jacket and said rake bracket about said rake axis relative to said mounting bracket and locking said column jacket and said rake bracket relative to said mounting bracket. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an energy absorption mechanism for absorbing energy transmitted through the column jacket in response to the emergency event. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a telescoping mechanism for adjusting said column jacket axially along said longitudinal axis and locking said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said rake bracket is axially adjustable along said longitudinal axis with said column jacket. ### Claim 9 A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising: a mounting bracket for attachment to the vehicle; a rake bracket coupled to said mounting bracket and pivotable relative to said mounting bracket about a rake axis with said rake bracket extending from said mounting bracket along a longitudinal axis to a distal end; a column jacket supported by said mounting bracket and detachably supported by said rake bracket and longitudinally moveable relative to said mounting bracket along said longitudinal axis in response to an emergency event and pivotably moveable with said rake bracket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis, wherein said rake bracket is axially adjustable along said longitudinal axis with said column jacket; an instrument cluster coupled to said distal end of said rake bracket and rotatably moveable with said rake bracket and said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis; a dynamic absorber interconnecting said instrument cluster and said rake bracket for reducing vibration transmitted to said instrument cluster, wherein said instrument cluster is fixedly mounted to said dynamic absorber and stationary relative to said mounting bracket in response to the emergency event; and a telescoping mechanism for adjusting said column jacket axially along said longitudinal axis and locking said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said rake bracket is in telescopic engagement with said mounting bracket for axial movement along said longitudinal axis relative to said mounting bracket. ### Claim 11 A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising: a mounting bracket for attachment to the vehicle; a rake bracket coupled to said mounting bracket and pivotable relative to said mounting bracket about a rake axis with said rake bracket extending from said mounting bracket along a longitudinal axis to a distal end, wherein said rake bracket is in telescopic engagement with said mounting bracket for axial movement along said longitudinal axis relative to said mounting bracket; a column jacket supported by said mounting bracket and detachably supported by said rake bracket and longitudinally moveable relative to said mounting bracket along said longitudinal axis in response to an emergency event and pivotably moveable with said rake bracket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis, wherein said rake bracket is axially adjustable along said longitudinal axis with said column jacket; and a dynamic absorber interconnecting said instrument cluster and said rake bracket for reducing vibration transmitted to said instrument cluster, wherein said dynamic absorber includes an arm in telescopic engagement with said rake bracket. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said instrument cluster is fixedly mounted to said dynamic absorber and axially moveable with said dynamic absorber along said longitudinal axis relative to said mounting bracket in response to the emergency event. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said dynamic absorber defines a notch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An assembly as set forth in claim 13 further comprising a release capsule disposed in said notch and a pin extending through said column jacket, said release capsule and said rake bracket for interconnecting said column jacket, said dynamic absorber, and said rake bracket. ### Claim 15 A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising: a mounting bracket for attachment to the vehicle; a rake bracket coupled to said mounting bracket and pivotable relative to said mounting bracket about a rake axis with said rake bracket extending from said mounting bracket along a longitudinal axis to a distal end; a column jacket supported by said mounting bracket and detachably supported by said rake bracket and longitudinally moveable relative to said mounting bracket along said longitudinal axis in response to an emergency event and pivotably moveable with said rake bracket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis; an instrument cluster coupled to said distal end of said rake bracket and rotatably moveable with said rake bracket and said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis; and a dynamic absorber interconnecting said instrument cluster and said rake bracket for reducing vibration transmitted to said instrument cluster, wherein said dynamic absorber is fixedly mounted to said rake bracket. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) An assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said instrument cluster is fixedly mounted to said dynamic absorber and stationary relative to said mounting bracket in response to the emergency event.