# US 8,770,058 B2 · System and method for fixing a position of a steering column > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,058 B2 - Document ID: US8770058B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/280,861 - Filed: 2011-10-25 - Published: 2012-12-06 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-03 - Assignees: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation - Applicants: Melvin L. Tinnin; Michael P. Anspaugh - Inventors: Melvin L. Tinnin; Michael P. Anspaugh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770058B2 ## CPC - B62D 1/184: Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions - Y10T 29/49464: Assembling of gear into force transmitting device - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A position lock for an adjustable steering column comprises a plurality of discs stacked for rotation on a control shaft and engaged to a gear profile of a stationary bracket. The discs are engaged to the gear profile so as to be caused to rotate relatively to one another as the steering column undergoes movement in the relevant direction. The discs are configured to resist rotation relative to one another when subjected to a compressive load, and the control shaft is engaged to a cam for selectively applying a compressive load to the discs. A method for selectively controlling motion of a steering column comprises coupling motion of the steering column to the relative movements of a plurality of discs, constraining the discs to rotate relative to one another as the steering column undergoes motion in the relevant direction, and selectively adjusting resistance to relative rotation the discs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adjustable steering column comprising a position lock for selectively resisting raking movement of the steering column; the position lock comprising a plurality of rake-lock discs stacked for rotation on a rake-lock control shaft and engaged to a rake-lock gear profile of a stationary rake-lock bracket; the rake-lock discs being engaged to the rake-lock gear profile so as to be caused to rotate relatively to one another as the steering column undergoes the raking movement; the rake-lock discs being configured to resist rotation relative to one another when subjected to a compressive load; the rake-lock control shaft being engaged to a rake-lock cam for selectively applying a compressive load to the rake-lock discs. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adjustable steering column of claim 1, the position lock further comprising a plurality of telescope-lock discs stacked for rotation on a telescope-lock shaft and engaged to a telescope-lock gear profile of a stationary telescope-lock bracket; the telescope-lock discs being engaged to the telescope-lock gear profile so as to be caused to rotate relatively to one another as the steering column undergoes the telescoping movement; the telescope-lock discs being configured to resist rotation relative to one another when subjected to a compressive load; the telescope-lock control shaft being engaged to a telescope-lock cam for selectively applying a compressive load to the telescope-lock discs. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The adjustable steering column of claim 2, wherein the rake-lock control shaft and the telescope-lock control shaft are joined so as to form a single position-lock control shaft such that the plurality of rake-lock discs and the plurality of telescope-lock discs are stacked for rotation on the single position-lock control shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The adjustable steering column of claim 1, wherein the rake-lock control shaft is coupled to the steering column such that when raking translation of rake-lock control shaft is impeded, raking translation of steering column is also impeded. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The adjustable steering column of claim 1, wherein the stationary rake-lock bracket is fixed to the automobile and defines a rake-lock channel that surrounds a rake slot oriented along the raking direction, and wherein the rake-lock control shaft passes through the rake slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The adjustable steering column of claim 5, wherein the rake-lock discs are disposed on the rake-lock control shaft for translation within the rake-lock channel as the rake-lock control shaft translates with the raking movement of the steering column. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The adjustable steering column of claim 6: wherein the rake-lock channel has a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side being arranged parallel to the rake slot on opposing sides of the rake slot; wherein at least one of the rake-lock discs is a first rake-lock disc that includes one or more first rake-lock teeth configured and positioned for engaging with a corresponding first-side groove formed in the first side of the rake-lock channel; and wherein at least one other of the rake-lock discs is a second rake-lock disc that includes one or more second rake-lock teeth configured and positioned for engaging with a corresponding second-side groove formed in the second side of the rake-lock channel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The adjustable steering column of claim 7: wherein the control shaft is disposed in the rake slot such that, as the control shaft translates with raking movement of the steering column, cooperation between the first rake-lock teeth and the first-side groove causes the one or more first rake-lock discs to rotate about the rake-lock control shaft with a first sense, and such that cooperation between the second rake-lock teeth and the second-side groove causes the one or more second rake-lock discs to rotate about the rake-lock control shaft in a second sense that opposes the rotation of the first rake-lock discs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The adjustable steering column of claim 2, wherein the telescope-lock control shaft is coupled to the steering column such that when telescoping translation of telescope-lock control shaft is impeded, telescoping translation of steering column is also impeded. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The adjustable steering column of claim 2, wherein the stationary telescope-lock bracket is fixed to the automobile and defines a telescope-lock channel that surrounds a telescope slot oriented along the telescoping direction, and wherein the telescope-lock control shaft passes through the telescope slot. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The adjustable steering column of claim 10, wherein the telescope-lock discs are disposed on the telescope-lock control shaft for translation within the telescope-lock channel as the telescope-lock control shaft translates with the telescoping movement of the steering column. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The adjustable steering column of claim 11: wherein the telescope-lock channel has a first side and a second side, the first side and the second side being arranged parallel to the telescope slot on opposing sides of the telescope slot; wherein at least one of the telescope-lock discs is a first telescope-lock disc that includes one or more first telescope-lock teeth configured and positioned for engaging with a corresponding first-side groove formed in the first side of the telescope-lock channel; and wherein at least one other of the telescope-lock discs is a second telescope-lock disc that includes one or more second telescope-lock teeth configured and positioned for engaging with a corresponding second-side groove formed in the second side of the telescope-lock channel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The adjustable steering column of claim 12: wherein the control shaft is disposed in the telescope slot such that, as the control shaft translates with raking movement of the steering column, cooperation between the first telescope-lock teeth and the first-side groove causes the one or more first telescope-lock discs to rotate about the telescope-lock control shaft with a first sense, and such that cooperation between the second telescope-lock teeth and the second-side groove causes the one or more second telescope-lock discs to rotate about the telescope-lock control shaft in a second sense that opposes the rotation of the first telescope-lock discs. ### Claim 14 A method for selectively controlling motion of a steering column comprising: coupling raking motion of the steering column to the relative movements of a plurality of rake-lock discs; constraining the rake-lock discs to rotate relative to one another as the steering column undergoes raking motion; and selectively adjusting resistance to relative rotation the rake-lock discs; wherein the step of coupling comprises stacking the rake-lock discs for rotation on a rake-lock control shaft and engaging the rake-lock discs to a rake-lock gear profile of a stationary rake-lock bracket so as to cause the rake-lock discs to rotate relatively to one another as the steering column undergoes the raking movement. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the step of selectively adjusting resistance comprises configuring the rake-lock discs to resist rotation relative to one another when subjected to a compressive load; and selectively applying a compressive load to the rake-lock discs. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: coupling telescoping motion of the steering column to the relative movements of a plurality of telescope-lock discs; constraining the telescope-lock discs to rotate relative to one another as the steering column undergoes telescoping motion; and selectively adjusting resistance to relative rotation the telescope-lock discs. ### Claim 17 A method for selectively controlling motion of a steering column comprising: coupling raking motion of the steering column to the relative movements of a plurality of rake-lock discs; constraining the rake-lock discs to rotate relative to one another as the steering column undergoes raking motion; selectively adjusting resistance to relative rotation the rake-lock discs; coupling telescope in motion of the steering column to the relative movements of a plurality of telescope-lock discs; constraining the telescope-lock discs to rotate relative to one another as the steering column undergoes telescoping motion; and selectively adjusting resistance to relative rotation the telescope-lock discs; wherein the step of coupling telescoping motion of the steering column comprises stacking the telescope-lock discs for rotation on a telescope-lock control shaft and engaging the telescope-lock discs to a telescope-lock gear profile of a stationary telescope-lock bracket so as to cause the telescope-lock discs to rotate relatively to one another as the steering column undergoes the telescoping movement. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the step of selectively adjusting resistance to relative rotation the telescope-lock discs comprises configuring the telescope-lock discs to resist rotation relative to one another when subjected to a compressive load; and selectively applying a compressive load to the telescope-lock discs.