Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-19
2001-07-03
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C280S755000, C280S777000, C074S492000, C074S493000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254131
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application claims the priority of 198 12 172.5-21, filed Mar. 19, 1999, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a steering column arrangement for a motor vehicle, having an interior steering column tube, which is telescopically displaceably arranged by an adjusting arrangement inside an exterior, stationarily arranged steering column tube. The adjusting arrangement has a longitudinally extending adjusting member which extends axially in parallel to the interior steering column tube and is stationarily applied to the interior steering column tube by way of a front end via a holder fixed on the outer jacket of the interior steering column tube.
A steering column arrangement is described in DE 195 24 196 C1. The known steering column arrangement has an interior steering column tube which is telescopically displaceably disposed in an exterior steering column tube stationarily fixed in the motor vehicle. In order to permit an automatic adjustment of the interior steering column tube relative to the exterior steering column tube, a spindle drive is provided which is acted upon by an electric servo motor. The spindle drive has a threaded spindle which extends on the outside along the exterior steering column tube and is stationarily fixed by a front end on a holder fixed on an outer jacket of the interior steering column tube. The threaded spindle engages in a threaded nut which is rotatably disposed on the exterior steering column tube. The threaded nut has an exterior toothing so that it meshes with a gearbox which is driven by the electric servo motor. A rotation of the threaded nut by the servo motor therefore causes an axial displacement of the threaded spindle and thus, because of the force transmission by way of the holder, also an axial displacement of the interior steering column tube. The fixing of the holder on the outer jacket of the interior steering column tube is not described in detail.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a steering column arrangement which permits a space-saving and secure fixing of the adjusting member on the interior steering column tube.
This object has been achieved by configuring the holder as a ring-shaped collar which, by way of a ring arrangement positioned between the outer jacket of the interior steering column tube and the interior circumference of the collar, is axially form-lockingly and frictionally in the circumferential direction fixed on the interior steering column tube. The ring arrangement between the collar and the outer jacket of the steering column tube can be constructed in one or several pieces. It may be molded in one piece to the outer jacket of the interior steering column tube or may be placed onto the outer jacket.
The solution according to the present invention permits an extremely space-saving fixing of the holder for the adjusting member, in which no fastening elements project radially to the outside. On the contrary, the fixing takes place within the collar so that the fixing devices in the form of the ring arrangement are covered by the collar. The fastening of the collar, which is axially form-locking and frictional in the circumferential direction permits, a secure transmission of the occurring forces, despite the space-saving construction. The fastening according to the present invention has such a stable construction that, even in the event of a vehicle impact, no displacement of the collar takes place on the steering column tube as the result of correspondingly introduced impact forces. The frictional fixing in the circumferential direction has the purpose of absorbing operating forces of a switch module occurring in the circumferential direction. The switch module contains a shift lever having turn signal and cruise control functions as well as other functions. The switch module can be pushed onto the interior steering column tube from the steering wheel side and at least partially reaches over the collar. A form-closure is achieved between the collar and the switch module in the circumferential direction. In addition to the axial securing of the collar on the interior steering column tube also against impact loads, the collar is therefore also used as a support for the switch module in the circumferential direction.
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Crowell & Moring , L.L.P.
Culbreth Eric
Daimler-Chrysler AG
Lum L.
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