Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Hand operated
Patent
1999-05-06
2000-10-31
Bucci, David A.
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Hand operated
280775, 267174, 16277, B62D 118
Patent
active
061385255
ABSTRACT:
A tilt-adjustable motor vehicle steering column including a stationary mast, a tilt housing supported on the mast jacket for up and down pivotal movement, an articulated steering shaft having a lower portion rotatably supported on the mast jacket and an upper portion rotatably supported on the tilt housing, a steering hand wheel on the upper portion of the steering shaft, and a long composite balance spring preloaded in compression flexure between the tilt housing and the mast jacket. The composite balance spring consists of a hinge and a pair of short helical coil springs on opposite sides of the hinge. To preload the composite balance spring in compression flexure, the short coil springs are first arrayed as straight sides of a "V" between respective ones of a pair of spring seats on the mast jacket and the tilt housing. Then, when the hinge is thrust laterally to align the short coil springs on a longitudinal centerline of the composite balance spring between the spring seats, the hinge closes and the helical coil springs are compressed longitudinally without buckling. A latch automatically locks the hinge closed to reinforce the middle of the composite balance spring against lateral buckling.
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Riefe Richard Kremer
Salois James
Anderson Edmund P.
Bucci David A.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Hansen Colby
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