Self-centering telescopic guide mechanism for adjustable column

Abstract

A steering column jacket assembly for a steering system of a motor vehicle includes a first steering jacket extending along a longitudinal axis and a second steering jacket arranged for telescopic movement relative to the first steering jacket along the longitudinal axis. The guide bracket is fixed to the second steering sheath. The guide bracket has a guide bushing disposed between the guide bracket and the first steering jacket, the guide bushing self-centering the first steering jacket and the second steering jacket relative to each other to inhibit relative rotation between the first steering jacket and the second steering jacket.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 546,328, filed on October 30, 2023, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background Art

[0002] Many motor vehicles include telescoping steering columns having an upper steering jacket that adjustably telescopes relative to a lower steering jacket. During telescoping movement, it is important to guide the upper and lower steering jackets relative to each other to prevent them from rotating relative to each other to prevent various components from moving out of their intended radial positions (such as switches and sensors, including, for example, a wash / wipe / turn signal switch). It is equally important to prevent relative rotation between the upper and lower steering column jackets when torque is applied to various components (such as the aforementioned wash / wipe / turn signal switch). In addition, with the increase in the implementation of driver eye tracking technology (such as cameras), it is possible to be very sensitive to misalignment of the upper steering jacket (such as approximately 2 degrees of rotational misalignment), thus placing greater emphasis on maintaining the correct alignment / positioning of the upper steering jacket.

[0003] While maintaining alignment of the upper steering column jacket and the lower steering jacket relative to each other, it is important to allow relative telescopic movement, even during torsional loads applied to the upper steering jacket (such as may occur when using a wash / wipe / turn signal switch), while minimizing the amount of noise generated during the telescopic movement. Therefore, it is important to remove any rotational play (also known as rotational clearance or tilt) between the upper steering jacket and the lower steering jacket, while minimizing friction between the upper steering jacket and the lower steering jacket during the intended telescopic movement. In addition, it is important to prevent noise generation during the telescopic movement, so metal-to-metal contact is generally undesirable.

[0004] A steering column cover assembly constructed in accordance with the disclosure herein solves at least the above-identified problems while providing a strong, quasi-compliant joint between components of the steering column cover assembly that is self-sizing to accommodate size stacking situations while being economical in manufacture, assembly, and use. Summary of the invention

[0005] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a steering column jacket assembly for a steering system of a motor vehicle includes: a first steering jacket extending along a longitudinal axis; and a second steering jacket arranged to telescopically move relative to the first steering jacket along the longitudinal axis. A guide bracket is fixed to the second steering jacket. The guide bracket has a guide bushing disposed between the guide bracket and the first steering jacket. The guide bushing self-centers the first steering jacket and the second steering jacket relative to each other and inhibits relative rotation between the first steering jacket and the second steering jacket.

[0006] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method is provided for self-centering a first steering jacket relative to a second steering jacket of a steering column jacket assembly of a motor vehicle when the second steering jacket moves telescopically relative to the first steering jacket along a longitudinal axis. The method includes the steps of fixing a guide bracket to the second steering jacket, and providing a guide bushing between the guide bracket and the first steering jacket, the guide bushing self-centering the first steering jacket and the second steering jacket relative to each other to inhibit relative rotation between the first steering jacket and the second steering jacket.

[0007] These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and clearly stated in the claims at the end of the specification. The above and other features, as well as advantages of the invention will be clearly understood from the following detailed description given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a steering column boot assembly for a steering system of a motor vehicle according to one aspect of the disclosure;

[0010] Figure 2A yes Figure 1 An enlarged perspective view of the surrounding area 2 of the middle drive bracket and guide bushing assembly;

[0011] Figure 2B It is roughly along Figure 2A A plan view of the drive bracket and guide bushing assembly as viewed from arrow 2B;

[0012] Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2B A view schematically showing the Figure 1 A guide rail on a lower steering jacket of a steering column jacket assembly, showing a mounting bracket and a guide bushing of a bushing assembly interacting with the guide rail;

[0013] Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 , schematically showing the position of the reaction force between the guide rail and the guide bushing of the lower steering sleeve;

[0014] Figure 5 is a plan view of the guide bushing showing the compressive load and reaction load applied to the guide bushing and the self-sizing elastic bending of the guide bushing;

[0015] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the drive bracket and guide bushing assembly showing its integrated compression limiter; and

[0016] Figure 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method for self-centering a first steering jacket relative to a second steering jacket of a steering column jacket assembly of a motor vehicle when a second steering jacket telescopically moves relative to the first steering jacket along a longitudinal axis according to another aspect of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Referring now to the accompanying drawings, the embodiments described herein are used in conjunction with steering assemblies of motor vehicles including various steering system solutions, such as automobiles, trucks, sport utility vehicles, crossovers, minivans, boats, aircraft, all-terrain vehicles, recreational vehicles, or other suitable vehicles.

[0018] See first Figure 1 A steering column jacket assembly 10 for a steering system 12 of a motor vehicle includes: a plurality of telescopic steering jackets including a first steering jacket shown as a lower steering jacket 14 extending along a longitudinal axis A, and a second steering jacket shown as an upper steering jacket 16, the second steering jacket being configured to telescopically move relative to the lower steering jacket 14 along the longitudinal axis A. A guide bracket assembly 18 is fixed to the second steering jacket 16. The guide bracket assembly 18 includes a guide bracket 20 having a guide bushing 22 disposed between the guide bracket 20 and the first steering jacket 14. The guide bushing 22 acts as a self-centering member to self-center the first steering jacket 14 and the second steering jacket 16 relative to each other to inhibit relative rotation between the first steering jacket 14 and the second steering jacket 16.

[0019] The lower steering sleeve 14 includes at least one guide rail 24 fixed thereto, wherein the guide bushing 22 is arranged in an interference fit between the guide bracket 20 and the at least one guide rail 24. The at least one guide rail 24 is schematically shown ( Figure 3 ) (as an example and not limitation), includes a pair of laterally spaced rails 24 in a true parallel or substantially parallel relationship, generally meaning that the rails 24 may have a slight variation from a true mutually parallel relationship, (as an example and not limitation) such that the deviation from true parallel is about 0.1-2 degrees. The rails 24 can be formed as a monolithic piece of material with the lower steering jacket 14, or formed as a separate material that is subsequently secured to the lower steering jacket 14 so that the rails 24 do not move relative to the lower steering jacket 14.

[0020] The guide bracket 20 can be secured to the upper steering jacket 16 via any desired mechanism, such as via a welded joint, one or more fasteners (such as threaded fasteners, not shown), openings disposed through corresponding openings 26 and into the upper steering jacket 16 (as examples and not limitations), or by other fastening mechanisms.

[0021] The guide bushing 22 is formed of a non-metallic material and, in a non-limiting embodiment, is made of a lubricating polymer material. The polymer material prevents noise generation when the guide bracket 20 and the upper steering sleeve 16 fixed thereto telescope and translate along the guide rail 24 fixed to the lower steering sleeve 14. Figure 5 shown (reference numbers apply only to Figure 5 The guide bushing 22 can be formed as a unitary material having a tubular wall 28 defining a hollow cavity (also referred to as a core 30). Figure 5 The tubular wall 28 is dog-bone shaped when viewed about the longitudinal axis A shown, having a pair of opposing ends formed by enlarged ears 32, and a pair of planar walls 34 that provide cross braces interconnecting the enlarged ears 32. The planar walls 34 extend parallel to each other between the opposing enlarged ears 32. The tubular wall 28 has an inner surface 36 that defines the core 30.

[0022] The inner surface 36 of the tubular wall 28 is fixed and extends around a boss (also referred to as a post 37) that extends radially outward from the guide bracket 20 from the axis A. The tubular wall 28 of the guide bushing 22 can be fixed to the post 37 via an interference fit, thereby fixing the guide bushing 22 to the guide bracket 20. Oppositely facing portions 38a of the outer surface 38 of the tubular wall 28 extend generally parallel to each other along the distal ends of the enlarged ears 32, causing the first steering jacket 14 to be slidingly engaged thereagainst for low friction movement, particularly against the guide rail 24 of the lower steering jacket 14. When the guide bracket assembly 18 is assembled to the upper steering bracket 16, the guide bushing 22 is disposed on the post 37 and captured between the guide bracket 20 and the guide rail 24, preventing the guide bushing 22 from being removed from the guide bracket 20 without first removing the guide bracket assembly 18 from the upper steering jacket 16.

[0023] At least one protrusion extends inwardly from the inner surface of the tubular wall 28 to be fixedly received in a corresponding groove of the guide bracket 20, wherein the at least one protrusion is shown (as an example but not limited to) as including a plurality of protrusions 40 spaced apart from each other. A first plurality (shown as a pair) of laterally spaced protrusions 40 extend inwardly from the inner surface 36 of one ear 32, and a second plurality (shown as a pair) of laterally spaced protrusions 40 extend inwardly from the inner surface 36 of the other ear 32. As is known to those skilled in the art, Figure 2B , 3, 4 and 5, the guide bushing 22 is shown symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis A, so that half of the guide bushing 22 on one side S1 of the longitudinal axis A is a mirror image of the other half of the guide bushing 22 on the other side S2 of the longitudinal axis A, and is therefore economical to manufacture, such as via an extrusion process (as an example but not limited to), and economical to assemble, being insensitive to orientation when assembling the guide bushing 22 to the guide bracket 20. The dog bone shape results in the guide rails 24 ( Figure 4 and Figure 5 ) is adjacent to the opposite side of the facing portion 38a of the outer surface 38 at the opposite end of the ear portion 32 and is opposite to the reaction force F from the guide bracket 20 between the protrusions 40. The guide bushing 22 is a resilient elastic material that provides a self-sizing resilient elastic bend during use, such as Figure 5 As shown by the broken line FL, it plays the role of a self-positioning leaf spring, and the cross brace formed by the plane wall 34 plays the function of a supporting member to increase the stability of the guide bushing 22.

[0024] An integrated compression limiting surface (also referred to as a compression limiter 42 ( Figure 6 )) has a smaller elasticity than the guide bushing 20 to relieve the bearing load of the guide bushing 22 under extreme load conditions. If the predetermined load is reached or exceeded, the compression limiting surface 42 having a smaller elasticity than the guide bushing 20 can contact the guide rail 24, thereby preventing overstress and damage to the guide bushing 22.

[0025] As described above, the guide bracket assembly 18 serves to self-center during telescopic movement of the upper steering sleeve 16 relative to the lower steering bracket 14; provides quiet telescopic movement during telescopic movement of the upper steering sleeve 16 relative to the lower steering bracket 14; is robust in response to excessive loads between the upper steering sleeve 16 and the lower steering bracket 14; is economical in manufacturing and assembly, particularly because it is symmetrical and does not require a unidirectional assembly orientation; and is easily adaptable to long telescopic movements, such as when moving the upper steering sleeve 16 to a fully collapsed, "stowed" position.

[0026] like Figure 7As shown, according to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method 1000 is provided for self-centering a first steering jacket 14 relative to a second steering jacket 16 of a steering column jacket assembly 10 of a motor vehicle when the second steering jacket 16 telescopically moves relative to the first steering jacket 14 along a longitudinal axis A. The method 1000 includes a step 1100 of fixing a guide bracket 20 to the second steering jacket 16, and providing a guide bushing 22 between the guide bracket 20 and the first steering jacket 14, wherein the guide bushing 22 enables the first steering jacket 14 and the second steering jacket 16 to self-center relative to each other to inhibit relative rotation between the first steering jacket 14 and the second steering jacket 16.

[0027] The method 1000 can also include the step 1200 of providing the guide bushing 22 as a resilient non-metallic material.

[0028] The method 1000 can also include step 1300 of providing a first steering jacket 14 having a pair of guide rails 24 secured thereto, and establishing an interference fit of the guide bushing 22 between the guide bracket 20 and the pair of guide rails 24 .

[0029] The method 1000 can also include the steps 1400 of providing a guide bushing 22 having a tubular wall 28 defining a hollow core 30 , providing a guide bracket 20 having posts 37 , and securing the guide bushing 22 to the guide bracket 20 by disposing the posts 37 into the hollow core 30 .

[0030] Method 1000 may also include step 1500: providing a tubular wall 28 having a dog bone shape when viewed along the longitudinal axis A, the tubular wall 28 having a pair of opposite ends formed by enlarged ears 32 and a pair of planar walls 34 connecting the enlarged ears to each other, wherein a portion 38a of the outer surface 38 of each enlarged ear 32 forms an interference fit between the guide bracket 20 and a pair of guide rails 24.

[0031] The method 1000 can also include step 1600 of providing portions 38 a of the outer surface 38 in parallel relation to each other that form an interference fit between the guide bracket 20 and the pair of guide rails 24 .

[0032] Although the present technical solution is described in conjunction with only a limited number of embodiments, it is readily understood that the present technical solution is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, the present technical solution may be modified to incorporate any number of variations, substitutions, replacements, or equivalent arrangements not described above, but these are all consistent with the spirit and scope of the present technical solution. In addition, although a plurality of embodiments of the present technical solution have been described, it should be understood that various aspects of the present technical solution may include only a portion of the embodiments described. Therefore, the present technical solution should not be considered to be limited by the above description.

Claims

1. A steering column jacket assembly for a steering system of a motor vehicle, comprising: a first turning sheath extending along the longitudinal axis; a second steering sleeve arranged to move telescopically relative to the first steering sleeve along the longitudinal axis; as well as A guide bracket is fixed to the second steering sleeve, the guide bracket having a guide bushing arranged between the guide bracket and the first steering sleeve, the guide bushing self-centering the first steering sleeve and the second steering sleeve relative to each other to inhibit relative rotation between the first steering sleeve and the second steering sleeve.

2. The steering column cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The guide bushing is made of elastic non-metallic material.

3. The steering column cover assembly according to claim 2, wherein: The guide bushing is made of polymer material.

4. The steering column jacket assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one guide rail fixed to the first steering jacket, the guide bushing being disposed in an interference fit between the guide bracket and the at least one guide rail.

5. The steering column cover assembly according to claim 4, wherein: The at least one rail includes a pair of rails that are laterally spaced apart in generally parallel relationship to each other.

6. The steering column cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The guide bushing is made of a single piece of material.

7. The steering column cover assembly according to claim 6, wherein: The guide bushing has a tubular wall defining a hollow core.

8. The steering column cover assembly according to claim 7, wherein: The tubular wall is dog-bone shaped when viewed along the longitudinal axis, the tubular wall having a pair of opposite ends formed by enlarged ears and a pair of planar walls interconnecting the enlarged ears.

9. The steering column cover assembly according to claim 8, wherein: The inner surface of the tubular wall is secured around the strut of the guide bracket, and the outer surface of each enlarged ear engages the first steering boot.

10. The steering column cover assembly according to claim 9, wherein: At least one protrusion extends inwardly from the inner surface of the tubular wall to be fixedly received in a corresponding groove of the guide bracket.

11. The steering column cover assembly according to claim 10, wherein: The at least one protrusion includes a plurality of protrusions spaced apart from each other.

12. The steering column cover assembly according to claim 10, wherein: The at least one protrusion extends inwardly from an inner surface of the enlarged ear portion.

13. The steering column cover assembly according to claim 11, wherein: The at least one protrusion extends inwardly from an inner surface of the enlarged ear portion.

14. The steering column cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein: The guide bushing is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis.

15. A method for self-centering a first steering jacket relative to a second steering jacket of a steering column jacket assembly of a motor vehicle when the second steering jacket telescopically moves relative to the first steering jacket along a longitudinal axis, the method comprising: fixing the guide bracket to the second steering sleeve; as well as A guide bushing is disposed between the guide bracket and the first steering bushing, the guide bushing self-centering the first steering bushing and the second steering bushing relative to each other to inhibit relative rotation between the first steering bushing and the second steering bushing.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing the guide bushing as a resilient non-metallic material.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing the first steering jacket having a pair of rails secured thereto, and establishing an interference fit of the guide bushing between the guide bracket and the pair of rails.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing the guide bushing with a tubular wall defining a hollow core, providing the guide bracket with posts, and securing the guide bushing to the guide bracket by disposing the posts into the hollow core.

19. The method according to claim 18 also includes providing the tubular wall to be dog-bone-shaped when viewed along the longitudinal axis, the tubular wall having a pair of opposite ends formed by enlarged ears and a pair of planar walls connecting the enlarged ears to each other, wherein a portion of the outer surface of each enlarged ear forms the interference fit between the guide bracket and the pair of guide rails.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing portions of the outer surface forming the interference fit between the guide bracket and the pair of rails in parallel relationship to one another.

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