Adjustable steering unit for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjustable steering unit for a motor vehicle, comprising: a steering wheel having a steering wheel rim; a steering column, a first section of which is movable in a longitudinal direction of the steering column; the steering wheel is coupled to the movable first section; and a pivot bearing with a first pivot axis, on which a bracket which carries the steering wheel rim and which can pivot together with the steering wheel rim is hinged, the steering wheel rim being adjustable from a use position into a pivoted, flatter, tilted, stowed position; a pivoting device provided with an electric motor drive is provided, which pivoting device is designed in such a way that it can pivot the steering wheel rim between a use position and a stowed position by means of an electric motor in each arbitrary displacement position of the movable first section of the steering column, and a locking mechanism is provided, the locking mechanism keeps the support in the use position without play in the locking position.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an adjustable steering unit for a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] Pivotable steering wheels for motor vehicles have long been part of the prior art. The earliest pivotable steering wheels had the goal of facilitating entry into the motor vehicle. To this end, these steering wheels could be folded down manually and thus the space in front of the steering wheel was increased.

[0003] This increased comfort is also pursued in future generations of motor vehicles, especially those that can both steer autonomously (i.e., automatically) and can alternatively be steered manually with a steering wheel. Since the steering wheel is not required during autonomous driving, the steering wheel only unnecessarily limits the driver's freedom of movement to the driver's seat. Here, it is advantageous to not only pivot the steering wheel rim but also adjust the entire steering unit, for example including the steering column.

[0004] However, it has been shown that existing solutions including adjustable steering units are usually costly and also require a large amount of structural space. To create a remedy here, WO 2023 / 174651 A1 proposes an adjustable steering unit for a motor vehicle, in which no pivot motor is provided on the steering wheel itself, but rather a linear drive for adjusting the steering column in the longitudinal direction is additionally used to pivot the steering wheel rim when a predetermined steering column retraction amount is reached. For this purpose, a holding device is provided which engages with and locks a section of the steering wheel remote from the pivot axis when adjusting the steering column, such that the steering wheel pivots when the steering column moves further in the longitudinal direction. In this solution, the steering wheel can only pivot within the range of the maximum retraction of the steering column. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to create an adjustable steering unit for a motor vehicle which can be used as variably as possible with a simple construction.

[0006] According to the present invention, this object is solved by an adjustable steering unit for a motor vehicle, which steering unit comprises: a steering wheel having a steering wheel rim; a steering column, at least a first section of which is movable in the longitudinal direction of the steering column, the steering wheel being coupled to the movable first section; and a pivot bearing having a first pivot axis, to which a bracket pivotable together with the steering wheel rim and carrying the steering wheel rim is articulated, wherein the steering wheel rim can be adjusted from a use position into a pivoted, more flatly inclined stowed position; a pivoting device provided with an electric drive means, which pivoting device is configured such that it can pivot the steering wheel rim between the use position and the stowed position by means of the electric motor in each arbitrary movement position of the movable first section of the steering column; and a locking mechanism, which holds the bracket in the use position without play in a locked position.

[0007] Thus, in the steering unit according to the invention, the steering wheel rim can be pivoted as required independently of the retracted position of the steering column in order to free up as much interior space as possible in the motor vehicle. In addition, the locking mechanism ensures that the bracket and thus the steering wheel rim are reliably held in the use position and prevents the steering wheel from pivoting accidentally during manual driving operation, for example when the vehicle driver pulls the steering wheel rim towards his body in the use position. Since the locking mechanism also fixes the bracket in the use position without play, even slight undesired pivoting movements of the steering wheel are effectively prevented, which otherwise would give the vehicle driver a feeling of lack of safety.

[0008] In particular, the first pivot axis about which the steering wheel rim together with the bracket is pivotable extends horizontally with respect to the straight-ahead position of the steering wheel, and the steering wheel rim can be pivoted downwards with its upper end into the stowed position. This downward pivoting of the steering wheel is particularly advantageous since the adjustable steering unit can be adapted to the shape of the vehicle interior trim panel and thus requires less interior volume in the vehicle in the stowed position.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the locking mechanism has at least one clearance-eliminating spring element, in particular a rubber buffer, which spring element is compressed in the locked position of the locking mechanism. Thus, the bracket is locked in the use position without play in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0010] Advantageously, the locking mechanism couples the bracket in a form-fitting manner to the movable first section of the steering column in its locked position in the use position. This form-fitting connection ensures that the steering torque applied by the vehicle driver to the steering wheel can be reliably transmitted to the steering column without the steering wheel pivoting in an undesired manner. In addition, the load on the pivot bearing is reduced during steering.

[0011] Preferably, the locking mechanism has at least one movable locking pawl, which is in particular pivotally supported on a bracket and includes a latching hook that positively engages from behind in the locked position of the locking mechanism a projection arranged on a movable first section of the steering column. In particular, the locking pawl is spring-loaded into the locked position. If the locking mechanism is to be released to move the steering wheel rim from the use position to the retracted position, it is sufficient to pivot the locking pawl into the release position. By spring-loading the locking pawl into its locked position, accidental release of the locking mechanism can be prevented.

[0012] For example, the locking pawl can pivot about a second pivot axis that is spatially spaced from the first pivot axis about which the steering wheel rim can pivot.

[0013] In particular, the locking mechanism has two locking pawls for a uniform force transmission and thus for securely fixing the bracket in the use position, and the two locking pawls are arranged on both sides in a front view of the steering wheel rim with respect to a plane vertically extending through the central axis of the steering column.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the pivoting device has a slide that can be moved relative to the first section of the steering column in the longitudinal direction of the steering column by a drive device, which is an electric motor. At least one rack is arranged on the slide parallel to the longitudinal direction of the steering column. Thus, the drive device of the pivoting device is in particular a linear drive device that moves the slide in the longitudinal direction, for example via a lead screw and a mating lead screw nut. Here, preferably, one rack is provided on each side of the steering column on the slide, thereby achieving a uniform force transmission. A rack in the sense of the present invention can also be understood as a rack that may have one or more untoothed sections if necessary.

[0015] Advantageously, the drive device for moving the slide is mounted on a section of the steering column, in particular on a movable section. Thereby, a relatively compact structural form of the adjustable steering unit is achieved, which does not require a drive device for the pivoting device to be arranged in the steering wheel, where only a small structural space is available.

[0016] A simple design embodiment of the pivoting device is obtained in that preferably the rack meshes with a pinion fixedly coupled to the bracket. Thus, the linear movement of the rack causes a rotational movement of the pinion and thus pivoting of the bracket.

[0017] Particularly advantageously, when the carriage is moved from the use position of the bracket toward the stowed position, the axial end of the rack facing the steering wheel engages the locking mechanism, in particular the movable locking pawl, thereby moving the locking mechanism toward the released position. The rack thus has a dual function: it not only first unlocks the locking mechanism but also subsequently pivots the bracket and, therefore, the steering wheel rim. This eliminates the need for additional components for releasing the locking mechanism. Furthermore, it is not necessary to precisely ensure that the locking mechanism is in the released position before the steering wheel rim is pivoted, in order to avoid damage to the pivoting device due to the locking mechanism not being released.

[0018] In a further development of the invention, a spring-loaded locking tooth is provided on the axial end of the rack facing the steering wheel. The locking tooth is designed so that when the slide moves from the stowed position to the use position, it meshes with the pinion and thus moves the bracket beyond the use position. This embodiment ensures that the bracket is securely locked in the use position.

[0019] In this case, an untoothed section can be provided between the spring-loaded locking tooth and the regular toothing of the toothed rack.

[0020] Advantageously, the spring element of the locking mechanism is compressed when the bracket moves beyond the use position. The restoring force of the spring element generated here places the bracket and thus the steering wheel rim in the use position without play by locking after the locking tooth leaves the meshing with the pinion.

[0021] In a further development, the spring-loaded locking tooth is configured such that when the slide moves from the use position of the bracket toward the stowed position, the locking tooth avoids the pinion, thereby preventing the bracket from being slightly pivoted by the locking tooth before the locking mechanism is fully released.

[0022] Another aspect of the invention provides that the bracket is spring-loaded relative to the first movable section in the pivoting direction toward the use position, in particular by providing at least one torsion spring with two ends, one of the two ends resting on the bracket and the other on the first movable section. The spring loading thus holds the steering unit in the use position as long as the pivoting device does not act on the bracket and thus on the steering wheel rim.

[0023] Particularly preferably, the same spring element urges the locking mechanism toward its locked position and the bracket toward the use position in the pivoting direction relative to the movable first section. As already mentioned, the spring element is in particular a torsion spring and fulfills a dual function by urging the locking mechanism toward its locked position and simultaneously urging the steering wheel rim toward its use position, thereby reducing the number of required spring elements and enabling a particularly compact design of the steering unit.

[0024] Preferably, the drive device of the pivot device is decoupled from the drive device for moving a section of the steering column in the longitudinal direction, wherein the drive device for longitudinally adjusting the steering column can be configured manually or motor-driven.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the steering column has a fixed second section and is provided with a motor-driven linear drive device decoupled from the drive device of the pivot device, which linear drive device is coupled to the movable first section and the fixed second section of the steering column such that the linear drive device moves the sections relative to each other by means of an electric motor. Thus, the linear drive device enables the movable section of the telescopic steering column to move automatically relative to the fixed section, wherein the movable section is preferably guided in a linear guide of the (vehicle-) fixed section. Here, the steering column can also have a plurality of sections movable relative to each other and relative to the fixed section.

[0026] Due to the design of the motor-driven linear drive device, if an operator, such as an occupant in the vehicle, wishes to move the steering unit between the use position and the stowed position, the operator, such as the occupant in the vehicle, does not need to manually move the movable section. For example, the occupant in the vehicle can simply trigger the movement of the movable section by operating an operating element.

[0027] In particular, the motor-driven drive device for moving the slide of the pivot device is mounted on the movable first section and is also configured as a linear drive device. Description of the Drawings

[0028] Further features and advantages result from the following description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. In these drawings:

[0029] Figure 1 A perspective view of the adjustable steering unit according to the invention in the use position is shown;

[0030] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 A partially transparent side view of the steering unit in the use position in

[0031] Figure 3 A perspective view of the adjustable steering unit according to the invention in a first intermediate position between the use position and the stowed position is shown;

[0032] Figure 4 Shown Figure 3 A partially transparent side view of the steering unit in the first intermediate position in

[0033] Figure 5Shows a perspective view of an adjustable steering unit according to the invention in a second intermediate position between a use position and a stowed position;

[0034] Figure 6 Shows Figure 5 A partially transparent side view of the steering unit in the second intermediate position;

[0035] Figure 7 Shows a perspective view of an adjustable steering unit according to the invention in a third intermediate position between a use position and a stowed position;

[0036] Figure 8 Shows Figure 7 A partially transparent side view of the steering unit in the third intermediate position;

[0037] Figure 9 Shows a perspective view of an adjustable steering unit according to the invention in a stowed position; and

[0038] Figure 10 Shows a partially transparent side view of an adjustable steering unit according to the invention in a first intermediate position when being retracted from the stowed position towards the use position. Detailed Description

[0039] Figure 1 And Figure 2 Shows an adjustable steering unit 10, which can be used, for example, in an autonomous motor vehicle and is provided not only for manual steering operation but also for automatic steering operation. The steering unit 10 has a steering wheel 12 and a steering column 14. Here, the steering wheel 12 is coupled to a first section 16 of the steering column 14, and this first section can move in the longitudinal direction L of the steering column 14.

[0040] In addition to the movable first section 16, the steering column 14 has a fixed second section 18, which can be coupled to other components of the motor vehicle. Here, the movable first section 16 is guided in a linear guide 20, which is immovably fixed to the fixed second section 18 in the shown embodiment.

[0041] The movable first section 16 and the fixed second section 18 of the steering column 14 are coupled to a drive device, more precisely an electric linear drive device 22, which can move the sections 16 and 18 relative to each other by means of an electric motor to shorten the telescopic steering column 14 and thereby move the steering wheel 12 between Figure 1 And Figure 2 The shown use position and stowed position.

[0042] To this end, the linear drive device 22 has an electric motor 23 which is fixed to the movable first section 16 (e.g. via a groove in the linear guide 20). During operation, the electric motor 23 drives (directly or indirectly) a lead screw nut arranged in the housing 24, which lead screw nut moves along a lead screw 26 here, and the lead screw is mounted, in particular screwed, onto the fixed second section 18.

[0043] The steering wheel 12 has a steering wheel rim 28 which is carried by a bracket 30, which bracket is designed here as a two-part one and to some extent forms the steering spokes of the steering wheel 12.

[0044] In particular, these two parts of the two-part bracket 30 are symmetrically arranged on the steering wheel rim 28 and on both sides of a virtual central plane which extends vertically through the central axis of the steering column 14 in a front view of the steering wheel rim 28.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment, the steering wheel rim 28 is designed as a substantially rectangular one with rounded corners and is notched in the region of the 12 o'clock position, in particular approximately between the 10 o'clock position and the 2 o'clock position, when the steering wheel 12 is in the use position and set for straight-ahead driving. In the region of this notch, the steering wheel rim 28 directly transitions into these two parts of the bracket 30.

[0046] These two parts of the bracket 30 are each articulated on a pivot bearing 32, which pivot bearings couple the bracket 30 and thus the steering wheel rim 28 to a plate-shaped central part 33 of the steering wheel 12, which central part is in turn fixedly connected to the movable first section 16 of the steering column 14.

[0047] Here, the pivot bearings 32 form a common first pivot axis S1 about which the steering wheel rim 28 and the bracket 30 can pivot from Figure 1 and Figure 2 the illustrated use position into a pivoted, more flatly inclined stowed position.

[0048] For this purpose, there is a pivot device 34 which includes an electric motor-driven device 36 and can pivot the steering wheel rim 28 between the use position and the stowed position by means of an electric motor.

[0049] The electric motor-driven device 36 is also designed as a linear drive device and is decoupled from the (additional) electric motor-driven linear drive device 22 for longitudinally adjusting the steering column 14, so that the pivot device 34 can in principle pivot the steering wheel rim 12 between the use position and the stowed position by means of an electric motor in each arbitrary movement position of the movable first section 16 of the steering column 14.

[0050] The pivot device 34 has a slide 38 which surrounds a movable first section 16 of the steering column 14 and is movable relative thereto by means of an electric drive 36.

[0051] In the embodiment shown, two racks 40 are provided, in particular integrally formed, on the slide 38 on both sides of the steering column 14, the respective free axial ends 42 of which face the steering wheel 12. The racks 40 are arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the steering column and each have a spring-loaded locking tooth 44 at their axial ends 42, which is spaced from the tooth section 46 of the rack 40 in the longitudinal direction L in such a way that a short untoothed section 48 is provided between the locking tooth 44 and the tooth section 46. The racks 40 do not have to have a rod-shaped configuration, but rather their function is achieved by a linearly extending tooth section which must be formed in one piece.

[0052] The electric drive 36 for moving the slide 38 is mounted on a section of the steering column 14, which has an advantageous effect on the structural space required in the region of the steering wheel 12.

[0053] In the embodiment shown, the electric drive 36 has an electric motor 37 which is fixed to the movable first section 16 through a notch 39 in the linear guide 20 and drives a lead screw nut arranged in the housing 41 during operation, which lead screw nut meshes with a lead screw 43 which is fixedly connected to the slide 38 and thus drives the slide during its linear movement relative to the movable first section 16 in the longitudinal direction L (see also for this Figure 5 ).

[0054] The pivot device 34 also includes a pinion 50 on each side of the steering column 14, which is non-rotatably arranged on the bracket 30 in the region of the first pivot axis S1 and meshes with one of the racks 40 during operation of the pivot device 34.

[0055] Furthermore, a locking mechanism 52 is provided which is used to hold the bracket 30 in the use position without play in the locked position - as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 .

[0056] For this purpose, the locking mechanism 52 has at least one, in the embodiment shown two, movable locking pawls 54 which are pivotally supported on these two parts of the bracket 30 about a second pivot axis S2 which does not coincide with the first pivot axis S1 of the steering wheel rim 28. The two locking pawls 54 are also symmetrically arranged on both sides of the steering column 14 in a front view of the steering wheel rim 28 of the steering wheel 12 set for straight-ahead driving.

[0057] Each locking pawl 54 includes a latching hook 56 which, in the locking position of the locking mechanism 52, positively engages from behind a projection 58 which is arranged on the plate-shaped central part 33 of the steering column 14 and thus on the movable first section 16 (see Figure 2 ).

[0058] In this way, in its locking position, the locking mechanism 52 positively couples the bracket 30 to the movable first section 16 of the steering column 14 in the use position.

[0059] Furthermore, the locking mechanism 52 has at least one, here two, clearance-eliminating spring elements 60 in the form of rubber buffers, which spring elements are compressed in the locking position of the locking mechanism 52. As a result, the bracket 30 is positively locked in the use position without play.

[0060] Furthermore, in addition to the latching hook 56, these locking pawls 54 each have a first arm 62 which is arranged close to the pinion 50 in the locking position and a second arm 64 which, in the locking position, bears against the respective spring element 60 (rubber buffer) and compresses it.

[0061] Finally, there are two torsion springs 66 which each have two end portions 68, 70, one end portion 68 of which bears against the bracket 30, more precisely against the locking pawl 54 which is pivotably supported on the bracket 30, while the other end portion 70 bears against the plate-shaped central part 33 and thus against the movable first section 16.

[0062] In the illustrated embodiment, these two torsion springs 66 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the imaginary central plane of the steering unit 10, in which embodiment these two end portions 70 are connected to one another, so that these two torsion springs 66 are combined into a single component.

[0063] By means of the torsion springs 66, the bracket 30 (and thus the steering wheel rim 28) is always loaded by the spring in the pivoting direction relative to the movable first section 16 towards the use position. At the same time, the locking mechanism 52 is loaded towards its locking position. Thus, the torsion springs 66 fulfill a dual function.

[0064] If the steering wheel rim 28 is to be adjusted from Figure 1 and Figure 2 the illustrated use position to a pivoted and more flattened stowed position, then first the slide 38 is moved along the first section 16 of the steering column 14 relative to this first section by means of the motor-driven drive 36, as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 .

[0065] Here, the spring-loaded locking tooth 44 first engages with the pinion 50. The locking tooth has an asymmetrical geometry with a relatively flat front flank 72 that faces the free axial end 42 of the rack 40, as can be best seen from Figure 2 as shown. Thus, when the slide 38 moves from the use position of the bracket 30 towards the retracted position, the spring-loaded locking tooth 44 yields against its spring loading and clears the pinion 50.

[0066] At the same time or shortly thereafter, the axial end 42 of the rack 40 facing the steering wheel 12 engages on the locking mechanism 52, more precisely on the first arm 62 of the locking pawl 54, and lifts it towards the steering wheel rim 28, causing the locking pawl 54 to rotate clockwise about the pivot axis S2 (especially see Figure 6 ). Thereby, the latching hook 56 disengages from the projection 58 on the plate-shaped central part 33, and the locking mechanism 52 moves towards the release position shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 .

[0067] Now, the toothing 46 of the rack 40 engages with the pinion 50, wherein the linear movement of the rack 40 in the longitudinal direction L of the steering column 14 causes a rotational movement of the pinion 50 and thus a pivoting of the bracket 30 (and thus the steering wheel rim 28) about the pivot axis S1.

[0068] Thus, the rack 40 has a dual function, wherein the rack not only unlocks the locking mechanism 52 but also triggers the pivoting movement of the bracket 30.

[0069] The steering wheel rim 28 pivots here about a pivot axis S1 extending horizontally in the top view with its upper end towards the retracted position (see Figure 5 and Figure 7 ). In the side views of Figure 6 and Figure 8 , this corresponds to a counterclockwise pivoting of the bracket 30 and the steering wheel rim 28.

[0070] Figure 7 and Figure 8 show the steering unit 10 in an intermediate position in which the bracket 30 together with the steering wheel rim 28 has pivoted completely towards the retracted position, while the movable first section 16 of the steering column 14 is still in the same position as in the use position, i.e., has not yet been moved in the longitudinal direction L.

[0071] In the last step, the linear drive 22 is now actuated, which moves the movable first section 16 relative to the fixed second section 18 in the longitudinal direction L and thus places the steering unit 10 in the fully pivoted and fully retracted retracted position, as shown in Figure 9This is shown in the retracted position.

[0072] Thus, in the above process, when adjusting the steering wheel rim 28 from the use position to the retracted position, the steering wheel rim 28 is first pivoted completely, and then the movable first section 16 of the steering column 14 is moved relative to the fixed second section 18. Since the drive device 36 of the pivoting device 34 is decoupled from the linear drive device 22 for longitudinally adjusting the steering column 14, the sequence can of course also be reversed. These two movements can also (partially) overlap in time. Additionally, it is conceivable that the longitudinal movement of the steering column 14 is carried out manually by the vehicle driver.

[0073] Conversely, if the steering wheel rim 28 is to be moved from the retracted position to the use position, the above process is carried out in the reverse order.

[0074] However, the spring-loaded locking tooth 44, due to its asymmetric geometry with a relatively steep rear flank 74 when the rack 40 moves downward in Figure 10 does not retract as easily as when moving in the opposite direction, but engages with the pinion 50 and thus pivots the bracket 30 slightly clockwise beyond the use position. Here, the locking tooth 44 generates sufficient resistance to lock the bracket 30 without play against the resistance of the spring element 60, in such a way that the locking pawl 54 engages form-locked from behind with the projection 58 by means of the catch hook 56.

[0075] At the same time, the spring element 60 in the form of a rubber buffer is compressed by the bracket 30, more precisely by the second arm 64 of the locking pawl 54. The force generated here moves the bracket 30 and the steering wheel rim 28 without play into the use position against the locking after the locking tooth 44 has disengaged from the engagement with the pinion 50.

[0076] It should be noted that in the illustrated embodiment, the steering wheel rim 28 only partially surrounds the plate-shaped central member 33 (or the steering wheel hub not shown in the figure), and is not configured as a completely surrounding frame or ring. Since there is no steering wheel rim 28 especially in the area of the 12 o'clock position, the front airbag of the front airbag module not shown in the figure can deploy essentially unobstructed not only in the use position of the steering wheel rim 28 but also in the folded-down retracted position. Advantageously, even if the steering unit 10 is in its retracted position in the autonomous driving mode of the motor vehicle, this front airbag module does not thereby become ineffective, but remains activatable in the event of a collision regardless of the pivoting position of the steering wheel rim 28 to provide the desired occupant restraint.

[0077] Naturally, it is also conceivable that when in the retracted position, in addition to the bracket 30 and the steering wheel rim 28 fixed thereto, other components of the steering wheel 12 are still pivoted.

[0078] In addition, the steering column 14 may have more than one movable section; in particular, the linear guide section 20 may be movable relative to a fixed second section 18 and thus form another section movable in the longitudinal direction L of the steering column 14.

[0079] In the illustrated embodiment, as already mentioned, the steering wheel rim 28 can pivot about a first pivot axis S1 with its upper end facing downward towards the stowed position. In this case, the described arrangement of the first pivot axis S1 and the locking mechanism 52 is particularly advantageous. However, alternatively, it is of course also conceivable that the locking mechanism 52 is arranged below the pivot axis S1 and the steering wheel rim 28 pivots upward when adjusted from the use position to the stowed position.

Claims

1. An adjustable steering unit for a motor vehicle, comprising: a steering wheel (12) having a steering wheel rim (28); a steering column (14), at least a first section (16) of which is movable in the longitudinal direction (L) of the steering column (14), and the steering wheel (12) is coupled to the movable first section (16); and a pivot bearing (32) having a first pivot axis (S1), to which a bracket (30) that can pivot with the steering wheel rim (28) and bears the steering wheel rim (28) is articulated, wherein the steering wheel rim (28) can be adjusted from a use position into a pivoted and more flatly inclined stowed position; a pivoting device (34) provided with an electric motor-driven drive device (36), which is configured such that it can pivot the steering wheel rim (28) between the use position and the stowed position by means of an electric motor in each arbitrary movement position of the movable first section (16) of the steering column (14); and a locking mechanism (52) that holds the bracket (30) without play in the use position in a locked position.

2. The adjustable steering unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking mechanism (52) has at least one clearance-eliminating spring element (60), in particular a rubber buffer, which is compressed in the locked position of the locking mechanism (52).

3. The adjustable steering unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The locking mechanism (52) positively couples the bracket (30) to the movable first section (16) of the steering column (14) in the use position in its locked position.

4. The adjustable steering unit according to claim 3, characterized in that, The locking mechanism (52) has at least one movable locking pawl (54), which is in particular pivotally supported on the bracket (30) and includes a latching hook (56), which positively engages from behind a projection (58) arranged on the movable first section (16) of the steering column (14) in the locked position of the locking mechanism (52), in particular the locking pawl (54) is spring-loaded into the locked position.

5. The adjustable steering unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The pivoting device (34) has a slide (38) that can be moved relative to the first section (16) of the steering column (14) in the longitudinal direction (L) of the steering column (14) by means of the drive device (36), and at least one rack (40) arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction (L) of the steering column (14) is arranged on the slide.

6. The adjustable steering unit according to claim 5, characterized in that, The drive device (36) for moving the slide (38) is mounted on a section of the steering column (14), in particular on the movable section (16).

7. The adjustable steering unit according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterized in that, The rack (40) meshes with a pinion (50) fixedly coupled to the bracket (30).

8. The adjustable steering unit according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that, When the slide (38) moves from the use position of the bracket (30) towards the stowed position, the axial end (42) of the rack (40) facing the steering wheel (12) engages on the locking mechanism (52), in particular on the movable locking pawl (54), and thereby moves the locking mechanism (52) into the release position.

9. The adjustable steering unit according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that, A spring-loaded locking tooth (44) is provided on the axial end (42) of the rack (40) facing the steering wheel (12), which is designed so that when the slide (38) moves from the stowed position to the use position, the locking tooth engages with the pinion (50) and thus moves the bracket (30) beyond the use position.

10. The adjustable steering unit according to claim 2 and claim 9, characterized in that, The spring element (60) of the locking mechanism (52) is compressed when the holder (30) moves beyond the use position.

11. The adjustable steering unit according to claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that, The spring-loaded locking tooth (44) is designed so that it clears the pinion (50) when the slide (38) moves from the use position of the bracket (30) to the retracted position.

12. An adjustable steering unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The support (30) is spring-loaded relative to the movable first section (16) in a pivoting direction toward a use position, in particular, at least one torsion spring (66) having two ends (68, 70) is provided, and one of the two ends (68) rests on the support (30) and the other end (70) rests on the movable first section (16).

13. An adjustable steering unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The drive (36) of the pivoting device (34) is decoupled from the drive (22) for moving a section (16) of the steering column (14) in the longitudinal direction (L).

14. An adjustable steering unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The steering column (14) has a fixed second section (18) and is provided with an electric motor-type linear drive (22) decoupled from a drive (36) of a pivoting device (34), the linear drive being coupled to a movable first section (16) and a fixed second section (18) of the steering column (14) so that the linear drive moves the sections (16, 18) relative to one another via the electric motor.

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