Telescopic steering column for motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a telescopic steering column (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a base element (3), on which a base element spindle (4) is mounted so as to be rotatable about a base element spindle rotational axis (7), and comprising a telescopic unit (8, 18) which is linearly guided relative to the base element (3) and which has a telescopic unit driver (9, 19), the telescopic unit is provided with a telescopic unit driver thread which is meshed with a basic element mandrel thread (10) of a basic element mandrel (4). In this case, the telescopic unit (8, 18) has a telescopic unit spindle (11, 21) which is drivingly connected to the transmission element (12), the transmission element is coupled to the base element spindle (4) in a tangential direction with respect to the base element spindle rotational axis (7) and is guided so as to be freely displaceable on the base element spindle in an axial direction relative to the base element spindle rotational axis (7).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a telescopic steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising a base element and a telescopic unit which can be guided linearly relative to the base element, wherein a base element spindle is mounted on the base element so as to be rotatable about a base element spindle rotation axis, and wherein the telescopic unit comprises a telescopic unit driver having a telescopic unit driver thread which engages with a base element spindle thread of the base element spindle. Background Art

[0002] For example, document DE 10 2019 217 961 A1 is known from the prior art. This document describes a steering column assembly for a vehicle, comprising a first elongated guide section, a second section fastened so as to be movable relative to the elongated guide section, and means for attaching a steering wheel to the first section or the second section, wherein the elongated guide section comprises at least two parallel elongated guide edges, and the second section comprises at least two rollers and at least two further rollers, the at least two rollers being spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the elongated guide section and having a shape complementary to and engaging with a first of the elongated guide edges, and the at least two further rollers being spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the elongated guide section and having a shape complementary to and engaging with a second of the elongated guide edges. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a telescopic steering column for a motor vehicle which has advantages compared to known telescopic steering columns, in particular allowing a greater travel / drive travel.

[0004] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a telescopic steering column for a motor vehicle having the features of claim 1. Provision is made here for the telescopic unit to have a telescopic unit spindle, which is drive-connected to a transmission element, which is coupled to the base element spindle in a tangential direction relative to the axis of rotation of the base element spindle and is guided on the base element spindle so as to be freely displaceable in an axial direction relative to the axis of rotation of the base element spindle.

[0005] Advantageous embodiments with suitable improvements of the invention are given in the dependent claims. It should be noted that the exemplary embodiments explained in the description are non-limiting; on the contrary, any variations of the features disclosed in the description, claims and drawings are possible.

[0006] The telescopic steering column serves to support an operating element that is arranged and designed for steering a motor vehicle. The operating element is preferably drive-coupled to the steering mechanism and, via the steering mechanism, is drive-coupled, in particular mechanically and / or electrically, to the wheel carrier / wheel hub carrier of a rotatably suspended wheel axle of the motor vehicle. Thus, a purely mechanical coupling, a purely electrical coupling, or a partially mechanical and partially electrical coupling may be provided. Movement of the operating element, in particular rotation of the operating element, causes the wheel carrier to rotate and, therefore, steer the motor vehicle. In the case of an electrical coupling, the operating element is, for example, electrically connected to a steering actuator, which ultimately causes the wheel carrier to rotate. Preferably, the operating element is in the form of a steering wheel or is at least designed in the form of a steering wheel.

[0007] The telescopic steering column allows for greater freedom in the arrangement of the operating elements. The telescopic steering column serves to mechanically displace the operating elements in at least one direction.

[0008] To this end, the telescopic steering column comprises a base element on which a base element spindle is rotatably mounted, i.e., rotatable about a rotation axis of the base element spindle. A telescopic unit driver of the telescopic unit is mounted on the base element spindle, and the operating element is connected to the base element via the telescopic unit driver. The telescopic unit driver has a telescopic unit driver thread, which interacts with, i.e., meshes with, a base element spindle thread of the base element spindle in terms of drive technology. Preferably, the telescopic unit driver thread is self-locking.

[0009] Because the telescopic unit is guided linearly, i.e., linearly in the axial direction relative to the axis of rotation of the base element spindle, rotation of the base element spindle causes a linear displacement of the telescopic unit driver and, therefore, of the entire telescopic unit. This linear guidance is achieved, in particular, by means of a linear guide located between the base element and the telescopic unit. For example, the linear guide may have one or more guide bridges that engage in a form-fitting manner in one or more guide recesses, so that the base element and the telescopic unit can only be displaced linearly relative to one another, i.e., in the axial direction. The linear guide is particularly designed to introduce forces and / or torques acting on the operating element into the base element and / or the steering column via the linear guide.

[0010] The stroke of the telescopic steering column described so far is limited by the length of the base element spindle, i.e., by the extension of the base element spindle in the axial direction relative to the axis of rotation of the base element spindle. Additionally or alternatively, the stroke is limited by the linear guide of the telescopic unit, by means of which the telescopic unit is guided relative to the base element. Since neither the base element spindle nor the linear guide can be arbitrarily large, the operating element can only be displaced to a limited extent. For this reason, the telescopic steering column should be designed to be multi-stage, i.e., with further telescopic units, each of which has at least a telescopic unit driver. In this case, the operating element can be connected to the further telescopic unit, in particular, supported on the further telescopic unit. The provision of a further telescopic unit with a further telescopic unit driver means that the telescopic unit also has a spindle, i.e., a telescopic unit spindle.

[0011] To avoid an additional drive device, the telescopic unit spindle should be driven by the base element spindle and, for this purpose, be connected to it in terms of drive technology. For this purpose, a transmission element is arranged on the base element spindle. The transmission element enables torque transmission between the base element spindle and the telescopic unit spindle. To this end, the transmission element is coupled to the base element spindle in a tangential or circumferential direction relative to the rotational axis of the base element spindle. To enable torque transmission between the base element spindle and the telescopic unit spindle regardless of the position of the telescopic unit relative to the base element, the transmission element is freely displaceable on the base element spindle in the axial direction relative to the rotational axis of the base element spindle.

[0012] In this regard, the transmission element moves with the telescopic unit, in particular with the telescopic unit spindle, to ensure that the torque transmission is independent of the position of the telescopic unit. Particularly preferably, the transmission element is coupled to the telescopic unit, in particular the telescopic unit spindle, in an axial direction relative to the rotation axis of the base element spindle, so that a displacement of the telescopic unit relative to the base element also causes a displacement of the transmission element on the base element spindle. This can be achieved in various ways.

[0013] The described design of a telescopic steering column enables displacement of the operating element over a large stroke / travel range using only a single drive mechanism, which is drive-coupled to the base element spindle and at least temporarily drives the base element spindle to displace the operating element. Accordingly, the advantages of the described large stroke range can be achieved with low structural and design complexity. Preferably, the base element is fastened to the steering column. The fastening can be rigid or adjustable. In the latter case, the telescopic steering column preferably enables height adjustment. To this end, the base element is supported on the steering column so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis. Preferably, an adjustment drive is provided for height adjustment, which also acts on the base element and is configured and designed to displace the base element relative to the steering column. A refinement of the present invention provides that the telescopic unit spindle has a telescopic unit spindle thread, with which a support driver thread of a support driver engages. The support driver is part of an operating element carrier, on which the operating element for steering the vehicle is located. The operating element has already been described. In principle, the operating element can be designed arbitrarily. For example, the operating element can be rotated relative to the operating element support. In this case, the operating element support has a support part for rotatably supporting the operating element.

[0014] In addition, the operating element holder has a holder driver, which interacts with, or engages with, the telescope unit spindle thread in terms of driving technology via its holder driver thread. The operating element holder is linearly guided relative to the telescope unit, in particular linearly guided in an axial direction relative to the rotation axis of the telescope unit spindle. The telescope unit spindle is mounted so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis of the telescope unit spindle. As a result, rotation of the telescope unit spindle causes a linear displacement of the holder driver and, therefore, of the operating element holder.

[0015] For example, a telescopic steering column thus comprises a base element, a base element spindle rotatably mounted on the base element, and a telescopic unit, which in turn comprises a telescopic unit spindle. The support driver is mounted on the telescopic unit spindle. Due to the drive coupling of the telescopic unit spindle to the base element spindle, a significant increase in the travel range is achieved compared to designs without a rotatable telescopic unit spindle, in particular, at least a doubling of the travel range.

[0016] One refinement of the present invention provides that the operating element is coupled by means of a force guidance mechanism, such that when the operating element is subjected to a force exceeding a threshold force, the force guidance mechanism releases the operating element for free displacement relative to the base element, in particular overcoming the reaction force generated by the force guidance mechanism. The force guidance mechanism enables the operating element to be retracted toward the base element in the event of an accident to prevent injury to the driver of the motor vehicle. For example, the force guidance mechanism is located between the operating element and the operating element holder, or between the operating element holder and the holder driver, or between the base element and the steering column. For example, the force guidance mechanism is designed as a crash plate.

[0017] It is particularly important here that in the first state of the force guiding mechanism, the operating element or the operating element holder can only be displaced in the axial direction by rotating the spindle of the base element, for example by using a self-locking thread, while, in the second state of the force guiding mechanism, the operating element or the operating element holder is released for displacement in the axial direction relative to the base element, for example freely or against a reaction force generated by the force guiding mechanism.

[0018] Therefore, in the second state, the connection between the operating element and the operating element carrier, or the drive connection between the operating element carrier and the carrier driver, is at least partially released to enable displacement. The first state persists until the applied force exceeds a threshold force. If this occurs, the force guidance mechanism undergoes a mechanical change, in particular by partial breaking and / or deformation of the force guidance mechanism. The force guidance mechanism then assumes the second state. This type of design of a telescopic steering column enables a high level of safety.

[0019] A refinement of the present invention provides that the telescopic unit is part of a plurality of telescopic units, wherein the telescopic unit driver thread of the telescopic unit driver of a first telescopic unit of the telescopic units engages with the base element spindle thread, while the telescopic unit driver thread of the corresponding telescopic unit driver of each of the other telescopic units of the telescopic units engages with the telescopic unit spindle thread of the telescopic unit spindle of another telescopic unit of the telescopic units. In other words, rather than just one telescopic unit, a plurality of telescopic units are part of the telescopic steering column. Each of the telescopic units increases the maximum travel range of the operating element.

[0020] The telescopic unit described above corresponds to the first telescopic unit. In this regard, the telescopic unit driver of the first telescopic unit is mounted on the base element spindle and interacts with the base element spindle in terms of drive technology in order to displace the first telescopic unit relative to the base element spindle and drive the first telescopic unit spindle of the first telescopic unit. The second telescopic unit in the telescopic unit has a second telescopic unit spindle, which is connected to the first telescopic unit spindle in terms of drive technology, i.e., via a second transmission element arranged on the first telescopic unit spindle.

[0021] The second transmission element is coupled to the first telescopic unit spindle in a tangential direction relative to the first telescopic unit spindle's rotational axis and is freely displaceable on the first telescopic unit spindle in an axial direction relative to the first telescopic unit spindle's rotational axis. Preferably, the aforementioned support driver is disposed on the second telescopic unit spindle, thereby significantly increasing the travel range.

[0022] In this way, any number of telescopic units can be present, whose telescopic unit spindles are connected to one another and to the base element spindle in terms of drive technology, so that all of these telescopic units are driven by the base element spindle, or more precisely, by the drive device that is drive-coupled to the base element spindle. In this regard, the telescopic unit spindles are preferably driven exclusively by the base element spindle, i.e., by this drive device. The described design of the telescopic steering column allows for any desired range of travel of the operating element.

[0023] The telescopic units are guided linearly, in particular linearly relative to the base element and / or relative to one another. For this purpose, linear guides are preferably used again, which are located between the base element and the respective telescopic unit or between the telescopic units. For example, the linear guides have one or more guide bridges that engage in a form-fitting manner in one or more guide recesses, so that the base element and the telescopic unit or units can only be displaced linearly relative to one another, i.e., in the axial direction.

[0024] One refinement of the invention provides that the transmission element is part of a plurality of transmission elements, and at least a plurality of the telescopic units each comprise one of the transmission elements, wherein the transmission elements of these telescopic units are each tangentially coupled to the telescopic unit spindle of another of the telescopic units and are guided so as to be freely displaceable in the axial direction on the telescopic unit spindle. This has already been shown. Preferably, only the telescopic unit spindle that is furthest from the base unit spindle in terms of drive technology is not provided with a transmission element, but instead with a support driver. This enables the described good scalability.

[0025] One refinement of the present invention provides that the transmission element is rotatably supported on the telescopic unit driver. In this design, the transmission element is connected to the telescopic unit driver via a rotatable support, so that the telescopic unit driver causes the transmission element to be displaced in the axial direction. This achieves a high degree of reliability in the displacement of the transmission element, and the torque transmission path between the transmission element and the telescopic unit spindle can be essentially freely selected and does not need to be designed for axial force transmission.

[0026] A refinement of the present invention provides that the transmission element is a gear element and is a component of a transmission mechanism, wherein the gear element interacts with a gear mating element in terms of driving technology, and the gear mating element is rigidly coupled to the telescopic unit spindle, so that the telescopic unit spindle is connected to the base element spindle in terms of driving technology. The transmission mechanism is used to transmit torque between the telescopic unit spindle and the base element spindle, either directly or only indirectly via another telescopic unit spindle. The transmission mechanism has a gear element and a gear mating element that interact with each other in terms of driving technology. The gear element is connected to the base element spindle or the other telescopic unit spindle in a torque-transmitting manner, wherein the gear mating element is rigidly coupled to this telescopic unit spindle. This design of the telescopic steering column achieves the advantages already explained.

[0027] A refinement of the present invention provides that the gear transmission element and the gear transmission mating element are coupled to each other in the axial direction, so that the gear transmission mating element guides the gear transmission element in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, in this type of design of a telescopic steering column, the gear transmission element is only indirectly connected to the telescopic unit driver. Instead, the gear transmission mating element is rotatably supported on the telescopic unit driver, in particular rotatably supported by the telescopic unit spindle. The gear transmission element is guided axially by the gear transmission mating element, i.e., the gear transmission element and the gear transmission mating element are coupled to each other in the axial direction. To this end, the gear transmission mating element, for example, surrounds the gear transmission element on both sides in the axial direction, so that the gear transmission mating element drives the gear transmission element when it is displaced in the axial direction. Other connections between the gear transmission element and the gear transmission mating element can also be realized, as long as they achieve a connection in the axial direction. The described design of the telescopic steering column allows for a high degree of freedom in the design of the transmission mechanism.

[0028] One refinement of the present invention provides that the transmission is designed as a gear transmission or a traction transmission. In the first case, the gear transmission element and the gear transmission mating element are designed, for example, as gears or drive wheels. In the latter case, the gear transmission element and the gear transmission mating element are present as wheels arranged at a distance from one another and connected to one another in terms of drive technology by means of a traction device. The traction device is preferably a drive belt or chain. While the gear transmission couples the two shafts to one another in a particularly torsionally rigid manner, the traction transmission allows for a particularly flexible arrangement of the shafts.

[0029] One refinement of the present invention provides that the transmission ratio of the transmission mechanism is 1 or is different from 1. In principle, the transmission ratio can be selected arbitrarily. In the case of multiple transmission mechanisms for multiple telescopic units, the transmission ratio is preferably selected so that the telescopic units travel through their respective maximum adjustment travels in the same time. This means that when the operating element is displaced, the telescopic units can travel through their entire adjustment travels simultaneously or in the same time period. This makes it possible, for example, to design telescopic units with different adjustment travels while still allowing each to utilize its entire adjustment travel.

[0030] A refinement of the present invention provides that the transmission element has a positive-locking device that interacts in a positive-locking manner with a positive-locking mating device of a base element spindle or a telescopic unit spindle of another telescopic unit. To secure the transmission element relative to the base element spindle or the telescopic unit spindle, the positive-locking device and the positive-locking mating device interact in a positive-locking manner. The positive-locking device is a component of the transmission element and is designed on the base element spindle or the telescopic unit spindle. This positive-locking interaction is achieved so that the transmission element is positively coupled to the base element spindle or the telescopic unit spindle in a tangential direction and is freely displaceable in the axial direction. This design achieves the advantages already explained.

[0031] A refinement of the present invention provides that the form-locking device comprises at least one form-locking projection, and the form-locking mating device comprises at least one form-locking recess, which positively receives the at least one form-locking projection. In this regard, the form-locking projection engages in the form-locking recess. If there are multiple form-locking projections, these are arranged spaced apart from one another, in particular in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, each of the multiple form-locking projections engages in one of the multiple form-locking projections, in particular, one of the multiple form-locking projections engages in each of the form-locking recesses. This ensures reliable torque transmission between the transmission element and the corresponding spindle.

[0032] The features and feature combinations described in the specification, in particular the features and feature combinations described in the following description of the figures and / or shown in the figures, can be used not only in the combination indicated, but also in other combinations or individually, without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, embodiments that are not explicitly shown or explained in the specification and / or the figures but can be derived or inferred from the explained embodiments are also considered to be included in the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The present invention will be explained in more detail below based on the embodiments shown in the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0034] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a telescopic steering column for a motor vehicle according to a first embodiment,

[0035] Figure 2 a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment for a telescopic steering column, and

[0036] Figure 3 A schematic diagram shows a section through the region of a telescopic steering column. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] Figure 1 The schematic diagram shows a first embodiment of a telescopic steering column 1, which is used to support an operating element 2 for steering a motor vehicle relative to a base element 3. The base element 3 is preferably arranged between the front panel and the instrument panel of the motor vehicle, in particular in front of the driver's seat. A base element spindle 4 is rotatably mounted on the base element 3. The base element spindle 4 is drive-connected to a drive device 5, which includes, for example, an electric motor, in particular an electric motor designed as a transmission motor. The base element spindle 4 is rotatably mounted on the base element 3 about a base element spindle rotation axis 7 by means of a bearing 6, which is only indicated here.

[0038] The telescopic steering column 1 further comprises a first telescopic unit 8 having a telescopic unit driver 9 having a preferably self-locking telescopic unit driver thread that engages with a base element spindle thread 10 (only indicated) of the base element spindle 4. Furthermore, the first telescopic unit 8 comprises a first telescopic unit spindle 11, which is connected to the base element spindle 4 in terms of drive technology, namely via a first transmission element 12, which is arranged on the base element spindle 4. The first transmission element 12 is coupled to the base element spindle 4 tangentially with respect to the base element spindle axis of rotation 7 and is freely displaceable in the axial direction relative to the base element spindle, as indicated by the double arrow 13.

[0039] The first transmission element 12 is present as a first gear element and, together with the first gear mating element 14, is part of a first transmission mechanism 15. The first gear mating element 14 is fixedly coupled to the first telescopic unit spindle 11, as indicated by the symbol "X". The first telescopic unit spindle 11 is in turn supported on the first telescopic unit driver 9 so as to be rotatable about a first telescopic unit spindle axis of rotation 16, namely by means of a bearing 17, which is only indicated here.

[0040] Furthermore, the second telescopic unit 18 is a component of the telescopic steering column 1. Similar to the first telescopic unit 8, the second telescopic unit 18 has a second telescopic unit driver 19, which engages via a preferably self-locking telescopic unit driver thread with a first telescopic unit spindle thread 20. The second telescopic unit 18 also has a second telescopic unit spindle 21, which is coupled to the first telescopic unit spindle 11 for drive purposes via a second transmission element 22 and, via the first telescopic unit spindle, to the base element spindle 4 for drive purposes.

[0041] The second transmission element 22 is fixed tangentially to the first telescopic unit spindle 11 with reference to the first telescopic unit spindle rotation axis 16, but can be displaced axially relative to the first telescopic unit spindle rotation axis, as indicated by arrow 23. The second transmission element 22 is present as a gear transmission element that interacts with a second gear transmission mating element 24. The second transmission element 22 and the second gear transmission mating element 24 are components of a second transmission mechanism 25. The second gear transmission mating element 24 is rigidly coupled to the second telescopic unit spindle 21, as again indicated by the symbol "X". The second telescopic unit spindle 21 is supported on the second telescopic unit driver 19 so that it can rotate about the second telescopic unit spindle rotation axis 26, i.e., by means of a bearing 27, which is again only shown.

[0042] The second telescopic unit spindle 21 has a second telescopic unit spindle thread 28 (only shown here), which engages with a preferably self-locking carrier thread of a carrier carrier 29. The operating element 2 is arranged on the carrier carrier 29, or is connected to it. For example, an actuator is arranged on the carrier carrier 29, to which the operating element 2 is coupled. A force or torque can be applied to the operating element 2 by means of the actuator. The actuator is preferably designed as a feedback actuator to provide feedback to the driver of the vehicle regarding the vehicle's current driving state. The linear guide, by means of which the carrier carrier 29 is linearly displaceably guided relative to the base element 3, is preferably designed so that it dissipates the torque generated by the actuator into the base element 3.

[0043] The first transmission element 12 and the second transmission element 22 are displaced in the axial direction on the respective spindle 4 or 11 by the gear transmission mating elements 14 and 24. In the embodiment shown, the gear transmission mating elements 14 and 24 each have a driver wall 30 and 31 for this purpose, which receives and guides the respective transmission element 12 or 22 in the axial direction between them.

[0044] The retraction of the telescopic steering column 1 is shown purely as an example, during which the first telescopic unit carrier 9, the second telescopic unit carrier 19 and the bracket carrier 29 are each displaced in the direction of arrows 32. At this point, the spindles 4, 11 and 21 are rotated, which is indicated by arrows 33.

[0045] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a telescopic steering column 1 according to a second embodiment is shown. This telescopic steering column is similar in principle to the first embodiment, so reference will be made to the preceding description and only the differences will be discussed below. The difference is that while the first transmission 15 is still designed as a gear transmission, particularly a gear train gear transmission, the second transmission 25, in contrast, is a traction transmission. The second gear transmission element 22 and the second gear mating element 24 are designed as wheels, which are drive-connected to each other via a traction device 34, such as a belt. Only the shaft 35 is shown on the operating element 2. In principle, the transmissions 15 and 25 can be of the same or different types. That is, they can be either gear transmissions or traction transmissions, or one can be a gear transmission and the other a traction transmission.

[0046] Figure 3 A detailed cross-section through a region of the telescopic steering column 1, namely through the base unit spindle 4 and the first transmission element 12, is shown. It can be seen that the transmission element 12 has a positive-locking device 36, which, in the embodiment shown here, comprises two positive-locking projections 37. In contrast, a positive-locking engagement device 38 comprising two positive-locking recesses 39 is provided on the base unit spindle 4. Each of the positive-locking projections 37 engages in one of the positive-locking recesses 39, securing the first transmission element 12 circumferentially and tangentially relative to the base unit spindle's axis of rotation 7 and releasing it axially for displacement. The first telescopic unit spindle 11 and the second transmission element 22 are preferably designed similarly.

[0047] The described embodiment of the telescopic steering column 1 enables, due to its multi-stage construction, a particularly large travel range with a simple and cost-effective design. To achieve this travel range, the base element spindle 4, the first telescopic unit spindle 11, and the second telescopic unit spindle 21 can be driven by means of the same drive device 5. In other words, the first telescopic unit spindle 11 is driven by the base element spindle 4, and the second telescopic unit spindle 21 is driven by means of the first telescopic unit spindle 11 and the base element spindle 4 by means of the same drive device 5.

[0048] List of Reference Numerals

[0049] 1 Telescopic steering column

[0050] 2 operating elements

[0051] 3 Basic components

[0052] 4 Basic component spindle

[0053] 5 drive device

[0054] 6 bearings

[0055] 7 Basic element spindle rotation axis

[0056] 8.1 Telescopic Unit

[0057] 9.1 Telescopic unit driving parts

[0058] 10 Basic element spindle thread

[0059] 11 First telescopic unit spindle

[0060] 12 First transmission element

[0061] 13 arrows

[0062] 14 first gear transmission matching element

[0063] 15 first transmission mechanism

[0064] 16 first telescopic unit spindle rotation axis

[0065] 17 bearings

[0066] 18 Second telescopic unit

[0067] 19 second telescopic unit driving member

[0068] 20 First telescopic unit spindle thread

[0069] 21 Second telescopic unit spindle

[0070] 22 Second transmission element

[0071] 23 arrows

[0072] 24 second gear transmission matching element

[0073] 25 Second transmission mechanism

[0074] 26 Second telescopic unit spindle rotation axis

[0075] 27 bearings

[0076] 28 Second telescopic unit spindle thread

[0077] 29 bracket driving parts

[0078] 30 driving part wall

[0079] 31 driving member wall

[0080] 32 arrows

[0081] 33 arrows

[0082] 34 traction device

[0083] 35-axis

[0084] 36-shaped locking device

[0085] 37 positive locking protrusion

[0086] 38-shaped locking device

[0087] 39 shape locking recess

Claims

1. A telescopic steering column (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a base element (3) and a telescopic unit (8, 18) guided linearly relative to the base element (3), a base element spindle (4) being supported on the base element so as to be rotatable about a base element spindle rotation axis (7), the telescopic unit comprising a telescopic unit driver (9, 19) having a telescopic unit driver thread engaging with a base element spindle thread (10) of the base element spindle (4), characterized in that The telescopic unit (8, 18) has a telescopic unit spindle (11, 21), which is connected to a transmission element (12) in terms of drive technology, and the transmission element is coupled to the base element spindle (4) in a tangential direction based on the base element spindle rotation axis (7), and the transmission element is guided in a manner that it can be freely displaced on the base element spindle in an axial direction based on the base element spindle rotation axis (7).

2. The telescopic steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that The telescopic unit spindle (11, 21) has a telescopic unit spindle thread (10, 20), and the bracket driver thread of the bracket driver (29) is engaged with the telescopic unit spindle thread, wherein the bracket driver (29) is part of an operating element bracket, and an operating element (2) for steering a motor vehicle is located on the operating element bracket.

3. Telescopic steering column according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The telescopic unit (8, 18) is part of a plurality of telescopic units (8, 18), wherein a telescopic unit driver thread of a telescopic unit driver (9, 19) of a first telescopic unit of the telescopic units (8, 18) engages with a base element spindle thread (10), and a telescopic unit driver thread of a corresponding telescopic unit driver (9, 19) of each other telescopic unit of the telescopic units (8, 18) engages with a telescopic unit spindle thread (10, 20) of a telescopic unit spindle (11, 21) of another telescopic unit of the telescopic units (8, 18).

4. Telescopic steering column according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The transmission element (12, 22) is part of a plurality of transmission elements (12, 22), at least a plurality of the telescopic units (8, 18) each having one of the transmission elements (12, 22), wherein the transmission elements (12, 22) of the telescopic units (8, 18) are respectively coupled tangentially to the telescopic unit spindle (11, 21) of the other telescopic unit (8, 18) and are guided in a manner that allows free displacement in the axial direction on the telescopic unit spindle.

5. Telescopic steering column according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The transmission elements (12, 22) are rotatably supported on the telescopic unit drivers (9, 19).

6. Telescopic steering column according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The transmission element (12, 22) is a gear transmission element and is a component of a transmission mechanism (15, 25), wherein the gear transmission element (12, 22) interacts with a gear transmission matching element (14, 24) in terms of drive technology, and the gear transmission matching element is rigidly coupled to the telescopic unit spindle (11, 21), so that the telescopic unit spindle (11, 21) is connected to the base element spindle (4) in terms of drive technology.

7. Telescopic steering column according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The gear transmission element (12, 22) and the gear transmission mating element (14, 24) are coupled to each other in the axial direction, so that the gear transmission mating element (14, 24) performs longitudinal guidance of the gear transmission element (12, 22).

8. Telescopic steering column according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The transmission mechanism (15, 25) is designed as a gear transmission mechanism or a traction transmission mechanism.

9. Telescopic steering column according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The transmission element (12, 22) has a positive locking device (36) which interacts in a positive locking manner with a positive locking fitting device (38) of a base element spindle (4) or a telescopic unit spindle (11, 21) of another telescopic unit (8, 18).

10. Telescopic steering column according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The positive locking device (36) has at least one positive locking projection (37), and the positive locking fitting device (38) has at least one positive locking recess (39) which receives the at least one positive locking projection (37) in a positive locking manner.

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