Steering column for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The utility model relates to a steering column (1) for a motor vehicle, which comprises an outer sheath (4), an adjusting unit (3) with a steering shaft (31) capable of being rotatably supported around a longitudinal axis (L) is accommodated in the outer sheath, the outer sheath is kept by a supporting unit (2), at least one motor adjusting driving device (5, 6) is supported on the outer sheath (4), and the motor adjusting driving device (5, 6) is supported on the outer sheath (4). The motor adjustment drive has an adjustable transmission element (54, 64) acting on the adjustment unit (3) or the support unit (2), and wherein a stop device is provided for limiting an adjustment stroke of the adjustment unit (3) and / or the support unit (2) relative to the outer sheath (4). In order to realize the limitation on the adjustment stroke improvement, the stop device is provided with at least one stop element (41, 42, 42 and 44) constructed on the outer sheath (4), and the transmission elements (54 and 64) can be stopped on the stop element.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to a steering column for a motor vehicle, which comprises an outer jacket, an adjustment unit with a steering shaft rotatably supported around a longitudinal axis being accommodated in the outer jacket, and the outer jacket being held by a support unit, wherein at least one motor adjustment drive device is supported on the outer jacket, the motor adjustment drive device having an adjustable transmission element acting on the adjustment unit or the support unit, and wherein a stop device is provided for limiting the adjustment stroke of the adjustment unit and / or the support unit relative to the outer jacket. Background Art

[0002] The motor-adjustable steering column has an adjustment unit in which the steering shaft is rotatably mounted about its longitudinal axis. A steering wheel is mounted at the rear end of the steering shaft, facing the driver relative to the direction of travel, for inputting manual steering commands. The adjustment unit is accommodated in an outer sheath of a housing unit, also known as a guide box, outer sheath tube, or box rocker arm. This outer sheath is itself held by a support unit that can be connected to the body of the motor vehicle.

[0003] To adjust the position of the steering wheel, longitudinal adjustment can be achieved by telescopically adjusting the adjustment unit relative to the outer jacket in the longitudinal direction. Additionally or alternatively, height adjustment can be achieved by adjusting the outer jacket relative to the support unit in the height direction.

[0004] To adjust the steering column, a motorized adjustment drive can be provided for each adjustment direction, preferably for both adjustment directions, as described, for example, in EP 3 341 262 B1. For longitudinal adjustment, an adjustment drive designed as a motorized spindle drive can be installed between the outer casing and the adjustment unit. The adjustment drive is supported by its drive unit on the outer casing, and a spindle or spindle nut, which is motor-adjustable in the longitudinal direction relative to the drive unit, is connected to the adjustment unit via a transmission element. For height adjustment, an adjustment drive can be provided that also has a drive unit supported on the outer casing and acts on the support unit via an adjustment lever articulated on the outer casing.

[0005] In order to limit the adjustment range, known steering columns are provided with a stop device which limits the adjustment travel of the adjustment unit relative to the outer casing in the longitudinal direction and, in addition or as an alternative, limits the adjustment travel of the outer casing relative to the support unit in the height direction. For this purpose, a stop device is respectively integrated into the adjustment drive, thereby limiting the possible movement of the transmission element relative to the drive unit, for example by causing the spindle to stop against the spindle nut.

[0006] Although this can realize the restriction to the adjustment stroke.Yet possible, the dimensional tolerance when installing the adjustment drive and the integrated stop limiting device is accumulated in a disadvantageous manner.In addition, the integrated stop limiting device may cause the more expensive structure of the adjustment drive. Utility Model Content

[0007] In view of the above problems, the purpose of the present invention is to achieve an improved limitation on the adjustment stroke.

[0008] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by the steering system of the present invention.

[0009] In a steering column for a motor vehicle, it includes an outer shell, an adjustment unit with a steering shaft supported so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis is accommodated in the outer shell, and the outer shell is held by a support unit, wherein at least one motor adjustment drive device is supported on the outer shell, the motor adjustment drive device has an adjustable transmission element, which acts on the adjustment unit or the support unit, and wherein a stop device is provided for limiting the adjustment stroke of the adjustment unit and / or the support unit relative to the outer shell. According to the utility model, the stop device has at least one stop element constructed on the outer shell, and the transmission element can stop on the stop element.

[0010] In longitudinal adjustment, the adjustment drive effectively The adjustment drive is arranged between the outer jacket and the adjustment unit and is coupled to the adjustment unit via a transmission element so that the transmission element can be adjusted relative to the outer jacket. In the case of height adjustment, the adjustment drive is effectively arranged between the outer jacket and the support unit and is coupled to the support unit via a transmission element so that the outer jacket can be adjusted relative to the support unit.

[0011] According to the present invention, the transmission element can abut against a stop element of the outer sheath, i.e., it directly and mechanically contacts the stop element in a form-fitting manner. By coupling the stop element, preferably in the adjustment direction, to an adjustment or support unit that is adjustable relative to the support unit, the adjustment movement stops upon reaching the stop element. An advantage of this arrangement is that only dimensional tolerances between the transmission element and the support unit may affect the adjustment travel, whereas in the prior art, tolerances of the stops integrated into the adjustment drive must also be considered. This allows for increased dimensional accuracy in limiting the adjustment travel with minimal effort.

[0012] Another advantage is that the stop device does not need to be integrated into the adjusting drive, so that for example the processing of the threaded spindle required for this purpose can be omitted. Accordingly, the adjusting drive can be constructed more simply and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[0013] A preferred embodiment provides for two stop elements to be associated with each transmission element. These two stop elements, i.e., the two stop elements, form a pair of opposite end stops between which the transmission element can move back and forth during adjustment. These end stops accordingly limit the possible movement range of the transmission element and, thereby, the maximum adjustment range of the adjustment unit or support unit relative to the outer jacket in two opposite adjustment directions. This arrangement has the advantage that the two stop elements of a pair can be flexibly positioned relative to each other and to the transmission element on the outer jacket with minimal structural and manufacturing effort. By varying the spacing between the stop elements, the permissible adjustment range can be easily adjusted. Another advantage is that a standardized adjustment drive can be used, without structural changes, on different types of steering columns that differ in the arrangement and spacing of the stop elements on the outer jacket to achieve different adjustment ranges.

[0014] It is preferably possible to provide at least one stop element that interacts with the adjustment unit and at least one stop element that interacts with the support unit. Preferably, two stop elements are implemented for each of the transmission element coupled to the adjustment unit and the transmission element coupled to the support unit. As a result, the adjustment travel of the adjustment unit for longitudinal adjustment relative to the outer jacket is limited in the longitudinal direction, and the adjustment travel of the outer jacket for height adjustment relative to the support unit is limited in the height direction. This has the advantage that the adjustment travel in both adjustment directions can be flexibly predefined with minimal effort through the arrangement of the stop elements.

[0015] The stop element can have a projection protruding from the outer jacket. The projection is positioned and configured such that it has a stop or contact surface arranged transversely to the movement path of the transmission element. The transmission element, which moves relative to the outer jacket during adjustment, can mechanically stop against the projection. This allows for a structurally simple and minimally costly end stop.

[0016] An advantageous improvement is that the stop element is constructed integrally with the outer jacket. Thus, one or preferably multiple stop elements can be constructed integrally with the outer jacket. This is advantageous in terms of lower manufacturing and assembly costs.

[0017] Advantageously, provision can be made for the outer jacket to have a casting. The outer jacket can be designed partially or entirely as a casting. A metal die-casting (Metall-Spritzgussteil), for example, made of an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy, can be used as the casting. This metal die-casting can be complexly shaped and, for example, have integrated retaining, supporting and guiding elements, etc., for example, for telescopically guiding the adjustment unit or for movably retaining it on a support unit. One or more stop elements can preferably be integrally molded onto the outer jacket using a casting method. This allows for economical production. Alternatively, one or more stop elements can be formed from different materials and connected to the casting.

[0018] It is possible for the outer jacket to comprise a sheet metal part. This sheet metal part can, for example, preferably be a cold-formed part, preferably produced from sheet steel by pressing, stamping, bending, or the like. The outer jacket can comprise a single sheet metal part or be formed from a plurality of sheet metal parts joined together, for example by welding or other joining methods.

[0019] The sheet metal part can be formed in a complex manner and, for example, include retaining, supporting, and guiding elements, for example, for telescopically guiding the adjustment unit or for movable retention on a support unit. The stop element according to the present invention can preferably be formed by deformation of the sheet metal part, for example, by partial bending, pressing in, or the like. This allows for economical production.

[0020] Additionally or alternatively, provision may be made for the outer jacket to comprise a composite material. For example, the outer jacket may consist entirely or at least partially of a composite material, preferably a fiber composite material such as glass-fiber reinforced plastic (GFK) or carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFK). One or more stop elements may be formed from the composite material and integrally formed, or may be formed from a different material and connected to the composite material. This allows for a highly load-bearing and particularly lightweight design.

[0021] Advantageously, the adjusting drive has a spindle drive.

[0022] The spindle drive can have a motor drive unit and a spindle nut or a lead screw that can be adjusted relative to the motor drive unit and is connected to a transmission element. The spindle drive includes a lead screw that engages in the lead screw nut. The lead screw and the lead screw nut can be driven rotationally relative to each other about the lead screw axis so that they can move translationally toward or away from each other in the direction of the lead screw axis depending on the direction of rotation. In one embodiment, for a so-called rotating spindle drive, the lead screw can be driven rotationally about its lead screw axis by a motor drive unit that can preferably be fixedly connected to a support unit and is engaged in a lead screw nut that is fixedly mounted on the transmission element with respect to rotation about the lead screw axis. Axially, i.e. in the direction of the lead screw axis, the lead screw is supported on the support unit and the lead screw nut is supported on the transmission element, so that the rotational drive of the lead screw causes a translational adjustment of the transmission element relative to the support unit. In an alternative embodiment, known as a submerged spindle drive, the spindle is connected to the transmission element in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to rotation about the spindle axis and is axially supported, while the spindle nut is rotationally driven by a drive unit supported on a support unit. This spindle drive is robust and reliable. The stop element provided according to the present invention enables a simpler and lighter design of the spindle drive.

[0023] It can be provided that the transmission element is translationally movable relative to the outer jacket. The transmission element can, for example, comprise a spindle nut or a spindle of a spindle drive, and / or a coupling element connected thereto, which is translationally movable, for example linearly, in the direction of the spindle axis by the spindle drive. Accordingly, the linear motion range can be limited by at least one stop element on the outer jacket.

[0024] Alternatively, the transmission element can be pivotally mounted on the outer shell. The transmission element can have an adjustment lever rotatably mounted on the outer shell about a lever axis. The adjustment lever can be configured, for example, as a two-arm lever, with an adjustment drive configured as a linear drive, such as a spindle drive, acting on one lever arm of the lever, and the other lever arm of the lever being articulated to an adjustment unit or support unit that is adjustable relative to the outer shell. The adjustment lever can, for example, be rotatably mounted outside the outer shell about its lever axis, and preferably a pair of two stop elements can be provided on the outer shell, projecting outwardly so that the adjustment lever can be stopped thereon to limit the possible rotation angle.

[0025] The transfer element can be guided in a guide on the outer jacket. For example, linear guidance can be achieved. Here, the transfer element can be guided relative to the outer jacket on a predetermined track, for example, on a guide profile. The transfer element can be movably supported thereon, for example, in a linear sliding bearing. Alternatively, rotational guidance can be achieved, for example, by rotatably supporting the transfer element relative to the outer jacket (for example, in a rotary bearing). The guide can preferably extend between the stop elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] in:

[0028] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view shows a steering column according to the present invention.

[0029] Figure 2 Another perspective view shows Figure 1 steering column. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In the various figures, identical components are always provided with the same reference symbols and are therefore generally also each named or mentioned only once.

[0031] Figure 1 The steering column 1 according to the present invention is shown in a perspective view as a whole from the left to the front in a direction of travel, and Figure 2 A view from below is shown, with the direction of travel pointing to the right.

[0032] The steering column 1 comprises a support unit 2 which can be fastened to a vehicle body (not shown here).

[0033] The adjustment unit 3 is held by a support unit, in which a steering spindle 31 is mounted rotatably about a longitudinal axis L. In the rear end region, the steering spindle 31 has a mounting section 32 , to which a steering wheel (not shown here) can be mounted.

[0034] The adjustment unit 3 has an inner housing 33 in which the steering shaft 31 is rotatably mounted. The inner housing 33 extends into the outer housing 4 so as to be telescopically adjustable in the longitudinal direction defined by the longitudinal axis L. By pushing the adjustment unit 3 in or out, the longitudinal position of the steering wheel can be adjusted, as indicated by the double arrow.

[0035] The outer jacket 4 is mounted in its front region such that it can be pivoted about a height adjustment axis 21 transverse to the longitudinal axis L, so that a height adjustment of the steering spindle 31 in the height direction H is possible, as indicated by the double arrow.

[0036] For longitudinal adjustment, a first adjusting drive 5 is provided. This drive is designed as a spindle drive and comprises a motor drive unit 51 mounted on the outer casing 4 and supported in the longitudinal direction. This motor drive unit can rotate a spindle 52, which is arranged with its spindle axis parallel to the longitudinal axis L. The spindle 52 is embedded in a spindle nut 53, which is fixed in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to the spindle axis on a transmission element 54 and supported in the longitudinal direction. The transmission element 54 is connected to the adjusting unit 3, specifically to the inner casing 33.

[0037] The stop device according to the present invention has two stop elements 41 and 42, which are attached to the outer jacket 4. These stop elements are arranged in the adjustment direction of the adjustment drive 5, i.e., in the longitudinal direction, before and after the transmission element 54 during the movement stroke so that the transmission element can come into contact with the stop elements. Thus, the stop elements 41 and 42 form end stops for limiting the adjustment stroke of the adjustment unit 3 relative to the support unit 2.

[0038] The transmission element 54 can be guided in the adjustment direction in a guide on the support unit 2 , for example on a guide profile 55 . The transmission element 54 is movably mounted thereon, for example in a linear plain bearing. The guide can extend between the stop elements 41 and 42 .

[0039] For height adjustment, a second adjusting drive 6 is provided, which also has a spindle drive and a motor drive unit 61 that is fixed to the outer casing 4. A spindle 62 can be rotationally driven by the drive unit 61 and engages in a spindle nut 63.

[0040] The spindle nut 63 is articulated in a manner that prevents rotation about the spindle axis on a transmission element designed as an adjusting lever 64. The adjusting lever 64 is designed as a two-arm lever that is rotatably mounted on the outer jacket 4 about an axis of rotation 65. The adjusting drive 6 acts on one lever arm, while the other lever arm is articulated on the support unit 2.

[0041] By actuating the adjusting drive 6 , the adjusting rod 64 can be pivoted, ie rotated, about the rotation axis 65 , so that the outer jacket 4 is adjusted in the height direction H relative to the support unit 2 .

[0042] Stop elements 43 and 44 are attached to the outer jacket 4. These stop elements project outward into the travel of the pivot lever 64 so that the latter can come into contact with them during adjustment. In other words, the stop elements 43 and 44 form end stops that limit the adjustment travel of the outer jacket 4 relative to the support unit 2.

[0043] The rotatable mounting about the axis of rotation 65 forms a guide for the adjusting rod 64 , ie, a rotational guide for the transmission element.

[0044] The support unit 2 can comprise a casting, for example a metal die-casting made of an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy. The stop elements 41 and 42, as well as 43 and 44, can preferably be integrally formed on the casting.

[0045] Description of Reference Numerals

[0046] 1st steering column

[0047] 2 support units

[0048] 21 Height adjustment axis

[0049] 3 adjustment units

[0050] 31 steering shaft

[0051] 32 Attachment Section

[0052] 33 inner sheath

[0053] 4 outer sheath

[0054] 41, 42 stop elements

[0055] 43, 44 stop elements

[0056] 5,6 Adjustment drive device

[0057] 51, 61 drive units

[0058] 52, 62 lead screw

[0059] 53, 63 screw nuts

[0060] 54, 64 transmission elements

[0061] 55 guide profiles

[0062] 65 rotation axis

[0063] L longitudinal axis

[0064] H height direction

Claims

1. A steering column (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising an outer jacket (4), in which an adjustment unit (3) with a steering shaft (31) rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis (L) is accommodated, and which is held by a support unit (2), wherein: At least one motor-type adjusting drive (5, 6) is supported on the outer jacket (4), the adjusting drive having an adjustable transmission element (54, 64) acting on the adjusting unit (3) or the support unit (2), wherein a stop device is provided for limiting the adjustment travel of the adjusting unit (3) and / or the support unit (2) relative to the outer jacket (4). It is characterized by: The stop device comprises at least one stop element (41, 42, 43, 44) formed on the outer jacket (4) and on which the transmission element (54, 64) can be stopped.

2. The steering column according to claim 1, characterized in that One transmission element (54, 64) corresponds to two stop elements (41, 42, 43, 44).

3. A steering column according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 2, characterized in that At least one stop element (41, 42) cooperating with the adjustment unit (3) is provided, and at least one stop element (43, 44) cooperating with the support unit (2) is provided.

4. A steering column according to any one of the preceding claims 1-2, characterized in that The stop element (41, 42, 43, 44) has a protrusion protruding from the outer jacket (4).

5. A steering column according to any one of the preceding claims 1-2, characterized in that The stop elements (41, 42, 43, 44) are formed integrally with the outer jacket (4).

6. A steering column according to any one of the preceding claims 1-2, characterized in that The outer sheath (4) has a casting.

7. A steering column according to any one of the preceding claims 1-2, characterized in that The outer sheath (4) comprises a sheet metal part.

8. A steering column according to any one of the preceding claims 1-2, characterized in that The outer sheath (4) comprises a composite material.

9. A steering column according to any one of the preceding claims 1-2, characterized in that The adjusting drive (5, 6) has a spindle drive.

10. The steering column according to claim 9, characterized in that The spindle drive comprises a motor drive unit (51, 61) and a spindle nut (53, 63) or a spindle (52, 62) which is adjustable relative to the motor drive unit and is connected to a transmission element (54, 64).

11. A steering column according to any one of the preceding claims 1-2, characterized in that The transfer element (54) is movable in translation relative to the outer jacket (4).

12. A steering column according to any one of the preceding claims 1-2, characterised in that The transmission element (64) is pivotably mounted on the outer jacket (4).

13. A steering column according to any one of the preceding claims 1-2, characterised in that The transfer element (54, 64) is guided in a guide on the outer jacket (4).

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