Steering column for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steering column (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a guide box (2) in which a steering spindle (21) is mounted so as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis (22) extending in the longitudinal direction and which is accommodated in a box-type rocker arm (3) so as to be adjustable in the longitudinal direction (L). The box-type rocker arm is held by a support unit (4) so ​​as to be adjustable in a height direction (H) transverse to the longitudinal direction (L). A longitudinal adjustment drive (5) is arranged between the guide box (2) and the box-type rocker arm (3), and a height adjustment drive (6) is arranged between the box-type rocker arm (3) and the support unit (4). A limiting device (7) is provided which is designed to limit the height adjustment of the box-type rocker arm (3) relative to the support unit (4) as a function of the longitudinal adjustment of the guide box (2) relative to the box-type rocker arm (3).In order to enable a more reliable and simpler limitation of the height adjustment, the invention proposes that the limiting device (7) has a blocking element (71) which is mounted on the box rocker (3) so as to be displaceable between a locking position and a release position, wherein in the locking position it limits the height adjustment of the box rocker (3) relative to the support unit (4) and in the release position it releases the height adjustment of the box rocker (3) relative to the support unit (4).

Description

Prior ArtThe invention relates to a steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising a guide box in which a steering spindle is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis extending in the longitudinal direction and which is accommodated in a box rocker that is adjustably movable in the longitudinal direction and is held by a support unit in a height direction transversely to the longitudinal direction, wherein a longitudinal adjustment drive is arranged between the guide box and the box rocker, and a height adjustment drive is arranged between the box rocker and the support unit, and wherein a limiting device is provided which is designed to limit the height adjustment of the box rocker relative to the support unit as a function of the longitudinal adjustment of the guide box relative to the box rocker.A steering column of the generic type for a motor vehicle has a steering spindle, to whose end, which is at the rear in the direction of travel and faces the driver, a steering input, for example a steering wheel, is attached for the introduction of a manual steering command by the driver. The steering spindle is rotatably mounted in a guide box about its longitudinal axis extending in the longitudinal direction. The guide box is accommodated in a box rocker so as to be longitudinally adjustable in the longitudinal direction defined by the longitudinal axis. The box rocker is in turn held in a height-adjustable manner in the height direction directed transversely to the longitudinal direction by a support unit which can be attached to the vehicle body.By means of the longitudinal adjustment and the height adjustment, the steering column can be selectively adjusted into an operating or comfort range in which a manual steering input can take place, or into a stowage position in which the steering input is accommodated outside the operating range, for example in order to enable an alternative use of the vehicle interior in the autonomous driving mode or in the parked state. In manual driving operation, the guide box together with the steering spindle can be extended telescopically from the box rocker to the operating range by the longitudinal adjustment towards the driver position, with respect to the direction of travel to the rear. For height adjustment, the box rocker can be adjusted upwards or downwards relative to the support unit. For setting the stowage position, the guide box can be retracted into the box rocker at a maximum in the direction away from the driver position, and can be adjusted at a maximum upward in the height direction, so that the steering input can be accommodated as far outside the operating range as possible.For height adjustment and for longitudinal adjustment, a height adjustment drive and a longitudinal adjustment drive are provided, which are designed as motor-driven actuating drives, for example as spindle drives that can be driven by electric motor.The height adjustment and the longitudinal adjustment each have a maximum possible adjustment range which is predefined by the maximum height adjustment path of the height adjustment drive and the maximum longitudinal adjustment path of the longitudinal adjustment path. In the stowage area, it is particularly advantageous, when the longitudinal adjustment is maximally retracted, to also set the maximum possible height adjustment in order to largely free the foot space below the steering column. In the operating range, i.e. with extended longitudinal adjustment, the maximum height adjustment can be problematic, however, if the steering column were adjusted so close to the dashboard that a collision or jamming could occur. In order to avoid this, it has been proposed in US 2015 / 0239488 A1 to limit the height adjustment in the operating region as a function of the longitudinal adjustment. In this case, height adjustment in the extended operating range is permitted only within a permissible partial range of height adjustment by the motorized adjustment drives being actuated correspondingly electrically, so that an electrical limiting device is realized.The disadvantage of the above-mentioned purely electrical limitation of the height adjustment is that in the event of a fault in the electrical control, compliance with the limitation is not ensured. In addition, even high forces acting from the outside on the steering spindle, for example when supporting or holding it on the steering wheel, when a body impacts in the event of a crash, or even when there is a misbeady exertion of force, must be absorbed completely by the height adjustment drive, which requires a high level of effort.In view of the problems explained above, it is an object of the present invention to enable a more reliable and simpler limitation of the height adjustment.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis object is achieved according to the invention by the steering column having the features of claim 1.In a steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising a guide box in which a steering spindle is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis extending in the longitudinal direction and which is accommodated in a box rocker that is adjustably movable in the longitudinal direction and is held by a support unit in a height direction transversely to the longitudinal direction, wherein a longitudinal adjustment drive is arranged between the guide box and the box rocker, and a height adjustment drive is arranged between the box rocker and the support unit, and wherein a limiting device is provided which is configured to limit the height adjustment of the box rocker relative to the support unit as a function of the longitudinal adjustment of the guide box relative to the box rocker, it is provided according to the invention that the limiting device has a blocking element which is mounted on the box rocker so as to be displaceable between a blocking position and a release position, wherein in the locked position it limits the height adjustment of the box rocker relative to the support unit and in the release position it releases the height adjustment of the box rocker relative to the support unit.According to the invention, a mechanical limiting device is realized which can be switched over between a blocking position and a release position. Specifically, for this purpose, the blocking element can be moved relative to the box rocker selectively into the blocking position, in which the height adjustment is mechanically limited to a partial region of the maximum possible height adjustment path, or the release position.In the release position, the box rocker can be adjusted in the height direction over the entire possible height adjustment path, which is also referred to interchangeably as height adjustment range. The height adjustment can be effected between the ends of this maximum height adjustment path, wherein end stops can expediently be provided in each case, which define the height adjustment region upwards and downwards.In the blocking position, the blocking element is arranged within the maximum possible height adjustment path during the height adjustment in such a way that it mechanically abuts against the support unit or a part mechanically connected thereto in a limiting position during a height adjustment of the box rocker. Because the blocking element is arranged in the height adjustment direction at a distance from the end of the maximum possible height adjustment path, for example at a distance from the upper end, the limiting position limiting the maximum height adjustment path is realized by the mechanical stop on the blocking element. As a result, the height adjustment of the box rocker relative to the support unit is mechanically limited, for example upwards. In other words, the height adjustment path in the limiting position is positively positively positively positively positively locked by the blocking element in the blocking position. A blocking or exclusion range lying beyond the delimiting position can no longer be set. Accordingly, the height adjustment in the blocking position is only possible within a permitted partial region of the height adjustment, which is mechanically limited by the blocking element.In an advantageous development, the blocking element can be displaced between the blocking position and the release position by means of an electrical and / or magnetic and / or electromechanical and / or mechanical and / or electromagnetic device.A possible configuration of these devices could be, for example, the integration of an electric motor which is activated by an external control pulse. This motor could displace the blocking element directly or via a mechanism in order to change between the various positions.Alternatively or additionally, a magnetic device could be used which influences the blocking element by applying or removing a magnetic field. This could be achieved, for example, by an electromagnetic actuator which is dependent on a control signal.Another alternative or additional possibility is to integrate an electromechanical device that uses a combination of electrical and mechanical elements to move the blocking element. This could be, for example, an electromagnetically controlled mechanism activated by an electric voltage.The displacement of the blocking element can thus be flexible and adapted to the specific requirements by integrating different combinations of said electrical, magnetic, electromechanical, mechanical or electromagnetic devices in the construction.Preferably, the blocking element interacts with the guide box in such a way that, during a longitudinal adjustment, it is displaceable by the guide box in an actuation position relative to the box rocker between the blocking position and the release position.The actuation of the mechanical limiting device takes place by a coupled interaction of the guide box with the blocking element. For this purpose, it can be provided that a movement during the longitudinal adjustment of the guide box in a defined actuation position or during an adjustment beyond this actuation position relative to the guide box is converted into a displacement of the blocking element. For example, in an operating or comfort region in which the guide box is extended relatively far from the box rocker in the longitudinal direction, the blocking element can be arranged in the blocking position in order to limit the height adjustment. If the guide box is moved from the operating region into a stowage region into the box rocker, the guide box can actuate the limiting device when it reaches or passes through a predefined actuating position relative to the box rocker in order to bring the blocking element into the release position. As a result, the limitation of the height adjustment is canceled, and the maximum height adjustment of the guide box beyond the limiting position defined by the blocking element in the blocking position can take place. In this way, the steering column can be stored in a space-saving manner, for example. Conversely, when the guide box is extended from the box rocker in the actuation position, the limiting device can be moved from the release position into the blocking position.An advantage of the limiting device according to the invention is that the height adjustment path is reliably mechanically limited by a mechanical stop on the blocking element. The form-fit mechanical stop ensures that the required limitation of the height adjustment range is ensured even in the event of a possible fault in the electrical adjustment drives. A further advantage is that forces acting from the outside can be absorbed completely by the blocking element in the boundary, even if relatively high external forces are exerted on the steering input, for example by holding or supporting, or even in the event of a body impacting in the event of a crash. Because these external forces cannot be absorbed or cannot be absorbed completely by the adjustment drives in the prior art, a forced adjustment of the steering column is possible, or the adjustment drives must have complicated brake devices or the like. This structural disadvantage in the prior art can be avoided in the invention reliably and with relatively little outlay. The risk of the steering column colliding with the dashboard or jamming can thus be effectively avoided.It is advantageous that the guide box is positively coupled to the blocking element. In this embodiment, actuation of the guide box for longitudinal adjustment causes a positively controlled displacement of the blocking element. Preferably, it can be provided that, when the guide box reaches a defined actuation position relative to the box rocker during the adjustment or is adjusted beyond this actuation position, it forcibly actuates the limiting device. As a result, the blocking element can preferably be moved in the one adjustment direction from the blocking position into the release position, and in the opposite adjustment direction vice versa from the release position into the blocking position. In this way, an automatic, automated activation of the mechanical limitation of the height adjustment can take place as a function of the longitudinal adjustment during the adjustment of the guide box. The function independent of the electrical control is advantageous.A preferred embodiment is that the guide box is mechanically coupled to the blocking element. As a result, a mechanical, preferably a fully mechanical, actuating device can be realized for the limiting device. This can preferably provide that the guide box, during the longitudinal adjustment at a defined actuation position relative to the guide box, exerts directly or indirectly an actuation force on the blocking element, which causes a displacement of the blocking element from the release position into the blocking position or vice versa. This can advantageously be effected by a purely mechanical coupling, for example by a mechanical deflection device which is designed to convert a longitudinal movement of the guide box into a displacement of the blocking element directed transversely thereto. Such a mechanical coupling has the advantage that it functions reliably in the event of a possible malfunction of the electrical systems, and can be implemented with little effort, for example by means of a simple wedge or lever mechanism.It is possible that the blocking element is displaceable on the box rocker transversely to the longitudinal axis. During the height adjustment, the box rocker and thus also the longitudinal axis of the steering spindle is moved up or down relative to the support unit. The blocking element can be positioned relative to the box rocker in the blocking position in such a way that it protrudes radially from the longitudinal axis and can mechanically strike the support unit or a part connected thereto in the height direction.It can be provided that the blocking element passes through the box rocker in a radially movable manner and can be brought into mechanical operative engagement with an actuating contour formed radially on the outside of the guide box. The radially movable blocking element is movable transversely to the longitudinal axis inwardly towards the guide box and outwardly away therefrom. It abuts against the actuating contour from the outside. This forms an actuating means which is designed to exert an actuating force directed transversely thereto on the blocking element during a longitudinal movement of the guide box. For example, the actuating contour can be extended in the longitudinal direction and have grooves, projections or the like which project and / or are set back transversely thereto and via which an actuating force can be applied to the blocking element in mechanical contact. The blocking element follows the radial course of the actuating contour as in the case of a link guide, and is thereby moved radially relative to the box rocker depending on the longitudinal adjustment of the guide box. This can be moved purely mechanically inward or outward into the blocking or release position.It is possible that the blocking element is spring-loaded against the guide box. As a result, the blocking element can be held elastically in operative engagement against an actuating contour, so that it is automatically switched between the blocking and release positions by the spring force and the actuating force counteracting it during the longitudinal adjustment of the guide box.The limitation of the height adjustment can be realized in that the blocking element protrudes outwards beyond the box rocker in the blocking position and is flush with the box rocker in the release position. In the blocking position, the blocking element protrudes radially, i.e. transversely to the longitudinal axis, outward to such an extent that it can mechanically strike against the support unit or a part connected thereto. In the release position, it is retracted relative thereto in the direction of the box rocker, wherein flush means that it is retracted so far towards the box rocker that the box rocker can be freely moved past it.It is preferably provided that the blocking element in the blocking position can be directly or indirectly stopped against the support unit transversely to the longitudinal axis.It is possible for the height adjustment drive to have an adjusting lever articulated between the support unit and the box rocker, which adjusting lever can be stopped against the blocking element in the blocking position. The adjusting lever is mounted on the support unit and on the box rocker so as to be pivotable about articulation axes lying transversely to the longitudinal axis and transversely to the height direction. A motor-driven actuating drive of the height adjustment drive engages on the actuating lever, for example a spindle drive. By the motorized pivoting of the adjusting lever, a height adjustment of the box rocker relative to the support unit can be effected. Because the pivot lever is connected to the box rocker and the support unit in a uniquely defined manner, blocking the movement of the pivot lever generates blocking the relative movement of the box rocker and the support unit, and thus limiting the height adjustment range. An advantage of this arrangement is that the blocking element can be positioned flexibly on the box rocker.The box rocker is mounted on the support unit so as to be pivotable up and down about a height adjustment axis, which is likewise situated transversely to the longitudinal axis and transversely to the height direction and is spaced apart in the longitudinal direction from the adjusting lever.To produce a multiple telescope, it is possible that at least one intermediate jacket that is adjustable in the longitudinal direction relative to it is arranged between the box rocker and the guide box. The blocking element can pass through the intermediate jacket. It is possible, for example, for a first locking element and a second locking element to be mounted on the intermediate jacket at an axial distance from one another, wherein the first locking element interacts with the blocking element and can be brought selectively into a first locking position, in which it is fixed relative to the box rocker, or a first release position relative to the intermediate jacket, wherein the second locking element can be brought selectively into a second locking position or a second release position relative to the intermediate jacket. In this way, an adjustment of a multiple telescope controlled mechanically by the longitudinal adjustment of the guide box can be effected. The locking elements can comprise blocking balls or the like, which can be moved transversely to the longitudinal adjustment direction and can cooperate with actuating contours or the like on the guide box, the intermediate jacket and the box rocker.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSAdvantageous embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. In detail, the following show: FIG. 1 shows a steering column according to the invention in a perspective illustration, FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the steering column of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows an enlarged detail view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a partial view of a longitudinal section through the steering column according to FIGS. 1-3 in the locked position of the limiting device according to the invention, FIG. 5 is a view as in FIG. 4 in the release position of the limiting device according to the invention.Embodiments of the InventionIn the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference numerals and are therefore generally also designated or mentioned only once in each case.FIGS. 1 and 2 show different perspective views of a steering column 1 according to the invention, namely obliquely from rear left to front in FIG. 1 with respect to the installation position in the direction of travel, and obliquely from rear right in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 shows an enlarged partial view of FIG. 2.The steering column 1 has a guide box 2, which can also be referred to as an inner jacket, and in which a steering spindle 21 is mounted rotatably about a longitudinal axis 22. At its end facing the driver position, which is at the rear with respect to the direction of travel, the steering spindle 21 has an attachment section 23 for fastening a steering wheel, not shown here.The guide box 2 is held telescopically displaceably in the direction of the longitudinal axis 22 in a box rocker 3, which can also be referred to as an outer jacket, namely in the longitudinal displacement direction L indicated by the arrow and opposite thereto. The direction of the arrow shown indicates the longitudinal adjustment direction L for retracting the guide box 2 into the box rocker 3, that is to say points forwards by definition. Accordingly, upon extension, a longitudinal adjustment takes place counter to the arrow direction.The box rocker 3 is held by a support unit 4 which has fastening means 41 for attaching the steering column 1 to a body of a motor vehicle, not shown here, for example fastening bores.The box rocker 3 is mounted in its front region on the support unit 4 so as to be pivotable about a height adjustment axis 31 lying transversely to the longitudinal axis 22. This realizes a height adjustment in which the guide box 2 together with the steering spindle 21 mounted therein is height-adjustable in the height adjustment direction H indicated by the arrow and in the opposite direction thereto. The arrow direction shown points upward toward the support unit 4.For motor-driven longitudinal adjustment, a longitudinal adjustment drive 5 is provided, which is designed as a spindle drive, namely as a plunge spindle drive. This has a drive unit 51 which is mounted supported on the box rocker 3 in the longitudinal adjustment direction L and which has a spindle nut 53 which is fixed in the longitudinal adjustment direction L and which can be driven to rotate about a spindle axis by an electric motor 52. A threaded spindle 54 engages in this spindle nut 53 and, with respect to rotation about the spindle axis, engages in a fixed manner on the guide box 2. As a result, a linear drive is realized in a manner known per se, in which the threaded spindle 54 is adjustable relative to the drive unit 51 by rotating drive of the spindle nut 53. Accordingly, the guide box 2 can be retracted into the box rocker 3 in the longitudinal adjustment direction L (in the indicated arrow direction) or extended in the opposite direction thereto.For motor-driven height adjustment, a height adjustment drive 6 is provided, which is likewise designed as a spindle drive, namely as a rotary spindle drive. This has a drive unit 61 which is mounted supported on the box rocker 3 and which can be driven in rotation about its spindle axis by an electric motor 62 and a threaded spindle 64 supported in the direction of its spindle axis. The threaded spindle 64 engages in a spindle nut 63 which is fixed with respect to rotation about the spindle axis.The spindle nut 63 is attached to an adjusting lever 65. This is articulated on the box rocker 3 about a pivot axis 66 parallel to the height adjustment axis 31, and is articulated on the support unit 4 via a parallel pivot axis 67 spaced apart therefrom. A linear adjustment of the spindle nut 63 by means of the height adjustment drive 6 brings about a pivoting of the adjusting lever 65, which brings about a height adjustment of the box rocker 3 relative to the support unit 4. In this case, the pivoting of the adjusting lever 65 in the adjustment direction V, which is indicated by the arrow in the enlarged illustration of FIG. 3, leads to an upward height adjustment in the height adjustment direction H, that is to say directed towards the support unit 4.A limiting device 7 according to the invention has a blocking element in the form of a blocking pin 71. This is mounted in a guide in the box rocker 3 so as to be displaceable transversely to the longitudinal axis 22, i.e. radially thereto. This is indicated by the arrows in the longitudinal section shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 parallel to the longitudinal axis 22.In this case, FIG. 4 shows the blocking position and FIG. 5 shows the release position.In the locked position according to FIG. 4, the blocking pin protrudes outward from the box rocker 3 to such an extent that it mechanically blocks the movement of the adjusting lever 65 in the adjusting direction V. The pivoting movement of the adjusting lever 65 driven by the height adjustment drive 6 is mechanically limited by the stop on the blocking pin 71 shown in FIG. 4. As a result, the height adjustment of the box rocker 3 connected to the adjusting lever 65 is upwardly limited; the box rocker 3 can therefore no longer be adjusted upwardly toward the support unit 4 by the mechanical stop of the adjusting lever 65 on the blocking pin 71.The state of adjustment shown in FIG. 4 corresponds to a setting in which the guide box 2 is extended from the box rocker 3 in the longitudinal direction to such an extent that a steering wheel attached to the steering spindle is in the operating or comfort range in which manual steering input is possible. In this case, the possible height adjustment is mechanically limited upward by the limiting device, as described.In the release position shown in FIG. 5, the blocking pin 71 is moved radially inward, so that it is flush recessed with respect to the movement space of the adjusting lever 65, and releases the movement of the adjusting lever 65. Accordingly, the adjusting lever 65 can be moved further by the height adjustment drive 6 beyond the blocking pin 71 so that the maximum possible height adjustment in the height adjustment direction H can be achieved upwards, in which the box rocker 3 is adjusted upwards, for example until it makes contact with the support unit 4.The switchover from the blocking position into the release position takes place when the guide box is moved in the longitudinal adjustment direction L, as will be explained below.The blocking pin 71 is spring-loaded by means of a spring 72 against a blocking ball 73 which is mounted in a recess in the box rocker 3 in a radially movable manner. As a result, it is pressed with spring tension radially from the outside against the outside against the actuating contour 74 formed on the guide box 2. This has a projection section 75 extending in the longitudinal adjustment direction L and a depression 76 adjoining it in the longitudinal direction. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the projection section 75 is arranged radially outward (upward in FIG. 4 ) to such an extent that the blocking pin 71 is held in the blocking position via the blocking ball 73 bearing against the projection section 75.If the guide box 2 is retracted in the longitudinal adjustment direction L starting from the extended setting shown in FIG. 4, the blocking ball 73 is moved radially inward by the spring tension and dips into the depression 76 of the actuating contour 74. As a result, the blocking pin 71 likewise moves radially inward and is countersunk flush, so that the adjusting lever 65 can be moved past the blocking pin 71 which is now moved back from the blocking position (downward in FIG. 5 ) in the adjusting direction V.The setting shown in FIG. 5 corresponds to a stowage area in which the guide box 2 is retracted into the box rocker 3 in the longitudinal adjustment direction L to such an extent that the maximum possible height adjustment can take place, for example, in order to bring the guide box 3 upwards from the foot well into a stowage position as far as possible.If the guide box 2 is extended from the stowage position shown in FIG. 5 for setting the operating or comfort range, the blocking position is activated for the self-day when the blocking ball 73 reaches the projection section 75 of the actuating contour 74.In the described embodiment, the guide box 3 is mechanically positively coupled to the blocking pin 71. As a result, the changeover between the blocking position and the release position, by means of which a restriction of the permissible settings of the steering column 1 depending on the adjustment position of the steering wheel is realized, can take place purely mechanically, and is accordingly safe and independent of electrical controls.List of reference characters1 Steering column 2 Guide box 21 Steering spindle 22 Longitudinal axis 23 Attachment section 3 Box rocker 31 Height adjustment axis 4 Support unit 41 Fastening means 5 Longitudinal adjustment drive 51, 61 Drive unit 52, 62 Motor 53, 63 Spindle nut 54, 64 Threaded spindle 6 Height adjustment drive 65 Adjusting lever 66, 67 Pivot axis 7 Limiting device 71 Blocking pin 72 Spring 73 Blocking ball 74 Actuating contour 75 Projection section 76 Depression L Longitudinal adjustment direction H Height adjustment direction V Adjustment direction of 65References included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedUS 2015 / 0239488 A1

[0005]

Claims

Steering column (1) for a motor vehicle, comprising a guide box (2) in which a steering spindle (21) is rotatably mounted about a longitudinal axis (22) extending in the longitudinal direction and which is accommodated in a box rocker (3) so as to be adjustable in the longitudinal direction (L) and which is held by a support unit (4) so as to be adjustable in a height direction (H) transversely to the longitudinal direction (L), wherein a longitudinal adjustment drive (5) is arranged between the guide box (2) and the box rocker (3), and a height adjustment drive (6) is arranged between the box rocker (3) and the support unit (4), and wherein a limiting device (7) is provided which is designed to limit the height adjustment of the box rocker (3) relative to the support unit (4) as a function of the longitudinal adjustment of the guide box (2) relative to the box rocker (3), characterized in that, the limiting device (7) has a blocking element (71) which is mounted on the box rocker (3) so as to be displaceable between a blocking position and a release position, wherein in the blocking position it limits the height adjustment of the box rocker (3) relative to the support unit (4) and in the release position it releases the height adjustment of the box rocker (3) relative to the support unit (4).Steering column according to Claim 1, characterized in that the blocking element (71) can be displaced between the blocking position and the release position by means of an electrical and / or magnetic and / or electromechanical and / or mechanical and / or electromagnetic device.Steering column according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the blocking element (71) interacts with the guide box (2) in such a way that, during longitudinal adjustment, it can be displaced by the guide box (2) in an actuating position relative to the box rocker (3) between the blocking position and the release position.Steering column according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide box (2) is positively coupled to the blocking element (71).Steering column according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide box (2) is mechanically coupled to the blocking element (71).Steering column according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking element (71) can be displaced on the box rocker (3) transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis (22).Steering column according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking element (71) passes through the box rocker (3) in a radially movable manner and can be brought into mechanical operative engagement with an actuating contour (74) formed radially on the outside on the guide box (2).Steering column according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking element (71) is spring-loaded against the guide box (2).Steering column according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking element (71), in the blocking position, protrudes outwards beyond which the box rocker (2) protrudes, and, in the release position, is flush with the box rocker (3).Steering column according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the blocking element (71) can be directly or indirectly stopped against the support unit (4) in the blocking position.Steering column according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height adjustment drive (6) has an adjusting lever (65) which is articulated between the supporting unit (4) and the box rocker (3) and can be stopped against the blocking element (71) in the blocking position.Steering column according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one intermediate jacket which is adjustable relative thereto in the longitudinal adjustment direction (L) is arranged between the box rocker (3) and the guide box (2).Steering column according to Claim 12, characterized in that the blocking element (71) passes through the intermediate jacket.Steering column according to one of the preceding claims 12 to 13, characterized in that a first locking element and a second locking element are mounted on the intermediate jacket at an axial distance from one another, wherein the first locking element interacts with the blocking element (71) and can be brought selectively into a first locking position or a first release position relative to the intermediate jacket, wherein the second locking element can be brought selectively into a second locking position or a second release position relative to the intermediate jacket.

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