Telescopic steering column for a 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 rotatably mounted about a base element spindle rotational axis (7) and comprising a telescopic unit (8, 18) that is linearly guided with respect to the base element (3) and has a telescopic unit driver (9, 19), which has a telescopic unit driver thread that meshes with a base element spindle thread (10) of the base element spindle (4). The telescopic unit (8, 18) has a telescopic unit spindle (11, 21) that is drivingly connected to a transmission element (12) which is coupled to the base element spindle (4) in a tangential direction relative to the base element spindle rotational axis (7) and which is freely movably guided on the base element spindle rotational axis (7) in the axial direction with respect thereto.

Description

[0001] Telescopic steering column for a motor vehicle

[0002] DESCRIPTION:

[0003] The invention relates to a telescopic steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising a base element on which a base element spindle is mounted rotatably about a base element spindle axis of rotation, and comprising a telescopic unit which is linearly guided with respect to the base element and which has a telescopic unit driver which has a telescopic unit driver thread which engages with a base element spindle thread of the base element spindle.

[0004] For example, the prior art document DE 10 2019 217 961 A1 is known. This document describes a steering column assembly for a vehicle comprising a first elongate guide portion, a second portion movably mounted with respect to the elongate guide portion, and a means for attaching a steering wheel to one of the first and second portions. The elongate guide portion comprises at least two elongate parallel guide edges, and the second portion comprises at least two rollers spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the elongate guide portion and shaped complementarily to and for engagement with a first of the elongate guide edges, and at least two further rollers spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the elongate guide portion and shaped complementarily to and for engagement with a second of the elongate edges.

[0005] The object of the invention is to propose a telescopic steering column for a motor vehicle that offers advantages over known telescopic steering columns, in particular allowing a greater travel range. This is achieved according to the invention with a telescopic steering column for a motor vehicle having the features of claim 1. It is provided that the telescopic unit has a telescopic unit spindle, which is drive-connected to a transmission element that is coupled to the base element spindle in a tangential direction with respect to the base element spindle's rotational axis and is guided on it so as to be freely displaceable in the axial direction with respect to the base element spindle's rotational axis.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments with useful further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. It should be noted that the exemplary embodiments explained in the description are not limiting; rather, any variations of the features disclosed in the description, the claims, and the figures are feasible.

[0007] The telescopic steering column serves to hold an operating element which is intended and designed for steering the motor vehicle. The operating element is preferably drive-relatedly coupled to a steering gear and via this to rotatably suspended wheel carriers of a wheel axle of the motor vehicle, in particular mechanically and / or electrically. Thus, a purely mechanical coupling, a purely electrical coupling or a partially mechanical and partially electrical coupling can exist. A movement of the operating element, in particular a rotational movement of the operating element, causes a rotational movement of the wheel carriers and thus steering of 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 rotational movement of the wheel carriers.The control element is preferably in the form of a steering wheel or is at least designed in the manner of a steering wheel.

[0008] The telescopic steering column provides a greater degree of freedom in the arrangement of the control element. The telescopic steering column serves to mechanically relocate the control element in at least one direction. For this purpose, the telescopic steering column has a base element on which the base element spindle is rotatably mounted, namely around the base element spindle's axis of rotation. The telescopic unit driver of the telescopic unit is located on the base element spindle, via which the control element is connected to the base element. The telescopic unit driver has a telescopic unit driver thread that interacts with the base element spindle thread of the base element spindle in terms of drive technology, namely, it engages with it. The telescopic unit driver thread is preferably self-locking.

[0009] Since the telescopic unit is guided linearly, namely in the axial direction with respect to the base element spindle rotation axis, a rotary movement of the base element spindle causes a linear displacement of the telescopic unit driver and thus of the entire telescopic unit. The linear guidance is implemented in particular by means of a linear guide located between the base element and the telescopic unit. For example, the linear guide has one or more guide webs that engage positively in one or more guide recesses so that the base element and the telescopic unit can only be displaced linearly relative to one another, namely in the axial direction. The linear guide is designed in particular such that a force acting on the operating element and / or a torque acting on the operating element is introduced into the base element and / or the steering column via it.

[0010] The travel path of the telescopic steering column described so far is limited by the length of the base element spindle, i.e., by its extension in the axial direction relative to the base element spindle's rotational axis. Additionally or alternatively, the travel path is limited by the linear guide of the telescopic unit, by means of which it is guided relative to the base element. Since neither the base element spindle nor the linear guide may be arbitrarily large, the control element can only be moved to a limited extent. For this reason, the telescopic steering column should be designed with multiple stages, i.e., have an additional telescopic unit that has at least the telescopic unit driver. In this case, the control element would be connected to the additional telescopic unit, in particular mounted on it. The provision of the additional telescopic unit with an additional telescopic unit driver requires that the telescopic unit also have a spindle, namely the telescopic unit spindle.

[0011] To avoid the need for an additional drive, 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, the transmission element is arranged on the base element spindle. This transmits torque between the base element spindle and the telescopic unit spindle. For this purpose, it is coupled to the base element spindle in the tangential direction or in the circumferential direction with respect to the base element spindle's rotation axis. To ensure that it can transmit torque between the base element spindle and the telescopic unit spindle regardless of the position of the telescopic unit relative to the base element, it is freely displaceable on the base element spindle in the axial direction with respect to the base element spindle's rotation axis.

[0012] The transmission element thus moves with the telescopic unit, and in particular with the telescopic unit spindle, to ensure torque transmission regardless of the position of the telescopic unit. Particularly preferably, the transmission element is coupled to the telescopic unit, in particular with the telescopic unit spindle, in the axial direction relative to the base element spindle rotation axis, 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 accomplished in various ways.

[0013] The described design of the telescopic steering column enables the control element to be moved over a large travel range using just a single drive, which is coupled to the base element spindle and drives this at least temporarily to move the control element. Accordingly, the described advantage of the large travel range can be achieved with little structural and design effort. The base element is preferably attached to a steering column. The attachment can be rigid or adjustable. In the latter case, the telescopic steering column preferably allows for height adjustment. For this purpose, the base element is mounted on the steering column so that it can pivot about a pivot axis. Preferably, an actuator is provided for height adjustment, which also engages the base element and is provided and designed to move the base element relative to the steering column.A further development of the invention provides that the telescopic unit spindle has a telescopic unit spindle thread, with which a carrier driver thread of a carrier driver engages. The carrier driver is part of an operating element carrier on which an operating element serving to steer the motor vehicle is located. The operating element has already been discussed. The operating element can, in principle, be designed in any desired manner. For example, it is rotatable relative to the operating element carrier. In this case, the operating element carrier has a bearing for rotatably supporting the operating element.

[0014] In addition, the control element carrier has a carrier driver, which, with its carrier driver thread, interacts with the telescopic unit spindle thread for driving purposes, or is in engagement with it. The control element carrier is guided linearly with respect to the telescopic unit, in particular in the axial direction relative to a telescopic unit spindle rotation axis, about which the telescopic unit spindle is rotatably mounted. As a result, a rotational movement of the telescopic unit spindle causes a linear displacement of the carrier driver and consequently of the control element carrier.

[0015] For example, the telescopic steering column comprises the base element, the base element spindle rotatably mounted on it, and the telescopic unit, which in turn has the telescopic unit spindle. The carrier driver is mounted on this spindle. Due to the drive-related coupling of the telescopic unit spindle with the base element spindle, a significant increase in travel is achieved compared to a design without a rotatable telescopic unit spindle, in particular at least a doubling of the travel.

[0016] A further development of the invention provides that the operating element is connected by means of a force dissipation device, so that when the operating element is subjected to a force exceeding a threshold force, the force dissipation device releases the operating element for free displacement relative to the base element, in particular against a counterforce caused by the force dissipation device. The force dissipation device enables the operating element to deflect towards the base element in the event of an accident, thus avoiding injury to a driver of the motor vehicle. The force dissipation device is located, for example, between the operating element and the operating element carrier, or between the operating element carrier and the carrier driver, or between the base element and the steering column. The force dissipation device is designed, for example, as a crash tab.

[0017] What is particularly important here is that in a first state of the force dissipation device, the operating element or the operating element carrier can be displaced exclusively by rotation of the base element spindle in the axial direction, for example by using self-locking threads, whereas in a second state of the force dissipation device, the operating element or the operating element carrier is released for displacement relative to the base element in the axial direction, for example for free displacement or for displacement against the counterforce caused by the force dissipation device.

[0018] In the second state, a connection between the control element and the control element carrier, or a drive connection between the control element carrier and the carrier driver, is at least partially removed to enable the displacement. The first state exists until the applied force exceeds the threshold force. If this occurs, a mechanical change in the force dissipation device occurs, in particular through the breaking and / or deformation of a part of the force dissipation device. The force dissipation device is subsequently in the second state. This type of design of the telescopic steering column enables the realization of a high level of safety.

[0019] A further development of the invention provides that the telescopic unit is part of several telescopic units, wherein the telescopic unit driver thread of the telescopic unit driver of a first of the telescopic units engages with the base element spindle thread, and the telescopic unit driver thread of the respective telescopic unit driver of each further telescopic unit engages with the telescopic unit spindle thread of the telescopic unit spindle of another of the telescopic units. Thus, not only the telescopic unit is present, but several telescopic units are part of the telescopic steering column. With each of the telescopic units, the maximum travel range of the control element is increased.

[0020] The previously described telescopic unit corresponds to the first telescopic unit. Its telescopic unit driver is mounted on the base element spindle and interacts with it in a drive-related manner to displace the first telescopic unit relative to the base element spindle and drive the first telescopic unit spindle of the first telescopic unit. A second of the telescopic units has a second telescopic unit spindle, which is drive-relatedly connected to the first telescopic unit spindle, namely 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 rotation axis of the first telescopic unit spindle and is freely displaceable on the first telescopic unit spindle in an axial direction relative to the first telescopic unit spindle rotation axis. Preferably, the aforementioned carrier driver is arranged on the second telescopic unit spindle, resulting in a significant increase in the travel path. In this way, any number of telescopic units can be provided, the telescopic unit spindles of which are drive-coupled to one another and to the base element spindle, so that they are all driven by the base element spindle or a drive drive-coupled to the base element spindle. In this respect, the telescopic unit spindles are preferably driven exclusively via the base element spindle, namely by the drive.The described design of the telescopic steering column allows the travel path for the control element to be scaled as required.

[0022] The telescopic units are guided linearly, in particular relative to the base element and / or relative to each other. This is preferably achieved by the linear guide, which is located between the base element and the respective telescopic unit or between the telescopic units. For example, the linear guide has one or more guide webs that engage positively in one or more guide recesses, so that the base element and the telescopic unit or the telescopic units can only be displaced linearly relative to each other, namely in the axial direction.

[0023] A further development of the invention provides that the transmission element is part of several transmission elements, and at least several of the telescopic units each have one of the transmission elements, wherein the transmission elements of the telescopic units are each coupled tangentially to the telescopic unit spindle of another of the telescopic units and are guided so as to be freely displaceable in the axial direction. This has already been pointed out. Preferably, only on the telescopic unit spindle furthest away from the base element spindle in terms of drive technology is no transmission element arranged, but instead the carrier driver. This enables the described good scalability.

[0024] A further development of the invention provides that the transmission element is rotatably mounted on the telescopic unit driver. In such a configuration, the transmission element is connected to the telescopic unit driver via a pivot bearing, so that the displacement of the transmission element in the axial direction is effected by the telescopic unit driver. This achieves a high degree of reliability in the displacement of the transmission element, so that a torque transmission path between the transmission element and the telescopic unit spindle can be essentially freely selected and does not have to be designed for force transmission in the axial direction.

[0025] A further development of the invention provides that the transmission element is a gear element and a component of a transmission gear, wherein the gear element cooperates in a drive-related manner with a gear counter-element rigidly coupled to the telescopic unit spindle, so that the telescopic unit spindle is drive-relatedly connected to the base element spindle. The transmission gear serves to transmit torque between the telescopic unit spindle and the base element spindle, either directly or indirectly via another telescopic unit spindle. It has the gear element and the gear counter-element, which cooperate in a drive-related manner. The gear element is connected to the base element spindle or the other telescopic unit spindle in a torque-transmitting manner, wherein the gear counter-element is rigidly coupled to the telescopic unit spindle.With such a design of the telescopic steering column, the advantages already explained can be achieved.

[0026] A further development of the invention provides that the gear element and the gear counter element are coupled to one another in the axial direction, such that the gear counter element provides longitudinal guidance for the gear element. With such a design of the telescopic steering column, the gear element is preferably only indirectly connected to the telescopic unit driver. Rather, the gear counter element is rotatably mounted on the telescopic unit driver, in particular via the telescopic unit spindle. The gear counter element guides the gear element in the axial direction, namely by the gear element and the gear counter element being coupled to one another in the axial direction. For this purpose, for example, the gear counter element encompasses the gear element on both sides in the axial direction, such that it entrains the gear element during its displacement in the axial direction.Other connections between the transmission element and the transmission counter element can also be implemented, as long as they provide axial coupling. The described design of the telescopic steering column allows for a high degree of freedom in the design of the transmission gear.

[0027] A further development of the invention provides for the transmission gear to be designed as a gear train or a traction drive. In the former case, the transmission element and the transmission counter-element are designed, for example, as gears or drive wheels. In the latter case, the transmission element and the transmission counter-element are arranged as spaced-apart wheels that are connected to one another by a traction mechanism. The traction mechanism is preferably a drive belt or a chain. While the gear train couples the two shafts together in a particularly torsionally rigid manner, the traction drive allows for a particularly flexible arrangement of the shafts.

[0028] A further development of the invention provides that the transmission gear has a ratio of one or a ratio deviating from one. The ratio can, in principle, be selected arbitrarily. In the case of multiple transmission gears for multiple telescopic units, the ratios are preferably selected such that the telescopic units travel their respective maximum travel distances in the same time. This means that when the control element is moved, the telescopic units travel their entire travel distance simultaneously or have traveled through it over the same period of time. This makes it possible, for example, to design the telescopic units with different travel distances while still utilizing the entire travel distance.

[0029] A further development of the invention provides that the transmission element has a form-locking device that interacts in a form-locking manner with a form-locking counter-device of the base element spindle or the telescopic unit spindle of the other telescopic unit. To fix the transmission element relative to the base element spindle or the telescopic unit spindle, the form-locking device and the form-locking counter-device interact in a form-locking manner. The form-locking device is a component of the transmission element, and the form-locking counter-device is configured on the base element spindle or the telescopic unit spindle. The form-locking interaction occurs in such a way 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 configuration enables the advantages already explained.

[0030] A further development of the invention provides that the form-locking device has at least one form-locking projection, and the form-locking counter-device has at least one form-locking recess that positively receives the at least one form-locking projection. The form-locking projection engages in the form-locking recess. If there are multiple form-locking projections, they are arranged at a distance 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 recesses, in particular in each of the form-locking recesses of one of the multiple form-locking projections. This ensures reliable torque transmission between the transmission element and the respective spindle.

[0031] The features and feature combinations described in the description, 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 respective combination specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, embodiments are also considered to be encompassed by the invention that are not explicitly shown or explained in the description and / or the figures, but which follow from or can be derived from the explained embodiments.

[0032] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, without limiting the invention. In the drawings:

[0033] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a telescopic steering column for a motor vehicle in a first embodiment,

[0034] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the telescopic steering column in a second embodiment, and

[0035] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a section through a portion of the telescopic steering column.

[0036] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a telescopic steering column 1 for supporting an operating element 2 for steering a motor vehicle relative to a base element 3. The base element 3 is preferably arranged between a bulkhead and a dashboard of the motor vehicle, in particular in front of a driver's seat. A base element spindle 4 is rotatably mounted on the base element 3. The base element spindle 4 is connected in terms of drive technology to a drive 5, which contains, for example, an electric motor, in particular is designed as a geared 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 (only indicated here).

[0037] Furthermore, the telescopic steering column 1 has a first telescopic unit 8, which has a telescopic unit driver 9, which has a - preferably self-locking - telescopic unit driver thread, which engages with a merely indicated base element spindle thread 10 of the base element spindle 4. Furthermore, the first telescopic unit 8 has a first telescopic unit spindle 11, which is drive-connected to the base element spindle 4, namely via a first transmission element 12 arranged on the base element spindle 4. The first transmission element 12 is coupled to the base element spindle 4 in a tangential direction with respect to the base element spindle rotation axis 7 and is freely displaceable relative to it in the axial direction, as indicated by the double arrow 13.

[0038] The first transmission element 12 is present as the first transmission element and, together with a first transmission counter-element 14, is part of a first transmission gear 15. The first transmission counter-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 rotatably mounted about a first telescopic unit spindle rotation axis 16 on the first telescopic unit driver 9, namely by means of a bearing 17, which is only indicated here.

[0039] In addition, a second telescopic unit 18 is a component of the telescopic steering column 1. Analogous to the first telescopic unit 8, the second telescopic unit 18 has a second telescopic unit driver 19, which engages a first telescopic unit spindle thread 20 via a—preferably self-locking—telescopic unit driver thread. The second telescopic unit 18 further has a second telescopic unit spindle 21, which is drive-coupled to the first telescopic unit spindle 11 via a second transmission element 22 and, via the first transmission element 22, to the base element spindle 4.

[0040] The second transmission element 22 is fixed to the first telescopic unit spindle 11 in a tangential direction with respect to the first telescopic unit spindle rotation axis 16, but is displaceable relative to the first telescopic unit spindle in an axial direction, as indicated by the arrow 23. The second transmission element 22 is a gear element that interacts with a second gear counter element 24. The second transmission element 22 and the second gear counter element 24 are components of a second transmission gear 25. The second gear counter 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 mounted on the second telescopic unit driver 19 for rotation about a second telescopic unit spindle rotation axis 26, namely by means of a bearing 27, again only indicated.

[0041] The second telescopic unit spindle 21 has a second telescopic unit spindle thread 28, only indicated here, which engages with a—preferably self-locking—carrier driver thread of a carrier driver 29. The operating element 2 is in turn arranged on the carrier driver 29 or is connected to it. For example, an actuator is arranged on the carrier driver 29, to which the operating element 2 is connected. By means of the actuator, a force or a torque can be exerted on the operating element 2. The actuator is preferably designed as a feedback actuator in order to provide the driver of the motor vehicle with feedback about the current driving state of the motor vehicle.A linear guide, by means of which the carrier driver 29 is guided in a linearly displaceable manner with respect to the base element 3, is preferably designed such that it transfers a torque generated by the actuator into the base element 3.

[0042] A displacement of the first transmission element 12 and the second transmission element 22 in the axial direction on the respective spindle 4 and 11 is effected by the gear counter elements 14 and 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the gear counter elements 14 and 24 each have driver walls 30 and 31, which accommodate the respective transmission element 12 and 22 between them and guide it in the axial direction.

[0043] Purely by way of example, a retraction of the telescopic steering column 1 is shown, during which the first telescopic unit driver 9, the second telescopic unit driver 19 and the carrier driver 29 are each displaced in the direction of the arrows 32. This results in rotational movements of the spindles 4, 11 and 21, which are indicated by the arrows 33. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the telescopic steering column 1 in a second embodiment. This is fundamentally similar to the first embodiment, so reference is made to the above explanations and only the differences are discussed below. These lie in the fact that the first transmission gear 15 is still designed as a gear train, in particular as a toothed transmission. The second transmission gear 25, on the other hand, is a traction transmission.The second transmission element 22 and the second transmission counter-element 24 are designed as wheels that are connected to each other via a traction mechanism 34, for example, a belt. Only a shaft 35 of the operating element 2 is indicated here. In principle, the transmission gears 15 and 25 can be of the same type or different types. Thus, both can be present, for example, as gear trains or as traction drive units, or one as a gear train and the other as a traction drive unit.

[0044] Figure 3 shows a detailed sectional view of a portion of the telescopic steering column 1, namely through the base element spindle 4 and the first transmission element 12. It can be seen that the transmission element 12 has a positive locking device 36, which in the exemplary embodiment shown here has two positive locking projections 37. On the base element spindle 4, however, a positive locking counter device 38 is manufactured, which has two positive locking recesses 39. Each of the positive locking projections 37 engages in one of the positive locking recesses 39 in order to fix the first transmission element 12 in the circumferential direction or in the tangential direction with respect to the base element spindle rotation axis 7 and to release it for displacement in the axial direction. The first telescopic unit spindle 11 and the second transmission element 22 are preferably designed analogously.

[0045] The described design of the telescopic steering column 1 enables a particularly large travel range thanks to its multi-stage construction while maintaining a simple and cost-effective design. To achieve this, the base element spindle 4, the first telescopic unit spindle 11, and the second telescopic unit spindle 21 can be driven by the same drive 5, namely the first telescopic unit spindle 11 via the base element spindle 4, and the second telescopic unit spindle 21 via the first telescopic unit spindle 11 and the base element spindle 4.

[0046] LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS:

[0047] 1 telescopic steering column

[0048] 2 control element

[0049] 3 Basic element

[0050] 4 basic element spindle

[0051] 5 Drive

[0052] 6 warehouses

[0053] 7 Basic element spindle rotation axis

[0054] 8 1 . Telescopic unit

[0055] 9 1. Telescopic unit driver

[0056] 10 basic element spindle threads

[0057] 11 1. Telescopic unit spindle

[0058] 12 1 . Transmission element

[0059] 13 Arrow

[0060] 14 1 . Gearbox counter element

[0061] 15 1. Transmission gearbox

[0062] 16 1 . Telescopic unit spindle rotation axis

[0063] 17 camps

[0064] 18 2. Telescopic unit

[0065] 19 2. Telescopic unit driver

[0066] 20 1 . Telescopic unit spindle thread

[0067] 21 2. Telescopic unit spindle

[0068] 22 2. Transmission element

[0069] 23 Arrow

[0070] 24 2. Gearbox counter element

[0071] 25 2. Transmission gearbox

[0072] 26 2. Telescopic unit spindle rotation axis

[0073] 27 camps

[0074] 28 2. Telescopic unit spindle thread

[0075] 29 carrier drivers

[0076] 30 Carrier wall

[0077] 31 Carrier wall

[0078] 32 Arrow 33 Arrow

[0079] 34 traction devices

[0080] 35 Wave

[0081] 36 Form-locking device 37 Form-locking projection

[0082] 38 Form-locking counter device

[0083] 39 Form-fitting recess

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS:

1. 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 rotation axis (7), and comprising a telescopic unit (8, 18) which is guided linearly with respect to the base element (3) and which has a telescopic unit driver (9, 19) which has a telescopic unit driver thread which engages 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 drive-connected to a transmission element (12) which is coupled to the base element spindle (4) in a tangential direction with respect to the base element spindle rotation axis (7) and is guided so as to be freely displaceable on it in the axial direction with respect to the base element spindle rotation axis (7).

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

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

4. Telescopic steering column according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission element (12, 22) is part several transmission elements (12, 22) and at least several of the telescopic units (8, 18) each have one of the transmission elements (12, 22), wherein the transmission elements (12, 22) of the telescopic units (8, 18) are each coupled to the telescopic unit spindle (11, 21) of another of the telescopic units (8, 18) in the tangential direction and are guided so as to be freely displaceable on it in the axial direction.

5. Telescopic steering column according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission element (12, 22) is rotatably mounted on the telescopic unit driver (9, 19).

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

7. Telescopic steering column according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission element (12, 22) and the transmission counter element (14, 24) are coupled to one another in the axial direction, so that the transmission counter element (14, 24) provides longitudinal guidance for the transmission element (12, 22).

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

9. Telescopic steering column according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission element (12, 22) has a form-locking device (36) which is connected in a form-locking manner to a form-locking counter-device (38) of the base element spindle (4) or the Telescopic unit spindle (11, 21) of the other telescopic unit (8, 18).

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

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