Patent ID: 6134983
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A tilt-adjustable motor vehicle steering column includinga stationary mast jacket,a tilt housing having a steering hand wheel rotatably mounted thereon supported on the stationary mast jacket for up and down pivotal movement between an upper limit position of the steering hand wheel and a lower limit position of the steering hand wheel, anda balance spring means operative to resiliently bias the tilt head toward the upper limit position of the steering hand wheel,characterized in that the balance spring means comprises:an inboard spring seat on the mast jacket,a spring bore in the tilt housing facing the inboard spring seat,a raised boss means defining an outboard spring seat in the spring bore in the form of an internal screw thread in the spring bore having a predetermined helix angle relative to a longitudinal centerline of the spring bore, anda balance spring having an inboard end bearing against the inboard spring seat and an outboard end bearing against the outboard spring seat defined by the raised boss means and a plurality of helical coils having a helix angle generally matching the predetermined helix angle of the internal screw thread defined by the raised boss means,the internal screw thread defined by the raised boss means cooperating with the helical coils of the balance spring in converting rotation of the balance spring in the spring bore about the longitudinal centerline thereof into linear translation of the balance spring in the direction of the longitudinal centerline of the spring bore to preload the balance spring in compression flexure between the inboard spring seat and the outboard spring seat.