Patent ID: 7743681
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said steering column assembly comprising: a support bracket for attachment to the vehicle; a column jacket coupled to said support bracket and extending along a longitudinal axis; a compression bracket mounted to said column jacket and defining a telescoping slot parallel to said longitudinal axis; a clamping device disposed on said support bracket and having a rake bolt extending transverse to said longitudinal axis through said support bracket and said telescoping slot of said compression bracket for applying a clamping force on said support bracket transverse to said longitudinal axis to prevent at least one of telescoping and tilting movement of said column jacket and said compression bracket relative to said support bracket; an actuation mechanism coupled to said support bracket and having a housing with a plurality of gears operatively engaged with said rake bolt and an actuator operably connected to one of said plurality of gears for rotating said plurality of gears and said rake bolt in a first direction for applying the clamping force and preventing at least one of telescoping and tilting movement of said column jacket relative to said support bracket and rotating said plurality of gears and said rake bolt in a second direction for permitting at least one of telescoping movement of said column jacket and said compression bracket along said longitudinal axis relative to said actuation mechanism and said support bracket and tilting movement of said column jacket; wherein said actuation mechanism further includes a first shaft parallel to and spaced from said rake bolt and wherein said plurality of gears is further defined as having a first gear disposed on said first shaft and coupled to said actuator and a first pinion gear disposed on said first shaft and fixed to said first gear for rotating with said first gear and said first shaft; and further including a second shaft disposed about and coaxially aligned with said rake bolt and wherein said plurality of gears is further defined as having a second gear disposed on said second shaft and engaging said first pinion gear and a second pinion gear disposed on said second shaft and spaced from said second gear for rotating with said second gear and said second shaft.