Abstract:
The invention relates to an arrangement for the holding of a steering column to a cross-member of a motor vehicle, in particular for a later screw connection of the steering column and/or of a dashboard holder to the cross-member, wherein holding means are formed at the steering column and at the cross-member which cooperate in a pre-installation state such that the steering column is held freely suspended at the cross-member.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The invention relates to an arrangement for the holding of a steering column to a cross-member of a motor vehicle, in particular for a later screw connection of the steering column and/or of a dashboard holder to the cross-member.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    On the assembly of a motor vehicle, the steering column of the motor vehicle is usually arranged beneath a cross-member of the motor vehicle and is screwed to it. The cross-member can additionally serve as a carrier for a dashboard holder which sits at the top of the cross-member and is fastened to it. Typically, a screw connection is provided for the fastening of the dashboard holder to the cross-member and simultaneously serves for the fastening of the steering column to the cross-member.  
           [0003]    A typical assembly procedure therefore provides for the steering column first to be brought into a relative position with respect to the cross-member required for the screw connection to the cross-member and to be fixed in this position by a separate holding apparatus until, in a later assembly step, the dashboard holder is placed onto the cross-member and the screw connection of the dashboard holder, of the cross-member and of the steering column takes place. Only after the screw connection of the steering column and the cross-member can the holding apparatus again be released from the steering column and be removed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    It is the underlying object of the invention to simplify the installation of the steering column to the cross-member and in particular to dispense with a separate holding apparatus for the steering column on the attachment of the steering column to the cross-member.  
           [0005]    An arrangement for the holding of a steering column to a cross-member of a motor vehicle having the features of claim  1  is provided to satisfy the object.  
           [0006]    The arrangement in accordance with the invention is in particular characterized in that holding means are formed at the steering column and at the cross-member which cooperate in a pre-installation state such that the steering column is held in a freely suspended manner at the cross-member. It is achieved by the holding means that the steering column is fixed to the cross-member in a relative position with respect to the cross-member which is in particular suitable for a later screw connection to the cross-member. The holding means hold the steering column in this pre-installation position for so long until the screw connection of the cross-member and of the steering column or of the dashboard holder, of the cross-member and of the steering column has taken place. Since the holding means are formed directly at the steering column and at the cross-member, the steering column is suspended freely at the cross-member in the pre-installed state without an additional holding apparatus being necessary. The installation of the steering column to the cross-member or of the steering column and the dashboard holder to the cross-member is thereby simplified and the time effort required for the installation is reduced.  
           [0007]    Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims, in the description and in the drawing.  
           [0008]    In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the steering column can be hooked to at least one rear holding means, preferably to two rear holding means, of the cross-member and can be hung by a pivotal movement and by a subsequent displacement onto at least one front holding means of the cross-member. The hooking of the steering column to the rear holding means of the cross-member as well as the subsequent pivoting, displacement and hanging of the steering column to the front holding means are motions which can be carried out simply and quickly and by which the steering column can be securely fixed to the cross-member. The installation of the steering column to the cross-member is thereby further simplified. At the same time, the steering column is suspended, in the case of two rear holding means and one front holding means, at three points at the cross-member, whereby a reliable holding of the steering column at the cross-member is ensured in the pre-installation state.  
           [0009]    The rear holding means of the steering column can be formed as holding arms which extend substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the steering column in the direction of a rear end of the steering column. The holding arms represent a simple means for the hooking of the steering column to the cross-member and allow a displacement of the steering column for the hooking of the steering column into the front holding means without the holding arms releasing from the rear holding means of the cross-member.  
           [0010]    In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the holding arms have a latch device for the securing of the steering column to the cross-member and in particular for the securing of the holding arms to rear holding means of the cross-member. It is ensured by the latch device that the steering column is securely held at the rear holding means of the cross-member, in particular during a pivoting and displacement of the steering column.  
           [0011]    The holding arms can each have a cut-out at a lower side facing the longitudinal central axis in the region of a rear end and/or have a hook-like projection, in particular a hook-like projection facing in the direction of the steering column. An even more secure connection between the rear holding means of the steering column and the rear holding means of the cross-member is thereby achieved.  
           [0012]    In accordance with a further embodiment of the arrangement, the connection of the holding arms to rear holding means of the cross-member has clearance. A pivot capability and a displacement capability of the steering column with an easy motion is thereby achieved for the hanging of the steering column to the front holding means of the cross-member, which further simplifies the installation of the steering column.  
           [0013]    The rear holding means of the cross-member can each have an elongate bore for the receiving of a respective holding arm of the steering column, with the bores extending in a direction in which the steering column moves on a screw connection to the cross-member. The bores form simple means for the receiving of the holding arms of the steering column. It is furthermore achieved by the elongate extent of the bores that the steering column can be screwed to the cross-member or to the cross-member and a dashboard holder directly from the pre-installation state.  
           [0014]    In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, the rear holding means of the cross-member are formed in one piece with a support member for the steering column which is fastened to the cross-member. No additional components or steps for the installation of the rear holding means of the cross-member are required by the one-piece formation of the rear holding means with the support member.  
           [0015]    The rear holding means of the cross-member can each be provided at a fastening section of the support member for a fastening, in particular for a screw connection, of the steering column to the cross-member and can each form a border of a corner region of the fastening section. This results in a stiffening of the fastening sections by the holding means. Vibrations of the steering column screwed to the fastening sections are reduced by the stiffening of the fastening sections.  
           [0016]    A centering pin can be provided at the steering column for the alignment of the steering column with the cross-member and/or with a dashboard holder. This centering pin facilitates the correct screw connection of the steering column and the cross-member or of the steering column, the cross-member and the dashboard holder.  
           [0017]    A further subject of the invention is, moreover, a method for the attachment of a steering column to a cross-member of a motor vehicle, in particular for a screw connection of the steering column and/or of a dashboard holder to the cross-member, wherein the steering column is hung at the cross-member by means of holding means formed at the steering column and holding means correspondingly formed at the cross-member such that the steering column is held in a freely suspended manner at the cross-member in a pre-installation state.  
           [0018]    As has already been described in connection with the arrangement in accordance with the invention, the method in accordance with the invention facilitates the installation of the steering column to the cross-member. Installation time is saved by the hanging of the steering column to the cross-member, on the one hand, and additional holding apparatuses for the fixing of the steering column to the cross-member can be dispensed with, on the other hand. Furthermore, a correct relative position of the steering column with respect to the cross-member in the pre-installation state is always ensured by the hanging of the steering column to the cross-member, whereby the possibility for a fast and problem-free screw connection of the steering column to the cross-member or of the steering column to the cross-member and to a dashboard holder is ensured. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    The invention will be described purely by way of example in the following with reference to an advantageous embodiment and to the drawing. There are shown:  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a steering column with a steering column holder;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the steering column holder of FIG. 1 which is hung at a support member of a cross-member in a pre-installation state;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the steering column of FIG. 1 in a state screwed to the support member, with the corresponding screws and the cross-member itself not being shown for reasons of clarity; and  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a front holding means of the cross-member which is connected to a front holding means of the steering column. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0024]    [0024]FIG. 1 shows a steering column  10  having a steering column holder  12 . The steering column holder  12  has a plate-like base body  18  which extends in a longitudinal direction of the steering column  10 . The steering column holder  12  is formed substantially symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal central plane in which a longitudinal central axis of the steering column  10  lies. The steering column holder  12  is arranged at the upper side of the steering column  10  and fixedly connected, for example screwed, to the steering column  10  in each case at a front end  14  and at a rear end  16 . The steering column holder  12  can be a cast metal part, for example a magnesium die cast part.  
         [0025]    The designations “front” and “back” generally relate to the orientation of a motor vehicle, that is the front end  14  of the steering column holder  12  faces in the direction of the front wheels of the vehicle and the rear end  16  of the steering column holder  12  faces in the direction of a steering wheel to be attached to the steering column  10 .  
         [0026]    A front holding means  20  of the steering column  10  is formed in a central region of an upper side of the base body  18  of the steering column holder  12  facing away from the steering column  10 . The front holding means  20  has a nose-like step  22  projecting from the upper side of the base body  18  of the steering column holder  12 . A spigot  24  is formed at the end of the step  22  facing away from the steering column holder  12  and faces in the direction of the front end  14  of the steering column holder  12  and is inclined a little away from the base body  18  of the steering column holder  12 . The front holding means  20  is arranged laterally offset next to the longitudinal central plane of the steering column holder  12 . It is preferably formed in one piece with the steering column holder  12 .  
         [0027]    At its rear end  16 , the steering column holder  12  has two wing sections  26  which project from the base body  18  of the steering column holder  12  perpendicular to the longitudinal central plane at both sides of the steering column holder  12 . A bore  28  is provided in each wing section  26  and extends through the wing section  26  from an upper side of the wing section  26  in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. As will be explained in more detail below, the wing sections  26  serve for the fastening, and in particular for the screw connection, of the steering column holder  12 , and thus of the steering column  10 , to a cross-member of the motor vehicle. The wing sections  26  are downwardly offset in the manner of steps, that is in the direction of the steering column  10 , with respect to the upper side of the base body  18  of the steering column holder  12 .  
         [0028]    A holding arm  30  is formed at each wing section  26  and extends from a rear side of the wing section  26  in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the steering column  10 . The holding arms  30  are in turn downwardly offset with respect to the wing sections  26  such that an upper side of the holding arms  30  extends beneath the upper side of the wing sections  26  and the holding arms  30  project over a lower side of the wing sections  26 .  
         [0029]    The holding arms  30  have in each case a cut-out  32  at their lower sides in the region of their rear ends facing away from the wing sections  26 . At the same time, a hook-like projection  34  which faces downwardly, bounds the cut-out  32  and projects over the lower side of the holding arm  30 , is provided at the rear end of each holding arm  30 . The holding arms  30  are formed in one piece with the steering column holder  12  and form rear holding means for the steering column  10 . Their function will be explained in more detail further below.  
         [0030]    In the region of the rear end  16  of the steering column holder  12 , a centering pin  36  is moreover arranged which projects substantially perpendicular from the upper side of the base body  18  of the steering column holder  12  and is preferably formed in one piece with the steering column holder  12 . The centering pin  36  is aligned centered with the steering column  10  and serves for the alignment of the steering column  10  with respect to the cross-member  40 .  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 2 shows the steering column holder  12  in a pre-installation state in which the steering column holder  12 , and thus the steering column  10 , is hung at a support member  38  of the cross-member  40  of a motor vehicle.  
         [0032]    The support member  38  is a component which is formed in one piece and which is fixedly connected, for example by a weld connection, to the cross-member  40 . The support member  38  extends both rearwardly and downwardly in the direction of the steering column  10  to be supported, starting from the cross-member  40 . The support member  38  is substantially matched to the contour of the upper side of the steering column holder  12  in the region of the rear end  16  of the steering column holder  12  for the reception of the steering column holder  12 . The support member  38  is formed symmetrically with respect to a plane in which the longitudinal central axis of the steering column  10  to be supported lies.  
         [0033]    In a central region, the support member  38  has a planar surface section  42  which is oriented parallel to the upper side of the base body  18  of the installed steering column holder  12 . A centering bore  44  is provided in the planar surface section  42  which serves for the receiving of the centering pin  36  and thereby for the centering of the steering column holder  12 , and thus of the steering column  10 , with respect to the support member and thus to the cross-member  40 . The planar surface section  42  extends substantially in a flush manner with a lower side of the cross-member  40  such that the base body  18  of a steering column  12  fixedly screwed to the cross-member  40  contacts the planar surface section  42  and the lower side of the cross-member  40  from below.  
         [0034]    In rear side corner regions, the support member  38  in each case has one fastening section  46 . The fastening sections  46  each have planar upper and lower sides which are oriented parallel to the planar surface section  42  and to the lower side of the cross-member  40 . The fastening sections  46  are arranged beneath the planar surface section  42  and serve as abutments for the wing sections  26  of the installed steering column holder  12 . A bore  48  is provided in each fastening section  46 , said bore being aligned with the corresponding bore  28  of the steering column holder  12  on the centering of the steering column  10  and of the cross-member  40  and serving for a screw connection of the steering column  10  and the cross-member  40 .  
         [0035]    A support section  50  which faces downward, that is in the direction of the steering column  10 , adjoins a rear rim of each fastening section  46 . The support section  50  forms a substantially right angle with the fastening section  46 . Furthermore, the support section  50  adjoins a side section  52  which extends at right angles to the support section  50 , on the one hand, and is adjacent to a side rim of the fastening section  46  from below, on the other hand. The support section  50  and the side section  52  together form an angular member which stiffens the fastening section  46 .  
         [0036]    The support sections  50  serve as holding means of the cross-member  40  for the steering column  10 . For this purpose, the support sections  50  each have an elongate bore  54  which extends from a lower marginal region of the support sections  50  to an upper marginal region of the support sections  50 . The elongate bores  54  are provided for the reception of the holding arms  30  of the steering column holder  12 . The elongate bores  54  are dimensioned such that a holder arm  30  inserted into the elongate bore  54  has clearance. The elongate bores  54  accordingly have a somewhat larger width than the holding arms  30 . At the same time, they are made so long that the holding arms  30  can move along the elongate bores  54  when the steering column  10  is screwed to the cross-member  40 .  
         [0037]    As is shown in FIG. 2, the holding arms  30  of the steering column  10  hung at the cross-member  40  in the pre-installation state project from the front to the rear through the elongate bores  54 . The holding arms  30  lie on web sections  56  of the support sections  50  which each form a lower bounding of the elongate bores  54 . To secure the steering column  10  to the cross-member  40  in this pre-installation state and to prevent the holding arms  30  from releasing from the elongate bores  54 , the web sections  56  engage into the cut-outs  32  at the lower side of the holding arms  30 . The projections  34  at the ends of the holding arms  30  prevent the holding arms  30  form sliding off the web sections  54 . In the pre-installation state, the holding arms  30  thus latch in a defined and fixed relative position of the steering column  10  with respect to the cross-member  40 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 3 represents the support member  38  and the steering column holder  12  in a final state in which the steering column  10  is screwed to the cross-member  40 . The screw connection of the steering column holder  12  and of the support member  38  takes place by means of a screw (now shown) which is guided through the bores  48  of the fastening sections  46  of the support member  38  and through the bores  28  of the wing sections  26  of the steering column holder  12 . During the tightening of the screw connection, the relative spacing between the steering column holder  12  and the support member  38  reduces and the holding arms  30  move out of the lower region of the elongate bores  54  into the upper region of the bores  54 . In the final state shown, the base body  18  of the steering column holder  12  and the wing sections  26  each contact the planar surface section  42  of the support member  38 , the lower side of the cross-member  40  and the lower sides of the fastening sections  46 . The steering column  10  is fastened to the cross-member  40  in a vibration-free manner due to the additional stiffening of the fastening sections  46  by the support sections  50  and the side sections  52 .  
         [0039]    During the screwing procedure of the steering column  10  and the cross-member  40 , the centering pin  36  of the steering column holder  12  penetrates into the centering bore  44  of the support member  38 , whereby a correct alignment of the steering column  10  with respect to the cross-member  40  is ensured. In the end position shown, the centering pin  36  projects upwardly through the centering bore  44 . It can in this way simultaneously be used as an adjusting means for a dashboard holder (not shown) to be screwed to the cross-member  40  and to the steering column  10 .  
         [0040]    A front suspension of the steering column  10  at the cross-member  40  is shown in FIG. 4. The front holding means  20  of the steering column  10  is, as already mentioned, formed by the step  22  and by the spigot  24  at the upper side of the base body  18  of the steering column holder  12 . A support member  58  for a dashboard holder is shaped to the cross-member  40 , faces forward and extends obliquely upwardly facing away from the steering column  10 . A support arm  60  is formed at a lower side of a front end of the support member  58 . The support arm  60  extends downwardly, that is in the direction of the steering column  10 , substantially at right angles to the support member  58 . A bore  62  for the reception of the spigot  24  of the front holding means  20  of the steering column  10  is provided in a lower end region of the support arm  60 . Since the step  22  and the spigot  24  are arranged offset to the side next to the longitudinal central plane of the steering column holder  12 , the support arm  60  is also arranged with a corresponding offset at the support member  58  for a correct alignment of the steering column  10 .  
         [0041]    As can be seen from FIGS.  2  to  4 , the steering column  10  is held—both in the pre-installation state and in the screw connection state—at three points to the cross-member  40 , namely on the one hand, by the spigot  24  of the steering column holder  12  inserted into the bore  62  of the support arm  60  of the cross arm  40  and, on the other hand, by the two holding arms  30  of the steering column holder  12  inserted into the elongate bores  54  of the support member  38  in the pre-installation state or by the screw connection of the two wing sections  26  of the steering column holder  12  to the fastening sections  46  of the support member  38  in the final state.  
         [0042]    The attachment of the steering column  10  to the cross-member  40  takes place as follows:  
         [0043]    First, the holding arms  30  of the steering column holder  12  are inserted into the elongate bores  54  of the support member  38  of the cross-member  40  and placed down in a region of the lower side of the holding arms  32  on the web sections  56  of the support sections  50  disposed in front of the cut-outs  32 .  
         [0044]    Next, the front end of the steering column  10  is pivoted upwardly, with the contact points of the holding arms  30  on the web sections  56  acting as the pivot point. The steering column  10  is pivoted so far until the spigot  24  of the steering column holder  12  is at the height of the bore  62  of the support arm  60 .  
         [0045]    The spigot  24  is inserted from the rear into the bore  62  of the support arm  60  by a displacement of the steering column  10  in the direction of its front end. The lower web section  56  of the support section  50  latch into the cut-outs  32  of the holding arms  30 . The steering column  10  is now held freely suspended at the cross-member  40  by the holding arms  30  inserted into the elongate bores  54  of the support member  38  and by the spigot  24  inserted into the bore  62 , without additional holding apparatuses being required for the fixing of the steering column  10  to the cross-member  40 . The spigot  24  is secured against slipping out of the bore  62  by the latching of the lower web sections  56  of the support sections  50  into the cut-outs  32  of the holding arms  30 . The steering column  10  is thus secured overall to the cross-member.  
         [0046]    In a next installation step, a dashboard holder (not shown) can be placed onto the cross-member  40  from above and be positioned in that the steering column is raised so far that the centering pin  36  of the steering column  12  passes through the centering bore  44  of the support member  38  and through a corresponding bore in the dashboard holder.  
         [0047]    The dashboard holder can thereafter be screwed together with the cross-member  40  and with the steering column  10 . The screw connection is made with the aid of screws which are guided through the bores  28  of the wind sections  26  of the steering column holder  12 , through the bores  48  of the fastening sections  46  of the support member  38  and through corresponding bores in the dashboard holder.  
         [0048]    During the screwing procedure, the steering column  10  moves so far in the direction of the cross-member  40  until the steering column holder  12  contacts the support member  38  and the cross-member  40 . The holding arms  30  of the steering column holder  12  move along the elongate bores  54  of the support member  38 . At the same time, the centering pin  36  of the steering column holder  12  passes through the centering bore  14  of the support member  38  and through the corresponding bore in the dashboard holder. This results in a correct alignment of the steering column  10 , the cross-member  40  and the dashboard holder. This is achieved when the steering column holder  12  contacts the support member  38  and the cross-member  40  and the centering pin  36  projects both through the centering bore  44  of the support member  38  and through the corresponding bore in the dashboard holder.