Steering column assembly with a quick release bolt

The invention provides a steering column assembly for a vehicle. The steering column assembly includes a steering column operable to adjustably support a steering wheel in the vehicle. The steering column assembly also includes a locking bracket adjacent to the steering column and moveable along a path for collapsing movement. The steering column assembly also includes a locking member supported in two-way movement by the locking bracket between a first position and a second position spaced from one another. In the first position, the locking member locks the locking bracket and the steering column member together. When the locking member is in the second position, the steering column member is moveable relative to the locking bracket. The steering column assembly also includes at least one quick release bolt engaged with the locking bracket to selectively fix the locking bracket with respect to the vehicle. The at least one quick release bolt is selectively divisible into at least two portions independently of the collapsing movement of the locking bracket along the path.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a steering column for a vehicle and more particularly to a structure and method for connecting a steering column with a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Steering systems for vehicles often include a steering column adjustable in at least one of tilting adjustment, raking adjustment, or telescoping adjustment. Adjustable steering columns include a locking device to selectively allow and prevent adjusting movement of the steering column. Adjustable steering columns can be engaged with the vehicle to collapse in response to in an impact situation. For example, capsules can be operably disposed between the steering column and the vehicle. The capsules maintain the steering column in place during normal vehicle handling. In an impact situation such as a vehicle crash, the capsules break in response to an impact force and the steering column collapses relative to the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a steering column assembly for a vehicle. The steering column assembly includes a steering column operable to adjustably support a steering wheel in the vehicle. The steering column assembly also includes a locking bracket adjacent to the steering column and moveable along a path for collapsing movement. The steering column assembly also includes a locking member supported in two-way movement by the locking bracket between a first position and a second position spaced from one another. In the first position, the locking member locks the locking bracket and the steering column member together. When the locking member is in the second position, the steering column member is moveable relative to the locking bracket. The steering column assembly also includes at least one quick release bolt engaged with the locking bracket to selectively fix the locking bracket with respect to the vehicle. The at least one quick release bolt is selectively divisible into at least two portions independently of the collapsing movement of the locking bracket along the path.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention provides a steering column assembly10for a vehicle. The steering column assembly10includes a steering column12operable to adjustably support a steering wheel in the vehicle. The steering column assembly10also includes a locking bracket14adjacent to the steering column12and moveable along a path16for collapsing movement. The steering column assembly10also includes a locking member18supported in two-way movement by the locking bracket14between a first position and a second position spaced from one another. In the first position, the locking member18locks the locking bracket14and the steering column12member together. When the locking member18is in the second position, the steering column12member is moveable relative to the locking bracket14. The steering column assembly10also includes at least one quick release bolt20,22engaged with the locking bracket14to selectively fix the locking bracket14with respect to the vehicle. The at least one quick release bolt20,22is selectively divisible into at least two portions24,26independently of the collapsing movement of the locking bracket14along the path16.

In the first exemplary embodiment of the invention, the steering column assembly10is positionable in a vehicle and includes first and second members28,30engaged for movement relative to one another along a telescoping path32and a raking path34, best shown inFIG. 4. Both of the first and second members28,30are spaced from and moveable relative to the at least one quick release bolt20,22. The first and second members28,30encircle a steering shaft (not shown) of the vehicle.

The locking bracket14substantially surrounds the steering column12and is releasibly engaged with a fixed portion of the vehicle, such as bracket36. The locking bracket14includes side walls38,40. The steering column12includes a bracket42fixedly engaged with the second member30and disposed between the side walls38,40. The steering column12moves relative to the locking bracket14during telescoping and raking movement.

The locking member18can prevent both telescoping movement and raking movement of the steering column12relative to the locking bracket14. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the locking member may only prevent one of telescoping movement and raking movement. The exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a pair of second locking members18,66disposed on opposite sides the bracket42. The operation of the locking member18will be described in detail and operation of the locking member66is similar. The bracket42defines a first slot44and the locking bracket14defines a second slot46. The locking member18extends through both the first and second slots44,46. The locking member18is disposed in both the first and second slots44,46during movement between the first and second positions.

The first slot includes a first locking portion48and the locking bracket14includes a second locking portion50. The first locking portion48of the first exemplary embodiment of the invention defines a plurality of teeth. The second locking portion50also defines a plurality of teeth. The locking member18includes third and fourth locking portions52,54, each defining a plurality of teeth. When the locking member18is in the first position, the first locking portion48and the fourth locking portion54are interlocked and immovably associated with one another. Cooperation between the first locking portion48and the fourth locking portion54lock the steering column12with respect to telescoping adjustment. Also, the second locking portion50and the third locking portion52are interlocked and immovably associated with one another when the locking member18is in the first position. Cooperation between the second locking portion50and the third locking portion52lock the steering column12with respect to raking adjustment. When the locking member18is in the second position, the first locking portion48and the fourth locking portion54are spaced from one another and the second locking portion50and the third locking portion52are spaced from one another, permitting adjusting movement of the steering column12.

The locking member18of the exemplary embodiment of the invention is moveable with a lever56. The lever56cooperates with a pair of cams60,62. In response to rotation of the lever in a first direction, the cams60,62push each other apart and the cam62urges the locking member18upwardly to separate the first and fourth locking portions48,54, as well as forwardly to separate the second and third locking portions50,52. In response to rotation of the lever in a second direction opposite the first direction, the cams60,62move closer together and the cam62retracts from the locking member18. A biasing device64urges the locking member18to the first position. The biasing device64urges the locking member18downwardly to bring together the first and fourth locking portions48,54, as well as rearward to bring together the second and third locking portions50,52. In operation, a driver of the vehicle can rotate the lever56along an arcuate path of movement58to move the locking member18between the first position and the second position. When the locking member18is moved to the second position, the driver can adjust the position of the steering wheel in the vehicle telescopically and in rake. After the steering wheel has been moved to a desired position, the lever56can be rotated back along the path of movement58to move the locking member18to the first position.

During normal vehicle handling, the locking bracket14is fixed to the bracket36with the quick release bolts20,22. In response to an impact situation, such as a vehicle crash, each of the quick release bolts20,22divides into two portions24,26, releasing the locking bracket14from the bracket36. The locking bracket14is movable along the path16of collapsing movement after each of the quick release bolts20,22divides into two portions24,26. The quick release bolt20divides into portions24,26to quickly separate the locking bracket14from the bracket36. The portion24is relatively fixedly engaged with the bracket36and the portion26is spaced from the bracket36. The portion24of the exemplary embodiment defines threads engageable with corresponding threads defined by the bracket36. The portion26of the exemplary embodiment includes an incendiary device. If the locking bracket14and steering column12are locked together, the locking bracket14and steering column12are moveable concurrently along the path16of collapsing movement after each of the quick release bolts20,22divides into the two portions24,26. The line of demarcation between the portions24and26can vary so long as the locking bracket14is movable along the path16of collapsing movement after each of the quick release bolts20,22divides into the two portions24,26. In the exemplary embodiment of the invention, a slip plate76is engaged with the locking bracket14. The slip plate76defines an aperture receiving the portion24and is pressed between the portion26and the bracket36during normal vehicle handling. When the incendiary device of the portion26is blown, the pressing force on the slip plate76dissipates. When the locking bracket14moves along the path16of collapsing movement, the threaded portion24substantially maintains the position with the bracket36and the slip plate76, the threaded portion24and the slip plate76separating from the locking bracket14.

In operation, an impact situation such as a vehicle crash can result in the driver being propelled against the steering wheel. This impacting force acts against the steering column12also. The quick release bolt20can be controlled such that the locking bracket14and the steering column12, which are likely locked together, can move along the collapsing path as soon as an impacting force is applied or slightly before. The steering column assembly10can include an energy absorbing device to dissipate energy in response to movement of the steering column12and locking bracket14along the collapse path16. The exemplary embodiment of the invention includes an anvil68and a strap70. As best seen inFIG. 4, an anvil68is fixed to the bracket36and the strap70is fixed at one end to either the steering column12or the locking bracket14. The strap70is drawn over the anvil68during movement of the steering column12and locking bracket14along the collapse path16to dissipate energy and reduce the likelihood of injury to the driver.

The steering column assembly10can also include one or more sensors, such as sensor72, and a controller74. The sensor72is engageable with the vehicle and can sense conditions corresponding to an impact situation, such as vehicle velocity, vehicle acceleration, lateral acceleration, deployment of self inflatable restraint, or any other condition tending to be predicative relative to an impact situation. The sensor72communicates sensed conditions to the controller74. According to programmed logic stored in memory, the controller74interprets the conditions sensed by the sensor72and, if appropriate, communicates a signal to the quick release bolt20to explode, releasing the steering column assembly10from the bracket36. Use of the quick release bolt20eliminates variation in release of the steering column assembly10from the bracket36, as may occur in capsules.