Clamp Mechanism

摘要

A steering column assembly includes a clamp mechanism comprising a clamp pin that passes through an opening in a shroud of the steering column assembly and an opening in a bracket that supports the shroud of the steering column assembly. A first reaction member is secured to one end of the pin and a second reaction member secured to another end of the clamp pin, the reaction members defining a length of clamp pin between them that passes through the opening in the shroud and the opening in the support bracket. A cam mechanism has a fixed part and a moving part, each having an opening through which they are threaded onto the clamp pin between one of the reaction members and the support bracket. The moving cam part is connected to a lever and free to rotate around the clamp pin as the lever is rotated, the fixed cam part being prevented from rotation around the clamp pin, a cam surface of the fixed part being in contact with a cam surface of the rotating part and configured such that rotation of the rotating cam part is converted into an axial movement of the fixed cam part resulting in a change in the overall length of the cam mechanism. The cam steering column assembly is configured so that the increase in length of the cam mechanism when in a clamped position causes the bracket to be clamped to the shroud, and the assembly further comprising a damping member that is fixed to at least one of the clamp pin, the fixed cam and the moving cam so that the resilient damping member is compressed as the cam mechanism moves to the unclamped condition so as to damp the movement of the cam mechanism.

主权项

1. A steering column assembly that includes a clamp mechanism comprising:
a clamp pin that passes through an opening in a shroud of the steering column assembly and an opening in a support bracket that supports the shroud of the steering column assembly, a first reaction member secured to one end of the clamp pin and a second reaction member secured to another end of the clamp pin, the reaction members defining a length of the clamp pin between them that passes through the opening in the shroud and the opening in the support bracket and a cam mechanism having a fixed part and a moving part, each having an opening through which they are threaded onto the clamp pin between one of the reaction members and the support bracket, the moving cam part being connected to a lever and free to rotate around the clamp pin as the lever is rotated, the fixed cam part being prevented from rotation around the clamp pin, a cam surface of the fixed part being in contact with a cam surface of the rotating part and configured such that rotation of the rotating cam part is converted into an axial movement of the fixed cam part resulting in a change in an overall length of the cam mechanism, the steering column assembly being configured so that an increase in length of the cam mechanism when in a clamped position causes the support bracket to be clamped to the shroud, and a damping member that is fixed to at least one of the clamp pin, the fixed cam and the moving cam so that the damping member is compressed as the cam mechanism moves to the unclamped condition so as to damp the movement of the cam mechanism.