A TELESCOPIC SHROUD FOR A STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY

摘要

An adjustable steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud which comprises an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion where the overall length can be adjusted by relative movement of the two portions, a support bracket secured to a fixed part of a vehicle and a releasable clamp assembly which is movable between an unclamped position in which the shroud can be adjusted telescopically and a clamped position in which the outer tubular portion clamps onto the inner tubular portion thereby preventing telescopic movement of the shroud during normal use of the assembly. The outer tubular portion includes an elongated slot and two clamp rails, each located on a respective side of the slot and including an elongated opening through which a clamp bolt of the clamp assembly passes. At least one of the rails varies in cross-section at the various positions at which the rails may be clamped such that, in use, the rails resiliently deform when the assembly is in the clamped position by an amount dependent on the relative telescopic position of the inner and outer tubular portions.

主权项

1. An adjustable steering column assembly, comprising a telescopic shroud which comprises an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion wherein the outer portion receives the inner portion such that the overall length of the shroud can be adjusted by relative movement of the two portions, a support bracket that in use is secured to a fixed part of a vehicle and a releasable clamp assembly which is movable between an unclamped position in which the shroud can be adjusted telescopically and a clamped position in which the outer tubular portion clamps onto the inner tubular portion thereby preventing telescopic movement of the shroud during normal use of the assembly, in which the outer tubular portion includes an elongated slot and two clamp rails, each located on a respective side of the slot and including an elongated opening through which a clamp bolt of the clamp assembly passes, the clamp assembly locking the shroud relative to the support bracket when in the clamped position, wherein at least one of the rails varies in cross-section at the various positions at which the rails may be clamped such that, in use, the rails resiliently deform when the assembly is in the clamped position by an amount dependent on the relative telescopic position of the inner and outer tubular portions due to differences in the cross-section of the rail at any given position.