Steering column assembly with improved attachment to a vehicle structure

摘要

A steering column assembly comprises an upper column jacket, a collar assembly, a position lock bracket, and a guide clamp. A guide shaft extends from a guide end of the collar assembly, and a cam shaft extends from a cam end of the collar assembly. The guide shaft extends through an adjustment channel defined in the position lock bracket, and the cam shaft extends through an adjustment channel defined in the position lock bracket. A guide clamp is disposed along the guide shaft between the upper column jacket and the position lock bracket, and a guide retainer is fixed to the guide shaft such that, when the steering column assembly is in a locked mode, the guide clamp is placed in compression between the upper column jacket and the position lock bracket, which is placed in compression between the guide clamp and the guide retainer.

主权项

1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle comprising:
an upper column jacket, through which a steering control shaft is supported for rotation about a longitudinal column axis; a collar assembly disposed about the upper column jacket, the collar assembly having a guide end and a cam end, the guide end including a guide shaft that extends outwardly from the guide end along a lock axis, the cam end including a cam shaft that extends outwardly from the cam end along the lock axis; a position lock bracket attached to the vehicle and disposed about the collar assembly, the position lock bracket having a first lock wall and a second lock wall, the guide shaft extending through an adjustment channel defined in the first lock wall, the cam shaft extending through an adjustment channel defined in the second lock wall; a guide clamp disposed along the guide shaft between the upper column jacket and the first lock wall and a guide retainer fixed to the guide shaft such that, when the steering column assembly is in a locked mode, the guide clamp is placed in compression between the upper column jacket and the first lock wall and the first lock wall is placed in compression between the guide clamp and the guide retainer; wherein the collar assembly comprises a clamp ring that is configured to extend around the upper column jacket, the guide end defining a guide shaft passage that extends through the guide end, and the guide shaft provided by a guide shaft insert configured for assembly with a guide shaft end of the clamp ring; wherein the guide end defines a guide shaft keyway that extends along a first inside surface of the guide end, transversely to the lock axis; and wherein the guide shaft insert includes a guide shaft base that is configured to seat into the guide shaft keyway so as to position the guide shaft insert relatively to the guide end of the clamp ring and to prevent the guide shaft insert from rotating about the lock axis.