| 摘要 |
<p>A clamp assembly secures a fixed portion of a steering column assembly to a movable portion of a steering column. It comprises a rack of teeth carried by the moving portion and a rack of teeth carried by the fixed portion and an inner hollow toothed block nested inside an outer hollow toothed block, each carrying at least one rack of teeth with the rack of teeth on the inner block facing the rack of teeth on the moving portion and the rack of teeth on the outer block facing the rack of teeth on the fixed portion. A retaining clip provides a lost motion coupling between the retaining clip and the inner toothed block and an independent lost motion coupling between the retaining clip and the inner toothed block and an independent motion coupling between the retaining clip and the outer toothed block. First, second and third springs bias the teeth of the blocks into and out of engagement with the racks when locked and unlocked. The assembly helps prevent damage to the teeth with the springs permitting the damage force on the blocks to be independently absorbed.</p> |
