Locking mechanism for an adjustable steering column having impact teeth

摘要

A steering column assembly (20) includes a mounting bracket (38) and a column jacket (22) moveable relative to the mounting bracket (38). The mounting bracket (38) defines a rake slot (46) having rake slot teeth (50) and a telescope slot (48) having telescope slot teeth (52). A shaft (60) extends through the rake slot (46) and the telescope slot (48) transverse to a longitudinal axis (26) of the column jacket (22). A rake lock (62) having rake lock teeth (54) is disposed within the rake slot (46) and a telescope lock (64) having telescope lock teeth (56) is disposed within the telescope slot (48). The shaft (60) extends through and rotatably supports the rake lock (62) and the telescope lock (64). The rake lock (62) and the telescope lock (64) rotate as the rake lock (62) and the telescope lock (64) move into interlocking toothed engagement with the slot teeth (50, 52) to avoid peak-to-peak contact between the lock teeth (54, 56) and the slot teeth (50, 52), thereby permitting full meshing engagement between the lock teeth (54, 56) and the slot teeth (50, 52).