US 11,912,334 B2
Driving state-dependent release of the tilt function of a steering element of a vehicle
Philipp Kuepper, Grevenbroich (DE); Martin Faßbender, Buschhoven (DE); Bruno Alves, Huerth (DE); Klemens Degle, Cologne (DE); and Lukas Loehmann, Siegburg (DE)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Nov. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/533,203.
Claims priority of application No. 102020214941.0 (DE), filed on Nov. 27, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0169300 A1, Jun. 2, 2022
Int. Cl. B62D 1/187 (2006.01); B60W 60/00 (2020.01); B60W 50/14 (2020.01)
CPC B62D 1/187 (2013.01) [B60W 50/14 (2013.01); B60W 60/001 (2020.02); B60W 2510/06 (2013.01); B60W 2510/1005 (2013.01); B60W 2520/00 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for releasing a tilt mechanism for a steering element of a vehicle, the method comprising:
providing the steering element directly, pivotably mounted around a tilt axis of a holder between a steering position and a non-steering position;
fixing the steering element in one of the steering position and the non-steering position with at least one releasable locking arrangement, the at least one releasable locking arrangement including:
a locking element, the locking element having a first mechanical element including at least two pins of a plurality of pins selectively disposed within at least two recesses of a plurality of recesses defined by the steering element, wherein the at least two pins are coplanar with a profile of the steering element; and
a further locking element engaged with the locking element, the further locking element including:
a second mechanical element including a force action chain selectively interrupted; and
an electronic element in communication with the force action chain;
adopting a locking state of at least two states with the at least one releasable locking arrangement in which a release of the at least one releasable locking arrangement is prevented; and
adopting a release state of the at least two states with the at least one releasable locking arrangement in which the release of the at least one releasable locking arrangement is enabled.