US 12,233,973 B2
Steer by wire steering column assembly
Pawel Ponikiewski, Pewel Mala (PL); Damian Uchyla, Strumień (PL); Artur Wojtalik, Katowice (PL); Radoslaw Szymoszek, Cieszyn (PL); and Marcin Brzoska, Zabrzeg (PL)
Assigned to ZF Steering Systems Poland Sp. Z.o.o., Czechowice-Dziedzice (PL)
Filed by ZF Steering Systems Poland Sp. Z.o.o., Czechowice-Dziedzice (PL)
Filed on May 31, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/326,249.
Claims priority of application No. 22461560 (EP), filed on Jun. 1, 2022; and application No. 2213274 (GB), filed on Sep. 12, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0001985 A1, Jan. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. B62D 6/00 (2006.01); B62D 1/181 (2006.01); B62D 1/185 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 6/008 (2013.01) [B62D 1/181 (2013.01); B62D 1/185 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A steer by wire steering column assembly for a vehicle comprising:
a shroud having a first shroud portion and a second shroud portion, the first shroud portion and the second shroud portion being constrained to move telescopically relative to one another for adjustment of a reach position of a steering column assembly;
a shaft supported by one or more bearing assemblies housed within the shroud and adapted for supporting a handwheel or another user operable device at a free end; and
a linear actuator that includes an elongate threaded rod that is connected at a first location to one of the shroud portions by a first bracket assembly and at a second location to the other shroud portion by a second bracket assembly, the linear actuator controlling a telescopic position of the shroud by causing the threaded rod to rotate around its axis,
wherein at least one of the first and second bracket assemblies is adapted to provide a degree of lost motion between the linear actuator and one of the first and second shroud portions that accommodates misalignment of the first and second shroud portions during use of the steering column assembly that would otherwise apply a bending moment to the linear actuator, and
wherein each bracket assembly comprises a rigid mounting part that is fixed to one of the first and second shroud portions and a locating part that is fixed to the rigid mounting part and that engages the elongate threaded rod, wherein at least a portion of the lost motion is provided between either or both;
the mounting bracket and the first and second shroud portions to which the mounting bracket is fixed; and
the locating part and the mounting bracket.