Granted Patent B2

US 12,351,233 · App. 18/504,700 · Granted Jul 8, 2025

Inventors: John F. Schulz (Hemlock, MI); Randy W. Jones (North Branch, MI); Michael P. Anspaugh (Bay City, MI); Sergio R. Molinar (Freeland, MI); Jacob Caverly (Freeland, MI); Todd M. King (Saginaw, MI)

Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation

B62D1/192B60K35/10B62D1/046B62D1/185B62D5/001B62D15/022B60K35/60B60K35/654B60K2360/128B60K2360/131B60K2360/782

Abstract

Claims (20)

1. A steering column assembly comprising:

a steering wheel having a steering wheel rim, a steering wheel hub, and a rim extension segment;

a motor having a motor rotor operatively coupled to the rim extension segment;

a jacket assembly operatively coupled to the steering wheel, wherein the jacket assembly defines a central passage extending in a longitudinal direction of the steering column assembly, wherein the central passage does not include a steering shaft therein, wherein the jacket assembly consists of a single, integrally formed jacket which translates during normal axial adjustment of the steering column assembly and during a crash stroke event of the steering column assembly; and

a motor stator disposed radially inwardly of the motor rotor to be positioned between the motor rotor and the single, integrally formed jacket.

2. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of wires extending through the central passage of the jacket assembly.

3. A steering column assembly comprising:

a steering wheel having a steering wheel rim, a steering wheel hub, and a rim extension segment;

a motor having a motor rotor operatively coupled to the rim extension segment;

a jacket assembly operatively coupled to the steering wheel, wherein the jacket assembly defines a central passage extending in a longitudinal direction of the steering column assembly, wherein the central passage does not include a steering shaft therein, wherein the jacket assembly comprises an upper jacket and a lower jacket, wherein the upper jacket and the lower jacket each translate during normal axial adjustment of the steering column assembly, wherein the lower jacket is stationary during a crash stroke event of the steering column assembly; and

a motor stator disposed radially inwardly of the motor rotor to be positioned between the motor rotor and the upper jacket.

4. The steering column assembly of claim 3 , wherein the lower jacket remains stationary and the upper jacket translates during normal axial adjustment of the steering column assembly and during a crash stroke event of the steering column assembly.

5. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the steering wheel hub is rotationally stationary relative to the steering wheel rim.

6. The steering column assembly of claim 5 , wherein an input control feature is a stalk mounted to the steering wheel hub.

7. The steering column assembly of claim 5 , wherein an input control feature is a button mounted to the steering wheel hub.

8. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein an input control feature is a stalk attached to a mounting bracket operatively coupled to the jacket assembly.

9. The steering column assembly of claim 3 , wherein the steering wheel hub is rotationally stationary relative to the steering wheel rim.

10. The steering column assembly of claim 9 , wherein an input control feature is a stalk mounted to the steering wheel hub.

11. The steering column assembly of claim 9 , wherein an input control feature is a button mounted to the steering wheel hub.

12. The steering column assembly of claim 3 , wherein an input control feature is a stalk attached to a mounting bracket operatively coupled to the jacket assembly.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (9)