Low profile energy absorption strap lock mechanism
A steering column assembly includes a lower jacket. The steering column assembly also includes an upper jacket disposed within the lower jacket and being telescopingly adjustable relative to the lower jacket. The steering column assembly further includes a telescope drive assembly. The telescope drive assembly includes an electric actuator for actuating rotation of a threaded rod. The telescope drive assembly also includes a telescope drive nut threaded to the threaded rod. The telescope drive assembly further includes a telescope drive bracket coupled to the upper jacket and to a nut extension block of the telescope drive nut to axially adjust the upper jacket during movement of the telescope drive nut and the telescope drive bracket. The steering column assembly also includes an energy absorption strap disposed between the nut extension block and the telescope drive bracket.
1 . A steering column assembly comprising:
a lower jacket;
an upper jacket disposed within the lower jacket and being telescopingly adjustable relative to the lower jacket;
a telescope drive assembly comprising:
an electric actuator for actuating rotation of a threaded rod;
a telescope drive nut threaded to the threaded rod; and
a telescope drive bracket coupled to the upper jacket and to a nut extension block of the telescope drive nut to axially adjust the upper jacket during movement of the telescope drive nut and the telescope drive bracket; and
an energy absorption strap disposed between the nut extension block and the telescope drive bracket.
2 . The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the telescope drive bracket comprises:
a base plate coupled to the upper jacket; and
a pair of flanges extending radially outwardly from the base plate.
3 . The steering column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the telescope drive bracket is coupled to the nut extension block of the telescope drive nut with at least one fastener extending through a coupling portion of each of the pair of flanges.
4 . The steering column assembly of claim 3 , wherein the coupling portion of at least one of the pair of flanges extends axially more than one-half of the length of each of the pair of flanges.
5 . The steering column assembly of claim 4 , wherein the coupling portion of at least one of the pair of flanges defines a cutout to receive a laterally protruding segment of the nut extension block.
6 . The steering column assembly of claim 3 , wherein the coupling portion of at least one of the pair of flanges extends axially less than one-half of the length of each of the pair of flanges.
7 . The steering column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the base plate of the telescope drive bracket is directly coupled to the upper jacket with a first fastener and a second fastener.
8 . The steering column assembly of claim 7 , wherein the energy absorption strap comprises:
a radially outer leg;
a radially inner leg; and
a curved portion connecting the radially outer leg and the radially inner leg.
9 . The steering column assembly of claim 8 , wherein the radially inner leg of the energy absorption strap is directly coupled to the base plate of the telescope drive bracket with the second fastener.
10 . The steering column assembly of claim 9 , wherein the radially outer leg is adjacent to, and in contact with, the nut extension block, wherein the radially inner leg is adjacent to, and in contact with, the base plate of the telescope drive bracket.
11 . The steering column assembly of claim 8 , wherein the energy absorption strap is disposed within respective inner edges of the pair of flanges of the telescope drive bracket.
12 . An integrated energy absorption apparatus and telescope drive assembly comprising:
an electric actuator for actuating rotation of a threaded rod;
a telescope drive nut threaded to the threaded rod; and
a telescope drive bracket coupled to an upper jacket and to a nut extension block of the telescope drive nut to axially adjust the upper jacket during movement of the telescope drive nut and the telescope drive bracket, wherein the telescope drive bracket comprises:
a base plate coupled to the upper jacket, wherein the base plate of the telescope drive bracket is directly coupled to the upper jacket with a first fastener and a second fastener; and
a pair of flanges extending radially outwardly from the base plate, wherein the telescope drive bracket is coupled to the nut extension block of the telescope drive nut with at least one fastener extending through a coupling portion of each of the pair of flanges; and
an energy absorption strap disposed between the nut extension block and the telescope drive bracket.
13 . The integrated energy absorption apparatus and telescope drive assembly of claim 12 , wherein the energy absorption strap comprises:
a radially outer leg;
a radially inner leg; and
a curved portion connecting the radially outer leg and the radially inner leg,
wherein the radially inner leg of the energy absorption strap is directly coupled to the base plate of the telescope drive bracket with the second fastener.
14 . The integrated energy absorption apparatus and telescope drive assembly of claim 13 , wherein the radially outer leg is adjacent to, and in contact with, the nut extension block, wherein the radially inner leg is adjacent to, and in contact with, the base plate of the telescope drive bracket.
15 . The integrated energy absorption apparatus and telescope drive assembly of claim 12 , wherein the energy absorption strap is disposed within respective inner edges of the pair of flanges of the telescope drive bracket.
16 . The integrated energy absorption apparatus and telescope drive assembly of claim 12 , wherein the coupling portion of at least one of the pair of flanges extends axially more than one-half of the length of each of the pair of flanges.
17 . The integrated energy absorption apparatus and telescope drive assembly of claim 16 , wherein the coupling portion of at least one of the pair of flanges defines a cutout to receive a laterally protruding segment of the nut extension block.
18 . The integrated energy absorption apparatus and telescope drive assembly of claim 12 , wherein the coupling portion of at least one of the pair of flanges extends axially less than one-half of the length of each of the pair of flanges.