A steering column assembly for a vehicle, comprises a shroud comprising an axially movable upper portion and an axially fixed lower portion, which move telescopically to provide adjustment for reach of the steering column assembly, a steering shaft supported by the shroud, a pivot which connects a part of the lower portion to a fixed part of the vehicle, a clamp mechanism which releasably fixes the upper and lower portions and the shroud in position relative to a further fixed part of the vehicle. A sprung support assembly is secured to a fixed part of the vehicle and includes an axle that passes underneath the upper portion of the shroud and a cylindrical roller that surrounds a part of the axle and has an outer surface that engages the underside of the shroud and an inner surface that bears on the axle, the sprung support at least partially supports the weight of the shroud when the clamp mechanism is released, and the cylindrical roller rotating around the axle as the shroud is adjusted for reach.

Steering column assembly

A position control apparatus for an adjustable motor vehicle steering column including a friction clamp, a control shaft rotatable between locked and unlocked positions, a hollow rectangular frame moveable relative to the control shaft when the steering column is adjusted, a first toothed pawl a second toothed pawl, and an elastic bushing resiliently supporting the first and second toothed pawls on the control shaft inside of the rectangular frame. When the control shaft is rotated to its locked position the friction clamp frictionally captures the adjusted position of the steering column. The pawls have gear sectors thereon which are relatively angularly offset by one-half tooth pitch. When the control shaft is rotated to its locked position, the one-half tooth pitch offset assures that at least one of the gear sectors will mesh with a rack gear on the rectangular frame even if the other engages the rack gear peak-to-peak. Each pawl further includes a lug which cooperates with a plain edge of the rectangular frame in immobilizing the pawl when the gear sector thereon is meshed with the rack gear so that the meshed tooth couple between the gear sector and the rack gear reinforces the friction clamp.

Position control apparatus for steering column

The vehicle steering column has a rake adjustment and a telescope adjustment. The adjustment mechanism includes a compression bracket with a telescope slot, a rake bracket with a rake slot and a rake bolt that passes through the telescope slot and the rake slot. A wedge lock is mounted on the rake bolt and positioned in the rake slot and the telescope slot. Rake and telescope teeth on the wedge lock are held out of engagement with a rake tooth rack and a telescope tooth rack during rake and telescope adjustment. The rake bolt is tightened to hold a selected adjustment position and the telescope teeth on the wedge lock engage the telescope tooth rack. During a collision the rake teeth on the wedge lock are moved into engagement with the rake tooth rack to fix the rake and telescope adjustments.

Locking system for adjustable position steering column

An ATV is disclosed having a frame and a plurality of wheels. A power train is defined by an engine, transmission and front and rear final drives. The engine is mounted to the frame skid plate by way of die cast legs. The transmission may include a CVT, which includes a cooling system to cool the interior of the CVT. The cooling system include a fan positioned on the driven clutch causing a reverse suction air flow, back through the drive clutch, with the air exhausting at the front of the engine.

All-terrain vehicle

An instrument panel assembly having a generally symmetrical upper cowl portion (56) defining a cutout region (57) having a center stack assembly (50) disposed within the cutout region (57). The central stack assembly (50) is capable of slidably receiving a number of service modules (58).

Instrument panel and center stack assembly

To facilitate the joint raising and lowering and pivoting of the steering wheel (2) or steering column (1) and the dashboard (4) of a motor vehicle, it is proposed to construct a unit consisting of the steering column (1) and the dashboard (4) which can be fitted ready for use in a motor vehicle by means of a suitable bracket (7). The dashboard (4) is fitted with a stablilising device (18) consisting of a sliding guiding device (40/41 and 37) combined with a toothed wheel/ratchet connection (35/36 and 33/34) on widely spaced guide rails (19/20).

Gunther Bartholomai

Papers

Motor vehicle with a position-adjustable steering wheel and a position-adjustable dashboard