WO2009153166A1 - Clamping device for positional fixing of an adjustable vehicle steering column - Google Patents

Abstract

Clamping device for positional fixing of a vehicle steering column that can be adjusted in length and/or tilt. The clamping device comprises a non-rotating disk (36) that can abut against the vehicle steering column, said disk comprising one or more first guides for guiding rolling elements (34), respectively.  The clamping device further comprises a clamping lever (32) for manually activating the clamping device. The clamping lever can be pivoted relative to the non-rotating disk (36) between a clamping position and a release position and comprises one or more second guides (33), each of which corresponds to one of the first guides of the non-rotating disk (36). The clamping device further comprises one or more rolling elements (34), each of which is held between one of the first guides and the respective corresponding second guide (33).  One of the first or second guides is formed by the guide ramp, which has a ramp shape that increases in the clamping direction (48). The corresponding second or first guide of the guide ramp is formed by a cut-out (33).

Description

 Clamping device for fixing the position of an adjustable vehicle steering column

The present invention relates to a clamping device for fixing the position of an adjustable in length and / or tilt vehicle steering column. With such a clamping device, the length and / or inclination of the vehicle steering column adapted to a driver can be fixed.

Fig. 1 shows a known from the prior art clamping device for fixing the position of an adjustable vehicle steering column. Figure a) of Fig. 1 shows a view of the clamping device from above. Figure b) of Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the clamping device. The clamping device initially has a clamping bolt 01, with which the clamping device on the steering column (not shown) can be attached. The clamping device further comprises a clamping lever 02, via which the clamping device is manually operated. The clamping lever 02 is rotatably connected to a first ramp plate 03, which corresponds to a second ramp plate 04. The second ramp plate 04 is rotatably connected via two cams 06 with the steering column. By an actuation of the clamping lever 02, this is pivoted, whereby the first ramp disc 03 rotates relative to the second ramp disc 04. The second ramp disk 04 has a plurality of ramps 07 (shown in FIG. 3) onto which corresponding contact elements 08 (shown in FIG. 4) of the first ramp disk 03 accumulate. This results in an axial stroke, through which the second ramp plate 04 is pressed against the vehicle steering column. Fig. 2 shows a detail of the clamping device shown in Fig. 1 in detail. Fig. 3 shows the second ramp plate 04 of the clamping device shown in Fig. 1 in detail. Fig. 4 shows the first ramp disc of the clamping device shown in Fig. 1 in detail. A major disadvantage of the clamping device according to the prior art shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is that the two ramp discs must be made consuming as forming parts and that they have a large space requirement. In addition, both ramp discs must be able to withstand high loads, for which the two components are to be hardened.

DE 10 2005 031 594 A1 shows a clamping device for fixing the position of an adjustable vehicle steering column. The clamping device has a clamping disc and a plurality of rolling elements, wherein on the surface of the clamping disc clamping ramps are formed for the rolling elements. The rolling elements each contact one of a plurality of contact elements arranged in a common plane. A lever for pivoting the clamping disc is connected via a latching element with a guide element for guiding the rolling elements. A disadvantage of this solution is the effort required for this purpose, which is inter alia due to the high number of modules.

From DE 103 16 190 A1 a further clamping device for an adjustable vehicle steering column is known. The clamping device comprises a tension bolt on which a ramp ramp provided with clamping ramps is arranged coaxially. The clamping ramps each have a contour which varies continuously in the circumferential direction from a release position to a clamping position. At the clamping ramps rolling elements are supported in the clamping direction of the ramp disc, which are mounted in a rotatably mounted on the tie bolt guide cage. Opposite to the first ramp disc, a further ramp disc is arranged coaxially, at the clamping ramps, the rolling elements are also supported. This solution requires multiple ramp discs, which makes it expensive and expensive.

FIG. 5 shows a further clamping device known from the prior art for a vehicle steering column in an exploded view. The clamping device comprises a clamping bolt 11, on which a clamping lever 12 is pivotable. The clamping lever 12 is rotatably connected to a ramp plate 13, the four ramps 14 for guiding has four balls 16. The four balls 16 are further guided in a spacer 17 where they abut on four axes 18, which in turn abut against the vehicle steering column. By pivoting the clamping lever 12, the four balls 16 experience an axial stroke through the guide on the four ramps 14 of the ramp disc 13, which is transmitted via the four axles 18 to the vehicle steering column and jams it. Fig. 6 shows a detail of the clamping device shown in Fig. 5 in section. A disadvantage of this solution is the effort required for this purpose, which is due in particular to the high number of assemblies and components.

DE 103 04 640 A1 relates to a clamping device for a steering column, in which a first clamping plate element is rotatable relative to a second clamping plate element between a release position and a clamping position, wherein a rolling element is provided in contact between the clamping plate elements. The second clamping plate element has a clamping ramp with a contour for the rolling element, so that a distance between the clamping plate elements changes with a rotation of the clamping plate elements relative to one another. On the second clamping plate element, a lever adapter with a T-shaped cross section is provided for pushing on a correspondingly shaped section of an actuating lever. This solution also has the disadvantage that it requires a large number of components.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a clamping device for fixing the position of an adjustable in length and / or tilt vehicle steering column, which is less expensive to manufacture compared to the prior art, has a lower weight and has a lower overall height.

The above object is achieved by a clamping device according to the appended claim 1. The clamping device according to the invention is used to fix the position of an adjustable in length and / or tilt vehicle steering column, for example, of passenger cars. The clamping device initially comprises a turnable against the vehicle steering column anti-rotation disc with one or more first guides for guiding each of a rolling element. The non-rotating disc serves to transmit the force for clamping the vehicle steering column from the clamping device to the vehicle steering column. For this purpose, the torsion-resistant disc in the installed state of the clamping device proposes directly or indirectly on the vehicle steering column. The disc is at least in the installed state of the clamping device against rotation. The clamping device further comprises a clamping lever for manual operation of the clamping device. The clamping lever is pivotable relative to the non-rotating disc between a clamping position and a release position. Furthermore, the clamping lever has one or more second guides, which correspond in each case with one of the first guides of the torsion-resistant disc. Therefore, the second guides are in a region of the clamping lever, which faces the non-rotating disk. The clamping lever must have a lever arm that is long enough to apply the clamping force manually. The clamping device further comprises one or more rolling elements, which are each guided between one of the first guides and the respective corresponding second guide. The one or more rolling elements are thus between the clamping lever and the non-rotating disc. According to the invention, one of the first or the second guides is formed by a guide ramp which has a ramp course rising in the clamping direction. The corresponding to the guide ramp second or first guide is formed by a recess which partially receives the rolling elements. Consequently, the one or more ramps may be formed in the clamping lever or in the rotating disk. The one or more corresponding recesses are formed in the respective opposing component. If the guide ramps are formed, for example, in the clamping lever, then the non-rotating disc has the corresponding Recesses on. The one or more rolling elements are guided on two sides by the clamping lever and the non-rotating disc. If the clamping device is actuated, then there is a rotation between the clamping lever and the non-rotating disc, whereby the rolling elements up or run on the guide ramps. As a result, the guide ramps or the rolling elements experience a stroke oriented in the clamping direction, whereby at the same time the anti-rotation disk experiences such a stroke. The torsion-resistant disc is thereby pressed against the vehicle steering column or removed from it, so that jamming or release of the vehicle steering column is made possible. The recesses ensure a lateral guidance of the contact elements, can be used for the rolling elements, so that they are displaced along the guide ramps.

The clamping device according to the invention requires only three different components to realize the required stroke, namely the anti-rotation disk, the clamping lever and the contact element or rolling elements. As a result, the clamping device according to the invention is low-effort and can be produced with small dimensions and at the same time robust executable. It is particularly advantageous here that only one component, namely the component having the guide ramps, has to meet high requirements with respect to the mechanical load capacity. In contrast to prior art solutions which use at least two ramp disks, the inventive solution requires, for example, only one ramp disk, which is generally hardened. The inventive solution requires no special components that allow lateral guidance of the rolling elements. This function is realized by the clamping lever or by the anti-rotation washer. The smaller number of components made possible by the inventive solution further results in that the rigidity of the clamping device according to the invention over the prior art is increased, since according to the invention fewer components are in the force flow of the clamping force applied by the clamping device. According to the inventive solution are in particular the rolling elements in the power flow, which are available as standard components cost. Rolling elements have a smoother surface than, for example, a sintered ramp disc, whereby the friction in the clamping device according to the invention is reduced compared to solutions according to the prior art with at least two ramp discs.

In the clamping device according to the invention, the guide ramps are realized on the clamping lever or on the non-rotating disk. Preferably, however, the guide ramps are realized as the second guides on the designed as a ramp disc torsion-resistant disc. Accordingly, the one or more first guides are formed by the one or more recesses in the clamping lever. In this embodiment, it is advantageous that only the small executable ramp disc must meet high requirements in terms of mechanical strength. On the other hand, in the clamping lever only a guide of the rolling elements is realized in the recesses in the clamping lever, which in particular the recording of the clamping force and lateral guidance of the rolling elements are made possible. In this embodiment, no guide ramp must be realized in the clamping lever, which would require a hardened material, so that the clamping lever, which requires larger dimensions due to the necessary lever arm, can be produced inexpensively.

The clamping lever is preferably pivotable in an axis of rotation aligned in the clamping direction. As a result, the generated clamping force can act vertically. The non-rotating disc is preferably arranged with its center in the axis of rotation and perpendicular to this.

The one or more rolling bodies are preferably each formed by a ball. Balls as rolling elements are particularly suitable because they are very low friction between the first and second guides can be. In modified embodiments, for example, rollers or needles can be used as rolling elements.

In a preferred embodiment of the clamping device according to the invention, the one or more guide ramps allow a persistence of the clamping device in the clamping position and also in the release position. For this purpose, the one or more guide ramps each have a first trough for receiving the rolling element in the clamping position and a second trough for latching receiving the rolling element in the release position. Between the two wells of each guide ramp a gradually increasing course of the guide ramp is formed.

In embodiments in which balls function as rolling elements, the one or more recesses preferably at least partially have the shape of a ball adapted to the ball. The diameter of the dome is slightly larger than the diameter of the ball, so that the respective ball is rotatably mounted in the dome. The dome shape ensures a low-friction bearing of the ball, a recording of the clamping force and a lateral guidance of the ball. The one or more calottes can be designed such that more than half of the respective ball is positively enclosed by them. For example, 60% of the respective ball can be enclosed by the calottes, whereby approximately 40% of the respective balls project from the dome-shaped recesses and can run on the guide ramps. In this embodiment, it is ensured that the balls can not fall out of the dome-shaped recesses, which is already during assembly of the clamping device of advantage. The balls can be introduced, for example, in the recesses in the designed as a simple punch-embossing part clamping lever, as the half enclosing Kalottenform the recesses is formed. It is not mandatory that the ball is rotatably stored in the calotte. The ball can also be arranged immovably in the dome. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the hemisphere forming the dome and a hollow cylindrical section adjoining the hemisphere are formed. The dome and the hollow cylinder have an equal radius. However, the height of the hollow cylinder is smaller than the radius of the ball, so that the ball protrudes partially out of the recess. The dome ensures a low-friction bearing of the ball and a recording of the clamping force, while the hollow cylindrical portion of the recess ensures in particular a lateral guidance of the ball. Preferably holding elements are provided in the hollow cylindrical sections which prevent the ball from falling out of the recess. The holding elements can be created for example by an embossing process. The embossing can be carried out so that the ball is no longer rotatable. The hollow cylindrical portion, which adjoins the spherical shape, is generally required to allow the mountability of the contact element or the ball

The ramp disc of a clamping device according to the invention preferably has a plurality of guide ramps, wherein the guide ramps are preferably distributed but not necessarily uniformly on a circle concentric with the ramp disc. Accordingly, the clamping lever has an equal number of recesses, which are distributed uniformly in the same manner as the guide ramps. For example, a clamping device according to the invention with three Fuhr- rungsrampen and accordingly three recesses and three rolling elements are performed, the three guide ramps have an angle of 120 ° to each other. In this embodiment, a slight actuation of the clamping lever and a vertical introduction of the clamping force are possible. However, other angular distributions can be used instead of the 120 ° distribution. Also, the guide ramps need not necessarily all be arranged on a concentric circle. For example, it is possible to use a different radius for each ramp. The ramp disc preferably has a first angled tab, which can be struck against the steering column and prevents rotation of the ramp disc. By the first angled tab the required anti-rotation device for the ramp disc can be realized with little effort.

The ramp disc preferably has a second angled tab, against which a first end stop of the clamping lever abuts in the release position and against which a second end stop abuts in the clamping position. Thus, the end positions of the clamping lever, which preferably correspond to the clamping position and the release position, define by the second angled tab, whereby actuation of the clamping lever is prevented in an inadmissible position. Thus, the clamping lever can not be brought into a position in which the rolling elements have left the guide ramps.

The ramp disc is preferably formed by a stamped-bent stamped steel sheet metal part or by a sintered workpiece. Sintering materials meet the requirements in terms of load capacity and hardness, especially on the guide ramps.

The corresponding with the ramp disc clamping lever is exposed to lower loads, so that it can be realized with little effort preferably by a stamped metal workpiece. The recesses for receiving the balls can be embossed in the punched metal workpiece. Then insert the balls into the recesses. Finally, retaining elements can be impressed into the recesses in order to prevent falling out of the balls from the recesses. Said punching and embossing operations can be carried out in one and the same tool, whereby the production of the clamping lever including the balls introduced therein is possible with very little effort. Alternatively, the balls with another Tool are introduced, with which the holding elements are created by a stamping process.

The ramp disc and the clamping lever are preferably arranged on a clamping bolt to be connected to the steering column. The clamping bolt simultaneously forms the pivot axis of the clamping lever and is acted upon by the clamping force. The fastening of the clamping device according to the invention is carried out by an attachment of the clamping bolt on the steering column, for example by screwing the clamping bolt.

Further advantages, details and developments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1 shows two views of a clamping device according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of the clamping device shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a second ramp disk of the clamping device shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a first ramp disk of the clamping device shown in FIG. 1; FIG.

5 shows a further clamping device according to the prior art in an exploded view;

6 is a detail view of the clamping device shown in Figure 5 in a sectional view ..;

7 shows a preferred embodiment of a clamping device according to the invention in an exploded view; FIG. 8 shows the clamping device shown in FIG. 7 in a perspective view; FIG.

FIG. 9 is a detail view of the clamping device shown in FIG. 7 in a sectional view; FIG.

FIG. 10 shows a further detail view of the clamping device shown in FIG. 7 in a sectional illustration; FIG.

FIG. 11 shows a clamping lever of the clamping device shown in FIG. 7; FIG.

FIG. 12 shows a ramp disk of the clamping device shown in FIG. 7; FIG. and

Fig. 13 shows a design variant of the clamping device shown in Fig. 7.

While FIGS. 1 to 6 have already been explained above with reference to the prior art, a detailed representation of a preferred embodiment of the invention follows below.

Fig. 7 shows a preferred embodiment of the clamping device according to the invention in an exploded view. The clamping device according to the invention serves to fix a position adjustable in length and tilt vehicle steering column of a passenger car. In order to secure the clamping device on the vehicle chassis of the passenger car, the clamping device has a clamping bolt 30 which can be screwed via a thread 31 in the vehicle chassis (not shown). A clamping force that can be generated with the clamping device can be diverted via the clamping bolt 30 into the vehicle chassis. On the clamping bolt 30, a clamping lever 32 is arranged, which is pivotable together with the clamping bolt 30 about its axis. As a result, an operating force applied by the user can be converted into a torque. The clamping lever 32 has three recesses 33, in which in the mounted state of the clamping device each one of three balls 34 are arranged rotatably. The three recesses 33 each have an equal radial distance to the clamping bolt 30 and are preferably evenly distributed around the clamping bolt 30 at an angle of 120 ° to each other.

The clamping lever 32 corresponds in the region of the three recesses 33 with a ramp plate 36, which is also arranged on the clamping bolt 30. The ramp disc 36 has on its side facing away from the clamping lever 32 a stop surface 37 which abuts the vehicle steering column (not shown) in the installed state of the clamping device and enables transmission of the clamping force from the clamping device to the vehicle steering column. The ramp disk 36 including its stop surface 37 is arranged concentrically and perpendicular to the clamping bolt 30, whereby the clamping force can be introduced perpendicular to the clamping bolt 30 on the vehicle steering column. The ramp disc 36 can not rotate on the clamping bolt 30 in the installed state of the clamping device, since the ramp disc 36 is seated with a first angled tab 38 in a corresponding recess (not shown) in the vehicle chassis. If the clamping lever 32 is pivoted together with the clamping bolt 30, it rotates relative to the ramp plate 36. The pivoting of the clamping lever 32 is limited by a first end stop 39 and by a second end stop 41, each in the end positions of the pivoting of the clamping lever 32 to a second angled tab 42 of the ramp disc 36 strike.

The clamping bolt 30 has at its end opposite the thread 31, a head 43 on which the clamping lever 32 abuts. The head 43 has a square 44 which engages positively in the clamping lever 32, whereby the clamping lever 32 rotatably connected to the head 43 and the clamping bolt 30 is connected. The recesses 33 enable a low-friction bearing of the balls 34 and ensure that upon pivoting of the clamping lever 32, the balls 34 must follow the rotation of the recesses 33 about the axis of the clamping bolt 30. As a result, the position of the balls 34 on the ramp disk 36 changes, since the ramp disk 36 can not follow the pivoting or rotation, because it is secured against rotation by the first unwound tab 38 of the ramp disk 36. The balls 34 strike in the assembled state of the clamping device to the ramp plate 36 at. The ramp disk 36 has, for guiding the balls 34, three guide ramps 46 (shown in FIG. 12), via which the balls 34 make contact with the ramp disk 36. The guide ramps 46 each extend over that region of the ramp disc 36, which each of the balls 34 sweeps over during a complete pivoting of the clamping lever 32. Therefore, the guide ramps 46 as well as the recesses 33 with an equal distance to the clamping bolt 30 and evenly distributed around the clamping bolt 30 are each arranged at an angle of 120 ° to each other. The guide ramps 46 have a ramp course 47 (shown in FIG. 12) that changes in the direction of the axis of the clamping bolt 30. As a result, the balls 34 run during pivoting of the clamping lever 32 on the guide ramps 46 and run down from these. Consequently, the distance between the balls 34 to the ramp plate 36 changes during pivoting of the clamping lever 32. At the same time, the distance between the clamping lever 32 and the ramp plate 36. Accordingly, the ramp disc 36 is moved on the clamping bolt 30 in a clamping direction 48, since the Clamping lever 32 abuts the head 43 and thus can not be moved on the clamping bolt 30. The clamping direction 48 is located in the axis of the clamping bolt 30 in the direction of the thread 31. The shifted in the clamping direction 48 ramp plate 36 strikes with its stop surface 37 to the vehicle steering column and clamps this. Are the balls 34 accumulated completely on the ramps 46, the distance between the ramp plate 36 and the clamping lever 32 is maximum, whereby a clamping position of the clamping device is defined. are the balls 34 have run completely down from the guide ramps 46, the distance between the ramp disc 36 and the clamping lever 32 is minimal, thereby defining a release position of the clamping device.

The clamping lever 32 has at its end lever a handle 49, on which the user can operate the clamping device. The handle 49 can be fixed with a Christmas tree profile on the clamping lever 32, wherein it can be mounted by attaching little effort on the clamping lever 32. Other forms of connection are also possible. In addition, the handle can be formed by overmolding the clamping lever 32.

On the clamping bolt 30, a ring 51 is further arranged, which can not be moved or only with increased force on the clamping bolt 30. The ring 51 serves to secure the transport, so that the ramp disc 36 and the clamping lever 32 can not slide down from the clamping bolt 30, even if the clamping device is in the steering column.

Fig. 8 shows the drawn in Fig. 7 clamping device in an assembled state, as it occupies particular when it is mounted on the steering column. The ramp disc 36 is located near the clamping lever 32. Between the clamping lever 32 and the ramp disc 36 are the balls 34, which determine the distance between the clamping lever 32 and the ramp disc 36, which is small in the state shown, however, since the balls 34 are largely sunk in the recesses 33 and the guide ramps 46. The arrangement of the rolling elements formed by the balls 34 in the recesses 33 and the guide ramps 36 of the clamping lever 32 and the ramp plate 36 allows a very low height of the clamping device, making it small executable and can be arranged to save space near the vehicle steering column. Fig. 9 shows a detail of the clamping device shown in Fig. 8 in a sectional view. In particular, the clamping bolt 30, the head 43, a part of the clamping lever 32 with one of the recesses 33 and one of the balls 34 and the ramp disk 36 are visible. It is the arrangement of the clamping lever 32, the ramp plate 36 and the balls 34 located therebetween visible. The balls 34 are received more than half of the recesses 33. The recesses 33 have the shape of a dome, which surround the balls 34 each more than half. The dome shape of the recesses 33 has a radius which is slightly larger than the radius of the balls 34. The balls 34 can rotate with little friction in the recesses 33, wherein falling out of the balls 34 is prevented from the recesses 33, since the recesses 33, the balls 34 more than half record.

FIG. 10 shows a further detail view of the components of the clamping device according to the invention shown in FIG. 9 in a sectional view. In order to introduce the balls 34 into the recesses 33, the recesses 33 are first to be shaped such that their diameter in the entry region is not smaller than the diameter of the balls 34. Therefore, the recesses 33 in addition to a dome-shaped portion 56 which is similar to a hemisphere, a hollow cylindrical portion 57 on. The hollow cylindrical portion 57 of the recess 33 can be 34 deformed after the introduction of the ball so that its diameter is reduced, whereby this diameter is smaller than the diameter of the ball 34, so that the ball 34 can not fall out of the recess 33. For this purpose, in the simplest case notches on the circumference of the hollow cylindrical portion 57, whereby holding elements for the ball 34 are formed sufficient. Alternatively, the entire hollow cylindrical portion 57 may be formed by, for example, an embossing operation such that the mold conforms to the ball 34, as a result of which the portion 57 loses its hollow cylindrical shape and instead complements the dome shape of the dome-shaped portion 56. Fig. 1 1 shows the drawn in Fig. 7 clamping lever 32 in isolation. The clamping lever 32 is stamped from a metal sheet, whereby, inter alia, the two end stops 39, 41, a square-shaped recess 61 for receiving the clamping bolt 30 and a receptacle 62 for the handle 49 are created. The recesses 33 are embossed in the clamping lever 32.

Fig. 12 shows the drawn in Fig. 7 ramp plate 36 in detail. The ramp disc 36 is substantially cylindrical, with the first angled tab 38 and opposite the second angled tab 42 disposed circumferentially. Alternatively, the ramp disc can have any external geometry. Furthermore, the ramp plate 36 has a circular recess 63 for receiving the clamping bolt. The circular recess is arranged in the center of the ramp disk 36. Around the circular recess 63 around are the three ramp guides 46, each having an equal distance from the center of the ramp plate 36. The three guide ramps 46 are each executed the same. Each of the guide ramps 46 has the ramp course 47 which is delimited by a first depression 64 and by a second depression 66. The two troughs 64, 66 are used for latching receiving the balls 34, wherein the balls 34 engage in the first troughs 64 in the clamping position of the clamping device and wherein the ball 34 engage in the second troughs 66 in the release position in the clamping device. As a result, the clamping device remains in the release position or in the clamping position when the clamping device is not actuated. The latching receiving the balls 34 represents an over-dead function. The first troughs 64 have a smaller depth in the ramp plate 36 than the second troughs 66. Thus, the distance between the ramp plate 36 and the clamping lever 32 is maximum when the balls 34 in the first troughs 64 are located. This position determines the jamming of the vehicle steering column to be clamped. The ramp disk 36 is made as a hardened steel sheet stamping workpiece or as a sintered workpiece. The ramp disk 36 can be made small, whereby the total cost of a clamping device according to the invention can be kept small. The other components of the clamping device according to the invention are inexpensive to produce parts, such as the clamping lever 32, or standard components, such as the balls 34. Therefore, the clamping device according to the invention is much cheaper to produce than known clamping devices according to the prior art.

Fig. 13 shows a design variant of the clamping device shown in Fig. 7, in which the handle 49 partially acts as a lever. This can bring in terms of weight and cost in complicated shaped levers, since the handle 49 is made of plastic.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

01 clamping bolt

02 Clamping lever

03 first ramp disc

04 second ramp disc

06 cams

07 ramps

08 contact elements

09 -

11 clamping bolts

12 clamping lever

13 ramp disc

14 ramps

16 balls

17 spacer

18 axes

19 -

30 clamping bolts

31 thread

32 clamping lever

33 recesses

34 balls

35 -

36 ramp disc

37 stop surface

38 first angled flap

39 first end stop

40 -

41 second end stop

42 second angled flap

43 head

44 square 45 -

46 guide ramps

47 ramp course

48 Clamping direction 49 Handle

50 -

51 ring

52 -

56 dome-shaped portion 57 hollow cylindrical Sect

58 -

61 square-shaped recess

62 recording

63 circular recess 64 first trough

65 -

66 second trough

Claims

claims Clamping device for a vehicle steering column adjustable in its length and / or inclination, comprising: a rotationally secure disc (36) which can be abutted against the vehicle steering column and has one or more first guides (46) for guiding a respective rolling body (34); a clamping lever (32) for the manual actuation of the clamping device, which is pivotable in relation to the non-rotating disc (36) between a clamping position and a release position and has one or more second guides (33), each with one of the first guides (46) correspond; and one or more rolling elements (34) each between one of the first guides (46) and the respective corresponding second guide (33) are guided; wherein the first or the second guide is formed by at least one guide ramp (46) which has a ramp course (47) rising in a clamping direction (48), and wherein the second or first guide corresponding to the guide ramp (46) is formed by a recess (Fig. 33) is formed. 2. Clamping device according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping lever (32) about an in the clamping direction (48) aligned rotational axis is pivotable. 3. Clamping device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the one or more guide ramps (46) each have a first recess (64) for latching receiving the rolling element (34) in the clamping position and a second recess (66) for latching receiving the rolling body (34) in the release position. 4. Clamping device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the one or more rolling elements are each formed by a ball (34). 5. Clamping device according to claim 4, characterized in that the one or more recesses (33) at least partially in the form of a to the balls (34) adapted dome (56), in which the respective ball (34) mounted rotatably or immovably is arranged. 6. Clamping device according to claim 5, characterized in that by the one or more calottes (56) more than the Half of the respective ball is positively enclosed. 7. Clamping device according to claim 5, characterized in that the one or more recesses (33) are each formed by a hemisphere (56) forming the dome and a hollow cylindrical section (57) adjoining the ball (56), wherein the respective ball (34) from the recess (33) is partially outstanding. 8. Clamping device according to claim 7, characterized in that the one or more recesses (33) have on their hollow cylindrical portions (57) holding elements, by falling out of the balls (34) from the recesses (33) is prevented. 9. Clamping device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the one or more second guides designed as a ramp disc (36) against rotation Disk are formed by the one or more guide ramps (46), and that the one or more first guides by the one or more recesses (33) in the clamping lever (32) are formed. 10. Clamping device according to claim 9, characterized in that the ramp disc (32) has a plurality of guide ramps (46), wherein the guide ramps (46) are distributed on a with the ramp disc (36) concentric circle. 11. Clamping device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the ramp disc (36) has a first angled tab (38) which is abuttable against the steering column and by the rotation of the ramp disc (36) is prevented. 12. Clamping device according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the ramp disc (36) has a second angled tab (42) to which in the clamping position, a first end stop (39) of the clamping lever (32) abuts and to the in the release position, a second end stop (41) of the clamping lever (32) abuts. 13. Clamping device according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the ramp disc (36) is formed by a hardened steel sheet stamping workpiece or by a hardened sintered workpiece. 14. Clamping device according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the clamping lever (32) by a punched Metal workpiece is formed. 15. Clamping device according to claim 8 back to claim 14, characterized in that the recesses (33) and the retaining elements in the clamping lever (32) are stamped. 16. Clamping device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the ramp disc (36) and the clamping lever (32) on a to be connected to the steering column clamping bolt (30) are arranged, which forms the pivot axis of the Klemmhe- lever (32) and beauschlagbar with the clamping force. 17. Clamping device according to claim 16, characterized in that the clamping lever (32) rotatably connected to the clamping bolt (30) is connected. 18. Clamping device according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the clamping bolt (30) has at one end a head (43). 19. Clamping device according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the clamping bolt (30) has a peripheral extension (51), wherein by the circumferential extension (51) a transport lock is formed, by the sliding down of the ramp disc (36) from the clamping bolt (30) is prevented. 20. Clamping device according to one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that a handle (49) with a Christmas tree profile on the clamping lever (32) is attached.