Device for locking in position the adjustable steering column of a motor vehicle

Claim 1

A locking device for locking in position an adjustable steering column of a motor vehicle, said adjustable column (1) being of the type having a column support structure (5) which is connected to the rest of the structure of the vehicle and whic comprises fit and second side plates (3, 4) between which is disposed the column (1) and locking means (6) for locking the column in position by bringing thee side plates together, wherein said locking means comprise a tie rod (2) extending between said side plates and having a first end (21) which bears against the said first side plate and a second end which is connected to a plurality of locking elements comprising a stop component (24) at the second end of the tie rod, an intermediate support component (25) in contact with said second side plate of the support structure and movable axially on the tie rod (20), and an operating component (26, 50), disposed between thee stop component (24) and the intermediate support component (25), which is connected to operating means (27, 51) and is movable in rotation in a plane perpendicular to the tie rod (20) between an active position for locking the column (1) and a retracted position for unlocking the column (1); wherein the operating component (26, 50) has first and second opposite surfaces which respectively face the intermediate support component (25) and the top component (24); and which contain projecting means (30, 31; 34, 35) adapted to cooperate with a facing ramp (28, 29) of the intermediate support component and with the stop component, so as to separate said locking elements from one another and to bring the side plate together in order to lock the column (1) when the operating component (26, 50) is moved; and wherein said projecting means comprise at least one rolling bearing component (30, 31) and at least one rolling bearing element (34, 35) which are disposed as a pair in a same cavity (52, 53) passing through the operating component (50) and said opposite surfaces thereof, so that said bearing component and said bearing element bear against one another, one projecting between the operating component (50) and the intermediate support component (25), and the other projecting between the operating component (50) and the stop component (24).