Different built-ins enabling the tilting or shifting of the steering control element (e.g. the steering wheel or handlebars) are often used in vehicles requiring necessity to assure the crew can disembark from the vehicle (e.g. on the wheelchair). In a closed (i.e. pushed-in) state, the built-in tightly connects the steering system mechanics together. It is crucial to assure a correct position of both counterparts of the locking mechanism while tilting so that the parts are connected functionally to create a perfectly tight connection with zero lash when closing it repeatedly. The built-in also enables one to change a length ratio of a pulled-out state to a length of a pushed-in state to almost 3:1. The design also contains security elements that prevent individual components from being pulled out further than the designated range, which would disengage the guidance system thereby leading to loss of its proper function. The built-in also includes design elements on both ends, which enable it to be built in the steering system of the vehicle in a suitable way (e.g. a pivot serrated shaft, a lever with a possibility to mount a ball-joint of the steering gear box etc.).
According to the existing technology in the area of built-ins regarding connective elements of the vehicle steering systems many versions of telescopic steering rod designs are known, as it is evident e.g. from US20110005346, JP2010120558 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,572,023. These telescopic rods are used only to adjust the control steering element, most often a steering wheel, to a required position. These devices are, if they are to be functional in the entire range of their possible extension adjustment, demanding in terms of production, both technologically and financially. The above mentioned devices are adjustable mostly by a manual intervention of the operator and by setting it in the required position. Another device disclosed in JP2009107557 enables adjustment by means of an electric actuator. Although this version is more comfortable in terms of its operation, it is susceptible to occurrences of incorrect functioning due to malfunctions of electronics. U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,260 discloses a design of a device that enables adjustment by means of a gas spring, which allows fixing the steering system in the required position.
Further designs of joint shafts are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,740, EP0179711, GB1126071, CN201932226 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,861, which assure achieving an optimum adjustment of the steering system of the submitted device. However, these solutions do not enable reaching the required length ratio of the pulled-out state to the length of the pushed-in state to almost 3:1. These devices are also significantly demanding in terms of production and therefore are more costly. A similar application can be seen in the solution disclosed in WO2012060744, the steering rod extends in a requisite way and, moreover, tilts by means of a built-in joint when tilting the truck cabin. However, this steering rod does not reach the necessary range of extension. The required extension could be performed by a telescopic rod disclosed in US20060202463. The disadvantage of this telescopic rod is its demanding production due to used inner and outer toothed surfaces and cogwheels.
The telescopic connecting steering rod described herein aims to introduce a new, simple, designable version of the telescopic steering rod for vehicles, that eliminates shortcomings of known solutions, is functionally reliable, and which enables adjustment of the length between the pulled-out and the pushed-in state to almost 3:1.