FR2781748A1 - Positive position holding device for clamping system of two automobile steering column parts, has ratchet rotated by the clamping system, with lever peg locking it into chosen position - Google Patents

Abstract

The positive position holding device for one part (1) relative to another part (2) comprises an axial and/or radial adjustment system which is locked in the chosen position by a clamping system. The holding device comprises a ratchet which acts in the corresponding adjustment direction. The ratchet is rotated by the clamping system and is constituted by a ratchet lever (40). The lever is provided with a peg (41) which penetrates into notches (33) arranged on the first part so as to endure the positive holding of the chosen position.

Description

Positive holding device for a clamping system of two

  elements The present invention relates to a device for holding in position relative to a clamping system of two elements. The clamping system has a clamping axis, which passes through each of the two elements. The position holding device of the invention is particularly applicable to a motor vehicle steering column, this steering column being adjustable in an axial direction and / or in a radial direction in the vertical plane. In an adjustable steering column of a motor vehicle, the system for adjusting the height in the vertical plane, that is to say in a radial direction, or in depth in the vertical plane, that is to say in a axial direction, requires maintenance of the position chosen by the driver and positive maintenance of the position in the event of an impact. In known devices, provision is made to add to the clamping system of the position adjustment system a device of metal teeth, which are connected to each of the inserted elements, so that the metal teeth come into contact with one another. , so that they guarantee the maintenance of the chosen position. These teeth are arranged on the one hand

  on a fixed rack that is part of the element-

  support, and on the other hand on a rack mounted on the mobile adjustment system. In certain adjustment positions, it happens during locking, that the tops of the teeth of the movable rack come into contact with the tops of the teeth of the fixed rack. The rack system is located

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  then in an unstable equilibrium position leading to two situations: - the tops of the teeth remain in equilibrium, the locking system cannot operate, and it is impossible to lock the column adjustment system; - with the increase in the effort of the operating lever, the tops of the teeth leave this unstable position and are placed in a position inside the recesses, the system can then lock. However, this transition from the equilibrium state to the locked state takes place with a slight shock in the rack system, and this induces a cracking noise. These drawbacks, although not affecting the operation of the locking system, are felt to be unpleasant, and can be considered unacceptable. Indeed, such phenomena are detrimental to the mechanical strength of the device, and

  give the driver an impression of insecurity.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a device for holding in position a clamping system between two elements. The device for holding in position applies in particular to the clamping system of a system for adjusting a steering column of a motor vehicle. The object of the present invention is also to present a device for holding in position, which avoids the drawbacks described above, and which can be easily integrated into existing steering columns, while ensuring that the

clamping system considered.

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  The invention relates to a device for holding an element in position relative to a support element considered to be fixed. The first element and the support element are connected by an adjustment system in axial and / or radial position, said adjustment system being locked in position.

chosen by a clamping system.

  The support element consists of a base having an upright at each of its two ends. The first element is arranged inside the two uprights of the support element, said uprights being

  substantially parallel to the axis of the first element.

  Said position adjustment system is locked at the position chosen by said clamping system, the various elements of which are mounted on a clamping rod passing through the two uprights and the first element, and the axis of which is the clamping axis, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis

of the first element.

  According to the invention, the device for holding in position consists of at least one ratchet system: - the ratchet system acts in the corresponding adjustment direction, - the ratchet system is mounted on the clamping axis, - the system ratchet is rotated by the clamping system,

  - the ratchet system is fitted with a lever -

  ratchet which rotates around the tightening axis, - said ratchet lever is provided with an appropriate shape which cooperates with a series of conjugated shapes, - said conjugated shapes are arranged on one of the two elements, that is - ie on the element which comprises the light (s) of adjustment which

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  ensures (s) the passage of the clamping rod of the clamping system, said conjugate forms are aligned in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the setting light (s), that is to say to the direction chosen adjustment, - so that during locking by an operating assembly of the clamping system, the pawl lever is rotated with its shape so that: either said shape of the pawl lever and one of the conjugate forms of the 'corresponding element are located one opposite the other, and penetrate one into the other thereby ensuring positive maintenance in the locked position; - or said form of the ratchet lever is not opposite one of the conjugate forms of the corresponding element, the ratchet lever then applies against the corresponding element, so that during an impact, the ratchet lever slides on said element until the shape of the ratchet lever enters the neighboring conjugate shape, and thus ensures the

positive hold in position.

  In addition, an elastic means is arranged between the pawl lever and the element comprising the adjustment light (s) which ensures the passage of the

clamping rod.

  In the embodiments of the invention suitable for axial adjustment: the pawl lever is mounted on the clamping rod; - the pawl lever is integral in rotation with the clamping rod; - the pawl lever is provided with an embossed shape;

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  - Conjugated shapes are arranged on the first element, and are formed by hollow shapes which are aligned in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the light (s) of axial adjustment which ensures the passage of the clamping rod , that is to say to the axial adjustment direction; - so that when the axial adjustment position is determined, and when the clamping system is locked, the pawl lever is rotated so that: - either the raised shape of the pawl lever and one of the shapes in the hollow of the first element are located one opposite the other, and penetrate one into the other, thus ensuring positive maintenance in position; - either the raised shape of the ratchet lever is applied against an intermediate face situated between two hollow shapes so that during an impact, the raised shape slides on the intermediate face until the raised shape penetrates into the neighboring hollow shape, and thus ensures the maintenance

positive in position.

  In this latter configuration of the invention, the elastic means is arranged between the pawl lever and the element comprising the light (s) for axial adjustment. The elastic means is constituted by a spring, which is mounted around the clamping rod, one end of which bears on the first element, and the other of which

  end presses against the ratchet lever.

  In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention suitable for axial adjustment, the first element is a body tube which is provided

of a reinforcement square.

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  The reinforcement square has two uprights connected to the tube-body, with a connecting element for

two amounts.

  The ratchet lever is mounted on the clamping rod between the two uprights of the reinforcement square. The ratchet lever is connected in rotation with the

  clamping rod by means of a drive square.

  The ratchet lever has a relief shape constituted by a parallelepipedic finger which engages in rectangular notches having corresponding and similar dimensions, which are

  arranged in the connection element of the square

  reinforcement. The spring is mounted around the clamping rod between one of the uprights of the reinforcement square and the ratchet lever, and said spring has one of its bent ends which comes to bear on the internal face of the element of connection and its other

  end which is applied against the ratchet lever.

  The square section arranged on the clamping rod has smaller dimensions than the dimensions of the square section produced in the pawl lever, so as to have a small angular freedom, which allows said pawl lever to come to bear against a interlayer face, when the

  clamping system is in the locked position.

  Each of the two uprights of the reinforcement square has an axial adjustment light which allows the

passage of the clamping rod.

  The clamping system comprises on the outside of one of the uprights of the support element the operating assembly with a blocking assembly, which are arranged on the clamping rod, and outside the other mounting an axial holding system

Clamping.

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  In this last embodiment of the invention, the ratchet lever is provided with a beveled finger to allow good positioning of said finger on the connection element of the reinforcement square, that is to say that the finger has a narrower width than the width of the notches, and that it is provided at its base with an internal face, which is applied against the internal face of the connection element of the reinforcement square.

  In addition, each of the amounts of the element-

  support is provided with a radial adjustment light, which ensures the passage of the clamping rod, each of the lights having a direction corresponding to the

radial adjustment direction.

  A particularly suitable application of the invention is that which applies to a motor vehicle steering column in which the

  first element is the tube-body with its square-

  reinforcement, and the support element is mounted on the

vehicle structure.

  The device for holding in position a steering column of a motor vehicle according to the invention thus has the advantage of having a ratchet system, which makes it possible to have positive axial locking of the steering column, during

the impact of the vehicle.

  This system can be integrated into the various steering column adjustment systems of

vehicle.

  This system, unlike many current systems, positively blocks the steering column of a vehicle by a positive mechanical stop when the driver strikes the column more

impact against the vehicle.

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  An advantage of this system compared to an existing system, positive blocking by rack system, lies in its simplicity of design and assembly, as well as in quality avoiding the problem of teeth on teeth and sound clicking

  which is caused by tooth-to-tooth slippage.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on

  reading the following description of several

  preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the corresponding accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a longitudinal overall view of an adjustable steering column comprising the device for holding in position according to the invention; - Figure 2 and a partial exploded perspective view of the two elements connected by the position holding device of the invention; - Figure 3 is a cross section along III-III of Figure 1; - Figure 4 is a longitudinal view along IV of Figure 3 with a partial cutaway, the holding device in position being engaged; - Figure 5 is a longitudinal section along V-V of Figure 3, with the holding device in position, which is open; and - Figure 6 is a longitudinal section similar to Figure 5, with the device

  hold in position, which is pending.

  The invention relates to a motor vehicle steering column, the assembly of which located near the driver's steering wheel is shown in FIG. 1. The steering column is adjustable in

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  depth, that is to say in the axial direction, and in height, that is to say in the radial direction. The steering column comprises a steering shaft 9, which is mounted in a body tube 7 along the axis 11 of the steering shaft 9. The steering shaft 9 is mounted to rotate freely in the body tube 7 relative to its axis 11. This assembly is carried out by

  through two bearings.

  The body-tube 7 is provided with a reinforcement square 8 and it constitutes the element 1, which is arranged inside a support element 2. The support element 2 consists of a base 12 , which is provided at each of its two ends with an amount referenced 13 and 14. The support element 2 is considered to be fixed and it is connected to the structure 66 of the motor vehicle by its base 12. The tube- body 7 with its reinforcement square 8 is arranged inside

  of the two uprights 13 and 14 of the support element 11.

  Said uprights 13 and 14 are substantially parallel to the steering axis 11, that is to say at

the axis of element 1.

  Another support element 61 is arranged opposite the driver's steering wheel. The support element 61 consists of a base 62, which is provided at each of its two ends with an amount referenced 63 and 64. The support element 61 is connected to the structure 66 of the motor vehicle by its base 62. The whole of the tube-body 7 is disposed at

  inside the two uprights 63 and 64 of the element-

  support 61. Said uprights 63 and 64 are substantially parallel to the axis 11 of the shaft of

direction 9.

  o10 2781748 The steering column being adjustable in depth and in height, that is to say in the direction

  axial and in the radial direction, the entire tube-

  body 7 is adjustable relative to the support element 2 and relative to the support element 61. The whole of the body tube 7 is connected to the support element 61 by a hinge pin 65

  substantially perpendicular to the steering axis 11.

  The body tube 7 with its reinforcement square 8 is connected to the support element 2 by a position adjustment system with respect to said support element 2. This position adjustment system is locked in the position chosen by a system tightening 3, along a tightening axis 6, which is substantially perpendicular to the axis 11 of the steering shaft 9,

  i.e. to the axis of element 1.

  The clamping axis 6 passes through the reinforcement square 8 of the tube-body 7, and the two uprights 13 and 14 of the support element 2. The clamping device 3 is controlled by an operating assembly 10, which can be manual as in Figure 1 or any other type such as a remote control. The clamping device 3 is put in the locked position or

  unlocked by the operating assembly 10.

  In the following description and for the same

  element, we will call internal with respect to axis 11 which is closest to axis 11, and external with

who is furthest away.

  In what follows, the same reference number always identifies the same homologous element, whatever the embodiment or its variant of execution. il 2781748 Thus the upright 13 of the support element 2 has an internal face 15 and an external face 17 relative to the axis 11, as can be seen in FIG. 2. Likewise the upright 14 has an internal face 16, and an external face 18 with respect to this same axis 11. In addition, the upright 13 has a radial adjustment light 19, which is oriented in the direction of the adjustment system in position. The upright 14 also has a radial adjustment light 20 which is oriented towards the

  same way in the direction of adjustment.

  The position adjustment system is locked in the position chosen by the clamping device 3, the axis 6 of which is substantially perpendicular to the axis 11 of the element 1. The various elements constituting the clamping device 3 are mounted

  on a clamping rod 21 which has the axis 6 as its axis.

  The clamping rod 21 passes through the light 19 of the upright 13 and the light 20 of the upright 14 of

the support element 2.

  The reinforcement square 8 consists of two uprights 23 and 24, which are substantially parallel to the axis 11. These two uprights 23 and 24 are connected by a connecting element 22, which is substantially perpendicular to the two uprights 23 and 24. The upright 23 has an internal face 25, and an external face 27, while the upright 24 has an internal face 26 and an external face 28. The connecting element 22

  has an internal face 31, and an external face 32.

  In order to allow adjustment in the axial direction, the upright 23 is provided with an axial adjustment light 29, and the upright 24 is provided with an axial adjustment light 30. The two axial adjustment lights 29 and 30 are oriented parallel to the axis 11. These axial adjustment lights 29 and 30 provide the

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  passage of the clamping rod 21, as can be

  see Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6.

  The clamping system 3 comprises, outside one of the uprights 14 of the support element 2, the operating assembly 10 which controls a locking assembly 5. The operating assembly 10 with the assembly blocking 5 are arranged on the clamping rod 21. The clamping system 3 comprises outside of the other upright 13 an axial holding assembly 60, which is, produced in the case of the figures by a nut screwing onto the 'end

threaded on the clamping rod 21.

  The position holding device according to the invention essentially consists of a ratchet system 4 which acts in the chosen direction of adjustment. Thus, in the case of the figures, the ratchet system is suitable for the direction of axial adjustment. While remaining within the scope of the invention, a ratchet system can be provided, which acts

  in the direction of radial adjustment.

  In general, whether for the axial adjustment direction or for the radial adjustment direction, the corresponding ratchet system is mounted on the clamping axis 6, and it is rotated by the clamping system 3 The ratchet system comprises a ratchet lever 40, in the case

  of the figures, which rotates around the clamping axis 6.

  This ratchet lever 40 is provided with an appropriate shape, which cooperates with a series of conjugate shapes, which are arranged on one of the two elements 1 and 2, that is to say on the element 1 or 2 which includes the adjustment lights concerned, which ensure the passage of the clamping rod 21 of the

tightening 3.

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  The conjugate forms which are arranged on one of the elements 1 or 2 are aligned in a direction which is substantially parallel to the

  direction of the relevant adjustment lights,

  i.e. to the chosen direction of adjustment. Thus in general, whether for axial adjustment or for radial adjustment, when locking by an operating assembly 10 of the clamping system 3, the pawl lever corresponding to the chosen direction of adjustment is driven in rotation with its shape so that: - either said shape of the pawl lever and one of the conjugate shapes of element 1 or 2 corresponding to the chosen direction of adjustment are located opposite one another, and penetrate one into the other, thus ensuring positive maintenance in position; - or said shape of the corresponding pawl lever is not opposite one of the conjugate forms of the element corresponding to the chosen direction of adjustment, the pawl lever then applies against the corresponding element, so that during from a shock, the ratchet lever slides on the corresponding element 1 or 2 until the shape of the ratchet lever enters the neighboring conjugate shape, and thus ensures positive maintenance in position. In addition, an elastic means is arranged between the ratchet lever chosen for the desired direction of adjustment and the corresponding element 1 or 2, which includes the adjustment lights, which ensure the passage of the clamping rod 21. The mode of embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, relates to a device for holding in position with the axial adjustment. In this case, a ratchet lever

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  is mounted on the clamping rod 21, and it is

  integral in rotation with this clamping rod 21.

  The ratchet lever 40 is provided with an embossed shape 41, which cooperates with the conjugated shapes 33, which are arranged on the element 1. The conjugated shapes 33 are formed by hollow shapes which are aligned in a direction which is substantially parallel to the direction of the adjustment lights 29 and 30, which ensure the passage of the clamping rod

  21, that is to say to the axial adjustment direction.

  Thus, when the axial adjustment position is determined, and when the clamping system 3 is locked, the pawl lever 40 is rotated so that: - either the raised shape 41 of the pawl lever and one of the hollow shapes 33 of the element 1 are located one opposite the other, and penetrate one into the other, thus ensuring positive maintenance in position; - Either the raised form 41 of the lever 40 is applied against an intermediate face 34 which is located between two hollow shapes 33 consecutive, so that during an impact the raised form 41 slides on the intermediate face 34 until that the raised form 41 enters the neighboring hollow form 33, and thus ensures positive maintenance in position.

  An elastic means is arranged between the lever-

  pawl 40 and element 1, which includes the axial adjustment slots 29 and 30. This elastic means is constituted by a spring 56, which is mounted around the clamping rod 21, and one of the ends 57 of which is supported on element 1 and of which the other

  end 58 is applied against the ratchet lever 40.

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  In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 to 6, the pawl lever 40 is mounted on the clamping rod 21, and it is disposed between the two uprights 23 and 24 of the reinforcement square 8. The pawl lever 40 is connected in rotation with the clamping rod 21 by means of a drive square, which has a square section 42 arranged in the ratchet lever 40 and a square section 51 arranged on the clamping rod 21. The lever- ratchet 40 has a relief shape which is constituted by a parallelepipedic finger 41, which engages in rectangular notches 33 having dimensions corresponding to those of finger 41. The rectangular notches 33 are arranged in the element of

  connection 22 of the reinforcement square 8.

  Spring 56 is mounted around the rod

  clamping 21 between one of the uprights 24 of the square-

  reinforcement 8, and more precisely between the internal face 26 of this upright 24 and the ratchet lever 40. The spring 56 has one of its bent ends 57 which then comes to bear on the internal face 31 of the connection element 22. The other end 58 of the spring 56 is applied against the ratchet lever 40. The square section 51 which is arranged on the clamping rod 21 has smaller dimensions than the dimensions of the square section 42, which is produced in the ratchet lever 40. Thus this makes it possible to have angular freedom between the ratchet lever 40 and the clamping rod 21, which allows said ratchet lever 40 to come to rest against one of the intermediate faces 34 when the clamping system

3 is in the locked position.

  The ratchet lever 40 is provided with a finger 41 of bevelled shape to allow good plating of said

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  finger 41 on the connecting element 22 of the square-

  reinforcement 8. More specifically, the finger 41 has a narrower width than the width of the notches 33, and it is provided at its base with an internal face 48, which is applied against the internal face 31 of

  the connecting element 22 of the reinforcement square 8.

  This position holding device according to the invention is particularly well suited to a motor vehicle steering column, in which the element 1 and the body-tube 7 with its reinforcement square 8, and the support element 2 is Climb on

the structure 66 of the vehicle.

  In this case of application, when the steering is in the unlocked state shown in FIG. 5,

  the steering column through the tube-

  body 7 can be adjusted freely, axially and / or radially. Once the desired position has been obtained, the closing action of the operating assembly 10 causes the ratchet lever 40 to rotate, which at the end of the lever travel can either engage in the notches 33 of the reinforcement 8, as c is the case of Figure 4, either come to be pressed between two notches 33 of the same square reinforcement 8, as on the

figure 6.

  Indeed, this last position is possible thanks to the spring 56, which allows to offer a small angular freedom to this ratchet lever 40 and thus not to alter the complete closure of the operating assembly 10, and therefore the blocking

correct steering column.

  Thus in operation two cases can arise. In a first case, the ratchet lever 40

  is engaged in one of the notches 33 of the square-

  reinforcement 8, therefore during an impact, the steering column cannot slide at the level of the

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  tightening 3. There is no possible sliding between the ratchet lever 40 and the tube-body 7 on the one hand and the other fixed parts. As a result, the energy absorption systems, which are integrated into the steering column, can function without problems in the event of an impact. In a second case, the ratchet lever 40 is not engaged in one of the notches 33 of the reinforcement square 8. The ratchet lever 40 is simply pressed between two notches 33 on one of the intermediate faces 34 of this same reinforcement square 8. In this case, in the event of an impact, a very slight axial displacement of the steering column takes place until the pawl lever 40 comes

  snap into the next notch 33 in the square-

  reinforcement 8. This action is possible thanks to the force which is generated by the spring 56, and which allows the ratchet lever 40 to tilt down and therefore to engage in a notch 33. In addition, this force due the spring 56 allows this ratchet lever 40 to be held in a notch 33 during an impact, thereby ensuring that the axial retention is very positive. Finally, the ratchet lever 40 has a beveled finger 41, which allows good placement of the finger 41 on the connection element 22 of the reinforcement square 8, and therefore to prevent the ratchet lever 40 from disengaging of the reinforcement square 8 during an impact.

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Claims (6)

  1 - Device for holding in position an element (1) relative to an element (2) considered to be fixed, the element (1) and the element (2) being connected by an adjustment system in axial position and / or radial, said adjustment system being locked in the position chosen by a clamping system (3); - the support element (2) consisting of a base (12) having at each of its two ends an upright (13, 14), the element (1) being arranged at   inside the two uprights (13, 14) of the element-   support (2), said uprights (13, 14) being substantially parallel to the axis (11) of the element (1) - said position adjustment system is locked in the position chosen by said clamping system (3) , the various elements of which are mounted on a clamping rod (21) passing through the two uprights (13 and 14), and the axis of which is the clamping axis (6), which is substantially perpendicular to the axis (11 ) of element (1); characterized in that said position holding device consists of at least one ratchet system (4): - the ratchet system (4) acts in the corresponding adjustment direction, - the ratchet system (4) is mounted on the clamping pin (6), - the ratchet system (4) is rotated by the clamping system (3), - the ratchet system (4) consists of a ratchet lever (40) which rotates around the clamping axis (6), 19 2781748   - said ratchet lever (40) is provided with an appropriate shape (41) which cooperates with a series of conjugated shapes (33), - said conjugated shapes (33) are arranged on one of the two elements (1) and (2), that is to say on the element (1) or (2) which comprises the adjustment light (s) (29, 30) which ensures (s) the passage of the clamping rod (21) of the clamping system (3), - said conjugate forms (33) are aligned in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the setting light (s) (29,), that is to say to the chosen direction of adjustment, - so that during locking by an operating assembly (10) of the clamping system (3), the ratchet lever (40) is rotated with its shape (41) so that : - either said form (41) of the ratchet lever (40) and one of the conjugate forms (33) of the element (1) or (2) are located one opposite the other, and penetrate the one inside the other, thus ensuring pos pos itif in position; - or said shape (41) of the ratchet lever (40) is not opposite one of the shapes   elements (1) or (2), the lever (33)   pawl (40) then applies against the element (1) or (2), so that during an impact, the pawl lever (40) slides on said element (1) or (2) until that the shape (41) of the ratchet lever (40) penetrates into the neighboring conjugate shape (33), and thus ensures the positive hold in position.   2 - device for holding in position according to claim 1, characterized in that an elastic means is arranged between the ratchet lever (41) and 2781748   the element (1) or (2) comprising the adjustment light (s) (29, 30) which ensures (s) the passage of the clamping rod (21).   3 - device for holding in position according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: - the pawl lever (40) is mounted on the clamping rod (21); - the pawl lever (40) is integral in rotation with the clamping rod (21); - the pawl lever (40) is provided with an embossed shape (41); - Conjugated shapes (33) are arranged on the element (1), and consist of hollow shapes which are aligned in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of the adjustment lights (29, 30) which ensure the passage of the clamping rod (21), that is to say the axial adjustment direction; - so that when the axial adjustment position is determined, and when the clamping system (3) is locked, the pawl lever (40) is rotated so that:   - either the raised shape (41) of the lever -   pawl (40) and one of the hollow shapes (33) of the element (1) are located opposite one another, and penetrate one into the other, thus ensuring the positive maintenance in position;   - either the raised shape (41) of the lever -   pawl (40) is applied against an intermediate face (34) located between two hollow shapes (33) so that during an impact, the relief shape (41) slides on the intermediate face (34) until what the relief form (41) penetrates into the form 21 2781748   hollow (33) neighbor, and thus ensures the maintenance positive in position.   4 - device for holding in position according to claim 3, characterized in that:   - the elastic means is arranged between the lever -   pawl (40) and the element (1) comprising the light (s) for axial adjustment (29, 30); - Said elastic means is constituted by a spring (56), which is mounted around the clamping rod (21), one end of which (57) bears on the element (1), and the other of which end (58) is applied against the pawl lever (40); - so as to guarantee the application of the said   ratchet lever (40) on the element (1).   - Device for holding in position according to claim 4, characterized in that: - the element (1) is a tube-body (7) which is provided with a reinforcement square (8), - the reinforcement square ( 8) comprises two uprights (23 and 24) connected to the tube-body (7), with a connecting element (22) of the two uprights (23 and 24);   - each of the two uprights (23 and 24) of the square -   reinforcement (8) comprises an axial adjustment light (29 and 30) which allows the passage of the clamping rod (21); - the clamping system (3) comprises   the outside of one of the uprights (14) of the element-   support (2) the operating assembly (10) with a locking assembly (5), which are arranged on the clamping rod (21), and outside the other upright (13) a holding assembly axial (60) of the clamping system (3); 22 2781748   - the pawl lever (40) is mounted on the clamping rod (21) between the two uprights (23 and 24) of the reinforcement square (8); - the pawl lever (40) is connected in rotation with the clamping rod (21) by means of a drive square (42-51); - the ratchet lever (40) has a relief shape constituted by a parallelepiped finger (41) which engages in rectangular notches (33) having corresponding and similar dimensions, which are arranged in the connecting element (22 ) of the reinforcement square (8); - the spring (56) is mounted around the rod   clamping (21) between one of the uprights (24) of the square   reinforcement (8) and the ratchet lever (40), and said spring (56) has one of its bent ends (57) which comes to bear on the internal face (31) of the connection element (22) and its other end (58) which is applied against the pawl lever (40); - The square section (51) arranged on the clamping rod (21) has smaller dimensions than the dimensions of the square section (42) produced in the ratchet lever (40) so as to have a small angular freedom, which allows said ratchet lever (40) to come to bear against an intermediate face (34) by means of the spring (56), when the clamping system (3) is in the locked position and thus ensure the positive holding in position , and in the event of a shock, come and engage in the notch   (33) neighbor by the effect of said spring (56).   6 - Device for holding in position according to the   claim 5, characterized in that the lever   ratchet (40) is provided with a beveled finger (41) to allow good positioning of said finger 23 2781748   (41) on the connecting element (22) of the square-   reinforcement (8) by means of the spring (56), that is to say that the finger (41) has a narrower width than the width of the notches (33), and that it is provided at its base with an internal face (48), which is applied against the internal face (31) of the element   connection (22) of the reinforcement square (8).   7 - Device for holding in position according to   one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that   that each of the uprights (13) and (14) of the element-   support (2) is provided with a radial adjustment light (19) and (20), which ensures the passage of the clamping rod (21), each of the lights (19) and (20) having a direction corresponding to the radial adjustment direction. 8 - Device for holding in position according to   any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it applies to a motor vehicle steering column in which   the element (1) is the tube-body (7) with its square   reinforcement (8), and the support element (2) is mounted on the structure (66) of the vehicle.