# US 10,479,396 B2 · Steering system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,396 B2 - Document ID: US10479396B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/848,931 - Filed: 2017-12-20 - Published: 2018-06-28 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2016-12-27 - Assignees: Jtekt Corporation - Applicants: Jtekt Corporation - Inventors: Rika Kagawa; Kiyoto Takei; Akihiro Takami; Tomoki Arai; Hideyoshi Hanai; Tsuyoshi Kojima; Hiroshi Obata - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479396B2 ## CPC - B62D 1/195: {Yieldable supports for the steering column} - B62D 1/184: Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A second toothed member is configured to change its position between a meshing position where first teeth mesh with second teeth and a meshing releasing position where the first teeth do not mesh with the second teeth. A first toothed member and a facing member move together with an upper jacket. The second toothed member located at the meshing position receives an impact from the first toothed member so as to collide against an impact absorbing member after rupture of a guide shaft and deform the impact absorbing member. The second toothed member located at the meshing releasing position receives an impact from the facing member so as to cause rupture of the guide shaft and deformation of the impact absorbing member to occur concurrently. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steering system comprising: an upper jacket movable in an axial direction, the upper jacket including a first axial end and a second axial end, the first axial end being connected with a steering member; a lower jacket fitted to the second axial end of the upper jacket; a first toothed member secured to the upper jacket, the first toothed member being configured to move together with the upper jacket, the first toothed member including first teeth arranged in the axial direction; a second toothed member including second teeth configured to mesh with the first teeth, the second toothed member being configured to change its position between a meshing position where the first teeth mesh with the second teeth and a meshing releasing position where the first teeth do not mesh with the second teeth; a facing member configured to move together with the upper jacket, the facing member facing, from the first axial end, the second toothed member located at the meshing releasing position; a rupturable member supported by the lower jacket, the rupturable member being disposed through the second toothed member, the rupturable member being rupturable by an impact received by the second toothed member from the first toothed member or the facing member and transmitted to the rupturable member; and an impact absorbing member configured to deform so as to absorb an impact received by the second toothed member, wherein the second toothed member located at the meshing position receives an impact from the first toothed member so as to collide against the impact absorbing member after rupture of the rupturable member and deform the impact absorbing member, and the second toothed member located at the meshing releasing position receives an impact from the facing member so as to cause rupture of the rupturable member and deformation of the impact absorbing member to occur concurrently. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steering system according to claim 1, wherein the second toothed member located at the meshing position faces the impact absorbing member from the first axial end, with a clearance between the second toothed member and the impact absorbing member, and the second toothed member located at the meshing releasing position faces the impact absorbing member from the first axial end such that the second toothed member is closer to the impact absorbing member than when the second toothed member is located at the meshing position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The steering system according to claim 2, wherein the second toothed member located at the meshing releasing position abuts against the impact absorbing member from the first axial end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The steering system according to claim 3, wherein rotation of the second toothed member around a supporting point enables the second toothed member to change its position between the meshing position and the meshing releasing position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The steering system according to claim 2, wherein rotation of the second toothed member around a supporting point enables the second toothed member to change its position between the meshing position and the meshing releasing position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The steering system according to claim 1, wherein rotation of the second toothed member around a supporting point enables the second toothed member to change its position between the meshing position and the meshing releasing position.