Steering column impact energy absorber, with loop closed by a breakaway link
AssigneeRobert Bosch Automotive Steering Vendome
InventorsMickael Sauquet, Eddy Dupont
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An absorber of steering column shock energy includes a plastically deformable part forming a loop, a breakaway link closing this loop on itself, and a first attachment interface and a second attachment interface separate from the breakaway link and arranged on either side of the loop. The part and the fusible link are arranged so that the exertion of forces in opposite directions on the first attachment interface and on the second attachment interface respectively, causes a stress leading to a deformation of the loop, breaking of the breakaway link and further deformation of the loop after this break.
Claims10
A steering column impact energy absorber comprising:
- a plastically deformable component forming a loop;
- a breakaway link closing the loop on itself;
- a first fixing interface;
- and
- a second fixing interface, the first and second fixing interfaces being distinct from the breakaway link and arranged on either side of the loop,
- wherein the plastically deformable component and the breakaway link are arranged in such a way that application of forces in opposite directions to the first fixing interface and to the second fixing interface respectively causes a stress that tends to cause the loop to deform, the breakaway link to break, and the deformation of the loop to continue after said breakage.
A steering column comprising:
- a lower base configured to be connected to the chassis of a vehicle;
- an upper tube slidably mounted on said lower base so as to provide reach adjustment for a steering wheel configured to be connected to the upper tube and to allow the upper tube and the lower base to slide relative to one another in the event of an impact;
- a blocking mechanism configured to, in a first state, immobilize the upper tube on the lower base and, in a second state, allow the upper tube and the lower base to slide relative to one another;
- and,
- an absorber comprising:
- a plastically deformable component forming a loop;
- a breakaway link closing the loop on itself;
- a first fixing interface;
- and
- a second fixing interface, the first and second fixing interfaces being distinct from the breakaway link and arranged on either side of the loop,
- wherein the plastically deformable component and the breakaway link are arranged in such a way that application of forces in opposite directions to the first fixing interface and to the second fixing interface respectively causes a stress that tends to cause the loop to deform, the breakaway link to break, and the deformation of the loop to continue after said breakage, and
- wherein the absorber is fixed via the first fixing interface to the upper tube and connected via the second fixing interface to the lower tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.