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US 12,384,445 B2Granted
Energy absorbing device and steering column assembly having same
AssigneeAtieva, Inc.
InventorsMeng Ng, Hayden Hall, Zachary Mark Walker, John Scheick, Moises Blancas-Galicia
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An energy absorbing device for a steering column assembly of a vehicle is provided. The energy absorbing device includes tear initiation grooves having offset tear initiation points, such that tearing is initiated in the grooves at different points in time, thus balancing loads experienced during a frontal crash and collapse of the steering column assembly.
Claims19
An energy absorbing device for a steering column assembly, the energy absorbing device comprising:
- a plate, including:
- a first portion;
- a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to be coupled to one or more movable components of the steering column assembly;
- and
- a third portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the third portion is configured to be coupled to a stationary component of the steering column assembly;
- a first groove between the first portion and the third portion;
- a second groove between the second portion and the third portion;
- and
- at least one tear initiation slit formed in one of the first groove or the second groove, wherein the at least one tear initiation slit includes:
- a first tear initiation slit formed in the first groove, the first tear initiation slit having a first length;
- and
- a second tear initiation slit formed in the second groove, the second tear initiation slit having a second length that is greater than the first length of the first tear initiation slit formed in the first groove;
- wherein tearing of the first groove is initiated before tearing of the second groove is initiated due to an offset between the first length of the first tear initiation slit and the second length of the second tear initiation slit.
10 more elements
An energy absorbing device for a steering column assembly, the energy absorbing device comprising:
- a plate, including:
- a first portion;
- a second portion, wherein the first portion and the second portion are configured to be coupled to one or more movable components of the steering column assembly;
- and
- a third portion positioned between the first portion and the second portion, wherein the third portion is configured to be coupled to a stationary component of the steering column assembly:
- a first groove between the first portion and the third portion;
- a second groove between the second portion and the third portion;
- and
- at least one tear initiation slit formed in one of the first groove or the second groove;
- wherein the at least one tear initiation slit includes no tear initiation slit formed in the first groove, and a tear initiation slit formed in the second groove, wherein an initiation of tearing of the second groove is offset from an initiation of tearing of the first groove, such that tearing of the first groove is initiated before tearing of the second groove.
7 more elements
A steering column assembly, comprising:
- a drive spindle;
- a telescoping shaft coupled to the drive spindle;
- and
- an energy absorbing device, including:
- a first plate portion coupled to a portion of the telescoping shaft;
- a second plate portion coupled to a portion of the telescoping shaft;
- and
- a third plate portion positioned between the first plate portion and the second plate portion and coupled to the drive spindle;
- a first groove between the first plate portion and the third plate portion;
- a second groove between the second plate portion and the third plate portion;
- and
- a first tear initiation slit formed in the first groove;
- and
- a second tear initiation slit formed in the second groove of the energy absorbing device, wherein the first tear initiation slit has a first length, and the second tear initiation slit formed in the second groove has a second length that is greater than the first length of the first tear initiation slit formed in the first groove, wherein an initiation of tearing of the second groove is offset from an initiation of tearing of the first groove based on the second length of the second tear initiation slit being greater than the first length of the first tear initiation slit, and wherein tearing of the first groove is initiated before tearing of the second groove is initiated due to an offset between the first length of the first tear initiation slit and the second length of the second tear initiation slit.
11 more elements
A steering column assembly, comprising:
- a drive spindle;
- a telescoping shaft coupled to the drive spindle;
- and
- an energy absorbing device, including:
- a first plate portion coupled to a portion of the telescoping shaft;
- a second plate portion coupled to a portion of the telescoping shaft;
- a third plate portion positioned between the first plate portion and the second plate portion and coupled to the drive spindle;
- a first groove between the first plate portion and the third plate portion;
- a second groove between the second plate portion and the third plate portion;
- and
- a first tear initiation slit formed in the first groove;
- wherein no tear initiation slit is formed in the second groove, and wherein an initiation of tearing of the first groove is offset from an initiation of tearing of the second groove, such that tearing of the second groove is initiated before tearing of the first groove.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.