Device for absorbing energy from an automobile vehicle steering column

A device for absorbing energy from an automobile vehicle steering column, said column comprising a steering shaft rotatably mounted about a steering axis in a body-tube carrying a steering wheel, said body-tube being connected to a support assembly fixed to a structure of said vehicle, said energy absorbing device including:

• a bearing member which is connected to said support assembly by a lateral connection system relative to a vertical plane containing said steering axis;
• an axial guidance system acting along said steering axis and comprising:
• a lateral sliding member that is disposed laterally relative to said vertical plane (8) containing said steering axis and is attached to and arranged on said body-tube, and
• balls that are disposed axially between the lateral sliding member of said body-tube and said bearing member,
• said bearing member being disposed laterally relative to said vertical plane containing said steering axis and being disposed between said body-tube and a lateral upright of said support assembly, said lateral upright being substantially parallel to said vertical plane containing said steering axis;
• in normal operation there is no axial sliding movement between said body-tube and said bearing member;
• and
• in the event of an impact, there is axial sliding between said body-tube and said bearing member retained in position relative to said support assembly by said connecting system.