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US 2004/0000782 A1Published application
Steering column with foamed in-place structure
AssigneeDelphi Technologies, Inc.
InventorRichard K. Riefe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A composite steering column jacket including a pair of composite sections joined along a flange area. The composite sections include outer and inner walls spaced coaxially from each other, that mate at first and second flanges. A cavity is defined by the space between the inner and outer walls and is filled with a foam material that is disposed within. The composite steering column jacket has an increased stiffness and reduced weight when compared to conventional metal steering column jackets.
Claims25
A composite steering column jacket comprising:
- a pair of composite sections joined along a flange area, the composite sections comprising,
- an outer wall having inner and outer surfaces, the outer wall including a first flange formed thereon;
- an inner wall having inner and outer surfaces, the inner wall spaced co-axially from the outer wall, the inner wall including a second flange formed thereon that mates with the first flange of the outer wall;
- a cavity defined by the space between the inner surface of the outer wall and outer surface of the inner wall;
- foam material disposed within the cavity;
- the composite steering column jacket having increased stiffness and reduced weight in comparison to a conventional metal steering column jacket.
3 more elements
A composite steering column jacket comprising:
- a pair of composite sections joined along a flange area, the composite sections comprising,
- an outer wall having inner and outer surfaces, the outer wall including a first flange formed thereon;
- an inner wall having inner and outer surfaces, the inner wall spaced co-axially from the outer wall, the inner wall including a second flange formed thereon that mates with the first flange of the outer wall;
- foam material disposed on the outer surfaces of the outer and inner walls;
- the composite steering column jacket having increased stiffness and reduced weight in comparison to a conventional metal steering column jacket.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.