Collapsible vehicle steering column
AssigneeFCI Americas Technology, Inc.
InventorsDean E. Geibel, Joseph B. Shuey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle safety system including a steering column, a keying member, and a squib. The steering column includes a first steering column section longitudinally slidably connected to a second steering column section. The keying member locates the first and second steering column sections at a fixed longitudinal position relative to each other. The squib is located relative to the keying member to exert a force on the keying member when the squib is initiated to thereby allow the first and second steering column sections to longitudinally slide relative to each other to shorten a length of the steering column.
Claims25
A vehicle safety system comprising:
- a steering column comprising a first steering column section longitudinally slidably connected to a second steering column section;
- a keying member locating the first and second steering column sections at a fixed longitudinal position relative to each other;
- and
- a squib located relative to the keying member to exert a force on the keying member when the squib is initiated to thereby allow the first and second steering column sections to longitudinally slide relative to each other to shorten a length of the steering column.
A vehicle safety system comprising:
- a steering column comprising a first steering column section movably connected to a second steering column section;
- a sheer pin providing a connection between the first and second steering column sections to locate the first and second steering column sections at a first position relative to each other, wherein the sheer pin comprises a reduced cross-sectional sheer area adapted to break at a predetermined force to thereby allow the first and second steering column sections to move from the first position relative to each other towards a second different position relative to each other;
- and
- a squib configured to exert a force directly on the sheer pin to disconnect the connection and allow the first and second steering column sections to move relative to each other from the first position towards the second position,
- wherein the squib and the sheer pin are configured to provide redundant systems such that the steering column can move from the first position towards the second position either when the squib is initiated to disconnect the connection or when the squib is not initiated and the predetermined force is applied to the sheer pin.
A vehicle steering wheel safety system comprising:
- an air bag squib;
- a steering column squib;
- a controller connected to the air bag squib and the steering column squib;
- and
- sensors connected to the controller,
- wherein the controller is configured to initiate the squibs at different times relative to each other based upon different sensor signals from the sensors to the controller.
A method comprising:
- connecting a first steering column section of a vehicle steering column to a second steering column section, wherein the second steering column section is longitudinally slidable on the first steering column section;
- fixing the second steering column section at a fixed longitudinal location relative to the first steering column section by a keying member;
- and
- connecting a squib to the second steering column section at the keying member, wherein when the squib is initiated the keying member is moved and thereby allows the first and second steering column sections to longitudinally slide relative to each other.
A cartridge comprising:
- a squib section comprising pyrotechnic material for generating an expansion of gas when the pyrotechnic material is burned;
- and
- a keying pin section directly connected to the squib section, wherein the keying pin section is configured to be ejected from connection with the squib section when the pyrotechnic material is burned,
- wherein the cartridge is configured to be mounted on a vehicle steering wheel column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.