Impact absorbing steering apparatus

An impact absorbing steering apparatus, comprising:

• a steering column;
• a steering shaft that is supported on the inside of the steering column such that it rotates freely, and is capable of supporting and fastening to a steering wheel on the rear end section that protrudes from the opening on the rear end of the steering column;
• a bracket on the column side that is supported by the steering column, and fastens the steering column to a vehicle body so that the steering column can displace in the axial direction during a secondary collision;
• an electric power steering apparatus that comprises a housing supported by the front end section of the steering column, and an electric motor supported by and fastened to the housing, wherein the electric motor functions as a power source that provides auxiliary torque for rotating the steering shaft;
• a bracket on the housing side that comprises an installation plate section on the housing side connected to a portion that is fastened to the vehicle body so that the installation plate section can drop away toward the front due to an impact load in the forward direction, and is supported by the housing and fastens the housing to the vehicle body so that the housing can displace in the axial direction of the steering column during a secondary collision;
• and
• a support plate section that is located on the portion that is fastened to the vehicle body at a position lower than the installation plate section on the housing side and that faces the installation plate section on the housing,
• the installation plate section on the housing side being capable of entering above the support plate section before the force for supporting the bracket on the housing side by the portion that is fastened to the vehicles body is lost, when the bracket on the housing side displaces in the forward direction due to a secondary collision.