# US 2014/0197293 A1 · Steering column support construction

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- Number: US 2014/0197293 A1
- Document ID: US20140197293A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/234,751
- Filed: 2012-07-25
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-26
- Assignees: Nsk Ltd.
- Inventors: Takeshi Fujiwara; Toru Segawa; Takahiro Minamigata; Kiyoshi Sadakata
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197293A1

## CPC

- B62D 1/18: yieldable or adjustable, e.g. tiltable (padded linings associated with the steering column B60R21/05)
- B60R 25/021: restraining movement of the steering column or steering wheel hub, e.g. restraining means controlled by ignition switch
- B60R 25/023: Countermeasures against the physical destruction of the steering lock
- B62D 1/184: Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions
- B62D 1/187: with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment (B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence)
- B62D 1/195: {Yieldable supports for the steering column}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Provided is steering column support construction that together with eliminating strong rubbing between the bottom surface of a vehicle-side bracket 23a and the top surface of a column-side bracket 22a, and keeping the absolute value and fluctuation in the break away load small, more completely protects the driver during a collision accident without lowering the freedom of design of the steering apparatus. An adjustment rod 27 for adjusting the position of a steering wheel is provided on the top side of a steering column 6b. During a secondary collision, a moment that is applied to the column-side bracket 22a is kept small, friction at the area of rubbing between the column-side bracket 22a and the vehicle-side bracket 23a is reduced, and the break away load is kept low. Moreover, the driver's knees are protected by eliminating the portion that protrudes further downward than the steering column 6b.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A steering column support construction, comprising:
a displacement-side bracket that is fastened to a top side portion of a middle section of a steering column;
a vehicle-side bracket that has a locking section with material removed that is formed in a middle section in a width direction thereof, and that is fastened to a vehicle body side in at least two locations on both sides in the width direction of the locking section with material removed;
a column-side bracket having a pair of left and right support plate sections that are located on both sides of the displacement-side bracket;
a locking member that together with being fastened to the column-side bracket, engages with the locking section with material removed;
an adjustment rod that, with the displacement-side bracket held between the support plate sections, is inserted in the width direction through the displacement side bracket and is spanned between the support plate sections; and
a pair of pressure sections that are provided on both end sections of the adjustment rod; and
by expanding or contracting a space between the pressure sections, it is possible to fasten or adjust a position of the displacement-bracket with respect to the column-side bracket, and the column-side bracket and locking member are supported with respect to the vehicle-side bracket so as to be able to break away in a forward direction thereof.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The steering column support construction according to claim 1, wherein when seen from the width direction, edges on bottom ends of the support plate sections of the column-side bracket do not protrude downward from a portion on a bottom side of a middle section of the steering column.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The steering column support construction according to claim 1, wherein the locking section with material removed is composed of a locking notch or a through hole that extends in the forward-backward direction, and that is formed in a center section in the width direction of the vehicle-side bracket, and the locking member is composed of a locking capsule that is fastened to the column-side bracket.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The steering column support construction according to claim 3, wherein the column-side bracket comprises a top plate section that connects edges on top ends of the support plate sections, and the locking capsule, together with comprising a flange section on both end sections in the width direction, is supported by and fastened to a top surface of the top plate section, and edge portions on both sides of the locking notch or the through holes of the vehicle-side bracket are locked between a bottom surface of the flange section and the top surface of the top plate section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The steering column support construction according to claim 1, wherein the locking section with material removed is composed of a locking notch or a through hole that extends in the forward-backward direction; the locking member is composed of a bolt comprising a head section that is located on a top end section thereof and has a diameter that is larger than a width dimension of the locking notch or the through hole, and a male screw section that is provided on a bottom end section thereof; and the column-side bracket comprises a top plate section that connects edges on top ends of the support plate sections; and by the male screw section of the bolt screwing into a nut that is fastened to the top plate section or into a screw hole that is formed in the top plate section and tightened, portions on both sides of the locking notch or the through hole of the vehicle-side bracket is locked between a bottom surface of the head section of the bolt and the top surface of the top plate section.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The steering column support construction according to claim 5, further comprising a sliding member that comprises a pair of top and bottom sliding plates, and a connecting section that has a width dimension that is less than the width dimension of the locking section with material removed and that is integrally connected with the sliding plates, wherein the sliding plates are respectively held between the bottom surface of the head section and a top surface of the vehicle-side bracket, and between a bottom surface of the vehicle-side bracket and the top surface of the top plate sections.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The steering column support construction according to claim 6, wherein the locking section with material removed is composed of a through hole that comprises a wide section in a front half section thereof, and two extending sections in a rear half section thereof that are notches and extend further backward from two locations on both end sections in the width direction of a rear end edge of the wide section, and parallel with each other in the forward-backward direction, and the sliding member and the bolts are located in rear end sections of these extending sections.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The steering column support construction according to claim 6, wherein the locking section with material removed is composed of a pair of through holes that extend in the forward-backward direction and parallel with each other, and the sliding member and the bolts are located in rear end sections of these through holes.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The steering column support construction according to claim 7, wherein a reinforcement plate is provided on a top side of the sliding members that are located at the rear end sections of extending sections or the through holes so as to be spanned between the sliding members, and top surfaces of both end sections of the reinforcement plate are pressed against the top surface of the vehicle-side bracket by the bottom surface of the head sections of the bolts.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The steering column support construction according to claim 1, wherein a portion of at least one of the support plate sections where the adjustment rod is inserted has rigidity that is lower than other portions thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The steering column support construction according to claim 10, wherein a slit is formed in a portion of the at least one of the support plate sections which is adjacent to a through hole that is formed in the support plate section for inserting the adjustment rod.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The steering column support construction according to claim 10, wherein the column-side bracket comprises a top plate section that connects part of edges on top ends of the support plate sections, and a portion of the at least one of the support plate sections where a through hole is formed for inserting the adjustment rod, protrudes in the forward-backward direction more than a connecting section between the column-side bracket with the locking member and the vehicle-side bracket; and an edge on a top ends of the protruding portion is not connected to the top plate section.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The steering column support construction according to claim 10, wherein a thickness of the one supporting plate section is less than the thickness of the other supporting plate section.