US 5,342,091 A · Energy absorbing steering assembly

Abstract

A vehicle crash energy absorbing mechanism incorporated in a steering column structure mountable to a breakaway mounting, the structure including an inner steering shaft which is drivably coupled by a splined arrangement to an outer shaft. The inner shaft has an energy absorption member in the form of a tube which surrounds a pin which is mounted diametrically through the inner shaft. A crash induced force on the column structure causes the outer shaft to be forced relatively towards the tube, thereby inducing an interaction between the pin and tube, the latter being deformed thereby to achieve the requisite energy absorption. In an alternative embodiment, the splined outer shaft itself acts as the absorption energy member, the pin deforming the splined arrangement.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An energy absorbing assembly comprising:

a steering column structure mountable to a breakaway mounting, the steering column structure including an inner steering shaft and an outer shaft drivably coupled to the inner steering shaft and axially slidable with respect to the inner steering shaft;
and
an energy absorbing means for absorbing energy from crash induced forces on the steering column structure, the energy absorbing means being mounted on the inner steering shaft, the energy absorbing means comprising:
a tube mounted about the inner steering shaft and a pin extending outward of the inner steering shaft, the pin having a length as to form an interference fit within an initial part of the tube, the pin being free floating within the inner steering shaft.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Energy absorbing steering assembly

Life of this patent

Energy absorbing steering assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10