Energy absorbing steering column mounting

A safety steering system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a steering shaft;
• a steering column for receiving said steering shaft;
• and
• means for securing said steering column to a motor vehicle body,
• wherein said steering column includes axially extending elongate slots having each opposite end limiting edges and spaced substantially linear limiting edges extending between said opposite end limiting edges,
• wherein the end limiting edge remote from a steering wheel side of said steering column has a circular shape defining a circular opening having a diameter, which is greater than a distance between said spaced substantially linear limiting edges,
• wherein said securing means includes sleeve means located in said circular opening and having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of said circular opening, and a circular connecting element extending through said sleeve means,
• wherein a deformable element is located in said elongate slot, said deformable element having an elongate main portion and a segment formed integrally therewith and located at an end portion of said elongate portion, and wherein said segment has a length about half of a length of said elongate slot, and an edge abutting the limiting edge of said elongate slot, which is adjacent to the steering wheel side of said steering column.

A safety steering system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a steering shaft;
• a steering column for receiving said steering shaft;
• and
• means for securing said steering column to a motor vehicle body,
• wherein said steering column includes axially extending elongate slots having each opposite end limiting edges and spaced substantially linear limiting edges extending between said opposite end limiting edges,
• wherein the end limiting edge remote from a steering wheel side of said steering column has a circular shape defining a circular opening having a diameter, which is greater than a distance between said spaced substantially linear limiting edges,
• wherein said securing means includes sleeve means located in said circular opening and having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of said circular opening, and a circular connecting element extending through said sleeve means,
• wherein said sleeve means comprises a spacer sleeve for receiving said circular connecting element and a bush of an easily deformable material and having an inner diameter corresponding to an outer diameter of said spacer sleeve and an outer diameter defining the diameter of said sleeve means, and
• wherein said bush has a flange located between a structural element of said steering column, in which said elongate slots are formed, and a connecting element which connects said steering column to the vehicle body.

A safety steering system for a motor vehicle, comprising:

• a steering shaft;
• a steering column for receiving said steering shaft;
• and
• means for securing said steering column to a motor vehicle body,
• wherein said steering column includes axially extending elongate slots having each opposite end limiting edges and spaced substantially linear limiting edges extending between said opposite end limiting edges,
• wherein the end limiting edge remote from a steering wheel side of said steering column has a circular shape defining a circular opening having a diameter, which is greater than a distance between said spaced substantially linear limiting edges,
• wherein said securing means includes sleeve means located in said circular opening and having a diameter corresponding to the diameter of said circular opening, and a circular connecting element extending through said sleeve means, and
• wherein said securing means includes a U-shaped connecting bracket having wings with elongate openings arranged adjacent to the steering wheel side of said steering column, and having an open side facing a steering wheel, said wings extending sidewise of cheeks of said connecting bracket, and said steering column being located between said cheeks.