Motor vehicle steering column safety device

A steering column safety device and valve head combination for use in a motor vehicle having a steering wheel for communicating steering torque to a steering mechanism, and having collision sensing means for sensing a collision operably mounted on the vehicle, the device comprising:

• an elongated hollow cylinder having a top and a bottom, a cap with a bore extending therethrough is secured to the bottom;
• a piston residing within the cylinder;
• a rod connecting the piston to the steering mechanism of the vehicle, wherein the cylinder is axially slidable on the piston between an extended position and a collapsed position;
• biasing means inside the cylinder for biasing the piston and the bottom of the cylinder apart;
• pressurized gas being contained in the cylinder;
• an inflatable air bag positioned within the steering wheel for protecting an occupant;
• and,
• gas flow control means coupled to the cylinder between the pressurized gas and the air-bag, the gas flow control means being in communication with the sensing means for releasing the pressurized gas from the cylinder upon collision.

A steering column safety device and valve head combination for use in a motor vehicle having a steering wheel for communicating steering torque to a steering mechanism, and having collision sensing means for sensing a collision operably mounted on the vehicle the device comprising:

• a hollow cylinder having a top and a bottom, an interior wall joining the top and the bottom;
• a cap with a bore extending therethrough secured to the bottom of the cylinder, and a head with an outlet is secured in an air-tight fashion to the top of the cylinder;
• a piston residing in the cylinder, the piston comprising a cylindrical body having a boss at one end and a circumferential wall, an axial rod connecting the boss to the steering mechanism of the vehicle, at least one o-ring groove formed in the circumferential wall where at least one o-ring resides,
• wherein the cylinder and the piston are axially aligned, and the cylinder and the cap are movable axially as a single unit relative to the piston between an extended position and a collapsed position;
• biasing means for biasing the piston and the cap apart;
• a seal hermetically secured within the head, wherein the seal and the interior wall and the piston define an air cavity;
• pressurized gas being contained in the air cavity;
• and, an inflatable air bag positioned within the steering wheel for protecting an occupant.

A steering column safety device and valve head combination for use in a motor vehicle having a steering wheel for communicating steering torque to a steering mechanism, and having collision sensing means for sensing a collision operably mounted on the vehicle, the device comprising;

• a hollow cylinder having a top end and a bottom end, the top end adapted to be connected to a steering wheel;
• a piston residing within the cylinder, the hollow cylinder being axially slideable on the piston between an extended position and a collapsed position, an elongated rod with one end secured to the piston and its other end adapted to be connected to the steering mechanism such that rotation of the steering wheel is communicated to the steering mechanism via the hollow cylinder and the piston to control the direction of travel of the vehicle;
• sealing means for sealing the hollow cylinder in order to define an air-tight cavity within the hollow cylinder, the air-tight cavity containing prior to collision pressurized gas;
• opening means to rapidly open the sealing means in response to a signal generated by the collision sensing means, thereby permitting movement of the hollow cylinder from the extended position to the collapsed position.