US 5,961,146 A · Shock absorbing type steering column assembly

Abstract

A shock absorbing type steering column assembly includes a first bracket fixed to a steering column at a middle portion thereof, a second bracket formed integrally with the car body for supporting the first bracket, and a connecting device having an energy absorbing member for supporting the first bracket until a predetermined load is applied upon a secondary collision and absorbing a collision energy applied on the steering column and allowing the first bracket to move relative to the second bracket to absorb the shock energy when the predetermined load is applied on the steering column upon a secondary collision. The energy absorbing member includes a metallic wire which has a basic portion and elongated deformable portions extending respectively from the ends of said basic portion toward free ends. Each of the deformable portions has a folded-back portion and a deformable portion extending from the folded-back portion to the free end. The energy absorbing member is retained at the basic portion by one of the first and the second brackets and engaged or engageable with the other of the first and second brackets at the folded-back portion. When the applied load exceeds the predetermined value and the first bracket moves forward relative to the second bracket, the wire is so urged by the first bracket that the folded-back portions are shifted along the deformable portions toward the free ends, thereby absorbing the collision energy.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A shock absorbing steering column assembly, comprising:

a first bracket fixed to a steering column at an intermediate portion of the steering column;
a second bracket fixed to a vehicle body for supporting said first bracket;
a connecting device including a bolt and a nut which are fastened to support the first bracket to the second bracket until a predetermined impact load is applied on the steering column upon a secondary collision, said connecting device allowing the first bracket to move forward with respect to the second bracket when said predetermined impact load is applied on the steering column;
and
an energy absorbing member constructed and disposed to absorb secondary-collision energy when said first bracket moves forward with respect to said second bracket;
wherein said energy absorbing member includes a metallic wire;
said metallic wire has a basic portion and opposed elongated deformable portions integrally extended from respective ends of said basic portion;
said elongated deformable portions have respective folded-back portions and respective deformable portions extending from said folded-back portions to respective end portions of said elongated deformable portions;
and said energy absorbing member is retained at said basic portion by said first bracket and is adapted to engage with said bolt at said folded-back portions, such that when said first bracket moves forward with respect to said second bracket upon the secondary collision, said metallic wire is urged by said first bracket to force said folded-back portions against a surface on said bolt so as to shift said folded-back portions along the elongated deformable portions toward said end portions thereof, thereby absorbing secondary-collision energy.

6 more elements

A shock absorbing steering column assembly comprising:

a first bracket fixed to an intermediate portion of a steering column and oriented transversely to a longitudinal axis of the steering column, the first bracket having a pair of opposed side walls each formed with a cut-away portion opening rearward;
a second bracket having a pair of supporting plates for laterally sandwiching said opposed side walls of the first bracket therebetween, the supporting plates being formed with through-holes opposed to said cut-away portions of the first bracket;
a connecting device for connecting and supporting said first bracket to said second bracket, said connecting device including a bolt extended through said cut-away portions of said first bracket and said through-holes of said second bracket and a nut fastened to said bolt so that said first bracket is supported to said second bracket until a predetermined impact load is applied to the steering column upon a secondary collision, said connecting device allowing said first bracket to move with respect to said second bracket to permit energy to be absorbed upon the secondary collision;
and
an energy absorbing member provided between said first bracket and said second bracket to absorb said energy when said first bracket moves with respect to said second bracket;
wherein said energy absorbing member includes a metallic wire having a basic portion and a deformable portion integrally formed by bending the wire;
said basic portion is connected to and supported by a part of said first bracket in front of said bolt;
and said deformable portion is extended rearward from said part of said first bracket toward said bolt, is folded back around said bolt, and is extended forward, such that when said first bracket moves with respect to said second bracket, said metallic wire is drawn by said first bracket against a surface on said bolt so as to absorb secondary-collision energy.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Shock absorbing type steering column assembly

Life of this patent

Shock absorbing type steering column assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20