US 6,142,523 AGranted

Steering spindle provided for mounting on a body part of a motor vehicle

AssigneeMannesmann VDO AG

InventorsPeter Bathis, Raimund Grabis

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Abstract

A profile steering spindle of a motor vehicle has a telescopic profile piece, which can be displaced in the axial direction by an adjusting tube, and into which project a first profile piece close to the steering wheel and a second profile piece remote from the steering wheel, intended for retaining a steering wheel. During axial displacements, the second profile piece remote from the steering wheel can be displaced relative to the telescopic profile piece by an adjusting tube without expenditure of force. The first profile piece close to the steering wheel is connected to the telescopic profile piece by means of bending lugs. If the driver of the motor vehicle strikes the steering wheel, the bending lugs are held by the telescopic profile piece, and the first profile piece close to the steering wheel is torn. The kinetic energy is thereby absorbed.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A steering spindle for interconnecting a steering wheel with a steering mechanism, and for mounting on a body part of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a first profile piece and a second profile piece, an adjusting device, and a telescopic profile piece which engages telescopically with said first profile piece at least in one end region, said telescopic profile piece connecting between said first and said second profile piece pieces and engaging telescopically with said second profile piece at least in one end region;
a shock-absorbing member for absorbing kinetic energy during a movement of the first profile piece relative to the telescopic profile piece, said shock-absorbing member lying between said telescopic profile piece and said first profile piece to be carried with said telescopic profile piece upon movement thereof by said adjustment device;
wherein said second profile piece is displaceable in an axial direction relative to said telescopic profile piece by said adjusting device;
said second profile piece is arranged on that side of said telescopic profile piece which is remote from said first profile piece, in which case either said first profile piece is connected to the steering wheel and said second profile piece is connected to the steering mechanism or said first profile piece is connected to the steering mechanism and said second profile piece is connected to the steering wheel;
and
said adjusting device envelopes said telescopic profile piece for axial displacement of said telescopic profile piece concurrently with said shock-absorbing member and said first profile piece.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.