US 6,631,924 B2 · Shock absorbing type steering column apparatus

Abstract

A shock absorbing type steering column apparatus including a collision energy absorbing mechanism for absorbing a secondary collision energy of an occupant upon a collision of a vehicle, comprises an energy absorption quantity adjusting device for changing an absorption quantity of the secondary collision energy absorbed by the collision energy absorbing mechanism, at least one of operation state detecting sensors for detecting a state of the occupant or of the vehicle, a collision detecting sensor for detecting the collision of the vehicle, and an electric control device for controlling a drive of the energy absorption quantity adjusting device on the basis of a result of the detection by the operation state detecting sensor at the point of time when the collision detecting sensor detects the collision of the vehicle.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A shock absorbing type steering column apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a collision sensor which detects a collision of the vehicle;
a detecting system which detects information relating to an amount of secondary collision energy;
an electric controller which issues a signal based on the information from said detecting system when said collision sensor detects the collision of the vehicle;
an energy absorbing mechanism which takes one of an operative state in which, upon a secondary collision, the energy absorbing mechanism allows a relative movement between a steering wheel and a vehicle body structural member while resisting said relative movement so as to absorb energy of the secondary collision, and a non-operative state in which the energy absorbing mechanism is not operative;
and
an actuator device which changes over said energy absorbing mechanism from said one state to the other state upon receipt of said signal from said electric controller.

3 more elements

A shock absorbing type steering column apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a collision sensor which detects a collision of the vehicle;
a detecting system which detects information relating to an amount of secondary collision energy to be applied to an occupant;
an electric controller which issues a signal based on the information from said detecting system when said collision sensor detects the collision of the vehicle;
a first energy absorbing mechanism which takes one of an operative state in which, upon a secondary collision, the first energy absorbing mechanism allows a relative movement between a steering wheel and a vehicle body structural member while collapsing to resist said relative movement so as to absorb energy of said secondary collision, and a non-operative state in which the first energy absorbing mechanism is not operative;
a second energy absorbing mechanism which absorbs energy of the secondary collision upon the collision of the vehicle;
and
an actuator device which changes over said first energy absorbing mechanism from said one state to the other state upon receipt of said signal from said electric controller.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Shock absorbing type steering column apparatus

Life of this patent

Shock absorbing type steering column apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9