Impact absorbing type steering column apparatus
AssigneeNsk Ltd.
InventorsKenji Satou, Tetsuo Nomura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An impact absorbing type steering column apparatus provided with a collision energy absorbing device for absorbing an energy of a secondary collision of an occupant upon a collision of a vehicle comprises an energy absorption quantity adjusting device for changing a secondary collision energy absorption quantity of the collision energy absorbing device, at least one sensor for detecting a condition of the occupant or the vehicle, and electric control device for controlling a drive of the energy absorption quantity adjusting device on the basis of a result of detection by the sensor.
Claims8
An impact absorbing type steering column apparatus provided with a collision energy absorbing device which absorbs energy of a secondary collision of an occupant upon a collision of a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- an energy absorption quantity adjusting device which changes a secondary collision energy absorption quantity of said collision energy absorbing device;
- at least one sensor which detects a condition of the occupant or the vehicle;
- an electric control device which controls a drive of said energy absorption quantity adjusting device based on a result of detection by said sensor;
- a steering column rotatably supporting said steering shaft;
- and
- a bracket fixed to a vehicle body, said bracket supporting said steering column and allowing said steering column to be released therefrom in response to an impact load equal to or larger than a predetermined value,
- wherein said collision energy absorbing device is provided between said steering column and said bracket, and causes fracture, or bending deformation and fracture, of an energy absorbing member composed of a metal plate with a shift of said steering column.
An impact absorbing type steering column apparatus comprising:
- a steering column rotatably supporting said steering shaft;
- a bracket fixed to a vehicle body, said bracket supporting said steering column and allowing said steering column to be released therefrom in response to an impact load equal to or larger than a predetermined value;
- and
- a collision energy absorbing device provided between said steering column and said bracket, said collision energy absorbing device absorbing energy of a secondary collision of an occupant by causing fracture, or bending deformation and fracture, of an energy absorbing member composed of a metal plate with a shift of said steering column,
- wherein said steering column apparatus is provided with an energy absorption quantity adjusting device which changes an absorption quantity of the collision energy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.