EP0187545A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy absorbing steering column for motor vehicles
Assignee: Ford-Werke GmbH
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Filing: 1985-12-31
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-12-31
Abstract
Abstract An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle includes a vehicle body, an upper steering column tube (2), a lower steering column tube (4) telescopically engaged with the upper steering column tube (12), a steering shaft (6) rotatably suspended within the steering column and having a steering wheel (8) secured to the rearward end of the shaft (6). A first means (10a,10b,14) is provided for mounting the upper steering column tube (2) to the body and for absorbing impact loads through plastic deformation as the column tubes move together axially. A second means (18,24) is provided for securing the upper column tube (2) to the lower column tube (4) and for allowing the tubes to move axially relative to each other.
Inventors
- 👤 Karim Berenjian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:29
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/16; B62D1/18; B62D1/19; B62D1/195
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle comprising an upper column tube (2), a lower column tube (4) telescopically engaged with said upper column tube (2), a steering shaft (6) rotatably suspended within said telescopically engaged lower and upper column tubes (2,4), a steering wheel (8) secured to the rearward end of said steering shaft (6), first means (10a,10b,14) for mounting said upper column tube (2) to a vehicle body and for absorbing impact loads through plastic deformation as said column tubes (2,4) move together axially, and second means (18,24) for securing said upper column tube (2) to said lower column tube (4) and for allowing said tubes to move axially relative to each other inhibited only by said first means for an initial segment of travel, followed by one or more segments of travel characterized by inhibition resulting from the action of both of said first and second means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle comprising an upper column tube (2), a lower column tube (4) telescopically engaged with said upper column tube (2), a steering shaft (6) rotatably suspended within said telescopically engaged lower and upper column tubes (2,4), a steering wheel (8) secured to the rearward end of said steering shaft (6), first means (10a,10b,14) for mounting said upper column tube (2) to a vehicle body and for absorbing impact loads through plastic deformation as said column tubes (2,4) move together axially, and second means (18,24) for securing said upper column tube (2) to said lower column tube (4) and for allowing said tubes to move axially relative to each other inhibited only by said first means for an initial segment of travel, followed by one or more segments of travel characterized by inhibition resulting from the action of both of said first and second means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
An energy absorbing steering column as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said first means comprises a plastically deformable unitary bracket comprising a central section fixed to said upper column tube and two outlying mounting pads for fastening same to said body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
An energy absorbing steering column as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said mounting pads rotate about axes lying perpendicular to the central axis of said steering column during deformation of said bracket.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An energy absorbing steering column as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein said bracket further comprises bendable, energy absorption sections linking said central section to said mounting pads.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An energy absorbing steering column as claimed in Claim 4, wherein each of said energy absorption sections has an arcuate shape with a radius of curvature which decreases as said mounting pads rotate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
An energy absorbing steering column as claimed in Claim 5, wherein said mounting pads rotate in a common plane during deformation of said bracket.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
An energy absorbing steering column as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said second means comprises two or more shearable fasteners ridigly attached to one of said column tubes with each fastener slidably engaged with a mating slot formed in the other of said column tubes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An energy absorbing steering column as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said slots extend different axial distances from each corresponding shearable fastener so as to cause said fasteners to be sheared during different segments of travel of said column tubes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An energy absorbing steering column as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, wherein said shearable fasteners comprise self-locking, double-ended nuts.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
An energy absorbing steering column as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9, wherein said shearable fasteners are sheared by the rearward end walls of said slots.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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