EP0192776A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Structure for supporting a steering column tube
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1985-08-26
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-08-26
Abstract
Abstract A support structure by which a steering column tube (10) of a vehicle is supported by a support member (14) such as the vehicle via a column support bracket (12), in a manner to absorb strong external force or to avoid local stress, in order to maintain safety for the driver. The column support bracket (12) has folded portions (130), (132) on the upper and lower sides of the steering column tube (10), and/or has a protector (40) for the mounting bolts.
Inventors
- 👤 Youichi Hyodo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 19:15
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/16; B62D1/18; B62D1/19; B62D1/195
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
213 words
A support structure of an energy absorbing type steering column tube comprising a column support bracket (12) for supporting a steering column tube (10) having a steering wheel (16) at one end thereof to a support member (14), said column support bracket (12) being made of plastically deformable materials, said column support bracket (12) being composed of a substantially planar mount portion (120) adapted to be fixed to said support member (14), a retainer portion (122) having a retainer hole (34) through which said steering column tube (10) is inserted, and a support portion (124) fixedly mounted to said steering column tube (10), said retainer portion (122) being formed with a first bent portion (130) integrally extending from an end portion of said retainer portion (122) toward said steering wheel (16), said support portion (124) being formed with a second bent portion (132) integrally extending from an end portion of .said retainer portion (122) toward said steering wheel (16), said steering column tube being fixed to an end of said support portion (124) by a fixing means such as welding, wherein when in external force is axially applied to said steering column :ube 10, said first bent portion (130) and said second bent bortion (132) are plastically deformed to absorb an impact energy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
213 words
A support structure of an energy absorbing type steering column tube comprising a column support bracket (12) for supporting a steering column tube (10) having a steering wheel (16) at one end thereof to a support member (14), said column support bracket (12) being made of plastically deformable materials, said column support bracket (12) being composed of a substantially planar mount portion (120) adapted to be fixed to said support member (14), a retainer portion (122) having a retainer hole (34) through which said steering column tube (10) is inserted, and a support portion (124) fixedly mounted to said steering column tube (10), said retainer portion (122) being formed with a first bent portion (130) integrally extending from an end portion of said retainer portion (122) toward said steering wheel (16), said support portion (124) being formed with a second bent portion (132) integrally extending from an end portion of .said retainer portion (122) toward said steering wheel (16), said steering column tube being fixed to an end of said support portion (124) by a fixing means such as welding, wherein when in external force is axially applied to said steering column :ube 10, said first bent portion (130) and said second bent bortion (132) are plastically deformed to absorb an impact energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The support structure of the energy absorbing type steering column tube as defined in claim 1, wherein said support portion (124) is formed with a pair of projections (5) projecting into said retainer hole (34) for slidably holding said steering column tube (10).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The support structure of the energy absorbing type steering column tube as defined in claim 1, wherein an angle formed by said mount portion (120) and said retainer portion (122) ranges from 90 to 120 degrees.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The support structure of the energy absorbing type steering column tube as defined in claim 3, wherein an angle θ 1 obtained by subtracting 90 degrees from said angle between said mount portion (120) and said retainer portion (122) is substantially half an angle range 6 3 where said retainer portion (122) is allowed to be bent relative to said mount portion (120).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The support structure of the energy absorbing type steering column tube as defined in claim 3, wherein an angle θ 2 formed by said retainer portion (12) and said support portion (124) is substantially equal to said angle range θ 3 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a support structure of a steering column tube including a column support bracket (12) for retaining a steering column tube (10), bolts (18) for mounting said column support bracket (12) to a support member (14) such as a vehicular body, said bolts (18) being located on both sides of said steering column tube (10) in opposed relation with a knee (22) of a driver (20), the improvement comprising protectors (40) integrally formed with said column support bracket (12), said protectors (40) being provided between a mount position of said bolts (18) and a position of said knee (22), and being bent so as to allow plastic deformation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
In a support structure of a steering column tube including a column support bracket (12) for retaining a steering column tube (10), bolts (18) for mounting said column support bracket (12) to a support member (14) such as a vehicular body, said bolts (18) being located on both sides of said steering column tube (10) in opposed relation with a knee (22) of a driver (20), the improvement comprising protectors (40) integrally formed with said column support bracket (12), said protectors (40) being provided between a mount position of said bolts (18) and a position of said knee (22), and being bent so as to allow plastic deformation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
64 words
The support structure of the energy absorbing type steering column tube as defined in claim 6, wherein said column support bracket is composed of a mount portion (30), a retainer portion (32) for retaining said steering column tube (10) and protectors (40), said protectors (40) being bent relative to said mount portion (30) and being positioned between said bolts (18) and said knee (22).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
The support structure of the energy absorbing type steering column tube as defined in claim 7, wherein said protectors (40) are bent relative to said mount portion (30), and further bent at an intermediate position thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The support structure of the energy absorbing type steering column tube as defined in claim 8, wherein second bent portions (40b) formed at the intermediate position of said protectors (40) are outwardly upwardly inclined relative to first bent portions (40a) formed between said protectors (40) and said mount portion (30).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
The support structure of an energy absorbing type steering column tube as defined in claim 7, wherein said protectors (40) are bent to extend to a position over an extension from said bolts (18), and said protectors (40) are formed on said extension with recesses (42) through which a fastening tool (50) or a connecting tool (52) is allowed to be inserted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The support structure of the energy absorbing type steering column tube as defined in claim 7, wherein said protectors (40) are bent to extend to a position not over said extension of said bolts (18).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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