Energy-absorbing steering column

Claim 2

In energy-absorbing steering column apparatus for automotive vehicles including a telescopic steering shaft adapted for operative connection between the steering gear of the vehicle and a manual steering instrumentality, and support jacket means mountable on the vehicle and rotatably supporting said shaft, the improvement comprising, said jacket means being constructed of telescopically related upper and lower members, the upper of said members being adapted to telescope relative to the lower of said members upon forces being applied to said instrumentality downwardly toward said lower section, first energy-absorbing means in said jacket means and operative during an initial stage of said downward telescoping movement between said members to provide a first level of controlled resistance thereto, second energy-absorbing means carried by said jacket means, and abutment means engageable upon completion of said first stage of downward telescoping movement to connect said upper member in forcetransferring relation with said second energy-absorbing means such that the latter is responsive to continued downwardly applied forces on said manual instrumentality to provide a second level of controlled resistance to downward displacement of said upper member following said first stage of movement thereof.

Claim 3

The improvement recited in claim 1 wherein said abutment means are engageable to connect said upper member in force-transferring relation through both said first and second energy-absorbing means so that both thereof contribute to said second level of resistance.

Claim 4

In energy-absorbing steering column apparatus for automotive vehicles and including a telescopic steering shaft adapted for operative connection between the steering gear of the vehicle and a manual steering instrumentality, and a support jacket means mountable on the vehicle and rotatably supporting said shaft, the improvement comprising, said jacket means being constructed of telescopically related upper and lower members, the upper of said members being adapted to telescope relative to the lower of said members upon forces being applied to said instrumentality downwardly toward said lower member, spaced annular rows of deformer rolling bodies interposed with interference fit between said members operative to roll thereover during an initial stage of said downward telescoping movement between said members and to effect predetermined plastic strain grooving therein during such movement to provide a first level of controlled resistance thereto, a second energy-aBsorbing means carried by said jacket means, and abutment means engageable upon completion of said first stage of downward telescoping movement to connect said upper member in force-transferring relation with said second energy-absorbing means such that the latter is responsive to continued downwardly applied force on said manual instrumentality to provide a second level of controlled resistance to downward displacement of said upper member following said first stage of movement thereof.

Claim 5

In energy-absorbing steering column apparatus for automotive vehicles and including a telescopic steering shaft adapted for operative connection between the steering gear of the vehicle and a manual steering instrumentality, and a support jacket means mountable on the vehicle and rotatably supporting said shaft, the improvement comprising, said jacket means being constructed of telescopically related upper and lower members, the upper of said members being adapted to telescope relative to the lower of said members upon forces being applied to said instrumentality downwardly toward said lower member, spaced annular rows of deformer rolling bodies interposed with interference fit between said members operative to roll thereover during an initial stage of said downward telescoping movement between said members and to effect predetermined plastic strain grooving therein during such movement to provide a first level of controlled resistance thereto, a second energy-aBsorbing means carried by said jacket means, and abutment means engageable upon completion of said first stage of downward telescoping movement to connect said upper member in force-transferring relation with said second energy-absorbing means such that the latter is responsive to continued downwardly applied force on said manual instrumentality to provide a second level of controlled resistance to downward displacement of said upper member following said first stage of movement thereof.

Claim 6

The improvement recited in claim 3 wherein said abutment means are engageable to connect said upper member in force-transferring relation through both said first and second energy-absorbing means so that both thereof contribute to said second level of resistance.

Claim 7

The improvement recited in claim 3 wherein said second energy-absorbing means comprises a portion of said lower member constructed in annularly corrugated manner to be subject to accordionlike radial expansion and axial shortening under said forces, said abutment means being adapted to connect said upper member directly with said lower member.

Claim 8

The improvement recited in claim 3 wherein said second energy-absorbing means comprises a second set of spaced annular rows of deformer rolling bodies interposed with interference fit between said lower member and a further member received over said lower member, said abutment means being adapted to connect said upper member with said further member for conjoint telescoping movement thereof relative to said lower member following said first stage of movement.

Claim 9

The improvement recited in claim 1 further including one-way releasable bracket means fixed to said upper member and adapted for attachment within the vehicle in a manner permitting said downward telescoping movement thereof but preventing upward movement thereof, at least one of said energy-absorbing means being operative for controlled resistance to upward movement of said lower member against the reaction provided by said bracket means.

Claim 10

An energy absorber comprising first tube means, second tube means telescopically related with said first tube means, at least one annular row of deformer rolling bodies interposed with interference fit between said first and second tube means and operative to roll thereover during an initial stage of telescoping movement between said tube means in one direction to effect predetermined plastic strain grooving therein during such movement providing a first level of energy absorption, third tube means telescopically related with said second tube means, at least one annular row of deformer rolling bodies interposed with interference fit between said second and third tube means operative to roll thereover during telescoping movement therebetween to effect predetermined plastic strain grooving therein, and abutment means on said first and said third tube means engageable following completion of said first stage of telescoping movement of said first tube means to connect said first and third tube means for conjoint telescoping movement relative to said second tube means and conjoint rolling of the first and the last mentioned rows of deformer bodies so that continued telescoping movement of said first tube means in said one direction occurs with a second level of energy absorption effected by both said first and last mentioned rows of deformer bodies.

Claim 11

An energy absorber comprising first tube means, second tube means telescopically related with said first tube means, at least one annular row of deformer rolling bodies interposed with interference fit between said first and second tube means and operative to roll thereover during an initial stage of telescoping movement between said tube means in one direction to effect predetermined plastic strain grooving therein during such movement providing a first level of energy absorption, third tube means telescopically related with said second tube means, at least one annular row of deformer rolling bodies interposed with interference fit between said second and third tube means operative to roll thereover during telescoping movement therebetween to effect predetermined plastic strain grooving therein, and abutment means on said first and said third tube means engageable following completion of said first stage of telescoping movement of said first tube means to connect said first and third tube means for conjoint telescoping movement relative to said second tube means and conjoint rolling of the first and the last mentioned rows of deformer bodies so that continued telescoping movement of said first tube means in said one direction occurs with a second level of energy absorption effected by both said first and last mentioned rows of deformer bodies.

Claim 12

In energy-absorbing steering column apparatus for automotive vehicles and including a telescopic steering shaft adapted for operative connection between the steering gear of the vehicle and a manual steering instrumentality, and a support jacket mountable on the vehicle and rotatably supporting said shaft, the improvement comprising, said jacket being constructed of telescopically related upper and lower tubes, the upper of said tubes being adapted to telescope relative to the lower thereof upon forces being applied to said instrumentality downwardly toward said lower tube, one-way releasable bracket means fixed to said upper tube and adapted to permit said downward telescoping movement thereof but prevent upward movement thereof, at least two axially spaced annular rows of deformer balls interposed with interference fit between said tubes and operative to roll thereover during an initial stage of said downward telescoping movement of said upper tube to effect predetermined plastic strain grooving in said tubes providing a first level of controlled resistance to such telescoping movement, a third tube received telescopically over said lower tube below said upper tube, at least two axially spaced annular rows of deformer balls interposed with interference fit between said lower and third tubes operative to roll thereover during telescoping movement therebetween to effect predetermined plastic strain grooving therein, and abutment flanges means on said upper and said third tubes engageable upon completion of said first stage of downward telescoping movement of said upper tube to connect said upper and third tubes for conjoint telescoping movement downwardly relative to said second tube such that both the first and the last mentioned spaced rows of deformer balls are responsive to such continued downward telescoping movement to provide a second higher level of controlled resistance to such movement.

Claim 13

In energy-absorbing steering column apparatus for automotive vehicles and including a telescopic steering shaft adapted for operative connection between the steering gear of the vehicle and a manual steering instrumentality, and a support jacket mountable on the vehicle and rotatably supporting said shaft, the improvement comprising, said jacket being constructed of telescopically related upper and lower tubes, the upper of said tubes being adapted to telescope relative to the lower thereof upon forces being applied to said instrumentality downwardly toward said lower tube, one-way releasable bracket means fixed to said upper tube and adapted to permit said downward telescoping movement thereof but prevent upward movement thereof, at least two axially spaced annular rows of deformer balls interposed with interference fit between said tubes and operative to roll thereover during an initial stage of said downward telescoping movement of said upper tube to effect predetermined plastic strain grooving in said tubes providing a first level of controlled resistance to such telescoping movement, a third tube received telescopically over said lower tube below said upper tube, at least two axially spaced annular rows of deformer balls interposed with interference fit between said lower and third tubes operative to roll thereover during telescoping movement therebetween to effect predetermined plastic strain grooving therein, and abutment flanges means on said upper and said third tubes engageable upon completion of said first stage of downward telescoping movement of said upper tube to connect said upper and third tubes for conjoint telescoping movement downwardly relative to said second tube such that both the first and the last mentioned spaced rows of deformer balls are responsive to such continued downward telescoping movement to provide a second higher level of controlled resistance to such movement.