Collapsible steering column mount arrangement

Claim 1

A collapsible safety steering column mount arrangement for a motor vehicle arranged to collapse upon impact with an object, comprising, structure having a lower housing tube with collar means on its outer surface positioned intermediate the ends thereof, means for supporting said lower housing tube in the firewall of said vehicle at a position below said collar means, an upper and outer housing tube having a flange provided on its lower end, said lower housing tube being of smaller telescopic fit and extending partially from within said upper and outer housing tube, means including a steering gear box secured on the lower end of said lower housing tube, with a steering shaft extending upwardly from said gear box into said lower housing tube, wheel shaft means having a steering wheel on one end and with its other extending downwardly into said upper housing tube and into said lower housing tube, means positioned in the interior of said wheel shaft means for coupling said steering shaft to said wheel shaft means, means for supporting said wheel shaft means at spaced points within said lower housing tube for free reciprocation therein, first compression spring means surrounding the lower portion of said steering shaft and having its opposite ends positioned against the lower end of said wheel shaft means and an abutting position within said gear box and arranged so as to bias said wheel shaft means upwardly in said lower housing tube, a second compression spring means positioned between said flange means of said outer housing tube and said collar means of said lower housing tube so as to bias said lower housing tube and outer housing tube apart, slot means provided in the under side of said outer housing tube and extending from said flange of said outer housing tube, bracket means adapted to be secured to said vehicle, and key means being positioned in said slot and mounted on said bracket means, with said first and second compression spring means being arranged to work in parallel to absorb the energy of an axial displacement of said steering column in case of a sudden stop of said vehicle and nondestructively restoration thereafter; and in case of a major collision of said vehicle with another vehicle or object, said first and second compression means compress completely, with said collar means functioning as a ram to force said lower housing support means from said firewall, thus allowing said entire steering column to shift forwardly out of a dangerous position to the operator of said vehicle.