US3744338A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Energy absorbing steering device
Assignee: Toyota Central R&D Labs Inc
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Filing: 1971-10-27
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Granted: 1973-07-10
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Expires: 1991-10-27
Abstract
Abstract An energy absorbing steering device for protecting vehicle drivers from the shock of impact against a steering wheel. Said device is provided with upper and lower steering shaft assemblies mounted for relative axial displacement in response to the application of axial forces, and a rigid plastic foam body. One of said assemblies includes a cylinder member having one open end and a bottom plate and the other includes a piston having a pushing surface inclined relative to the axis of said cylinder. The rigid plastic foam is disposed in the cylinder intermediate the inclined pushing surface and the bottom plate for compression upon such relative axial displacement of said assemblies. Said rigid plastic foam body has the property of relatively long and stable compressibility without spring back so that the kinetic energy of the driver''s impact against the steering wheel is absorbed thereby at a predetermined load level.
Inventors
- 👤 N Komatsu
- 👤 T Kurauchi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 07:56
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/16; B62D1/18; B62D1/19; B62D1/192
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
An energy absorbing steering device for interconnecting a steering wheel and a steering gear comprising an upper steering assembly having said steering wheel mounted to the upper end thereof; a lower steering assembly having a steering gear coupled to the lower end thereof; means for connecting the lower end portion of said upper steering assembly and the upper end portion of said lower steering assembly for relative axial displacement in response to the application of axial force on said assemblies, said connecting means permitting the transmission of rotational torque from said steering wheel through said upper and lower steering assemblies to said steering gear; one of said upper and lower steering assemblies including a cylinder member having one open end and one closed end defined by a bottom plate and the other of said assemblies including a piston having a pushing surface inclined relative to the axis of said cylinder member and a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of said cylinder member, said piston being normally partially inserted into said cylinder member; and a rigid plastic foam body being disposed in said cylinder intermediate said inclined pushing surface of said piston and said bottom plate of said cylinder member, said inclined pushing surface projecting toward said rigid plastic foam, said assemblies being adapted to compress said rigid plastic foam body therebetween upon said relative axial displacement to absorb said axial force.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
An energy absorbing steering device for interconnecting a steering wheel and a steering gear comprising an upper steering assembly having said steering wheel mounted to the upper end thereof; a lower steering assembly having a steering gear coupled to the lower end thereof; means for connecting the lower end portion of said upper steering assembly and the upper end portion of said lower steering assembly for relative axial displacement in response to the application of axial force on said assemblies, said connecting means permitting the transmission of rotational torque from said steering wheel through said upper and lower steering assemblies to said steering gear; one of said upper and lower steering assemblies including a cylinder member having one open end and one closed end defined by a bottom plate and the other of said assemblies including a piston having a pushing surface inclined relative to the axis of said cylinder member and a smaller outer diameter than the inner diameter of said cylinder member, said piston being normally partially inserted into said cylinder member; and a rigid plastic foam body being disposed in said cylinder intermediate said inclined pushing surface of said piston and said bottom plate of said cylinder member, said inclined pushing surface projecting toward said rigid plastic foam, said assemblies being adapted to compress said rigid plastic foam body therebetween upon said relative axial displacement to absorb said axial force.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 1, wherein said rigid plastic foam body is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of rigid polyurethaNe foam and rigid polystyrene foam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 1, wherein said rigid plastic foam body is formed of a material having a density lying within the range from about 0.10 to 0.60 gr/cm3.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 1, wherein the end surface of said piston facing said rigid plastic foam body is formed with a substantially conical surface having the apex thereof projecting toward said foam body.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 1, wherein said upper steering assembly includes an upper steering shaft and said lower steering assembly includes a lower steering shaft, one of said upper and lower steering shafts being formed as a pipe having one open end, the adjacent portion of the other of said steering shafts being inserted into said pipe-shaped steering shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 5, wherein said connecting means includes said upper and lower steering shafts being formed with a gap therebetween in the overlapping regions thereof between the inner surface of said pipe-shaped steering shaft and the outer surface of the other of said steering shaft, said connecting means including plastic disposed within said gap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 6, wherein said pipe-shaped steering shaft has a substantially non-circular section, and the other of said steering shafts has a corresponding section for the transmission of rotary torque therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 5, wherein said cylinder member is fixed to one of said upper and lower steering shafts, and said piston is fixed to the other of said steering shafts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
137 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 8, wherein said bottom plate of said cylinder is formed with an aperture therethrough aligned with the axis of said steering shafts, one of said upper and lower steering shafts extending through said aperture and being fixed to said cylinder at said aperture, said piston having a bore therethrough aligned with the axis of said steering shafts, the other of said upper and lower steering shafts extending through said bore and being fixed to said piston at said bore, said rigid plastic foam body being cylindrically shaped and formed with an axial bore therethrough, said rigid plastic foam body being positioned within said cylinder member with the one of said steering shafts extending through said aperture in said cylinder member bottom plate also extending through said foam body bore.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 9, wherein the end surface of said piston facing said cylinder is formed with a conical surface about said bore, the apex of said conical surface projecting toward said cylinder member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 9, wherein said pipe-shaped steering shaft is said lower steering shaft.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 11, wherein said piston is fixed on said pipe-shaped lower steering shaft.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 9, wherein said rigid plastic foam body is formed of a material having a density lying in the range from 0.1 to 0.6 gr/cm3.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 13, wherein said rigid plastic foam body is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of rigid polyurethane foam and rigid polystyrene foam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 5, wherein said cylinder member is said pipe-shaped steering shaft, the bottom plate of said cylinder member defining a bottom plate in said pipe-shaped steering shaft, said piston being the other of said steering shafts, the end of said other of said steering shafts inserted within said pipe-shaped steering shaft having a conical pushing surface projecting toward said bottom plate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
An energy absorbing Steering device according to claim 15, wherein said pipe-shaped steering shaft is said lower steering shaft.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 15, wherein said rigid plastic foam body is formed of a material having a density lying within a range from about 0.1 to 0.6 gr/cm3.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 17, wherein said rigid plastic foam body is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of rigid polyurethane foam and rigid polystyrene foam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
113 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 5, wherein said upper steering assembly includes an upper steering column tube positioned about said upper steering shaft and said lower steering assembly includes a lower steering column tube positioned about said lower steering shaft, said upper steering shaft being mounted within said upper steering column so as to permit relative rotation of said upper steering shaft; said device including a vehicle body, said lower steering column tube being fixed to said vehicle body, one of said piston and cylinder member being fixed on said upper steering column tube, the other of said piston and cylinder member being fixed on said lower steering column tube.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
104 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 19, wherein said cylinder member and piston are each respectively fixed coaxially to the respective steering column tube, said cylinder member bottom plate and said piston each having an axially aligned aperture therethrough, at least one of said upper and lower steering shafts extending through each of said apertures, said rigid plastic foam body being cylindrically shaped with an axial bore therethrough, said foam body being positioned in said cylinder member with at least one of said upper and lower steering shafts extending through the bore thereof intermediate said piston and said cylinder member bottom plate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 20, wherein the end of said piston facing said cylinder is formed with a conical surface about the axial aperture therethrough, the apex of said conical surface projecting toward said cylinder.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 21, wherein said cylinder member is fixed on said upper steering column tube and said piston is fixed on said lower steering column tube.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 20, wherein said rigid plastic foam body is formed of a material having a density lying in the range from about 0.1 to 0.6 gr/cm3.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
An energy absorbing steering device according to claim 23, wherein said rigid plastic foam body is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of rigid polyurethane foam and polystyrene foam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-07-09 | 1977-01-08 | 1977-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-07-09 | 1981-01-08 | 1981-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-07-09 | 1985-01-08 | 1985-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |