Steering apparatus for vehicles

Claim 1

A steering apparatus for a vehicle comprising: a steering shaft assembly including a first shaft of which the lower end is foldably connected to a steering gear of the vehicle by way of a first universal joint and a second shaft of which the lower end is foldably connected to the upper end of said first shaft by way of a second universal joint and the upper end is connected to a steering wheel, said first shaft being axially displaceable relative to said second shaft, a column tube assembly including an inner column tube coaxially surrounding and journalling said second shaft therein and separated at its lower end in a predetermined distance from the front wall of the vehicle compartment, an outer column tube coaxially surrounding said inner column tube therein and separated at its lower end in a predetermined distance from the front wall of the vehicle compartment, and an impact energy absorbing means between said inner and outer column tubes for absorbing a secondary impact energy exerted on said inner column tube from the steering wheel in a secondary collision; a front supporting means mounted on a vehicle body structure for supporting the lower portion of said outer column tube and including means permitting forward displacement and disengagement of said outer column tube relative to said front supporting means by the secondary impact energy; and a rear supporting means mounted on the vehicle body structure for supporting the upper portion of said outer column tube and including means permitting forward displacement of said outer column tube relative to said rear supporting means and comprising a pivot for said outer column tube in a secondary collision; whereby in a vehicle collision said outer column tube is displaced forwardly by the secondary impact energy exerted thereon and swings downwardly or upwardly around said pivot of said rear supporting means to effect said impact energy absorbing means.