US6189919B1 — Steering column arrangement for occupant protecti…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 117 words

A steering column arrangement comprising: a steering column having a first connection connected to a steering wheel and a second connection connected to a steering mechanism and an intermediate column segment supported for rotation between the first connection and the second connection, and compression means including at least one first deformation member associated with the first connection and at least one second deformation member associated with the second connection; wherein the deformation members and the intermediate column segment of the steering column comprises a one-piece tubular member; whereby the distance between the first and second connections can be reduced when a predetermined force is applied to the steering column in the axial direction due to an accident.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 117 words

A steering column arrangement comprising: a steering column having a first connection connected to a steering wheel and a second connection connected to a steering mechanism and an intermediate column segment supported for rotation between the first connection and the second connection, and compression means including at least one first deformation member associated with the first connection and at least one second deformation member associated with the second connection; wherein the deformation members and the intermediate column segment of the steering column comprises a one-piece tubular member; whereby the distance between the first and second connections can be reduced when a predetermined force is applied to the steering column in the axial direction due to an accident.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

A steering column arrangement according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the deformation members has a corrugated tube or bellows shape.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

A steering column arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the tubular member has walls with different thicknesses for the first and second deformation members and for the intermediate column segment of the steering column.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 39 words

A steering column arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the tubular member further comprises at least one adapter segment coupling the tubular member to at least one of a steering wheel and a linkage element for the steering mechanism.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

A steering column arrangement according to claim 4 wherein at least one of the first connection and an integral adapter segment comprises a torque-transmitting snap fastening.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

A steering column according to claim 1 wherein a housing wall of the intermediate column segment of the steering column is supported by a steering column bearing.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

A steering column according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second connections is integrally molded on a corresponding deformation member.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 32 words

A steering column arrangement according to claim 1 wherein at least one column segment is positioned to be engaged by a locking member of a vehicle steering wheel lock on a vehicle.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 48 words

A steering column arrangement according to claim 1 wherein at least one propellant charge is mounted in the intermediate column segment the steering column to cause inflation of at least one air bag to provide a restraining element for the protection of a vehicle occupant in an accident.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 76 words

A vehicle occupant protection arrangement comprising a steering column arrangement according to claim 1 and at least one airbag which is inflatable by gas from at least one propellant charge in response to a control signal, the steering column supporting the propellant charge, and a steering column sleeve rotatably supporting the steering column and supported from a vehicle structure by at least one force-limiting member having a variable force-travel characteristic which is adjustable within predetermined limits.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 87 words

A vehicle occupant protection arrangement according to claim 10 including a control unit providing a further control signal adjusting the force-travel characteristic of the at least one force-limiting member as a function at least one of an occupant weight, a position of a vehicle seat, a backrest inclination of a vehicle seat, timing of a vehicle deceleration, deformation of a vehicle structure due to an accident, a number of impacts on the vehicle, the location of a collision on the vehicle, and filling behavior of the airbag.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 97 words

A vehicle occupant protection arrangement comprising a steering column arrangement according to claim 1 , at least one airbag associated with the steering column, at least one propellant charge, at least one gas generator inside the steering column for inflating the airbag in response to a control signal, at least one accident sensor for generating a control signal for inflating the airbag, a steering column sleeve rotatably supporting the steering column, and at least one trigger means, supported by the steering column sleeve, by which the propellant charge for the at least one gas generator is activatable.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 39 words

A vehicle occupant protection arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the at least one gas generator includes a fuse and wherein the trigger means comprises an impact member activatable by a further propellant charge to act upon the fuse.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 30 words

A vehicle occupant protection arrangement according to claim 13 wherein the fuse is a ring fuse rotatable with the steering column and normally not in contact with the trigger means.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 32 words

A vehicle occupant protection arrangement according to claim 12 wherein, in response to the control signal, the trigger means generates electromagnetic energy by which the at least one propellant charge is activatable.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 39 words

A vehicle occupant protection arrangement according to claim 12 including at least one diffuser in the path of gas generated by the gas generator for controlling the flow behavior of a stream of gas generated by the propellant charge.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 40 words

A vehicle occupant protection arrangement according to claim 16 wherein at least one of the at least one diffuser and the at least one gas generator are combined in a subassembly contained in an intermediate segment of the steering column.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

A vehicle occupant arrangement according to claim 17 wherein components of the subassembly are combined by at least one of thermal joining and mechanical engaging means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 23 words

A vehicle occupant protection arrangement according to claim 17 wherein at least one pair of elements of the subassembly is of unipartite configuration.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 26 words

A vehicle occupant protection arrangement according to claim 16 wherein the at least one diffuser is combined in a subassembly with at least one deformation member.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 28 words

A vehicle occupant protection arrangement according to claim 16 wherein the at least one diffuser is combined in a subassembly with the intermediate segment of the steering column.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 75 words

A vehicle occupant protection arrangement comprising a steering column arrangement according to claim 1 , a sleeve rotatably supporting the steering column, a steering wheel, an actuating means in the steering wheel having at least one motion transmitter operating an electrical device, signal transmission means capable of contactless transmission of a signal generated by the motion transmitter, and control means responding to a signal transmitted by the signal transmission means for operating the electrical device.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 89 words

A vehicle occupant protection arrangement according to claim 22 wherein the signal transmission means comprises at least one permanent magnet and at least one magnetic field detector means and wherein one of the permanent magnet and the magnetic field detector means is variable in position by the at least one motion transmitter, and wherein the magnetic field detector means detects a relative change of position of the permanent magnet to acquire an operating signal and the operating signal is processed by the control means to operate the electrical device.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 41 words

A safety steering arrangement comprising a steering column arrangement according to claim 1 , and a steering wheel affixed to the steering column by a snap fastening having a part secured to the steering column by at least one securing element.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 28 words

A safety steering arrangement according to claim 24 wherein the securing element is a screw or a bolt arrangement comprising a bayonet fastening clamped by a clamp member.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 30 words

A safety steering arrangement comprising a steering column arrangement according to claim 1 including wherein the steering wheel has a flange surface bonded to a segment of a deformation member.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 31 words

A safety steering arrangement according to claim 1 including deformation member segments and wherein the steering wheel has a flange surface connected to a deformation member segment by a bolted connection.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 30 words

A safety steering arrangement according to claim 26 or claim 27 including engagement means on the deformation segment and on the flange surface by which steering torques can be transmitted.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 78 words

A method of producing a vehicle steering column comprising: providing a tubular member for a steering column with segments to produce deformation members and with an intermediate column segment between the deformation member segments by assembling the deformation members and the intermediate column segment; inserting a subassembly comprising a gas generator and a diffuser having a cartridge-like configuration into the tubular member; and deforming of the deformation member segments while simultaneously fixing the subassembly in the tubular member.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 78 words

A method of producing a vehicle steering column comprising: providing a tubular member for a steering column with segments to produce deformation members and with an intermediate column segment between the deformation member segments by assembling the deformation members and the intermediate column segment; inserting a subassembly comprising a gas generator and a diffuser having a cartridge-like configuration into the tubular member; and deforming of the deformation member segments while simultaneously fixing the subassembly in the tubular member.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 16 words

A method according to claim 29 wherein the tubular member is produced by internal high-pressure forming.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method according to claim 29 wherein the tubular member is produced by rolling.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method according to claim 29 wherein the tubular member is formed from tubular stock.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method according to claim 32 wherein the tubular stock comprises hollow cylinders having different wall thicknesses and joined at open ends.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 13 words

A method according to claim 29 wherein the subassembly also comprises an airbag.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 14 words

A method according to claim 34 including incorporating a steering wheel in the subassembly.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 61 words

A method of producing a vehicle steering column comprising: providing a one-piece tubular steering column member having deformation member segments and an intermediate column segment between the deformation member segments; combining the intermediate column segment of the steering column with a subassembly comprising a gas generator and a diffuser into a group; and forming the deformation member segments into deformation members.

Claim 39

Independent Claim 61 words

A method of producing a vehicle steering column comprising: providing a one-piece tubular steering column member having deformation member segments and an intermediate column segment between the deformation member segments; combining the intermediate column segment of the steering column with a subassembly comprising a gas generator and a diffuser into a group; and forming the deformation member segments into deformation members.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 76 words

A steering wheel arrangement comprising a steering wheel having a hub, at least one cover positioned in the region of the hub, an airbag mounted within the hub and inflatable by a propellant charge so as to project into an open position, and articulation means connecting the cover to the hub and providing articulated support for the cover and positioned to prevent the cover from protruding beyond the steering wheel upon actuation of the propellant charge.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 76 words

A steering wheel arrangement comprising a steering wheel having a hub, at least one cover positioned in the region of the hub, an airbag mounted within the hub and inflatable by a propellant charge so as to project into an open position, and articulation means connecting the cover to the hub and providing articulated support for the cover and positioned to prevent the cover from protruding beyond the steering wheel upon actuation of the propellant charge.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 37 words

A steering wheel according to claim 37 wherein the cover is a dish shaped member which is not deformable by expanding gas and which comprises a fastening segment directed inwardly of the hub for supporting the cover.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 20 words

A steering wheel according to claim 38 wherein the fastening segment comprises a deformation element with a predetermined deformation capacity.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 50 words

A steering wheel according to claim 37 wherein the cover is an integral constituent of a hub cowling and is detachable therefrom by the inflating airbag and is articulated at least indirectly to the hub in a region of a connection flange on a steering column side of the hub.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-02-20	2004-08-21	2005-02-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-02-20	2008-08-21	2009-02-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-02-20	2012-08-21	2013-02-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Steering column arrangement for occupant protection

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