Enhanced steering system utilizing fixed dab for occupant protection in frontal impacts with laterial loading

• US 10,029,642 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.), Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.), Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Motors Corporation (Kia Corp.)
• Inventors: Gotwals, David, Shanks, Kurt, Phillips, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Frisby, Keith J
• Application Number:
  US15/074,544
• Publication Number:
  US 20170267201A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 280731, 280777
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2032 the inflator or inflatable member not being rotatable with the steering wheel; Arrangements using the steering column or steering wheel rim for storing, supplying or evacuating the inflation gas or for storing the inflatable member
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/268 using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas B60R21/26005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/105 Non-rotatable hubs, e.g. the central part of the steering wheel not rotating
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/192 Yieldable or collapsible columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 3/126 characterised by the rack

Abstract

A steering column system includes: a rotatable steering shaft that has a proximal end attached to a steering wheel and is configured to transfer rotational input at the steering wheel to a steering rack of the vehicle; a stationary driver-side airbag (DAB) shaft that is mounted in the vehicle and extends along the steering shaft; and a DAB module that contains an airbag and is fixedly mounted to a proximal end of the DAB shaft within a region of the steering wheel. The steering wheel and the steering shaft are configured to rotate independently of the DAB module and the DAB shaft, respectively.

Claims

1. A steering column system of a vehicle comprising:

a rotatable steering shaft that has a proximal end attached to a steering wheel;

a stationary driver-side airbag (DAB) shaft that is mounted in the vehicle and extends along the steering shaft;

a DAB module that is fixedly mounted to a proximal end of the DAB shaft within a region of the steering wheel;

an outer shaft assembly that encloses the steering shaft and the DAB shaft;

one or more internal energy absorbing components that are disposed within an interior of the steering shaft for absorbing energy during a collision event; and

one or more external energy absorbing components that are mounted outside of the steering shaft to a body of the vehicle for absorbing energy during a collision event,

wherein the steering wheel and the steering shaft are configured to rotate independently of the DAB module and the DAB shaft, respectively.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the DAB module remains in a fixed position while the steering wheel rotates about the DAB module.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the DAB module is positioned to oppose a driver of the vehicle during the use of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the steering shaft is hollow and substantially surrounds the DAB shaft.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a gear assembly mounted at a distal end of the steering shaft.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the gear assembly includes a set of helical gears.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein a first gear of the set of helical gears is integrally formed with the steering shaft, and a second gear of the set of helical gears is coupled to the first gear and not integrally formed with the steering shaft.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the outer shaft assembly is attached to the body of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the DAB shaft is mounted to the body of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the DAB shaft is substantially hollow and allows for passage of compressed air therethrough.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a compressed gas assembly that is configured to supply compressed gas to the substantially hollow DAB shaft.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the proximal end of the steering shaft is directly attached to the steering wheel.