SAFETY STEERING COLUMN, MOTOR VEHICLE WITH A SAFETY SYSTEM AND SAFETY METHOD

• US 20060244251A1
• Filed: 07/13/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olaf Muller
• Original Assignee: Olaf Muller
• Inventors: Muller, Olaf
• Granted Patent: US 7,461,863 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/777
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23382 Internal tether means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/26035 triggered by mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2633 with a plurality of inflation levels
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2648 comprising a plurality of combustion chambers or sub-chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• 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 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2338 Tethers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/197 incorporating devices for preventing ingress of the steering column into the passengers space in case of accident

Abstract

A safety steering column which is adjustable in its axial direction whereby pyrotechnically driven steering column retraction is provided for a positioning of a safety steering column in its axial direction, to move it away from the driver in case of an accident. Furthermore, a safety system incorporating such a safety steering column and a motor vehicle so equipped that can distinguish between different drivers regarding weight, size and belted condition; the system providing alternative safety measures depending on the driver'"'"'s needs for protection.

Claims

1. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle including a carriage coupled to a steering column in non-rotary fashion for adjustment of the steering column in its axial direction and comfort positioning means for the steering column whereby the steering column can be set for driver operation in any selected axial position the improvement comprising a gas generator mounted on the carriage for introducing gas into the steering column, an igniter for the gas generator actuated responsive to a vehicle crash and a mechanism mounted inside the steering column that is actuated by said gas pressure for initiating release of the comfort positioning means to enable the steering column to move axially away from the driver in case of a crash.

2. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 the further improvement of the mechanism being comprised of a piston cooperating with a sleeve for moving a Bowden cable attached to the comfort positioning means to effect release of the comfort positioning means.

3. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 the further improvement of a first stage of a two stage gas generation system is mounted inside the steering column, and gas from the said gas generator causes the ignition of the first stage.

4. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 3 the further improvement of the ignition is produced mechanically.

5. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 4 the further improvement of a piston and firing pin being moved by the gas to cause the ignition.

6. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the gas generator is a first stage of a two stage airbag.

7. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the gas generator comprises a pyrotechnic cartridge and within the steering column is a first stage of a two stage gas generation system for generating gas to operate said mechanism responsive to firing of the pyrotechnic cartridge, and an airbag mounted on the steering column to be deployed by the gas generated by the first stage.

8. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the gas generator is a primary ignition stage that generates gas to simultaneously drive said mechanism and to mechanically ignite the first stage of a two stage airbag system mounted in the steering column.

20. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the carriage is coupled to a load absorber, and a pyrotechnically operated mechanism is conditioned in a predetermined manner, with respect to a vehicle crash, to selectively perform one of the decoupling of the load absorber and the maintaining of the coupling of the load absorber.

21. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 20 wherein the release of the comfort positioning means is selectively conditioned in a predetermined manner, with respect to a vehicle crash.

22. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 further including a sensor for sensing driver data, and a control for controlling the axial movement of the steering column in dependence on sensed driver data.

25. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the mechanism coacts with a damper to effect a speed regulation.

26. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 further including an airbag system mounted on the steering column and a control to effect deployment of the airbag system relative to the release of the comfort positioning means.

9. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle including a carriage coupled to a steering column in non-rotary fashion for adjustment of the steering column in its axial direction and comfort positioning means for the steering column whereby the steering column can be set for driver operation in any selected axial position the improvement comprising a cylinder mounted on the carriage, a gas generator mounted in the cylinder, an igniter for the gas generator actuated responsive to a vehicle crash and a piston and piston rod mounted inside the cylinder with the rod extending out the cylinder into contact with the comfort positioning means, the gas generator when fired by the igniter producing gas pressure for driving said piston and piston rod for initiating release of the comfort positioning means to enable the steering column to move axially away from the driver in case of a crash.

10. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the piston outside the cylinder is in the form of a rack cooperating with a pinion forming part of the comfort positioning means.

11. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the carriage includes a plate defining a slot in which a part of the comfort positioning is located to set the axial position of the steering column, said slot running in the same axial direction as the steering column and having at one end of the slot a lock-up for the part of the comfort positioning.

12. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the cylinder contains viscous media and the top of the cylinder has an outlet through which the media can flow.

13. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 12 wherein a control member is mounted on the cylinder top to control the outlet.

14. In a safety steering column according to claim 9 wherein the cylinder is mounted in its slot guide in such a way that upon triggering a keying of two wedges connected by shearing off pins, is wedged with one wedge keyed against the other one, and thereby the cylinder is fixed.

15. In a safety steering column according to claim 9 wherein the cylinder is mounted in its slot guide in such a way that upon triggering two wedge-shaped drivers key against each other by moving one wedge by the cylinder in one direction and the other wedge by a tear-off driver in the opposite direction together with the piston rod of the piston.

16. In a safety steering column according to claim 9 wherein the cylinder is locked at the end of its stroke.

23. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the piston include a lock that allows the piston only to move to the front and locks in case of a load in the opposite direction.

24. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 9 wherein the lock is constituted by one of locking balls and a load absorber.

17. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle including a carriage coupled to a steering column in non-rotary fashion for adjustment of the steering column in its axial direction and the carriage being coupled to a load absorber via a coupling pin the improvement comprising a gas generator mounted on the carriage for generating gas upon ignition to drive an element to decouple the coupling pin, an igniter for the gas generator, and a control preset by predetermined conditions to selectively actuate the igniter responsive to a vehicle crash under one set of conditions to decouple the coupling pin and partially deactivate the load absorber to enable the carriage to move more easily relative to the load absorber and to carry the steering column axially away from the driver in case of a crash, and under a different set of conditions not actuate the igniter to make it more difficult to move the carriage against the load absorber to carry the steering column away from the driver in case of a crash.

18. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 17 wherein the driven element is a piston.

19. In a safety steering system for a motor vehicle according to claim 17 wherein there are a plurality of coupling pins, a plate interconnects all coupling pins to move together, and a plurality of pistons drive the plate to decouple the plurality of coupling pins.