INTERNALLY COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. An internally collapsing steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
- a. an inner column tube;
b. a steering shaft supported for rotation at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis,c. a top bracket adapted for receiving a least a portion of the steering shaft and for mounting the steering column assembly within the automotive vehicle;
d. a telescoping motor subassembly adapted for selectively driving the steering shaft in a fore or aft direction generally along the longitudinal axis;
e. a tilt subassembly that is adapted for selectively raising or lowering the steering shaft;
f. a column housing that is pivotally coupled with the top bracket and is adapted to permit steering shaft tilt adjustment by way of the tilt subassembly;
g. a telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure that is operatively coupled during normal operation to the column housing, the telescoping motor subassembly and the inner column tube, wherein the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is adapted to detach from the column housing and translate along the column housing in the event of an impact exceeding a predetermined load; and
h. a plastically deformable energy absorption device adapted to be carried at least partially by the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure and being fixed in place relative to the column housing during normal operation for maintaining the steering column assembly in an operational position, wherein the energy absorption device absorbs energy by plastic deformation during impact after the telescoping motor subassembly bracket starts to translate along the column housing, and wherein during the impact, the column housing remains in a generally fixed position and energy is absorbed through the telescoping motor subassembly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle that includes an inner column tube, a steering shaft supported at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis, a top bracket adapted for receiving a least a portion of the steering shaft and for mounting the steering column assembly within the automotive vehicle, and a telescoping motor subassembly adapted for selectively driving the steering shaft in a fore or aft direction. A telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is coupled during normal operation to a column housing, the telescoping motor subassembly and the inner column tube, wherein the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is adapted to detach from the column housing in the event of an impact exceeding a predetermined first impact load. A plastically deformable energy absorption device is adapted to be carried least partially by the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure and is fixed in place relative to the column housing during normal operation for maintaining the steering column assembly in an operational position. The energy absorption device absorbs energy by plastic deformation during impact after the telescoping motor subassembly starts to translate along the column housing, and wherein during the impact, the column housing remains in a fixed position.
98 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An internally collapsing steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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a. an inner column tube; b. a steering shaft supported for rotation at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis, c. a top bracket adapted for receiving a least a portion of the steering shaft and for mounting the steering column assembly within the automotive vehicle; d. a telescoping motor subassembly adapted for selectively driving the steering shaft in a fore or aft direction generally along the longitudinal axis; e. a tilt subassembly that is adapted for selectively raising or lowering the steering shaft; f. a column housing that is pivotally coupled with the top bracket and is adapted to permit steering shaft tilt adjustment by way of the tilt subassembly; g. a telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure that is operatively coupled during normal operation to the column housing, the telescoping motor subassembly and the inner column tube, wherein the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is adapted to detach from the column housing and translate along the column housing in the event of an impact exceeding a predetermined load; and h. a plastically deformable energy absorption device adapted to be carried at least partially by the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure and being fixed in place relative to the column housing during normal operation for maintaining the steering column assembly in an operational position, wherein the energy absorption device absorbs energy by plastic deformation during impact after the telescoping motor subassembly bracket starts to translate along the column housing, and wherein during the impact, the column housing remains in a generally fixed position and energy is absorbed through the telescoping motor subassembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An internally collapsing steering column assembly for an automotive comprising:
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a. an inner column tube; b. a steering shaft supported at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis, c. a top bracket adapted for receiving a least a portion of the steering shaft and for mounting the steering column assembly within the automotive vehicle, the top bracket including a pair of spaced apart arms at a forward end and a collar at a rearward end; d. a telescoping motor subassembly adapted for selectively driving the steering shaft in a fore or aft direction generally along the longitudinal axis; e. a motorized tilt subassembly that is adapted for selectively raising or lowering the steering shaft, and being housed at least partially within the collar; f. a column housing having a forward end and a rearward end, the column housing being pivotally coupled with the arms of the top bracket at the forward end of the column housing, and being adapted to permit steering shaft tilt adjustment by way of the tilt subassembly, the column housing including a laterally projecting flange having a rearward facing end, on each side of the column housing; g. a telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure that is coupled during normal operation to the column housing, the telescoping motor subassembly and the inner column tube, wherein the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is adapted so that the telescoping motor subassembly detaches from the column housing and translates along the an opposing surface of the column housing in the event of an impact exceeding a predetermined load; and h. a folded plastically deformable energy absorption strip adapted to be disposed at least partially on a telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure and being fixed in place to the column housing by being folded over the rearward facing end of the column housing flange during normal operation for maintaining the steering column assembly in an operational position, wherein the energy absorption strip absorbs energy by plastic deformation caused by tension during impact, such that the energy absorption device is pulled around the rearward facing end of the column housing flange after the telescoping motor subassembly starts to translate along the column housing, and wherein during the impact, the column housing remains in a generally fixed position and the inner column tube telescopically translates into the column housing. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An internally collapsing steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising:
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a. an inner column tube; b. a steering shaft supported at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis, c. a top bracket adapted for receiving a least a portion of the steering shaft and for mounting the steering column assembly within the automotive vehicle, the top bracket including a pair of spaced apart arms at a forward end and a collar at a rearward end; d. a telescoping motor subassembly adapted for selectively driving the steering shaft in a fore or aft direction generally along the longitudinal axis; e. a motorized tilt subassembly that is adapted for selectively raising or lowering the steering shaft, and being housed at least partially within the collar; f. a column housing having a forward end and a rearward end, the column housing being pivotally coupled with the arms of the top bracket at the forward end of the column housing, and being adapted to permit steering shaft tilt adjustment by way of the tilt subassembly, the column housing including a laterally projecting flange having a rearward facing end, on each side of the column housing; g. a telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure that is coupled during normal operation to the column housing, the telescoping motor subassembly and the inner column tube, wherein the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is adapted so that the telescoping motor subassembly detaches from the column housing and translates along the an opposing surface of the column the mounting structure includes coating plates that provide a relatively low friction surface and allow the telescoping motor subassembly to detach from its normal operational position; and h. a folded plastically deformable energy absorption strip having a first downward disposed bend portion, a first elongated portion that is generally parallel with the column housing flange and disposed below it, a second bend portion that folds the strip around the rearward facing end of the column housing flange and a second elongated portion that is generally parallel with the first elongated portion and disposed about the column housing flange, the strip being adapted to be disposed at least partially on a telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure and being fixed in place to the column housing during normal operation for maintaining the steering column assembly in an operational position, wherein the energy absorption strip absorbs energy by plastic deformation caused by tension during impact, such that the energy absorption device is pulled around the rearward facing end of the column housing flange after the telescoping motor subassembly starts to translate along the column housing, and wherein during the impact, the column housing remains in a generally fixed position and the inner column tube telescopically translates into the column housing.
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Specification