ENHANCED STEERING SYSTEM UTILIZING FIXED DAB FOR OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN FRONTAL IMPACTS WITH LATERIAL LOADING

• US 20170267201A1
• Filed: 03/18/2016
• Published: 09/21/2017
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,029,642 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 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,

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 wheel is not attached to the DAB module.

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

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a spacing component that is disposed along an interior of the steering shaft to prevent contact between the DAB shaft and the steering shaft.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a gear assembly mounted at a distal end of the steering shaft to transfer the rotational input at the steering wheel to the steering rack.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the gear assembly includes a set of helical gears.

9. The system of claim 8, 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.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

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

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a spacing component that is disposed along an interior of the outer shaft assembly to prevent contact between the outer shaft assembly and the steering shaft or the DAB shaft.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the outer shaft assembly is attached to an instrument panel of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

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

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more external energy absorbing components that are mounted outside of the steering shaft to an instrument panel of the vehicle for absorbing energy during a collision event.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the DAB shaft is mounted to a body of the vehicle or an instrument panel of the vehicle.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the DAB shaft is substantially hollow and allows for passage of compressed air therethrough to inflate the airbag contained in the DAB module.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

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

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