IMPACT ENERGY ABSORBING APPARATUS

• US 3,801,123 A
• Filed: 08/11/1972
• Issued: 04/02/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arata Jira
• Original Assignee: Arata Jira
• Inventors: Jira, Arata
• Primary Examiner(s): Schonberg, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Silverstrim, John P.
• Application Number:
  US05/279,754
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB,87R,87A
• US Class Current: 280/731
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an impact energy absorbing apparatus of the type which includes an inflatable bag assembly confined within the steering wheel of a vehicle. The inflatable bag assembly comprises a container rotatably mounted on the top end of a steering shaft within the steering wheel so as to be conditioned to a given position independently of steering wheel rotation by way of an eccentric load and an inflatable bag confined within the container in hermetical connection with an external pressure source. A pressure communication device for leading pressurized fluid from the pressure source into the bag comprises a conduit having one end thereof connected to the periphery of a column tube surrounding the steering shaft and the other end thereof connected to the pressure source, an annular sealing device interposed between the periphery of the shaft and the inner circumference of the column tube to hermetically connect the opening of the conduit with an axial passageway within the steering shaft, the passageway having one end thereof open into the bag and the other end thereof closed.

Claims

1. In an impact energy absorbing apparatus for a vehicle having a steering assembly which is provided with a steering column tube mounted on a body portion of the vehicle, a steering shaft coupled rotatably within said tube, and with a steering wheel secured on the top end of said shaft, a collision senser to detect vehicle collision, an external pressure source for issuing pressure in response with activation of said senser, an inflatable bag assembly confined within said steering wheel, and pressure-communication means for leading the pressure from said source into said bag assembly, the improvement wherein said pressure-communication means comprises a conduit having one end thereof connected to the periphery of said tube and the other end thereof connected to said external pressure source, annular sealing means interposed between the periphery of said shaft and the inner circumference of said tube to hermetically connect the opening of said conduit with an axial passageway drilled within said shaft, said passageway having one end thereof open into said bag assembly and the other end thereof closed, and said inflatable bag assembly comprises a container mounted on the top end of said shaft within said steering wheel and an inflatable bag confined within said container in hermetical connection with said pressure-communication means.

2. An impact energy absorbing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conduit is connected at the one end thereof with an opening provided on said tube and is in communication with said axial passageway through said sealing means.

3. An impact energy absorbing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said conduit is connected at the one end thereof with an opening provided on the skirt portion of a casing secured on the top end of said tube for journalling therein the upper portion of said shaft, and is in communication with said axial passageway through said sealing means.

4. An impact energy absorbing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprises an annular retainer secured on the inner circumference of said tube and an annular sealing member secured on the inner face of said retainer, said member being provided with a U-shape cross section and a pair of lips, whereby said sealing member forms a hermetic communication chamber for communication between said conduit and said axial passageway by way of said lips contactable with the periphery of said shaft.

5. An impact energy absorbing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sealing means comprises a pair of annular retainers secured on the inner circumference of said tube in a way to face to each other and a pair of sealing members secured respectively on the inner faces of said retainers, each of said members being provided with a U-shape cross section and a lip, whereby said sealing members form a hermetic communication chamber for communication between said conduit and said axial passageway by way of said lips contactable with the periphery of said shaft.

6. An impact energy absorbing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container is secured at a bottom portion thereof on the outer race of ball bearings fixedly secured on the top end of said shaft, said container being provided with means for conditioning said container to a certain stable position independently of rotation of said shaft.

7. An impact energy absorbing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein said coNditioning means is a weight secured on the bottom side of said container.

8. An impact energy absorbing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein said conditioning means is said container itself which is eccentrically mounted on the outer race of said bearings at a bottom portion thereof.

9. An impact energy absorbing apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 6, wherein said inflatable bag confined within said container is designed to take a predetermined shape not to block the driver'"'"''"'"'s forward sight, not to push the driver'"'"''"'"'s hands off said steering wheel and to protect the driver, when inflated to be in its operating position.