Vehicle steering column adjustment and energy absorbing mechanism
First Claim
1. A vehicle steering column adjustment and energy absorbing mechanism comprising:
- a steering column part slidably mounted in a support member, said steering column part carrying first locking means for releasable engagement with second locking means, there being cam means to cause said first and second locking means to engage with one another to lock the steering column relatively to said support member; and
said first and second locking means being joined to an energy absorbing device comprising an elongate member arranged around a further member over which said elongate member can be drawn, the arrangement being such that, in normal use, said steering column part can be slidably adjusted relative to said support member and locked in a desired position by said first and second locking means and, in the event of vehicle crash with said first and second locking means locked together, energy imparted to said steering column part moves said steering column part to cause said first and second locking means to draw said elongate member around said further member, thereby to absorb energy; and
means for maintaining said first and second locking means in locking engagement in the event of a vehicle crash.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle steering column adjustment and energy absorbing mechanism includes a steering column tube slidably mounted in a support member. A toothed slipper releasably engages with a toothed rack on the tube to lock the steering column relatively to the support member, a cam being provided to provide the locking action. The energy absorbing mechanism is provided by a strap which is rigidly joined to the slipper and is bent over a pin so that, in the event of vehicle crash with the rack and slipper locked together, energy imparted to the steering column causes the outer tube to move to cause the slipper to draw the strap around the pin, thereby to absorb energy.
77 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle steering column adjustment and energy absorbing mechanism comprising:
a steering column part slidably mounted in a support member, said steering column part carrying first locking means for releasable engagement with second locking means, there being cam means to cause said first and second locking means to engage with one another to lock the steering column relatively to said support member; and
said first and second locking means being joined to an energy absorbing device comprising an elongate member arranged around a further member over which said elongate member can be drawn, the arrangement being such that, in normal use, said steering column part can be slidably adjusted relative to said support member and locked in a desired position by said first and second locking means and, in the event of vehicle crash with said first and second locking means locked together, energy imparted to said steering column part moves said steering column part to cause said first and second locking means to draw said elongate member around said further member, thereby to absorb energy; and
means for maintaining said first and second locking means in locking engagement in the event of a vehicle crash.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A vehicle steering column adjustment and energy absorbing mechanism comprising:
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a steering column support member; a steering column part slidably mounted in the support member; a first locking means connected to the steering column part; a second locking means in releasable engagement with the first locking means; a cam means for compelling the first and second locking means into locking engagement, thereby locking the steering column part relative to the support member; a means for absorbing energy imparted to the vehicle steering column by impact of a vehicle driver on a steering column wheel in the event of a vehicle crash, the means for absorbing energy being connected to the second locking means; and a means for maintaining the first and second locking means in locking engagement in the event of a vehicle crash, the steering column part, the first locking means and the second locking means all moving relative to the support member in the event of a vehicle crash. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification