Energy-absorbing device for vehicle steering column

• US 5,593,183 A
• Filed: 01/05/1995
• Issued: 01/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nacam France SA
• Original Assignee: Nacam France SA
• Inventors: Fouquet, Jean-Michel, Duval, Benoit
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US08/368,992
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 280/777, 74/493, 74/492
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/195 Yieldable supports for the steering column

Abstract

An energy-absorbing device for an automobile steering column adjustable in depth and/or inclination mounted on a support structure fixed to the vehicle body. The body-tube and steering shaft are received in the support structure and clamped and locked therein by clamping elements coactive with the support structure. A locking device is provided with a rotatable elongate locking element to which is connected an operator for rotating the axis of the locking element in a direction for clamping the body-tube between coacting clamping elements and vertical sides of the support structure. The locking element is a bolt or rod having reverse pitch nuts on opposite ends and which tighten the sides of the support structure and clamping elements toward the body-tube to lock the body-tube in place when the locking element axis is rotated by the locking device operator. Provision is made in parts of the support structure and clamping elements for depth adjustment and inclination of the steering column body-tube by providing in the support structure and clamping elements slots that allow positioning of the locking element axis at a selected position in accordance with the selected depth and inclination of the body-tube. An energy-absorbing device is provided in the form of a hydraulic shock absorber the body or cylinder of which is fixed to an end of the body-tube facing the vehicle steering wheel so that an impact force applied at that end and which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body-tube effects axial translation of the body-tube relative to the support structure. An intermediate element of the locking device connects a piston of the shock absorber to the locking device operator which rotates the axis of the elongate locking element in a direction for tightening the body-tube in the support structure as the body-tube translates. The locking element thus preliminarily tightens the support structure and clamping elements in response to the body-tube translation. If the impact force reaches the value of the tightening or clamping forces the damping device is rendered effective and absorbs the energy of the impact force.

Claims

1. An energy-absorbing device for an automobile steering column adjustable in depth and inclination comprising:

a support structure fixed to the vehicle body for receiving an axially extending steering column body-tube and a steering shaft therein and mounting the body-tube and steering shaft to the vehicle body for selective depth and inclination adjustment;

a locking device for locking the body-tube in said support structure and including a rotatable elongate locking element mounted on the support structure and having an axis extending in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the steering column;

said locking device having an operator operable in a direction for rotating the locking element in a direction to increase tightening and locking of the body-tube in said support structure;

clamping elements mounted on said support structure coactive therewith and with said locking element for clamping the body-tube and locking it in said support structure;

said clamping elements and support structure having parts through which said locking element extends axially to accommodate positioning of the axis of the locking element in accordance with a selected depth and inclination of the steering column;

a damping device having a body mounted and connected at an end of the body-tube facing toward a driving wheel of the vehicle and translating therewith in response to an impact force applied to the body-tube at said end and in a direction parallel to the axis of the body-tube and effecting axial translation thereof;

an intermediate element coupling the damping device to the locking device operator for effecting rotation of the locking element about its axis in response to axial translation of the body-tube relative to said support structure to thereby preliminarily increase tightening of said body-tube in said support structure when the impact force is applied and if the impact force reaches a value of locking forces of the body-tube in said support structure said damping device is rendered effective and absorbs the energy of the impact force.

2. An energy-absorbing device according to claim 1, in which said damping device is mounted externally of the support structure.

3. An energy-absorbing device according to claim 1, in which said damping device comprises a hydraulic shock absorber.

4. An energy-absorbing device according to claim 1, in which said locking element is a tightening bolt, said clamping elements include two vertical tightening brackets on said support structure through which said tightening bolt extends axially, two reverse-pitch nuts mounted on respective threaded ends of the tightening bolt outwardly of the respective tightening brackets with respect to which they are locked in rotation, and said locking device operator is rigidly connected to one end of the tightening bolt.

5. An energy-absorbing device according to claim 1, in which said damping device comprises a hydraulic shock absorber having a piston rod extending therefrom and mountable for absorbing energy of compression forces, and said intermediate element connects the piston rod to said operator of the locking device.

6. An energy absorbing device according to claim 1, in which said support structure comprises two laterally spaced vertical bracket members, and said clamping elements comprise two clamping members between said vertical members each having an open V facing the body-tube and holding the body-tube therebetween for allowing depth adjustment of the body-tube on the surfaces of the two open V members, each vertical member having a vertical slot, each clamping member having a pin extending into a corresponding vertical slot for positioning of the two clamping members relative to the vertical members of the support structure for inclination adjustment of the body-tube.

7. An energy-absorbing device according to claim 6, in which-said body tube has an element fixed thereto extending downwardly from said body-tube, and said locking element extends therethrough for precluding rotation of the body-tube.

8. An energy-absorbing device according to claim 6, further including a plate mounted below the body-tube and having a recess into which the body-tube is disposed for precluding rotation thereof, said plate having two flanges disposed parallel to inner surfaces of the vertical bracket members, and said locking element comprises a bolt extending transversely through said flanges.

9. An energy-absorbing device for an automobile steering column adjustable in depth and inclination comprising:

a support structure fixed to the vehicle body for receiving an axially extending steering column body-tube and a steering shaft therein and mounting the body-tube and steering shaft to the vehicle body for selective depth and inclination adjustment;

a locking device for locking the body-tube in said support structure and including a rotatable elongate locking element rotatably mounted on the support structure and having an axis extending in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis of the steering column;

said locking device having an operator operable in a direction for rotating the locking element in a direction to increase tightening and locking of the body-tube in said support structure;

clamping elements mounted on said support structure coactive therewith and with said locking element for clamping the body-tube and locking it in said support structure;

said clamping elements and support structure having respective slots through which said locking element extends axially to accommodate positioning of the axis of the locking element in accordance with a selected depth and inclination of the steering column;

a damping device having a body mounted and connected at an end of the body-tube facing toward a driving wheel of the vehicle and translating therewith in response to an impact force applied to the body-tube at said end and in a direction parallel to the axis of the body-tube and effecting axial translation thereof;

an intermediate element coupling the damping device to the locking device operator for effecting rotation of the locking element about its axis in response to axial translation of the body-tube relative to said support structure to thereby preliminarily increase tightening of said body-tube in said support structure when the impact force is applied and if the impact force reaches a value of locking forces of the body-tube in said support structure said damping device is rendered effective and absorbs the energy of the impact force.