Shock absorbing apparatus for steering column

• US 6,378,903 B1
• Filed: 02/17/2000
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yamada Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yamada Seisakusho
• Inventors: Hirooka, Koji, Yokota, Norihiko, Yabutsuka, Mitsuo, Fujiu, Isao
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUCHANAN, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US09/506,026
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 280/777, 280/775, 280/779, 280/728.2, 280/730.2, 188/371, 188/374
• US Class Current: 280/777
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/195 Yieldable supports for the steering column

Abstract

A shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column includes: a sliding capsule having a collar portion fixed immovably to a vehicle body; and a column bracket having a shock absorbing hole which is elongated in a longitudinal direction of a steering column and in which a fixing through-hole portion on one end side of the elongated hole, a first shock absorbing portion having a shaft-like member in a vicinity of the fixing through-hole portion, and a second shock absorbing portion having a crushable inner peripheral edge at a side edge of the elongated hole are substantially continuously formed in the longitudinal direction. During a collision, the collar portion bends the shaft-like member and crushes the second shock absorbing portion to thereby absorb colliding energy.

Claims

1. A shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column, comprising:

a sliding capsule having a collar portion fixed immovably to a vehicle body; and

a column bracket having a shock absorbing hole which is elongated in a longitudinal direction of a steering column, the elongated hole having a fixing through hole portion on one end, a first shock absorbing portion having a shaft-like member in a vicinity of said fixing through-hole portion, and a second shock absorbing portion having a crushable inner peripheral edge at a side edge of said elongated hole are substantially continuously formed in the longitudinal direction,

wherein, during a collision, said collar portion bends said shaft-like member and crushes said second shock absorbing portion to thereby absorb colliding energy.

2. The shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column according to claim 1, wherein said shaft-like member of said first shock absorbing portion is formed in such a manner as to project from one inner peripheral edge of said first shock absorbing portion toward another inner peripheral edge thereof in a widthwise direction of said first shock absorbing portion and to be inclined toward said fixing through-hole portion.

3. The shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column according to claim 1, wherein said shaft-like member of said first shock absorbing portion is formed continuously from one inner peripheral edge of said first shock absorbing portion to another inner peripheral edge thereof in a widthwise direction of said first shock absorbing portion.

4. The shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column according to claim 2, wherein a bending assisting portion is formed in a vicinity of a joint portion of said shaft-like member contiguous to an inner peripheral edge of said shock absorbing hole.

5. The shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column according to claim 3, wherein a bending assisting portion is formed in a vicinity of a joint portion of said shaft-like member contiguous to an inner peripheral edge of said shock absorbing hole.

6. The shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column according to any one of claims 2, 3, 4 or 5, further comprising:

a cutaway slot portion which is formed in a vehicle body rear-end portion of said column bracket in such a manner as to be open at a rear end of said column bracket;

a sliding capsule having a collar portion and a resiliently supporting portion for resiliently pressing and supporting said column bracket, said sliding capsule being fitted to said cutaway slot portion and adapted to resiliently support said column bracket and to be disengaged from said cutaway slot portion of said column bracket during the collision; and

a third shock absorbing portion disposed in a laterally proximate portion of said first shock absorbing portion and said second shock absorbing portion, said third shock absorbing portion being formed as a resilient sliding friction mechanism using said sliding capsule for resiliently supporting the laterally proximate portion of said shock absorbing hole in its longitudinal direction by means of said resiliently supporting portion.

7. A shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column, comprising:

a column bracket having a shock absorbing hole which is elongated in a longitudinal direction of a steering column, the shock absorbing hole having a fixing through hole portion, a first shock absorbing portion, and a second shock absorbing portion are formed in that order from a forward side of a vehicle body, said first shock absorbing portion having a shaft-like member which can be bent by said collar portion, said second shock absorbing portion being formed in a shape of an elongated hole and having at least one of widthwise inner peripheral edges formed as a crushable inner peripheral edge;

a sliding capsule having a collar portion insertable in said fixing through-hole portion of said column bracket and a resiliently supporting portion for resiliently pressing and supporting said column bracket; and

a third shock absorbing portion formed as a resilient sliding friction mechanism in which said sliding capsule resiliently supports a laterally proximate portion of said shock absorbing hole by means of said resiliently supporting portion along the elongated shape formed by said first shock absorbing portion and said second shock absorbing portion,

wherein said sliding capsule is immovable with respect to the vehicle body and resiliently supports said column bracket.

8. The shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column according to claim 7, wherein said shaft-like member of said first shock absorbing portion is formed in such a manner as to project from one inner peripheral edge of said first shock absorbing portion toward another inner peripheral edge thereof in a widthwise direction of said first shock absorbing portion and to be inclined toward said fixing through-hole portion.

9. The shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column according to claim 7, wherein said shaft-like member of said first shock absorbing portion is formed continuously from one inner peripheral edge of said first shock absorbing portion to another inner peripheral edge thereof in a widthwise direction of said first shock absorbing portion.

10. The shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column according to claim 8, wherein a bending assisting portion is formed in a vicinity of a joint portion of said shaft-like member contiguous to an inner peripheral edge of said shock absorbing hole.

11. The shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column according to claim 9, wherein a bending assisting portion is formed in a vicinity of a joint portion of said shaft-like member contiguous to an inner peripheral edge of said shock absorbing hole.

12. The shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column according to any one of claims 8, 9, 10, or 11, further comprising:

a cutaway slot portion which is formed in a vehicle body rear-end portion of said column bracket in such a manner as to be open at a rear end of said column bracket; and

a sliding capsule having a collar portion and a resiliently supporting portion for resiliently pressing and supporting said column bracket, said sliding capsule being fitted to said cutaway slot portion and adapted to resiliently support said column bracket and to be disengaged from said cutaway slot portion of said column bracket during the collision.

13. A shock absorbing apparatus for a steering column, comprising:

a pair of cutaway slot portions which are formed in a vehicle steering column bracket in such a manner as to be open at a rear end of said column bracket;

a pair of rear shock absorbing portions each located on an open side of said cutaway slot portion and each having a shaft-like member bendable by a predetermined load; and

sliding capsules each having a collar portion and a resiliently supporting portion for resiliently supporting said column bracket, said collar portion being insertable between a front-side inner peripheral edge of said cutaway slot portion and said shaft-like member,

wherein said sliding capsules are respectively fitted to said pair of cutaway slot portions and a pair of shock absorbing holes formed in a vehicle forward-side portion of said column bracket along a longitudinal direction of said steering column, and

wherein said sliding capsules are immovable with respect to the vehicle body and resiliently support said column bracket.