Steering column for a motor vehicle
First Claim
1. Steering column for a motor vehicle having a steering shaft rotatably mounted in a tubular jacket,wherein the tubular jacket is secured in use at a vehicle bodywork end of the tubular jacket on two rails extending substantially in an axial direction of the tubular jacket, the tubular jacket being guided between the rails in the event of an axial displacement of the tubular jacket, wherein at least one rail is provided with at least one deformation element plastically deformable and secured at least at one end on the respective at least one rail, with absorption of energy, in the event of an axial displacement of the tubular jacket in case of a crash in a manner such that the respective at least one deformation element is deformed by rolling friction via deflector structure fixedly disposed on the tubular jacket, and wherein at least one of radii and spacing between the deflector structure are variable and selectively settable.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering column for a motor vehicle has a steering shaft rotatably mounted in a tubular jacket. The tubular jacket is secured on two rails extending substantially in an axial direction and fixed on the bodywork. The tubular jacket is guided between the rails in the event of an axial displacement in case of a crash. At least one rail is assigned at least one deformation element which is secured at least at one end on the rail and is plastically deformable, with absorption of energy, in the event of an axial displacement of the tubular jacket in a manner such that it is deformed by rolling friction via deflection structure fixedly disposed on the tubular jacket.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. Steering column for a motor vehicle having a steering shaft rotatably mounted in a tubular jacket,
wherein the tubular jacket is secured in use at a vehicle bodywork end of the tubular jacket on two rails extending substantially in an axial direction of the tubular jacket, the tubular jacket being guided between the rails in the event of an axial displacement of the tubular jacket, wherein at least one rail is provided with at least one deformation element plastically deformable and secured at least at one end on the respective at least one rail, with absorption of energy, in the event of an axial displacement of the tubular jacket in case of a crash in a manner such that the respective at least one deformation element is deformed by rolling friction via deflector structure fixedly disposed on the tubular jacket, and wherein at least one of radii and spacing between the deflector structure are variable and selectively settable.
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24. Steering column for a motor vehicle comprising:
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a tubular jacket, a steering shaft rotatably mounted in the tubular jacket, first and second rails extending in an axial direction and secured in use to a vehicle body, said rails guidably supporting a vehicle bodywork end of the tubular jacket for axial movement along an axis of the tubular jacket between the rails, a plastically deformable deformation element connected to the first rail and the tubular jacket and operable to absorb collision forces resulting during relative axial movement of the tubular jacket and the first rail, and deflection structure fixed to the tubular jacket and operable to deflect the deformation element with rolling friction during said relative axial movement of the tubular jacket and first rail in response to said collision forces, wherein at least one of radii and spacing between the deflector structure are variable and selectively settable. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
wherein second deflection structure is fixed to the tubular jacket and operable to deflect the second deformation element with rolling friction during said relative axial movement of the tubular jacket and second rail in response to said collision force. -
32. Steering column according to claim 31, wherein said first and second deformation element are disposed at respective opposite sides of the tubular jacket.
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33. Steering column according to claim 32, wherein said deflection structure include respective bolts carried by the tubular jacket which in use are partially wrapped by the respective deformation elements.
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34. Steering column according to claim 33, wherein said deflection structure includes respective housing edges on said tubular jacket.
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Specification