Linear tracking column module

• US 7,063,354 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2004
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Berg, Frederick J., Riefe, Richard K., Nash, Richard P., Dybalski, Ronald H., Ridgway, Jason R., Davis, Alan C., Collier, Bruce M., Shah, Minoo J., Balius, Paul E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WEBB, TIFFANY LOUISE
• Application Number:
  US10/767,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 280/771, 280/775, 280/776, 280/777, 280/779, 280/748, 280/750, 744/93, 745/12, 180/315
• US Class Current: 280/777
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0051 Knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/09 Control elements or operating handles movable from an operative to an out-of-the way position, e.g. pedals, switch knobs, window cranks specially adapted for brake pedals, e.g. by venting of master cylinder or destruction of force transmitting rod, B60T7/065
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/065 with means to prevent injuries in case of collision for vehicle pedals in general by moving them from an operative to an out-of-the way position B60R21/09
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/195 Yieldable supports for the steering column

Abstract

A collapsible steering assembly features a guide bracket for attachment to a vehicle. A steering mechanism is interconnected with the guide bracket by a steering mechanism support. A plurality of guide rods are arranged about a common collapse axis and extend in non-parallel relationship to a longitudinal axis of the steering mechanism. The guide rods support the steering mechanism for axial movement along the collapse axis in response to a predetermined collapse force on the steering mechanism.

Claims

1. A collapsible steering assembly comprising;

a stationary guide bracket for attachment to a vehicle,

a steering mechanism having a longitudinal steering mechanism axis,

a steering mechanism support including a plurality of guide rods arranged about a common collapse axis in non-parallel relationship to said steering mechanism axis and interconnecting said guide bracket and said steering mechanism and supporting said steering mechanism for axial movement along said collapse axis in response to application of a predetermined collapse force to said steering mechanisms,

a plurality of steering shear elements interconnecting said guide rods and said guide bracket for preventing movement of said steering mechanism relative to said guide bracket and shearable in response to application of the predetermined collapse force on said steering mechanism for allowing said guide rods and said steering mechanism to move relative to said guide bracket, and

wherein said guide bracket supports said guide rods in a fixed relationship to one another and wherein each of said guide rods comprise a steering tube extending from a front end to a rear end.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide rods are straight.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said steering shear elements comprises a bushing surrounding each guide rod and engaging said guide bracket.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said guide bracket includes a front bracket interconnecting said front ends of said guide rods and a rear bracket supporting said rear ends of said guide rods.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said guide rods comprise four tubes spaced from one another in a quadrangle.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said rear bracket includes a connector for attachment to the vehicle.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said rear ends of said guide rods extend through said rear bracket.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 including a pedal assembly pivotally connected to said rear bracket for permitting pivotal movement of said pedal assembly in response to movement of said guide rods relative to said rear bracket.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 and including a knee bolster for absorbing impact energy during a crash condition, a plurality of bolster guide rods arranged about a second collapse axis and interconnecting said guide bracket and said knee bolster and supporting said knee bolster for axial movement along said second collapse axis in response to application of a second predetermined collapse force to said knee bolster.

10. An assembly according to claim 9 and including a plurality of bolster shear elements interconnecting said bolster guide rods and said guide bracket for preventing movement of said knee bolster relative to said guide bracket and shearable in response to application of a second predetermined collapse force to said knee bolster for allowing said bolster guide rods and said knee bolster to move relative to said guide bracket.

11. An assembly according to claim 10 wherein said guide bracket supports said bolster guide rods in fixed relationship to one another.

12. An assembly according to claim 11 wherein said bolster guide rods are straight.

13. An assembly according to claim 12 wherein each of said bolster guide rods comprises a tube.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein each of said bolster shear elements comprises a bushing surrounding each of said bolster tubes and engaging said guide bracket.

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said bolster tubes comprise four tubes spaced from one another in a quadrangle.

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said bolster tubes have front and rear ends and, said knee bolster connected to said front ends of said bolster tubes and said rear bracket supporting said rear ends of said bolster tubes, said knee bolster and said rear bracket being spaced from and on opposite sides of said guide bracket.

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said guide bracket includes an upper block having bores therethrough with said guide rods extending through said bores and a lower block having bores therethrough with said bolster tubes extending through said bores in said lower block.

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 including a second plurality of steering shear elements interconnecting said rear bracket and said guide rods for preventing movement of said guide rods relative to said rear bracket and shearable in response to application of the predetermined collapse force to the steering mechanism for allowing said guide rods to move through said rear bracket.

19. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 including an energy absorber system for absorbing energy during movement of at least one of said steering mechanism and said knee bolster relative to said guide bracket.

20. An assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said guide bracket includes an upper block and said energy absorber system includes a first anvil-strap device interconnecting said guide rods and said upper block.

21. An assembly as set forth in claim 20 wherein said bolster tubes are parallel to said guide rods.