Steering apparatus
First Claim
1. A steering apparatus comprising:
- a steering shaft having an end portion coupled to a steering member;
a first housing for rotatably supporting the steering shaft; and
a second housing engaged with the first housing via two impact energy absorbing rings separate from each other in an axial direction, the first housing and the second housing being relatively movable in an axial direction, whereinone of the first housing and the second housing has a plurality of first impact energy absorbing protrusions and a plurality of second impact energy absorbing protrusions,the first and second impact absorbing protrusions are projected from positions between the impact energy absorbing rings separately from each other in the axial direction and are in contact with a circumferential surface of the other of the first housing and the second housing,the first impact energy absorbing protrusions are arranged separately from each other in a circumferential direction,the second impact energy absorbing protrusions are arranged separately from each other in a circumferential direction,one of the impact energy absorbing rings has a ring portion in contact with an end face of one of the first housing and the second housing, anda plurality of plate pieces are disposed continuously with the ring portion separately from each other in a circumferential direction at intervals corresponding to the impact energy absorbing protrusions.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A first housing rotatably supports a steering shaft having an end portion coupled to a steering wheel. A second housing engages with the first housing via two impact energy absorbing rings separate from each other in the axial direction. The first housing and the second housing are relatively movable in the axial direction. One of the first housing and the second housing has first and second impact energy absorbing protrusions projected from positions between the impact energy absorbing rings separately in the axial direction so as to contact with the circumferential surface of the other of the first housing and the second housing. The impact energy absorbing protrusions therefore reduce the load applied to the impact energy absorbing rings in usual steering. Further, the impact energy absorbing rings reduce the load due to frictional resistance in impact energy absorption.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A steering apparatus comprising:
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a steering shaft having an end portion coupled to a steering member; a first housing for rotatably supporting the steering shaft; and a second housing engaged with the first housing via two impact energy absorbing rings separate from each other in an axial direction, the first housing and the second housing being relatively movable in an axial direction, wherein one of the first housing and the second housing has a plurality of first impact energy absorbing protrusions and a plurality of second impact energy absorbing protrusions, the first and second impact absorbing protrusions are projected from positions between the impact energy absorbing rings separately from each other in the axial direction and are in contact with a circumferential surface of the other of the first housing and the second housing, the first impact energy absorbing protrusions are arranged separately from each other in a circumferential direction, the second impact energy absorbing protrusions are arranged separately from each other in a circumferential direction, one of the impact energy absorbing rings has a ring portion in contact with an end face of one of the first housing and the second housing, and a plurality of plate pieces are disposed continuously with the ring portion separately from each other in a circumferential direction at intervals corresponding to the impact energy absorbing protrusions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A steering apparatus comprising:
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a steering shaft having an end portion coupled to a steering member; a first housing for rotatably supporting the steering shaft; and a second housing engaged with the first housing via two impact energy absorbing rings separate from each other in an axial direction, the first housing and the second housing being relatively movable in an axial direction, wherein one of the first housing and the second housing has a plurality of first impact energy absorbing protrusions and a plurality of second impact energy absorbing protrusions, the first and second impact absorbing protrusions are projected from positions between the impact energy absorbing rings separately from each other in the axial direction and are in contact with a circumferential surface of the other of the first housing and the second housing, the first impact energy absorbing protrusions are arranged separately from each other in a circumferential direction, the second impact energy absorbing protrusions are arranged separately from each other in a circumferential direction, one of the impact energy absorbing rings has a ring portion to contact with an end face of one of the first housing and the second housing, a plurality of plate pieces are disposed continuously with the ring portion spaced from each other in a circumferential direction at intervals providing gaps between the plate pieces and which correspond to the impact energy absorbing protrusions, and one of the impact energy absorbing rings comprises a plurality of recesses aligned with the gaps. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A steering apparatus comprising:
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a steering shaft having an end portion coupled to a steering member; a first housing for rotatably supporting the steering shaft; and a second housing engaged with the first housing via two impact energy absorbing rings separate from each other in an axial direction, the first housing and the second housing being relatively movable in an axial direction, wherein one of the first housing and the second housing has a plurality of impact energy absorbing protrusions, the impact absorbing protrusions are projected from positions between the impact energy absorbing rings and are in contact with the circumferential surface of the other of the first housing and the second housing, the impact energy absorbing protrusions are arranged separately from each other in a circumferential direction, one of the impact energy absorbing rings has a ring portion in contact with an end face of one of the first housing and the second housing, and a plurality of plate pieces are disposed continuously with the ring portion separately from each other in a circumferential direction at intervals providing non-contact pathways along the entire length of the one impact energy absorbing ring, the non-contact pathways corresponding to the impact energy absorbing protrusions.
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Specification