Adaptive energy absorbing system using pin pullers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for absorbing energy in a collapsible steering column of a vehicle by being deformable in response to an excessive frontal impacting force to the steering column so that injury to a vehicle operator is reduced comprising:
- a first steering column member;
a second steering column member connected to said first steering column member for sliding movement;
a first anvil associated with a said first steering column member;
a second anvil associated with said second steering column member;
an energy absorbing member having a first portion extending around and operable to be drawn over said first anvil and a second portion extending around and operable to be drawn over said second anvil; and
a locking device associated with said energy absorbing member and movable between a locked position locking one of said first and second anvils against an associated portion of said energy absorbing member for preventing said energy absorbing member from being drawn over said locked anvil and a released position separating one of said first and second anvils from an associated steering column member for allowing said energy absorbing member to be drawn over said separated anvil.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides an apparatus for absorbing energy in a collapsible steering column of a vehicle. A portion of the apparatus is deformable in response to an excessive frontal impacting force to the steering column so that injury to the vehicle operator is reduced. The apparatus includes a first steering column member and a second steering column member connected to one another such that the first steering column member slides relative to the second steering column member. The apparatus also includes a first anvil associated with a said first steering column member and a second anvil associated with said second steering column member. The apparatus also includes an energy absorbing member having a first portion extending around and operable to be drawn over said first anvil and a second portion extending around and operable to be drawn over said second anvil.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for absorbing energy in a collapsible steering column of a vehicle by being deformable in response to an excessive frontal impacting force to the steering column so that injury to a vehicle operator is reduced comprising:
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a first steering column member; a second steering column member connected to said first steering column member for sliding movement; a first anvil associated with a said first steering column member; a second anvil associated with said second steering column member; an energy absorbing member having a first portion extending around and operable to be drawn over said first anvil and a second portion extending around and operable to be drawn over said second anvil; and a locking device associated with said energy absorbing member and movable between a locked position locking one of said first and second anvils against an associated portion of said energy absorbing member for preventing said energy absorbing member from being drawn over said locked anvil and a released position separating one of said first and second anvils from an associated steering column member for allowing said energy absorbing member to be drawn over said separated anvil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for absorbing energy in a collapsible steering column of a vehicle by being deformable in response to an excessive frontal impacting force to the steering column so that injury to a vehicle operator is reduced comprising:
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a first steering column member; a second steering column member connected to said first steering column member for sliding movement; a first anvil associated with a said first steering column member; a second anvil associated with said second steering column member; an energy absorbing member having a first portion extending around and operable to be drawn over said first anvil and a second portion extending around and operable to be drawn over said second anvil wherein said energy absorbing member absorbs energy at a first rate as said first portion is drawn over said first anvil and absorbs energy at a second rate as said second portion is drawn over said second anvil, said first rate being lower than said second rate; and a locking device associated with said energy absorbing member and movable between a locked position locking said first anvil to said first portion for preventing said energy absorbing member from being drawn over said first anvil while allowing said second portion to be drawn over said second anvil and a released position separating said first anvil from said first steering column member for allowing said energy absorbing member to be drawn over said first anvil. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for absorbing energy in a collapsible steering column of a vehicle by being deformable in response to an excessive frontal impacting force to the steering column so that injury to a vehicle operator is reduced comprising:
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a first steering column member; a second steering column member connected to said first steering column member for sliding movement; a first anvil associated with a said first steering column member; a second anvil associated with said second steering column member; an energy absorbing member having a first portion extending around and operable to be drawn over said first anvil and a second portion extending around and operable to be drawn over said second anvil wherein said energy absorbing member absorbs energy at a first rate as said first portion is drawn over said first anvil and absorbs energy at a second rate as said second portion is drawn over said second anvil, said first rate being lower than said second rate; a locking device associated with said energy absorbing member to lock said first portion relative to said first anvil; and wherein said energy absorbing member defines an aperture and said locking device includes a pin inserted releasably in said aperture.
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Specification