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Pre-crash column release

  • US 7,347,451 B2
  • Filed: 12/16/2004
  • Issued: 03/25/2008
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A steering column assembly (10) for a vehicle comprising:

  • first and second steering column members (12, 14) engaged for movement relative to one another along one of a tilting path (16) and a telescoping path;

    an electric lock (18) operable in a locked configuration wherein said first and second steering column members (12, 14) are locked with respect to one another and an unlocked configuration wherein said first and second steering column members (12, 14) are moveable with respect to one another to selectively lock said first and second steering column members (12, 14);

    a sensor (20) operable to sense a crash condition corresponding to a vehicle crash and to emit a crash signal corresponding to the crash condition; and

    a controller (22) operable to receive said crash signal and to control said electric lock (18) to change from said locked configuration to said unlocked configuration in response to said crash signal; and

    said electric lock (18) having a locking portion (26) movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, an actuator (28) supported by said first steering column member (12) and operable to move said locking portion (26) between both of said locked and unlocked configurations, and an aperture (34) in said second steering column member (14) for receipt of said locking portion (26) when in said locked configuration.

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