Steering column assembly

• US 7,798,526 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2008
• Issued: 09/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• 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: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Lopez, Juan A., Schneider, Douglas M., Irigoyen, Laura, Komiyama, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROCCA, JOSEPH M
• Application Number:
  US12/114,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20080272583A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 188/371, 188/375, 188/376, 188/377, 744/92, 280/777
• US Class Current: 280/777
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/195 Yieldable supports for the steering column

Abstract

A steering column assembly for a vehicle includes an outer jacket, an inner shaft that is received in and rotatable relative to the outer jacket, and an energy absorbing bracket. The energy absorbing bracket includes a mounting portion rigid attached to the vehicle and a body portion extending from the mounting portion. The outer jacket is rigidly attached to the body portion and the body portion is deformable to absorb energy in response to movement of the outer jacket. A tab is connected to one of the body portion and the mounting portion and abuts the outer jacket for applying a resistive force against movement of the outer jacket. The tab releases the resistive force in response to a predetermined collapsing force to allow the outer jacket to move while the body portion of the energy absorbing bracket deforms to absorb energy from the outer jacket.

Claims

1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said steering column assembly comprising:

an energy absorbing bracket including a mounting portion for rigid attachment to the vehicle and a body portion extending from said mounting portion;

an outer jacket spaced from said mounting portion of said energy absorbing bracket and having a first connection to said energy absorbing bracket comprising a rigid attachment to said body portion of said energy absorbing bracket with said body portion being deformable relative to said mounting portion for absorbing energy in response to movement of said outer jacket relative to said mounting portion;

an inner shaft that is received in and rotatable relative to said outer jacket; and

a tab having a first end and a second end with said first end connected to one of said body portion and said mounting portion of said energy absorbing bracket and said second end spaced from said first end, said second end forming a second connection between the energy absorbing bracket and the outer jacket comprising a rigid attachment to the outer jacket or an abutment against the outer jacket for applying a resistive force, through said second connection, against movement of said outer jacket relative to said mounting portion with said tab being releasable to release said resistive force in response to a predetermined collapsing force for allowing said outer jacket to move relative to said mounting portion while said body portion of said energy absorbing bracket deforms to absorb energy from said outer jacket.

2. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said tab includes a main portion and a weakened portion deforming to release said resistive force in response to said predetermined collapsing force.

3. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said weakened portion breaks to release said resistive force in response to said predetermined collapsing force.

4. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said weakened portion of said tab is connected to said body portion of said energy absorbing bracket and said main portion is connected to said weakened portion and to said outer jacket of said steering column.

5. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said weakened portion of said tab is further defined as a neck with said main portion having a first width and with said neck having a second width less than said first width.

6. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said neck bisects said main portion.

7. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said weakened portion includes a second neck spaced from said neck.

8. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body portion defines an interior opening and includes a curved inner wall forming a portion of said interior opening with said steering column extending through said interior opening and rigidly attached to said inner wall.

9. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said tab extends from said body portion to said steering column transversely to said inner wall.

10. The steering column assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body portion of said energy absorbing bracket includes at least one rib for providing rigidity to said body portion.

11. An energy absorbing bracket for a steering column of a vehicle, said energy absorbing bracket comprising:

a mounting portion for rigid attachment to the vehicle;

a body portion extending from said mounting portion for rigid attachment to the steering column with said body portion being deformable relative to said mounting portion for absorbing energy in response to movement of the steering column relative to said mounting portion; and

a tab having a first end and a second end with said first end connected to one of said body portion and said mounting portion and said second end spaced from said first end for abutting the steering column to apply a resistive force against movement of the steering column relative to said mounting portion with said tab being releasable, without breaking the rigid attachment of the steering column to said body portion, to release said resistive force in response to a predetermined collapsing force for allowing the steering column to move relative to said mounting portion while said body portion deforms to absorb energy from said steering column.

12. The energy absorbing bracket as set forth in claim 11 wherein said tab includes a main portion and a weakened portion deforming to release said resistive force in response to said predetermined collapsing force.

13. The energy absorbing bracket as set forth in claim 12 wherein said weakened portion breaks to release said resistive force in response to said predetermined collapsing force.

14. The energy absorbing bracket as set forth in claim 12 wherein said weakened portion of said tab extends from said body portion to said main portion of said tab and is connected to said main portion for supporting said main portion between said weakened portion and the steering column.

15. The energy absorbing bracket as set forth in claim 12 wherein said weakened portion of said tab is further defined as a neck with said main portion having a first width and with said neck having a second width less than said first width.

16. The energy absorbing bracket as set forth in claim 15 wherein said neck bisects said main portion.

17. The energy absorbing bracket as set forth in claim 15 wherein said weakened portion includes a second neck spaced from said neck.

18. The energy absorbing bracket as set forth in claim 11 wherein said body portion defines an interior opening for receiving the steering column and includes a curved inner wall forming a portion of said interior opening for rigidly attachment to the steering column.

19. The energy absorbing bracket as set forth in claim 18 wherein said tab extends from said body portion transversely to said inner wall.

20. The energy absorbing bracket as set forth in claim 11 wherein said body portion includes at least one rib for providing rigidity to said body portion.