Connection for energy absorbing steering column
US6062100A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 16, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S248/90
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A connection between a collapsible mast jacket of an energy absorbing steering column and a body of a motor vehicle including a mounting bracket on the mast jacket having a planar flange parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the steering column, a V-shaped slot in the planar flange, and a V-shaped capsule in the V-shaped slot clamped rigidly to the body of the motor vehicle. A pair of channels in converging sides of the V-shaped capsule receive corresponding edges of the V-shaped slot for vertical support of the mast jacket on the vehicle body. The V-shaped capsule is retained on the mounting bracket by a pair of integral lugs on opposite sides of the V-shaped capsule seated in retaining notches in the edges of the V-shaped slot. Impact forces on the steering column fracture the integral lugs to release the mast jacket for energy absorbing collapse. One of the integral lugs is on a cantilever spring on the V-shaped capsule which snaps the lug resiliently into the corresponding one of the retaining notches when the V-shaped capsule is pushed manually into the V-shaped slot.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.