Collapsible shaft having tunable collapse load for motor vehicle
US6099037A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 8, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16F7/125
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A collapsible shaft, for a steering column of a motor vehicle, having a predetermined collapse load, includes an inner shaft member having a non-circular cross-section and an outer tube member having a non-circular cross-section congruent with that of the inner shaft member and slidably overlaying the inner shaft member. This shaft arrangement provides for yieldably retaining the inner shaft in a fixed axial position in the outer tube until acted upon by a predetermined force. The means for accomplishing this includes an undercut portion, having a length "L" and a depth "D", on one lateral face of the inner shaft, an arcuate spring member, having an arc length "L-.DELTA.L", fitted into the undercut portion and, when the arcuate spring is compressed during insertion of the shaft into the tube, having its ends almost butted against the ends of the undercut portion and interfering with movement of the inner shaft in the outer tube. The spring member is stressed slightly beyond its elastic limit during insertion of the inner shaft and spring member into the outer tube.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.