Steering column damper

US6634250B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• SUSPA GMBH · DE
• Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft · DE
• Willi Elbe Gelenkwellen GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Frank Schroter · Moosburg an der Isar, DE
• Edgar Prottengeier · Nürnberg, DE
• Wolfgang Nagl · Allersberg, DE
• Jens Scharf · Tuchenbach, DE
• Jörg Hauhoff · Altdorf, DE
• Lothar Meyle · Bietigheim-Bissingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 10, 2002
• Grant date: Oct 21, 2003
• Expiry date: Jan 10, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B62D1/192
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A steering column damper for a power-driven vehicle comprises a jacket tube with a central longitudinal axis; a sliding tube displaceably guided in the jacket tube; a steering shaft, which is mounted for pivotability about the central longitudinal axis relative to the sliding tube and/or the jacket tube and guided through the jacket tube and the sliding tube; at least one working area, which is disposed between the jacket tube and the sliding tube and filled with a damping medium; at least one working-area-volume reduction unit, which is connected with the sliding tube, reducing the volume of the at least one working area upon insertion of the sliding tube into the jacket tube; at least one aperture which opens the at least one working area to ambience for discharge of the damping medium from the respective working area; a closing element for blocking the at least one aperture; and a triggering unit for controllable release of the respective closing element.