Patent · US Expired

Device for absorbing energy from an automobile vehicle steering column

US6971676B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
4References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 26, 2003
Grant dateDec 6, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 6, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB62D1/195
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A steering column comprises a steering shaft rotatably mounted in a body-tube which is disposed on a lateral upright of a support assembly fixed to the structure of a vehicle by a connecting system. A bearing member is connected to the support assembly by the connecting system acting along the axis and to the body tube by an axial guidance system acting along the steering axis. In normal operation, the axial guidance system is sufficiently tightly clamped for there to be no axial sliding movement between the body-tube and the bearing member. In the event of an impact, there is axial sliding between the body-tube and the bearing member immobilized on the support assembly by the connection system acting along the axis.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.