GB1465039A - Steering column assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

1465039 Collapsible steering columns CAM GEARS Ltd 7 Feb 1974 [1 March 1973] 9971/73 Heading B7H A motor vehicle steering column assembly comprises an intermediate section 4 rotatably mounted on the vehicle body through a bearing 6, an upper section 1 carrying a steering wheel, and a lower section 2 connected to a steering gear, movement of the lower section 2 towards the intermediate section 4 in a collision being arranged to cause movement of the upper section 1 towards the intermediate section to reduce the risk of injury to the driver. Rollers 8 accommodated in apertures in the intermediate section 4 fit into grooves in the upper and lower sections 1, 2 to transmit steering torques therebetween and frictionally engage the sections 1, 2 so that rearward movement of the section 2 rotates the rollers 8 to cause forward movement of the section 1. Torque transmission between the sections 1, 2 may alternatively be by way of splined parts held in engagement prior to impact by a shear pin. Forward movement of the upper section 1 may be caused not in response to movement of the lower section but in response to a member connected to a part of the vehicle e.g. the front bulkhead which moves rearwardly in a collision. In Fig. 6 the section 18 of the assembly is coupled by splines and a shear pin 62 to the lower section 56 and is journalled by a bearing 44 in a sleeve 42. The intermediate section comprises coaxial sleeves 46, 48 joined by a flange 50 and mounted on the body by a flange 52. A sleeve member 58 connected to a part of the vehicle that moves rearwardly on impact is slidably engaged with the intermediate section and defines therewith a fluid chamber 64 which communicates through ports 68 with a chamber 66 formed between the intermediate section and the sleeve 42. Rearward movement of the sleeve member 58 forces fluid from the chamber 64 into the chamber 66 to cause forward movement of the sleeve 42 and upper section 18. In another embodiment, Fig. 8 (not shown), the upper and lower sections define therebetween a chamber containing a wax-like or jelly-like substance which is forced through an outlet from the chamber to absorb impact energy when the sections move towards one another. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 1,219,758.