GB2141807A

GB2141807A - Energy absorption arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2141807A
Application number: GB08316631A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek William Strutt
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1983-06-18
Filing date: 1983-06-18
Publication date: 1985-01-03
Also published as: GB8316631D0; EP0130009A1

Description

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GB2 141 807 A

1

SPECIFICATION

Energy absorption arrangement

5 This invention relates to an energy absorption arrangement. The arrangement can be used in situations where a movement between two parts is to be accompanied by absorption of energy, generally for the purpose of retarding the movement. 10 An example of such a situation is in the steering column of a motor vehicle, where the column has to collapse in the event of the driver being thrown against the steering wheel in a crash.

According to the present invention, there is pro-15 vided an energy absorption arrangement having a first component movable relative to a second component in a telescopic manner, and a plastics sleeve arranged between an abutment on the first component and an abutment on the second component and 20 adapted to deform to absorb energy as the abutments move towards one another.

The first and second components and the sleeve are preferably concentric. The sleeve may be formed as a composite of different materials, in order to 25 enhance its energy absorbing characteristics.

One (or both) of the abutments and/or the respective ends of the sleeve may be shaped so that, on deformation, the sleeve end is diverted away form the abutment. For example, the end of the sleeve 30 may turn back on itself and roll up back along the length of the sleeve.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a steering column for a motor vehicle, the column comprising a steering shaft, a 35 decoupling joint in the shaft, a tube surrounding the shaft, a mount adapted to be fixed to the vehicle for supporting the tube in the vehicle, and an energy absorbing plastics sleeve surrounding the tube and arranged between the mount, which which forms an 40 abutment for one end of the sleeve, and an abutment on the tube, the column being arranged so that, in the event of a crash, the decoupling joint in the shaft decouples and the tube slides relative to the mount so that the abutment on the tube approaches the 45 mount and the sleeve is deformed to absorb energy.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows a section through a motor vehicle steering column.

50 The column shown has a shaft 10 which will be connected at one end 10a to a steering wheel and at the other end 10b to a steering gear. Between the steering wheel and the steering gear, a conventional decoupling joint will be included to allow the shaft to 55 shorten in the event of a crash.

A steel tube 12 surrounds the shaft 10 and is supported in a vehicle by means of a mount 14. The mount 14 is clamped around the tube, with a mounting sleeve 16 between the mount and the 60 tube. The mount is secured to a fixed point in the vehicle, and the friction between the sleeve 16 and the tube 12 is such that the tube is normally held fast, but can slide through the mounting sleeve under the extraordinary conditions encountered in a crash. 65 An energy absorbing sleeve 18 surrounds the tube

12. One end of the sleeve 18 abuts the mount 14, and the other end abuts an annular abutment 20 fixed to the tube.

In a crash, the driver may be thrown against the 70 steering wheel, forcing the wheel (and also the shaft 10 and tube 12) towards the front of the car (to the left in the drawing). When this happens, the decoupling joint in the shaft 10 decouples and the tube 12 begins to slide through the mounting sleeve 16, so 75 that the energy absorbing sleeve 18 is compressed between its abutments. This causes the sleeve to deform, and the material of the sleeve 18 is chosen so that a substantial amount of energy is absorbed as deformation proceeds. It is desirable to have the 80 rate of abosrption of energy increase as deformation proceeds, so that the resistance to the collapsing movement of the steering wheel progressively increases.

The abutment 20 may be shaped as shown, so that 85 the end of the deformed sleeve 18 is forced outwardly. Alternatively, the abutment may have a planar face in contact with the sleeve, and the sleeve end may be chamfered. Tests have shown that with this arrangement, the sleeve is diverted slowly outward-90 ly and curls up on itself, as shown in dotted lines in the drawing and energy is absorbed as this happens.

In further alternatives, the sleeve may be diverted inwardly by suitable shaping, and/or the energy absorbing sleeve 18 may be a tight fit on the tube 12. 95 To assist in energy absorption, it may be advantageous to provide a swage (an indentation) in the tube 12 where this is surrounded by the mounting sleeve 16, and a corresponding projection on the sleeve 16 to enter the swage. Such an arrangement

100 prevents rotation of the tube, but can also assist in energy absorption. As the relative axial positions of the swage and the projection change in a crash, both must deform (and absorb energy) to allow this change of position.

105 Although this energy absorption arrangement has been described in connection with a vehicle steering column, it is anticipated that it could find applications in many other fields, where energy is to be absorbed by relative movement between two com-

110 ponents.

Claims

1. An energy absorption arrangement having a

115 first component movable relative to a second component in a telescopic manner, and a plastics sleeve arranged between an abutment on the first component and an abutment on the second component and adapted to deform to absorb energy as the abut-

120 ments move towards one another.

2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the first and second components and the sleeve are concentric.

3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or

125 Claim 2, wherein the sleeve is formed as a composite of different materials.

4. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the interface between one abutment and an end of the sleeve is shaped so that when

130 deformation occurs, the end of the sleeve is diverted

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GB 2 141 807 A

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away from the abutment.

5. A steering column for a motor vehicle, the column comprising a steering shaft, a decoupling joint in the shaft, a tube surrounding the shaft, a 5 mount adapted to be fixed to the vehicle for supporting the tube in the vehicle, and an energy absorbing plastics sleeve surrounding the tube and arranged between the mount, which forms an abutment for one end of the sleeve, and an abutment 10 on the tube, the column being arranged so that, in the event of a crash, the decoupling joint in the shaft decouples and the tube slides relative to the mount so that the abutment on the tube approaches the mount and the sleeve is deformed to absorb energy. 15

6. An energy absorption arrangement substantially as herein described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Printed in the UKfor HMSO, D8818935,10/84,7102.

Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London,

WC2A1 AY, from which copies may be obtained.