GB2273913A - Motor vehicle steering column with slideable mounting. - Google Patents
Motor vehicle steering column with slideable mounting. Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2273913A GB2273913A GB9325795A GB9325795A GB2273913A GB 2273913 A GB2273913 A GB 2273913A GB 9325795 A GB9325795 A GB 9325795A GB 9325795 A GB9325795 A GB 9325795A GB 2273913 A GB2273913 A GB 2273913A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- steering column
- assembly
- chassis
- base part
- column according
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D1/00—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
- B62D1/02—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle vehicle-mounted
- B62D1/16—Steering columns
- B62D1/18—Steering columns yieldable or adjustable, e.g. tiltable
- B62D1/19—Steering columns yieldable or adjustable, e.g. tiltable incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible
- B62D1/195—Yieldable supports for the steering column
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Steering Controls (AREA)
Description
2273913 The present invention relates to a motor vehicle steering column
including a safety system protecting the upper part of the driver's body.
The traffic conditions and the increase in the density of traffic increase the risks of an accident. For this reason, the various constructors have been led to propose protection systems, and the authorities of the various countries have ended up imposing ever stricter safety standards and regulations in this regard.
The object of the present invention in to propose a steering column equipped with a safety system, which guarantees total protection of the upper part of the driver's body in the event of an impact, this being above and beyond a certain threshold value of this impact.
The motor vehicle steering column according to the invention consists of a steering wheel shaft which in mounted in a column body f ixed to the chassis of the motor vehicle. The upper assembly of the steering column consists of the movable part of the steering wheel shaf t, and the column body with a fixing lug which in connected to the chassis of the motor vehicle by means of a connection assembly. This connection assembly is equipped with a safety system which has a threshold value above which it releases the connection assembly to allow the upper steering column assembly to move away from the driver. The threshold value has a predetermined value which takes account of the magnitude of the impact to be neutralized for the driver.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the connection assembly consists of a connection element suspended from an articulation spindle mounted on the chassis of the vehicle. This articulation spindle in located substantially perpendicularly to the vertical plane of the steering column. The fixing lug of upper steering column assembly is fixed to the lower part of the connection element, which in held in position by an upper stop piece and a lower stop piece.
Advantageously, the safety system is incorporated into the lower stop piece, and it consists of a spring which is located in this lower stop piece. This spring acts on the shank of the lower stop piece so that under the effect of the impact the upper steering column assembly pushes shank of the lower stop piece back so that this upper steering column assembly can pivot about the articulation spindle and move away from the driver by a sufficient amount.
in this embodiment of the invention, the connection element preferentially includes a base part with two uprights which are suspended from the articulation spindle. The upper steering column assembly fixing lug has a sole plate which is fixed under the base part of the connection element by means of bolts.
According to another embodiment of the invention, is the connection assembly consists of a base part which is fixed to the chassis by connection elements secured to the chassis. These connection elements carry this base part at their lower part. The upper steering column assembly fixing lug has a sole plate which is fixed under the base part of the connection assembly by meant of bolts.
Preferably in this embodiment the safety system consists of the fact that the bolts for fixing the upper steering column assembly fixing lug under the base part of the connection assembly are retractable under the effect of the impact; this being so that the upper steering column assembly can move away from the driver by a sufficient amount.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the connection assembly consists of a thrust cylinder, the body of which is secured to the chassis of the vehicle, and the rod of the piston of which is secured to the upper steering column assembly fixing lug. The fixing lug has a sole plate which is fixed under the rod of the piston.
Advantageously, the body of the thrust cylinder is secured to the chassis of the vehicle by means of a plate which in fixed to this chassis through the use of bolts, which is mounted in a base part secured to elements for connection to the said chassis. In this type of structure, the sole plate of the fixing lug is secured to the rod of the piston by means of bolts.
In the latter type of connection assembly, the safety system consists of the thrust cylinder which, under the effect of the impact, passes from a normal position to a retracted position, so that the upper steering column assembly moves away from the driver by a sufficient amount.
Preferably in this embodiment, the safety system includes a thrust cylinder equipped with a spring, which is set so as to have two positions: a normal position and a position which is retracted under the effect of the impact.
is The various embodiments of the connection assembly with its safety system according to the invention thus exhibit the advantage of guaranteeing total protection of the upper part of the driver in the event of impact, by moving the upper part of the steering column by a sufficient amount. In addition, the structure of the device proposed by the invention makes it possible to fit it easily onto existing motor vehicle steering columns and to incorporate it relatively easily in the space available between the steering column and the chassis of the motor vehicle.
Other advantages will emerge from the invention, which will be better understood with the aid of the description given below of particular embodiments, described without limitation with reference to the appended drawings in which:
- Figure 1 in a longitudinal section along an axial vertical plane of a motor vehicle steering column according to the invention; - Figure 1A is a partial view of Figure 1 of an embodiment variant; - Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a second embodiment of the invention; - Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a third embodiment of the invention.
The steering column for a motor vehicle represented in Figures 1, 2 and 3, consists of a steering wheel shaft 1 which is mounted in a column body 2 fixed to the chassis 3 of the motor vehicle. The steering wheel shaft 1 includes a movable part 5 and a stationary part 14. Elements referenced 13 overall are located between the movable part 5 and the stationary part 14 of the steering wheel shaft, and they are represented diagrammatically in the various figures.
In another structure, falling within the scope of the invention and represented in Figure 1A, the movable part 5 slides directly over the stationary part 14.
The stationary part 14 of the steering column shaft is mounted on a rolling contact bearing 22 located is in a lower bearing 16 f ixed to the chassis 3 of the vehicle.
The stationary part 14 of the steering wheel shaft is connected at its lower part to a lower steering column transmission 20 which controls the steering column box 21 which is mounted and fixed to the chassis of the vehicle.
The upper steering column assembly 4 includes the movable part 5 of the steering wheel shaft which at its upper part carries the steering wheel 11, as well an the column body 2 with its fixing lug 6. The movable part 5 of the steering wheel shaft is mounted in the column body 2 by means of two rolling contact bearings 15. The assembly 13 is thus located between the upper steering column assembly 4 and the lower steering column assembly - referenced 12.
The motor vehicle steering coll-n represented in Figure 1 consists of the steering wheel shaft 1 mounted in the column body 2 which is fixed to the chassis 3 of the vehicle. The upper steering column assembly 4 con- sists of the movable part 5 of the steering wheel shaft and the column body 2 with its f ixing lug 6, which is connected to the chassis 3 by means of a connection assembly 7. This connection assembly 7 is equipped with a oaf ety system 17 which has a threshold value above which it releases the connection assembly 7 to allow the upper steering column assembly 4 to move away from the upper part of the driver. This threshold value has a predetermined value, which takes account of the magnitude of the impact to be neutralized for the driver.
The connection assembly 7 consists of a connec tion element 25 suspended from an articulation spindle 26 which is mounted on the chassis 3. This articulation spindle 26 is located substantially perpendicularly to the vertical plane of the axis of the steering column.
The fixing lug 6 of the upper steering column assembly 4 is fixed to the lower part of the connection element 25, which is held in position by an upper stop piece 27 and by a lower stop piece 28.
The structure of the connection element 25 includes a base part 31 with two uprights 32 each located at each of the ends of this base part 31. The two uprights 32 are suspended from the articulation spindle 26. The fixing lug 6 has a sole plate 10 which is fixed under the base part 31 of the connection element 25 by means of bolts referenced 33.
The safety system 17 in incorporated into the lower stop piece 28, and it consists of a spring 29, which is located inside this stop piece 28. This spring 29 acts on the shank 30 of the lower stop piece 28, so that under the effect of the impact the upper steering column assembly 4 pushes the shank 30 of the lower stop piece 28 back, this being so as to pivot about the articulation spindle 26, and thus to move away from the driver by a sufficient amount.
The motor vehicle steering column represented in Figure 2 consists of the steering wheel shaft 1, which is mounted in the column body 2 f ixed to the chassis 3 of the motor vehicle. The upper steering column assembly 4 consists of the movable part 5 of the steering wheel shaft and the column body 2 with its fixing lug 6, which is connected to the chassis 3 by means of a connection assembly 8. This connection assembly 8 is equipped with a safety system 18, which has a threshold value above which it releases the connection assembly 8 to allow the upper assembly 4 to move away f rom, the driver. This threshold value has a predetermined value which takes account of the magnitude of the impact to be neutralized 5 for the driver.
The connection assembly 8 consists of a base part 35 which is fixed to the chassis 3 by connection elements 36. These connection elements 36 are secured to the chassis 3, and they carry the base plate 35 at their lower part. The fixing lug 6 of the column body 2 has a sole plate 10 which is fixed under the base part 35 by means of bolts 37.
The safety system 18 consists of the fact that the bolts 37 for fixing the fixing lug 6 under the base part 35 of the connection assembly 8 are retractable under the effect of the impact, so that the upper steering column assembly 4 moves away f rom, the driver by a sufficient amount.
The motor vehicle steering column represented in Figure 3 consists of the steering wheel shaft 1 which is mounted in the column body 2 f ixed to the chassis 3 of the motor vehicle. The upper steering column assembly 4 consists of the movable part 5 of the steering wheel shaft and the column body 2 with the fixing lug 6, which is connected to the chassis 3 by means of a connection assembly 9. This connection assembly 9 is equipped with a safety system 19 which has a threshold value above which it releases the connection assembly 9 to allow the upper assembly 4 to move away from the upper part of the driver. This threshold value has a predetermined value which takes account of the magnitude of the impact to be neutralized for the driver. The connection assembly 9 consists of a thrust cylinder 40. This thrust cylinder 40 has a body 41 which 35 is secured to the chassis 3, and a piston 43 the rod 42 of which is secured to the f ixing lug 6 of the column body 2. This fixing lug 6 has a sole plate 10 which is fixed under the rod 42 of the piston 43. The body 41 of the thrust cylinder 40 is secured 7 to the chassis 3 by means of a plate 44 which belongs to the body 41 of the thrust cylinder 40, and which is fixed to the chassis 3 through the use of bolts 45, which are mounted in a base part 48 secured to elements 47 for connection to the said chassis 3. The sole plate 10 of the fixing lug 6 in, for its part, secured to the rod 42 of the piston 43 by means of bolts 46.
The safety system 19 of this connection assembly 9 consists of the thrust cylider 40 which, under the effect of the Impact, passes from a normal position to a retracted position so that the upper steering column assembly 4 moves away from the upper part of the driver by a sufficient amount. To do this, the safety system 19 includes a spring 49 mounted inside the thrust cylinder 40, and which is set so an to have two positions: a normal position and a position retracted under the effect of the impact.
The reference symbols inserted after the technical characteristics mentioned in the claims have the sole object of facilitating the comprehension of the latter, and in no way limit the scope thereof.
It Will of course be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made Within the scope of the invention.
Claims (14)
1. Motor vehicle steering column consisting of a steering wheel shaft (1) mounted in a column body (2) fixed to the chassis (3) of the vehicle, characterized in that the upper steering column assembly (4) consisting of the movable part (5) of the steering wheel shaft, and the column body (2) with the fixing lug (6) is connected to the chassis (3) by means of a connection assembly (7, 8, 9), the fixing lug (6) having a sole plate (10) which is fixed to the internal face (with respect to the axis) of the connection assembly (7, 8, 9), which is equipped with a safety system (17, 18, 19) having a threshold value above which the connection assembly (7, 8, 9) is released to allow the upper assembly (4) to move away f rom the driver by a sufficient amount, this threshold value having a predetermined value taking account of the magnitude of the impact to be neutralized f or the driver.
2. Steering column according to Claim 1, charac terized in that the connection assembly (7) consists of a connection element (25) suspended from an articulation spindle (26) mounted on the chassis (3) and located substantially perpendicularly to the vertical plane of the axis of the steering column, the f ixing lug (6) of the upper steering column assembly (4) being f ixed to the lower part of the connection element (25), which is held in position by an upper stop piece (27) and a lower stop piece (28).
3. Steering column according to Claim 2, charac terized in that the safety system is incorporated into the lower stop piece (28).
4. Steering column according to Claim 3, charac terized in that the safety system consists of a spring (29) located in the lower stop piece (28) and acting on the shank (30) of the lower stop piece (28), so that under the effect of the impact the upper assembly (4) of the steering colum pushes the shank (30) of the lower stop piece (28) back, so as to pivot about the articul ation spindle (26) and to move away f rom the driver by a sufficient amount.
Steering column according to any one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the connection element (25) includes a base part (31) with two uprights (32) which are suspended from the articulation spindle (26), the f ixing lug (6) having a sole plate (10) which is fixed under the base part (31).
6. Steering column according to Claim 5, charac terized in that the sole plate (10) of the fixing lug (6) is secured to the base part (31) of the connection element (25) by means of bolts (33).
7. Steering column according to Claim 1, charac terized in that the connection assembly (8) consists of a base part (35) fixed to the chassis (3) by connection elements (36), which carry the said base part (35) at their lower part, the fixing lug (6) having a sole plate (10) which is fixed under the base part (35).
8. Steering column according to Claim 7, charac terized in that the fixing lug (6) is secured to the base part (35) by means of bolts (37).
9. Steering column according to Claim 8, charac terized in that the safety system (18) consists of the fact that the fixing bolts (37) on the base part (35) of the connection assembly (8) are retractable under the effect of the impact, so that the upper steering column assembly (4) moves away from the driver by a sufficient amount.
10. Steering column according to Claim 1, charac terized in that the connection assembly (9) consists of a thrust cylinder (40), the body (41) of which is secured to the chassis (3), and the rod (42) of the piston (43) of which in secured to the f ixing lug (6) which has a sole plate (10) f ixed under the said rod (42) of the piston (43).
11. Steering column according to Claim 10, charac terized in that the body (41) of the thrust cylinder (40) is secured to the chassis (3) by means of a plate (44) f ixed to the chassis (3) through the use of bolts (45) which are mounted in a base part (48) secured to elements (47) for connection to the said chassis (3), and in that the sole plate (10) of the fixing lug (6) is secured to the rod (42) of the piston (43) by means of bolts (46).
12. Steering column according to one of Claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the safety system (19) consists of the thrust cylinder (40) which, under the effect of the impact, passes from a normal position to a retracted position so that the upper steering column assembly (4) moves away from the driver by a sufficient amount.
13. Steering column according to Claim 12, character10 ized in that the safety system (19) Includes a thrust cylinder (40) equipped with a spring (49) set so as to have two positions: a normal position and a position which is retracted under the effect of the impact.
14. Steering column for a motor vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR9215265A FR2699489B1 (en) | 1992-12-17 | 1992-12-17 | Motor vehicle steering column. |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9325795D0 GB9325795D0 (en) | 1994-02-16 |
| GB2273913A true GB2273913A (en) | 1994-07-06 |
Family
ID=9436743
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9325795A Withdrawn GB2273913A (en) | 1992-12-17 | 1993-12-16 | Motor vehicle steering column with slideable mounting. |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DE (1) | DE4343068A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2699489B1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2273913A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102745225A (en) * | 2012-03-01 | 2012-10-24 | 浙江吉利汽车研究院有限公司 | Safe steering column structure |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE19959124B4 (en) * | 1999-12-08 | 2008-07-24 | Volkswagen Ag | Steering column for a motor vehicle |
Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1081788A (en) * | 1966-04-29 | 1967-08-31 | Gen Motors Corp | Motor vehicle having telescopic steering assemblies |
| GB1127559A (en) * | 1966-09-28 | 1968-09-18 | Gen Motors Corp | Steering column assemblies for use in motor vehicles |
| GB1152294A (en) * | 1967-05-08 | 1969-05-14 | Gen Motors Ltd | Steering Column Assemblies for Motor Vehicles |
| GB1238141A (en) * | 1968-03-20 | 1971-07-07 | ||
| GB1497275A (en) * | 1975-08-22 | 1978-01-05 | Imp Metal Ind Kynoch Ltd | Steering columns |
| EP0463501A1 (en) * | 1990-06-26 | 1992-01-02 | FIAT AUTO S.p.A. | Collapsible, energy absorbing steering column support system |
| EP0474400A2 (en) * | 1990-09-05 | 1992-03-11 | Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited | Steering column equipped with an energy absorption system |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR1063327A (en) * | 1952-08-25 | 1954-05-03 | Protection device against accidents caused by steering wheels and shafts and windshields of motor vehicles | |
| DE1811093C3 (en) * | 1968-11-27 | 1978-11-30 | Daimler-Benz Ag, 7000 Stuttgart | Safety steering for motor vehicles |
| JPS5294636U (en) * | 1976-01-13 | 1977-07-15 | ||
| JP2556510B2 (en) * | 1987-04-30 | 1996-11-20 | 富士機工株式会社 | Steering column mounting structure |
-
1992
- 1992-12-17 FR FR9215265A patent/FR2699489B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1993
- 1993-12-16 DE DE19934343068 patent/DE4343068A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1993-12-16 GB GB9325795A patent/GB2273913A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1081788A (en) * | 1966-04-29 | 1967-08-31 | Gen Motors Corp | Motor vehicle having telescopic steering assemblies |
| GB1127559A (en) * | 1966-09-28 | 1968-09-18 | Gen Motors Corp | Steering column assemblies for use in motor vehicles |
| GB1152294A (en) * | 1967-05-08 | 1969-05-14 | Gen Motors Ltd | Steering Column Assemblies for Motor Vehicles |
| GB1238141A (en) * | 1968-03-20 | 1971-07-07 | ||
| GB1497275A (en) * | 1975-08-22 | 1978-01-05 | Imp Metal Ind Kynoch Ltd | Steering columns |
| EP0463501A1 (en) * | 1990-06-26 | 1992-01-02 | FIAT AUTO S.p.A. | Collapsible, energy absorbing steering column support system |
| EP0474400A2 (en) * | 1990-09-05 | 1992-03-11 | Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited | Steering column equipped with an energy absorption system |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102745225A (en) * | 2012-03-01 | 2012-10-24 | 浙江吉利汽车研究院有限公司 | Safe steering column structure |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2699489B1 (en) | 1995-03-10 |
| DE4343068A1 (en) | 1994-06-23 |
| GB9325795D0 (en) | 1994-02-16 |
| FR2699489A1 (en) | 1994-06-24 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |