B62D1/195

VEHICLE STEERING COLUMN

A steering column for a vehicle includes a support assembly configured to attach to the vehicle. An axially movable steering spindle jacket is disposed in the support assembly. A jacket housing is attached to the steering spindle jacket. The jacket housing includes a slot formed therethrough and an interior space accessible through the slot. An energy absorbing element is disposed within the interior space and is attached to the jacket housing. A motor drive assembly is configured to cause the steering spindle jacket to extend and retract axially. A length adjustment support is operatively attached to the motor drive assembly and configured to engage the energy absorbing element, wherein during an impact event movement of the steering spindle jacket relative to the length adjustment support causes a post to actuate the energy absorbing element to reduce the effects of the impact.

STEERING DEVICE

A steering device includes: a first moving unit that moves in an axial direction along with a shaft member to which an operating member is connected; a second moving unit; a holding unit; a first screw mechanism; a second screw mechanism; a driving unit; and a transmission mechanism that transmits driving force of the driving unit to the first screw mechanism and the second screw mechanism. One of the first screw mechanism and the second screw mechanism is provided so as to operate in a forward direction when the operating member moves between a retraction region and an operation region, and reverse efficiency of that one screw mechanism is set such that when the operating member is subjected to an external force directed toward the retraction region, that one screw mechanism does not operate in a reverse direction.

Support bracket for steering apparatus and steering apparatus
11148703 · 2021-10-19 · ·

Construction for reinforcing the strength of a pair of support plate sections is achieved. Upper end edges of the pair of support plate sections are fastened to a bottom surface of a bridge plate section of an installation plate section via lug sections for welding. A reinforcing member comprising a protrusion which is convex on the outside in the width direction and concave on the inside in the width direction is provided from the upper end section to the lower end section of the front-end section of each one of the pair of support plate sections.

Steering column having an energy absorption device
11148704 · 2021-10-19 · ·

A steering column for a motor vehicle, having an inner casing tube which rotatably supports a steering shaft, and an outer casing unit in which the inner casing tube is received movably in the axial direction and is fixable, also having an energy absorption device which is arranged functionally between the casing tube and the casing unit, in which a portion of the energy occurring in the event of a crash can be absorbed when the casing tube is moved telescopically relative to the casing unit, wherein the energy absorption device comprises at least one deformation strip, which is pulled through a brake element and thereby deformed, is improved according to the invention in order to reduce the installation space of the overall steering column in that the deformation strip is fastened on a carrier plate, which in turn is fastened to the casing tube and projects in the axial direction beyond the casing tube.

Steering column device
11148705 · 2021-10-19 · ·

A steering column device includes: a lower tube configured to be attached to a vehicle body; a upper tube provided to be movable relative to the lower tube in a vehicle body front-rear direction; and a cylindrical retainer interposed between the lower tube and the upper tube. In addition, the steering column device includes an energy absorption mechanism arranged between the lower tube and the upper tube. The energy absorption mechanism has: a long hole provided in the lower tube; a restriction portion provided on the retainer and arranged in the long hole; and a restriction projection provided on the upper tube, and arranged in the long hole while being positioned on a rear side of the vehicle body relative to the restriction portion.

Steering column assembly

A steering column assembly is provided that is secured to a vehicle body and includes a mounting bracket securable to the vehicle body and a support bracket secured to a steering column shroud. A breakaway capsule assembly with a frangible connector secures the support bracket to the mounting bracket, the frangible connector, in use, breaking to allow relative movement of the support bracket and the mounting bracket, in the event of a crash. The breakaway capsule assembly includes a fixing portion that overlaps and supports a corresponding portion of the support bracket, the fixing portion including an opening which is aligned with a corresponding opening in the support bracket, the frangible connector passing through and engaging the two aligned openings. A spring biases the fixing portion and the support bracket into engagement with each other to oppose any movement between the fixing portion and the support bracket in the axial direction of the frangible connector during use of the steering assembly.

Steering system
11142235 · 2021-10-12 · ·

A steering system includes an operation member; a first movement mechanism configured to move the operation member between a normal position at which the operation member is operated by a driver, and a storage area located forward of the normal position; and a control unit configured to control the first movement mechanism. The storage area is located inward of an opening of a vehicle member located in front of a driver's seat in the vehicle. The control unit is configured to control, in a case where the operation member is retracted into the storage area, the first movement mechanism to move the operation member forward at a first speed, and to move the operation member forward at a second speed that is lower than the first speed when a distance between the operation member and the vehicle member becomes equal to or less than a predetermined distance.

Travel stop support bushing

A travel stop support bushing includes a body and an extension. The body has a first outer surface that extends between a first body face and a second body face along an axis. The body defines a plurality of fins that are at least partially defined between the first outer surface and the second body face. The extension has a second outer surface that extends between the first body face and an end face.

Outer column and steering apparatus
11136058 · 2021-10-05 · ·

A steering apparatus having inner and outer columns. The outer column includes a pair of side plate sections respectively extending in the axial direction, located on both sides in the width direction of the inner column, and has a column-side through hole that passes through in the width direction on one side of the inner column with respect to the height direction in a part in the axial direction thereof, and a column pressing section provided in at least one of the pair of plate sections and able to press the inner column in a direction away from the column-side through holes with respect to the height direction when displaced inward in the width direction, and a widening section in at least one of the pair of plate sections and pressed outward in the width direction via the inner column that is pressed by the column pressing sections.

Steering column assembly
11142234 · 2021-10-12 · ·

A steering column assembly includes a steering shaft, a shroud, a support bracket and a clamping mechanism which clamps the shroud to the bracket. When the clamping mechanism is unclamped, the clamping mechanism permits the shroud to pivot about the pivot assembly to enable the steering column assembly to be adjusted for rake. The pivot assembly further includes a sleeve, a ring shaped busing, and a set of circumferentially arranged spacer members. The ring-shaped bushing defines a set of circumferentially spaced resilient members that each define a contact surface that contacts one of the sleeve and the bore. The spacer members are arranged alternately with the resilient members around the whole or a substantial part of the bushing.