A gap concealing structure for a vehicle includes an instrument cluster frame, a steering column, a steering column cover, and a flexible concealing member that conceals the gap between the instrument cluster frame and the steering column cover in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The instrument cluster frame includes a curvilinear recess that is recessed upward away from the steering column and an attachment wall that extends in the up-down direction and the left-right direction of the vehicle from the lower surface of the recess. The concealing member has a first end and a second end in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The first end of the concealing member is attached to the attachment wall of the instrument cluster frame. The second end of the concealing member is attached to the steering column cover.

A compound energy absorption system for a steering column may include different first and second energy absorption mechanisms. The first energy absorption mechanism may involve a slide that deforms a deformation strip in a crash event. The second energy absorption mechanism may involve an energy absorbing strap and a carrier, with the energy absorbing strap being configured to bend and/or tear in a crash event. The energy absorbing strap, the carrier, the deformation strip, and the slide may be packaged compactly in series along an inner jacket tube of the steering column such that the carrier and the deformation strip move relative to the slide and a portion of the energy absorbing strap in a crash event. A pyrotechnic switch, a solenoid, or the like may selectively couple or decouple the second energy absorption mechanism depending on the severity or anticipated severity of a crash event.

The present invention relates to a meshing plate (10) of a steering column energy absorbing device, comprising a base plate (9) formed of a first material and comprising a row of first meshing shapes (91) extending along a longitudinal axis (A); the meshing plate comprises lateral protrusions (11) overmoulded onto said base plate so that each comprises a rear abutment surface (92) and/or a lateral bearing surface (93).

A steering column may include an inner casing tube in which a steering spindle is mounted rotatably about a longitudinal axis, an outer casing unit in which the inner casing tube is retained, and a motorized adjustment drive for longitudinal relative movement between the outer casing unit and the inner casing tube. The inner casing tube and the outer casing unit are coupled via an energy absorption device that has at least two energy absorption elements and a coupling device. A first energy absorption element can be coupled or uncoupled between the inner casing tube and the outer casing unit via the coupling device, which energy absorption element can be plastically deformed in the coupled state with relative displacement in the longitudinal direction of the inner casing tube and the outer casing unit. The coupling device has a coupling element that is movable between the uncoupled and the coupled state. The coupling element can be brought into operative engagement with a coupling piece that is connected to the first energy absorption element.

An adjustment drive for a motor-adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle, includes a spindle drive having a threaded spindle which engages in a spindle nut which, so as to be able to be driven in a rotating manner about the spindle axis relative to the threaded spindle, is coupled to the rotor shaft of a drive motor which has a rotor and a stator. In order to enable a compact design with minor complexity, the rotor shaft of the drive motor is configured as a hollow shaft which is disposed so as to be coaxial with the spindle axis and in which the threaded spindle is coaxially disposed.

An energy absorption plate (52) for a steering column assembly (10) having a first end (54) and a second end (56), an arcuate segment (62), a first generally flat segment (58) between the first end (54) and the arcuate segment (62), and a second generally flat segment (64) between the second end (56) and the arcuate segment (62). The first generally flat segment (58) is situated generally parallel to the second generally flat segment (64). The first generally flat segment (58) is configured to face away from a column tube (18) of a steering column assembly (10). The second generally flat segment (64) is adapted to be secured to the column tube (18) of the steering column assembly (10). The first generally flat segment (58) includes one or more features, such as a toothed portion (66), for engaging with a fastener, such as a spring-biased fastener (44), to lock the column tube (18) in proper position. A steering column assembly (10) including this energy absorption plate (52) is also contemplated.

A steering shaft axially mounted rotatably in a shell and a guide part by which the shell is held. An energy absorption device arranged between the guide and shell has a bending wire coupled by a first end to the shell and a second end to the guide. A rail is attached to the shell. A pin is coupled to the guide. The second end of the bending wire has a coupling section that engages behind the pin and is braced at a support point on the side wall in the event of a crash and the support point is arranged on the side of the pin gripped by the coupling section. The pin has a first spacing from the side wall. A second spacing between the pin and the support point measured axially is at least 1.1 times the first spacing.

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.

A steering column for a vehicle includes a telescopic mechanism, a first electrically powered linear actuator, and a means for absorbing the impact energy transmitted between a driver and the steering wheel in a crash. The telescopic mechanism includes substantially coaxial first and second tubular members. The first electrically powered linear actuator controls the longitudinal position of the first tubular member relative to the second tubular member. The means for absorbing the impact energy includes: (1) two or more folded metal straps; (2) at least one strap is fixed at one of its ends to a member which is fusibly connected to the first tubular member and to which is also connected a moving part of the said electrically powered linear actuator; (3) an adjacent edge of each of at least the first and second straps comprising an array of teeth or ramps; and (4) a pyrotechnically actuated means.

A collapsible steering column assembly includes: a mounting bracket having a pair of arms and is configured to be fixed to a vehicle body; a supporting housing which is disposed between the pair of arms to be tiltable about the mounting bracket; a steering column which passes through the supporting housing so as to be able to undergo a tilt motion together with the supporting housing; and a locking device which is configured to be in a locking state or an unlocking state to selectively allow a telescopic motion and a tilt motion of the steering column by selectively applying clamping force to the pair of arms. The steering column comprises an outer jacket, an inner jacket which is slidably inserted into the outer jacket and a tolerance ring which is interposed between the outer jacket and the inner jacket, and the tolerance ring is configured so as to make the inner jacket and the outer jacket move together to realize a telescopic motion in the unlocking state of the locking device and so as to allow the inner jacket to move into the outer jacket by impact in the locking state of the locking device. The tolerance ring is configured to move relative to the outer jacket in a longitudinal direction while the inner jacket collapses into the outer jacket.