A structure is achieved that makes it easy to increase the absorbed amount of an impact load applied to the steering wheel in the event of a secondary collision.

A support bracket 18 is arranged inside a slit 25 of an outer column 21 and joined to the inner column 20 so as to be able to detach due to an impact load applied to the inner column 20 at the time of a secondary collision. A base portion 79 of an impact absorbing member 19 is attached to the inner column 20 so as to displace together with the inner column 20 when the inner column 20 displaces toward the front, and a folded portion 78 of the impact absorbing member 19 is made to face a jerking portion 61 of the support bracket 18 in the front-rear direction.

A steering column assembly includes a column jacket. The column assembly also includes a drive bracket movable in a telescope direction, the drive bracket coupled to the column jacket to move the column jacket in the telescope direction. The column assembly further includes a plate operatively coupled to the column jacket and operatively coupled to the drive bracket, the plate defining a slot extending from an open end of the plate. The column assembly yet further includes a tab disposed within the slot to prevent pivoting of the drive bracket.

The present invention relates to a modular energy absorption device (9) comprising: a support (91) having fastening portions (81) forming single fastening points for fastening said device to a steering column, a deforming member (94) securely connected to the support, an absorber (93) coiled around the deforming member and fitted securely at each of its ends to the support, a coupling member (96) formed of a part separate from the support and having a first side securely connected to the absorber and a second side having at least a first engaging shape (96a),
said device being designed such that the exertion of forces in opposite directions on the support and on the tooth, respectively, brings about stress on the coiled portion of the absorber, tending to deform the latter.

An upper bracket of a steering column apparatus includes a vehicle body-side bracket including side plates, a tube-side bracket including side plates, and a support shaft. The vehicle body-side bracket has first coupling holes in the side plates. The tube-side bracket has second coupling holes in the side plates. The first coupling holes and the second coupling holes are configured such that the vehicle body-side bracket and the tube-side bracket are coupled together by inserting the support shaft through the first coupling holes and the second coupling holes. Each of the second coupling holes is open rearward and is configured such that, when an axial load equal to or greater than a predetermined load is applied to an upper tube, fitting between the second coupling hole and the support shaft is terminated and the tube-side bracket moves forward.

Steering column for a motor vehicle including two telescopic drive shafts linked in rotation, allowing an axial sliding of a front shaft supporting a steering wheel, successively over, starting from the most forward position, a first range of depth adjustment of the position of this steering wheel, then a second damping range used in the case of an accident for damping an impact of the driver on the steering wheel, this column including an electric motorization for controlling the sliding, and an anti-theft blocking device blocking the rotation of one of the shafts, which is automatically engaged for an axial position for blocking the front shaft given by the motorization located in the second damping range.

A steering column assembly includes a steering column housing, a tilt housing pivotally attached to the steering column, and a steering wheel shaft supported by the tilt housing. The tilt housing is moveable between a range of angular positions relative to the steering column housing. A tilt lever assembly, including a tilt lever that is moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, mechanically actuates a tilt lock mechanism between an engaged condition and a disengaged condition. The tilt lever assembly has a tilt lever assembly center of mass that is positioned such that an inertial force acting in a forward direction on the tilt lever assembly center of mass urges the tilt lever towards the locked position.

An adjustment drive for a steering column for a motor vehicle may include a housing that is able to be connected to the steering column, in which a gear wheel that is able to be rotatingly driven by a motor is mounted in a bearing assembly so as to be rotatable about a spindle axis, and on which a threaded spindle that engages in a spindle nut is axially supported in a direction of the spindle axis. To enable less complexity in manufacturing and assembling, an energy absorbing installation is disposed between the threaded spindle and the housing. When repositioning the threaded spindle relative to the housing in the direction of the spindle axis, the energy absorbing installation is configured to absorb kinetic energy.

Steering column comprising a cradle (21) mounted tilting on the body of the vehicle and receiving, in a deformable bearing (22), a sleeve (2) provided with a tube bearing the steering wheel. A clamping device (3) comprising a manoeuvring lever (32) bearing a clamping axle (31) and pressed against a bearing block (34) by a ramp connection (341) and by an escutcheon (33) with teeth (331). The bearing block (34), has a ramp (341) for each tooth (331) ending in a stop (343) projecting into the circular segments (335) between two teeth (331). One of the teeth (331) has, on its unclamping side, a damping element (334).

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 energy absorption device for a vehicle steering column comprising a metal band and an adjustable deformation unit through which the metal band extends. The deformation unit is a rotatable hollow roller having a first contact surface inside the hollow roller that is separated from an outer contact surface by an outlet slot. The metal band passes through an inlet slot into the interior of the roller, and then through the outlet slot leaves the roller, in a manner that that said metal band is entirely deformed along an S-shaped curve.