An adjustable steering column includes an actuating unit for rotatably mounting a steering shaft, a carrying unit in which the actuating unit is mounted so as to be axially displaceable via a motorized longitudinal adjustment drive, a transmission device coupled to the actuating unit and to the longitudinal adjustment drive, an energy absorption apparatus for absorbing energy when the actuating unit moves relative to the transmission device, and a coupling device connected to the actuating unit and to the transmission device. The coupling device may be disconnected from the actuating unit and/or the transmission device in a crash event, allowing movement between the actuating unit and the transmission device. The coupling device may have a pin-shaped holding element that protrudes into a slot. A blocking element may block movement of the holding element in the slot, and in a crash event permit movement of the holding element in the slot.

A steering apparatus includes: a column shaft; a column tube supporting the column shaft; a housing movably supporting the column tube; a fastener configured to fix the position of the column tube by pressing on radial ends of the housing; a first impact absorber configured to generate a first dynamic friction force with the column tube; and a second impact absorber configured to generate a second dynamic friction force with the housing during a secondary collision by being moved by the first impact absorber. The first impact absorber is structured such that a distal static friction coefficient in a distal region located further from a squeezing portion of the fastener is less than a proximal static friction coefficient in a proximal region closer to the squeezing portion.

A collapse-limiting assembly for a steering system is provided. The collapse-limiting assembly comprises a housing and a moveable member. A pyrotechnic charge is located in the housing and, in response to an impact event, is caused to fire the moveable member into a discharged position and limit the amount of collapse of a steering column. The steering column includes at least two axially moveable portions that move axially relative to each other between an extended position and a retracted position. When the moveable member is fired into the discharged position, it is located in a travel path of at least one of the axially moveable portions.

To provide an arrangement structure of electrical apparatuses in an electric automobile which can realize space savings of a space housing a plurality of electrical apparatuses. An arrangement structure of electrical apparatuses in an electric automobile includes: a vehicle body having a driver cabin and a housing space provided forward of the driver cabin; a plurality of electrical apparatuses (junction board, charger, voltage converter, battery heater) housed in the housing space; and a frame body retaining the plurality of electrical apparatuses to overlap vertically, in which a specific electrical apparatus positioned more downwards than a predetermined position among the plurality of electrical apparatus is arranged more downwards as having a shorter length in the front/rear direction of the vehicle body, or as having a shorter length in the width direction of the vehicle body.

An assembly for a vehicle includes an upper steering shaft and a lower steering shaft. A pivot joint is between the upper steering shaft and the lower steering shaft. The upper steering shaft is pivotable in a cross-vehicle direction about the pivot joint. A pin is connected to the upper steering shaft and the lower steering shaft. The pin is releasable from at least one of the upper steering shaft and the lower steering shaft.

The occupant protection device comprising: a base portion fixed to a ceiling portion of the vehicle; an operation portion connected to the base portion via a hinge and configured to rotate move back and forth between a first position serving as an initial position and a second position used to suppress movement of the occupant when inertial force acts on the occupant, the operation portion configured to align with the ceiling portion at the first portion; and a control unit. The operation portion is movable repeatedly from the first position to the second position through the movement control by returning to the first position after having moved from the first position to the second position. The occupant protection device further includes an buffering means configured to buffer a collision impact on the occupant against the operation portion when the operation portion moves to the second position.

Methods and systems for operating a vehicle occupant protection device of a steer-by-wire steering system. The system includes a steering wheel and an adjustable steering column connected to the steering wheel which can be adjusted between a retracted position and a deployed position via an adjustment mechanism. The steer-by-wire steering system has a feedback actuator to which a driver's request for a steering angle can be applied by a driver via the steering wheel, and which outputs a feedback signal to the steering wheel in response to the driver's request and a driving state of the motor vehicle. The method includes detecting an accident, detecting a hands-off situation or a hands-on situation, and when a hands-off situation has been detected, moving the steering column into an accident position by means of the adjustment mechanism, and triggering a steering wheel airbag during or after the adjustment process.

A steering column device includes a lower jacket to be mounted on a vehicle body, an upper jacket provided to be movable in front and rear directions of the vehicle body with respect to the lower jacket, an electric actuator provided on the lower jacket for moving the upper jacket in the front and rear directions of the vehicle body, a drive member transmitting a drive force of the electric actuator to the upper jacket, an energy absorption mechanism arranged between the upper jacket and the drive member, and a switching mechanism arranged between the drive member and the energy absorption mechanism, the switching mechanism switching between a state in which the energy absorption mechanism is locked with respect to the drive member and a state in which locking of the energy absorption mechanism with respect to the drive member is released.

A steering column apparatus may include a moveable unit assembled with the steering wheel at a front end portion thereof to be driven back and forth; a guide unit mounted to a rear end portion of the moveable unit to guide back and forth movement of the moveable unit; a drive unit provided in the guide unit to drive the moveable unit; and an actuator unit configured to fix the drive unit to the guide unit, and provided with an inflator triggered in cooperation with an operation signal of the airbag, to be operated to generate a propulsive force in a forward direction thereof.

A steering device for steering a vehicle includes a movable member, a holding member, an impact absorbing member, a movement driving unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to perform first control and second control by which the movement driving unit is controlled. The first control is a control for moving the movable member along an axial direction of a shaft member within such a range that a front end of at least one of the shaft member and the movable member is located rearward of a space for movement in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. The second control is a control for moving the movable member along the axial direction within such a range that the front end portion is located inside the space for movement.