STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY

Abstract

According to a first aspect there is provided a steering column assembly comprising: a steering column shroud, and a mounting bracket. The steering column shroud surrounds a steering shaft connected to a steering wheel, a steering wheel defining a plane disposed orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of a steering column. The mounting bracket is fixed in position relative to a part of a vehicle and comprises two depending bracket arms extending away from a main body. At least one bracket arm is configured to form a connection with a portion of the column shroud. The main body further has at least one connection point arranged on opposing sides of the steering shaft for connecting the mounting bracket to the vehicle. At least one main body connection point on one side of the steering shaft is disposed an unequal distance from the plane defined by the steering wheel than any of the main body connection points on the opposing side of the steering shaft.

Claims

1. A steering column assembly comprising: a steering column shroud, which surrounds a steering shaft connected to a steering wheel, the steering wheel defining a plane disposed orthogonally to a longitudinal axis of the steering column; a mounting bracket which is fixed in position relative to a part of a vehicle and comprises two depending bracket arms extending away from a main body, at least one bracket arm being configured to form a connection with a portion of the column shroud, the main body further having at least one connection point arranged on opposing sides of the steering shaft for connecting the mounting bracket to the vehicle; and wherein at least one main body connection point on one side of the steering shaft is disposed an unequal distance from the plane defined by the steering wheel than any of the main body connection points on the opposing side of the steering shaft.

2. A steering column assembly according to claim 1 wherein the connection points are configured to form a connection with one or more breakaway capsules where the breakaway capsules are configured to be affixed to a portion of the vehicle body.

3. A steering column assembly according to claim 1 wherein a second plane extends vertically from the steering column shaft such that a first side and a second side of the main body are disposed on opposing sides of the second plane.

4. A steering column assembly according to claim 3 wherein the first side and second side of the main body each comprise a first connection point.

5. A steering column assembly according to claim 4 wherein the first connection point disposed on the first side of the main body is disposed further forwards or further backwards than the first connection point disposed on the second side of the main body.

6. A steering column assembly according to claim 5 wherein the first side and second side of the main body comprise a different number of connection points.

7. A steering column assembly according to claim 3 wherein the first side extends further forward or further backward than the second side.

8. A steering column assembly according to claim 2 wherein a second plane extends vertically from the steering column shaft such that a first side and a second side of the main body are disposed on opposing sides of the second plane.

9. A steering column assembly according to claim 8 wherein the first side and second side of the main body each comprise a first connection point.

10. A steering column assembly according to claim 9 wherein the first connection point disposed on the first side of the main body is disposed further forwards or further backwards than the first connection point disposed on the second side of the main body.

11. A steering column assembly according to claim 10 wherein the first side and second side of the main body comprise a different number of connection points.

12. A steering column assembly according to claim 11 wherein the first side extends further forward or further backward than the second side.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] There will now be described, by way of example only, one exemplary arrangement of the present disclosure with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which:

[0031] FIG. 1 is a view from the side of an embodiment of a steering assembly in accordance with the present disclosure;

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting of the assembly of FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 3 is a view from above of a prior art mounting bracket; and

[0034] FIG. 4 is a view from above of the mounting of the assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] As shown in FIG. 1 a steering column assembly 1 comprises a shroud 2 which supports a steering shaft 3. The end of the steering shaft 3, which can be seen protruding from the shroud 1, is provided with splines 4 that enable the shaft to engage a steering wheel of a vehicle. The steering wheel defines a plane that is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the steering shaft 3. The other end, not shown, engages a gearbox located within a housing 5. The shroud 2 as shown has an upper portion 6 nearest the steering wheel and a lower portion 7 nearest the gearbox. The two shroud portions are tubular, and the end of the upper shroud portion furthest from the steering wheel is a sliding fit with an end portion of the lower shroud portion.

[0036] A clamp mechanism 8 can be moved between a released position in which the upper and lower shrouds are free to move axially and a clamped position in which they are prevented from moving during normal use.

[0037] To support the shroud 2 in a correct position for rake, the shroud 2 is fixed to a mounting bracket 10. This mounting bracket 10 is in turn secured to a fixed part of the vehicle, such as a cross beam, through a pair of breakaway capsules 11, 12.

[0038] Each breakaway capsule 11, 12 has a first part secured to the mounting bracket 10 and a second part secured to a fixed part of the vehicle. During normal use the breakaway capsules 11, 12 prevent the mounting bracket 10 moving relative to the fixed part of the vehicle.

[0039] The mounting bracket 10 comprises a main body 13 having a front edge 14 and a back edge 16. A first axis 18 extends between the front edge 14 and back edge 16 and through a central point of the main body 13. In the exemplary arrangement shown, the first axis 18 splits the main body 13 into a first side 20 and a second side 22. The first side 20 and second side 22 extend in substantially opposing directions from the axis 18. The main body comprises a second axis 19 disposed orthogonally to the first axis 18. The second axis is perpendicular to the plane defined by the steering wheel.

[0040] The first side 20 comprises different dimensions to the second side 22 and the first side 20 extends further forward than the second side 22. The first side 20 extends further forwards than the front edge 14 of the main body 13 whereas the second side 22 is disposed entirely behind the front edge 14. In some exemplary arrangements, the second side 20 may extend further forward than the first side 20.

[0041] The first side 20 comprises a first connection point 24 and the first connection point 24 comprises a slot. The first side 20 also comprises a second connection point 26 where the second connection point 24 comprises a circular aperture extending therethrough. Both the first and second connection points 24, 26 of the first side 20 are configured to allow a connection with the first breakaway capsule 11.

[0042] The second side 22 comprises a first connection point 30 where the first connection point 30 comprises a slot. The first connection point 30 of the second side 22 is configured to allow a connection with the second breakaway capsule 12.

[0043] The first connection point 24 of the first side 20 is disposed further from the plane defined by the steering wheel than the first connection point 30 of the second side 22. As can be seen most clearly from FIG. 4, the first connection point 24 of the first side 20 is disposed forwards from second axis 19 whereas the first connection point 30 of the second side 22 is disposed rearward from the second axis 19. In this way, the first connection points 24, 30 are disposed at asymmetrical locations. By disposing the connection points of the bracket arms 20, 22 in asymmetrical locations, the mounting bracket 10 may be affixed to the vehicle at more suitable locations. In this way, the mounting bracket may be better suited to the tight packaging requirements of vehicles in which the steering assembly is to be fitted.

[0044] The mounting bracket 10 comprises two depending bracket arms 32, 34 extending away from the main body to form a U shape. The two bracket arms 32, 34 are rigidly affixed to the main body 13. In exemplary arrangements, one or both of the bracket arms 32, 34 may be configured to form a connection with a portion of the steering column 3 or steering column shroud 2, in use.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a view from above of a prior art mounting bracket 100 and FIG. 4 shows a view from above of the mounting bracket 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 3, a known mounting bracket 110 comprises a main body 112. A first axis 118 extends through a center point of the main body 112 and a first side 120 is disposed on an opposing side of the first axis 118 to a second side 122. A second axis 119 is disposed orthogonally to the first axis 118.

[0047] The mounting bracket 110 comprises a pair of connection points 124, 126 disposed upon the first side 120 and a pair of connection points 130, 131 disposed upon the second side 122. Each pair of connection points is configured to allow the mounting bracket 100 to be affixed to a vehicle. A breakaway capsule may be connected to each pair of connection points and the breakaway capsules may then be fixed to the vehicle.

[0048] The pair of connection points 124, 126 disposed upon the first side 120 are disposed an equal distance from the second axis 119 as the pair of connection points 130, 131 disposed upon the second side 122. In this way, in use, the pair of connection points 124, 126 disposed upon the first side 120 are disposed an equal distance from a plane defined by a steering wheel as the pair of connection points 130, 131 disposed upon the second side 122.

[0049] The connection points may be connected by nominal lines to indicate a capsules fixing center point 140. This center point 140 may define the center point of the breakaway capsule connection points 124, 126, 130, 131 provided by the mounting bracket 110.

[0050] A column mounting point 142 is indicated and may define the point through which the forces of the steering column act upon the mounting bracket 110, for example in the event of a crash. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the distance between the capsules fixing center point 140 and the column mounting point 142 is indicated by the distance L1 144. The distance L1 144 between the capsules fixing center point 140 and the column mounting point 142 indicates the length of the lever arm through which steering column forces may act on the mounting bracket 110 in the event of a crash. A longer lever arm provides an increased risk of warping or buckling under load due to an increase in torque generated from any force applied. Warping, buckling or bending under load increases the risk that the steering column will not collapse smoothly. This in turn may increase the force on a driver impacting the steering wheel.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting bracket 10 comprises a pair of connection points 24, 26 disposed upon the first side 20 and a single connection point 30 disposed upon the second side 22 of the main body 12. A first breakaway capsule is connected to the pair of connection points 24, 26 disposed upon the first side 20 and a second breakaway capsule is connected to the connection point 30 disposed upon the second side 22.

[0052] The connection points 24, 26, 30 may be connected by nominal lines to indicate a capsule's fixing center point 40. This point may define the center point of the breakaway capsule connection points provided by the mounting bracket 10.

[0053] A column mounting point 42 is indicated and may define the point through which the forces of the steering column act upon the mounting bracket 110, for example in the event of a crash. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the distance between the capsules fixing center point 40 and the column mounting point 42 is indicated by the distance L2 44. The distance L2 44 between the capsules fixing center point 40 and the column mounting point 42 indicates the length of the lever arm through which steering column forces may act on the mounting bracket 10 in the event of a crash.

[0054] Comparing FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 it can be seen that L2 44 is shorter than L1 144. As such, the forces acting on the mounting bracket 10 from the steering column in the event of a crash act through a shorter lever arm than when compared to a known prior art mounting bracket 110. A shorter lever arm means a lower torque for a given force applied to an end of the lever arm. In this way, the mounting bracket 10 of the present disclosure reduces the risk of being or buckling and increases the chances that the steering column will collapse smoothly, providing the greatest safety to the driver.

[0055] As can also be seen when comparing FIGS. 3 and 4, the asymmetrical main body 12 of the mounting bracket 10 of the present disclosure allows for the second side 22 to be disposed further back than the first side 20. In this way, the first side 20 may be disposed further from other components in normal use such that in the event of a crash and steering column collapse, the mounting bracket 10 must travel further before contacting other components. This reduces the chances of a collision between the support 10 bracket and other components, therefore reducing the chances of increased impact loads on other components. In other exemplary arrangements, the asymmetry between the first side 20 and the second side 22 may be adjusted in relation to the packaging requirements of the vehicle to which the mounting bracket 10 is to be installed.

[0056] It will be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the exemplary arrangements described above. Various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Except where mutually exclusive, any of the features may be employed separately or in combination with any other features and the disclosure extends to all combinations and sub-combinations of one or more features disclosed herein.