Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-14
2001-08-28
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C280S782000, C280S784000, C074S492000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279952
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an energy absorbing device for a collapsible steering column in which the resistance to collapsing can be varied.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,295 describes a vehicle occupant protection system including a collapsible steering column. An energy absorber is located between two relatively movable sections of the steering column. The energy absorber includes an inflatable bag. The vehicle has electric circuitry, including sensors for sensing vehicle and occupant conditions, that controls the state of inflation of the inflatable bag to vary the energy absorbing capacity of the steering column.
It is known to use electrorheological fluid in an energy absorber for an engine mount or another structure having two relatively movable parts. Typical structures incorporating such a fluid are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,176,368 and 5,655,757. Varying the strength of an energy field acting on the fluid can vary the apparent viscosity of the fluid, thus controlling the energy absorption characteristics of the structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for supporting a steering wheel of a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a first steering column part, a second steering column part, and supporting structure supporting the first steering column part and the vehicle steering wheel for movement relative to the second steering column part. An energy absorbing device is interposed between the first steering column part and the second steering column part for resisting movement of the first part relative to the second part. The energy absorbing device comprises a fluid having a viscosity which varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The energy absorbing device also comprises at least one orifice through which the fluid flows upon movement of the first part relative to the second part. The energy absorbing device further comprises means for varying the viscosity of the fluid to vary the rate of flow of the fluid through the at least one orifice and thereby to vary the resistance to movement of the first steering column part relative to the second steering column part.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3656366 (1972-04-01), Somero
patent: 3744338 (1973-07-01), Komatsu et al.
patent: 3831998 (1974-08-01), Hewitt
patent: 4019403 (1977-04-01), Kondo et al.
patent: 4255986 (1981-03-01), Mukoyama
patent: 4643448 (1987-02-01), Loren
patent: 4886295 (1989-12-01), Browne
patent: 4995486 (1991-02-01), Garneweidner
patent: 5035307 (1991-07-01), Sadeghi et al.
patent: 5167850 (1992-12-01), Shtarkman
patent: 5176368 (1993-01-01), Shtarkman
patent: 5242195 (1993-09-01), Wendling
patent: 5293968 (1994-03-01), Schuelke et al.
patent: 5517096 (1996-05-01), Shtarkman et al.
patent: 5618058 (1997-04-01), Byon
patent: 5655757 (1997-08-01), Starkovich et al.
patent: 5870930 (1999-02-01), Willett et al.
patent: 5893580 (1999-04-01), Hoagland et al.
patent: 6116648 (2000-09-01), Holly et al.
Brown Kevin M.
Erike Eric C.
Mramor Vincent J.
Shirk Bryan W.
Swann Timothy A.
Dickson Paul N.
Draper Deanna
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
LandOfFree
Adaptive collapsible steering column does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Adaptive collapsible steering column, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Adaptive collapsible steering column will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2526771