Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-02
2001-10-02
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C074S492000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296280
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 device.
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 and a second steering column part. The apparatus also comprises supporting structure supporting the first steering column part and the vehicle steering wheel for movement relative to the second steering column part along an axis of the steering column. The apparatus further comprises an energy absorbing device 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 shear strength which varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The apparatus also includes means for varying the shear strength of the fluid by varying the energy field to vary the resistance to movement of the first steering column part relative to the second steering column part.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4886295 (1989-12-01), Browne
patent: 5167850 (1992-12-01), Shtarkman
patent: 5176368 (1993-01-01), Shtarkman
patent: 5655757 (1997-08-01), Starkovich et al.
patent: 6116648 (2000-09-01), Holly et al.
patent: 6152488 (2000-11-01), Hedderly et al.
patent: 6-87453 (1994-03-01), None
Faigle Ernst M.
Struble Rex R.
Culbreth Eric
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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