Energy absorber for steering column

Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear

Patent

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Details

280775, B62D 111, B62D 118

Patent

active

059114380

ABSTRACT:
An energy absorber including a yoke on a vehicle body pivotable about a lateral centerline thereof, a linear bore in the yoke surrounding a steering column mast jacket, a ball sleeve between the mast jacket and the linear bore, a plurality of steel spheres interference fitted between the mast jacket and the linear bore and loosely received in apertures in the ball sleeve, and an annular lip on the yoke. The interference fit of the steel spheres yields a rigid, lash-free connection between the vehicle body and a lower end of the mast jacket. An impact on the steering column induces linear translation of the mast jacket through the linear bore. The ball sleeve is trapped in the linear bore by the annular lip on the yoke. The steel spheres are held stationary by the apertures in the ball sleeve and plastically deform the mast jacket by plowing tracks therein to convert into work a fraction of the kinetic energy of the impact on the steering column. The interference fit of the steel spheres prevents tipping of the mast jacket relative to the yoke and pivots the yoke as a unit with the steering column to prevent binding of the mast jacket.

REFERENCES:
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patent: 3538783 (1970-11-01), Butts
patent: 3590655 (1971-07-01), Farrell et al.
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patent: 3757601 (1973-09-01), Burke
patent: 3788148 (1974-01-01), Connell et al.
patent: 3820634 (1974-06-01), Poe
patent: 4445708 (1984-05-01), Oakes et al.
patent: 4509386 (1985-04-01), Kimberlin
patent: 4805478 (1989-02-01), Beauch
patent: 4867003 (1989-09-01), Beauch et al.
patent: 5342091 (1994-08-01), Hancock
patent: 5669634 (1997-09-01), Heinzman et al.

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