Energy-absorbing steering column for motor vehicle

Details Energy-absorbing steering column for motor vehicle Energy-absorbing steering column for motor vehicle

1997-12-18

1999-09-21

Dickson, Paul N.

Land vehicles

Wheeled

Running gear

74492, B62D 119

Patent

active

059543639

ABSTRACT:
An energy-absorbing motor vehicle steering column including a structural housing, a pair of wedge blocks supported in guide channels on the structural housing for linear translation parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the steering column, a retainer plate on the structural housing over the guide channels, a lateral shoulder on each wedge block, and springs between each of the wedge blocks and the structural housing. When the wedge blocks are pushed backward in their guide channels, the springs are compressed and tip the wedge blocks upward to seat the lateral shoulders on the wedge blocks against the retainer plate and thereby retain the wedge blocks in retracted positions. The retainer plate is hooked over a lateral rod on a body of the motor vehicle to support an aft end of the structural housing vertically on the vehicle body. The lateral rod releases the wedge blocks from their retracted positions by tipping the wedge blocks downward in the guide channels whereupon the thrust of the springs wedges the ramps on the wedge blocks under the lateral rod to eliminate vertical lash and lash in the direction of the longitudinal centerline of the steering column.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3792626 (1974-02-01), Durkee et al.
patent: 3827710 (1974-08-01), Connell et al.
patent: 5692778 (1997-12-01), Cymbal
patent: 5788278 (1998-08-01), Thomas et al.

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