Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-05-22
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C074S492000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234528
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for modulatable absorption of energy from an automobile vehicle steering column.
2. Description of The Prior Art
The system in accordance with the invention applies in particular to a steering column adjustable in the depthwise direction or in inclination or to a steering column adjustable in the depthwise direction and in inclination and whose steering shaft is mounted in a body-tube which is supported on and locked to the bodyshell in the required position. The steering column comprises a steering shaft rotatably mounted in a body-tube which is connected to a support assembly fixed to the chassis of the vehicle or to part of the bodyshell. The invention can equally be applied to a steering column that is not adjustable, in which case the body-tube is mounted directly in the support assembly.
Making steering columns safer requires manufacturers to control all parameters of energy absorbing systems. Accordingly, with regard to the method of absorbing energy by unwinding a wire, which is increasingly used for steering columns, consideration has been given to modulating the absorption of energy.
Until now, energy absorbing systems on steering columns are static and do not take account of the conditions under which the impact occurs. Once installed on the steering column, these systems have fixed characteristics and react to an impact in accordance with physical laws that do not change. Given that the amount of energy to be absorbed by a steering column in an accident varies according to various parameters, including the speed of the vehicle, the weight of the driver and whether or not the driver is wearing their seat-belt, and given the limitations of existing systems, it is necessary to consider the use of more intelligent systems, to increase their performance and to adapt their behavior to the conditions of the impact
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to propose a system for modulatable absorption of energy which uses wires of simple shape that are easy to make but which absorb exactly the required amount of energy to be dissipated, which system mounts easily within the overall dimensions of existing steering columns. Another aim of the invention is to produce an electromechanical system capable of controlling the absorption of energy from a steering column during an accident in accordance with various parameters, in particular the weight of the driver, whether or not the driver is wearing their seat-belt and the speed of the vehicle at the time of the impact.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first embodiment, the invention concerns a system for modulatable absorption of energy from an automobile vehicle steering column which comprises a steering shaft rotatably mounted in a body-tube connected to a support assembly which is fixed to the chassis of the vehicle. The system for modulatable absorption of energy operates in a direction substantially parallel to a steering axis of the steering column.
A fixed support member is fastened to the chassis of the vehicle and a mobile support member is connected to the fixed support member to constitute the support assembly. The mobile support member is connected to and locked on the fixed support member against forces up to a particular value whereby the locking is overcome in the event of an impact.
The system for modulatable absorption of energy includes:
the support assembly,
at least one retaining pin means,
at least one anchor pin means,
a plurality of energy absorbing windings, and
at least one holding rod constituting either the retaining pin means or the anchor pin means.
Each retaining pin means is substantially perpendicular to the steering axis of the steering column and is disposed in the fixed support member.
Each anchor pin means is substantially perpendicular to the steering axis of the steering column and is disposed in the mobile support member.
The windings are obtained from a metal member of particular section which is round or square, the windings being connected to the corresponding retaining and anchor pin means.
The windings are mounted on one or more rollers on a corresponding retaining pin means fastened to the fixed support member.
Each of the windings has a free end which is anchored to a corresponding anchor pin means at the end of the mobile support member on the same side as a steering box, i.e., on the opposite side to a steering wheel.
Each corresponding anchor pin means for the windings or each corresponding retaining pin means for the windings comprises a holding rod movable along its axis by displacement means which are activated by control means.
This arrangement allows to connect the anchor pin means and the retaining pin means by a required number of windings, which can be determined according to the weight of the driver. Therefore, in the event of an impact, the mobile support member, which is connected to the body-tube and therefore to the steering wheel, pulls on the free ends of the windings attached to the anchor pin means to unwind the winding(s) concerned and absorb the energy it is required to dissipate.
Advantageously, according to the invention, the displacement means for each holding rod comprise an electric actuator which is activated by electric control means on a dashboard of the vehicle.
The electric actuator can be a gear motor or an electromagnetic actuator with a movable core.
In a first type of structure in accordance with the invention, a holding rod constitutes the anchor pin means of the corresponding windings. An electric actuator drives the holding rod which is at the end of the mobile support member. The retaining pin means is on the fixed support member.
The fixed support member includes a base with two substantially vertical lugs between which the mobile support member engages, each of the lugs having a hole in it through which the retaining pin passes.
The mobile support member has two lateral portions and one connection portion.
Each of the lateral portions has an oblong hole at the top through which the retaining pin passes and whose length corresponds to an energy recovery travel.
Three windings are mounted on a roller which is disposed around the retaining pin means. Each winding has a rectilinear portion extending in substantially the same direction as a force to be damped and each rectilinear portion extends by a free end curved around the holding rod.
In this first type of structure, the retaining pin means comprises a rod with a sleeve between the two lateral portions of the mobile support member. Said rod is held at each end by a fixing assembly on the corresponding lug of the fixable member and by a sliding assembly of the mobile support member. Each fixing assembly is locked on each of the lugs against forces up to a particular value.
Each fixing assembly comprises a clamping washer between the sleeve and the corresponding lug of the fixed support member and which has a tube passing through the oblong hole in the corresponding lateral portion of the mobile support member.
A corresponding screwthreaded end of the rod passes through the tube of the clamping washer and the hole in the corresponding lug to receive a clamping nut which is pressed onto the lug to lock the fixing assembly against forces up to a particular value.
Each sliding assembly includes an outer washer with a square protuberance and an inner washer with a square hole which receives the square protuberance.
The square protuberance has a hole through which the tube of the clamping washer passes.
The outer washer is between the corresponding lug of the fixed support member and the corresponding lateral portion of the mobile support member.
The inner washer is between the lateral portion and the clamping washer. Furthermore, the square protuberance passes through and slides in the corresponding oblong hole of the mobile support member.
In a variant of embodiment, the rod has one screwthreaded end and at the other end a head pressed onto the corresponding lug of the fix
Ben-Rhouma Abdel Karim
Duval Benoft
Gallou Laurent
Culbreth Eric
Laubscher, Sr. Lawrence E
Lum L.
Nacam France SA
LandOfFree
Impact energy absorption modulating means does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Impact energy absorption modulating means, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Impact energy absorption modulating means will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2499823