Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-08
2001-06-05
Culbreth, Eric (Department: 3611)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C074S493000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241284
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to apparatus for the protection of passengers in a motor vehicle, comprising a steering bracket which supports a steering main shaft.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In connection with motor vehicles, it is generally desirable to reduce force stresses and associated injuries to the occupants of the vehicle to the greatest possible extent in the event of a collision. For example, safety belts of the three-point type are generally used to secure the occupants of the vehicle. Such safety belts provide, in a known manner, a good protective effect and increased safety for the occupants in the event of a collision.
There are always drivers, however, who for various reasons choose not to use a safety belt. In order to also afford these drivers a certain degree of protection in the event of a collision, it has become desirable for the steering system of the vehicle to be adapted so that it is energy-absorbing. Furthermore, legislation in certain countries now requires the steering system in a vehicle to be designed to protect drivers who are thrown against the steering wheel of the vehicle in the event of a collision.
It is known that the steering system in a vehicle can be designed so that it absorbs energy when the driver of the vehicle is thrown forward and strikes the steering wheel during a collision. Such energy absorption can be brought about, for example, by the steering wheel being designed with deformable and flexible spokes. Furthermore, the main steering shaft of the vehicle can be arranged in a specially designed energy-absorbing steering column which is, in turn, mounted on the body of the vehicle. In the event of a collision, when the steering wheel, and consequently the steering column, are acted on by a very great force as a result of the driver being thrown forward, this force is transmitted from the steering wheel to the steering column. This results in the steering column being moved a certain distance in relation to the vehicle body. During this movement, energy is absorbed, which in turn reduces the stresses on the driver during the course of the crash.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,138, apparatus for energy absorption in a steering system for vehicles is described. The apparatus functions according to the principle that if the driver is not secured by a seat belt, the steering system will absorb energy when the driver is thrown against the steering wheel in the event of a collision. For this purpose, the apparatus comprises a deformable, energy-absorbing plate which is connected to the steering column. In order to determine whether the driver has the seat belt on, a sensor is arranged in association with the fastening of the seat belt. This known apparatus also comprises a device for the protection of the knees of the driver, which device is activated depending on whether or not the driver is secured by the seat belt. If the driver is secured, the force from the knees of the driver will be absorbed by the knee protection device while the steering wheel is moved, by virtue of which the upper body and the head of the driver are prevented from striking the steering wheel.
The apparatus according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,138does have a disadvantage, however, in that it does not make allowance for the risk that even a driver who is secured with a safety belt can, under certain circumstances, actually strike the steering wheel during a collision. This can happen, for example, if the driver has the vehicle seat positioned in a far forward position or if the seat belt has an abnormally large amount of slack.
One object of the present invention is to produce an improved and simplified energy-absorbing apparatus for steering systems in motor vehicles. In particular, the present invention is intended to make available such a protective apparatus which comes into operation in the event of a collision irrespective of whether or not the driver of the motor vehicle is using a safety belt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, this and other objects have now been realized by the invention of apparatus for protecting the driver of a motor vehicle including a main steering shaft, the apparatus comprising a steering bracket for supporting the main steering shaft, the steering bracket including a first portion mounted on the body of the motor vehicle and a second portion mounted on the main steering shaft, the first and second portions of the steering bracket being relatively displaceable with respect to each other, an energy absorbing member including a plurality of grooves including a first groove having a first deformation resistance and a second groove having a second deformation resistance, the first and second deformation resistances being different, a cutting member mounted adjacent to the energy absorbing member whereby upon the relative displacement of the first and second portions of the steering bracket the cutting member moves along one of the first and second grooves, and setting means for setting the position of the cutting member with respect to the one of the first and second grooves, whereby the deformation resistance of the energy absorbing member can be adjusted by the setting means. In a preferred embodiment, the energy-absorbing member includes a plurality of additional grooves, and each of the plurality of additional grooves has a different deformation resistance.
In accordance with one embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the energy-absorbing member comprises a tubular member having a first end and a second end, and the plurality of grooves are disposed longitudinally along the tubular member from the first end of the tubular member, the tubular member being connected to one of the first and second portions of the steering bracket and the cutting member being connected to the other of the first and second portions of the steering bracket.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the energy-absorbing member comprises a tubular member having a first end, a second end, and a first predetermined thickness, the first and second grooves having a second and third predetermined thickness, the first predetermined thickness being greater than the second and third predetermined thicknesses, and the second and third predetermined thicknesses being different.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the first groove has a first width and the second groove has a second width, the first width being different from the second width.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the energy-absorbing member comprises a first predetermined material having a first predetermined deformation resistance, and the first and second grooves comprise a second predetermined material having a second predetermined deformation resistance, the second predetermined deformation resistance being less than the first predetermined deformation resistance.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus includes weight measurement means for measuring the weight of a driver seated in the motor vehicle, the weight measurement means being coupled to the setting means whereby the weight of the driver can be used to determine the position set by the setting means.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the energy-absorbing member comprises a tubular member having a first end and a second end, and including a rotatable guide piston connected to one of the first and second portions of the steering bracket at the first end of the tubular member, the cutting member being mounted on the rotatable guide piston.
In accordance with another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, the energy-absorbing member comprises a tubular member, the cutting member being attached to one of the first and second portions of the steering bracket, and the tubular member being rotatably mounted on the other of the first and second
Andersson Bjorn
Asplund Niklas
De Verdier Joachim
Furtenbach Lars
Culbreth Eric
Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP
Lum L.
Volvo Personvagnar AB
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