Patent Application
20080023952
Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a collapsible steering column assembly 20 for a vehicle (not shown) is generally shown in
Referring to
The collapsible steering column assembly 20 further includes an energy absorbing device, generally shown at 34, having a first anvil 36 disposed on the outer jacket 22 and defining a curved profile. The first anvil 36 includes a shoulder 40 spaced from the curved profile. The energy absorbing device 34 further includes a second anvil, generally shown at 42, defining a longitudinal axis 44 and disposed on the outer jacket 22 adjacent the first anvil 36. The energy absorbing device 34 is small in size to provide space savings around the steering column due to the single second anvil 42 being utilized to vary the resistance. The second anvil 42 is adjustable to provide varied resistance to the movement of the inner jacket 26 relative to the outer jacket 22.
Also referring to
A support 60 is adapted to be mounted to the steering column. More specifically, the support 60 is disposed on the outer jacket 22 for supporting the first anvil 36 and the second anvil 42 in relative proximity to each other. The second anvil 42 is movably mounted to the support 60 and adjustable to provide varied resistance to the movement of the inner jacket 26 relative to the outer jacket 22. The support 60 aids in protecting the first anvil 36 and the second anvil 42 from damage. Preferably, the first anvil 36 and the support 60 are formed of a homogenous material. Even more preferably, the first anvil 36 and the support 60 are formed of a one-piece integrated plastic material or a one-piece integrated polymeric material. However it is to be appreciated that the first anvil 36 and the support 60 may be formed of nylon or any other acceptable material known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
The support 60 defines a slot 62 for receiving the distal end 24 of the outer jacket 22 to aid in positioning the support 60 relative to the outer jacket 22. The support 60 further defines a plurality of apertures 64 spaced apart from each other along the longitudinal axis 44. The support 60 includes a plurality of protrusions 66 extending toward the longitudinal axis 44 within the apertures 64 of the support 60 for mating with the ribs 52 of the plate 50 to prevent rotation of the second anvil 42 about the longitudinal axis 44. More specifically, the first end plate 54 and the second end plate 56 are disposed in corresponding apertures 64 of the support 60 with the ribs 52 of each of the first end plate 54 and the second end plate 56 mating with the protrusions 66 of each of the apertures 64 to prevent rotation of the second anvil 42 about the longitudinal axis 44. Preferably, the protrusions 66 and the support 60 are formed of a homogenous material. Even more preferably, the protrusions 66 and the support 60 are formed of a one-piece integrated plastic material or a one-piece integrated polymeric material. However it is to be appreciated that the protrusions 66 and the support 60 may be formed of nylon or any other acceptable material known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Referring to
As best shown in
The energy absorbing member 70 further includes a first portion 76 and a second portion 78 spaced from each other to define a u-shaped portion 80 disposed about the curved profile of the first anvil 36. The first portion 76 is disposed on one side of the first anvil 36 and the second portion 78 is disposed on an opposing side of the first anvil 36. Preferably, the first portion 76 of the energy absorbing member 70 is secured to the end surface 28 of the inner jacket 26 by the fastener 72. The second anvil 42 is spaced from the first anvil 36 and engages the second portion 78 of the energy absorbing member 70 for allowing the energy absorbing member 70 to initially absorb energy transferred by the inner jacket 26 to the first anvil 36 and continue to absorb energy by both the first anvil 36 and the second anvil 42 as the inner jacket 26 continues to move within the outer jacket 22. The energy absorbing member 70 may be formed of ductile material. Preferably, the energy absorbing member 70 is formed of a metallic material. Even more preferably, the energy absorbing member 70 is formed of steel. However, it is to be appreciated that the energy absorbing member 70 may be formed of any other acceptable material known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3-6, the second anvil 42 includes a first locking member selectively engaging the support 60 with the second anvil 42 movable along the longitudinal axis 44 and rotatable about the longitudinal axis 44 between a plurality of positions for engaging and disengaging the first locking member with the support 60 to facilitate the varied resistance of the second anvil 42. The first locking member selectively engages the support 60 for providing quick pre-assembly adjustments of the second anvil 42 to provide varied resistance of the second anvil 42. It is contemplated that the second anvil 42 may be locked into the pre-assembly position by an adhesive, a fastener, welding, or any other acceptable way known to those of ordinary skill in the art to prevent tampering of the second anvil 42.
The first locking member is disposed on at least one of the ends 48 of the body portion 46. The first locking member may be further defined as a face plate 84 having a plurality of teeth 86. Also, the first locking member may be defined as the plate 50 with the ribs 52 as set forth above. The face plate 84 abuts the support 60 to prevent movement of the second anvil 42 in one direction along the longitudinal axis 44 and allow movement of the second anvil 42 in an opposite direction along the longitudinal axis 44. The face plate 84 further provides for an easy way to grip the second anvil 42 to move the second anvil 42 along the longitudinal axis 44 and rotate the second anvil 42 about the longitudinal axis 44 to engage and disengage the first locking member with the support 60. It is contemplated that the face plate 84 may be disposed on one of the ends 48 of the body portion 46 or disposed on the second end plate 56 (as shown in
A second locking member is disposed on the support 60 adjacent the first locking member for cooperating with the first locking member to prevent rotation of the second anvil 42 about the longitudinal axis 44. The second locking member may be further defined as at least one tab 90 extending from the support 60 for cooperating with the teeth 86 of the face plate 84 to prevent rotation of the second anvil 42 about the longitudinal axis 44. Also, the second locking member may be defined as the protrusions 66 extending toward the longitudinal axis 44 within the apertures 64 of the support 60 for mating with the ribs 52 of the plate 50 to prevent rotation of the second anvil 42 about the longitudinal axis 44 as set forth above. Preferably, the tab 90 and the support 60 are formed of a homogenous material. Even more preferably, there are a plurality of tabs 90 with the tab 90 and the support 60 formed of a one-piece integrated plastic material or a one-piece integrated polymeric material. However it is to be appreciated that the tab 90 and the support 60 may be formed of nylon or any other acceptable material known to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is to be appreciated that one of the tabs 90 may be configured in any shape for abutting one of the ledges 88 of the face plate 84 when the second anvil 42 is rotated to one of the stop positions.
As shown in
Alternatively, as shown in
A sensor (not shown) may be in electrical communication with the actuator 92 for activating the actuator 92 to rotate the second anvil 42 which adjusts the amount of resistance by the second anvil 42 when the vehicle is in the collision. The sensor may take into account variables such as a weight of the driver, a position of the driver relative to the steering wheel, whether the driver has a seat belt fastened, a speed of the vehicle, or any other variable that may affect how much energy the energy absorbing member 70 should absorb. The actuator 92 may be an electric motor, a solenoid, an explosive charge, or any other acceptable actuator 92 known to those of ordinary skill in the art. It is to be appreciated when utilizing the actuator 92, the ribs 52 of the plate 50 are eliminated and/or the protrusions 66 of the support 60 are eliminated to allow rotational movement of the second anvil 42 about the longitudinal axis 44 when the vehicle is in the collision.
Referring to
In this embodiment, the teeth 86 of the face plate 84 are eliminated and the face plate includes the ledges 88 spaced apart from each other for providing the stop positions to signify the minimum resistance of the second anvil 42 and the maximum resistance of the second anvil 42. The plurality of tabs 90 are eliminated and a single tab 90 is disposed on the support 60 for abutting one of the stop positions when the second anvil 42 is rotated to the minimum resistance of the second anvil 42 or the maximum resistance of the second anvil 42. It is to be appreciated that the tab 90 may be configured in any shape for abutting the ledges 88. The first locking member of this embodiment is defined as the plate 50 with the ribs 52 and disposed on the second anvil 42 as set forth above. The second locking member of this embodiment is further defined as the protrusions 66 extending toward the longitudinal axis 44 within the apertures 64 of the support 60 with the protrusions 66 and the ribs 52 mating with each other to prevent rotation of the second anvil 42 about the longitudinal axis 44 as set forth above.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards; thus, the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and do come within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of legal protection afforded this invention can only be determined by studying the following claims.
