Steering Column Or Wheel Movable In Response To Collision Patents (Class 280/777)
  • Patent number: 9352682
    Abstract: An example apparatus includes (i) a mounting module configured to be coupled to a support frame of a vehicle, (ii) a component-support module configured to support a component of the vehicle, and (iii) a motion-guiding module coupled to the component-support module and the mounting module. The motion-guiding module is configured to guide motion of the component-support module toward the mounting module. The apparatus further includes (iv) a deformable tab coupled to the motion-guiding module. The deformable tab is configured to (a) in response to the deformable tab absorbing a force that is less than a predetermined level, resist motion of the component-support module toward the mounting module and (b) in response to the deformable tab absorbing a force that is greater than the predetermined level, deform to a position that allows the component-support module to move toward the mounting module in response to force applied to the component-support module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Craig Lombrozo
  • Patent number: 9346481
    Abstract: A steering column device including a first bracket for supporting a column tube that supports a steering shaft, a second bracket coupled to the first bracket and assembled onto a vehicle body, and a disengaging mechanism provided on the second bracket that allows the column tube to be disengaged from the vehicle body forward along a column axis direction under a set load when a secondary impact is caused with a collision of a vehicle. The first bracket and the second bracket are coupled to each other through an intermediation of a coupling mechanism in a relatively rotatable manner, and a rotation center of relative rotation intersects an axis center of the steering shaft. The first bracket and the second bracket perform relative rotation when an external force exceeding a predetermined value is applied to the disengaging mechanism along the column axis direction before the first bracket, the second bracket, the disengaging mechanism are assembled onto the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeru Hoshino
  • Patent number: 9346482
    Abstract: A steering column device is provided with a suspension mechanism which is supported on a fixed bracket, suspends a movable jacket through a movable bracket, and can move in a column movement direction at the time of a secondary collision. The suspension mechanism includes a suspension bolt which is inserted into a first plate of the fixed bracket and a second plate of a tilt bracket and is screwed into a nut. A leaf spring which is interposed between a head portion of the suspension bolt and the second plate in a state of bringing a stepped portion of the suspension bolt into contact with the second plate biases the first plate to the second plate side. Further, the second plate is pinched between the stepped portion and the nut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignees: JTEKT CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Tanaka, Susumu Imagaki, Takeshi Matsuda, Hiroyuki Yao, Shigeru Hoshino
  • Patent number: 9321324
    Abstract: Preventing high-voltage components which constitute an electric instrument stored in a case from being exposed, dropping out, or scattering to an outside from the case even when the case of an air-conditioning unit has a significant impact. Therefore, a vehicle air-conditioning unit is provided with a protecting structure for preventing the electric instrument from scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignees: VALEO JAPAN CO. LTD., NISSAN MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironori Omi, Takafumi Uehara, Fujio Arai, Takuya Furutani
  • Patent number: 9316264
    Abstract: A propeller shaft for a vehicle includes a shaft having locking protrusions on an outer circumference, a tube having locking grooves on an inner circumference into which the shaft is inserted, the locking grooves engaging with the locking protrusions to form the spline coupling, a dynamic damper inside the tube to correspond to an end of the shaft and absorbing vibrations transmitted from a driving system, and a rubber stopper interposed between an outer circumference of the dynamic damper and the inner circumference of the tube to support the dynamic damper and correspond to the end of the shaft to limit sliding of the tube at normal times. The rubber stopper is broken by a pushing operation of the tube when an impact load greater than a collapse load of the rubber stopper acts on the rubber stopper, thereby permitting the sliding of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Won Jun Choi
  • Patent number: 9302696
    Abstract: An energy absorbing device for a steering column assembly includes a first end configured to couple to a first component of the steering column assembly and a second end configured to couple to a second component of the steering column. An intermediate portion extends between the first end and the second end. The intermediate portion includes a curved portion having a radius and a leg portion extending between the curved portion and the second end. The leg portion includes a plurality of localized surface features to tune a collapse characteristic of the energy absorbing device and to facilitate maintaining the radius constant when a force moves the first end relative to the second end and deforms the energy absorbing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Donald A. Buzzard, Michael P. Anspaugh
  • Patent number: 9303695
    Abstract: A propeller shaft for a vehicle includes: a shaft having a plurality of catching protrusions for a spline-connection along an outer peripheral surface; a tube having a plurality of catching grooves along an inner peripheral surface into which the shaft is inserted; a stopper member provided to be fixed to an inner peripheral surface of the tube, one end corresponding to a remote end of the shaft and which is fractured when a collision load is applied thereto; and a locking member one end of which is in contact with one end of the stopper member and which is connected to the shaft and supports both ends of the stopper member together with the shaft, thereby restricting a sliding of the shaft, and which is slid inside the tube together with the shaft when the stopper member is fractured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORP., DAE SEUNG CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Won Jun Choi, Byoung Woo Ye, Tae Youl Kim, Moon Mo Kang
  • Patent number: 9283982
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a steering column, including: an inner tube; an outer tube formed in a hollow shape into which the inner tube is inserted and including a pair of telescope guides protruding to an outer circumferential surface thereof, a first slit cut in an axial direction between the pair of telescope guides, and a second slit cut toward both sides of a circumferential direction at one end of the first slit; and a control lever installed on the telescope guides, wherein the telescope guides have a taper that is formed obliquely along a lengthwise direction, and the operating force of the lever is uniformly maintained according to the position of the control lever in the lengthwise direction by means of the taper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: NAMYANG IND. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung Jong Hong, Heung Joo Lee, Beom Suk Kim, Hee Chang Seo
  • Patent number: 9233707
    Abstract: A steering column for a motor vehicle, with a bracket unit for fastening the steering column to the motor vehicle bodywork, and with at least one steering spindle bearing unit for the rotatable mounting of a steering spindle of the steering column, and with at least one bending clip for absorbing energy during a movement of the steering spindle bearing unit relative to the bracket unit by means of deformation of the bending tab. At least two bending limbs of the bending tab are connected to one another by at least one bent-over portion of the bending tab. One of the bending limbs is fastened to the steering spindle bearing unit, and the other bending limb is fastened or can be fastened to the bracket unit by at least one connecting device which can be released without being destroyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Domig, Odisseas Gogos, Karl Plangger
  • Patent number: 9227651
    Abstract: A steering column for preventing separation of inner column 14a and outer column 15a is provided in the state before assembly in a vehicle body or in the state after a secondary collision without requiring additional components. The steering column includes a long engaging hole 26 extending in the axial direction and provided in the upper portion of the front section of the outer column 15a. An engaging piece 28 is integrally formed with the upper portion of the rear section of the inner column 14a, and this engaging piece 28 is moved into the long engaging hole 26 so as to be able to displace along the long engaging hole 26. When assembled in a vehicle body, as the engaging piece 28 is displaced along the long engaging hole 26, both the inner column and outer column 14a, 15a are allowed to displace relative to each other within a telescopic adjustment range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventor: Seiichi Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 9187116
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes: a column pipe; an outer column having an embracing main body portion that allows the column pipe to freely move in a front-rear direction and fixes the column pipe; and clamping portions that extend and contract the embracing main body portion in a diametric direction; a fixing bracket having a fixing side portion that holds widthwise opposite sides of the outer column in a sandwiching manner; a stopper bracket having an telescopic slot secured to the column pipe and an impact absorbing slot and having a collapse portion, the telescopic slot and the impact absorbing slot being contiguously formed along an axial direction; and a clamper having a bolt shaft inserted through the clamping portions, the fixing side portion, and the stopper bracket and collapsing the collapse portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: YAMADA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norihiko Yokota, Toru Ito, Noriyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9156492
    Abstract: An energy absorbing steering apparatus in which shock applied to a steering column is absorbed by plastic deformation of a bracket for suspending the steering column from a vehicle body. The bracket includes: a first plate portion; a second plate portion bent from a rear edge of the first plate portion toward a lower portion; a third plate portion bent from a lower edge of the second plate portion toward a rear upper portion; and a fourth plate portion bent from an upper edge of the third plate portion toward the lower portion. An angle of a first bent portion between the first and second plate portions is an obtuse angle. An angle of a second bent portion between the second and third plate portions is an acute angle. An angle of a third bent portion between the third and fourth plate portions is an acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Kawada
  • Patent number: 9156489
    Abstract: A sliding sleeve blank for producing a sliding sleeve for a steering spindle shaft of a motor vehicle steering spindle and the motor vehicle steering spindle assembly are provided. The sliding sleeve blank has a cylindrical form and has a section on one end, which has a collar, from which winged webs extending away radially extend in the direction of the second end. The sliding sleeve blank is a cold impact extrusion component, which, at the section has a preliminary toothing system extending over one part of the length of the section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Daimler AG
    Inventors: Axel Hebenstreit, Marco Schwieger
  • Patent number: 9139219
    Abstract: Construction is achieved that more completely protects the driver of a vehicle during a secondary collision by gradually increasing the impact load that is absorbed by an energy absorbing member 22b the more the steering wheel displaces in the forward direction. The energy absorbing member 22b comprises a base section 27a that is provided in the center section, and a pair of impact absorbing sections 28b that extend in the forward direction from both ends of the base section 27a and have U-shaped bent back curved sections 29b in the middle section. Of these impact absorbing sections 28b , at least the portions that are nearer the tip end side than the bent back curved sections 29b are pressed so that the height of the energy absorbing member 22b with respect to a stroking section 32 gradually increases going in a direction from the bent back curved sections 29b toward the tip end side of the energy absorbing sections 28b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Seiichi Moriyama, Hiroshi Shibazaki, Kenji Fujikawa, Masajirou Watanabe, Toru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9126625
    Abstract: Closed-loop control of an energy absorber acting as a damper between two parts that are movable relative to one another. A damping force of the energy absorber, or damper, can be adjusted by way of the change in the viscosity of a magnetorheological fluid (MRF), which change can be influenced by a magnetic field of a coil. According to the method it is possible to decelerate an impact or a movement with the lowest possible forces in order to minimize possible consequential damage/loading by way of setting as constant a deceleration as possible, as small a deceleration as possible, by way of using the entire available deceleration travel, and low or zero residual speed at the end of the deceleration travel independently of the moving mass or speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Inventus Engineering GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Jürgen Pösel, Gernot Elsensohn
  • Patent number: 9114829
    Abstract: Construction is achieved wherein a steering wheel can displace smoothly in the forward direction during a secondary collision, even when an electric motor 13a of an electric power steering apparatus protrudes to the side. The distances from the center axis of the steering column 6c to the connecting sections between the installation plate sections 17e, 17f and a portion 34 fastened to the vehicle body are different from each other on both sides of the steering column 6c, such that the distance Le for the installation plate section 17e located on the side where the electric motor 13a is located is shorter than the distance Lf for the installation plate section 17f that is located on the opposite side from the electric motor 13a. The ratio of a separation load that is applied to the installation plate section 17e on the side where the electric motor 13a is located is made to be large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Akutsu, Makoto Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 9073567
    Abstract: Construction is achieved wherein the front-end section of an outer column 18a can be assembled in the rear-end section of a housing 11a that houses an electric power steering apparatus 10a from below. At least the front-end section of the outer column 18a is formed into a U shape that is open on the top end. A connection and fastening section 36 that can be inserted inside the front-end section of the outer column 18a through an opening on the top end of the front-end section is provided on the rear-end section of the housing 11a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kou Yamamoto, Noritomo Narita, Youhei Nakazato
  • Publication number: 20150137499
    Abstract: An energy absorbing steering apparatus in which shock applied to a steering column is absorbed by plastic deformation of a bracket for suspending the steering column from a vehicle body. The bracket includes: a first plate portion; a second plate portion bent from a rear edge of the first plate portion toward a lower portion; a third plate portion bent from a lower edge of the second plate portion toward a rear upper portion; and a fourth plate portion bent from an upper edge of the third plate portion toward the lower portion. An angle of a first bent portion between the first and second plate portions is an obtuse angle. An angle of a second bent portion between the second and third plate portions is an acute angle. An angle of a third bent portion between the third and fourth plate portions is an acute angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Kawada
  • Patent number: 9016722
    Abstract: A steering column device includes a steering column for supporting a steering shaft in a freely rotatable manner, and a guide plate and a column bracket for assembling the steering column onto a part of a vehicle body. The steering column device further includes coupling bolts coupled to the column bracket through guide grooves of the guide plate and movable along the guide grooves when the column bracket moves toward the front of the vehicle relative to the guide plate. Further, an upper column cover movable toward the front of the vehicle together with the steering column is assembled above the steering column at a position corresponding to a vehicle rear of the guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shosuke Yachida, Seiji Kondou, Shigeru Hoshino
  • Patent number: 9010806
    Abstract: In a steering system, a first through-hole is formed in a stationary bracket secured to vehicle body. A second through-hole is formed in a movable bracket that is movable relative to the stationary bracket in a prescribed direction at the time of a secondary collision. A pin passed through both the first through-hole and the second through-hole breaks at a position between the first through-hole and the second through-hole at the time of the secondary collision, thereby allowing the movable bracket to move relative to the stationary bracket. An under plate attached to the movable bracket closes the second through-hole from below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Tanaka, Susumu Imagaki, Hiroyuki Yao, Takeshi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9010215
    Abstract: The invention relates to a telescopable steering spindle having an inner spindle and an outer spindle, which are arranged coaxially in relation to one another and have an out-of-round cross section for torque transmission, wherein an intermediate space is provided between the outer spindle and the inner spindle, a sliding sleeve being arranged in the said intermediate space, wherein the sliding sleeve is provided with a surface structuring on at least one surface facing the inner spindle or the outer spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG
    Inventor: Andreas Rietzler
  • Patent number: 9004534
    Abstract: Provided is construction of a steering apparatus for an automobile that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing forward displacement in the forward direction of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, and preventing damage to the component members of the section that supports a bracket 12b on the column side with respect to the bracket 11 on the vehicle side. In construction where the bracket on the vehicle side 11 and the bracket 12b on the column side are connected at only one location in the center section in the width direction of the both brackets by a locking capsule, the top edges of a pair of protruding sections 63 that protrude to both the left and right sides of the bracket 12b on the column side closely face the bottom edge of a bent section 56 of the bracket 11 on the vehicle side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Minamigata, Minao Umeda, Takeshi Fujiwara, Osamu Tatewaki, Kiyoshi Sadakata
  • Publication number: 20150096824
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a vehicle steering arrangement comprising a steering wheel and a torque transmitting steering column arrangement arranged to connect the steering wheel with front wheels of a vehicle. The steering arrangement comprises at least a first steering column part connected to the steering wheel and a second steering column part connected to the front wheels. The first and second steering column parts are connected to each other by a decoupling device adapted to decouple the first and second steering column parts from each other when an accident is detected so that the second steering column part can rotate in relation to the first column part. The disclosure also relates to a vehicle comprising such a steering arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Fredrik HEURLIN, Harald HASSELBLAD
  • Patent number: 8997600
    Abstract: Construction is achieved wherein the front-end section of an outer column 18a is assembled in the rear-end section of a housing 11a that houses an electric power steering apparatus 10a from below. A block shaped connection and fastening section 36 is provided on the rear-end section of the housing 11a. A pair of slits 37 is formed in portions of the connection and fastening section 36 near the left and right ends, and are open on the bottom end surface and rear end surface of the connection and fastening section 36. At least the front-end section of the outer column 18a has a pair of side plate sections 30 and a bottom plate section 31 that is formed in a U shape that is open at the top. The side plate sections 30 are inserted inside the slits 37 from below. In this state, the connection and fastening section 36 and the front-end section of the outer column 18a are connected and fastened by a bolt 39.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kou Yamamoto, Noritomo Narita, Youhei Nakazato
  • Patent number: 8998259
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes an engaging portion movable in a predetermined moving direction at a time of a secondary collision; a fixation portion fixed to a vehicle body; and an absorbing member. The absorbing member includes a fixed portion fixed to the fixation portion, an engaged portion facing the engaging portion, and a connecting portion that includes a curved portion and connects the fixed portion and the engaged portion. An area of a cross-section of the curved portion taken along a plane perpendicular to a creeping direction along the curved portion varies depending on a position in the creeping direction. The connecting portion of the absorbing member is deformed so that the absorbing member absorbs energy of the secondary collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Morita, Tatsutomo Yokozeki, Isao Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8998258
    Abstract: Provided is a steering apparatus for a vehicle including a steering column, a mounting bracket laterally installed at the steering column and having a pair of through-holes formed at each of both sides and spaced apart from each other, a guide block including a base section and a pair of guide sections extending upward from the base section and spaced apart from each other to be inserted into the through-holes, and a capsule including a fixing section fixed to the mounting bracket and configured to be separated from the mounting bracket upon a collision of a vehicle, and a slide section lengthily extending from the fixing section and slidably inserted between the pair of guide sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Hyun Bi Kwon
  • Patent number: 8991865
    Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly comprising a mounting structure, the mounting structure comprising a first part for connecting to the body of a vehicle and a second part for connecting to part of a steering mechanism, the first and second parts being interconnected to permit relative movement therebetween as the assembly collapses, wherein: one of the first or second parts comprises a slot, the slot comprising a pocket and a channel defined by two opposing sidewalls, each sidewall being the outer edge of a deformable structure; the other of the first or second parts comprises a lug, the lug extending into the pocket when the assembly is in a non-collapsed state and being configured to be driven through the channel to cause plastic deformation of the deformable structure as the assembly collapses; and the assembly comprises a re-enforcement that limits the plastic deformation of the deformable structure during the collapsing stroke to regions of the deformable structure adjacent to regions of the channe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: McLaren Automotive Limited
    Inventor: Steven James Randle
  • Patent number: 8991864
    Abstract: A steering device easily sets an absorption amount of impact energy to a predetermined magnitude at a time when a female male shaft and a male shaft undergo relative contraction upon occurrence of a vehicle collision. If the male shaft undergoes contraction by a length against the female shaft, a serrated edge on a right-end surface of the female shaft is butted against a left-end surface of an impact-energy absorption part. Then, the serrated edge of a female serration is firmly butted against a left-end surface of the impact-energy absorption part to undergo plastic deformation, whereupon resistance to collapsing increases, thereby absorbing impact energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Andou, Yukihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8985627
    Abstract: In a steering system that includes: an intermediate shaft on a steering wheel side; a pinion shaft on a steered wheel side; and a cross joint by which the intermediate shaft and the pinion shaft are rotatably connected to each other on a plane intersecting with each of the shafts, and that steers steered wheels by transmitting steering torque of a steering wheel from the intermediate shaft to the pinion shaft, a weakened portion is formed in a joint spider of the cross joint. The weakened portion can be identified in advance as a portion that breaks first. This makes it possible to realize a failure mode in which a vehicle is able to run by itself for a certain period of time after a failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Koyama
  • Patent number: 8985629
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a steering shaft, a column rotatably supporting the steering shaft, a bracket attached to the column, a capsule configured to be fixed to a vehicle body and having upper and lower holding plates sandwiching the flange portion, a coupling part coupling the flange portion and the capsule such that the flange portion is detachable from the capsule by an impact force toward the front of the vehicle body, a rounded portion formed at a front end portion of the flange portion with a curvature radius varying along a vehicle-width direction, and an energy-absorbing member. The energy-absorbing member includes a rear portion engaged with the capsule, a front extension portion extending forward from the rear portion, a bent portion bent in front of the rounded portion, and a rear extension portion extending rearward and inclined in the vehicle-width direction with respect to the column center axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Hattori
  • Patent number: 8984985
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes a steering column rotating integrally with a steering wheel, a bracket supporting the steering column via a bearing in such a manner that the steering column is rotatable, and a fixation piece fixed to a vehicle body, where the bracket includes a locking hole, and during a normal state, the fixation piece is locked on a lower surface of an edge portion enclosing the locking hole thereby locking the bracket to the fixation piece, the bracket includes a pair of guided portions extending from opposing side portions of the locking hole toward the steering wheel, and during a secondary collision, the bracket moves forward to detach the fixation piece from the locking hole, and then, the fixation piece is locked on lower surfaces of the pair of guided portions, while guiding the pair of guided portions in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Kogure
  • Patent number: 8978510
    Abstract: A locking device for a steering column is provided. The locking device includes an operating lever configured to rotate between a first position and a second position, an actuating body configured to rotate in response to rotation of the operating lever and a locking cam operably connected to the actuating body and rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to rotation of the actuating body. The locking cam includes an eccentric locking surface having a plurality of locking teeth. A locking segment is positioned adjacent to the locking cam, the locking segment having a plurality of segment teeth formed thereon. A shaft extends along a first axis and the actuating body and locking cam are positioned on the shaft and configured to rotate about the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Donald A. Buzzard, Melvin Lee Tinnin, Michael P. Anspaugh
  • Patent number: 8979128
    Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly includes a bracket, the bracket having a front portion and a back portion, the front portion comprising a pair of spaced arms, each arm having an inner surface that opposes the inner surface of the other and an opposed outer surface; a steering column having a longitudinal axis and comprising an inner jacket that is slidably disposed within an inner surface of the outer jacket, an outer surface of the outer jacket located within the inner surface of the spaced arms; and a locking device that passes through and is coupled to the spaced arms and the outer jacket, the locking device movable to lock or unlock the slidable disposition of the inner jacket within the outer jacket by respective application or release of a predetermined clamping force to the outer surface of the arm, outer bracket and inner bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Jason R. Ridgway, Malgorzata Renata Szeliga
  • Publication number: 20150069747
    Abstract: A collapsible steering column assembly includes a shroud comprising an outer tube that supports a steering wheel through a bearing and an inner tube that is fixed to a part of the vehicle, the column assembly being able to collapse telescopically by the outer tube moving over the inner tube, the assembly further including an energy absorbing strap that is fixed to the inner tube and a plough which is fixed to the outer tube, whereby in use the assembly is so arranged that upon a telescopic collapse the relative movement between the inner tube and the outer tube forces a part of the plough through the strap to progressively peel away a part of the strap from the remainder of the strap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: TRW Limited
    Inventors: David Michael Sharman, Stephen George Moulson, Jason Hales
  • Patent number: 8973944
    Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises an upper column for supporting a steering wheel and a position lock bracket disposed about the upper column. The position lock bracket is configured to be fixed to the upper column when the position lock bracket occupies a locked mode. The position lock bracket is further configured to be selectively fixed to a rigid structure of the vehicle when operating in a fixed mode and to be instantaneously released from the vehicle structure when operating in a release mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Richard K. Riefe, Ravi Ravindra, David G. Motousek
  • Patent number: 8960721
    Abstract: Construction of a steering column apparatus used in a tilt steering apparatus is achieved that is capable of reducing impact applied to the driver's body even when an adjustment rod is forcibly pressed against the front edges of long holes in the up-down direction during a secondary collision. Through holes that are continuous along the long holes in the up-down direction from the top end portion to the bottom end portion of the long holes in the up-down direction, and are formed in portions of a pair of left and right support plate portions of the support bracket that are further toward the front side than the long holes in the up-down direction. Bridge portions are provided between the front side edges of the long holes in the up-down direction and the rear side edges of the through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd
    Inventor: Seiichi Moriyama
  • Patent number: 8960045
    Abstract: A steering device includes: a steering shaft; an outer pipe; a first bearing that causes the steering shaft to be rotatable with respect to the outer pipe; and a front body that is disposed in front of the bearing in an axial direction, and the steering shaft; in which a first space into which the steering shaft is capable of being inserted is formed on a radially inner side of the front body, and a second space into which the outer pipe is capable of being inserted is formed on a radially outer side of the front body, and the steering device further includes a release mechanism that releases a relative restraint between the first bearing, a first front end portion, and a second front end portion in the axial direction in a case where the first bearing collides with the front body during the secondary collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Showa Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Ishige
  • Patent number: 8955407
    Abstract: It might happen that an inner column 3 is released from telescopic clamping and tilt clamping by an outer column 4 in a state before a vehicle fitting bracket 2 is fitted to a vehicle body. When a male steering shaft 6 is to escape from a female steering shaft 5, a come-out preventive member 7 is intruded into an inner peripheral annular groove 52 vicinal to an end portion of a female spline 51 on the front side with respect to the vehicle body. Then, the come-out preventive member 7 abuts on a shoulder portion 521 of the end portion, on the front side with respect to the vehicle body, of the inner peripheral annular groove 52, thereby surely enabling the male steering shaft 6 from escaping out of the female steering shaft 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuuichi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 8955882
    Abstract: An inner column 2 is fitted in an outer column 1 in such a way as to be able to slide in the axial direction. The outer column 1 is mounted on a vehicle body 5 by a vehicle mount bracket 3. Fastening portions 65B, 65B of a right distance bracket 6B pass through through-holes 13, 14 respectively to be able to be in contact with the outer circumference 21 of the inner column and directly fasten the outer circumference of the inner column. Thus, there is provided a steering apparatus that is simple in structure without need to provide an additional mechanism for preventing rotation of an inner column and in which the magnitude of fastening force exerted on the inner column does not vary depending on the telescopic position of the steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Masajirou Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8955881
    Abstract: A steering column assembly having a standard operating position and a collapsed position is provided. The steering column assembly includes a lower column jacket, an upper column jacket selectively slidable relative to the lower column jacket, a rake bracket, and a biasing member. The rake bracket is attached to one the lower column jacket and the upper column jacket, and has a bracket retaining feature. The biasing member selectively exerts a biasing force on the upper column jacket in the standard operating position. The biasing member has a biasing member retaining feature that engages with the bracket retaining feature in the standard operating position and disengages with the bracket retaining feature in the collapsed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventor: Melvin L. Tinnin
  • Publication number: 20150021890
    Abstract: A steering apparatus includes an engaging portion movable in a predetermined moving direction at a time of a secondary collision; a fixation portion fixed to a vehicle body; and an absorbing member. The absorbing member includes a fixed portion fixed to the fixation portion, an engaged portion facing the engaging portion, and a connecting portion that includes a curved portion and connects the fixed portion and the engaged portion. An area of a cross-section of the curved portion taken along a plane perpendicular to a creeping direction along the curved portion varies depending on a position in the creeping direction. The connecting portion of the absorbing member is deformed so that the absorbing member absorbs energy of the secondary collision.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Shigeru MORITA, Tatsutomo YOKOZEKI, Isao HASEGAWA
  • Patent number: 8931364
    Abstract: A steering device includes a fixed bracket, a movable bracket, a friction plate, a first friction washer, a pressing plate, engagement units, a second friction washer, and a fastening tool. The friction plate is attached to face, with an appropriate gap, at least one of both fixed side portions of the fixed bracket. The first washer is inserted between the fixed side portion and the friction plate. The pressing plate is attached to an outer surface of the friction plate. The engagement unit causes the pressing plate to be detachably attached and be immovable at least in a vertical direction. The second friction washer is clamped between the pressing plate and the friction plate. The fixed bracket, the friction plate, the first friction washer, the second friction washer, and the pressing plate are connected by penetrating therethrough a lock bolt of the fastening tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Yamada Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Hirooka, Suguru Sugishita
  • Patent number: 8915521
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column for a vehicle and a bushing for the adjustable steering column are provided. The adjustable steering column includes a column jacket having a lower jacket extending along a first axis and an upper jacket telescopically coupled to and extending with the lower jacket. The lower and upper shafts are configured to selectively move telescopically relative to one another for telescope adjustment of the steering column. The adjustable steering column also includes a bushing positioned between the lower jacket and the upper jacket, the bushing including a support portion extending along a length between the lower jacket and upper jacket, the support portion including a first seating area, and a roller portion positioned in the first seating area, the roller portion configured to engage at least one of an outer surface of the lower jacket and an inner surface of the upper jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
    Inventors: William D. Cymbal, Melvin L. Tinnin, Arthur W. Nellett, Richard K. Riefe, Ravi Ravindra
  • Patent number: 8910977
    Abstract: A steering device includes a steering column that rotatably supports a steering wheel, a column side bracket that supports the steering column, a vehicle body side bracket coupled to the column side bracket and an impact absorption mechanism that moves the steering column in a direction along the steering column in a second collision. The impact absorption mechanism includes an impact absorption member and a supporting member. The impact absorption member is integrally formed with an elastic supporting portion and an extending portion. The elastic supporting portion is supported by the vehicle body side bracket and elastically supports the steering column. The extending portion extends in a direction along the steering column. The supporting member is supported by a vehicle body and supports a part of the extending portion in a longitudinal direction of the extending portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Sakata
  • Patent number: 8905436
    Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle including a clamping device, in the opened state of which the steering column is adjustable and in the closed state of which the set position of the steering column is fixed and which has an operating lever and a clamping pin having a longitudinal axis. A clamping part, which can be rotated by the operating lever about the longitudinal axis of the clamping pin in order to open and close the clamping device, is arranged on the clamping pin or is integrated with the clamping pin as one piece. The clamping pin and/or the clamping part includes a toothing, which surrounds the longitudinal axis of the clamping pin and the teeth of which extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the clamping pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Sebastian Huber
  • Patent number: 8899623
    Abstract: A motor vehicle includes an instrument panel, a steering column defining a longitudinal axis, and a steering wheel arranged on the steering column in a region of the instrument panel. The steering wheel is configured for movement in relation to the instrument panel in a direction of the longitudinal axis towards the instrument panel from a first position to a second position. The steering column is also constructed to enable the steering wheel to move from the second position to the first position when the motor vehicle is subjected to a force caused by an accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Audi AG
    Inventors: Michael Stadler, Ingo Schütz
  • Patent number: 8899622
    Abstract: A steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle that includes an inner column tube, a steering shaft supported at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis, a top bracket adapted for receiving a least a portion of the steering shaft and for mounting the steering column assembly within the automotive vehicle, and a telescoping motor subassembly adapted for selectively driving the steering shaft in a fore or aft direction. A telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is coupled during normal operation to a column housing, the telescoping motor subassembly and the inner column tube, wherein the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is adapted to detach from the column housing in the event of an impact exceeding a predetermined first impact load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: NSK Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Simon Read, Victor C. Martinez
  • Publication number: 20140346760
    Abstract: In a steering system, a first through-hole is formed in a stationary bracket secured to vehicle body. A second through-hole is formed in a movable bracket that is movable relative to the stationary bracket in a prescribed direction at the time of a secondary collision. A pin passed through both the first through-hole and the second through-hole breaks at a position between the first through-hole and the second through-hole at the time of the secondary collision, thereby allowing the movable bracket to move relative to the stationary bracket. An under plate attached to the movable bracket closes the second through-hole from below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Eiji TANAKA, Susumu IMAGAKI, Hiroyuki YAO, Takeshi MATSUDA
  • Patent number: 8894097
    Abstract: An adjustable steering column for a motor vehicle has at least two components and at least one locking device. The components can be adjusted in the position thereof relative to each other along an adjustment path in an open position of the locking device and are locked in the position thereof relative to each other in a closed position of the locking device. A stop element is arranged at least a first of the components such that the stop element limits the adjustment path and can be detached from the first of the components when a force value is exceeded. The adjustable steering column has a tool which can be inserted between the stop element and the first of the components in order to detach the stop element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Thyssenkrupp Presta Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hansjörg Sulser, Rony Schnitzer, Mathias Senn
  • Patent number: 8887596
    Abstract: A steering column apparatus has a fixed bracket fixed to a vehicle body and having a pair of long holes extending parallel to each other along a backward-and-forward direction; a movable bracket arranged movably in the backward-and-forward direction; a pair of bolts and a pair of nuts for fixing the movable bracket to a rear portion of the fixed bracket so that the movable bracket can move in the backward-and-forward direction with respect to the fixed bracket; a spring plate having pressing portions for holding the movable bracket at the rear portion of the fixed bracket by pressing the fixed bracket against the movable bracket; a shear pin connecting the fixed bracket and the movable bracket at the rear portion of the fixed bracket; and first and second low friction elements. Upon a secondary collision, the movable bracket smoothly moves toward a vehicle front side together with the spring plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignees: Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Yota Uesaka, Shigeru Hoshino, Eiji Tanaka