Importance

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Abstract

An energy-absorbing device for an automobile steering column having a body-tube housing the steering shaft. A support made as two parallel vertical members mountably fixed on a vehicle body mount the steering column axially between them. The body-tube has reinforcement members on two opposite sides. An attaching device compresses the reinforcement members in the support with a tightening non-rotatable bolt extending axially through the body-tube reinforcement members and the support members. A nut on one end of the bolt is tightened by an operator for establishing a determined level of a frictional force between the support and body tube. The reinforcement members have release passage openings for the tightening member in the form of an edge notch open in the direction of the driver's wheel to allow the body-tube to translate axially free in response to an impact force parallel to the body-tube longitudinal axis in a direction away from the driver's wheel at a force level greater than the determined frictional force between the body-tube and support, as when an unrestrained driver impacts the steering wheel in a collison. A deformable element to which the body-tube tube is articulated absorbs the impact force energy as the body-tube translates in response to the impact force. An elongated passage opening in the support for the tightening element provides for adjusting inclination of steering columns if needed.

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First Claim