Enhanced steering system utilizing fixed dab for occupant protection in frontal impacts with laterial loading

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10029642-B2
Application number	US-201615074544-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2016
Priority date	Mar 18, 2016
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A steering column system includes: a rotatable steering shaft that has a proximal end attached to a steering wheel and is configured to transfer rotational input at the steering wheel to a steering rack of the vehicle; a stationary driver-side airbag (DAB) shaft that is mounted in the vehicle and extends along the steering shaft; and a DAB module that contains an airbag and is fixedly mounted to a proximal end of the DAB shaft within a region of the steering wheel. The steering wheel and the steering shaft are configured to rotate independently of the DAB module and the DAB shaft, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A steering column system of a vehicle comprising:
a rotatable steering shaft that has a proximal end attached to a steering wheel;
a stationary driver-side airbag (DAB) shaft that is mounted in the vehicle and extends along the steering shaft;
a DAB module that is fixedly mounted to a proximal end of the DAB shaft within a region of the steering wheel;
an outer shaft assembly that encloses the steering shaft and the DAB shaft;
one or more internal energy absorbing components that are disposed within an interior of the steering shaft for absorbing energy during a collision event; and
one or more external energy absorbing components that are mounted outside of the steering shaft to a body of the vehicle for absorbing energy during a collision event,
wherein the steering wheel and the steering shaft are configured to rotate independently of the DAB module and the DAB shaft, respectively.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the DAB module remains in a fixed position while the steering wheel rotates about the DAB module.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the DAB module is positioned to oppose a driver of the vehicle during the use of the vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the steering shaft is hollow and substantially surrounds the DAB shaft.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gear assembly mounted at a distal end of the steering shaft.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the gear assembly includes a set of helical gears.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein a first gear of the set of helical gears is integrally formed with the steering shaft, and a second gear of the set of helical gears is coupled to the first gear and not integrally formed with the steering shaft.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer shaft assembly is attached to the body of the vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the DAB shaft is mounted to the body of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the DAB shaft is substantially hollow and allows for passage of compressed air therethrough.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a compressed gas assembly that is configured to supply compressed gas to the substantially hollow DAB shaft.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the proximal end of the steering shaft is directly attached to the steering wheel.

Assignees

• Hyundai America Technical Ct Inc
• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Gotwals David
• Shanks Kurt
• Phillips Barry

Classifications

• B62D1/19 Primary

  incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible (shock absorbers using plastic deformation of members in general F16F7/12) · CPC title

• B62D1/20

  Connecting steering column to steering gear · CPC title

• F16H1/08

  the members having helical, herringbone, or like teeth · CPC title

• B60R21/203

  in steering wheels or steering columns · CPC title

• B60R21/268

  using instantaneous release of stored pressurised gas {(B60R21/26005 takes precedence)} · CPC title