Energy absorption element for a steering column of a motor vehicle and steering column for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10597066-B2
Application number	US-201615764465-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2016
Priority date	Oct 2, 2015
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

An energy absorption element for a steering column of a motor vehicle may comprise a deformation element, a first fastening element, and a second fastening element. The deformation element may be connected to the first fastening element and to the second fastening element and is arranged in a force flux with respect to a force that can be exerted on the first fastening element relative to the second fastening element. To achieve improved security against damage due to unauthorized use or inadvertent damage and, in the process, requiring little outlay on manufacturing and installation, a predetermined breaking element may be connected to the first and second fastening elements parallel to the deformation element in the force flux.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An energy absorption element for a steering column of a motor vehicle, the energy absorption element comprising:
a first fastening element;
a second fastening element;
a deformation element that is connected to the first fastening element and to the second fastening element, wherein the deformation element is disposed in a force flux with respect to a force that is configured to be exerted on the first fastening element relative to the second fastening element; and
a predetermined breaking element connected to the first and second fastening elements parallel to the deformation element in the force flux;
wherein the deformation element comprises at least one of a bending element, a tearing tab, or a bending and tearing tab; and
wherein the deformation element comprises:
a basic body that is attached to the first fastening element; and
a bending strip formed on the basic body, wherein the bending strip is connected to the second fastening element.

2. The energy absorption element of claim 1 wherein the predetermined breaking element comprises a predetermined breaking point with a reduced breaking or tearing resistance relative to a remaining extent between the first and second fastening elements.

3. The energy absorption element of claim 1 wherein the first and second fastening elements are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction, wherein the deformation element and the predetermined breaking element are disposed between the first and second fastening elements with respect to the longitudinal direction.

4. The energy absorption element of claim 1 wherein the deformation element is deformable in a continuously progressing manner over a predetermined deformation distance.

5. The energy absorption element of claim 1 wherein the energy absorption element is configured as a single-piece shaped part.

6. The energy absorption element of claim 1 wherein the energy absorption element is configured as a sheet-metal shaped part.

7. A steering column for a motor vehicle comprising:
a supporting unit that is connectable to a body of the motor vehicle;
a holding unit that supports an adjusting unit with a steering spindle mounted rotatably therein, the holding unit being held by the supporting unit so as to be displaceable in a longitudinal direction;
an energy absorption element that includes a deformation element that is connected to the supporting unit by a first fastening element and to the holding unit by a second fastening element, wherein during a relative displacement of the supporting unit and the holding unit in a crash event the deformation element is deformed and absorbs energy, wherein the energy absorption element comprises a predetermined breaking element that is disposed between the first and second fastening elements,
wherein the predetermined breaking element is connected to the first and second fastening elements parallel to the deformation element in a force flux with respect to a force that is configured to be exerted on the first fastening element relative to the second fastening element.

8. An energy absorption element for a steering column of a motor vehicle, the energy absorption element comprising:
a first fastening element;
a second fastening element;
a deformation element that is connected to the first fastening element and to the second fastening element, wherein the deformation element is disposed in a force flux with respect to a force that is configured to be exerted on the first fastening element relative to the second fastening element;
a predetermined breaking element connected to the first and second fastening elements parallel to the deformation element in the force flux; and
wherein the first and second fastening elements are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction, wherein the deformation element and the predetermined breaking element are disposed between the first and second fastening elements with respect to the longitudinal direction.

Assignees

• Thyssenkrupp Presta Ag
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Kurz Hannes
• Adelmann Werner
• Nicolussi Matthias

Classifications

• F16F7/128

  characterised by the members, e.g. a flat strap, yielding through stretching, pulling apart · CPC title

• B62D1/187

  with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment (B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D1/195 Primary

  Yieldable supports for the steering column · CPC title

• F16F7/123

  Deformation involving a bending action, e.g. strap moving through multiple rollers, folding of members (F16F7/125, F16F7/128 take precedence) · CPC title