Steering column assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020198685-A1
Application number	US-201916670346-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 31, 2019
Priority date	Dec 21, 2018
Publication date	Jun 25, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A steering column assembly includes a lower jacket. The steering column assembly also includes an upper jacket at least partially received within the lower jacket. The steering column assembly further includes a jacket wall integrally formed with the lower jacket, the jacket wall extending longitudinally form a first end to a second end and having a first side and a second side. The steering column assembly yet further includes an energy absorption strap offset from the first side of the jacket wall to form a recess extending along the jacket wall, the energy absorption strap having a first end and a second end, the energy absorption strap having at least one tear line at an interface with the jacket wall.

First claim

Having thus described the present disclosure, it is claimed:

1 . A steering column assembly comprising:
a lower jacket; an upper jacket at least partially received within the lower jacket; a jacket wall integrally formed with the lower jacket, the jacket wall extending longitudinally form a first end to a second end and having a first side and a second side; and an energy absorption strap offset from the first side of the jacket wall to form a recess extending along the jacket wall, the energy absorption strap having a first end and a second end, the energy absorption strap having at least one tear line at an interface with the jacket wall.

2 . The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the jacket wall is disposed within an opening defined by the upper jacket to operatively connect the lower jacket with the upper jacket.

3 . The steering column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the opening of the upper jacket includes a hook feature which engages with a loop feature of the first end of the energy absorption strap.

4 . The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein a connecting thickness between the energy absorption strap edge and the jacket wall is less than a thickness at the second end of the energy absorption strap.

5 . The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorption strap creates a stress riser in which tearing will initiate along the at least one tear line of the energy absorption strap.

6 . The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorption strap has a thickness that is constant from the first end to the second end of the energy absorption strap.

7 . The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorption strap is integrally formed with the jacket wall.

8 . The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorption strap includes an undulating pattern with either curvilinear or sawtooth edges, the pattern having a minimum width and a maximum width with a constant and repeating pattern, the minimum width being less than the maximum width.

9 . The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorption strap includes a tapered pattern with a maximum width at the first end and a minimum width at the second end.

10 . The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorption strap includes a tapered pattern with a minimum width at the first end and a maximum width at the second end.

11 . The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorption strap includes one of an hourglass pattern with a line segment and a curvilinear segment.

12 . The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the energy absorption strap includes one of a reverse hourglass pattern with a line segment and a curvilinear segment.

13 . A steering column assembly comprising:
a lower jacket assembly; an upper jacket assembly being at least partially received within the lower jacket assembly; a jacket wall integrally formed with the lower jacket, the jacket wall extending from a first end to a second end and having a first side and a second side, the jacket wall including a pair of lateral portions extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end; an energy absorption strap integrally formed with the jacket wall and located between the lateral portions of the jacket wall, an interface of the energy absorption strap and the lateral portions of the jacket wall forming a pair of tear lines, the energy absorption strap having a central axis located at an equal distance from each interface with the jacket wall; and a dart feature forming at least one protrusion of the energy absorption strap.

14 . The steering column assembly of claim 13 , wherein the dart feature is a single elongated protrusion along the central axis of the energy absorption strap.

15 . The steering column assembly of claim 13 , wherein the dart feature includes multiple protrusions, each protrusion being singular along a lateral plane and being located along the central axis of the energy absorption strap.

16 . The steering column assembly of claim 13 , wherein the dart feature includes a plurality of protrusions, at least two of the protrusions being side by side along a lateral plane in parallel with each other and being offset from the central axis in an opposite direction from one another, and at least one of the remaining protrusions being singular along a lateral plane and being located directly on the central axis of the energy absorption strap.

17 . A steering column assembly comprising:
a lower jacket assembly; an upper jacket assembly at least partially received within the lower jacket assembly; a jacket wall integrally formed with the lower jacket, the jacket wall extending form a first end to a second end and having a first side and a second side, the jacket wall including a pair of lateral portions extending longitudinally from the first end to the second end; an energy absorption strap integrally formed with the jacket wall and located between the lateral portions of the jacket wall, an interface of the energy absorption strap and the lateral portions forming a pair of tear lines, the energy absorption strap having a central axis located at an equal distance from each interface with the jacket wall; and a slot feature comprising an opening on the energy absorption strap.

18 . The steering column assembly of claim 17 , wherein the slot feature is a flanged slot.

19 . The steering column assembly of claim 17 , wherein the slot feature is a tapered slot.

20 . The steering column assembly of claim 17 , wherein the slot feature is at least one of an hourglass slot and a reverse hourglass slot.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Anspaugh Michael P
• Bodtker Joen C
• Buzzard Donald A
• Reno Tyler M

Classifications

• B62D1/195 Primary

  Yieldable supports for the steering column · CPC title

• 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

• B62D1/192 Primary

  Yieldable or collapsible columns · CPC title