Device for connecting a steering column to a crossmember

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9598100-B2
Application number	US-201414782056-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2014
Priority date	Jun 19, 2013
Publication date	Mar 21, 2017
Grant date	Mar 21, 2017

Abstract

A device for connecting a steering column to a cross member positioned between two A-pillars. The device comprises a front connecting region, a cross member-accommodating region, and a rear connecting region. The device comprises at least one metal structure, which is designed as a bow or comprises at least one such bow, extending from the front connecting region to the rear connecting region. A base body supports the metal structure. The metal structure is substantially the main load path for introducing force into the cross member. The base body is connected to the metal structure in at least the front connecting region and rear connecting region, in the direction of the main load path.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for connecting a steering column to a cross member positioned between two A-pillars of a vehicle, comprising:
a base body with a front connecting region, a cross member-accommodating region, and a rear connecting region;
at least one metal structure, the at least one metal structure comprising at least one metal bow that extends from the front connecting region to the rear connecting region;
wherein the base body supports the at least one metal structure;
wherein the at least one metal structure is a main load path for introducing a force into the cross member;
wherein the base body is connected to the at least one metal structure in the direction of the main load path at least in the front connecting region and in the rear connecting region; and
wherein the base body is configured to couple to a firewall designed for an engine compartment to form a further load path.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base body is produced of a fiber-reinforced polymeric material.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one metal bow is an at least one first metal bow, the at least one metal structure further comprising at least one second metal bow.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one second metal bow is designed as a closing bow, insertable at least into or through the base body in order to strengthen a supporting function of the base body, and connected to the base body in at least a form-closed or bonded manner in a direction of the main load path.

5. The device of claim 3 , further comprising:
a rear region of the at least one first metal bow that lies against the cross member over a certain extent in a circumferential direction, wherein at least one end is bent in such a way that the at least one end lies against an inside of the at least one second metal bow.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein in the rear connecting region, the ends of the at least one first metal bow are not overmolded by the base body, and are connected to the at least one second metal bow in a bonded manner.

7. The device of claim 3 , wherein:
the at least one second metal bow is two second metal bows that each lie against a contour of the cross member at least partially in a region of an opening of the cross member-accommodating region and are bonded to the cross member;
the two second metal bows are further shaped in such a way that each correspond over a longitudinal course thereof to a corresponding at least one guide groove segment or a corresponding at least one continuous guide groove of the front connecting region and rear connecting region and are arranged therein; and
the two second metal bows each have an end, the ends bent in such a way that the ends can each be inserted at least into or through an accommodating opening of an accommodating pocket and an accommodating opening of the rear connecting region.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the two second metal bows have a width in the region lying against the cross member that is greater than the diameter of the remaining segments of the two second metal bows, and a height that is less than the diameter of the remaining segments of the two second metal bows.

9. The device of claim 7 , wherein a thread for connecting the steering column is formed at each of the ends of the two second metal bows.

10. The device of claim 7 , wherein the two second metal bows have a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the at least one first metal bow.

11. The device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one first metal bow is not covered or coated with a plastic in the cross member-accommodating region, and the at least one first metal bow is connected at least partially in a bonded manner to the cross member.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the front connecting region of the base body is open upward in a shell shape and further comprising:
side walls;
at least one accommodating pocket on each of the side walls having at least one accommodating opening for at least one second metal bow to be inserted at least in or through;
at least one reinforcing structure extending diagonally or in a cross shape formed between the side walls; and
and a connecting device integrally injection-molded on a front end of the front connecting region;

the cross member-accommodating region of the base body is designed to extend around in accordance with a geometric design of the cross member while lying against the cross member, in such a way that the cross member-accommodating region has over its entire transverse extent on its top side an opening for accommodating the cross member, and on its bottom side at least one reinforcing structure in a Y shape, X shape, or I shape; and
the rear connecting region of the base body is open upward in a shell shape, has at least one accommodating opening for the at least one second metal bow, and at least one connecting device integrally injection-molded on a rear end of the rear connecting region.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one accommodating pocket of the front connecting region has at least one guide groove segment or at least one continuous guide groove, which extends in the cross member-accommodating region.

14. The device of claim 12 , wherein an outer wall of the at least one accommodating pocket is part of at least one guide groove segment or at least one continuous guide groove.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base body is composed of polyamide, polypropylene, polyoxymethylene, fiber composite plastics, or glass fiber mat thermoplastics.

16. A device for connecting a steering column to a cross member positioned between two A-pillars of a vehicle, comprising:
a base body with a front connecting region, a cross member-accommodating region, and a rear connecting region;
at least one metal structure, the at least one metal structure comprising at least one metal bow that extends from the front connecting region to the rear connecting region;
wherein the base body is produced of a fiber-reinforced polymeric material and supports the at least one metal structure;
wherein the at least one metal structure is a main load path for introducing a force into the cross member; and
wherein the base body is connected to the at least one metal structure in the direction of the main load path at least in the front connecting region and in the rear connecting region.

17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the base body is configured to couple to a firewall designed for an engine compartment to form a further load path.

18. A device for connecting a steering column to a cross member positioned between two A-pillars of a vehicle, comprising:
a base body with a front connecting region, a cross member-accommodating region, and a rear connecting region;
at least one metal structure comprising at least one first metal bow and at least one second metal bow, the at least one first metal bow extends from the front connecting region to the rear connecting region;
wherein the base body supports the at least one metal structure;
wherein the at least one metal structure is a main load path for introducing a force into the cross member;
wherein the base body is connected to the at least one metal structure in the direction of the main load path at least in the front connecting region and in the rear connecting region; and
wherein the at least one second metal bow is designed as a closing bow, is insertable at least into or through the base body in order to strengthen a supporting function of the base body, and is connected to t

Assignees

• Kirchhoff Automotive D Gmbh

Inventors

• Lenkenhoff Christian
• Schwarzer Rolf
• Rohlfs Frank

Classifications

• B62D1/16 Primary

  Steering columns · CPC title

• B62D29/04

  predominantly of synthetic material (working of plastics or substances in a plastic state B29) · CPC title

• B62D25/145

  having a crossbeam incorporated therein · CPC title