Steering posts

A safety steering column for a vehicle comprises a rotatable composite shaft extending between the steering wheel assembly and the steering gear assembly for the vehicle. The composite shaft is divided intermediate its ends into two shaft parts and a relatively torsion-stiff joint couples adjacent ends...     

A steering column for a vehicle comprises two rotatable stub shafts coupled to a steering wheel for the vehicle and a steering gear for the vehicle, respectively. A rotatable steering shaft extends between the two stub shafts and couplings connect opposite ends of the steering shaft to different ones...     

A steering arrangement for motor vehicles, especially for passenger motor vehicles which includes a steering column constituted by an outer column secured within the area of an instrument panel and a steering spindle; the steering column portion or outer column, constructed of relatively short length,...     

A steering wheel supporting assembly including first and second hubs secured on the upper end of a steering shaft and on the central portion of the spokes of the steering wheel, respectively, and a shearable connecting means collapsibly connecting the hub members to each other whereby a forward impact...     

A collapsible steering wheel column of the resettable type for motor vehicles that progressively absorbs the energy of an operator's body which is thrust upon the steering wheel in an accident or crash. The steering column includes two longitudinally extending and telescopically slidable coacting members....     

An energy absorbing steering assembly for a motor vehicle having a steering column supporting assembly for supporting the steering column substantially at a right angle from the instrument panel of the vehicle and a steering wheel supporting assembly being able to forwardly deflect. The steering column...     

A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle having a collision sensor which provides a collision signal in the event of a collision. It comprises a telescopic steering rod having a lower part and an upper part carrying a steering wheel, and means for normally stopping the upper part axial movement...     

The invention relates to a collapsible device for the steering column of motor vehicles, which is adapted to recede in case of sudden and strong impact, comprising a pair of members normally assembled and interlocked through sliding surfaces, each member comprising on parallel sliding surfaces conjugate...     

A safety steering system for motor vehicles with a steering spindle which is concentrically surrounded over a part of its length by a plastically deformable deformation member and which is changeable in its length by an impact of the driver against the steering wheel caused by an accident; the end of...     

A sheet formed with a regular series of angularly oriented panels which deforms uniformly in response to an applied force.

A steering column is split into two column sections, the rear upper section of which is tiltable in a direction away from the head of a vehicle driver during a collision of the vehicle.

A support is constructed and arranged to absorb a tangential force component of an impact force applied to the steering wheel of the steering column.

An impact energy absorbing apparatus having two cylinders coupled for telescopic movement under impact axially applied thereto. In addition to rigid balls press-fitted between the cylinders, the apparatus has idle rigid balls snugly fitted therebetween which are to be conducted for rolling movement along...     

The invention relates to a structural member which is capable of progressive collapse through and to at least party predetermined forms, and which may optionally incorporate function(s) other than structural member/load absorber. In preferred embodiments the alternative functions are related to safety...     

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle made according to the present disclosure includes the steps of making a flexible rim assembly by forming a plurality of annular leaf springs and stacking them together. The rim assembly is secured to the steering wheel spokes by fitting the assembly into channel shape...     

A steering shaft coupling for a motor vehicle steering column constructed to join a steering shaft with a steering gear. The coupling has a pair of coupling parts and interconnecting members assembled to transmit driving torque from the steering shaft to the steering gear during normal operating conditions....     

A shock absorbing type steering device for use in a motor vehicle, comprising a shaft adapted to transmit a torque from a steering wheel to a steering gear, which shaft consists of a first solid shaft portion and a second hollow or cylindrical shaft portion. The second cylindrical shaft portion includes...     

A telescopic drive line includes an inner square drive shaft and an outer drive tube having a square bore at one end. A liner in the bore has a Teflon fabric inner surface providing a low-friction bearing with a low breakaway force. Radial force applied to the liner secures it axially in this bore so...     

An energy absorbing device which includes at least two concentrically arranged tubular elements which may be subjected to telescopic relative motion by the application of force to the opposite ends thereof. An annular space formed between the tubular elements may be provided with an helical coil so arranged...     

There is provided a steering column assembly in which the steering shaft comprises upper and lower sections, one end of the lower shaft section being adapted to be connected to a steering gear box and one end of the upper section being adapted to be connected to a steering wheel. The other ends of the...     

The energy absorbing steering assembly of this invention has a steering shaft collapsible as a vehicle impacts an obstacle, and the steering shaft consists of an upper and lower shafts, and the upper portion of the lower shaft and the lower portion of the upper shaft fit with each other. A spherical...     

A steering column structure permitting steered driving of a vehicle during the assembly thereof. The steering column structure includes a mounting plate which may be temporarily secured to the frame of the vehicle prior to the installation of the cab and final appointments thereof. The steering column...     

A variable length steering column assembly provides a telescoping polygonal tube and shaft. A spring clip is engageable with the tube and the shaft in order to eliminate any torsional lash therebetween and to provide for axial movement between the shaft and tube when the axial forces therebetween exceed...     

A control stick assembly for dual control of aircraft includes a single control stick for longitudinal and lateral orientation of the aircraft. The stick is mounted on the center of the aircraft by a joint permitting lateral and longitudinal movement by a crossbar mounted on the stick. The crossbar is...     

A collapsible steering column system which allows for the forward movement of the steering column upon vehicle impact without movement of the gear box. The system includes a steering shaft housed within a steering column and a collapsible plate means positioned adjacent the steering column, the steering...     

Disclosed is an energy absorption element adapted for connecting a vehicular steering wheel to a steering wheel shaft, comprising a generally tubular body comprised of a plurality of support members extending axially between the steering wheel and the steering wheel shaft, and means incorporated in the...     

A motor vehicle steering shaft assembly having two complementary steering shaft pieces adapted to be connected to the vehicle steering gear and steering wheel, respectively. Each shaft piece has an end portion arranged in adjacent, overlapping relationship with the end portion of the other shaft piece....     

A strap of plastically deformable material is alternately passed over at least two rod members which are fixed to a relatively stationary portion. The stap is subjected to sucessive plastical deformations by pulling the strap from the rod members to damp a large force suddenly applied to the strap member.

A motor vehicle steering shaft assembly having two complementary steering shaft pieces adapted to be connected to the vehicle steering gear and steering wheel, respectively. Each shaft piece has an end portion arranged in adjacent, overlapping relationship with the end portion of the other shaft piece....     

A steering column assembly comprising an elongate upper column member for connection with a steering wheel and an elongate lower column member for connection with a steering box. One member is telescopically received within the other for sliding movement between operative and inoperative positions. The...     

A collapsible shaft assembly forming part of a universal coupling, such as in the steering system of a motor vehicle, has outer and inner sleeves, a co-axial elastomeric sleeve in radial compression there between, a shaft rotatably coupled to and axially slideable within the inner sleeve and a shearable...     

A support member joined to a steering column to hold the column from below has planar opposite side portions formed in their rear ends closer to the steering handle with elongated grooves for passing bolts for anchoring the support member to the vehicle body. A frame-shaped energy absorbing member having...     

This device for absorbing the kinetic energy resulting from the relative motion between two bodies comprises a tubular test-element attached to one body and a pressure member rigid with the other body and contacting a suitable longitudinal profile of the test-tube, so that during the relative movement...     

A collapsible steering unit for a motor car or similar vehicle is disclosed, in which a sheet-metal boxlike bracket is inserted in a bridge-like manner between the steering column sleeve and a point of the car body, said bracket being composed of a comparatively undeformable portion placed away of the...     

A boat steering assembly having a tiller lever for providing a steering input upon being pivoted about a first pivot axis and an actuating lever supported for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis. The ends of the levers are interconnected in order to pivot the tiller lever upon pivoting movement...     

A cantilevered support beam extends laterally from the hinge pillar of the vehicle body to provide stabilized support for energy absorbing steering column remote from forward structure and instrument panel construction to permit highly efficient energy absorbing operation.

A device for absorbing impact energy including a shaft assembly which includes a tubular member and a rod like member coupled to the tubular member such that the shaft assembly can contract, at least one orifice provided in the shaft assembly and connecting the interior of the tubular member with the...     

A steering column assembly having upper and lower telescoping shaft sections, a jacket surrounding the upper shaft section and an extensible deforming member surrounding the jacket and connected at one end thereto. A U-shaped clamp clamps onto the deforming member and is pivotably mounted to a mounting...     

A steering column has an upper column section and a lower column section with an intermediate collapsible tubular member in torque transmitting engagement with the upper and lower column sections. Each column section has an end telescoping into the tubular collapsible member. Each end is square in cross-section...     

In a rack and pinion type steering system with an energy absorbing mechanism, errors in axial dimensions of the steering shaft and column tube often make it difficult to fix the two parts to each other at two predetermined axially spaced positions. Such difficulty is eliminated by providing an elongated...     

A steering column for a steering wheel assembly for a motor vehicle has an outer tube with a shorter inner tube in contact with the inner periphery of the outer tube to provide a steering column having a longitudinal portion thicker than the rest of the steering column. The inner tube is inserted into...     

A power steering device for vehicles including powering means for providing vehicle wheels with power assistance when the vehicle is steered, control means for controlling the powering means based on a steering direction of a steering wheel, and returning means for normally urging the control means to...     

A shock absorber disposed between a steering wheel and a steering post, which comprises upper and lower holding rings to be coupled to hold the steering wheel and the steering post, respectively, and a plurality of supporting elements connected between the upper and lower holding rings. The upper and...     

An assembly for absorbing energy between first and second bodies subject to relative movement comprising a cutting ring on one of the bodies dimensioned to cut into and remove a layer from a cylindrical member on the other body. The ring has an annular cutting edge with an inner diameter smaller than...     

A bidirectional mechanical load limiter for a push-pull control linkage includes a tubular crushable core that crushes in response to a predetermined tensile or compressive load to thereby limit the load in the linkage. The load limiter includes a tubular casing and a piston arranged in a telescoping...     

A steering wheel assembly for vehicles which incorporates an energy absorbing coupling which mounts the steering wheel for tilting movement with respect to a column to an optimum impact position when the wheel receives inertia load and which provides for subsequent energy management by deformation of...     

A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle comprises three shaft parts (1, 7, 8) connected by universal joints (6, 9) and arranged along non-coincident axes. A jacket (13) surrounding the upper shaft part and fixed to the vehicle body includes a collapsable energy-absorbing element (16). The upper...     

In a rack and pinion type steering system with an energy absorbing mechanism, errors in axial dimensions of the steering shaft and column tube often make it difficult to fix the two parts to each other at two predetermined axially spaced positions. Such difficulty is eliminated by providing an elongated...     

The coupling comprises a tubular sleeve (1) having internal splines (3) and a shaft (7) with complementary splines which are fitted in and engaged with the splines (3) so that the shaft and sleeve are relatively axially slidable. In order to reduce angular play between the splines of the sleeve and the...     

A breakaway shaft assembly is disclosed which comprises a segmented tube and shaft member. The tube member and at least one of the shaft member segments are retained together for conjoint movement under axial loading until the shaft segments are interengaged. Additional axial loading and movement severs...     

An automotive steering column cover has upper and lower cover members both made of a plastic material. The cover members define therein downwardly and upwardly directed recesses, respectively, and are adapted to abut each other along the edges of the recesses to form a hollow assembly which surrounds...     

The rotatable shaft assembly includes an elastomeric bushing which is provided in the space between an outer rotatable driven member and an inner rotatable driving member. The bushing transmits the rotation of the driving member to the driven member. Should the elastomeric bushing material fail or be...     

A coupling for inner and outer telescoping shafts comprises a one-piece sheetmetal clip having a sleeve portion slidably received on the outer shaft. A resilient leg portion extends longitudinally from the sleeve portion and is provided at its free end with an inwardly projecting locking hub and an outwardly...     

A support tube, included as a part of a collapsible steering column, makes the steering column much more stable and less prone to vibration without changing or hindering the collapsing characteristics of the steering column.

A low-vibration steering device for use on industrial vehicles comprising a steering shaft rotatably supported at its lower end by a gearbox and connected to a steering wheel at its upper end, a tubular steering column enclosing the steering shaft with an annular spacing left between the inside diameter...     

A bellows-type energy absorbing device comprising at least two elongated bellows sections each having an adjacent tubular support section assembly wherein one bellows and tubular support section is sized to fit within the other. The sections are reversed and arranged so that the bellows and tube sections...     

A steering system is provided for motor vehicles with a multiple-part steering column, in which a rigid steering column part in the vicinity of the steering wheel is guided in an outer tube and in which a plastically deformable second steering column part, for example in the form of a corrugated tube,...     

The sub-assembly includes a telescopically arranged rotatable driving shaft and rotatable driven shaft. Both shafts are substantially triangular in cross-section. A spring provides a pre-determined spring force having a magnitude to permit one shaft to slide within the other shaft. The complementary...     

A system for maneuvering steerable running wheels of a vehicle by means of a steering wheel via gear case equipped with input and output shafts and a gearing mechanism operatively interconnecting these shafts. On the vehicle, the output shaft is disposed outer than the input shaft, and the gearing mechanism...     

A steering wheel of the stationary pad type includes a steering shaft carrying thereon a boss plate, a first sun gear secured to a column and a second sun gear secured to a pad. At least one planetary shaft is rotatably supported on the boss plate, and has one end on which a first planetary gear meshing...     

A steering device is disclosed. It has a steering shaft which is designed to rotate together with the steering wheel. A fixed member fixed to the car body is provided to surround the steering shaft. A stationary member is also provided to surround the steering shaft. A rotary member is rotatably supported...     

A steering wheel includes a steering shaft, column and pad sun gears mounted on the steering shaft for rotation relative thereto, a boss plate mounted on the steering shaft between the sun gears and rotatable in unison with the steering shaft, at least one bearing mounted on the boss plate and movable...     

A crash protection structural component is constructed as a hollow sleeve pe body which is open at its ends. The hollow body is made of at least one strand of fiber compound material formed into a netting. The netting is constructed for an irreversible stepwise take-up of energy in response to a shock...     

A steering wheel for a vehicle has a switch-supporting pad kept stationary at all times regardless of turning movement of the steering wheel. The steering wheel incorporates a cable for electrically connecting vehicle electric accessories such as a radio, turn signal lights, and headlights to switches...     

A steering switch pad apparatus is disclosed. It has a cam plate rotable together with a steering wheel, at least two pins movable in the axial direction according to the rotation of the cam plate, a pin holder having through-holes for guiding the pins, and a base having holes for receiving the pins...     

An apparatus for absorbing energy between movable members. The apparatus includes first and second telescopingly engagable members. The second member is formed to be increasingly and forceably engaged with the first member as an external force is exerted on the second member urging it into the second...     

A coil-shaped body is used to transmit torque between shafts spaced axially apart and with the shaft axes disposed angularly to one another. Such an arrangement is used in a bent steering column for a safety steering mechanism. The coil-shaped body is formed by winding a plastics material impregnated...     

A molded, one-piece adaptor for concentrically connecting a steering wheel and a steering wheel shaft is disclosed. In particular, the adaptor is useful when the steering wheel shaft has a tubular form, but the adaptor may be readily modified in order to connect to a steering wheel shaft having a rod-like...     

A steering wheel comprises a rotatable steering shaft, a boss fixed onto the steering shaft, a pad non-rotatable mechanism mounted on the boss and used to hold pad means stationary, a support member for attaching the column-side non-rotatable member of the pad non-rotatable mechanism to the boss in such...     

A steering wheel apparatus is disclosed. It has a steering shaft and a boss fitted onto the steering shaft. A base is mounted on the rear portion of the boss in such a manner as to be fixed with respect to the axial direction but free with respect to the rotary direction of the steering shaft. A locking...     

An automobile steering column is disclosed herein having a fixed cylindrical housing enclosing a rotatable steering mechanism composed of a pair of telescoping sections joined in a slidable and shock absorbing splined connection. A steering wheel is carried on the end of one column section by a yieldable...     

There is disclosed a mechanism for stationarily supporting an operation panel mounted on a steeering wheel of a movable body. This mechanism includes two external gears between which said steering wheel is interposed, and two satellite gears resiliently urged toward the external gears. One of the external...     

A steering column for a vehicle and a method of making same, wherein the steering column is made from a tube which has a sleeve passed over a length of it in the region where the steering column is to be engaged by a steering lock mechanism, in order for there to be sufficient thickness in that region...     

A steering wheel apparatus is disclosed. It has a steering shaft and a boss fitted onto the steering shaft. A base is mounted on the rear portion of the boss in such a manner as to be fixed with respect to the axial direction but free with respect to the rotary direction of the steering shaft. A locking...     

A filament-reinforced plastic composite tube or tubular component is adapted to be load bearing and to more efficiently absorb energy by stable collapse in the event of axially compressive impact. The tubular component has at least one substantially planar wall comprising coplanar laminations of filament-reinforced...     

The breakaway vehicular steering assembly has a tube and a shaft normally operable as a unit. The tube and the shaft are held together by a shearpin which will shear at the application of a predetermined axial force. A portion of the tube is channelled; the shaft fits within the channel. A ramp extending...     

An automotive steering assembly which has a steering pad maintained stationary independently of the steering wheel operation is disclosed. The assembly employs a sun and planetary gear system in transmission of rotary motion to the steering shaft. The steering wheel is rigidly attached to the steering...     

A steering wheel apparatus is disclosed. It has a steering shaft and a boss fitted onto the steering shaft. A base is mounted on the rear portion of the boss in such a manner as to be fixed with respect to the axial direction but free with respect to the rotary direction of the steering shaft. A locking...     

The steering wheel comprises a column section, a steering shaft passing through the column section, a boss portion secured to the top of the steering shaft, a boss plate secured on the boss portion, a pad section, a plurality of sun gears of the helical gear type, a plurality of planetary shafts, a plurality...     

A cyclic control stick of the type used in helicopters for reducing the safety hazards associated with such a mechanism in the event of a crewman being thrown violently into contact with the cyclic control stick resulting from a crash or the like. The cyclic control stick is configured to break away...     

A resilient boot assembly (10) of the type for containing a steering shaft (22) therein includes a tubular body portion (12) having a passageway (14) extending therethrough and first and second end portions (16,18). One end of the boot is adapted to attach to a steering gear housing (20). The assembly...     

A collapsible, energy absorbing steering column with staged energy absorption. A sleeve around a lower mast jacket of the column has a primary part in the annulus defined by the overlap between the lower mast jacket and an upper mast jacket of the column and a secondary part outside the annulus. A plurality...     

An actively variable protection system for an occupant of a vehicle including a collapsible steering column having an upper mast jacket and a lower mast jacket, an energy absorber between the upper and lower mast jackets having a plurality of roll deformers between the lower mast jacket and split sleeve...     

An articulated steering driveshaft for an automotive vehicle includes first and second shaft segments coupled by a selectively foldable joint with the joint comprising a hinge for joining the shaft segments for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the shafts, and a sleeve slidably mounted...     

Torque transmitting telescopic apparatus comprising a shaft (1) and a sleeve (2) axially displacable relative to each other and interconnected for rotation in common to transmit torque, in which the sleeve has a polygonal bore cross-section and the shaft has a corresponding polygonal cross-section. The...     

A shock absorbing steering apparatus has a steering column having a steering shaft pivotably supported thereon, a distance bracket secured to the column, and a column bracket for fixing the column to a vehicle body through the distance bracket. The steering apparatus further has a curling plate provided...     

In a steering wheel assembly for motor cars having a steering wheel column with two covering segments arranged side by side in an upper region in front of a steering wheel and with a passageway therebetween for the spokes of a steering wheel to pass through between the segments. A locking mechanism is...     

A shaft slides within a tube. A relatively high-rate leaf spring is positioned to exert its force against the outer surface of the shaft. The leaf spring provides optimal sliding force between the shaft and the tube with minimum friction, while also functioning to minimize rotational lash. Indents located...     

A mounting assembly for releasably securing a steering column of a motor vehicle to the chassis of the vehicle includes a bracket attached to the steering column, with the bracket having a plurality of rearwardly opening primary apertures therein, and a plurality of modules molded in place upon the bracket,...     

A steering wheel assembly including a motor/stator mechanism prevented from unwanted relative rotation by a spring clip which is released from the lock relation upon assembly with the hub of the steering wheel.

A shaft coupling for a tubular shaft and a member with a collar is disclosed. The shaft coupling includes a U-shaped spacer which has a length such that the spacer can be properly located in the tubular shaft easily. The spacer also includes flares to keep the spacer in place during assembly and operation.

A steering mechanism of an aquatic vehicle having a hull comprises a stationary housing secured to the hull on a deck side thereof, a movable housing to be engaged with the stationary housing, and a steering pole having a base end secured to the movable housing and a free end to which a handle member...     

An energy absorbing vehicular steering column assembly (10) including telescopically engaged upper and lower column tubes (16,17). The upper column tube (16) being mounted to a steering column support member (12) at its rearward end by a break-away coupling member or bracket (20) affixed to the upper...     

A support (26) for mounting an energy absorbing steering column is disclosed as including a metal strap (30) that extends transversely with respect to the steering axis A and has a central portion (32) that mounts the steering column as well as having opposite ends (38) each of which includes a mounting...     

An elastically coupled joint comprises a shaft for transmitting rotary motion, a housing in which the shaft is concentrically inserted, an elastic member provided between the shaft and the housing, and a stopper for preventing excessive displacement between the shaft and the housing. The housing is provided,...     

An anti-theft steering lock includes a locking sleeve fixed to a steering shaft and having substantially radial teeth. Pivoted levers each having a pointed tip are freely pivoted on axes extending parallel to the steering shaft and fixed to a fixed support in which cradle portions are formed. The levers...     

An energy absorption type steering apparatus, which comprises a steering shaft with a steering wheel mounted on its rear end, a steering column rotatably supporting the steering shaft, a column bracket mounting said steering column for axially forward movement on a vehicle portion, an energy absorption...     

An anti-theft steering shaft lock includes a longitudinally split elastomeric clutch sleeve, a non-cylindrical cam section on the steering shaft, and a transverse lock bolt bodily shiftable between extended and retracted positions. The sleeve has a right cylindrical outside surface and a non-cylindrical...     

A collapsible steering column apparatus comprises a steering shaft in which a steering wheel is fixed to one end and a whole length in the axial direction can be contracted and a steering column in which a whole length in the axial direction can be contracted by inserting the edge portion of an inner...     

An installable component which serves to absorb energy and is intended to be used with steering wheels of motor vehicles having a steering wheel hub which is recessed from the rim of the steering wheel consists of a plurality of deformable metal rods, which have parallel axes and are arranged in a circle...