Lemforder Nacam Sa

Frederic Gentet

Benoit Duval

Pascal Millet

In an automobile vehicle steering column including a steering shaft mounted in a tube-body by means of bearings and attached to a reinforcing member of the tube-body which is mounted on a support member fixed to the chassis of the vehicle and an adjustment system with an axle for locking the support member, an active retraction device in the steering column comprises two sloping wedges mounted on and having conjugate inclinations relative to the axle, and at least one fusible pin coupling the sloping wedges. The inside sloping wedge is disposed around the depthwise adjustment slide and the outside sloping wedge is attached to the axle of the adjustment system. In the event of an impact, the fusible pin is sheared by the triggering of an air-bag and allows the sloping wedges to move apart and to release the tension in the adjustment system axle in order to allow the steering shaft to move in a required direction.

Device for active retraction, in the event of impact, of an automobile

A steering column includes a steering shaft freely rotatable in a tube-body disposed in a support member attached to a chassis of the vehicle. The tube-body is locked by a system for adjusting its position. The positioning device comprises an additional guide system for the tube-body in the event of an impact such that the angle of the steering shaft and the steering wheel of the vehicle to the horizontal plane is smaller after retraction of the steering wheel in order to allow correct functioning of the air-bag.

Growing community of inventors

Vendome, France

Frederic Gentet