Ecia

Equipments Et Composants Pour L'industrie Automobile

Ecia - Equipements Et Composants Pour L'industrie

Ghislain Passebecq

Andre Hoblingre

Jean-Pierre Barnabe

Jean-Philippe Salez

Nicolas Lapalu

The assembly comprises a support structure (1) fixed to the rest of the vehicle and on which are fixed ends of a column body (2) in which a shaft (3) is disposed, and means for axially retracting the body and consequently the shaft in the event of impact. The retracting means (8) comprise a force generator actuatable upon impact for displacing the body (2) relative to the support structure. The force generator comprises two parts movable relative to each other, one part (9) being connected to the structure (1) and the other part (10) to the body in the vicinity of an end of the latter. This end of the body is connected to the structure (1) by means which are releasable upon actuation of the generator and comprise guide means adapted to cooperate with complementary means of the structure (1), and the means for fixing the other end of the body to the structure (1) comprise a bearing for guiding the body.

Steering column assembly axially retractable in the event of impact, in

This assembly, including a support structure provided with two flanges, a steering shaft including two portions, one carrying the steering wheel and the other connected to the rest of the steering mechanism and which are mounted telescopically one in the other, this shaft being capable of rotating in a body pivoting between the two flanges and including two portions which can be moved slidingly one in the other, one (7a) of them including a device for rotationally guiding and for axially blocking the shaft portion which carries the steering wheel, and the other being articulated between the flanges, and mechanisms with gear motors for adjusting the angular and axial positions of the steering wheel, which mechanisms are adapted to interact with the support structure and the body portion (7a) associated with the shaft portion which carries the steering wheel, is characterized in that the adjusting mechanisms have a structure (14) for suspending the body portion (7a) which is articulated on the support structure and capable of moving angularly by the corresponding gear motor, this body portion (7a) and this suspension structure (14) being capable of moving angularly and/or in translation, one with respect to the other.

Position adustable steering column assembly for a motor vehicle

This steering-wheel shaft, having a cylindrical tubular body (1) with a circular cross-section, has a profiled part (8) forming a lock element. In this part (8), longitudinal grooves (10), having a width which corresponds to that of a locking catch, have a depth at least equal to the thickness of the wall of the initial tube and are separated by solid ribs (12). On the inner face of the element (8), projections define between them V-shaped grooves whose peaks correspond substantially to the mid part of the ribs. Each rib (12) thus has a sufficient resistance to counteract the torque exerted when a theft is attempted. Each groove can receive the catch in a locking position. The shaft has at least two grooves (10).

Steering-wheel shaft forming an anti-theft lock element

This device for clamping a male element (3) in a fork (4) comprising two lateral walls (6,7) interconnected by an intermediate wall (12) of a female element is of the type comprising a rod (5) extending between the two lateral walls (6,7) and having an end defining a stop surface (8) bearing against one of the lateral walls (6) and an opposite end (9) which is screw threaded and adapted to cooperate by screwing with a clamping nut (10) for urging the lateral walls (6,7) toward each other and clamping the male element in the fork. Safety means are provided for maintaining the male element (3) in position in the fork (4) in the event of breakage of the rod (5). These safety means comprise a maintaining element (11) disposed alongside the rod and having end portions cooperating with the lateral walls (6,7) of the fork (4) for maintaining the male element in position.

Growing community of inventors

Audincourt, France

Ghislain Passebecq