Daimler-Benz Ag

Mercedes-Benz Aktiengesellschaft

Juergen Class

Ulrich Asbrand

Aydogan Cakmaz

In a damper valve for use in a steering damper arrangement of a motor vehicle having a hydrostatic displacement motor for operating the vehicle steering mechanism wherein hydraulic fluid lines extending between the hydraulic motor and a servo-valve include the damper valve, the damper valve has a throttling arrangement which permits fluid flow in one direction and limits fluid flow in the opposite direction but permits essentially unlimited fluid flow in both directions as long as the pressure difference across the damper valve is below a predetermined threshold value so as to permit unrestricted normal steering movements of the vehicle steering system, but dampen shock movements thereof.

Damper valve

A safety steering column for a motor vehicle comprising a multi-member steering spindle, of which a portion close to the steering wheel is guided in a steering column tube which is fastened on a cross member largely unaffected in the case of a front collision. A portion of the steering spindle located close to the steering gear is constructed as a deformation member for absorbing an axial displacement of the steering gear. The deformation member is hinged on at one end to the portion of the steering spindle close to the steering wheel and is hinged on the other end to the input shaft of a steering gear. The input shaft of the steering gear has a desired bending point which is designed such that, when the steering gear in the direction of the passenger compartment such as during an accident, first the axial displacement path of the deformation member is largely used up before a buckling deformation starts at the desired bending point. A vehicle-body-fixed supporting element, such as a catch loop, may be provided to support the buckling deformation.

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Illingen, Germany

Juergen Class