Nsk Corporation

Nsk-warner K.k.

Minao Umeda

Kiyoshi Sadakata

Osamu Tatewaki

Takahiro Minamigata

Takeshi Fujiwara

Toru Segawa

Nobuyuki Nishimura

Yoshio Kinoshita

Nobuyuki Hagiwara

Yoshitaka Hayashi

Kazuo Chikaraishi

Hiroshi Yabe

Masao Shoji

Hiroshi Fukushima

Tatsuro Miyoshi

Hirofumi Nakagomi

Kaname Yasuda

Tadashi Hibino

Shiro Takeuchi

Shigeharu Nishimura

Nobuhiro Horiuchi

Hiroki Mizuno

Tadashi Watanabe

Masaharu Igarashi

Kazuho Chikaraishi

Masahiro Inoue

Takao Obara

Keeichi Minagi

Provided is construction of a steering apparatus for an automobile that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing forward displacement in the forward direction of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, and preventing damage to the component members of the section that supports a bracketon the column side with respect to the bracketon the vehicle side. In construction where the bracket on the vehicle sideand the bracketon the column side are connected at only one location in the center section in the width direction of the both brackets by a locking capsule, the top edges of a pair of protruding sectionsthat protrude to both the left and right sides of the bracketon the column side closely face the bottom edge of a bent sectionof the bracketon the vehicle side. The bracketon the column side is prevented from inclining excessively even when a large moment is applied to the bracketon the column side when an attempt is made to rotate the steering wheel with a steering lock apparatus in the locked state.

Steering apparatus for an automobile

Structure of a cross universal joint is achieved in which the fact that an excessive torque was applied to a universal joint due to a collision accident or mishandling can be easily determined afterwards. Protrusions, which are straight lines as seen from the outside surface sides of linking arm sectionsof a yoke, are formed on the outside surfaces of the linking arm sections. When an excessive torque acts and the linking arm sectionsare plastically deformed, the protrusionschange from a straight line to a non-straight line. From this change it is possible to easily confirm that an excessive torque has been applied to a cross universal joint that includes this yoke. Moreover, when the space between the inside surfaces of the linking arm sectionsis taken to be D, and the length in the axial direction of the linking arm sectionsis taken to be L, the dimensions of the parts of the yokeare regulated so that the relation 3&#x3c;L/D&#x2266;4 is satisfied.

Cross universal joint and manufacturing method thereof

The present invention provides construction that keeps the load required for a locking capsulethat is supported by the steering column to come out in the forward direction from a locking holethat is formed in a fastening bracketon the vehicle side low. Small through holesare formed in a flange sectionof the locking capsule. Small notch sectionsthat are each open toward the inside of the locking holeare formed in portions of the fastening bracketon the vehicle side around the locking holethat are aligned with each of the small through holes. Injection molding is performed to inject synthetic resinsuch that the synthetic resinspans between these small through holesand small notch sections, and connects the locking capsuleand the fastening bracketon the vehicle side. Moreover, part of the synthetic resinpenetrates into and solidifies in a small spacebetween the inside surfaces of the locking holeand the outside surfaces of the locking capsule

Steering column support apparatus

Provided is a steering column support apparatus that simplifies tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel during a secondary collision, and suppresses the absolute value and variation of the break away load without strong rubbing between the bracketon the vehicle side and the bracketon the column side. By forming an extending sectionon the top plate sectionof the bracketon the column side, and a convex curved surfaceon the top surface of the front end section of that extending section, a rise in contact pressure at the area of contact that occurs when the edge on the front end of the top surface of the top plate sectionis pressed against the bottom surface of the bracketon the vehicle side by a moment that is applied from the steering columnto the bracketon the column side during a secondary collision is suppressed.

An assembly method for a steering column support apparatus is achieved that simplifies tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, eliminates space in the engagement section between a bracketon the vehicle side and a locking capsule, and suppresses rocking displacement of the steering column due to that space. Of a plurality of small through holeson the capsule side and a plurality of small notch sections, part of the small through holesand the small notch sectionsare aligned, and pin shaped membersare formed so as to span these small through holes and small notch sections. After that, the locking capsuleand bracketon the vehicle side are put into the final assembled position, shearing the pin shaped membersin the process. The remaining small though holes, the remaining small notch sectionsand small through holesare aligned, and locking pinsthat shear during a secondary collision are formed so as to span these holes.

Steering column support apparatus and assembly method

A steering column support apparatus that is capable of simplifying tuning for stabilizing forward displacement of a steering wheel during a secondary collision, keeping material costs, processing costs and assembly costs of an energy absorbing member low, and when necessary, preventing the steering wheel from dropping down excessively during a secondary collision. A locking capsulethat is fastened to a bracketon the column side is held inside a locking holeof a bracketon the vehicle side that is fastened to the vehicle body by a plurality of connecting members that shear during a secondary collision. An energy absorbing memberis placed between the locking capsuleand the bracketon the vehicle side. This energy absorbing memberis formed by bending a plastically deformable wire, and allows forward displacement of the locking capsule while absorbing impact energy that is applied to the locking capsule by plastically deforming during a secondary collision.

Provided is construction of a steering column support apparatus that simplifies tuning for stabilizing the forward displacement of the steering wheel during a secondary collision, makes the apparatus more compact and low cost, and lowers and stabilizes the break away load. A bracketon the column and a locking capsulethat are both made of metal plate are connected and fastened together by welding. A pair of left and right eave sectionsare formed on both the left and right end sections of the locking capsuleby way of raised sections. The portion of the metal plate of a bracketon the vehicle side on both sides of a locking holefits between the bottom surfaces of the eave sectionsand the top surface of the bracketon the column side so as to be able to break away during a secondary collision.

A starting clutch includes a planetary mechanism; a first clutch for outputting a torque to an outer diameter portion of the planetary mechanism; a second clutch for outputting the torque to an intermediate portion of the planetary mechanism; and a lock mechanism for locking a reactive force from an inner diameter portion of the planetary mechanism.

Starting clutch and method of controlling the same

Growing community of inventors

Gunma, Japan

Minao Umeda