Chrysler Corporation

Thomas S Kaliszewski

Rodney L Eaton

William M Snell

David E Thomas

Mirjana Jurik

Thomas Grzybowski

Thomas Dziegielewski

Jeffrey D Ottenhoff

Ronald Klanke

David A White

A steering column in an automotive vehicle is supported by a stationary wall that carries two capsules on either side of the steering column. The steering column has an attachment wall that extends within the capsules. Each capsule has two support walls sandwiched around the attachment wall and a tubular connector joining the support walls together. Severable ribs are integral with the tubular connector and in contact with edge areas of the attachment wall, such that in a crash situation the steering column can collapse forwardly to minimize chest injury to the driver of the vehicle.

Steering column support apparatus with shearable ribs

Apparatus for supporting a steering column of an automotive vehicle and for dampening vibration of the steering column when the vehicle is in motion. Support structure secured to the vehicle frame has a central support body and laterally spaced, first and second support flanges on opposite sides of the support body. A bracket secured to the steering column has a central bracket body and laterally spaced, first and second bracket flanges on opposite sides of the bracket body. The bracket body and its flanges are opposed to the support body and its flanges. Fastener assemblies connect the bracket flanges to the support flanges. An isolator pad is secured to the bracket in the space between the bracket body and the support body. The isolator pad is in sheet form and has portions forwardly and rearwardly of the fastener assemblies to dampen steering column vibration and rocking of the steering column about a transverse axis through the fastener assemblies.

Isolator pad for a steering column

A steering column support having a bracket on the steering column secured to vehicle support structure by fasteners at the rear edge of the bracket. Isolator pads at the front edge of the bracket are clamped under pressure between the bracket and the support structure The isolator pads dampen vibration of the steering column and also prevent undesirable tilting or rocking of the steering column when the vehicle is in motion.

Steering column isolator pads

Apparatus for dampening vibration of a steering column which permits quick release and axial collapse of the steering column in a collision. Mounting brackets on the steering column have slide bars which fit in grooves in support brackets secured to the vehicle frame. Wedges fit in recesses between the slide bars and grooves to dampen vibration. The wedges release instantly when the steering column collapses in a frontal impact, allowing the collapse of the steering column without interference.

Steering column quick-release mounting

A gear shift lever can be moved to several 'Drive' positions and to a 'Park' position. A retainer holds the lever in the 'Park' position. An operator is provided to retract the retainer so that the lever may be shifted out of 'Park'. A lock prevents the retraction of the lever retainer until the brake pedal is depressed. A mechanical connection between the brake pedal and the lock retracts the lock away from its locking position when the brake pedal is depressed.

Releasable lock mechanism for gear shift lever

Apparatus for releasably locking the tilt steering column assembly of an automotive vehicle in adjusted position. A rack on the steering column assembly is engaged by a pawl to lock the steering column assembly in the position selected by the driver. A bracket is provided to hold the pawl engaged with the rack and prevent it from becoming disengaged. The tilt of the steering column can be re-adjusted by moving the bracket so that the pawl can disengage the rack. A latch is provided for latching the bracket in its position holding the pawl engaged with the rack.

Tilt steering column locking mechanism

A column-mounted shift control assembly. The latter includes a rotatably mounted shift lever unit, a shift handle pivotally mounted on the shift lever unit, and resilient device for urging the terminal end of the shift handle toward a planar gate unit having Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, Second and Low detents formed thereon for selective cooperation with the spring-loaded shift handle terminal end to select a desired transmission shift position. A mechanical brake interlock mechanism cooperates with a blocker member pivotally mounted adjacent the terminal end of the shift handle adapted to prevent pivoting of the blocker member away from the terminal end to thus prevent movement of the terminal end of the shift handle out of the Park detent position prior to depression of the commonly used brake pedal.

Mechanical brake interlock mechanism for a column-mounted shift control

A support for the steering column of an automobile has capsules for dampening vibration while the automobile is in motion. A bracket on the steering column has flanges which are clamped between the capsules. The bracket flanges are frictionally held by the capsules but will break free of the frictional hold to permit collapse of the steering column in the event of a collision. The flanges and capsules are tapered so that when the driver is thrown forward against the steering wheel upon vehicle impact, the initial collapse of the steering column reduces the frictional hold to zero, thus eliminating frictional drag during further collapse of the steering column.

Steering column release capsules

A device for locking a tilt steering column in adjusted position has two clamping rings, one of which is rotated by a handle. When the handle is rotated in one direction, the clamping rings interact to lock the steering column in adjusted position. When the handle is rotated in the opposite direction, the clamping rings release the steering column so that its position can be adjusted. A third ring is provided to releasably retain the locking rings in locked position.

Growing community of inventors

Troy, MI, United States of America

Thomas S Kaliszewski