Passive impact restraining vehicular steering column assembly

Abstract

A passive impact energy absorbing collapsible steering column assembly including a main support bracket fixed at its base to the steering column body and having side members extending in the direction of the steering column and disposed on opposite sides of the steering column. Each side member including a guide slot bifurcating the side member into separate side rail portions, one of which constitutes a guide rail and the other constituting an impact energy absorbing side rail. A bolt is passed through each guide slot to secure the main support bracket to a support structure and is of a diameter greater than the width of the guide slot thereby offering resistance through bending deformation of the energy absorbing side rail portion to the collapse of the steering column body throughout the period of sustained impact. Each side member including a tapered transition portion immediately adjacent the initial frictional clamping position of bolt which allows immediate release of any frictional clamping resistance upon initial collapse of the steering column body relative to the support structure and main support bracket. The bolt further providing an axis upon which the steering column body may be tilted in the event of sustaining impact load having a vertical force vector exceeding a predetermined magnitude.