The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 13, 1999
Filed:
May. 22, 1996
Larry D Hoagland, Noblesville, IN (US);
William V Hoagland, Greencastle, IN (US);
Other;
Abstract
A collapsible steering column for a motor vehicle has an elongated hollow cylinder slidably mounted on a piston while also fast to the piston for rotary movement. The space between the interior wall of the cylinder and the piston is sealed in a gas-tight fashion. A head is attached to the top of the cylinder. The head has a frangible seal hermetically secured inside it so that the top of the piston, the interior wall of the cylinder and the seal define an air cavity. The cavity is under pressure such that the cylinder is supported by a column of pressurized gas. A coil spring inside the cylinder urges the piston and the bottom of the cylinder apart. The seal has a bore in which resides an explosive compound. Lead lines connect the explosive compound with an electronic collision sensor, which is located in the front of the vehicle. When a collision occurs, the sensor sends an electronic signal which ignites the explosive compound and fractures the seal permitting the gas to escape from the cavity causing collapse of the cylinder. The vehicle's steering wheel is secured to the top of the head, and the piston is connected by way of appropriate linkages to the front wheels of the vehicle so that axial rotation of the cylinder, by way of the steering wheel, causes the front wheels to turn in accordance with normal vehicle operations. An air bag stowed in the steering wheel may be connected to the top of the head to capture the air released from the cavity providing additional protection to the occupant.