Steering column for automotive vehicle

Abstract

A steering column for an automotive vehicle, provided with an energy absorbing structure. The steering column comprises a jacket tube. A steering shaft is rotatably disposed through bearings inside the jacket tube. The steering shaft includes lower and upper shafts which are connected with each other through a connection using a resin, the resin being able to be sheared by an axial load over a predetermined level so as to allow an axial relative movement between the lower and upper shafts. An upper bracket is securely supported to a vehicle body of the automotive vehicle. The upper bracket includes generally parallel first and second support sections which are movable upon receiving an energy in an axial direction of the steering shaft so as to absorb the energy. The first and second support sections have respectively first and second openings. A distance bracket includes generally parallel first and second side wall sections between which a part of the jacket tube is securely supported. The first and second side wall sections are located between the first and second support sections of the upper bracket, the first and second wall sections having respectively first and second elongate holes. Each elongate hole has a predetermined length and has an axis which inclines relative to an axis of the steering shaft. Each elongate hole has a first end and a second end which is positioned rearward relative to the first end with respect to the vehicle body. The first end is positioned closer to the axis of the steering shaft than the second end. A bolt passes through the first and second openings of the upper bracket and the first and second elongate holes of the distance bracket so as to fix the distance bracket to the upper bracket. The bolt is normally located closer to the first end than to the second end of each elongate hole.