Patent ID: 8590933
Filing Date: 2013-11-26
Classification: B62D,F16F

Abstract:
1. An impact absorbing steering apparatus, comprising: a steering column that comprises: an inner column that is located on the front side in a state in which the forward and backward position is regulated; and an outer column that fits around the rear section of the inner column such that relative displacement is possible in the axial direction, and that has a slit in the axial direction that is provided in the axial direction in a front section that fits with the inner column and enables the diameter of the front section to expand or constrict, a pair of held wall sections that are provided on the top surface or the bottom surface of the front section on both the left and right sides of the axial slit, and a pair of first through holes that are formed in these held wall sections at positions that are aligned with each other; a steering shaft supported on the inner diameter side of the steering column that comprises; an inner shaft; and an outer shaft that fits around the rear section of the inner shaft such that relative displacement in the axial direction is possible, and the rear end section of the outer shaft protruding further toward the rear than an opening on the rear end of the outer column, a steering wheel being supported by and fastened to that rear end section; a support bracket that comprises: a pair of left and right holding plate sections; a pair of second through holes that formed in these holding plate sections in positions that are aligned with at least part of the first through holes; and an installation plate section that is supported by the vehicle body and that together with supporting the holding plate sections, is capable of dropping toward the front due to impact energy that is applied from the steering wheel to the outer column during a secondary collision; a tightening rod inserted through the first through holes and second through holes, the tightening rod comprising a pair of pressure sections on both end sections, the tightening rod displacing in the forward direction together with the outer column during the secondary collision; a fastening unit that increases or decreases the space between the pair of pressure sections, and when that space is decreased, decreases the diameter of the front section of the outer column and creates a friction fit between the inner circumferential surface of the front section of the outer column and the outer circumferential surface of the rear section of the inner column; and and energy absorbing member that is located between a portion that displaces in the forward direction together with the outer column during the secondary collision and a portion that does not displace in the forward direction during the secondary collision, the energy absorbing member being made of a member that plastically deforms as the outer column displaces in the forward direction during the secondary collision, and absorbs part of the impact energy through the relative movement during the plastic deformation; wherein the energy absorbing member comprises: a base plate section; an energy absorbing section that is located in the rear half section of the base plate section, or extends to the rear side from the base plate section, and has a U-shaped bent back section that bends back upward or downward with respect to the base plate section; a rear end installation section that is provided on the tip end section of the bent back section and comprises a pair of protruding sections that are provided on the tip end section of the bent back section, and third through holes that are formed in the protruding section; and a front installation section that is provided in front of the base plate section; the tip end section of the bent back section and the rear end installation section are located in a space between the pair of held wall sections, and fastened to the tightening rod with the tightening rod being inserted through the third through holes; and the front end installation section is fastened to the portion that does not displace in the forward direction during the secondary collision.