Patent ID: 8382156
Filing Date: 2013-02-26
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. An impact absorbing steering apparatus, comprising: a steering column; a steering shaft that is supported on the inside of the steering column such that it rotates freely, and is capable of supporting and fastening to a steering wheel on the rear end section that protrudes from the opening on the rear end of the steering column; a bracket on the column side that comprises a pair of installation plate sections that protrude toward both the left and right sides of the steering column and that are supported by a portion that is fastened to a vehicle body such that these installation plate sections drop away toward the front due to an impact load in the forward direction, and is supported by the steering column and supported by the vehicle body such that displacement in the axial direction together with the steering column is possible; and an electric power steering apparatus that comprises a housing that is supported by the front end section of the steering column, and an electric motor that protruded to one side from this housing, and that, with this electric motor as a power source, applies an auxiliary torque for the rotation of the steering shaft; wherein the load required for the pair of installation plate sections to drop away toward the front from the portion fastened to the vehicle body is smaller for the installation plate section on the side near the electric motor than for the installation plate section on the side far from the electric motor.