Patent ID: 7422239

Claim:
An energy absorbing steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a support member for supporting a steering column by detachably attaching the steering column to a vehicle body; and an energy absorption apparatus for relatively movably supporting the steering column relative to the vehicle body in a frontward direction of the vehicle body, and for absorbing impact energy applied to the steering column, the energy absorption apparatus comprising: a support pin supported by the steering column; a first absorption plate provided along the support pin and having a connection portion provided at one end of the first absorption plate, and the first absorption plate connected to the vehicle body for applying load to the support pin when the support pin moves relative to the support member; a second absorption plate provided along the support pin to overlap with the first absorption plate in the thickness direction, the second absorption plate having a connection portion provided at one end of the second absorption plate, and the second absorption plate connected to the vehicle body for applying load to the support pin when the support pin moves relative to the support member; a connection member connected to both the connection portion of the first absorption plate and the connection portion of the second absorption plate for connecting both the first absorption plate and the second absorption plate to the vehicle body; and a control apparatus for controlling the connection member to change the number of the absorption plates connected to the vehicle body in response to a drive condition.