Patent ID: 8899622

Claim:
An internally collapsing steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle comprising: a. an inner column tube; b. a steering shaft supported for rotation at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis, c. a top bracket adapted for receiving at least a portion of the steering shaft and for mounting the steering column assembly within the automotive vehicle; d. a telescoping motor subassembly adapted for selectively driving the steering shaft in a fore or aft direction generally along the longitudinal axis; e. a tilt subassembly that is adapted for selectively raising or lowering the steering shaft; f. a column housing that is pivotally coupled with the top bracket and is adapted to permit steering shaft tilt adjustment by way of the tilt subassembly; g. a telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure that is operatively coupled during normal operation to the column housing, the telescoping motor subassembly and the inner column tube, wherein the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure is adapted to detach from the column housing and translate along the column housing in an event of an impact exceeding a predetermined load; and h. a plastically deformable energy absorption device adapted to be carried at least partially by the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure and being fixed in place relative to the column housing during normal operation for maintaining the steering column assembly in an operational position, wherein the energy absorption device absorbs energy by plastic deformation during impact after the telescoping motor subassembly mounting structure starts to translate along the column housing, and wherein during the impact, the column housing remains in a generally fixed position and energy is absorbed through the telescoping motor subassembly; wherein the steering column assembly is an internally collapsing steering column assembly wherein the inner column tube telescopically translates into the column housing during the impact; and wherein the column housing is pivotally coupled with the top bracket at their respective forward ends by a pivotal connection with downward depending arms of the top bracket, and wherein the top bracket includes a collar at a rearward end within which the column housing, the inner column tube or both are positioned.