Patent ID: 7740278

Claim:
A steering gearbox mounting structure for mounting, on a subframe of a vehicle, a steering gearbox for steering at least one wheel of the vehicle, the steering gearbox mounting structure comprising: an intermediate bracket for mounting the steering gearbox on the subframe, wherein the intermediate bracket is removably installable on a vehicle frame between the steering gearbox and the subframe, wherein the intermediate bracket comprises: a breakable portion that is structured and configured to break when a force greater than a predetermined force is applied to the breakable portion; and a subframe fixing portion integrally formed on the intermediate bracket, the breakable portion formed at the subframe fixing portion, wherein the subframe fixing portion attaches the intermediate bracket to the subframe; and wherein the subframe fixing portion has a thickness less than a thickness of a bracket body of the intermediate bracket; and is configured to break in the event of a collision of the vehicle; wherein the intermediate bracket further comprises a gearbox fixing portion for fixing the steering gearbox to the intermediate bracket, and the bracket body extending between the gearbox fixing portion and the subframe fixing portion, and wherein the subframe fixing portion comprises a thin portion extending outwardly from the bracket body; and wherein the bracket body is substantially L-shaped.