System and method for attaching a steering column to a vehicle structure

摘要

A steering column assembly comprises an upper column for supporting a steering wheel and a position lock bracket disposed about the upper column. The position lock bracket is configured to be fixed to the upper column when the position lock bracket occupies a locked mode. The position lock bracket is further configured to be selectively fixed to a rigid structure of the vehicle when operating in a fixed mode and to be instantaneously released from the vehicle structure when operating in a release mode.

主权项

1. A steering column assembly comprising:
an upper column for supporting a steering wheel; a position lock bracket disposed about the upper column; the position lock bracket being configured to be fixed to the upper column when the position lock bracket occupies a locked mode; the position lock bracket being further configured to be selectively fixed to a rigid structure of a vehicle when operating in a fixed mode and to be instantaneously released from the vehicle structure when operating in a release mode; wherein the position lock bracket comprises a controllable coupler configured to selectively fix the position lock bracket to the rigid structure of the vehicle when operating in the fixed mode and to release the position lock bracket from the vehicle structure when operating in the release mode; wherein the controllable coupler comprises a structural grommet assembly comprising an upper flange coupled to a lower flange by an axial member, the upper flange and the lower flange defining an internal a for placement of a portion of the position lock bracket; and wherein at least one of the upper flange and the lower flange comprises a piezoelectric material.