Energy absorbing seat recliner assembly

摘要

An energy absorption system for a seat assembly includes a first housing plate and a second housing plate defining coaxial elongate apertures having a first end and a second end. A torsion bar is fixed for movement with the seatback and is slidably received within the elongate apertures and a biasing member is supported by one of the housing plates and imparts a biasing force on the torsion bar to bias the torsion bar toward the first ends of the elongate apertures. When a force is applied to the torsion bar, the torsion bar moves toward the second end of the apertures and against the biasing force to absorb energy associated with the force. When the torsion bar reaches the second end of the apertures, the torsion bar may yield to further absorb energy.