| 摘要 |
1,159,058. Collapsible steering columns. GENERAL MOTORS CORP. 7 Dec., 1967 [30 Dec., 1966], No. 55636/67. Heading B7H. [Also in Division F2] An energy absorber comprises a pair of telescopically related members having balls or rollers engaged therebetween such that relative movement of the members causes deformation of both members by rolling of the balls or rollers thereover. Fig. 2 shows a steering column in which the inner section 20 is secured to section 18 by injection-moulded plastics shear pins 22. The outer tube 24 is supported by a bracket 32 having slots 34 to accommodate mounting capsules 36 receiving hanger bolts 40 which depend from the vehicle cowl structure. The capsules 36 are secured to the bracket 32 by plastics shear pins 38 so that the mounting constitutes a one-way shearable bracket. Two rings of balls 48, 50 are located in axial grooves in the inside of member 24 and the outside of member 28, so that in event of accident, the force tending to telescope members 24, 28 is absorbed by the balls 48, 50 extending the grooves in the concentric members. In Fig. 5 (not shown) the balls are arranged to form a helix between members 24 and 28. The balls 48, 50 may be replaced by cylindrical or barrel shaped rollers and should be harder than the cylindrical members 24, 28 which are preferably of seam-welded, mandrel-drawn aluminiumkilled sheet steel. The invention is also applicable to vehicle bumper mounting. |
