Collapsible steering column and method

摘要

The collapsible vehicle steering column has a jacket slideably supported by a jacket support bracket and by at least one severable steering column support capsule. A steering wheel is journaled in a housing on the upper end of the jacket assembly. A bearing is supported by the jacket support bracket. A collapsible upper shaft is connected to the steering wheel and is slideably supported by the bearing. A collapsible intermediate shaft is connected to the upper shaft by a universal joint. Force on the steering wheel initially severs the support capsule from the jacket assembly, moves the upper steering shaft and the jacket rearward collapsing the intermediate shaft. After a stop surface on the upper shaft contacts the bearing, the upper shaft starts to collapse and the jacket housing envelopes the universal joint.