| 摘要 |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an impact absorbing steering column device which provides improved safety for a driver when an air bag is expanded. SOLUTION: When a vehicle starts traveling, an ECU 37 calculates a distance L between a steering wheel 11 and the driver 21 repeatedly based on a detected signal of a distance measuring sensor 39. If the distance L is equal to or less than a predetermined value when the driver 21 is, for example, a woman of small stature, the ECU supplies an ignition current to an inflator 59 which in turn generates a large quantity of gaseous nitrogen in an instant and moves a piston 55 within a gas cylinder 53 forward. Thus, a distance bracket 45 coupled to the piston 55 via a rod 57 is also drawn forward, and an outer column 41 moves forward by a predetermined amount, together with the steering wheel 11. Simultaneously, the ECU sets a small amount of impact energy to be absorbed by a variable impact energy absorbing mechanism 49 to allow a steering column 7 to perform smooth collapse operation.
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