| 摘要 |
<p>A Vehicle comprising, a vehicle chassis having a dash panel (12) dividing a frontal compartment (16) from an interior passenger compartment (16), and a steering assembly (10) within said passenger compartment, said steering assembly (10) comprising a steering shaft having an upper shaft section (54) and a lower shaft section (32), one said shaft section being telescopically received and axially collapsible within the other for a predetermined total stroke, an upper column body (52), said upper shaft section (54) being rotatably suspended within and extending beyond said upper column body (52) at the lower end thereof, a primary mounting bracket means (70) for supporting said upper column body to said vehicle chassis, coupling means (60) for operatively connecting in torsion the lower end of said lower shaft section (32) to a steering means within said frontal compartment, said coupling means (60) being adapted to uncouple said lower shaft section upon a predetermined rearward movement in the direction of said steering wheel (18), said lower end of said lower shaft section (32) being disposed substantially rearward of the dash panel (12) about midway between the dash panel and said steering wheel (18) whereby a substantial degree of dash panel intrusion can be accommodated during a frontal collision without impacting in any way the steering assembly. <IMAGE></p> |
