ENERGY ABSORBING SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION/OPERATION

id061400100700

Construction

• At the moment of a collision, the steering shaft effectively absorbs the impact energy that would be transmitted to the driver, thereby softening the impact for the driver.

Operation

• At the moment of a collision, the rearward collapse of the steering gear (first stage impact) transmits the impact energy from the front, causing the energy absorbing shaft to slide along its internal bearing and compress, thereby absorbing the impact energy.

• Then, as the steering wheel contacts the body of the driver (second stage impact), the column bracket screws come off and the rivet is sheared off, causing the inside (bracket A) of the divided bracket to move as a single unit along part B towards the gear. The drag created as bracket A slides along the portion of part B that grows wider allows the impact energy to be absorbed.