ENERGY ABSORBING SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION/OPERATION
id061400100700
• The steering gear is joined to the steering shaft through the intermediate shaft.
• In a collision, the intermediate shaft is crushed as the steering gear moves rearward, thereby absorbing the impact.
• If the driver's body hits the steering wheel, the force applied to the steering wheel is transmitted through the inner shaft, outer column, and fixing bracket. As a result, the fixing bracket is disengaged from the dashboard, and the whole steering shaft will move forward.
At this moment, the U-shaped plate, which is fixed to the dashboard at one end and held by the fixing bracket at the other, will deform and absorb the impact.
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1
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Steering wheel
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2
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Steering shaft
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3
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Intermediate shaft
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4
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Steering gear
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5
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Cross-sec. A-A
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6
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Steering gear side
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7
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Steering wheel side
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8
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U-shaped plate
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9
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Inner shaft
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10
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Outer column
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11
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Fixing bracket
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12
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Normal condition
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13
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During collision
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