GB2482161A - Collapsible Steering Link - Google Patents
Collapsible Steering Link Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2482161A GB2482161A GB1012292.7A GB201012292A GB2482161A GB 2482161 A GB2482161 A GB 2482161A GB 201012292 A GB201012292 A GB 201012292A GB 2482161 A GB2482161 A GB 2482161A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- steering link
- steering
- link
- deformable element
- collapsible
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 abstract 1
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 241001247986 Calotropis procera Species 0.000 description 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009420 retrofitting Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D1/00—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
- B62D1/02—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle vehicle-mounted
- B62D1/16—Steering columns
- B62D1/18—Steering columns yieldable or adjustable, e.g. tiltable
- B62D1/19—Steering columns yieldable or adjustable, e.g. tiltable incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible
- B62D1/192—Yieldable or collapsible columns
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Steering Controls (AREA)
Abstract
A collapsible steering link 30, having a deformable element 21 for absorbing energy transmitted by impact to a vehicle. The deformable element 21 comprises at least one flexible joint positioned between the ends of the steering link, the flexible joint allowing a rigid element to bend. Preferably the deformable element 21 is a universal joint. The collapsible steering link operates to use the deformable element to redirect axial force away from the steering column to protect the driver from injury.
Description
Collapsible Steering Link
Field of Invention
This invention relates to a collapsible steering link for a vehicle.
It is a known problem that steering columns can transmit energy of an impact towards the driver. Prior art such as GB2279623 discloses a collapsible steering column, designed to collapse and absorb energy from a collision.
Other such systems use collapsible steering links, for example the Land RoverTM uses a steering link with a fusible link to prevent transmission of impact energy through to the steering column. The fusible link is designed to fracture under significant load, particularly from a front end impact, however fracture may not always occur. Known solutions tend to address front end collisions rather than impacts that are from other directions such as the side or underneath the vehicle. In such an impact the steering column may be forced upwards and severely injure the driver. Furthermore known collapsible steering systems are often complex and costly and modification to vehicles, for example retrofitting also tends to be costly.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention sets out to address the limitations of the prior art.
The present invention provides collapsible steering link including means to absorb energy transmitted by the steering link upon impact, said means comprising a deformable element characterised in that the deformable element comprises at least one flexible joint positioned between the ends of the steering link.
A flexible joint is intended to mean a joint in a rigid element that allows the element to bend preferably in more than one direction, the flexible joint to be used is preferably a universal joint. Because of the ability of the universal joint to bend in at least two different planes, during a vehicle impact to the front, underneath or other direction, the mechanical loading will cause the steering link to buckle and collapse. The subsequent buckling and collapse of the link redirects axial force away from the steering column and prevents the steering column and wheel being forced into the driver. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that other flexible joints such as U joint, Cardan joint, Hardy-Spicer joint, Hooke's joint, Constant Velocity (CV) joints could be used to modify a steering link.
The invention allows the cost of retrofit and modification to be kept to a minimum because standard parts can be used and could be applied to a wide range of vehicles. Furthermore, the invention can be applied to new vehicles being manufactured.
Brief Description of Drawings
Figure 1 shows a perspective and side view of a Land RoverTM steering link.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a Land RoverTM steering link with the invention retro fitted.
Figure 3 shows a side view of a Land RoverTM steering link with the invention retro fitted.
Figure 4 shows a perspective and side view of a new steering link design with the invention fitted during manufacture.
Specific Description
Figure 1 shows a current design of a Land RoverTM steering link 1. The link 1 has a first universal joint 2, where one end is bolted to a steering column (not shown). A second universal joint 3 has one end bolted to a servo motor (not shown), which aids power steering of the wheels. The connection of universal joints 2 & 3 to the steering column and servo motor respectively only provides for limited movement of the steering link 1. A fusible link 4, joins the lower portion 5 and upper portion 6 of the steering link 1, with rubber bushes 7 & 8 to aid vibration absorption. The fusible link 4 is designed to provide an offset from the driver's position to the servo motor but also to fracture upon a vehicle front end impact.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a modified Land RoverTM steering link 20. The deformable element 21 in this embodiment is a universal joint. A 45mm section of the lower portion 5 (shown in figure 1) of the steering link, has been removed to fit the universal joint 21. The universal joint 21 is positioned between a central section 22 and lower section 25 of the steering link. During an impact to the front, underneath or other direction of a vehicle, the energy is transferred from the wheel axle, through the steering link to be absorbed by the universal joint 21, the universal joint 21 providing flexibility to allow the steering link 1 to bend. The full extent of the impact should not be transferred to the driver of the vehicle via the steering link I because the universal joint 21 will buckle, diverting the energy away from the direction of the steering column (not shown).
Figure 3 shows a side view of the modified Land RoverTM steering link 20. The steering link 20 can be easily modified using standard Land RoverTM parts and therefore can be retrofitted.
Figure 4 shows a perspective and side view of a new steering link 30. A lower portion 35 and upper portion 36 of the steering link are connected to the universal joint 21 during manufacture of the steering link 30. A fusible link is not required. The upper portion 36 has an offset provided by two bends 37 & 38 in order to provide the required offset. The universal joint 21 as stated previously will deform during collapse of the steering link 30 under impact to divert energy outwards and away from the driver.
Claims (3)
- Claims 1. A collapsible steering link including means to absorb energy transmitted by the steering link upon impact, said means comprising a deformable element characterised in that the deformable element comprises at least one flexible joint positioned between the ends of the steering link.
- 2. A collapsible steering link according to claim 1 wherein the deformable element is a universal joint.
- 3. A collapsible steering link substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying description and drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1012292.7A GB2482161A (en) | 2010-07-22 | 2010-07-22 | Collapsible Steering Link |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1012292.7A GB2482161A (en) | 2010-07-22 | 2010-07-22 | Collapsible Steering Link |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201012292D0 GB201012292D0 (en) | 2010-09-08 |
| GB2482161A true GB2482161A (en) | 2012-01-25 |
Family
ID=42752617
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1012292.7A Withdrawn GB2482161A (en) | 2010-07-22 | 2010-07-22 | Collapsible Steering Link |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2482161A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE102018208745A1 (en) | 2018-06-04 | 2019-12-05 | Audi Ag | Steering shaft for a steering of a motor vehicle, method for mounting such a steering shaft, steering for a motor vehicle and motor vehicles |
| US11007958B2 (en) | 2019-04-17 | 2021-05-18 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Cross-vehicle pivoting steering assembly |
Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1213246A (en) * | 1968-08-27 | 1970-11-25 | Ford Motor Co | Collapsible steering columns for motor vehicles |
| US5503431A (en) * | 1994-02-25 | 1996-04-02 | Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd. | Adjustable energy absorbing steering column with adjustment disabled during collision |
| EP0878376A2 (en) * | 1997-05-12 | 1998-11-18 | Trw Inc. | Collapsible steering shaft assembly |
| DE19853264A1 (en) * | 1997-12-24 | 1999-07-01 | Nsk Ltd | Twin axle steering column for motor vehicle |
| EP1985521A2 (en) * | 2007-04-27 | 2008-10-29 | Jtekt Corporation | Energy absorbing steering system |
| EP2008910A2 (en) * | 2007-06-29 | 2008-12-31 | JTEKT Corporation | Shock absorbing steering device for vehicle |
| EP2019019A2 (en) * | 2007-07-27 | 2009-01-28 | JTEKT Corporation | Shock absorbing steering apparatus for motor vehicle |
-
2010
- 2010-07-22 GB GB1012292.7A patent/GB2482161A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB1213246A (en) * | 1968-08-27 | 1970-11-25 | Ford Motor Co | Collapsible steering columns for motor vehicles |
| US5503431A (en) * | 1994-02-25 | 1996-04-02 | Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd. | Adjustable energy absorbing steering column with adjustment disabled during collision |
| EP0878376A2 (en) * | 1997-05-12 | 1998-11-18 | Trw Inc. | Collapsible steering shaft assembly |
| DE19853264A1 (en) * | 1997-12-24 | 1999-07-01 | Nsk Ltd | Twin axle steering column for motor vehicle |
| EP1985521A2 (en) * | 2007-04-27 | 2008-10-29 | Jtekt Corporation | Energy absorbing steering system |
| EP2008910A2 (en) * | 2007-06-29 | 2008-12-31 | JTEKT Corporation | Shock absorbing steering device for vehicle |
| EP2019019A2 (en) * | 2007-07-27 | 2009-01-28 | JTEKT Corporation | Shock absorbing steering apparatus for motor vehicle |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE102018208745A1 (en) | 2018-06-04 | 2019-12-05 | Audi Ag | Steering shaft for a steering of a motor vehicle, method for mounting such a steering shaft, steering for a motor vehicle and motor vehicles |
| WO2019233707A1 (en) | 2018-06-04 | 2019-12-12 | Audi Ag | Steering shaft for a steering system of a motor vehicle, method for assembling such a steering shaft, steering system for a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle |
| US11535293B2 (en) | 2018-06-04 | 2022-12-27 | Audi Ag | Steering shaft for a steering system of a motor vehicle, method for assembling such a steering shaft, steering system for a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle |
| US11007958B2 (en) | 2019-04-17 | 2021-05-18 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Cross-vehicle pivoting steering assembly |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201012292D0 (en) | 2010-09-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |