Impact energy absorbing steering wheel - has upper section of column shaft pivoted by universal joint and deformable part in lower shaft section

摘要

The steering shaft is divided by a universal joint (3) the lower shaft section (4) containing a conventional deformation unit (6) permitting the shaft section (4) to shorten at a predetermined axial load. the two steering shaft vertical axis planes (7, 8) are inclined relative to each other so that the angle is less than 180 deg. The steering wheel side (5) of the steering shaft turns in a steering lock outer column (9). The outer column is pivoted to a part of he vehicle supply structure (10) at two pivot points (13, 14). The pivot points are normally locked by leaf springs which break away at a predetermined load. The steering wheel is then able to pivot into a vertical position (2') away from the driver.