FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION A Steering Column Support Structure for Vehicle
APPLICANTS
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
INVENTORS
Vivek Dwivedi and Mahendra A Petale both Indian nationals
of TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in
which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to vehicle steering column support structures and more particularly to a new concept for taking support from cabin firewall, integrated pedal unit and also from tie bar for adjustable steering column assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various bracket constructions have been employed to support the steering column of the vehicle at a predetermined position within the vehicle body to permit the operator to conveniently steer the vehicle. Generally, these brackets are secured to the support structure forward of the vehicle body such as the instrument panel or fire wall. These connections are bulky and complicated especially in packaging space constraints due to instrument cluster, dashboard and desired location of mounting points of steering column.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
Object of the invention is to provide a rigid support to steering column which is connected to the firewall, tie bar and pedal unit of the vehicle with optimized weight. Another object of the invention is to provide a rigid support to the steering column which improves crash worthiness and survival space during front impact.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
According to present invention a steering column support structure for a vehicle comprising, a support bracket having two ends, a first and a second end, a base plate having a upper and lower portion, said upper portion of the base plate connected to said second end of the support bracket, said first end of the support bracket connected


to a fire wall of said vehicle, said second end of the support bracket with base plate connected to tie member of said vehicle, and said lower portion of the base plate connected to a pedal unit of said vehicle.
In accordance with this invention steering column support is taken with Aluminum cast bracket of a goose neck shape and bell shaped cross section. This peculiar shape of bracket solves packaging problems inside the cabin space available. Cross section of bracket minimizes weight and removal of core is easy during casting process. Base plate is provided which takes support from Pedal unit and attaches with steering column for better rigidity of mounting. A holding member is provided at top of base plate to ease assembly as steering column can be held on the bracket during tightening the bolts. Steering column bracket is attached with Tie bar with the help of two bolts which acts as hinge during front impact crashworthiness thereby improving survival space for driver. Rubber packing provided between tie bar and steering column bracket which isolates vibration from tie bar and instrument cluster assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows the exploded view of the steering column assembly
Figure 2 shows the isometric view and side view of the steering column support
structure
Figure 3 shows the cross sectional view of the steering column support structure
Figure 4 shows the cross sectional view at different sections as shown in figure 3
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same.


Referring to the figures, the steering column support structure comprises of a steering column support bracket (1) and a base plate (2). The support bracket (1) having two mounting faces (1', 1"), the first face (1') is mounted on the fire wall (3) of the vehicle and second face connects to the base plate (2) which in turn connects to a tie member (4) using a rubber plate. The angled extension (2') of the base plate is connected to the pedal unit (5) by bolts. The steering wheel is attached to the steering column and said steering column having a tiltable arrangement (6) which connects to the base plate (2). The support bracket (1) is having of goose neck shape with the first mounting face (1') having larger cross section compared to the second mounting face (1"). The first face (1') is provided with flanges (7) to connect to the support bracket (1) to the firewall (3) of the vehicle. Referring to figure 4, the cross section at the first mounting face (1') of the support bracket (1) is a bell shaped with decreasing in cross sectional area as it reaches the second face (1"). The second face portion of the support bracket is a solid body with flat face at the end. Said first and second faces having flanges (7,8) with mounting holes to connect it to the firewall (3) and base plate (2) respectively. The base plate (2) is an angled plate element with mounting holes for connecting to steering column (6) and pedal unit (5). The top portion of the base plate (2") is attached to the steering column which in turn connects the support bracket to the tie member. The base plate further having a holding element (9) to hold the base plate with steering column on support bracket (1) during assembly. The base plate is then attached to the second mounting face of the support bracket (1") and bolted to the tie member using a rubber plate. The angled portion of the base plate (2') is then connected to the pedal unit (5).
The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all


such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.


WE CLAIM
1. A steering column support structure for vehicle comprising, a support bracket having a first and second end, the first end of said support bracket connected to fire wall of said vehicle, a base plate having an upper and lower portions, the upper portion of said base plate connected to the second end of said support bracket, the second end of said support bracket with base plate connected to tie member of said vehicle, and the lower portion of said base plate connected to pedal unit of said vehicle.
2. A steering column support structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein a steering column connected to said base plate.
3. A steering column support structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said base plate having a holding element to hold the base plate with steering column on the support bracket during assembly.
4. A steering column support structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second end of the support bracket having flanges with mounting holes to connect it to the fire wall and base plate respectively.
5. A steering column support structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said support bracket is having a goose shape with said first end having a higher cross sectional area compared to the second end.
6. A steering column support structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second end of support bracket with base plate connected to the tie member using a rubber plate.


7. A steering column support structure as claimed in claim 1 said base plate is angled to form two portions, an upper and a lower portion.
8. A steering column support structure substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying drawings.





ABSTRACT
A Steering Column Support Structure for Vehicle
A steering column mounting structure extended from cabin firewall and supported by pedal unit and tie member of the vehicle to provide stabilized support to adjustable steering column remote from instrument cluster and vehicle dashboard to permit highly efficient steering operation