FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION (See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Improved steering column support structure
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
Mahendrakumar M S, Anilkumar C and Sarang Kshirsagar
Indian national
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 describes the invention

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Field of invention:
This invention relates steering column support structure for automobiles and more particularly relates to energy absorbing cross car beam and additional bracket connecting cross car beam with firewall.
Background of invention:
In case of a vehicle, steering column support structure provides required rigidity
and support to steering system. Basically steering system support consists of
cross car beam on which steering system is mounted through mounting bracket,
connection between cross car beam and A - pillar is through one or more
bracket/s and connection between cross car beam and firewall is through
connector bracket.
Steering system mainly consists of steering wheel, steering column and steering
mounting bracket.
In the event of crash collision, the driver's head hits the steering wheel & may
lead to serious or fatal injury. Therefore it is necessary to make the steering
system soft enough to promote the absorption of energy contained with the
driver's head.
Conventionally a collapsible steering column is provided to absorb the impact
energy of driver during collision.
Objects of invention
The main object of this invention is to provide improved steering column support structure for automobiles having adequate provision to absorb the energy generated in vehicle during collisions.
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Another object of this invention is to provide improved steering column support structure for automobiles which is simple in construction & cost effective.
Brief description of the invention
Steering column support structure of a vehicle consists of cross car beam running across the width of the vehicle, on which steering system is mounted, said steering system mainly consisting of steering wheel connected to steering column through fastener and steering column mounting bracket. Steering column mounting bracket connects steering column to cross car beam. Cross car beam is connected at ends to A - Pillar through one or more bracket/s. Cross car beam is connected to firewall through connector bracket.
Detail 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
Fig 1 is a prior art showing position of energy absorbing collapsible steering
system before impact (A) and after impact (B).
Fig 2 shows the steering column support in side view in accordance with this
invention.
Fig 3 shows the steering column support top view in accordance with this
invention
Fig 4 shows the steering column support before impact (A) and after impact (B)
in accordance with this invention
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Referring to Fig 2 and Fig 3, steering column support structure (1) of a vehicle consists of cross car beam (2) running across the width of the vehicle, is provided to support the steering system (3) and provide rigidity & strength to the same. Steering system (3), which helps in maneuvering the vehicle and also helps in absorbing the impact energy, mainly consists of steering wheel (4), which is used for maneuvering the vehicle & absorbing part of the impact energy, is connected to steering column (5), which helps in maneuvering the vehicle, through fastener , which provides rigid connection between steering column (5) & steering wheel
(4) and steering column mounting bracket (6) which connects steering column
(5) to cross car beam (1). Cross car beam (1) is connected at ends to A Pillar (7)
through one or more bracket/s (8). Cross car beam (1) is connected to firewall (9)
through connector bracket (10), which transfers the impact load to firewall.
Figure 4 shows the steering column support before and after impact in accordance with this invention. 'A' shows steering system and steering column support before impact and 'B' shows steering system and steering column support after impact.
Steering column support structure in accordance with this invention provides utmost safety to the driver by absorbing the impact energies during collisions.
The advantages associated with invention are -
a) the driver safety is not dependant on the type of steering control fitted
b) Steering column support structure absorbs major component of energy during collisions hence it provides utmost safety to the driver.
c) No requirement of separate collapsible steering column for energy absorption, hence which makes the structure simple.
The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of
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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.
Dated this 30th day of March 2007
FOR TATA MOTORS LIMITED
BY THEIR AGENT & ATTORNEY

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