FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE 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


INVENTOR
Pratap N. Daphal
An 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

5 JUN 2008
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed

FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates steering column support structure for automobiles and more particularly relates to provision of energy absorbing means in a steering column support structure for occupant energy absorption in the event of frontal collisions.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
In the event of crash the occupants interact with the vehicle interiors which results in to bodily injuries. For a vehicle driver, steering system is the most significant cause of such injuries in the event of crash. Therefore the vehicle steering system is provided with means for energy absorption.
Vehicle steering system mainly consists of steering wheel, steering column, steering gear box & steering linkage. Appropriate support structure / mounting brackets are provided to connect these elements to the vehicle structure to provide the necessary rigidity.
Conventional steering column support structure consists of mounting bracket for connecting it to the cross car beam. An additional bracket is provided for connecting the cross car beam to firewall in line with said steering column support bracket. Said cross car beam is connected to A - pillar through one or more bracket/s.
In the event of collision, the driver's upper torso hits the steering wheel which may lead to serious or fatal injury. Therefore it is necessary to make the steering system soft enough to minimize the injury risk & promote the absorption of energy contained with the driver's upper torso.
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Conventionally steering column is provided with collapsible feature to address these requirements
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 possessed by the driver in the event of vehicle collisions.
Another object of this invention is to provide improved steering column support structure with break away connecting means between cross car beam and fire wall for automobiles.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide improved steering column support structure for automobiles which is simple in construction & cost effective.
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
Steering column support structure of a vehicle comprising of cross car beam running across the width of the vehicle, steering column mounting means and cross car beam connecting means, wherein steering column is adapted to be mounted on said cross car beam through energy absorbing mounting means, said cross car beam is connected to the fire wall through one or more break away connecting means and said cross car beam is connected to the A - Pillar through one or more connecting means.
Steering column support structure of a vehicle wherein said break away connecting means comprises of plurality of links and are joined together through flattened surfaces. It is also possible to provide these flattened surfaces with
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predetermines inclination. Further it is also possible to join these links without flattening of the surfaces by using special washers between the fastener & the tubes such that the washer is provided with one concave end to match the outer shape of the said links.
Steering column support structure of a vehicle wherein said plurality of links and are joined together through their inclined flattened surfaces.
Steering column support structure of a vehicle, wherein said links are joined through break away fasteners.
Steering column support structure of a vehicle wherein said cross car beam is connected to the firewall through connecting means which is of telescopic in nature.
Steering column support structure of a vehicle wherein said cross car beam is provided with feature to twist under the influence of impact force on said steering column.
Steering column support structure of a vehicle wherein said cross car beam is connected to A - Pillar through one or more energy absorbing connecting means and /or energy absorbing fasteners.
Steering column support structure of a vehicle wherein said steering column is of collapsible or rigid type.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Steering column support structure of a vehicle in accordance with this invention basically comprises of cross car beam running across the width of the vehicle, steering column mounting means, cross car beam connecting means to firewall and one or more connecting means for cross car beam at its end to A - Pillar. Said Steering column adapted to be mounted on said cross car beam through energy absorbing mounting means.
Said cross car beam is connected to the fire wall through one or more break away connecting means. Said cross car beam can also be connected to the fire wall through connecting means which can be telescopic in nature.
Said cross car beam is connected to A - Pillar through one or more connecting means at its end.
Said energy absorbing mounting means is of reduced strength by appropriate selection of material, thickness, sectional modulus.
Said cross car beam is designed to twist under the influence of impact force on said steering column.
Said steering column support structure connecting means and / or the cross car beam can be provided with crush initiators or predetermined weaknesses to promote & control energy absorption & deformation pattern under the influence of impact force.
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Said cross car beam can be connected to A pillar through energy connecting means like deforming fasteners or plastic shear pins.
Said steering column structure can be adapted for mounting of rigid or collapsible steering column.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig 1 is a prior art showing position of energy absorbing collapsible steering system before impact (A) and after impact (B).
Fig 2 shows side view of the steering column support structure in accordance with this invention.
Fig 3 shows top view of the steering column support structure in accordance with this invention
Fig 4 (a), 4(b), 4(c) & 4(d) shows details of alternate designs of the break away connecting means
Fig 5 shows the steering column support structure before impact (A) and after impact (B) in accordance with this invention.
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.
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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 and is provided to support the steering system (3) and provide rigidity & strength to the same. Steering system (3) mainly consists of steering wheel (4) connected to steering column (5), through fasteners. Steering column mounting means (6) connects said steering column (5) to said cross car beam (2). Said cross car beam (2) is connected at ends to A Pillar (7) through one or more connecting means (8). Said cross car beam (2) is connected to firewall (9) through break away connecting means (10 or 11 or 12 or 13).
Referring to fig 4(a) Said break away connecting means(lO) comprises of plurality of links (10a, 10b, 10c), wherein one end of said links (10a) and (10b) and both the ends of said link(10c) are flattened. Said flattened ends of said links (10a, 10b, 10c) are joined together through fasteners(lOd). Another end of said links (10a, 10b) is connected to said cross car beam(2).Link (10c) is connected to the firewall.
Referring to fig 4(b), it describes an alternate design for the said break away connecting means (11). the design is same as the one described in fig 4 (a) except one end of said links (11a) and (lib) and both the ends of said link(llc) are flattened at a predetermined angle. Said flattened ends of said links (1 la,l lb, lie) are joined together through fasteners(lld). Another end of said links (11a, lib) is connected to said cross car beam(2). Link (1 lc) is connected to the firewall.
Referring to fig 4(c), it describes yet another alternate design for the said break away connecting means (12). The alternate break away connecting means (12) comprises of plurality of links (12a, 12b), wherein intermediate portion of said links (12a) and (12b) are flattened. Said flattened portions of said links (12a, 12b) are joined together through fastener(12d). Said link (12b) is connected to the firewall & said link (12a) is connected to said cross car beam (2).
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Referring to fig 4(d), it describes yet another alternate design for the said break away connecting means (13). the alternate breakaway connecting means (13) comprises of plurality of links (13a, 13b). the said links are joined together through fastener (13c). a special shaped washer (13d) is provided between the said fastener & the said links. The said washer (13d) has concave shape on one side to match with the outer shape of the said links. Its another side is flat to suit the fasteners. Said link (13b) is connected to the firewall & said link (13a) is connected to said cross car beam (2).
Figure 5 shows the steering column support structure 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 by controlled absorption of the impact energy possessed by the driver during collisions.
The advantages associated with invention are
a) The driver safety is not dependant on the type of steering column used i.e. collapsible or rigid.
b) This steering column support structure is simple and cost effective.
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
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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.

CLAIM
1. Steering column support structure of a vehicle comprising of cross car beam running across the width of the vehicle, steering column mounting means and cross car beam connecting means, wherein steering column is adapted to be mounted on said cross car beam through energy absorbing mounting means, said cross car beam is connected to the fire wall through one or more break away connecting means and said cross car beam is connected to the A - Pillar through one or more connecting means.
2. Steering column support structure of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said break away connecting means comprises of plurality of links.
3. Steering column support structure of a vehicle as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein said plurality of links and are joined together through their flattened surfaces.
4. Steering column support structure of a vehicle as claimed in claims 1 to 3 wherein said links are joined through break away fasteners.
5. Steering column support structure of a vehicle as claimed in claims 1 to 4 wherein said fasteners are provided with washer having one of its end in concave shape matching with the outer shape of the said links.
6. Steering column support structure of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 to 5 wherein said cross car beam is provided with feature to twist under the influence of impact force on said steering column.
7. Steering column support structure of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 to 6 wherein said cross car beam is connected to A - Pillar through one or more energy absorbing connecting means and /or energy absorbing fasteners.
8. Steering column support structure of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1 to 7 wherein said steering column is of collapsible or rigid type.
9. Vehicle with steering column support structure as claimed in claims 1 to 8.
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10. Steering column support structure of a vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to accompanying drawing.
Dated this 5th day of June 2008
TATA MOTORS LIMITED By their Agent and Attorney

(KARUNA GOLERIA)
of DePENNING & DePENNING
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