Thomas Losito invented the collapsible steering column after his friend had died in a car crash.
A collapsible steering column is a mechanism that is used to transfer energy from the steering wheel into the steering gear box, which transfers energy to turn the wheels of a vehicle. Though the designs for steering columns have varied since their inception, a typical collapsible steering column looks like two interlocking shafts that attach directly to the steering wheel and the steering gear box. The steering column is the shaft directly under the steering wheel in which the ignition and automatic shift levers are often located.
A collapsible column is where the steering rack will fold together in the event of a crash. In some modern car they dont have this, this can cause the steering collumn to go straight through the drivers skull. But now more cars are being fitted with collapsible columns to prevent the driver being killed.
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Padded steering wheel. collapsible steering column, more padding on the dash, and seat belt shoulder harness.
The idea is that when your face (or preferably chest) runs into the steering wheel in a crash the steering wheel absorbs the energy instead of crushing you or as in the real old days allow the steering colum to stab straight through you.
Collapsible steering protects you during a a frontal collision and is in combination with what car-maker call "crumple-zones". The steering column, along with the hood and engine (other components included) crumple or easily collapse. This prevents any of these items from causing "cabin intrusion". Cabin intrusion can make deadly, a car accident that could have been walked away from. collapsible steering absorbs the frontal collision enery rather than transfer of it.
The steering column is energy absorbing and is designed to compress in a front-end collision to minimize the possibility of an injury to the driver of the car. Once the steering column is removed from the car, the column is extremely susceptible to damage. Dropping the column on its end could collapse the steering shaft or loosen the plastic injections which maintain column rigidty. Leaning on the column assembly could cause the jacket to bend or deform. Any of the above could impair the column's collapsible design. Use a standard wheel puller and never hammer on the end of the shaft. # Disconnect the battery # Remove pinch bolt at universal coupling of intermediate shaft # Remove lower steering column attaching bolt on the dash & toe panel support # Remove 2 capsule bolts on instrument panel reinforcement assembly # Disconnect all electrical connectors from steering column # Remove steering column assembly
The steering column.The steering column.
The steering wheel is mounted on the steering column.
The steering column is the part the steering wheel sits on.
Not very many.... Seat belts, collapsible steering column, and a padded dashboard. Side marker lamps as well. Most of which became standard in either 1967 or 1968.
LR Johnson