Steering column
A steering column is part of the steering of motor vehicles . It is usually a rod-shaped or tubular carrier that is connected at the top to the steering wheel and transmits its movements to the steering linkage of the vehicle wheels. The steering column is located in front of the driver's seat in the direction of travel and runs diagonally from the position of the steering wheel down to the steering linkage.
Additional equipment
In order to adapt to different body sizes of the vehicle driver, the steering column can have adjustment devices for the steering wheel in order to adjust it in height, angle and distance to the driver.
A telescopic steering column is a device in which parts of the column support are pushed into one another longitudinally in the manner of optical telescopes . This can be used for length adjustment and / or as passive accident protection.
In the latter case, in the event of a strong frontal collision with a corresponding shortening of the vehicle's length, the safety steering column is pushed into one another so that the shortened length of the front end of the vehicle does not lead to the steering wheel penetrating the passenger compartment. In the past, during such accidents, the driver was trapped between the steering wheel and the seat back as a result of the penetration of the steering wheel and / or the steering wheel could be pushed so far towards the driver that it hit the steering wheel despite the seat belt.
Operating satellites with electrical switches for various operating functions and the ignition lock can be attached to the steering column or its casing .
See also
literature
- Jan Drummans: The car and its technology. 1st edition, Motorbuchverlag, Stuttgart, 1992, ISBN 3-613-01288-X