Abstract:
A tilt adjustable motor vehicle steering column having a mast jacket on a motor vehicle body structure, a tilt housing supported on the mast jacket for pivotal movement about a lateral centerline of the steering column, a steering wheel rotatably supported on the tilt housing, a tilt latch for immobilizing the tilt housing, and an inertia-actuated secondary restraint operative independent of the tilt latch to prevent upward pivotal movement of the tilt housing. The secondary restraint includes a spool rotatably supported on the mast jacket, a tether on the spool having an end attached to the tilt housing, and an inertia-actuated latch operative to block rotation of the spool in response to high negative acceleration of the motor vehicle. The inertia-actuated latch includes a plurality of radial abutments on the spool, a pawl engageable on the radial abutments, and a pendulum operative to pivot the pawl into engagement on the radial abutments.