Современное автомобилестроение. Сахарова Н.С. - 70 стр.

steering gear is located low and far back in the engine compartment, so that it is well
protected by the engine itself.

             Safety cage

   The body of the Saab 9000 has been created around a cage of rugged steel
members. Its design has then been carefully tested for safety under realistic
conditions in the Saab laboratories. Large crumple zones at the front and rear
smoothly absorb the collision forces and maintain the shape of the interior. Because
of the reinforcing door members and the very strong safety cage, you and your
passengers are exceptionally well protected in a Saab 9000.
   The roof lining of flame-resistant, moulded glass fibre material provides effective
impact absorption.
   The entire body is designed as a large steel safety cage in which the passengers sit
protected from outside forces. The body is built of a network of protective members
and reinforcing plates – entirely covered by soft, energy absorbing padding.
   The collision process is simulated in computers, so that a number of alternatives
can be evaluated before being confirmed through tests on actual cars. The illustrated
sequence shows how the Saab 9000 body crumples when it hits a solid barrier at 30
mph (50 km/h). The first picture corresponds to the instant of collision; the second a
third show the results 20 and 40 milliseconds later.

            Questions
     1)   What is a safety steering column?
     2)   How is the three – section steering column designed?
     3)   What kind is the upper section of?
     4)   Where is the steering gear located?
     5)   How is the safety cage designed?

Exercise 9. Speak on the topic “Safety Steering Column and Safety Cage” using the
following words.

  Three – section steering column, frontal collision, sheet metal bellows, engine
compartment, rugged steel members, crumple zones, collision forces, reinforcing
door members, moulded glass fibre material.




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