CA2022361A1 - Skeleton structure for steering wheels for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Skeleton structure for steering wheels for motor vehicles

Info

Publication number
CA2022361A1
CA2022361A1 CA 2022361 CA2022361A CA2022361A1 CA 2022361 A1 CA2022361 A1 CA 2022361A1 CA 2022361 CA2022361 CA 2022361 CA 2022361 A CA2022361 A CA 2022361A CA 2022361 A1 CA2022361 A1 CA 2022361A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
steering wheel
rim
fluid medium
skeleton structure
steering
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2022361
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Martin Kreuzer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kolbenschmidt AG
Original Assignee
Kolbenschmidt AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kolbenschmidt AG filed Critical Kolbenschmidt AG
Publication of CA2022361A1 publication Critical patent/CA2022361A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62DMOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D1/00Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
    • B62D1/02Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle vehicle-mounted
    • B62D1/04Hand wheels
    • B62D1/06Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62DMOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D1/00Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
    • B62D1/02Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle vehicle-mounted
    • B62D1/04Hand wheels
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62DMOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D7/00Steering linkage; Stub axles or their mountings
    • B62D7/22Arrangements for reducing or eliminating reaction, e.g. vibration, from parts, e.g. wheels, of the steering system
    • B62D7/222Arrangements for reducing or eliminating reaction, e.g. vibration, from parts, e.g. wheels, of the steering system acting on the steering wheel

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Steering Controls (AREA)
  • Steering-Linkage Mechanisms And Four-Wheel Steering (AREA)
  • Tires In General (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT

In order to reduce the mass moment of inertia the tubular rim of a skeleton structure for steering wheels for motor vehicles is partly filled with a fluid medium.

Description

~02~36~

DESCRIPTIO~
~ his invention relates to a skeleton structure for steering wheels for motor vehicles, con-sisting of a steering wheel hub, a tubular steering wheel rim, and steering wheel s~okes, which connect said hub and rim.
Owing to the-relativel~ high active drivi~g safety and the ride comfort of modern motor vehi¢les, they afford 3uch an ov~rall comfort that even very slight disturbances of the vibration level will be regarded as an inconvenien¢e by the driver of the motor vehicle. A significant inconveniencs i8 constituted by the wheelfight, which describes a vibrational state Or the eDtire axle system of the motor vehicle, particularlg of ~the spring suspension of the front axle inclusive of the :
~: steering system. ~hat vibration will be noticed by the driver of the motor vehicle as a rotational vibration ~ ' , ,:
.
, : :: :

2Q22~

(wo~ g) a~d a vertical vibratio~ (shaking, tremDl-i~g) of the steering INheel during a travel at a speed in the ra~ge from about 80 to 130 km/h. A jumping of the wheels resu~ti~lg from static un~alance a.~d the wo~oling motion whic~ is due to dynamic unDalance as well as the rotatio~al vi~ration of the steering ~heel which is caused by fluttering due to a-p~rameter-excited vibr~tion owing to variable spring a~d da~ping characteristics of the tires in the transverse direction may ~e oppo~ed by the use of a steerirlg wheel w~ich has a large moment of inertia or flywheel mass.
The unDalance of the wheels on the rear axle gives rise to a horizontal vibration of the body of the ve~icle and, as a result, to a vertical vi-~ratio~ of the steering wheel. A steering wheel having a small ma~s is desiraole for eliminating the resulting shaki~g of tke steering Nheel.
An overshooting of the steering ~heel will ofte~ occur ~hen a motor vehi~le having a front wheel or all-wheel drive has tqken a corner a~d the steering wheel is then allo~ed to return while the ve-h~icle is accelerated with the largest possiDle driving force. ~he vibration of the vehicle which then occurs around tne roll axis and the vertical axis (roll and yaw) ca~ ~e influenced lrl a sense to stabilize the vehicle by the use o~ a steering wheel having a small , ~..
.

.
2~2~3~

moment of il~ertia, i.e., ~ small fl~heel mass. The parameter in~luences affecting the overshooting of the steering wheel caD be evaluated in depende.ice o~ the frequency a~d the decay rate as a fu~ction of the moment of inertia of the steering wheel. A decre~se of the mome~t of i~ertia of the steering wheel will strong-ly staDilize the vehicle. The requireme~ts whi~h snould ~e met ~y the steering ~heel for an optimum ride com-fort and handling of a motor vehicle ca~ be summarized as callillg for a steering wheel having the followi~g features:
- Light weight, and a concentration of the mass as close as possiDle to the axis of rotation ~shaking, tremblin6);
- A moment of inertia or flywheel mass which co~stitutes a compromise ~etween the req~rements to miuimize the rotational vivration of the steering wheel and to preve~t a~ overshooting, which compromise should specificall~ oe selected for vehi~les of each type.
The calculatio~ of the moment of inertia will lndicate that for a steering wheel having giveu dimensions and ~ given diameter the moment of inertia can be influenced only by a decrease of the mass which can be associated with the radius of the steering wheel.
For instauce, EP-A-0 29Z 0~8 describes for steering wheels of motor vehi~les a skeleton structure i~ which the hu~ a~d spo~es of the steering wheel and the portions 20223~

of the spokes in wni~h the rim of 'he steerlng -~heel is embedded are constituted vy an integral die casting of alumi~lum a~d i~ dependence on the ~esired moment of inertia the rim of the steerlng wheel is solid or tubu-l~r alld is made of steel or aluminum or an alumi~um alloy. DE-A-3 625 372 discloses a steering wheel i~
whi~h the huD and spokes are made of synthetic thermo-plastics a~d said huu and spokes as well ~s the rim of the steering wheel are covered by a layer of a deform-able plastic. In dependence on the desired mass moment of inertia the rim of the steering wheel may be made of steel, light metal or wound endless filaments embedded in plastic. In a steering wheel having given dimensions~
a variation of the moment o~ inertia ln conjunctio~
with a minimum mass of the steering wheel ca~ be selected for vehicles of a given type b~J a selection of the de-sign of the rim of the steering wheel in con~unction with a give~ hub geometry a~d witn a spoke geometry selected for a~ optimum weight.
In a steering wheel having a n ~ predetermined style, e.g., in 3 single-spoke steering whéel or in a steering wheel having two spokes 3rranged , ke an arrowhead in the lower portion of the steering wheel, the above measures will be restricted by the strength limits of the overall s~ste~ because a steering " :
- : - ~ . , ~ , ~

202~3~

wheel must have a~l adequate strength under the action of restraining forces iu the direction of travel of the vehi~le. A force of 380 N acting in the direction of st;raight-ahead travel o~ the larger arc must slot ef-fect a permanent deformatio~ of tne steering wheel oy more than 105 mm.
It is a,. ooject of the i~vention to i~rease in the design of a steering wheel having given dime~lsio~s the limits wnich are imposed by the strength requirements and tG urther reduce the mass mome~t of inertia of such steering wheel whereas the relia~ility and safety of the steering wheel should not adversely be affected.
That object is accomplis~ed in that the tubular rim of the steeri~g wheel is filled iu part by a fluid medium.
The quantity of the fluid medium will vary iu depe~dence ou the de~lsity of the fluid me-dium contained in the rim of the steering wheel a~d pre-feraDlg amou~ts to 0~5 to 2,5 %, particularly 1.0 to 2.0 %, of tne weight of the steering wheel.
Suitable fluid media may particularly consist of oil-water emulsions and glycol-water emulsion~.
The accelerating forces acting on the rim of the steerin~ wheel during a return swing of the steering wheel are directly proportional to the mass of the fluid medium aDd the rim of the steeriug ~heel as well , '''' ' " , " . '' .

.

~ ~ :

- 202~

as the fluid medium will be subjected to the same i!li-tial accelerations. For this reason the product of forces will be a linear function of mass so that the return swing of the steering wheel will be damped and there wil; be no overshooti~g. An additional ~raking action is due to the friction between the fluid medium and the inside surf~ce of the rim of the steering wheel.
The measures described hereinbefore will oppose the overshooting of the steering wheel ~ecause there will always be two opposing components of force and the fluid medium will lag Dehind the motion of the rim of the steering wheel. As a result, t~e mass moment of inertia a~d the flywheel mass mag ~e reduced 3~ more tha~ l~h without a need to change the material or the dimension~ which change would adversely affect the stre~gth which will determine the stiffnes_ of the stee-ring wheel.
The invention will now De descriDed more in detail and by wa~ of example.
Figure l is a top plan view showing a steering wheel 1 comprising a skeleton .~h~h is covered oy a sheath 2 of poIyurethane foam. The skeleton com-prises spokes 5, which are arranged on the smaller arc n a configuration like an arrowhead and are connected to the huv 3 and the rim 4 of the steering wheel and clude a~l acute angle of 30. The steerin~ wheel 1 i9 :
: :, ;~;;; ' ` ~
::
~:

. , : ~

: : .

2~22~

shown in Figure 2 iLI a transverse sectio~al view take..
O~l line I~ igure 1 al~d ~veighs 1970.2 g and is 450 mm i~l diameter. The rim 4 of the steering wheel was ~illed with 27.5 g of a~ glycol-water mixture 6.

.
, ,. . . ~ . .

:.:

: . .

,:: : : : .
..

Claims (8)

1. A skeleton structure for steering wheels for motor vehicles, consisting of a steering wheel hub, a tubular steering wheel rim, and steering wheel spokes, which connect said hub and rim, characterized in that the rim of the steering wheel is filled in part with a fluid medium.
2. A skeleton structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the quantity of the fluid medium amounts to 0.5 to 2.5% of the weight of the steering wheel.
3. A skeleton structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fluid medium consists of a water-oil emulsion or of a glycol-water emulsion.
4. A skeleton structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the quantity of the fluid medium amounts to 1 to 2% of the weight of the steering wheel.
5. A steering wheel for motor vehicles which comprises a skeleton structure consisting of a steering wheel hub, a tubular steering wheel rim, and steering wheel spokes, which connect said hub and rim, the rim of the steering wheel being filled in part with a fluid medium.
6. A steering wheel according to claim 5, characterized in that the quantity of the fluid medium amounts to 0.5 to 2.5% of the weight of the steering wheel.
7. A steering wheel according to claim 5, characterized in that the quantity of the fluid medium amounts to 1 to 2% of the weight of the steering wheel.
8. A steering wheel according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the fluid medium consists of a water-oil emulsion or of a glycol-water emulsion.
CA 2022361 1989-08-19 1990-07-31 Skeleton structure for steering wheels for motor vehicles Abandoned CA2022361A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DEP3927383.0 1989-08-19
DE19893927383 DE3927383A1 (en) 1989-08-19 1989-08-19 SKELETON CONSTRUCTION FOR MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING WHEELS

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2022361A1 true CA2022361A1 (en) 1991-02-20

Family

ID=6387419

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2022361 Abandoned CA2022361A1 (en) 1989-08-19 1990-07-31 Skeleton structure for steering wheels for motor vehicles

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0414300A1 (en)
JP (1) JPH0396475A (en)
CA (1) CA2022361A1 (en)
DE (1) DE3927383A1 (en)
PT (1) PT95022A (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19756482C2 (en) * 1997-12-18 2000-03-16 Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag steering wheel
DE29910991U1 (en) * 1999-06-23 1999-11-04 TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co.KG, 63743 Aschaffenburg Vehicle steering wheel
JP2002053047A (en) * 2000-08-11 2002-02-19 Nippon Plast Co Ltd Steering wheel
DE20120221U1 (en) * 2001-12-13 2002-04-18 TRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH & Co. KG, 63743 Aschaffenburg Steering device for a motor vehicle
US20050155449A1 (en) * 2004-01-21 2005-07-21 Greg Birchmeier Steering wheel damper
JP2008502521A (en) * 2004-06-15 2008-01-31 タカタ・ペトリ アーゲー Vibration-controlled vehicle steering wheel
US20060278034A1 (en) * 2005-06-13 2006-12-14 Mark Daly Fluidic steering wheel
DE102017220275A1 (en) 2017-11-14 2019-05-16 Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft Steering wheel and method of making a steering wheel

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3625372A1 (en) * 1986-07-26 1988-02-04 Kolbenschmidt Ag STEERING WHEEL
DE3717002A1 (en) * 1987-05-21 1988-12-08 Kolbenschmidt Ag SKELETON CONSTRUCTION FOR MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING WHEELS
DE3827794A1 (en) * 1987-08-31 1989-03-16 Toyoda Gosei Kk Steering wheel core

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
PT95022A (en) 1992-04-30
EP0414300A1 (en) 1991-02-27
JPH0396475A (en) 1991-04-22
DE3927383A1 (en) 1991-02-21

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FZDE Dead