CA2045309C - Multi function steering mechanism - Google Patents

Multi function steering mechanism

Info

Publication number
CA2045309C
CA2045309C CA 2045309 CA2045309A CA2045309C CA 2045309 C CA2045309 C CA 2045309C CA 2045309 CA2045309 CA 2045309 CA 2045309 A CA2045309 A CA 2045309A CA 2045309 C CA2045309 C CA 2045309C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
steering wheel
steering
display panel
support member
steering shaft
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.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA 2045309
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2045309A1 (en
Inventor
T. Jack Oki
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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
Priority claimed from US07/549,640 external-priority patent/US5072628A/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2045309A1 publication Critical patent/CA2045309A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2045309C publication Critical patent/CA2045309C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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  • Steering Controls (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure The invention concerns a multi function steering mechanism having a non-rotatable display panel located within the rim of the steering wheel. Wires of a wiring truss to the display panel are continuous through a hollow non-rotatable support member for the display panel. A rotatable steering link is off set from the support shaft and geared to a cylindrical gear hub of the steering wheel which is rotatably supported on either the support column or onto an outer housing for the mechanism. The support member, steering link and wheel, with or without the actual display panel, may be provided as a replacement unit for a conventionally mounted steering wheel.

Description

2 ~ 3 ~, ~.3 ~ :

This invention relates t:o a multi function steering mechanism for a motor vehicle and conversion kits for providing such multi function mechanism.

For a considerable period it has been the practice to mount control devices for various functions on a conventional steering column. There is, however, a practical limit to the number of manually actuable switches which may be conveniently disposed on the steering column.

Attempts have been made to dispose such switches on the steering wheel itself. The vehicle horn has, for example, been disposed centrally in the steering wheel when it is not disposed on a column projecting there~rom.
When only one such device is used, or even more than one device, conventional slip rings and wiper devices such as that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,157,854 issued June 12, 1979 to Beauch may be used to convey electricity between the non-rotatable support column and the rotatable steering shaft on wheel for each device. When more than a very few switches are to be used, each controlling a different function, the slip ring arrangement becomes impracticable due to the limit on the number of slip rings which may be disposed between the steering wheel and the support column.
Since non-rotatable display panels within the periphery of the steering wheel are very desirable both from a design point of view and for practicality, numerous attempts have been made to solve the problems presented.
The solutions provided have generally been electrically complex and sophisticated.
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For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,616,224 issued October 7th, 1986 to Reighard discloses a transmitter/receiver pair to convey information relative to the operation of devices between the steering wheel and -~`
the support column; U.S. Patent No. 4,456,903 issued June 26th, 1984 to Kishi et al discloses an optical signal transmission system; U.S. is Patent No. 4,438,425 issued March 20th, 1984 to Tsuchida et al and U.S. Patent No.
4,321,474 issued March 23, 1982 to Tanaka et al discloses ;
multiplexing signals from switches on the steering wheel and a light emitting device to generate a signal in response to the multiplexed output siqnal, a decoder unit being provided to decode the output signal of the light ;
emitting device; and U.S. Patent No. 4,635,029 issued January 6th, 1987 to Yamada again utilizes light to ~ `
transmit information between a stationary unit and a -control board mounted on a steering wheel, light emitting and receiving means being provided on each of the ~-statutory unit and the control board. Such electrical 20 systems may be complex, expensive and sophisticated. ~-Willet in U.S. Patent No. 3,548,128 patented December 15, 1970 discloses a steering wheel having a stationary central display which may be wired directly without the need for sophisticated pick ups from the electrical signals. ~illet's arrangement includes a central stationary stub carrying the wiring and an outer coaxial tube carrying the steering wheel and rotatable ;~
around the central stub.
Edmundts et al, in U.S. Patent No. 4,429,588 patented February 7, 1984 also discloses a steering wheel ; having a stationary central display which may be wired directly Edmundts' arrangement necessitates the axis of the steering wheel being offset from the axis of the steering column.
Various mechanical devices may be utilized to maintain a display panel central of the steering wheel .
. ~ .. ..... , .. . . ~ ".. ... . . . . . .
~ j 7 non-rotatable with respect thereto. U.S. Patent No. 4,368,454, for example, discloses one such systern.
An attempt has now been made to devise a simple mechanical system utilizing direct connection of wiring to a non-rotatable display panel within the periphery of the steeriny wheel, with a view to providing an inexpensive robust alternative to the various remotely operated systems referred to, and also with a view to providing improvements over the mechanical devices of Willet and Edmundts et al.
Thus, accordingly, the invention provides, in a motor vehicle, including a display console, comprising: a rotatable steering wheel spaced from and operatively linked to a steering shaft through an offset rotatable link whereby the axis of rotation of the steering wheel is aligned with the steering shaft; a non-rotatable, hollow support member located between the steering wheel and the steering shaft; a display panel non-rotatably connected to the support member having a front display face located within the periphery of the steering wheel; a wiring truss within the support member, individual wires of which wiring truss are directly connected to individual units of the display panel.
The offset link may be rotatahly supported on the support member and the steering wheel may be journalled for rotation on the support member through inner or outer surfaces of a cylindrical hub.
The support member to hold the display panel stationary may comprise a fixed column which may be tubular to house the wiring truss at least over part of its length. The display panel may include a recess to house an air bag in a collapsed state, the air bag being inflatable by activating means to inflate to emerge from the recess. The inflated air bag may act to prevent the driver falling forward in the event of a crash. The :

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rotatable steering wheel member may comprise a cylindrical hub, an inner surface of which is journalled on the column for rotation.
The offset link may comprise a multi function steering mechanism in which the rotatable steering wheel includes a cylindrical hub, an outer surface of which is journalled on the support member for rotation.
The gearing may comprise gear wheels axial with the offset link rod and meshing respectively with gearing on the innex or outer surface of the cylindrical hub and with gearing on the steering shaft.
The invention may provide a simple conversion kit -for use in a motor vehicle originally provided with a ~ ~
conventional steering wheel or a conventional steering ~- `
15 shaft. In this case the steering wheel, support member and ~-~
offset link may be provided as a replacement unit. The conventional steering wheel may be removed and the replacement unit substituted therefor. In this case, it may be advantageous that the linkage between the offset link and the steering shaft be as simple as possible although there is not structural reason why various gearing arrangements should not be interposed between the offset link and the steering shaft. It may, however, be more convenient to provide any step up or step down gearing between the offset link and the steering wheel.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which: ~

Figure l is an lllustration showing the line of ~ ~-sight of a driver both through a car ~
~ ~, windscreen and to a multi function steering mechanism embodying the -invention;

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Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a steering mechanism embodying the invention;
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through similar steering mechanism but having a display screen located on a housing of the steering column;
Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a different steering mechanism embodying the invention; and Figure 5 is a cross-section of another embodiment showing potential as a replacement unit.

~ As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, a staering ;~ 15 wheel lO is rotatably journalled on a support shaft 12.
The support shaft 12 may be fixed at a lower end 13 on any suitable part of the automobile and may carry the steering wheel at an upper end 15. The shaft 12 is hollow to carry ~-a wiring truss 17 to a display panel 14 which is mounted 20 at one end of the support column 12 to lie within the ~-;
periphery of the steering wheel lO. Thus, wires from the display panel 14 lead continuously from the respective switch or display unit on~the display panel to~the respective controllerjcontrolled unit with which they are~3 :~ 25 associated. The display pane} may be of various ~;~ configurations`possibly according to customer choice.
However, whatever its front display coniguration, its rear configuration will be~fixed as a pattern of `~ ~ electrical connectors corresponding to mating connectors ~ ~ 30 on the support member. Ea`ch connector will serve ¦ ~ particular display member irrespective of the configuration of the display member insert.
The steering wheel may be of any convenient -~
; shape, but is conveniently circular and dished through a ~' ~ ' " ~

- `
- 6 - ?J,'~

dish 16 which may be a continuous surface or comprise one or more spokes so that a front face of the display panel 14 is either flush with or slightly recessed from the plane of the steering wheel 10. The steering wheel 10 is provided with a hub 18 journalled onto support column 12 by bearings 20. An outer cylindrical surface of hub 18 is ;~
geared to mesh with corresponding gearing on an end 22 of an elongated offset link 24~ -The end 22 may be enlarged with respect to the shaft to provide for good engayement with the gearing of the outer cylindrical surface of hub 18. The gearing ~-between hub 18 and end 22 of shaft 24 may be of any suitable type, for example, toothed gearing, and will not be described in detail. The gearing may provide any desirable step up or step down between shaft 30 and steering wheel 10.
Link 24 is rotatable about its longitudinal axis in bearings 26, 28 carried by the support column 12 by rotation of the steering wheel 10 and hub 18 such that the ;
20 gearing on the outer surface of the hub 18 meshes with the ~-gearing on the end 22 of the link 24 to turn it. The bearings 26, 28 are conveniently carried on support column ~`
12. The lower end 27 of steering shaft 24 may be similarly geared to a head 29 of a main steering shaft 30 `
coaxial with the support column 12 and hence with steering wheel 10. Again step up or step down gears may be used.
By this means, an angle of turn of steering wheel 10 may ~-~
provide a similar degree of turn in main steering shaft 30. ~;
; Steering mechanism according to the invention may be fitted, as a replacement unit, into an automobile which has been designed for coaxial operation of steering wheel ~; and steering shaft. However, in mechanical principle, it is not of importance whether the lower end 27 of link 24 is geared to the head 29 of drive shaft 30, or whether drive link 24 itself constitutes the steering shaft. In ' ~ "' ~'`i~, ~'''"
., ~. ,.

-practice, however, it is of appreciable importance that the centre of the steering wheel be aligned with its intending axis of rotation.
Since the support column 12 is stationary, the wiring truss 17 or parts of it may be led out of it at any convenient point. For example, as shown, the wiring truss may be led out of the support column 12 via port 32 forward of a dividing wall 34 between the driving compartment 35 and the engine compartment 36. Once in the engine compartment or other location such as that shielded from the drivin~ compartment by the dashboard.
The wiring truss 17 may be divided into smaller trusses or individual wires which may then be led in different directions to their destinations.
At least within the driving compartment 35, it may be convenient to enclose the support column 12 and the drive shaft 12 within a housing 3&. When the steering wheel 10 is journalled for rotation on support column 12, as shown in Figure 2, there is no reason why housing 38 must be of circular cross-section. Indeed, it may be be as shown in Figure 1 of aImost pear-shaped cross-section I with the link 24 located in the small end of the pear. At the lower end, the housing 38 may be connected with the dividing wall 34 between the driver compartment and the engine compartment. Alternatively, it may pass through the wall 34 and terminate at any convenient point. At its upper end, the housing 38 must terminate without fouling ratation of steering wheel 10. Figures 2, 3 and 4 show the upper end of housing 38 terminating abruptly just short of spokes 16 of wheel lO. However, any arrangement that does not foul the rotation of wheel lO may be envisaged.
In particular~ as shown in Figure 4, an embodiment in which the rotation of wheel 10 i5 journalled on the housing instead of on the support column 12, and in this case, bearings 26, 28 may be carried on the housing - 8 ~ J~3 38. It is therefore possible to make support column 12 less robust since its only function is to house wiring truss 17 and to carry display panel 14. However, in this case, the housing 38 must be of circular cross-section, at least internally, for rotation of the hub 18.
Figure 5 shows a modified embodiment of the invention especially adapted for use as a replacement unit for conventionally fitted steering wheels. Where possible, the reference numerals used are the same as those used in connection with corresponding parts in the description relating to the other figures.
Figure 5 shows a steering shaft 30 which extends well into the motor vehicle. Such a shaft 30 may originally have been fitted with a conventional steering wheel. As shown, however, any such wheel has been replaced by a replacement unit comprising a steering wheel 10, a support member 112 and an off set link 24. `
The support member 112 may be narrow in the axial ~ -~
direction of steering shaft 30, being only sufficiently ~-~
wide as to contain, on the one hand, bearings 20 for cylindrical steering wheel hub 18 which extends thereinto, and, on the other hand bearings 21 for steering shaft 30 which also extends thereinto. Wiring truss 17 passes ~ through support member 112 exiting at port 32. Support `~ 25 member 112 for rotation of offset link 24.
As previously described offset link 24 has gearing at each end 22, 27 for meshing with gearing on the cylindrical hub 18 and steering shaft 30 respectively the manner of operation is gsnerally similar to that already described. It is, howeverj to be noted that when the arrangement of Figure 5 represents a replacement unit it may be convenient that any step up or step down gearing be ;`
between the cylindrical hub 18 and the link 24. ~--The display panel 14 may have a circular periphery and may take up effectively all the space within the periphery of steering wheel 10. However, it may be _ 9 _ ~ 7 preferred that a portion of the space within the steering wheel lO be left unobstructed for the location of a recessed screen 40, within the periphery of the steering wheel and set back from it to be free of glare. Such screen is shown diagrammatically in Figure 1 in line of sight with the driver's eye 41. In Figure 1 and Figures 2 and 4, the screen is set in a top recess of display panel 14 towards the deepest part of dish of steering wheel lO.
The forwardly projecting part of the dish which in this case is preferably a continuous surface, acts as the light shielding hood 42, so that light does not interfere badly with any display on the screen.
It may be provided with hood 42 to shield the screen from glare. Since not all drivers are of the same ;~ 15 height, it will be necessary to provide adjustment means for screen 40 so that it is comfortably viewable for all drivers. Such as by providing means for tilting the steering wheel, adjustment means may be conventional, and do not themselves form part of the invention and will not be discussed in detail. It is appropriate to comment here that tilting of the steering wheel lO for the embodiment of Figure 2 may easily be accomplished by provision of coordinating tilt joints in both the support column 12 and the link 24.
It may be convenient that the hood 42 and screen 40 be carried by the steering column housing 38 by, for example, as shown in Figure 3. Adjustment of the screen may be by adjustment means (not shown) between housing 38 and hood 42. In this case, the dish 16 of wheel lO may preferably be a single spoke, located at the bottom of the wheel lO in the straight steering position. Such a spoke is less likely to obscure the view of display screen 14 or turning the wheel lO. The screen 40 may be used for the display of information such as maps, directions and the like, the actual display being provided from a video tape or other display means.

The display panel 14 shown in Figure 1 may convenientl~ have control switches 44 around its periphery so that they are within easy reach of the driver's fingers. Mor over, a car telephone may have a telephone instrument 54 hingedly mounted on the display panel as a speaker phone by hinges 55. In a "hung-up" position 55 for non-use, the instrument lies flat against the display panel 14. When it is desired for use, it may be hinged downwardly into position 59 shown in ghost lines in Figure l to take it off the hook and be available to receive and transmit. A dialling pad 52 may be provided adjacent.
Behind display panel 14 an air bag 39 may be tightly packed between the panel 14 and dish 16. A recess at the bottom of the display panel allows the inflating bag to flow into the driving compartment to act as a safety cushion in the event of a crash or sudden stop. Actuation of inflation or flow into the driver compartment may be either automatically activated by sudden deceleration or by manual actuation. However, it is to be understood that the illustration is in no way intended to limit the form of the display panel which may be designed in various forms depending on the information which is to be -displayed and the control switches which are to be carried ; thereon.

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Claims

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED, ARE AS FOLLOWS: -
1. A multi function steering mechanism for a motor vehicle, including a display console, comprising:
a non-rotatable, hollow support member carrying a rotatable steering wheel at one end and disengagably attachable with a steering shaft of the motor vehicle at the other end;
the steering wheel being engagable with the steering shaft via an elongate link journalled in the hollow support member end located to be offset from the steering shaft when it is attached to the steering shaft, the link being operatively connected at one end to the steering wheel and being operatively engagable at another end to the steering shaft whereby the axis of rotation of the steering wheel is aligned with the steering shaft and rotation of the steering wheel acts to rotate the link and, hence, when connected, the steering shaft;
a display panel non-rotatably connected to the support member having a front display face located within the periphery of the steering wheel;
a wiring truss within the support member, individual wires of which wiring truss are directly connected to individual units of the display panel.
CA 2045309 1990-07-06 1991-06-24 Multi function steering mechanism Expired - Fee Related CA2045309C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US07/549,640 US5072628A (en) 1989-09-19 1990-07-06 Multi function steering mechanism for a motor vehicle
US07/549,640 1990-07-06

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2045309A1 CA2045309A1 (en) 1992-01-07
CA2045309C true CA2045309C (en) 1994-07-12

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2045309 Expired - Fee Related CA2045309C (en) 1990-07-06 1991-06-24 Multi function steering mechanism

Country Status (2)

Country Link
JP (1) JPH0489472U (en)
CA (1) CA2045309C (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
KR100471290B1 (en) * 2002-12-06 2005-03-09 현대자동차주식회사 Electro mechanical steering system for air bag vehicles
US10370021B2 (en) * 2014-03-11 2019-08-06 Guangdong Hua'chan Research Institute Of Intelligent Transportation System Co., Ltd Steering wheel

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5716665A (en) * 1980-07-01 1982-01-28 Taki Asai Sealed cooking of rice

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2045309A1 (en) 1992-01-07
JPH0489472U (en) 1992-08-05

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