DE962673C - Safety steering wheel with springy spokes for motor vehicles - Google Patents

Description

ISSUED APEEL 25, 1957

Sch ip22p II / 63 c

Leopold Schmid, Stuttgart

has been named as the inventor

Leopold Schmid, Stuttgart

The invention is concerned with the special implementation of a safety steering wheel with resilient Spokes for automobiles. It is intended to ensure that one after an accident The driver who hits the front is injured as little as possible.

A known measure for protecting the driver consists in a hydraulically damped steering column that is flexible under high pressure. ίο is also known already the construction of an elastically yielding steering column, the stronger during a collision against further stepwise yielding, ^first Opposes resistance.

By systematically examining the injuries suffered by people in accidents, and the deformation on the motor vehicles was found to be a driver bouncing forward can exert a pressure of 500 kg on the steering wheel. According to the invention there is therefore a steering wheel suggested that the driver even if he was thrown forward with such a force can protect against depression of the chest. The steering wheel is designed that it absorbs the shock in the best possible way according to the equation force = measure © X deceleration.

The steering wheel according to the invention with resilient spokes is primarily characterized in that that these receive a progressively increasing spring force by using special means. By · An appropriate interpretation of progressivity can reduce the delay in one for the upper body

of the driver bouncing forward in a bearable manner can be controlled so that injuries can be reduced to the lowest possible extent. Steering wheels "according to the invention have compared to the known flexible steering column a Number of advantages. For example, they absorb the impact immediately and their dampening effect cannot be affected by the deformation of the steering column, which occurs very often in accidents will. The means expended to achieve the progressive increase in spring force are very simple, their function is easy to understand and can even be used when they are poor Car care never fail. Finally, the subsequent installation of the steering wheel according to the invention can be done easily and quickly in existing motor vehicles.

The drawing shows four of many possible embodiments of the Lenkao according to the invention rades shown.

Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 show a steering wheel at which the aforementioned means by which the three resilient spokes are progressively increasing Get spring force, are designed in the form of cantilevers with a curved surface, which are below the spokes are arranged and firmly connected to the hub.

Fig. Ι shows the steering wheel in the normal position, while Fig. 2 the steering wheel under the influence of a shows the wreath pressing load of 500 kg.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the steering wheel and FIG. 4 shows a view of the steering wheel from below. Tm each is 1 the steering wheel rim, 2 the steel core of the rim, 3 the steering wheel hub, 4 one of the three cantilevers with a curved surface, 5 one of the three springy spokes, which consist of two leaves, 6 the horn button, which forms the highest point of the hub. By a corresponding design of the curved 40th surface of the cantilever 4 becomes a progressively increasing one The spring force of the spokes 5 is reached.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 show another embodiment. Here is below the springy spokes a, bracket arranged, which is firmly connected to the hub of the steering wheel. To this bracket the spokes settle after a certain spring deflection, so that with further depression, a progressive one increasing spring force arises. Specifically, 7 is the steering wheel rim, 8 is the steel core of the rim, 9 the hub of the steering wheel, 10 one of the three brackets, 11 one of the three resilient ones Spokes formed from two round bars, 12 the horn button, which is the tallest Point of the hub forms.

Fig. 5 shows the steering wheel in the normal position, while in

Fig. 6 shows the steering wheel under the influence of a load of 500 kg pressing on the rim is;

Fig. 7 shows a plan view of this steering wheel.

8 and 9 show an embodiment

the one .Additional spring below, the resilient one Spokes · is arranged. This additional spring, which is firmly connected to the hub, only becomes effective after a certain amount of time The spokes' travel is effective and causes a progressive increase in the spring force. Fig. 8 shows the steering wheel in the normal position, while in.

Fig. 9 shows the steering wheel under the influence of a load of ςοο kg pressing on the rim is.

Specifically, 13 is the steering wheel rim, 14 the steel core of the rim, 15 the hub of the Steering wheel, 16 one of the additional springs arranged under the spokes, here as a two-leaf spring is formed, 17 one of the resilient spokes, 18 the horn button, which is the highest point of the Hub forms.

10 and 11 show an embodiment in which the resilient spokes below with the hub of the steering wheel firmly connected boom is arranged, the one on its top resilient buffer carries. The press against this buffer, which can be made of rubber, for example Spokes after a certain travel, so that their spring force increases progressively.

Fig. 10 shows the steering wheel in the normal position, while in

11 shows the steering wheel under the influence of a load of 500 kg pressing on the rim is.

In particular, 19 is the rim of the steering wheel, 20 the steel core of the rim, 21 the hub of the steering wheel, 22 one of the underneath the spokes arranged boom, 23 one of the buffers made of flexible material, 24 one of the resilient ones Spokes, 25 the horn button, which forms the highest point of the hub.

Fig. 12 shows a diagram in which the progressive curve C shows the behavior of the steering wheel according to the invention below the action of a. Wreath pressing load is compared to the behavior of two other steering wheels. The forces that press the rim of the steering wheel downwards are plotted on the ordinate axis of the diagram, and the path that the rim of the steering wheel travels downwards under the influence of these forces is plotted on the abscissa axis. The curve represents the measurement result of a load test that was made with a conventional springy three-spoke steering wheel. The course of this curve is approximately linear and is characteristic of the steering wheels with resilient spokes that have become known up to now. Curve B represents the measurement result of a load test which was made with a non-resilient two-spoke steering wheel. This steering wheel is currently being installed in series in all vehicles of a large German automobile factory. The wreath and the two almost opposite storage iao cherc are covered with hard rubber. The strongly degressive course of this curve B can be explained by the influence of the thick hard rubber coating and • the fact that the steel core of the spokes was stressed beyond the yield point. The progressive curve C of the invention

Corresponding steering wheel clearly shows that the impact of a driver bouncing forward is ideal Way is dampened.

Claims (5)

PATENT CLAIMS: 1. Safety steering wheel with resilient spokes for motor vehicles, characterized in that that a kind of boom is provided below the spokes, which when pushing through the Steering wheel rim down causes a progressive increase in the spring force of the spokes. 2. Safety steering wheel according to claim i, characterized in that the spokes facing surface of the boom is curved. 3 · Safety steering wheel according to claim ι, characterized in that a buffer made of flexible material is arranged between the upper edge of the boom and the lower edge of the spokes. 4. Safety steering wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that the boom the Has the shape of a solid bracket. 5. Safety steering wheel according to claim r, characterized in that the boom in Is formed in the form of an additional spring. Documents considered: French Patent Nn 825 199; British Patent No. 377440; U.S. Patent No. 2,639,626. For this purpose 2 sheets of drawings © «09 650/235 10.55 (609865 4.57)