FR3092307A1 - Interface device between a steering wheel and a steering column - Google Patents

Abstract

Interface device (1) between a steering wheel and a steering column in a motor vehicle, comprising: - a housing (2) intended to be fixed relative to the motor vehicle, - a rotary cover (4) mounted to be movable in rotation in the housing (2), said rotating cover (4) being able to receive a flywheel interface (6), - an upper housing (5) fixed to the housing (2) fixed and able to hold the rotating cover (4) vis-à-vis -vis of the housing (2), - a latch (9) mounted on the rotary cover (4) and blocking the rotation of said rotary cover (4) by cooperation with the upper housing (5). Figure for the abstract: Figure 2

Description

Interface device between a steering wheel and a steering column

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to the automotive field. More specifically, the invention relates to interface devices between a steering wheel and a steering column in a motor vehicle.

Interface devices are used to allow electrical connections between a power supply and an airbag or buttons on the steering wheel of the motor vehicle.

The steering wheel is connected to the steering column via an interface device.

The interface device generally comprises a fixed part and a mobile part in rotation with respect to the fixed part. The flywheel is mounted on the moving part.

During assembly of the steering wheel on the interface device, it is important that the moving part is correctly positioned angularly. There can be no angular offset between the steering wheel and the steering column.

This can, for example, occur when the steering wheel is not yet mounted on the interface device during vehicle assembly. This is also the case when the steering wheel is removed from the interface device and then remounted on the latter for repairs on the motor vehicle.

In order to guarantee a correct angular position between the steering column and the steering wheel, the interface device generally comprises a lock making it possible to block the moving part as soon as the steering wheel is removed from the interface device.

Fitting or refitting the steering wheel on the interface device therefore does not require any particular angular adjustment.

In known devices, the position of the lock poses mounting difficulties.

To this end, there is firstly proposed an interface device between a steering wheel and a steering column in a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a housing intended to be fixed relative to the motor vehicle,
- a rotary cover mounted to move in rotation in the housing, said rotary cover being capable of receiving a flywheel interface,
- an upper casing fixed to the fixed casing and capable of holding the rotating cover vis-à-vis the casing,
- A lock mounted on the rotary cover and blocking the rotation of said rotary cover by cooperation with the upper casing.

The blocking on the upper casing facilitates assembly.

Various additional features may be provided singly or in combination:

• the device comprises a return spring capable of maintaining the lock in cooperation with the upper casing;
• the latch comprises a tongue capable of cooperating with the upper casing;
• the device comprises means capable of radially guiding the tab;
• the lock is rotatably mounted on the rotary cover;
• the lock comprises a plate which extends in a longitudinal direction, the plate has a lower face located opposite the rotary cover, said plate comprising at one of its distal ends, a stop pin projecting from the lower face in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction;
• the upper casing includes a housing capable of receiving the stop pin of the plate;
• the device comprises a rotor attached and inserted into the fixed casing, the rotor being located between the fixed casing and the rotary cover so that the rotor and the rotary cover are integral, the rotor comprising a housing capable of receiving a return spring;
• the plate comprises, at a proximal end opposite the distal end, an indexing pin projecting from the lower face in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of the plate, said latch comprising a return spring housed in the housing of the rotor, the return spring resting on the rotor at one end of said return spring and on the plate at the other end of said return spring, so that the indexing pin is housed in the return spring;
• the rotary cover comprises at least one support lug provided with a substantially cylindrical support and in which the plate comprises at least one hooking lug defining a reception area in which the support is housed;
• the rotating cover includes two support lugs and the lock includes two hooking lugs;
• the lock comprises a first part intended to block the rotation of the rotary cover and a second part mechanically connected to the first part, said second part being able to move the first part;
• the first part and the second part are able to move according to a translational movement;
• the first part and the second part are connected by a tape, for example, a polyester tape;
• the rotary cover comprises an upper housing in which the first part of the lock is housed, and in which the said device comprises a rotor attached and inserted into the fixed casing, the rotor being located between the fixed casing and the rotary cover so that the rotor and the rotary cover are integral, the rotor comprising a lower housing in which the second part is housed;
• the latch comprises a return spring, the upper housing comprising a bearing wall against which the return spring bears at one of its ends, said return spring bearing on the first part at the other of its ends ;
• the upper housing and the lower housing are respectively capable of guiding the movement of the first part and of the second part;
• the upper housing and the lower housing comprise means capable of holding the first part and the second part in said upper and lower housings.

Brief description of figures

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear further in the description below in relation to the appended drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an interface device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of a lock according to a section plane II-II of Figure 3 of the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an upper housing according to the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an interface device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an interface device according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of part of the lock according to the second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the lock according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the lock according to section plane VIII-VIII of FIG. 7 of the second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 is another sectional view of the lock of Figure 7 according to the second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of part of the lock according to the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is another perspective view of part of the lock according to the second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a strip of the lock according to the second embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the invention

In Figure 1, there is shown an interface device 1 between a steering wheel and a steering column (not shown) according to the invention. The interface device 1 comprises:
- a fixed box 2,
- a rotor 3,
- a rotating cover 4,
- an upper casing 5.

The housing 2 is intended to be fixed relative to the motor vehicle. The rotor 3 is attached and inserted into the fixed casing 2. The rotor 3 is rotatably mounted in the fixed housing 2. The rotating cover 4 and the rotor 3 are integral, these elements being both able to collaborate with a flywheel interface 6 on which a flywheel is mounted. The rotor 3 is located between the rotating cover 4 and the fixed housing 2.

The upper casing 5 is secured to the fixed casing 2. The upper casing 5 makes it possible to maintain the rotating cover 4 and the rotor 3 in the fixed casing 2. In other words, the upper casing 5 prevents the cover 4 and the rotor from coming out of the fixed casing 2.

The upper casing 5 is fixed to the fixed casing 2 using a plurality of fixing means 7. A central hole 8 made in the upper casing 5 allows the passage of part of the rotary cover 4. Through this central hole 8, the rotating cover 4 and the rotor 3 can be coupled to the flywheel interface 6. Thus the flywheel interface 6, the rotating cover 4 and the rotor 3 are rotatable relative to the fixed casing 2 and to the upper casing 5.

The interface device 1 further comprises a lock 9 mounted on the rotary cover 4 and capable of blocking the rotation of said rotary cover 4 by cooperating with the upper casing 5. In other words, the lock 9 abuts on the upper casing 5 in order to block the rotation of the rotating cover 4 and thereby also block the rotation of the rotor 3.

According to a first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4, the lock 9 is rotatably mounted on the cover 4 rotatable.

The lock 9 comprises a tab in the form of a plate 10. The plate 10 extends in a longitudinal direction. The plate 10 defines a lower face 11 opposite the rotating cover 4, and an upper face 12 opposite the lower face 11. The lock 9 has a distal end 13 and a proximal end 14 opposite the distal end 13.

The lock 9 comprises, in the vicinity of the distal end 13, a stop pin 15. The stop pin 15 protrudes from the lower face 11 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the plate 10.

The lock 9 comprises, in the vicinity of the proximal end 14, an indexing pin 16. Like the stop pin 15, the indexing pin 16 projects from the lower face 11, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the plate 10.

The upper casing 5 comprises a notch 17 capable of receiving the stop pin 15 of the lock 9. The notch 17 is made on a periphery 18 of the central hole 8.

The rotor 3 comprises a housing 19 capable of receiving a return spring 20. Housing 19 is in the form of a cylinder open on one side and closed on the other. A housing of this type keeps the return spring 20 straight when the latter is compressed. The housing 19 prevents the return spring 20 from undergoing a “buckling” phenomenon.

The latch 9 includes a return spring 20. The return spring 20 is housed in the housing 19 of the rotor 3. At one of its ends, the return spring 20 bears against the rotor 3 while at the other end it bears against the plate 10. The indexing pin 16 is inserted in the return spring 20. This advantageously makes it possible to keep the return spring 20 resting on the plate 10.

The rotating cover 4 includes two support legs 21. Each support leg 21 comprises a substantially cylindrical support 22. The support legs 21 are arranged opposite one another. The supports 22 are also arranged opposite each other.

The plate 10 includes two hooking lugs 23. Each hooking tab 23 includes a reception zone 24 in the form of a partial counter-imprint of the supports 22. In other words, the reception zone 24 defines, in section, a substantially circular profile. Each support 22 is housed in a reception area 24.

The rotating lid 4 is provided with two guide tabs 25 located opposite each other. The guide lugs 25 are arranged in the vicinity of the proximal end 14 of the plate 10. The guide lugs 25 have a sufficient height to ensure that whatever the position of the plate 10, the proximal end 14 located between the guide lugs 25. The guide lugs 25 prevent the plate 10 from shifting laterally during its rotational movement.

The plate 10 includes a nose 26 located near the distal end 13. The nose 26 extends beyond the stop pin 15 and comes into abutment on an outer surface 27 of the upper casing 5 when the lock 9 is in the locking position, that is to say when the pin 15 d stop is in the notch 17. The nose 26 is in the form of an abutment arranged so that in the locking position, the stop pin 15 does not touch the rotary cover 4, that is to say to say that the stop pin 15 is located at a distance from the rotary cover 4.

In what follows the operation of the lock 9 will be described. As shown in Figure 2, the lock 9 is initially in the locking position. In the blocking position the stop pin 15 lodges in the notch 17 of the upper casing 5. The return spring 20 is deployed and holds the stop pin 15 in the notch 17. The rotary cover 4 is then locked in rotation. When the flywheel interface 6 is assembled on the rotating cover 4, a lug 28 belonging to the flywheel interface 6 comes into contact with the plate 10 on the upper face 12 in the vicinity of the proximal end 14. The lock 9 is then moved in a circular motion around the supports 22 while the stop pin 15 comes out of the notch 17. The rotary cover 4 is then movable in rotation so as not to block the rotation of the steering wheel.

According to a second embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 12, the lock 9 comprises two parts, respectively, a tongue in the form of a first part 29 and a second part 30. The first part 29 is able to block the rotation of the 4 rotatable lid. The second part 30 is mechanically connected to the first part 29 by a ribbon 31. The ribbon 31 is made of polyester. Polyester is advantageous in that it has high breaking strength while being flexible. In addition, polyester can easily be used in overmolding because it has good resistance to high temperatures.

In what follows, reference will be made to the first part 29 and to the second part 30, respectively, by the expressions “blocking part 29” and “slider 30”.

The blocking part 29 and the slider 30 move according to a rectilinear translation movement.

The rotary cover 4 comprises an upper housing 32 in which the blocking part 29 is housed. The upper housing 32 is bordered by two side walls 33. The housing comprises two lower guide rails 34 each in the form of a rib and defining between them a lower guide path 35. The lower guide path further comprises a lower guide channel 59 formed in the lower guide path 35 between the lower guide rails 34.

The side walls 33 are provided with means capable of maintaining the blocking part in the upper housing 32. Thus each side wall 33 has a longitudinal passage 36 intended to cooperate with the locking piece 29 .

The upper casing 5 has a notch 17 formed on a periphery 18 of the central hole 8. The upper casing 5 comprises an upper wall 37 which overhangs the notch 17. The upper wall 37 comprises two upper guide rails 38, each in the form of a rib projecting from an inner face 39 of said upper wall 37. The upper guide rails 38 define between them an upper guide path 40. The upper guide path further comprises an upper guide channel 60 formed in the upper guide path 40 between the upper guide rails 38.

The guide channels 59, 60 lower and upper are dug in the material respectively constituting the rotating cover 4 and upper casing 5.

The blocking piece 29 is in the form of a substantially rectangular piece. The blocking piece 29 has an oblong hole 41 arranged in its center. The upper housing 32 comprises a support wall 42 arranged between the side walls 33. The latch 9 comprises a return spring 20 housed in the oblong hole 41. The return spring 20 bears on the support wall 42 at one of its ends on the one hand, and on a support surface 43 of the oblong hole 41 at the other end of said return spring 20 on the other hand. 'somewhere else.

Advantageously the support wall 42 and the support face 43 comprise a positioning pin 44a, 44b housing in the return spring 20 in order to hold the latter in position in the oblong hole 41. The oblong hole 41 prevents the spring from undergoing a "buckling" phenomenon.

Advantageously, the blocking part 29 comprises an upper guide pin 45 cooperating with the upper guide channel 60 of the upper wall 37 of the upper casing 5 . The blocking part 29 also comprises a lower guide pin 46 cooperating with the lower guide channel 59 of the upper housing. The guide pins 45, 46 are in the form of semi-circular elements in section. They respectively protrude from an upper surface 47 and from a lower surface 48 of the blocking part 29.

The locking piece 29 is movable in translation between a position of use of the interface device 1 in which the rotary cover 4 is free to rotate and a locking position in which the rotary cover 4 is locked in rotation. In the use position the return spring 20 is compressed while the blocking part 29 is located outside the notch 17 of the upper casing 5. In the blocking position, the return spring 20 is deployed while the blocking part 29 is inserted into the notch 17 of the upper casing 5. During the translation movement of the blocking part 29 and starting from the position of use, the lower guide pin 46 moves along the lower guide path 35 in the upper housing 32. When the blocking part 29 reaches the upper casing 5, the upper guide pin 45 enters the upper guide path 40.

Advantageously the guide rails 38, 34 upper and lower overlap to allow continuity of the guide of the piece 29 of blocking. Thus, the upper and lower guide paths 40, 35 are located at least partly opposite each other. The blocking piece 29 is therefore perfectly guided in translation.

The blocking part 29 has side tabs 49 projecting laterally from each side end 50 of said blocking part 29. The side tabs 49 are housed in the longitudinal passages 36 of the upper housing 32. The lateral tabs 49 and the longitudinal passages 36 together make it possible to hold the blocking piece 29 in the upper housing 32.

The slider 30 is in the form of a substantially L-shaped part comprising an upper part 51 and a lower part 52. The upper part 51 extends along a plane substantially perpendicular to a plane in which the lower part 52 extends. The lower housing 58 located in the rotor 3 comprises a guide rail 53. The guide rail 53 comprises two substantially parallel guide walls 54 . Each guide wall 54 comprises a longitudinal groove 55 into which is inserted a side edge 56 of the second part of the slider 30.

The slider 30 and the blocking part 29 are made from a plastic material and are overmolded on the polyester tape.

Advantageously, the ends of the tape 31 made of polyester have an H shape. The ends are also provided with an orifice 57. The H shape and the orifice 57 make it possible to optimize the mechanical strength of the tape on the slider 30 and the part 29 blocking after overmolding.

Claims (17)

Device (1) for interface between a steering wheel and a steering column in a motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises:
- a housing (2) intended to be fixed relative to the motor vehicle,
- a rotatable cover (4) rotatably mounted in the housing (2), said rotatable cover (4) being able to receive a flywheel interface (6),
- an upper casing (5) fixed to the casing (2) fixed and capable of holding the cover (4) rotating with respect to the casing (2),
- a latch (9) mounted on the rotating cover (4) and blocking the rotation of said rotating cover (4) by cooperating with the upper casing (5) and
- A return spring (20) capable of holding the latch (9) in cooperation with the upper casing (5). 2. Device (1) interface according to claim 1 wherein the latch (9) comprises a tongue (10, 29) capable of cooperating with the upper housing (5). 3. Device (1) interface according to claim 2 wherein the latter comprises means capable of radially guiding the tongue (10, 29). 4. Device (1) interface according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the latch (9) is rotatably mounted on the lid (4) rotatable. Interface device (1) according to Claim 4, in which the lock (9) comprises a plate (10) which extends in a longitudinal direction, the plate (10) comprises a lower face (11) located opposite the cover (4) rotatable, said plate (10) comprising at one of its distal ends (13), a stop pin (15) projecting from the lower face (11) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. Interface device (1) according to Claim 5, in which the upper casing (5) comprises a housing (17) capable of receiving the stop pin (15) of the plate (10). Interface device (1) according to one of Claims 5 or 6, in which the latter comprises a rotor (3) attached and inserted in the fixed casing (2), the rotor (3) being located between the casing (2 ) fixed and the cover (4) rotating so that the rotor (3) and the cover (4) rotating are integral, the rotor (3) comprising a housing (19) adapted to receive a spring (20) return. Interface device (1) according to one of Claims 5 or 6, in which the plate (10) comprises, at a proximal end (14) opposite the distal end (13), an indexing pin (16) forming projection from the lower face (11) in a direction substantially transverse to the longitudinal direction of the plate (10), said latch (9) comprising a return spring (20) housed in the housing (19) of the rotor (3), the return spring (20) resting on the rotor (3) at one of the ends of the said return spring (20) and on the plate (10) at the other end of the said return spring (20), so that the pin (16) indexing housed in the spring (20) return. Interface device (1) according to one of Claims 4 to 8, in which the rotary cover (4) comprises at least one support lug (21) provided with a substantially cylindrical support (22) and in which the plate ( 10) comprises at least one hooking lug (23) defining a reception zone (24) in which the support (22) is housed. Interface device (1) according to Claim 9, in which the rotary cover (4) comprises two support lugs (21) and the lock (9) comprises two hooking lugs (23). Interface device (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, in which the lock (9) comprises a first part (29) intended to block the rotation of the rotary cover (4) and a second part (30) connected mechanically to the first part (29), said second part (30) being able to move the first part (29). Device (1) interface according to claim 11 wherein the first part (29) and the second part (30) are able to move according to a translational movement. Interface device (1) according to one of Claims 11 or 12, in which the first part (29) and the second part (30) are connected by a tape (31), for example a tape (31) made of polyester . Interface device (1) according to one of Claims 11 to 13, in which the rotary cover (4) comprises an upper housing (32) in which the first part (29) of the lock (9) is housed, and in which said interface device (1) comprises a rotor (3) attached and inserted into the fixed housing (2), the rotor (3) being located between the fixed housing (2) and the rotating cover (4) so that the rotor (3) and the rotating cover (4) are integral, the rotor (3) comprising a lower housing (58) in which the second part (30) is housed. Interface device according to Claim 14, in which the latch (9) comprises a return spring (20), the upper housing (32) comprising a bearing wall (42) against which the return spring (20) bears at one of its ends, said return spring (20) resting on the first part (29) at the other of its ends. Interface device (1) according to Claim 15, in which the upper housing (32) and the lower housing (58) are respectively able to guide the movement of the first part (29) and of the second part (30). Interface device according to Claim 16, in which the upper housing (32) and the lower housing (58) comprise means capable of holding the first part (29) and the second part (30) in the said housings (32, 58) upper and lower.