GB2337574A

GB2337574A - Steering wheel

Info

Publication number: GB2337574A
Application number: GB9810514A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul John Eckersley
Original assignee: Lansing Linde Ltd
Current assignee: Linde Material Handling UK Ltd
Priority date: 1998-05-16
Filing date: 1998-05-16
Publication date: 1999-11-24
Also published as: GB9810514D0

Abstract

A steering wheel for a vehicle, in particular for an industrial truck, has a steering-wheel body 1 which has a central fastening point 2 for fastening the steering wheel to a steering column, and a covering cap 3 that can be fitted to the steering-wheel body 1 in the region of the fastening point 2. The covering cap 3 is integrally moulded with the steering-wheel body 1 and is connected thereto via a deformable connecting piece 4. The steering-wheel body 1, the covering cap 3 and the connecting piece 4 are made, at least in part, from plastics and can be produced together by moulding.

Description

Descrint i nr Steering Wheel 2337574 The invention relates to a steering

wheel for a vehicle, in particular for an industrial truck, having a steering-wheel body, which has a central fastening point for fastening the steering wheel to a steering column, a covering cap that can be fitted to the steering-wheel body in the region of the fastening point being provided.

Steering wheels of this type are used in vehicles of every type, for example even in industrial trucks. The steering wheel is fastened to the steering column in the region of the central fastening point. The steering column is connected directly or indirectly to the wheels of the vehicle which are to be steered. An indirect connection of the steering wheel with the wheels to be steered comprises, for example, an electric or hydraulic signal transmission system.

The central fastening point is incorporated in a steering-wheel body, which comprises a central region, an outer ring and at least one spoke connecting the central region to the ring. An operator usually grips the steering wheel at the ring.

The fixing of the steering column at the central fastening point is generally carried out by means of a multi-toothed profile, which ensures a connection that is rigid when rotated. In order to prevent the steering wheel being pulled off the steering column in the axial direction, a threaded nut may be screwed onto the end of the steering column.

For reasons of safety and form, the fastening point is usually closed by a covering cap. The production, stock-keeping and assembly of these covering caps causes a considerable outlay at the producers of steering wheels and at the producers of vehicles. The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a steering wheel which, from the point of view of production, assembly and stockkeeping, requires a lower outlay.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the covering cap is integrally moulded onto the steering-wheel body. By this means, the steering-wheel body and the covering cap form a common component, which is produced in common operations. Because of the reduction in the individual parts, assembly and stock-keeping are also considerably simplified.

Advantageously, the covering cap is movably connected to the steeringwheel body via a deformable connecting piece. By this means, the covering cap is firmly connected to the steering-wheel body, but can nevertheless be moved with respect to the steeringwheel body.

In this case, it is expedient if the steering-wheel body, the covering cap and the connecting piece are made, at least in part, from plastic. The steering-wheel body often consists of a load-bearing construction that is formed from metal and is sheathed with plastic. The connecting piece and the covering cap may be designed completely from plastic, it being possible to use the same plastic as for the steering- wheel body. The mobility of the covering cap with respect to the steering- wheel body can be achieved by the plastic in the region of the connecting piece being designed to be particularly thin.

It is especially advantageous if those sections of the steering-wheel body, of the covering cap and of the connecting piece which consist of plastic can be produced together by moulding. The processes considered for the moulding are, for example, all the common processes of plastic casting, for example injection-moulding.

A first position, in which the central fastening point is accessible, is provided for the covering cap, as is a second position, in which the covering cap closes the fastening point. The assembly 1 3 of the steering wheel to the steering column takes place in the first position of the covering cap. The second position of the covering cap is provided for the operation of the vehicle.

The covering cap, when located in the second position, is expediently connected to the steeringwheel body via a detachable connection, for example a positively locking or force-fitting connection. A suitable positively locking or force-fitting connection is, for example, a snap connection. The covering cap can thus be latched in in its second position on the steering-wheel body.

Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in more detail using the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the schematic figures, in which Fig. 1 shows a steering wheel according to the invention, Figs. 2, 3 show the steering wheel according to the invention in cross-section, Fig. 4 shows a detail taken from Figure 3.

Figure 1 shows a steering wheel according to the invention, having a steering-wheel body 1, which comprises an outer ring la, a.central region 1b and two spokes lc. Located in the central region 1b is a fastening point 2, with which the steering wheel can be connected to a steering column. For this purpose, the fastening point 2 has a multi-toothed profile 2a. According to the invention, provision is made for a covering cap 3, which is integrally moulded onto the steering-wheel body 1, there being a thin-walled connecting piece 4 between the steering- wheel body 1 and the covering cap 3. The covering cap 3, the connecting piece 4 and, at least in part, the steering-wheel body 1 can be produced from plastic in a single production step.

Figure 2 shows a cross-section through the steering wheel according to the invention, the covering cap 3 being located in the f irst position in which the - 4 is fastening point 2 is freely accessible. The central axis 5 of a steering column (not illustrated) is illustrated using dash-dotted lines. After the steering wheel has been mounted on the steering column, the covering cap 3 can be moved in the direction of arrow 6 to a second position, and latched in in the central region ib of the steering-wheel body 1. At the same time, the connecting piece 4, consisting of plastic, is deformed.

In Figure 3, the steering wheel is illustrated with the covering cap 3 located in the second position, the fastening point 2 not being accessible. The covering cap 3 is latched in in the central region ib of the steering-wheel body 1 via a snap-in connection.

Figure 4 shows this snap-in connection in detail. In this case, a circumferential tongue 7, which latches into a circumferential groove 8 in the covering cap, is shaped from the steering-wheel body 1. During the latching of the tongue 7 into the groove 8, elastic deformation of these elements, which are made of plastic, takes place. If the covering cap 3 is to be opened again, for example for maintenance work, this takes place once more by making use of the elastic deformability of the tongue 7 and of the groove 8.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. Steering wheel for a vehicle, in particular for 5 an industrial truck, having a steering-wheel body (1), which has a central fastening point (2) for fastening the steering wheel to a steering column, a covering cap (3) that can be fitted to the steering-wheel body (1) in the region of the fastening point (2) being provided, characterized in that the covering cap (3) is integrally moulded onto the steering-wheel body (1).

2. Steering wheel according to Claim 1, characterized in that the covering cap (3) is movably connected to the steering-wheel body (1) via a deformable connecting piece (4).

3. Steering wheel according to Claim 2, characterized in that the steering-wheel body (1), the covering cap (3) and the connecting piece (4) are made, at least in part, from plastic.

4. Steering wheel according to Claim 3, characterized in that those sections of the steering-wheel body (1), of the covering cap (3) and of the connecting piece (4) which consist of plastic can be produced together by moulding.

5. Steering wheel according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a first position, in which the central fastening point (2) is accessible, is provided for the covering cap (3).

6. Steering wheel according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a second position, in which the covering cap (3) closes the fastening point (2), is provided for the covering cap (3).

Steering wheel according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the covering cap (3), when located in the second position, is connected to the steering-wheel body (1) via a detachable connection, for example a positively locking or force-fitting connection.