GB2490741A

GB2490741A - Anti-play quick release steering mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2490741A
Application number: GB201108094A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Rosagro
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-05-13
Filing date: 2011-05-13
Publication date: 2012-11-14
Also published as: GB201108094D0

Abstract

A quick release mechanism is provided for steering wheel release, The arrangement comprises a billet hub body 1 with an internal female bore, a male shaft 6 with spherical pockets and guides, a spring loaded pull back release sleeve 4 with an internal machine turned profile and six locking balls 2. The pockets are for receiving the balls 2 and the guides are for their guidance. The sleeve s internal profile is for contacting the balls 2. The balls 2 are housed in holes provided in the part of the hub 1 having the female bore. The shaft 6 is typically a steering column adaptor shaft and is received inside the female bore. A removable master location (7 see fig 1) may be provided for orientation. The invention uses spring pressure and ball bearings 2 to compensate for any loose play in the quick release mechanism

Description

I

Anti Play Ouick Release ring Mechanism

Description

Background Information

Quick release steering hub mechanisms are widely used in motor sport and sports cars to aid the quick release of a steering wheel. This is an important safety feature of any racing car, as it allows the driver to get out of the car much easier in the event of an accident. In some cases, a quick release steering wheel is essential due to the tight and compact area of the cockpit, where getting in and out of the car without a quick release steering wheel is almost impossible. There are currently various quick release steering hubs on the market which fit standard or aftermarket steering wheels, ranging from spline driven designs for professional forms of motor sport such as single seater racing, down to very basic designs for the more budget forms of motor sport such as Stock car, Autograss, Sprint cars and some forms of rallying. The more exotic models use ball bearings to locate and attach the steering hub to the steering column, whilst the less expensive models incorporate a pin design to attach the steering wheel hub to the steering column. Most models require a column adaptor to be welded onto the standard steering column.

The main problem with quick release steering is the amount of play caused by the clearance between the steering hub and steering column. There has to be a small amount of clearance to allow the mechanism to be attached and taken off easily.

However this clearance then creates a small amount of play, which allows the steering wheel to wobble. This creates a problem for any racing driver, what with high speeds causing vibrations through the steering wheel as well as a less responsive drive on the steering column. This is also a very dissatisfying flaw for car owners who go to extreme lengths to ensure that their car represents the highest standards possible.

Most quick release steering bosses have some sort of orientation location to only allow the steering wheel to be put on central to the steering rack, i.e. when the wheels on the car are straight and pointing forward, the steering wheel needs to be central.

However not all drivers like this as it becomes difficult to put the steering wheel on and requires lots of practice.

Statement of Invention

To overcome and eliminate the amount of play in a quick release steering mechanism, the invention proposes a quick release steering hub mechanism, which uses ball bearings, which are constantly loaded as the drive for the steering column adaptor shaft. This is to ensure a tight fit when the mechanism is attached to the steering column adaptor shaft and therefore eliminates any play. Any wear in the mating parts of the mechanism will therefore always be compensated for as the ball bearings are constantly loaded by the use of spring pressure and an outer sleeve to ensure that the mechanism never looses effectiveness.

The invention also includes an optional removable master location for orientation of the quick release unit and steering wheel.

Figure 1 shows an exploded assembly of the invention (6 hole weld on version).

Figure 2 shows an assembled view of the invention (6 hole weld on version).

Figure 3 shows an assembled view of the invention (6 hole bolt on version) Figure 4 shows an assembled view of the invention (3 hole version).

Figure 5 shows a cross section view of the invention in the attached position Figure 6 shows a cross section view of the invention in the released position.

Detailed Description

A mechanism for attaching and removing a steering wheel to / from a steering column by means of quick release. A steering wheel must be attached to the quick release mechanism with the use of fixing bolts through the holes on the flange of the steering hub body 1. The steering hub body I must be attached to the steering column adapter shaft 6 which is either welded or bolted to the existing steering column unit. The bolt on version as shown in figure 3 where by the column adapter shaft 6 incorporates a flange 8 with six bolt holes, must be used with a standard aftermarket steering hub kit which can be purchased from most major motor sport distributors. The column adapter shaft 6 has twelve equally spaced slots (30° apart). Eleven of the slots act as guides for the ball bearings 2 when the mechanism is attached. At the end of each guide is a spherical pocket, which each ball bearing 2 will sit in when the mechanism is attached. The other slot acts as a location for the removable master location screw 7. The steering hub body 1 is attached to the column adapter shaft 6 by pulling back the release sleeve 4 and inserting the hub body 1 over the column adapter shaft 6. The driver then releases the release sleeve 4 and the spring 3 forces the release sleeve forward causing the mechanism to lock in place. The spring loaded release sleeve 4 has in internal machine turned profile, which forces six equally spaced (600 apart) ball bearings 2 into the spherical pockets on the column adapter shaft 6. The spring 3 is used to keep the release sleeve 4 and ball bearings 2 in place when the mechanism is in use. The six ball bearings 2 are housed in six precision-machined holes in the hub body 1. The spring 3 is also used to force the release sleeve 4, which has an internal machine turned profile over the ball bearings 2. The internal profile smothers the ball bearings and forces them into the spherical pockets on the column adapter shaft 6.

The pressure caused by the spring 3 ensures that the ball bearings 2 are always under load when the mechanism is attached. In order to remove the steering hub I from the column adapter shaft, the release sleeve 4 must be pulled back by the driver. This will relieve the ball bearings 2, allowing the user to easily slide the steering hub off and therefore remove the steering wheel unit. When the hub body I is removed from the steering column, the spring loaded release sleeve 4 is retained by a 5mm diameter pin 5, which is press fitted in to the release sleeve 4 and locates in a 5mm wide slot in the hub body 1, and therefore holds the assembly together when the steering wheel is off.

A screw 7 is screwed in to the 5mm pin, which acts as the master location spline for consistent alignment and orientation of the quick release unit. The end of the screw 7 protrudes the inside of the pin and locates in the groove on the column adapter shaft 6, which means that the quick release unit can only be put on one way. If orientation of the quick release unit is not important, the screw 7 can be removed, allowing 360° alignments at 30° increments. j

Claims

Claims 1. A quick release steering boss mechanism consisting of a billet hub body with an internal female bore, a male shaft with spherical pockets and guides, a spring loaded pull back release sleeve with an internal machine turned profile, and six locking ball bearings.
2. A quick release steering boss mechanism according to claim 1, in which the internal diameters on the release sleeve and the spherical pockets on the column adapter shaft mate with the locking ball bearings.
3. A quick release steering boss mechanism according to claim 1, in which any play in the quick release mechanism is compensated for by the use of spring pressure and mating parts.
4. A quick release steering mechanism according to claim 1, which includes an optional removable master location for orientation alignment.
5. A quick release steering mechanism according to claim 1, which uses ball bearings to lock the mechanism in place as well as providing a drive for the steering column adapter shaft and thus the steering column.
6. A quick release steering boss according to all preceding claims, which could be used on all other quick release applications and could incorporate a flanged diameter with several hole patterns to be compatible with a range of steering wheels and applications other than motor racing.