GB318680A - A new or improved steering wheel and method of making same - Google Patents

Abstract

318,680. Husted, H. A. June 12, 1928. Hand-wheels.- In motor-vehicle steering- wheels comprising a sheet-metal reinforcing- spider B, Figs. 2, 6, and 7, embedded in moulded hard rubber or other compositions A, the, rim and spokes, and preferably also the hub, of the spider are integral and have continuous stiffening- means which merge into one another at the junctions of the parts, in order to impart great strength and rigidity to the wheel. The rim 1, large hub 2, and short spokes 3 of the spider have upwardly-directed marginal flanges 4 - - 8 and upwardly-directed central ribs 9 - - 11. The flanges 5, 6, 7 are continuous, and the wide rib 10 of the hub merges into the ribs 11 of the spokes, which taper to merge into the narrow rib 9 of the rim. The spider is downwardly dished to a greater depth than the wheel, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the hub 2 lies near the bottom surface and the rim 1 near the top. The rim 1 is still more deeply dished, in order to reduce its width. The ribbing forms continuous channels, through which gases, trapped during moulding, can escape towards the rim. Perforations 20 in the spider help to " key " the composition. The spider blank is shaped between discs 30, 32, Fig. 10, the lower die 30 having pins, Fig. 9 (not shown), engaging the angles between the rim and spokes to prevent distortion during dishing. The final closure of the dies forms the flanges and ribs, and also tongues 33 to position the spider in the mould. In the three-spoked wheel shown, one spoke, having a distinguishing-mark, points towards the driver when the road-wheels are undeflected. The wheel is secured to the steering-pillar top 21 by screws 22 and a plate 23, Fig. 2.