GB546935A - Improvements in steering wheels - Google Patents

Abstract

546,935. Steering wheels. BIRNIE, J. D., and BIRNIE, D. F. Feb. 11, 1941. No. 1845. [Class 80 (iv)] Steering wheels of the kind provided with a rim core and hub usually of metal connected by spokes, and in which the rim core is covered with a moulded plastic material. are manufactured by moulding the rim in sectional lengths which when assembled form a complete ring, the mouldings of a length being similar in shape so that a set of mouldings can be produced in one set of dies. The invention is particularly applicable to wheels having a metal rim connected by spokes to a metal hub, the rim being coated, e.g. with celluloid. In Fig. 1, three lengths, each consisting of a pair of mouldings, are employed. The half of one pair, Fig. 3, has a rim portion 10 with an external shoulder at 11 and a reduced portion 12 beyond the shoulder. This portion is slotted at 13 to clear the spokes when it is inserted into a recess 17 in an adjacent moulding. At the opposite end the moulding has an integral spoke portion 14 provided with a number of half circular section grooves 15 to receive the spokes. The parts 10, 10A may be of similar or dissimilar shape, and are grooved to fit over the metal rim 18 to which the spokes are welded, and may be provided with finger grips. With two moulds, the six combined rim and spoke portions may be produced. The sections may be united at their ends with cement and, for greater security, the engaging parts may be ribbed and grooved. Instead of the spoke portions 14 being integral with the rim portions, they may be separately formed, each of the rim portions then having a reduced socket portion at each end. With this construction the rim and spoke portions may be in materials of different colour. The spoke portions may extend farther towards the hub and in extreme cases right up to the hub. Specification 545,674 is referred to.