JP2003072559A - Mounting structure of steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attach and detach a steering wheel to/from a boss of a steering shaft with ease. SOLUTION: Before the steering wheel with a spoke 2 provided at a wheel part 1 is mounted on the boss 5 of the steering shaft 4, an adaptor 3 is mounted on the boss 5. On an upper face of the adaptor 3, a fitting groove 9 into which a central part 2a of the spoke 2 is rotatably fitted is formed. After the central part 2a of the spoke 2 is fitted into the fitting groove 9, the central part 2a is detachably bolted to the adaptor 3 via a fixing member 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure for mounting a steering wheel on a boss of a steering shaft.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a steering wheel of a vehicle is
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, a wheel portion 31, a mounting portion 32 provided at the center of rotation of the wheel portion 31, and three spokes 33 that connect the mounting portion 32 and the wheel portion 31.
It has and. The mounting portion 32 is fastened and fixed to the boss 5 of the steering shaft with a bolt 34.
The number of bolts there is usually six.

[0003]

However, in order to prevent the vehicle from being stolen, the user desires to remove the steering wheel from the boss 5 of the steering shaft. However, in the conventional structure, when the steering wheel is to be removed, it is necessary to remove the six bolts 34 of the mounting portion 32 one by one, which causes a problem that it takes time to attach and detach the steering wheel.

When the user wants to adjust the inclination angle of the wheel portion 31, the conventional steering wheel is fixed to the boss 5 with the wheel portion 31, the spokes 33 and the mounting portion 32 being integrated. There was also a problem in that the tilt angle of the wheel portion 31 could not be adjusted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a steering wheel mounting structure in which a steering wheel can be easily attached to and detached from a boss of a steering shaft and the vehicle can be prevented from being stolen by removing the steering wheel. An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily and arbitrarily finely adjust the tilt angle of the steering wheel according to the preference of the user. Further, the object of the present invention is to
This is to make it possible to easily replace only the wheel part when it is desired to use a plurality of steering wheels having different colors and patterns according to the driver's preference.

[0006]

According to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the steering wheel having the spokes 2 passing through the rotation center of the wheel portion 1 is attached to the boss 5 of the steering shaft 4. The adapter 3 is provided with a fitting groove 9 into which the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 is rotatably fitted, and the central portion of the spoke 2 is fitted into the fitting groove 9. It is characterized in that the adapter 3 is provided with a spoke fixing means for detachably fixing the central portion 2a in a state where the 2a is fitted.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the steering wheel mounting structure according to the first aspect, the steering wheel includes a wheel portion 1 and one spoke 2 having both ends connected to the wheel portion 1. The central portion 2a in the longitudinal direction of 2 has a circular outer peripheral surface and extends linearly, and the fitting groove 9 of the adapter 3 has the spoke 2
The outer peripheral surface of the lower half of the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 is linearly extended to fit, and the spoke fixing means is provided on the lower surface of the upper half of the central portion 2a straddling the central portion 2a of the spoke 2. Fixing tool 10 in which a fitting groove 13 to be fitted to the surface portion is formed
And a bolt 11 for fastening and fixing the fixture 10 to the adapter 3, and by rotating the spoke 2 with the bolt 11 loosened, the inclination angle of the wheel portion 1 can be adjusted.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the steering wheel mounting structure according to the second aspect, the spokes 2 are provided.
The outer peripheral surface of the central portion 2a is formed as a friction engagement surface such as the spline 7 in the illustrated example.

The present invention according to claim 4 provides the invention according to claim 2 or 3.
In the steering wheel mounting structure described above, both ends of the spokes 2 can be detachably fixed to the wheel portion 1 via the coupling tools 21.

[0010]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the adapter 3 is interposed between the boss 5 of the steering shaft 4 and the steering wheel. Therefore, the adapter 3 is attached to the boss 5 of the steering shaft 4, and the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 of the steering wheel is detachably fixed to the adapter 3. As a result, the entire steering wheel can be separated from the boss 5 by removing only the spokes 2 from the adapter 3, so that the vehicle can be effectively and reliably prevented from being stolen. However, when fixing the spokes 2 to the adapter 3, since the fitting groove 9 is formed on the upper surface of the adapter 3, by fitting the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 into the fitting groove 9, It is possible to easily position and set the spokes 2, that is, the entire steering wheel with respect to 3. Then, the central portion 2 of the spoke 2 is attached to the adapter 3 by the spoke fixing means.
It can be easily assembled by simply fixing a and the assembled state can be easily released. Since the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 is rotatably fitted into the fitting groove 9, the inclination angle of the wheel portion 1 can be finely adjusted before fixing the central portion 2a to the adapter 3. it can.

According to the invention of claim 2, claim 1
Since the spoke fixing means described above is composed of the fixture 10 having the fitting groove 13 on the lower surface and the bolt 11 for tightening and fixing the fixture 10 to the adapter 3, the spoke fitting means has a straight fitting groove 9 on the adapter 1 side. After fitting the lower half outer peripheral surface portion of the linear center portion 2a of the spoke 2, the fixture 10 is arranged so as to straddle the center portion 2a, and the fitting groove 1 on the fixture 10 side
3 is fitted to the upper half outer peripheral surface portion of the central portion 2a, and the bolt 1
All that is required is to fasten the fixture 10 to the adapter 3 at 1. Unlike the conventional example, the number of fastening bolts 11 can be reduced so that the steering wheel can be easily attached and detached. Further, since the spokes 2 are rotatable under the condition that the bolts 11 are loosened and the fixture 10 is temporarily fixed to the adapter 3, the spokes 2 can be securely fixed after the inclination angle of the wheel portion 1 is adjusted arbitrarily. Even when the wheel is attached to the boss 5, fine adjustment of the inclination angle of the wheel portion 1 can be easily performed.

According to the present invention as set forth in claim 3, since the outer peripheral surface of the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 is formed as a friction engagement surface by the spline 7 or the like, when the bolt 11 is tightened, it is fitted. It is ensured that the outer peripheral surface of the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 is frictionally engaged with the mating groove 13 in a non-slip manner, and the spoke 2 rotates when the steering wheel is attached and the inclination angle of the wheel portion 1 changes carelessly. Can be prevented.

According to the present invention as set forth in claim 4, both ends of the spokes 2 are detachably fixed to the wheel portion 1 via the connecting members 21. Therefore, spoke 2
Only the wheel portion 1 can be attached or detached while the is attached to the adapter 3. As a result, the user can prepare a plurality of wheel portions 1 having different colors and patterns according to his or her preference and replace only the wheel portion 1 with a desired one. In this case, since the cost of only the wheel portion 31 is sufficient, the burden on the user is reduced. In addition, the spokes 2 are left attached to the adapter 3, and the wheel 1
It is convenient to remove the chisel to prevent theft.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 to 3
Is a first part of a steering wheel mounting structure according to the present invention.
An example is shown. In FIG. 1, the steering wheel is
The ring-shaped wheel portion 1 and the central portion 2a are wheel portions 1
And a single spoke 2 whose both ends pass through the center of rotation of the wheel 1 and are connected to the wheel portion 1, and the spoke 2 is integrated with the wheel portion 1. Boss 5 at the upper end of the steering shaft 4.
The disk-shaped adapter 3 is fixed to the upper surface of the boss 5 with six bolts 6. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the adapter 3 is provided with bolt insertion holes 8 at positions of six equal points near the outer circumference and screw holes 6a on the boss 5 side, and each bolt 6 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 8. The adapter 3 is bolted to the boss 5 by being screwed into the screw hole 6a.

The spokes 2 are formed of circular pipes made of steel, aluminum or the like, and as shown in FIG. 2, they are curved downward from the inner edge side of the wheel portion 1 toward the center of rotation of the wheel portion 1. . The longitudinal center portions 2a of the spokes 2 extend straight without being curved. On the circular outer peripheral surface of the central portion 2a of the spoke 2, a spline 7 for preventing rotation is provided along the axial direction of the pipe. The spokes 2 may extend straight without being curved as a whole.

As shown in FIG. 3, a fitting groove 9 having a semicircular cross section is formed in the center of the upper surface of the adapter 3 so that the outer circumferential surface of the lower half of the center portion 2a of the spoke 2 fits therein. Has been done. The center portion 2a of the spoke 2 is fitted in the fitting groove 9.
It has a spoke fixing means for detachably tightening and fixing the spoke 2 to the adapter 3 in a state where the lower half outer peripheral surface portion is fitted.

The spoke fixing means is composed of a pair of left and right block-shaped fixtures 10 and a bolt 11 for fastening and fixing each fixture 10 to the upper surface of the adapter 3. Each fixture 10 is formed with a bolt insertion hole 12 in the front and rear in a penetrating manner in the vertical direction, and the bottom surface of each fixture 10 has an upper half outer periphery of the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 at the center of the front and rear. A fitting groove 13 that fits in the surface portion is provided as a recess.

The adapter 3 is provided with screw holes 15 on the left and right sides of the fitting groove 9 across the fitting groove 9. Further, the adapter 3 is provided with a hole 16 for wiring to a horn not shown, and a horn switch not shown is also attached to the adapter 3.

Next, the procedure for assembling the steering wheel will be described. First, the adapter 3 is fixed to the boss 5 of the steering shaft 4 with the bolt 6, and the fitting groove 9 of the adapter 3 is fixed.
The lower half outer peripheral surface portion of the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 is fitted to. In this fitted state, the lower surfaces of the left and right fixtures 10 straddle the central portion 2a so that the fitting grooves 13 on the lower surface are formed.
Is fitted to the upper half outer peripheral surface portion of the central portion 2a of the spoke 2.

Then, the bolts 11 are inserted through the bolt insertion holes 12 in the front and rear of each fixture 10, and the tips of the bolts 11 are screwed into the screw holes 15 on the adapter 3 side. Before the bolt 11 is completely tightened, the spokes 2 are rotated with the wheel portion 1 as a hand to adjust the inclination angle of the wheel portion 1 in advance.
After this adjustment is completed, each fixing tool 10 is fixed to the adapter 3 by completely tightening the bolt 11. As a result, the steering wheel is fixed to the boss 5 of the steering shaft 4 via the spokes 2 and the adapter 3.

When the bolt 11 is completely tightened,
The outer peripheral surface of the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 is frictionally engaged with the fitting groove 9 on the adapter 3 side and the fitting groove 13 on each fixing tool 10 via the spline 7, respectively.
The idle rotation of is surely prevented. The entire steering wheel can be removed from the adapter 3 simply by removing the bolts 11 from each fixture 10.

(Second Embodiment) The wheel portion 1 and the spokes 2 are formed separately, and both ends of the spokes 2 are detachably fixed to the wheel portion 1 via the connecting members 21. May be. As each connecting tool 21 for that purpose, for example, as shown in FIG.
7 is connected around a shaft 19 so as to be openable and closable, and can be fastened with a bolt 20 while the outer periphery of the wheel portion 1 is sandwiched by a pair of clamping pieces 17. In addition,
Using the bolts 20, the free ends of the two clamping pieces 17, 17 are fastened together to the ends of the spokes 2. According to the second embodiment, the spoke 2 is unfastened from the wheel portion 1 by the connecting tool 21, so that the spoke 2 is attached to the adapter 3.
It is possible to remove only the wheel unit 1 while it is attached to. Therefore, it is sufficient to prevent theft by removing only the wheel portion 1, and it is convenient to change the other wheel portions 1 due to different colors.

(Other Embodiment) The outer peripheral surface of the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 may be a friction engagement surface by forming a serrated surface instead of the spline 7. Although the spoke fixing means in the illustrated example has a pair of left and right fixing tools 10, the fixing tool 10 is a single type and has a bolt insertion hole 12 through which four bolts 11 are passed in the front, rear, left and right directions. Good. The fitting groove 9 on the adapter 3 side may be formed in the groove boss, for example, by projecting groove bosses on the upper surface of the adapter 3 so as to be separated from each other on the left and right.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 wheel part Two spokes 2a Spoke center 3 adapter 4 steering shaft 5 Boss 7 splines 9 Adapter fitting groove 10 Fixture 11 Volts 12 bolt insertion hole 13 Fixing groove 15 screw holes

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. When attaching a steering wheel having spokes 2 passing through a rotation center of the wheel portion 1 to a boss 5 of a steering shaft 4, an adapter 3 attached to the boss 5 is provided, and an upper surface of the adapter 3 is provided. Has a fitting groove 9 in which the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 is rotatably fitted. The central portion 2a of the spoke 2 is fitted in the fitting groove 9 and the central portion 2a of the adapter 3 is fitted in the fitting groove 9. A steering wheel mounting structure having spoke fixing means for detachably fixing 2a. 2. The steering wheel comprises a wheel portion 1
And one spoke 2 whose both ends are connected to the wheel portion 1. The central portion 2a of the spoke 2 in the longitudinal direction has a circular outer peripheral surface and extends linearly, and is fitted into the fitting groove of the adapter 3. 9 is formed in a shape in which the lower half outer peripheral surface portion of the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 is fitted and extends linearly. The spoke fixing means straddles the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 on the lower surface, and the central portion The fixing tool 10 is formed with a fitting groove 13 that fits in the outer peripheral surface of the upper half of 2a, and a bolt 11 that tightens and fixes the fixing tool 10 to the adapter 3. The spoke 2 is in a state where the bolt 11 is loose. The steering wheel mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the tilt angle of the wheel portion 1 can be adjusted by rotating the. 3. The steering wheel mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the central portion 2a of the spoke 2 is formed as a friction engagement surface. 4. The steering wheel mounting structure according to claim 2, wherein both ends of the spoke 2 can be detachably fixed to the wheel portion 1 via a connecting tool 21.