JPH0939802A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering wheel capable of raising up a part of the ring part when necessary, and absorbing shock. SOLUTION: A ring part 13 of a steering wheel 10 is divided into a main ring part 30 taking up more than a half of the periphery and an auxiliary ring part 31 taking up less than a half of the periphery. Both ends of the main ring part 30 are connected to spokes 12. The auxiliary ring part 31 has arms 40 along the spokes 12. Base parts 41 of the arms 40 are supported on a hinge mechanism 50 provided at a center pad 11 so that they can be turned in the vertical direction. The hinge mechanism 50 is provided with a shaft 53 whirl- stopped by keys 60. Engaging parts 61 such as serration provided on the shaft 53 are energized by a spring 55 in the direction in which they can be fitted in locking holes 54 of the base parts 41 of the arms. When a control part 56 is pressed, the engaging parts 61 are disengaged from the locking holes 54, and thus the auxiliary ring part 31 can be raised up.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering wheel suitable for a steering system for large vehicles such as trucks and buses.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Large vehicles such as trucks and buses may have a storage space near the ceiling above the driver's seat because the driver's seat has a large space above the driver's seat. When loading or unloading articles into or from such a high-level storage compartment, the occupant must stand up from the driver's seat, but the steering wheel ring of large vehicles has a significantly larger outer diameter than passenger cars, and the column Since the shaft is in a standing posture and the ring part is lying horizontally,
When the driver tries to stand, a part of his body such as the thigh may hit the ring.

Therefore, a foldable steering wheel is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 50-186623. In this prior art, the ring portion of the steering wheel is divided into a first grip and a second grip, and a hinge is provided on the ring portion, and the second grip is raised above the first grip around this hinge. It is configured to be able to. Further, a narrowing piece is provided on the second grip, and the first grip and the second grip are fixed by fitting the narrowing piece to the first grip when driving an automobile (when using the steering wheel). I am trying.

[0004]

The above-mentioned foldable steering wheel of the prior art is provided with an accessory such as a hinge or a narrowing piece on the ring portion, so that the driver's fingers can be rotated when the steering wheel is rotated. The palm or the palm of your hand may come into contact with the irregularities of the above accessories, which may impair the operation feeling. Further, in the above-mentioned prior art, since more than half of the ring portion occupies the foldable portion, it is necessary to make the foldable portion have the same strength as the other portions. Need to be bigger. Therefore, it may be difficult to absorb the impact at the time of a collision.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is that it is possible to raise a part of the ring portion without providing the ring portion with the parts which cause the unevenness as in the prior art, and is also effective in improving the shock absorbing performance. It is to provide a steering wheel.

[0006]

A steering wheel of the present invention developed to achieve the above object is a steering wheel having a ring portion, a center pad, and at least a pair of left and right spokes. It is divided into a ring main part that occupies more than half the circumference and has the spokes connected to both ends, and a ring auxiliary part that is located between the spokes and faces the driver side when the vehicle goes straight. The portion has an arm formed of a softer material than the ring main portion and extends toward the center pad, and the base of the arm is supported by a hinge mechanism provided on the center pad so as to be vertically rotatable. In addition, the hinge mechanism is provided with a fixing means for fixing the ring assisting portion.

The hinge mechanism is, for example, a hole formed in a member on the center pad side and extending in the pad width direction, and a first position and a second position in the axial direction which are inserted into the hole and the hole at the base of the arm. A shaft that is movable over the position, and that the shaft is fitted into the detent portion of the member on the side of the center pad and the detent portion of the arm base when the shaft is in the first position. An engaging portion that allows the arm base portion to rotate by disengaging the rotation stopper portion in a state where the arm base portion is non-rotatably fixed by the shaft and the shaft has moved to the second position; and A spring for urging the shaft in the direction of the first position;
It is preferable to have an operation unit that can be moved in the direction of the position.

During normal operation, the ring auxiliary portion is tilted so that the ring main portion and the ring auxiliary portion are connected in an annular shape in the same plane, and the ring auxiliary portion is fixed by the fixing means of the hinge mechanism. When the steering wheel is set to a substantially neutral position during parking and the hinge mechanism is unlocked, the ring auxiliary portion can be rotated about the shaft of the hinge mechanism in the rising direction. By doing this,
Since the part where the ring auxiliary part was located in the entire circumference of the ring part opens, the ring part does not get in the way when the driver stands up.

The ring auxiliary portion occupies a shorter length in the entire ring portion than the ring main portion, and the ring auxiliary portion is a portion between the spokes facing the driver side when the vehicle goes straight ahead. A material having a lower rigidity than that of the portion can be used. For this reason, when the steering wheel has a column shaft that is in an upright position compared to passenger cars such as trucks and buses, the ring auxiliary part and center pad may be deformed appropriately even if the driver hits the ring part in a straight ahead state. A buffering effect can be obtained by

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The automobile steering wheel 10 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to the center pad (horn pad) 11 located at the center, a pair of left and right spokes 12 obliquely extending in a “c” shape from the center pad 11, and the tips of the spokes 12. The ring-shaped ring portion 13 and the like are provided. Spoke 12
Is a core metal 15 and a synthetic resin covering material 1 for covering the core metal 15.
6 and the like.

A shaft mounting hole 21 is formed in the center of rotation of a boss cored bar 20 arranged below the center pad 11, and the upper end of a steering shaft (not shown) is fitted into this shaft mounting hole 21. It is designed to be fixed with bolts. At least the upper surface of the center pad 11 and the driver-side surface located between the pair of spokes 12 are made of a covering material 2 made of a relatively soft synthetic resin material such as soft urethane that can absorb impact.
2 is covered. Well-known electric parts such as a horn switch are provided inside the center pad 11.

The ring portion 13 has a large arcuate ring main portion 30 which occupies a half or more of the entire circumference (360 °).
And a ring-shaped auxiliary portion 31 having a small arc of a half or less. The spokes 12 are provided at both ends of the ring main portion 30.
The ends of the core metal 15 are connected by welding or the like. The ring main portion 30 includes a cored bar 35 (only a part of which is illustrated by a broken line).
And a covering material 36 made of synthetic resin.

The ring assist portion 31 is located between the pair of spokes 12. That is, this ring auxiliary portion 3
1 is provided in a portion of the entire circumference of the ring portion 13 that faces the driver side when the vehicle goes straight (when the steering wheel 10 is in the neutral position). This ring auxiliary part 31
Are formed of a material softer than the ring main portion 30, and are provided on the pair of left and right arms 40 extending in the direction of the center pad 11 along the spokes 12, and on the ends of the arms 40 on the center pad 11 side. A pair of left and right bases 4
1 is provided. The base portion 41 is inserted into the groove 42 provided in the center pad 11.

The ring auxiliary portion 31 in the illustrated example is a body made of a resin which is softer than a frame 45 made of metal or the like having a lower bending rigidity than the core metal 35 of the ring main portion 30 and a covering material 36 of the ring main portion 30. Includes 46. Body 4
Reference numeral 6 covers the frame 45, which is made of, for example, soft urethane resin or soft vinyl chloride, and can absorb the shock while being deformed together with the frame 45 when a certain load is applied. Depending on the strength / rigidity of the body 46, the ring auxiliary portion 31 may be configured only by the body 46 without using the frame 45.

The ring auxiliary portion 31 is supported by a hinge mechanism 50 provided on the center pad 11 so as to be vertically rotatable. As shown in FIG. 2 and the like, the hinge mechanism 50 is inserted into a pair of left and right cylindrical bearing members 51 that are members fixed to the center pad 11 side and through holes 52 in the left and right direction inside the bearing members 51. A pair of left and right shafts 53, a detent hole 54 formed in the arm base 41, a spring 55 functioning as a biasing means, and an operating portion 56 provided at the end of the shaft 53. The shaft 53 is inserted into the rotation stop hole 54.

The shaft 53 is movable in the axial direction (width direction of the pad 11) with respect to the bearing member 51 from a first position to a second position described below, and is rotated by a key 60 so as not to rotate. It has been stopped.
The key 60 is fitted into a key groove (not shown) provided on the bearing member 51 as a rotation stopping portion along the axial direction. An engaging portion 61 having spline or serrated outer teeth is provided at the end of the shaft 53.

The detent hole 54 allows the engaging portion 61 to be fitted from the axial direction when the shaft 53 is at the first axial position, and the engaging portion 61 when the shaft 53 moves to the second position. The inner teeth shape corresponding to the engaging portion 61 is provided so that the engagement with can be removed. That is, the detent hole 54, the key 60, and the engaging portion 61 function as a fixing means for fixing the ring auxiliary portion 31.

The spring 55 is housed in the hole 62 of the center pad 11 in a compressed state between the pair of shafts 53, and in the direction in which the engaging portion 61 is fitted in the detent hole 54 (at the first position). Direction).

The pair of operating portions 56 of the hinge mechanism 50 project to the left and right side surfaces of the center pad 11, and each operating portion 56 resists the elastic force of the spring 55.
When pushed to the second position to the side, the engaging portion 61 moves in the direction in which it departs from the detent hole 54.

Next, the steering wheel 10 having the above structure
The operation of will be described. When the steering wheel 10 is used during normal traveling, as shown in FIG. 1, the ring main portion 30 and the ring auxiliary portion 31 are in an annular continuous state in the same plane, and the hinge mechanism 50 The ring auxiliary portion 31 is fixed by fitting the engagement portion 61 into the rotation preventing hole 54 by the elastic force of the spring 55. By doing so, the steering wheel 10 can rotate the ring portion 13 in the same manner as a normal steering wheel.

When the vehicle is parked or the like, the steering wheel 10 is set in the straight traveling state (the neutral position), and as shown in FIG.
By pushing 6, the shaft 53 is moved to the second position, and the engaging portion 61 is removed from the rotation stop hole 54. That is, the lock of the hinge mechanism 50 is released, and the ring auxiliary portion 31 is raised around the shaft 53, so that the ring auxiliary portion 31 is positioned above the center pad 11 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. By doing so, as shown in FIG. 4, since the opening portion 65 is formed on the driver side of the ring portion 13,
Problems such as a body hitting the ring portion 13 when the driver stands up are avoided.

The ring auxiliary portion 31 has a shorter length in the entire ring portion 13 than the ring main portion 30 and is a portion between the pair of spokes 12 facing the driver side when going straight. A frame 45 having a smaller bending rigidity and a body 46 made of a material having a high energy absorption efficiency can be used as compared with 30, and the frame 45 can be omitted in some cases.

For this reason, in the steering wheel 10 in which the column shaft is installed in a standing posture as compared with a passenger car like a truck or a bus, if the driver hits the ring portion 13 in a straight-ahead state, the ring auxiliary portion 31 is necessary. It is possible to improve the buffering capacity by deforming the. Further, even if the ring auxiliary portion 31 is largely deformed to the center pad 11 side, the load is applied by the covering material 22 having a large area provided on the driver side of the center pad 11 and having a cushioning action, so that the cushioning ability is further improved. Can be improved.

[0024]

According to the present invention, the ring assisting portion can be raised as needed during parking or the like, and the ring portion can be prevented from becoming an obstacle when the occupant stands up from the driver's seat. In this invention, since the hinge mechanism that serves as the center of rotation of the ring assisting portion and the fixing means for locking are provided on the center pad side, the hinge mechanism and the fixing means are configured when operating the ring portion of the steering wheel. The parts will not be touched by the hands, and the grip of the ring will not deteriorate.

Further, since the ring portion is divided into a ring main portion and a ring auxiliary portion and a soft material different from that of the ring main portion can be used for the ring auxiliary portion, the energy absorption performance can be improved. You can Moreover, there is also an advantage that the range of choices for the design of the ring auxiliary portion is widened and the degree of freedom in the wheel design is increased.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a steering wheel showing an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an exploded perspective view of the steering wheel shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is a side view of the steering wheel shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

4 is a plan view showing a state in which a ring auxiliary portion of the steering wheel shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Steering wheel 11 ... Center pad 12 ... Spoke 13 ... Ring part 30 ... Ring main part 31 ... Ring auxiliary part 40 ... Arm 41 ... Base part 50 ... Hinge mechanism 51 ... Bearing member (center pad side member) 52 ... Through hole 53 ... Shaft 54 ... Detent Hole 55 ... Spring 56 ... Operation Section 61 ... Engagement Section

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A steering wheel having a ring portion, a center pad, and at least a pair of left and right spokes, wherein the ring portion occupies a half or more of the circumference thereof, and a ring main portion having the spokes connected to both ends, It is divided into a ring auxiliary portion located between the spokes and facing the driver when the vehicle goes straight, the ring auxiliary portion being formed of a softer material than the ring main portion and in the direction of the center pad. An extension arm, a base for supporting the arm is rotatably supported in the vertical direction by a hinge mechanism provided on the center pad, and a fixing means for fixing the ring auxiliary portion to the hinge mechanism. Steering wheel featuring. 2. The hinge mechanism includes a hole formed in a member on the side of the center pad and extending in a pad width direction, and a first position in the axial direction which is inserted into the hole and a hole of a base portion of the arm. A shaft which is movable over two positions, and which engages with the rotation stopping portion of the center pad side member and the rotation stopping portion of the arm base when the shaft is in the first position. By which the arm base is fixed non-rotatably, and the engagement with the rotation stop is provided by disengaging the arm base from the state where the shaft is moved to the second position, and A spring for urging the shaft in the direction of the first position, and an operation unit capable of moving the shaft in the direction of the second position. Steering wheel according to claim 1. 3. A pair of left and right shafts are provided in a center pad, and an operating portion of the end of each shaft is projected to both left and right sides of the center pad, and each shaft is provided with a key for preventing rotation of the center pad and a spline. Or, a serration-shaped engaging portion is provided, a rotation preventing hole having a shape that can be fitted into the engaging portion is provided in the arm base, and the spring is provided between the pair of shafts in a compressed state. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein: 4. The spokes are a pair of left and right spokes extending diagonally from the center pad toward the ring portion in a “c” shape, and the ring auxiliary portion is rotatable between the spokes by the hinge mechanism. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel is attached. 5. The ring auxiliary portion includes a frame having a bending rigidity smaller than that of a cored bar of the ring main portion, and a synthetic resin body that covers the frame and is softer than a covering material of the ring main portion. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel is open. 6. At least an upper surface of the center pad,
The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the driver side located between the spokes is covered with a covering material made of a soft synthetic resin capable of absorbing an impact.