JPS59120567A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To aim at increasing the strength of a steering wheel with respect to a torsional moment, by forming a rim and a spoke respectively of rim and spoke core members made of a light-weight shape-hold material and plastic layers arranged around the above-mentioned members and reinforced with an unidirectionally reinforcing fiber material. CONSTITUTION:Rim and spoke core members 1a, 2a are integrally formed together with the use of a lightweight shape-hold material including a plastic material such as, for example, a foamed material. A boss fixture 3 is positioned with leg parts 3a being integrally molded to the front ends of the spoke core members 2a. A continuous unidirectionally reinforcing fiber material 4 comprising carbon fibers or alumina fibers are arranged, longitudinally of the rim core member 1a, around the latter, as a reinforcing member with respect to a bending moment, and the unidirectionally reinforcing fiber material which is continuous in the longitudinal direction of the spoke core member, is also arranged around the periphery of the spoke core material 2a.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a steering wheel, and more particularly to a steering wheel made of reinforced plastic.

In general, a steering wheel for an automobile is composed of a ring-shaped rim that serves as a grip, a boss that is attached to a steering shaft, and spokes that integrally connect the rim and boss. However, in conventional steering wheels, the rim, boss, and spokes are all made of carbon steel, the rim and spokes, and the spokes and boss are welded, and the rim is made of a decorative mold made of comb or plastic. Since it was molded and constructed mainly of steel, even the lightest one weighed 2 Ky. This has the disadvantage of causing vibrations in the steering wheel, especially when driving at high speeds or on rough roads, reducing operational stability and causing discomfort when driving.
, and also had the disadvantage of increasing fuel consumption.

The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and is lightweight and has sufficient strength, does not cause vibration when running, has good operability, and can reduce lighting costs. The purpose is to provide steering wheels.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a front view and a side view of the steering wheel according to this embodiment, respectively, and IIrJ, I
J M, 2 is a spoke, 3 is a boss metal fitting T, E, (The inner peripheral surface of the metal fitting 3 is provided with an involute serration (not shown) that fits the sdearing shaft noserration, and the boss metal fitting 3 is fixed to the sdaring shaft with a bolt. Incidentally, while the car is running, the steering wheel is subjected to a rotational force P1 applied to the rim 1 as shown in Figure 1, and a force P2 applied to the rim 1 as shown in Figure 2. Furthermore, force P3 acts on the boss metal fitting 3, and as a result, bending moments and torsional moments act on the rim and spokes of the steering wheel.Therefore, the steering wheel must be strong enough to withstand these moments. The reason why we have to have this.

Taking this point into consideration, the manufacturing process will be described below.

As shown in Figure 3, the rim core material 1a is made of a lightweight shape-retaining material made of plastic, rubber, etc.
, %' and the spoke core material 2a are integrally formed. At this time, attach the boss fitting 3 to the tip of each spoke core material 2a on its leg 3.
A is integrally molded and positioned. Next, continuous unidirectional reinforcing fibers 4 made of carbon fiber or alumina fiber are oriented in the longitudinal direction (circumferential direction) around the rim core material 1a as a strength member against the above-mentioned bending moment. Unidirectional reinforcing fibers that are continuous in the longitudinal direction are also oriented around the periphery. Furthermore, Fig. 4 177
: Rim core material 1ai as shown? The circumference imK of the spoke core material 2a is wound and braided with continuous unidirectional reinforcing fibers 4 so as to intersect at approximately 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal direction, thereby providing a strength member against the above-mentioned torsional moment. An extension portion 4a is provided on the tip end side of the spoke core material 2a of each unidirectional reinforcing fiber 4. Each unidirectional reinforcing fiber 4 is pre-impregnated with a matrix made of glass, either during or after orientation, and the plastic is cured by heating to form a reinforced plastic layer 6 as shown in FIG. At the same time, the boss fitting 3 is molded into a plastic mold 5 together with the extension part 4a of the unidirectional reinforcing fiber and the newly mixed short fibers of the unidirectional reinforcing fiber to be integrated with each spoke 2, and the rim 1 and the spokes 2 are further molded with rubber. Alternatively, a design mold 7 made of plastic is provided.

6 to 9 show other embodiments of the present invention. In this example, when unidirectional reinforcing fibers 4 are oriented in the circumferential direction on the rim core 'US' 1a, As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, continuous notch grooves 1b are provided in the circumferential direction on the top and bottom sides and both sides of the one-piece core material 1a, and as shown in FIGS. By disposing the continuous unidirectional reinforcing fibers 4, it becomes extremely easy to arrange the unidirectional reinforcing fibers 4 oriented in the circumferential direction of the rim core material 1a.

As described above, in the present invention, the steering wheel is basically constructed by arranging fiber-reinforced plastic around a lightweight shape-retaining material.The steering wheel is extremely lightweight, and vibrations caused by the steering wheel while driving are reduced. It is less likely to occur, the operability becomes better, and the fuel consumption becomes cheaper. In addition, unidirectional reinforcing fibers are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the rim and spokes to provide strength against moments. Oyogaeyo, -jn'n=
Strength against screw υ moment is obtained by cross-winding at 23K (relative to the longitudinal direction), and fiber reinforced plastic including unidirectional reinforced fibers is placed around the outer periphery of the core material where the section modulus can be minimized. In combination with this, it is possible to obtain sufficient strength against each moment by minimizing the amount of expensive unidirectional reinforcing fibers used.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are respectively a front view and a side view of a steering wheel according to the present invention, FIGS. 3 to 5 are manufacturing process diagrams of a steering wheel according to the present invention, and FIGS. 6 to 9 are respectively FIG. 7 is a manufacturing process diagram of a steering wheel according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
9 is a sectional view taken along line A and FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line B--B in FIG. 8. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Rim, 1a... Rim core material, 2... Spoke, 2a...-spoke core material, 3... Boss metal fitting, 4...
Unidirectional reinforced fiber, 4a... Extension portion, 5... Plastic mold, 6... Reinforced plastic layer. Note that the same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or corresponding parts. Agent Makoto Kuzuno - Figure 1 Figure 2 1/3 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Procedure Tadashi Sode -: (Voluntary) 1988 OJ"128E1 1.1゛m'l 'l'l Long Palace 1, !If display Patent Application No. 57-231447 2, Name of the study Steering Wheel 3, Correction to the ancient representative Hitoshi Katayama 5, Subject of correction 6, Contents of correction Correct "at 45 degrees" in line 12 of page 4 to "J diagonally."that's all

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a steering wheel consisting of a ring-shaped rim that serves as a grip, a boss that is an attachment part to the steering shaft, and spokes that integrally connect the rim and boss, the rim and spokes are made of lightweight shape-retaining material. It is formed from a well-formed rim core material and spoke core material, and a plastic layer provided around it and reinforced with unidirectional reinforcing fibers, and the unidirectional reinforcing fibers are arranged in the longitudinal direction of each core material. 11 Me: l, I-) ni\t\nY=4 A steering wheel characterized by being wound in a crossed manner. (2) A steering wheel characterized in that the rim core material and the eight spokes are integrally formed.