JPS60222370A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To aim at making a steering wheel lightweight and as well at increasing the strength thereof, by using a lightweight foamed material for a rim core member which is reinforced by unidirectionally inforcing fibers and as well by providing a plastic layer on the periphery of the rim core material in conformity with the corrugation of finger contact areas in the gripping sections of the rim. CONSTITUTION:A rim core member 1a which is a center core for sustaining the shape of the rim 1 is formed of lightweight foamed materials, etc. Finger contact areas in the gripping sections of the core member is corrugated beforehand. A reinforced plastic layer 1c is formed of unidirectionally reinforcing fibers surrounding around the core member 1a. Further, an aesthetic molding section 1c is formed around the outer periphery of the layer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a steering wheel using reinforced plastic, and particularly to a rim configuration.

[Prior art]

In general, a steering wheel of an automobile, that is, a steering wheel and its rim portion have a structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. Figure 1 is a side view of the steering wheel fixed to the steering shaft.

Figure 2 is the front view, Figures 3 to 5 are A in Figure 2, respectively.
-A sectional view, an enlarged view of the BB cross section, and an enlarged view of the Ca cross section. In the figure, (1) is a ring-shaped rim that serves as a grip, and (Ia) is a core material for maintaining the shape-retaining strength of the rim (9), which is usually made of carbon steel. (1b) is a design mold in which rubber or resin is molded around the core material. (2) are spokes fixed to the inside of the rim (!), and (3) are bosses fixed to the spokes at the center of the rim, which form a connection to the steering shaft (4). In the conventional steering wheel having the configuration shown below.

The rim (1), spokes (21) and boss (3) are all made of carbon steel, and the rim +11 and spokes (3) are made of carbon steel.
2) and the spokes (21 and bosses (3) are in bath contact, and the rim (1) is designed and molded with rubber or resin as described above.In this way, since it is mainly composed of steel, Even the lightest vehicle weighs 2 to 9 times more.This has the disadvantage of causing vibrations in the steering wheel, especially when driving at high speeds, reducing operational stability and causing discomfort to the driver, as well as increasing fuel consumption. There was a drawback to doing so.

[Summary of the invention]

The present invention has been made to eliminate the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks, and in particular, the rim is constructed using reinforced plastic. First, a lightweight shape-retaining material is used as the core material,
The part where the fingers of the eye and grip part are located is pre-molded into an uneven shape, the surrounding area is a reinforced plastic layer reinforced with unidirectional reinforcing fibers, and the outer periphery is formed with rubber or resin to form a designed mold part. The molded part is configured to have a non-slip layer on the part of the mold that comes into contact with the fingers. In this way, it is possible to provide a steering wheel that is lightweight, has sufficient strength, does not generate vibrations during driving, has good operability, can reduce fuel consumption, and has excellent impact characteristics.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9. FIG. 6 is a front view, and FIGS. 7 to 9 are a sectional view taken along the line DD, an enlarged view along the line BE, and an enlarged view taken along the line FF in FIG. 6, respectively. In the figure, since (1) to (3) are the same as in FIG. 2, their explanation will be omitted. (1
A) is made of a core material 1, which is the core material for maintaining the shape of the rim (1), and is made of, for example, a lightweight foam member. In addition, the portion of the grip portion of the core material where the fingers are located is formed in advance into a wavy shape as shown in the drawings, which is also the gist of the present invention.

(1b) is a designed molded part in which the outer periphery of a reinforced plastic layer, which will be described later, is molded with rubber or resin.

(1C) is a reinforced plastic layer in which the periphery of the core material (1a) made of the lightweight foamed material is reinforced by the use of unidirectional reinforcing fibers. In this way, the reinforced glass layer and the designed mold part are configured to match the unevenness provided in the part of the curved part of the core material (1a) where the fingers are located, so that the fingers do not slip when operating the handle. It serves as a stop.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, the present invention uses a lightweight foam member as the core material of the rim of the steering wheel.

The part of the grip where the fingers are placed is pre-formed into an uneven shape, and the surrounding area is made of a reinforced glass layer made of unidirectional reinforcing fibers to match the undulations.Furthermore, the design mold is segmented around the outer periphery, making it easier for the fingers to move when operating the handle. Has anti-slip 1-
However, it is lightweight and has sufficient strength, does not generate vibrations when driving, has good operability, has low fuel consumption, and has excellent impact characteristics.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a side view of the steering wheel fixed to the steering shaft, Figs. 2 to 5 show a conventional steering wheel, and Fig. 2 is its front view.
3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view taken along the line BB in the same figure, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view taken along the line aa in the same figure. 6 to 9 show the steering wheel of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a 1E plane view, and FIG. 1 is a DD sectional view in FIG. 6. Figure 8 is an enlarged view of the E-B cross section in the same figure, and Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the same figure F-F.
It is an enlarged view of a cross section. In the figure, (1) is the rim, (1a) is the core material, (1b)
The design mold part +' (1c) is the unidirectional fiber-reinforced plastic layer, (21 is the spoke, and (3) is the boss. The same reference numerals in each figure indicate the same or equivalent parts. Agent: Masuo Oiwa

Claims (1)

[Claims] tlJ A steering wheel consisting of a ring-shaped rim that serves as a grip portion, a boss that is an attachment portion to the steering shaft, and spokes that integrally connect the rim and boss, wherein the rim has a lightweight structure. It consists of a core material made of a shaped material, a reinforced plastic layer reinforced with unidirectional reinforcing fibers around the core material, and a designed molded part made of rubber or resin on the outer periphery, and the part of the core material where the fingers of the grip part of the core material are located. Steering wheel 0 characterized in that it has been made into an uneven shape in advance and a designed molded part is formed following the shape of the core material. (2) Claim 1, characterized in that a lightweight foam member is used as the core material. Steering wheel (3) according to any one of claims (1) to (2) of the claims, characterized in that the portion of the grip portion of the core member that contacts the fingers is formed in a wave shape. Steering wheel as described.