JPS6239340A - Switch-steering-wheel arrangement for automibile - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a switch-steering wheel arrangement for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1. This arrangement has a side arm attached to the steering post below the plane of the steering wheel, near the steering shaft.

B. Prior Art According to DE 28 27 338 A1, in the case of the known switch arrangement, the transverse arm is constructed as an arm member which can be pivoted about the steering axle. At the front end of this arm a plate-like switch element is arranged, which elements are arranged at an angle or concave towards the steering wheel plane, respectively. It has inch-rated switches on the top, side, and end surfaces.

Furthermore, the arm member is adjustable in the direction of the steering axle. Such a known arrangement may be convenient in the case of special vehicles in order to meet its given conditions and requirements, but in the case of ordinary utility vehicles, especially road vehicles, it is too expensive and And it's also inconvenient. In particular, in the known arrangement, the switch is located so that it cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Moreover, it is inconvenient. In addition, the pivotability of the arm member means that the familiar switch position in a typical utility vehicle is changed, which impairs safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a switch-steering wheel arrangement as follows, in which the drawbacks of the known switch arrangements are eliminated. That is, an arrangement of the type mentioned at the beginning with a side arm attached to the steering boss 1 ~ below the plane of the steering wheel, close to the steering shaft, which is particularly suitable for ordinary utility vehicles. The purpose is to provide an arrangement that allows optimum operating conditions to be easily provided.

The basic problem of the invention was solved by the following switch frame part, which is essentially U-shaped.

That is, a frame part which is fixedly connected to the end of the transverse arm remote from the steering shaft and is located in a plane approximately parallel to the steering wheel. At this time, the base of this frame portion is oriented toward the front of the vehicle. The switch frame part, together with the transverse arm connected to it, serves as a holder for the operating switch and is advantageously configured as an essentially rectangular, open frame when viewed in plan view of the steering wheel. 9, this frame can be mass-produced cheaply as a molded part.

The frame is dimensioned as follows relative to the steering wheel. That is, the steering wheel is sized so that the upper half of the wheel is surrounded in a substantially straight line when viewed from a plan view of the steering wheel. By doing so, when an operator, for example a vehicle driver, lifts up the steering wheel from above, he or she can operate the steering wheel while viewing the crown-shaped operation switch on the frame on the outside of the wheel. The frame is located in an out-of-the-way area of the vehicle, just below the steering wheel, so the view into the instrument panel is unobstructed. The driver can have sufficient free space for his legs even with the frame according to the invention in place.

In particular, it can be produced at low cost and has an attractive appearance.
This is a case where the side arm is configured in an integrated manner with the steering boss 1~. By fixedly attaching the switch holder to the steering post, the holder is forced to remain at an even distance from the wheel even when the height or angle of the steering wheel is adjusted. This allows optimal operation of the switch no matter what position the wheel is in.

Another advantageous feature of the invention is that the upper surface of the base of the U-shaped switch frame portion, while forming a flat surface, is angled as follows. That is, the angle of the upper surface of the base with respect to the horizontal plane is larger than the angle or inclination of the wheel. The driver therefore looks down on the angled upper surface of the frame portion approximately vertically. On this top surface,
Advantageously, a vehicle monitor, for example a pilot light, is arranged.

The upper surface of the leg of the U-shaped frame part is likewise constructed as a flat surface, and a switch lever is arranged along the upper surface (second position or multi-position switch). Viewed from the side, these switch levers are preferably single-shaped and can be actuated by the operator from above or from below, ie from the outside. However, at the same time, safety measures δ are taken to prevent the switch lever from being operated by unexpected movement of the knee from below, for example.

At each leg, there may be four or five switch levers for the right-hander, one lever for each operator. The lever is located at a suitable distance from the steering wheel crown, which may support the operating hand.

In the region of the connection between the transverse arm and the frame part leg assigned to it, a rotary switch is also provided, the axis of rotation of which is located in the plane of the frame in the transverse direction of the vehicle; The radially extending switch operating member is directed upwardly. These operating members can likewise be easily operated with one finger of the operating hand. The operating direction is the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

It is particularly advantageous to provide at least one direct illumination device for the instrument panel instruments at a suitable location on the underside of the frame facing the vehicle instrument panel.

With this type of lighting system, optimal illumination of the panel is possible without dazzling the driver.

It is also easily accessible in case of breakdown.

As described above, the present invention provides multi-functions (switch device, monitor, direct lighting vt@)
A switch-holding body of a particularly simple construction with This holding body can be a molded part that is closed in itself and has an inverted U-shape when viewed from the driver. The switches and monitors are placed on the holder, E, so that they can be easily seen and adjusted to suit the functions, making it easy for the driver to operate. Due to its simple construction, this switch arrangement is particularly suitable for road utility vehicles. This is because, in the case of this type of automobile, the instrument panel body is located relatively far from the driver, and many switches must be easily operable. Many of these switches are based on the steering wheel switch according to DE 2827338
It cannot be accommodated inside the boss or on the side arm.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings: In the illustrated embodiment of the automotive switch-steering wheel arrangement, in addition to the steering wheel 7, the steering shaft 2, and the steering post 3, the steering wheel A frame 10 is provided which is attached to the steering post 2 below the wheel plane and close to the steering shaft 2.
0 is located in a plane parallel to the steering wheel 7. The frame 10 is provided with a monitor 11, such as a pilot lamp, in the lateral direction of the vehicle in a crown shape on its upper side, and a switch lever 14 and a rotary switch 15 are provided on the side of the frame 10. frame 1
The 0 dimension is such that the upper half of the steering wheel 7 is almost surrounded by the frame 10 when the wheel 7 is viewed from above. The driver sees the monitor 11 and the switch lever 14 outside the periphery of the wheel 7 from his or her own visual angle.
Everything can be seen and easily touched. Steering wheel 7 and closed frame 10
At the same time, the instrument panel 17 of the vehicle, for example the tachometer, can be viewed from inside the vehicle.

The frame 10 is configured as an integrally molded member,
In particular, it has transverse arms 4.5 extending approximately in the transverse direction of the vehicle, which transverse arms are fixedly connected to the steering post 3 at the base. At the lateral outer ends of the side arms 4, 5, an inverted U-shaped switch frame part 6 is added, the base 8 of which faces towards the front side 9 of the vehicle.

Furthermore, at least a portion of the flat upper side of the base 8 is angled substantially vertically so that the driver can see the upper side. This angled slope is used as a monitor. The switch frame part 6 of the frame 10 furthermore has lateral legs 12.13 extending approximately in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which legs 12.13 are also designed flat on the upper side; A switch lever 14 is provided there.

When viewed from the side, each switch lever 14 is approximately L-shaped, and is operated by the driver by pushing it from above, and when turning off the switch, the switch is pulled out or turned from the outside in the opposite direction. The switch lever 14 can be operated in two positions or in multiple positions.

Side arms 4, 5 and frame parts 6 attached to them Legs 1
2.13, a rotary switch 15 is additionally mounted, the axis of rotation of which extends in the lateral direction of the vehicle and is located in the plane of the frame. The rotary switch 15 has a radially extending actuating member 16, which is directed towards the driver's head, ie upwards.

For operation, tilt or rotate forward and backward.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the switch-steering wheel arrangement of a utility vehicle; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 with the steering wheel removed; Fig. 3 is a schematic side view; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A--A in FIG. 3. In the diagram: 1...Switch-steering wheel arrangement 2...
・Steering shaft 3...Steering post 4.5...Side arm 6...Switch frame part 8...Base 10...Frame 11...Monitor 12.13...Legs 14... Switch lever 15... Rotating switch

Claims (11)

[Claims] (1) Automobile switch - Steering wheel arrangement (1), also mounted on the steering post (3) below the plane of the steering wheel, close to the steering shaft (2), and located approximately in the lateral direction of the vehicle. It has transverse arms (4, 5) extending to
4 and 5) are of the type used for arranging vehicle operation switches, the switch frame portion (6) is approximately U-shaped.
is the side arm farthest from the steering shaft (4,
5) is fixedly connected to the end and also this frame part (6) lies in a plane approximately parallel to the steering wheel plane, with its base (8) directed towards the front of the vehicle (9); An automobile key-steering wheel arrangement characterized by: (2) the side arms (4, 5) and the U-shaped switch frame part (6) are configured as a closed integral frame (10), which is approximately rectangular in plan view of the steering wheel; A switch-steering wheel arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that: (3) The frame (10) is connected to the steering wheel (
7), the arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the frame (10) has dimensions that substantially surround the upper half of the steering wheel when seen in a plan view of the steering wheel. (4) Any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the side arms (4, 5) are constructed fixedly and integrally with the steering post (3). Arrangement as described in one section. (5) Base of U-shaped switch frame part (6) (
8) is formed as a flat surface on the upper side and as an inclined surface, and as a result, the angle of the upper side of the base with respect to the horizontal plane is larger than the angle or inclination of the steering wheel (7). Arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: (6) on the flat upper side of the base (8) of the U-shaped frame part and also on the legs (12) of the base (8);
, 13), a vehicle monitor (11) is arranged along the vehicle monitor (11).
Arrangement as described in any one of the paragraphs. (7) along the flat upper side of the base (8) and the legs (12, 13) of the U-shaped frame part (6);
7. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that a second or multiple switch lever (14) is provided. (8) The switch lever (14) has an L-shape in side view and is operated from above, and when operated, the operator cannot operate it from the outside side in the opposite direction. The arrangement as claimed in claim 7. (9) Arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that approximately 4 to 5 switch levers (14) are provided at each leg (12, 13). (10) At least one rotary switch (15) is provided in the region of the connection point between the side arm (4 or 5) and the frame part leg (12 or 13) assigned thereto; Claim characterized in that the axis of rotation of the switch is located in the plane of the frame in the transverse direction of the vehicle, and that the radially extending actuating member (16) of this switch points upwardly. The arrangement according to any one of paragraphs 1 to 5. (11) Frame (10) facing the vehicle instrument panel (17)
) at least one direct illumination device for the instruments in the instrument panel (17) is provided at the lower side. Arrangements as described in Section 1.