WO2007108733A1 - Disposition de volant de direction - Google Patents

Disposition de volant de direction Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2007108733A1
WO2007108733A1 PCT/SE2007/000149 SE2007000149W WO2007108733A1 WO 2007108733 A1 WO2007108733 A1 WO 2007108733A1 SE 2007000149 W SE2007000149 W SE 2007000149W WO 2007108733 A1 WO2007108733 A1 WO 2007108733A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
gear
steering wheel
arrangement according
rotation
arrangement
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE2007/000149
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Laurent Groleau
Original Assignee
Autoliv Development Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Autoliv Development Ab filed Critical Autoliv Development Ab
Publication of WO2007108733A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007108733A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D1/00—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle
    • B62D1/02—Steering controls, i.e. means for initiating a change of direction of the vehicle vehicle-mounted
    • B62D1/04—Hand wheels
    • B62D1/10—Hubs; Connecting hubs to steering columns, e.g. adjustable
    • B62D1/105—Non-rotatable hubs, e.g. the central part of the steering wheel not rotating

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a steering wheel arrangement, in particular to a steering wheel arrangement for a vehicle such as, for example, a motor car or automobile.
  • the steering wheel comprises a rotatable steering wheel frame and a steering wheel hub which is fixed at the central region of the steering wheel frame so that, as the steering wheel frame is rotated, the hub remains fixed.
  • the fixed hub may comprise a centrally mounted driver air-bag (DAB) unit; thus, the air-bag unit will remain stationary whilst the steering wheel frame is rotated.
  • DAB driver air-bag
  • Such an arrangement allows certain specially shaped air-bags to be utilised more effectively; for example, an air-bag may be utilised which inflates asymmetrically yet presents the same, predetermined asymmetric inflated shape to the driver of a vehicle during deployment, regardless of the rotational position of the steering wheel frame.
  • Such specially shaped air-bags are particularly advantageous in certain situations, for example where it is desired to protect the driver of the vehicle from colliding with the "A post" of the vehicle during an "oblique" crash impact.
  • the steering wheel is provided with a ring gear and the steering column carries a pinion gear which meshes with part of the ring gear.
  • the pinion gear is smaller than the ring gear to provide a mounting area within the ring gear for fixedly mounting the relevant steering wheel component.
  • the axis upon which the steering wheel frame rotates must necessarily be offset from the axis of the steering column. Arranging the steering wheel and steering column in such a way, so that their respective axes of rotation are offset from one another, may have a negative impact on the steering stability and may perhaps also result in an undesirable "feel" through the steering wheel when the motor vehicle is being driven.
  • the steering wheel frame and steering column may instead be connected to respective, inter-meshing spur gears, of which one example is shown in US3 744 817.
  • respective axis of rotation of the steering column and steering wheel frame are necessarily offset from one another, which may result in a negative effect on steering stability.
  • a steering wheel arrangement comprising: a steering wheel element for supporting a rotatable steering wheel frame; and a mounting element for fixedly mounting a steering wheel component relative to the rotatable steering wheel frame, the steering wheel element being mounted for rotation with respect to the mounting element and operably connected to a first annular gear for co-axial rotation therewith; the arrangement further comprising: a second gear mounted for co-axial rotation with the first annular gear, the second gear being spaced axially below the first annular gear for attachment to a vehicle steering column aligned co-axially with the second gear and the steering wheel frame, wherein the mounting element extends into the space between the first and second gears to define a mounting portion for fixedly mounting the steering wheel component at the central region of the steering wheel frame; and the first and second gears are linked via an intermediate gear arrangement such that rotation of the steering wheel element rotates the second gear in the same direction.
  • the first, annular gear is formed integrally with the steering wheel element.
  • the steering wheel element is an annular element mounted on a corresponding first annular bearing element for rotation about the mounting portion.
  • the second gear is mounted for rotation on a second annular bearing element.
  • first and second gears are mounted within a single housing, the housing further being configured to define the mounting element between the gears.
  • the housing supports the first and second annular bearing elements.
  • the intermediate gear arrangement comprises a transfer pinion mounted for rotation with respect to the mounting element about an axis off-set from the rotational co-axis of the first and second gears, the transfer pinion simultaneously meshing with the first and second gears such that rotation of the first gear causes rotation of the transfer pinion and, in turn, the second gear.
  • the transfer pinion, first gear and second gear are all mounted within a single housing, the housing further being configured to define the fixed mounting element.
  • the transfer pinion incorporates a pair of anti-backlash gear discs resiliently mounted at the upper end of the transfer pinion for ensuring positive meshing engagement between the transfer pinion and first gear.
  • the transfer pinion incorporates a pair of anti-backlash gear discs resiliently mounted at the lower end of the transfer pinion for ensuring positive meshing engagement between the transfer pinion and second gear.
  • the arrangement is provided in a vehicle, wherein the steering wheel element supports the steering wheel frame of the vehicle, the second gear is operably connected to the steering column of the motor vehicle co-axially below the steering wheel frame, and the mounting element is fixedly mounted to a fixed part of the vehicle.
  • the steering wheel element is attached to the steering wheel frame.
  • the steering wheel element is formed integrally with the steering wheel frame.
  • the second gear is fixedly attached to the upper end of the steering column.
  • FIGURE 1 shows a cross-sectional perspective view of part of a steering wheel arrangement according to the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 shows a perspective view of one component of the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2;
  • FIGURE 3 shows a schematic side view of several further components of the arrangement of Figure 1 ;
  • FIGURE 4 shows a perspective cross-sectional view illustrating the steering wheel arrangement of Figure 1 but provided in a motor vehicle
  • FIGURE 5a shows a perspective view illustrating a further component of the arrangement shown in Figure 1 ;
  • FIGURE 5b shows a perspective view corresponding to Figure 5a, but partly in phantom to illustrate the structure of the component shown in Figure 5a in more detail;
  • FIGURE 5c shows a perspective view illustrating part of the component shown in Figure 5a in more detail.
  • FIGURE 5d shows a perspective view illustrating part of the component shown in Figure 5a in more detail; Referring first of all to Figure 1 , part of a steering wheel arrangement 1 is shown comprising a housing 2.
  • the housing 2 comprises an outer casing wall 2a of generally uniform profile and being shaped to define a first generally ring-like portion 2b, a co-planar second, generally ring-like portion 2c, being of smaller radius than the portion 2b, and an intermediate "neck” portion 2d between the two ring-like portions 2b, 2c.
  • the housing 2 is provided with attachment flanges 3 extending laterally outwards from the lower edge of the outer casing wall 2a, each attachment flange 3 incorporating a respective clearance hole 3a for receiving a screw or bolt (not shown) therethrough to fixedly attach the housing 2 to a fixed part of a motor vehicle in known manner.
  • a mounting element in the form of a lateral partition 4, is provided as part of the housing 2, the partition 4 being attached to the inner surface of the outer casing wall 2a along a boundary line running approximately half-way between the upper and lower edges of the casing wall 2a, the partition 4 thus nominally dividing the housing into an upper compartment 5, above the partition 4, and a separate, lower compartment 6, being below the partition 4 (see Figure 1 ).
  • the partition 4 incorporates a first circular aperture 7, being roughly concentric with the first generally ring-like casing portion 2b, and a second, larger circular aperture 8, being roughly concentric with the second generally ring-like casing portion 2c.
  • An inwardly projecting annular lip 11 is formed around the periphery of the larger circular aperture.
  • an inwardly projecting annular lip 12 is formed around the periphery of the smaller aperture 7.
  • annular boss portion 9 extends upwardly from the lateral partition 4, around the periphery of the circular aperture 7, as part of the mounting element, the boss portion 9 defining an annular mounting portion 9a incorporating a plurality of internally threaded holes or bores 10 for receiving screws or bolts (not shown), as will be described in more detail below.
  • the housing 2 may be formed using any suitable process and may, for example, be cast as a single piece from Aluminium or Magnesium. Alternatively, the various portions of the housing may be formed separately from one another and subsequently fixedly attached to one another to form the final housing.
  • a first annular bearing element 13 is provided around the outer periphery of the boss portion 9, and an annular gear 15, having a diameter slightly larger than the annular bearing element 13, is rotatably mounted on the bearing element in known manner, for example by means of a plurality of ball-bearings 14 sandwiched between corresponding circumferential grooves on the annular bearing element 13 and annular gear 15.
  • the annular gear 15 is provided with gear teeth 15a cut on the outwardly facing annular surface thereof.
  • a steering wheel element 16 being an element suitable for supporting a steering wheel frame, is formed integrally with the annular gear 15 whereby the steering wheel element is thus effectively mounted on the annular bearing element 13 for rotation with respect to the housing 2, the steering wheel element 16 and annular gear 15 being operably connected therefore such that the annular gear 15 rotates with the steering wheel element 16 as the latter is rotated.
  • a second gear 17 is provided below the partition 4 (that is within the second compartment 6), the second gear comprising a tubular spindle portion 17a extending upwardly into the annular boss portion 9, and a gear body portion 17b extending laterally from the lower end of the tubular spindle portion 17a, beneath the partition 4, such that the outer periphery of the gear body 17b is aligned with the outer periphery of the annular gear 15.
  • the gear body 17b is provided with gear teeth 17c cut on the external annular surface thereof, in similar manner to the annular gear 15 (see Figure 3).
  • the second gear 17 is configured such that it may be connected to a vehicle steering column, as described in more detail below.
  • the spindle portion 17a is rotatably mounted, co-axially with the annular gear 15, on a second annular bearing element 18 provided on the inner surface of the annular boss portion 9 (adjacent the upper end of the spindle 17a).
  • the spindle portion 17a is rotatably mounted in known manner, for example by means of "sandwiched" ball-bearings (not shown) in similar manner to annular bearing element 13 and annular gear 15 described above.
  • an intermediate gear arrangement comprising a transfer pinion 19, the transfer pinion 19 being in the form of a spur gear comprising a central tubular spindle portion 19a and a gear body 19b having an axial thickness grater than the distance between the axially spaced first and second gears.
  • the external surface of the gear body 19b is divided into three sections of generally equal width: an upper gear section 19c formed by an upper band of gear teeth 19d, a lower gear section 19e formed by a lower band of gear teeth 19f, and an intermediate bearing section 19g extending between the upper and lower sections 19c,19e.
  • the gear body 19b of the transfer pinion 19 is received within the larger aperture 8 in the partition 4, with the intermediate bearing section 19g being rotatably mounted on a respective third annular bearing element 20 provided around the edge of the aperture 8, such that the transfer pinion 19 may be rotated within the aperture 8 about an axle (not shown) extending through the hollow spindle portion 19a.
  • the transfer pinion 19 is rotatably mounted to the housing 2 for rotation about an axis parallel to the coincident rotational axes of the first and second gears 15,17.
  • first gear 15, second gear 17 and transfer pinion 19 may be formed of a sintered metal.
  • housing 2 remains fixed with respect to the steering wheel element 16, gears 15, 17 and transfer pinion 20 upon rotation of the steering wheel element 16, such that when the housing 2 is fixedly attached to a fixed part of a motor vehicle, mounting portion 9a is suitable for fixedly mounting a steering wheel component, for example an airbag unit, with respect to the steering wheel element 16.
  • a steering wheel component for example an airbag unit
  • FIG 4 the steering wheel arrangement of Figure 1 is shown in situ in a vehicle (not shown), for example a motor car or automobile.
  • the steering wheel element 16 is fixedly attached to a steering wheel frame 21 , by means of a plurality of bolts (of which only one is shown in Figure
  • the steering wheel frame 21 comprises a plurality of radial spokes 22 (of which two are shown in Figure 4) and a peripheral rim (not shown), although it is to be understood that the steering wheel frame may be of any suitable shape.
  • the steering wheel element is attached to the steering wheel frame 21 , it is to be understood that the steering element might alternatively support the steering wheel frame by being formed integrally with the steering wheel frame.
  • the steering wheel frame 21 is preferably in the form of a metal frame, and may be covered in a soft foam-like material in conventional manner.
  • the second gear 17 is connected to the steering column 23 of the vehicle, the steering column 23 being arranged below the steering wheel frame 21 and aligned co-axially therewith (along axis A shown in Figure 4).
  • the upper end of the steering column 23 is received within the tubular spindle 17a of the second gear 17 and a central bolt 23a engages with an internal thread (not shown) at the upper end of the steering column 23, the head of the bolt 23a abutting against the top surface of the spindle 17a to secure the steering column 23 to the second gear 17.
  • the housing 2 is fixedly attached to a fixed part of the vehicle, indicated schematically at 24, via bolts 25 (of which only one is shown in Figure 4) extending down through the clearance holes 3a in the attachment flanges 3.
  • a steering wheel component in the form of an airbag unit support plate 26, is mounted to the boss portion 9 via bolts 10a (of which two are shown in Figure 4) which engage with the respective threaded holes 10.
  • the airbag support plate is configured for fixedly mounting an airbag unit in conventional manner and incorporates a channel section 25a, aligned with a corresponding channel section on the outer wall of the boss portion 9 and partition 4, for receiving wiring or the like associated with the airbag unit.
  • the partition 4 represents a mounting element extending between the first and second gears to define a mounting portion, in the form of the tubular boss portion 9, the mounting portion being suitable for fixedly mounting a steering wheel component, in the specific form of a hub comprising an airbag unit, at the central region of the steering wheel frame 21 (by means of the airbag support plate 26).
  • the gear ratio of the first and second gear is 1 :1 ; thus, the arrangement is such that as the steering wheel frame 21 is rotated through an angle ⁇ , so the steering wheel column 23 will likewise be rotated through an angle ⁇ , the steering wheel frame 21 and steering column 23 nevertheless being arranged co-axially with one another.
  • any suitable gear ratio between the first and second gears may be used in accordance with the present invention, possibly in combination with an alternative intermediate gear arrangement from the one described above (but nevertheless operably linking the first and second gears such that rotation of the steering wheel element causes rotation of the second gear in the same direction).
  • a respective pair of "anti-backlash" gear discs 26 is mounted on the tubular spindle portion 19a of the transfer portion adjacent each of the upper and lower gear sections 19c, 19e.
  • a pair of anti- backlash gear discs 26a and 26b are mounted on the tubular spindle 19a, above the gear section 19c, each of the two gear discs 26a, 26b comprising external gear teeth.
  • the gear discs 26a, 26b are biased against the action of a plurality of spring pins 27 extending through clearance holes 28 in the transfer pinion 19 and gear discs 26a, 26b respectively (see Figure 5B), such that each of the gear discs 26a, 26b is resiliently biased against rotation relative to the transfer pinion 19.
  • the gear 15 will remain in positive meshing engagement with the respective gear disc 26a, 26b as the gear 15 rotates, thus providing a small level of mechanical resistance within the arrangement which may be sufficient to provide the vehicle steering arrangement with a reassuring "solid" feel from the point of view of a vehicle occupant turning the steering wheel frame.
  • Anti-backlash gear discs 28a and 28b may similarly be provided at the lower section 19e of the transfer pinion 19, to engage with the second gear in similar manner as described above.
  • a steering wheel component in the form of an airbag support plate and airbag unit, it is to be appreciated that the arrangement might equally be used to mount other steering wheel components such as, for example, a steering wheel hub cover and/or a cover display or emblem.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Steering Controls (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention propose une disposition de volant de direction comprenant : un élément de volant de direction (16) pour soutenir une jante (21) de volant de direction pouvant tourner et un élément de montage (4) pour monter de façon fixe un composant de volant de direction par rapport à la jante (21) de volant de direction pouvant tourner, l'élément de volant de direction (16) étant monté pour tourner par rapport à l'élément de montage (4) et relié de façon fonctionnelle à une première roue dentée annulaire (15) pour tourner avec celle-ci ; la disposition comprenant en outre : une seconde roue dentée (17) montée pour tourner coaxialement avec la première roue dentée annulaire (15), la seconde roue dentée (17) étant sous la première roue dentée annulaire (15) à une certaine distance axiale de celle-ci et reliée à une colonne de direction (23) de véhicule alignée sur le même axe que la jante (21) de volant de direction, l'élément de montage (4) s'étendant dans l'espace entre les première et seconde roues dentées (15, 17) pour définir une partie de montage (9) afin de monter de façon fixe le composant de volant de direction dans la zone centrale de la jante (21) de volant de direction ; et les première et seconde roues dentées (15, 17) étant reliées par une disposition d'engrenage intermédiaire (19) de telle sorte que la rotation de l'élément de volant de direction (16) fait tourner la seconde roue dentée (17) dans le même sens.
PCT/SE2007/000149 2006-03-17 2007-02-20 Disposition de volant de direction WO2007108733A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0605490.2 2006-03-17
GB0605490A GB2436134A (en) 2006-03-17 2006-03-17 Steering wheel arrangement

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007108733A1 true WO2007108733A1 (fr) 2007-09-27

Family

ID=36293036

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/SE2007/000149 WO2007108733A1 (fr) 2006-03-17 2007-02-20 Disposition de volant de direction

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GB (1) GB2436134A (fr)
WO (1) WO2007108733A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009072943A1 (fr) * 2007-12-05 2009-06-11 Autoliv Development Ab Installation de volant

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITBO20110644A1 (it) * 2011-11-10 2013-05-11 A M A S P A Dispositivo sterzante

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3744817A (en) * 1970-07-28 1973-07-10 Renault Combination steering-wheel and safety device for automotive vehicle
FR2827561A1 (fr) * 2001-07-17 2003-01-24 Delphi Tech Inc Colonne de direction a moyeu fixe
US20030067147A1 (en) * 2001-10-05 2003-04-10 Holmes Francis J. Static driver airbag module using steering wheel mounted gears
WO2005085016A1 (fr) * 2004-03-01 2005-09-15 Takata-Petri Ag Dispositif de positionnement d'un module sur le volant d'un vehicule automobile

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0188164B1 (fr) * 1985-01-07 1989-03-15 Ecia - Equipements Et Composants Pour L'industrie Automobile Bloc de direction de véhicule automobile, comportant un coussin central fixe
US5152358A (en) * 1989-08-24 1992-10-06 Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Vehicle steering apparatus
FR2815318B1 (fr) * 2000-10-18 2003-02-21 Autoliv Isodelta Systeme et volant de direction pour vehicule

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3744817A (en) * 1970-07-28 1973-07-10 Renault Combination steering-wheel and safety device for automotive vehicle
FR2827561A1 (fr) * 2001-07-17 2003-01-24 Delphi Tech Inc Colonne de direction a moyeu fixe
US20030067147A1 (en) * 2001-10-05 2003-04-10 Holmes Francis J. Static driver airbag module using steering wheel mounted gears
WO2005085016A1 (fr) * 2004-03-01 2005-09-15 Takata-Petri Ag Dispositif de positionnement d'un module sur le volant d'un vehicule automobile

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2009072943A1 (fr) * 2007-12-05 2009-06-11 Autoliv Development Ab Installation de volant

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2436134A (en) 2007-09-19
GB0605490D0 (en) 2006-04-26

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