CA1233396A - Energy absorbing steering wheel - Google Patents
Energy absorbing steering wheelInfo
- Publication number
- CA1233396A CA1233396A CA000459233A CA459233A CA1233396A CA 1233396 A CA1233396 A CA 1233396A CA 000459233 A CA000459233 A CA 000459233A CA 459233 A CA459233 A CA 459233A CA 1233396 A CA1233396 A CA 1233396A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- boss
- self
- plate
- steering wheel
- tile
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
- Expired
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
-
- 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
- B62D1/11—Hand wheels incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Steering Controls (AREA)
- Tires In General (AREA)
- Vibration Dampers (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
An energy absorbing steering wheel capable of two different types of deformation and which comprises a steering shaft, a boss fixed to the steering shaft, a self-aligning plate fixed to the boss at the central portion thereof, and at least one spoke fixed to an outer peripheral portion of the self-aligning plate. The self-aligning plate is formed with a curved annular portion of sectional U-shape.
An energy absorbing steering wheel capable of two different types of deformation and which comprises a steering shaft, a boss fixed to the steering shaft, a self-aligning plate fixed to the boss at the central portion thereof, and at least one spoke fixed to an outer peripheral portion of the self-aligning plate. The self-aligning plate is formed with a curved annular portion of sectional U-shape.
Description
333~6 This invention relates to a steering wheel for an automobile, and more particularly to an energy absorbing steering wheel err an automobile.
Conventiol-la]ly, such kind of steering wheel Lo known in US. Patent No. 3,992~041. This prior art patent discloses a steering wheel having a spoke mounted througtl a se:LE-a].icJtli.ng plate to a boss of a steering shaft, wherein tile self-alicJrl:i.ng plate is deformed to entirely incline the steer:Lrlg wheat and direct the surface owe a rim of the Jo stecrincJ wtleel towards tile driver upon collision owe the vehicle Moreover, in the prior art, a load for deforming the self-aligniny plate is set -to be of a small value since it is preferred to reduce tile load for deformirlg the self-aligning slate in such an inclination of the steering wheel as mentioned above. Therefore, in the prior art, it is necessary -to provide a stopper member for receiving large load acting on -the steering wheel following the small load where tile inclination owe the steering wheel occurs.
Ilowever, the stopper mulberry is required to be exude to the steering wheel Atari the steering wheel is mounted to a stecrirlcJ wheel shaft, arid considerable time for assembling tile steer:incJ wheel is needed. In addition, the nulllber of warts err construction as well as weight of the steering witlessly are increased I ~ccorclincJ:Ly, it issue an object of tile E)reser)t .Lnvctlt.Lon to provide an enercJy absorb:i.ncJ steering wheel wtl:Lch el.i.lll:Lrlates a stopper member for receiving a large load ~33~i acting on the steering wheel, thereby avoiding the time required for installation of the stopper member, and further reducing -the weight of the steering wheel.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an energy absorbing steering wheel which may prevent oscillation owe -the steering wheel and improve operability of the steering wheel owing -to reduction in weight .
according to the present invention, -there is lo provided an energy absorbing steering wheel, comprising;
a boss mounted on an upper end of a steering shut, a deformable self-aligning plate having a central hole in-to which the boss is inserted and fixed there-to r a boss plate fixed to a peripheral edge portion of the self-aligning plate, a plurality of deformable spokes of a steering rim fixed to a peripheral edge portion of the boss plate, and a flange formed on an outer circumferential surface of the boss and including a deformation restricting surface for restricting deformation of the self-aligning plate, wherein the self-aligning plate is made of deformable metal and is formed with a sectionally U-shaped annular curved portion and wherein inner and outer end portions of the U-shaped annular curved portions lie in the same plane in an undeformed state, the boss plate is substantially of a disc shape having a central opening and is coccal fixed to the outer end portion of the U-shaped curved portion owe -the self-aliyni.ng plate, the spokes are Wormed with deformable bent portions in the vicinity owe the peripheral edgy portion owe the boss plate, and the sel.E-aligning I plot Lo more readily deformable than the spokes, such that upon applicatiorl owe force to the steering wheel, the bent portions owe the spokes are deformed await the sel:E-aligniny plate has dermoid and has come into abutment against the deformation restricting Sirius of the melange us owe -the boss.
A small load acting on the steering wheel in the initial stage of collision is absorbed by deforming I
pa the self-aligning plate to abut the annular curved portion of the self aligning plate against the boss because of the inclination of the steering wheel, and a subsequent large load acting on the steering wheel is absorbed by deformation of the spouse.
In other words, the energy absorbing steering wheel of the present invention may absorb shock energy due to a small load acting on -the steering wheel a-t an :Lni-tL~l stage of collision by -the first deformation thereof (in~llna-tion ~:3~3,3~
of tile steering wheel to provide a first dartlplng effect against tile shock occurring upon collision of tile vehicle, and absorb Saclike energy from a large toad applied ttlereto by the suckled deformati.orl thereof to provide a second : S Damon eECect.
Imbo(l:LIllents of file invention will now be described, by way of exalrlL.).l.e, Whitehall ruralize to tile accOmpatlyitlcJ
draw.l.rlgs, inn Welch:
Jig .1. is a sect:iorlal view of an erlercJy ahsorbLng lo steer.LIlcJ wheel of a first embodilrlent owe tile inverltion;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of tile essential parts of FicJ. l;
it. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of tile essential parts of tile energy absorbing steering wheel upon deformation of tile self-a:lign:Lrlg plate;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of tile sel:E-aligning plate with a portion thereof omitted;
. Fig. 5 is an elevatiorlal view of a sel:E-aligning plate of a secotld embodiment I Fly. 6 is a sectional view Tyson alonc3 tile line VI-VI in Fig. 5;
iota. 7 is a vertical sectional view of Ego. 5, :LIlc.Lucl.i.rl-J a steer:i.rlCJ shaft; end lockjaw. 8 depicts g:rclpllically tile relat:iollsh:ip 25 lowlier cleEorlnat Loll of the steerirlg wheel and tile luckily act::i.t-lg on Lyle stcer-LIlg will eEe.rr:Lng now to Figs. 1 and 2 showirlcJ a first ~333~
em~oclimerlt, a cylincirical boss if is fitted to a steering shaft ill at its upper end thrill a tapered surface 1.2 of the steerirly slat 10 end a tapered surface 13 owe tile boss 11 by a lock nut 14 screwed into an upper end of the shaft It no ii':igs.l to 3, tile twirl "right" means tile front portrayal of tile vehicle Rand tile term "loft" meals the rear port:Lorl owe tile vehicle. lye boss 11 is formed Whitehall an outer Lowe lo at it's front erlcl. 'Lowe elan I is formed with a sl.lrlt surface It at its rear end. Tile boss Lois formed It Whitehall a reduced (I:iallleter portion 17 Nat its rear end. Lyle released do meter portion 17 is engaged with a central opening lo formed at tile central portion owe an annular self-aligrlirlg plate 18, and is welded at 20 to the annular Swahili-al:i.yllirlg plate 18. us shown in Fig. 4, tile sel.E-aligrlirlg 15 plate 18 is made of a plastically deformable metal plate and is formed in annular shape having a sectional U-shaped annular curved portion 21 around tile central operlitlcJ 19.
In this embodiment an inrler end of tile curved portion 21 is des:igrled to include a main deformed portion 22. The self-20 a:l.:igrling plate 18 is fixed, preferably by welding, at thrower surface of wits outer circumferential portly to an art fir buckeyes pile 23. Lyle buss plate 23 is welded to a boss po:rl;i.cJtl 26 of spokes 25 lnc:l.udiny a rum I no thus elllbo(lllllcrlt, tile spc~lces 2'; are Kent at portions 21 in tile I vl.c:l.lll.ty of the outer periphery of the Boyce slate 23. Such port:ic)rl.-; 27 of tile spokes 25 ware cles:Lc3tle(l to be deformable by a greater luckily than tile load employer for deforming the I
deformed portion 22 of the seli--aliynillg plate 18. us show yin Fake. 1 reference numeral 28 designates a core member fixed by screws 2g to a mount member aye provided on the rear stale of toe boss portion 26 of the spoke 25; a pad 5 menlber 30 covers the core mulberry 28; a pad mender 31 covers trio rim 24 an-i tire spoke 25; and a cover member 32 covers a mouth: portion of tile spoke 25 to tile steering shaft It.
in opfrclt:iorl wllell tile steering wheel Lo deformed downwardly e se:LE-a:L:icJnillg plate 18 is deformed at the It cieformed portrayal 22. on oilier words as sllowrl in Fig. 3 tile Lower portion of the selE-aliyning plate 18 is urged forwardly arid simultaneously the upper portion of the plate 18 is relatively urged rearwarclly. Therefore toe surface of tile rim 24 is inclilled from its normal tilt ancJle to 15 come to opposed relation with the driver. Such a deform-lion of the self-aligni7lg plate 18 is referred to as a first deformation of the steering wheel. Upon collision of a vehicle tile shock applied against the driver is eeriest reduced with the aid of the first deformation to some extent.
20 'Lowe furriest deformation is substantially stopped when a curved eons ala of a befit portion 21 of toe Swahili Jning plate it Lo a~)uttecl ayaillst a support circles 16 of a ~;uil?c)r.~t E'lallcJe~ 15 of tile Boyce; 11 (Sophie FlcJ. 3). 'I'llerl tile spools 25 Lo cieforlllecl at Lots bfllt port:Lorl 27 (See phantom '25 little Irk li'LCJ. 3). Suckle a cleEorlllatiorl of the stoke 25 is rf'Ee`r.rf~l lo a a secorlc'l cleEorrllatiorl of the steerklcJ wheel.
Wilt tile aid of tile SC'COIld cleEc)r~lat:ioll the rim 24 is moved ~2~33~
forwardly to Durham the spoke 25 under the condition where the slick cleanest the driver its reduced to some extent by the first deformation owe the steering wheel as nlerlt:ioned above .
erring next to its 5 -to 7 slowing a second embod,ilnerlt~ wherein the same elements as in the first elllbo~'l,i,lllellt are clesiynated by the same reference numerals, a se~:l,.E-a:l:icJrl;,rlg plot 38 is comprised owe a plurality of pl.as,t:iccllly-deEorlllable arm portions 39 radically outwardly lo exterl-,1i,rlg from its central portion in equally spaced rota-Tony with each other. soys potions 26 of spokes 25 are fixed througtl a boss plate 23 to the outer end puritans of the arm portions 39 as with the first embodilllerlt. The outlawry elements are identical with those of the eeriest embodilllent.
In the same mclrlrler as with the first embod:i.lllellt, a deformable portion 42 is eeriest deformed on the occasion of collision of a vehicle. The deformation of the deformable portion 42, that is, the furriest deformation, continues until a lower end aye of a curved portiorl 41 of the self-alignirlg plate 38 is abutted agaillst the support surface 16 of the support flange 15 of toe boss if. 'I'tlereafter, a large load is absorbed by tile deEo:rmal:Loll of the spokes 25 (See Fig. 7). no other word tile sccorld de:Eorlllat:i.on is generated irk the same matlnc3r as Whitehall the eeriest elllbocl:lmerlt.
7.5 us is above described, energy inn collision may be abuser y the Ei.rsk and tile second deformation of the steerillcJ wilee:l. 'Lowe :relat.iorls}l:ip between all amorality of ~33~
deEormatioll ox tile stecrirlg wheel and a load acting on the steering wheel Urania assuring the energy irk collusion is represerlted yo-yo a grapple as Swahili in Fly. I. no tile drawing, c}laracteriC-,ti.cs owe energy a}~sor~t:iorl due to tile Eeriest S doEorlll.lt:i.o~l of tile slee:ri.n~ Wylie are shown by curve -from a pullout () to a pullout, A, wow characteristics of energy aJ~.~;orr)tiorl dole to tile second Darryl twill of tile steering wiloeL Jo s~lowrl Joy a curve prom tile point to a point B.
LO
it) I
Conventiol-la]ly, such kind of steering wheel Lo known in US. Patent No. 3,992~041. This prior art patent discloses a steering wheel having a spoke mounted througtl a se:LE-a].icJtli.ng plate to a boss of a steering shaft, wherein tile self-alicJrl:i.ng plate is deformed to entirely incline the steer:Lrlg wheat and direct the surface owe a rim of the Jo stecrincJ wtleel towards tile driver upon collision owe the vehicle Moreover, in the prior art, a load for deforming the self-aligniny plate is set -to be of a small value since it is preferred to reduce tile load for deformirlg the self-aligning slate in such an inclination of the steering wheel as mentioned above. Therefore, in the prior art, it is necessary -to provide a stopper member for receiving large load acting on -the steering wheel following the small load where tile inclination owe the steering wheel occurs.
Ilowever, the stopper mulberry is required to be exude to the steering wheel Atari the steering wheel is mounted to a stecrirlcJ wheel shaft, arid considerable time for assembling tile steer:incJ wheel is needed. In addition, the nulllber of warts err construction as well as weight of the steering witlessly are increased I ~ccorclincJ:Ly, it issue an object of tile E)reser)t .Lnvctlt.Lon to provide an enercJy absorb:i.ncJ steering wheel wtl:Lch el.i.lll:Lrlates a stopper member for receiving a large load ~33~i acting on the steering wheel, thereby avoiding the time required for installation of the stopper member, and further reducing -the weight of the steering wheel.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an energy absorbing steering wheel which may prevent oscillation owe -the steering wheel and improve operability of the steering wheel owing -to reduction in weight .
according to the present invention, -there is lo provided an energy absorbing steering wheel, comprising;
a boss mounted on an upper end of a steering shut, a deformable self-aligning plate having a central hole in-to which the boss is inserted and fixed there-to r a boss plate fixed to a peripheral edge portion of the self-aligning plate, a plurality of deformable spokes of a steering rim fixed to a peripheral edge portion of the boss plate, and a flange formed on an outer circumferential surface of the boss and including a deformation restricting surface for restricting deformation of the self-aligning plate, wherein the self-aligning plate is made of deformable metal and is formed with a sectionally U-shaped annular curved portion and wherein inner and outer end portions of the U-shaped annular curved portions lie in the same plane in an undeformed state, the boss plate is substantially of a disc shape having a central opening and is coccal fixed to the outer end portion of the U-shaped curved portion owe -the self-aliyni.ng plate, the spokes are Wormed with deformable bent portions in the vicinity owe the peripheral edgy portion owe the boss plate, and the sel.E-aligning I plot Lo more readily deformable than the spokes, such that upon applicatiorl owe force to the steering wheel, the bent portions owe the spokes are deformed await the sel:E-aligniny plate has dermoid and has come into abutment against the deformation restricting Sirius of the melange us owe -the boss.
A small load acting on the steering wheel in the initial stage of collision is absorbed by deforming I
pa the self-aligning plate to abut the annular curved portion of the self aligning plate against the boss because of the inclination of the steering wheel, and a subsequent large load acting on the steering wheel is absorbed by deformation of the spouse.
In other words, the energy absorbing steering wheel of the present invention may absorb shock energy due to a small load acting on -the steering wheel a-t an :Lni-tL~l stage of collision by -the first deformation thereof (in~llna-tion ~:3~3,3~
of tile steering wheel to provide a first dartlplng effect against tile shock occurring upon collision of tile vehicle, and absorb Saclike energy from a large toad applied ttlereto by the suckled deformati.orl thereof to provide a second : S Damon eECect.
Imbo(l:LIllents of file invention will now be described, by way of exalrlL.).l.e, Whitehall ruralize to tile accOmpatlyitlcJ
draw.l.rlgs, inn Welch:
Jig .1. is a sect:iorlal view of an erlercJy ahsorbLng lo steer.LIlcJ wheel of a first embodilrlent owe tile inverltion;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of tile essential parts of FicJ. l;
it. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of tile essential parts of tile energy absorbing steering wheel upon deformation of tile self-a:lign:Lrlg plate;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of tile sel:E-aligning plate with a portion thereof omitted;
. Fig. 5 is an elevatiorlal view of a sel:E-aligning plate of a secotld embodiment I Fly. 6 is a sectional view Tyson alonc3 tile line VI-VI in Fig. 5;
iota. 7 is a vertical sectional view of Ego. 5, :LIlc.Lucl.i.rl-J a steer:i.rlCJ shaft; end lockjaw. 8 depicts g:rclpllically tile relat:iollsh:ip 25 lowlier cleEorlnat Loll of the steerirlg wheel and tile luckily act::i.t-lg on Lyle stcer-LIlg will eEe.rr:Lng now to Figs. 1 and 2 showirlcJ a first ~333~
em~oclimerlt, a cylincirical boss if is fitted to a steering shaft ill at its upper end thrill a tapered surface 1.2 of the steerirly slat 10 end a tapered surface 13 owe tile boss 11 by a lock nut 14 screwed into an upper end of the shaft It no ii':igs.l to 3, tile twirl "right" means tile front portrayal of tile vehicle Rand tile term "loft" meals the rear port:Lorl owe tile vehicle. lye boss 11 is formed Whitehall an outer Lowe lo at it's front erlcl. 'Lowe elan I is formed with a sl.lrlt surface It at its rear end. Tile boss Lois formed It Whitehall a reduced (I:iallleter portion 17 Nat its rear end. Lyle released do meter portion 17 is engaged with a central opening lo formed at tile central portion owe an annular self-aligrlirlg plate 18, and is welded at 20 to the annular Swahili-al:i.yllirlg plate 18. us shown in Fig. 4, tile sel.E-aligrlirlg 15 plate 18 is made of a plastically deformable metal plate and is formed in annular shape having a sectional U-shaped annular curved portion 21 around tile central operlitlcJ 19.
In this embodiment an inrler end of tile curved portion 21 is des:igrled to include a main deformed portion 22. The self-20 a:l.:igrling plate 18 is fixed, preferably by welding, at thrower surface of wits outer circumferential portly to an art fir buckeyes pile 23. Lyle buss plate 23 is welded to a boss po:rl;i.cJtl 26 of spokes 25 lnc:l.udiny a rum I no thus elllbo(lllllcrlt, tile spc~lces 2'; are Kent at portions 21 in tile I vl.c:l.lll.ty of the outer periphery of the Boyce slate 23. Such port:ic)rl.-; 27 of tile spokes 25 ware cles:Lc3tle(l to be deformable by a greater luckily than tile load employer for deforming the I
deformed portion 22 of the seli--aliynillg plate 18. us show yin Fake. 1 reference numeral 28 designates a core member fixed by screws 2g to a mount member aye provided on the rear stale of toe boss portion 26 of the spoke 25; a pad 5 menlber 30 covers the core mulberry 28; a pad mender 31 covers trio rim 24 an-i tire spoke 25; and a cover member 32 covers a mouth: portion of tile spoke 25 to tile steering shaft It.
in opfrclt:iorl wllell tile steering wheel Lo deformed downwardly e se:LE-a:L:icJnillg plate 18 is deformed at the It cieformed portrayal 22. on oilier words as sllowrl in Fig. 3 tile Lower portion of the selE-aliyning plate 18 is urged forwardly arid simultaneously the upper portion of the plate 18 is relatively urged rearwarclly. Therefore toe surface of tile rim 24 is inclilled from its normal tilt ancJle to 15 come to opposed relation with the driver. Such a deform-lion of the self-aligni7lg plate 18 is referred to as a first deformation of the steering wheel. Upon collision of a vehicle tile shock applied against the driver is eeriest reduced with the aid of the first deformation to some extent.
20 'Lowe furriest deformation is substantially stopped when a curved eons ala of a befit portion 21 of toe Swahili Jning plate it Lo a~)uttecl ayaillst a support circles 16 of a ~;uil?c)r.~t E'lallcJe~ 15 of tile Boyce; 11 (Sophie FlcJ. 3). 'I'llerl tile spools 25 Lo cieforlllecl at Lots bfllt port:Lorl 27 (See phantom '25 little Irk li'LCJ. 3). Suckle a cleEorlllatiorl of the stoke 25 is rf'Ee`r.rf~l lo a a secorlc'l cleEorrllatiorl of the steerklcJ wheel.
Wilt tile aid of tile SC'COIld cleEc)r~lat:ioll the rim 24 is moved ~2~33~
forwardly to Durham the spoke 25 under the condition where the slick cleanest the driver its reduced to some extent by the first deformation owe the steering wheel as nlerlt:ioned above .
erring next to its 5 -to 7 slowing a second embod,ilnerlt~ wherein the same elements as in the first elllbo~'l,i,lllellt are clesiynated by the same reference numerals, a se~:l,.E-a:l:icJrl;,rlg plot 38 is comprised owe a plurality of pl.as,t:iccllly-deEorlllable arm portions 39 radically outwardly lo exterl-,1i,rlg from its central portion in equally spaced rota-Tony with each other. soys potions 26 of spokes 25 are fixed througtl a boss plate 23 to the outer end puritans of the arm portions 39 as with the first embodilllerlt. The outlawry elements are identical with those of the eeriest embodilllent.
In the same mclrlrler as with the first embod:i.lllellt, a deformable portion 42 is eeriest deformed on the occasion of collision of a vehicle. The deformation of the deformable portion 42, that is, the furriest deformation, continues until a lower end aye of a curved portiorl 41 of the self-alignirlg plate 38 is abutted agaillst the support surface 16 of the support flange 15 of toe boss if. 'I'tlereafter, a large load is absorbed by tile deEo:rmal:Loll of the spokes 25 (See Fig. 7). no other word tile sccorld de:Eorlllat:i.on is generated irk the same matlnc3r as Whitehall the eeriest elllbocl:lmerlt.
7.5 us is above described, energy inn collision may be abuser y the Ei.rsk and tile second deformation of the steerillcJ wilee:l. 'Lowe :relat.iorls}l:ip between all amorality of ~33~
deEormatioll ox tile stecrirlg wheel and a load acting on the steering wheel Urania assuring the energy irk collusion is represerlted yo-yo a grapple as Swahili in Fly. I. no tile drawing, c}laracteriC-,ti.cs owe energy a}~sor~t:iorl due to tile Eeriest S doEorlll.lt:i.o~l of tile slee:ri.n~ Wylie are shown by curve -from a pullout () to a pullout, A, wow characteristics of energy aJ~.~;orr)tiorl dole to tile second Darryl twill of tile steering wiloeL Jo s~lowrl Joy a curve prom tile point to a point B.
LO
it) I
Claims (4)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. An energy absorbing steering wheel, comprising:
a boss mounted on an upper end of a steering shaft;
a deformable self-aligning plate having a central hole into which said boss is inserted and fixed thereto;
a boss plate fixed to a peripheral edge portion of said self-aligning plate;
a plurality of deformable spokes of a steering rim fixed to a peripheral edge portion of said boss plate;
and a flange formed on an outer circumferential surface of said boss and including a deformation restricting surface for restricting deformation of said self-aligning plate, wherein said self-aligning plate is made of deformable metal and is formed with a sectionally U-shaped annular curved portion and wherein inner and outer end portions of said U-shaped annular curved portions lie in the same plane in an undeformed state; said boss plate is substantially of a disc shape having a central opening and is coaxially fixed to said outer end portion of said U-shaped curved portion of said self-aligning plate; said spokes are formed with deformable bent portions in the vicinity of said peripheral edge portion of said boss plate; and said self-aligning plate is more readily deformable than said spokes, such that upon application of force to said steering wheel, said bent portions of said spokes are deformed after said self-aligning plate has deformed and has come into abutment against said deformation restricting surface of said flange of said boss.
a boss mounted on an upper end of a steering shaft;
a deformable self-aligning plate having a central hole into which said boss is inserted and fixed thereto;
a boss plate fixed to a peripheral edge portion of said self-aligning plate;
a plurality of deformable spokes of a steering rim fixed to a peripheral edge portion of said boss plate;
and a flange formed on an outer circumferential surface of said boss and including a deformation restricting surface for restricting deformation of said self-aligning plate, wherein said self-aligning plate is made of deformable metal and is formed with a sectionally U-shaped annular curved portion and wherein inner and outer end portions of said U-shaped annular curved portions lie in the same plane in an undeformed state; said boss plate is substantially of a disc shape having a central opening and is coaxially fixed to said outer end portion of said U-shaped curved portion of said self-aligning plate; said spokes are formed with deformable bent portions in the vicinity of said peripheral edge portion of said boss plate; and said self-aligning plate is more readily deformable than said spokes, such that upon application of force to said steering wheel, said bent portions of said spokes are deformed after said self-aligning plate has deformed and has come into abutment against said deformation restricting surface of said flange of said boss.
2. The energy absorbing steering wheel as defined in claim 1, wherein said self-aligning plate is of an annular shape.
3. The energy absorbing steering wheel as defined in claim 1, wherein said self-aligning plate is formed with a plurality of arms, each of said arms being curved longitudinally in substantially sectional U-shape and being fixed to said boss plate at free ends thereof.
4. The energy absorbing steering wheel as defined in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said deformation restricting surface of said flange of said boss is inclined with respect to said steering shaft.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP58-113390 | 1983-07-20 | ||
| JP11339083U JPS6020456U (en) | 1983-07-20 | 1983-07-20 | Energy absorption steering wheel |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1233396A true CA1233396A (en) | 1988-03-01 |
Family
ID=14611095
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000459233A Expired CA1233396A (en) | 1983-07-20 | 1984-07-19 | Energy absorbing steering wheel |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS6020456U (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1233396A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3426684A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS61157470A (en) * | 1984-12-28 | 1986-07-17 | Toyota Motor Corp | Steering wheel of vehicle |
| JPS61122972U (en) * | 1985-01-22 | 1986-08-02 | ||
| CA1289440C (en) * | 1985-08-29 | 1991-09-24 | Syuichi Ishida | Impact energy absorber of steering wheel |
| JPS62134370A (en) * | 1985-12-09 | 1987-06-17 | Nissan Motor Co Ltd | Construction for steering wheel core bar |
| JPS62178469A (en) * | 1986-01-31 | 1987-08-05 | Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd | Steering wheel core |
| JPS63301170A (en) * | 1987-05-30 | 1988-12-08 | Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd | Steering wheel |
| US4953423A (en) * | 1988-06-09 | 1990-09-04 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Steering wheel with shock absorber |
| IT236740Y1 (en) * | 1995-03-16 | 2000-08-17 | Momo Spa | MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL EQUIPPED WITH AIR CUSHION PROTECTION DEVICE |
| DE19535721A1 (en) * | 1995-09-26 | 1997-03-27 | Opel Adam Ag | Steering wheel with integral airbag assembly |
| DE202004001255U1 (en) | 2004-01-28 | 2004-06-03 | Trw Automotive Safety Systems Gmbh | vehicle steering wheel |
| CN107487395B (en) * | 2016-12-23 | 2019-11-22 | 宝沃汽车（中国）有限公司 | Device for steering wheel centering and the equipment for steering wheel centering |
Family Cites Families (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT1020447B (en) * | 1974-09-04 | 1977-12-20 | Alfa Romeo Alfasud | SAFETY STEERING WHEEL FOR VEHICLES |
-
1983
- 1983-07-20 JP JP11339083U patent/JPS6020456U/en active Pending
-
1984
- 1984-07-19 DE DE19843426684 patent/DE3426684A1/en active Granted
- 1984-07-19 CA CA000459233A patent/CA1233396A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS6020456U (en) | 1985-02-13 |
| DE3426684A1 (en) | 1985-01-31 |
| DE3426684C2 (en) | 1990-10-31 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |